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Tomn posted:say, Lowel, whatever happened to the Explorer's Guild, anyways? Did they get caught up in the purges? Most of them survived. They are independent enough (and not tied to the nutrient feeds) that they weren't hit with the mutations. They are still a decent power base to start from, if not in the same league as the Tribes or Gangs. Introspection It had only been a few hours since the Inquisitor had left, but in some ways, it had felt like years. Between your fingers, sharp edged and vicious, the device twirled. It was such a small thing, to have such power over people - a Rosette of the Inquisition. It didn’t mark you as an Inquisitor, but it did mark you as the favored servant of one - an Interrogator. With it, you could break through almost any barrier, be it electronic or social - but in so using, would reveal yourself. To use this device would be to tell the entire planet, aye, the entire system - Inquisitor Kozilek is here. Heretics and mutants would bury themselves so deep you’d never find them, even if you had generals to do it with. And this little object could give them to you. You thought back to the final conversation you had had with Inquisitor Kozilek - about the matter of Devries. ”Inquisitor, it may be outside the investigation, but … I am currently in pursuit of a heretical guardsman, affiliated with xenos.” Kozilek stopped in his tracks, looked to you. “Eldar?” His voice was wrapped in anticipation. “No, Inquisitor. At least, I don’t think so. Kroot.” “But the Tau are far from here…” He said quietly, almost to himself. At your quizzical look, he waved it off. “Continue your investigation, Interrogator. It’s a small thought, but I hope that one xeno-lover will lead to another.” He peered at you sternly. “Don’t be distracted, however. I know the thrill of your first hunt, but remember, you have bigger prey assigned to you.” “Yes Inquisitor. I will do my duty.” He waited to see if you had anything else to say, and then nodded curtly, his companions walking with him into Between. Limosa, now. What had he been up to, in the interim? You knew he was affiliated with Navigator and Astronomicon families both, taking advantage of their shared mutations. Would that draw Mother to him? Or perhaps his sybaritic lifestyle, so endemic to those that fall to the Enemy. He was spoilt for choice in the manner by which to fall, which probably could be said for all of the servants of the God-Emperor. Still. Inquisitors held the righteous wrath of the Imperium, could bring down governors and admirals with equal ease. It was … disturbing, to say the least, that the heir of a Rogue-Trader could be immune, or at least resistant, to such pressure. Your mind replayed the phrasing, “more than I can summon here now”. Did that mean that he simply needed more troops, even within a warzone? Or that the political allies were too strong for a single Inquisitor? Or something else entirely? The fact of the matter was, you needed more information. Both what Limosa had become, and the bargains he had made along the way. Who were his allies? His followers? You had paid little attention to the affairs above-deck, but now it seemed the Inquisition itself was interested in the politics that were happening there. You wondered, not for the first time, how Limosa had gotten into the favoured heir position, and the life expectancy of the Lord-Sire because of it. All of that in the context of public affairs, at that. You needed a big flashy victory to show you were still in the running. You had taken this opportunity for high risk high gain, but it seemed your actions weren’t high enough gain as of yet. Limosa, on the other hand, had taken the safer route, being more secure in his position. You considered possibilities on how to shake him of it, but the plans you had would take considerable resources. Not to mention time and research. How do you want to focus your efforts? A. Intelligence gathering on Limosa. Make use of Amacita, the Magos, the Gangs, Tribes, and your own servitors. You want a full intelligence package on him. However, this will delay projects down on the planet. B. Play it safe and legitimate. Find something generic that the war effort needs (another scouting mission?) and loot whatever you find on the way. C. Go a little bit risky. Some sort of heist comparable to what you’ve done before (convoys or factories). Offer suggestions on what might work. D. Go big or go home. If you do something suitably extravagant, that might give you a couple months of breathing room. Again, offer suggestions. E. Something Else
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Feb 3, 2015 14:31
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| # ? Apr 28, 2024 22:10 |
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For now, we have enough glory. We need Limosa's eyes off of us and the Lord-sire's onto us. We need money and we need safety. B. Lets try and use our forces to raid a known noble or temple district. We can loot whatever is there for a good profit.
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Feb 3, 2015 14:56
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C
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Feb 3, 2015 14:59
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Wasn't there someone making noises about stealing the top of a hive or something earlier?
