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Post by Spwack on Dec 13, 2021 13:52:46 GMT
"Hmm, silence from the Ash Orcs is not surprising, but it is a little sad. Silence from the Name Thief... that also isn't surprising, but it is rather worrying, would you not agree?"
The Empress smiles. "Tell you what. My messenger should return with word from the Worm Queen shortly. Why don't we play a little game, you and I? I'll wager, hmm, one of my new ogres. Or just one of their collars, if you would prefer."
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 13, 2021 14:08:59 GMT
“Hmmmm a game sounds fun and an ogre is a hefty prize but no thank you to the ogre or the collar. Being trapped like I was… once I know what the game is I would have a better idea what we should wager. Although maybe you would like to wager one of the keys to the dwarves vault, that I believe is in your possession. For my wager perhaps the black knights great-sword, he is a terror on the battlefield.”
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Post by Spwack on Dec 14, 2021 11:14:13 GMT
"Fair enough indeed. And a noble wager indeed! Say, how did you know I had one of those?"
"Let's see, for the game... a test of wits? Riddles? Truth or dare? Or something else, we could arm wrestle for it!"
The little girl sitting on the plush armchair/throne claps her hands delightedly. When she says "arm wrestle" you feel a prickle down the back of your neck.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 14, 2021 15:06:59 GMT
“You are an expert in lost things and if you had both keys well the vault would be open already. Hmmmm riddles is customary but I am perhaps something else? Incan gold? Blackjack?
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Post by Spwack on Dec 15, 2021 9:16:11 GMT
"Oh ho you flatterer you! An expert, you say? Well, if I'm an expert in lost and hidden things, what are you an expert in my friend?"
At this point, a ghostly shape flitters down from above, sliding back into the Empresses open mouth. "Hmm! The Lady has accepted the invitation, and is currently on her way to the domain of the Worm Queen. Shall we depart as well?"
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 15, 2021 12:08:30 GMT
“Oh the lady doesn’t need a ride? Let us depart then. Perhaps we could play our game on the way or after the tea party. I just need to pop by cell block 0 for some supplies on the way.”
I don’t intend to bring the empress into the cell block and would just have her wait outside as I grab the tea leaves blerble picked from saint seymour, the red jello, and the honeyed quetzal worm sandwiches.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 15, 2021 12:17:56 GMT
“Oh perhaps we could play a cooperative game with the ladies at tea. Perhaps Mysterium and our bet could be on which of the others solves their riddles first. I would be the dealer if that is alright but to make it fair I will give everyone the same amount of cards. 1, 2, or 3 your choice. These games are all what I remember from my youth before the dungeon. A lighter time.”
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Post by Spwack on Dec 15, 2021 15:03:17 GMT
"She has already arranged one. I must arrange for myself as well, gosh, it certainly has been some time since I visited even a neighbour. Helnelya will guide you to the top of our domain, you might be quite intrigued at what my engineers have put together. I will meet you where the Worm Queen dwells, and we will have just a jolly time together! What fun!"
"That sounds wonderful my friend. You must certainly be the dealer, since you have brought the four of us together."
Helnelya greets you again as you leave the misty darkness of the Empresses lair. It takes some time for you to get used to the torchlight again after the weird not-light of that eternal sitting room. She leads you up staircase after staircase, much more cramped than the open thoroughfares, then up a long ladder with many flights. Eventually, you pop out the very top of the pillar to a scene of considerable industry. A chained ogre sits patiently next to a number of loaded ballistae. A large metal cable dangers down from high above, a lift extending all the way to the ceiling.
You can also see a new stretch of minecart track from the top of the pillar, kobold-engineering grafted onto the existing track crossing the abyss. One of the lizards is wearing a flat cap and has a tin whistle around its scaly neck, for some unfathomable reason. It blows it twice, and a minecart slides off the track above and comes sliding to a stop. "All aboard that's coming aboard!" squeaks the little conductor.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 15, 2021 15:28:57 GMT
Oh my “yes please.”do you have a little scrap wood I may have? Just for a small fire.”
Kobold railways makes me smile so much.
