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Slaan posted:No Gods, No Masters No fate but the one we make?
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Apr 17, 2018 18:27
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Yooooooooo. I just binged this whole thing. I love this so much. I have no idea what's going on and I love it. Am I off in thinking this is 40k and The Forest is the Eye? Also, gently caress the Gods, even though I love them story-wise.
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Apr 17, 2018 19:39
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Work with the Gods. Appeal to toil that this affliction is interfering with our labor and we have no means to correct it. We fixed his paladin , we only ask the same. We can always sever later, after being fixed.
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Apr 17, 2018 20:50
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Appeal to Toil We've had some positive interactions with the gods thus far, not to mention that they're another source of work that has led to good rewards. Like our spiritual siege weapon.
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Apr 17, 2018 22:30
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1. B. Niddlers seem the least likely to get us killed, and we can probably get a bunch of free papayas too. 2. Keep working with the gods, appeal to Toil. Maybe we can sever from them some day, but we owe Kvelar his own body first.
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Apr 18, 2018 03:11
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alpaca diseases posted:Souvenir eh, so you know where it’s from?  "We know what you are, Mr. Ironscript, and what you are capable off. Even if the How, When and Why might elude us. Your Star seems to be an item much like the Parchment we gave you. A remnant of a dream." alpaca diseases posted:Speaking of things I picked up, I also learned this little tidbit about what the forest actually is, maybe it’d somehow help, if you don’t already know?(Tell what the Innkeeper said about the forest)  "That about covers it."  "A succinct description, yes. As well as an example of precisely the sort of Intel we are after. Commendable. That being said, the entity you met is known to us, even if we have not had the pleasure of speaking to it directly ourselves. Though its ultimate allegiance is unknown, from what we have been able to ascertain, it is a trustworthy source of old information and its dwelling is a designated Elysium." "A safe-house, if you will." "Yes. From most, but not all, dangers." "Should you find out anything more about the Entity, or should it share any more tidbits of information with you, do contact us for a full debriefing." --- Trouble on the Rim, Book 2, Chapter 3 The City of Whale, Dorsal District. Part Eleven: Working With the Gods. Current Region: Huddik "It is decided then? You choose to work with the Gods and by extension, the Empire."  "Daft choice if you ask me." "Alas, they did not. Very well, to expedite your quest to reunite with your cousin and to regain your rightful personal identification documents, we shall present you with one of the world's most meaningful truths. One vital to your future interactions with the Divine." "Oh please, it's not even a secret." "Perhaps, but few realize just how far reaching the truth can be." "Do get on with it, then." "Quackeen can be bribed." > you blink. What? That's it? The Goddess of Greed likes money? What's next, you need air to breath?< "As I said, do not in dismissing the obvious ignore the ramifications. Surely, even in the scant few months of your trade you have borne witness to irregularities, in regards to the divinities supposed omniscience? The debacle at the factory, your hearing in Karg? The fact that the knowledge of xhaotics can be kept a secret at all, in the face of the Gods themselves and a far to curious public? Such is not only because of unfortunate encounters with monsters or the influence of The Forest. No, such is the power of the Forest Investigation Bureau." >What, you pay God to lie?< "No. We pay her to forget." "Indeed. Where do you think your taxes go, when we have the Gods to aid us in all things? To be sure, some is indeed spent it upkeep, defense and public works. But the majority? In truth, the majority of resources the Empire produces goes into placating Quackeen with sacrifice. With keeping things secret. With ensuring our survival." "But even that is not enough, for Lolth demands her blooded piece upon her altars." "And Toil, as you know, is satisfied with a job well done." "Though 'satisfied' can be debated and 'done' is an uncomfortable lie." "At any rate, the Gods are less complex than we give them credit. And this can and should be utilized. This is the Emperor's Truth." "Incidentally, the United World Church would not hesitate to have you killed should this knowledge get out." "Indeed, even though it is the basis of faith." >But what does that mean for me?