You're capable of much more finesse than a quick murder. He's timid. A single slice in the right place can be all you need to cripple morale. Cut shallow, and make it clear that the mercy is intentional. Use your mobility to keep this on your terms. Scare him, rebuke him, and delay his replacement.

>>815902
She does not have the food reserves to toy around. We have a job to do after this is done. After Dzi is dead he will make suitable rations to boost her for the task ahead.

>People trying to murder a father and husband who was pressured into working for someone he probably doesn't want to work for
Come on, Outissa. You're better than this. You came here to find friends, not hurt people.

>>815910
Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. And I don't think any of us told Outissa either.

But I think that might be why he's here. His family might be in danger of being killed if he doesn't do this and his willing to get himself killed if it means there's a chance his family can be saved.

But, that's just a theory, there's no actual proof that's true or not.

Murder is practical. You cut down this agent effortlessly, and Daddy isn't likely to send a threat this large your way again for a while. I bet that's more ketza than you've ever eaten in your life, too.
Cut this beast down, he's standing in the way of your task. He's not your friend, he is food.

>>815916
Outissa has said people aren't food though.

OH. I just realized, since we can't speak to Khoros, Outissa will have to be sure to tell him what she's going to do. Communication is important in a battle where you don't have a plan in place beforehand.

While it would be nice not to kill Dzi, we need to at least ensure he won't come back to fight us again for a long time. Giving him a crippling injury would work. Break one of his legs, maybe?

>>815924
Dead things aren't people. Outissa has already said this.
>Giving him a crippling injury would work.
You know, people don't have to live with being dead the rest of their lives.

Pam has control over the doorways of the ruins, maybe she could prevent him from getting anywhere near Outissa.

Also, Ketzas aren't quadrapedal. They have a posture that allows them walk on all fours for better traction, though. This also makes it difficult for them to defend against attacks from above.

>>815927
He's not dead yet, therefore he is not food.
Also, you CAN recover from a broken leg.

Amaranth commands me that I turn this skirmish into a sexual encounter.

Outissa, you should stay back and wait until Dzi attacks. No matter what attack he does, you should try to evade it, and then counter-attack. The counter-attack should consist of you straddling Dzi's neck or face and holding onto it. Possibly upside down.

Without any Loyal Ones to guide him at this point, Dzi takes several steps backwards in the direction of the lake. His clawed hands weave a pattern in front of him as he starts a spell.

(Control of Dzi will be ceded back to the Loyal Ones once they start suggesting.)

Dzi what spell are you casting? Also I recommend dodging attacks and try not to drop any body parts. If you wanna go on the offensive try getting her in the lake, maybe use ice under her to do so.

>>815939
Dzi nods and gives full control back to the Loyal Ones, who may now dictate his actions.

>>815939
Dude. Be more assertive. Dzi is under your control. This is your time to shine!

Blinding or slaughtering a coerced pawn? Wow you "good guys" sure are vicious.


You're outnumbered. First thing you need to do is even the odds, put them on the defensive before you're overwhelmed. Can you surrround yourself with a lasting ring of fire hot enough to keep them out of arm's reach? The scarfed one is very fast and agile, capable of leaps and lunges and terrible claw attacks. The other can become a swarm of insect of some sort. Both are deadly if they reach you. Use the fire shield to keep them back and then try to drive them towards the lake with the ring and gouts of flame. Outissa at least is very flammable. Light one or both and they'll have little choice except to jump into the lake.

Dzi:
Fire shield ->
Drive enemies to lake with shield and directed flame blasts

Oh and if you're able to speak without disrupting your spellcasting, just keep telling Outissa you need her to come with you or your family will die. (I don't recall if that was explicitly stated, but run with it).

To Khoros, just keep reminding him that his Father needs him, that he wants Khoros to help you take his sister home.

rolled 10 = 10

---

Khoros feels a song call to him. This will take effect at the end of the round.

>>815947
You would certainly be untouchable with such a shield.
However, your mission involves not harming Outissa and this shield would do that exact thing.

Outissa, calm your mind and charge straight for Dzi. Notice that his fire attacks are not directed at you and that Dzi has no choice but to deactivate the fire shield before you reach him. Do the, uh, grappling technique I mentioned earlier!

To Khoros: This isn't your home. This isn't your father. You need not worry about the future, for it is right in front of you. Outissa needs your help.

