Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)13:23 No. 30757 ID: 1afd58
File 125054059566.png - (914B , 640x400 , sleep.png )

I am asleep, yet I can hear them. Voices suddenly intruding, whispers on the edges of my mind. Too faint to make out exactly, just enough to get the feeling of the suggestions.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)13:24 No. 30758 ID: 1afd58
File 125054066652.png - (3.76KB , 640x400 , esc01.png )

I wake, and notice three things immediately.

Firstly, I am hungry. This is strange, as I haven't eaten once in the months since being placed here, and have never felt hungry here before. Something must have happened.

Secondly, I notice a door to the side of the room. It's currently closed. That has never been there before either.

Thirdly, the voices in my mind. That is also new.

I await their suggestions, as I am currently at a loss.

>>30758
This door, we must break down with might of muscle! Or if that doesn't work, check to see if it's unlocked and proceed through it.

>>30758

Remind yourself of your name, what you are, why you are here and what your goals are.

>>30758
DESTROY the door open.

Or try the knob.

whichver

Turn doorknob, push door. If the door does not yield, try pulling instead of pushing. If it still doesn't work, axe-kick the doorhandle, and you should be able to unlock it.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)13:46 No. 30770 ID: 1afd58
File 125054197744.png - (3.79KB , 640x400 , esc02.png )

>>30760
>Remind yourself of your name, what you are, why you are here and what your goals are.

Taking stock of things is a good idea.

I'm... we are... Ugluk the Ironhanded. I'm an orc of twelve summers' age, or was when I was captured some months ago.

In my tribe, I was a young warrior, held in high regard. I am an expert axeorc, though I am more than capable with most weapons. I'm smarter than most of my kin; particularly with regards to languages. I am occasionally decent at various crafting or construction works, but nothing reliable.

I do not care for art, fancy food, or anything else that the damned elves try to foist upon us from time to time.

Asking why I am here will not get you much. I don't even know where "here" is. Months ago, I appeared in this room clad only in a loincloth. No one has entered since then to my knowledge. It is always brightly lit. The room is made of some white-painted metal that will not bend under my strength. I have not had food nor drink, nor had any other physical desires in all this time. Until now.

My goals? Simple: Escape.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)13:47 No. 30771 ID: 1afd58
File 125054206281.png - (4.32KB , 640x400 , esc03.png )

>>30759
>>30761
>>30769
>Open door or destroy it.

Damnit. I was looking forward to destroying it.

The door opened at my approach, and I heard some loud buzzing noise out in the hallway as it did. There is no movement outside.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)13:49 No. 30772 ID: 1afd58
File 125054215264.png - (14.64KB , 640x400 , esc04.png )

Hrm. I find myself in a hallway with numbered doors. I just came out of door 01.

At one end of the hall, there is another door, with some black panel next to it.

To the other end, the hallway opens into a room. There appears to be a dead person in this room, but I am too far away to examine it right now.

>>30772
Get close to booty to examine it. Keep your eyes open for hidden smoke traps.

>>30770
And you are only NOW hearing voices? You've got a solid head on your shoulders boy.

>>30772
Escape is the first priority, go through the door at the end of the hall and ignore anything that doesn't try to get in your way, and if they do, crush them.

>>30772
Go up to dead person, but keep yourself about five feet away. Don't want a nasty zombie surprise. Inspect corpse to see if there's anything worth looting.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)14:05 No. 30781 ID: 1afd58
File 125054314517.png - (8.58KB , 640x400 , esc05.png )

>>30774
>>30777
>examine body

Uh, appears to be a dead, naked human. He apparently died from being stabbed through the chest with this bent metal bar. He is currently pinned to the wall with it.

This room is of similar make to my cell. There are a couple crates in the corner. There is also a destroyed cage that I assume used to be a prison cell.

There is clothing on the floor, presumably the human's.

There is also a desk here with some items on it, and a glass case with what looks like a fairy in it.

>>30781
YOU ARE AN ORK! BREAK EVERYTHING!

>>30781
Get metal bar, use to bash open crates.
Look through clothes, search for loot.
Inspect Items.
Do NOT remove fairy from glass.

>>30781
OBTAIN FAIRY
Hope to god it doesn't start yelling "HEY LOOK LISTEN HEY LOOK LISTEN" over and over.

Oh you should probably rifle though all the boxes and stuff here too. See if you can't find something interesting.

>>30772
A dead person?

Dead people are loot! More specifically, check him for weapons. If he has none, take his leg or his thighbone, if you can wrench it out of the leg. Use it as a club.

>>30781
Is there anything in the clothing? If not, just wear it.

>>30801
fuck that

fashion RUCKSACK out of PANTS via knotting up the legs and cutting/tearing a loop in the seat for a handle.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)14:42 No. 30810 ID: 1afd58
File 12505453561.png - (8.31KB , 640x400 , esc06.png )

>>30785
>BREAK EVERYTHING
I'm an orc, not a moron. I don't know where I am, and sometimes non-broken things can be useful.

>>30790
>>30791
>boxes

I grab a bar and smash open a box. Feels good to have a weapon in hand. The box appears to be full of multiples of the same sort of items. One moment, I'll give you a closer look.

>>30800
>>30801
>Loot clothing

In a moment. The man himself is naked, and is not holding anything. The clothing appears to be of a tolerable fit for me.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)14:44 No. 30811 ID: 1afd58
File 125054545887.png - (34.90KB , 640x400 , esc07.png )

"Dehy"? I don't know what these are. The package on the left seems to be made of a thin metallic foil. The container on the right appears to be a metal bottle of liquid. Beer, presumably.

>>30811
beef stew?

Well, weigh it in your hand. think it's enough to sate your hunger?

Also, do you drink? Beer is tasty.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)15:12 No. 30819 ID: 1afd58
File 125054714316.png - (8.47KB , 640x400 , esc08.png )

>>30812
The "Beef Stew" was a solid block of pasty brown goop. It tasted vaguely stewlike and was very filling.

This beer is terrible. I need to find a dwarf and throttle him for some decent beer. Who the hell thought it was even reasonable to call this crap "beer"?

Anyway, I'm no longer hungry or thirsty at the moment. I tried on the clothing. It's a bit tight and made of a strange fabric, but it fits well enough. There are no pockets nor anything of interest attached to the suit. I don't know why the man was naked when he was killed.

The fairy is calling out from her small cell, in some fey language I don't know.

>>30819
Smash fairy's cell with the bar.

>>30821
A posit to that- try not to smash the faerie. Though, if you do, no biggie.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)15:42 No. 30826 ID: 1afd58
File 125054892812.png - (8.23KB , 640x400 , esc09.png )

>>30821
>>30823
>Smash case, possibly fairy

I SMASH THE BAR AGAINST THE GLASS.

...

This doesn't appear to have worked. This glass must be reinforced. The fairy shouts in terror!

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)15:43 No. 30827 ID: 1afd58
File 12505490285.png - (5.84KB , 640x400 , esc10.png )

The fairy shouts again, a moment later. "OH GODS! PLEASE TELL ME YOU SPEAK COMMON! ETHLENEL SVYLLA ARIELTH?"

I do speak common, as a matter of fact. What should I tell her? That last bit sounded like Elvish, but I don't know Elvish.

>>30827
Ask her if she knows how to open this stupid thing.
Or where the hell we are.

>>30828
There's a button clearly labeled "OPEN"...

>>30831
There's a numberpad. Pretty sure we have to type in a code and then press open.

>>30831
But what about all those other buttons? HUH?
CLEARLY IT IS AN INSIDIOUS TRAP.

