Having finally dealt with the shifting walls, you can descend deeper – into Agnosia – or return up to the higher levels. Marina the sea pony has left to return the sails to your crewmates.
>>619781 >>619782 Yes, as it stood: -You recovered the captured crewmen with the help of the seaponies in Depression Square -You helped re-open the seapony shops by recovering supplies on Dreamer's Walk -You found the sails and some treasure by defeating the Cortical Homunculus
You have been promised that if you can help drive out the Discordians entirely – two more levels – that you may borrow their underwater boat, which travels faster than your ship.
>>619797 You realize that you are actually smelling – and tasting – true nothingness.
You naturally become nose and tongueblind to your own taste and odor. For instance, you don't spend all day smelling the scent of skin, Rhanna, and boogers. However, now that the smell has gone away, it is noticeable.
>>619800 >>619799 It's totally silent in here. You can't even hear yourself.
>>619819 This is bad, really really bad She closed her eyes, not that it would matter, and ran. Her last plan failed and now she was desperate to just survive "MISS SELENA! LILLY!" She coughs
>>619837 You lasso her right rear leg. She's wandering into a wall presently, and doesn't appear to notice that her nose is being rubbed into the brickwork.
Probably not surprising given that the gun wound looks pretty nasty.
>>619840 Your senses begin to return to you. It appears you've been dragged out of the tunnel by the leg. You're laying on the ground, and you've been shot by a bullet. Your face is pretty messed up too.
>>619839 "Something wicked fell upon you all as soon as you stepped into that dark path. Now go through Selena's bag and see if you can find a health potion!" Shove the bag towards her. >>619843 >>619840 "Stand still, you are very hurt." Press on the wound. What is Selena up to?
>>619866 "D-dont say stupid things like that, save your breath, you'll be fine… Right miss Selena? She will get you working fine in no time, I know it"
>>619875 "Miss Selena. What are we going to do about that tunnel? It's like there is some kinda gas or bad air in there that messes with us. I couldn't feel my body or my senses… "
>>619896 Well, gotta take the risk! "If something happens, pull me back okay?" Try to tie the other end of the rope to something. If not, just leave it in their hooves. Then I start galloping forward.
>>619913 Rhanna digs through the door. Suddenly the line goes taut and you start sliding toward the hole.
>>619912 You dig through the floor. It's a long and arduous process, but unlike other places in the dungeon, the floor here is softer – perhaps because it is made of that spongy material that the monster came out of, and it has to shift around to reveal the doors.
You dig for a good minute before suddenly the ground breaks out from under you. Your line goes taut and it knocks the breath out of you as the rope tightens around your waist. Below you is not darkness like the other floors. It is well lit. There's fire everywhere. The room is huge, and contains several smaller structures.
>>619917 It's not enough! The ground here is soft and offers little purchase. As you slide closer still, it occurs to you that this whole 'air not helping lift a diamond dog' thing probably explains the difference between their very dense, earth-breaking bones, and your very hollow flying bones.
>>619918 You sink toward the flames below… of course, the fall would probably kill you before the fire.
>>619929 "You stop that shouting right now or I'm gonna stuff a sock in your mouth." You have been pulled up and are safe, no need to shout in what is undubtely a very tight space. >>619930 "Not really…"
>>619933 >>619931 "Well I DO have an idea, I could take a look at those rocks and see if they have something to do with these numbing magic. Ooor… I could… Hmn… " She turns to the tunnel and took a really good look on it. '1d10'appraise
>>619928 >>619929 >>619930 >>619931 There's no doubt about it: what you're seeing is the lower level that Agnosia leads to. You can skip right past Agnosia into Lost Archipellium.
It looks to be a great bowl of fire, filled with a few structures. Large, seemingly dead tendrils lay slumped across the structures.
The place is alive with ghosts – white and gray specters that float and screech.
>>619934 The tunnel appears to have shielding you'd need to remove to get a closer look at the walls below, upon closer examination. It's heavy, dense stone. Basalt, maybe. A real pain to dig through.
>>619935 >>619936 "hmn… It's that really really tough rock that I can't dig through… At least not without hurting my paws…" "I think we should not touch these… Long, black things… They look so weird…" She said, appraising them '1d10'appraise
>>619940 An experienced flier like you knows that thermals can really mess up your flight – but you can definitely try.
>>619941 They're too far away, but maybe when you get closer you can try again.
>>619939 It appears that there are is only one "entrance" to the pit – on the southwest wall. You assume that's the entrance from Agnosia, though. It seems that Lost Archipallium is the end of the line. The proverbial brain core.
>>619947 >>619945 "get me down there with the rope again, I'm super small and light, it will be easy. And then I can take a look around, maybe grab on to one of those rocks or those tendril things and bring it back up so we can figure them out
>>619959 Even more ghosts begin splitting from that ghost. One flees you, darting away. One ignores you. One looks like it's trying to talk to you, but just wails. It looks just like you! But, you know, spookier.
>>619960 You took the sails back to Madness Square and had your leg treated! You're good to go back down.
>>619961 "pfft, says you, I would baffle those dumb ghosts with my cleverness! Besides, they're ghosts, what could they do? Spook me?" brb, going to the store[\s]
>>619964 Well, you can cut through the shortcut to get through Depression Square quickly, and then cut through the shortcut you opened up when you found that hidden cache of supplies, allowing you to skip Dreamer's Walk – straight to where you were, the Lair of the Homunculus.
You also took those supplies back, and the shops have reopened!
>>619967 Well, that's good. Cloud storage is convenient, I guess. I'll make a beeline to the others, or at least to the Lair. I figure I'll have to hunt them down after that.
>>619972 You find them crowded around a hole in the floor. Selena has passed out, and the rest are looking into what appears to be an abyss-like opening to a horrible burning hellscape.
>>619973 More ghosts break off from you. Roll concentration every turn.
>>619975 You follow one of the ghosts down to the westernmost of the large structures. It looks old and crumbling. The other looks much 'fresh'er. You peek inside. Looks abandoned.
>>619978 >>619979 The place looks abandoned except for crumbling ashes. It looks like there were a bunch of jars inside before, but they're all shattered and ruined now.
>>619987 "That's weird." >>619988 "Well, if that's all there is, then we shouldn't run into much of anything, right?" I'll peer down the hole. "So, how do we get down? Doesn't look like there are stairs."
>>619991 "I know you may feel that way, but it's really important that this gets cleared out." I'll scuff a hoof on the floor. "I mean, I know you're in a hurry and all, but we're making pretty good time!"
