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File 130310082337.jpg - (223.07KB , 640x480 , Gun For Hire Start.jpg )
297498 No. 297498 ID: a76809

Finnish Mosin Nagant M28/30 (7.62/53mmR, 7.62x54

I live in Istanbul, 2nd largest city in the world, a place that has a rather impressive tourism bureau-if you listened to them, sounds like a nice place to live.

It is, if you're a predator-not so much for the regular shits. Thing is, Istanbul happens to be the host to the largest black market and collection of criminal syndicates in the world. One may ask how this could go unnoticed, as statistics put them far below south africa and central america. That would be for a very simple reason:

Istanbul, like Jerusalem, the Vatican and Alexandria-other places I'm sure, but I only know local-is an ancient place-and happens to be one of the biggest hubs of the supernatural world, a crossing point for creatures and Outsiders from the other side of reality to slip in. Yes, I am in fact being serious-trolls, ogres, faeries, werewolves, vampires, shinso and western-even certain polytheism's gods exist as supernatural rulers-DEFINITELY not the sort of beings you want to get on the radar of. And, monsters as some may be, all are just as moved by the thought of personal profit and gain as any human-sweet to see how similar we are, isn't it? So, that first-classs black market and underworld of crime? Yup, magic infested. That strife of humans who largely have no idea this exists and power hungry beings from another kind of existence trying to preserve what they have-oh, it can create quite a mess. Between keeping the general human populace in the dark (cleaning up witnesses, putting down the overly public), keeping the peace (rogue individuals, wanted criminals, official bounties, mundane mercurial work), and everyone looking after themselves first (kidnappings, robberies, assassinations) there is a wealth of work to be had if one has the stomach to do the morally gray, and do it amongst the nightmares of their childhood made flesh.

I am one such person.

But how did I end up working as a sometime thief, sometime bodyguard, sometime killer, sometime kidnapper, sometime courier in such a place? Just as folklore suggests, most supernatural beings are not at all nice, and most have many ways to be much more dangerous than they really should. So why even stick one's nose in such a dangerous field, why not get as far away as possible once learning hidden depths with real man-eating monsters, blood-drinking beasts?

Two reasons: The money-and because of the thrill.

The name's Armus Laine. Finnish father, Maori mother (Yes, my dad had all sorts of tales of his adventures around the world, including meeting my mom). First generation U.S. born, and soon as I was old enough I applied for the US Marine core. At the time, we lived in the slums of San Diego, California-so obviously I went to Camp Pendleton. Maybe it was growing up with plenty of people willing to pound my face in, maybe it was my mother's blood-heard way too many things about that half of my family heritage-but I was accepted into the Marine Core at the fresh age of 18. As was custom at Camp Pendleton, our training focused on the aquatic, moreso than other Marine bases did-so I became quite familiar with the true essentials of coastal warfare.

Upon graduation-well, that was when the 9/11 bombings happened. I was in one of the first units shipped off to Afghanistan-and later Iraq-where I spent a solid three years constantly being moved along the hottest areas, slowly building a healthy paranoia, learning to mistrust even the most innocent looking 'civilian'. Along the way, I dirtied my hands in more than a few questionable situations-times when I wasn't sure, could never be sure, if EVERYONE I shot was really a terrorist. Beyond all that, my tours in Afghanistan and later Iraq gave me a chance to start... doubting. I saw a few 'terrorists' lacking body armor take twenty odd rounds in from longarms and jump over a wall some eight feet high as if nothing had happened. I had seen people wander into the darkness, and only blood and screams be left. I was faced with a furred monster of claws and fangs, something I that was unflagging-till an opportune crash landing in a jewelry store showered us both with gold-and silver. When the beast was burned and chased off by its mere touch, I put a few things together, and decided reality was NOT as simple as people claimed. Around the time I started to investigate this-

I get told it's time for leave. In fact, I'm told extended absence. Seems I was possibly a bit too circumspect looking for more details on what goes bump in the night. So, Armus Laine, now a seasoned Marine that was most certainly not discharged but still out of comissions, is left wondering where to go next. Turns out my mother had a distant cousin in Georgia-specifically, in Fort Benning, the Ranger School. Turns out, when he hushes up the bit of gray area around my sudden return home, my record polished a bit more than it maybe should have been, I ended up being a good candidate. So, I went through the 61 day training program.

Don't worry, getting to a point here.

See, it was during that training program that I realized something-something that hadn't registered when my quieter search for news on the monsters I saw and the real nature of what lurks in the dark: I liked the darkness. I liked being the hunter, I liked ending lives-and I think in the supernatural world I saw a chance to more be more honest about who and what I am, WITHOUT ending up with some sort of legal issue.

Fast-forward to October 2010-after a final two-year stint of military service honing the skills I picked up from the rangers, all while slowly learning what I can of the truth, I set out on my own. I've been in Istanbul here for four months now-took the first two to really get to know the city and make sure I had a room with a VERY sturdy door, thick walls and small, high windows. The second two.....

Well, I started my business.

This is what I figured-Finnish father, in the Finnish army-even had a sergeant that served with Simo Hayha. Mother (and my appearance) give me free access to the brutal history of a robust island tribe. I have excellent military credentials, training and experience that makes me a great hired gun for just about any function. With the supernatural always looking for more ways to expand into the real world, more mortal contacts... I could make some real money, working for them. I've already met a few who have become millionaires in this line of work.

....So far, I've only gotten two jobs-one for a drug smuggler I believe has connections with the fey guarding a shipment where I had to pop a few junkies that tried to snag some of the goods, and another job for a Russian mobster that wanted a rival dead. I've performed two jobs, dropped buzz-words to show I'm in the know, showed good aim, lack of hesitation, and general professionalism. I hope to be getting my introductions to the other side from some interested party soon- I mean sure, my twin double action Taurus Raging Judge revolvers (five-shot, 3" cylinder, 3" barrel) brace-mounted holdouts are in perfect condition, since I still haven't had to use them, but my rifle...


That reminds me.... what kind of rifle do I use? I had a story about it, but which one was it...

-The Beauty of Finesse
Armas uses a Finnish Mosin Nagant M28/30, procured through one of his father's old contacts, with a bit of a story. Nicknamed ' Keihäs', the rifle's stock is said to have been made from a tree that a Finnish peasant girl had her head bashed to pulp against by russian brigands-her husband was a worker at the Finnish factory the rifles were made at-and he carved out that bit of trunk her blood fell upon and used it for the production of his own longarm. He hunted down the seven russian bandits and murdered them all-even beating two to death with the butt of the rifle-before eventually succumbing to wounds sustained during his fit of vengeful fury. Eventually the rifle was found, and circulated back into service by the Finnish army for several decades thereafter, continuing to take lives-where it gained a reputation for inevitably forcing its owners into close-quarters fights, until they have beaten someone down, and drenched the rifle's stock in blood to further stain the wood. But so long as it is so sated, rumors persist the gun is unerringly accurate-moreso than the already formidable rifle should be.
[This option establishes the contact: Holland&Holland's Ex-Finnish ArmyArkvad Söderström, a friend of the family and expert in pre-1950's riflery, as well as making it easier to learn how magical weapons are made.]
[Provides an accuracy bonus to rifle shots, and a bonus to the effect of critical successes.]

-The Wonder of Power
Armas uses a custom Pfiefer-Zeliska rifle, a bolt-action, eight-round 70 caliber monster of a gun. Similarly designed guns have successfully put down bears, hippos and rhinos in one shot-and with the gun custom-fitted to Armas, it was made heavier, both to more ably act as makeshift mace in times of trouble, and to minimize the monstrous recoil it generates. While no magic could be lurking about this weapon, the sheer monstrous amount of firepower it brings to bear is considerable. It's modern make allows for easy scope mounting-and having made this purchase, I'm now in the Pfiefer Zeliska database. Along with Holland & Holland, it is one of the two major arms companies that are fully aware of just how real fairy tales are.
[This option establishes the contact: Pfiefer Zeliska's Sergei Ivanov, a friendly sales official that seemed keen to pick up on your purpose in commissioning this piece-and he seems to know more about what goes bump in the night than me.]
[Provides damage bonus to rifle shots, and reduces the size of the 'failure' range for shots.]







What kind of rifle do I use?
[ALSO: I need 3 separate 2d100 rolls. First d100 roll is for what percentile of the graduating Marine class Armas was at Pendleton, the second roll will be what percentage of the graduating Ranger class at Bennings he was. First three 2d100 pairs will be taken and averaged, with high rolls being good.]
Expand all images
>>
No. 297501 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 5, 3 = 8

rollan
>>
No. 297503 ID: d3dfb8
File 130310182045.png - (26.31KB , 249x322 , WutenDice.png )
297503

Welp, that's the end of that quest.
>>
No. 297504 ID: a9629e

rolled 93, 39 = 132

voting for The Wonder of Power

and rollin
>>
No. 297505 ID: c1a7d2

rolled 7, 27 = 34

Mosin all the way, much though I'd love to bring out some 700 Nitro Express goodness...

Also dice.
>>
No. 297506 ID: a5dbe5

POOOOWEEEERRRR
>>
No. 297508 ID: d3dfb8

Oh, I forgot to vote moist nugget.
>>
No. 297510 ID: ee1442

>>297501
FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
>>
No. 297512 ID: f6360f

Our weapon is The Beauty of Finesse, definitely. There's no weapon like a magic weapon.
>>
No. 297513 ID: ee1442

Mosin Nagant.
>>
No. 297517 ID: a76809
File 130310413989.jpg - (78.13KB , 3387x527 , Keihas.jpg )
297517

>>297501
>>297504
>>297505
[5+93+7/3=105/3=35th Percentile Marines Camp Pendleton]

Now, let's be clear here-I was no 'gifted' recruit for the marines. Yes, there were those that did worse than me-but quite a few who did better. I did just well enough to not be singled out for only barely qualifying. Definitely not the crack shot of my training group, or the fastest runner-I was fifth-best in the unit for hand-to-hand fighting, my one and only claim to fame, and a great deal of that was attributed to my size (six four and one hundred four kilograms) and heritage. So, other than a very minor reputation as a bruiser, all I really accomplished in Pendleton-was not standing out.

[3+39+27/3=69/3=23rd Percentile Rangers Fort Benning]

While it is true that with the seasoning I gained since Camp Pendleton, I could probably have outshot all but two or three of the others in my Marine training group, I was in a constant war to avoid dead last on marksmanship in the Rangers. Again, hand-to-hand proved my greatest strength, with me staying in the seventieth percentile and above in those aspects of our training through the whole process. Thanks to my heavy aquatic focus from Pendleton, I do passably in the amphibious portions of training-and my time in Iraq and Afghanistan keep me from looking like a complete fool in the urban portions as well. Once again, all I really accomplish, is not accomplishing anything-I stand out for neither a positive or negative reason. Records exist of my attendance-but only my distant relative would likely remember me having been there.

[BACKGROUND TRAIT]: -LOW PROFILE GRADUATE
Armas did not draw attention, good or bad, in either of his training programs. As such, he is slower to be identified as ex-military by any given legal system. This trait provides no combat bonus.

>>297505
>>297508
>>297512
>>297513
>-The Beauty of Finesse Chosen
Just as with my low-key military background, I possess a low-key rifle. An M28/30, a Mosin Nagant with history by the name of Keihäs. Sure, the 7.62x53 and 7.62x54 rounds it can chamber aren't the hardest hitting around-but this particular model of gun is accurate as all get-out-and so long as I smash in a face at least once a week, I swear the rifle nudges my shots to be just a bit better than they really should be. I have the rifle, a full set of spare barrel, chamber, bolt of identical make, cleaning and basic maintenance supplies, and a crate with five hundred rounds for the thing-twenty of which happen to be tungsten-cored, which I fully intend to add silver to, for dealing with the 'special' nasties.

Which brings me to my issue, really.

See, I know how to use pistols, revolvers in particular, spring-mounted holdouts especially-if anything closes on me I am confident I can defend myself between ten shotgun shells. My rifle Keihäs is slowly becoming a part of my body, I'm getting so used to it-but the custom-made pistol-mounts that lock on my arms for the holdouts, the rare, history filled rifle, a new, safe place to live-that doesn't come cheap. Most of my savings from my military days have gone kaput getting me set up here in Constantino-Istanbul.

Which brings us all the way to the present day for me: I got three separate groups that have contacted me with potential jobs, and while none are on the spook side of things, all seem pretty important.

-First possible job is for the Triads. That drug runner the other day was a friend of theirs, so they are willing to give me a go on his recommendation. For five hours work as a guard, they offer $4,500 US.
-Next possible job is for a local pawnshop owner-he wants some no-name dead. Seems weird he wouldn't just pay a vagrant to do the job-they guy doesn't have protection. Only problem is apparantly a fair number of Triads use this bum as an informant. But when someone offers $8,000 to whack someone who lives alone.... well...
-Last job is for some Russians that struck me as wannabe-KGB. Not sure just what SPECIFICALLY they represent, but they are willing to pay me $3,000 US to MISS someone. Seriously, all they want is a bullet to impact near some university professor-imagine they want to scare him.







Depending on the risk of the job the amount of time I will have to lay low afterwards can change... so what should I do, seek work with the Triads, with the pawnshop owner, or with the Russians?
>And what kind of melee weapon does Almas Laine employ? A trench knife? A machete? An axe? What? (Specific items work better than general suggestions)
>>
No. 297519 ID: a5dbe5

>-Last job is for some Russians that struck me as wannabe-KGB. Not sure just what SPECIFICALLY they represent, but they are willing to pay me $3,000 US to MISS someone. Seriously, all they want is a bullet to impact near some university professor-imagine they want to scare him.

Awesome. Take it. DOn't use the rifle, it will work against you.
>>
No. 297520 ID: c1a7d2

Voting for the Russian job. One shot off-the-mark and away you go, minimal effort, no kill required, and plenty of time to GTFO from the scene if there isn't a far-away rooftop handy to begin with. Not the best pay but also less chance of getting caught by authorities and no pissing off criminal organizations.

As for melee weaponry, kukri would be good.
>>
No. 297523 ID: a5dbe5

Trench shovel. One of those fancy chinese jobs.
>>
No. 297525 ID: f6360f

>>297517
>-First possible job is for the Triads. That drug runner the other day was a friend of theirs, so they are willing to give me a go on his recommendation. For five hours work as a guard, they offer $4,500 US.
I like this one. Sure, guard work is inherently more difficult than assassination- but it's possible that nothing will happen, and it's a chance to build up some contacts by working with people. Plus building a rep as something more than just an assassin would be nice, however good we are at killing things with skill and efficiency.

>-Last job is for some Russians that struck me as wannabe-KGB. Not sure just what SPECIFICALLY they represent, but they are willing to pay me $3,000 US to MISS someone. Seriously, all they want is a bullet to impact near some university professor-imagine they want to scare him.
This would be my second choice, just because it sounds like easy money. Absurdly easy money, really, enough to make me paranoid, but hey, whatever.
>>
No. 297526 ID: ee1442

Go for something simple. Like an entrenching tool. Collapsible, durable, and sharp.
>>
No. 297528 ID: d3dfb8

>>297523
fuck yeah
>>297517
Take the two triad jobs. Guarding job first, while you're there ask someone if they have a grenade. We turn on the gas stove and use it to blow the guy's apartment to all hell.
Also get gloves, fingerprints are a bitch. And a hoody, dont want people seeing our face.
>>
No. 297572 ID: a9629e

>>297520
Seconding this, since I like the idea of waiting a bit to piss off any criminal groups, and because Gun is recommending a weapon that can't even destroy a city... yet. Has to be a reason for that.
>>
No. 297583 ID: 77a890
File 130314365065.jpg - (23.85KB , 594x344 , bayo.jpg )
297583

>>297517
some of the finnish rifles had fighting knives with a loop/clip on the back as bayonets... perhaps ours was modified to take something like that?

also I vote for the triads job, simply because our rifle will auto-fail the russian job for us.
>>
No. 297585 ID: 903f16
 

I was going to add another vote onto the Russian job wagon, but >>297583 makes a good point. We may as well do the Triad related jobs. At least they don't sound like they will require us to fight against our own equipment. The first is preferable over the second though, making enemies with large crime syndicates isn't worth a couple thousand dollars extra.

Hm weapons, I like the idea of playing to our cultural roots. It seems like we may be able to develop our weapons to acquire odd little powers if we used the right mystical reagents, starting with a weapon that's closely tied to ones blood seems like a good place to begin. I propose we get a mere pounamu. It's a traditional Maori club made from jade or greenstone. It's a close range striking weapon made for jabbing and thrusting, and due to it's composition it's suited for axe like attacks as opposed to other meres which could break if used like that. If you were skilled enough you could actually used a twisting motion to open someone's skull up with it. The best part is that you can conceal this thing, it's relatively small and it won't set off any metal detectors. You can keep it hidden under the sleeve and wrapped around the arm using the wrist cord. Check out this video of a Maori using a pair in a ceremonial dance.
>>
No. 297595 ID: 0fb2ef
File 130315014957.jpg - (44.28KB , 500x326 , greenstone-patu.jpg )
297595

Hand-to-hand weapon? Go with your Maori history and get a Mere. It’s a short, stabby club-like weapon that breaks ribs and brains.

And yeah, go with the KGB job. And if we’re really that big of sissies and think that the gun will be too accurate, ask the Russkie if he wants us to use a special gun to shoot and miss with. After that, Triads. Bring up the bum, when meeting with them, if possible.
>>
No. 297609 ID: cbd626

>>297583
voting for this. wee seem to be more influenced by our finnish ancestry, so lets go with some sweet finnish knives.
Also, go for the russian job. KGB bastards are hilarious. Also we don't know our rifle will auto-kill, for all we know it could just improve accuracy towards whatever we want it to, or will it to, rather then just going for the kill
>>
No. 297611 ID: 28e94e

Seconding the bayonet. Go for the Russian job if you know your rifle won't work against you, otherwise go for guard duty.
>>
No. 297701 ID: a76809
File 130319140159.jpg - (234.40KB , 700x700 , Companion on Triad Job.jpg )
297701

>>297609
[No, it is a to-hit bonus exclusively for wounding/killing shots-it will actively make it HARDER to purposefully miss barring aiming to wound someone ELSE other than the one you are attempting to miss.]

>>297583
>>297609
>>297611
Now, as to what I stick people with-well, I happen to have a hard-mounted six inch bayonet, and between my mother and her relatives, I picked up a good enough feel for how to fight with a Taiaha that I can more or less use this rifle a bit... special. When I grip it like most would to club people, I don't hold a club-and I don't hold just a spear. I hold a long-handled mace, a spear and a staff, all in one, a vicious, brutal weapon with a method of use to suite. So far, have not had instance to demonstrate this particular facet of my combat options in Istanbul yet-Taiahan Rifleplay. Which really just goes to show I'm finally getting good at shooting. One thing and another, I think I can live up to Keihäs' prior kill count (including the girl who's head splattered on this stock before it was ever a stock) of 56. Since acquisition, four and counting.

>>297585
>>297595
What I have been using, as the Maori angle has to be played up one way or another, is a Maori weapon-actually a specific Maori's weapon, my mother's father's mere pounamu, a thick and heavy jade machete as long as my forearm, a green as dark as twilight, edge carefully honed. While I haven't learned much of my maternal grandfather, what little I did learn, combined with my talks with Arkvad, leads me to believe I could have the makings of another unreal weapon-I figure spilling blood, human and supernatural, will do the trick if anything can, so I've been liberal in it's use.

This combined with my gunplay means that even with such a new entry to the area, I AM starting to hit my stride with jobs.

>>297519
>>297520
>>297525
>>297572
>>297609
>>297611
I decide to double dip-I give the maybe-KGB a confirmation, before accepting with the Triads, packing away Keihäs in a repurposed scuffed brown guitar case, and departing for work. Night, young, all that.

About two hours through the job I notice a few things:
-At six foot four amongst a bunch of chinese gangsters, I feel like a titan
-The oft-bloodstained light wood stock of Keihäs has definitely drawn a great deal of attention as time passed and eyes wandered.
-The Triads move an impressive collection that seems to have several thousand kilograms of cocaine as a small auxiliary along with the main delivery-something I don't recognize, some sort of faint yellow-green, musky fluid in tiny vials.
-They have their own private dock at the port, and at LEAST two heavy-duty cargo ships are involved in their operation here, as well as a massive three-story warehouse. And yet beyond the workers, I am one of only twenty guards.
-Beside myself, one other irregular marks the Triad guard forces-a black frenchman who goes by the name Paul-Jacques Labombard. He's got about two inches and fifteen, twenty pounds on me-beyond the dozen massive cargo pockets on his urban camo gear, he has a total of six pistols strapped to his chest in a particularly complicated dual-triple-stacked shoulder harness.
-I note him to carry three pairs of Colt 1911's in this overly complicated rig-which he informs me, on noting my inspection, have been tooled to take the .50GI cartridge, before going on to say he'll take them over Desert Eagles any day.
-At hour three, something happens.

First, we hear screams-which tips off Labombard and the Triads, so I take the cue and ready Keihäs. Labombard starts trotting off into the night a few seconds later, but no one seems to mind, so I do nothing, keeping my eyes peeled...

When I finally see them, darting from box to box... I can hardly believe it.

Clad in rags and shredded, stained clothes, often unshod and bare of foot, a massive vagrant population mewls and ululates as it scrabbles closer like a horde of titanic roaches.

I hear gunfire as the Triads give the order, my shot the fifth to ring out-

And the first to bite flesh, puncturing the sternum and sending the waif toppling as I chamber a new round.... four left...

As I expected, by the time I've pulled off five shots (three more deaths to tack on my rifle's score) the remaining vagrants-some three dozen, I figure-have largely closed the distance.

I heft Keihäs like an immenselve long-handled knife as I withdraw my grandfather's mere pounamu.

It takes the vagrants watching five of their rabid, desperate number falling to me like rotting fruit tumbling to the groud as I brutalize my way through-but their charge falters.

The Triad gunfire resurges, and they break-

A few escape, it's true. But weak and emaciated-and on closer inspection, clearly suffering withdrawal-they were no real threat. When Labombard returns dragging a tarp with what looks like five US Navy Seals on its top, things become only a bit clearer-no, not really, I have no damn idea what is going on here. A mass horde of rabid addicts attack and they act like it's no big thing? military aquatic operatives? This shipment's importance just got bumped up my mental scale-so why am I here? I mean, good recommendation or no, why would such a new face be that close? Need to spend a moment pondering this-later.

The remaining two hours pass without incident, I get my pay, and leave. I make my way back home, carefully doing a perimeter check of my place before entering, and clean up my Maori knife and my Finnish rifle, slowly removing the blood and gore from the night's work. Then, sleep, blissful and prolonged-with how lightly I sleep that meant not even a floorboard creaked that night.

II wake up to meet with the Russian contact twelve blocks away in a cafe around ten am. We make like it's a pleasant day, we are friends chatting-he pushes me a picture of the target, a thin-necked, wire-bearded, egg-headed, coke-bottle glasses type. When he picks up the check and leaves, he 'forgets' his notepad, wherein I find more details on the target and his location. Like they said, a teacher, but....The 'university' he works at? Not all that mundane-in face, a place that looks to mix the very limited magical capacity some special people have with science, become more evolved or some such bullshit. Sounds like new age horsepiss, more like-the problem is a name circled in red Sharpy several times over: Khubilai

ENCOUNTERED: THE MONGOLIAN WIZARD DORJPALAM KHUBILIAI, LEADER OF THE IMMORTAL MONGOL HORDE

Now, he does not TEACH at this school-in fact, he is rarely present more than one day in two months at the facility-but all the same, it is his. Gelrindo Academics is a fully enclosed facility with guards and identity checks at all entrances, with the general public only allowed in while classes are occuring-and my target would be up in his fifth-floor, over-enrolled class, too public to target. How to get at him in transit between classes, in the chaos of individual conflicting paths.....





How should I approach this?
>[Designate whether a throwaway gun should be purchased (if so, name the cheap gun desired), or which of Almos Laine's firearms should be used for the near-miss shooting, from what distance, how, etc. and roll a d100 with the proposed plan for shot accuracy. A bad roll does not invalidate a great plan unless exceptionally atrocious.]
>>
No. 297703 ID: a5dbe5

>Wizard

>Scare him

USE A THROWAWAY. THe most nondescript, loud, messy peice of shit you can POSSIBLY find. That Rifle will only get you in DEEP shit, with how unique it is. Get something common - something normal. Use normal ammo. shoot from a place anyone would shoot from.

ENDEAVOR FOR GENERIC.

I don't know how scrying works, but fuuuuck.
>>
No. 297704 ID: a5dbe5

>>297703
>>
No. 297705 ID: a5dbe5

rolled 32 = 32

>>297704
>>
No. 297713 ID: 77a890

rolled 79 = 79

I say we get a good 150 meters away from where we're going to take the shot. Load our judge pistols with 000 buck and fire at him. he'll hear the bang and hear the lead hit stuff around him. On the one in a thousand chance we actually hit him, it's just going to leave a bad bruise at that range. Otherwise, just take any .22 magnum with a compensator (if we need specifics, then the ruger 10/22 in .22 magnum). Compensator reduces recoil while increasing volume. The volume of an m16 with the killing power of a BB gun if we get the right distance.
>>
No. 297741 ID: 0fb2ef

>>297713
I actual like this plan. Buckshot or loud-as-hell and weak-as-water seems like the best idea for now.

Anyway, we should tell the Triads about someone wanting their bum informant dead.
>>
No. 297744 ID: 28e94e

rolled 96 = 96

>>297701
Go buy a civilian Kalashnikov or SKS, whichever's cheaper. Get the shortest barrel possible, and remove any muzzle brakes that come with it. Mount a visible laser sight, this will help frighten him and prevent accidents. Also get a scope, do not use the one from your Mosin. Buy several dozen rounds of ammo. Scout out the area, find a place where you can easily get him alone. Next time he passes through that place, turn on your laser. Make it look like you're some amateur assassin. Fire your first shot within a few inches of his head. He'll get spooked. Quickly fire off the rest of the magazine at him while he's running to cover. If he doesn't run to cover, drop the gun and get the hell out of there.
>>
No. 297874 ID: 46c430

rolled 54, 38 = 92

Guys, great plans, but all have one problem: How do we get -into- the compound, and out, what with security systems and shit? I say, go with the throwaway gun deal, but try and make it so you're bringing it in disassembled, hidden, not in some duffle bag. Once you're in in class times, the only time it's open to the public, try to find a place to hide... The restrooms, a maintainence area, behind a dumpster or something... Hell. Maybe take an entire day just to scout out the place and see what the security is like. You're gonna have to catch him as he heads from the classrooms to the teacher dorms after class ends, so make sure you at least know the path between them so you can catch him on it. Last part is going to be escaping from the mess once panic breaks out, you're going to have to find a good place to hide the throwaway gun, maybe duck taped to the bottom of a dumpster or something. Point is, this shit is complicated.

However, there's another idea if security is too tight, simpler, safer... If a harder shot. He find a tall building we can snipe into campus from. We'll probably have to use Keihas or another rifle for the shot (And if we use Keihas, aim to wound or kill somebody near our target so it doesn't try to 'correct' our aim to kill him). It'd be a lot easier to get out since we wouldn't be in the middle of the panic, and there'd be no record or footage or witnesses of us in the campus, so I might maybe prefer this.

(First roll is for sneaking through the campus and shooting him on it, second is for sniping.)
>>
No. 297883 ID: a76809
File 130327714786.jpg - (428.20KB , 1991x600 , SKS for the job.jpg )
297883

Okay... plans here.

>>297703
>>297704
[PLANNED SHOT: 034/100]
I could try for hiding in plain sight-get some generic, loud, flashy piece of crap gun, use it as a throwaway for the purposefull miss. Has the bonus of just about guaranteeing the target knows he was almost killed, which is the mission parameter. The plan carries a few extra issues, however. How do I get past the full body pat-downs at the only gates to the enclosed facility? How do I stay outside of visiting hours given I know the place has enough guard staff to support regular patrols? ...I'll put it on the burner for now, too many issues to be workable. I continue shuffling through the dossier before me, looking for avenues of attack as I continue to swig at my mead-thank god for honest Norwegian style dining, but I have to wonder if there was any meaning to a russian maybe-spy to meet me here-all while simply continuing to think. Biggest lesson I learned as a Ranger-or I guess my own most standout thing-was how to look at a problem, REALLY look at it, and give yourself time to come up with the next best thing to the perfect plan.

>>297713
>>297741
[PLANNED SHOT: 079/100]
...Well, the university isn't THAT big, really-just four hundred meters across. I could find plenty of places to discretely hide in the open walkways, so heavily forested in an attempt at atmosphere. But, say, 000 buck at that range-SOMETHING will get through, sure-but at most the guy gets bruised, mission accomplished. I could be far enough away to not be spotted, find a place no camera covers-and escape in the confusion. I could, say, lob the gun over the wall before hand in some momentary footage gap as the camera's turn about, and claim it afterward. ...Of course, this relies on me finding a way to insure no camera covers the gun's landing and insure it does not land in some restricted area I can't access. This would take a considerable amount of time-but, given that, seems reasonably safe and sure. If I can't come up with anything better.... Something tugs at the back of my brain as I start shuffling papers again, starting my own tab with another of the pub-brewed mead and an order of stew-what can I say, I like hearty breakfasts and lunches, not dinners.

>>297744
[PLANNED SHOT: 096/100]
-Different approach: Don't even enter the compound. Stop worrying about how to deal with security guards, cameras, checkpoints, any of it. Shoot from outside. First problem is gun-Finnish Mosin Nagant's are relatively rare-the M28/30 more so than some of the others. What's worse, a supernatural gun fired onto the grounds of a Wizard? No idea what could happen, but I doubt it good. Solution's simple-the cash in my pocket from the Triads-

-Who I call in a quick realization, informing them of the pawnshop offering to kill one of their informants-I give a description of the 'Bum' the Pawnshop owner described. It takes all of three minutes for me to be talking to an aged voice that commands respect and authority that was referenced reverentially by the prior speaker. I end up having to repeat my story-and am asked how I knew the man was an informant. I retell the tale, well-practiced at resolutely maintaining story cohesion, and admit a combination of past experience with how informants were viewed from the outside, and a lucky intuitive leap. After a pause that makes me start to seriously consider moving in case I managed to piss off a local crime lord this fast-when I hear a chuckle, and am told that 'for making an old man laugh, I'll let you ask something for the information you provided. Unwilling to risk further at this point, my leap of faith having snowballed far faster than I expected, I hedge my bets and ask that they not reveal where they got the information just provided. Another pause, this one even longer-this time a speculative murmur, before I am told my request is acceptable-and that he would keep his eye on me with interest before hanging up.

[TRIAD CONNECTION OPENED]

As I put down my phone and chug the mead before me, wiping sweat from my brow, I shift my gears back into the problem at hand. ...Can't use Keihäs, but shooting from outside during a passing period, a break in class when he'd be exposed is too good to pass up. So, with a total of $5,217 to my name, I have this month's rent covered and room aplenty for a cheap rifle-and compelled by my own quirky tastes, of all cheap rifle options, I settle on the SKS. Mosin Nagant, SKS.... next a Kalashnikov, and I'll be on my way to a directed collection. I finish my stew in a hurry, hardly stopping to enjoy it, pay and leave, considering which contact would be best. I decide on a man that goes by 'Garbage Pete' who sells assorted weapons out of a dumpster. I am not kidding. Two hours and $350 dollars later, I have a hodgepodge SKS with polish, romanian and yugoslavian parts all mixed-all set on a Soviet Honor Guard stock, the white wood worn yet distinctive. I doubt Pete really knew what he had-but either way, I pick up a crate of 7.62x39mm for the franken-rifle, and head off.

FUNDS: $000,004,767

I spend an hour and a half looking about-and coming to some grim conclusions. The walls are too high, the angles too wrong for any shot below a sixth floor position to have a chance.

>>297874
[PLANNED SHOT 054/100, 038/100]
So clearly, I need a perch on some rooftop if I don't want to be noticed. Near some noisy ventilation systems would be perfect to obscure the sound of the SKS-so, at two PM, with classes only to continue for so much longer today, I set out, seeking a suitable perch up above.

It's 3:31 when I am finally situated atop a computing firm's roof-having gotten in with my patented hardhat/jumpsuit/tool-bag/clipboard, asking after 'A wiring issue' The receptionists buzzed me in, I used the stairs, cut the roof's locks after noting the considerable dust up near the top few steps, about as smooth as it realistically gets. I open the 'tool bag' and reassemble my newly purchased firearm.

It's 3:45 when class gets out-and the target starts wandering.

This is when I flick on my remounted laser-dot scope on frankenrifle, and oh-so-carefully walk the tiny dot out to dance about on the target's chest. It takes him five seconds to notice-

FIRST SHOT
(34+4) 38%
The first bullet goes a bit too wide, instead of chipping wood it embeds in dirt, hardly making any impact at all.
SECOND SHOT
(79+7) 88%
The second bullet tugs at his jacket's hem passing his midsection before chipping the stone pathway behind him.
THIRD SHOT
(96+9) 105%
The third shot nocks his glasses from his head, shattered bits of glass flying about his face as the bullet breaks the rim of an ornate fountain before stopping-the passing students only now starting to look about in confusion as my target begins to panic-time to wrap this up.
>[Moving toward new trait]
FOURTH AND FIFTH SHOT
(54+7) 61% (38+8) 46%
My last two shots aren't my best-mental state disturbed by the surprisingly good shot, maybe-but they don't need to be-with him frazzled and already having been brushed by bullets twice, having watched the red dot roving, the paired cracks from the stone pavement before him, sharp clamor to bring him back to his senses, the target seems to realize what is happening-before running through the crowd, pushing students aside or away without concern or hesitation as he flees.






So, should I keep shooting at him, or pack up and go?
What am I going to tell my Russian contact?
Once I have the money, do I want to actively start seeking another job, or use some of my funds to pursue self-improvement or some new equipment?
>>
No. 297884 ID: a5dbe5

Let's get the FUCK out of here. Be calm, though: Act like NOTHING happened involving you. Leave the scene calmly, as if you did nothing, and people will generally think the same.
>>
No. 297889 ID: c1a7d2

You were supposed to miss the target. You missed the HELL out of his ass. Thus, boogie time, but keep it casual. And conceal that gun, strip it down and pocket the pieces, whatever, just do it before you leave.
>>
No. 297890 ID: 46c430

Beautiful. He's panicking, and people only vaguely know that something is wrong. Pack up and go, shooting more isn't going to make him more scared than he already is, all it could do is hurt or kill students wandering around, and that will just bring down heat on your head without any gain. This has gone about as good you could get, so leave. Tell the maybe KGB the target seemed sufficiently 'impressed' by your shooting, collect your money, and go. Destroy the franken-rifle as completely as possible and ditch whatever remains are left down the deepest darkest hole you can find, we don't want the bullets and gun magically traced back to you, what with wizards and stuff.

As for what to do next... Hmm... I say go for self-improvement with the cash. We're pretty good for guns, as we arn't about to go hunting supernatural nasties, and we probably can't get our hands on military-spec stuff like frags and flashbangs, so focus on working out or something, we've done what jobs we've taken pretty well, and may be starting to get into the good graces of the Triads, so we'll likely be getting more jobs soon enough.
>>
No. 297919 ID: 0fb2ef

>>297890
What? Hell no. Franken-Rifle is cool, it's a start of our collection, and with that collection of parts I want to have it looked at by anyone we know who can identify magical powers. Söderström, I'm thinking. We can ask about the Mere when we chat, too.

Anyway, pack away the Franken-Rifle just like you brought it in. Leave, calmly, and tell the receptionist, or whoever it is that you talked to when you came in, that the wiring checks out. Question: how did we cut the roof’s locks? But, we should try and learn lock picking so we don’t have to cut locks again.
Then, go to the WannaKGB and tell him the job is done.
>>
No. 297930 ID: c1a7d2

Supplemental entry:
Two jobs in the bag, time to go quiet for a bit and let things calm down before hitting the field again.

Do some running to work on your speed, find an underground fight club to brawl in and thus further improve your close-combat skill and general endurance, do some target practice with conventional firearms to work on your unenhanced accuracy. All viable improvement options.

Equipment-wise, see if your new KGBuddies can get an S-40 suppressor for your Mosin (and goddamn are those hard to find any info on, sheesh), plus for closer work, either a Nagant M1985 revolver with a suppressor (and bullets, of course) or preferably an OTs-38 Stechkin and some SP-4 ammo to go with it.
>>
No. 297931 ID: 0fb2ef

>>297930
Do we really want to go stealth yet? Two Taurus Raging Judge that we can get some Dragon Breath in are gonna be enders in close combat, so do we really need to get a very nice silence pistol?
>>
No. 297933 ID: 28e94e
File 130331906993.jpg - (392.48KB , 1600x1061 , L-35.jpg )
297933

>>297930
only one choice
>>
No. 297935 ID: c1a7d2

>>297931
Flexibility is never a bad thing.
>>
No. 297937 ID: 0fb2ef

>>297935
True. Maybe we could find silencers for our shotguns?
>>
No. 297966 ID: 77a890

I for one say we ditch the sks. If we need a semi auto, let's get an svt-40. Uses the same cartridges as our mosin and also feeds from stripper clips, so we only need to worry about one kind of ammo. If we want a silenced weapon, let's get something already threaded. we don't want to ruin our mosin by tapping threads in the barrel.

I vote either a silenced nagant revolver or a VSS for overpriced 9mm goodness.

as for what to do right now, I say leave the sks there or deploy the bayonet and throw it off the roof. Get out of here as quick ass possible, then lay low for a few days before moving on to another mission.
>>
No. 297979 ID: a76809
File 130335207580.jpg - (16.72KB , 740x187 , SVT 40.jpg )
297979

[Rooftop lock was cut with bolt cutters.]

>>297884
I stay still, keeping my heart rate down as I move away from the edge and the fans, waiting for my hearing to come back.

>>297889
>>297890
>>297966
Well, I'd call that a mission accomplished. I busy myself unloading and disassembling the SKS frankenrifle, packing it away in my toolbag-all the while eyeing the door-everything seems fine still. So, I slip back into my handy-man demeanor and head back inside. I work my way down several flights of stairs before finding a doorway I can't hear anything on the other side of. I open the door like I belong, cap tilted and head down as I proceed along the empty hallway-and like with every floor, the elevator's just to the right of the stairs. I call the only unnoccupied of the five different options, board and ride solo to the first floor entrance, thinking of my next step long before arrival.

The doors open to the normal bustle, no screaming mobs worried about gunners-the vents did their job and seemed to drown everything out, excellent. I check in at the front desk, the same receptionist smiling in recognition.

>"Yes, can I help you again?"
"Turns out the issue was a whole lot simpler than they thought-already fixed, so heading on to my next job."
>"Excellent-have a nice day, bye now!"

Just like that, I walk outside, none save my target aware I was just firing a rifle minutes ago. I stroll along my way, a man unconcerned with heavy issues, slipping into the mannerisms I built for my 'Chuck' persona as I weave my way several miles distance from the scene-before ducking into an alleyway. I start dumping the dissassembled parts of the SKS, Societ Honor Guard stock and all, into the assortment of garbage bins available only after assuring myself the earlier cleaning I gave each piece was sufficient to remove my fingerprints. Then I start pulling the padding material of the tool bag out, and change.

Ten minutes later I'm back in street-casual clothes, jeans boots and a t-shirt with the inside-out tool bag now appearing a workout duffel bag, hardhat and toolbelt stowed away. Ditching the rifle saved up space, and only NOW do I start making my way back to the cafe, calling the Russian contact number-

>"Da, we know why you are calling-the job is satisfactory. Meet at the same place-we shall be waiting."

Straightforward-always liked that. Plus one for the Ruskies. It takes me somewhere around an hour to get back to the little eatery-might as well read the sign's name this time... huh, 'Pitstop to Valhalla'.... why'd they put it in English?

