tell the time, then peck your surroundings

Quack

engage engine.

DANCE!

chirp chirp

Five more minutes, Mom...

Darren 2011/09/21(Wed)19:37 No. 351278 ID: c7b6c2
File 131665904213.png - (36.07KB , 500x500 , 001.png )

>>351267
I... what? Have you got a gear loose, Bird?
>>351269
Stop quacking, bird. You are clockwork, not a duck. You have no idea how to quack, stop it.
>>351277
I'm not your mother! I'm... well, I guess that someone else might say that I'm your father. But you're more of a good friend to me, not a son.

Okay, so you're awake. We're almost ready to leave, Clockwork Bird! I've already packed a lot of what we'll need. Whatever we don't have yet, we can pick up on the way there. I'll get the list.

Darren 2011/09/21(Wed)19:38 No. 351279 ID: c7b6c2
File 131665910323.png - (43.91KB , 500x500 , List.png )

I think this is all we'll need. Am I missing anything? Money really isn't an object, if you forgot. But, of course, I won't buy a solid gold throne or anything. That'd be silly.

You seem to have cookware listed but not actual provisions.
Quack.
Also bring a dagger and some rope.

Darren 2011/09/21(Wed)20:05 No. 351286 ID: c7b6c2
File 131666074039.png - (48.80KB , 500x500 , List+.png )

>>351281
Wow, I... I hadn't even though of that. This journey could have gone very bad without any food. Oh, yeah, and water too. Can't forget the water.
The dagger and rope is a very good idea! Added.

Anything else?

The Rifle sounds like it'll need The Ammo. Quack. Also Rope, always remember rope. Possibly some soap or other disinfectant. Quack. And a medkit in general's always nice. Quack.

Darren 2011/09/21(Wed)20:23 No. 351292 ID: c7b6c2
File 131666183650.png - (53.41KB , 500x500 , List++.png )

>>351287
I took some medical supplies from around the cottage to make a MAKESHIFT MEDICAL KIT. Soap included.
I kind of assumed that The Ammo would be included with The Rifle. But I can bring along extra rounds! It might not be a bad idea! And maybe some extra parts. It'd take a bit of searching, or I might even have to commission them.

Darren 2011/09/21(Wed)20:24 No. 351293 ID: c7b6c2
File 131666187732.png - (37.02KB , 500x500 , Rifle .png )

After all, this isn't an ordinary rifle. It belonged to my father. Rifles are pretty rare in the first place, but this one is completely unique. As far as I know, there isn't another one just like it in the entire region!

It's, uh… Well, the closest I can come up with is bolt-action. The rear sight is the slide. You have to push it forward after every shot. It takes quite a bit of muscle to do so, but it's pretty much second nature to me now. It holds eight rounds, plus one in the chamber.

Okay, enough listening to me gush about The Rifle. I'm sorry. You've heard it plenty of times before!

I'd better get your voicebox looked at. You're not supposed to quack!

It's perfectly natural for a male to be affectionate towards his firearm. Quack. Just as it is perfectly natural for me to quack. So where are we going, anyway?

Darren 2011/09/21(Wed)21:47 No. 351312 ID: c7b6c2
File 131666683289.png - (20.37KB , 500x500 , map.png )

>>351293
I suppose so.

Have you forgotten what we're going to do already? I should really get you looked at. And no, I'm fairly certain you aren't supposed to quack. You couldn't possibly look less like a duck.

And, uh... as to WHERE we're going? I... haven't quite picked out an exact destination yet. I've looked at maps of the region, and this seems to be the best place to start. a good distance from any villages but still with plenty of resources. Any ideas?

It depends on your objective, sir. It doesn't help if you scold me for forgetting our objective and then not actually reminding me what it was. Quack. ...I have no duckbill but I must quack...

>>351312
Try that area around between the joining of the roads and the river.

Darren 2011/09/21(Wed)22:29 No. 351330 ID: c7b6c2
File 131666934655.png - (29.51KB , 500x500 , i got a gold star sticker in art class.png )

>>351315
Well, uh, okay. Sorry for that. Let me start from the beginning.

The world is in a bad way. Most civilization around these parts is just small villages of MAYBE a hundred people. These villages do well enough, but the constant warring between them is draining the resources of the land. There is more land devoted to graves than there is to living area. This isn't sustainable.

I live by myself in a cottage out in the woods. I've lived here for... a few years now. I spent my childhood in one of those villages; It was mostly made up of humans, but with another race here and there. It was destroyed in an attack by a rival village. My father was able to grab me and run into the woods. We built this cabin together.

Last year, my father died. He's buried in the back. I've lived alone since then and have only had you for company. He designed you, and I built you.

These months spent in near-solitude have taught me something. The warring tribes need to be united. They need a common banner. They need a single leader to unite behind.

I'm going to become their king.

Continuing this tomorrow!

Ah, one of those missions. I believe it is traditional in this situation to use some sort of fortified cave for your base of operations, though a tower will do, Quack.

Do we intend to have such a base built, travel to a preexisting one, or go straight for a town?

You will also (Quack) need a source of income sooner or later, as endeavors like these require minions, who in turn require upkeep.

Okay so what's the current level of technology? You say that reasonable guns and bullets are rare, and i'm guessing such clockwork is just as rare if not moreso. What you need, then, is to give people something to raly behind... and depending on how primitive or sophisticated the societies we're talking about, you might need to be a charismatic gentleman with a dream for a better tomorrow, or you might just need to be the guy with the biggest gun who people are too afraid to challenge.

Quack

How vulnerable is our body? How durable? Maybe we need to get take spare parts with us, like gears, armor plates, and oil.

Also a head-mounted sonic gun would be awesome. Our QUACK must QUAKE the world!

in that case, you'll have to add "a shitton of money" to the list of stuff you want to bring along.

Darren 2011/09/22(Thu)16:27 No. 351541 ID: c7b6c2
File 131673406480.png - (43.68KB , 500x500 , Added.png )

>>351348
Ah; I forgot to explain. First, becoming a king is more of a secondary objective. Peace comes first. Second, we're simply going to establish a safehouse in the area, not a base of operations or anything. The plan is to travel to villages and use diplomacy, not gather together a raiding party. The idea is to prevent death, not cause it.

>>351360
Firearms are very rare, yes, and you can only get ammo in certain larger villages. You're more likely to see battles fought with swords and axes rather than rifles and cannons. The plan is to try and resolve any conflicts the nearby villages may have with each other. It's not much of a plan, and probably next to impossible, but It's a start. If you've got any other ideas I'd be happy to hear them.

>>351384
You're about as durable as you'd expect. Sure, you won't be demolished by a falling twig or anything, but a good kick from a strong enough person could really mess up your inner workings. I'll add clockwork parts and tools to the list. Maybe I can get the town machinist to have a look at you, too. He might be able to get rid of that quacking.

>>351407
Well, I don't plan to buy my way into regality, but of course I'm bringing along all of my coinage. Father was a moderately wealthy man, and I'm selling everything we're not taking. After our purchases, we should have around 1000∫ left.

>>351318
The idea's to have a concealed safehouse. Sorry I didn't explain that before. I think the area's got some dense woods here and there, but I'm not too sure if that's the case in that particular area. We'll check it out when we get to the area. Maybe I should buy a more detailed map in the town. Any more ideas?