< "It means that your Geas is merely an inconvenience, that can be settled for a considerable sum, or through favours. It means that your freedom, and that of Kvelar in turn, can be bought. Of course, nothing is ever so simple. There are other interests at work, and we by our nature can not risk revealing our hand, should those other players be watching." "Right. To reach your goal, the following must needs be accomplished:" #1: Amass a ridiculous pile of gold to placate Quackeen in a way that does not alert the Academy or the Census. #2: Locate a 'flexible' Clerkic of Quackeen #3: Learn how to separate Kvelars soul from your own. #4: Curry the favour of Toil, and his clerics, in order to secure the execution off an of-the-records birthing ritual. All the while not alerting the Bureaucracy to our schemes, whilst also fighting deadly monsters and The Forest. "We will offer what help we can, considering the circumstances." "Though the circumstances could change, if you help us." "We suggest working on amassing that fortune for now, as it plays in to all our other goals. However, our own priority is less clear. We do not yet know your full capabilities, though considering what you have already accomplished..." "Even so, we cannot assume anything when Xhaotics come into play." "Too right, too right. What would you have us do?" 1: Focus on the Quackeenite Connection - The F.I.B. excels at networking, a Clerkic willing to work with you should be easy to find in a city of this size. 2: Focus on the Toilian Connection - The F.I.B. excels at networking, though priests of Toil are rare and ones lacking the moral fiber necessary to work with you, even more so. This will probably take some time. 3: Focus on the Lore of Soul - The F.I.B. have not revealed to you the full extent of their knowledge of the cupcake world, or the working of what they term 'xhaotics', though you infer it is greater than your own. You have no idea if this is something they could even figure out, but it might not hurt to try? 4: Help [ISTEC] get established - Though they have no money to offer you, they do know a lot about the city and its inner workings. It is quiet possible that they could set you up with some merchant or noble that might need a job done swiftly and competently. There is no telling how swiftly this can be done, it all depends on the monsters.
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Apr 26, 2018 10:51
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2 Getting money probably wont be too hard as long as we start taking jobs again and they probably won’t want to share too much information about their Soul Lore just yet, so tackle the hardest priest connection first
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Apr 26, 2018 11:17
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alpaca diseases posted:2 Agreed, for most of the same reasons. We can sort out the money situation, bit delegating this to them would help expedite things.
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Apr 26, 2018 12:04
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1 - Hopefully we can get paid while we can build some connections. I feel like we are more likely to make some money pursuing quackeen instead of toil, and we can follow up on that once we get some capital.
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Apr 26, 2018 12:27
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:"We know what you are, Mr. Ironscript, and what you are capable off. Even if the How, When and Why might elude us. And what might that be, exactly?
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Apr 26, 2018 13:07
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2 Toil Getting Quakeen's cooperation seems way more straight forward, we should be able to do that ourselves.
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Apr 26, 2018 13:21
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4 we need money for all things, not just the end goal.
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Apr 26, 2018 13:31
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4. Oh BOY do we need funds and contacts right now. The other options will be curious about why they should help us if we're at rock bottom with little go offer.
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Apr 26, 2018 17:22
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2 We can make money, especially now that we are both ourselves and our cousin, with both of our strengths in one body. I don't think we can find a pliable Priest of Toil on our own though.
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Apr 26, 2018 17:43
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Blasphemaster posted:4. Oh BOY do we need funds and contacts right now. The other options will be curious about why they should help us if we're at rock bottom with little go offer. We made stupid choices before because we needed money. Having money now means fewer bad contracts later 4
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Apr 26, 2018 20:27
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:4: Help [ISTEC] get established First, let's focus on the means, then, we'll understand the methods. There's no way for us to amass the ridiculous pile of wealth needed in our current state. We need ITEC to be successful, well funded, and better equipped than ever before. That means arms, armor, recruits, and introduction to the nobility. We need a big job from on-high.
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Apr 26, 2018 20:38
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4 Focusing on the task at hand would go a long way toward placating Toil (he will never be satisfied).
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Apr 26, 2018 20:44
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4 $$$$$$$$
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Apr 26, 2018 21:16
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4 I like the idea of [2] but things change over time and if we find a pliable priest of Toil this early the connection might go away before we can use them.
