Ed Pastry 2010/11/20(Sat)00:09 No. 258307 ID: 55ed8b
File 12902405414.png - (31.17KB , 694x672 , Adventurers.png )

A decidedly un-optimized party of adventurers review the events of the recent past.

Astronomer and eccentric Simon Betelgeuse is on an epic quest to save the world from immanent destruction at the hands of the vengeful star-god Volans. He is accompanied by Samuel Slater, his best friend and loyal butler; Io Adhara, his boss and usually rational foil; and Karsci Vadász, some random trooper they picked up on accident.

Ever since the beginning of the adventure, Simon and his friends have been hunted by the mysterious Cobble secret police force called the Dokdokdokdokdok for reasons unknown.

Ed Pastry 2010/11/20(Sat)00:09 No. 258308 ID: 55ed8b
File 129024057872.png - (94.08KB , 800x957 , Caela Sculptoris.png )

The big plan is to finish the rocket at the Weaponsmith’s Guild, located 2 days flight away in the Bumbling Rocks. They must still acquire a skilled technician to repair the fuel line and a ‘vacuum igniter’ to complete the rocket. They have a vague lead that the Cobble capital of Weeya-bhu may have the skilled technician they need, and know they can pick up the ‘vacuum igniter’ from the city of Kojo for 2000 dollars.

Ed Pastry 2010/11/20(Sat)00:14 No. 258312 ID: 55ed8b
File 129024084337.png - (95.92KB , 2274x698 , Unventory4.png )

With their airship undergoing repairs for two days and the collective wallet going low on cash, the heroes have decided to do some freelance detective work for a mining corporation. They are tasked with investigating an MIA corporate agent and a suspected sabotage on a mine on the island of Ijin-Shima.
Before they head off on their next little caper, our heroes decided to buy supplies. On top of the list is food: Io, Simon and Karsci all need food ($5 per daily ration per person, up to a max of 4 per person)
The list of stores include:
Grocery store
Electronics store
Hardware store
Clothing store
Hobby store

Ok, let's head for the Grocery Store, food is our first priority.

We should get the skilled technician after we've got food and stuff, because getting him is probably easier than getting 2000 dollars.

>>258383
The pay for this mission is 4000 dollars, assuming we don't screw up:
>>/questarch/204938

Oh boy oh boy this quest is back yay!

Alright, buy everyone enough food for the next 7 days. That should leave us with 21 monies left, and then we should immediately head off to get to Ijin-Shima asap. We have barely over 2 weeks left to save the world, let's go.

Ed Pastry 2010/11/21(Sun)13:47 No. 258731 ID: 01936b
File 129037603046.png - (25.99KB , 668x447 , Economy.png )

They purchase enough food so that each person has enough for 7 days. Since their max carry capacity is 4 day-rations, the rest is stored in the airship. They have 126 dollars remaining.

They then head back to their employer to acquire transit to Ijin-Shima.

Corporate Employer: "Here's the airship tickets. They're just 'economy' class, but don't worry; you'll still get there in one piece."

Ed Pastry 2010/11/21(Sun)13:49 No. 258734 ID: 01936b
File 129037616848.png - (38.37KB , 840x533 , Shima.png )

The party is dropped off over the corporate mine the next morning.

It is now 14 days before The End.

They can either start investigating at their employer's sabotaged mine, or walk for a day to get to the rival corporation's mine.

>>258734
>14 days
>Going to be AT LEAST 2 days before we get to our airship
>And we've got to travel to the fuel tech and back to the missile
I think that rocket is going to be fired almost point-blank.

Ok. Investigate the mine we're already at.

Yeah, investigate the mine we're at.

Stumble into the mine we're at, picking bits of vegetable matter off yourselves.

investigate the mine we're at yeah.

Ed Pastry 2010/11/22(Mon)15:45 No. 259065 ID: 732585
File 12904695341.png - (29.27KB , 840x533 , Teh mein.png )

The party dusts themselves off and heads to the sabotaged mine. The security guard at the front gate greets them.

Guard: "Oh, you guys must be the freelances the big boss hired."
Simon: "We sure are! Genuine detectives, that's us."
Io: "So... what exactly happened here?"
Guard: "All sorts of things. The workers kept complaining about the heavy machinery failing all the time. You should ask them for the specifics. Main entrance to the processing building is right there behind me, and the mineshaft is in that little shed next to it."

Building first.

Let's go talk to the workers

>>259121
>>259196
No, no! There are four of us, let's multitask. Slater and Simon should go investigate the machinery in the building, while Io and Karsci go talk to the workers. There are 4 of us, and time is short, so we're going to need to start splitting up a lot more.

>>260417
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

>>260417
This

Ed Pastry 2010/12/15(Wed)20:55 No. 264721 ID: 35cea2
File 129247530156.png - (28.30KB , 840x533 , Trollin.png )

Simon and Slater stumble around the building until they find some heavy looking machinery. There's a kid sitting on a big enginey thing.