That reminds me, we should be leaving for the nearest town soon to buy supplies. Is the list complete or are we missing anything else?

If you want a concealed safehouse that still has some utility to it, you'll want to make it a bit off the roads and downstream of any large settlement, lest your refuse give you away.

forest is the obvious choice. imagine the north and west roads are the legs of a shapely lady... put your house between her legs, hidden in her bush, right next to the town.

quackity quack.

Darren 2011/09/22(Thu)19:04 No. 351583 ID: c7b6c2
File 131674346318.png - (55.50KB , 500x500 , Introducing the worst-drawn quill in history.png )

>>351551
That's why I chose that area. It's a distance from any form of civilization.

>>351574
That's not the actual map! That's a nonphysical representation of what such a map may look like! And, uh... please don't do innuendo again. That was somewhat frightening. Females of my species don't even have a "bush", anyway.

Anyway, the shopping list is finalized. We're off to the town.

Darren 2011/09/22(Thu)19:54 No. 351604 ID: c7b6c2
File 131674649873.png - (54.67KB , 500x500 , walk.png )

I... have to admit something.

The whole prospect of this endeavor is incredibly frightening to me. I know I'm not cut out for this. I'm the son of a dead watchmaker, for gods' sakes, not a diplomat. I'm probably going to end up in a shallow grave behind some hovel. This is completely stupid and I'm going to pay for it.

Some part of me deep down inside is screaming at me to stop what I'm doing, to sit down and live the rest of my life here. To move back into one of the local villages. To settle down, to live a normal life for once. But I know I can't have a normal life while the world remains the way it is. My village would be raided and my life torn apart. I'd lose everyone I love again.

I'm still not too sure if I should go through with this. What do you think?

Someone has to do it, Quack.

>>351612
What he said. And waiting on other people to do something for you is a good way for it to never get done.

So.

Let's give it a go, hm?

To be honest, if you're the only person left, how could you 'lose everyone you love'? I mean, it's not like you've got anyone to lose at the moment, right? Quack. Things have got to get better before they can get any worse. Or something. Quack. Anyway, normal lives are boring. You don't want ordinary, you want extraordinary. And, to note, that doesn't mean "extra helpings of ordinary," that means "something much better than ordinary." Quack. Or that might just be me speaking... I mean I'm a god-damn Clockwork Bird, quack, of COURSE I believe I'm destined for greatness, even if I have to drag you along with me. Quack.

Darren 2011/09/22(Thu)22:03 No. 351623 ID: c7b6c2
File 131675418857.png - (28.43KB , 500x500 , closeup.png )

>>351612
>>351616
Well, if you're confident in me, then why not? I guess SOMEONE has to end this. I just hope I live long enough to succeed.

>>351620
I was speaking theoretically, Clockwork Bird! And when'd you learn to be that proud?

Anyway; I'm going to run a little diagnostic on you before we go. Is there any information you're missing? Any gaps in your memory?

Um... Everything we saw, heard, and learned before you asked us if we were awake a minute ago?

...Yeah, I think I'd call that a 'gap'.

>>351631
(^this^)
Also, where do baby clockwork birds come from?

uh, yeah. about that. we woke up this morning with no memory whatsoever. but it's okay, we don't need to be fixed! this is much better anyway.

quack.

>>351631
Technically, a gap (Quack) implies a discontinuity between two existing points, where here the entire the entire beginning portion of our memory has been (Quack) cut off.

Darren 2011/09/23(Fri)16:28 No. 351770 ID: c7b6c2
File 131682049410.png - (36.47KB , 500x500 , experimenting with opacity AND perspective.png )

>>351631
>>351673
>>351696
What-- You can't be serious. What did you do to yourself? Damn it, Bird! This is bullshit!

Okay. It's not your fault, I think. I'm sure you have SOME self-preservation built in, so you couldn't have just done that to yourself. You at least remember me, right? Damn it... I'm fairly certain that memory loss isn't immediately fixable.

I've pretty much told you about myself earlier. Is there anything specific you want to know about myself? Or the world?

>>351632
Uh. Well. They're built, I guess. You're the only clockwork bird in existence, anyway. You don't even have a gender!

Actually, don't let me tell you that. You're whatever you think you are.


Here, let me open you up and see if there's any damage. I'm not exactly an expert on clockwork machines but I'd know a missing gear or something if I saw it. I wouldn't want you to damage yourself even more through missing pieces. Please do try to remember SOMETHING. How did you lose your memory?

no idea. anything could of happened since our last activation.

>Here, let me open you up and see if there's any damage.

P-Please sir, th-this is most inappropriate..! Qu-Quack

>How did you lose your memory?

Probably something you did

>Is there anything specific you want to know about myself? Or the world?

Is there... magic?

WAH what are we going to do on the table? Quack~

Are there clockwork beings-that-are-not-Quack-birds?

Can we currently fly? (And now that I think about it, are we powered by a wound spring or something more convenient)?

Darren 2011/09/23(Fri)18:43 No. 351814 ID: c7b6c2
File 131682861053.png - (50.93KB , 500x500 , wat.png )

>>351775
>>351776
You're scaring me.

do we know who you are? dude, we don't even know what you are.

>>351814
You don't want to, quack, know whats going on inside, quack, us right now. just go with it quack.

Yeah... Uh... ...Don't really know what to say. Sorry, man.

>>351822
Ok, you, stop trying to freak him out.

Darren 2011/09/23(Fri)20:13 No. 351831 ID: c7b6c2
File 131683398359.png - (231.75KB , 667x500 , more wat.png )

>>351822

AMUSING DUCK!! LAY EGG IS TRUE!!

making commanding!!

111100101000101010001110010101000100101011101000011100Quack10100001010010101010100011110

Darren 2011/09/23(Fri)20:48 No. 351838 ID: c7b6c2
File 131683610063.png - (39.58KB , 500x500 , note to self: practice hands.png )

A-anyway.

>>351771
Damn it.

>>351775
Oh, sure, blame me. That's logical.

And yes, there is magic. There's barely any left, though. From what I've read, it's been on the decline for a few hundred years. It's almost completely dead. Nowadays, magic users are one-in-a-million. The village they're born into usually forces them into intensive training and makes them into healers or has them move goods around. And before you ask, no, I'm not a magic user.

>>351794
Of course. Anything clockwork and intelligent is even rarer than magic, however. There's also clockwork machines in a bunch of places, they're just not able to think.

Yes, you can fly. I didn't know why you were walking around this whole time.

According to the designs my Father left, you're powered by something called a "perpetual motion machine"; Some kind of small internal mechanism that produces more energy than it uses. I don't know the math behind it, and it seems almost impossible, but hey. You're living proof.

>>351820
I'm a Draconian. We're pretty much the closest thing to dragons that exist, ever since they went extinct. We're not all that common ourselves.

Okay, this part looks pretty bad. What could have caused this? None of the other parts around it are even scratched. Did you open yourself up and destroy this part or something?

>>351832
>>351833
...Oh shit, I think I broke something.

>...Oh shit, I think I broke something.
Just messing with you, Quack.
It is remarkably easy to keep a straight face when your head is built from metal.

>perpetual motion machine
Oh, those are fun. I hear the dwarfs are quite knowledgeable about them.