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Apr 26, 2018 21:16
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4. get paid
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Apr 27, 2018 03:48
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We already know how to get paid, we don’t need the FIBs help Infact we wasted 2 freebie questions from the literal god of getting paid confirming it!
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Apr 27, 2018 07:55
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Numeron posted:And what might that be, exactly? Yeah. Be specific please. "Be specific please", and slap them if they get cryptic
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Apr 28, 2018 08:29
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Trouble on the Rim, Book 2, Chapter 3 The City of Whale, Dorsal District Part Twelve: The Papaya of Truth Current Region: Huddik Numeron posted:And what might that be, exactly? "A Problem." 'Come now, Skellige, he has traveled literally halfway across the world, surely we can give him more than such a vauge, semi-threatening response." "Fine. You are an Impossiblizer, a Xhaositect, a Dreamer. Just some of the many words that entitle you, Mr. Ironscript. If you wish for a clearer explanation, a lecture filled with theory and philosophy perhaps, I'm sure the Academy would be more than happy to teach you the basics in exchange for your freedom. "But we would dearly feel your loss. Alas, we can share only what pieces we have salvaged from our operations, as our own forays into that realm beyond have been limited. Facts then, instead of theory. I hope you can forgive this breech of conduct." "Facts, yes, for what it is worth when dealing with dreams. This is what we know: You are one of very few. An individual born with, for lack of a better explanation, a wandering mind. We don't have the exact statistics on hand, but your kind are rare enough that any verified individual is quickly scooped up by the Bureaucracy and put to work in The Academy, locked away from the world forevermore." "That you have thus far escaped their clutches is an achievement to be sure. One we can not rightly explain, save for the remoteness of your ancestral home and the recent troubles demanding the full attention of the watchful eyes of The Gods and the Census." "But, as they say, the system works. You came to our attention after one of your reports to the Monster Hunters Guild Entente was intercepted by one of our agents, and we have been working to secure you ever since. To put it simply, you are not like most people, Mr. Ironscript. When most sleep, hallucinating random patterns due to lack of stimuli, you dream. Your mind, your very soul, enters a place we call The Astral Plane, an ethereal reflection of our own world, where it is free to observe the ripples all living beings leave in their wake as they pass through it unknowingly. For most dreamers, that is all it ever is. Strange memories of stranger dreams. Prophecies no Gods account for. I'm sure you've had them too. But a few of the handful of the already scant population of dreamers, such as it is with you, are Lucid. You are in control. That is the hidden truth behind all those fancy, interchangable titles. You are one who not only travels beyond the physical, but keeps their Will and Reason when so doing. It is when you act in such a state, that the truly peculiar occurs. What those in our trade call Xhaotics. Acts rightly deemed impossible." "You can think of yourself as a fisherman, if you will, who sets out on the astral sea to watch the mortal fish swim far below you. We cannot tell you much more than this, on account of us not knowing. We hope that this gesture of our trust in you will do, for now." -- You speak with the agents for a time longer, urging them to work their networking skills on helping you get established money-wise for now, eventually convincing them from sheer stubbornness to meet up with you later at a local tavern for drinks, to celebrate the successful completion of your new first contract, that you are just about to leave for.  "Fine, but only one. And try not to die, Mr. Ironscript." -- With such encouragement, is it any wonder that your team assembles with such speed to finally, after months on a boat and who knows how long stuck in the Bureaucracy, actually fight some monster? it is not. Since none of you are really familiar with the region, you gather your gear and find Ivana Sêndvic, the innkeep that serves as your middle-hand with the F.I.B. After discussing the bounty together over tepid Bad Duck Wice™, cocktails, Ivana agrees to escort you to the city limits and to give you directions to the plantation what has been riddled with niddlers, much to the consternation of its owner, one Millicent Hermington of the Whale City Guild of Merchants. The trip is uneventful, and you meet up with one of Milicents household servants at the edge of his estate. Mr. Hermington himself is in the fields, working and harrumphing at another desecrated section of farm.  "Mr Novas of ISTEC? Never heard of you! But if you've come to rid me of these ignoble Niddlers, you might as well be my long lost brother! Come come, I will show you the fields, we do not know where they roost but by Toil do they enjoy destroying our crops as of late! I'm sure you will have no trouble finding them!" --- [Battlefield Summary] [The Papaya Plantation]  Stretching out in every direction, papayas as far as the eye can see. For simplicities sake you divide the estate in your head into five sections, North, South, East, West and Central. You are reasonably sure you could cover one section at a time, but you have no idea where to begin. Mr. Hermington mentioned the Niddlers mostly scatter north-east when threatened, but they have been spotted in every section of his farm all the same. The terrain is very flat, with small regular paths etched into the soil by ploughs and the many feet of servants and cattle. The paths are wide enough for people to pass through, but would slow down carts considerably. Countless Papaya Plants obscure line of sight at regular intervals, though not by much. They offer superior protection for airborne creatures against ranged projectiles and make good hiding spots for creatures and monsters light and agile enough to hide amongst the ferns. Looks like you have your work cut out for you. It is currently early afternoon, just after lunch. What do you do? --- [ISTEC Inventory] ##Nåzom Stegëth## - A Masterwork Siege Arbalest - You've managed to scrounge up four wooden javelins for it. The nigh indestructible right and left Waspable Gauntlets A custom-built, heirloom, Masterwork Waraxe. A set of medium quality light leather armour. A shield, dented, wood with metal trimmings. A box of delectable Ethereal RimRose Cupcakes that do not appear to spoil. There are [04] left. A priceless, if blank, parchment, in actual fact a mysterious Artifact that makes people think you have a valid ID. Don't lose it. An ITEC Business-card. The clothes on your body. A small collection of maps of the Empire. You have [zero wealth] to your name. [01] x Pouch of Coins - Speding money, rapidly dwindling. Your team, such as it is, consists of Skvababt - the Longbowfrogwoman and, Khami - the Chainsman. Likewise, Abigail is still counted amongst your number, but it has been months since you last saw her. She is probably on her way here right now, but who knows when she will arrive? -- [ISTEC Pre-Battle Summary] You are well-enough. You are unhurt, physically. You are somewhat rested. You have a headache. You should really go to Rim. Why aren't you going? You wear leather armour, wield waspable gauntlets and a custom-built, heirloom, Masterwork Waraxe. Skvababt is unhurt. She is rested. She wields a Longbow and wears "leather" armour. Khami is unhurt. He is rested. He wears chainmail and wields a length of chain. ##Nåzom Stëgeth## Is a masterwork Siege-Arbalest. It is well maintained. It is attached to a wagon for ease of transport. It has four wooden Javelins remaining. Its ammunition counter reads [04/00]. -- Party Thoughts: Skvababt: "I propose a feast for the vermin, one which we shall no doubt crash with vigor, Mr. Ironscript." Khami: "There is a saying, what is more annoying than a monkey that is also a bird? The answer is nothing. There is nothing more annoying then a Niddler. Imagine then, the joy of fighting several."
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May 3, 2018 17:07
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Let's check out the NE for now. If we find signs of their lair, great. If not we can think of another plan
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May 3, 2018 17:40
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Ask what time of day they usually 'attack', shortly after that time start at the North-East border. Ask the owner to lend us a few of his field hands, have them run through the fields banging pots and poo poo to have them drive the creatures towards us. Then kill them (the creatures, not the field hands)
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May 3, 2018 18:28
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Plan Pots and Pans sounds like a good one!
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May 3, 2018 18:31
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Outrail posted:Ask what time of day they usually 'attack', shortly after that time start at the North-East border. Ask the owner to lend us a few of his field hands, have them run through the fields banging pots and poo poo to have them drive the creatures towards us. Then kill them (the creatures, not the field hands) I like it. +1
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May 3, 2018 19:29
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Outrail posted:Ask what time of day they usually 'attack', shortly after that time start at the North-East border. Ask the owner to lend us a few of his field hands, have them run through the fields banging pots and poo poo to have them drive the creatures towards us. Then kill them (the creatures, not the field hands) This is very good. +1
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May 3, 2018 19:55
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:
You know, Agent S, I believe this is the start of a beautiful friendship. Swedish Thaumocracy posted:Party Thoughts: Outrail posted:Ask what time of day they usually 'attack', shortly after that time start at the North-East border. Ask the owner to lend us a few of his field hands, have them run through the fields banging pots and poo poo to have them drive the creatures towards us. Then kill them (the creatures, not the field hands) I want to combine these two; get the field hands to lay out some bait and set up the arbalest in an overwatch position; let the buggers come to us.