>>619996 I'll shrug. "It's not like they really used ladders…" I'll squat down next to the hole and wave my forehoof around in it. "But as long as they can't touch or hurt us, we should be fine if we can find a way down, right?" >>619995 "Hi there. Sorry I came in late."
>>620000 "Uh…" >>619984 Are there any loose bits of coral or rock floating around? If so, I toss one in the hole. >>620001 "That happens a lot in this place."
>>620004 But did it fall weird? Like, slower? "So, did you try digging down through the floor? Rhanna went through that wall up in Depression square pretty easily, so this can't be too hard, right?"
>>620006 Well there goes that idea. >>620008 "Chaotic building design? And I only got here a few minutes ago…" I'll look a bit sheepish. "Besides, I don't know how flying works, having lived underwater for like, my whole life."
>>620013 "Then we're left with a tunnel we can't cross without some kind of immunity to magic and a pit we can't descend without falling to a fiery death."
I'm at a loss for what to do here. I don't remember if I have Dream Wine on my sheet, but technically I should be able to make a potion of Dream Wine even if I don't.
>>620016 The walls appear to be rough-hewn red coral. Brain coral. It looks hewn in a literal sense. This is probably the core of their Mind Flyer mining operations, though it looks currently inactive.
>>620058 Right, they're originating from each of you.
>>620057 Okay. The coral has been softened up by long periods of drilling, so you cut through pretty easily. Eventually you break back into the ocean, creating another breach. The force of the water propels you back into the room.
>>620056 You arrive at the less decrepit structure. Look inside?
>>620060 There is some complex machinery in this room that reminds you of those plant systems your brother works with down in medulla. Something seems wrong but you're no technical expert – but it's hard to get a good look around in the first place because the room is full of large jars.
>>620061 Right, they resemble whoever they split off. Your mindset doesn't seem to affect them, though. They all always split off to do different things.
>>620064 No, it varies. It's kind of distracting to keep note of what they're doing. Sometimes they go to examine the hole, or attempt ways to fix it. Sometimes they go to examine the structures. One goes to try to help Rhanna swim, etc.
>>620066 They seem to resemble the different possible things we could do or perhaps think of doing, maybe they're ideas given form, that's fascinating.
That would mean soon one will pop up that's inspecting those ghosts.
>>620073 I guess these ghosts pose no real threat then.
>>620075 "Those ghosts seem to resemble our potentialities. If this chamber floods they won't ever pose a danger to anypony. I think we should try to go to Agnosia again? There don't seem to be mind flyers or discordians to drive out here…"
>>620076 Go to Marina and attempt to identify the chemical '1d10'
>>620081 You feel lightheaded from exposing your face to it.
>>620081 >>620079 >>620078 >>620075 There is a loud seizing sound, and the whole world begins to shake. Suddenly, everything drops thirty feet (those inside of the structure hit your head painfully), and there is an ear-shattering boom. You are deafened for one minute.
>>620085 >>620084 >>620083 The chemicals appear mostly fine, though some of the jars have cracked and are now slowly leaking, and many have rolled over or are overturned entirely. None appear to have reacted.
>>620084 Whatever happened, it seems to have drawn attention. Mind Flyers are on the move – and headed for you.
>>620091 The jars are as big as you are! You just want to take a sample?
Each one of those is an action – it'll take up time! You also already have one slot taken up by Magic Bolt.
>>620090 You make a sight to give you +1 with Crossbows
>>620092 There are three Mind Flyers, a Great Mind Flyer, and some sort of creature that's completely alien to you. It has hooves, of course, but it stands on only two legs, and has goat horns. Only the bottom half of its body has a coat of hair – the top is naked. Maybe Selena has seen this before
>>620235 "Woooaaah! What is that thing?" She said dodging out of the way as her clever mind subconsciously analyzed it and the brain it was riding on '1d10'appraise great brain '1d10'appraise tirek guy
>>620240 >>620237 Great Mind Flyer [â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“â–“] Type: Discordian/Psionic Weakness: N/A Ability: >Psychic Shield: passive; Spells and projectiles are absorbed and half damage returned to their origin.
>>620245 Rhanna rubs her head. "Uuuuugh… Guys… I think we shouldn't use magic or pwoje-… projack… Uh…Project-iles at him! They will bounce right off! " She said making a toll to Melee attacks '1d10'gadget
>>620248 You reconfigure your scope into a gauntlet, conferring +1 melee!
A Mind Flyer fires a bolt at you, but Marina stops it!
>>620250 The universe is onto you! You get feedback!
>>620252 Clearly you improvised with a rock or something.
>>620249 Your blade strikes some kind of shield from the Great Mind Flyer, but you don't get feedback. The Great Mind Flyer looks like it's about to fall apart.
The Reaper tries to steal something from you, but it failed. It studies your weaknesses…
>>620252 >>620253 "Hey thanks Marina! I owe you one!" She said before jumping on the mind flyer that hit her and dug her claws into it, in an attwm to ride the brain '1d10' BRAIN RIDDEEEEER
>>620260 Well, if one of those flyers are close enough, I'll Slam(temp skill) it. With my spear. Paired with Martial Defender (temp skill), it'll crit on an 8. '1d10'
>>620260 "Yeah! Concede to me brain!" She says With a loud, cute childish voice as she pounces at it again, this time to break it, or the shield, whichever comes first '1d10+1'
>>620263 A critical hit – right in the torso! Center of mass!
Darkness congeals in the hand (it's like a paw, but naked and with smaller claws) of the Reaper, forming a gun! It makes a Dual Marksman Shot on you – but it was glancing.
>>620264 It was a critical hit! You smash through the Mind Flyer in a single blow!
You feel your weaknesses being analyzed by the Reaper…
>>620265 Without the shielding, you badly bruise one of the Mind Flyers!
Darkness congeals in the hand (it's like a paw, but naked and with smaller claws) of the Reaper, forming a gun! It makes a Dual Marksman Shot on you – but it was glancing.
>>620266 You finish off the one that Lilly injured! However, the remaining Mind Flyer blasts you. Argh, your brain! Your wonderful brain is on fire!
>>620270 Aaargh! I need my brain for being a genius! That only gets the little puppy angry as she pounces on the last brain with a kung fu style flying kick "HAYAAAA!" '1d10+1'
>>620273 You evade well enough that no one tries to attack you, at least!