>Damaged part
I don't think we have the right manipulator (Quack) appendages to actually reach our torso.

WHAT AM I?! WHAT AM IIIIIII?!

>>351838
They're messing with you.

ENGAGE FLIGHT MODE

>>351858
Shouldn't we get that gear replaced before doing any flying? (Quack)

Darren 2011/09/23(Fri)23:16 No. 351880 ID: c7b6c2
File 131684496314.png - (45.15KB , 500x500 , fingers suck.png )

>>351841
Uh huh.
Say, it'd be a real shame if you were to lose some vital part of you, wouldn't it? That eye socket looks a bit loose.

>>351858
Please stop trying to fly. You're missing a few bits.

Alright. We'll be getting a replacement part for you in town. It's large enough to have a machinist. You seem to work fine without it, somehow, so you can come with me if you want.

Yes, please. Cluck.

Don't leave me master. Quack. You must've activated our co-dependent measure with something you just did, because suddenly I'm feeling very lonely. Quack.

I feel naked. cover me up, boss.

imma quack sing a song now.
~I'm the clockwork birrrd Quack! I have geaaars Quack! look at me siiing Quack! Cause i'm the clock work birrrrrrrd Quack!~

We'd love to come with you, could we ride between your horns and get a birds eye view?

Darren 2011/09/24(Sat)13:05 No. 352027 ID: c7b6c2
File 131689470211.png - (41.50KB , 500x500 , why is it so hard to draw on-model.png )

>>351897
>>351881
Uh. Okay.

>>351908
Birds don't wear clothes! Besides, anything like that would seriously impair your flight.

>>351914
I'm pretty sure your voicebox is out of tune.

>>351923
On my head? Like a hat?

Darren 2011/09/24(Sat)13:08 No. 352028 ID: c7b6c2
File 131689489492.png - (33.49KB , 500x500 , bleh.png )

Why not?

>>352028
Ok! Let's go!

ADVENTURE TIME~

Darren 2011/09/24(Sat)13:39 No. 352051 ID: c7b6c2
File 131689677084.png - (38.47KB , 500x500 , door.png )

AWOOOOOoooooooooooooo

...You heard that too, right? Sounded like a wolf on the path. Probably a pack of them. The term "lone wolf" doesn't actually apply to wolves around here, after all. If I'm right, then we probably couldn't just sneak past them.

I could try and fight them off, or we could sit here and wait for them to leave. Personally, I'd prefer to not have a chance of getting torn up, but then we might run out of daylight on the way back. Any opinion one way or the other?

>Bird Hat
You are now 10% more (Quack) stylish!

>Wolves
Does your house have any windows, or one of those door-peep-holes? (You might want to get one of those. Your mission will likely earn you some enemies if you start making progress, and seeing who is knocking on your door is useful.)

wait up.

>>352051
Adventure Rule #1: Fighting anything you don't have to is stupid.

>>352078
But what if it has loot, Quack?

Adventure Rule #0, after all, is to take everything that isn't nailed down. Then take all the nails. Then repeat.

>>352081
Yeah but you have to remember Adventure Tip 5#:
It's hard to enjoy loot while bleeding out.

True. And I suppose in this case, (Quack) wolves don't have anything worthwhile on them anyway.

Darren 2011/09/24(Sat)16:03 No. 352115 ID: c7b6c2
File 131690543736.png - (26.70KB , 500x500 , this is what clocks look like, right?.png )

>>352058
No, it doesn't. This is just a simple cottage. And besides, I don't plan on staying here.

>>352067
>>352078
>>352088
Alright then, we'll wait.

...are you certain you're not supposed to quack?

[/i][Time passes.][/i]

WAKE UP

Let's go!

Well wolves probably won't attack a healthy stylish individual like yourself in broad daylight unless they're totally starving. Quack. And even then they'll scatter once we give them our Quack Of Fury.

Of Quack course!

Darren 2011/09/24(Sat)21:14 No. 352229 ID: c7b6c2
File 131692409846.png - (27.17KB , 500x500 , oh god i just realized how many errors I made in t.png )

Wake up, we're here.

Don't mind some of the glances that the townsfolk are giving me. Apparently living alone in the forest after escaping death gives you kind of a ghostly reputation. I'm probably a bad omen to them or something.

Should I visit the general store or the machinist's shop first? They're right next to each other, and I can get everything I need from them. I know the machinist personally, and I haven't seen him for a few months now. Not since the last time I came into town.

Umm... umm...

Well we don't know how much the repairs will cost so we should go to the machinist's first. That way we won't overspend.

General store. We need to know how much it'll cost to buy what we need so we don't end up using that money for us.

The mechanist's shop. You (Quack) should visit your friend if you have not seen him in awhile.

Visit the psychotherapist's. You are asking a clockwork bird for shopping advice.

Darren 2011/09/24(Sat)23:39 No. 352280 ID: c7b6c2
File 131693278058.png - (36.55KB , 500x500 , everything\'s great except the goddamn cloake.png )

>>352243
>>352260
Machinist's it is.

...You know, in all the years I've known him, I've never seem him without that cloak and mask. Not even outside of his work. Maybe it's a cultural thing.

We're probably going to take a while to catch up. You can leave and fly around town if you want. Or you can stay here, I guess.

I'd like to stay, see how you get along with other sentients.

You sure we can go off on our own and cause untold chaos?

OKAY!

Darren 2011/09/25(Sun)00:31 No. 352297 ID: c7b6c2
File 131693591557.png - (46.06KB , 500x500 , machinist.png )

Actually, wait up for a second. Amos wants to take a look at you. I don't think it'll take long.

"Bird. You have damage? No memory, yeah? Tell, what you think happen to you? Not common for clockwork being to lose that. I think sabotage, but for who and why?"

"Do mind if I look?"

>>352297
Please do. Cluck.

Hey I'm a one-man kind of bird. If there's gonna be any peekin' under our feathers, why don't you have Darren do it. You can tell him what to look for.

this must be what going to a gynecologist feels like.

(Quack) Go ahead.

Darren 2011/09/25(Sun)17:37 No. 352575 ID: c7b6c2
File 131699747471.png - (45.13KB , 500x500 , darren\'s head is a bitch to draw sometimes.png )

>>352307
I, uh... wow.
I'm not exactly qualified to correctly diagnose and repair clockwork. I know enough to recognize parts and follow a set of instructions, but honestly I wouldn't trust myself with something as complicated as you.

Don't worry, Amos is more than capable.

>>352575
Oh come on, if you can follow instructions then you can follow HIS instructions. Quack. Just have him tell you what to do, what to look for, etc. If nothing else think of it as expanding your repertoire of skills/knkowledge/abilities. Quack. I'd really only feel comfortable if you did it, sir. Or at the very least, stayed in the room and gave us a hand to hold onto during. Quack.

Darren 2011/09/25(Sun)18:50 No. 352594 ID: c7b6c2
File 131700180505.png - (37.66KB , 500x500 , machinist close.png )

>>352582
Following a direct, plainly written step-by-step set of instructions is a world away from doing a indepth diagnostic and repair guided by a third party! I can stay with you, though. I was going to anyway.

"Don't worry, bird. Only take a second. From your perspective."