To the worm queen with my supplies.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 16, 2021 0:58:07 GMT
Oh I forgot to ask the kobold empress something. I wanted to see if they wanted to help clear out all of the treasure in the beholders lair and hold onto it for safe keeping for some fees. Like a bank. They could have the broken vending machine as payment an avenue to the heist of a lifetime…
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Post by Spwack on Dec 16, 2021 3:33:05 GMT
The kobolds rustle you up a small bag of coal. "This do bossss?"
They are delighted at your attention, and make a big fuss over their second passenger ever. "If we can get some ssssilver bells we reckon we can make links into the existing lever system and maybe start opening up the other parts of the track network again. It'll be ace! No more hiking around waiting to get eaten by gruesss for us!"
The carts whisk you to CB0, and then back to the Court of Worms. Several kobolds are already there waiting to carry your things up to the throne room. A neat ladder has been placed where before there was only a rope hanging. Up the top is a scene that warms your heart: sitting around a bejewelled table are your three guests.
The Kobold Empress has changed into a puffy pink monstrosity of a dress that flows in weird ways all over her seat. You realise there are at least two very tiny kobolds perched underneath it to keep it in the exact right position and not touch the freshly swept floor.
The Lady of the Painting has somehow contrived to get herself set up on an easel made of oak in lieu of a chair, and is laughing uproariously and in a thoroughly unladylike manner.
The Queen of Worms appears to be pulsating in the darkness, and it takes a moment before you spot why - she's absolutely covered in a layer of black worms, reflecting the light in a fascinating manner.
"You know," continues the Empress "You could really think about getting another prophet. Your other one was very good, and your son is all well and good, but it can be useful to have a follower with, you know, some limbs."
The Lady guffaws even more at the expense of the Queen, who seems to be taking it in remarkably good grace.
Several kobolds wearing demure grey outfits are scattered around the chamber, acting as waiters for the occasion. One of them is the Master of Ceremonies, and heralds your arrival: "Presssenting her Tallness, the Missssses Phyakalla of the Dungeon! First of her name, The Lightning-Forged Lady of Stormss, The Darkling Ssssteel Chef, and Friend To All Denizens!"
The Empress claps with delight at your arrival. "So glad you could make it! Come come, take a seat, we were discussing plans for the future consort of the Worm Queen!"
"We were? Interesting. Greetings Miss Phykalla, it is good to see you. Oh, you do spoil us so, what delights have you brought with you?"
As you go to take your seat, you feel a pair of cold and very familiar hands pull it out for you...
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 16, 2021 3:59:17 GMT
I will take it in stride. “Oh I thought andsaca wasn’t dead yet, simply… smaller.”
we will use the coals to heat some rocks to make the tea.
“I have tea brewed from the leaves of saint seymour, honeyed sandwiches made from the greater quetzal worm, an assortment of magical chocolates (a gift from the kobold empress), and jello. Glad everyone could make it and thank you queen for letting us use your space for the event.”
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Post by Spwack on Dec 16, 2021 7:18:41 GMT
The butler, now that you are properly settled, takes over the stoking of the coals while you brew the tea.
"Mm, a fair assessment. But unfortunately, as the Kobold Empress so 'politely' put it, he is still lacking in the... limb department."
Everyone applauds as your various gifts are revealed. The Lady cannot eat or drink, but enjoys the steam from the tea. An assortment of the food is placed in an offering bowl at the base of the Queen (the worms of which steadily consume), while the Empress enjoys all of it immensely.
"The pleasure is all mine. This truly is a rare delight Phykalla, how did you come to think of such an occasion?"
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 16, 2021 11:51:54 GMT
“Meeting the lady here for the first time reminded me of us lovely ladies in the dungeon and how we should do more together, hence the tea party. How have you all been faring? I was locked up in a bin for a while so I am out of touch.”
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Post by Spwack on Dec 17, 2021 3:35:33 GMT
Lady and Worm Queen absolutely sympathise. The painting was stuck in a room with a bunch of rotting barrels of fungus for ages, and is much happier now she is out and in much more salubrious conditions. "The Professor is truly a delight, it's wonderful to be in such good company."
The Worm Queen is, naturally, still stuck in her predicament, but at least has her minions to accompany her. She seems, perhaps, a little lonely?