>>620274 It explodes in your face! What's worse, you feel your ability to Distill Life being drained away…
"THE POWER OF DEATH AND LIFE ALIKE!"
>>620276 It looks like you've badly bruised it, but it blasts you back – a hit straight to the brain with its magic bolts! It's searing!
>>620275 If only you had hit slightly harder – you left it on the brink of death, and now it's coming for revenge! It swipes at you, and Analyzes you again!
>>620291 That guy is dead. But now your dad is here – and he looks ready to beat you! Instead you help Marina smash the last brain. (Remember you can always check the enemy chart)
>>620312 You slip – you're so off balance from this booze!
[Intoxification intensifies] (3)
This is quickly turning into an aquatic battle as the rising water fully lifts you off your hooves, switching you to swimming now.
>>620314 It's glancing – but you burn her to death! She shrieks and gives one last wave of booze, that catches on fire and starts to burn everything! Fortunately the rising water puts it out. Still though: woops.
[Intoxification intensifies] (3)
The barbarian slaps you aside.
>>620318 "AND WHO'S THIS? TRYIN' TO REPLACE ME YER DEAR OLD DAD? SHE'S NOT EVEN A DOG! SHE'S A FUCKING PONY!"
>>620329 "Oh no!" She quickly jumped out of the hole and made her way back to Selena, hiding behind her >>620331 "Miss Selena! M-my dad! Don't let him hurt me!"
The darkness congeals into a horrible monster – it's like a diamond dog, but rougher, and more feral looking – it howls – and instead of eyes, it has glowing moons!
The darkness congeals into a vague figure – it's hard to make out details other than that he's male and Neighponese. If you focus closely, you can see he really has no face at all.
The darkness congeals into Discord – the Draconequus Divine of Chaos!
>>620358 Current stock: -Retaliate -Magic Bolt -Lifestream
Discord twirls about and laughs cruelly. "You've done well to get this far, Marina, but I think it's time I retake my city… starting with dealing with each of you. I think I might turn you into a fish, and make you watch while I eat your family alive."
Nightmare Hunter Neighponese Man of Mystery DISCORD, Divine of Chaos
>>620366 I'll shrink back a little, but bristle at the second comment. "You think I'd let you, you overgrown kelp-gobbler?!" Slam the Discord right in the face with my spear. '1d10'
>>620366 She decided to stay hidden in the back, and aimed with her crossbow into the Guy with moons for eyes With a bit of insecurity, she pulled the trigger and shot! '1d10' HEADSHOT
The Neighponese man draws two Neighponese blades and slashes into Flagon – he collapses from blood loss!
>>620369 A crushing blow! You wish you had time to admire his torn up face, but suddenly he's getting bigger. He's growing larger VERY fast – so is everyone! And the water's rising too!
You plop into the water. You've been polymorphed into a tiny seahorse. Roll Will to break the spell!
>>620393 "Haha!" She laughs as she shot him, but there happiness is short lived as she is struck. She backs off and tries to get her footing above the water and shoots the moon dude again '1d10'
>>620416 I'll nod. "I think I know what that lurching was when extinguished this place." Swim about gathering Maeda, Flagon, and Lily. Since they float, or are at least on something that floats, it'll be easy to put them all in one spot.
>>620419 "We have to get help! I can fly to Madness Square and get other seaponies to come and help us and fix that hole before the whole place floods."
>>620421 "That would probably be best, since we've got to drain this place and light it back on fire…" I'll float for a second. "Can you bring Rhanna with you? She can talk with the smiths while everyone's working."
>>620433 Put Rhanna on the ground and wave my hooves. "QUICK, I NEED HELP. WE DEFEATED THE DISCORDIANS, BUT MY FRIENDS ARE IN TROUBLE. I NEED YOUR HELP OR THEY'LL DIE."
>>620442 On hoof. I wonder what I should make later. We're going to need a lot to celebrate… Though if there are still guys hiding in the tunnel that we were supposed to take, then celebration might be a bit premature. Dive down and go look for that bottom entrance to the tunnel.
You head down and look into the dark tunnel of Agnosia. Looks like it's full of water now, though probably not all the way to the top or it would be raining on you through the hole.
>>620454 You don't have a swim bladder, you're a land pony!
You quickly direct them to the hole and they set about fixing it, but even by the time you arrive you're blue in the face (well, you always are). You can't hold your breath any longer!
>>620461 It's too far up! You struggle, and eventually pass out…
…
…
…
With a cough, you come to above water. You're in a room that appears to be unfamiliar – for one thing, it's made of wood, all the walls and floors. That's unusual, given the Aquamarine City is generally made of stone. You're on something soft… It's a cot, actually. A bed. It almost looks like you're back on the ship, but the hull here is clearly smaller.
Rhanna is here, but she's fussing over some sort of anvil setup in the corner. Maeda is also here, and appears to be meditating.
Your attention is drawn to the stairs nearby, where you see that half-Shiban diamond dog, Flagon, padding up the stairs. After a moment, the High Priestess, Mera, descends with Lilly.
"Ah, you're finally awake. I'm sure you have many questions, but let me see if I can pre-empt them. You're aboard the Wash, our undersea sailing vessel. After you passed out, we finished repairing the breach, and my son is leading the efforts to remove water from the Lost Archipellium. Unfortunately, it seems that the heat of that area was necessary to make the Aquamarine City move, so we will be grounded here for some time. However, we are still grateful for what you've done, and we're upholding our end of the bargain. I'm sending a crew of four of my followers, and my daughter, to help you navigate this vessel to your destination, and bring it back after you arrive."
She nods faintly. "We went ahead and moved you because Lilly assured us that time was of the essence. With that in mind, you're ready to launch at your pleasure – I just need to disembark. Did you have any last questions before you depart?"
>>620966 "Not much, other than what we've heard from followers that previously in their lives had visited New Earth. The city appears to be established in the shadow of a dormant volcano, though it is miles away, closer to the Cape of New Seas. There may be a closer beachhead if you want to land near it instead of New Earth, which is a port city."
>>620967 Look at Lilly then back at the High Priestess. "Priestess, I've got two girls who might be in trouble, Lilly here is going to…be in trouble if we don't find that altar in five days and I've got a letter from some weird place that says we need to go to a volcano." Shake my head and drop my ears. "I don't know what to do…."