Kid: "Hey mister, what'cha doing?"
Simon: "Looking for some clues as to what happened with the equipment here. Seen anything suspicious kid?"
Kid: "Nah. The equipment that broke is underneath that hatch there, but you can't go in."
Simon: "Why not?"
Kid: "Fulla nasty gasses and stuff. You need some kinda special suit to stay alive down there."
Simon: "Huh, what luck! I happen to have one such suit back in the- wait..."

Ed Pastry 2010/12/15(Wed)21:02 No. 264723 ID: 35cea2
File 129247574683.png - (18.75KB , 681x465 , Some guys.png )

Meanwhile, Io and Karsci head in the main build and try to find some workers to question. They find some workers lazing about in the break room.

Io: "Hey guys, if I could have your attention for a moment."
Couch Guy: "Hmm?"
Io: "We're freelance investigators hired by your employers to find out what happened here. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you all a few questions."
Standing Guy: "Sure, it's not like I have anything else to do."
Couch Guy: "Just quit messing with the fridge, you wont find evidence in there."
Karsci: "I dunno, these sealed fruit snacks are looking awful suspicious to me."

>>264721
Simon: Ask kid where we might find such a suit. Hopefully the bosses have one and can lend one to us and we don't have to spend more money.

Slater: Do you need to breath? If not, you might be able to explore down there. If so, yeah let's find Simon a suit.

Io: Ask the workers for specifics. Which machines went wrong, and how did they go wrong?

Karsci: Don't eat their food.

Io: Nudge Karsci into not stealing their food. Ask if they saw anyone suspicious that day.

Can Karsci handle the toxins? He is made of lava.

Check the security tapes.

Ed Pastry 2010/12/18(Sat)21:19 No. 265210 ID: 35cea2
File 129273594856.png - (28.92KB , 834x634 , Slater luv ladders.png )

Simon: "Uh, do you happen to have any spare suits I can use? It's kinda important that we look at that malfunctioning machinery."
Kid: "There's one that probably can fit you, but it's got a few tears. Your Clockwork friend can probably survive there though, since he doesn't need to breathe."
Simon: "Oh, well in that case-"

Simon opens the hatch and pushes Slater in.
Slater: "AAAAUGH"
Simon: "Okay buddy, go find that evidence!"

While Slater dusts himself off, Simon examines the screen with the security tapes.
Kid: "Don't bother, I've already watched through all the records and I didn't see nobody messing with the machinery."

Ed Pastry 2010/12/18(Sat)21:29 No. 265213 ID: 35cea2
File 129273658366.png - (14.30KB , 590x505 , Gloop.png )

Io nudges Karsci a bit.
Io: "Hey, cut it out! I thought Cremates couldn't eat normal food anyways."
Karsci: "*glorp* Buuht dis ugghf eghs graape flavuuurgh *gloop*"
Io shakes her head and readdresses the idle workers.
Io: "Did you see anyone suspicious in the last few weeks?"
Couch Guy: "Nope. In fact, you're the first new people to arrive here since last month."
Io: "Hmm. How about the breakdowns, can you give me specifics."
Standing Guy: "Power failing, worn out parts, pipes leaking. Standard stuff, or it would be if they didn't happen over and over again in a short period of time. Right now there's a conveyor belt that got stalled for some reason, but we can't check on it since it's in a place full of toxic gas and our only hazmat suit is ripped."
Io: "That seems a bit suspicious."
Karci: "*Blurgh*"

Simon: Ask the kid where that old suit is anyways and go retrieve it, maybe we can repair the tears with duct tape or something.

Karci: Can you survive under those toxic gases? I mean, with you being made of lava and all that. If so, go investigate the conveyor belt.

Slater: Investigate around!

Simon: Examine the suit to maybe see what caused the tears.

Slater: See if you can reactivate the ventilation or something.

If we don't start figuring this out soon, we may need to think of a new way to get cash.

>>265210
Slater: grab hat before it falls beyond the barrier into the chasm.

Ed Pastry 2010/12/21(Tue)21:32 No. 265733 ID: 35cea2
File 12929959498.png - (30.40KB , 840x533 , Ripped suit.png )

Simon: "On second thought, could I see this ripped hazmat suit you got? Maybe I could fix it."
Kid: "Sure, lemme just pull it out of my inventory for you."
While Simon is examining the suit, Io and Karsci return from talking with the workers.
Karsci: "Hello Mr. Betelgeuse. We finished talking to the workers."
Io: "They seem to agree that the malfunctions look suspicious, and they claim nobody's entered or left the mine since they started happening."
Simon: "I see. My bet is on ninjas."
Io: "Right. Where's Slater by the way, and why are you holding that thing?"
Simon: "I sent him down the hatch there to check out what went wrong. I was hoping to fix this hazmat suit so I could join him, but this thing looks like it's been mauled by a bear. A bear with scissors and a burning hatred for safety equipment. It's missing the boots and one glove, too."
Io: "Hmm. Karsci, maybe you could go down there with Slater. I mean, if you can stand the Sear-"
Karsci: "Unless that 'toxic gas' down there is just sulfur-smelling air, I can't help you. We breathe mostly the same gasses as everyone else."
Simon: "... through where exactly?"