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Feb 3, 2015 15:07
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Tomn posted:Wasn't there someone making noises about stealing the top of a hive or something earlier? Yup. I would put that as "D" 
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Feb 3, 2015 15:08
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Slaan posted:For now, we have enough glory. We need Limosa's eyes Agreed! Steal Limosa's eyes
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Feb 3, 2015 15:28
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Hmm. Hey, Lowell, how feasible would it be to attach a space elevator to the top of a hive? I'm thinking we could get permission from the IG to try taking a hive from the top-down and shuttle troops and reinforcements directly into them, opening up another front (and possibly decapitating their leadership - unlikely that their leadership would be in the top section of the hives, but perhaps the planetbound would be willing to think that even xenos leadership would want to claim the fancy digs). If we wrangle salvage rights as part of the bargain (or better yet, as part of a pre-existing clause in our earlier contracts that they may not have noticed), we could then send in the looters to pick up everything not nailed down and send it right back up again. If we can establish a secure line, we could then charge an extra contract with the IG to allow them to send their own forces directly down through the elevator, and if the nobles ask for their poo poo back we could charge "safekeeping fees" to return their stuff. If we can't establish a secure line, we could blow the top of the tower in a "fighting retreat", thus removing the evidence of our theft. The only problem is how we'd attach that space elevator in the first place.
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Feb 3, 2015 15:53
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Put the most expensive, and most important equipment we have in range of every single weapon the enemy has? Sure sounds like a great idea.
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Feb 3, 2015 15:55
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We need to start acting like a lord sire and start delegating tasks. We are of the machine and the machine is many. Going direct and hands on will get us blindsided and leaving the ship lets our enemies plot behind our backs. We have to start building a base of operations and leveraging our resources. E. Using our forces and allies we should begin a massive coordination effort between the planet and our tribes/gangs to identify needs, catalogue and collect resources and facilitate profitable trade. A network completely under our control. Soldiers can protect convoys or ferry high value persons to our ship. The gangs and tribes can get us war material and get it ready to ship. Hero units can go on medium danger expeditions to scout, secure and defend. We also use this new network to gather Intel on lemon and captian cancer. We will become the central cogitator of a massive machine whos goals are to protect our interests, identify and remove threats and install us a sole ruler of the ship. We need to build our network now. Adventuring is fun but we need to start playing the politics game. the Magos and the Inquisiton aren't going to save us when Limosa cuts is off and frames us for something petty or just gets us kicked off for not making any money.
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Feb 3, 2015 15:56
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If we do start using our followers more extensively, we need to make sure a part of the profit trickles down to them. For the gangs, money and drugs. For the tribes, guns and status symbols. For our soldiers, a shipment of small luxuries like cigarettes with a note "From Ohone" should suffice. It'll cut into our profits, but strengthen our hold on them.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:02
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I think we should first focus on finding and offering the local hive nobles a trip up to the Beast. While they're in the space elevator, their escort should strike up a conversation about what juicy blackmail and gossip they have on their fellow hive nobles. Of course, the conversation should start off with idle comments on how easy it is for an elevator to...accidentally vent into space. That should give us a steady stream of decent-ish money. Nothing spectacular, but a good start. The initial nobles should be dealt with by us. But after that, one of our guys should be able to act as our emissary and take over control of the hive noble blackmail section, leaving us free to go after bigger money making. ' Limosa. Remember how the psykers downstairs were whining about the warp being clouded? Oh, and comms were down. poo poo's bad. What a good thing that we accidentally mentioned to General Zetkin how we have a contingent of psykers, led by our own Family psyker (so they won't betray you and will be loving pumped up to help out)! For the right price (a massively high one, do you know how rare and expensive powerful psykers are), we'll get them all assigned to you and help you clear the warp! It's like an antenna right, just gotta boost the signal to break through jamming! Voila. Limosa and his psyker contingent are now off ship, down in OUR world. Where we have 3 regiments to play with, down in the mud. Where we've been building our own network, ala Arkanomen. Hello cousin. Lanky Coconut Tree fucked around with this message at 16:54 on Feb 3, 2015 |
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Feb 3, 2015 16:15
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So did Devries actually find out who we are? I guess we have to assume he was totally super puppetmaster "strands within strands" deal. Well, we need to make money and we need to find out stuff on Limosa and Devries. Let's make a new, very addictive synthetic drug that contains trackers and sensors for us. We crowdsource our surveillance to the dregs on the ship that Devries and Limosa may chance upon. Besides, Ohone wanted to get into some synth/organic hybrid action anyway! Also the withdrawals for the drug should include violent aggression/insanity to cover our tracks.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:36
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Lanky Coconut Tree posted:I think we should focus on finding and offering the local hive nobles a trip up to the Beast. While they're in the space elevator, their escort should strike up a conversation about what juicy blackmail and gossip they have on their fellow hive nobles. Of course, the conversation should start off with idle comments on how easy it is for an elevator to...accidentally vent into space. This sounds like a decent plan. Lowell, and what are the logistical problems with cutting the top off a hive(s) , strapping enough nukes to the bottom to Orion platform it into space and then welding it to the hulk/creating our own hulk? Insurmountable or just problematic? And, how feasible would it be to get one of those turbo torpedoes we nearly blew up in between and cart it next to limosas quarters and blow him into the warp? Outrail fucked around with this message at 16:47 on Feb 3, 2015 |
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Feb 3, 2015 16:44
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Outrail posted:This sounds like a decent plan. Just problematic. I'd already sketched out an outline for such a scheme One step, for example, involves stealing fusion bombs from the IG artillery units.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:47
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Cool. If we sealed it first, what are the survivability odds for the exhivers /our new crew if transported in situ?