>>620968 "Not knowing you, your objectives, or the nature and contents of this letter, I cannot make wise counsel for you. I can speak on the matter of the Cralund, however; We spoke at length about it before, if you recall, and I know the nature of the trouble you speak of. All I can say is that the Cralund is likely something you do not wish to tangle with, but now that you know the nature of your conflict, you have more flexibility in how to approach it. By avoiding sleep, Lilly can slow its search. As I said, it can only zero in on her in her dreams, which is why it draws closer at night. However, even if you don't have enough time to finish entirely, fighting it on your own terms is still be more favorable than simply letting it catch you unawares. The Cralund will no doubt immediately try to put you to sleep and fight you in the realm of the mind, which is where it is strongest; Stimulants may help you stay awake, at least for a time. The Cralund fights with claws, as well, so military tactics that take advantage of your distance weapons will also grant you some leeway. Barricades, funnels, bombardments, traps, caltrops, and fighting retreats are all worth considering."
She smiles faintly. "My tenure as high priest has been one marked by a need for comprehension of military operations."
>>620970 "No, it does not appear to have taken any of our excursions to Lunar temples as intrusion, though it is the ancient servant not of Luna, but Nightmare Moon."
>>620971 Everyone is bandaged up from their battle wounds against the Fear Shifter(s) and their Mind Flyer servants.
>>620973 "It would seem so, although it is known to us that he has only just awakened. It seems likely to me that if he had awakened years ago, he would have struck at your mother instead – in fact, it's possible based on your story that he mistakes you for her. Perhaps your minds are similar on a fundamental level."
>>620969 Swallow and nod. "Thank you for your help…" My ears perk. "There's a bunny on Madness Square. You must watch out for him, he's dangerous. He's a Discordian!"
>>620974 "We're gonna get through this, Lilly. I promise you."
>>620980 "There are certain traits – courage, perseverance, self-preservation – and yes, negative traits, too – hubris, greed, et cetera. All ponies have these traits, though the amounts differ – and their shape differs too. This is very high level, and you likely won't understand until you've lived inside a large faux-brain for a few years, so I'll leave it at that. Just remember, a tavern and a ballroom can have the same stone foundation keeping them up."
>>620981 "Very well. Good luck on your voyage – I am sure my daughter will take care of you."
With that, she heads back up the stairs. You suppose that means you're on one of the lower decks, maybe the lowest period – though there's no bilge here, which is typical of the lowest level of vessels.
>>620982 Think this over for a moment, then yell after her once she's up the stairs. "You're saying that like living in a giant brain is a common occurrence!"
>>620983 >>620984 Not even a full minute later, you can feel the boat shake faintly. The lines must be in the process of drawing back – anchor coming up.
Itztli comes out from under your bed. "YOU WERE UNCONSCIOUS BEFORE SO I THOUGHT I'D WAIT UNTIL YOU WOKE UP TO TALK."
>>620984 I sigh. "Let's just get going, alright? We don't have much time. Do you think you could pull something out of your hat that would keep me awake-"
>>620986 It's a talking rabbit! It also doesn't seem interested in acknowledging you.
>>620987 "I THOUGHT I'D MAKE MYSELF AT HOME ALTHOUGH I THINK YOU WILL MAKE LANDFALL IN A DAY THIS VESSEL IS FASTER THAN I EXPECTED WITH THE DRAG TRULY A FINE WORK OF DISCORDIAN CRAFTSDRACONEQUUSSHIP."
>>620991 "POTENTIALITY." He pauses for a moment and acknowledges your blank face.
"I AM HERE TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING YOU SEE IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ME TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT IN THE MEAN TIME I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH MY USUAL SERVICES JUST CONTINUE WITH YOUR USUAL WORK AND IT WILL COME I SEE THE PATH TO IT CLEARLY."
>>621004 Look to Lilly before she goes. "Lilly…your mother was a good pony. She made some bad decisions, but I knew her… You have her best traits. Don't forget that."
>>621003 "NOT PRESENTLY BUT WHERE THEY WILL BE WHEN YOU FIND THEM THAT INFORMATION WOULD DISRUPT THE EVENTS OF YOUR EXPLORATION WHICH WILL INEVITABLY BEAR THE FRUITS WHICH I SEEK I WOULD BE BETTER OFF SIMPLY LEAVING AND FOLLOWING YOU SILENTLY WITHOUT PROVIDING MY SERVICES MOREOVER IF YOU WENT THERE NOW THEY MAY NOT HAVE ARRIVED YET."
>>621004 Calling it a sloop is generous. Down here you have the "hold", which contains the beds and supplies. Maybe Rhanna could put together some walls and make discrete rooms with the wood supply. There is no gundeck – it goes straight to the sailing deck, which is completely exposed to the water. You can't help out up there if you're not a seapony.
>>621012 "You're the veteran adventurer, Selena! I'm a little anxious about the altar, but if I can stay awake long enough maybe we should go to that volcano."
Where will you head? Itztli provides advice about the incidental rewards other than your main objectives – marked in greentext.
New Earth +The report from the MSL said the ship crashed near here, and this is the largest city in the vicinity. It seems the natural place for your daughters to go. +As the largest city nearby, you may find help or friends here. >Incidental: Pirate Dice reward
Volcano +The cryptic message you received from Red's time room and the letter both collectively point toward this location, but you don't know why. >Incidental: Improved Weapons reward
Trawl Ocean +Ruins of ships would be a good place to look for your daughter's bodies if you're not optimistic. +This is the ideal place to look for the altar Lilly is after. >Incidental: Engine reward
>>621013 Smile and nod. "You really have Light's courage. I'll try to make something to help you keep awake. And if it comes to it, we will beat it. I know we will. Listen, Itztli might talk to you later so before he can say any lies, here's the truth. He's a Discordian. While we were on the pirate ship he could…change ponies. I saw them be sharpshooters one day, and magicians the next. So that's what he is. I've never seen him cheat on that deal…but I wouldn't trust him further than that."
>>621019 "I know. But looks can be deceiving. I just want you to know the truth from me. You're old enough to make up your own mind wether you want to deal with him or not."
>>621109 "Maybe. But whatever he's planning under that bed, there's little we can do to stop him besides keeping our eyes open and our ears perked. If we chase him away he'll just follow us somehow without us noticing. I'd rather know where he is."