Ed Pastry 2010/12/21(Tue)21:37 No. 265738 ID: 35cea2
File 129299627985.png - (32.43KB , 862x633 , More machinery.png )

Slater wanders a bit to the right and finds the pipe that appears to be leaking the toxic gas. The ladder that leads to wherever the broken conveyor belt is too tall, Slater can't risk attempting to climb it.

>>265738
...Hmmmm. I'm not sure what you can do here, Slater. I guess I'd go back and yell at Simon that you've found the source of the problem, but can't do anything about it with the resources you have down there with you.

I am kind of stumped on what kind of guy could be so ninja as to cause all these problems. Ask the kid if he's the spy.

Any other bright ideas of how to get some cash?

Presently: Repair gas leak using duct tape.

Ed Pastry 2010/12/26(Sun)12:31 No. 266858 ID: 35cea2
File 129339549660.png - (29.75KB , 840x533 , dont give up.png )

Slater borrows Io's duct tape and attempts to fix the leaky pipe. Unfortunately, the magic of duct tape fails to fix the problem, as gasses still leak through the small gaps.

Slater tosses the duct tape back up the hatch.
Slater: "I'm afraid duct tape won't work, Sir."
Simon: "It's alright Slater, we'll find a way."
Slater: "Indeed Sir. Can you help me out now?"
Io: "Whoever sabotaged this place must have been really good. Nobody was seen entering or leaving the building and all the malfunctions looked like accidents."
Karsci: "That probably means one of the employees here is responsible."
Simon: "Hmm. Hey kid, you a ninja spy?"
Kid: "No."
Simon: "Damn, this detective stuff is hard. Is there any other way we could get some money?"
Io: "We could try the other jobs advertised in Tamaishi, but then we'd be wasting more time than we are now."

Can we use the magic tape to fix the suit?

Wait a moment. Slater, you have a wrench. Can't you use it to fix the leaky pipe?

Alternatively, use Simon's blowtorch to seal it. But ask first if the toxic gas is also volatile.

Ed Pastry 2010/12/27(Mon)21:46 No. 267292 ID: 35cea2
File 129351516794.png - (32.01KB , 858x634 , Halfway.png )

After verifying that the toxic gasses are nonflammable, Simon tosses the blowtorch down Slater so he can attempt to fix the leak.

The blowtorch works well, but Slater's reach is a little short and half the pipe remains unwelded.

Meanwhile, Simon tries to patch up the ripped hazmat suit with duct tape. It looks fairly airtight, but Simon isn't entirely sure. The missing boots and glove remain problems as well.

We need to get down there so we can fix the clog in vent 4, which is presumably affixed at some point to the pipe we are welding. But toxic gasses are said to be bad. Maybe we can turn it off and then fix the clog. Is there an area Slater can access that we haven't explored?

If the only problem with the boots and glove is that toxic air would come in, then just apply duct tape to seal it against your own clothing/body.

>>267308

Yeah, this. Even if you can't use that hand because it's sealed with tape, we only need to get down there to fix the pipe.

That's a blow torch and not a welder right? If it is, then you're probably going to need both hands. You may need a spool of solder to finish the repair, there may not be enough on the pipe joint for the pipe to seal properly. If you do need more solder, you'll need both hands to apply it and run the torch. Ideally you'd be making the repair with an iron that you heat with the torch, but a quick and dirty repair with just the torch is possible.

Is the gas outright poisonous or is it just dangerous because it displaces oxygen? If it is poison, does it only work through inhalation or is it capable of getting through skin, mucus membranes, or open wounds?

Ed Pastry 2010/12/28(Tue)20:24 No. 267455 ID: 35cea2
File 129359669768.png - (24.60KB , 738x632 , Boxes.png )

Simon seals himself in the suit by duct-taping the sleeves to his body. It appears to work, but he still should be careful not to break the makeshift seals on the suit.

Simon and Slater check out the area to the left of the ladder, and just find a pile of crates and a crane hook on the ceiling. There is a control panel on the wall, probably to control the crane.

Hmmm, open the crates to see what's inside.

Other than that, I don't know what else to do here. Lift one of the boxes with the crane to see if they're blocking anything suspicious.

Oh, and Simon should finish fixing pipe 4 while we're here.

...does the crane's hook go very far over towards the leaky pipes? You could lift Slater with it so he can reach more of the leaks!

>>267639

This is a good idea.

Also, Simon can go down the ladder to clear the clog out of the 4 vent.

Ed Pastry 2011/01/04(Tue)10:03 No. 269086 ID: bbce2e
File 129416423517.png - (24.38KB , 785x524 , More pointless machinery.png )

The crates seemed to be filled with machine parts for the most part. They don't look particularly useful and are all really heavy, so they don't take any.

The crane doesn't extend over to the pipes, but the cables on the crane appear to be very long.

Slater waits on top while Simon goes down the ladder. He finds a hatch on a cluster of pipes and the busted conveyor belt. One of pipes is shaking and making chunking noises.

>>267552
Also, after lifting the boxes it is revealed that there is nothing behind them. It's just storage space.

Open the hatch to see what's making all the noise.

(In b4 it's a dead body.)

Open it!