The Empress has been very busy. "My kobolds are so attentive and considerate, but they aren't, well, my equals if I must be perfectly honest." All of the kobold servants here bow their heads. They are, not to put too fine a point on it, terrified of their ruler. "It truly is wonderful meeting all of you. We should do this more often!"
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 17, 2021 4:08:45 GMT
“Of course, a good meeting of the minds. You were mentioning andsaca and teasing the queen here but do either of you have anyone like that?”
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Post by Spwack on Dec 17, 2021 10:33:28 GMT
The three noble ladies don't respond right away. Was that a bit of a faux pas? "No," says the Empress. "I don't. Did you have someone in mind?"
She seems a little miffed, but only a little.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 17, 2021 11:44:13 GMT
“No…. It is quite hard to meet someone in a dungeon. We don’t need love lives to define us though.”
I will skirt around some topics a bit I want to hear what they bring up for conversation topics.
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Post by Spwack on Dec 18, 2021 4:27:30 GMT
"It's not quite the same though, is it? Mortals burn twice as bright, for burning a fraction as long. You must understand Phykalla, beings like us, we always and only take the long view, because the short view is so far below us. That is the true benefit of having a prophet, disciple or what have you."
The Lady is an incorrigible gossip, keen to hear about what foolishness Wormgleep the Frequently Dying has been up to.
Worm Queen is apt to listen more than she speaks among this particular group. Her worms frequently leave and return though, interestingly. What might they be up to?
The Empress seems like she wants to talk about something, but also doesn't want to bring it up... a potent enemy prowls the dungeon, and she doesn't know where it is, and that makes her nervous, though she doesn't want to show it.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 18, 2021 5:20:08 GMT
“What is the long view currently? Has that changed from the past?”
I would be keen to hear about those things as well.
I noticed the kobolds were preparing for battle and I surmised the other factions were doing the same with the worm queen increasing her offspring, the drow grabbing the staff of lixandrieu, the crab people vivisecting the beholder.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 18, 2021 5:24:11 GMT
When the conversation slows again… “what do you all do to occupy your time? Any hobbies?”
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Post by Spwack on Dec 19, 2021 6:33:38 GMT
"The long view is cut short by... our mutual foe." The Empress seems unwilling to actually say "N*** T****".
"It used to be the accumulation of power, the opening of new opportunities, the ousting of hidden foes, and the stretching of domains in all direction. Now all is scrabbling and desperation. And eventually, probably, betrayal."
The Lady is keen to discuss her talks with the Professor about theoretical magical frameworks, but a fair bit of that goes over your head. The Empress expresses her delight with little parties like these ones, while the Worm Queen still mostly seeks her personal freedom.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 19, 2021 13:52:55 GMT
“Ah yes… she is such a strong force? Perhaps you all wish to champion blerble’s crusade.”
“Any new interests or delights in the dungeon?”
“Do any of you have family in or out of the dungeon?”
I feel I am steering the conversation a bit much, maybe some fun stuff will come up in during Mysterium.
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Post by Spwack on Dec 20, 2021 10:27:52 GMT
The Empress is interested in what the Worm Queen and Blerbles are seeking to achieve. "But what happens if you should rile up her displeasure, and bring that war back to burn us to the ground?"
Considering that two of them are practically immobile, only the Empress has news of delights. "I have heard the Drow are working on some new phantasms and delicacies to astound the senses. Dispite all their subtle crudity and blatant finesse, they are a fascination one and all."
Family: Lady - "My kin is long gone, as much as I had any. I do wonder what became of my painter, but I suppose unless he or she was immortal, would be buried by now as well."
Empress - "You may have met my nephew, I believe he goes by 'Velicious' nowadays. I can only apologise. A dreadful brat and a right earful when he wants to be. Still, it only makes sense, considering who his mother is. Ugh." The little girl wafts a hand in front of her nose, crinkled up in an expression of distaste.
The Worm Queen has a few questions for you in turn. She's heard that you and her son have acquired a magical river vessel, and is eager to know what sights you've explored and extents you've reached with it.
Every so often, the Empress tries to gently wheedle out any of your major plans for the future. She's making a few heavy hints while she does so. You're pretty sure if you answer, she'll be happy to oblige you further herself.