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Feb 3, 2015 16:49
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I like plans Arkonomen and Lanky Coconut Tree. Let's get our hero dudes together in the meanwhile - we've got Wanna-be Techpriest, Tanya, our War Dog Megabyte, our Glow-Cat, and who else? Anyway, induct the wanna-be into the basic level of the Tech-Mysteries, so he can fiddle with poo poo without being summarily executed by an overzealous colleague of ours. Get Tanya training with the tribes in sneaking and tracking. Have her partnered with Megabyte and the Glowcat. Then set the four of them on the trail of Devries - while it's likely someone else will find them first, if the four of them can track Devries' band back to their hidey-hole it will be excellent training for our first Warband. Give them explicit orders not to engage unless they absolutely have to, and if they do try for a decapitation strike on Devries. We can keep an eye on them through our War-Dog as we delegate tasks to the tribes and troops. We should assist on the ground in the push for Hive Gamma, if possible - the 'Space Elevator down to the top of the hive' is a great plan once the enemy's heavy exterior defenses have been taken out and the armies have reached the gates, and should be fine with naval fighter support to protect it. Once that happens we can take our trained warband and a select group of troops loyal to us down into Hive Gamma after a beachhead has been established in the upper spires of the hive. From there we can do what our Magos has asked of us. Lastly, Amacita should absolutely be put on 'Watch Limosa' detail, but we should also see about implanting or having her carry some sort of secret recording device so we can verify any claims she makes.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:49
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Outrail posted:Cool. If we sealed it first, what are the survivability odds for the exhivers /our new crew if transported in situ? Reasonable-Ish. Its the top of a Hive, so its already pretty high into the atmosphere. I'd make that step challenging but not impossible. edit: for the torpedo plan, its much less likely. That would involve also blowing up your/Amacita's/the entire Family and Lord Sire's quarters, which is kind of frowned upon. Loel fucked around with this message at 16:53 on Feb 3, 2015 |
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Feb 3, 2015 16:51
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Outrail posted:This sounds like a decent plan. Limosa's quarters are probably in the Family quarters. Do you want to lose a fuckload of loot because that torpedo is going to destroy the whole Family quarter. I can think of one big problem with the hive heist, logistics, we'd need a few battalions of men to place explosives in a ring, plus the amount of explosives we'd need would be ludicrous. Remember that both the men and the Beast will be taking heavy fire at all times. I personally wouldn't risk the Beast, but capture/commandeer a Navy / civilian ship and use that. Send in some penal battalions to place explosives, lower an elevator cable and attach it to the top, boost away. Then you can sell the stolen ship to the Navy as a resupply ship.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:53
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Man. Welding a hive to our ship would be AWESOME. So I guess I just want to do that. Oh. And kill Devries. So my vote is . . . F?
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Feb 3, 2015 16:55
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Alright what about the logistics of preparing and selling a new synthetic drug that just so happens to also contain sensors and other goodies that help track certain individuals on our watchlist?
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Feb 3, 2015 16:55
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So I guess the current sketch looks something like: Steal a bunch of nukes Steal an orbital cruiser Hijack a skyscraper and ride it into space
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Feb 3, 2015 16:56
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I'm going to strongly vote against this. None of this brings us a lot of profit, except maybe the cruiser, but the risk is extreme.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:57
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HiHo ChiRho posted:Alright what about the logistics of preparing and selling a new synthetic drug that just so happens to also contain sensors and other goodies that help track certain individuals on our watchlist? drugdealers don't make massive scores of fuckoff loot, it's more of a steady flow that increases over time, we need a really big score or at least several medium scores. And I don't think we should go for the hive heist, as fun as it would be. We simply don't have the resources / favours / time for that right now.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:57
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HiHo ChiRho posted:Alright what about the logistics of preparing and selling a new synthetic drug that just so happens to also contain sensors and other goodies that help track certain individuals on our watchlist? Well, you would need a drug lab. DeVries probably left a few around somewhere, that was his gig. Adding a synthetic compound that looks for Devries DNA and also wires up an organic radio transmitter (or hacks their body to find a vox and message you) would be ... very difficult but not impossible.