>>269086
get Slater for backup then open it

Ed Pastry 2011/01/06(Thu)18:17 No. 269590 ID: 041f08
File 129436663536.png - (25.17KB , 785x524 , Clop clop huge clog.png )

Slater cannot descend down the ladder, due to his physiology.

Simon opens the hatch and removes the HUGE CLOG in the pipes.

Simon: "I'm fairly sure there there is a totally legitimate reason as to why this thing was in here."

...uhhh. Well, it's evidence, right? Close up the hatch, and look around to the left.

>>269590

Nobody accidentally drops down a shoe in the HIGHLY TOXIC GAS vents. Someone put it there to clog it, then destroyed the hazmat suit so nobody could come down and fix it.

Hurry go talk with the boss. The next step is round up all the worker and check who's the owner of the shoe. Then we'll have our man.

It's like Poirot meets Cinderella.

The kind of ninja responsible for this sabotage might be able to steal someone's shoes off their feet without their noticing. It's still pretty much the only lead, though, so hang on to it.

>>269778
We can't consider that possibility. We only need to find a rat long enough to get paid, not to solve all of their problems forever. We have a planet to save. Let's go find Cinderella's evil twin.

Ed Pastry 2011/01/09(Sun)14:35 No. 270030 ID: aa3428
File 129461254376.png - (33.98KB , 751x590 , Lineup.png )

The party regroups topside and the requests the mine manager get all the employees together. The party and the entire staff meet in one empty storage room a few minutes later.

Simon: "Are these really all the workers here? I thought a place this big would have a lot more staff."
Manager: "They are all the ones on site right now. Most the actual miners have returned home until we get everything fixed. Why, did you find the person responsible?"
Simon: "Almost. We found this large clog inside the pipes and noticed the hazmat suit here was likely intentionally ripped."
Io: "Since nobody has entered or left the facility in the past month, we suspect the saboteur is one of the staff here."
Manager: "We guessed as much, but do you know who it is?"
Simon: "I'm guessing it's the one who fits into these clogs."
Sitting Guy: "I see two problems with this. One: Why would the guy breaking stuff use something he wears, and two: That thing is big enough to be a hat. Even a fat Cremate couldn't fit in it."
Karsci: "Oi!"
Simon: "I admit I really didn't think this through much."
Io: "We were hoping our man didn't either. This shoe doesn't look familiar to any of you?"
Guard: "Not at all."
Sitting Guy: "No."
Standing Guy: "Nope."
Standing Girl: "Can I go now?"

>>270030
hey, it might not even belong to any of the rockmen. Ask if there are any other foriegners here.

>>270067
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? D:
This is actually a pretty decent line of reasoning. It might not belong to one of these guys but there's no way it just "happened" to get there.

Well, shit. And no idea who it could belong to either?
What race could it possibly fit? Maybe we should ask around town.

Suggestion 2011/03/13(Sun)12:44 No. 288093 ID: cb45f0
File 130004549556.png - (269.50KB , 600x337 , 1435047-grickle101_2010_07_12_22_43_59_24_super.png )

Reflect on when your life turned into Puzzle Agent.

Ed Pastry 2011/03/15(Tue)10:24 No. 288481 ID: d7628f
File 130020984783.png - (13.47KB , 578x590 , Hint time.png )

Simon: "This shoe has to belong to someone. Is there any foreigners here that might wear this thing?"
Manager: "No."
Sitting Guy: "How do you know someone wears it? Maybe it's just a decoration or something."
Simon: "That's silly, why would anyone carry around a huge clog if they're not gonna wear it? Clearly, the more rational explanation is that we somehow missed a guy who has feet bigger than Io's hat. Ooh, or maybe wears a clog on his head!"
Manager: "Like I said earlier, everyone in the mine is in this room right now. Perhaps a different line of investigation is in order?"
Simon: "Hmm..."

Whose suit is it?

>>288481
Okay... well, yeah, whose hazmat suit is that?

Ask what everyone was doing when shit broke.

Ed Pastry 2011/05/21(Sat)10:53 No. 305681 ID: 35cea2
File 130600039896.png - (58.61KB , 500x400 , No its not the chimney sweep.png )

Simon: "Who does the hazmat suit belong to?"
Manager: "It's company property."
Io: "What was everyone doing when the equipment started breaking?"
Manager: "Well, when the most recent breakdown happened I was in my office doing paperwork."
Sitting Guy: "I was watching TV in the break room."
Guard: "I was just sitting at the gate like I normally do."
Standing Girl: "I was in the mine shafts, checking on the equipment there."
Standing Guy: "I was cleaning the smokestacks on top of the main building."
Manager: "When the malfunction alarm went off, we met in the trapdoor room above the broken equipment, but we couldn't access it since our only hazmat suit was ripped."
Io: "I don't see any evidence that might point to any of these people are doing it."
Slater: "Don't give up now, there must be something we've missed."

Hrm... I'm kind of stumped, we've found practically no clues, and the only one we've found seems to be a dead end.

We could try a different approach and look for the motive behind the sabotage.