I am distracted by the man in a suit with a popped collar, hat and aviator shades-more specifically, the fat wad I see before him. He sees my approach-and tips his head at the packet. I swipe it as I walk by him, on my way to the bar, where I spend an hour or so just mulling over what I just did. Yes, I have killed people before, seen freakish things before-and yes, I even enjoy the thought of killing someone on one level or another-but committing major felonies? For some reason this is leaving a sour taste in my mouth, and I have to admit I'm not sure why-I've never held the law in particularly high regard....

Too distracting. I call Söderström, addressing an entirely different concern in the back of my mind.

"Hey Arkvad, how are you?"
>"Quite well my fine friend's son-I am somewhat busy at the moment, so could you clarify if this is business or otherwise? I am on the clock, as it were."
"Well, it might. Let me rephrase-I intend to do business with you, but have some questions first to clarify the sort of business."
>That should be quite acceptable for my higher-ups. So, what can I do for you?"
"First, a question about the less mundane side of rifles-and it does not concern Keihäs."
>"I trust you are calling from a secure location?"

Woops.

"I am."
>"Good-so?"
"Well, I had this SKS made from all sorts of different parts...." I tell him about the two of five shots far better than they should be, both too accurate given the range for the rifle used, one of the shots absolutely ludicrous in precision. He asks a few very minor questions, and without revealing the nature of what I was doing he seems to nevertheless find the data he needs.
>"To be perfectly frank I can't be sure, but my gut tells me that was indeed a supernatural weapon on some level. I would suspect the stock to have been the source-woods take magic more easily than metal, and given it was from the Soviet Honor Guard model, it was likely some particular Russian soldier that unwittingly gave it power over several years. Couldn't go farther without seeing it, but given how you described it, it sounded like some goal-orientation augment. Might be worth a fair amount even as a part."

I decide to make a trip back to my weapon stowage sight-I forgot to check if I left footprints on the ground-and on reflection I did not wide down the garbage lid edges, so I may have left viable fingerprints..I tune back to Söderström just as I realize leaving the stock there may make me look like I know nothing of the supernatural to some of my potential pursuers.

"-n point of fact. Well the next question-or was the 'business' next?"
"I was wondering if you could lay hands on an SVT-40-specifically one of the sniper variants. I'm looking for one with some history to it-and if that history is felt in a way the gun could be machined to fix it's first shot accuracy issues, or said history addresses it, that would be great."
>...A specific order. As it happens I know of an SVT fanatic in Turkey-I've bartered with him before-and I know that while HE doesn't know much of the supernatural, he nevertheless has pieces so inclined. Actually.... how much are you willing to drop for this gun?"
"Let's say no more than two-I mean if they guy doesn't know-"
>"Perhaps I did not make myself clear-he is OBSESSIVE about collecting them, and will not part company with them for a trifle, especially the rarer ones."
"Even so it was a fairly widely made rifle, it shouldn't cost THAT much-"
>No but if I do not add the appropriate mark-up acting as Holland & Holland's middleman to this transaction, then the deal, quite simply, cannot happen."
"Fine-four, surely you can squeeze a commission out of that."
>Not as much as my bosses would like, but for you-fine. I'll call you back in a few minutes."

Without further fanfare, Söderström hangs up, and I am left to finish my last remnants of mead before I pay my tab, and head back out, thankful no rowdy events could occur to give away my location to Söderström. ...Note to self-any time I am calling about magic stuff to Söderström, call from a secure location.

I make it nine blocks on the way back to the weapon stash point before my phone rings again.

"Almas? Are you alone?"
"A moment.... yes?"
"I have found something largely like your request-in fact, a bit TOO much like your request."
"Explain."
>...I am mandated to add markups based on the nature of the enchantment, and I was able to procure one I had identified before-specifically, an SVT 40 sniper variant that was reworked into a functioning AVT 40 , complete with one twenty round clip. A prior owner has also re-machined a great many parts-recently, within the last decade as I understand it, the prior owner, and the first-shot accuracy issues, the barrel shifting, the scope's poor mounting-all of it has been maximally resolved."
"So a heavily customized rifle that had exactly what I asked for and more on top, AND has a trick worth an extra markup-so, what can this AVT-40 Sniper rifle do, then?"
>"I don't know the story yet of where it came from-but it matches with previously seen magic-you start a clip on full automatic, all bullets will be compelled to attempt to follow the first shot, and can shift a few degrees in trajectory per hundred feet or so."
"...Where is the magic held?"
>"Stock and cartridge both."
"...So..."
>"Twenty five thousand."
"Are you joking?"
>I told you the price had to go up."
"....Hm."
>"Yes?"
"What could be knocked off for that rifle's stock-the SKS honor guard stock?"
>"...Hold on... HAH, I can classify that as a 'presumed magic acquisition with an informed seller'-I can knock ten off the price for that-but I can't get it any lower, even for you kid."
"...Okay, let's talk payment options."
>"Oh come on Almas-"
"Look, as asininely false as it sounds, I have some rather big jobs coming my way shortly-and this moment, I could cover at least a third-but I'll need a couple weeks-"
>"Let me be clear here-I can stall the order for two weeks, 14 days exactly, and not incur any issues. This, I can do for you. But if you say two weeks and mean a month or more, no rifle will be waiting for you-I will be required to attempt a sale, and know several others who would buy this."
"Since I'll have the money before two weeks is up, I don't mind.:"
>"Then I look forward to your call-perhaps by then I shall have more on the history of this... AVT 40 Sniper, as you named it."
"Until later."

I hang up and walk the last few blocks to the garbage bins, confirm there was no moisture or muck to leave footprints in, and claim the stock before wiping down each garbage lid to be sure my prints are absent. My bag only minorly bulked out by the extra object, I decide to catch a city bus-twenty minutes later I am back at my apartment. The handyman disguise kit goes back into my closet, and I add the 3 grand to my safe.

FUNDS: $000,007,767

After packing away every possible suspicious item (except my mere pounamu) and once more changing, this time sporting a canvas jacket, I hit the phonebook, check online, and set out for a jog. I reach an established MMA gym with some decent reputation in the area-Constanz' Crash Course, what a name....

I get some introductions, and meet some people my gut tells me could lead me to underground fighting-if I was a student and spent a few days getting pally with them. Then again, might not pan out, and enrolling costs money, so I'd need to do even more work to get up my funds...

Well, my plans seem to have changed quite a bit since that talk with Arkvad. I call the Triad contact number, learning they have no work available for me at the moment-but am told I will now be called the very next time they have a job they could use me on. I call the russian contact number-which has been disconnected, wonderful. So I resort to spending the night putting out feelers, looking for jobs, and sleep on it.

Morning rolls around and I check my mail-only one job response.

-A Mr. Angiluzzo Castelletti, who owns a bar chain based here in Istanbul, wants a shooter-he wants a Mr. Barby and three associates of his killed. He notes that while all four will be armed, all will be together, and in a place away from public attention. Coupled with their criminal association, my only worry is killing them, he says-and he offers a cool $10,000 for my trouble.


Hm......


What should I do?



Should I accept Mr. Castelletti's job offer?
As I wait for more jobs offers to come in, what should I do with my time-or should I keep looking for jobs to expedite the process?
Should I join Constanz' Crash Course gym, in the hopes of getting in touch with some underground fighting rings? (Membership increases monthly living expenses from $2,000 to $2,250)
>>
No. 297980 ID: a5dbe5

No on the Gym.

YES on the job. Man, that would almost take care of the cost of the gun all on its own. Find a nice sniping location, pop pop pop.
>>
No. 297991 ID: 46c430

Hrmm... Guy's name sounds italian. Maybe mafia? Well, seems pretty simple... Might be able to snipe them as well, and lucky us, we get to use Keihas. I say take the job. And scout out the meeting location too, try to find good spot to be shooting from, we've got time to prepare and no reason not to do so.

...'course... Ok, they're offering us 10k for killing for guys, but some pawnshop owner offered us 8k to kill some bum? That sounds wrong... Sounds like bad juju, price is too high for the job, might be magic shit involved in this. And bad thing is, we TOLD THE TRIADS, so the pawnshop owner might figure out we ratted on him, get mad... And for all we know it's a damn magic shop. Ah, fuck.

Ok... We just gotta move on here I think, nothing to do about it now except be careful. I suppose join the gym, yeah, if it doesn't pan out, oh well, it's not like it costs a -ton- of money.
>>
No. 297992 ID: c1a7d2

Check into Castelletti's marks if nothing else, make sure they're not associated with any large groups if you can get some history on the guys. Also might be worth getting a month's membership to the club, isn't that much of a loss if it doesn't pan out.
>>
No. 297996 ID: 903f16

>>297979
The Castelletti job sounds good, pick it up and get the details of their location. I'd be more comfortable ironing out a plan when we know where these guys are holed up. Until then let's sign up for that gym and try to work our way into the underground. Even if we can't we'll be able to stay fit and try to improve our hand to hand abilities by taking classes. Aside from that we could try to hit the local library, maybe do some digging around to find nearby locations where particularly grisly events have occurred and try to collect materials to create weapons. Either that or see if there are any holy relics lying about local places of worship, maybe we can nick one.
>>
No. 298004 ID: a5dbe5

>>297996
>Stealing from the Church

No.
>>
No. 298008 ID: 75950c

>>297996
>Stealing from the Church

YES!
>>
No. 298009 ID: 903f16

>>298004
Yes, unless the church in this setting is as absurdly powerful as you seem to think it is and they can track our every move and thought. I didn't even specifically mention the christian church either, any place of worship would do. A mosque, synagogue, or Hindu temple would probably just as likely have what we need. I'm thinking we either find some small things like very old rosaries or a page pointer from a torah, that or a little shaving from something large that no one will notice, like some iron shavings from an old church bell.
>>
No. 298010 ID: ee1442

If we're thinking of weapons, let's go get a few swords.

Durendal, Curtana, and Joyeuse, to be exact. Then we forge them into a gun. Stock of Joyeuse, Barrel of Durendal, and trigger of Curtana.
>>
No. 298015 ID: 77a890

>>297996
I like this idea


I think we should accept the offer from Castelletti, and go check out the location first. Make sure we can find a good, concealed position and research to make sure none of the people we're shooting at are wizards or supersoldiers or something.

Also, does keihas have a scope? if we're using the iron sights I'd be curious to experiment with the range. The sights should go out to 35 arshins (like 2.5 kilometers) and I'd like to know if this thing's bloodlust will make it accurate to some stupid distance.
>>
No. 298048 ID: 0fb2ef

>>298009
Vatican Vault. That is why we don’t screw with The Church.
Personally, I would suggest not screwing with any religious organization – they’re some of the oldest groups, would likely be the best around to deal with supernatural threats, and would likely not look favorable to thieves. If we deal with churches, we should go and ask if they need any ‘help’ and see if we can get any old artifacts.

Other then that, yes we need to check up on these guys we’re being paid to kill. If they’re related to the Triads or the WannaKGB, I suggest we contact them about it. I really don’t want to play one side against the other, at least not yet. And, as a mercenary, we can cultivate the fact that we don’t fuck around with ex-employees and that we are not just loyal to the next big check.

As for the Gym and other self-upgrades, I say go with the Gym. It doesn’t matter if we actually get into an underground fight, just training is good. Keeps you on your toes, and lets you work on something that you hope a fight should degrade into – a fist fight. Other then the Gym, I suggest practicing lock picking, some stamina training, and some practicing firing. I’m worried about using bolt cutters, and cutting the lock coming back to us.
>>
No. 298049 ID: 28e94e

>>297979
Take the job. It's fairly easy and it gives you enough money to afford the gun.

>>297996
Stealing from a church will draw way too much attention. We do NOT want any religious organizations on our ass. No.
>>
No. 298113 ID: a6ba65

> Should I join Constanz' Crash Course gym, in the hopes of getting in touch with some underground fighting rings?
Plyometrics can be good for your reflexes and fast-twitch muscle groups: all the better for running away if some supernatural beastie gets within arms' reach of you. Good for the quick-draw, too, not that I expect to be doing pistols at 20 paces with anybody.

I say go for it.

>Stealing from the Church
How much of the legends are true? If we run into something from the Other side, do they have specific weaknesses, such as holy relics? Never hurts to be prepared, and all that.
>>
No. 298196 ID: a76809
File 130345286174.jpg - (192.35KB , 1024x685 , Target Special Armament Mateba Model 6 Unica Autor.jpg )
298196

>>297980
The gym.... the thought of losing money with no guaranteed returns is enough to put me off the idea-while I find the offered job sounding pretty doable. A secure location to snipe from, Keihäs in hand with the scope re-attached (and the laser deactivated, obviously)-this job could be very simple indeed-if I put the time in to make it so.

>>297991
Ten grand for four very likely well-armed criminals-versus eight for offing a bum. Why? The numbers just don't fit right to me-so I get to pondering. Why would the bum be worth so much, Triad informant or no? The eight couldn't ALL be to cover the likely backlash one might feel from the Triads if identified in the act-and the rumors I have heard of this Pawnshop owner, the originator of that job, are not at all 'good'. He is not so much respected as viewed as a danger that must be catered to-which sounds suspiciously like something unnatural, to be simultaneously viewed as threat and irremovable feature of the area. Could very well be from the Other side of things-which means the fact I told the Triads could still come back to bite me a lot harder than it normally could.

>[Progress made towards new trait]

...Maybe I should join the gym, wouldn't hurt to get more fit if I put in a few hours a day to keep myself as fit as possible-tuning myself as I do my arsenal. A lesson I remember well.

>>297992
>>297996
>>298015
I go with my gut and take the Castelleti job, and ten minutes afterwards I am given a street address, a location to meet and discuss the job. I put on my heavier leather jacket only after strapping on both of my holdout rigs, each Judge secured and fully loaded. Keihäs goes in the faux-guitar case carrier, and away I go.

On my walk to the meet I consider where I might find easy access to baseline magical materials-I know how to carve wood, I can field strip and re-assemble most firearms and ready access to a multitude of parts and gunsmiths. First thought that comes to mind is churches-or more broadly 'religiously associated sites and buildings.' Stolen crucifixes, the aged copy of the Torah, the wood of a carving of Odin-all sorts of things could be most useful.

>>298004
-But stealing from churches?

>>298008
>>298009
I mean yeah I could take really minor things-shavings from a church bell, pointers from holy books, a collection of prayer beads... I could probably avoid just about any notice, not even let on that theft is happening by spreading myself widely over multiple faiths and taking so little......

>>298048
>>298049
But really there is still way too much I do not know, including which legends concerning religious followings are true, or have some glimmer therein. The Vatican Vaults-the involved Dieties-too many ways that could go very wrong-not to mention my public image if I am witnessed-I can't imagine most anyone would care to do business with someone that steals from churches. ...Eh, for now, seems like that might not be the best idea.

I reach the meeting point-surprise surprise, an Italian restaurant-one of Mr. Castelletti's, big surprise. I case the place walking its perimeter at a distance... yep, DEFINITELY a crime outlet-so my suspicion Mr. Castelletti is an officer in the Mafia seems just about guaranteed accurate. The place has twenty guys in suits just standing-not sipping drinks, or having a meal-just standing, patrolling, being active. Sure they talk with the diners-but all the diners seem quite well known, leading me to believe many of their number could be members as well. Well, a job's a job, and ten grand is most certainly ten grand.

So I walk into the joint, am rather quickly accosted by six guys all around my size-

>"Nah, leave it, I think he's fine-ain't that right, Al?"
...A New Yorker's accent? I look past the withdrawing would-be foes to an overweight man in a white suit, florid olive skin offset by a darkly colored, open-collared Hawaiian shirt. A mildly receding hairline is faced with gusto, hair still relentlessly oiled and slicked back. The bordering on obese man is seated at a table that quickly vacates-three lobsters before him, one nearly finished. He beckons to me, and I walk in.

>"Why don't you have a seat."

I glance around, and do the only logical thing-I have a seat.

>"Now, I just want to start by saying that we let ya keep your guns, not so much as a sign of trust, but a sign that we assume you to not be stupid. More guns than you have hands are trained on your head right now, so, eh, no funny moves, alright? Heh, well, since you ain't dumb, I'll get to the point. Mr. Barby-he's a fuck that has tied up my opening of three more branches, reports me to public census-really, a little shit that don't know when to stop. Now see, if I or my friends here go after him, boo hoo we have a turf war, more people get involved, more people die-not good for either side, and my own bosses won't be too happy either. So I'd like to avoid that."
"This being where I come in."
>"At least you can follow along. Okay, so Mr. Barby himself? Met him severat times, he's no kung fu yahoo or some gun expert-just expect competency and frailty together and you've pretty much nailed him. His number two-[i]"

On the heels of a picture of a wizened old man I presume to be Mr. Barby, a grainer photo is offered of a sharp-jawed man with muttonchops and wire-rimmed shades.

>"[i]Goes by O'Connor-think like one of those personal assistants, an assistant manager and a bodyguard all rolled into one. Was in the IRA, real good with explosives and shotguns. Has a bum right knee, so he can't turn or scoot his butt that fast. The other two-
"

A pair of photographs are offered together-and at first I think them duplicates. Both are burly, blond-haired ruffians.

>"These chucklefucks here are Lachlan and Tyson, two Australians that are really just there to be muscle. Each one carries a machete and sure as shit knows how to use it-and both happen to love Italian weaponry. And being twins, between the two of them they pack four Matebas-"
"Specifically the Mateba Model 6 Unica Autorevolver?"
>"...Hn, know your guns don't ya kid? Well then a tip-they go for .454 Casull rounds and are damn good shots-"
"They mount scopes on their pistols?"
>"Yup. Both of them, actually-one pistol gets a nightvison scope, one a thermal."
"Assholes-definitely going to shoot them first-you aren't going to make some claim on their guns, right? I could definitely go for some Matebas, especially with the company gone."
>"Heh-all right kid, loot to your heart's content there-I just need all four gone, capische?"
"How will you know when the job is done?"
>"I get updates on that fuck Barby every few hours-I'll know shortly when he's offed."
"Is there a timeframe I must operate under in this job?"
>Nah, just the general 'sooner the better'."
"You have dossiers on the targets?"
>"I don't-Joey there by the door does. You can pick them up on your way out. Mostly just an address and general times he goes where, that sort of thing."

Mr. Castelletti starts to wave me away and stops, an eyebrow quirking as he wipes his lips, takes a hearty swallow of wine, and eyeballs my guitar case. A slow grin spreads over his face as the seconds pass.

>"...Okay, another point in your favor. Be interested to see how you settle in here Al-I imagine I could use a guy like you if you don't get yourself killed, eh? Alright, now scram."

I get up and go, collecting the thin mannilla envelope on my way out-and find myself returning to the Pitstop to Valhalla, happy to once more sample its mead as I pour over the documents. Spend most of their time in a seedy pub that isn't off any major streets, have to go down an alleyway to access it, two story building with a single basement level. Always travel together outside the bar. Know all bar patrons and are suspicious of outsiders. Bar itself is unconnected to any criminal organization, and is run by someone who keeps his head down. Hmm......




What am I looking for here:
-A way I can make an extreme range, sniping oriented kill (Hardest shot, lose looting options, lowest personal risk)? If so what kind of plans am I looking to make?
-A way to take them out at mid range, from across a street or some such (Looting is possible but time consuming, increased personal risk, medium difficulty shot)? If so how would I want to set up such an exchange?
-An up-close ambush type event where I try to take them down as fast as possible (Easiest looting, easiest shot, highest personal risk)? If so how would I want to approach it?
>Whichever option is picked, roll a 1d100 for every plan you propose.
>>
No. 298199 ID: 77a890

rolled 93, 59 = 152

If we can get those matebas from the bodies and sell them we've basically doubled the earning from this mission. OTOH, getting up close and greedy could get us killed. If we can find a grenade or even a flashbang (maybe tear gas + mask) then we could try the up close fight for easy looting, otherwise let's keep our distance and keep it clean with a long range shot.

First roll is for finding grenades, second is for actual plan execution (same roll for range and close up depending on if we get nades)
>>
No. 298208 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 71 = 71

>>298199
Oh hells yes.
>>
No. 298212 ID: a5dbe5

rolled 79, 19, 88, 67 = 253

You work best at midrange - distance. I want those fucking handguns. We need a midrange - closing - melee weapon, AND THOSE SCOPES, holy fuck, thermal and night vision?

Needless to say, off Barby first, then the blondes. If we're lucky, you'll get Mr. Thermal first. Strike during the bright day so ONE of the scopes is useless.

Last is O'connor, who has sadly chosen a weapon that favours closer ranges while having a bum knee. He is last because of this - but DO NOT discount the fact that he may not use simple shot. Shotguns are awesome in that way - lots of different shit you can stuff in those tubes.

You'll want, for the BEST possible scenario:

1: middle of the day.

2: a concealed firing location that is hard to reach.

3: distant enough to force them to move before they shoot.

4: an escape route.

Remember these things as you check the dossier.

1d100 for each part of the plan.
>>
No. 298213 ID: a6ba65

rolled 10 = 10

The .454 Casull is a kind of heavy-duty magnum round, isn't it? Those plus machetes does not make me want to get up close with these guys.

Mid-range is my preference. The alleyway seems the best place to take them, no need to shoot up a perfectly good bar. Find a good place to shoot from, a rooftop or second story, maybe a fire escape. I'm leaning towards the roof looking down at the alley, if there's a fire escape handy. Decent cover, and a quick way to get down there and snag the loot if things go well.

People so rarely look up.

First bullet is for the target. If we have to, we can bug out after that. As much as I want those guns, they're the bonus. The 10k and the rep with Castelletti is the main thing.

Still, if it looks like they don't pick us out immediately, try to take them down with accurate rifle fire.
>>
No. 298216 ID: 77a890

rolled 54 = 54

oh, idea. If we attack mid day as was said, the night vision scopes are garbage. Depending on how warm it gets, if we wait for a hot day and put a blanket over ourselves we can hide from the infrared once we set in for a while. Works for peasants fighting apache helicopters in iraq, should work against some gangsters.

(rolling to see if the thermals can track us if we do long range shooting with this idea)
>>
No. 298230 ID: 28e94e

rolled 55 = 55

>>298196
Now just think how much easier this would be if we hadn't disposed of that SKS

Anyway, the easiest way to do this is to take out the two bodyguards from some nearby concealment. Use the blanket trick mentioned earlier, or just stand near a bunch of ventilation ducts. Don't worry about the night scope, as long as you stay in your cover you shouldn't be spotted. Once those two are dead, locate the third bodyguard and make sure he won't be a problem (if you don't know where he is, don't attack or there's a good chance you'll be ambushed). Once the final bodyguard is neutralized, take your new sidearm and blow his brains out.
>>
No. 298243 ID: a9629e

rolled 39 = 39

Eh, given everyone else this isn't going to happen, but I say we set-up in the alley. Get some baggy rags, soak them in a bit of cheap alcohol and stain them up a bit. Dress up as a bum, set-up next to a dumpster in the alley, tape Keihäs behind the dumpster when no-ones looking, keep the guitar-case open and filled with a little cash and coins, and then when they pass by and have their backs to us, take out Keihäs and shoot them.
>>
No. 298244 ID: a9629e

rolled 91 = 91

Eh, given everyone else this isn't going to happen, but I say we set-up in the alley. Get some baggy rags, soak them in a bit of cheap alcohol and stain them up a bit. Dress up as a bum, set-up next to a dumpster in the alley, tape Keihäs behind the dumpster when no-ones looking, keep the guitar-case open and filled with a little cash and coins, and then when they pass by and have their backs to us, take out Keihäs and shoot them.
>>
No. 298245 ID: 0fb2ef

rolled 33, 98, 12 = 143

Just a thought, but do you have any police contacts? We could shoot from the farthest, and have our police contact wrap up the weapons and money they have for ‘a grieving relative’ – i.e. us.

That said, I want to go over the connections that Mr. Barby has to the underground – possibly talk to the Triads over this. Mostly find out what the fallout will be when we kill him, and just how did he get an IRA member as his number two?

Rolls: Getting contact that can loot for us, hopefully police contact. Taking the farthest shot. Finding out about Mr. Barby’s history and what killing him will do.
>>
No. 298251 ID: c1a7d2

rolled 72 = 72

>>298244
Funny thing, I was thinking about something like this myself. However mine was more along the line of acting like a passed-out hobo with a case of cheap beer close at hand, with a few empties spilled and scattered about. Wait for targets to emerge and take a flashbang out of the beer case (provided one can be obtained), toss it at their backs and then make drunken shouting to make sure they're looking in the stun grenade's direction (making sure to keep our own eyes covered of course), and then when it pops they'll be primed for a bit of point-blank Judge-ment, heh.
>>
No. 298252 ID: 46c430

>>298245
Eh, be careful of doing this, it might give the Triads or somebody else dirt on us. And just in case, if we're doing close-middling range, wear a balaclava just in case one guy sees us and escapes, we're pretty recognizable.
>>
No. 298380 ID: 903f16

>>298243
>>298244
>>298251
Seconding this plan.
>>
No. 298464 ID: a76809
File 130353437644.jpg - (11.16KB , 451x175 , Extra Loot AA-12.jpg )
298464

>>298199
>>298208
[PLANNED SHOT 093/100, 059/100, 071/100]

The Matebas... expensive pieces, those. ...In point of fact if I am reading this report correctly, these two sport excessively modified ones at that. I start putting together reports of use and projected analysis, combining the guesswork in the reports with my knowledge of firearms, and come up with my own list of highly probably modifications to these Italian hunting pistols.

-There is either some sort of spring loaded plate that pushes forward, or the cylinder is repositioned in firing, or some such, for somehow the chamber is sealing air-tight at the time of firing. ...Aha, multiple reports noting the cylinder's front to be angled-something vaguely like the Nagant M1895's system, if I'm not off the mark.
-Considerable bodywork to the barrels has allowed suppressors to be coupled to the guns for markedly reduced muzzle flash and audibility of shot-between these two modifications the massive autorevolvers become far more viable in an urban setting.
-The recoil rail systems for the Mateba's look different from stock ones, but I can't put my finger on why-ah, it seems Mr. Castelletti's analyst figured it out-they have been modified to allow a marginally larger recoil range along the system.
-The grips have been completely retooled, now far closer in appearance to modern rubber grips with contours to guide each finger's position for maximum grip. While there are wood panels, most of the grip is vulcanized rubber, designed to absorb more shock.
-The autorevolution system itself has been modified in some manner to allow a higher rate of fire-all six shots can be spent in something under a second-the reports don't give an exact range, but still.

....So to sum it up, thanks to extensive alterations that represent years of work by experts at their craft and a considerable investment on the parts of their owners (and this being for ALL FOUR guns, mind you), they are effectively silenced assault rifles with a small clip.

With modifications like what I'm reading, I'd figure each gun to be worth around twelve, thirteen thousand dollars, including base price and all the changes-with a potential sale price in the realm of six to eight thousand dollars, if my gut's leading me the right way on this. And that's not even accounting for multi-thousand dollar scopes that need the most rugged mounting system to not get shaken loose on that shifting barrel. ...I could get a pretty penny for those-

And I could also get killed by them.

...O'connor and Mr. Barby are not noted to have any particularly noteworthy firearms in use, both noted to alternate what they use periodically-unlike the twins. Well, only four excessively lethal weapons to worry about then-wonderful. Well, my approach to this is somewhat limited if I want to claim those guns-which I VERY much so desire. Sniping is out of the question-so how do I make sure that I can shoot all four people before they can shoot at me in a close to mid-range gunfight?

Surprise, obviously.

First thought is flashbangs. ...Garbage Pete won't have that, he's only got old guns..... but Bagatur Yilmaz happens to sell explosives-and 'explosives related materials', such as flash-bangs. I call him-ten minutes later I'm pushing open his front door.

So nice to have a local munitions dealer-who would have thought Istanbul could be so accomodating?

>"So! Is wanting not-kill grenade, one that blinds, yes?"
"..Yes, I do want Flash-bangs."
>"How many?"
"I only need one-"
>"Sold in multiples of three."
"Three it is."
>"Five hundred."

I pay it, get my trio of purchases, and am on my way. I don't negotiate with Bagatur-I don't even attempt it. Thought no longer crosses my mind, really. Unlike most, he sets a price-and you either pay it or get the hell out. The fact he sets fairly reasonable prices keeps me coming back-

That and I have no other contacts yet beside Garbage Pete and Mr. Söderström, but hell if I'll ever tell him that.

The trio stowed in my guitar case, I consider what else I could work into my building plan besides 'throw a flashbang, ambush and hope I kill them all first'. Hm.....

>>298212
[PLANNED SHOT 079/100]
Well, there's the obvious 'attack during the day' to make half those scopes completely useless, just on the off-chance I DON'T drop them all before they get their bearings. Beyond that, as to an actual change to the plan-I need a concealed firing location, even with the flashbang-make what was just a probable ambush into a damn-near certainty. Now, how could I be hidden, stay in throwing range for a flash-bang, and get, say, a good shot from their flanks or back or summat at conflict outset?

>>298213
[PLANNED SHOT 010/100]
I could shoot from above-who looks up? ....Ah, but I have to drop the Flash Bang straight down-it wouldn't be hard to figure where it came from. And getting down a clunky fire escape to get at the loot....Okay, idea doesn't work.
[PLAN SCRATCH]
...How about-

>>298216
[054/100]
Middle of the day-could be reasonably warm. If I throw a blanket or mat over myself, I could, given some time, just blend into the surroundings even to the thermal scopes-would make me rather exceptionally hard to find with a good hiding place.

>>298230
[Plan doesn't work as the quartet does not seperate.]

>>298243
>>298244
[PLANNED SHOT (39+91)/2=065/100]
...Maybe I'm over thinking this. I have a way to drape myself in a blanket, stay so close I could hear them talk, and STILL not be noticed. Dumpsters along the alleyway-I could get some rags, soak them in cheap booze, and prop open my guitar case with some spare change in it-just blend in as one of the street's many bums. Wait for them to pass by, lob the flash-bang over their heads, and shoot them at close range in the back while they are blinded and dazed.

>>298245
>Contact roll: 038 FAIL
>Long range plan unviable
>Info roll: 012

I shuffle through the papers, looking for clues as to why someone described as unconnected would have such well-armed bodyguards as the Australians. I see no trave of them owing him a debt, or fanatical followers or any such thing. I am left with a mystery.

>>298251
>>298380
[PLANNED SHOT 072/100]
...No, leaving a guitar case open attracts attention-where is my guitar? Why does a bum have a decent-condition guitar case? If I am to reek of booze, may as well leave some empty bottles around myself and fake a drunken stupor. Further lowers chances people will pay attention to me-I could even hide the flashbangs in an six-pack.

Just as I return home from Bagatur's, I find my plan no longer lacking, and begin to gather the rest of my supplies-already knowing the mission will have to happen tomorrow. I need to assemble an appropriate disguise and find an acceptable blanket for my use, I need to ingrain my plan in my mind so I can stay rigidly adherant through the chaos of the flash-bang, can make what changes are necessary on the fly. I sleep soundly thanks to my military days after hours of planning.

I rise early, choosing to bring my guitar case without any weapons within-just my hobo disguise and assorted accessories to my coming job. I plan to do this all with my two Judges-which I decide to reload, taking out the normal shells to replace them with ten of my fifty currently owned 16-gauge sabot shells. Just in case they have particularly thick clothing that could turn aside shot. I mount both rigs on my arms, and dress in an old jacket and torn jeans, taking my guitar case with me as I head out. I slowly make my way to the locale Mr. Barby is known to frequent, and after identifying a closed alleyway, change into my alternative attire. Now appearing a drink-addled vagrant, I stumble my way down the alleyway leading towards my targets, getting as far from the street as I can without getting flat out against the recessed pub. I stash my guitar case (now mostly empty) behind a dumpster, settle myself in-

And wait.


I continue to act insensate as periodic passersby coming to and leaving from the pub eye me, but none make any comments.
Three hours in, more than an hour shy of noon, I see the targets approaching. The Australians take up the rear, heads constantly shifting as they scan their surroundings, hands held at the ready to leap into action. O'Connor has a heavy duffle bag to offset his bad leg and is accomplishing a decent bit of ambulation despite the rolling gait to the left of the smallest of the group. Five seven, if that, Mr. Barby hardly looks imposing at all-but the smile on his face is as off-putting as anything I've ever seen.

I let my eyes drop as they approach, doing naught but murmuring slurred jibberish as they pass by-

The moment their backs are to me and I'm out of their peripherals, I grab one of the Flash Bangs and prime it, lobbing it over their heads. The timing memorized, I turn away with my eyes swuinting shut the instant before that immense wall of sound and light descends over everything-and as I hear the screams I surge into motion, arms rising as I lash my head back around, triggering each holdout to come jutting out of my sleeves as I aim at the screaming, blinded quartet.

FIRST SHOT
(93+11)100%
I fire with my right hand first, the rigid steel frame absorbing and dispersing a considerable amount of the recoil as the sabot round tears off the upper half of one of the Australian's head, his body toppling forward in boneless spasms. ...Fine shot or no, all the same I feel it could have been something... more.

SECOND SHOT
(59+11)70%
My left hand's first shot hits the opposed twin in the upper back, spinning him around as it blows a bloody hole through his shoulder-even as I see his good hand sprinting for one of the Matebas.

THIRD SHOT
(71+0)71%
The second round from my left hand smashes through his upper chest, entering one side to exit the other. While I probably did not hit his heart, the explosion of gore I see is nevertheless fatal, now both Australians falling in death even as the deafened and blinded remaining duo struggle to get their bearings.

FOURTH SHOT
(79+6)85%
The second sabot slug from my right judge blasts a gory hole through O'Connor's upper leg-think I got the femoral artery-even as his hands dive into the heavy bag he carries-and start pulling forth an AA-fucking-12. A goddamn automatic shotgun-

That is turning to face me even in his fall, even through the pain and blasted senses.

FIFTH SHOT
(54+9)63%
The third slug from my left gun darts forth, coring out a third of O'conner's upper arm-and his grip on the rising AA-12 sags as he falls to the ground impotent, already bleeding out.

SIXTH SHOT
(65+10)75%
My third bullet from the right Judge is the first I send whizzing Mr. Barby's way-and it catches him in the gut, doubling him over as he drops the pistol he had hastily drawn.

SEVENTH SHOT
(72+12)84%
I finish things off with one final bullet from my right hand's Judge, crowning Mr. Darby's head and leaving a gory mess. The last of the four bodies drops to the ground.

>[TRAIT REVEALED: AMBUSH EXPERT-Almas can perform at peak capacity during the initial few seconds of an ambush and will not hesitate or stall during this time period unless forced to do so.]

I hear the shouts and thunder of feet inside the pub-I moved fast, and the light likely impaired them-but I might have some VERY considerable complications soon. I stuff the AA-12 and the four customized Mateba's into my guitar case-and I leg it down one of the branching alleyways before the front doors open-

Immediately slowing back to a faux-drunken stroll as I reach the street again. I use the crossing lane, duck down a different alleyway and quickly change back into my street clothes, using the blanket and costume as padding to keep my trophies from rattling about. As I step back out onto the street I see dozens of men in suits with hands kept firmly in their pockets looking about with ferver and desperation-I think they're looking for the shooter. ..What the hell, twelve dudes that I can see more than a block away looking for the shooter? Castelletti said this guy was a no-name!







So what's my next move here?
>DECISION: KEEP OR SELL: MATEBA X4, THERMAL SCOPE X2, NIGHTVISION SCOPE X2 AND AA-12
>>
No. 298466 ID: 77a890

rolled 27, 16 = 43

well I don't want to be THAT guy.... but if we can get frag-12 rounds for our AA 12, we have an automatic grenade launcher to two hundred meters...


I don't think we really need the matebas as our judges are pretty darn good, but the optics on them might come in handy.

as for right now, if we can spot a way out of the situation, like a subway or fire escape or even just a good alley out of here and need to get around some guys, we could hurl a flashbang as far as we can in another direction to make a distraction. Otherwise, it's just a matter of not drawing attention and opening up with that AA 12 if we do get forced in a bad spot.

the rolls are for the distraction/cheesing it and the second is if we need to shoot our way out.
>>
No. 298470 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 94 = 94

Sell all but one of the Matebas, we've got both a sniper rifle and holdout weapons. We could use one for a more concealable sniping weapon though.

Sell one of each of the sights we can reuse them later.

>>298466
Keep the shotty for Gunbro's dastardly schemes.
>we have an automatic grenade launcher to two hundred meters...
I believe you mean THREE hundred meters.

Duck back into the alley and look for another way out.
>>
No. 298471 ID: 77a890

>>298470
meh. three hundred, two hundred, it's all the same when it's exploding anyway, nevermind the range if we just ignore the sights and use it like a retarded mortar. If we can get those cartridges I can't wait to see the pants-shitting we can induce.
>>
No. 298473 ID: 4a3736

One of each scope, one of the FINE custom guns.
Sell the rest of the customs, keep the shotty.

Remember: You want variety with guns, not a huge amount of the same. I mean, what good is three different rifles if they each have similar ranges/caliber/etc, in the face of, say, a handgun, a shotgun, and a rifle?

Anyway, Well-done. Make it known you're UNSTOPPABLE during an ambush. Most people you kill barely even know what the fuck is going on before they're dead.

In that vein, we'll want to go with guns and loadouts that suit this capacity - buy another trio of flashbangs, keep the customs on you, see about customizing the shotty for mid-closerange awesomeness.

Furthermore, purchasing that Maaa~gic rifle is now a hell of a lot more possible, and more of a good idea.
>>
No. 298475 ID: a6ba65

So, the question is, was Barby into something a little more interesting than we were told and Castelletti was unaware (in other words, an unfortunate oversight) or are we just a disposable throw-away hitman to Castelletti? I'm leaning to the second option, which pisses me off.

But what can you do? We need Castelletti more than he needs us, and the more we impress him, the less likely he'll be to throw us away. Doesn't mean we should trust him if he says the sky is blue, though. Next job we take for him, we research the hell out of the mark, time permitting.

Sell the matebas, keep a night scope and thermal scope for our rifle. Those can come in useful.

Incidentally, when we go back to Castelletti, keep a flashbang up your sleeve in case there was something a little more sinister involved and he actually sent you to die.
>>
No. 298480 ID: c1a7d2

Keep at least a pair of the revolvers, one of each scope, and the AA-12.

Also it's probably just a business thing instead of any personal issue. Send a new guy out, figure he'll probably knock out one or two marks before getting taken down. We didn't take any payment up front so there's no loss for Castelletti either way, and probably that much less that needs to be paid to the pro that's likely on retainer to finish the job. Just an efficient use of disposable resources, nothing more.
>>
No. 298550 ID: 28e94e

Keep one Mateba, one of each scope and the shotgun.

Also, reload your holdouts. I've got a bad feeling about this.
>>
No. 298551 ID: 46c430

Ok, guys, whatever we sell, WAIT to sell it, obviously these guys are (were) connected, and if their guns turn up on the market, they're going to investigate, and trace it back to us, which is bad.
>>
No. 298586 ID: a76809
File 130358724894.jpg - (30.29KB , 569x204 , Would be assailant.jpg )
298586

>>298466
I stay shrouded in the alleyways, doing what I can to look casual, simply one taking a breather against a wall, rather than a furtive hider to draw the eye. I discretely sniff at my shirt and jacket-neither carries an overt scent of alcohol, hopefully I should be fine. Thank god I didn't get wounded in the ambush-that would make acting unconnected a whole lot harder. A further bonus is that since I performed the ambush so close to their hideout, the flashbang likely obscured my form from proper identification-I think all they know is that there was a killer, not who. It is quite doubtful they could have seen my face-

But seeing the guitar case I stuffed the guns in and legged it with? THAT they could probably see.

I push the aforementioned guitar case farther behind me, obscuring its profile with my own body as I watch and think.

