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Post by wingilbear on Jan 24, 2022 21:08:24 GMT
“Perhaps andsaca will take over the Martha fucker and work with the flame residing there.”
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 24, 2022 21:16:08 GMT
“Do you recall andsaca and thrapstop’s duel with the three wizard apprentices: pimples, finger guns and I forget?”
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Post by Spwack on Jan 25, 2022 15:17:55 GMT
Pops: You hear guffaws of delight coming from above, and the rope is tossed down. Scrambling up, you are greeted by quite the sight. Sitting around a small table are four people having, what appears to be, afternoon tea. One of them is the Painting of a Lady you last saw hanging opposite the Professor, one is a gigantic statue of a voluptuous lady with the head of a sprouting worm, one is a little girl wearing a puffy pink dress that gives you the screaming heebie-jeebies, and one is a 8ft knightess in heavy plate-armour. They are surrounded by demurely dressed kobolds. How do you introduce yourself?
Phykalla: "Oh that would be a sight to see. Despite my searching, his soul orb has yet to be located. And believe me, I have searched far, high, deep and wide. I do indeed recall, such rascals all five of them were! A simpler time. Part of me wishes it could've gone on forever."
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 26, 2022 1:43:32 GMT
Yeah I wish that too spwack. I wish that too.
“I thought blerble spotted the stone hidden in the maw of the Martha fucker. He would be hard pressed to defeat a dragon though anyone would especially one that is already dead. The worm has turned eh?”
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 26, 2022 1:44:09 GMT
“Greetings, would you like some worms?”
To pops
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Post by fifthdragon on Jan 27, 2022 4:26:46 GMT
Pops looks at the odd group for a minute and then nods politely at all of them, staying carefully on guard but not tensed.
"Hello. People call me Pops. This is my follower, Blade. She helps me with things. Useful sort. Nice to meet you all, or re-meet you, Lady. No, I am all set with worms, thank you, no offense to you, miss worms. I'm looking for some opportunities to earn or find money, and opportunities to earn or trade money for food. I saw a goblin's den a short walk from here- would any of you join me in raiding them for whatever loot we can find? I'll warn you it smells something awful."
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 27, 2022 4:33:52 GMT
I smile as if pops said something amusing.
(We offer them food in the form of worms from a goddess and they decline before quickly discussing a way to earn food)
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 27, 2022 4:36:25 GMT
Ooc pops, These three are patrons and will grant great boons in exchange for servitude and loyalty. They do not like sharing their servants, and it is exceedingly rare to meet two of them at the same time let alone three.
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Post by Spwack on Jan 27, 2022 6:29:11 GMT
The Dragon: "Indeed, but when I sent my own scouts to check, there was neither hide nor hair, nor bone in fact, of the creature at all. Something strange indeed has happened there.". Blade looks a little unsettled as the voice of the Worm Queen echoes through her head. "How uh, how do you all do? Your regal, um, royal highnesses? Es?"
Food: Aside from the bowl of worm eggs, there are a few of the quetzal-meat sandwiches, as well as some very nice tea. All of the exciting chocolates have been eaten already, sadly, leaving nothing behind but the ragged foil casings, stained with the innards of the tiny 'foes'.
The Empress smiles at Pops, all bouncy curls and big eyes. "You did mighty well with that not-quite-riddle, good sir. Do you have any other hidden talents?"
The Painting of the Lady scoffs. "Oh enough of that, shamelessly going after the first delver you see! Might as well be acting like a vampire you tiny fiend." The Empress pouts a little, then smiles winningly at Pops. She definitely doesn't have fangs, but you get the feeling it would be less frightening if she did.
Money: "Welcome to our court, Pops. If you seek great wealth and acclaim, I would of course handsomely reward anyone who helped with my... condition. I have been turned to stone for quite some time, and have searched for a remedy ever since then."
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Post by fifthdragon on Jan 27, 2022 9:44:57 GMT
@ the Kobold Empress: "Yes. Killing things. I'm a collector of interesting boots, as well. If you need something kicked or killed, I can help. Oh, and I suppose I've got this violin. Want to hear a tune? Give me a prompt and I can play you a song about it."
@qow: "I'll keep an eye out for a cure for petrification. Can I find you again here should I return?"