Make sure none of the other workers can hear you, then ask the manager if any of the employees have been acting different lately. If any of them has been wronged by the company, or has been malcontent lately. Or if any of them suddenly seems to be richer recently. Maybe they're getting bribed by a different company.

Ed Pastry 2011/05/28(Sat)00:19 No. 307301 ID: 75c491
File 130656713608.png - (41.59KB , 600x500 , Hint time.png )

Simon pulls the Manager over to a corner of the room and whispers to him.

Simon: "Surely there must be something suspicious going on with at least one of your staff? Someone coming into money suddenly maybe?"
Manager: "Nothing like that, I'm terribly sorry. As far as I have noticed all the five workers present have been acting as normally as they have been."

(Since everyone seems to be stuck in a rut, I will dispense a hint: Look earlier in the thread for clues and suspicious activity.)

Theoretically what would happen if you dropped something down one of the smokestacks?

For that matter, why isn't the kid-who knew exactly where the hazmat suit was-here? Is he not part of the staff?

Ask how come that kid isn't in here. Didn't we ask all employees to gather? Or is he not an employee?

Ed Pastry 2011/05/29(Sun)10:38 No. 307629 ID: 75c491
File 130669069137.png - (32.81KB , 463x500 , realization.png )

Simon: "Wait, five? Where's the kid?"
Manager: "What kid?"
Simon: "The one that was in the room with the monitors, why isn't he here with the rest of the staff?"
Manager: "I have no idea what you are talking about, we have no kid here. There's only us."
Simon: "... Ohhh"

>>307629

Quick! Catch him before he escapes!

But he told us he wasn't a ninja spy! We even asked him! Such treachery!!

Describe him and then get everyone to catch him if it's not too late.

>>307629
OKAY GOTTA GO BYE

We should dash off and see if we can find the kid. Maybe he left a trail of cookie crumbs.

Ed Pastry 2011/05/31(Tue)21:00 No. 308180 ID: 75c491
File 130690084350.png - (121.83KB , 840x533 , Looking.png )

Simon alerts all the staff members of the child saboteur. The manager said that he and his staff will guard the mining complex's borders to make sure he doesn't escape, while Simon and his companions search the insides of the building.

They start in the room where the first met the kid.

Simon: "Well, he doesn't seem to be in this room at least."
Io: "Looks like the kid broke or deactivated all the security cameras, I can't see anything here."

back down the hatch with one of you.

Can you see any crumbs anywhere? Gonna have to go down the hatch anyway...

Hey, are the mines connected to this complex or would you have to leave to get to them?

Ed Pastry 2011/06/03(Fri)19:22 No. 308918 ID: 75c491
File 130715415349.png - (54.10KB , 2450x630 , Down ladder again.png )

There are no crumbs lying around.

Simon puts on the hazmat suit and goes down the ladder while the rest of the gang stay upstairs.

look to left and notice box partially open, or at least catch it as it's closing. also looks like he has a crossbow.

>>308918
Shit, hostiles. Take cover uhhhhhhhh somewhere. Flatten yourself against the wall by that monitor perhaps? His angle on you would be pretty shitty then.

Also call up for someone to throw you a crossbow or something. I'm thinking the one that has explosive bolts.

Ed Pastry 2011/06/03(Fri)21:21 No. 308952 ID: 75c491
File 130716128110.png - (57.48KB , 2450x630 , Kidshoot.png )

Simon catches the silhouette of the kid in the box and quickly flips himself against the wall, overweight action movie star style.

Simon: "Uh, Io? I found the kid. Also could you toss me down an explosive loaded crossbow please?"

The kid pops out of the box and quickly puts Simon in his crosshairs.

Kid: "Unless you want your friend to get perforated, you will do no such thing."
Simon: "Yeah actually forget the crossbow, diplomacy sounds like a much better idea right now anyways."
Io shouts down from above: "Simon? What's going on? Are you alright?"

"kid's pointing a crossbow at me, meaning i am pretty sure he isn't a kid."

Ask him what he wants.

Ed Pastry 2011/06/07(Tue)19:48 No. 310451 ID: 75c491
File 130750133177.png - (5.07KB , 400x400 , Crosshairs.png )

Simon: "The kid got a crossbow pointed at me, so I am guessing he's probably not actually kid."
Kid: "What, you don't think a kid could make a good corporate spy?"
Simon: "I must say I'm a bit surprised, I thought guys your age were more into ice cream and video games than conspiracy."
Kid: "I really like messing with people. Also money. Moneys pretty good too."

Karsci calls down from above.
Karsci: "Alright you little brat, tell us what you want so we can walk away from this without hurting each other."
Kid: "First I'm going to need a phone to call my employers so I can arrange a pick up. Until they arrive I'm going to need to keep you here as a hostage."
Simon: "How long is that gonna take?"
Kid: "Oh, a few days maybe. That reminds me, could you grab me a lot of snacks while you're at it? We're gonna be here a long time."
Simon: "No way, we refuse! We don't have that kind of time!"
Kid: "Hey! I've got the crossbow here, so I get to make the deal. Now someone up there get me that phone and a crapload of cookies!"
Simon: "*mutter* there has to be another way out of this..."
Kid: "You say something, squishy?"