-Too many guys in suits running about to even think of going up a fire escape-the only one I see is near the main street, and I'd likely draw every eye present if I tried to scale it.
-The subway access for this six block area is right on the main street-and already covered by five suits. Great, they know the basics of doing an urban manhunt. This is just going to make this so fun.
-I've seen at least forty dudes passing by this alleyway in the last five minutes-all going the same way, more or less. Best guess is they're moving to set up a cordon to try and catch me.
-The few panicked civilians at the flashbang and following bout of gunfire seem to have calmed down-but I note several people still looking quite concerned by the abruptly perceived bit of violence.
-I do not yet hear any sirens, any indication policing forces are en route.

...Alleyways it is, then.

I watch for a moment more, and move only when none of the suits are looking my way, grabbing my semi-concealed guitar case and ambling back, ducking down another, even less well-maintained passageway as I keep moving in the general 'away' direction.

>>298470
I pick up my pace once I'm sure I can't be seen from the main streets, eyes darting around for possible avenues of escape-no fire escapes I can access, a bunch of locked back doors, some dumpsters, sewer grates-for now I keep moving, ears perked as I hear the sounds of traffic resurging. I should be reaching the far side of the block shortly.

>>298475
As I hit streetside, surreptitiously glancing about and noticing far fewer suits darting about than before, I take advantage of the changing light and join the crowd crossing the street, staying near the middle of the pack and hunching as much as is necessary to not stick out. The crowd begins to disperse on crossing, and I pass through the confusion into the nearest alleyway, once more setting out to traverse a city block without getting near the streets. As I do, I ponder.

....So, the response I was met with does not at all match what I was told to expect. Mr. Barby was a Name-no other way he had that well-equipped of body guards, that many people gunning for his killer. That leaves me with an either-or scenario: Either Castelletti somehow did not know (which does not seem likely, given how connected he appears to be) or Castelletti purposefully did not tell me. ...Latter seems more likely.

I turn another alley corner as I shift mental gears.

Okay, so he knew and didn't tell me-why? First thought is that he viewed me as disposable-a new gun for hire, someone to throw at an opponent, maybe take down one or two of his guards before getting shot, and in general make a panic in Mr. Barby's camp. Assuming oneself to be operating from Mr. Castelletti's position, it's win-win: Rival gets crippled, has to redirect funds to face a threat that cost him nothing, since with the assassin dead he has no one he needs to pay. If I kill only a few and survive, I don't get paid as the job was for all four. In fact, only in the case I do end up offing all four could the possibility of me getting paid even crop up-something that is now looking very much like Castelletti was not expecting.

...Which could mean he isn't going to pay me at all, or may decide to off me both to avoid paying and tie up loose ends-with me dead and vanished, nothing would connect him to the shooting, and his faction would be well insulated from fallout. ....The fact I need the ten grand more than he needs to pay me is what makes me continue to ponder going back for pay.

I take a moment to prop open my guitar case and pop one of my two remaining flashbangs up my sleeve, hooking it on one of my holdout rigs. Well, just means I have to make our coming meeting suggest paying me is more costly than not. Stay calm, stay focused, keep moving.

I clip my case shut once more and sway to the side as I rock to my feet-

A blackjack slams into my shoulder, the weighted bludgeon not quite able to snap my collarbone as I sag down and tumble to my side, hand already going under my coat. As I turn mid-tumble, I see one of the suits opening his mouth, preparing to shout, likely intent on drawing the rest of his friends closer-

Or he was, until my abruptly planted hand on the ground shoves me back up, mere pounamu in my free hand, blunted tip crushing the fools windpipe. If he had been more focused on jumping me rather than switching trains of thought like that, maybe he wouldn't be slumping to the ground, gurgling as he suffocates. He starts reaching twitching fingers under his coat, questing for a firearm-my hand locks about his, and I stay there, holding down the dying man as I stare in his eyes, watchful for any other sign he could make a racket or be a threat. As the light fades and he breathes his last, I glance about, thinking what I should do next.

>>298550
...I knew I forgot something. I didn't pack any extra rounds for my holdouts-what a simple, stupid thing to do.

-I'm in an alleyway around two blocks away from where the shooting took place.
-I have a dead body that is not bleeding in my hands.
-I am still being chased by a great number of Mr. Barby's followers.
-I see the poorly fitted manhole cover jutting up behind me-my would-be subduer likely tripped on the exposed lip, adding to my sway to completely throw off his attack.
-I check my arm's range of motion, and seem to be fine.
-I am fairly certain the only clues the suits have to who killed their leader are that they have an old guitar case. With that out of my hands I think I could just stroll out of this section of town.




What's my next move?
>>298551
>[Stored: Intent to sell two Matebas, one of each scope, and to do so via Söderström to a contact in another country.]
>>
No. 298588 ID: 28e94e

See if the manhole has any potential as an escape route, or failing that, as a temporary stash for your guitar case.

Also, hide the body. Nearby dumpsters or trash cans are preferred.
>>
No. 298589 ID: a6ba65

> Body
Might want to take a moment to toss him into a dumpster or pile of refuse or whatever is convenient. No sense in leaving a trail of dead bodies.

> I am fairly certain the only clues the suits have to who killed their leader are that they have an old guitar case. With that out of my hands I think I could just stroll out of this section of town.
That works for me. Find a good hiding spot (not near the suit), ditch it, come back for it later. Hate to just leave 24 thousand or more in antiques laying in a back alley somewhere, but we don't want a firefight with a few dozen henchmen, either.
>>
No. 298591 ID: a9629e

I don't like the idea of ditching our stuff. What I do like the idea of though is looking for a run-off sewer hole. Granted, with all the supernatural stuff that happens here, that might actually be a horrible idea, but with a little luck you should be able to use it to get just far enough away. Keep in mind the potential danger that might come with such a route though, and only get as far enough away as necessary.
>>
No. 298594 ID: 903f16

>>298586
So body disposal seems simple enough, we can either drag it into a dumpster or take it with us down the manhole and hope that it leads to a sewer or a storm drain so the body gets dragged away by the flow. I don't know if our bayonet detaches or not, but if it doesn't I feel like we're missing out on an opportunity to power up our mere pounamu. I want to take a bit of skin off this guy and use it for our draw string, I get the feeling skin off people who died from the weapon is more potent than any old human skin.

>-I am fairly certain the only clues the suits have to who killed their leader are that they have an old guitar case. With that out of my hands I think I could just stroll out of this section of town.
Next time we pull the bum routine we're getting a shopping cart to hide our guitar case in.
>>
No. 298596 ID: c1a7d2

Take the dead guy's gun because why the hell not, and you might need it anyway, and give him a brief pat-down for anything else he might have, wallet if nothing else. Now here's an option to consider, QUIETLY open up the manhole and dump the body into it, then pop the guitar case open, take your blanket-and-clothing-wrapped loot out and tuck it under your arm like a laundry bundle. Send the now-empty case down into the sewer with the corpse, then kick the manhole cover so it makes a clang and yell loudly about how some huge guy just killed another one and ducked down the hole with his victim. Act like a freaked civilian who just happened to witness a murder on the way to the laundromat and get out of the area once the goons go down to investigate.
>>
No. 298599 ID: d3dfb8

>>298589
When dumping the body do what you can to leave no evidence that could lead back to you; fingerprints, hairs, fabrics.

Take his weapon, we might need it should shit hit the fan.

>>298596
This, but no yelling. Will probably get us killed. And we don't want to be walking around with a bundle of stuff so let's stash them somewhere outside of a store we might acquire a duffle bag or something of the like.
>>
No. 298685 ID: 77a890

well, we could jump in the sewer and with the magic of our new NV optics we could navigate a couple of blocks over. that, or just push the body in the sewer, jump in, and hang around there for a few hours until things settle down. If some crazy beast shows up, we get to work on climbing back up while it goes for the easy meat.
>>
No. 298761 ID: a76809
File 130362409228.jpg - (482.02KB , 1600x1132 , Encounter with the Other Side-Sewer Monster.jpg )
298761

>>298588
I check the manhole cover-I can get it open, thanks to the poor fitting, even lacking a crowbar. I haul the lid aside as I keep myself alert, focused on the environs, carefully wary of any other suits coming my way. If one found me in an alley....

>>298589
The guitar case is just going to make me a target-I may need to dump it, or at the very least stash it. Hands free of that, getting free and clear of this mess should be a cakewalk.

>>298591
I eye the sewer entrance-it's got to have networks running under the city, I could escape the unnofficial cordon, guitar case and all, by staying below ground-I could stash the body down there too, making it look like the killer (and the suit) just 'vanished', unless whoever's in charge of them actually thinks to check the sewers. The only prospective issue I see here-just about every modern bit of information, confirmed or otherwise, has cautioned that udnerworlds, sewers, abandoned subway systems, all are considered ideal hunting grounds for supernatural predators. If I go down, I'd have to be wary, if I hope to live.

>>298596
I take the goon's gun-a Glock 20, 10 millimeter with a full clip of fifteen-as I consider a way out of this-I could try a rope-a-dope, ditch the body down the manhole, leave the guitar case open and empty, make a clothes pile from the bum rags to hide my loot and abscond after calling out I saw a murder go down. If it worked, I'd send the goons on a false lead and slip away as the frightened tourist who saw something, free of any incriminating guitar case. I feel a bit leery of actively drawing attention to myself like that-there aren't that many six and a half foot tall half-Finnish half-Maori mutts around, and there's the risk my ruse would backfire and end with multiple hostiles drawn to my location.

>>298594
>>298599
>>298685
...I decide that while it's not my favorite option, the one with the least guaranteed risk is the one I'll follow-into the sewers I and the body shall go. I drop the body down the hole and plunk down after it, pulling the manhole cover shut over myself and my recently dead friend, the closing metal lid like the sun going out as we are plunged into a thick and heavy darkness. With the withdrawing curtain of light so to goes the din of the city-it becomes still and quiet, enough so my ears ring in the absence. After descending the stairs I pull out one of the Mateba's equipped with a night vision scope, and set to work. I claim the goon's wallet and keys-I then rip out the labels on his clothes, and check him over in the gloom, the only sound the gurgling water flowing only a few feet away. After assuring myself I didn't leave any of my hair on his body or clothes, I set to the more grisly part of the process. I use the Mere Pounamu and my Finnish bayonet, tucked into my boot, to break the wrists and ankles of the goon, and slowly saw through the intervening flesh. After removing his hands and feet entirely from his body, I break his teeth with the bayonet's but, before squating back, quiietly catching my breath, as I go over my mental checklist. Identification: removed. Possessions that could identify: removed or damaged. Fingerprints as a means of identification: removed. Dental records as a means of identification: Removed.

.... Sergeant Riker was rather thorough in his lessons of how to prepare bodies when operating quietly in enemy territory for sustained periods of time-no reason the grisly lessons won't serve me here as well.

I shove the body into the water, then carry the hands and feet under one arm as I navigate a few hundred feet upstream by nightvision scope before dumping them down a different waterway. Two different destinations-sure they could be found, but about twenty minute's work on my end would slow down forensics for days and jack up the cost of investigating. Given what I did should hoepfully make the body hard to find even for police, the goons above may never know more than that one of their guys went missing the day one of their upper-level guys and his guards were killed. ...Might be able to use that.

Finally sans body or bodyparts, I advance, Mateba in my left hand, held close to afford easier use of the scope to pierce the gloom, my right hand held out nearly straight, Glock firmly in hand. Across my back is slung my guitar case, the goon's keys and wallet joining the three other Matebas and the AA-12 in being buried amidst my bum disguise.

I've walked what I think is the equivalent of two blocks before the hairs on the back of my neck start to rise.

Beyond my soft footsteps, my quiet breathing, the soft gurgle of water-

I hear an oh-so-soft, whispering hiss as my body begins to warn of danger from behind. I continue on without showing any outward signs I've noticed my hunter as I thumb the glock's safety, check my grip on both guns and-

I drop to a knee as I spin about, both guns rising as I peer desperately through the scope, looking in the shadow for-

A monster of teeth and claws crouches low to the ground some fifteen feet away, easily seven feet long, reacting to the changing sounds I make by bracing itself, preparing to leap-

I have less than a second before at least three hundred pounds of clawed, fanged monster is on top of me-





What exactly should I do, given only the Mateba is silenced?
Specifically where should I attempt to shoot?
>[For each bullet fired I will need a 1d100 roll. Please specify which gun is being fired when rolling (Glock can be rolled for up to 15 times, Mateba up to 6)
Assuming the creature closes, how do I intend to defend myself?
>>
No. 298763 ID: 4a3736

rolled 95, 46, 5, 24, 80, 52, 97, 67 = 466

Shit shit shit shit shiiiiit.

It's a cave/sewer dweller - if you have those flashbangs, drop them first before the fight begins. They won't go off right away, but when they do, you should get some time. Once that is done, I suggest firing twice with the Glock - The flash might scare it or daze it. when it's closer, and you know you can hit it reasonably, open fire with the Mateba, as much as you can.

First 2: glock, last 6: Mateba
>>
No. 298769 ID: a6ba65

rolled 15 = 15

Hm, seems to be lacking eyes. Wonder what it hunts by. Scent, echolocation? Who knows.

I say aim one right down that giant open mouth. Angle upward if you can to hit the brain, but even a straight shot has a pretty decent chance of getting the spine. Use the mateba for this.

After that, well... just keep firing and hope like hell, I guess. Not much time for strategy.
>>
No. 298771 ID: 77a890

rolled 67, 11, 18, 57, 97, 95 = 345

I say just the mateba. It's not exactly a lightweight

head, left chest, right chest, stomach, then two in the neck. should guarantee some vitals or a bleedout

if it refuses to go down then we can go to town with the glock, but then we may have friends waiting at manholes, and more creatures drawn here if we stay in place
>>
No. 298776 ID: a76809

rolled 1 = 1

[Rolling to see how many more of these beasties were in the pack]

>>298763
[PLANNED SHOT: 095/100, 046/100, 005/100, 024/100, 080/100, 052/100, 097/100, 067/100]

I start to squeeze the Glock's trigger, hoping the deafening gun will disorient the beast before I lay in with the Mateba-

>>298771
[PLANNED SHOT(Mateba): 005/100, 024/100, 080/100, 052/100, 097/100, 067/100]
[PLANNED SHOT (Mateba): 067/100, 011/100, 018/100, 057/100, 097/100, 095/100]
>[IDENTICAL PLANNED SHOT SYNCHRONIZATION BONUS]
[MODIFIED PLANNED SHOT: 067/100, 024/100, 080/100, 057/100, 097/100, 095/100]

>[TRAIT EMPLOYED: AMBUSH EXPERT]
>[SERENDIPITOUS SHOT TRIGGERED DURRING AN AMBUSH]

-I think better of it, my finger sliding off the Glock's trigger as instead-

FIRST SHOT
(67+10Serendipitous shot bonus)77%
With a paradoxical whispered thunder, the first 454 round blasts forth, ripping into the beasts head, carving out a quarter of its skull-only for the creature to refuse to keel over and die as most massive-head-injury victims do.

Fuck it-full autorevolution then.

I squeeze and hold down the Mateba's trigger even as the creature leaps.

SECOND SHOT
(24+10Serendipitous shot bonus)34%
Automatic revolvers being alien to my hands still, I'm not quite ready for the gun's recoil in rapid fire, and the second shot, aimed for the monster's upper left chest, goes wide, only peeling away a few layers of skin in passing as the next round moves into place and I tighten muscles to steady my grip.

THIRD SHOT
(80+10Serendipitous shot bonus)90%
My shot aimed at it's right breast does not stray more than an inch even given a moving target, and through the shuddering scope I glimpse blood flying in thick arcs from the heavy impact as the Mateba keeps going.

FOURTH SHOT
(57+10Serendipitous shot bonus)67%
The fourth round catches the leaping beast, five feet and closing, square in the gut-and I hear the crack of shattering bone as the casull round shatters a path through the beast's spine. What was still filled with rage and lethality moments ago, a hunter in motion now becomes a limp body tumbling through the air. I recognize the creature as finished at last-but not swiftly enough to stop the Mateba from completing its automatic discharge once initiated.

FIFTH SHOT AND SIXTH SHOT
(97+10Serendipitous shot bonus)100% (95+10Serendipitous shot bonus)100%

>Progress made towards new trait.
Seeing the fangs and claws as still being potential threats, I decide to set the body tumbling in a manner more advantageous to me-the revolver's barrel flits side to side with the last pair of shots, one to either side of the neck-

And the monster's head is quite literally blown off it's body, sending it's tumble into a backspin as I leap back from my crouch, avoiding being trapped under it's weight.

I swiftly check around me with the nightvision scope, noting no ladder to the surface in my immediate area-

As I spot a flash of movement through the scope even as I hear more of that unearthly hissing starting up.

Taking a risk I plop down the guitar case and switch out Matebas, the still fully loaded night-vision scoped one replacing the spent one in my left hand as I re-shoulder my case, back against the sewer wall as I consider-








What's my next move?
Do I try to stand my ground and put down the monsters, or do I risk trying to run for safety?
If retreating, should I run LEFT, RIGHT or STRAIGHT? (Right in theory continues to lead the most directly away from the Cordon area)
>>
No. 298778 ID: d3dfb8

Right, but take the nearest manhole up. Keep an eye out for additional monsters.
>>
No. 298792 ID: 46c430

Hmm... Hey, guys, you remember how Soderstrom mentioned how wood takes magic better than metal or such? ...Don't the Mateba's have wood plates in them? I was thinking... they had the Mateba's tooled up so much with 'Real' science, the grips swapped out, but they left the wood. So, I figure, they somehow knew about the supernatural, magic weapons, and how they're made, and so had their weapons 'tooled up' to be more receptive to enchantment as well.

...And... Only one left? ...Meh, stand and kill the little shit, don't take chances with it jumping you from behind. Then we can steal its teeth/claws or organs or some stuff to use or sell.
>>
No. 298815 ID: a9629e

A one? Yeah, we're gonna stand and fight, then see if we can grab some fangs, maybe a couple small bones, and some of it's hide. We should probably see about rounding a corner first though, so we can catch it as it does the same. Unless it can pounce, land, and pounce in a different direction almost immediately, doing that should grant us at least a couple more seconds to put bullets into it, and from a better angle to boot.

Got a feeling that the one more there is probably bigger and more dangerous though. Either that or we aren't the only thing that's screwed up this pack recently. Both could be bad.
>>
No. 298825 ID: 28e94e

Guys.

Low rolls are bad.

RUN.
>>
No. 298833 ID: c1a7d2

Time to move. Duck right and vamoose, hopefully these critters are also scavenger enough that they'll be occupied with eating the dead one instead of chasing your ass.
>>
No. 298834 ID: 46c430

>>298815
>>298825

...

GTFO. Right now. And go straight, we're more likely to run into a ladder if we stay on one 'channel'. ...That or backtrack, where's the last ladder you saw?
>>
No. 298840 ID: 46c430

...Ok. One last thing: The one beastie's head (Or what's left) has been blown off, yeah? I wonder if we could just quick grab that up as we flee. ...This is of course NOT a priority, if it gets in the way of shooting or climbing a ladder or anything ditch it.

And depending on how many we have after us... ...I'm not sure whether we should use a flashbang or not, because on the one hand while we might fuck up these guys while we hoof it, we might attract more attention, which is bad. ...Then again if low rolls are always really bloody bad for us, yeah, use the flashbang, short-term survival is more important than slightly-less-short-term survival.
>>
No. 298846 ID: 77a890

I like the idea of getting the head or smashing out a couple of fangs for magic purposes. If we're SURE there's only one more of those things here, then let's slowly move on our previous path towards the nearest manhole. If there's more, then pull up the AA12. Keep a mateba in the right hand for shooting/seeing, and if the shit hits the fan we can just drop it and grab hold of the AA12 in our off-hand and spray towards the sound, nevermind that the muzzle blast will give brief illumination.
>>
No. 298855 ID: a76809

Riker: Soviet Kord machine gun base custom, chambers 12.7x108mm, 210 round box magazine, accurate standing braced for targeting specific body parts at five hundred meters, 15 Rounds Per Second


>>298825
>>298834
My back staying against the wall, I listen as intently as I can as my scope darts back and forth, revealing different patches of shadow to me-I see at least two prowling monsters approaching, and hear further hissing from a third direction-definitely time to go. The eyeless, slicked forms writhe after me, hissing in their pursuit, fanged maws opening wide-I don't even need to see them, my imagination doing the work for me.

>>298778
I take off down the right path, constantly on the lookout for anything resembling an exit-

Two hundred feet down the tunnel's turn I see it, iron runs leading skyward to a manhole. An exit.

I just need to run in the dark with only a tiny pinhole worth of visible area while being hunted by multiple freakish monsters, nothing to worry about.

...Riiiiight.

I open my mouth and breath slow, trying to keep my noise output down as far as possible-I listen to the approaching, slithering rustle, trying to roughly estimate relative ranges-I should reach the ladder before they close.

In my flight I only think I hear a rustle beside me. I flick the Mateba to my left almost as a an afterthought, a reflex acted on without thought-

To spot a trio of the slimy monsters pounding down a branch pathway, looking to flank me-thirty feet and closing.

I still have fifty feet to go for the ladder.

...Problem.

>>298840
....Okay, things hunt by sound and/or scent, right? I mean, barring some crazy magic senses, that seems the most likely-

So I flip back on the Glock's safety, stow it in my pocket and reach for the flashbang as the Mateba's scope bobs between each pursuing group. I prime it and lob it over my shoulder as I switch my focus entirely on the last bit of space between me and freedom, counting the seconds in my head.

..2...1..squeeze my eyes shut-

I can see the blood vessels starkly illuminated through my eyelids for a brief moment as even the din of the falshbang is drown out by yowling wails so filled with pain and anguish my own body aches sympathetically.

My eyes snap open as the light fades, I close the last six feet to the ladder, toss the Mateba in the guitar case and-

In the pitch dark of the sewers, with five monsters howling in pain and rage below me, with no weapon in hand, I ascend the ladder, hands questing for the manhole cover I have to remove. My heart's migrated halfway up my throat by the time my fingers brush the cold metal overhead. I heave the cover open-

The howls that had been waning with the fading light resurge as natural light spills down into the gloom.

I get more than a few odd looks climbing out of the sewer manhole, clearly not a construction worker-and now that I look at myself, my cuffs are spotted with rather visible blood.

On the plus side the street sign shows I've managed to get six blocks from where the shooting took place, and I don't see any suits running around.

So I close back up the manhole, shove my hands in my pockets and keep trudging my way back home.

After a shower, a shave and a change of clothes I look at my computer-I succeeded at the job I was given-and now have reason to believe I was expected to die in the job, and that it is very likely I will not get paid. Which leaves me wondering what my next move is-should I email the Castelletti contact and request a meet? I mean, it's not GUARANTEED he's going to try to fuck me over.......






So what should I do now?
What all should I be doing for wrapping up this Castelletti job? How do I try to ensure I do not get offed or stiffed on the bill for this job?
Once that's done, should I sit on the pair of Mateba's I planned to sell, or arrange to meet with Söderström so I can move them now? When I do call Söderströmwhat exactly should I tell him?
What plan am I going with for making sure I have enough funds to pick up the AVT-40 sniper rifle by the deadline less than two weeks from now?
Once those immediate issues have plans in place, what am I going to do with myself for the immediate foreseeable future? (remember cost of living is $2000 a month, includes rent utilities food everything)
>>
No. 298867 ID: c1a7d2

rolled 11 = 11

First off...check the wallet you picked up from the dead guy. Might have some cash in it. Also check for bank/credit cards and identification, the former could be useful within a short window before they're cancelled, and the latter might be worth something to somebody in the fake ID business if you happen to know anyone in that line of 'work'.
>>
No. 298869 ID: c1a7d2

Oh yeah, maybe see if you can match the keys to any particular brand of vehicle since car companies like to make their own weird little key-head shapes. Might be able to find the goon's car and get a few bucks for it at a chop shop.
>>
No. 298879 ID: 903f16

>What all should I be doing for wrapping up this Castelletti job? How do I try to ensure I do not get offed or stiffed on the bill for this job?
We're supposed to try and prove we're worth more alive than dead right? Let's look around, try to find another one of his enemies and take them out pro bono. Come back with the book schmuck's head and see if we can't get some payment on our original job.

>Once that's done, should I sit on the pair of Mateba's I planned to sell, or arrange to meet with Söderström so I can move them now? When I do call Söderströmwhat exactly should I tell him?
Sell them off, we need the cash.

>What plan am I going with for making sure I have enough funds to pick up the AVT-40 sniper rifle by the deadline less than two weeks from now?
Look for another job, preferably ones where we can have enough time to research both our target and employers.

>Once those immediate issues have plans in place, what am I going to do with myself for the immediate foreseeable future? (remember cost of living is $2000 a month, includes rent utilities food everything)
I still like the idea of going to that gym and trying to work our way into the underground fights. If we're lucky the fights could end up paying for the price of the membership several times over and give us another source of income when jobs are slow.
>>
No. 298910 ID: 46c430

>>298879
Pro-bono... Yeah, no, fuck that shit, fuck trusting, helping him. He -lied- to us about the job, even if he intended it as a 'test', that is a bad precedent, nearly got our ass killed. I say he was expecting us to die. We evaded a fucking manhunt, and had to do so by going through the goddamn -sewers-, and we are not going down there again if we can help it. (Get some weapon-mounted flashlights and flares, though, just in case.)

So, he probably has stuff ready to take care of us on the off chance we somehow didn't die. I say... Hmm... Ok, we obviously offed somebody important, Castelletti was trying to avoid a turf war by using a third party... Why not set up the turf war he wanted to avoid, get some tasty revenge? Don't contact him, let him think we died or were captured. Make a leadership kill on his faction, stir things up, then we leave town until the dust settles, they might even think we did die or something (Which would also mean the magic-shop dude we possibly pissed off might overlook us, a -good thing-). We go someplace else for a while (I dunno, uh, go explore our heritage and what it might mean for the supernatural?) and let the heat die down on what we've accomplished already. When we're done with that, we can return to town, or go to a different city, use our Triad contact to make things go smoother in either case.

...Hell, speaking of the Triad contact, I've got an idea, but it's got ups and downs: We bring them into this, they might enjoy stirring up hostilities between two other factions. Downside is, they would of course know our part in it, it might not go so well.

Last option... Just lay low for a bit, don't send out feelers or actively seek jobs with anyone other than the Triads, maybe take jobs as they come but try to keep a low profile, see if we can avoid attention while the 'heat' on us dies down. And of course don't accept any more jobs from that asshole Castelletti.

...Uh, hey, you -did- grab that Soviet Honor Guard rifle stock back, again, right? Anyway, for talking to our magic gun dealer, tell him you picked up two majorly tooled-up Mateba's with fancy scopes you wish to sell, also talk to him about the wood left in the handles, might signify they have capability to be enchanted. ...And call him from a secure location, duh.
>>
No. 298920 ID: 0a2568

>>298910
This is a little too drastic, i think. We should talk to Castelletti before we do anything drastic. Don't go in there looking for a fight, just be reasonable and ask for the pay. If shit goes down, get out of there alive and plan something awesome.
As to the matebas, I have a feeling those night vision scopes will be useful, so take one of them off before selling them. Hopefully we'll be able to stick it on something else.
>>298879
killing one of Castelletti's enemies pro bono does sound way too risky, and totally not worth the end result.
>>
No. 298921 ID: a6ba65

I can see arguments for and against dealing with Castelletti again.

Yes, he set us up. But we succeeded far beyond his expectations. We killed the target, and his bodyguards, escaped dozens of suits searching for us without a wound or even them seeing what we looked like.

That's talent Castelletti won't want to throw away.

Yeah, he's an asshole. We could just take our little 'bonus' (more than 16k in antique weaponry, wasn't it?) and vanish. He might not KNOW we survived, which means he wouldn't have to silence us for knowing he was behind it all.

But really, I say we should take the middle road and send him a little note: we succeeded, no one even saw us do it, and for him to send us the money, or put it in an account, or something. No hard feelings. But also no sense walking into a possible ambush by going into the restaraunt, and he should realize that just as we don't want him as an enemy, he doesn't want us as one, either.

Don't say it outright or anything but honestly, if we had to, I bet we could do to him what we did to Barby.
>>
No. 298928 ID: 46c430

>>298920
No, -don't- physically go there. If we're going to contact Castelletti, do it over the phone.

Oh, and, uh, yeah, do some more research on the guys we just offed.
>>
No. 298956 ID: 0a2568

>>298921
>>298928
I agree 100%
>>
No. 298974 ID: 28e94e

Fuck Castelletti. The extra revolvers alone will give us anywhere from eighteen to twenty-one thousand dollars - that's enough to buy the rifle and live comfortably for several months! And that's not even touching the scopes or the shotgun (should we choose to keep it).
>>
No. 299016 ID: a9629e

Indirect contact to report on the job, wait to sell two or three of the matebas for a bit, but do sell one each of the scopes. Also, keep the AA-12. If for some stupid reason we decide to report in person, buy some actual grenades first. No doing him any additional favors.
>>
No. 299019 ID: 0fb2ef

>What all should I be doing for wrapping up this Castelletti job? How do I try to ensure I do not get offed or stiffed on the bill for this job?
First, go back and hit the books. Find out just why Mr. Barby was such a big tough. Go through the dossier again, hit up the internet, talk to your few contacts. Now, what to do with this info: We could go with whoever Barby employed and have them take care of Castelletti or we could go in with the info we discover and go to Castelletti and look like an utter badass.

If we do go to just talk to Castelletti, get some body armor and get ready to shoot just in case

>Once those immediate issues have plans in place, what am I going to do with myself for the immediate foreseeable future?
Start learning(Whose from the Other Side, the interplay between rival organizations, etc.) and making contracts(Street rats, Cops, Medics, etc.). Practice our armed combat. Practice shooting. Learn the streets and sewers.
>>
No. 299037 ID: a76809
File 130370504082.jpg - (137.34KB , 718x727 , New Gear.jpg )
299037

>>298867
I rifle through the dead man's wallet-his name was Andre Gustavo-and find five hundred Turkish Lira in his possession. Having no safe way to attempt fund extraction from his debit card, I instead make a rare trip to one of the legal firearms stores, and run up Mr. Gustavo's credit card only after assuring myself there are no security cameras to catch my visage. Along with a flare gun and a life vest, I purchase eight speed loaders for my Matebas (obviously only stipulating I need .454 casull compliant loaders), and two hundred rounds of said ammunition. To this pile, I add two pairs of full-fingered shooter's gloves, to reduce recoil, improve grip-and make it easier to avoid leaving prints. I also procure two s16-gauge compliant speed loaders (these being more expensive) for my judges, and top off my purchase with a trio of balaclava masks. The total is considerable-and I pay none of it, adding it all under a dead man's name, scribbling a hastily forged signature on the receipt before departing.

>>298869
Once I get back home, I busy myself rigging my pair of heavy fabric cargo pants to support snugly fitted holsters and hooks to hold prepared speed loads on either hip, discreetly obscured within my bulky pockets, and I slip each Judge speed load into a respective breast jacket pocket (only after restrapping each holdout harness to my arms) I check my range of motion, the accessibility of the newly sheathed Matebas-short of my legs being bent past ninety degrees I can easily reach and unholster them. I decide to keep the one with a nightvision scope on my left hip, the thermal vision scope on my right. As I try on my new gloves and slip a balaclava over my face, considering if there is anything else I am missing for equipment-I decide to more closely inspect good old Andre's keys.

Turns out he drove a Saab of some sort-beyond that I haven't a clue.

>>298879
Enough stalling-what am I going to do about Castelletti and this job? I got an inkling I COULD wheedle my way into things blowing over, and that if I put in the effort to track down another of Castelletti's enemies, offed him and brought proof to the meeting, I'd probably end up paid for my work. The particular problems with this plan that prevent me from following through on it are quite straightforward: How I'd find one of Castelletti's enemies lacking information, how I'd do it in an appreciable timeframe, how I'd get the data I'd need to even figure out who his other enemies are, how I'd gather intel on the target to make assassination viable-

Fuck it, I'm not going to try to bribe my way into the graces of someone that fucked me on intel and likely intends to stiff me AND kill me. Instead-I head back to Constanz' Crash Course, and decide to enroll. I spend the rest of the day in the gym (this being AFTER having taken back off all my operating gear and just going in workout clothes), as it turns out that after the clusterfuck that job turned into I had a good bit of stress to work out. I don't think I am left with a single muscle group that is not sore by the end, between squats, curls, pull-ups and some Iranians that feel like sparring with the newbie (and introduce me to a fighting style they call Krav Maga). I spend about three hours trading off sparring with four separate people, and start to get a rough feel for this rough and tumble style-really, it has a number of similarities with what the Marines taught and some of Ranger training. I say three hours not because I was so exhausted I was ready to drop at that point (even though I was), but because one of the instructors decides to take an interest in me. We get to chatting, he remarks it looks like I've had military training before, commented the Iranians were ex-military themselves, and in general fishes for information. I play my cards close, revealing little-but I drop enough clues as to how much I know about unarmed combat that the instructor-Boris Mihailov-decides to show me combat Sambo.

Two hours later, after five total hours being repeatedly brutalized by two new martial styles, I leave with a sore body and a hard-won grin, knowing this is a legitimate professional gym, and even if I don't find inns to undergroud fighting I could learn a great deal.

[COST OF LIVING: $2,250 per month]
FUNDS: $000,007,267+500Lira(~$320)

>>298910
As I take a shower, I consider what option I WILL pick for the Castelletti situation. After all, looks like he wanted a deniable catspaw for the strike-so he didn't want the suits to know he was responsible. Probably wanted to avoid turf disputes or faction discord while still offing Barby. So what if I leaked Castelletti's involvement to the suits, and brought them down on his head anyway? ...Eh, a bit too risky, how do I avoid them questioning me reporting it, and deducing that I was the shooter-I could always try to bring in the Triads on this, but quite frankly I don't think I have anywhere near enough cred with them to pull something like that.

>>298920
>>298921
>>298928
I make two calls. The first is to Söderström, where I explain that I have two prime-condition heavily customized Matebas, detailing their every modification, and ask if between them and the SKS stock, I could simply trade for the AVT-40, rather than having to convert the goods to funds first. His response reminds me why I like him.
>"Officially no, that absolutely cannot be done-but, [i]IF I happened to hold onto the guns and stock for you, and IF I decided to pursue potential buyers on my own time, and IF I felt like then using the money produced from those sales to fund your purchase-well, then at no point would company rule be being broken. ...Next time though, cash or a bank account, okay?[/i]"
I arrange a meeting time on the following day, to trade what I hold for the promised vintage rifle.

The second call I make is to Castelletti's contact number. When I identify myself I'm put on hold for less than a minute before the gravelly tones of the corpulent Italian blare into my ear.

>"Al, baby, good to hear from you! Quite a hubbub up there, huh?"
"Really, gonna lead with pleasantries rather than anything about why you called Barby and co 'no-names'?"
>"Well you know how it is, relative to some people who play the game his name don't mean squat-yeah he had some goons to his name but your alive and succeeded right? So where's the harm?"
"How about the fact you struck a deal that involves paying me much less than the involved risk would dictate."
>"Well sorry to break it to ya kid, but a contract's a contract-if you had misgivings about the price range you should have brought them up before agreeing, capische? Tell you what though-created a nice enough stir over there I might be able to give you a little something extra: Why don't you swing by, we can get accounts settled with you-maybe talk about your future, hey? I could use a guy like you!"

I want to believe him, I really do-I pulled off a difficult as hell job and I did it without getting caught-not just every hitman could have made it work. Just focusing on the words he says, Mr. Castelletti just sounds like a businessman conferring with a contractor, not someone after my life.... but there's something bothering me about what he said.....




So what am I going to do, go in for the meeting like Castelletti asked, or demand payment another way?
Should I call my Triad contact, and if so what should I say or ask?
>>
No. 299060 ID: 4a3736

Fuck. No.

IF you go over there, go ARMED TO THE FUCKING TEETH. Flashbangs, shotgun, judges, golck. Everything loaded. He starts any shit, you turn his ambush into yours - Kill him, kill his men.

No one fucks with Mr. Laine, motherfuckers.
>>
No. 299061 ID: a9629e

"Maybe talk about your future" sounds like he's laughing to himself about how it's at the bottom of a river, cause he thinks he's so clever. We do not want to meet him in person. Get it wired to you or a drop-off of some kind. And avoid the area around their bar for awhile too. You're an outsider who knows he set-up the hit, and their organization seems fairly classic mafia style, so you're not going to be brought into the fold after one job. Chances are very high that they'll want to kill you if they get a chance.

If I'm outvoted on this bit, we are buying grenades first to bring with.
>>
No. 299063 ID: 070366

Contact the triad and get some info on this guy, in fact make sure to always try to get more info with Triad from now on.
>>
No. 299067 ID: a6ba65

> I might be able to give you a little something extra.
Like what, an extra bullet right between the eyes?

Gotta love the 9mm pension plan.

"Sorry, 'friend', but I'm feeling a little exposed and vulnerable right now. I'd be feeling a whole lot more inclined to trust you if I could get that money as a wire transfer first."

If he insists on a face-to-face, check out the meeting place before just walking in, preferrably through your new rifle's scope. If he's nowhere to be seen, then yeah, trap. But if he's there, give it a shot. I don't think a business man would risk his life going into a meeting with a competent hitman he intended to betray, and if he tried it you can at least get him into a Mexican stand-off; he should value his own life enough to get you out of there alive.
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No. 299073 ID: c1a7d2

If you meet, meet on YOUR terms, not his. And definitely not on his turf. You name the place and time, not him. Like an open-air cafe or something along that line, somewhere nice and public, and pick a busy hour to make contact. ...And be there an hour and a half earlier than the time you name so he can't set up a bunch of his mooks at surrounding tables or get the jump by being a little early himself.
>>
No. 299177 ID: d429c4

Do not go to meet the Italian.

Instead, ask for the cash to be wired to our friend Andre Gustavo's account, and spend the money somewhere discreet on something portable that holds value well.

Then, go to ground. You don't need to meet with this guy, as far as he's concerned, you don't exist any more. You probably want to have a think about how easily you could take him out.
>>
No. 299184 ID: a9629e

>>299177
Since we're setting up our new friend as traitor, let's go ahead and make sure Söderström knows that the Matebas are hot, and that if anyone tries to pressure him into saying where they came from, Andre Gustavo is the name to mention.
>>
No. 299214 ID: c1a7d2

Quick thought in regards to the car. Might be able to find it if you take a roundabout walk near the general area where you made the hit. Don't think the goon would've run across town just to chase you, after all. Just give it a day or two before you go looking.
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No. 299228 ID: a76809
File 130376792171.jpg - (44.54KB , 300x470 , Triad Contact revealed-Lo Fang of Mount Song.jpg )
299228

>BTW, these blurbs at the top are Armas' recollections of what people he's met in the past use as their armaments, starting with US Ranger Drill Sergeant Edward Riker, who also carries the following-
Riker: Milkor MGL (Extended range version, the XRGL40) stock removed, an M203 grenade launcher mounted in between barrel and fore-grip, chambered with No. 4 Buck (effectively making it a massively upscaled Lemat revolver).