>>815947
>Blinding or slaughtering a coerced pawn? Wow you "good guys" sure are vicious.
Says the one helping to coerce the pawn. If we had rallied as one to oppose 'Laertes', perhaps Dzi would not be in this situation.

>>815952
They want you to believe that they are in control. That they keep you safe.
But if you stay with Father, you will never know the truth.
This is not how it has to be.
There is an evil that holds you there, and you must try breaking its grasp.
If you go back there with them...
Then you leave her to her doom.

The flames are not to kill, but to direct. I'm sure Laertes would understand using the threat of pain to control another's actions. Remember that, Khoros. Remember where your loyalty lies. Remember what happens to failed agents, Dzi.

*twirls moustache*

Outissa: Strike fast, darting in and out, disorienting him and preventing him from landing a strike on you!

I will be choosing and illustrating the best actions now.

Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:13 No. 816014 ID: 01764f
File 150015323114.png - (70.49KB , 1000x625 , xq140.png )

>>815867
>>815873
>>815878
>>815883
>>815884
>>815929
>Lure him towards the doorway, stay defensive

Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:13 No. 816015 ID: 01764f
File 150015323426.png - (31.57KB , 1000x625 , xq141.png )

>>815867
>moon Dzi

Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:13 No. 816016 ID: 01764f
File 150015323905.png - (314.62KB , 1000x625 , xq142.png )

>>815947
>Can you surrround yourself with a lasting ring of fire hot enough to keep them out of arm's reach?

Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:14 No. 816017 ID: 01764f
File 150015324234.png - (124.87KB , 1000x625 , xq143.png )

>>815947
>Use the fire shield to keep them back and then try to drive them towards the lake with the ring and gouts of flame.

Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:14 No. 816018 ID: 01764f
File 150015324581.png - (254.52KB , 1000x625 , xq144.png )

>>815949
>keep telling Outissa you need her to come with you or your family will die.

"Y-your father - he is going to kill my family! Please, please come with me... I beg you... please... I don't want to harm you..."

Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:14 No. 816019 ID: 01764f
File 150015324813.png - (59.08KB , 1000x625 , xq145.png )

Father sent him? I do not know what to do.I am very sad. I do not want his family to be hurt.

Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:14 No. 816020 ID: 01764f
File 150015325148.png - (108.77KB , 1000x625 , xq146.png )

>>815952
>Guard and defend when forces hinder an—

>>815956
>To Khoros: You need not worry about the future, for it is right in front of you.
>>815964
>There is an evil that holds you there, and you must try breaking its grasp.
>>815967
>Remember that, Khoros. Remember where your loyalty lies.

...
Khoros is overwhelmed by too many people talking to him at once. His mind cracks again.

Khoros 2017/07/15(Sat)14:14 No. 816021 ID: 01764f
File 150015325478.png - (344.50KB , 1000x625 , xq147.png )

>SISTER....
Khoros starts a new song.

Round 2: Begin Outissa vs Dzi 2017/07/15(Sat)14:14 No. 816022 ID: 01764f
File 150015325605.png - (221.06KB , 1000x625 , xq148.png )

>I can almost hear
>Your heart in the darkness
>How fast it is beating
>How close you are to me

Nononono... Brother... no....

Khoros, don't have a cow, man!
Khoros, add sister to inventory!
Khoros, don't stab Outissa with that knife! Let's talk about our feeeeeeeeeeeliiiiings! Bahahaha.

Given the ratio of Outissa posts to Dzi posts, you accomplished surprisingly little, Sister. My suggestion is to think of Dzi's children, just go with him to see your father! But feel free to take a few fireballs to the face first. To make it convincing.

Outissa: Khoros's mind is having issues again. Dodge, delay him, give ground as his is unstable right now. He should hopefully calm down soon. Also: you have no proof that this person's family is in any danger. He could easily be lying.

>>816022
Outissa, you aren't going to be able to fight without hurting either of them. Both of them are focused on your capture. Use this to your advantage. If you can get past them, then lead them back into the ruins. The military that's giving Pam and you so much trouble have likely set up an ambush. Let them capture the ketza and your brother. With those two off your back, you can focus on disrupting their communications and rescue your brother after he regains his sanity. It's not the original plan, but we weren't expecting this guy to show up so quickly.

>>815967
This is all your fault! Do something!

>>815956
Hm? What's that? Did somebody say "your fault"?