>>310451
take him with you. drop him at nearest city.

he shouldnt accept, and if he does, he will sabotage you, but its the quickest way out of this.

also try to tell him why you need the fast way out. it may hint him that you would take a crossbow bolt to hasten things up.

>>310451

"The world is going to end. So if I stay here, we all die anyway. I'm going to leave now. Shoot me or not, things have to get done. Later."

Point out that he'd be shooting with a machine that makes toxic gas as a backstop.

Someone else: Shoot an explosive crossbow bolt roughly in the kid's direction to distract him. When that happens, Simon can race down that other ladder out of sight. Hopefully, the kid won't dare shoot at him through smoke with that machine there.

>>310451
"I have incontrovertible, scientific evidence that the world will end in a couple weeks. I really don't have time to waste a couple days here. Also, if you miss you'll probably flood this entire room with poison. I don't think you want to risk that, it would be a really sucky way to die."

>>310451

Just give the little fuck some poisoned cookies, and claim the hostage is allergic to some ingredient in them.

>>310495
It sure beats "diplomacy".

>>310451
Ask how much they're paying him. Maybe we can outbid his employers. Or at least pretend to. ...We've got Chococolate! I bet any kid would jump at the chance to get some of that stuff!

...wait a second aren't there toxic fumes still down here?

Ed Pastry 2011/06/08(Wed)21:15 No. 310835 ID: 75c491
File 130759290719.png - (13.40KB , 600x500 , Combat BEGIN.png )

Simon: "Wait, isn't this place supposed to be filled with toxins?"
Kid: "You fixed it, remember?"
Simon: "Yeah well, it won't stay that way if you fire that crossbow. You might hit the machine back there and release all the gas."
Kid: "Ha! I think I can trust my aim, I've hit smaller targets than you that's for sure."
Simon: "Kid, this is serious! The world will suffer an apocalypse and I'm the only one who can help stop it!"
Kid: "Is that really the best excuse you've got?"

While Simon is distracting the kid Io holds her breath, quickly hangs from the hatch and then fires an explosive bolt at the kid. The explosion knocks him back down into the box, but his crossbow is still loaded and he's only slightly stunned. Simon quickly slides down the ladder near him.

grab the latch on the pipe and unlatch it but hold it closed. yell up to the kid that if he doesn't drop the crossbow and go up the ladder you will open it and let out the gas again. and that you already unlatched it so the only thing keeping it closed is you, so if he shoots you then it will open by itself due to pressure.

Get on the ladder. That should hide you from harm (hard to tell from this angle) and give you enough reach to start banging ominously on the pipe. Tell him to throw away his weapon or you'll flood the place with gas. If he approaches Simon, that should give the guys above an angle to shoot him.

Hopefully he'll surrender, whether or not Simon has an instrument that can actually penetrate the metal. Not really sure if he does.

>>310849
he is already at the bottom of the ladder
>Simon quickly slides down the ladder near him.
which puts him neat that part that can open.

>>310835
>Simon's in his suit
>Io holds her breath
So, wait, is this place horribly toxic or not? The kid isn't suffering, so are cobbles immune? So why would the toxic gas sabotage matter to them?

I'm confused as to whether Plan Gas The Midget will actually achieve a damn thing. But, er, open it up since you're now in a completely useless position otherwise.

the place's toxin lvls are low at the moment, our smart protags are just rather being safe then sorry. if cobbles were immune they would of fixed it already.

Simon: Feed Kid poisoned snacks. You have some poison on your darts, no?

Ed: Apply for game designer position at Sierra or LucasArts so they can start producing epic adventure games again.

>>310840
That's a good plan!

Ed Pastry 2011/06/09(Thu)20:32 No. 311323 ID: 75c491
File 130767676466.png - (17.65KB , 500x363 , Reverse hostage situation.png )

>>310996

Simon doesn't think the kid is in much of a mood for cookies right now. Being near explosions ruins the appetite. They do have tranquilizter darts on them though, but only for the small auto darter.

I tried, but since the first two words out of my mouth weren't "Star Wars" I was summarily executed on the spot and had my corpse strung up for all to see.



While the kid is stunned, Simon unlatches the hatch and holds it down and Io nearly finishes reloading her manual crossbow. The kid starts reloading again as well.

Simon: "Okay kid, I tried playing nice. Put the crossbow down or I'll open this hatch and flood the chamber down here with toxic gas."
Kid: "Ha! I've already got that covered clayboy. I, uh got a gasmask hidden in this crate, you're still my hostage!"

"Oh, okay." Open it.

"oh? well then you don't mind me opening it."
start opening it. make sure it creaks loudly.

I second the threatening option. we need him alive, no?

Ed Pastry 2011/06/13(Mon)00:12 No. 312678 ID: 75c491
File 130794914794.png - (8.29KB , 500x500 , Children dont like dying.png )

Simon: "Well then, in that case I guess you don't mind if I open it then."
Simon lets the hatch slowly and loudly creak open. The kid quickly stumbles out of his box and aims his crossbow at Simon. His hands are shaking slightly.
Kid: "Close that hatch! Close it NOW!"