>>299060
Hah, heh, this guy-he thinks I'll actually come in and meet with him. Oh man-
>>299067
Why the hell would a meet a guy who could be promising me a 9mm pension plan when he offers a little something extra? He has the weight of numbers and the home ground advantage-a meeting is the last thing I want.
"Sorry friend, but I'm feeling a little exposed and vulnerable right now. I'd be feeling a whole lot more inclined to trust you if I could get that money as a wire transfer first."
>"Ah, you're busting my balls here Al, not wanting to sit and talk a bit before we part ways-I want to pick your brain, learn how such a gem of a worker went unnoticed-I even wanted to discuss far more lucrative work, but if you don't want to come-"
"Enticing as that is, between the job, the trip back-need I even mention the dangers of the sewers? All said, I simply feel like being safe for a time, if you understand me."
>"So [i]that's how you evaded the cordon.... but it sounds like you encountered trouble there and still got back, while giving those yahoos the slip-smart mouth or no, I can't help but take a greater shine to yah-alright, if you want to stay at home, I'll send it your way-you home now?[/i]"
>>299061
"Of course not-one can never be sure if those 'yahoos' are only ACTING like they didn't pick up a trail-what a pity to get this far and get gunned down in my own house, no?"
There is a pregnant pause tinged with the slightest whisper of malice over the hushed line.
>"...Okay then Al-what are you thinking?"
I wish I had an numbered Swiss account at this time, but those take serious money to even open, so-
>>299177
An idea strikes.
"I give you an account number, you wire it in, I stay scarce till I feel it safer, we look at business then-what do you say?"
>"A wire transfer-so impersonal-where's the love, Al? Why not a meeting, or barring that a drop-off"
"You can take the wire fee out of my pay so it doesn't cost you anything extra, and you get to spare yourself sending a guy out to a trivial little drop. Works out better for both of us, and we get to close this chapter-wouldn't that be best?"
>"...Fine, I'll come clean-look, my bosses are impressed as hell the guy I hired pulled this off, and have a guy they sent to personally convey their gratitude, and give a little something something-it was supposed to be a surprise, but look, cut me a break here alright? Why don't I transfer half, I'll eat the wire fee, and then their guy meets you at your house?"
"Send the transfer-"
>"Look-I don't have the option of telling them he couldn't meet with you, capische? You really think my bosses would be that nice?"
...Shit, I'm cornered-this would give him a legitimate reason to call for a general hit on me for attempting to threaten his position, and out maneuvering would get a whole lot less subtle-where the weight of numbers means a hell of a lot. I have to compromise-and see if I can barter.
"Then how about this-seventy-five wired, the rep brings twenty-five, we meet."
>"Kid it's sounding like you're doubting my integrity here-"
"Not at all-it's because I need some of the funds now, and can't make a meet until a week from now-"
>"A week? What kinda reason am I supposed to give the guy, huh? Work with me here Al-"
"Tell him I'm following up a lead from a past Triad job that if I don't follow could wind up with me dead soon anyway, and I can't afford to put it off."
Another pause, this time my heart racing as he rolls my lie about in his head, poking and prodding the idea before he finally says-
>"....Alright Al, if you have something that heavy to follow up on, do what you gotta do."
"Good-after I see the wire's gone in, I'll call you with the meeting location."
>"Really got to spend some dough, huh?"
"Something like that Mr. Castelletti. I'll have my eye on the account."

And with that I hang up.

I get up from my bed as I continue plotting-if I take all of Gustavo's money-wait, further, how will I get it? Certainly there is little need for PIN numbers in the vast majority of businesses here in Istanbul, but buying things all over town is one thing, closing the account another.

>>299063
Which is why I call the Triads.
>"...Who is this?"
"Armas Laine calling in with a business proposal."
>"...You hold on line."
Two minutes later, a familiar voice reaches me, aged and oiled, cultured and implacable, each consonant carefully clipped and precise, sounding more japanese in origin than Chinese.
>"...Mr. Laine, we converse again-I wondered which of us would be the one to initiate contact. I understand you have a business proposal."
"I do, but understand that the nature of the proposal requires I only share specific information-and that if you cannot do business without the full story, I would not impose to waste your time."
>"...A level of perceptive caution one would expect in an older player, tempered by the blunt boldness of youth-very well young man, to the point: Of course I can do business without knowing the full story, that's what the majority of my business is. Just understand that if I deem it necessary, I will MAKE it my business, and discover what was with-held."
"In the case of a threat to you or your holding, rather than pure curiousity, correct?"
>"...Predominately. Now you most certainly have piqued my interest-explain your proposal."
"You are familiar with the late Mr. Barby?"
>"Very much so, those his passing represents potential profit to me."
"I had the misfortune of being in the area when he was murdered, and as I am not the most inconspicuous looking person around, I was accosted by one of Barby's men. As I preferred to not die when he pulled a gun despite my protests, I had to kill him. The body is gone, no evidence left-but I am left with a bank account number, and a pressing need for cash the late would-be killer no longer needs.[/i]"
>"...A sensible idea, if I understand you. Istanbul is quite... friendly... to manipulations of ownership and identification. But what do you offer for aid in this attempt to profit from what could have been 'unfortunate circumstance?"
"The knowledge that because of how I made the body disappear, helping me with this would cement the individual as the killer in the minds of Barby's men-and assure you are not involved, as I would be the one to actually close the account with 'appropriate' identification."
>"...My my, you turned this into a chance to make ME offer YOU a job, rather than a business transaction-you would insure the disorganized followers of the late Barby have their attention elsewhere, providing my companions time to more aggressively seize their assets-and ask a payment that must be delivered upfront, else how can the mission be accomplished? ...I had not expected such cunning from a former US Ranger."
My blood runs cold and my heart skips a beat.
>"I shall take your silence as surprise-I did tell you Labombard, a trusted contractor long of service to us, made note he thought you would go places-do you not think we would investigate? A Marine and Ranger alike with urban combat experience.... yes, I think I shall support your little endeavor here-but be aware future jobs will be more in allignment with your capabilities-you were wasted on guard duty that night, when your services elsewhere... well, the past is the past. So, Armas, do you wish to come in?"
"You would have to tell me where 'in' is for me to go there."
>"Where you did your last job for us I have an office-and we have a group capable of just what you need."

I give him Gustavo's account details and all the information I garnered from his wallet over the phone, and we say our goodbyes, him telling me to stop by in the morning for what I need. I get some sweet, sweet sleep.

When morning comes I dress in street casual, carrying no firearms on me and naught but my mere pounamu as protection. I make my way back to the docks, and am ushered in without a word by Triad thugs, who continue to keep a lookout as I pass by. I am directed past the general bustle where crates and supplies of all sorts-spices, ammunition, guns, drugs and cash all being noted-but none of that strange fluid I watched be brought in that one night, eventually climbing stairs to an overhanging office.

I am ushered in by guards equipped with Chinese Type 81 assault rifles to meet-

Sitting at a pure white desk dressed in an impeccably crisp, perfectly fitted suit, not a single hair out of place sits the poster child of the successful chinese businessman. The unlined face that looks only a few years older than me moves, lips issuing words, and I hear the aged voice from over the phone address me as the speaker closes down a few programs on his laptop.

>"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Laine, to be face to face rather than speaking over the phone."
"I would like to say the same, but as of yet I have not caught your name, so strictly speaking it is not a claim I can make."
>"Most accurate-you have come this far in your interactions with a person you did not know, based only on your feel of the person-tell me, what were your thoughts concerning me?"
"I think that asking that question in a setting like this would most likely give only one kind of answer."

That unblemished, confident face shifts oh so slightly to present an amused, assertive smile as the speaker reaches to his side, pulling forth a manila folder to place before me, before gesturing for me to sit.
>"I have the requested materials-a remade driver's license with your picture, the same for a passport. It would seem your trust was well-placed, and so I introduce myself to you as Lo Fang, of Song Shan."
"...I know very little, but that would mean Mount Song, would it not?"
>"I believe that archaically I am supposed to insert a backhanded compliment of barbarian awareness of my homeland, whereas the contemporary response would be to be condescending in a bit more circuitous manner. I shall do neither and simply say you are correct. I don't suppose you know any more about my homeland?"
"Sadly not."
>"A pity."
"I did have something you may be interested in, though-an added bonus to our transaction here, that is."
>"I am not always a fan of surprises-but please, go ahead."
"Here are the keys to Gustavo's house and car-I do not have the facilities to make proper use of such items-perhaps they could be of use to you in the coming days."
>"....I believe I can think of several uses for such a trinket. I thank you for the thoughtful gift, Mr. Laine-which I note seems almost like a visitor's gift to a host met the first time-rather archaic behavior, that. But certainly not something I frown upon. Well, I imagine you are operating on a tight timetable here, so I shall keep you no longer-but expect a call from us concerning possible work within the week."
"I shall. ...It was an honor to meet you, Mr. Fang."
>"It was, but not at all in the way you think. I shall see you again, Mr. Laine."

With those enigmatic parting words, I am escorted out again with my new procurements. I hardly even glance about as I make note of the bank's address-and the attached note that it has no internal security cameras.

Three hours later, a receptionist is offering her apologies that I no longer need their bank's services, congratulating me on my noted plan to move-

On the receiving end of a little over sixty seven thousand lira.

I rather promptly return home, only slowing to do double-backs and make sure I am not being followed. Once safely back, I add the duffle bag of money to my safe, counting up my current funds.

[FUNDS:-----US$000,051,788.52]

.....I saw the notice of a recent deposite that came from a numbered account when closing-Castelletti wired the money in prior to closing. He's probably waiting on my return call to give the location for the meet. I consider what I have done-I wonder if there is anything else I could do to improve my situation right now or otherwise get Barby's followers focused on chasing Gustavo's ghost.






What should I do?
With no current jobs, what should I do with my time before the proposed Castelletti representative meeting?
>>
No. 299233 ID: 4a3736

Well, damn. Look at all that money.

Go back to the gym, I guess... Oh, and the gun! The magic gun. That too.
>>
No. 299235 ID: a6ba65
File 130377247376.jpg - (10.56KB , 284x250 , FRAG-12round.jpg )
299235

See about outfitting your AA-12 shotgun with FRAG-12s, now that you'e got the dosh. I think a full drum of 20 will set you back 5 grand or so.

HE variant, maybe, or HE-AP (in case we run into something armored or magic-shielded). Maybe even find a way to shorten the stock or something to more easily fit somewhere concealable.

Because boolet is good, but explosive is better.
>>
No. 299239 ID: 46c430

Well, for improving our situation... Hrmm... ...Hey. Remember my suggestion for stirring up a turf war to get the suits off our backs and get revenge on Castelletti? Gustavo's ghost sounds like a good opportunity for that. Stir up trouble and bring heat down on Castelletti's head, we might be able to see to him getting taken down, so that we don't have a mob-leader around who has reason to want us dead. Just have to find a way to plant evidence of a connection between Gustavo and Castelletti someplace where the suits will find it. ...Uh. Maybe we shouldn't have given his house key away to the Triads, damnit, that would have been a good chance. Other than that... Hrm, maybe we could manipulate the meet with Castelletti to go our way? I dunno... Hrmm... Could make use of our forged ID and passport, fake Gustavo moving to a location where the mafia's presence is strong.

Oh, yeah, gym is good, but a little warning: We have important people who have good reason to want our asses dead running around, and frequenting anywhere runs the risk of giving them an opportunity to assassinate us. So be careful about being seen at the gym, maybe try not to keep a consistent schedule for going there. Other than that... I dunno, work on getting more contacts. Don't go looking for any new jobs, we've got our hands full already.
>>
No. 299249 ID: 28e94e

>>299235
FRAG-12s are for pussies. Real men use slugs or sabots. More reliable, more accurate, more consistently lethal, and way cheaper.
>>
No. 299250 ID: a9629e

We need to tell Cast that we need a way to contact the guy himself to set-up the meet. Tell him this is because the Triad thing has a chance of drawing heat, and because of that you can't know where the meeting will be until' then. Go ahead and give him a time though. And then only give him the place right around when the meeting will be. He'll try to say to meet at one of his places, so you'll need to find a way around that though. Maybe make it across town, and say that the meeting itself was hard to pencil in, so it needs to be near where you're off to next. If we've decided on a road-trip, maybe work that into it. If someone has a better idea, ignore this crappy plan for how to get away from meeting in his territory.
>>
No. 299252 ID: 903f16

>>299228
Your main focus should be on setting up Gustavo as the killer and tying him to Castelletti, leaving evidence of this so the suits can find. This will result in a turf war, but the turf war itself doesn't matter. The turf war is simply the means by which we will make Castelletti look like an incompetent fool, making his bosses view him as a risk to their operation and getting them to hire us to eliminate the bastard. Getting anyone done up as the killer may seem hard given how good of a job we did, but we did leave one rather nice clue for the suits to go off of, our guitar case. All we need to do is use the guitar case, leaving in guns that can fire the same bullets we used to kill Mr Barby, plus Gustavo's glock. Now we also need to tie him to Castelletti, thankfully we just got him to wire Gustavo a very pretty penny. We can leave something simple inside the case, something that will be the first little bit of a paper trail that shows this transaction. The final bit is leaving this somewhere that doesn't make it look like planted evidence, but where the suits can still find it. If the Triads let us take back the house for a bit and plant it somewhere around there we could be golden if we whisper the right things in the right ears and get the suits to go there. Now if they won't, and I'll assume they won't, we'll have to set up a location near the alley and make it look like a spot a mercenary would set up, somewhere they probably haven't check yet but will soon enough.

Aside from all that work? Yeah I agree hit the gym, but don't be stupid about it and set a schedual for yourself. Just vary the days and times you decide to go to the gym and try to ask around to other patrons while your there to find the underground fights. I also want us to look into finding a good occult library, but in a way that won't get a supernatural to try and kill us. When we find it we need to look for books on Maori and Finnish folklore, mysticism, and cultural practices. You need to do some reading up Almas.
>>
No. 299254 ID: 46c430

>>299252
Thumbs up, mate, good ideas. Furthering my own idea for manipulating the meet, we could have the meet or a drop off be set to happen at Gustavo's house, while making sure the suits see it happen. The bit with the guitar case at the house is good, might get them to set up eyes on the house instead of having to make sure they're there specifically at the meeting/drop-off time. Maybe we could off any suits that get close to the house, maybe within a block radius, draw attention to that area. Could also go into the house and flip the lights on or something to make it look like somebody is home (A tad obvious, though, and we'd either need to ask for the keys back from the Triads, which would make us look stupid, or break in). Last idea, we set things up so a van or truck drives on up to the house, like movers or something, and they go in and strip the place of furniture and appliances, might be able to attract some attention.

'course, problem with this, we might have to work closer with the Triads, and while it might be worth it, people knowing about jobs we've done is never a good thing. We need to be careful with how much we say to who, weigh the risks with the rewards.

(Oh, and, uh, yeah, it's a professional gym, no undeground fighting, from the looks of it. Still, we could definitely improve our melee combat skills by going there and learning from the instructors, sparring with other people.)
>>
No. 299257 ID: 903f16

>>299254
To reinforce the idea he's moving we should follow up the moving trucks with purchasing one way tickets to some place with connections to the mob like Italy, make use of the passports and tickets too, perhaps give them to a random idiot and tell him he won a prize.
>>
No. 299258 ID: 46c430

Oh, yes, one last random thing: Try looking up Mount Song on the internet, wikipedia, and stuff, look into the title of our Triad contact in case it's of importance.
>>
No. 299261 ID: a76809

>>299239
Instead of calling back Castelletti, I email him the meeting location-and give him Gustavo's address. Next, I call back Lo Fang, and am shortly provided a contact number within Barby's faction without any request for payment or trade. I call in from a public payphone eight blocks from my house, an idea forming as the line is picked up.
>" Ja, wer ist das?
"English, do you speak it?"
>"..Ja, who is this?"
"I'm with Castelletti."
>"......What do you want?"
"Look, I don't got a bunch of time-my boss has been meeting with one of your guys, Andre Gustavo, and I saw some major money change hands. I think it's involved with what happened to Mr. Barby."
>".....Why would you tell me this?"
"Word gets out, families are gonna murder Castelletti-and I get a chance to move up. That and you guys don't get any funny ideas we approved this-trying to make clear it was his action, you understand me?"
>"......Ja, I understand-but why me? Where did you get this number?"
"Wouldn't you love to know-I saw a list of suspected followers of Barby, memorized one and called it-lucky you. -They're coming so I gotta go-but I think Castelletti's looking for Gustavo, I overheard something about being crossed-Igottago-"

And with that I hang up.

>>299233
Castelletti's number rings on my phone-and I let it go to voicemail, sure he's just going to try to wheedle me into a meet at a different place. I wait for it to go to message, then call Söderström, and arrange out meeting-he says it will have to be postponed until tomorrow. Instead I head to Constanz' gym-to find the Iranians present once again-this time with some Israeli friends. They wave me over, we communicate haltingly given their broken command of English and my own limitation to English, Finnish and Te Reo (language of the Maori), before it becomes clear they were hoping to see me again today, as it was their Israeli friends that taught them Krav Maga to begin with, and offer me the chance to continue to indulge my curiousity. What their smiles tell me is they also look forward to the chance to beat me senseless even as they instruct me. An idea pops into my head, and I get across my hope to have two come at me at once, but be methodical, move-by-move about their use of Krav Maga, so I get more examples of how it looks, works, and when it is used-THEN we can get on to the real sparring. The five of them smile and agree, and discuss amongst themselves their rotations so all get to take the field against me.

What follows isn't a fight-not by any means. Instead there are hours of moves repeated over and over as I slowly construct a mental schema In Krav Maga when you foe is this far away at this height of elevation you attack like THIS and compile my ever-growing list of real-life examples You can attack joints just like THIS while trying to really build a good fundamental sense You would move to actively break a joint in situations like THIS of Krav Maga.

Six hours later one of them finally brings up that we were supposed to actually spar at some point. We laugh, all having gotten caught up in our little world, that moment of instruction-and switch gears to the practical. Having had some time to sit on, sleep on my first brush with Krav Maga, I'm much more able to keep up with the style's innate senses of timing-while my earlier bouts let me work out a few moves to try out in turn. When I start mixing actual attacks from Krav Maga into my fighting, the group I'm practicing with starts to nod and smile. At the next sparring break, my opponent looking worse for wear, they ask if I am indeed, as they suspect, US military. When I reply I was they nod in understanding, and shakily convey my fighting looked familiar to them. We continue for three more hours before finally hitting the sauna and showers, in that order. Finally refreshed and bruises beginning to show, I head out to a nearby bar with my new friends (The three Iranians Ahmad, Hafez and Shaya and the two Israelis Hadar and Yoni) to have dinner and grab some beers. The day ends without much excitement to compare to my working days-but I would not dream of calling it unfulfilling.

Morning comes and I head to my meet with Arkvad, my father's friend and one-time member of the Finnish Army, the pair of Matebas and scopes, along with the SKS stock all stowed away for the event. We meet in a Holland and Holland affiliated office on the outskirts of downtown Istanbul-the snow-haired fin reaching to stretch his arms around me.

>"Ah, Armas, it is good to see you in person-it has been more than a year now, has it not?"
"That's right, we meant to meet when I picked up Keihäs but you were called away."
>"Yes, something of a client emergency.... well, I have news you will not like, followed with something I strictly speaking can't give you that should make the situation far more tolerable."
"...Cryptic in person, as always-explain away."
>"The worst of it then: My soviet rifle contact is more versed in supernatural firearms than I anticipated. He swapped out the rifle's stock and custom magazine for visually identical pieces just before disassembly and storage-so the ruse was found only after the transaction was made. This... means you are stuck with a very well tooled up, high performance but ultimately antiquated automatic rifle."
"The way you say that makes it sound like you still expect the same pay from me."
>"Which is where we come to the better news, from your end-now, I am obviously not allowed to disclose client information-"
"Obviously."
>"But, if you had paid for the rifle, and then, after we struck our deal in barter, you discovered it was not enchanted, I could take that as grounds to justify middleman confidentiality breach, as by accordance with our deal, you were given unnacceptable goods. So, I can't give you what was originally promised-but if you pay for it like you DID get it, then I can give you the name and number of the one who would be able to explain WHY you didn't get it."
"Honestly? Only if you can genuinely promise me this guy is an individual and not some private warlord or something."
>"..Excuse me?"
"It's been one of those weeks-fine, I accept your alternative-just email it to me, okay?"
>"As requested-and with that-"

I sign papers and hand over my trio of trade-in exchange getting an aged, expertly cared for and heavily modified SVT-40, incorporating parts from the AVT and sniper variants, along with a built from scratch twenty round magazine.

And with this gun-which I pack into my duffle bag after a partial disassembly-I also receive some numbers-and a name: Florent Smets, a Belgian Philanthropist that lives in the more expensive portion of Istanbul-where the police are ready and attentive. ...Something to look into at some point. For now, having both a new rifle option using my existing 7.62x54 should be plenty useful.

>Armas Laine Armory
>-3" cylinder 3" barrel Taurus Raging Judges, (X2)
>-8 3/8" barrel, .454 Casull chambered Mateba Model 6 Unica Autorevolver Customs (X2)
>-Keihäs, Mosin Nagant M28/30
>-SVT-40 custom, nicknamed the 'AVT-40 Sniper'
>-10mm 15 round Glock 10

I make my way back home, all my pressing meets wrapped up-when the phone promptly rings. Castelletti-again. I again ignore it, sticking to my ruse I had something dangerous to follow up on.

>>299252
>>299254
...I'm being naive if I think what I've set up thus far will just 'wrap up' the Castelletti event. Sure, I have a clear goal-I want that bastard dead for trying to use me like a disposable killer, and I want to not have a bounty put on my head by the rest of the Mafia. So what if the Italians scope out Gustavo's house? That won't guarantee suspicion-what about giving them more? I flip through the phone book, jot down a few numbers, and add a few more charges to Gustavo's credit card. With these ones I decide to not risk any further. Next I move to a public computer use cafe, printing out a plane ticket, and spending the next half hour looking for someone who will take it no questions asked and use it.

Then I sit back, a locksmith ordered to open up Gustavo's house without the need for an occupant present (by special request), a moving company coming twenty minutes after to begin packing up the whole house-all of it schedule the day and time I gave Castelletti for the meet at Gustavo's house.

I spend the next four days going to Constanz' gym at odd hours, picking Ahmad, Hafez, Shaya, Hadar and Yoni's numbers and working to expand my understanding of Krav Maga-by the latter days of constantly working on the craft and discussing it with the rest in the hours in between, I really start to feel I'm improving as a combatant-give me a few more weeks of this and I think I'll be solid on Krav Maga, enough so I can keep practicing the individual moves on my own.

Two hours after the time I gave for the meeting, I start getting calls and emails non-stop from Castelletti, no information being left save an intense desire to speak-to meet. When I check in with Lo Fang, asking why Castelletti's men might be agitated, he notes that a representative of the ruling families in Sicily was gunned down by followers of the late Mr. Barby.

...Son of a bitch, it worked....
>"...Hello, Mr. Laine? I enjoy indulging your machiavellian machinations, but please do not think I have enough time you can put me on hold while you think-was there something else you were interested in?"






What should I say or do?
I seem to be proceeding down a twisty path to bring tragedy down on Mr. Castelletti's head-how shall I keep it going towards it's conclusion?
>>
No. 299279 ID: a6ba65

"My apologies, Mr. Fang. Machiavellian schemes are surprisingly enjoyable, I can't believe I've never tried them before. And no, I believe I don't require your assistance more for the time being, save one: your contacts seem very good. Could I perhaps have the name of one of Castelletti's men who is on the take for one thing or another, or is otherwise untrustworthy? Things are coming to a head, and I don't have time for proper research myself. Ah, and may I have the name of one of the Triad whose affiliation is already known to Castelletti's men to serve as my 'Triad contact'? I would not presume to use your name so without permission, of course."

I say this assuming ONE of his men is doing something on the sly for SOMETHING, it's the mafia! Take pictures.

Then agree to Castelletti's meeting. Blow into the meeting looking harried; he's not going to be happy. He might just pull a gun on you. Keep cool.

"Castelletti, we have problems. I do not have time for this, or Fang (or whoever's name he gives us) is going to put a bullet in me."

No doubt he'll accuse you of being that problem, you dirty snitch, you, and that HE is going to put a bullet in you.

"Yeah, thought you might say that, so I thought you might like to see these." Toss pictures onto the table showing his man meeting with a suspicious person or passing something off, or receiving something. Doesn't really matter what, as long as it throws doubt on him and off you.

"Look, I don't have a lot of contacts, Castelletti. I don't betray the ones I do have. You don't trust me yet, that's fine. I'm not sure I trust you, either. Our relationship doesn't have to be about trust, though. Our relationship is about profit, and for me to profit, you need to as well. What do I need to do to earn that trust? You know I'm good at what I do. Point me at someone and watch me go."

With luck, he'll point you back at Barby's men, in revenge for the Sicilian hit. Go nuts. This will, if anything, further enflame things on the gang war front. Later, we can go up the chain of command and tip the higher-ups off that Castelletti is employing a loose cannon, and turned a single hit into a massively costly war.

This is a risky gambit, but it seems like it could pay off big-time to me.
>>
No. 299280 ID: c1a7d2

Take out a cop near one of Castelletti's sites and stash the body haphazardly, like a low-level goon might do that lacks that professional touch, making sure that the hapless dork doesn't get a chance to radio for help. Buy a cheap double-barreled shotgun and saw it down to use for the hit, a Lupara will add a little more weight since it's a traditional Mafia tool.

Afterward, make an anonymous call to the police, FROM A PAY PHONE, and report some unlicensed weapons being moved at the Mafia hideout proper. Then wait half an hour to an hour and make a second anonymous call from a different public phone reporting a disturbance in the area that sounded like gunfire.

If all goes well, the cops will already be suspicious from the weapons tip, and when they find their dead brother-in-arms and shit will hit the fan for Mr. Backstabbing Fuckhead.
>>
No. 299282 ID: 46c430

>>299279
Meeting with Castelletti face-to-face after what we did... That sounds like an extremely bad idea. Let's not do that. MAYBE the loose cannon thing, but... Eh, there are likely ways to get the same result that don't carry the same personal risk.

>>299280
I like this idea, yeah, getting the cops on his ass sounds good. Just be careful of what you call in, they might just ignore a report for weapons on the mafia. And killing cops sounds risky, particularly with unsilenced weapons. Might just wanna use a Mateba instead. ...That, and cops might not even go near Castelletti's locations anyway, so we'd end up having to drag it or something. I wonder if a better idea might be to set off an explosion, or dabble in arson, attract attention to the area.

Hrmm... We could also let things just simmer for a bit before we make our next move. We need to introduce this 'Florent Smets' to our Mateba's. -Maybe- ask Lo Fang about him, but if we can research him ourselves, case his house, let's do that, we don't wanna become overly reliant on him.
>>
No. 299293 ID: a9629e

>>299280
Gonna go ahead and upvote this. Especially the shotgun bit. Want to cast suspicion on a specific group after all. But we should be careful about people hearing the shotgun. Maybe set up near an alley with something thick to muffle the sound of the shotgun as much as possible, then grab a cop as he passes.
>>
No. 299559 ID: a76809
File 130388139016.jpg - (127.81KB , 536x800 , Galileo Savoy Appears.jpg )
299559

>>299279
"My apologies, Mr. Fang. Machiavellian schemes are surprisingly enjoyable, I can't believe I've never tried them before."
>"I could tell-why else would you be so frank and open about such duplicitous dealings with one who could well use it against you? I shall not hold your naivete against you... this time."
"Your message is heard-and no, I believe I don't require your assistance more for the time being, save two interwoven requests, ones that should not tax your resources."
>"I should hope not, as an idle whim to see what you do does not extend to cutting into our organization's profits. So, the interwoven, minor things you speak of?"
" your contacts seem very good. Could I perhaps have the name of one of Castelletti's men who is on the take for one thing or another, or is otherwise untrustworthy?"
>"I hear you speak of some sort of criteria-but you have eliminated no one from Castelletti's organization-he is not well known for cracking down on side deals. Why do you need it?"
"Things are coming to a head, and I don't have time for proper research myself."
>"I shall watch with interest then-the other request is also required for things to culminate?"
"Well, I was going to say the name of some Triad I could use to manipulate Castelletti, but-"
>"You deduced I would scoff at your attempts, on the basis that a threat to a member of our fold, however minor or unlikely, is intolerable to me given our current understanding?"
"I was going to say I came up with a better plan, but sure, let's go with that."
>"Ha-ha, very well."
"No, what I need is some sort of contact in the Mafia, some way to reach the people ABOVE Castelletti-without him knowing or being able to interfere with the message."
>"You request a contact number for one of the Mafia's Confessors?"
The hell is a 'Confessor?'
"I'm assuming you have one you can vouch Castelletti could not influence."
>"A good attempt at deciept-but if you knew what a Confessor was, you'd know you can't bribe them, convince them to lie, omit details, or in any way betray their profession. It is a physical impossibility for them-and it is why the Mafia's Dons listen to them. I could indeed give you such a number to use-but past that, I shall help you know more, as were you in need of further assistance to make this work, you'd get yourself killed shortly anyway. I do hope you shall impress me, Mr. Laine."

With that Lo Fang hangs up-and my phone immediately lights up, a text message containing two numbers giving me something to work with.

Okay, I know roughly how I want this to end-now how do I make the now lead to the future I'm shooting for.....

>>299280
>>299293
...Well, I have a plan that should put the last nail in Castelletti's coffin-but it requires I kill a police officer in cold blood just to draw the wrath of his brothers down on Castelletti. The whole way to Garbage Pete to get a double-barreled sawn-off shotgun I roll the idea around, looking for a better plan-one exists, I'm sure, but I can't think of it-and I'm not lowering my standards. So, with the sun setting, I head to the very same restaurant I met Castelletti at, keep my distance, and begin casing the joint, observing patrol schedules, body counts-

About ten, twenty minutes into my analysis, with the streets beginning to quiet down, my attention's distracted as automatic gunfire starts piercing the night-a sedan with blacked out windows peels by, tires screeching as the eateries glass store front explodes and people scream while the shooters jeer in what sounds like german. I duck behind a trash can, already looking to turn this to my advantage as I call the police, informing them of my location and that I head a (singular) gunshot and a scream, and proceed to give the address. Five minutes after I hang up, some two score mafiosos explode out of the wrecked shop, Castelletti spitting fire at their lead, as they load into cars and jet off-

Leaving only a few token guards in place, just four that I can see. Wasting no time, I advance, my sawn-off held low as I stick to the shadows, crossing the street as I keep my ear out. As I settle into the alleyway I described in my police call-in, I have to wait but a moment before I hear that familiar wail of approaching authority. One of the few guards pops out the side door opening on the alleyway I'm in-and gets put in a sleeperhold, and is brought gently, quietly to the ground in an unconscious heap-that I only barely drag behind a dumpster before the police car pulls to a stop. A patrolman gets out, shines his light down the alleyway-to illuminate me, standing free of the slumped form, doing what I can to look the picture of concern. I gesture at the slumped figure, worry bleeding into my voice.

"Please, he's been shot, he needs to see a doctor!"

As the policeman trots over, fingers already going to his radio, I take a quick glance around-

Before I pull out the shotgun I'd hidden behind my leg, and unload two rounds of 12 gauge point blank, one to the upper legs and one to the face, completely bypassing any vest he may be wearing as he dies in an explosion of blood and gore. Moving fast, I put the sawn-off in the mafioso's hands, ensuring his prints overlay the whole grip as I take the policeman's taser, and discharge it into the thug, wires protruding from his chest as he quivers, while I replace it in the officer's hands. ...Well, that should be believable enough-it better be, because I can already here more sirens-a LOT more. Looks like the neighbors did indeed call about the drive-by. ...Time to go.

As I depart to a safe distance, watching from a shadowed nook more than a block away, I cannot help but smile as I watch the atmosphere change from reluctant trespassers to warriors seeking vengeance as they find the gunned down one of their own-and the italian that seems to have gunned him down. Twenty minutes later, my phone starts ringing again as Castelletti tries to call me-which seems the signal to move onto the next step of the plan. I call the first number Lo Fang gave me. It rings only once.

>"I don't know who the fuck you are-and this number ain't given out freely, what-"
"You are aware that the police have found a gunned down officer at one of Castelletti's restaurants, correct?"
>"The FUCK-"
"And you are aware that Castelletti was explicitely told to keep relations smooth with Mr. Barby's assoicates, something he has rather spectacularly failed to do."
>"Look I'm warning you once, you-"
"It would behoove you to spend less time threatening, more time thinking and listening-how you choose now could matter a great deal towards what your future is. Now are you interested in listening, or should I call someone else?"

There is a silence that starts to stretch too long-and I take a risk.

"Well if that's how you fe-"
>"WAIT-wait, just... what's your game?"
" Before that, I wish to be clear: You are aware that Castelletti has failed to carry out missions given to him, threatens the stability of the organization, and has now brought the police down on your heads?"
>"...Let's say I do know this-what's it to you?"
"Do you wish to go down with Castelletti and his followers in this area, or would you prefer to survive his mistakes? I am giving you a chance to prove you are not his follower-but simply a loyal member."
>".....What do you want?"
"Suppose a Confessor wished to speak to you-what would you tell them concerning Castelletti?"
>"A fucking CONFESSOR!? Who the... th... oh [i]fuck-ah, I mean, forgive my rudeness, it was truly not my intent to offend... ah...[/i]"
"As of now there is no reason for you to know my name-just answer my question if you wish to see a happy ending to your story-now, what would you tell a Confessor about Castelletti?"

When the guy's still talking ten minutes later, still spilling dirt on his boss' under the table deals, I decide that I don't need to write anything down.

"Okay-it seems you DO understand the situation. You will be receiving a call soon-a call I would recommend you anticipate, lest you inadvertently offer disrespect to the wrong individual. For the here and now-it seems I don't need to look for another-our conversation will conclude now, and I recommend you begin gathering whatever documents you need as reference for your claims-I doubt the confessor will leave it at 'I think he did'."
>"Oh god thank you pl-"

I hang up before the confusion, panic and elation can start to wear off, before a rational mind starts asking questions I could not bluff my way through-and I call the second number I was given. This number does not even finish ringing before it's picked up. There is no greeting-no one saying 'hello', no surly, grunt.... just an attentive void of silence, waiting for my words to fill it.

"I was told this would be were to call if I think the Mafia's holdings in Istanbul are under threat."
>"Where did you get this number?"
"I'm afraid I cannot share that, it was given in confidence by someone who thought my need worthy."
>"What is the nature of your information?"
"Where to start-Castelletti hired me to off someone named Mr. Barby, a big name in the Istanbul underworld. As requested, I kept the job quite, and Barby's followers still suspect one of their own men-DESPITE this, Castelletti has managed to end up with a gang war on his hands-which includes a drive by on one of the italian restaurants he operates. This gets better, as while he was out looking for vengeance on the shooters, some cope showed up to check on the disturbance and one of his guys gunned down the cop. I am right now looking at ten police cars and counting outside the establishment-hence my call. If this keeps up I don't think the Mafia will even be able to operate here."
>"What do you offer as corroberation to your claims?"
"How about one of Castelletti's men that has realized how dangerous his boss is and is willing to comment?"
>"What is the number?
I give it.
>"I will call this number back in fifteen minutes."

Exactly fifteen minutes, on the dot after the Confessor hangs up, my phone rings just as I'm watching the police putting up their tape to wall off a crime scene.

>"Your claims appear accurate-making Castelletti a threat. Did you call to warn only or propose a solution you wish to see approved?"
"Well, seeing as how he tried to use me as a disposable assassin-which I get, it's business-and continued to try to get rid of me after figuring out I wasn't a two bit thug, yes, I have a solution."
>"You seek employment in your field concerning this matter?"
"You offering me a contract on Castelletti?"
>Was such your desire when calling in?"
"Say it was-what would the reaction be? Concern that an outsider's nosing in Mafia business?"
>"Perhaps not phrased quite that way.""
"What about this then-send some guy-someone known for getting the job done-to deal with Castelletti, and I act as an assistant to them. That way, it's still Mafia business, handled internally-and I'm involved only insofar as the reporter of the issue."
>"Understand that I cannot make any determinations myself, and must bring this to those that are given the option to choose."
"That's fine-you have my number."
>"One last bit of clarification-you are the assassing Mr. Castelletti hired for the contract on Mr. Barby, is that not correct?"
"A job I wish he had been more honest about, but yes."
>"Understood. You will be given a call back shortly."

I wait all night for a call that never comes, heading home late at night after I've grown weary of watching Castelletti futilely attempt to reach me. ...You shouldn't have crossed me, you fat fuck-I wove the threads together and now it's too late-the noose is about your neck, it just needs to be tightened.

Come morning, there is a knock on my door. I check via a side-mounted peephole-to find a single man on my doorstep, dressed in a suit worth more than my entire apartment, a scar running through his left eyebrow, around the outside of his eye socket and down over his chin, extending along his neck and vanishing beneath his collar. Clean shaven and relaxed, the man seems perfectly content to wait, not even bothering to check his watch-which I note made of gold.

>"Mr. Laine, I was sent in regards to your call last night-my name is Galileo Savoy-may I come in? We have business to discuss."







What should I say or do?
>>
No. 299566 ID: c1a7d2

Ah, professional conduct. Safe enough to let in, I think, since if he was out to terminate you there's plenty of methods that don't involve putting oneself at risk by walking up to the door of a known contract killer and knocking like a fucking Jehova's Witness. Let the guy in, offer him a coffee or something. Though keeping a pistol at hand until he's proven clear wouldn't be a bad idea.
>>
No. 299567 ID: a6ba65

Be reluctantly impressed. This is a guy who found out where you live within hours of showing up in this city; something I don't think Castelletti has, yet.

"You didn't call ahead. If I had known you were coming, I would have freshened up first. Maybe baked a pie."

He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to give a shit about posturing or bravado; keep the guns hidden, although it wouldn't hurt to be armed with something, just in case. Holdout Judges, probably. Try and note if that impeccably tailored suit is hiding a gun somewhere; that's tricky, and usually means the tailor was aware of what he needed to hide. What are we wearing, anyway? I don't think a wifebeater would go over well with this guy.

Let him in, offer him something. Coffee, tea, beer, whatever. Be polite without being obsequious, and professional with a touch of the glib to imply you're not feeling terribly threatened.

"You are, I assume, here to discuss our mutual friend."
>>
No. 299762 ID: 46c430

>>299566
>>299567
These sound pretty good, though minus the glibness for the second post, I don't think that's going to gain us any respect. I wonder if it'd be worth it to try asking how he knew where to find us.

Moving on to business... Talk over the contact you're going to be taking, ask after the exact details and pay (Haggling may or may not work, or be a smart idea), then move on to the plan of action. Let's see if we can get info on Castelletti, I doubt he's staying at the same restaurant anymore, let's find out what the opposition is. I figure we've got two courses of action... Sniping Castelletti (Which, considering he's expecting trouble, probably won't work as he's unlikely to offer a good shot, unless we can catch him chasing after Barby's followers again), or, we use Galileo's presence and the fact that Castelletti's leaders want him dead to talk our way past his guards, convince them it's in their best interests to side with us, head into whatever room Castelletti is in, and from there it should be a simple matter to see him dead. Hell, maybe we can call up that snitch who we convinced to talk to the Confessor, maybe even meet with him, recruit him for this so it goes smoother, he already seems like he's abandoning ship afterall.

Could try taking advantage of Castelletti's desperation to 'meet' as well, though I don't know if picking up the phone is a smart idea. Best plan I can figure for exploiting it is, we set up a 'meet', go with Galilo to it with him as the 'lead', he either talks down the guys send to set up an ambush and kill Armas if the bastard isn't there, or he executes him if he is. Obviously this assumes Castelletti isn't just gonna yell at Armas or anything, and they don't simply shoot both of them... Yeah, perhaps springing it on Castelletti's men without him knowing and talking them over is a better idea.

But, of course, Galilo may also have some ideas, resources, and clues that we don't, so we should be sure to let him chime in as well. He's technically the 'leader' and Armas the 'assistant' for this afterall.
>>
No. 299783 ID: a76809

>>299566
He could have approached this a whole mess of ways if he wanted to kill me-this isn't even close to an intelligent way to do it. For now, at least, I feel confident saying he is not actively going to try to kill me-and the fact that, barring that, he's the next step to my plan to get rid of Castelletti, well-Once my paranoia and rationalism finish their contest I open the door. I decide to go for a straightforward approach-with the Glock tucked in the back of my pants, shirt overhanging and concealing it as I offer an easy smile to the man with a chin sharp enough to shave with.
>>299567
...How did he find me that fast? Castelletti hasn't made outright mention he knows where I live-and I doubt he's communicated it to Galileo even indirectly-so he located me based on a phone number and arrived at my door in... six hours? From Sicily? ...How the hell did he pull off that combo research/travel/trackdown-and that's assuming the Confessor tapped him the MOMENT we stopped talking-I'm betting this got bounced to some bigwigs to confer on first, before reaching this guy-probably no more than five hours, then. ...A man of means, then. A thing to note.

