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Only problem is the ethereal rimrose was a one of a kind item, a random chance product of an extremely unlikely anomaly that had also been unheard of itself and might never be again.
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Sep 19, 2017 00:45
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| # ? Apr 25, 2024 04:42 |
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Rock Bottom The City of Karg, Daalig Regional Capital. Another night is spent in the literal trenches. You are one of a team of seven tasked with expanding a ditch, with the intent to eventually lead a tiny tendril of the lonely river into a reservoir deep inside the city. Along the way several Sluices will be installed to regulate the flow and manage the water levels, but that is a task for the Slimegeneers. The site overseer, a soft spoken man in his early forties is a minor cleric of Toil. You can tell mostly by the bags under the bags of his eyes and the fact that he told you when you first met. Though he is almost never around (on account of overseeing the entire irrigation project), the few times you have seen him he always took the time to listen to the plights of the crew and to arrange what aid there was to offer.  The Church of Toil is one of the only institutions in the Empire where anyone, regardless of class or social background can find work, should they require it. It is never easy, but it is always necessary and, at least spiritually, rewarding. Here, your status as a paperless refugee means about as much as the rich heritage of the eleven year old orphan working beside you. For the Church of Toil, the life you led prior matters as little as the lawless actions of the peers of the one civilized satyr on payroll, whom even now is carrying great pails of dirty water from the dig to a designated disposal area nearby.  Even sharing as you are in Kvelars strength and endurance, your cold hands grow weary and calloused, more used to handling dried parchment than workdwarf steel. It is the fourth night since you arrived and your mind is wandering. Fearful of the hearing to come. Your research has borne some fruit it's true, but little of it is encouraging. What if there is nothing to be done about your situation? If Kvelar is lost to you, and you to him. If The Empire refuses to acknowledge your existence, would the rest of your unlife be spent here, with the outcast, downtrodden and forgettable?  ...  "Oh how delightfully moist it looks down there..." The voice of  "Skvababt! However did you find me here?"  "Oh Misters Ironscript, how could I not? "
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Sep 19, 2017 11:45
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I bet she has a thing for construction workers. Score!
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Sep 19, 2017 12:02
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Quick! Flex for all we're worth, and ffs don't be obvious about it!
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Sep 19, 2017 14:22
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If our twinself enters into a relationship with Frog Lady, is it considered a polygamous relationship? Is marriage between three or more people permitted under the laws of the Empire?
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Sep 19, 2017 14:46
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JosephWongKS posted:If our twinself enters into a relationship with Frog Lady, is it considered a polygamous relationship? Is marriage between three or more people permitted under the laws of the Empire? Furthermore, does that count as a menage a trois?
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Sep 19, 2017 15:29
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Interesting times. I don't think Froggly will mind if Kevlar wants to watch from the back or our mind.
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Sep 19, 2017 17:48
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JosephWongKS posted:If our twinself enters into a relationship with Frog Lady, is it considered a polygamous relationship? Is marriage between three or more people permitted under the laws of the Empire? Again, Dwarven courtship has been covered extensively previously in this post. Overall, polyamorous relationships and polygamous partnerships for Imperial Citizens are completely legal and non-taboo, but all the same they are not that common. It is a generally accepted idiom that it's enough hassle dealing with one significant other, let alone several. If you can manage it, all the more power to you, but it it blows up in your face you have no one but yourselves to blame. For Dwarrow specifically, most of the government mandated partnerships are monogamous for this very reason, though polygamous relationships can and do arise naturally. That said, most Dwarven partnerships are entered by necessity rather than romance.
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Sep 19, 2017 18:10
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Skvababt!?! Its good to see you. As there isn't much time, I'll save my shock and joy for a later time. Quickly, what is the current status of ITEC? What's happened since that last bat encounter? (I forgot the name of those two burrowing things).
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Sep 19, 2017 18:19
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:Again, Dwarven courtship has been covered extensively previously in this post. What about dwarves entering frogs? Is that a necessity? Seems like a necessity.
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Sep 19, 2017 18:42
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Well, looks like we'll have at least one witness to call.
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Sep 19, 2017 22:03
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I hope Toil appreciates how much work fixing our problem is going to be.Cannon_Fodder posted:What about dwarves entering frogs? Is that a necessity? Seems like a necessity. 
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Sep 19, 2017 22:25
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It turns out our traditional idea of dwarves as forge-loving is a corruption of their true nature as FROG-loving. A simple transcription error, really.
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Sep 20, 2017 04:29
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Dog Kisser posted:It turns out our traditional idea of dwarves as forge-loving is a corruption of their true nature as FROG-loving. https://youtu.be/SfXm5qFZnXQ Your post brought this to mind from my childhood.