...Or maybe it just needs a passcode.

>>30832
Have you ever seen a number pad with an OPEN button instead of ENTER?

It's obviously a microwave, guys. If we hit a number it'll cook her.

>>30827
Reply that you do indeed speak common.

Smash again if you think you can, if you don't press open.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)17:53 No. 30884 ID: 1afd58
File 125055682028.png - (5.22KB , 640x400 , esc11.png )

>Speak to Fairy, think about pad next to the case.

I ask in common: "How do I get you out? Where are we anyway?"

She replies in a rushed, almost panicked manner: "I don't know where we are. My name is Mariana, and you have to get me out of here! I thought I was going to starve!

Look, see those buttons over there? There's some sequence you have to push in to open the glass. The human man knew the sequence, but I don't. It might be on his... box thing there. The thing on his desk. You use it somehow with the buttons on that plank in front of it. Please help me out of here!"

She speaks quickly and is vaguely annoying. Still, any ally is useful, and if nothing else, fairy meat tastes better than "Dehy Rations".

>>30884
Hey! Listen!
Hey! Listen!
Hey! Listen!

>>30884
Well...
Lets have a look at this "box thing."

>>30884
"Dehy" is short for 'dehydrated.' You just have to add water and then they'll taste better.

And yes, check the computer. I have a feeling we'll have to teach you how to use it. It displays useful pictures on the screen (the box), and takes commands from the rectangular surface with all the buttons. If nothing shows up on the screen, try pressing one of the buttons and seeing if something happens.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)18:13 No. 30905 ID: 1afd58
File 125055799176.png - (18.17KB , 640x400 , TerminalMap.png )

>>30896
I could see her saying that. I'll keep the metal bar handy to whack her with, if I ever get her out of there.

>>30900
There's a thing on top of the desk, roughly square, with this written on it.

Below it, on the desk, are an array of press switches. The fairy girl said it was a method of manipulating the device.

>>30884
man, this seems like an awful large amount of work. are you SURE the box is bash-proof?

If so, go jam the keys on that box.

>>30905
Try hitting 4.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)18:17 No. 30909 ID: 1afd58
File 125055822760.png - (11.35KB , 640x400 , TerminalCell.png )

>>30907
>4

I press the switch labeled 4.

The image changes. Magical, I guess.

There is a switch labeled "Back", which I guess I press to go back to the original image.

>>30909
Well phooey. You'll need to find someone who can repair it to get it open, looks like.

Go ahead and hit 2. Looks like you can get a companion, or at the very least an easy meal. A kobold won't be a threat. Although if you're worried, you could hit back and then 1 to check out the kobold's 'anomalous data.'

>>30909
try all the options?

go back if that doesn't work.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)18:25 No. 30920 ID: 1afd58
File 125055873756.png - (11.28KB , 640x400 , TerminalCellDone.png )

>>30913
>2
>>30917
>all numbers

I press 2.

I heard a noise from the hallway, and the image changed again.

All other keypresses just flash the image with no change.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)18:26 No. 30921 ID: 1afd58
File 125055879572.png - (27.62KB , 640x400 , TerminalMap.png )

I press back and find myself back at the original image.

Go back out to the hallway and check out room 2. Wouldn't want the kobold wandering off and causing/getting into trouble.

>>30921
I say we mess with the faerie first, it's probably less annoying than the kobold.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)18:54 No. 30941 ID: 1afd58
File 125056045429.png - (5.15KB , 640x400 , esc12.png )

>>30922
>go see kobold

Right, door opened as soon as I approached it.

Kobolds. Looks like a pair of them, though I can't tell their genders without getting closer. Vermin.

I... don't know what to make of this. They appear to be very in to whatever they are doing there. They don't seem to have noticed me yet.

>>30937
>fairy first

She yelled something at me as I left, but I didn't pay attention. I'll get back to her in a moment.

>>30941
Alert them to your presence and tell them they're coming with you.
You're deep in the heart of hostile territory. You need all the help you can get.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)19:11 No. 30952 ID: 1afd58
File 125056149365.png - (4.89KB , 640x400 , esc13.png )

>>30946
>alert them and recruit them

Kobolds are not great combatants, but can be useful on occasion. I speak in Orcish, as my Koboldric isn't perfect by a long shot.

"You two. I own you now. Come on."

They react with terror at my voice. The closest one stands in a defensive stance, while the one behind it cowers.

It speaks in broken Orcish. "You... stay gone! Get go! Out!"

>>30952
Kick it's nose, establish dominance.

>>30952
That... is a terrible job at recruiting. And if you kick it, you'll probably break it's neck.

Explain that you want their help so you can all get out and be free.

>>30957

This, say it in simple terms if need be, just do all you can to get them on your side. Kobolds are resourceful.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)19:29 No. 30964 ID: 1afd58
File 125056257693.png - (6.07KB , 640x400 , esc14.png )

>>30954
>kick nose in for dominance

First instinct is violence, easy enough. Little ratling didn't expect it. I am not wearing shoes, so I just smash it hard in the face with my heel, then brandish my metal bar. The other one pleads in Koboldric, something about "Don't hurt, please don't kill".

>>30957
>>30958
>diplomacy

I speak after kicking him. "I need help escaping. Follow me, and you can help. Maybe I'll find you... food or something. We can do better together than apart anyway."

The kobold with the injured nose nods, and his companion does so as well.

Seems like I've got a couple hangers-on now. Good. They could be useful.

>>30964
> Kicked Cutebold in faec
Give up will to live. Kill self in most painful way possible.

Asshole. :(

>>30964
Awesome. Now lets check that weird door with the panel next to it.

Yo, escapee-dude. You're a terrible fucking person for kicking a cutebold.

<Koboldish> Hey! Cutebolds! If you can hear me! This dude is not too smart. Go into the other room with him, push the BOTTOM BUTTON. It'll have symbols on it that look like this [OPEN]. Make the fairy inside it promise to give you the "L" shaped piece of metal next to her. Push the little button on the side of it, point it at the kicky-man with the metal bar, and then pull your finger on the slidey "c" shaped piece of metal.

>>30964
Seriously. That wasn't cool bro.

>>30968
>>30970
He's an orc. Deal with it, babies.

>>30964
well, pretty good use of violence I'd wager.

though next time, hit the arm- the face is FULL of things that break forever and don't cause much pain.

>>30978
hey, I'm fine with the facekick- I just think that you should go for parts that, if they break, they can heal back easily. Try forearms, chest (if your strength won't just gib the thing) and buttock. Preferably KICK the buttock to prevent hand-hole interplay.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)19:56 No. 30982 ID: 1afd58
File 125056417157.png - (5.67KB , 640x400 , TerminalDoor.png )

>>30968
>>30970
>>30972
>bad person for kicking kobold
Well, at least I now know that you voices are coming from somewhere other than my own mind. I've killed dozens of these things on raids, kicking one in the face is hardly all that bad.

>>30969
>Now lets check that weird door with the panel next to it.

Fine, we'll go out there. The kobolds are obediently following.

Hmm. This thing is like the one on the desk, but lacking the same control switches. There are eleven switches here, labeled 0-9 and "Enter", and a small slot in the wall under it.

>>30982
I don't care about the MORALITY, moron. It's a matter of efficiency. Beings that follow you out of fear will be waiting for a chance to escape, or for you to mess up so they can stab you in the back. If you convinced them to work with you out of necessity they would follow you willingly and help you if you're in danger.

Simple resource appreciation.

>>30992
are you trying to explain cumulative returns to a creature that evolved in the crucible of a raid-based culture?