"You didn't call ahead. If I had known you were coming, I would have freshened up first. Maybe baked a pie."
>"Really, you bake?
"Sadly no but since all I can offer right now is pasta-"
>"Ha ha, I see-well, may I come in, Mr. Laine?"
"Sure."

I pull the door fully open as I step back, letting the scarred, sharp dressed mobster in, grinning as he takes off his hat, his hand wavers in search of a hat rack-before setting the article back down on his head. He surveys my abode, a basic four room affair, with one room converted into my weapons maintenance room. He nods as he surveys my weapons-shit I should have thought to put away the Matebas-and completes his slow revolution, facing me in silent inquiry as I shut the door behind me. I stalk past him, opening my beverages-only minifridge and grabbing a few bottle of beer. Galileo accepts the offered brew in continued silence, only taking a long pull after I swig away at my own, a small smile twisting his lip.

"You are, I assume, here to discuss our mutual friend."
>"A certain member of management that has not been performing well-someone I would not, at this juncture, term a 'friend', either to myself or my Family."
"So I would assume-It would seem your presence here indicates you have a job proposal, given the Confessor originally said he would call me back, not that someone would come for a face to face."
>"A fair assumption. Consider this hypothetical then: How does one un-sully a name, or a reputation?"
"By providing such overwhelming and pervasive evidence of the total opposite of that which sullied them-the weak become strong, the slow-witted crafty, the gullible the manipulative."
>"Quite the viewpoint you have there-take the weakness that dug you the hole, use it to dig right out? Is not improving in something you are bad at more difficult than with other skills?"
"All the more reason to do it-clear evidence some aspect of one is lagging behind, and needs intensive effort to bring up to par and beyond."
>"But how does one change that drastically-more importantly, how does one do it quickly?"
"Well, I was going to say over months and years-but as to doing it quickly-one can't, unless said one becomes an entirely different one than originally there."
Inspiration hits me.
"Like, say, replacing a recently-gone-soft-and-incompetent manager with someone known to be capable, someone-"
>"I suppose I owe Raphael five thousand, then-he thought you would figure out the plan. Perhaps the breakfast of beer-tastefully brewed or no-has not addled your wits"

>[NEW TRAIT NEARLY UNLOCKED]

I chug away half of the bottle and let out a pointed belch.

>"Yes I know, what was I thinking."
>>299762
"So-a replacement of management-is that the job that drew you here?"
>"Not quite. The job has two aspects, and in their wisdom the Dons decided that as a core player to the events that led to this and the reporter, you are to be involved in both aspects. The First aspect is exactly as you said-replacing Castelletti, with myself taking position as interim 'manager' until things are back in order here. This is in theory supposed to be done bloodlessly-but it seems Castelletti has already gotten some fifty, sixty Family members to believe they must do precisely what he says, irrelevant of the larger chain of command. The Don's were quite clear the common family members are not to be looked down on just because they believed a boss that had steered them well for years. So, a bloodless capture of one of Castelletti's restaurants that's been converted into a near-militarized holdout, all its defenders bearing automatic weaponry, culminating in the execution of Castelletti, that is the first aspect that must be addressed."
"The second?"
>"Simple-the Germans that once followed Barby are starting to believe they can just openly attack the Mafia-they must be most heavily disabused of this notion, before our position here can be said restored. If they must all die for the lesson to be learned, so be it-but one way or another, they must fear us. That is the second aspect, and between the two you know the sum of the job I bring here."
"Resources?"
>"Why, yourself and your faculties-I may step in on dealing with Castelletti himself, but otherwise the Don's want to see what you can do. I will be kind and allow you full access to all our local files and records on the Germans once Castelletti has been dealt with."
"An unofficial audition in a job?"
>"Such labeling would not be wholly inaccurate."
"The pay?"
>"Good-I was starting to doubt you were in fact a mercenary. The pay is for each portion of the job being completed-for resolving Castelletti's issue, Twenty five thousand-for bringing the Germans to heel, forty thousand."
"Somehow seems to me attempting to haggle at this point would be a bad idea."
>"You seem to have a sense of things then. "
" I'm assuming sniping Castelletti-"
>"Completely impractical, yes-he has not been directly seen since holing up by anyone that still reports to us. I believe he intends to continue having food shipped in as if the restaurant was open. As ludicrous as the concept is, I think he means to try and wait it out-or, he is trying to trap you."
"You know, Castelletti's been trying to call me quite a bit recently"
>"One wonders if it has anything to do with his possession of the appropriate hardware to trace calls?"
...Oooh crap, that could have been bad.
"Hence why I didn't pick up, obviously-do you suppose a meeting could be secured?"
>"Possible-but again, I find it unlikely. So, Armas Laine-how do you plan to tackle these contracts?"






How do I plan to tackle Castelletti?
What avenues seem possible to explore for assaulting such a heavily guarded location?
>>
No. 299799 ID: a6ba65

First, we'd need building schematics, just in case Castelletti left sewer access or something else useful open.

Following that... we'll need something to take away their number advantage. I'm split on trying to get the power shut off and Sam Fishering our way through with our thermal/nightvision scopes, using flashbangs or tear gas as a way of getting through the grunts without permanently ending anybody. Maybe a combination of all three?

As a third option, Castelletti is getting food delivered daily. Pay off the delivery guy so we can slip a drug in with the chow. Benzodiazepine is probably the one we want; a soporific that even with an overdose will induce deep unconsciousness, but not death. Although if they combine it with alcohol... badness. And, I mean, Italians. Come on.
>>
No. 299806 ID: 903f16

>>299783
It would be worth our time to look into acquiring a oc-pepperball gun. Oc-pepperball guns are essentially heavily modified paintball guns built to fire balls filled with CS gas, which is more commonly known as tear gas. Specifically we'll be wanting a Custom Carbine-SX because it has a mount for our scope. Now because it's a law enforcement piece pricing is a little tricky, but it seems like the guns go for two to three hundred dollars with the balls costing about a buck a piece. There shouldn't be a problem with reactions between the sleeping agent since this will essentially just be more tear gas applied directly to anyone who was unaffected or left standing by the grenades.

For even more insurance we could grab a stun gun, one of the fancy police models that can fire a shot or two and act as a contact stun gun. I think we're looking for a 900k King Cobra, they run about seventy dollars. This will be our nonlethal substitute for our mere.

Oh and we really need a gas mask for both the oc-pepperball gun and tear gas grenades, I don't want to be an idiot and walk in without one.
>>
No. 300022 ID: c1a7d2

Could see if one of your dealers happens to have any canisters of Agent 15 to pump into the building's ventilation system. Would be pretty easy cleanup as long as you didn't use too much, goons can't do much when they're all busy tripping balls.
>>
No. 300030 ID: a6ba65

>>299806
There are also stun batons if you want a melee weapon with a little reach to replace the mere for this one - they're usually around 18-20 inches long 'blade', plus the handle. Strongest charge (500-800k volts to the Cobra's 900k) is at the tip, but it's electrified for six inches down the baton. They have telescoping models for under a hundred bucks, although how sturdy they are, I don't know.
>>
No. 300052 ID: 903f16

How about an alternative plan? Instead of putting in Benzodiazepine we put in diuretics or at the very least we put the diuretics into that damn lobster Castelletti seems to enjoy eating if we don't want to make that much of a mess. Now this isn't just to fuck with him, no believe it it or not it's actually how we're going to strategically position him into a position for the kill. Once he gets into the food we've tampered with he'll need to go to the bathroom. Now most bathrooms I've seen usually have some window in them and if not they tend to have thinner walls than other parts of the building. He'll likely have boarded up any windows, but a boarded up window doesn't protect much against an AVT-40 sniper rifle. If there isn't a boarded window we can shoot through we'll need to go shopping, but for something that fires a .50 BMG. How we'll know he's in the bathroom will be by using that unnamed, but very frightened man we just called, have him send in a text when he sees Castelletti go in. We'll use our thermal scope and a copy of the schematics to make sure we get the hit when he goes in.
>>
No. 300054 ID: 903f16

>>300052
Oh and we'll call it Operation Elvis, if Galileo asks what we plan to do just tell him the name and leave it at that.
>>
No. 300056 ID: a9629e

>>300052
Gonna go ahead and second this. If the thermal scope doesn't work, we can just shoot above where the schematics say the toilet is.
>>
No. 300097 ID: 28e94e

>>300052
Good idea.

>>300054
Awesome idea.
>>
No. 300274 ID: 46c430

We could try bribing the waitstaff or chefs or transporters to poison Castelletti, they might not be part of the mob or be able to be convinced to go our way, with Galileo's presence to back up this is an official job. If nothing else we can spike the entire food supply with laxatives or something.

Alternatively, we scare off the trucks-drivers and stop food from going in period, soften them up a little.

Could also work at talking to the seperate members of the family, slowly bring his underlings around to oppose him and undermine his support. Take time, but, effective.

If nothing else, we can try sneaking in at night (Maybe roof access, might be a little complicated to get up there and there might be guards however), try for nonlethal takedowns on the guards, use the scopes on our Mateba's to get through, maybe grab an extra 3-pack of flashbangs. Really, the biggest problem on this is the 'bloodless' portion of the job.

Another idea for sneaking in: Wait until they're distracted by another attack or drive by, if Castelletti sends out men after them again, it'd mean less guards in our way.
>>
No. 300281 ID: 46c430

Oh, yeah. It's looking like our AA-12 is looking like the best choice for 'main gun' for this, if we don't get a sniping chance this will be close-range fighting, so automatic-shotgun goodness should be quite effective. On top of that, we might be able to grab bean-bag rounds for it, which would increase our less-lethal combat abilities.
>>
No. 300338 ID: a76809
File 130414194498.jpg - (223.54KB , 700x1031 , Elf confronts Armas.jpg )
300338

Vestra permaneo memoria est, te fio nusquam

>>300052
>>300056
>>300097
"How thick are the walls?"
>"Of which floor, which room?"
"Whichever restrooms are nearest to exterior walls."
>"...What, shoot him on his throne?"
"I'm brainstorming-is it possible or not?"
>"Depends. The first floor restrooms are those of the general restaurant-and are deeply ensconced in the building, too many walls for anything but a cannon to cleanly punch through in one go-so really, as you'd hit caliber levels that would have police calling the [i]military, you could have issue.[/i]"
"what about the second floor?"
>"That's where your plan becomes more viable. Just the exterior wall then the bathroom wall-a high powered rifle could pull this off with reasonably little issue. Of course, if Castelletti is thinking of death by rifle, he's probably not going to use the upstairs bathroom, even if it is his own private one, adjacent to his panic room."
"And what of the witness I provided to the Confessor-is he still within Castelletti's organization?"
>"....No, he is not-he was advised to relocate after providing testimony-and took the offer. There is no mole for you to exploit."
>>299799
"Can I just look at the building schematics then? Would make coming up with ideas easier."
>"As you see I have no such documents with me-I can only offer my thoughts and observations on the blueprints, having witnessed them this morning."
"Okay-is there a sewer access?"
>"You... are aware of the.."
"What you mean those eyeless monsters and all the rest down there? I believe keeping the trip short and to the point would minimize risk-as would enough firepower."
>"Putting aside the issues with attempting a stealthy entry with liberal use of firearms-"
"You know there IS such a thing as suppressed weapons."
>"...Point, I was not actively thinking of your possession of such-then yes, I suppose your plan could work quite well. So, you've brushed up against Sahagin?"
"If by 'brushed up' you mean 'encountered, killed the scouts and legged it before the pack got there' then yes."
>"Well... as to your question, yes indeed there is a sewer access-but to my understanding attempting to manipulate it will be quite conspicuous."
"So I need a distraction while I surface should I go with this plan. ....Well, some tear gas cannisters, a flash bang or two, and the mooks should be properly preoccupied while I slip in. Even if I do make a racket, would be hard to pay attention at that point."
>"What of the wary, the alert? How do you account for the chance a stray bullet from a skilled hand finds your skull?"
"Paying off the delivery drivers and slipping some soporifics-let's say benzodiazepines-and letting that circulate for a day or so before striking should add an extra layer of slowed or otherwise addled wits-and if the dosage is kept low, they might not even know just what they are feeling."
>"If you wish you could finance such bribes from the proposed contract fee so you have no out-of-pocket expenses-I find myself intrigued at what you could accomplish."
"If that's the case-"
>>299806
>>300022
>>300274
Three days later, when Galileo and I once more meet, this time near to Castelletti's, I am somewhat saddened when the Sicilian notes all my requisitions have dropped my prospective pay to $17,500-But as I glance about, noting no less than three rooftop guns for hire, sporting 40mm grenade launchers with tear gas rounds or Oc-pepperball guns as they await the signal. I glance at Castelletti's restaurant, noting the flagging, diminished guards-still gripping weapons even as the building doses of benzo's-

And Agent 15-which for three grand, I was able to get set up to feed into the restaurant's ventilation system thanks to some negotiable technicians.

From my glance to the abode with hallucinating and stupefied mobsters, still resolutely holding their ground, my eyes track down to the sewer grate at my feet, the open manhole-as I yet again review the mental map-thirty paces straight, turn left, ten paces, turn right, fifteen paces and there it is-or so I hope. I check the Mateba's in their inbuilt holsters on either hip, hidden in my cargo pockets, then check my sleeves to see the judges are not caught, lastly checking the Glock tucked into the back of my pants-everything in place. I nod to Galileo, who begins watching his golden wristwatch, watching as a minute begins to tick away.

I shoulder my guitar case, Keihäs, the AVT-40 and the AA-12 all within-

And drop down into the tops of Istanbul's underworld, feet already pounding as I count away my steps. Thirty paces... then left.... then ten... then right.... and here it is, ladders leading up-with a ruckus already echoing down from above-the contractors began their brage, lobbing tear gas in through every opening they can shoot at. I pull out one of four flash bangs (having gotten another trio), priming it as I brace myself to heave open the heavy trap door-
In one solid surge of motion I lever it open a third of a foot, rising like a serpent as my hand flickers out, the readied explosive ghosting across the floor as I sink back down just as someone begins to react to my presence-

The metal door is outlined in bright, piercing light that sears even through my eyelids before fading-

All the same my discomfort is NOTHING to those above, who blinded, deafened, bombarded with tear gas, dazed with soporifics and drugged partly out of their minds don't even notice me surging out of the trap-door. My eyes rove about, balaclava and goggles both in place to keep myself free of the gas' effects-though if I dawdle the Agent-12 could sink its teeth in me. ...Castelletti is not on the first floor-so I move to ascend the stairs. I crest the new story and walk down a narrow hallway, opening the only door before me-

It opens on a wood-panelled room, hot-tubs and hookahs both in ample presence, a place to relax in some thirty feet across, with but one other door on the far side.

Before me stands an unnaturally thin man, hair shifting and flowing as if both in water and ruffled by the breeze-pointed[./i] ears peeking out from beneath his mane. At his hip he bears a saber-a rapier-while his body is clad not in cloth, but in bronze and silver, a glimmering set of platemail his garb. Despite having no helmet or protection from the Agent 12 or the teargas, the swordsman standing before me looks unperturbed as he inclines his head at me.

>"The merry mayhem about us was wrought by your plans, your actions, is that not so? Prithee, thou taste for chaos is applaudable-Dost thou be a mortal champion of Eris? Perhaps Seth? ....No, thou smacks of [i]Loki
.... what say ye mortal, come ye as representative of something greater, or as your own herald alone?"

...Right that tears it this is a Sidhe, and Elf-I think a Wyldfae, don't see anything to indicate one of the two opposed Courts-and it spoke of GODS as if they were drinking comrades.

>"...Perhaps thou attention to the professional spirit is best: Thou hast a job thou most dearly wish to see done-just as a bond of service-of protection-must be honored. The brouhaha you brought was most enjoyable-now defend yourself."

With a sound disturbingly like a waterfall and an avalance mashed together, the elf draws his sword, its slender blade flickering with ghostly fire as he blocks my way onward to Castelletti. I let the guitar case slip off my back to thump to the ground-the impact throwing the case open.

Both of my hands are free, and my foe is twenty feet away.






What should I do?
What should I shoot with, and where should I shoot? (I need a 1d100 roll for each bullet fired)
>>
No. 300357 ID: a6ba65

rolled 18, 19, 84 = 121

"I admit I like what I've heard of the Bound God, but I work for myself. How did Castelletti ever afford something like you?"

Don't wait for an answer, immediately drop down to one knee and grab Keihas before you finish talking (see if we can get an Ambush bonus). Accuracy seems a useful sort of thing at the moment, and tungsten cored silver rounds aren't cold iron, but they might be better than lead.

Fire one shot center mass; aim so that if the elf chooses to dodge, the bullet goes on and shoots the lock out of the door (yay supernatural accuracy), then another shot at his unarmored face.

If he isn't very inconvenienced by bullets, well... maybe a flashbang will irritate those large ears and keen eyes of his.

First roll: center mass, second roll: Face, third roll (if needed): Flashbang.
>>
No. 300360 ID: a6ba65

Oh, and if the elf gets within melee range of us while we do this, we might get to try out the face-bashing aspect of our rifle, not to mention it'll serve as a decent parrying tool if need-be.
>>
No. 300361 ID: b5ebec

rolled 38, 86, 23, 36, 71 = 254

AA-12, five rounds rapid. Go for each of the knees, the sword hand, and two more into center of mass. Rolls in order of stated targets.
>>
No. 300368 ID: a9629e

rolled 45, 68, 1 = 114

Screw this. I say we tell the elf we don't plan to kill him.

"Hold on a second. Not here to kill the guy, but give him one last chance to step-down before the family decides to send in their own supernatural bull-shit, and as good as you may be, you know his mortal ass will be screwed if that happens. In the interest of doing your job, why don't you let me do mine."

And then if we get up there, when we see him

"Castelletti, long time no see. I'm here to give you one last chance to ste"-BangBangBang
>>
No. 300390 ID: f88f02

"Fine."

Open fire with the AA. Fuck this shithead, you have the Bane.
>>
No. 300391 ID: f88f02

rolled 91, 7, 22, 68, 28, 65, 99, 18, 47, 83, 4, 88 = 620

>>300390
>>
No. 300445 ID: a76809

>Galileo's Catchphrase: Vestra permaneo memoria est, te fio nusquam

>>300357
[PLANNED SHOT: 018/100, 19/100, 084/100]
Loki? I know that one at least-the Trickster god, father of Jörmungandr and Fenrir, schemer, manipulator.... okay, I think I know enough to-
"I admit I like what I've heard of the Bound God, but I work for myself. How did Castelletti ever afford something like yo-"
There is a glimmering blade darting for the hollow of my throat, elf already before me-

[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait employed!]
I don't even blink, body already starting to tingle as adrenaline surges-
[TAIAHAN RIFLEPLAY Trait employed!]
I sway back, foot hooking beneath Keihäs as I loft it into my hands, the gun whirling as I brace myself-

The blade whispers past my throat, missing by inches as it severs my steel bayonet during interception. Unperturbed, I whip the rifle forward, slamming the blood-stained stock against his chest with all my weight, pushing up and away-the armor-clad elf tumbling into the air as I take a knee and aim.

FIRST SHOT
(18+4)22%
My first shot goes wide-elf's starting to control it's tumble, got to work the bolt fast-
SECOND SHOT
(19+4)23%
My second shot, just a hair before the elf lands feet-first, grazes the silvered copper armor midthigh-but does no more than scrape the finish. The elf begins to smirk as it braces to surge back into motion.
FLASHBANG
(84+4)88%
Which is why I was already hastily priming a flashbang that I just now lobbed forward, my last glimpsed showing a puzzled expression on those aquiline features before my arm rises and I squint-

My ears ring after the pressure wave, but my vision is completely functional.

The elf had no idea what it was, and WATCHED the thing-clutching at its eyes in agony now with its free hand. I take a brief moment to slap off the Finnish bayonet on Keihäs and substitute my mere pounamu-
>>300361
>>300390
>>300391
[PLANNED AUTO-SHOT(X17)[32 round drum depletes to 15]: 38-86-23-36-71-91-7-22-68-28-65-99-18-47-83-4-88]

"Fine."

I pick up the AA-12 I jacked from O'Connor's corpse a few days ago, slotting in the 32-round drum magazine-And open up.

I've never shot an AA-12 before-I had thought, as an automatic shotgun, there would be a whole mess of recoil-there isn't. A good thing-let's me keep my shooting tight and focused instead of fighting kick.

THIRD SHOT
(38+5)43%
First round out the barrel zooms towards the elf's right knee-and is picked out of the air by that darting sword, cloven metal flying-
FORTH SHOT
(86+5)91%
He isn't fast enough, or maybe wasn't expecting my second shot to come so quickly-and it catches him square in his right knee-iron flechettes tearing through his armor with spurts of prismatic blood that catches fire in the air-the opening eyes of the elf glimmering in pain and hate as he looks my way.
FIFTH SHOT
(23+5)28%
The elf leaps into the air and I'm a hair too slow tracking it, the first shot going low-
SIXTH SHOT
(36+5)41%
Thankfully with the gimped leg the elf's rush is slower, I squeeze off another shot-closer, but he's almost-
SEVENTH SHOT
(71+5)76%
The next round catches the elf's wounded leg at the foot-and I realize it to be a bolo round, the metal wire for once lined up-and cutting into the chain over the ankle joint, more of that glowing, burning blood flowing as the elf grits its teeth, shoving the sword down as if to impale me-
EIGHTH SHOT
(91+5)96%
It seems he was expecting me to flinch, or jerk back, or something-so my CONTINUED fire catches him in the upper chest, flechette round tearing a few gouges out of his lower neck as a pair manage to hit squarely and penetrate his shoulder armor-[iron needles shouldn't be able to do that to full metal armor]-his sword jerking wide again as he starts reeling back-
NINTH SHOT
(7+5)12%
Like a knucklehead, I forget to account for his stupid speed, and my follow-up falls short, missing him entirely-
TENTH SHOT
(22+5)27%
The elf seems to be getting it, and even when I line the barrel back up he darts aside, moving away from my next shot-which I notice EXPLODES as it hits the wood-paneled wall, holy shit!
ELEVENTH SHOT
(68+5)73%
The next round-another bolo-manages to snag the elf's right elbow as it's laimed leg further buckles beneath it mid-evasion, the impact knocking it into a roll as I keep up the pressure. I'm sure as SHIT not letting something that can move fifteen feet in the blink of an eye so much as breathe while it's a potential threat.
TWELFTH SHOT
(28+5)33%
The elf keeps moving through its pain, dashing at the wall as my next round-flechettes-shatter a hookah-
THIRTEENTH SHOT
(65+5)70%
I keep the bullet storm rolling, a round of shot catching the elf in the chest-most of the pellets burying into the metal breastplate, while several find nooks and crannies to get through, as I see that glimmering blood further flow-the elf pushes through it, gets it's good foot against the wall and jumps straight at me with every bit of blinding speed it had before.
FORTEENTH SHOT
(99+5)100%
I almost feel sorry for it as the Frag-12 round catches it square in the chest, explosively reversing his momentum as blood flies. The elf crashes to the ground, smoke coming from burning flesh in the crater that was it's chest as it struggles to rise-
FIFTEENTH SHOT
(18+5)23%
With a fortitude that boggles my mind, the elf throws itself out of the massive pool of blood it rest in, dodging the bolo round that ricochets into a sauna's control panel-
SIXTEENTH SHOT
(47+5)52%
My next shot catches the elf in the ass, flechette rounds perforating his armor and killing what little mobility he had left-
SEVENTEENTH SHOT
(83+5)52%
My next blast of shot catches the elf in the shoulder, rolling him over without me needing to get near him-that chromatic blood bubbles on his lips as his eyes meet mine again, hand still clutching his sword-
EIGHTEENTH SHOT
(4+5)9%
The gun jams-thank god that didn't happen earlier, and I keep my eye on my foe as I clear the chamber, calmly reloading the same round as I confirm my suspicion-this drum was chambered with four rounds alternating, bolo-flechette-shot-frag-12 in order-and why would I waste a perfectly good grenade round?


"Care to surrender?"
The elf says nothing.
"Have it your way."
NINETEENTH SHOT
(88+5)93%
The Frag-12 catches the elf full in the face from ten feet away.

The elf now has no face.

In face he is doing an incredible impression of the headless horseman. I start to giggle, the surging adrenaline and carefully controlled panic catching up to me and finally finding a vent. My eyes take in the room, trashed by our hot and heavy brawl-and I spot that rapier, it's blade now visible as seeming glass, perpetually coated in oil to give a sheen reminiscent of a soap bubble no matter how the light hits it. I claim the elf's sheathe, and carefully replace the blade before loading it into my guitar case-along with the AA-12 and Keihäs, closing the whole assemblage back up, prize secured-a Fae weapon....

I shake my head as I hear an oh-so familiar voice calling out from the door leading onward-Castelletti.

>"....Allenaethos?"

I grin as I sling the case back over my shoulder, pulling out the Thermal Scope Mateba and training it on the doorframe-Castelletti's silhouette faintly visible.

"Knock knock Castelletti."

>[Limit of 1d100 roll per poster, I can take a maximum of six. Specify what body areas of a standing man would be targeted.]
Or do I have a different plan than simply gunning him down through the door?
Do I maybe want to try to talk him into a surrender-I bet that would impress Galileo the most.
>>
No. 300450 ID: f88f02

rolled 18 = 18

Kick the door down.
"AVON CALLING~!"

SHOOT THE BOLO AT HIS NECK.

CLAIM HIS HEAD.
>>
No. 300456 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 61 = 61

Take a shot at his head, but this is probably a trap. I say we kick in the door.
>>
No. 300460 ID: 46c430

rolled 96 = 96

>>300450
>>300456
...Don't kick down the door, it'll just give him a free shot at us with whatever gun he has. Just shoot at his center of mass through the doorway. Well, that, or, if you suspect him of having a bullet-proof vest or something, try shooting around that at his legs or something, he should bleed out afterwards. Also, move to the side in case he shoots back through the door at you. In fact, be careful of him shooting through the wall at you too.
>>
No. 300462 ID: 46c430

>>300460
Well, that, or we shoot out the lock and hinges of the doorway to bust it down, throw a flashbang in, seems a pretty good way to take him alive.
>>
No. 300472 ID: a6ba65

>>300460
Taking him out at the knees seems about right. Once he's in a fuckton of pain and de-fanged, we can decide whether to kill him or take him alive.

"Sorry Castelletti, your secretary was giving me the runaround. I had to be... persuasive. I find that there's not much more persuasive than a gun to the face. Case in point."

Point the matebas between his eyes.

"The bosses aren't happy with you, Castelletti. So, I'll give you an option - you can come with me back to meet their representative. Who knows, maybe you can talk him around to your way of thinking. Or, I can do to you what I did to Allenaethos."

And try and find out where he found an elf, cuz I don't think they go in for mercenary work much.

Before we leave, if we can't take the elf back with us - that would probably impress Gallileo, too - at least dunk the Keihas's stock in that glowing blood. Bet it has interesting properties in an already bloodthirsty weapon.
>>
No. 300488 ID: a9629e

rolled 58 = 58

Shoot through the door. And I'll say legs, to keep the guy from running away easily. We're not taking him alive, because we set him up and we don't want the mafia finding that out. Sure, he might not know it, but I don't like taking the chance.

Definitely dip Keihas in the Elf blood, but I think maybe we should see if we've got anything that'll let us take some with us. I want to coat something iron in it eventually, preferably the metal bits of a gun.
>>
No. 300489 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 80 = 80

Fuck being smug and arrogant.

Throw in a flashbang just for good measure.

Aim for the head when shooting.

No talking.
>>
No. 300491 ID: d429c4

I'd go for the knee-cap option, using the rifle at an oblique angle.

On the Elf, you want to use your mere pounamu to cut out his heart for later consumption. You should honour your enemy by taking his strength, some of your ancestors might say, but you might as well be pragmatic.

If you think you can get away with it, wrap the elf's entire body in a rug and carry it out. The bones might make fine grips for pistols, or a stock for a rifle or shotgun.
>>
No. 300492 ID: d429c4

rolled 91 = 91

I'd go for the knee-cap option, using the rifle at an oblique angle.

On the Elf, you want to use your mere pounamu to cut out his heart for later consumption. You should honour your enemy by taking his strength, some of your ancestors might say, but you might as well be pragmatic.

If you think you can get away with it, wrap the elf's entire body in a rug and carry it out. The bones might make fine grips for pistols, or a stock for a rifle or shotgun.
>>
No. 300531 ID: 28e94e

rolled 100, 87 = 187

Manually cycle the shotgun's action until you're on another grenade. Demand that he surrender. If he doesn't, blow the door off its hinges and put a bolo in his neck.
>>
No. 300557 ID: 8080ee

>>300491
Eat his heart now! Eat his courage, his rich, tasty courage.
Don't attempt to take the elf body, too much work, too much chance of detection. We're not out of the clear yet, after all.

>>300489
This seems safest, so go for it.
>>
No. 300688 ID: a76809
File 130428697211.jpg - (89.39KB , 985x735 , Break Action Single Fire Pistol.jpg )
300688

>>300450
[PLANNED SHOT: 018/100]
For a moment my mind is filled with my playing the archetypal storm trooper, thundering through the doorframe with my AA-12 and a bellow-but I see many potential snags with this plan. He could shoot me while I kick the door down. Shouting would make my attack easier to track, and taking the time to take out and reload the thing would be considerable. I keep thinking.
[PLAN SCRATCH]
>>300456
[PLANNED SHOT: 061/100]
The door does need to go-a faint thermal image is little to work on-and a bullet to the head seems a fine idea-but still, as the lone attacker on a defender on their home turf I am at a severe disadvantage-I need to keep layering up my plan, putting in failsafes and redundancies enough my personal risk is minimal.
>>300460
[PLANNED SHOT: 096/100]
Hm. A shot to the knee would be just about guaranteed penetration-as one never knows, he could be wearing body armor and a helmet, the image is too blurry to tell-as would considering he too can shoot through doors-potentially walls, with the right guns. For all I know, he could have a thermal scope of his own. I resolve to strike and move.
>>300488
[PLANNED SHOT: 058/100]
...Two bullets, one for each leg seems a fine idea. Then I dodge away to my guitar case, get Keihäs, and while I wait out his potential retort, dip the stock in the Elf's blood. I realized why I was shooting so shittily-I hadn't bashed in any skulls, taken any lives with the rifle for more than a week, its enchantments growing dormant. Perhaps this could wake it.
>>300492
[PLANNED SHOT: 091/100
Then, with my rifle in theory recharged, I take a final shot at his legs, which should, if he's steadied himself, re-incapacitate him.
>>300489
[PLANNED SHOT: 080/100]
Then, the door thoroughly damaged by the gunfire, I drop Keihäs, re-equip the Mateba, kick the door in while lobbing a flashbang in and ducking aside, to immediately charge after detonation, looking to put a bullet in his head. ...With my earlier plan, that would make a double tap-survival seems impossible at that point. ...Plan seems solid-let's do this!

I don't utter a single word as I take aim at the thermal image-
[FIRST AND SECOND SHOT]
(96+7)100%
The first bullet cores cleanly through the thermal image's right knee-I physically SEE a hole in the heat image-
(058+6)64%
I get a glimpse of the second bullet grazing the left knee as Castelletti screams while I dodge away, already moving-

Even as Castelletti howls, I hear a gun's hammer being cocked-I crouch down lower as I throw myself farther from the door while-

The entire doorframe explodes into a shower of splinters and shards of wood ignited by the friction of impact, a veritable firestorm thundering through where I was but a moment ago, carrying with it a pervasive sense of death and dread. The firestorm barrels through, shattering a stone-walled sauna before it finally burns itself out on the far wall-The imprint of a skull gouged into the heavy wood paneling at the center of where that fireball impacted-what the hell did Castelletti just shoot?

I hear a gun being broken open, a shell being ejected amidst grunts of pain and frothing hateful mutters-I have to give him credit for keeping his wits about him so well with a leg shot out. I reholster the Mateba, yanking Keihäs free of the guitar case-and jamming it's wooden stock into the elf's cored out chest, shoving it deep into the pooled heartsblood in the crater-

The elf's body twitches and writhes, skin shriveling, body drying to a husk as a brilliant, blood burgundy sheen climbs up the stock to tinge every bit of wood in my rifle. I ignore the strangeness of the event, shouldering the rifle as I aim at the visible Castelletti, a truly massive break-action single shot pistol in his hand, bracing himself with the leg I only grazed-
[THIRD SHOT]
(91+10+5)106%
With the rifle round's impact I remove Castelletti's left leg at the knee, finishing what I started with the Mateba, his body tumbling back as his gun drops from his hands. I drop the rifle and draw my other Mateba as I dart forward, low and swift.
[FOURTH AND FIFTH SHOT]
(61+5)66%
From six feet away from Castelletti's maimed, heavily bleeding and unarmed form, I carefully line up my gun and squeeze the trigger, the first round going just below his right eye as he tries to jerk away, whipping his head about in a painful arc as blood and bone fly-
(80+6)86%
The second round catches him in his temple, boring a gory path straight through his skull as his now limp body flops back onto the ground. I eye the gun he shot at me with-noting it a heavily customized Pfiefer-Zeliska single-shot hunting pistol, chambered to accept those monstrous Nitro Express rounds. I claim the gun, repack my rifle and newest trophy within my guitar case-which is now starting to get quite heavy with all the things I'm keeping in it-before I turn a careful ear to the stairs back to the first floor-I still hear shouts of confusion and pain, the addled mobsters are still too tied up in their delirium and the tear gas to take action. Not as clean as it could have been-but no dead mobsters save Castelletti. I pull out my phone and call the number Galileo gave me.
>"Status?"
"Target down, as well as third party individual-no others wounded."
>"Hm.... put him down rather hard, didn't you?"

I start as I hear Mr. Savoy's voice from right behind me, whirling about to see him crouched over Castelletti, inspecting the corpse before casting an eye at the elf.
>"I wondered why I heard what sounded like unusually heavy ordinance being used-certainly an effective way to mitigate that damned speed most fae have."
Galileo reaches into his impeccably crisp, money-green suit's breast pocket, and tosses a thick manilla envelope my way.
>"The pay, minus the cost of what you ordered. I have a great deal of cleanup to do here, and you job is done-please do leave before the police arrive."
"So about the oth-"
>"You can choose to start the other job right away or wait a few days."
"Alright-gone."

I make my way out of the restaurant, noting the first floor to be packed with unfamiliar faces in gas-masks corralling the addled mobsters, leading them away-and any that meet my gaze nod in recognition-Savoy's men, then. I make it two blocks away before I hear the sirens going-and I keep walking.

I finally make it back home, and stash my new funds into my safe, idly thinking soon enough I'll have enough I could look into getting a numbered account.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,068,788.52






So now what?
I could start the job to scare off the Germans-or I could spend some of this money on any number of things.
I could also start attending Constanz's gym more regularly and really cement my grasp of Krav Maga, and maybe schedule some lessons in Sambo.
Or I could do something else.
Maybe I should by a vehicle? I know how to drive all manner of cars, trucks and bikes, and having to use public transit sucks sometimes....
>>
No. 300691 ID: 4a3736

Haha! ANOTHER awesome gun. Might want to get it checked out by a magical authority - it seemed to have some weird thing on it. Let's head home and do some scheming! Go over our entire inventory, clean our guns and count up our ammo.

Those flashbangs sure are handy. Might want to buy a little stockpile.

Once you go over the inventory, case the territory of the guys we're supposed to scare. look for things like large buildings, priority targets, living areas - anywhere a large prescence would be needed at all times - it's worthless to put on a show without an audience.


Here is what I am thinking: Amateur demolition, anyone?
>>
No. 300695 ID: 8b0de1

How about we go ahead and buy magical armor and protection amulets? (if there are such things)

If there aren't, at least we could get a regular best-quality armor which protects as much of the body as possible.

Examine the pistol you got, I think it is magical in nature.
I'm also going ahead and vote against selling this thing. We might need it when killing supernatural stuff.

Also examine your rifle. I think that by dipping it into Elven blood you not only recharged it but also permanently upgraded it.
>>
No. 300703 ID: d429c4

>>300688
>So now what?

You have quire possibly made enemies today, when you killed the elf, and possibly gained a pair of quite unique weapons.

You should get in touch with Arkvad. Elves originate in Scandinavian folklore after all, so he might be able to give you the rundown. He may also be able to do the work to modify the elf's sabre into a sword bayonet.

If you do that, it might be worth seeing if there's a jukendo school in Istanbul.
>>
No. 300867 ID: a6ba65

>>300695
I recommend the Dragon Skin ballistic vest put out by Pinnacle Armor. It's made with overlapping circular discs of silicone carbide ceramic, like ye olde scale mail. Good protection, but with a good range of movement in case we need to run from more sahaguin.

The SOV 2000 has certified Level III protection (rifles, most grenades), the SOV 3000 has level IV (armor-piercing rifle rounds), and they have another version unavailable to the public with (supposedly) "level V" protection. And it only weighs about 5.5 pounds and will set you back around 5 grand.

It's good stuff. The CIA and some special forces in Iraq use it. I'm unsure if we should go for the easiest concealable version which is just the vest, or for the somewhat bulkier version that protects neck to groin and upper arms.

Putting in some more hours with Krav Maga is good, but rather than start learning Combat Sambo I'd like to see if they offer anything to better handle your mere pounamu. Mau Rakau would be ideal (being the Maori style for using clubs), but anything Crash Course instructors teach using clubs, machetes or similar weapons would do. Kapap does stick fighting, for example, and might be close enough for our purpose.

For a car, consider the Ford Fiesta. It's got a lot of space for a small car (hatch for weapons, bodies... you know, whatever), and it's the third most popular selling car in Turkey right now so there should be plenty of them on the road. Though it does only have 120 horse, so we might want something with a little more power. A used 2011 will run us around 12-15k.
>>
No. 300895 ID: a76809

>>300867
....I think it may be time to call my old Ranger Drill Sergeant, Edward Riker. I could get body armor from him, of that I'm fairly certain-I might be able to get more drum magazines for the AA-12. But honestly-between Castelletti's gun of DOOM-which I note he had managed to reload, so I have a round of whatever the hell he was shooting-and the elf's stupid speed, I have been made abundantly aware that if I want to really be able to go far in these missions-I will need body armor, and damned good armor at that. What a happy coincidence I now have money. I search through my contact list, and find Riker's number. I check the clock and adjust for the time difference-he should be awake. I call, with Riker picking up his phone on the fifth ring, the same as he has every single time I've ever called him.
>"Armas-haven't heard from you for a while-how have you been?"
"Trying to make life a bit less exciting."
>"Really? I heard you left the service."
"Private sector-which is actually why I'm calling."
>"Keep talking."
"The guy I'm working for right now is a bit of a nut-wants to research the old catecombs and whatnot beneath Istanbul."
>"Istanbul? That old town?"
"Exactly-and honestly, I've been running into some wierd shit keeping the researcher safe-feel like I could use something to keep me safe."
>"Now, when you say weird..."
"I mean that guys with guns are the least of my concerns."
>"...So what kind of creatures HAVE you encountered yet?"
"Welp, these scaly, slimy eyeless freaks that are all mouth and claws, hunt in packs-"
>"Sahagins-yeah, sounds like you picked a real gem of an employer-what's he researching?"
"Honestly I don't really know-something about proving some theories of when the city changed ownership from one empire to the next."
>"...Yeah, sounds like some bad luck there. Okay, so what are you looking for, then?"
"Firstly, body armor-and I mean a whole mess of it. IIIa compliant ballistic armor for my legs, shoulders and groin, a concealable IV rated vest-whichever one allows the most range of motion, plus Soft trauma packs for each bit of armor-"
>"Probably a good idea, given how many crawlies have way too much strength."
"And then here's the kicker-on top of all that, I am all SORTS of interested in the Dragon Skin ballistic vest-in particular the level V variant."
>"The one that doesn't exist."
"Doesn't officially exist-just like Sahagin don't exist."
>"Point-okay, I can in fact put together such a care pack for you-we still have your fitting dimensions from training, I can even make sure the Dragon Skin vest is sized to fit over the concealable vest-I assume that to be you purpose here?"
"Yup."
>"Okay, that's fine-you ARE aware how much the Dragon Skin is going to add to the cost of all this, right?"
"Hundred for the groin, two fifty for the leggings, eight hundred for the vest and shoulders, five grand for the Dragon Skin-are my numbers in range here?"
>"Okay kid, just making sure you know what price range you're looking at.
For now, I decide not to try and get AA-12 drums. No need to arouse Riker's suspicion-though even with me suspecting it, the fact Riker knows of the supernatural is still a bit of a surprise.
"So-can you ballpark a price?"
>"Not right now-I can send a quote as a text, if you want."
"I'd appreciate it."