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Sep 20, 2017 04:39
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The Summary The City of Karg, Daalig Regional Capital. The rest of your shift passes quickly as Skvababt fills you in with all that has occurred in your absence. After you dispatched the last Umbral Hulk, the party made its way back to the surface where armed guards, both from house Tel'E'Nor and the Church of Quackeen were waiting for you.  After a very swift conclusion of affairs, which saw ITEC commended and rewarded adequately, a minor acolyte of the Church stepped in and declared ITEC frozen as an organization and had your body taken into custody on account of your missing paperwork. With access to the ITEC treasury effectively blocked and with you out of commission, there was no money left with which to pay the crew this months wages. Johakim, acting head of ITEC declared that he and his brothers would instead take ITEC gear and equipment as 'severance pay'. As he held ownership, there was little anyone could do to oppose the move, especially covered as they were in guano and blood. Abigail left in a ducky huff shortly afterwards, taking with her enough gear and equipment to last her a month in the field or more. She also took the model church and the figurines, intent to ready her home village against possible troll counter-strikes. She did not officially resign, perhaps trusting that things would sort themselves out before she got back. Khami and Skvababt resolved to stay with the company, ownership falling onto Khami for the time being, whereas Skvababt borrowed one of the remaining horses, along with some gear and rations and made the journey to Karg on her own. From this infodump, you conclude that ITECs holdings now amount to the following: - ITEC recruits One Chainwielding Mercenary, Khami, Acting Head. One Marksfrogwoman, Skvababt. Yourselves, Kvelgrim IronIronScriptScript, currently in quasi-custody. Maybe also one do-it-all-duck? Abigail. Currently MIA? - ITEC inventory [Frozen] 06 x Ethereal RimRose Cupcakes 01 x Pouches and 01x Large Bag of of Flash-Heat-Powder 01 x Koboldian Crown of Leadership. 01 x Crate full of Ultra-Bright Torches. - ITEC Travel Gear Summary Your rations are inadequate, in dire need of restocking. Your supplies are inadequate, in dire need of restocking. Your equipment is inadequate, in need of repairs. - Wealth Summary It is ???? You have [014 Frozen Wealth] to your name. (08 zbats caught for 01 wealth total, + mating zBat bonus of 02 weath.) In ??? days time, you owe (via Khami) 6 wealth in salaries and general maintenance. (03 wealth backpay, 03 wealth for the next month) Additionally, you owe [30 wealth] to be paid in full at the end of Month Six (currently vi Khami) Though this debt is likewise Frozen until after your hearing. - Your shift over, you head to a Tavern (on Skvababts treat) and get a decent meal inside you before heading (alone) to bed. In the morning, you will try to find yourself some decent clothing (again on Skvababts treat) but after that? The city is yours, for a time. 1: How do you spend the last few days before the hearing? A: Tour the city! Find something cool, get your bearings or just gawk at the people. Have another Slice of Life before the hearing. B: Do More Research! Together with Skvababt, you scour the nearest library for... what exactly? Write-in. What avenue of research do you take? C: Relax. Fast-Forward to the hearing. D: Something else? Write-in. -- Skvababt is available for talking and questioning throughout the next part of your stay in Karg.
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Sep 23, 2017 12:04
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Well dang, I can't imagine the three brothers are very happy about the state of affairs (and rightly so) but I'm glad skvababt and Khami stuck around for us. Can't say the same for Abigail, I think the berserker lifestyle would be more fitting for a mercenary than a monster hunter, but maybe if we get this sorted out and she comes back, we can teach her restraint....somehow. I'm going to vote A, for now. Can we ask Skvababt if she knows where the three brothers are now? My guess is they have had their fill of monster hunting. Captainicus fucked around with this message at 12:27 on Sep 23, 2017 |
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Sep 23, 2017 12:25
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Wait we only got 3 wealth from that mission? That sounds really low.
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Sep 23, 2017 12:29
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B Look for rock hard evidence for our trial, stuck in the deepest and darkest reaches of the local libraries together with Skvababt.
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Sep 23, 2017 12:36
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Cornuto posted:Wait we only got 3 wealth from that mission? That sounds really low. I agree. Wasn't it more like 13?
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Sep 23, 2017 12:46
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Cornuto posted:Wait we only got 3 wealth from that mission? That sounds really low. It does, doesn't it? This was the contract as written: Finalized Contract Status posted:
Since you only caught got eight zBats, plus the mating pair, the total ends up being (( (3/2) / 2 )) + 2 = 2.75 wealth, or 1 wealth and one month with the animal trainer which is not enough for any sort of training at all. You decided not to stay and hunt for more Zbats, since you had already received far too heavy casualties fighting the trolls. -- Captainicus posted:Can we ask Skvababt if she knows where the three brothers are now? My guess is they have had their fill of monster hunting. Last she heard, they were arguing about what to do next in a local tavern. Johakim wanted them to get as far away from monsters as possible. Tommy felt there was still some merit to it, if only things could have been handled better. Konnie was apprehensive. Swedish Thaumocracy fucked around with this message at 12:54 on Sep 23, 2017 |
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Sep 23, 2017 12:49
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B - Try to find some record, legal or mundane, on unexplained metaphysical phenomena and maybe some info on that academy she mentioned hearing about, maybe someone from there can be summoned to the trial as an expert on weirdness. Also, let's try to see if we can get our bearings on this when we dream, it worked with ghost cow.