>>31001
I thought I used pretty simple words. =/

>>31004
Still.

>>30982
Don't feel bad, just be cautious for the kobolds trying to run or kill ya in your sleep. In the future, consider getting at least one loyal minion to watch your back from the fear-based minions while you sleep.

>30982

Stick your hand in the slot. Then instruct the Kobolds to begin pulling levers randomly.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/17(Mon)20:34 No. 31019 ID: 1afd58
File 125056647219.png - (2.69KB , 197x249 , esc15.png )

This "voices in my head" thing takes some getting used to. ugh.

>>30981
>Aim for faster-healing/more painful areas.

Kobold noses are pretty sensitive. It's a good place for kicking them.

>>30992
>Long-term thinking.

Ok, I get it. I'll... think about it.

>>31009
>Careful of insubordination, etc.
Well, Kobolds are pretty reliable once they are under your heel. I shouldn't have to worry too much. Anyway, the fairy should at least be on my side if I free her.

>>31010
>stick hand in slot, randomly pull levers

The slot is thin, plainly designed for something other than hands. There are no levers here to pull regardless.

>>31019

Nitwits.

Search the place. There should be a thin rectangle/square made of strange material that fits in the slot. Light, easily bent, breaks easy too.

>>31061
>Light, easily bent, breaks easy too.

HE IS NOT SAYING YOU SHOULD BREAK IT.

That would be very bad.

>>31019
Bring yo' esoteric brand o' pain from all sides
Else them muthafuckin Kobolds are gonna get jive

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)06:21 No. 31184 ID: 1afd58
File 12506017093.png - (16.60KB , 640x400 , esc16.png )

>>31061
>Search for a thin thing.
Search where? I assumed you voices were here to help me. I'll just assume you meant back in the room with the food.

>>31180
... what? Something about the kobold--

Damnit.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)06:22 No. 31185 ID: 1afd58
File 12506017731.png - (8.10KB , 640x400 , esc17.png )

Vermin.

>>31185
The fairy seems to like them, though.

>>31185
Get them to stop touching shit before they break something.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)09:11 No. 31217 ID: 1afd58
File 125061186799.png - (7.30KB , 640x400 , esc18.png )

>>31197
>fairy likes them
What is it with women and kobolds, anyway?

>>31212
>Stop them touching shit
I raise my hand and bar for a downward cross strike against it, but then pause. Is this what you want? A sharp blow would probably knock this one unconscious and stop the other misbehaving, but there were... complaints last time.

>>31217
Just sharply reprimand them and warn them of what COULD happen. Wifebold doesn't want her husband dead by his own doings, does she?

>>31217

Shout at them and shake your fist, say something like "STOP THAT AND COME ON!".

Try treating them like people.

Pick one up and shake it while yelling at it, but not to hard.
And don't treat them like people goddamn, just makes it harder when you kill em later.

>>31217
Just holler at them to stop messing with stuff.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)11:54 No. 31254 ID: 1afd58
File 125062167985.png - (9.42KB , 640x400 , esc19.png )

>>31224
>treating them like people
But... they aren't people. They're kobolds. They are slower, dumber, weaker, and more fragile than I. Why would I treat them like equals?

>>31220
>>31222
>>31225
>>31241
>verbally reprimand them, with shaking fist or bold.

I grab the nearest one by the ankle and shake it around. "You! Both of you! Don't you touch ANYTHING without asking first, you got it?"

Additionally, I can now tell rather plainly that this one is a female. I suppose the other is male.

>>31254
I know that little fucker isn't threatening you with a knife...

>>31254
Breed them to make more minions

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)12:01 No. 31259 ID: 1afd58
File 125062206515.png - (6.67KB , 640x400 , esc20.png )

>>31256
>knife

Uh... he appears to be admiring it. Somewhat... eagerly.

I'm not sure he's thinking about stabbing me with it. He wouldn't get close anyway.

>>31258
>breed them

I think I'll... just let them do that on their own. That would take weeks anyway, to get pups, and then weeks more for them to even start to be useful.

>>31254
Turn around still holding his partner in your hand.

Won't try to stab us with his partner in the way.

>>31259

Um, he's threatening you with a knife.

Put it through his damn hand. How fucking DARE he do that.

>>31259

How about we use the female as a hostage and threaten to harm her unless he drops the knife. Then relinquish him of the weapon and let her go, GENTLY.

>>31263

I don't see why we're pussyfooting around the kobolds. Break his wrist that's holding the knife, while not letting other kobold go.

If you indulge this kinda behavior it'll spread. This is NOT a democracy.

>>31254
>why should I treat them like equals

because it shows you're ALSO more magnanimous than them, and makes any time you DO hit them seem like a goddamn strike from heaven. It's all about maximizing returns on effort.

>>31259
oh shit, he found you a knife.

hold your hand out for it, tell him it's a good find.

Alternatively, tell the fairy to pick up the strange thing in her cell. Have her point the hole at the glass, then pull on the crossbow-like trigger.

>>31269
Don't do that, the overpressure would probably kill her.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)13:20 No. 31303 ID: 1afd58
File 125062684050.png - (9.52KB , 640x400 , esc21.png )

>injure kobold, take knife.

I drop the female, and before I can even reach the male, he's dropped the knife and fallen backwards, off of the desk. He shouts out in panicked koboldric that he's sorry and that it was a gift.

The knife is of interesting construction. Steel, with a finely sharpened edge, with a strange serrated portion along the opposite of the blade. It doesn't seem to be designed for combat use so much as a general cutting tool.

It's still a dangerous weapon, don't get me wrong. It's just not designed to be one.

I tell the kobolds that if I hear any noise from either of them in the next ten minutes, I am going to put the knife through one of their eyes.

They fall silent.

>>31303
Check the other rooms, now that the bolds are under control.
And don't free that fucking insect unless you really have to.

>>31303
ha, I KNEW it was a gift. You should listen to me, we could go far.

keep pressing those damn buttons, or have a kobold do it for you. Maybe check the rest of the cells?

>>31303

Consider the knife as a kobold leash. Just stab the knife hard trough the males hand to any proper surface and I bet they'll stick around.

>>31303

Might as well check the rest of the rooms. Release the fairy if you want to. She's probably gonna help you if you don't bash or or somethin'

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)14:12 No. 31333 ID: 1afd58
File 125062996128.png - (14.96KB , 640x400 , esc22.png )

>>31307
>Check rooms, don't free fairy
>>31308
>check rooms, push buttons (that free fairy)
>>31320
>check rooms, maybe free fairy

Uh, I'll check the rooms then. Fairy will have to wait.

The Kobolds follow me silently. They seem somewhat terrified.

I came from Room 01, and Room 02 contained the kobolds, so Room 03 is nex--

It appears that this cell was larger than the others, and has been converted to a gaming room, for someone's cardgames. There is a deck of cards in various piles on the tabletop, a few dozen brightly colored tokens, and on the other side, some already-opened dehy rations and beer.

>>31313
>pin kobold hands with knife to keep them places.
I may be a harsh commander, but I don't injure my own troops without purpose.

>>31333
Are there numbers visible anywhere, like in a sequence maybe?

>>31333
Rip down that poster on the wall, it might have something interesting under it. Other wise, examine it and the cards.

>>31333

Take the cards. Search the room. We can teach the kobolds to play ORC card games.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/18(Tue)20:18 No. 31442 ID: 1afd58
File 125065188686.png - (12.51KB , 640x400 , esc23.png )

>>31336
>>31339
>>31340
>take cards, poster, look for sequences.