>>621120 I nod, staying silent for a moment. "Oh, I forgot I should thank you for making sure I didn't die down there. I'm sorry I wasn't of much help during that last fight, I got really messed up quickly…"
>>621124 You find the young dog playing with the scope she made for the crossbow she left besides her. She was playing around with that ever since she got into the boat, and has been turning it into many different things. Breaking and reassembling the parts to make all sorts of other gadgets. She was awfully quiet and haven't talked to you at all since the Smith. She was barely using her smithing things she was given to as well.
>>621128 She stopped for a moment, turning to you, she smiles a bit. "Hi…" She said before turning to the tool in her paw, silent for a few moments "That was really dangerous wasn't it? All the thing in the tunnel and the such…" She speaks up, rubbing her bandaged arm
>>621130 "You know… Seeing my papa again… Made me think… About running away, leaving my home… And just now I realize I'm really really far away from it, without a family, and once we find your daughters and solve the thing with Lilly… I… I don't know… Miss Selena, what you planned to do once you find them?" She looks up from her little smithing set to you
>>621133 "I… I don't know… I wanted to keep going with you… This is so nice… Traveling with you and Lilly. But I know that you can't keep me around forever… You have your own family to take care" She rests her head in her paws. "I just hope I find my own way when we are done with this… I can't go back home anymore"
At least you're not grumpy when you wake up. Your hoof moon continues its march toward New Moon status.
>>621229 In the meantime, you can see the volcano is quite close. You can tell it's dormant, because it's covered in trees – not something that happens on an active volcano.
>>621232 Well, that's good. But I'm hoping this doesn't turn out to be a giant waste of time. "Rhanna, Lilly we're going out and check the volcano. Do a round."
>>621238 >>621240 You're about a mile from the base of the volcano. The volcano itself is about .4 miles in diameter, covering about 100 acres of land.
>>621264 >>621265 It doesn't take long after you enter the woods for the canopy to blot out your view of the volcano, but your innate sense of direction tells you that you're headed in the right direction.
Things are getting dark here. You keep tripping over roots, and the thickness of vines and brambles prevent flight. What a pain!
>>621933 "Reminder… I need to find shoes that fit my paws… Or make one, that would be good." She speaks mostly to herself
>>621934 "Oh, miss Selena. I remember that the Smith taught me a neat trick. Can I see your weapon, if you're carrying any?" She asks, sounding a tad more excited, her tail wags a bit behind her. >Using the other two skill points to pick >Sharpen >tinker
>>621955 Now that you can see more clearly, it becomes obvious there is a narrow clearing through the brambles below. You could maybe squeeze through painfully. Only Rhanna is small enough to fit through without getting scratched up. Otherwise, the foliage will have to be ripped down.
>>621961 >>621962 She looks down, in shame. "I-I just needed some practice… But okay… I'll just.. Try it on my own things until I'm good enough.." She sadly gives her Weapon a fix '1d10'
>>621966 Well, all I've got is a spear, plus I could whip up something that would allow me to swap places with someone. So that's no help in the long run.
>>621968 The foliage above looks less dense if you want to try to fly out. Something seems… wrong with it, though. Maybe it's just the wind, but it seems to writhe.
>>621970 I'll pace a bit, then sit against one of the nearby trees. >>621968 "Hey, don't wear yourself out too much, okay? You gonna end up passing out if you try to stay up for days at a time in addition to this."
>>621968 "Okay! I won't disappoint this Time!" She sets down the sword and concentrates deeply. And with vigor and determination, does the best sharpening that was ever done in the history of sharpening. Be it a kitchen knife or the great sword of the captain of an army. This feat of sharpening shall be passed along through the whispers of history among smiths of many generations to come '1d10' HAYAAAA!
>>621980 I'll look up. Not that I'm any more familiar with plants or anything on the surface, but do they look weird? '1d10' Well, weirder than the whole "they're trees" thing.
>>621993 >>621995 You can't break out without help – these are really strong snakes!
>>621997 It's moving too much! Don't give up, though.
>>621994 >>621996 Why are there exactly enough constrictors for your group? Food for thought. What kinds of snakes make their den in trees and intentionally pick fights with ponies?
>>621998 "Gah! I hate snakes!" She barely aims before firing at the one that was giving her trouble "This is a setup! A trap from somepony that hates us!" '1d10+1'
>>623672 Rhanna rubs her stomach. "Hhmmnn… So, we're still trying to get through these right?" She motions to the hedgery "hmn… But maybe…" '1d10' appraise
>>623681 You're so busy avoiding being pricked by vines from above, you don't look out below! There's an unexpected pit you tumble down into. On the bright side, it's just a dirt pit.
>>623682 I believe she uses a trident. In any case, it would be even less effective than those swords!
>>623683 "woooOOAAAAAH-ow…" Getting back on her footing, the dog looked around, ears raised up in alarm as she scanned her surroundings, immediately having her Weapon at ready '1d10'appraise
>>625072 >>625073 I'll chew a piece of one and offer some to Selena. "What's wrong with meat? It's different than fish, but it still fills your tummy."
>>625076 "That's why you garnish it with herbs and stuff! I know you're not seaponies, but you should still be able to stomach this. I think." I'll offer some to Lilly. "It's better if you don't eat the skin."
>>625076 Give you a hard look. "Anything. Only the higher ups got decent food. We usually had to survive on whatever the quartermaster found growing on the side of the ship."
>>625074 Take a bite. Just chew and swallow. '1d10'
>>625077 Carefully taste some. "We can't be lollygagging for too long. I don't have the time for that."
>>625078 "You make it sound all sinister! I'm actually really good at survival in the wilderness because of my job requiring me to camp out all the time."
>>625082 You were following these ponies. You managed to get a ship to the mainland from that crazy place you were abducted. They said they're headed back to the town you wanted to arrive at - New Earth - but they're making a stop here at this volcano first. They haven't said why.
>>625084 I'll scrunch and puff up my cheeks. "That's an awful joke." >>625085 I'll pick up Slam and Martial Defender again. I get the feeling I'll need it later.
>>625085 Great. volcano's. An island with a volcano on it, I remember when volcanic forts are the in thing back then when it is cool. Surely these bumpkins dont know how cool volcanoes are! Go and approach the group of ponies eating eels and ask why we are in this god forsaken rock.
>>625087 >>625086 >>625089 "Oi, why are we in this rock? This doesnt look like the new world you guys are talking about!"
>>625092 "I don't know either, but Lilly and Selena decided it was a detour worth taking." >>625093 Guess we're heading out. I'll follow after making sure my fire's out.
>>625096 >>625095 Just close my arms together while following the group wherever they are going. "A detour eh? Its worth undertaking if it has gold in it that is. Are there treasure's in this rock worth for this detour?"