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Feb 3, 2015 16:58
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LowellDND posted:Just problematic. I'd already sketched out an outline for such a scheme New plan: Steal a Mars Pattern Shell from an Earthshaker
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Feb 3, 2015 17:00
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Deadmeat5150 posted:New plan: Steal a Mars Pattern Shell from an Earthshaker Steal it while it's being fired, we can then attach rocket boosters to it and steer it away from wherever it was supposed to land!
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Feb 3, 2015 17:02
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Lanky Coconut Tree posted:Steal it while it's being fired, we can then attach rocket boosters to it and steer it away from wherever it was supposed to land! And ride it to its destination Slim Pikkins style!
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Feb 3, 2015 17:03
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While I love the image (and I do ) you'll need several dozen warheads to move a skyscraper into orbit.
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Feb 3, 2015 17:05
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Okay - Grab a drug lab or two, start working on suitable compounds and test on troops planet side. When a workable formula is found, mass produce and start distributing out for free to the dregs to get hooked, then start charging aplenty for the drugs. I think the transmissions made by a synthetic compound should be easy enough - a steady ping for working/all is well, a different pitch or a varied tone if contact is in proximity. The death of the dreg stops the pinging. These should be retrievable by the ships normal surveillance network. Yes I am trying to recreate the cell phone surveillance scene from the Dark Knight, why do you ask? 
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Feb 3, 2015 17:13
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Who cares about that? I just want to steal a Mars Pattern Earthshaker shell. Hey what kind of armament does the Beast have, anyway? Done have to massive ginormous boarding torpedoes? Or even the Whale anti-ship missile?
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Feb 3, 2015 17:15
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Deadmeat5150 posted:Who cares about that? I just want to steal a Mars Pattern Earthshaker shell. we could piss off the general enough he orders a barrage of earthshakers on our position, then engage a stasis field before they hit the ground and detonate.
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Feb 3, 2015 17:25
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While blowing the top off the Hive to steal it is awesome, I don't think it's Rogue-Tradery enough. Not sufficiently audacious. Sure, it's ballsy, and it's risky, but it doesn't have quite the right "magnificent bastard" tang to it. No, what we want to do is to SOMEHOW convince the IG that it's a GOOD IDEA to blow the top off a Hive. We want to preferably make them PAY us to blow the top off the Hive, even provide part of the equipment. We want them to pay us to use their poo poo to get our hands on the loot. So let's brainstorm. What would convince the Imperial Guard that they should send the top of a Hive into space?
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Feb 3, 2015 17:25
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Just one question: What the hell would we do with a half-exploded chunk of a hive floating in space?
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Feb 3, 2015 17:27
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Tomn posted:So let's brainstorm. What would convince the Imperial Guard that they should send the top of a Hive into space? We have to convince them the outside of the Hive is covered by Xenos who don't breathe vacuum (Kroot, maybe?). The easiest way to kill the Xenos is to blow it into space. This will also open an alternative route for assaulting the depths of the hive, where there are more Xenos, while saving the people living inside the Hive. Something like that, maybe?
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Feb 3, 2015 17:30
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"OK, general, we have Intel that the top of that hive is full of xenos/psyker mutants. Look, here's what left of a psider they sent to kill us. But you can't just destroy it, there's information important to the war effort in there. The people inside are a lost cause but we need what's in there alive for interrogation. Look, we can give you assistance in sealing it and blowing the whole drat thing into orbit and then we'll take it from there. Glad we could help. Emperor preserve. Etc etc. " my dad posted:Just one question: What the hell would we do with a half-exploded chunk of a hive floating in space? Strap thrusters to it and start our own hulk. Strap thrusters to it and use it as a kinetic weapon. Well it to the Beast and we have our own empire now. Vent the whole thing and loot it. Fill it full of explosives and a warp generator and send a present to our demon pal. I'm going to laugh if we pull this off and then present to the Lord-sire. 'Sire, we took a hive!' 'Oh, very good, anything else?' 'No, Sire, you fail to understand. We took hive. Look, out the window' 'What.... Ohone what the gently caress did you do that for?' Outrail fucked around with this message at 17:40 on Feb 3, 2015 |
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Feb 3, 2015 17:33
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Also, we haven't been selling seats yet. We need to start smoochzing the local nobility to buy their way into the Traal Also, we really can't do too much with a hive in space - It's like trying to weld Asia onto the island of Manhattan. Also if it is Gamma we are looking to space, we should probably handle the Magos's request first.
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Feb 3, 2015 17:43
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D Go big or go home.
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Feb 3, 2015 17:46
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I'm feeling ambitious. D
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Feb 3, 2015 17:50
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Feb 3, 2015 17:50
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But, yeah. What would the Sire/Family's reaction to this madness likely be? It's impressive but is there any benefit to it aside from dick swinging?
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Feb 3, 2015 17:55
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