Nothing interesting. It looks like they were playing some variant of 21. The winning hand was a pair of queens. I don't think the cards were important, but since you asked, I read the cards on table. The hands follow:
Queen of Hearts, Queen of Diamonds
Eight of Spades, Ace of Spades
Three of Clubs, Two of Spades
Ace of Diamonds, Nine of Clubs, and on the seat, Jack of Diamonds.

The poster is an image of a human woman. I don't see how human males manage to mate with them, to be honest. The kobolds seem interested in the image, however.

I have taken the pack of cards, in a box I found under the table. This clothing has no pockets, however, and I am already carrying two items. I have nowhere left to carry the cards.

The kobolds have acquired the poster.

>>31442
Give the opened rations and shitty beer to the kobolds, maybe some kindness will get them to follow you more obediently (and less room-destructively).

>>31442
Upend the table. Lets see if anything was under it.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)08:32 No. 31528 ID: 1afd58
File 125069597598.png - (16.27KB , 640x400 , esc24.png )

>>31465
>Give rations/beer to kobolds.

They accept the food and drink hungrily. They also have folded the poster into some form of hat. It appeared to be primarily the female's doing.

>>31476
>flip table
YEAH! Fun to throw things around! Haha! Been a while.

Anyway, no, nothing under it. Made a mess though.

>>31528
Well, if you want items to throw later on, bust the table up for easily huckable chunks of wood. If not, try the faerie again I guess. I mean, the worst that can happen is you get a delicious faerie-meal, right?

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)14:13 No. 31607 ID: 1afd58
File 125071638618.png - (5.13KB , 640x400 , esc25.png )

>>31545
The table should be here in the future, if I ever need the... well, it's not made of wood. Some weird metal, or whatever it is.

I return to the fairy. She's sitting in the corner, staring blankly forward, and doesn't react to my approach. It occurs to me that I still don't know the number sequence for the lock.

I opted to give the kobolds the deck of cards to carry. The female has it.

>>31607
Suddenly go WAAAAAAAAAAGH. That should stop her from doing that childish silent-treatment she's giving you.

>>31607
The thing on the desk had options for logs and information, right? Maybe one of those will prove useful.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)14:58 No. 31616 ID: 1afd58
File 125071912454.png - (21.80KB , 640x400 , esc26.png )

>>31608
>WAAAAGH

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)15:00 No. 31617 ID: 1afd58
File 125071919866.png - (21.77KB , 640x400 , esc27.png )

>>31608
>see if that stopped her being pouty

Yeah, she's now frozen in terror in the back of her cell, and apparently she cast some spell or another as a reaction, as traces of magic flit about inside.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)15:00 No. 31618 ID: 1afd58
File 125071925289.png - (6.02KB , 640x400 , TerminalNetwork.png )

>>31611
>Look at box for info

Yeah, ok. Wait, what the hell is this? Did someone touch something?

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)15:04 No. 31619 ID: 1afd58
File 125071948127.png - (27.15KB , 640x400 , TerminalMap.png )

Wait, nevermind. "Back" still works.

Ok, what next then?

>>31619
Information is always helpful, try that.

>>31627
So hit '3'.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)15:40 No. 31630 ID: 1afd58
File 125072160344.png - (23.49KB , 640x400 , TerminalResearch.png )

>>31619
>Research Information

Got it.

What? Is this thing broken?

No numbers seem to do anything on this image.

Still, I guess knowing what they were researching might be useful. I don't like being used for research. If I find the guy that was doing this, I'm killing him.

Assuming it wasn't the rotting corpse on the wall.

Should I just hit back?

>>31630
Punch the corpse, press back. try something else. we need numbers!

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/19(Wed)16:58 No. 31640 ID: 1afd58
File 125072631259.png - (27.15KB , 640x400 , TerminalMap.png )

>>31636
>punch corpse, go back.

Punching the corpse was vaguely satisfying, but didn't really get me anywhere.

Back at the menu screen again.

may as well go for the personal logs then
(choo choo)

on hold for tonight D:

>>31640
Hmmm. Is room 4 locked or something? We should go in there.

What happens if you hit 'back' on the map screen?

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/20(Thu)06:39 No. 31965 ID: 1afd58
File 125077554843.png - (13.28KB , 640x400 , PersonalLogs.png )

>>31888
>back on map screen

The screen just flashes, and puts the same image up.

>>31641
>Personal logs.(choochoo)

Hey, it displays a list of items. I'll read each in order, one moment.

>>31684
>Room 4, locked?

It is probably not locked; I just haven't been in there.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/20(Thu)06:42 No. 31970 ID: 1afd58
File 12507757749.png - (17.93KB , 640x400 , PersonalLog5.png )

Last one.

Now what? Room four?

I didn't really read these but I assume that you can peruse them at your leisure.

Press the buttons in this order:

Upper left, Upper middle, True middle, Lower left, Open. 1-2-5-7-open.

Also, what exactly do we want to DO with this faerie? Maybe use it for magic?

It sounds like the guy who helped run this place knew about the fairy and talked to it a few times.

Maybe the fairy can answer some questions about the place and why you're here. Maybe even what happened to Jarka, the female orc.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/21(Fri)11:24 No. 32470 ID: 1afd58
File 125087906033.png - (15.07KB , 640x400 , esc28.png )

>>31972
>open the door with the code
As soon as I type the code and press "open", the glass slides upwards and the fairy flits out and buzzes around me three or four times, then starts hovering in front of my face, talking quickly.

"Hey! I'm Mariana like you already know! You're an orc, so I can't expect you to know anything, but we're in a research prison, and they've been keeping us all here for research. We need to get out of here! Lex said that they'll kill us after we stop being useful!"

"What's your name? What're the kobold's names? Are they trained not to eat fairies? Are YOU planning to eat me? Please stop waving that knife around!"

...

Urgh. What now?

>>32470

Tell it that you guys seem to be the only ones left alive. Tell her you won't eat her. What ARE the Kobolds' names anyhow? Might as well ask them too.

Since the fairy seems to know some stuff, ask it what kind of research was going on here. May be good to know if you're supposed to have a disease. Maybe put knife in belt to calm her down.

Take that other thing out of the fairy box. Just drop the bar. The other thing in the box is probably more useful, otherwise they wouldn't have locked it up.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/21(Fri)16:37 No. 32489 ID: 1afd58
File 12508978463.png - (15.08KB , 640x400 , esc29.png )

>>32473
>Tell her the situation, ask about the situation

I tell her the way things are, the best I can figure to sum it up. "Look, I haven't seen anyone alive besides myself and these kobolds. I'm getting out of here. I'm not going to eat you and they won't either. You wanna come with?"

She blinks and replies a bit more slowly. "Yes... ok, I'll join."

She seems a bit confused. I then ask about the goings on. "Alright fine. So what do you know that can help us?"

She looks around the room, and winces at the dead human. "Um, not much really. Lex, uh, the d-dead human, told me that they wanted to know more about fairies, and then also ogres and orcs and kobolds and that sort of thing. He didn't tell me much once I figured out the door code for my cell the first time. He stopped trusting me, I think."

I nod, even though this is no new information really. "Uh, good. Fine."

>>32475
I drop the bar, the knife is on the table to put the fairy more at ease.

This thing is a small, metallic object. It's roughly L-shaped, and generally reminds me of a hand-crossbow. One end has a hole in it, presumably where the bolt comes out. I don't see a loading or strining mechanism.

The fairy confirms my spoken thoughts. "Yes, it's like a hand crossbow, but it shoots fire! Be very careful with it, I've seen it burn through an Ogre's flesh, so I know it's powerful!"

This weapon feels small and light. I don't care for it.