On the way up, you notice that in the rich silt that supports all the tree life on this volcano, there are trails in the sand – as though left by snakes. But almost like snakes that are dragging large objects… They lead up to a rock outcropping between four large trees that appears totally innocent, but the tracks suddenly stop there.
>>625115 >>625114 Ready my short sword as I huff, still following the group. "Thanks for the heads up there."
>>625118 My eyes smarted, my face with a visible frown. "Snakes dragging something, wait a minute snakes dont have arms, that or maybe you are drunk Lilly."
>>625122 It IS rock – externally. It seems some sort of master craftsman has grafted real rock onto the outside of a hatch. With proper dig dog skills, you might be able to pry it open.
>>625126 >>625129 ''Hmmmngh…Hey Flagon! Lend me a paw here please? I don't want to be the only one doing all the digging!''
>>625130 ''What? pfft, it's just a rock Lilly, there must be super cool stuff inside or like hidden treasure or…well or it can be the snake hideout…'' She looks a bit somber at the last part ''But I'm itching to find out!''
>>625133 I scratch my head before approaching Rhanna to lend a hand. "Alright little guy, but you have to tell me where to dig? I cant even figure out what you are doing here."
>>625134 ''Hey! I'm a Girl not a guy!'' She pokes his arm with a finger ''And look, it's like a hatch with rock graftd into it somehow…I dunno how it was done…but we can dig it out and force the hatch open. If somepony went through the trouble of hiding this hatch SO well. then whatever it is down there is probally worth our time, so come on!''
>>625133 >>625134 >>625135 Chuckle. "I'm just teasing ya little bug wug." I then crack my knuckles. "Alright, lets open this thing up." Help Rhanna, following whatever she is doing with the rock. '1d10'
>>625137 >>625136 >>625135 >>625130 >>625131 >>625132 In a show of strength, Flagon cracks apart the rock and pulls loose the hatch. Inside, there is a rough-hewn mine path lit by lanterns. It seems to not just be level, but instead descends into the volcano…
>>625138 >>625135 My eyes widen at the sight and look back at the party in bewilderment. "By my fathers liver what is this. How did you know there is a place like this in this goddamn rock Rhanna? Is this a dog fort?"
>>625138 >>625139 ''I know right?! I thought the same too! I bet it's like, a super weird pony that raises snake for it's evil bidding!''
>>625140 ''I really doubt it's a dog forth…I mean it could be but…Doesn't feel like it…and really, don't you think this is all odd? I mean, snakes come after us to catch us and they didn't even try to eat us like actual snakes do! I think they are working for someone and we can find it down here who that someone is! I mean it all connects…Ooh boy, my tummy is all tingly…''
>>625148 The mine is noticeably not hot. In fact, it's shady, so it's cooler than the tropical air outside. It seems to have good ventilation and the volcano is not active.
>>625146 ''Well just remember to be quiet down there ya big goof! I'm totally sure we are not welcome down there, so we'll have to sneak around'' >>625147 >>625148 ''A ventilation system maybe? I'm confused too!I thought snakes LIKED the heat?''
>>625150 >>625151 >>625152 You head into the tunnel. It actually seems quite long, but as you head deeper, you begin to hear the echoes of some kind of chanting…
>>625157 >>625158 "Well, back in the crab, it usually meant something in the walls would come out, or the floor, or the hallway would shift about three inches to the right."
>>625155 >>625156 >>625158 >>625157 You come to an opening, out on a ledge. You can see there are a network of long sloping ramps that lead down the volcano. Hanging down far below in the great lava chamber there is a chained, hanging platform.
Of course, there is no lava here. This volcano is long-dead, just a rocky shell.
>>625161 On the platform below, there are ponies in robes. There's a chained up blue pegasus below – it looks like she's going to be sacrificed, if you know your cults!
>>625160 "It's home to me, though." >>625161 >>625162 Oh geez. "We gotta save them! I'm pretty sure most of us would die if we jumped from here, though."
>>625168 >>625170 ''That is right! Miss Selena take this!'' She gives the pegasus her gadget ''Do you want me to sharper your weapon too? it should help''
>>625177 "Of course we're going to rescue her!" I'll start heading towards the ramp. "But we're going to need to move if we want to get there in time." >>625178 "Not if you shoot them first, I bet."
>>625189 "That might be best. But we have to wait for the right moment, if they attack us all at once, they might overwhelm us." Point to the cages. "Perhaps if we can let out the other prisoners we can have help…"
>>625198 >>625199 ''Hmn…that is true…'' She scratches her head ''Darn it this is complicated and we're running out of time!'' She hesitantly started heading down
>>625201 The rocks of the slope give way under you (who's a chubby food pony?), causing you to slip! It doesn't destroy the path, just the surface rocks broke loose and slid off. You need to be rescued by a flier immediately!
>>629591 The high priest is going to stab you good! He's swinging his terrible crooked cult blade! Pick one: >Just take it! >Dodge out of the way! (Dex DC6) >Disarm him! (Dex DC8)
>>629593 >>629592 You dive down to a crashing halt on the dias. On the dias, on the dias. Oooh on the dias!
One of you gets dogpiled by snakes, and one of you gets surrounded by angry cultists. Which foe would you prefer? It's first come, first serve!
>>629592 Or I would be saying that if I weren't already down here. So out comes the spear and I'll rush over to the sacrificial pony. Hopefully she's not chained down, since spears don't really cut metal that well.
>>629595 You dodge out of the way, and he stabs Aira instead!
… He looks confused, and tries stabbing her a few more times. Nothing's happening. The chanting kinda peters out. Some nearby underpriests ask, "Did you put the knife in the right side up?"
"Try jiggling it!"
"You remembered to bathe the ritual dagger in the tears of innocents this morning, correct?"
"Maybe she's not a virgin!"
Aira flails about on the altar, having been stabbed a few times recently.
"Say, could you adventurers come back tomorrow?"
>>629596 You badly wound four of them, but the sixth grapples you with its whole constrictor body!
You're still stuck way up on the ramp down because you can't fly! Better think of something quick! For example, you could try to fashion something to zipline down the cables that hold up the platform below, or make a surf-board to ride the ramp all the way to the bottom, or something else.