Ten minutes later I'm looking at a number-and I call back Riker to iron out payment for this personal shipment. Soon enough, plans have been set in motion-and barring any complications, my shipment will be delivered in a week.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,062,458.52]

I spend the rest of the day at Constanz's gym, catching up with Ahmad, Hafaz and Shaya (Hadar and Yoni being once more out of town) and in general working to further solidify my grasp of Krav Maga-I'm starting to have brief bouts where I can just act without having to consciously pick a particular attack or maneuver, and I'm finally starting to integrate the combat style into my other 'formal' unarmed combat style-LINE. After showing the lads to the Pitstop and introducing them to the wondrous mead available there, I spend the night contemplating what I learned in my lessons in martial craft today-and I also consider my own performance-I've chosen to play a dangerous game, and I've made it clear I will raise the stakes as I high as I must to win. I may be new to this field, this combination of intrigue, deceit, bullets and blood, cash and corruption-but I believe I have a way to navigate such a world.

>ARMAS HAS UNLOCKED A NEW TRAIT: MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR
>-This trait predisposes Armas to forming roundabout, cunning and subtly harmful plans with which to lay low enemies with greater resources at their command.
>-Armas is more inclined to play forces against each other to reduce the number of threats he personally will have to face.
>-Armas feel comfortable lying and misrepresenting the truth-while not a master deceiver, he can fool most individuals with sufficiently well-thought out deceptions. (Leaving this to me rather than coming up with the lie yourself gambles on how effective I think Armas should be at the moment.)
>-Where possible, in any situation where Armas is considerably outnumbered, he will, in the planning state, seek whichever plans involve him directly engaging the least number of opponents, and in general gravitate towards plans that are personally less risky.
>-When actively in a given combat situation, Armas is prone to using overwhelming force as fast as possible in an effort to overwhelm and crush opponents before they can become notable threats.
>-Thanks to years in the military in multiple branches, Armas is predisposed to plans that involve flash bangs, explosives, or debilitating gas to shape the battlefield before attempting personal entry.

The next day comes, and I again hit Constanz's gym Only Shaya is around-and we cut the practice short after four hours, when he has to go to work-by the time he leaves I feel I made a bit more progress in imprinting Krav Maga and its tenants into my bones, right alongside LINE. I note that one of the Russian Sambo instructors is here again, and manage to secure such tutelage for myself. Five hours later I leave the gym battered and bruised, chagrined that I let my progress with Krav Maga make me think I was performing equally well with Sambo. Note to self-if you are spending scores of hours on something, of COURSE you are going to get better, as opposed to something only a handful were spent on. I resolve to step up my training-as I have a feeling having genuinely formidable hand to hand skills could open up a slew of options for how I approach the German job.

>>300703
I decide to call Arkvad after finishing my evening meal-and I explain to him my encounter with an elf, and what happened with the rifle. There is a lengthy pause, before the aged pure-blooded Finn carefully respondes.
>"...Well, for starters I would NOT go around bragging about killing the elf-even if it was wyld fae, unassociated with Summer or Winter, it could still have plenty of friends who would love to say hi to it's killer. As to the rifle itself... honestly, I couldn't tell you off the top of my head. I'd need to do some research on the subject-but I can tell you that there is no reason to NOT use the elf's sword as a bayonet-rejoining the sword with the blood of its owner can only lead to good things, from your perspective-and no, I don't know specifically what would happen, just that it would be advantageous to you. ...Had a chance to check up on the gun connoisseur yet?"
"I trust you will believe me when I say I've been most busy."
>"Well, that's all I got for now-I'll call when I have more for you."

After I finish my conversation with Arkvad, I spend the next two hours combing the city's assorted gyms and dojos-until I find an old Japanese school that teaches Jukendo-the school is not at all well known-and judging by google maps picture of the place, it's not had the best business recently-but I don't see anything else remotely close to being useful to learn for using a rifle like a spear and club alike.

>>300695
[How about you go ahead and say where Armas would get magical armor and amulets? If you're gonna say Arkvad at Holland & Holland, NOPE, he's an ARMS trader, specializes in weapons and would have nothing to sell in this field. And, since Armas doesn't HAVE any other contacts that sell enchanted equipment.... Basically, if you want Armas to do something, you have to show that you have a plan for HOW he will make that happen. This would be like saying 'hack into the CIA's main server'. A bit more detail is required.]

>>300691
I'm finally taking some time to inspect Castelletti's personal Pfiefer-Zeliska pistol when my phone rings-It's Lo Fang.
"Laine."
>"The job I mentioned coming soon has, in fact, arrived."
"The job being?"
>"How do you feel about boats, Mr. Laine?"

Turns out the Triads have a problem-one of their shipments is late. The cargo vessel bringing the shipment in is dead in the water some fifty miles out-and the Triad want me to lead a five-man team onto the seemingly derelict vessel and determine what happened to the crew, and secure the vessel so Triad sailors can board and get the vessel into the docks. Pay is twenty thousand-and I asked, Labombard will NOT be part of my team, it will simply be a hit-squad of four Triad gunmen that I will lead, nothing more.


...Of course, this job comes BEFORE my shipment of body armor can have any chance to arrive...




So what should I say or do?
Should I accept the job?
(Please prioritize Armas' martial study, and indicate between Krav Maga, Sambo and Jukendo which he should treat as primary, which secondary, and which tertiary)
>>
No. 300898 ID: d429c4

>>300895
>So what should I say or do?
Respond politely. Ask for a briefing on the more unusual inhabitants of the Bosphorus, and if there's anything else you should know about the shipment.
>Should I accept the job?
Yes. If you can, you should get the alterations to the elven sabre to serve as a sword bayonet done first.
>(Please prioritize Armas' martial study, and indicate between Krav Maga, Sambo and Jukendo which he should treat as primary, which secondary, and which tertiary)
1: Jukendo. See if the teacher can teach you the original non watered down version, jukenjitsu. As a side note, the big advantage of sword bayonets over spear bayonets is that you don't use them as spears, but as glaives, making use of the cutting edge.

2: Sambo

3: Krav Maga
>>
No. 300999 ID: a6ba65

>>300898
Sounds like a good plan. I bet the sea has something like the sahaguin in it, at least. Mer-people or sirens, maybe (invest in a pair of earplugs, at least, if this is a genuine possibility). The Bosphorus is basically Jason & the Argonauts territory: harpies, Symplegades, and such. Plus there's a submarine channel (undersea river) in the straight, who knows what's down there?

>(Please prioritize Armas' martial study, and indicate between Krav Maga, Sambo and Jukendo which he should treat as primary, which secondary, and which tertiary)
1. Jukendo (Jukenjitsu), 2. Krav Maga, 3. Combat Sambo
Better to be a master of Krav Maga than a middling student of two styles, in my opinion. Plus, lets us hang out with the four (or was it six?) Krav Maga experts more often; that might come in handy, someday, considering they're ex-military and all. And maybe in a similar line of work as we, considering they're 'out of town' regularly.

On the subject of a car, IRC consensus is that we'd prefer something with some room rather than small and inconspicuous. The GMC Vandura seems the popular choice; big and roomy, only two windows in the front so we have the option of some... nonstandard plating and so on. The 1994 model can be found used for under 5 grand, so it's a bargain, too.

Just as a side note: If we ever hit the big times (and wanted to kick subtlety to the curb), the Turkish Otokar Cobra runs around 150 grand, offers protection against everything from RPGs to artillery fire to anti-tank mines, and can mount anything from 20mm cannons to grenade launchers to surface-to-air missiles. Also, it's an amphibious vehicle, so it can basically turn into a boat when you want it to. Just sayin'.
>>
No. 301000 ID: d429c4

>>300999
> Sirens
Possibly best to go with a noise cancelling headset linked to a short range radio. That way, we can leave the noise cancellation off until it becomes necessary, and still communicate with our team.

We should also take the scopes.

Beofre going, we should meet up with the team and do some basic familiarisation exercise, and make sure they also have hands-free radios. Going in cold is a bad idea - if you can get the layout for ships of that class which you and the team can study it would help.
>>
No. 301001 ID: e41ad5

>Preparations:

Noise cancelling headphones worked into a headset that works as a radio. Buy them for everyone, explaining the why of it: There could be sirens, and we want to be as coordinated as possible.

Bring along Keihas (To dip in special blood) and the Matebas with the speedloaders. Buy a gun made to work underwater, and flares, or NV/Thermal scopes.

Also, most underwater nasties try to drag you down - bring the sabre and something to help you breathe underwater, just in case of, say, Kelpies, or similar bullshit.
>>
No. 301072 ID: b5ebec

Consider getting one or two WASP knives for underwater work, the utility thereof should be rather obvious. Also potentially a limpet mine or two with a radio detonator to set on the ship's hull as a distraction/scuttling measure if need be, if your explosives dealer has any about. CS grenades would be good too, as well as another set of flashbangs.

...Also get some light sticks and/or light amplification goggles, shit may be dark in there. Oh, reminds me, bring your flare gun and life vest along since, y'know, water.

Personal arms-wise, apart from the WASP knives and possibly the sword, I suggest the Matebas, the new single-shot pistol for shits and giggles, and something good for CQB like the AA-12 or maybe a decent submachine gun like a P90 if you can get hold of one, else go for an Uzi with extended magazine since they're relatively common. A long rifle will be more of a disadvantage in tight quarters.
>>
No. 301092 ID: a76809
File 130439998422.jpg - (51.71KB , 625x468 , Encantado Threat Detected.jpg )
301092

>>300989
>>300999
>>301001
"Well, why not fill me in on which of the more unusual inhabitants of the Bosphorus I'll be most likely to encounter in that particular area. We talking some sort of Sahagin, sirens, harpies, kelpies-the list goes on."
>"...True enough, Mr. Laine. In that particular area Kelpies are indeed a problem, as they are all throughout the Bosphorus-though a sufficiently violent response can usually drive away all but the largest of groups. Sirens have not been seen in that area for longer than I've been alive-and I'm older than I look. Harpies... those are likewise a threat, the same as Kelpies-and able to be handled similarly."
"A place this steeped in lore-groups of Kelpies and Harpies can't be all I could have to worry about."
>"If I did not tell you the first time you asked, why would I offer more now?"
"Because, say, if I get killed because I don't know an Abaia or Namazu is living in the area, then your squad lost at least a fifth of it's ability-so why let an information gap potentially prevent you from recovering your cargo?"
>"...Varied interests, for one so young."
"I'm younger than I-"
>"No. You are not... but your adherence to flippant joviality is recognized as what it is, and not as a bold-faced attempt to lie. Very well: Hippocamps do roam these parts, the Bosphorus straits as a whole, and the general zone you will be deployed in."
"Hippocamps are herbivorous and non-violent unless actively attacked-why would their presence matter?"
>"Because it drew predators that rather enjoy their high quality flesh: Encantado"
"Encantado-are you kidding me? Those portugese shapeshifters?"
>"...On this subject, I think, your sources have failed you. While Encantado do indeed come from Portugese lore, they fabricated the legends of them being wondrous beings from beneath the water, travelling from a paradise-Encantado are solitary hunters, cunning beings that can take on the appearance of any human sharing a gender with them-this is why, of the four triads going with you, one will be male, two female, and one in possession of abberant enough sexual organs and self-perception that they are as close to nongendered as possible-and thus as close to un-mimicable, from the Encantado's standpoint, as possible. I will note this particular member of the team has permission to execute other members of the team if he agrees with your assessment they have been replaced by such a creature."
"You weren't kidding, my sources were off. Okay, sneaky, cunning, can create all sorts of group discord with the any-same-gendered-face trick-but they hunt alone, right? So, OTHER than what you said, do they have further properties relevant to their threat assessment?"
>"Just one-when they shift forms from human to dolphin and back, any wounds they possess will be healed as if weeks had passed. The only consolation is this does NOT happen when they shift between human forms. Their last threat is not supernatural physical capacity-they are no stronger, faster or more durable when guised as a human than any other, the same compared against other dolphins-but Encantado have an innate ability to manipulate nearby bodies of water-specifically water, not oil or blood or somesuch-be it sea or fresh. The degree of their talent in this field varies as much as the world-wide skill level at driving-you can find all sorts. Thus, even though I have no reason to think one involved in the vessel's fate, your team has been specially chosen to combat one's [i]possible appearance.[/i]"
"I think until I encounter one myself, I'll just treat them as a SEAL team and the CIA rolled into one body and try to avoid it and, if engagement is impossible to avoid, put every method at my disposal towards killing it."
>"A wise way to approach such a threat. For a rough assessment of the odds, out of every five boating issues we have, one involves an Encantado-had they any form of localized government or static living environs they would long ago have been expunged from the area-but nomadic hunters and shape shifters are unsurprisingly exceedingly hard to pin down."
"...I hate noting this, but you have not yet said that's all we could be facing."
>"Astute. There is one particular resident of the Bosphorus that is, relatively speaking, new-it's only been here for the last hundred years or so. An Akkorokamui."
I had a Russian-American squadmate for six months in Iraq whose mother was Ainan-I know that word-I know that name.
"Please tell me it's not as big as I think it is."
>"Sadly, the one here is indeed full-grown, and from one tentacle to another is, by best estimates, some hundred and twenty meters."
"...There is only just the one monstrously huge psuedo-octopus monster though, right? Just the one?"
>"Yes, just the one for the whole of the Bosphorus-and Wizard Khubiliai has made a personal mission out of hunting down and slaying the beast after the fifth time it sunk a boat with his followers on it. I see no realistic probability the creature will be encountered-it is not in the habit of leaving ships afloat after an attack-but it IS the last threat one must currently face."
"So to recap-good chance of Kelpies swarms trying to pull me under and Harpy swarms to rend at my face, low but considerable chance of rather dangerous shape-shifting murderous Encantado, and a very slight chance of a ship-breaking Akkorokamui. ...WHY is an Akkorakamui here?"
>"A collection of Cryptids drove out every last Akkorakamui from their home in the Funka bay-and I believe we are getting off-target here."
"Maybe not-I need to make sure the gear I bring is adequate to what I may be facing. For one, I know the moment I put this phone down I'm mounting an Elven blade as bayonet-best option I got, and I'd rather not have to put down a firearm to reach for a melee weapon, if it comes to it."
>"A cautious mind-you continue to fill me with hope I shall one day play against you."
>>301000
"Will communications be provided or should I bring my own?"
>"There will be fingerprint-locked cordless communicators provided-another precaution against Encantado infiltration in search teams."
"How high should I be setting my threat evaluation for these Portugese shapeshifters?"
>"While I scoff at the notion of underestimating their danger, be aware we have been dealing with them for some time, and have become exceedingly practiced at excising their presence when encountered."
"So I'll be meeting with the team before we depart then, so we can all familiarize ourselves, right?"
>"Absolutely correct. ...Always refreshing to meet one familiar with how one prepares to run an operation designed to succeed."
"Shouldn't have said that-you know Murphy's always listening."
>"......Murphy?"
>>301072
"Joke, nevermind-I'm wondering if you happen to have WASP knives."
>"...It seems Labombard lost the bet-yes, we have WASP knives, and indeed each member of the squad will be provided with a four-knife brace in addition to the personally-locked communicator. Any further questions?"
"When does the mission-"
>"Now. I am sending a car to pick you up-I'd rather not wait for you to walk."

Which means I can't get more ammo for the AA-12 before the job starts, dammit-so I check the AVT 40, adjust the bindings on my burgundy rifle to accommodate the transparent sword as bayonet, and have time to finish putting on both holdout rigs, stash the glock in my lower-back-holster, and secure both Matebas and all their speed-loads before stashing Castelletti's massive singleshot pistol in my inner jacket pocket. ...I then go a step farther as I hear tires screeching, and load all three flashbangs onto my belt, before slinging both aged russian rifles onto my shoulder. One may question just walking outside with two massive longarms-but given the neighborhood I live in is not well-to-do, the lateness of the hour on a weekday and the fact my door opens onto an alleyway and not a main street, all tied together by the only windows facing this way being readily visible and considerably distant-well, I'm not overly concerned, not to expose myself so for a handful of seconds. I nod to the much smaller Triad, his slightly rumpled suit murmuring its shuffling sound as he gets back in the driver's seat. I sit down alone in the back seat-

Twenty minutes later I am meeting four Triads-those who I shall be working with on this contract. They are:
-May Lee, a barrel-chested stocky woman with an oft-broken nose, scarred eyebrows and knuckles that look broken oft enough they've fused into subdermal hammers-and judging by how much her sweater's straining over her arms, she could probably drop me with a few clean hits. While only five three, the pair of axes (fuck, can never remember if they're called Chinese axes or Buddhist axes) at her hips and the SAW complete with a backpack the ammo-belt is feeding from-well, I think we have our heavy weapons expert of the bunch. Prone to few words and grunting where words aren't strictly required, she confides in us her ownership of a cat, and the fact she is very much under its command when home-the remark should bring laughter-it doesn't.
-Diao Yuan, the tallest of the group at five eleven, carries a Franchi SPAS 12 and sports a triple-stacked bandolier of 12-gauge, practically a rainbow of differently colored casings-I recognize Frag-12, Dragonsbreath, regular shot and sabot in the mix-and count another eight shades beyond. Then there's the stun baton at her right hip, the scalpalized dagger at the right... close quarters specialist, right here. She's... oddly shy, hiding her face behind her overlong hair more oft than not, her voice quite a bit higher than I'd expected. But despite the tentative social mannerisms, she confides she is, and I quote 'Somewhat the opposite when in the bedroom'.
-Go Ping is practically a poster child for the Triad. At five eight, leanly muscled and wearing a well-fitted suit with a shaved head, he almost gives off a monkish vibe, serenely waiting as I made my introductions at the start (noting I carry four guns taken from those I slew at this very moment as my own identifying factoid) and through May Lee's and Diao Yuan's, he says little save that he followed the 'Esteemed Master Lo Fang' to the triads many years ago, and has been here ever since. He carries a harness that hangs an MP7 at either hip, with another six clips secured to the rig-other than that, I see not a weapon on him. Not really sure how to classify him-a bit harder to read than the others-but he confides that his secret is he fears seeing Lo Fang never get revenge for a past transgression by those he had trusted.
-Lastly, Long Wang (I really have to struggle to not laugh at the one who's not really a he or a she being named 'Long Wang', but I just barely manage it) rounds out the group, shortest of the bunch at five flat, just oh-so-slightly having gone to seed. Long Wang's voice is rough, scratchy, and cracks intermittently-but his words and mannerisms bely his tongue, speaking of professionalism and dispassionate objectivism-he verbalizes his purpose-specifically bring up that if he and I both think another has been compromised, he has been given permission to execute them. He also notes that if all the other squad members agree with him that I have been replaced... well, better make sure that never becomes relevant while I'm alive. I don't know what he hides under that bulky jacket of his-but in his hands I see an HK69 in his hands... definitely not a toy. Long Wang's complete lack of humor is compounded by his fascination with 'Reaction images', trying to describe several forums he visits....

In any event, all of us have given a secret to our comrades, gotten to know eachother, gotten our WASP knives and finger-print locked communicators-it is time to go.

One hour later, Long Wang pulls our raft up beside the massive hulk of the Cargo Ship-the name, I am told, translating to 'The Lucky Lady.'

...Why does this give me a bad feeling?

We pull up beside the lone metal ladder bolted to the ship's side, all squinting as we look through the night gloom at the unlit, eerily quiet vessel.






Who's going up first?
Given we each know the general layout of the ship now, where should we head to start looking for clues as to what happened?
Should we head straight to the bridge and try to get the ship going back to port?
Is there any reason I can think of that would make splitting up our group a good idea?
>>
No. 301109 ID: e41ad5

>Who's going up first?
You. You're specialized in assaults and surprise attacks - so you're the best bet at taking one.

>Given we each know the general layout of the ship now, where should we head to start looking for clues as to what happened?

Bridge, maybe. Keep an eye out for a map of the ship itself, from there.

>Should we head straight to the bridge and try to get the ship going back to port?
Maybe - such an act might draw unseemly attention.

>Is there any reason I can think of that would make splitting up our group a good idea?

NO.
>>
No. 301110 ID: a6ba65

What can we tell from a cursory examination of the hulk? Any obvious damage? Is it listing to one side or the other, hanging low in the water? I don't imagine they'll tell us what the Lucky Lady was carrying, but you might want to risk the question anyway...

Splitting up... probably not a good idea unless we absolutely have to. You (with Keihas) and heavy weapons girl (with SAW): one takes point, the other watches six. You won't be able to turn easily in the relatively tight corridors that make up most of a ship with those weapons, so you want to be in the optimal place and pointing in the right direction to fire.

The other three remain in the middle, and two at a time should enter any side rooms you pass by. Buddy system. Hate to insult their intelligence, but let them know that if something does get into the middle of the group, not to open fire and beat it down with axe, rifle butt, fist, kung fu, whatever. If you DO get separated, have the groups keep in radio contact every two minutes.

Head for the bridge and try not to go below the waterline if you can help it; while on the ship you should be safe from kelpies (water), harpies (air) and giant octopi. Barring Encantado bodysnatchers or men with guns, it should be a smooth run.
>>
No. 301118 ID: e41ad5

>men with guns
Why would they be-
>and Wizard Khubiliai has made a personal mission out of hunting down and slaying the beast after the fifth time it sunk a boat with his followers on it.
Well, shit.
>>
No. 301126 ID: b5ebec

>Who's going up first?
You go up first, thermal-scoped Mateba in hand to scan for potential threats on the deck before clearing the others to come up. Or alternately, you could send Ping since there's one-handed autofire being packed there in case something's waiting at the top of the ladder.

>Given we each know the general layout of the ship now, where should we head to start looking for clues as to what happened?
Take it from the top. Head to the bridge, check the ship's log for any useful information.

>Should we head straight to the bridge and try to get the ship going back to port?
Head there yes, move the ship no. Not yet anyway. Just get the bridge secured for the time being and turn this into a clearing action, section by section.

>Is there any reason I can think of that would make splitting up our group a good idea?
In the words of Will Smith, AW HELL NAW!
>>
No. 301204 ID: d17cf9

Stay together within support range (30-50 metres?). Make some swift forays into the boat. See if you can check out the cabins or get a glimpse of the cargo, but move towards the bridge.

The main reason you don't want to go too far inside is that you want to try to keep an eye on the smaller boat you arrived with. If this ship is dead in the water and water monsters steal or sink your little boat then you're trapped.
>>
No. 301353 ID: a76809
File 130448939343.jpg - (168.17KB , 1110x785 , Doonongaes.jpg )
301353

>>3001109
I lead, climbing with one hand, the other clutching the Nightvision scope equipped Mateba as I peer upward into the gloom, the world resolving into clarity before me. Compared to running in the sewers, climbing a ladder with backup behind me is nothing.

Which is why when I spot a lone Harpy near the ladder, turning to investigate, I jam the barrel against it's throat and fire a single suppressed shot. The point-blank, guaranteed-hit shot puts a 454 casul through the creatures hind skull, severs the spine and removes the trachea with no more noise than the waves and shifting metal-indeed, of those climbing behind me, only Go Ping, the one behind me, even seems to note what I did-all of this tertiary data noted while I meticulously sweep the area with my scope, checking all angles before proceeding as the rest of the team arrives-no other harpies-so it was just an individual scavenger, not part of a Harpy swarm that could have attacked the ship.... Harpies ruled out, as this particular section of deck is clear of cargo containers, and allows clears view of all space NOT filled with the tightly packed freight-so short of trying to nest on top of the cargo itself, where the wind is coldest and fiercest with no real chance to see anything else without revealing their image over the edge of the ship.... well, that's one possible threat down. Diao Yuan oh so softly titters as she spies the slain harpy, night vision goggles now on her face-and hers alone. Go Ping does not seem bothered by the darkness, his serene face shifting about as he observes our surroundings, while Long Wang mutters with May Lee, discussing the best route to the bridge. I take part when I realize the path they describe goes the long way around a bridged shortcut I saw on the schematics-so shortly enough, the three of us have a two minute trek mapped out while Go Ping and Diao Yuan keep watch alongside me.

>>301110
The ship's hull seemed undamaged in the ascent-and I haven't seen a bullet hole yet-all I've noted is a bent section of railing, bowing a couple feet in the middle of a span some nine feet across-but I can't tell if it's recent or not with the scope's resolution. I note a few dents in the freight containers-which, when accounting for distance, are more like 'yard-across-craters'. But beyond the six such craters I count and the bent section of rail, I see nothing. With no observable threat, we proceed onward, Diao Yuan and May Lee in the front, Go Ping and Long Wang in the middle on duty investigating rooms as we pass them to assure no stragglers behind us, and myself bringing up the rear, Mateba kept to the side of Keihäs so I can both see and present bayonet to anything threatening to follow us. Seven rooms are summarily appraised and deemed clear in transit, nothing out of the ordinary, until the ninth-

Which turns out to have been severely warped, the metal reshaped as if some giant had decided to stretch, with enough blood layered over every surface in pools, puddles and splatters that scores must have been butchered here. Closer inspection reveals clawmarks-maybe fangmarks-with a span of seven feet in the depths of the greatest craters-but not a single bone, or even scrap of flesh or hair is found-and all the blood dried days ago. Still, I believe we have found where a considerable portion of the crew if not all of them were slain. Past this one room of days-old slaughter, not a single thing of note is found as we make a beeline to the bridge. Shortly enough we are in front of the main power breaker-which was in fact simply switched to off. Long Wang, grinning like a fool, avoids saying 'I told you so' to May Lee's earlier assurances it couldn't be that simple as he flicks the switch-

The lights come on as power is restored to the station, Diao Yuan removing her goggles as I put away the Mateba to more normally carry Keihäs, floodlights on the deck re-illuminating as the ship's electrical systems thrum back to life.

**************************************************************************************

Deep beneath the Lucky Lady's lowest levels, beneath its keel, and the nearly surgically shorn hole some fifteen feet across into a small, already sealed room-floats a shape. A massive, roughly hided beast, a monster with a bone mask, a predator of the ancient deeps made flesh, amidst a literal sea of blood, the stray bodyparts of hundreds of aquatic creatures idly drifting around the slumbering beast-which twitches as the ship's current puts an oh so slight vibration back in the waters.

A Paleontologist would look at the ten meter long. bone-helmeted fanged monster and name it Dunkleosteus back from the grave, an apex predator of ancient times. A Biologist would note it couldn't be, as a Dunkleosteus was a fish-and this monster clearly has both a blow-hole at the base of that demonic, spiked bone helm, and skin far more cruelly toothed than any shark's skin-and say no such creature is known to exist-coupled with the fact it was napping underwater while, given it has a blowhole, holding its breath, it quite frankly shouldn't exist, the absurdity of it belying reality. But what neither would tell you, what neither COULD tell you, is something one must know. It would take a Native American from the Seneca tribe to tell you what the thing was.

Good luck getting them to hold still long enough after spotting the Doonongaes to get a description out of them-most are far too busy running for their life for having even been shown a picture of the monster. And sadly, it is ONLY a Seneca Native American who would not be startled and in fact expect the monster from the deeps to silently glide up through the bloodied waters, it's flesh flowing as it enters the ship-and takes on a new form as it does. For Doonongaes, beyond being a water monster so deadly to even touch the water it shares can spell your doom-they are shapeshifters.

Primary diet: Humans.

Now, with this hypothetical Seneca willing to discuss the topic, they would note it odd to see such a beast in early November, reasonably along in their hibernation cycle. And this critical point is a question that could only be answered by a different type of expert, one with no knowledge of Doonongaes at all, but nevertheless tied to this event-it would take a Triad to explain why the Doonongaes that murdered the crew of the Lucky Lady is awake and functioning during hibernation.

But since there is no Paleontologist, no Biologist, no Seneca, and in fact no awareness of what transpired deep beneath the ship-Go Ping, Diao Yuan, Long Wang, May Lee, and Armas Laine have no idea what is coming to investigate what disturbs this ghost ship.

And it's hungry.

[MYTHIC MONSTER ENCOUNTERED: THE DOONONGAES]

**************************************************************************************


The power is back on-now, I guess we just go down floor by floor and sweep the place until we can declare it secure-with plenty of bullets to let us CHANGE the answer to secure. We know the layout of the ship, and the real question relevant to how we explore it is follows:




In what order should the following rooms be searched?
-Engine room.
-Crew Quarters
-Captain's Quarters
-Infirmary
-Security
-Armory

And do I have any pertinent questions or thoughts for those of my team, as a whole or individually, like ammunition types for Diao or Long?
>>
No. 301444 ID: 46c430

Yeah, ask about the ammo types. For where you go next, I say check out security, may be something of use there like video cameras or something. I suppose next would be armory as I assume it's close, then Captain's quarters, then infirmary, then crew quarters, then finally engine room (As it's probably the deepest area in the ship, and therefor most dangerous).
>>
No. 301454 ID: a6ba65

Well... that's not good. Were the Triad trying to ship this thing, I wonder? If something that size had cut through the hull, it would be pretty obvious to Armas. Either way, I'm rather glad we brought our new FUCK YOU pistol, because we're going to need it.

If you've seen any security cameras up, go looking for the security room first, followed by armory to see if they had any unusual weapons specifically designed for what they were carrying (I doubt it, but you never know...). If not, captain's quarters first, then crew's quarters, with an eye out for ship's log, black box, something to shed some light on the subject.
>>
No. 301482 ID: d429c4

Also, stick together. You don't want to risk being picked off one by one.
>>
No. 301547 ID: 903f16

>>301353
I guess I'll second this in terms of search order for the areas of the ship >>301454.

As for thoughts, we've ruled out harpies as a possible cause. We only saw one, there are no nests, and the damage doesn't fit. Kelpies aren't it either, there's evidence that the people were killed on board the ship, if I recall correctly Kelpies like to drown their prey. If it were a Kelpie there would be hardly any evidence at all and certainly not massive craters or rooms splattered with blood. Encantado's are gone as an option too, there's just too much damage. It just doesn't work with an Encantado's power set, far too powerful of an attack. They're supposed to be only as strong as humans when in human form, and even if they get more power while in their natural shapes their body doesn't have claws or fangs big enough to cause that damage. That's not to say any of these things aren't on board, but it just makes it far less likely that they were the cause of this massacre. With that settled Almas can then state that whatever this is it's large, powerful, and consumes human beings as evidenced by the absence of any parts in the slaughter room.

With that in mind he should ask everyone to share the extend of their experiences dealing with beasties that shouldn't exist, particularly large specimens like what we're likely up against. Suggest they load out with heavy duty rounds if we come across it.

Also I'm looking around and I'm not seeing a restriction to that things shape shifting like the Encantado has. So our entire group set up, built to handle an Encantado infiltration is kind of screwed. I mean we're prepared for something to try and infiltrate us, but the rules that are set up to ensure we can remove the gender which it will take the shape of and leave it in the open could hinder us instead of providing security.
>>
No. 301660 ID: a6ba65

When we reach a room to sweep (security, armory, etc.), have everyone spread out. Diao Yuan covers the door with the SPAS-12 set to auto. When she attacks, she'll run out of rounds inside of 5-10 seconds, but that's a pretty good destructive burst; have her retreat and reload rather than going toe to toe with this thing. A stun baton isn't likely to even inconvenience it. Have her load for bear (Dragonsbreath and FRAG-12 rounds, methinks). Same for the others; SAW and MP7s to hose it down, grenade launcher and your various weapons, and even a mythical beast might be feeling the hurt.

If we run into this thing, it's probably going to be in human form. A human still alive out here is going to be suspicious but not impossible. I don't know how good of an actor this thing is, but maybe the Triad shipping wing has some kind of codeword to prove themselves?
>>
No. 301664 ID: 28e94e

>>301660
SPAS-12 is not automatic, and Dragon's Breath does not work in semi-auto mode. If we run into something that buckshot and 5.56 won't kill, we'll just whip out our new howdah pistol and blow it to very tiny pieces.
>>
No. 301666 ID: d17cf9

I think going for security first is a pretty good idea. There should be cameras or the like. Then check the armory, quarters and infirmary. Do the engine room last.

See if you can put Keihäs into 'vengeance mode' by having it taste the blood of one of the dead sailors and promising to enact revenge on the one who killed the sailor. It's what the rifle was made for after all.
>>
No. 301692 ID: d429c4

Stop and think about what you've seen means. A creature massive enough to do the damage you've witnessed could not fit down the corridors of the ship...

You're dealing with something that can shift its size, if not its shape. Be wary.
>>
No. 301781 ID: a76809

>>301444
"So... what kinds of ammunition ARE you carrying, Diao Yuan, Long Wang?"
>[DY]"What do you think of?"
"Well, something strong enough to warp metal like that was BIG, no question about it-and because the hallways around that room aren't warped, we can deduce it a shapeshifter-can't just lose all that mass any other way. So we should have ammunition oriented around a single, potentially huge and heavily armored opponent."
>[GP]"...This was not an Encantado attack."
>[ML]"Agreed."

And so I watch what look like reworked FRAG-12s being loaded into the SPAS-each shell marked with tiny caution labels-I imagine I shall enjoy seeing what they do. Long Wang, on the other hand, rechambers its tiny grenade launcher with a 40mm HEAP-the motion showing me it has scores of rounds secreted about its person. May Lee and Go Ping join me in the category of 'I don't have special ammunition,' and while I can't speak for the ever-zen Go Ping, May Lee shared in my envy of the others-specialized munitions are ALWAYS useful-and really fun.

Well, we're as geared up as we can be for this.

>>301454
"Also-I know I'm an outsider, but can you at least confirm or rule out whether what did this could possibly have been carried on this ship as live cargo? I want to know if this is something we need to look at trying to contain safely for sale, or something we can safely blow up."
>[GP]"This could not have been done by anything carried on this ship from its last port, Mr. Laine."
"Good, shoot to kill it is then. Was hoping recovery wasn't an option."
>[ML]"...Where did Lo Fang find this one?"

I peer about the room-no security cameras, damn-there won't be any footage to view, if there's not even a camera on the bridge. So we head to the Captain's quarters, presuming such a place most likely to hold answers about what just happened. We travel in a tightly formed group, staying quiet and above all purposeful in our trek-and reach our destination in one minute. Within, I find a Beretta with a single shell casing on the ground-and a spaltter of blood far more reminiscent of gunfire than being torn apart-the captain committed suicide before being eaten, perhaps? With the only thing other than the general clutter of a room being a log book, tab in place, I decide to flip it open-finding it written in Mandarin-obviously.

"This have anything to say about the fate of the ship?"
When no answer comes I turn to look at the quartet of Triads-only Go Ping avoiding showing shock on his face as he reads the words. He is the one to speak while the others stand poleaxed.
>[GP]"It would seem some of the merchandise attracted attention from the Seneca tribe."
"What makes you say that?"
>[GP]"Not your place to know."
[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELVLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"It does if it changes the nature of what potential threat we need to worry about. Besides, Lo Fang already has my goose-couldn't betray him even if I wanted to."
>[GP]"...As you say. It was a totem of Hagondes, presumed owned by Kaintwakon several hundred years ago."
"Given how potent the thing that tore this ship up is looking, how much would you like to bet the totem's a whole lot older than that?"
>[GP]"I do not gamble, Mr. Laine-I invest my money in strategies after assuring myself of their impending success-but I follow your logic, and agree."
"Well, then my first guess would be one of the old Senecan mythic monsters, the boogeymen of their people. Then narrow it down to aquatic creatures that can shapeshift."
>[GP]"As is the case for you, we are not experts in Senecan lore."
"Well there goes THAT easy solution."

With nothing else to make note of in the room, we move on to the crew quarters. Takes maybe four minutes to get there. The walls have been warped and blood has been smeared on the floor, the ceiling-every surface has been marred, one way or another, with vital fluids. Not nearly so gory as the room we passed earlier-but it nevertheless reeks of death, and is so heavily torn up that I doubt anything could be found without an exhaustive, time consuming search.

>>301547
"Well, at least it seems pretty clear harpies and kelpies were both not involved-so no group beasties to deal with."
>[ML]"Like group foes-get to shoot down many, not worry about whether they can shrug off bullets."
"Encantado seems out too-I can't see one safely operating in a place like this-so I'd say there's probably nothing here but the Senecan thing."
>[DY]"Only a monstrous man-eater to face..."
"Actually, anyone have thoughts on big mythic beasties? Things that worked well for you?"
>[GP]"Do you not have such experience to draw on?"
"Since in all prior encounters involved mission parameters dictating that retreat was the best method of achieving them-no."
>[GP]"...Master Lo Fang and I faced the Xing Tian twice in battle-it was stronger than either of us, but coordination overcame its power."
>[ML]"I say we get a place where we can force it to come at us from one direction, point everything that way and unload everything. If that won't kill it, we're going to die anyway-might as well be decisive about it."
>[LW]"....Speaking of Lo Fang, he has been informed of the situation-and requests us to withdraw at once."

That's when the lights go back out with a spine-tingling thrum of vanishing power-all of us save Ping tensing as hands go to our weapons-while the zen one simply smiles.
>[GP]"So, it is a thinking being then-this hunt shall be most memorable."

We resume our old formation as we make our way as swiftly as we can to the ladder back to our vessel, nearly ten minutes of hallways until we reach the deck-

Out boat is gone-a few strips of what could be rubber from the raft bob in the waters below.

We're stranded.

>[LW]"....Lo Fang is coming personally with a strike team to deal with the... Doonongaes. It will take him forty minutes to get here."

So.

Forty minutes.

The five of us trapped on a ship with a superpowered, shape-shifting murderous monster from Senecan lore, a Doonongaes. The power has been shut back off by the creature-and daring to go turn it back on could put us right in its clutches. We need to last two thirds of an hour-






How are we going to do that?
Of the previously mentioned rooms, should any be travelled to, or should we just stay here on the deck?
Anything to say to or ask of the squad?
>>
No. 301784 ID: a6ba65

>[GP]"So, it is a thinking being then-this hunt shall be most memorable."
"Ah, but are we the hunter, or the prey?

I'm not feeling much like the former."

Well, we do want to meet it in an open enough space that we can spread out and pour on the heat. But is it more valuable to be out on the deck so we can see, or more valuable to hole up in a dead end where the Doonongaes has less room to maneuver?

Always assuming it won't just tear through a wall to get at us, of course.. or the floor.

Did the bridge have external lighting, from windows and such? If so, I say hole up in there. Maybe rig up a few trip wires with your flashbangs in the shadows just outside the door (check with the others to see if they have anything useful in that vein); in an enclosed space like the corridors it'll hurt the Doonongaes more than you, and alert you that the hunter has arrived. Hopefully you can put some bullets in it before it gets in the room with you, as it tries to clear the doorway.
>>
No. 301786 ID: b5ebec

Get ye to the armory! Any additional equipment you can scrounge can't be anything but helpful in a clusterfuck like this.
>>
No. 301790 ID: d3dfb8

>>301786
The crew would have already been through the armory. I doubt we could find anything useful. However, it is the most likely location on the ship to have only one entrance. The infirmary, security, and crew quarters will all have multiple entrances.
>>
No. 302092 ID: a76809

>>301784
"Go-can't help but wonder whether we are the hunter or the prey, because I'm not feeling much like the former just now."
>[GP]"As with any hunt of substance, all participants are hunter and prey alike-there is no foregone conclusion of who shall prey on who. That is the lure of combat-the unknown, of learning if you deserve to survive the encounter. "
>[ML]"Fascinating as that is-"
"Well, room to spread out and really direct fire is our best force amplification bet right now-but our best chance of not getting caught unawares is to force the creature to come at us from a single direction. So, a large room with area enough for us to spread out that is accessible by one path would give us both assets. "
>[GP]"Where do you suggest?"
>>301786
>>301790
"The Armory-whatever's in there should be useful one way or another, and it's got the one entrance."
>[DY]"Would be nice to just have to stand still and shoot."
>[ML]"Sounds good to me."
>[LW]"I would prefer a larger area so shockwaves don't-no matter, it is suitable."
>[GP]"The armory it is then."