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/25(Sun)18:51 No. 352595 ID: c7b6c2
File 131700187543.png - (905B , 500x500 , this was the hardest page to make.png )

click

EEEEYAAAARRRGHHHH!

>>352595
It's daaaaark!

MY SPLEEN WHY WOULD YOU REPLACE MY SPLEEN

Elephant Guy 2011/09/26(Mon)04:00 No. 352708 ID: ae92af
File 131703482439.gif - (605.72KB , 800x1227 , ducksforthemornin.gif )

wakey wakey

>>352958
Okay.

Are we where yet?
(Quack)

Darren 2011/09/26(Mon)17:23 No. 352988 ID: c7b6c2
File 131708301125.png - (49.53KB , 500x500 , why does that backpack look like a face.png )

Sorry about that, Bird. Amos had to stop your perpetual motion machine for a bit. He put you back together all right, but it had to take a while to start generating enough energy to power you.

While you were out, I took the liberty of stopping by the general store and buying what we needed. It's in this backpack which is now pretty heavy. I also spent a bit more than what I predicted. We've got 950∫ in spare coinage now.

Are you feeling okay? ...are you still quacking?

>>352988

Quack quack quackity quack quack, quack quack quack. Quacky quacky quacky quainty quackness.

Quack.

Five more minutes, mom...

Darren 2011/09/26(Mon)18:37 No. 353018 ID: c7b6c2
File 131708745066.png - (25.51KB , 500x500 , i drew trees like this when i was 5.png )

>>353003
Damn it!

>>353004
I'm not your mother!

...Okay, so everything's great? Great.

We ran a bit long, like I expected. The sun's going down. We should be getting back to the cottage just as it gets dark.

You didn't miss much while you were out, but if you have any questions, just ask.

Are we now (Quack) capable of flying?

>>353018
Everything is about the same as before. Still no memory or less of an urge to do random stuff.

Were we always this weird?

What'd you buy, exactly? And more to the point, what did the examination determine?

Darren 2011/09/26(Mon)19:43 No. 353062 ID: c7b6c2
File 131709139650.png - (34.47KB , 500x500 , holy shit perspective.png )

>>353022
You were always capable of flying.

>>353028
Damn it. Well, if anything, you're at least got some new quality parts.

And, no, you weren't always this odd. Before you lost your memory, you never made any innuendo or asked such odd questions. Almost like you have a completely new personality. It's kind of worrying to me.

>>353031
We bought everything on the list that we didn't already have.

Your examination didn't turn up anything new, apart from what I had already found. Amos partially disassembled you, looking for any damage or odd parts. He found some scuffs and a few worn moving parts, but those are pretty normal for a clockwork being. He also replaced your damaged gear, whatever good that did.

Darren 2011/09/26(Mon)19:45 No. 353066 ID: c7b6c2
File 131709151824.png - (26.59KB , 500x500 , plot!.png )

"Gotcha!"

What--

Darren 2011/09/26(Mon)19:50 No. 353069 ID: c7b6c2
File 131709183279.png - (1.77KB , 500x500 , i love black screens.png )

What the hell are you--
whumph
shkkkkt

thump

Now just what in the hell are YOU?! That dragon fucker was talking to you! Can you talk? What was in the fucker's bag?!

Rote 2011/09/26(Mon)19:57 No. 353080 ID: c7b6c2
File 131709223107.png - (29.26KB , 500x500 , this was fun to color.png )

>>353077

>>353080
>>353069
[Struggle struggle!]

UNWING ME YOU FOWL OAF! YOU CHOSE THE WRONG CHICK TO PECK A FIGHT WITH!

What did you do to him? Whose blood is that?

Engaging Protocol: Cosmic Quack That Will Shake The Heavens... All non-hostile targets please evacuate to at least thirty feet... [bluff check!]

we will work with you ONLY if the our friend is alive. if he is dead then we may as well activate self destruct and take you down with us.

Rote 2011/09/26(Mon)20:29 No. 353105 ID: c7b6c2
File 131709415317.png - (42.49KB , 500x500 , i\'m going to make a mask like this one day.png )

Holy shit, you're one of those talkin' bitches!

>>353083
Hey, calm the fuck down you metal piece of shit!
Who's fucking blood do you think that is? I cut the fucker!

>>353095
You pull that shit with me and I'll start taking some fucking pieces off!

>>353102
Who the fuck builds a goddamn bomb in a clockwork piece of shit? And I don't know if your fuckin' friend kicked the bucket! Do I look like one of those doctor bitches?

Are you gonna tell me what was in the dragon fucker's bag or do I have to start some drastic shit?

DEATH TO THE HAPPY SQUARE MASK

It's got a bunch of adventuring supplies. Why don't you just look through it yourself, Rote?

just put your hand on his chest. if his heart is still going he is alive.

Aaannd you can't (Quack) open the bag yourself why?
You have a knife. The bag is made of leather.
Do you believe he would keep a bomb in his bag but not in his clockwork?

How much is he bleeding?

Rote 2011/09/26(Mon)20:52 No. 353119 ID: c7b6c2
File 131709553172.png - (42.96KB , 500x500 , am i gonna have to cut a bitch.png )

>>353106
You ain't in a fuckin' position to threaten me, you little fuck!

>>353107
>>353109
H-how the fuck did you know my name? Are you fuckin' magic or someshit?

I'm gonna go stickin' my fuckin' hand in some strange bag without knowin' what the fuck's inside first!

So he's an adventurer, huh? Fuck yeah, they've always got good shit.

>>353108
I cut fuckers, not grope'm! What the fuck makes you think I care if the dragon fucker's alive or not? I cut the son of a bitch myself!

>>353110
Fuck, I dunno! Fucker's bleedin' about as much as you'd think after gettin' cut!

Look, it isn't that complicated.
If you are really that paranoid, you can cut through the bottom or the side. You can't coat a bag in traps and have it still be useable.

The blood on the tree is rather high up, but a major neck injury would almost certainly cause visible bleeding on the neck and body, which is absent. I think out best bet is to either delay him until Darren wakes. (Later, I will need to have words with him about actually keeping his spare dagger [i]on[i/] his person rather than in his backpack. Keeping it in the pack kind of defeats the point.)

yeah, if you trap the bottom of the bag then that is so many traps that it could explode from wearing it.

Wait a sec... Why is your knife on a string?

>>353119
Not really an adventurer. I mean, we were planning on it but we only just got all that stuff. I mean, there's rope in there, and some food, and cookware, and a shovel, and some spare clothes, and a medical kit, and a bedroll, and a long coat, and maybe some other stuff!

Go on, open it up! Are you some kind of CHICKEN?

Rote 2011/09/26(Mon)21:35 No. 353149 ID: c7b6c2
File 131709814697.png - (46.26KB , 500x500 , no, HE\'S gonna cut a bitch.png )

>>353135
Okay, that's actually fuckin' sensible! I might do that!

>>353137
I'm not talkin' about bombs! I dunno what those fuckin' dragon freaks do, there could be weirdass drugs or poisons or someshit in there! I don't want to touch shit like that!

>>353140
This ain't a string, dumbshit! It's my... arm... thing!

>>353141
Thank fuck, I haven't had some real fuckin' food in forever. Could anythin' in there cut me or whatever?