((I'll try and steer it a bit myself as well, wrangling three voices is harder than just one! If there are any topics that you think were glossed over too much, you should definitely bring them up again))
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 20, 2021 14:45:07 GMT
I guess what I am looking for to start with here is hooks, rumors, and insight on the dungeon either as a whole or the changes within.
“I heard blerble and some others defeated the beholder. Quite the feat but don’t spread that rumor too quickly I believe they have yet to get all of the treasure out of there.”
“I recently came into a small hoard of my own, mostly gems, and was musing about staying with the drow a while as I set up my traveling restaurant. I have a broken mech I have been fixing up and am even hiring some staff.”
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 20, 2021 15:11:25 GMT
How’s the saintly tea? The food? The magical chocolates? (No idea what they do.)
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Post by Spwack on Dec 21, 2021 8:34:39 GMT
If you were a new adventurer, fresh to the field, any of the other three guests here would be quick to offer advice, deals, and tempting offers. But you're not a new adventurer. You're Phykalla Lightning-Forged. If anything, some of them could ask you for tips and tricks. They won't, but they could.
That said, the Empress has a few snippets of gossip that some of her scouting crews have come back with. The Troglospiders are roaming even more than before, after the tremendous explosion that happened within their domain, and they are aggressive. Some of the scouts were eaten. Also, undead seem to be coming up from somewhere far below, and starting to take up choke-points in certain hallways. None of them are particularly strong, but it does make travel a little less safe.
"Hiring staff you say? And a suit of mechanical armour? I do believe I might be able to help you with that." Says the Empress. "My engineering crews have been working with these 'ticky things' for a little while now, perhaps we could offer you some assistance with repairs and maintenance."
The Worm Queen is very chuffed that her son was so successful, and offers to send some of her own minions down to collect the rest of the treasure and bring it back her for safe-keeping.
The Saintly Tea is very subtle, since the leaves aren't necessarily tea leaves, but the taste is not unpleasant fantastic, smooth and with just the hint of bitterness. It does give you a melancholy feeling after each sip, perhaps the whims of the Woeful Frogs have seeped into it a little.
The food you've made is excellent, a truly commendable display especially considering you're stuck down here. The Worm Queen also offers her assistance with farming or taming the Quetzal beasts, should you be able to find more.
The Kobold Empress claps in delight as you bring out the chocolates. "Oh, I'd forgotten I'd given you these, what fun!" When you touch one of the chocolates, it springs to life and attempts to escape, darting hither and thither. When you eventually manage to snatch it and scoff it down, it explodes into strawberry filling in your mouth, trickling down your cheek and making you look like a savage warrior devouring flesh. Or at least, that is what the Empress says, and she certainly looks the part as well.
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 21, 2021 10:06:40 GMT
“Haha these chocolates are amazing! Mmmm I am not familiar with troglospiders, what are they like?”
Yeah getting the treasure to the worm queen sounds great. We needed a bank.
Saint seymour is the patron saint of tea, depression, and wrestling so I hoped for the leaves to work as a tea.
“Perhaps after the chocolates we may play a game? I believe the empress will be supplying me with cards for Mysterium a cooperative game from my youth.”
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Post by Spwack on Dec 22, 2021 7:01:15 GMT
"The troglospiders are denizens of a huge spiderweb, spanning multiple Floors. There closest access point is near the Beholder lair, but blocked by a pool of acid and dastardly traps. The webs also pass close by where the Gem City used to be accessible from, on Floor -2. Horrid creatures, one and all. Human at one point, perhaps? But no longer, that is for sure."
"I'll arrange that, my son and his companions can collect and distribute it as they prefer."
((Tea as well? What a versatile Saint indeed! Correction made))
The Empress clicks her fingers and one of her attendants brings over a pack of the cards.
((How do you think we should wrangle this?))
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Post by wingilbear on Dec 22, 2021 12:16:32 GMT
“This is a cooperative game where I am playing the part of a ghost. I am trying to speak to you and narrow down my killer from a pool of suspects but due to a curse can only speak to you three via visions, which are these cards. I will give each of you a few cards then you may talk amongst yourselves to decide which culprit each of your own individual visions point. You will each have your own separate culprit. We will get three attempts for everyone to have discovered their culprit correctly. It’s all or nothing though for us to win, if at the end of three rounds even one of you is incorrect we all lose the game.”
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