We set out, our breath baited, our steps softened, moving as quietly as we can, ever onward. A harrowing eight minutes pass in the darkness as we slowly creep to the armory, Diao Yuan, Go Ping and myself at the lead, only three of the group equipped to see in this dark. We make it to the Armory-

Where May Lee promptly starts cracking dozens of glow sticks, a low, pervasive green light revealing shapes and outlines in the darkness. I turn about at a hiss, to see Diao Yuan setting up a trio of flares around the room's vent, the smoke going into the ducts as the brighter light acts as a miniature sun, shining from above us to pierce down the hall we walked-as Diao Yuan lobs a few more flares out, illuminating some hundred feet of passageway as she settles in, SPAS on the doorway. I see Long Wang now sporting a pair of HK69 launchers, each loaded with high explosive armor penetrating forty millimeter shells. Then there's May Lee, gun's kickstand out as she braces it on an overturned locker, barrel likewise pointed down the fitfully lit path. Go Ping's hands hold MP7s at his sides, lightly bent at the elbow, ready to spring into motion with a moment's notice. I shoulder the AVT-40, presuming quantity will be better suited than quality, when the target has just one avenue of approach. ...Sergeant Riker would be laughing at the military jargon I've got tumbling about in my head now, but honestly its far better than acknowledging-

Just how terrified I am.

The Sahagin in the sewers weren't much, and I knew I could put them down. The Elf was a serious threat but I played on its lack of modern knowledge to take it down without much risk to myself. The 'regular' work has been dangerous but nothing all that different from the army. But this.... five experts at making things die, outfitted with a bevy of weapons, are trying to fight... a legend, a nightmare made real, lore brought to life-a legend comes to face us-and I don't know if we can handle it, I really don't.

-Shit, started to think about it-okay, check the chamber is ready, magazine is secured, I-

Seven minutes after we entered the armory, with twenty five minutes left until Lo Fang arrives, the flare farthest from the armory sputters out.

For the briefest of instants I actually think it went out on its own.

Then the next three go out in a flash, the darkness rushing back into the room as I realize that while I STILL can't hear anything moving I can feel the very ship shaking beneath my feet as something rushes at us-

May Lee is the first to open fire, her SAW screaming as a hail of bullets lashes out-Diao Yuan and I a second behind her, and while I begin unloading the AVT-40 into a tightly contained area in the middle of the corridor, I get to see just what Diao's special shells do.

She started with the fragmentary type FRAG-12s, rather than the armor piercing variety. The tinge of hue, the intensity of the light-she made thermite munitions-

And the Doonongaes is revealed in fitful, fragmentary flashes, enough that Go Ping takes careful aim as my AVT clicks dry. Go Ping takes up the suppressing fire on the rushing monster, still too obscured to be properly seen, somehow never quite catching fire from the steel-meltingly hot explosions impacting all over its form, somehow still unimpeded though at least half a hundred rounds must have found their way home by now. None of this stops the monster from lancing forth a single vicious tendril into the still-illuminated armory from the shadowed corridor, swatting past May's SAW as it strives to grasp her-

While a half dozen OTHER tendrils explode into the room. Two go for Diao Yuan, two for me, one for Go Ping and one for Long Wang-

As a growl so deep and heavy the ship's bolts rattle and I feel my ears burning-bleeding echoes into our would-be defensive position.






....What should I do?
>WHAT should Armas use, HOW should he use it, WHERE should he direct it, and roll a 1d100 for every bullet you want fired-Keihas, the Matebas, the Judges, the Glock and Castelletti's gun are all available.
>>
No. 302112 ID: a6ba65

rolled 16, 46 = 62

Time to put the new and improved Keihas to the test.

If you're close enough to May Lee, lunge in and bayonet that tentacle about to grab her; go for a slashing motion rather than piercing, see if the elf blade can cut it apart. Keep close enough to her to cover you both with Keihas while she keeps going with the SAW.

Delegate two of the group to focus on the tentacles coming for the rest of the group besides; I'd suggest May Lee and Go Ping sweep them with SAW and MP-7s, hopefully the tentacles will be less well-defended than the main body, and a hail of bullets will make them withdraw.

If Diao Yun's SPAS-12 has magazine clips (I can't recall), I'd suggest switching to armor-piercers, because the thermite obviously isn't doing the job.

For yourself, when not bayoneting tentacles, target the face. Keihas's supernatural accuracy can hopefully pluck out its eyes, the picture leads me to believe it has those things.

Two bullets, one for either eye.
>>
No. 302144 ID: b5ebec

rolled 65, 65, 77 = 207

>>302112
Seconding the choppy plan, see about lopping off some of those tentacles. Snap off the rest of Keihäs' rounds between swings and see if you can direct your team to push forward. The nearer you get to the base of the tentacles, the easier they will be to track and evade, and the less room they have to build up momentum and swing about.

And above all KEEP YOUR HEAD. Every moment spent in panic is a moment wasted away to be exploited by your enemy. STEADY ON AND PRESS FORWARD, SOLDIER!
>>
No. 302148 ID: e41ad5

rolled 10 = 10

>>302112
I'm all for the eye shots - on a skull like that, it's the only safe-ish bet.
>>
No. 302220 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 70 = 70

Shoot Castelletis mega-gun to where its tendrils seem to come out from (mouth)
>>
No. 302227 ID: 46c430

>>302220
After you shoot Castelletti's gun, call to the others to cover you whole we reload it, maybe we can bluff this thing into thinking we have more than one shot and hopefully make it hesitate and back off, give Lo Fang time to arrive.

>>302144
I'm all for chopping/bashing at the tentacles with Keihas and the saber-bayonette, but -don't- get closer to it. I mean, getting closer to the bases of the tentacles -would- help deal with them, but what's keeping it from shapeshifting further nastiness to kill us if we're at close range?
>>
No. 302250 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 66 = 66

Lob a grenade in its mouth.

Don't forget to yell "fire in the hole" or something like that so that your comrades are prepared.
>>
No. 302252 ID: a76809

>>302250
[You only have flash bangs, not regular grenades]

>>302112
I can't let a squad mate fall this early in the engagement-whatever chance of victory we had would be snuffed out. So I grab Keihäs, hoping I fitted the new bayonet as tightly as possible-and charge towards May Lee, feet pounding across the dozen or so feet in between in a heartbeat, bayonet leveled, braced against my whole charging body. An epee's a thrusting weapon, right?

Let's get some shish kabob.

The glass-like, transparent and prismatically oiled elven blade scores a deep groove across the tendril's top, blood spraying-eagerly drank by Keihäs' stock-which throbs with each droplet it soaks in. ...If I feed it enough-
I can't complete the thought, adrenaline or no-already focused on the complicated footwork, body torsion and shifting balance as I heave into a downward slash while jumping up to brace against a quartet of lockers (hoping they'll brace me long enough), bayonet acting like a scoop to fling the tendril beneath my, away from May Lee. With a oh so faint smell of roasting meat, the scoop-and-toss works, although the lockers slip a tad early, and instead of landing squarely I have to take a knee to steady myself-

[PLANNED SHOT 016/100, 046/100]
While crouched I level Keihäs on the monster in the shadows, hoping I've placed the beast's eyes well enough for this shot-All while I see Go Ping putting a score of bullet holes in each of the tendrils after me, drawing their ire his way.

[FIRST SHOT]
(16+10Supernatural Bonus+6)32%
The first bullet does diddly, sinking into the hail of gunfire assaulting the beast's main body without anything to mark it's passege, leaving me unsure I even hit the target I sought. I recheck my aim and adgust a few inches by the most recent of Diao Yuan's illuminating thermite explosions.
SECOND SHOT]
(46+10Supernatural Bonus+6)62%
The next shop elicits a grunt-that's all. I hit it in the face that time, I am certain-doesn't stop the pounding, throbbing beat in the ship's hull as it continues to advance. I note May Lee's SAW fire faltering-in that bare instant the tendril reached her, it snapped a leg like a twig-and was originally going for her throat. She's keeping up the gunfire-but her focus is off. ...I need to buy some time-I need to shoot better.

>>302144
[PLANNED SHOT: 065/100, 065/100 (DOUBLE-TAP BONUS), 077/100]
...They eyes are still my best bet-I cycle a new round in, beginning to wall out everything around me, trusting Go Ping to keep tentacles focused on him, at least for a couple seconds-three bullets left.

[THIRD SHOT]
(65+10Supernatural Bonus+5)80%
My third shot gets me some reaction-I see tendrils quiver, falter for the briefest of moments on impact, I hear a missed beat in the throbbing spreading through the ship-
[FOURTH SHOT]
(65+10Supernatural Bonus+5)80%Double Tap Bonus Supernatural Bonus Permanent +1
My fourth shot comes from an identical crouch, and identical angle, the same level of focus-and I send a bullet chasing on the heels of the last-this time hearing the distinctive sound of bone cracking-another of Diao Yuan's thermite shots splashes across the Doonongaes upper body-I see the mess I made of the creature's right brow-
[FIFTH SHOT]
(77+11Supernatural Bonus+5)93%
So I put the last round square through the beast's left eye.

The sound we hear next is far too visceral to be classified as a scream, or a shout, or even a roar. It is a pervasive, oppresive, insidious manifestation of agony and hate, bloodlust and malice, a promise of doom that shakes the bones and stills breath-I feel blood trickling anew from my ears, nose joining in as well as capillaries rupture and my head aches. Through the fog of pain I see a different tendril reaching for me than the first-and unable to rise In time, I duck and swing, elven bayonet turned into a makeshift poleaxe, blade rushing to meet monstrous meet-

With a snicker-snack the tendril is flat out lopped off, blood spewing and pouring down in a deluge-To be snatched up by the pull of Keihäs, drawn into the weapon's stock-as a red glow, fiendish and lethal, pulsates from the rifle's stock. Sueprnatural shenanigans or no-gun's still out of ammo and I do NOT have time to reload right now-another pair of tendrils looking to replace the one I indelibly severed. I turn the bayonet on them, seeing them hesitate just out of range, baiting me to attack-

>>302148
[PLANNED SHOT: 010/100]
So while I hold Keihäs one-handed, I reach back and pull free my Glock, hoping to snap off a ten-millimeter salute to the Doonongae's other eye-

[SIXTH SHOT]
10% JAM
To have the gun jam-but Long Wang makes up for it with its first grenade round, forty millimeters of high explosive armor penetration howling into the monster's gut, staggering even this mighty beast with the calamitous impact as Wang readiers his other pre-loaded HK69.

>>302220
[PLANNED SHOT: 070/100]
I stick a hand into my jacket after dropping the Glock, still warily watching the tendrils that are now moving to flank me-and draw out Castelletti's eery, clearly supernatural, heavily customized break action, single shot 60 caliber pistol. I level the monster's barrel on the corridor, waiting-another splash of thermite for illumination, I've gotten my sights in-

[SEVENTH SHOT]
(70+[5+10 gun/ammunition supernatural bonus]+7)92%
I couldn't tell you who shot first, Wang or me. Honestly, I don't think it really matters. The point is that when that ball of hellish fire exploded out of Castelletti's hand-cannon, it raced into the beast's mouth, another 40mm HEAP was right on it's tail, supernatural and mundane exposives piled down the monsters gullet-just as I realize all this time it was attacking us with its tongues.

The monster is blown backwards, an explosion filling the hall and blasting heat back at us as it chokes on fire as it tries to scream again, tongue-tendrils lashing back down the corridor.

>>302227
"Around me-reloading!"
The Triads do not hesitate-they saw the infernal fireball that issued from my pistol, and move to cover me even as Long Wang moves to my side while reloading.

...And the tendrils FINISH withdrawing into the hallway, as a few more thermite shots show the beast pulling back in fitful flashes.

"GIVE ME THE FEMALE-MY TONGUE TOUCHED HER, SHE WILL DIE IN MINUTES. GIVE HER AS SACRIFICE, I SHALL LET THE REST OF YOU GO FREE"
>[LW]"....Would you swear an oath to give safe passage?"
"MORTALS DO NOT GET TO MAKE SUCH DEMANDS OF THE DIVINE-BUT I WOULD DEIGN TO SWEAR SUCH, IF THE HALF-BLOODED TELLS ME WHERE IT GOT ONE OF MAMMON'S DEVICES."

I turn to look at Long Wang, coldly calculating if May Lee could be sacrificed to preserve the rest of us-as my eyes slip past, to see her breaking out in a cold sweat, starting to slump to the ground-broken leg or no, that can't be just form an injury-meaning she was poisoned, and could very well die shortly as the beast entailed. A quick look about our ammunition supplies does not fill me with great hope-Go Ping is down to 40% ammunition, Diao Yuan is out of thermite and reloading with armor-piercers while May Lee can't even man her weapon, the one with no supply issues so far.





What should I say or do?
[TWENTY FOUR MINUTES UNTIL LO FANG EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME]
>>
No. 302254 ID: a76809

>>302252
[Also to be clear the 'reloading' is a bluff-you only had the one round for the gun looted from Castelletti-the one it was loaded with when you got it. You have nothing more.]
>>
No. 302255 ID: 8b0de1

The very fact that this thing is willing to negotiate means that it has been wounded greatly and knows that if it attacks again we might actually manage to kill it.

On the other hand May Lee is going to die anyway, isn't she?

While I don't like giving up.... maybe we should.
>IF THE HALF-BLOODED TELLS ME WHERE IT GOT ONE OF MAMMON'S DEVICES
Don't see why we can't tell where we got it from, even if it will be no help for it. Tell it that we got it from one of our fallen enemies and we have no idea how he got it.

Also, do we actually have ammunition for Castelettis gun? Iirc, we only had one bullet, right?

Reload or rifle and unjam our glock.
If May Lee can't use her weapons, see if she has anything good on her which we can use (probably anything she has is better than Glock against this beast)


Also, we could ask others how to proceed.
>>
No. 302258 ID: 8b0de1

>>302254
Ah ... so it reeled back and retreated because of that gun.
It even called it Mammom device, whatever Mammom is.
Maybe it is afraid of it.

...
Shame we didn't get more ammunition for it.

Then I guess we should take more cautious approach.
>>
No. 302261 ID: f6360f

>>302252
You know very little about the Doonongaes. Some supernatural beasties are bound by their word- but others consider any promises made to mortals to be like promising something to a sandwich; hardly binding. Unless there's other information to be had, anything it swears must be treated as a bluff. "Safe passage" might be a ruse to get you out of a situation where you have only a single corridor to fire down- the armory is as good a position for fighting this beastie as you'll get, so you'd have to stay here until Lo Fang shows anyway. Nor do you know that the poison is actually fatal; it might well be, considering how nasty these critters are, but the beast could also be lying in order to get a quick meal and/or weaken your group by one member. What if it heals when it eats people, or something? Can you take that risk?

Reload Keihäs. The bayonet was fairly effective, and shooting it in the eyes obviously hurt it a fair bit, too. That makes Keihäs the weapon you want in your hands. If the others are running out of ammo, May Lee's guns are certainly available.

Also: Mammon's device, impressive. You're going to have to get this gun looked at and dig up some reloads somewhere; that was too good a trick not to repeat.
>>
No. 302266 ID: 46c430

>>302255
This mostly. Reload the other rifle too, I suppose, the AVT Sniper, though Keihas should remain our main weapon. For our reply, say we killed its previous owner in single combat and took it as a trophy of our victory, that should impress it more.

As for Mary... ...Yeah, to be honest, she probably is dead, unfortunately. Who ever heard of a supernatural venomous critter who had poison that wasn't deadly? And unless I'm mistaken, there's no way to get her to the infirmary anyway, and I doubt she'll last long enough for Lo Fang to arrive. If we -do- 'sacrifice' her, I'm tempted to suggest you kill her before tossing her to this thing, I can all-too-easily see it being cruel and prolonging her suffering. Either way, maybe suggest Go Ping uses her machine gun and axes since she's injured and unable to use them, his MP7's probably arn't powerful enough to hurt it and he may soon run out of ammo for them and melee weapons might be useful to ward off the tongue-tentacles if nothing else works.
>>
No. 302270 ID: a6ba65

Do mythological creatures in this setting even run on Sidhe rules (can mislead with truth, but not outright lie), or could the Doonongaes be lying to us?

Maybe we can talk our way through this without having to sacrifice someone. I mean, we'll do it if we have to (I don't think we can hold for another twenty-four minutes), but it would be nice to give her the option to pull through or not on her own power.

If she's already sweating, then Doon's poison works goddamn fast and we're already beyond the point of amputating or tourniqueting the limb to try and save the rest of her. Flop sweating might be an epinephrine excess, like Mercury poisoning. We could end up with heart palpitations, arrhythmia or heart attacks. Try to keep her calm (not easy with the goddamn monster waiting to be fed, I know), tell her to hold her breath as much as possible. If we had cold water we could try splashing her in the face with it to get the diver's reflex going.

Amateur doctor hour is now over.

Start reloading Keihas. Then, I think it's time to keep up the Mammon gun bluff.

Mammon, prince of hell or false god of greed and riches. Man, that must have been a good story about how Castelletti found this thing. Tell it, "How does one always catch the eye of Mammon? Avarice; greed, betrayal and mortal desire." It does totally fit us.

"I am greedy, as are we all; it defines my species. I do not like letting go of what I have, even in the face of Divine wrath, and will fight tooth and nail to defend it. But you, great spirit, you have devoured a ship's worth of humans and other creatures. What is one more when you can so easily find more to sate your hunger?"

Maybe too high-handed when dealing with something that might be called a god, but I like it.
>>
No. 302279 ID: e41ad5

There was a hole in its mouth that the frag made, right? And we know that Keihas sucks up blood like nutso, right?

So what if we give dying girl the gun and tell her to stick it in the monster's mouth-wound, and keep it there? It might weaken it long enough for us to finish it off!
>>
No. 302282 ID: 8b0de1

>>302279
That.... might actually work.
Stick your blood draining weapon inside it so that it drinks its blood? If it does what you suggest, I think it will not only weaken it but even kill it.

But if it doesn't, we will be bereft of our best weapon.


Though we can't rely on dying girl executing this plan.
Maybe we should volunteer to bring her there?

If we do this, take a powerful weapon from your squad-mates so that you have something to shoot at it when you stick the rifle in it.
>>
No. 302356 ID: a6ba65

rolled 54, 15, 2, 79, 72, 84, 68, 70, 44, 61, 67, 24 = 640

>>302279
>>302282
Bereft of our best weapon, but not our only one. Our judges are 16ga themselves.

So okay, why the hell not? Let's try it. Long Wang won't be happy with you, but the hell with him; depending on the kindness of ancient man-eating monsters doesn't seem like a good idea.

Catch Long Wang's eye and mime shutting your eyes and firing a gun with your finger. Press the Keihas into May Lee's hand and drag her other arm over your shoulder.

"So be it, great one. We hear and obey. Her leg is broken, I will bring her out to you."

Prime your three flashbangs and palm them between May Lee's body and the Doonongaes.

Then when you're a few steps from the Doonongaes, toss the flashbangs and shout "fire in the hole!" then drop to the ground.

This thing seems to have an excellent sense of hearing, and trapped with the flashbangs in a narrow corridor has got to be hell for it. Not pleasant for you either, but you'll at least know to shut your eyes at the right time.

Hopefully the others will fill the corridor full of bullets and HK-69 grenades and such, you can open up on it near-point blank with your Judges from the floor, either face or underbelly (whichever seems slightly less impenetrable) and try and get May Lee to stab it or shoot it with Keihas.

If we get a chance for a one-liner, either before it bites us in half or before we kill it, it should be "I did say betrayal was in our nature."

I seem to be remembering the Judges as 6-shooters, so that's what I'm rolling for. If I'm wrong and they're 5-shot, just chop off the last two rolls.
>>
No. 302357 ID: f6360f

>>302356
Giving our most effective weapon to May Lee, who can no longer even fire a gun, and expecting her to use it in melee in any capacity strikes me as... highly unwise. And those Judges aren't going to bring it down on their own or even with supporting fire, so this is almost certainly going to get us killed without downing the nasty.
>>
No. 302359 ID: c0adcc

>>302356
This plan should activate "the ambush trait", shouldn't it?

>>302357
But yeah
I doubt she could do anything with it, let alone lift it. Besides, the plan was to have the rifle stuffed into its huge, gaping wound so that it can drink its blood.


Also, anyone think that after eating its sacrifice, the creature will heal its wounds?
it could try to go against its word and attack again.
>>
No. 302382 ID: c173fb

Actually, I have a quick idea: Couldn't Keihäs suck the poison out of Lee's body? Just put the butt to her wound, it might give her enough time to not die.
>>
No. 302397 ID: 46c430

>>302279
>>302356
>>302382
These all seem like unwise plans.
>>
No. 302403 ID: a6ba65

>>302397
We are, of course, open to suggestions.

I'm not sure we can expect the man-eating monster from before most written history to keep it's word that it'll eat one of us and let the rest go.

It already ate everyone on this ship, sleeps in a pool of human blood and it just got done trying to eat us. I mean, if you can't trust something like that not to keep its word, who can you trust? Am I right?
>>
No. 302410 ID: a76809

>>302382
[There is no wound-it just gripped her leg and crushed the bone within, simple as that-no external wounds at all, no bleeding.]

>>302255
[DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS: info on potential foe!]
>-THE CASTELLETTI REPORTS: HERR BRANDT, GERMAN HITMAN
>-Herr Brandt Armaments: Sidearm: Tokarev TT-30 Pistol, owned by Russian Commissar in charge of a penal battalion during WWII, who used the pistol exclusively for field executions. The gun's upper reciever is engraved with 'Ни шагу назад!' (Not One Step Back!), and the muzzle itself is stained dark red. Bullets fired by this gun are compelled to seek out throats.
>-Herr Brandt Armaments: Longarm: GatMalite equipped, belt fed (with a hip mounted munitions drum) M-16 chambered in Depleted Uranium with underslung FN40GL enhanced grenade launcher and side-mounted MAUL shotgun.
>-Herr Brandt Armaments: Sniper Rifle: Walther WA 2000, Second Generation version, extended 10-round magazine. Wood portions of ironwood, from a tree growing on an elephant burial ground.
>-Herr Brandt is the premier enforcer of the group once led by Mr. Barby. His current priority target is Gustavo. Should he learn that Gustavo was framed.....

...Maybe it was the gun-maybe it was it plus Long Wang's explosives-either way we hurt the Doonongaes, enough that it went from a relentless attack to attempts to negotiate. It has learned that what we possess can harm it.

>>302261
The real critical question here is if the beasty is actually bound by its word. If big ugly over there is like the Sidhe, then if it promises us safe passage, and we don't leave it any verbal loopholes, we're golden-well, we minus May Lee. But... not everything that goes bump in the night has to keep their word. ...A gamble, to follow my bluff-I don't like all these unknowns, all these ways plans could fail-but I'm pressed for options. Worse yet-if it can regenerate in any form at all, then eating May Lee would at the least expedite it, at the worst fully recover the Doonongaes-and with us down a squad member..... I busy myself with considerations as I reload Keihäs and the AVT 40-specifically, not just how to survive, but what the big nasty's words meant. Mammon's device-it was clearly speaking about the pistol I got off Castelletti, and the only Mammon I know of is the biblical one, Prince of Hell, Lord of Avarice-could I be toting something heavy duty enough to be associated with something like that-more to the point, if Mammon is real in any way, what ELSE from the bible has a defined existence?

>>302270
So... I stall, looking to tick away the moments toward Lo Fang's arrival, and buy time to see if May Lee's poisoning looks fatal-if it's word can be judged on that it would make estimating the deal's viability a whole lot easier. ...That's right, detach oneself, look at the problem objectively-don't focus on the monster that wants to eat you and you probably can't kill.

"How does one always catch the eye of Mammon? Avarice; greed, betrayal and mortal desire."
For a moment I hear nothing, all save May Lee (now beginning to grimace) turning to look at me-
"WHILE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, IT DOES NOT EXPLAIN-SHOULD YOU WISH AN OATH OF SAFE PASSAGE TO BE OFFERED IN THIS TRADE, YOU MUST SHARE YOUR TALE-ELSE I SHALL EXTRACT IT FROM YOUR INNARDS AFTER I BUTCHER ALL OF YOU."
>>302266
[DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS]
[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated outside of field.]
"I killed its previous owner in single combat and took it as a trophy of our victory-that enough story for you? Because there is not much more to it than that I happened to be better at taking lives than the previous owner."
"JUST LIKE THAT, SLEW THE PAST OWNER? MAMMON'S FAVORED ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE LONERS-WHAT OF GUARDS, OF MINIONS? YOUR TALE IS NOT TOLD."
"Well yeah there was an elf bodyguard and plenty of mortals with guns-but I'm standing here now holding the Device-and I've shown I can use it just fine. I've answered your question-you going to swear to our safety or what?"
"....BRING THE FEMALE SACRIFICE TO ME, AND I SO SWEAR I SHALL HUNT THE REST OF YOU NO LONGER, AND LEAVE YOU TO DEPART THIS SHIP UNMOLESTED."

Diao Yuan looks at me with cold eyes, a building hate she had not directed at Long Wang-until she looks at May Lee, after a whimper squeaks past her gritted teeth. I note a discarded hypodermic on the ground-and I note the use of painkillers or anti-toxin being completely useless as she begins to slump to the ground. ....Crap, it's telling the truth.

>>302279
>>302282
...So I come up with a Plan B. Since I don't have any plan A's... It will have to do. I wordlessly pass a flash-bang to Diao Yuan, Long Wang and Go Ping, as I indicate Go should take up May Lee's armaments. I say nothing, but shape my hand into a gun behind my back, hoping the signal will be interpreted correctly. I heft the oh-so-short-and-heavy Triad up, throwing her arm over my shoulder to support her, as I begin walking forward.

[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated.]

"Since there is that little condition of having to give May Lee to you for the safety to be offered, it isn't going to be just me that steps up-all of us are coming, weapons trained on you until the deal is done."
"ABANDON THE SACRIFICE IN PASSING, I WILL LET YOU LEAVE."
"See, just on the off chance you can sneak around all our detection methods, I want to know for sure you have officially recieved the sacrifice, putting us under the deal's protection-so we do a face-to-face trade, not a drop off where you could neglect to take her until after killing us."
"MONGREL OF WINTER AND SUMMER, WELL VERSED IN SIDHE BINDINGS.... YOUR CONDITIONS ARE ACCEPTED, MAMMON DEVICE BEARER."

We start marching forward, the now-empty Mammon Device in one hand, May Lee slung over the other, the three other Triads with fully reloaded weapons following behind me as we exit the armory. We march into the gloom, Diao Yuan sporting a flare held high for illumination as we approach the corridor the Doonongaes fell back along-

"STOP."
The voice shakes through the bulkheads, reaching right into our tortured eardrums, freezing our muscles in place.
"LOWER THE DEVICE OF MAMMON."
...It can see me through the wall!?
I lower the pistol as a nightmare rounds the corner, and I finally see the Doonongaes in light.

As a child, I had nightmares after horror movies, and dreamt up my own monsters on top. I imagined monsters under the bed, in the closet-I had the little fears that seemed so big at the time of any child. And as I grew up I recognized those 'monsters' as an attempt to label the unknown, a defense mechanism of the mind to define that which is unlabelled, unquantified, and in so doing conquer one's fear. For it is the unknown that is most terrifying, or so goes conventional wisdom.

This does not apply to the Doonongaes.

An exo-skeleton wrapped skull reminiscent of the saurian grin of a tyrannosaurus, stained with blood and covered in cruel hooks, opens on a mouth lined with teeth like a shark, row after endless row, a maddened mass of prehensile, slavering tongues roiling at the base of that throat. Limbs and tendrils twitch and flit about, the beast's body a writhing mass of chaos, so eye-blurring, mind-churning I feel my eyes burning like fire just to gaze upon its form. I begin to question my plan.-

"IGNORANT MORTAL, THINKING I AM BOUND BY SIDHE CODE."
"I don't think that."
"WHY WANDER INTO THE REACH OF MY CLAWS?"
"So I-"
I blur my hand, bringing Mammon's Device to point squarely at the creature's remaining beady eye.
"-can do this."

The Doonongaes stops still-a feet no human could replicate, not even the beat of a heart to disturb its perfect stillness-as it opens a slow, ominous smile.

"THAT ONLY 'MIGHT' SLAY ME-WHEREAS I 'WILL' SLAY YOU. WHY NOT USE ONE OF YOUR MORTAL WEAPONS TO END YOUR LIFE, AVOID THE PAIN AND MISERY I WILL BRING YOU SHOULD YOU PULL THAT TRIGGER? I CAN KEEP YOU ALIVE AND SCREAMING FOR DAYS, MONGREL"
"Because I come up with plans FLASHIER than you are used to."
"WHA-"
The Doonongaes falls silent as its one eye darts to the trio of released Flashbangs let to tumble on the ground-while I heave May Lee at Go Ping while I swing Keihäs into my now free hand just as the flashbangs behind us go off. Even facing away, eyes shut, the light burns-but it does NOTHING compared to the agony of the Doonongaes' scream, ripping into our heads like a knife. I push through the pain, knowing I have to move fast-and jam the rifle's stock into the gut-wound, the only bleeding wound I can reach, hoping I'm right-

The moment the gun's stock hits the Doonongaes I feel it shudder, shiver and heat, the red glow intensifying as the Doonongaes stands poleaxed for the briefest of instants, before throwing itself away, crashing through a bulkhead as hands rise to clutch at its blinded eye.

I don't need to tell anyone-we all start running, with me slowing down only enough to help Go Ping with May Lee (who is now beginning to sob and twitch) as we dash away-





The question is: Where are we going?
-Engine room
-Crew Quarters
-Captain's Quarters
-Infirmary
-Security (Near Armory)
-Bridge (Near Armory)
And what do we do once we get there?
[TWENTY ONE MINUTES UNTIL LO FANG EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME]
>>
No. 302413 ID: e41ad5

God damn, those flash bangs are awesome. We should always, always carry at least one. Make your retreat into Security, I think, or the Captain's quarters. If we want to kill this thing it will take more than what we did - but we can do it. It admitted to being mortal!
>>
No. 302415 ID: b5ebec

Haul ass to the engine room and see if you can get things started up manually. Maybe you can trap the fucker in the machinery as you weave around it.
>>
No. 302417 ID: 076cc4

I'm starting to suspect that the toxin may possibly be non-lethal. We now know this thing is a liar through and through. It also spoke of keeping you alive for days so it might be more inclined towards slow, protracted deaths.

Do your comrades think there's anything in the infirmary that they could feasibly use to help May? If not I'd say go back to the bridge, see if you could switch the power back on for better visibility.

Then maybe you could trick it into a clever ambush. Could you collapse some exterior walkways underneath this beast or collapse something onto it or in its way?
>>
No. 302433 ID: 46c430

>>302417
This. Though I doubt the 'collapse stuff under it' thing will work considering we don't really have any explosives. Still, we might be able to bluff more. We've proven Keihas FUCKING HURTS, and is only getting more and more powerful, so we may be able to get it to hesitate and give us more time for Lo Fang to arrive. Somebody think up some good lines.
>>
No. 302435 ID: f6360f

>>302410
Make sure the others know that the monster gets no one. Not even if they're dead. It wanted one of you, and that means it may benefit it somehow other than just the satisfaction of the kill- healing its wounds is most likely, but there are certainly darker, nastier things that it might be able to do with a prisoner or corpse. If May Lee can't walk, you carry her along. Even if she dies, bring the body- because the beastie can see through walls, so it will find it if you leave it behind.
>>
No. 302450 ID: 903f16

I can think of one way to cure May Lee, but it's not exactly perfect. In short we kill the Doonongaes before May Lee dies and feed her it's heart. It might not have been explored in quest yet but it's not much of a leap for Armas to assume that devouring the heart of a creature can increase devourer's power. In this particular occasion eating the heart of the beast who poisoned you should be particularly effective, imparting the Doonongaes' resistance to it's poison to May Lee in addition to making her stronger. I also suspect that there may be a synchronization bonus from the combination of the poison in her system and eating of heart that will make the change she undergoes far more potent than normal. The biggest problem I see with this beyond actually killing the Doonongaes in time is what the long term effects could be. We don't exactly know what heart eating does besides making you stronger, whether or not she would take on the traits of the Doonongaes or be susceptable to spiritual takeover of some kind. If the change is only in raw power and she keeps herself we could get praise from the Triads for not only saving an agent but making her more effective, this is not to mention the worth of having a rather potent individual owe us a life debt. So I know this plan could go so wrong, but it could also go so right.
>>
No. 302452 ID: 8c73c8

>>302450
i support this plan.
>>
No. 302468 ID: d429c4

>>302450
Down-voting on the grounds that this won't work - she's not of the correct ancestry to be able to gain power by eating her dead enemies. On the other hand, if Armus eats the heart and gains some of the Doonongaes' power, he may be able to identify the ant-venom gland and feed her that.

That's the plan we should go for anyway - better for her to be dead and Armus empowered then her to be alive and Armus not.

As a note, boarding the boat at night was remarkably stupid. Don't do it again. Still, go to the bridge, that way at least you'll have what light there is from the moons and stars, and you're close to the surface for when the cavalry arrives.
>>
No. 302495 ID: a6ba65

>>302415
Seconded.

Manual override is down there somewhere, we can get the lights back on. Provided it didn't just start smashing things.

Once we're down there, we have a few options. Ships run on diesel engines, usually. I believe there are ways to get those to explode by adding ether or coolant to the intake, or we could try to hit the Doonongaes with diesel oil, which will burn (but not explode, unfortunately). Maybe there's gasoline or kerosene down there.

But since that's on the other side of the ship, I guess we should swing by the infirmary, catch our breath for a minute, even if I doubt there's anything we can do for May there.

Make sure the infirmary has more than one exit, or we're fucked.
>>
No. 302501 ID: d429c4

>>302495
Good idea on the diesel. Can we go somewhere that it has to pass through a deeper area to get through, and then pour diesel into that section and light it when the Doonongaes walks through?
>>
No. 302506 ID: b5ebec

>>302495
Diesel yes, fire no. All the incindiary ammo didn't seem to have much effect on it, wouldn't expect that a pool of burning fuel would be much different. More exposure but less heat intensity for one thing, and plus it's a water critter, probably has means of soaking up surplus in case it's going through a dry spell. Now just EXPOSING it to the fuel might be more worthwhile, the water it usually lives in is probably more or less on the pure side. So dousing it in a cocktail of heavily-refined chemical compounds might have a toxic effect on the beastie, and if it soaks up liquids unconciously instead of making a deliberate effort, that'd be all the better to poison the bastard.
>>
No. 302507 ID: a76809
File 130488551063.jpg - (80.63KB , 1236x580 , Emela-Ntouka.jpg )
302507

>>302413
I consider steering us towards Security to hole up for a moment-but given the paltry arms in the armory, security would offer us nothing new-and so close to the beast, once it catches its breath it will need to work very little to find us again.

>>302417
>>302433
I look over at May Lee's face-to note she's going into shock, on top of uncontrollable muscles spasms that are slowly making her harder to carry. I also note she's burning up to the touch.... I was going to posit this toxin looks nonlethal, but given the rather steady, rapid progression to worsening symptoms...

I make a choice and head for the infirmary, pounding down the hallways with the rest of the group-reaching one of the three entryways to medical just as the Doonongaes' scream trails off-and in its wake surges an oceanic bellow, a crashing wave of sound that threatens to tear eardrums apart and shake free the contents of the stomach and bowels-a painful, disorienting scream like nothing so more than the perfect hunting cry-immobilizing those you seek while you stalk.

Fortunately we'd wanted to stop here, and since no one sets to retching, we continue on in our rushed, silent work, taking every antivenom, pain and blood pressure medication we can grab-and set out again, staying on the move.

>>302415
>>302495
We've made it twenty, thirty seconds from the infirmary before the ship around us begins to quake-and I know the beast to be drawing closer. Since I hear no rending metal I assume it not actively breaching walls-and since we travel down a simple corridor-

It must be approaching from behind, else we'd have heard it thundering past us in one of the adjacent hallways.

I twist back, directing Mammon's Device back down the hallway, pointing at the gloom-

The ever increasing quakes rattling the hull grind to a halt with a vicious climax as I hear metal peeling under tremendous pressure and friction.

>"WHY DELAY THE INEVITABLE?"
"Thing about us mortals-"
I call over my shoulder as we keep running, every step putting us closer to the engine room-
"-is that we like to stay alive as long as we can-every extra moment counts."
>"PREY THAT REFUSES TO STOP RUNNING..... EXQUISITE."
...I did not like that response.

Nor do I like the sound of metal being rent asunder-as the Doonongaes breaches a wall to stalk us more circuitously-and we keep on running.

Unconscious and spasming, May Lee is beginning to cry out as we reach the engine room-

To have something of a problem crop up.

Sharing the engine room with us is a beast larger than an elephant, all leathery, semi-scaled brown/green hide, a vicious horn from its snout complementing the carnivorous fangs in it's mouth. The four-eyed beast turns a pair of orbs to gaze at us in suspicion-

And hunger.

>[LW]"...The Emela-Ntouka, of COURSE it got loose."

Diao Yuan is already laying May Lee down and busying herself with the pilfered medical supplies while Go Ping tosses aside his SAW and MP7s, hands moving to the hafts of May Lee's axes as he appraises the beast.

>[GP]"Wang, you are familiar with how to engage the manual override?"
>[LW]"I can have the ship moving in minutes."
>[GP]"...Mr. Laine, do you mind keeping watch for our friend the Doonongaes? ...I can take care of our errant cargo, here."

As Go Ping dashes forth, axes flying into his hands, the beast (Emela-Ntouka? The hell is that? How many giant monsters are ON this ship?) thunders towards him-to swiftly begin whipping to the side as Ping hooks an axe on it's lip in a serpentine, fluid movement while dancing about gnashing fangs, goring horns and trampling feet. While he dances about the beast in an oddly tranquil manner, Long Wang fiddling with robust controls-

I hear wall after wall be breached, one every five seconds-and slowly growing louder. The Doonongaes is nearing-and with the echoes throughout the enclosed ship, I can't tell which direction it is coming from.....

-The Engine room has three entrances, two on the aft wall, one on the fore-we came in through the starboard aft entrance.
-The Engine room is sixty feet by forty feet, wider than it is long, and encompasses two floors worth of vertical space to account for the massive engine components.
-While there is a rail walkway above and ladders leading to it, there are no entrances save the three I noted.
-Because of the massive engine blocks, I can only see a third of the far side of the room, no matter where I stand.
-Diao Yuan and May Lee are by Long Fang, who is ten feet to the port of the center of the room.
-Go Ping and the big green nasty are duking it out on the starboard side of the engine room.




