Early Spring, Week 2: BurstEasiest way to control a spider? Establish it's territory, Direct it to weave a web far away from camp, and discard anything it cannot eat in the camp, in return for more hair if it needs it, Conjured via Conjuration. Encourage it further with one unit of Meat in the desired nesting spot. Spiders dislike Danger after all, so this camp should be an area to not mess with.
Study Doof Hearts using Alchemy, what purpose may they serve?
[0=0, 0 Flaws][2+1+0=3, 1 Flaw] The spider eats your face. It sits roughly where it's supposed to digesting the various fluids it's slurped from you, so that's nice, but you could
really use a healer right now.
[0=0, 0 Flaws] You try to perform alchemy but the screaming keeps getting in the way.
Face Eaten
-1 Doof HeartOf course, lumbering behemoth of flesh! I'll gladly help you out. Just promise to eat me last. Isias and muscly monster start patching people up. Isias first casts some protection magic on him, and then her, for general purpose protection/protection against getting flaws. Then we vitamancy everyone who's injured.
Also guys, water and food seems vital. I'm not exactly equipped to go explore how other tribes do things. We need someone a bit more intimidating and good at stuff. Any volunteers? Also... Are we going to pay a ransom, or just let them eat him?
"Ah hah hah. Yes of course I'll eat you last rude little one." Tove lied as she gave a large fang filled smile towards Isias and mentally put him on the top of the list to eat.
Tove assisted the healing of people with her flesh magic and polymorphing. Certainly a master of healing and a master of the body could cure any wounds when working together!
[3+2+1+1+1+0=8, 1 Flaw] Isias surrounds himself and Tove with protective magics, and even split between the two of them the effects are rather pronounced. No fleshy backlashes here, nosir! Against them, anyway.
[3+1+1+1+1+0=7, 0 Flaws] The two of you together are a force to be reckoned with, and you set about healing everyone's ills. And believe me, there are a LOT of ills. Nero didn't even have a
face any more.
Lorkotol: No longer Slashed Up
Tove: No longer Slashed Up
Isias: No more Stinging Head x2
Albert: No longer Slashed Up
Nero: No more Frost-Scarred Hands
Nero: Now has a face
Isias: +3 Protection, +3 Vitamancy
Tove: +3 FleshOnce the people of the camp were healed to whatever low standard they managed to achieve. Tove said to whatever other members of the group were still around and alive "Now then. Once again I'm going to head an expedition with an eye towards natives. This time however, we know where they are, so hopefully we won't get so lost. Also one of 'ours' is going to die if we fail to convince them of our superiority. Anyone who thinks they will be helpful are welcome to come. But be warned that the likely outcome seems to be quite violent. So make sure you have a stomach for slaughter."
Tove headed off to the fishman village to make contact with them. If they are hostile start smashing heads with enchanted muscles and use flesh+polymorphing to defend myself via ether turning them into something less then impressive combat wise, or by simply ruining their bodies by removing and swapping around important bits. If this fight breaks out I'm not against subjugating them via violence, if possible given their numbers and strength and whatnot, if not hopefully I can at least save what's his face. Hopefully though I can manage to establish a dialog with them. And by that I mean ally their fears long enough for me to secretly cast spells of flesh using polymorphing, mind, and seduction to instill within them their brains a deep desire to serve me. Ether way, number one priority is... *Sigh* saving Harry Kelln (number zero priority is of course not getting killed or captured myself
((Well, there you go guys, 1-2 people down, time for some waitlisters to get in.))
[1+0=1, 1 Flaw][1+0=1, 1 Flaw] The fishpeople don't attack you
immediately, meaning they don't
seriously attack you immediately, instead preferring to shoo you off with brooms, apparently thinking you some kind of excessively large, excessively fat vermin.
You're not sure if you're supposed to murder them all at this point or what.
+1 Diplomacy
Now +0 Dabbling DiplomatIsias also continues working on making stone walls and such, of course
Isias already spent one action protecting himself from backlash and one action healing himself and his incompetent allies.
"I'm a trained diplomat and dabbling priest, so I think that I am best qualified to rescue Harry."
While Tove is busy with healing people, I'll get a head start on rescuing Harry, using Commune magic to help find him if necessary.