Crossbows are really more of a woman's weapon.

>>32489

The bullet comes outta the slim end mate!

~Sniper

"so you saw the ogre bust outa here then? What was that like"

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/21(Fri)19:45 No. 32618 ID: 1afd58
File 125090910895.png - (19.27KB , 640x400 , esc30.png )

>>32499
>Bullet comes out the narrow end.

Ok, let's see how this works.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/21(Fri)19:51 No. 32619 ID: 1afd58
File 125090946827.png - (17.81KB , 640x400 , esc31.png )

>>32618
Well, maybe this weapon is a little more satisfying than I thought. Bits of human brains, skull, and blood are now scorched to the wall.

The gun feels hot in my hands and a light on the side of it is half-full and slowly decreasing.

The kobolds appear terrified of this item.

>>32607
The fairy stutters and stares at the weapon in my hand as she answers.

"I... well... um... Jarka was in here, doing what she, uh, normally does. Anyway, she was taunting Brug, that's the ogre. He got mad, really mad, at something she said, that I can't remember.

Anyway, he tore open the cage and stabbed Lex to the wall! Then he ran after Jarka into her cell. I heard her scream but it kind of... stopped."

The fairy looks troubled, but continues after a moment.

"A-anyway, he... just left her cell and tried to open the door at the end of the hall. It didn't work the right way, and he just sort of forced it. It sounded like he broke it as well. Anyway he closed it behind him."

She looks at me, and at the two kobolds. "I don't think he's... stable anymore. We should really try to avoid him."

She probably has a point. Ogres are violent morons anyway. That's why they could never defeat orcs in real battles.

One on one in an unfamiliar area, however, an ogre might beat me. At least, until I find an axe.

What next?

>>32619

See if we can find an axe then. Or something better to fight with. Where else haven't we been besides room 4?

Let's go to room 4 then. Though it's probably just gonna be Jarka's body.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/22(Sat)13:04 No. 32962 ID: 1afd58
File 125097145138.png - (7.18KB , 640x400 , esc32.png )

>>32773
>room 4

The door opens easily enough. I left the others back where they were, the fairy wanted to talk to the kobolds anyway.

Jarka, I presume. She's naked except for the strap of cloth across her chest. She looks as though she's been torn apart by someone excessively strong, probably the ogre.

Jarka looks like she comes from the Irontooth clan. It's a loose alliance of orc tribes that were based some distance from mine. Can't say I'm sorry to see one dead.

That said, I would have liked to have had another orc around.

It looks like she was holding something when she died.

>>32962
Examine whatever's in 'er hand.

>>32962
take item, take cloth, return to the room silently and listen what the fairy is talking with the kobolds

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/22(Sat)13:28 No. 32969 ID: 1afd58
File 125097289373.png - (35.27KB , 640x400 , esc33.png )

>>32963
>Examine object.

It's a card. Looks like the human that is dead in the other room.

I don't really know what the rest of it means, but recalling that the door was asking for a card, this might be useful.

>>32969
collect your party, try the card on the door

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/22(Sat)13:33 No. 32971 ID: 1afd58
File 125097319551.png - (8.55KB , 640x400 , esc34.png )

>>32964
>take cloth, return to other room to spy on fairy and kobolds.

The cloth is filthy and bloody, but ok.

The fairy is standing on the male kobold's hand and rubbing his nose with her hands. She's also talking.

"So anyway, that's who I am. Who are you and your little friend?"

The male kobold seems nervous. The female looks furious. The male speaks in Koboldric, which I've translated as best I can understand here. "I'm... uh, I'm Jrifdlib, and she's Klildril. We're both (something) same (camp?). I'm a (knife?) guard, she's a (something)-maker. We're (following/obeying) the orc because he kicked me."

The fairy's hands glow a moment, and the male kobold looks less pained. The fairy smiles.

I've not been spotted yet.

>>32971
step in, congradulate the fairy on being useful for something.
inform them you have found the key to the door; use the card on the door, send the kobold knife guard to scout ahead. let him take the knife, as you've got the hand crossbow of fire.

>>32971
Walk back into the room, and apologize for the kick. We don't want these little vermin stabbing us in the back, especially not with the help of a fairy. Just say that's how you've always done things.

>>32971
inform them of your findings

>>32971

listen a bit longer

>>32971
>>33007
after listening a little more, when you have the oportunity, ask Klildril what she makes

"I kicked you because you were being an idiot!"

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/22(Sat)17:13 No. 33051 ID: 1afd58
File 125098642987.png - (13.28KB , 640x400 , esc35.png )

>>32973
>Congratulate fairy, give knife to kobold.

"So you can heal. Useful."

They are startled by my sudden entrance, but the fairy nods. "Uh, yeah, I can a bit. I mean, I can't bring people back to life, but a bruised snout I can fix."

I hand the knife to the male kobold. "Here. You can use this, right?"

He nods.

>>32974
>apologize for kicking
Ugh. I'm loathe to do so, but it might be a good idea in the... cooperative sense.

"Look, I'm... not sure kicking you was the best idea. Uh, it's just how we work in my tribe. I won't hurt you again unless you do something to deserve it."

He nods slowly, and stammers out in Orcish: "O-ok. I... try not do bad thing."

>>32975
>inform them of your findings.
"Jarka's dead. The ogre tore her in half. I did find this on her."

The fairy looks ill, but nods. "Y-yes, that's what we need to open the door. Poor Jarka..."

>>33007
>wait longer

I didn't.

>>33023
>Ask klildril what she makes.

I ask in Koboldric, since she doesn't seem to know Orcish. "What do you make?"

She looks confused for a moment, then smirks, I suppose at my accent. She answers in Koboldric. "I make (something)." My blank expression grants an explanation. "Uh... things... to put on a body." She tugs at her loincloth and top.

I suppose she's a clothier.

>>33037
>Kicked you because you were an idiot.
This might be accurate, but seems to go against trying to calm them down about the incident.

Ok.

Well, what now? Should I go try to use the card with the door?

>>33051
yes, do it

Usually there is a simplified picture of a card that shows you how to put it in the little slot.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/22(Sat)20:50 No. 33111 ID: 1afd58
File 125099941379.png - (5.63KB , 640x400 , esc36.png )

>>33053
>>33075
>Use card, open door

There is a pictograph showing how to do it.

I swipe the card. The screen changes.

The door creaks loudly as it opens, plainly something in the machine is broken.

I almost half hope the Ogre... is out here... here..

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/22(Sat)20:51 No. 33112 ID: 1afd58
File 125099950777.png - (283.44KB , 640x400 , esc37.png )

I'm in... a hallway... with a large window.

Escaping might be a little... more difficult than I thought.

The male kobold speaks quietly. "We's pretty high up."

I can barely manage a "Yeah..." in return.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)18:20 No. 36252 ID: 1afd58
File 125168164261.png - (13.99KB , 640x400 , esc01-01.png )

Well, enough gawking out the window.

We're in some weird hallway, with a huge glass window looking... outside.

The kobolds point out the blatantly obvious ogre napping on the far end. Brug, I assume.

He's surrounded by dehy beer cans.

Before I can do anything, I hear a voice fill the room. I can't tell where the sound is coming from, it seems to come from everywhere at once. The voice is somewhat high pitched and whiny, and plainly human. It speaks in strangely accented common.

"Well everyone, cast and crew of the Delphi's Child, your own personal God here. It's 19:55, and you know what that means: five minutes until lights out. As always, all doors will be sealed and you'll be stuck wherever you are until 06:00. Get to bed, kids."

This monologue ends with an obnoxious sort of laugh-snort sound.