>>353149

Well if any glass broke... a few things in the medkit... accidentally sharp buckles... the cookware... maybe some of the tentpoles... a giant sword...

>>353149
Oh, there might be a cutlery knife in there! So yeah, I guess.

Hey, why'd you take up this highwayman business anyway? Why lead a life of crime?

>Could anythin' in there cut me or whatever?
There is a dagger on the pack somewhere, but I am pretty sure it is (Quack) sheathed. You don't keep open blades in the same pack you use. The medkit likely has needles, but again in a container.
Still, if you cut it open and dump the contents on the ground, any sharp things would either fall out or be visible with the pack opened.

No now hold on a second. That can't be an arm. Well, maybe it can be but you're going to have to explain a few things to me. I mean, like, how many bones and joints do you have in an arm? Are both arms the same or are they a bit random? And what about your face? Geez, if you are free with showing off your freaky arms but you hide your face behind a mask, I've GOT to wonder what's wrong with it. Seriously, I've got to. It's in part of my programming? Would you like to see? It'd only take a minute to show you.

Also, do you have really strange (Quack) sleeves, or do you actually have four arms? Because that is pretty sweet if you do.

Rote 2011/09/27(Tue)17:01 No. 353394 ID: c7b6c2
File 131716810669.png - (46.02KB , 500x500 , took like half a goddamn hour.png )

>>353155
>>353169
>>353171
Oh, cool, I thought the dragon fucker had some weird shit in there! You never know with those motherfuckers!

Why the fuck you askin' me that? Cuttin' fuckers is just fun! All the stuff they got is just a fuckin' bonus!

>>353172
Yeah, they're my arms! I dunno how many bones they got! They just do whatever the fuck I want them to do!

And this IS my face! It's on my fuckin' head, isn't it? Why don't YOU have a face, you metal piece of shit?

>>353173
I have a lot of goddamn arms! I can make a fuckload!

You know, little metal fucker, I think I'll keep you! You're a little annoying but shit, havin' a fuckin' metal bird is badass.

>>353394
But good sir, stabbing people is rude! And how do you plan on convincing us to follow you around when you stabbed that dragon guy that was taking care of us? Do you know a machinist that can perform maintenance on us?

Or maybe some hot clockwork chicks we can mack on? A guy's got needs. Or maybe you could handle that...?

I can't say I care much for your face, but you certainly seem (Quack)... well armed. Dohohohoho!

you kinda swear a lot. why is that?

What exactly would you say you are? Like, when it comes to the question of gender and race. Actually let's spend a little more time going deeper into more philosophical detail... What is it YOU would say you 'are?' Your quintessential essence, as it were? Why don't you start by sitting down and telling me about your childhood...

Hey we have a face! It's just a nice beak, anyways can you make an expression other than smiling?

Rote 2011/09/27(Tue)18:53 No. 353423 ID: c7b6c2
File 131717480392.png - (70.94KB , 500x500 , incoming.png )

>>353402
Does it look like I give a fuck?
You're stayin' around because I can fuckin' disassemble you if you don't! And I won't just let you rot if that's what you're thinkin'! And no, I'm not gonna be some accomplice to your goddamn sick clockwork sex!

>>353405
You're a real fuckin' comedian!

>>353412
Do I look like some kind of goddamn gentlewoman?

>>353420
Fuck no! A smile's the only face I need!

>>353418
You know what? Fuck it, I'm gonna go get that dragon fucker's stuff now. You can ask questions later, you talkative little son of a bitch.

>Fuck no! A smile's the only face I need!
What if you want to glare at someone? (Quack)

Okay then, just one quick question.

Would cleaving you from head to groin be a decent way of killing you?

>>353423

...gentlewoman? huh.

nice job hitting a girl, Darren. real admirable.

>>353435
What are you talking about? Darren was the (Quack) one getting hit. Or cut, rather.

Besides, criminals with knives are criminals with (Quack) knives. Being female makes them neither less criminal nor less stabby.

Rote 2011/09/27(Tue)19:30 No. 353450 ID: c7b6c2
File 131717700192.png - (77.55KB , 500x500 , holy shit this turned out terrible.png )

>>353432
What the fuck are you--

shunk

You probably want to make sure she's (Quack)dead, boss. Shapeshifters have a way of getting back up again if you are not careful.

>>353450
Good work, Darren! Make sure she's dead and then get that first aid kit out. Cluck.

Darren 2011/09/27(Tue)20:10 No. 353466 ID: c7b6c2
File 131717940671.png - (61.70KB , 500x500 , coloring is fun.png )

Okay. Okay. Just... just give me a second. This hurts. This really, really hurts.

>>353453
Well, all of it's tentacle arm things are gone. It isn't moving, either. I think it's dead.

>>353454
First aid kit. Right. Hang on.

Thanks for distracting it. Did it do anything to you? Any damage?

After... she? After she stabbed me, she used those arms to throw me against the tree. I'm glad I didn't have to actually fight her. Her arms were stronger than they looked.

I don't think the knife got anything vital, but the wound is still pretty deep. I'll do what I can with the kit but I'm going to have to sew it up at the cottage. I might be able to hobble back to the village and get help from an actual doctor, too.

She's dead?
Then it (Quack) looks like... that's all she Rote. YEEEAH!

Perhaps we could fly over to town and fetch a doctor? Or would they react (Quack) badly to that? (Or we could get supplies from the house if we can get in and carry them while flying.)

quackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquack
quackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquack
quackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquackquack

get patched up and then get abck in town. starting an adventure with a horrible wound is bad. slash it again to make sure it isn't faking.

cut into tiny pieces please.

>>353466
Cluck. I think we're gonna pass out. Cluck.

Uh, boss? I think the purple blood is acidic, it looks like it's melting the sword... You look like you've got some on you too, hurry and try to wipe it off or something.

Darren 2011/09/27(Tue)20:47 No. 353485 ID: c7b6c2
File 131718163094.png - (34.28KB , 500x500 , used.png )

>>353469
W-what?
They wouldn't attack you, or anything. If you can find Amos, then he could get a healer on the way. I guess you could carry stuff from the cottage, but I need more than you could find and carry here in a trip.

>>353470
Please stop. You're not helping anything with that.

>>353473
I used some of the bandages to staunch the bleeding. If I started out to town now, I'd make it there about an hour after sunset. Assuming I don't pass out from the pain first.

>>353476
I'm not going to butcher her. I'll stab her a few times, but I'm sure she's not getting back up.

>>353481
Why? You're not the one with the stab wound.

The village is to the east, away from the sun. If you go there, find Amos and tell him what happened. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure I can make it to the cottage.

I-I'm just going to sit against this tree for a while.

Rote was the name of the bandit.

Unless its likely another (Quack) bandit will appear, you staying there while we fetch Amos sounds like the best plan. Moving a fresh (Quack) wound can further injure it.

Darren 2011/09/27(Tue)21:07 No. 353499 ID: c7b6c2
File 131718282348.png - (39.03KB , 500x500 , oh em gee he\'s shirtless.png )

>>353484
Oh fu--

Okay. Alright. I wiped it off my face with my robe. I hardly noticed it burning.

>>353490
Alright. Go!

(Quack)
Later, boss!