Once there:
"Hello, fishmen! I am here to negotiate the release of my friend over there, Harry. May I speak with your religious and/or political leader?"
If meeting with the religious leader:
Find out what the fishmen's religion is like, and why they want to sacrifice Harry. Is there a possible substitute for Harry's life in the ritual? What are the holy symbols and items of the fishmen's religion, and what are their taboos and encouraged practices? Does the religious leader know what the purple crystal is/does?
If meeting with the political leader:
Ask the fishmen's leader why the fishmen want to sacrifice Harry, and what they're willing to accept as payment for his life. After the hostage situation is dealt with, see if they desire any particular kinds of materials or knowledge or know anything about what the purple crystal is and/or does.
If attacked:
Gate in some creatures from the elemental planes of Peace and Healing. Don't try to bring them under my control, and only put anti-outsider wards around myself if the gated in creatures try to destroy me. Put up some anti-arrow wards, though.
Say... Do you suppose that shadestyle's character can teleport Harry (which sounds like "hairy") back to us?
[1+0=1, 0 Flaws] You manage to get let into the fishman village without immediately being flensed and eaten or blowing everything asunder, which for a mage is really just phenomenal work, you probably deserve a medal. That almost sounds sarcastic until you see Tove hissing and fleeing from several broom-wielding fishmen, the former ranting about her fertile magnificence and the latter about bloated creepsies.
Anyway, the fishman leader/shaman-thing is decked out in an impressive headdress consisting of a long-ish purplish skull with waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many eye holes and some fancy black plumes with all manner of near-incandescent teal markings on them. Her staff is a glossy black and looks vaguely like petrified centipedes, and curls around a glowing teal orb giving off mist. Various bone and claw trinkets dangle from various places, rounding out the shaman feel.
[0+0=0, 0 Flaws] Unfortunately that's where your luck runs out. She insists that an outsider could never comprehend the mysteries of the beyond, save for drinking a mighty magical draught to experience true enlightenment. You know enough about Communion to know most drug-based religious experiences involve plopping your senses into the halls of a given deity to be awed and overwhelmed by its whatever it happens to be famous and/or worshiped for.
You get the feeling that they're willing to trade him back, at least, but you can't tell and they might not know themselves for how much.
+1 DiplomacySIIIIIIIIING!
These fishmen are weird. Also you're bound and probably going to be eaten. You know what's always awesome though?
[0=0, 1 Flaw][1+1+1+1+0=4, 1 Flaw] Not that. That is so opposite of awesome that they savagely beat you for it. You don't think you should do that again unless you're in battle.
[0=0, 0 Flaws][1+0=1, 1 Flaw] Unfortunately you're not really what they call the learning type, so you keep at it. You're getting better! Mostly because it's hard to make that ear-piercing shriek with your ribcage beaten, but still! The fishmen even get a kick out of beating you while you sing, thereby playing you like an instrument. Anything that keeps you novel keeps you out of a cauldron or off an altar, right? Right?
Savagely BeatenUhhhh?
With no ambitions whatsoever this week, Albert opts to work out.
[1+1+1+1+1+1+1+0=7, 1 Flaw][0=0, 1 Flaw] As it turns out, when Albert opts to destroy something it gets destroyed, be that meddling fools or solid stone. With no particular vision in mind, he carves a downward staircase into a small storage room.
This also means you finally have someplace to sleep inside, and it only took you two weeks! Also it had nothing to do with you, which maybe makes you slightly bashful, but you were busy! Not
succeeding at things, but that just made it all the more irrelevant what you were doing at the time. You think. This excuse is not going as well as you wanted it to.
[0=0, 0 Flaws][1+0=1, 0 Flaws] He then caves himself in very slightly. You feel better.
+1 Mining
Now +0 Dabbling Miner
+7 Tiles/Stone
Bruised ShouldersDiiiiiiiiiiig!
Sir Knightly finds himself contemplating just lying down and resting. Maybe having servants shove food through a crack in his ever-hungry barrow. Maybe let somebody else take over the business of doing stuff. Yes...
[1+1+0=2, 0 Flaws][1+1+0=2, 0 Flaws] He keeps trying, though he learns more than he accomplishes. Well, that's a sound investment, right?