Close it. Tell him he can put the crossbow down and we will capture him without him getting hurt. Alright?

...Did he even load it? From the looks of it he didn't have the time too and there isn't a bolt there.

>>312689
It's still loaded from before.

...actually scratch my earlier suggestion. Tell him if he shoots you it won't close. He can drop the crossbow and nobody has to get hurt.

"If you shoot me, you're fucked. Climb that ladder and give yourself up!"

"throw the crossbow down and I just might."

Ed Pastry 2011/06/16(Thu)13:45 No. 313907 ID: 75c491
File 130825711710.png - (7.36KB , 429x342 , Children are bad at planning.png )

Simon: "Drop your crossbow and I just might do that."
Kid: "No! You're not taking me in!"

The kid looks significantly demoralized now, now that his plan is falling apart.

"look kid, you got three options, surrender and go peacefully, die of poison gas, or go on the run until you're older then me"

Tell him if he helps us solve this case we'll let him go.

>>313951

we already solved the case, stupid. the kid was the saboteur. now we need to bring him in for a possible pay bonus.

>>311327

try this.

>>313989
we already did that. that is why he hasn't shot us yet.

also, the kid couldn't of been acting on his own, he must have a boss. tell him if he promises to snitch on his boss you will help lessen his sentence.

>>314015

well then we should do it some more.

Tell him it'll be a lot better for him if he surrenders peacefully.

Especially since that involves not dying from poison gas.

Big goofy Simon smile.

>>314015
Yeah that's basically what I was trying to get at.

Ed Pastry 2011/06/17(Fri)18:37 No. 314350 ID: 75c491
File 130836105992.png - (7.29KB , 500x500 , Disarm.png )

Simon: "Listen, we're not hired to bring you in. Help us with this case here and we'll see if we can let you go free."
Karsci calls from above
Karsci: "You can't just let him go free, he's a criminal! What are you going to tell the staff?"
Simon: "Do you mind? I'm trying to diplomacize down here down here!"
Kid: "How do I know you won't stab me in the back and turn me in anyways?"
Simon: "Either you trust me or you try negotiating with the toxic gas instead. Your pick."
The panicked kid nervously deliberates and fidgets for about a minute, then finally gives in and unloads his crossbow and throws it to the ground.
Kid: "Okay now what."

>>313989

They still gotta prove who authorized the sabotage and what happened to the other agent that was hired before them.

okay now close the thing and tell the kid to go up. then follow after. need to ask who had him do the job.

Close the hatch, get the crossbow, and tell him to slowly climb the ladder so our two other party members can collect him.

Also yell up that you got his weapon and he's coming up the ladder.

Ed Pastry 2011/07/17(Sun)23:15 No. 327422 ID: 4d024e
File 131096972853.png - (9.95KB , 512x512 , Interrogating the kid.png )

Simon takes the kid's MANUAL ARBALEST and closes the hatch. They both head up to the upper room.

Simon: "Okay, before we decide what to do with you, you have to answer some of our questions."
Kid: "Fine"
Simon: "Who hired you?"
Kid: "Raibaru Extractions. They gave me a lot of money for this job."
Io: "Looks like the guy who hired us made the right guess."
Kid: "Well? Anything else?"

"will need you to testify , but we will say you are a witness, not an accessory."

>>327422
"Yeah. How much did they pay you, exactly?"

And, as an afterthought, "...oh, yeah, and do you know what happened to the guy sent here to look for the saboteur before you?"

>>327422
Ask about what exactly he sabotaged.

Ed Pastry 2011/07/25(Mon)01:18 No. 331100 ID: a611d6
File 131158190713.png - (12.39KB , 512x512 , Lawman.png )

Simon: "Yeah. How much did they pay you, exactly?"
Kid: "Six grand, plus whatever I steal from here."
Simon: "Well it looks like we know who we're working for next time!"
Io: "We'll get enough money from this task Simon, lets focus on one adventure at a time."
Simon: "Aside from clogging the pipes, what else did you do here?"
Kid: "What *didn't* I do? I've pretty much messed with everything that could be broken here. Flooded the mines, broke drilling machines, stole computers, ruined safety gear-"
Karsci: "Okay enough bragging kid. We're taking you in, I can't let you get away with all this."
Kid: "Wh-what?! But you said I could go free!"
Simon: "Karsci, quit being lawful stupid. We made a promise. Don't worry kid, all we need is for you to testify as a witness that someone else did-"
Karsci: "That's even worse!"

Io gets to decide.

>>331100
Oh, have him provide evidence against his employer or something in exchange for getting off lighter. Throw him to the lawyers and let them wrestle over it---we've got a world to save.

>>331100
Ask Io and Slately about their oppinions and prepare mentally for the inevitable stalemate.