[Fly off towards town]

[engage flight mode, target amos]

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/27(Tue)21:24 No. 353507 ID: c7b6c2
File 131718388334.png - (22.10KB , 500x500 , nighttime.png )

It is very dark when you reach town. It is somewhat difficult to see. You cannot locate Amos, but have found the mechanist's shop. It is closed.

{Hey there, little bird. I see you up there. Are you looking for something? Need help?}

Brackets indicate technopathic speech.

I (Quack) seek Amos the mechanist. One of his friends is injured.

Quack. This makes no sense. Quack. How can you make telepathic contact with a construct? Quack! Oh wait, it's TECHNOpathic! That makes everything brother. Are you a techno-bro, bro?

Healing for our owner would be nice, he's badly hurt thanks to some bandit

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/27(Tue)21:59 No. 353522 ID: c7b6c2
File 131718597909.png - (22.42KB , 500x500 , signal.png )

>>353516
>>353508
{Your owner's hurt? Are their injuries life-threatening? I'm outside of Amos' home with a torch. Come down to me and we'll talk to him.}

>>353511
{Yes, I'm a technopath. Please don't tell anyone! I can explain after we get help for your friend.}

Alright than, we will fly to you.

[land on the roof nearby]

Who is you?

Who is you?

who is you? who is you? who is you?

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/28(Wed)16:10 No. 353686 ID: c7b6c2
File 131725143958.png - (14.83KB , 500x500 , i am getting sick of drawing nighttime.png )

>>353525
{What are you doing? I don't intend to hurt you. If you're really that afraid of me, then can you at least tell me what about your owner to tell Amos?}

>>353528
>>353529
>>353564
{Please, calm down! My name's Iris. I'm from a village about a week's walk from here.}

cool. we're clockwork bird, and we're from... uhh. I forget.

Memory got wiped, bud. We just need some medical help for our owner. He got ambushed by a bandit on the path.

Did I ask 'What are your name'? No! I ask 'Who is you?' A much more in-depth and philosophical question.

We are rather (Quack) nervous because the last stranger we met a rather insane bandit, which leads to our current situation.

>>353713
About (Quack) that, we should probably leave philosophy for when people are on the way to help the boss.

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/28(Wed)20:18 No. 353749 ID: c7b6c2
File 131726631158.png - (14.49KB , 500x500 , simple.png )

>>353702
{That's your name? Are you positive? That sounds more like a title.}

>>353711
{Okay, so I'll just tell Amos that an amnesiac clockwork bird told me that it's owner is currently in need of medical attention down the road. Is that good?}

>>353739
{I understand.}

>>353713
{I'm... I is me, I guess?}

He'll probably (Quack) recognize us. There can only be so many amnesiac mechanical avians he knows.

>>353749
That's a good message.
[fly down and waddle closer to get a better look at this guy.]

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/28(Wed)21:29 No. 353784 ID: c7b6c2
File 131727059595.png - (16.92KB , 500x500 , everyone\'s tall to amos.png )

>>353751
{Okay, then.}
Amos, it's Iris. I've got some news.

"Iris. Something happened?"

Yeah, a mechanical bird told me that it's owner was attacked by a bandit down the road and needed some help. I assume you know who it was talking about?

"Yes, I know. I'll get healer. Thank you, Iris."

Amos closes the door behind him and begins walking toward a group other houses.

>>353764
It is hard to discern anything specific in the dark, but you can tell that Iris is a humanoid, and is just a bit taller than Darren. You can not determine the species or gender.

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/28(Wed)21:51 No. 353790 ID: c7b6c2
File 131727189371.png - (11.30KB , 500x500 , yup.png )

{Alright, a healer's on the way. Amos is going with them. They'll get your friend fixed.}

{Oh, and by the way...}

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/28(Wed)21:52 No. 353791 ID: c7b6c2
File 131727196601.png - (12.06KB , 500x500 , poof.png )

pop

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/28(Wed)21:53 No. 353792 ID: c7b6c2
File 131727200154.png - (9.30KB , 500x500 , gone.png )

{Tell Darren I said hi.}

[look down and whisper] No.

What a strange fellow.

I suppose we should get back to Darren.

I bet it was a cheap parlor trick. let's go check out where he poffed away.

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/29(Thu)16:40 No. 353993 ID: c7b6c2
File 131733961535.png - (17.87KB , 500x500 , dark as hell.png )

>>353856
The grass around where Iris was standing is slightly burnt. You cannot detect anything else thanks to your unfortunate lack of the senses of smell and touch.

There is no one else visible in the clearing. Iris has simply disappeared.

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/29(Thu)17:13 No. 353999 ID: c7b6c2
File 131734162209.png - (16.32KB , 500x500 , realized I can\'t draw top-down.png )

>>353806
You begin making your way back to Darren. Amos's group is moving at a quick pace, and as such you lose sight of them. Your abysmally slow flight speed does not help at all.

After some time flying down the path, you find Amos's group. They are returning to the village. Darren is not with them, meaning the he is probably heading toward the cottage. Will you continue down the path or talk to Amos?

Yeah, let's ask how things went. Also ask who Iris is, exactly.

I say we either talk to Amos or try to retrieve a star. they're so nice and shiny.

Need to learn from Amos what we can of what happened. Maybe he knows what the creature was.

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/29(Thu)18:46 No. 354013 ID: c7b6c2
File 131734721164.png - (5.78KB , 500x500 , sky.png )

>>354004
You can't seem to fly high enough to touch one of the attractive stars. What a shame, Lucy's Diamond is plainly visible this time of year. Wouldn't it be great to get your wings on it?

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/29(Thu)19:02 No. 354017 ID: c7b6c2
File 131734817839.png - (19.76KB , 500x500 , can\'t draw amos today.png )

>>354001
>>354004
>>354009
"Bird. Darren is going. He said he can get there. Said for you to go to home."

>what happened
"Creature, yes. Was a shapeshifter. It is buried now. Darren was cut deep and bruised, but will be fine. Some burns from acid. Healer said he will only have scars."

>Iris
"Bird. Some things are to be left alone. Understand?"

no. for we are a machine (quack)

Jeez, okay. Later! Cluck.

Quack. (and what a Quack)

[Resume home, whistling 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds']

>>354025
[no, fly to cottage]

[to the cottage] (We gotta tell Darren about this gorgeous babe that he totally annihilated in the face.)

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/29(Thu)19:59 No. 354029 ID: c7b6c2
File 131735157580.png - (27.92KB , 500x500 , this took like 3 tries to get right.png )

>>354021
>>354025
>>354027
Darren is asleep when you reach the cottage half an hour later. It is possible to wake him. The backpack is by the door, still packed. The acid-burned longsword has been placed on the worktable. Darren's damaged robe has been left in a corner.

Items of interest in the room include: PAPER and WRITING UTENSILS, DAMAGED LONGSWORD, INFERIOR MAP, TOOLS, ROTE'S KNIFE.

Let's gently settling on his chest and stare him in the face until he wakes up in the morning. I'm sure that won't creep him out at aaaall...

anything peculiar about the knife?

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/29(Thu)21:22 No. 354078 ID: c7b6c2
File 131735654390.png - (34.31KB , 500x500 , knife.png )

>>354065
The knife is a simple utility knife. It is very dull and of very poor quality. It has a layer of dried blood on it. Otherwise, there is nothing special at all about it, except for how many lives it has probably taken.