Well... ok. Five minutes before everything locks. If it's all the same, I'd prefer not to be locked here with the damned ogre.

What now?

>>36252

Artifact study, we might find some of our stuff in there, or something useful at least.

>>36252
the ogre is a threat to your strength, was noted as unpredictable in the previous notes, and is currently consuming rations and food far faster than you or the others. fire the hand crossbow into it's head.

>>36252
Quietly move into artifact study, he seems pretty out of it.

>>36252
shot the ogre in the head, he killed already, he might kill again

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)18:32 No. 36258 ID: 1afd58
File 125168233713.png - (5.69KB , 640x400 , esc01-02.png )

>>36253
>>36255
>go to Artifact Study
I will try this immediately.

The door displays a familiar message.

>>36254
>>36256
>kill Brug.

I will do this after dealing with the door.

An ogre, properly controlled, could be useful. This one is an orc-killer and apparently a drunk, however, and thus useless.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)18:33 No. 36259 ID: 1afd58
File 125168240613.png - (7.15KB , 640x400 , esc01-03.png )

>>36258

I scan the card, the same way as before.

... Hm.

Apparently Lex Duncan did not have rights to get into this room.

We may have to find another way through this door.

>>36259
keep watch of the ogre!

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)18:44 No. 36262 ID: 1afd58
File 125168306177.png - (32.42KB , 640x400 , esc01-04.png )

>kill brug

I level the 'crossbow' at Brug's head, but before I fire it, the fairy girl jumps in front.

"No! Look, he's dangerous and crazy, but I don't want you to just kill him! Anyway, that thing barely even grazed him last time Lex shot him. He'd just wake up and kill you."

Well... if it wouldn't kill him, I'd be hard pressed to do it with my bare hands.

The fairly looks vaguely dizzy after her shield dissipates.

We have about four minutes left now.

>>36262
retrieve the broken tube(pipe, piece of metal), and pierce the ogre at eye level, make sure to kill it!

shoot the fairy

Put the muzzle directly against Brug's eye, aiming into his brain. At that proximity, and going through only soft parts, it should be able to kill him.

>>36270
fire 2 or more times, just to be certain.

>>36262
I know you probably don't want to do it for plot reasons or whatever, but seriously there's no reason we can't walk him through killing the ogre with the gun.

Unlike a crossbow, this weapon can fire multiple times without stopping to reload. If one shot doesn't kill it, use eleven or twelve. And yeah, aim at his eye(s).

>>36262
Explain the reasoning, at least.

See what the door up the ladder that says "quarters" does. That sounds like a better place to spend a night, but the screen by the door has extra words on it. Sneak by sleeping ogre to get there.

>>36262

Just search the ogre. Take the pip and see if you can bash a door or window in. Just get out of here. Leave the ogre alone, maybe we can even use it to our advantage later to help. It's stuck too after all.

>>36285

Actually, I guess we could go into the bathroom for the night. not glamorous, but it has water.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)21:18 No. 36308 ID: 1afd58
File 125169228149.png - (14.35KB , 640x400 , esc01-05.png )

>>36264
>>36270
>>36274
>>36275
>kill brug, through the eye.

Heh. There's a certain pleasure in taking life.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)21:20 No. 36309 ID: 1afd58
File 125169241827.png - (15.32KB , 640x400 , esc01-06.png )

Brug's blood, bone, and brains are now all over the wall.

He's pretty soundly dead.

The fairy looks horrified, but I think the kobolds understand the nature of our situation a bit better now.

Anyway, what now?

The gun feels hot, and is making a beeping noise. I assume I shouldn't fire it twice in succession like that again.

I hesitated a moment before killing Brug. Three minutes remain. Finding a place to spend the "night" might be a good idea.

>>36309
you did the right thing Ugluk, he was too dangerous to be left alive...

break one of those airducts and see if a kobold can open the door to the quarters from inside

>>36309
Explain to the fairy, "I left my room for the first time in months. Before I left I put only one idea into my head. Escape. And I vowed that nothing would get in my way. You admitted that this ogre was dangerous, and his records showed his hostility as well. You can leave if you want, I'm not really forcing you to come with me. But if you get in my way I will not hesitate to attack. Escape is all I want right now, and nothing is going to stop me."

>>36311
add that you wont harm anyone who wants to help in escaping as well

>>36309
Try the quarters, that'd be a good place to sleep for sure.

>>36309
"Quarters" seems like a good place to be locked in for the night.
Y'know what with probably having beds and all that.
...Though that red light on the panel next to the door does not bode well.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)22:04 No. 36321 ID: 1afd58
File 125169508617.png - (6.40KB , 640x400 , esc01-07.png )

>>36311
>>36313
>Talk to fairy about this.

I walk over and speak with the fairy, hoping to explain why I had to do that.

"I just got out of that cell for the first time in months. I want nothing but getting out of here and back to my wives and children. Brug was an ogre. That means he was stupid and violent. I'm leaving, and I'll kill anyone in my way. You can stay with me and get out, or you can stay here and die."

I pause, then add "Anyone who follows me won't be hurt."


The fairy hesitates a moment, hovering in front of me, and then speaks in common. "Ugluk, I understand that you want to get back to your tribe. I want to get back to my people as well. But you can't just... kill whoever you want to. Brug had family back home as well. Still, you are correct, I need help to get out of here, and you seem very capable. I'll... stay with you. Protect me. Promise me you'll protect me."

I hesitate. This is nearly what orc marriage consists of; a man agreeing to protect a woman. Still, she's a fairy, she doesn't understand these things. "Fine. I'll protect you until we get out. Don't worry."

Now, to the matter of the quarters rooms. Two minutes remain.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/30(Sun)22:08 No. 36322 ID: 1afd58
File 125169532658.png - (11.07KB , 640x400 , esc01-08.png )

>>36310
>>36315
>>36316
>quarters for sleeping

Certainly reasonable to sleep in the quarters.

This image on the door screen doesn't seem promising, however. Should I send a kobold through the metal grating?

>>36322
no. doors like that mean anyone who tries to go through dies, and against something they can't fight back against.

>>36322
no, look the other door panels...

>>36322

Okay, so something I'm going to quickly explain. Air has weight. Yes, the stuff you breathe and stand under has... a weight all of it's own pressing down constantly. Fortunately, your body has your own pressure (equal to the air outside) pushing outward in an equal amount, so no problems.

Spontaneous nosebleeds and hurting ears can be due to sudden pressure changes.

If you go in that room with zero pressure, your body's outwards force will cause the softer bits of your body to explode.

Take the lavatory because you'll need a shitter, and that's it. It might be cramped, but your the only biggun here, the 'bolds and fairy are small.

The engineering access won't allow you to rest for the night due to probable loud noises and if were trapped in Holding Cells A, were basically where we started, only positives being that we might get a bigger party, the negative being that we might come across a bigger threat than the ogre and be trapped in there for an entire night cycle... also we'd have no shitter.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/31(Mon)06:06 No. 36333 ID: 1afd58
File 125172397895.png - (8.41KB , 446x400 , esc01-09.png )

>>36325
>Death
Well, ok.

>>36326
>look at the other panels
No time to run around looking at all of them closely, but from a quick, cursory glance, they all look like they say the typical thing about access codes and identification. The Quarters seem to be the only place with the red message.

>>36330
>air has weight, atmospheric pressure, explosion
This is the biggest load of nonsense I've ever heard. Air doesn't have weight; it's AIR. I'm not crushed by the miles of air above my head every day back at home.

Still... ok. I won't go in there. The mental image alone is unpleasant.