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 27, 2022 11:39:16 GMT
“On the subject of the goblin lair I don’t feel a particular need to clean it out, they aren’t good eating after all.”
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 27, 2022 12:17:28 GMT
“Lady do you believe someone or something is already working towards the end of harnessing magic purely for research?”
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 27, 2022 23:25:13 GMT
“Pops if you are in need of work I have coin or food to offer for tasks ranging from dangerous to dragon but these lovely ladies here are much better organizers than I.”
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Post by Spwack on Jan 28, 2022 12:37:04 GMT
Magic: "I am unsure. The Professor and I have discussed the the theoreticals of this a little, but naturally, our lack of thumbs makes it a problem. The Drow perhaps would have the resources, but they are... well, the Drow are busy, you might say."
Music: The Empress claps her hands and giggles a little. "Oh! Oh! We have an artist amongst us. Quiet now, quiet. Quiet! Play me... play me a song of death. Of dismay. Of the light going out of the world and all fading to ash."
Petrification: A sensation of a faint, wormy smile crosses your mind. "Indeed. I shan't be going anywhere without a cure, that is for sure. If you partake of these gifts from my children, I will also be able to communicate with you from afar, for a little while at least." She is referring to the glistening bowl of black eggs in the centre of the table.
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Post by fifthdragon on Jan 28, 2022 17:35:18 GMT
Pops pulls the Subtle Violin out of its case, waxes the bow, and shoulders it. He concentrates for a handful of seconds before he begins playing.
The sounds of the dungeon (dripping, ominous breezes, distant groans and shrieks) fades. The music starts slow and honest. A simple rhythm like a worker's hum as they go about their chores wraps around Pops, his eyes closed, and he shimmers like watercolors being diluted. The rhythm begins to break down. It speeds up, dropping notes and chords becoming dissonant, and the cracking of fire begins to pervade the senses. High shrieking notes break up an unrelenting and merciless pulse. Its terrifying and horrifying and despairing until with a horrible moment of clarity it CRACKS and becomes EXULTANT. The chords resolve into a terrible harmony of joy and rage and fury. The echoes of the song in the chamber begin to join the sound of the violin itself until there is a host of melodies all overlapping and tangled and all other rhythms or harmonies are drowned beneath them. And finally, the echoes die and it is only the sound of one violin, repeating that terrible refrain alone before it too grows quiet.
Pops reappears, looking tired. "Does it please, Empress? I will admit only middling skill, but I have been told it is at least unique.
@ the Empress: "Thank you but no. I do not want to eat worms. I will send a runner if it is urgent- my follower Porter is not here now, but his legs are swift and untiring."
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 28, 2022 23:14:09 GMT
“What do you all feel should be done about the mote of light? their cult seems to have left for now but I am sure more will be tempted by the untempered power.”
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Post by Spwack on Jan 29, 2022 3:35:57 GMT
"Oh! Oh my! The artist turns invisible! I'm sure this is a remark upon the importance of the work standing alone, and what a work it was. I feel... so many things. You are too hard on yourself my newest friend, you have true talent and have delighted me. If you would ask me a favour, it would delight me to support the arts."
"I understand. You mammals with your digestive systems, thinking you are separate from the rot and the earth, it does amuse me so."
The Empress grimaces at the mention of the Mote. "Sheer moronic untapped potential. That is a disaster waiting to happen, mark my words. I hesitate to send my own followers to deal with it, since they would likely not withstand the temptation. No fault of their own, of course. Something must be done, but I know not what. Attempts at destruction would teach it to bite back. It is a prodigy at manipulation, I shan't- hmm. Perhaps," she gets a glint in her eye. "Perhaps we should sell it to the Drow. There's no way that can go badly."
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 29, 2022 8:03:26 GMT
“Perhaps you all could absorb it boosting your own powers or turn it into electricity?”
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Post by Spwack on Jan 30, 2022 15:29:55 GMT
The Empress gives you a steady look. "You're not a native spellcaster, so this might be a little hard to explain. Absorbing the Mote would have a corruptive power on my own abilities. Stronger, yes, but strength is not everything. I would lose control, and that is far more important." She looks around again, and laughs, a tiny bit forced. "Of course, I'm speaking only hypothetically, about other spellcasters. I could slurp up that Mote with barely a burp afterwards, it would just be undignified, and unnecessary to boot."