It was most likely Rote's only possession.

>>354045
This will be the action taken when the day is ended. A consensus must be reached to end the day.

WHY'S IT GLOWING GREEN.
Otherwise, End day.
If we get up early, do we catch the clockwork worm?

Quack
[end day]

Trout 2011/09/29(Thu)21:50 No. 354105 ID: c7b6c2
File 131735822158.png - (12.67KB , 500x500 , day1end.png )

>>354084
>>354087
Ending day...

The "glow" is my way of showing ownership of an item or an area. Darren, the cottage, and everything he owns is outlined in blue; Amos's workshop was red; Rote's scenes were primarily green before she was killed by Darren. It doesn't actually mean anything, it's just an art decision.

wait rote was a girl?
...fuck.(quack)

>>354134
As I said, you can't (Quack) discriminate when it comes to criminal scum psychotic bandits.

(Tomorrow let's start meowing at him. That'll REALLY throw him off)

>>354243
ImOkWithThis.jpg

Clockwork Bird 2011/09/30(Fri)17:48 No. 354392 ID: c7b6c2
File 131743013804.png - (20.11KB , 500x500 , ugh this angle is hard.png )

It is now morning.

Darren 2011/09/30(Fri)18:04 No. 354402 ID: c7b6c2
File 131743107630.png - (25.68KB , 500x500 , okay this actually turned out okay i guess.png )

bird what are you doing

why are you sitting on my chest

>>354402
I was watching you sleep, meow.

We are so very glad you're safe, master. Meow.

Well we can't sit on your (Meow) head if you are sleeping.

Darren 2011/09/30(Fri)19:10 No. 354413 ID: c7b6c2
File 131743500054.png - (24.65KB , 500x500 , inb4 masturbation joke.png )

So, uh, that really happened. I really got stabbed last night. That wasn't a dream.

...you're meowing now. Okay. Did someone kick you on the way back? Is that why you're meowing at me?

>>354404
Please don't. It's not very comfortable to have a large metal object on your chest.

>>354410
There's plenty more places to sit that aren't somewhere on my body.

>>354405
Thank you. The healer did a good job, but I'm still not feeling perfectly healthy. I guess I'm able to travel. It's probably going to be somewhat painful.

Oh, by the way... Thank you. Thanks for getting Amos. I don't want to think about what could have happened if I had treated my wound by myself.

What do you mean, meowing now? We've always been a cat, nya~

Oh, and Iris says hello. Who is that, anyway?

Curious question master, does your pupils often disappear when you are fighting?

>There's plenty more places to sit that aren't somewhere on my body.
But that's not as fun (Meow).

>Oh, by the way... Thank you. Thanks for getting Amos.
Anytime, boss.

Darren 2011/09/30(Fri)21:43 No. 354434 ID: c7b6c2
File 131744423332.png - (37.53KB , 500x500 , layers are my friend.png )

>>354418
But cats don't have wings! They don't fly! You're pretty much the exact opposite of a cat!

>>354419
I don't know. I can't look at my own eyes. I barely even get into any fights in the first place.

>>354420
You've been acting very odd these last few days.

Darren 2011/09/30(Fri)21:44 No. 354435 ID: c7b6c2
File 131744426115.png - (38.13KB , 500x500 , oh fu-.png )

>Iris
Oh, hells.

Darren Darren Darren. Did you know? We got to talk to the bandit. She was a hot babe with a dirty mouth. You just killed a hot babe.

>>354436
I wouldn't call her a hot babe. She was a psychotic bitch. With acid blood and a mask for a face.

What do you mean, oh hells? Is Iris dangerous? She seemed rather pleasant.

Technically we haven't been acting odd, meow, because we've only just realized our consciousness. Due to the memory failure before yesterday, meow, we might as well be a completely different entity. Or entities, meow.

>>354437

Isn't that what a hot babe is?

Darren 2011/09/30(Fri)22:21 No. 354446 ID: c7b6c2
File 131744649709.png - (53.18KB , 500x500 , wat again.png )

>>354436
>>354441
w-what

>>354441
Hot babe? But she doesn't have any wings at all!
Some people have no (Meow) taste...

(meow) Are bandits like that very common? (meow) You won't get very far if you keep running into killer shapeshifter babes who (meow) cut you and steal your stuff.

Ignore those parts of my brain that would suggest such things, sir~

Darren 2011/09/30(Fri)22:49 No. 354456 ID: c7b6c2
File 131744814391.png - (27.31KB , 500x500 , iris.png )

>>354437
Iris is... something else. I'm not quite sure. All I know is that Iris is from somewhere that isn't this world.

I first saw Iris when my Father was on his deathbed. I had went into town to get some medicine from the general store to ease his pain. On my way out, I basically ran headfirst into a figure in a pale red cloak. Iris already knew my name, despite never meeting me before, and wished me "luck".

By the time I had ran back to the cottage, my Father was dead. He hadn't been sick enough to just die on me. Not yet.

One of my most vivid memories of escaping my village was someone in red, standing in the midst of the chaos. I've since put two and two together. Iris is closely related to death, and possibly wants something from me.

Darren 2011/09/30(Fri)23:03 No. 354458 ID: c7b6c2
File 131744902049.png - (34.12KB , 500x500 , map TWO POINT OH.png )

However, I don't think Iris wants to directly harm me. No reason for me to panic over this. It's just a little unsettling, thinking that Iris may be responsible for the death of my Father.

Anyway; Here is the revised map of my selected area. The roads to the north and east are commonly used for trade. There is a set of ruins where the river splits. I think it used to be some sort of outpost. Finally, there's an abandoned dwarven fortress in the mountains. There's nothing dangerous about it, like most dwarf forts. They just ran out of booze and wandered off.

>>354456
Well that's eerie. Also she's a technopath and can vanish at will, apparently.

>>354456
Iris must've showed up because you killed that bandit, nya. Amos knows them by name too by the way, nya.

>>354460
Dude shhh we're not supposed to tell anyone.

you should totally check out that dorfen fortress.

>Iris must've showed up because you killed that bandit, nya.
But we killed the (Meow) bandit somewhere fairly far away from where she appeared.

>There's nothing dangerous about it, like most dwarf forts.
Unless our memory of them is completely (Meow) mistaken, that seems unlikely. Dwarves are known for their traps involving menacing spikes and magma.

Darren 2011/10/01(Sat)13:13 No. 354543 ID: c7b6c2
File 131750000923.png - (30.21KB , 500x500 , draw.png )

Damn it, look at this. Look at my robe. There are holes in my robe. She just had to have acid blood. She ruined my robe and my longsword with it.

>>354460
I had figured that Iris is a magic user.

>>354464
Maybe. I hope that's why, and not because a village burned down or something.

>>354498
Sorry, I misspoke. It's unlike dwarven fortresses in that it isn't too dangerous.

>>354452
Bandits shouldn't be a problem. We're taking a rather busy path. A sane bandit wouldn't attack someone in broad daylight, and I'm pretty sure the only reason Rote attacked me was because she wasn't right in the head.

>>354493
That'll be our first stop, then.

>>354439
You were self-aware before your memory loss.
...entities?

>...entities?
Yeeeess, we... (Meow) utilize redundant parallel processing, so to speak.