[1+0=1, 1 Flaw][1+0=1, 0 Flaws] That barrow sounds pretty creepy, which is pretty cool. Scraaaaaaape, scraaaaaaaaape, The Iron Knight is cooooooooooming for youuuuuuuuuuu!
+2 Mining
Now +1 Novice MinerNYAH!
Polmarop tries his hand at mining again. OH BOY!
[1+0=1, 0 Flaws][0=0, 0 Flaws] He actually makes progress! Albert's storage room is slightly expanded.
[0=0, 0 Flaws][0=0, 0 Flaws] He gets back to dancing soon enough, though.
+1 Pit, +1 Stone
+1 Mining
Now +0 Dabbling MinerAt the end of the week, Polmarop calls another meeting. This isn't going to become a standard routine, is it?
He opens by rifling through several papers, studying them intensely. Which doesn't always mean his eyes or face are always pointed at them, mind. You also give 3:2 odds those papers have less than nothing to do with what he's about to talk about.
"How go efforts to excavate our glorious citadel?" he finally begins. You all sort of clear your throats and look at other people.
"How go efforts to free your imprisoned companion?" he continues. Tove and Lorkotol both clear their throats rather loudly.
"How go efforts to not starve in the rocky ruins of this grim domain?" Everyone looks around at everyone else again.
Polmarop gives a thoughtful HMMMMM while stroking his chin and looking off into space.
"Clearly this is a matter of decorum!" he then announces, and it is here that you truly realize you have made a mistake.
"You there!" he shouts, pointing at Lorkotol,
"Henceforth, you shall be Master of Thralls! Sally forth, and bring these cretins under our sway!""You there!" he shouts, pointing at Tove, whose mouth is still open in protest at that kobold stealing her spot.
"Henceforth, you shall be Mistress of Gluttony! Sally forth, and bring to us such a bounteous feast that all shall know of our magnificence!""You there!" he shouts, pointing at Isias while completely ignoring the infuriated strangling motions Tove is making in his direction,
"Henceforth you shall be Master of Impeccable Vitalities! Sally forth, and ensure that your fellows are vigorous and swole!""You there!" he shouts, pointing at Albert,
"Henceforth you shall be Master of Precious Liquids! Sally forth, and ensure our supply of any and all fluids as should be required!""You there!" he shouts, pointing at... the barrow Sir Knightly entombed himself under last week.
"Henceforth you shall be Master of Sepulchers of Safety! Sally forth, and ensure that we might never lack for comfortable graves to remain safe within!""You there!" he shouts, pointing at Nero,
"Henceforth you shall be Master of Base Labors! Sally forth, and ensure that all menial tasks remain beneath our magnificence!"Polmarop nods to himself repeatedly while you process your new... title. He'll do this sometimes, especially when things are going poorly. If you're lucky you can sometimes trade or ride out whatever possessed him to declare you whatever with no ill effects. If you're
really lucky you'll be able to actually do what you're supposed to and leverage that into getting more stuff... not that he has any stuff to give at the moment. If you're
unlucky he'll start blaming you for as long as "your" problem doesn't fix itself.
Heatwood Wagon
-19 Units Doof Hearts (4 Ashwood Barrels)
-20 Units Flooterboof Spleens (4 Sunwood Barrels)
-10 Units Screllscritch Intestines (2 Jadewood Barrels)
-5 Units Dew Snail Brains (1 Garnetwood Barrel)
-5 Units Noogle Meat (1 Jetwood Barrel)
-30 Units Bopfruit Wine (6 Assorted Wooden Barrels)
-19 Units Doof Blood (4 Assorted Wooden Barrels)
-10 Units Onyxblossom Brandy (2 Onyxwood Barrels)
-5 Copper Picks (1 Garnetwood Chest)
-5 Copper Shovels (1 Peridotwood Chest)
-5 Copper Axes (1 Topazwood Chest)
-5 Copper Fishing Rods (1 Jetwood Chest)
-500 Gold Coins (1 Rotwood Chest)
-1 Jadesteel Anvil
-10 Doof Leather (1 Garnetwood Bin)
-10 Tin Bars (1 Saltwood Bin)
-9 Doof Skulls (1 Sunwood Bin)
-9 Doof Wool Cloth (1 Bopwood Bin)
-10 Obsidian Rings (1 Jetwood Bin)
-10 Flooterboof Leather Trousers (1 Peridotwood Bin)
8 Stone
8-Tile Storage Room, dug directly down
Hair Spider wandering docilely near Nero. It's a spider the size of a small dog, with an abdomen reminiscent of an animal skull. It otherwise appears to be made of hair. Currently sitting far from camp, digesting a meal of mammal face.