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May 3, 2018 20:26
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CourValant posted:You know, Agent S, I believe this is the start of a beautiful friendship. This is good. Also I may have been too hasty defining the creatures as the target of our violence. What's the law say about collateral damage during sanctioned monster hunting activities?
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May 3, 2018 23:02
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Outrail posted:This is good. As we have been over before, being a card-carrying member of the Imperial Monster Hunters Guild Entente grants you many rights and privileges, amongst witch are certain protections and insurances designed to allow you to hunt monsters without to much worry about the future utility of nearby property. That said, damage to Citizens should be avoided at all costs, and excessive damage to public or private structures and property is likely to stain your reputation, if not your wallet. Millicent Hermington would greatly prefer it if you didn't burn down his entire plantation. But if you have to cut down one or two Papaya Plants to get a better shot, well, the Niddlers would probably have eaten them anyway.
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May 3, 2018 23:56
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:Millicent Hermington would greatly prefer it if you didn't burn down his entire plantation. But if you have to cut down one or two Papaya Plants to get a better shot, well, the Niddlers would probably have eaten them anyway. ISTEC also walks away from this contract with a cart full of papayas, because we need some fruit to go with our drinks with Agents M & S.
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May 4, 2018 00:01
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Lure them into one spot and deploy nets northeast of that spot to catch the fleeing ones when we attack.
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May 4, 2018 01:03
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:As we have been over before, being a card-carrying member of the Imperial Monster Hunters Guild Entente grants you many rights and privileges, amongst witch are certain protections and insurances designed to allow you to hunt monsters without to much worry about the future utility of nearby property. I'm more interested in accidentally skewering a farmhand with Nåzom Stegëth and the ghostly shenanigans that will ensue. But if the best we can manage is shishkabobing some fruit I guess I'll settle for being haunted by a papaya.
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May 4, 2018 02:04
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Outrail posted:I'm more interested in accidentally skewering a farmhand with Nåzom Stegëth and the ghostly shenanigans that will ensue. But if the best we can manage is shishkabobing some fruit I guess I'll settle for being haunted by a papaya. If you murder a Citizen you will be arrested for murder, no matter what their ghosts have to say about it.
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May 4, 2018 07:02
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Looking at the dial, I think we’re out of soul ammunition anyway Although having to add a papaya to our business card but in exchange being able to get its input on a situation could be cool alpaca diseases fucked around with this message at 08:08 on May 4, 2018 |
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May 4, 2018 08:06
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:If you murder a Citizen you will be arrested for murder, no matter what their ghosts have to say about it. I mean accidentally skewering a citizen. Jesus we're not a monster. Not technically anyway.
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May 11, 2018 06:16
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Outrail posted:I mean accidentally skewering a citizen. Jesus we're not a monster. Not technically anyway. Let's unpack this a little. According to the FIB, we're an individual who can manipulate dreams and manifest it into reality. They're working with us because they deem it to be a potent weapon in fighting the forest, which they suspect comes from a similar source, i.e., dreaming from another reality. Sounds like some Cthulhu level horror from the spaces between spaces B$ to me, with us being the 'good monster' which fights the 'bad monsters'.
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May 11, 2018 19:41
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CourValant posted:Let's unpack this a little. Ok fine, we're a monster and I want to skewer an innocent human with our soul cannon to see what happens.
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May 11, 2018 22:55
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Outrail posted:Ok fine, we're a monster and I want to skewer an innocent human with our soul cannon to see what happens. That's . . . not what I meant. We know what happens when we skewer an innocent soul, so, let's not do that. Anymore.
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May 11, 2018 23:01
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