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Sep 23, 2017 13:00
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:Last she heard, they were arguing about what to do next in a local tavern. Johakim wanted them to get as far away from monsters as possible. That certainly sounds like them! The face of our guild will certainly be different without them, if/when we sort this identity business out. We may never find a daggerteer so expert again! I wonder if Tommy would be interested in rejoining, though that is definitely getting ahead of things there, as we have some bigger issues to deal with.
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Sep 23, 2017 14:58
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Seeking a trainer for the Owlbear cubs really got the company into a predicament.
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Sep 23, 2017 16:18
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Face in hands, do a Jael. BUT WHAT IS THE FATE OF THE CUPCAKES???
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Sep 23, 2017 22:32
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:. . . Johakim wanted them to get as far away from monsters as possible. Effing Johakim; if we only made peace with him and his Brothers when we had the chance. Now, if we ever get ITEC back as a functioning entity, we have to buy back our gear, and find replacements for these 3; we can't trust Johakim to act in the best interests of the company anymore, and the two other Brothers, I thought they were a package deal, either we take all 3 brothers, or none at all. super sweet best pal posted:Also, let's try to see if we can get our bearings on this when we dream, it worked with ghost cow. Blasphemaster posted:BUT WHAT IS THE FATE OF THE CUPCAKES??? Agreed. Let's see if we can ethereal investigate before the hearing, doubt there is much more we can find via mundane research. CourValant fucked around with this message at 03:40 on Sep 24, 2017 |
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Sep 24, 2017 00:31
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This one is Swedish's. Nyaa is off thinking about 8-cylinder psychotic matriarchs who dispel democratic curses through projectile vomiting.
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Sep 24, 2017 03:38
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Blasphemaster posted:This one is Swedish's. Nyaa is off thinking about 8-cylinder psychotic matriarchs who dispel democratic curses through projectile vomiting. G'Dang It! Thanks for the reminder. Apologies Swedish, this is what happens when you're playing in like 8 different LP's. 
CourValant fucked around with this message at 03:44 on Sep 24, 2017 |
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Sep 24, 2017 03:41
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sheep-dodger posted:B super sweet best pal posted:B - Try to find some record, legal or mundane, on unexplained metaphysical phenomena and maybe some info on that academy she mentioned hearing about, maybe someone from there can be summoned to the trial as an expert on weirdness.
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Sep 24, 2017 06:50
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Blasphemaster posted:This one is Swedish's. Nyaa is off thinking about 8-cylinder psychotic matriarchs who dispel democratic curses through projectile vomiting. Do you mean demonic curses, or has the CYOA turned into communist propaganda?
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Sep 24, 2017 12:11
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There Bias Two posted:Do you mean demonic curses, or has the CYOA turned into communist propaganda? I think hypothetical maniacally matriarchal Melania isnt that fond of elections?