>>629601 Goshdangit why couldn't she have wings or something?! She looks at the lines and gets an idea She puts the crossbow on one of them, takes a deep breath before jumping, gripping the hold of the crossbow with her dear life '1d10' ziplinin
Before you can respond, the platform jerks downward – one of the corners lost its support line and is falling! Dex save to stay on!
>>629602 You feel uneasy… Something tastes great! You feel off balance, though… You feel more honest, suddenly!
Quick, attack while they're reloa– OH NO THE PLATFORM IS JERKING! AH! ONE CORNER COLLAPSED! DEX SAVE TO NOT SLIDE OFF!
>>629603 You bust out of the snake. He rolls off the platform and falls probably a hundred feet. Eeegh. Well, one more snake bites the dust.
Time for some payba– OH NO THE PLATFORM IS JERKING! AH! ONE CORNER COLLAPSED! DEX SAVE TO NOT SLIDE OFF!
>>629604 Almost immediately your crossbow line catches the hook where the support wires are secured to the wall. You're free-falling through a dead volcano! Roll to hold on for dear life!
>>629607 >>629606 Lilly manages to stay on the platform, but Marina is freefalling!
Two snakes managed to stay on the platform! Two cultists managed to stay on the platform!
>>629608 You make a terrible swing all the way down to the bottom of the pit, hanging a mere 40 feet above the bottom of the dead volcano. Prisoners are being held there. It's a dangerous fall, though…
And it looks like a thirty foot climb straight up to climb the steel cable up to the platform, which is now tilted sideways…
>>629609 You get thrown from the platform! Pull up! Pull up!
>>629616 She groans. It looks like she's in a daze, but your medical knowledge suggests it isn't shocked. She must be drugged.
She's got chains of steel. You'll need the key, or to break them. Alternatively, the altar she's chained to is only made of stone.
>>629617 There's the uneven platform above, though it's getting a little less uneven as cultists depart it in haste. Even below you can see cultists are clearing out into tunnels at the base of the volcano.
>>629622 Your last thought before the chains explode is: I probably should've thought this through.
You hear a shattering sound and shrapnel flies everywhere, and your eyes explode with pain as the world goes dark. You feel uneasy and off balance. You feel a terrible throbbing pain in your head.
>>629623 >>629620 Marina is safely deposited at the bottom of the volcano. There are some prisoners here – all ponies. They were abandoned. Some are chained, but most aren't. All of them look dazed and indifferent to the danger of the precarious platform above.
You hear a blood curdling scream from up on the platform where Selena is.
>>629624 You see Lilly zip by to drop Marina off below you on the ground! Or you could try building up enough momentum to swing to one side of the volcano and jump off… or you could try to climb up, but it's a long climb…
>>629625 >>629623 "That didn't sound good… you'd better check on Selena! I'll stay here and free the prisoners." Now… I don't suppose there's a key floating around here anywhere?
>>629626 No obvious keys. They were probably being carried by those cultists who ran off in fear. Only a few of the prisoners were actually chained up, though – the ones that actually look lucid.
>>629627 You already drank that! Your current spell potions are: Magic Bolt, Retaliate, Lifestream
>>629629 "HELP! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! IT'S TEETERING RIGHT ABOVE US! AAAAAAH!"
>>629630 It's like trying to stare into the sun – just trying to focus your eyes is very painful.
>>629631 She's hoofing at her eyes – they look like they were stabbed. Aira is broken free, but looks totally disoriented. She has stood up, but is now wandering about on the platform and soon to trot over the edge.
Rhanna calls for help from below. You can't be everywhere at once!
>>629633 "You're not going to die! We're going to all get out of here and everything will be great! Now, why are those ponies wandering around like someone ate their brains?"
>>629642 You stand still enough that you can get a better grasp on the sounds around you. In the distance, you hear a crumbling sound. You'd put it at between twenty and sixty feet out.
>>629643 "No, I think there are like… witchdoctors or something. Medicine ponies. Just break the chains or something! They're all gone, and we need to be gone now too!"
>>629646 Ah geez… >>629648 "I don't have anything to break the chains with! And this pony you just put down here needs medical attention! Where's Selena?"
WOAH! THE PLATFORM COLLAPSED FROM UNDER YOU! Another chain has broken free! You freefall. With nothing you see, you take a deep breath, and prepare for death.
Suddenly, you feel yourself in another pony's arms!
>>629657 Another chain broke loose! It's hanging above you at a full 90 degree angle, ready to pile-drive the ground below!
>>629656 You sweep her off the platform just after it gives way!
>>629658 Oh no. Oh no no no. Use my spear, try and pry one of the links apart. >>629660 Lame, and I didn't even roll for anything. I was just making sure no one stepped on her…
>>629658 >>629659 "Gotcha!" Fly down with her to the bottom. "That platform won't hold much longer and there's ponies trapped with chains below! Do you have any potions that can melt steel? Can you make something to fix those eyes of yours?"
>>629663 You swoop down to the bottom. That platform is looking REALLY dangerous up above.
>>629664 It is actually a steel alloy with something cheaper. Maybe copper. You think you could exploit its harmonic resonance… if you can sing a really high-pitch A!
"Uhm…" Fumble with my potions. "I just have a Bolt potion." Give that to Lilly. "Don't worry about me, save those ponies!" Take my hat and try to pull out a bolt-cutter. '1d10+2'
>>629666 You stick your hoof into the magic hat. You grab something inside, but it has an unusual texture. It feels like…
Disappointing your mother. The surface of whatever you're grabbing feels exactly like what you felt the first time you tried to mix a potion, and it exploded, ruining the inside of your wagon. Mom was so disappointed… if you had only waited a few more hours for her to return, she would've shown it to you herself…
>>629673 What is even going on… But they're free, so we'll take it for now. Time to herd the drugged ponies out of here. >>629674 "You sure did! Now, we've got to get these drugged ponies out of here! Can you help put the wounded one over my back? I don't think she can move on her own."
>>629687 Ugh. What is wrong with me…? >>629688 "I don't know, I fell off before I saw much of anything." >>629689 I'll glumly apologize. "I just don't know what's going on. Everything feels weird."
>>629700 You brew up a coagulant with lots of nutritious iron! This is definitely a good cure for hemorrhaging.
You administer the potion and Aira starts to look better immediately.
>>629700 >>629698 >>629697 >>629693 You hear an ear-shattering BOOM and there's a cloud of dust that blows up the tunnel from below. The platform must have slammed into one of the walls of the volcano. One chain left. You don't want to be around when it runs out – even in the tunnel.