While we have one mouth, we've had multiple thoughts and voices. Which is the cause of our simultaneous confused manner of speaking and...Various animals. We think, therefore we all are.

>>354545
this is sufficient explanation.
Anyway, your friend Amos was sufficiently familiar with Iris that you might ask him, though he was very tight-lipped about it. So maybe it's not a very good idea. What species ARE they, anyway?

We assure you meow we are completely sane.

>>354564

uh. well. mostly, anyway. I'm pretty sure our senses of shame and decency are completely gone.

Darren 2011/10/01(Sat)15:25 No. 354583 ID: c7b6c2
File 131750795203.png - (26.53KB , 500x500 , running out of steam here.png )

>>354547
>>354545
That actually explains your recent behavior. You're a schizophrenic. Who can't make up your mind about what animal you want to mimic next. It makes perfect sense.

>>354559
Yes, I know. I've talked with Amos. He said that he's seen Iris around before.

Do you mean Iris's race or Amos's race? I'm not sure exactly what Iris is, but Amos is a Keppé. Apparently they came from a desert across the western ocean about a thousand years ago.

>>354564
I doubt that.

Well master, schizophrenia or no, when will we be leaving? We'd love to see the world! Hopefully one with less crazy shape shifting bandits, and maybe one with golden clockwork parts.

moo.

how you feeling?

>>354583
Actually we did make up our mind. We're a cat today, nya. But yeah, let's go to the dwarven fortress. I bet it's covered in cats, nya!

Darren 2011/10/01(Sat)21:17 No. 354785 ID: c7b6c2
File 131752906339.png - (28.87KB , 500x500 , i have no idea how to draw backpacks.png )

>>354589
We're leaving today!

>>354594
Well, I'm still a bit sore. If I move around too much, the wound will open up, but I'm sure that I'll be able to walk there.

>>354603
Oh, hells, there probably ARE a bunch of cats there. I never liked cats. No offense.

Okay... we're going out the door. Right now. I've got Rote's knife, but I'm leaving the longsword because it's essentially useless now. I've got the backpack, too. I think that's everything. I also put my robe back on because it wasn't too burned. Just the sleeves, really.

Next stop, dorf fort.

(meow) Y-you don't l-like c-cats Onee-chan..? *sniff sniff* *pretend to cry*

okay.

...hey, you should totally install a mechanism that'd let us fly over things and poop on them.

>>354912

While that's a bit..disgusting, a compartment inside us to store things might actually be worthwhile. Maybe for small objects we can "eject" when needed

>>354981

right! like poop. ooh, make it caustic poop so we can aid you in combat by pooping on your enemies!

We don't even have anything to poop with! We are mechanical! And I refuse to have someone else shove excrement into us in such an undignified manner.

Darren 2011/10/02(Sun)19:41 No. 355202 ID: c7b6c2
File 131760967928.png - (33.27KB , 500x500 , he just has long sleeves i guess?.png )

>>354911
I'm sorry. I just never saw the appeal in owning an unemotional self-centered bloodthirsty animal.

>>354912
>>354981
>>355030
What--

I-I'm not doing that.

Fly upwards, get a birds eye view for the area

Meow... Fine, then maybe you can walk alone for a while, Meow.
>>355219

Darren 2011/10/02(Sun)21:00 No. 355232 ID: c7b6c2
File 131761445251.png - (32.06KB , 500x500 , cannot into landscape.png )

>>355219
>>355222
Hey, where are you going...

The path ahead is clear. It crests a hill before sloping into a floodplain. Your destination, the mountain range, is visible on the horizon. It is a number of hours away.

There is a column of smoke rising from a distant point. Its greyish color indicates that it is most likely buildings or some other construction being burned.

It would be difficult if not impossible to see the smoke from the path.

[swoop down and circle close to him] meow, a fire is in the distance, it looks like a building is lit up.

Yeah, could be at the ruins, or it could be after the split to the northwest. We're not close enough to tell yet.

Nah I think we should check it out before we report anything. At a safe distance of course.

"Hey there's a fire off in the distance, gonna check it out for a moment!"

Than head off

let's check it out.

Clockwork Bird 2011/10/03(Mon)20:00 No. 355692 ID: c7b6c2
File 131769723398.png - (47.70KB , 500x500 , now with topography.png )

>>355237
>>355273
>>355337
It is a longer journey to the source of the smoke than it is to the fortress. If this course of action is taken, Darren will most likely reach the fortress before you reach the smoke. Are you sure you want to do this? Will you tell Darren if you do?

Well maybe he should'e thought about that before he called cats unemotional self-centered bloodthirsty animals. Meow.
Anyway I don't care much about the smoke, though it's something to tell him later. Still, it'd be good to continue to keep look out and only go back to Darren later when we need to, so he misses our company.

>>355692
Fly back down, tell Darren, say we want to go check it out but it's really far away.

nah, forget it. I wanna see the fortress.

think we should check it. could be something on a course for the fort.

oh and yeah tell him about it.

Clockwork Bird 2011/10/04(Tue)19:23 No. 356026 ID: c7b6c2
File 131778141051.png - (28.33KB , 500x500 , more plot.png )

Unable to reach consensus due to a tie. You continue to fly around.

You find a tent in a clearing a distance north of the road. There is no one in the immediate area, and the firepit indicates that someone has been there recently.

okay now THAT is something we should tell him about.

Do we have an actual clock in us? If it has been an hour, he's had plenty of time to think for himself, and he can come off of time out.

Clockwork Bird 2011/10/04(Tue)20:13 No. 356034 ID: c7b6c2
File 131778439283.png - (40.74KB , 500x500 , barely even makes sense.png )

>>356030
It has been around twenty minutes.

Go back and tell him about this stuff. By the time we do that it'll be like half an hour of us being away.

Depends how far the tent is in regards to his path, but even so I guess it's about time we headed back, and we can tell him about Things In The World, and tell him that we could make do just fine on our own and we're just hanging out with him because we're so awesome and he should appreciate us. And stuff.

Why are we (Meow) angry at him again? We are a bit self-centered and bloodthirsty.

Has he actually shown any major (Meow) disrespect for us?

He hasn't, he's just not sure why we've had a sudden thought process change. He's taken good care of us if we've lasted this long, even got us repaired earlier.

>>356082


Because we want to be poop bombadiers! It surely had nothing to do with the fact that Darren needed a half hour of peace and quiet before we bug him again.

Darren 2011/10/05(Wed)19:39 No. 356243 ID: c7b6c2
File 131786879187.png - (30.69KB , 500x500 , get more motivation.png )

Oh, hey, Bird. Why'd you fly off like that? Was it because of what I said about cats?

Well, anyway, we're going to be there in a bit. We just have to cross the floodplain.

Darren, we found a recently-used campsite in a clearning a little ways north of here, and there's a whole bunch of smoke a long ways north of here. Nya. Like a town's on fire.

There's a nearby campsite along the river.

We just really wanted to fly up and get a look. Easier to spot crazy female shapeshifting bandits from the air than down below.

Meow, why are you holding your backpack in your hands?

>Was it because of what I said about cats?
No, we were just joking, nya. Although cats are actually pretty cool, especially the way their skulls can be crushed under a metallic beak of a certain specimen of the superior race... Ahem.