>>816022
Alright I think it is time to give those two some space get going back to Pam.

Oh for goodness sake, we were warned about this. Don't all try to yell stuff at Khoros. Wait, I recognise this song. I'm sorry if this backfires but I have to see what happens if we try to change the track.

Finding solace in the knowledge of what's right.
All that's holy, sacred and divine.
Guarding over all within its sight.

>>816047

Outissa! Sing this song with your brother!

It might calm him down. Worth a shot, no?

To.. no one in particular, I sing these words:

No tears Outissa please stay strong
your brother cracked he sings a song
but worry not just don't stay near
and pray with us that he may heal

Reflect your pieces in your eyes
odd visions form but they are lies
remember songs your sister sings
the saddest one forever rings

You do not presently have the food available to survive until the song runs its course. Exit through the door and leave Dzi and Khoros to be the only available targets for one another.

Looking on the positive side, it is unlikely Khoros will suffer the same hesitation that you do to eliminate his opponents. He really is so much better than you are.

I will be choosing and illustrating the best actions now.

Outissa 2017/07/15(Sat)19:57 No. 816073 ID: 01764f
File 150017385803.png - (1.18MB , 978x620 , xq150.png )

>>816064
>>816029
>>816035
>Leave them to each other and go back to Pam.


...and so I left. I walked away.

I found out from Pam later that my brother went to the bottom of the lake and destroyed the supplies. They were food and weapons. The scary people left after that.

They tried to come back a few times, but each time my brother drove them off.

I do not know what happened to Dzi. I hope he is okay. I hope his family is okay.

I have not heard from my father. I think he stopped trying to get me back.

I stopped hearing the voices - I think they rejoined my brother. I hope he is happier now even though he is a monster now. He lives in the deep parts of the Ruins. Pam is happy. She says that people like to pay money to come and see him.

Pam let me stay in her realm. There is food here and a place to sleep. I have a lot of fun jumping between the buildings that float.

Siphon still visits Pam. They are friends. They make each other laugh a lot.

I... I know better now what a friend is. I made a very good one.

Beatrix is my friend. She gives me hugs when I need them, and she taught me to write. She leaves sometimes for a little bit, but she always returns. I miss her when she is gone but when she is back I am very happy.

She told me that I should write down the things that happened to me. She says that a lot of people will like to read my story. Her friend Ammy is helping me with the parts I do not remember. Ammy is very big and very soft and very nice and I like to hug her. She is very nice.

Beatrix say she has a lot of friends that she wants me to meet, in a place that she calls "Station." I am going to go with her and live there. Ammy says I can have my own home. I have never had my own home before.

I have a new name now. I gave it to myself. People still call me "Outissa" and that is okay, but I like having my own name. I think it is a good name.
~

Oh! Beatrix is here. It is time to go now.

-Aletheia



XenoQuest END.

Secret Ending, "Time to Move On," achieved!

Raptie 2017/07/15(Sat)19:58 No. 816075 ID: 01764f
File 150017392439.png - (35.84KB , 800x800 , xqend.png )

Thank you all so much for spending this last month with me and XenoQuest. It was always meant as a little side project, but it's blossomed into so much. When I drew that first panel with Outissa on the cliff, I had no idea where she was or what would happen.

She has many more stories to tell, and there will be many more adventures to come. <3

Special big thanks to Slinko for his assistance and graciously allowing me to use a small part of his wonderful Dragon Romance setting. Go read Dragon Romance if you haven't: https://tgchan.org/wiki/Dragon_Romance . Heck, go read all of his quests, they're fantastic. <3

Another gigantic special thanks to Valsalia for giving his blessing to use his yinglet race. They're featured in Out-of-Placers, which is a must-read: http://www.valsalia.com/

Finally, come check out the XenoQuest disthread: https://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/112766.html . I will be using it for all of my quests going forward, and just for my stuff in general.


I love all you guys, and I look forward to having you quest with me again. <3
I have a FurAffinity page: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/caedere that I update fairly regularly if you're interested in seeing more stuff from me!

...What just happened?

Yeah okay bye sis. Now Khoros, we're alone at last. Together forever...

Wanna listen to my mixtapes?

It's time you learned what kinds of porn are the Good Shit, Khoros.

>>816108
>>816112
Truly, you are in good hands.

I sing for you
I think of you

I remember when I lost my mind.