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Sep 24, 2017 20:00
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Rumours With Skvababt at your side, you spend the next few days chasing rumours. What you have are strange experiences and two words that stood out amongst others. The Academy, and xhaos. Both prove hard to nail down further however. As far as you can tell, after many a tavern crawl and some healthy bribes to a ship captain or two, The Academy is some sort of university building down in Rim, the capitol city of the empire, not the person. What they actually study there is less clear. Indeed, what goes on behind the locked doors of any institute of higher learning is vague enough for most people. Whilst the Empire does provide it's citizens with the most basic of educations (reading, writing, economy, a brief history of the Empire, geology and faith being the mandatory subjects) focusing mostly on proper contractsmithing. The real meat of learning is left to the individual and often handled internally by the various guilds. Some nobles have taken to hiring tutors, though there are few qualified for this task in the land. To understand the curious curriculum, one needs but take a step back to examine it's founding. The Empire is barley three centuries old, and most of its technological prowess stems from the lifetime of the first Emperor Rim and the unification of the Three Divine. Within one lifetime the various people's of the world were dragged kicking and screaming, sometimes quiet literally, from pre-stone-age societies to roughly where they are today. From our point of view, with the field of engineering, alchemistry and infrastructure roughly at Victorian level, most other fields of science lagging behind at early Renaissance level with philosophy and medicine basically nonexistent. That is not to say that advances have completely halted since the first Emperor's death. On the contrary, the field of Alchemistry and Slimegeneering are booming, only that what advances have been made have not had much time to germinate or even disseminate. The end effect leaves the world a hodgepodge of half remembered pockets of essentially archaeotech, especially after those who might have once understood it all were killed by monsters or starvation. With all this in mind, it goes without saying that what great minds and universities exist in the world are fiercely guarded. So then, what of xhaos? You have only heard the word mentioned together with an account of The Forest, from no less a source than a Paladin of Toil. Whilst you are sure he could elaborate, he is not actually here as far as you know. Panacea might know more, but he or it is equally absent. On a whim, you look up the word in a dictionary though it yields no unexpected results. The word is an archaic form of the word chaos, meaning disorder or confusion. As for rumours of the unexplained and metaphysical, they are dime a dozen, but as two and one somewhat experienced monster hunters you can tell most of them describe some monster or another, with a few daemons or angels thrown into the mix as spice. One rumour sticks out amongst the others, a recounting by an old veteran of an operation twenty years passed. In exchange for her beverage of choice, she regales you with the tale of how her unit made to investigate the complete cessation of communication from a town nearby to where she was stationed, only to eventually find it completely ruined and abandoned, over-run with nature, with no trace remaining of the people therein.  It is a chilling tale and one that reminds one part of you of your youth. How Kvelar fled similar circumstances and the fate of his first home. --- The Hearing  So at last comes the time of your hearing, an affair as fateful as it is dull. The first hour or so is claimed by the process of waiting, the second by the retelling of accounts via both divine oracle and the dictation of the stories gathered by your fellows at ITEC. Throughout it all, the bureaucrats in the room maintain a sombre expression, most of them sorting through the reams of paperwork that litter their tables whilst intermittently looking up from them to glance at you. At some point, copies of your original birth certificates are brought out, though they do little to clear up the matter. They do not 'adhear' to you, in the way your originals would and not even Skvababt can honestly say (keeping in mind that honesty is here Divinely Mandated) that you appear to be either Thorgrim or Kvelar, more a mix of them both. Likewise, when the oracle is questioned on wether or not you are in fact Kvelar or Thorgrim or any combination thereof, the reply is a resounding 'does not compute' albeit in more eloquent terms. Frustrated, the Census Agents ask the oracle if you at least used to be Kvelar or Thorgrim to which the reply is maybe. --- 1: Eventually, you are given the opportunity to present your side of the story, which you do... A: Truthfully. Leave nothing out. The Hearing has been ordained a Zone of Truth. Lying is impossible. C: Mostly Truthfully. Leave out the bits where you believe you can do magic. Which is nearly all of the bits of the story, to be honest. Strangely, though the Zone of Truth is still in effect, this option does not trigger it. D: Truthfully, but with some specific focus or emphasis? A Write-in. You cannot lie in this instance, but you can put the focus on some part of the story you find important.
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Sep 26, 2017 23:19
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Swedish Thaumocracy posted:D: Truthfully, but with some specific focus or emphasis? Tell them this happened to you because you did your best to fulfill a contract to Quackeen.
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Sep 26, 2017 23:31
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Did we learn anything knew about forest-related law? D - Emphasize we believe this to be a result of exposure to unknown Forest-related strangeness and would like the trial postponed to bring in an expert from the academy in Rim to examine us and give a testimony.
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Sep 26, 2017 23:44
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CourValant posted:Tell them this happened to you because you did your best to fulfill a contract to Quackeen. Can't argue with the truth.
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Sep 27, 2017 00:10
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D. Focus on our experience with the rimrose dreams and such, since it truly the crux of the situation.CourValant posted:Tell them this happened to you because you did your best to fulfill a contract to Quackeen. This happened because we tried to experiment with poo poo we didn't understand to save our cousin. If we try to put this on her it will not go well for us.
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Sep 27, 2017 05:26
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Blasphemaster posted:D. Focus on our experience with the rimrose dreams and such, since it truly the crux of the situation.
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Sep 27, 2017 10:05
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I'm feeling that perhaps shouldn't just tell all about something gods possibly want kept under wraps- so much so that not only a divinely mandated zone of truth 'mysteriously' lets us omit it but also the goddess of contracts, while contractually bound by her own laws to answer any question, is allowed to not answer questions about it
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Sep 27, 2017 10:23
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C
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Sep 27, 2017 10:59
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Yeah, I'm curious about C as well, it seems strange that the zone of truth isn't preventing us from not speaking about it, though I don't know if a zone of truth prevents lies by omission. I'm going to vote C for now.
Captainicus fucked around with this message at 11:29 on Sep 27, 2017 |
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Sep 27, 2017 11:24
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C
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Sep 27, 2017 11:48
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