>>629704 >>629703 >>629702 You charge out of the oppressive, dusty darkness of the tunnel, and take a deep breath as you exit into the shining sun of the world outside the volcano.
Free at last.
Other than Selena, you can see the prisoners have formed into a sort of large party that is traveling toward New Earth. From your vantage, you can see it in the distance. It's only a couple of miles away.
>>629705 Well, we need to take stock of ourselves before we go haring off after them. Let's move away from the mouth of the cave. I'll herd the others away from there and off to the side.
>>629707 You can hear her breathing heavily nearby. She must have passed out from the pain earlier.
>>629708 >>629706 You move away from the mouth of the tunnel before another blast of dust shoots out. In the distance, you hear a loud, calamitous sound.
>>629709 Now that we're in the clear, at least for the moment, I need to clear my head. Shake my head a few times, see if that doesn't get some of the cobwebs out and help speed up my hearing recovery.
>>629705 >>629707 "She's okay, she's… >>629711 "Yeah…" She smiles >>629709 "Woah what was that?" She Perks her ears, trying to find the source ofthe Sound
>>629710 You feel hungrier after that, but your stomach is a little more settled.
>>629711 She's hot… burning up, really. A fever. Nothing dangerous but… a couple of teardrops land on her forehead. It makes you feel so helpless. She has to fight it now. You've done all you can.
>>629712 You can hear once more. You feel REALLY hungry.
>>629717 >>629716 ''yeah! just a healing potion won't go far!'' >>629718 ''Oh I think I did, let me look'' she looks around the other ponies, looking for one that looked like Selena
>>629725 Your party is always counted as six no matter how many of you are 'active'. But right now you have a bonus member to your retinue, the unconscious Aira.
Yourself Marina the Sea Pony Lilly the Nightmare-Scorned Rhanna the Dangerous Dog Flagon the Terminally Unavailable Selena the Currently Blinded by Shrapnel
>>629729 You aren't actively wasting away, just a lot skinnier than you were. It's like you went without eating for a month over the course of a minute. It stopped, but you're still very skinny.
>>629728 There are a lot of blue ponies! It's like playing where's waldpone!
"Well, now that we are done patting each other on the back… I will go hunt for something more filling than grass." That is, if we actually have food problems.
>>629730 Well, once we get to town and Selena to a doctor, then I can worry about food. >>629734 "Well, there's a town there… the Cultists might have gone to ground in there, but there's also probably food. And a doctor for Selena's eyes."
>>629734 You don't actually have food problems per se, but you have some hungry party members. Seemed like maybe some magic involved. Your foraging leads you to notice there's a town with a bar only two miles from here, easily visible in the distance downhill.
>>629743 She cracks her neck, coughing ''mimimimiiiii'' and then she push out her chest, taking a biiiiig breath and shouts into the cone [insert big long Aria in caps here] '1d10+1'
>>629744 >>629746 "Calm down you both, I will try dreaming about her." >>629749 Drop some dream wine straight into my eyes, and let the visions overtake me. '1d10'
>>629760 >>629759 >>629758 >>629756 >>629765 You trot into New Earth after a relatively short walk. It's amazing that civilization could exist so close to the cultist base of operations. Maybe some of them were once incognito here in the town…
The town itself is mostly spartan. A bunch of small apartment complexes. Barber shop slash surgeon. Dock and port authority. And at the center of the town, the lifeblood of all questing slash adventurous towns: the tavern.
It's named The Upper Hoof, and it's three stories tall!
>>629770 >>629771 >>629772 >>629773 The barber shop's pole is spinning – some sort of newfangled invention. It glows with the strange electrical essence you heard about back in Reptil.
The windows have heavy curtains drawn. If not for the glowing pole – which reads BARBAR OPEN (sic), you'd think it was closed. There's a door before you if you want to try it.
>>629774 There's a mail center in the Port Authority. You wonder if that mail pony, Lilly Belle, could expedite the sending somehow…
In any case, there's a public box if you don't want to trouble her.
>>629776 I really don't know her well enough. And atop that, she's on a race for her life. Maybe if they have a church here I could use their mail system?
>>629776 ''Oooooh that's cool'' her eyes glitter as she takes a look at it, trying to figure out how it works and such, like a curious child she is '1d10' appraise
Lilly enters. The place smells like old, cured meat. In the center is a huge chair with straps. Looming over it is a huge buffalo. He looks like a total barbarian.
"YOU NEED A BARBAR, PONY? I CAN DO…"
He roars.
"STYLES!"
>>629779 Truly, electrical essence is a mysterious force.
>>629778 Nothing immediately apparent, but that doesn't mean that it isn't here. You could look around or ask someone.
>>629781 ''mister! we need medical treatment for these ponies! Also what is the deal with that thing on the outside? also, what's that smell of meat? are you cooking something?''
>>629783 It looks like there's someone sleeping inside the post annex, if you want to wake them. Alternatively, the port authority is open with a mare at the desk.
>>629782 >>629784 "HOLD ON NOW! ENOUGH! THE TREATMENT REQUIRED ISN'T…"
>>629794 I approach the 50 ft tall Celestia in town and hand the letter straight to her. Since for what I know she might very well be here, given how you described literally nothing of my surroundings.
>>629801 Well, shit. >>629803 I'll swallow hard. >>629802 "Alright. I'll trust you not to put her in any worse of a condition. Her daughter needs seeing to as well, but I don't know how bad her wounds are…"
>>629806 A little town on the edge of the continent called New Earth. he town itself is mostly spartan. A bunch of small apartment complexes. Barber shop slash surgeon. Dock and port authority. And at the center of the town, the lifeblood of all questing slash adventurous towns: the tavern. It's named The Upper Hoof, and it's three stories tall!
>>629810 His rear room is full of tools and has a door to a meat cooler.
He pulls down a sheet that is full of knives, retractors, and a bone saw.
>>629811 Not at all, they've only just arrived in the town. You arrived here earlier with the other people who escaped the volcano. Looks like the party is loitering around the entrance of the local Barber Shop.
>>629824 "And mine is a priestess. I'm really regretting focusing on cooking instead of clerical skills…" >>629825 …In an objective sense, I wish I could have such control while fileting. But this still wigs me out.
>>629826 It looks like some sort of concoction. You can't tell what it is from this distance.
>>629827 >>629828 He pours some into the slice, which he holds open with the blade. He seems satisfied, and then trades the bottle for the retractor. With impressive grace, he draws out one of the deeper slices of metal.