>>36331
>lavatory (for the shitter)

Well, better than just using a corner.

The door opens without a card, just on approach. The room looks clean and doesn't really smell like a latrine.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/31(Mon)06:07 No. 36334 ID: 1afd58
File 125172403672.png - (7.60KB , 446x400 , esc01-10.png )

A moment after stepping through the door, the lights dim and the door makes a buzzing noise. The voice calls out again.

"That's it, kiddies, it's night time now. I'll be turning the lights back on and unlocking things at 0600, like normal. Sleep well."

I'm becoming irritated with whoever is making that voice.

Well, anyway, it's dark and we're probably locked in. Should I just tell everyone to go to sleep?

>>36334
Make spooky ghost noises. Also, don't fairies GLOW in the dark?

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/31(Mon)07:22 No. 36336 ID: 1afd58
File 125172857799.png - (7.69KB , 446x400 , esc01-11.png )

>>36335
>ghost noises.

The kobolds seem unimpressed. I suppose they know I'm doing it.

>glowing fairy

Well, I don't know if they normally do. I rarely see fairies back home.

Mariana isn't glowing though.

>>36336
Well, get some water and drink it.
Keep everyone hydrated.

>>36336
take watch shifts with Jrifdlib, let the girls sleep

>>36336

Just bunker down for the night. Sleep it off

>>36336
Check to see if the kobolds or the faerie has any way to pass the time well. if not, I think you should all go to sleep or somethin'

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/31(Mon)10:16 No. 36360 ID: 1afd58
File 125173901484.png - (8.71KB , 446x400 , esc01-12.png )

>>36337
>water

Yeah, we all take a drink or two. The water seems pure, though there is a sort of stale chemical taste to it.

>>36338
>>36339
>>36340
>sleep, watches
Something about finding out the enormity of our task has us all fairly tired. Sleep comes quickly for the others, as I agree to take first watch.

...

I apparently fell asleep on my watch. I don't know what time it is. I've awoken to a quiet, almost whisper-like noise. There's a green light in the room.

>>36360
check the green bold without waking him(her?) up

>>36360
Watch, prepare to jump into action if this gets suspicious.

Umm, is there any unnatural warmth coming off of the green bold? If so, get the hell away, It may be too late if you can feel it, though.

>>36360
also, ask mariana what she is doing...

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/31(Mon)12:35 No. 36432 ID: 1afd58
File 125174732653.png - (19.75KB , 495x392 , esc01-13.png )

>>36362
>>36364
>>36365
>>36366
>stealthily check glowing bold, talk to Mariana.

Mariana has her eyes closed, and seems to be... taking in something from the kobold. The green lines across his body are being drawn to her hand, and then dispersed to her own body.

She seems pretty out of it. I don't think she's spotted me or is even aware that I'm awake.

Something seems wrong with this situation, even more than just not knowing what is happening. I feel intensely uncomfortable watching it.

>>36432
well, the only right thing to do seems to be crassly interrupt them, and ask why is she stealing green stuff from the kobold- we steal from ENEMIES in this warband, young lady!

>>36432
make a note of it, but don't bring it up right now. check how the kobold feels later on.

>>36432

Grab that bitch and put a gun to her head with the other hand. threaten to squeeze her to death or blow her brains out, whichever she prefers if she doesn't talk. Tell her you're not against pulling off wings, either.

>>36432
Just tell her to tell you what she's doing.

Don't freak her out or she won't be able to answer.

>>36432

...Did she grow claws?

Somehow I'm thinking that's not a fairy as we know it. Put her head IN the gun barrel.

Don't wake up the kobold, just ask her what she's doing.

>>36432
Lets ask her to stop and explain what she is doing.

No need to threaten yet, but keep a hand discretely on that crossbow thing just in case.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/08/31(Mon)19:46 No. 36662 ID: 1afd58
File 125177317228.png - (13.08KB , 640x400 , esc01-14.png )

>>36438
>make note, check on kobold later
I intend to check on him later. But I feel like I need to deal with this now.

>>36477
>claws
Nah, she was just strangely rendered in my vision for a moment.

>>36437
>>36441
>>36501
>violently question Mariana

>>36444
>>36505
>>36463
>>36526
>Politely question Mariana

I decide to question without any overt threat of violence. Hopefully my glowering countenance and hand full of firebow make that point without directly threatening.

I still speak quietly, in a harsh whisper. This is going to be stupid enough without panicked kobolds running around.

"What the hell are you doing? Get away from him!"

Mariana jumps away, and the green lines going to her immediately fade, as well as the lines on the kobold. A faint glow remains on her skin, however. She looks terrified and glances more than once at the weapon in my hand as she speaks, also no louder than a worried whisper.

"Don't kill me! Please, you promised you'd protect me! I'm just so hungry!"

I ask her to explain. She pauses, with a look of uncertainty, and then continues slowly, apparently unsure if she should be telling me this.

"I'm... not like you. The machines here couldn't keep me fed, and I haven't eaten in months. Fairies, well, fairies and a few other similar 'fey' as you call us, eat differently than you mortals do."

She pauses, then continues. "I... was eating his life. Don't give me that look! You eat meat, and you have to KILL things for it! I just... I eat a day of his lifespan and I can live another month or two. He's a kobold, he probably won't die of old age anyway. Please, please don't kill me! I'm starving!"

Hm. Don't know what I should do about this.

Tell her to get their permission first.

>>36665
I doubt that's going to happen.

I say let her take the bare minimum she needs, then make her stop.

>>36667
And don't tell the kobold about this. One day isn't much, anyway.

>>36662

Smack her in the head! Tell her she could have taken all the damn life from the Ogre that she wanted, not take life from your minions.

>>36662
Fine, whatever. Just don't try any of that funny business on me.

>>36662
Dammit, the fairy should have said so earlier. She could have eaten the ogre's life before we killed it. Well, she can sate herself now, I suppose, but don't stuff herself too much, we'll find an enemy she can eat from soon, I'm sure.

>>36662
tell her that she should have explained this to you, and that if she requieres more life energy, she should take it from you, after all... you promised to take care of her, not the kobold...

>>36686

this guy has a point.

>>36662
take some from the female too- even it out. and then ration yourself STRICTLY until we can find a prisoner.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/01(Tue)17:08 No. 36988 ID: 1afd58
File 125185009297.png - (13.26KB , 640x400 , esc01-15.png )

>>36665
>permission

I doubt the kobolds would go for it, and I think it's better for them to stay ignorant.

>>36667
>>36713
>>36685
>>36672
>let her eat just enough to stay alive

Maybe. Seems reasonable. A fairy with any magical ability is more useful than a couple of kobolds, especially since I won't lose the kobolds if I let her do this.

>>36686
>>36689
>let her feed from me

I'm... not likely to live to be an elder, or to die of old age. I'm a warrior. This sounds reasonable.

I pause a moment, then ask, as reasonably as I can. "You swear you're just takin' one day? One day will last you until we get out of here?"

Mariana nods. "Yes, one day. It won't hurt him, I promise."

"Could you take it from me, instead? If I decide that's better?"

Mariana looks shocked. "Um... while you're awake? You're... offering it to me? I don't know. I mean, yes, I can do it. Is that what you want?"

She seems really nervous about this.

What do you think? Should I let her take the life from the kobolds, or from me? I feel like I should let her take it from me, since I live longer than the kobolds anyway, and I did swear to protect her. Feeding her seems like it'd be part of that.