You had several other wagons when you got here, but are uncertain exactly what was in them or how much of it survived the Blood Moon.
Crude 6-Unit Barrow (1 unearthed) containing Sir Knightly. You can still hear his voice, as though he were still here...
1x1x5 Tile Stone Ridge near camp perimeter
Baron Polmarop
-
+7 Archmaster Metalcrafter (0/14)
+6 Grandmaster Gemcutter (0/12)
+6 Grandmaster Gemsetter (0/12)
+5 Master Enchanter (0/10)
+5 Master Runecrafter (0/10)
+5 Master Metalsmith (0/10)
+5 Master Clothier (0/10)
+5 Master Weaponsmith (0/10)
+5 Master Dancer (0/10)
+0 Dabbling Miner (0/1)
-
Lavasilk Loincloth studded with Emeralds, Onyxes, Rubies, Rubies, More Rubies, and an image of a penguin in Noogle bone.
Glorious Fang of the Fallen Empire's Fury: A gold spear with a ruby head. Heavily enchanted, but you're not sure with what.
Lorkotol (ATHATH)
-
+5 Master Blue Mage (0/10)
+3 Adept Runecrafter (0/6)
+3 Adept Gater (0/6)
+1 Novice Communer (0/2)
+1 Novice Protector (0/2)
+1 Novice Diplomat (1/2)
-
Purple Witch Hat
Glowshroom Shepherd's Crook
Tove Ashwringer (Criptfeind)
Chubby, x3 Consumption
9-Tier Muscle Density
-
+5 Master Flesh Elementalist (6/10)
+3 Adept Transmogrifier (0/6)
+3 Adept Transmuter (0/6)
+1 Novice Mind Elementalist (0/2)
+1 Novice Seducer (0/2)
+1 Novice Weaver (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Diplomat (0/1)
-
Red Silk Dress (lil tight, fatty)
Doof Leather Servant Crop
Purple Idol
Isias Reborn (griffinpup)
-
+5 Master Vitamancer (3/10)
+3 Adept Protector (3/6)
+3 Adept Earth Elementalist (1/6)
+1 Novice Water Elementalist (0/2)
+1 Novice Trapper (0/2)
+1 Novice Dodger (0/2)
-
Black Cloak
Iron Stabbin' Knife
Harry Kelln (Pencil_Art)
Captured By Fishmen
Savagely Beaten
-
+5 Master Vitamancer (0/10)
+3 Adept Communer (0/6)
+3 Adept Summoner (0/6)
+1 Novice Persuader (0/2)
+1 Novice Enchanter (0/2)
+1 Novice Protector (0/2)
-
Heavy Leather Robes
Bronze Butcher's Cleaver
Albert Stone (Playergamer)
Bruised Shoulders
-
+5 Master Fire Elementalist (0/10)
+3 Adept Destructor (0/6)
+3 Adept Swordsman (0/6)
+1 Novice Courtier (0/2)
+1 Novice Dodger (0/2)
+1 Novice Dancer (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Miner (0/1)
-
Purple Robes
Bronze Longsword
Sir Knightly (Roboson)
Thoroughly Entombed
-
+5 Master Transmuter (0/10)
+3 Adept ? ? ? (0/6)
+3 Adept Metal Elementalist (0/6)
+1 Novice Miner (1/2)
+1 Novice ? ? ? (0/2)
+1 Novice Transmogrifier (0/2)
+1 Novice Seducer (0/2)
-
Knightly Armor
Knightly Steel Knuckles
Nero Deserter (Shadestyle)
-
+5 Master Hair Elementalist (0/10)
+3 Adept Summoner (0/6)
+3 Adept Conjurer (0/6)
+1 Novice Alchemist (0/2)
+1 Novice Communer (0/2)
+1 Novice Ice Elementalist (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Caller (0/1)
-
Purple Trench Coat
Obsidian Combardiche
Anyone who doesn't post an action next turn is in serious danger of not keeping their marrow.