Ed Pastry 2011/07/28(Thu)01:47 No. 332933 ID: a611d6
File 131184286867.png - (10.01KB , 440x512 , 1 numbering now.png )

Simon: "Io? Slater? Do either you have any input?"
Io sighs.
Io: "Honestly, it doesn't matter right now. No offense little guy, but it would be easier just to turn you in-"
Kid: "YOU'RE HORRIBLE! YOU'RE ALL A BUNCH OF LIARS!"
Io: "-and I think some time in juvie will do you a world of good."
Karsci: "Exactly."
Slater: "While I dislike breaking a deal, Miss Adhara and Mister Vadasz are right; we don't quite have the time for this. Perhaps we can get the lad a reduced sentence for coming clean?"
The kid, getting more and more fidgety throughout this discussion, finally decides to make a break for it.
Kid: "FUCK THAT!"
The Kid leaps off the machine, barges past their legs and starts running away.

Send 100 BRICs with forge casters after him.

Er, I mean, chase him!

>>332945

Shout "WAIT!" and offer an alternate solution to the kid, Karsci and Io. I think we can still work something out here!

Namely, the kid could join the crew! He's already shown that he's very competent and sneaky, and it would be nice to have someone like that in the group. Surely, helping saving the world would make up for his crimes here AND do him some good as well?

>>332991

I second this. of course, you'll have to catch him first.

Ed Pastry 2012/01/04(Wed)13:26 No. 377502 ID: a611d6
File 132571237654.png - (26.28KB , 700x800 , 2.png )

Simon: "Kid, wait! Uh, how about you work with us instead! Does that sound better?"
Karsci: "That's a terrible idea!"

The kid continues running, but hesitates for a moment when he reaches the stairs.

>>377502
Stop wasting time on diplomacy and shoot him in the back already.

There's a whole world to save.

tackle him.

CATCH THAT NIGG- uhh, COBBLER

Ed Pastry 2012/01/05(Thu)18:01 No. 377779 ID: a611d6
File 132581527942.png - (15.43KB , 400x700 , 3.png )

Simon: "Ah hell with it."

Simon follows the kid up the stairs. Despite Simon's superstandard bulk, he eventually catches up and tackles him to the ground.

Hot damn! Now find some way to tie him up. Or just sit on him until he relents.

is it can be interrogation time?

>>377837
No, it's already been interrogation time. Hand him over to Karski, make sure we get some kind of proof that we got the saboteur for our employer, and go collect payment.

Ed Pastry 2012/01/07(Sat)02:01 No. 378115 ID: a611d6
File 132593048650.png - (41.09KB , 1000x700 , 4.png )

The rest of the party catches up to Simon.

Simon: "I got him guys!"

Kid: "*eugh* Get off... *erk* fatass!"

Karsci: "Nice work. Now, please tell me we're turning him instead of keeping him as a pet."
Simon: "Yeah, I'm beginning to think you're right. He's way more trouble them he's worth."

Kid: "I'll... *ack* kill you! *ghk*"

Slater: "I apologize to bear bad news Sirs, but we still have to find out what happened to the last agent our employers hired. We've still more sleuthing to do."

Kid: "*blegh* I'll tell you, just... *khhk* get this asshat... *nghh* off of me... *urk*"

Simon: "That solves that problem then!"
Io: "Oh thank goodness, I was afraid we would have to waste more time in this place. Shall we try to find a way back now?"

yes.

Yeah, let's end this mission.

>>378115
Very yes.

Ed Pastry 2012/01/08(Sun)00:58 No. 378447 ID: a611d6
File 132601308630.png - (20.83KB , 1000x620 , 5.png )

The Kid confirms that the agent is being held captive by Raibaru Extractions, and agrees to be taken in (relatively) quietly.

Simon borrows the foreman's phone and reports his success to the corporate employer. They are sent an airship pickup and make it back to Tamaishi the next day, 13 days before The End.

Their airship should be fully repaired sometime today. They could wait 5 days for the VACUUM IGNITER to be delivered to the Tamaishi hardward store, or go to the city of Kojo on the island and pick it up there, a two day journey if they decide to walk it.

Karsci thinks he can hear sirens coming from outside the building.

>>378447
Can't we wait the day for the repairs and then fly the airship to Kojo, thus avoiding the need for a two day walk back?

You might want to put Karski at the front of the lift. Armoured and all. :V

check out them sirens... discreetly.

Ed Pastry 2012/01/11(Wed)22:43 No. 379383 ID: d8e29d
File 132635063906.png - (83.65KB , 1600x1200 , 6.png )

The elevator reaches the bottom of the shaft. The sound of a police wagon's sirens can be heard clearly outside now. As the doors open, Karsci immediately notices the Dokdokdokdokdok agent standing in the lobby. Fortunately the agent is communicating on his headpiece, and does not notice the crew yet, and the other two agents in the vicinity are standing guard facing away from the building.

Karsci manages a panicked whisper to the others.
Karsci: "Oh Szar, they found us! I think they noticed our airship at the tower!"
Io: "Sculptor save us..."

There is one agent in the lobby, another in front of the window and a third sitting in the police wagon in front of the main entrance.

everybody shoot him simultaneously. then the other one. then the other one.

the beauty of this plan is in its simplicity.

>>379383
These guys can't be reasoned with and we don't really have an escape route. I think we should probably kill 'em and steal the wagon to make our getaway. Get back to the airship, and bunker down in it... or we could just drive the wagon over to pick up the vacuum igniter.