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 30, 2022 15:39:03 GMT
“Sell it to the crabs?”
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 30, 2022 15:43:15 GMT
“The gem people would be a very good fit but…. Ummmm we could use the wall and send the mote to hell.”
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Post by fifthdragon on Jan 31, 2022 17:57:56 GMT
@ the Empress: "Thank you- if possible I would like something that can save one of my companions from death, should that occur. This dungeon is dangerous and I limit myself by acting around the fragility of my companions. A piece of magic or a favor I can call on for your aid, anything that may save a life, or restore it.
Alternatively, I would take a set of interesting boots."
@phykalla: "You offer payment? Give me a job and I will complete it."
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Post by wingilbear on Jan 31, 2022 20:07:22 GMT
“Alright pops, go west from cell block zero, take the minecarts up to floor +1, go south until you reach the spiralizing lichen then west through the weakened magical barrier, south past the throne room and many small side doors. There you will find a maze. If you traverse it you will eventually come upon a room with a great chain leading up or down. Instead of the chain head north into a room of pipes and acid, from there go west into the endless loop. Keep walking until you reach a tear in reality. Focus on the tear and aim it as high as you can go (floor +5) this is a one way teleport to the unexplored floor +5. search that floor until you find one of the black and purple portals and dial on it 243 to bring you back here. I will pay you twenty gold up front and a further 30 for detailed maps on what you find in floor +5 and the number on the portal you find there.”
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Post by wingilbear on Feb 1, 2022 1:15:20 GMT
“Have you ladies been attending any other social gatherings?”
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Post by fifthdragon on Feb 1, 2022 2:28:40 GMT
"The floors are progressively more dangerous the further you go from 0- +5 is the absolute height of danger. And you're asking me to go, unequipped and unprepared, through a one-way portal there and just bumble about until I find a way back? That sounds like suicide, and I don't take suicide missions cheaply. Double it and give me something to maybe survive the journey and I'll CONSIDER the offer!"
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Post by wingilbear on Feb 1, 2022 4:15:48 GMT
“No thank you pops. I will do it myself.”
I will go back to drinking tea and chatting with the others.
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Post by Spwack on Feb 1, 2022 15:31:51 GMT
Sell the Mote: "If we could move it that easily, it wouldn't be a problem in it's own right."
Bonus Life: "Hmm. You're quite right, my new artist. This dungeon can be excessively dangerous, especially to those that fear it. I believe my good friend, the Queen of Worms, might have a way to help your friends should they be gravely injured, yet not dead. Hey Queenie! I'll owe you one, yeah?" "Quite. And indeed I do. Care to guess what it is?" You feel another grin cross your mind.
Social Gatherings: The Lady pipes up. "Well, since my painter neglected to add legs to this particular frame, I've been at a bit of a loss." Even the Empress shrugs. "Not much in the way of company I've found so far. I've been waiting for my no-good-spoiled-rotten nephew to come by and visit, but no luck there, obviously. I am very grateful for you organising this Phykalla."
While Phykalla and Pops bicker a little about the mission up to floor +5, the other three guests listen in intently. The Lady is smirking a little, hand over her mouth, but the Empress seems very enthused. "Now now, let us not be so hasty. This sounds like quite a romp! I'd happily lend you a half-dozen of my finest scouts, if that would be beneficial to you. The higher and lower floors have more dangerous specific areas, yes, but they aren't death-traps from wall-to-wall. Or so I've heard, at least."
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Post by wingilbear on Feb 1, 2022 15:51:14 GMT
“Ladies if you all wish to get something done Might I suggest a mutual venture for the four of us, we could lay claim to the tower of the gundead. Guns and augments to help boost the empresses forces, flesh primed and ready to feed the queens children, and secrets and unknowns for the lovely lady. Additionally the territory would be a wonderful grab for anyone.”
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Post by fifthdragon on Feb 1, 2022 22:54:25 GMT
@ the tower: "This I would participate in, and I would also accept the quest of mapping +5 with the assistance of the Empress's scouts and her recommendation." @ QoW: "I suppose, then. I will return soon and have Blade and Porter accept your blessings. I thank you for the assistance, and the Empress for her kindness."
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Post by wingilbear on Feb 2, 2022 0:20:34 GMT
“I know the tower of the gundead is filled with peril but if you wish you may join us. I will hold those coins until after though.”
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