>>36988
yes, let her take the life energy from you, tell her that you will protect her from any kind of harm, but she must not keep secrets like this from you.

you just want everyone to be free

>>36988
From the way she's acting, there's apparently a problem with her feeding on a conscious creature. Ask her why she's so damn nervous, then go ahead and let her suck your life out if it's not that bad.

>>36988
She's your fairy waifu, you have to take care of her now. Feed her your delicious life essence.

>>36992
In before 'With your penis'.

*Cough*

>With your penis

Do it, let's see what will happen.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/08(Tue)01:05 No. 39816 ID: 1afd58
File 12523971248.png - (15.99KB , 640x400 , esc01-16.png )

>>36991
>ask about her nervousness
"You seem nervous. Is there something wrong with me being awake?"

Mariana shakes her head quickly, though she seems to be blushing a bit. It's hard to tell in this light. "No! No, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just... unusual. It's different when the person is awake."

>>36989
>>36992
>>37019
>do it

"Go ahead then. I told you I'd protect you, and this is part of it. Just don't hide stuff like this from me anymore, ok?"

She nods silently, and lands on my hand. I bring her to my face, and she touches my cheek. I don't see the lines on me, but I 'feel red'... I know that doesn't make sense. She closes her eyes, and I feel and see the energy joining her.

There is something indescribably intimate about this.

She feeds for several minutes, her eyes closed, touching my face, standing on my hand. I don't know how long, I can't keep track of the time. Finally, she stops, and the feeling and visions fade.

We sit silently for a moment. She leans close, 'hugging' my face as best she can. "Thank you, Ugluk. I needed that."

I don't know what to say in response. "You're... welcome. If you need it again... I'll be here."

She nods, smiling. "... Thank you, Ugluk."

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/08(Tue)01:06 No. 39817 ID: 1afd58
File 125239719053.png - (6.69KB , 446x400 , esc01-17.png )

>>39816
I am suddenly very tired. I think I'll sleep. Mariana flies quickly to the counter near me. She seems very relaxed, and is still glowing somewhat from the feeding.

zzz...

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/08(Tue)01:12 No. 39819 ID: 1afd58
File 125239755174.png - (7.11KB , 446x400 , esc01-18.png )

Hm. It's light in here now. I must have missed whatever the voice did when it decided to let there be light again.

Mariana is here; she looks groggy, as though she just woke up. She flashes me a smile when she sees me looking at her.

I have no idea where the kobolds are.

What now?

You feel like you need a cigarette or something, man?

>>39819
Grab that roll of toilet paper, that's the thing on the east wall, and move out to explore. Maybe loot Brug?

Look for the kobolds, see if the ogre has any useful shit on him. Or is he has unopened cans of beer.

>>39819
look for the kobolds, but if you find them, dont rage at them

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/08(Tue)11:00 No. 39884 ID: 1afd58
File 125243284072.png - (18.16KB , 640x400 , esc1-19.png )

>>39821
>need a cigarette?
I don't know what that is.

>>39853
>get TP, go out to see/loot brug
I get the paper roll from the device on the wall. Out to the concourse again.

Well, that's different. Brug has an empty dehy beer can lodged in his brain, and a few more stacked on top. Kobold tracks lead away from him. He's also apparently been stabbed half a dozen times, but was mostly drained of blood already.

He's only wearing a loincloth, and was carrying a metal bar similar to the one I was using before. I see nothing of value on him. I suppose I could remove his loincloth if you absolutely have to see if he has anything.

>>39862
>don't rage at kobolds
Meh. I will if they deserve it.

Speaking of the kobolds, one of the grates on the wall has been moved, and I can hear kobold giggling from inside. I also see the rear of one of them dimly in the darkness inside.

>>39884
tell mariana to ask them what are they doing...

>>39884
yell at them to get down from there and see what they found.

"You find anything in there?"

>>39884
No no no. The answer is clearly another WAAAAAAAGH.

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/08(Tue)14:37 No. 40030 ID: 1afd58
File 125244583791.png - (19.87KB , 640x400 , esc1-20.png )

>>39886
>tell mariana to ask what they are doing.

Fine.

She flies over to the vent and asks the rear end of whoever is in there what they are doing. The two kobolds scurry out of the vent rather quickly, apparently they were facing one another. The female whispers something to Mariana, and the fairy looks confused. After a moment, Mariana whispers back to the kobold and they begin tittering and giggling like adolescents.

>>39887
>>39889
>Get out, and "What did you find in there?"

Before I really get around to asking, Jrifdlib approaches me, holding out an object. It's a cylinder of faintly glowing blue glass, attached to a leather thong. He's wearing a sphere of the same glass with a cylinder removed from it.

He speaks in Orcish. "It's a... thing we finded in that room." He gestures to the vent. "It let me hear Klildril's... head... in my head. Might be good, right?"

Should I take it?

Haha oh yes..yesss..

seems useful, can we get into the artifact study rooM?

Ugluk !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/08(Tue)19:56 No. 40286 ID: 1afd58
File 12524649833.png - (19.89KB , 640x400 , esc1-21.png )

>>40038
>yes

Uh... ok.

"Yes, give me that."

As soon as I touch the glass, my mind changes in a way I don't have words to describe. Suddenly, I'm not alone, even in the sense of hearing voices. Jrifdlib is there. He's just... present.

This is incredibly strange. Still, I know completely that he is willing to do what I ask him to. It's not mind-reading, exactly, it's closer to... how you feel with an old friend, one you know everything about.

>>40257
>can we get into artifact study

Yes. Jrifdlib was just in there. He says he can get back in. I heard the koboldric and immediately understand it.

He excitedly speaks "Close your eyes too! See? You can see what I see! It's useful, right?"

It is. He's proven his value as far as I am concerned. Should I send him through the vent into the artifact study room?

Hell yes, let's see what he can get his grubby little hands on. Or possibly if he can just open the door from the inside.

Jrifdlib !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/08(Tue)21:59 No. 40381 ID: 1afd58
File 125247233128.png - (21.79KB , 640x400 , esc1-22.png )

>>40290
>send him in.

I tell Jrifdlib to enter the vent, and close my eyes. For the first time in quite a while, my mind is silent.

(Control has switched to Jrifdlib)

I'm here, Ugluk, it's the same way I left it. The metal hallway has a lot of turns and is hard to get through.

Can you still see? The room is sort of blank. I think they just kept things here.

What now?

>>40381
can you take the axe back to ugluk?

if not, investigate further, see if you can open the door south...

...do not touch the "magic colored thingy", leave further investigation to mariana, wich is more versed in magic...

>>40381
investigate, but don't touch, the little circle thing on the table, the axe on the table, the wierd circle with a hole to nowhere, and the door.

AXE axe axe axe

>>40381
watch out for that magic circle. we might want to have the faerie look at it.

Jrifdlib !DbPH.o8UWk 2009/09/09(Wed)08:29 No. 40448 ID: 1afd58
File 125251017285.png - (22.32KB , 640x400 , esc1-23.png )

>>40383
>investigate, take axe back
No, can't take axe back. It's too long to fit through the vent.

>>40384
>>40389
>look around but no touching

It's the same room as before, when I was in here alone and Klildril was waiting outside.

There's a really tiny ring on the table, with a small white gem in it. It's way too small for my fingers.

An axe is also on the table, too big for me to use though. Plus I don't really know how to use axes.

I don't know what that red thing over there is. There are stones on the floor there that look like they were taken from some building, and a weird design on them, with candles burning. A red... is floating above it. I can hear something talking in there, but it's too quiet and I can't make out what it is saying.

>>40385
>axeaxeaxe
Yes, it's an axe.

It's made of metal and looks heavy and strong. It's sized for bigger people, orcs or humans or something.