....So, if I were the Doonongaes-where would I enter the room from, and how would I do it, if I thought at least one of the group I hunt could wound, potentially kill me?
>>
No. 302509 ID: b5ebec

Keep an eye on the fore. It'll be trying to avoid a chance shot by the doom pistol and so I expect it to take a roundabout path to the rear, counting on everyone to be watching the door you entered from and hoping to take advantage of a strike from behind. To that point, expect to stop hearing it smash through walls and slow down to take advantage of a silent approach.
>>
No. 302511 ID: b5ebec

rolled 22, 10, 74, 69, 49 = 224

...Oh, and snap off a quick series of shots with Keihäs at the big green thing, making sure that when you fire the critter is BETWEEN you and Ping, friendly fire incidents would be a bad thing right now. (Would this trigger the ambush trait, by the way, since Green Ugly is distracted with the bouncing Chinaman?) If the Doonongaes is slowing down you'll have a few more seconds to spare dealing with the immediate problem, and the sound of gunfire may encourage it to slow its pace more as it gauges your positions and maneuvers to an optimal (or so it thinks) position to attack.
>>
No. 302531 ID: a9629e

>>302511
Voting against this, because if we're distracted like that, Donny boys gonna snatch someone up.

I'd expect it to go for either Long Wang or Go Ping, probably Long Wang. Diao and May Lee may seem like the easiest targets, but if it's accustomed to choosing humans as prey, it'll probably expect you to be most protective of those two. Go Ping and Long Wang are distracted though, and if it wants to jump in and snatch someone up to reduce numbers and eat for healths, it'll probably want to go with the guy who might not have a giant monster get in it's way. Assuming of course you're in a position to see both groups. Otherwise he'll go after whoever you can't cover with your empty gun.

Alternatively, it might just try and smash a smallish(for it) hole somewhere in the wall near you, and touch you with a tongue though. Might wanna try and avoid standing next to any walls.
>>
No. 302533 ID: a6ba65

To detect the Doonongaes, watch the Emela-ntounka. Something that big must be used to being near the top of the food chain, but everything about the Doonongaes screams 'apex predator'. Rhinos have crappy eyesight but a fantastic sense of smell, one of the best in the world. Even when the Doon's crashing is confusing the sense of hearing, that sense of smell should help pinpoint it.

Again assuming it's like a black rhino, when it senses a threat, it charges. When the Doonongaes shows up, we're going to get relegated to 'nuisance'; the Doon is the big threat.

Save your Keihas bullets, at least, for the Doonongaes. I have high hopes that we can use the Emela-tounka as a living shield against it.
>>
No. 302539 ID: 903f16

>>302507
>....So, if I were the Doonongaes-where would I enter the room from, and how would I do it, if I thought at least one of the group I hunt could wound, potentially kill me?
I would attempt to ambush the one that could harm me first, killing him so I could consume his allies with impunity. The key to this would be the ambush itself, I would need to find a way to surprise someone who is expecting me. So I need to take a route he wouldn't consider, a route that would allow me to enter and engage him quickly so as not to expose myself to the weapon that could wound or kill me. So I could take the least obvious of the entrances into the room as stated here >>302509, using the engine blocks and large machinery to obstruct line of sight if needed. That or I could try to make use of a more subtle entrance, one that I could use without being noticed to slip in and end up directly on him. An example of such an entrance would be a ventilation system or a pathway through the wiring of the ship, using these ways would of course involve my shape shifting abilities and require a rapid transition to my real form once I close in on my target. If I judge this to be too risky I could attempt to make my own opening, coming from a wall adjacent to him or from the ceiling above him or floor under him and pulling him through and separating him from his group while I kill him. So Armas should keep all of this in mind, perhaps using his thermal scope to scan each of these possibilities if possible. If we see it coming move quickly and try to manuever around the blocks, tryin to get shots on it with the Keihäs and maybe leading it into the Emela-Ntouka to distract it while we go level into it or try or try to stick the stock of the gun into an open wound again.

>>302468
>Down-voting on the grounds that this won't work - she's not of the correct ancestry to be able to gain power by eating her dead enemies. On the other hand, if Armus eats the heart and gains some of the Doonongaes' power, he may be able to identify the ant-venom gland and feed her that.
That's not the reason why it won't work as of now. As far as I can tell eating the heart would work for other people. The stated reason is that Armas has no reason to believe eating the heart would do anything positive, moreover he wouldn't even consider taking the heart. I can see how he wouldn't eat it, but not even considering taking it as a magical reagent or a trophy? Even if he doesn't know the specifics of making magical weapons it's pretty damn obvious that one of the central concepts is taking a magically infused object and incorporating it into the weapon. I think that this gives him a just cause to go in and look around for parts to use. Sure he can go and take the bones and teeth, those are obvious. Even more obvious? The heart. It's an organ so significant in mythology that one can not help but think it would make a great reagent. To be clear I am not saying he should eat it, I am saying that as someone who has experience with magical weapons and common sense Armas should recognize the importance of the heart as an object of great potential value, he's done it before when referencing the elf's heartsblood. If he's just too damn oblivious to notice the value from his previous experiences with magical weapons or even from his recent adventures with Keihäs and it's blood drinking qualities then he should see how a giant heart in a jar is about as impressive of a trophy as a skull or fang would be. In most cultures the taking of an enemies heart is an insult or act of vengeance, taking the heart of a creature that has been taunting you with death would be oh so appropriate.

>>302495
>>302501
I don't like this plan as is. You're going to start a fire in the middle of an engine room which may or may not spread to the rest of the ship. Even if the ship is made of metal the amount of diesel required to cover this creature will be massive and with that much fuel and that large of a creature running around on fire the flames will find more accelerate. That or ignite who knows how many different chemicals that could cause an explosive reaction when exposed to high temperatures. If this ship explodes it could lose structural integrity and start to sink. If the ship starts to go down now our ride won't catch us in time and we're stuck in the ocean with a predator suited to this environment. So in short do not set this thing on fire in this manner, find somewhere else to do it. The engine room is a stupid place to set a fire and trying to do so will likely kill us.
>>
No. 302555 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 58, 29, 63, 72, 76 = 298

>"IGNORANT MORTAL, THINKING I AM BOUND BY SIDHE CODE."

Welp. At least we learned that we cannot trust it.
Overall, I would call that plan a minor success.

But we used up all the flashbangs, right? Does anyone else have them?

>>302507
Do we have more flares?
We could throw them at the entrances, into next rooms. If it walks near them or over them, we will be notified by its shadow or the lights going out.

Another thing. Could it enter from above? By rendering the ceiling and crashing on to us? Or maybe it could make a new entrance from the walls.

Anyway, go to take an ambush position on an engine block. Go either through a walkway or just climb on one. (are the engine parts exposed? I imagine them all like enclosed metal blocks.)
From there you could wait for its arrival with Keihäs in hand, the best bet we have for now. Maybe after tasting its blood, the rifle will be especially vicious against Doonongaes?
Either way, aim for its remaining eye. If you hit it at the beginning of the assault, keep shooting at eye wounds. Maybe we'll hit its brain (assuming its brain is where they are traditionally found and not hidden somewhere like, lets say, in its ass).
After using up the clip, reload Keihas, when out of bullets again, use Matebas.

Long Wang has one grenade, order her(him?) to use it, aiming for the huge wound we made while we try to suppress it.

Hopefully Go Ping will be done with that beast by the time Doonongaes arrives so that he can help out.

>>302511
Wait. No.
Don't shoot the beast. Especially for the kill.
Go Ping seems to know what he's doing. I think he wants to dominate it. If he manages to do that, we will have an amazing distraction against Doonongaes, he could probably sick it on it and do some damage to it.
>>
No. 302591 ID: c173fb

I know this is a very bad idea, but what if we huddle near the middle and had the Emela-Ntouka fight the Doonongaes? I'm gonna guess the way we just came in to defend and send the Elephant Killer at. And someone who knows medicine start take care of Lee.
>>
No. 302616 ID: 8b0de1
File 130490399848.jpg - (104.60KB , 1000x850 , Armas - CHARGE.jpg )
302616

"Drive me closer so that I can hit them with my rifle"

-Armus Laine,
famous last words
>>
No. 302621 ID: 6930ef

>>302616
Oh god this is wonderful.
>>
No. 302631 ID: 8080ee

>>302511
"chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. asian-american, please!"
(Big Lebowski, anyone?)
>>302531
agreed, don't get distracted. Get the remaining people together and stay together.
>>
No. 302664 ID: a6ba65

>>302555
Long Wang is getting the lights back on, isn't he?

He may want to pass one of his grenade launchers or his thermite grenade to someone else.

Except since Go Ping is occupied with the Emela, we already have Keihas and the pistol, and Diao is doing first aid on May Lee, there's no one left.

>>302539
Well, if thermite doesn't work on this guy, diesel fires probably won't either, unless maybe if they get in his wounds.

But the fire shouldn't spread, really, either: the floor and a lot of walls on a ship are going to be metal or grates.

To prevent a possible ambush, should we go up on the catwalks? They're hard to knock down (though it could strand us up there by taking out the ladders), and damn hard to ambush us on.
>>
No. 302666 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 59, 68, 87, 71, 45, 90, 66, 52, 59, 40, 66, 38 = 741

>>302591
We cannot rely on it to completely finish the fight.
While I agree letting them fight, we need to keep shooting Doony as much as we can.

In fact I am going to roll for Matebas.
Aim for the eyes and already exposed wounds or try to penetrate the damn skull and hit the brain.

Someone also has frag-12 left. I think the last explosive we have left. That shit needs to be used too, preferably aimed into its mouth again.

I doubt that this will work, but if we can turn on the power and the machinery, we might want to try to time it so that Doonongaes gets stuck in it.

Oh, and don't forget to cut its tendrils when they get near. Wouldn't want to be stricken by that poison.

If we manage to kill the thing, don't forget to feed it to Keihas. And cut out its heart.
>>
No. 302716 ID: a76809

>>302509
I judge the beast likely to be circling about-attacking from the fore entrance would give it the best chance of catching us unawares, if it could move quietly after getting around the engine room. It's doable-but would be pretty time consuming, the longest route, with the highest chance Long Wang will finish his work.

>>302531
Which is where I go farther in my threat analysis and prediction. The Doonongaes is intelligent-it knew to cut the power. It's senses are absurdly sharp-it could see us through walls, has been tracking us with ease through the ship-so there's a good chance it heard some of what we just spoke-and knows we intend to get the ship running again. If so, Long Wang would be its most likely target, that which it must remove to preserve the favorable light conditions, and lack of background noise. Well, Long Fang's in the middle of the room-short of dropping from the ceiling or coming through the floor, it can't really get straight at him or May Lee without being visible for at least some period of time, Diao Yuan having multitasked and scattered glow-sticks throughout the room as she struggles to mitigate the toxins roiling in her comrade's veins. So.. if going after me, from the fore-if going after Long Wang, the floor or ceiling.

>>302533
At which point I realize I missed a fundamental step, and work my way back to the most basic-what does the environment tell you? Because ship or no, there's a wild animal, a clear predator-with something even it would classify as apex inbound. Rhinos, what this beast most resembles despite its saurian appearance, are known to charge percieved threats, and many breeds have an excellent sense of smell-if the beast approaches by an existing opening, I may get a better cue from the Emela-Ntouka than I could from my own senses. When I couple this with my existing reasoning, I begin to feel more clear on just where I need to watch.

>>302539
But still not enough-this is an ageless nightmare hunting us, nevermind the monstrous beast Go Ping keeps occupied, and as the sound of rending metal only continues to build without disclosing origination, my mind continues to race. ...Were I the beast, I'd destroy that which could harm me first, leaving me free to deal with the rest with impunity. So... I'd be the one that would have to die. I keep clear of the walls, for fear it would simply breach and slay me before I can react-as I would, in its shoes. I climb one of the encased engine blocks, perching on the railway above as I keep each entrance in direct line of sight, with swift checking of each offering little room to enter unnanounced. This prevents the beast from using stealth to get close, my next thought in its position, should wall-breaching be impossible. I next eye the room's vents-thankfully located in the corners, the nearest more than thirty feet from me, preventing a swift, stealthy ambush from that avenue-further, the narrow pathways would only be viable if it took a truly slim form-with the threat my guns present, and it clear I am watching them, it is unlikely the beast would approach. My wary and constant assessment of the best entry paths combined with my positioning causes what I hoped-

The sound of breaching walls abates.

Unless the creature truly does not care what I could do to it, it isn't still going for one of the existing entrances, given my position. If so, it's evaluating the situation, making a choice-
And opening up the chance to buy more time, for Long Wang to finish his work, Go Ping to stall the Emela-Ntouka, and time for May Lee to be treated-or to die.

Not to mention giving Lo Fang more time to arrive.

[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated.]

"I do hope you noticed that sting when I shot you with this rifle-and when it partook of your blood."
At first nothing, and I fear myself mistaken... but then-
>"SO YOU HAVE A TOY THAT CAN STING ME, AND TASTE ME-IT MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE, NO DEVICE TO BE RESPECTED."
"But that is where you are wrong-while you identified what principles it uses-you did not grasp the total connection. Would you care for me to tell you?"
>"WHY SOULD I TRUST YOUR WORDS?"
"Why shouldn't you? You know that yeah, you probably can take us all-but we MAY get lucky. We know it the same as you-and would prefer to spare you the risk the same as us-so, care to be enlightened as to why you should respect mine rifle more?"
>"OUT WITH IT HALF-BLOOD MONGREL, BEFORE I GROW TIRED OF WORDS AND DECIDE YOUR SLIM CHANCE IS INDEED INCONSEQUENTIAL."
"No problem-the more of you it tastes, the more it knows you-the more it can hurt you, kill you. I wonder-how much of your blood did it take back there-how much better does it know you? That is the new complement to Mammon's Device-and you never know what other fun toys we have. Say you get slowed down, winded enough by what I have-maybe some more explosives could bring you down, or a whole MESS of fire-maybe several tons of metal, if we get desperate and bring the ship down on you."
>"WHY SPEAK OF HOW YOU MAY REACT?"
"So you can see how multifaceted the potential threat to you is-and how not worth it the prize is. Five bodies? For getting wounded worse than you did for taking the whole ship? Nowhere near the returns you're looking for."
>"RETURNS?"
"I'll paraphrase-too much effort for too little reward."
>"PERHAPS.
Perhaps? Not a pause, or a yes or know, but an instant 'perhaps?' ...Maybe there IS another reason to be on this ship.
"Don't suppose the beastie Ping's having fun with would be your focus?"
>"DOUBTFUL".
"Well, if it's something being shipped you haven't already removed-"
I glance at my watch, the hands glowing in the dark.
"-Then you have about fifteen minutes until a whole lot more people just as prepared as us show up EXPECTING to encounter you-is that something you want to have to deal with?"
>"THEY COULD NOT HAVE SUCH ARMAMENTS AS YOU IN NUMBERS-I WOULD KNOW OF SUCH A GROUP."
"That's the thing-they don't need to bring supernatural stuff. Example-those things you got hit with, right before and right after I hit you with the Device-you could feel those, right? I mean, I saw the wounds-not immediately life threatening sure, but you could feel them."
>"WHY IS THIS RELEVANT-EVEN TWOSCORE MANNING WEAPONS LIKE HIS COULD NOT HURT ME FAST ENOUGH-"
"You misunderstand-they could come with machinery to hit you with ten of those things per second. I know you're tough-but could you wade through that, especially for a flying target? After whatever we do to you when you throw down with us? Remember, always the chance I get some good shots in."
>[code]"YOU ARE BLUFFING."[code]
"Nope-in fact..."

As the engine I'm straddling hums to life within its massive case and the lights flicker back on, I raise my voice to a shout.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW TO MANUALLY DEACTIVATE A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE? BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU'LL HAVE TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE ENGINE ROOM TO GET THE POWER BACK OFF-AND WITH FRIENDS INBOUND, CAN YOU AFFORD THAT? YOU'LL LOSE YOUR PREFERRED HUNTING CONDITIONS-STILL WANT TO STICK AROUND?"

A second ticks by-and another... and another... still no response. I strain my ears over the building din of the engine, head whipping about as I continue to eye vents, ceiling, doors and floor alike-the sounds of shattering walls resuming for a frantic twenty seconds and then-

The ceiling above me caves in, the Doonongaes thirty feet above and falling straight towards me, no less than nine limbs and four tongues already beginning to orient on me, that nightmarish maw yawning wide.


[CON'T]
>>
No. 302717 ID: a76809

>>302716
>>302555

>THREE OF A KIND BONUS

[PLANNED SHOT: 058/100, 029/100, 063/100, 072/100, 076/100, Full Keihäs Magazine]

[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait activated.]

But ultimately, no matter how much I watched other entryways, I KNEW the Doonongaes would take the ceiling-I'm closer to it atop the engine block, the noise would mask the sound of rending metal some-and with Wang already identified as having finished his work, I could be the only target. He doesn't get my reaction speed-he gets my anticipation speed.

And if I know something's coming, and from what direction-

Before a single limb gets within ten feet of me I'm airborne, mid-leap to an adjacent engine block, ducking into a roll that ends with me nine, ten feet away, unfurling into a shooter's crouch-

As the Doonongaes lands, shoving down the foot-thick metal plate around the engine a hands' worth-but doing nothing to functionality. The thought barely registers as I take aim in the wondrously lit room at a foe so close-and open fire, only lightly clutching Mammon's device as I just work the bolt.

[FIRST SHOT]
(58+11Supernatural Bonus+6+5Ambush Prediction Bonus)80%
Aiming for the remaining eye, my first shot goes a few fingers low-crushing through the bone like a sledghammer, hitting harder than repeat rounds from the SAW ever did-and for just an instant that eye squeezes shut, the beast given a moment's pause by what by all rights should be a fatally placed shot-and I fire again.
[SECOND SHOT]
(29+11Supernatural Bonus+6+5Ambush Prediction Bonus)51%
The rifle's kick surprises me, harsher than it was before-and my second shot goes wide, only scoring a groove across its scalp-as the eye snaps open and the Doonongaes starts rocking forward, limbs whipping into motion-
[THIRD SHOT]
(63+11Supernatural Bonus+6+5Ambush Prediction Bonus)85%
My next round catches it square betwixt its eye sockets-and I see it vanishing into a gout of blood and audibly shattering bone, the crisp soud resounding even over the engine's roar-the limbs only feet away from me jerking to a halt-my hand still working the bolt as I chamber my fourth round, tweaking my aim.
[FOURTH SHOT]
(72+11Supernatural Bonus+6+5Ambush Prediction Bonus)94%
The next shot is a quarter inch to the left of the remaining eye, further destroying the eye socket around it-a few more shots like this and the organ will just fall out. I cycle in my last found, the fifth and final, preying on this moment of weakness precision, supernaturally augmented shooting is giving me-
[FIFTH SHOT]
(76+11Supernatural Bonus+6+5Ambush Prediction Bonus)98%
And my last shot, further adjusted after the last oh-so-close shot.... finds its mark. The round tears through the Doonongaes remaining eye as the beast rears back-and darts over the engine's edge, out of my range of fire-already darting towards my comrades, eyeless or no-five roudns near-point blank in the head or no. What a monster-

>>302591
>>302616
[FANART BONUS]
-Screw it-might as well go for broke-if all THAT didn't make it want to run off-

Before I have time to think about it too hard I've already leapt again-on a collision course with the Emela-Ntouka's back, still engrossed in its dance with Ping-I see the axe-wielding Triad spot me, and shift his movements in a blur-
As the beast's head whips to follow him, I go from an impending impact with the beast's flank-
To landing right behind one of the crests along it's spine, the natural seat reminiscent of an overwide horse-
And before the animal can react to my presence, the Doonongaes rounds the corner-and comes into the creatures view.
>[Progress made towards new trait.]
I feel it's every muscle tightening beneath me-
I find myself nearly jerked out of my snug seat as the multi-ton beast accelerates on a dime-noting Go Ping leaping into place atop the next higher ridge just before proverbial 'take-off'. A man to grasp plans, he acts as my second, axes at the ready-
As mounted atop an elephant-sized beast nearly as large as it, I charge the blinded Doonongaes, Mammon's Device outstretched and Rifle held fast.

"YOU REALLY THINK THIS IS WORTH IT?"

Before our ramshackle-do-or-die, hair-brained charge-before our two man suicide squad manages to melee a contact-poisonous monster strong enough to treat steel like cardboard-the ancient, monstrous beast, the apex predator that's slain thousands over centuries, possibly millenia, the Senecan nightmare of the water-
Breaks and runs, flowing around the corner like a serpent.
>[Progress made towards new trait.]
And the Emela-Ntouka, so focused on the perceived threat, does what I hoped it'd do, it does what a Black Rhino would do-it charges after the threat, hooves gouging steel as it MAKES friction great enough to take the corner at full-stride, still thundering along-

Just in time for us to glimpse the Doonongaes pulling back down the fore corridor, vanishing down hallways so narrow my mount would have to crouch-
-And Go Ping and I both would get turned to mush against the ceiling.

...The Emela-Ntouka isn't giving any signs of slowing down-but I note it's bleeding from the lip on either side of its mouth, complements of Go Ping's bout with it-and that I could reach the wounds with Keihäs-of just jab it in the neck with my Elvish Epee-Bayonet, if I felt like it. I could even jump off, if need be-

But whatever I'm going to do , I need to do it fast.
>[DY]"May's not breathing!"
...Great.

>>302666

[DEVIL BONUS]

[PLANNED SHOT: 59||66, 68||52, 87||59, 71||40, 45||66, 90||38Discarded due to round used on Harpy] (DOUBLE-TAP BONUS)
With a roar of metal rent in twain, the squeal of a tortured ship-the Doonongaes explodes out of the wall to my left, on the far side of Mammon's device, looking to take advantage of my focus on 'not crashing' to finally knock me off-just how is it still sensing me so well without its eyes?

>[DEVIL BONUS: ACTIVATE]
As if possessed of a will of their own, the Matebas practically shake themselves free of their holsters, not so much a case of me drawing them swiftly-so much as my hands being made to relinquish their current equipment and blur into motion-I can feel a thrum of power, a tingle in my skin as I grab those polished, worn-wooden grips, barrels rising as if on puppeteer's strings, hardly even bother with the intervening space-and before I can even get my head wrapped around the fact the Doonongaes is assaulting me anew, the Matebas are already trained on the center of it's skull, practically glued to the penetration I made on the nightmare's brow. My fingers pull hard against triggers, both guns set to full automatic-arms locked as I fight the recoil without any conscious decision to do so.
[DEVIL FIRST PAIRED SHOT]
(59+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)70%
(66+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)77%[MISFORTUNE TO LUCK INITIATED
Two bullets, 454 Casulls that were mundane when I loaded them thud into the creature's shattered right eye socket, adding to the damage I made with Keihas-
[DEVIL SECOND PAIRED SHOT]
(68+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)79%
(52+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)63%
Only one of the next set of bullets hits, proximity, airborne foe and all, the Doonongaes that damn shifty despite its bulk-while the bullet storm marches on, automatic weaponry squeezing more out of my brief window of hope.
[DEVIL THIRD PAIRED SHOT]
(87+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)[b]98%

(59+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)70%
My third pair of shots rips a fifth of the monster's right cheek and brow away, the compounded shots to the area finally blasting flesh away by sheer dint of applied firepower-my fingers not even twitching as I keep unloading the revolvers, the beast getting ever closer-
[DEVIL FOURTH PAIRED SHOT]
(71+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)82%
(40+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)51%
The next volley has another shot go wide-but one strikes true, embedding in the exposed, gory soft tissue on the beast's right cheek, blood flying as my own heart thunders at my impending doom-
[DEVIL FIFTH PAIRED SHOT]
(45+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)56%
(66+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)77% [MISFORTUNE TO LUCK INITIATED
Another bullet threatened to fly free as I note my shaking aim from the thundering recoil knock my barrel to far to the side-but luck interferes, and somehow the bullet is caught by it's twin, both tumbling through the air, rapidly losing speed as their trajectory shifts.

Most times, when a shot is fouled like this, it means nothing good.

This time the shot's curve hooks it deeper into the exposed soft flesh than any direct shot could achieve, the tumbling bullets splashing in with such force I see a spasm of movement ripping through my foe-
[DEVIL FINAL SHOT]
(90+1Supernatural Bonus+4+6DEVIL BONUS)101%
The final bullet, it's twin spent against the harpy when first I boarded this vessel, thunders into the turning head-opening a path from the far temple to the gory mess on the other side of the head-

As the spasming Doonongaes falls to the ground, my hands acting again on an alien will as they clear the chambers, use a pair of speed-loads and re-holster the revolvers faster than I ever could-just in time to free my hands for catching Keihäs and Mammon's Device-both empty, both threats in the 'eyes' of the beast assailing us. All through this riotous exchange the Emela continued to charge-but as the Senecan monster landed, it immediately began to throw itself into a tight curve, looking to gore the rival predator-

Nevermind Go Ping and I are still astraddle it.







What am I going to do about our current predicament?
There's fourteen minutes left until Lo Fang's given arrival time-what are we going to do?
>And yes, the Matebas have now awakened as very, very minor magic weapons, and can have sum rolls in excess of 100% now. Devil Bonuses in GFH induce mundane weapons to become magical spontaneously-if paired with rolls and the use of a specific weapon or weapons.
>>
No. 302726 ID: e41ad5

>>302717
Use the charge to leap ahead of it and slam your Keihas's stock into the MASSIVE wound you have inflicted.

FUCK

YOUR

IMMORTAL

SHIT
>>
No. 302727 ID: a9629e

rolled 28, 7, 98, 58, 80 = 271

As the Emela tries to gore Doony, I'm thinking we should move to jam Keihas into the biggest wound the shapeshifting prick has with one hand, having unloaded one of the judges with the other hand at point blank range in said wound a second before.
>>
No. 302728 ID: c173fb

rolled 51, 28, 83, 20, 94, 88, 29, 59, 57, 100 = 609

Well, jump off at the most dramatic moment. That, or get right behind the Elephant Killing horn with Keihäs and hope you don't get contact poisoned. If we do do the dangerous route, we lodge Keihäs in with the horn, and empty the Judges into that giant Sashimi face. "Surrender and heal our ally, or I will show you what the Fins and the Maori do to fish like you."
>>
No. 302729 ID: e41ad5

rolled 17, 96, 47, 42, 5, 62, 67, 83, 22, 31 = 472

>>302727
>>302728
Supporting POINT BLANK BLASTING
>>
No. 302730 ID: a9629e

Also, everyone was given four WASP knives, we're jamming them all into this thing now. This is our best chance, with the Emela being here.
>>
No. 302731 ID: 8b0de1
File 130491789148.jpg - (129.31KB , 1000x700 , AMERICA!.jpg )
302731

Since we are charging into it ... this needed to be done
>>
No. 302734 ID: 46c430

rolled 95, 68, 23, 78, 36, 16, 42, 91, 84, 34, 81, 55 = 703

Put away Mammon's Device, and Keihas, and shoot it with the Mateba's some more. Oh, and, y'know, jump off the big-ass rhino-killer thing. If you can. Staying on board for impact doesn't seem the most intelligent idea.
>>
No. 302741 ID: a6ba65

>>302728
I say wait until your four and a half tons of Emela-Ntouka slams into the stationary monster and use that sudden transference of momentum to vault the hump and, yeah, stab him in the braincase again.

Then back the hell away while firing. Even if we manage to kill this monster, its death throes are probably going to be impressive.

Go Ping can take your place on the Emela Ntouka's back before it remembers you're still there. Maybe it works like a horse, and if you get it to turn its head or cover one eye it moves that way regardless of what it wants?

If the Doonongaes still isn't dead... well, we may have burned this bridge already, but it sounds like it was here for something more than the free buffet. We might (have) been able to bargain with it if we could find the totem of Hagondes (Hagondes was a cannibal clown spirit that targeted children. I do not actually want to go find that totem, just in case it pops up next or something; just sayin').

Also get Diao Yun to contact Lo Fang; he recognized it, see if he can tell us anything about Doonongaes contact poison.
>>
No. 302744 ID: 46c430

>>302741
If anything that sounds even more insane, either jump off onto solid ground, or ride the beast till death do you part, don't jump off -onto- the immortal poison-covered monster.

And no bargains, it's already proved itself untrustworthy. Let's just try to scare it off, I mean, the damage we've been doing and our insanity have been increasing expodentially.
>>
No. 302746 ID: 46c430

You know, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if we should just stay on its back instead. We're mounted in a nice spot, we'd have to leap off in an active engine room from a very fast moving monster if we wanted to get off, and to be honest, this beast's back may well be safter than the floor. Asides, we've got our buddy to ward off any tongue-tentacles with his axes.
>>
No. 302748 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 25, 17, 92, 39, 87 = 260

If it gets away again from your blood-draining attack.

reload Keihas and shoot the fuck out of it
>>
No. 302750 ID: a76809

>>302726
>>302728
[PLANNED PAIRED SHOTS: 51||88, 28||29, 83||59. 20||57, 94||100Paired Pistol shot above 190]
I continue to act before I can grasp just how dangerous what I'm doing is and hesitate-already throwing myself into the air, Keihäs gripped in both hands as I fly towards that heavily wounded head right on the tail of my Mateba unload-so before the creature can focus, resume its assault, or indeed do much of anything-
I've rammed that two and a half foot elven blade a foot past it's hilt into the Doonongaes skull, embedded so deeply the wood makes contact with the oozing blood-
As I immediately let go of my gun, doing what I can to balance for a few bare instants on the nasty's skull before it can shake me loose-of the Emela can crush me between them.

My hands, open and clear, twist and flex-

And the Judges are in my hands, barrels zipping down to point at the mass of exposed brain matter and pulsating growths beneath my feet-while I proceed to unload ten Sabot rounds as fast as I can.
[FIRST PAIRED SHOT]
(51+6)57%
(88+6)94%
Of the first two, only one round makes a truly hearty sploosh as it splatters through gray matter, fingers flexing as I pull the triggers again-
[SECOND PAIRED SHOT]
(28+6)34%
(29+6)35%
In fact my first shot that hit so nicely was too good-the Doonongaes, sprawled and insensate on the ground or no, spasms so suddenly and harshly I'm nearly thrown off my unsteady feet, second pair of shots going wide and doing squat. Gotta focus-
[THIRD PAIRED SHOT]
(83+6)89%
(59+6)65%
Again, two shots impact, one so messy my pants are died red and the Emela thunders within a yard-
[FOURTH PAIRED SHOT]
(20+6)26%
(57+6)63%
This time I'm expecting the buck as brain matter is destroyed, and only one shot goes wide-just as I anticipate the moment of perfect stillness that follows it, for the briefest of instants.
[THIRD PAIRED SHOT]
(94+6)100%
(100+6)100%
[PERFECT SHOT
So that's when I see it-a throbbing little growth nearly in the center of the Senecan monster's skull, giving off an energy beyond the physical-and I perfectly place two sabot rounds, completely tearing to pieces whatever specialized organ I spotted in the beast's head with my final shot-
I feel a hand under my shoulder, and jump in it's direction, Go Ping helping to heave me out of the way, my hands only just closing around Keihas to drag it free lest I lose it-
As three tons of scaley african predator charges into the Doonongaes, hardened bone horn plowing through that monstrously thick and bone-plated hide of our adversary-

Which freakishly enough only seems to rouse the nightmare, as Go Ping and I both look on to see it shoving the massive beast aside as if it were a toy, the Emela-Ntouka roaring in protest as it tumbles through the air to land heavily-

>>302731
>>302734
[FANART BONUS]
[PLANNED PAIRED SHOT: 95||42, 68||91, 23||84, 78||34, 36||81, 16||55]

Go Ping charges bravely forth, the Doonongaes rocking back even as it stands as two grenades impact against it-Long Wang having re-entered the fray, hitting it in upper chest opposing shoulder-and just as Go Ping literally leaps into the fray, bravely closing to melee the beast, Long Wang adds one extra present-a grenade tumbling through the air, igniting instants before contact-

Smoke flares everywhere as the smell of napalm combines with the brilliance of thermite as finally, FINALLY the beast is set on fire, bare instants before Ping's first axe stroke, calmly facing down his immolated foe.
[FIRST PAIRED SHOT]
(95+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)101%
(42+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)48%
Despite Ping being potentially in the way, the sheer size difference lets me ignore the risk as I once more draw my Matebas-and in an echo of the supernatural shooting moments ago, I open up in full auto, dumping twelve shells as fast as I can, eyes darting as I track every part of my target. Of the first pair of rounds, one vanishes somewhere in it's gut-but the other enters through an existing bullet wound, driving two slugs into a joint. The next rounds cycle into place as the beast screams, my ears bleed and Go Ping keeps hacking away.
[SECOND PAIRED SHOT]
(68+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)[74%
(91+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)97%
One round catches it in the throat, another managing to find a bullet hole, and punches itself deeper into its flesh, blood spurting visibly even through the inferno.
[THIRD PAIRED SHOT]
(23+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)29%
(84+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)90%
Once more a round manages to catch it where bullets already roamed, compounding on existing injuries-but the other barely misses a luckily weaving Go Ping by inches.
[FOURTH PAIRED SHOT]
(78+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)84%
(34+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)40%
Another bullet vanishes somewhere into its central mass-while its twin again finds its home in already damaged flesh, bypassing that astounding hide armor and letting the flames in deeper.
[FIFTH PAIRED SHOT]
(36+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)42%
(81+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)87%
Another bullet vanishes into the Doonongaes belly-and another finds its home in a wound-this time another supporting limb, and the creature buckles while Go Ping redoubles his whirling, dancing axe-work, flitting bravely around and between sweeping, raking, enflamed limbs.
[SIXTH PAIRED SHOT]
(16+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)23%
(55+1Supernatural Bonus+3+2Fanart Bonus)61%
Whatever mojo had kept my shots more or less golden through this whole second encounter falls short-a bullet catches the beast in the torso again-and a second round whizzes dangerously close to Ping, who has to dance back, seemingly presciently aware of the bullet's impending threat. Between the lackluster shooting finale and Go Ping pulling back, enflamed and ludicrously wounded or no, the Doonongaes is getting back up.

I refuse to give it a chance to catch that one breath it's been looking for since it rolled into the engine room, dashing forward as I try my hand at mimicry, leaping at the beast as I drop the Matebas midair, hands grabbing my rifle again, the beast too blinded by pain to react fast enough-

This time, I don't slam the blade into it's skull-

I slam the rifle's stock into its brains like a baker kneading dough.

I see the blood flowing-more and more of the Senecan mythical monster's lifeblood being claimed by my rifle-

Just as I see, all to late, the limb rising up-

With a staccato burst of sharp cracks I feel more than hear, I'm thrown through the air some twenty feet to smack against a wall, right collarbone, humerous, scapula and at least four ribs all busted in that impact-with my meeting with the wall shoving a bloody gobbet of spittle from my mouth. Great, somewhere in that rather spectacular bundle of pain waiting behind all my adrenaline I could have punctured my lungs. Oh, and my entire right side is useless.

All of this flashes through my head as I begin to slide down the wall.

Not a bit of it keeps flashing through my thoughts as I watch the Doonongaes, I watch the seemingly unkillable, nightmarish, legendary slayer of lore-

I watch it turn , and run, loping drunkenly down on of the aft corridors.

I can hear Diao Yuan beginning to sob as Go Ping moves to my side-I dimly hear Long Wang speaking into a radio-but what I notice most is how with the immediate threat to my life not immediately present just how much I hurt-that one hit incapacitated me, probably bruised my heart-and wasn't even hard, from it's perspective, just a reflexive action to push away an attacker. If it had been trying, rather than off-balance, I'd be paste.

My hazy gaze falls on Keihäs, noting the stock's crimson glow to be fading as the shaking fall of the Doonongae's silent steps recede, before flitting over my Matebas discarded over the battlefield, the Emela beginning to get back up and my watch..... heh, only thirteen minutes until Lo Fang gets here....

...Shit, I can see Ping's talking to me but his words... I may have gotten a concussion with the deal, too.... what, what should I be doing right now? I know I had a plan, but it's hard to focus.......







What should I do?
>>
No. 302751 ID: 1854db

>>302750
>What should I do?
Nothing. Do not move or else you may DIE.
>>
No. 302752 ID: e41ad5

Sleep.

No, seriously, the threat is over - count on the experts to remove you from harm, and hope to fucking god that our good friend Fang is kind enough to let go the loss of one good woman in the face of something so legendary.
>>
No. 302754 ID: d3dfb8

Have a seat. Do not sleep. Rest, but don't let your guard down. We should probably make our way to the deck, but follow their lead. Don't go anywhere the others aren't going.
>>
No. 302756 ID: a9629e

On the off chance Diao isn't crying because May Lee died, you've probably got some of it's blood on you, and it didn't fuck you up, so it's not poisonous. Might be able to use some of the scattered blood as an anti-venom, cause supernatural stuff and shit. It's a long-shot, but it's quite frankly the only shot. Probably best to use short words, and only mouth them if you can, cause punctured lung. Actually, might want to inform them of that the same way.

Then, maybe sleep because goddamn concussion
>>
No. 302758 ID: 1854db

>>302754
Sleeping is actually perfectly safe after a concussion. It HELPS. Getting to a safe area before sleeping may be wise though.
>>
No. 302761 ID: 903f16

>>302750
Stay exactly where you are and try to vocalize to Go Pin the nature of your injuries. Ask how May Lee is doing if she's alive try >>302756 first, if that fails attempt to take blood from the opens wounds on the Emela-Ntouka. The creature has been exposed to the toxic skin of the Doonongaes and survived thanks to it's supernatural hardiness, as such it should be building immunity to the toxin as we speak and the immunity should be present in it's blood. Essentially we're giving her a makeshift magical Doonongaes antivenom using the Emela-Ntouka as the incubator. Once that suggestion has been made ask them to take you somewhere you can rest and wait for pick up.
>>
No. 302777 ID: 3254fe

For some reasom I want that beast dead, even if we aren' t the one to kill it.
Lo Fang is almost here, he probably came with heavy cavalry and weapons. From his response when we informed of Doonongeas, I suspect he knows about them a lot ... maybe has evwn dealt with them himself.

We should let him know the extent of woumds we inflicted on the beast. Probably through Lo Pang since I doubt we will be concious at the time.
I would like for Lo Fang and his crack team to hunt it down and finish it.
The thing knows who we are and will probably seek revenge, killing it now when it is mortally wounded is a must.

Lo Fang also should see the merit of finishing it off while there is a chance.

Hopefully it will not have gone into water...
>>
No. 302866 ID: a6ba65

>>302777
Worth a try. It had a purpose in being here, but I think it's intelligent enough to retreat when so damaged, and once it hits the river they won't be able to find it.

Plus, without the GAU-8 cannon they're bringing (which they can only use from the jet), I don't like their odds. Lo Fang can take care of himself, but the other guys he's bringing, I'm not so sure. And feeding men to the Doonongaes is just going to make it recover faster.

I figure we're going to see him/it again someday.

Pity it broke us; hospital bills are going to take a large chunk out of our money for this job, and we'll have to mastermind the German scaring job from a wheelchair.

Maybe Lo Fang knows how to get in touch with the right spiritualists who know how to create talismans to speed healing of the body? Objects carved of unicorn horn shavings, or totems of Hinon (spirit of storms, healing, and also Doonongaes's enemy; not a bad thing to try and get on the good side of), or maybe the rod of Asclepius? Maybe coat it in tiger's blood; speeds healing, and the 4 hour erection is free.
>>
No. 302874 ID: 46c430

Watch out for the Emela getting back up, it might think we're a threat again. Or food. Growl menacingly or glare or something.

...Wait. Mary got poisoned by getting touched by the Doon. Armas got hit by the Doon. I think the poison got on him- on his clothes, if it isn't already working its way into his body. Uh. Shit. Uh. "Ping, I got hit, I think it got poison onto me." ...Or if Armas can't articulate that, just say the words 'Ping, hit, poison, clothes' or something. In that order.
>>
No. 302934 ID: a76809

>>302751
You know I think-I think I'm just gonna stay right here now.... damnit, something I'm forgetting...
>>302784
...The poison, that's what I can't forget-I try to string words together, trying to articulate a final risk being ignored-Ping could dose himself just moving to help me, got to-
Blood dribbles from my lip as I lamely turn only my eyes to face the zen Triad, and irk out a few words.

"Ping. Poison. Hit clothes."

My gaze passes beyond, falling again on the Emela-Ntouka. I see its eyes focusing on us, I feel that sense of threat assessment, the tensing muscles-the beast is going to charge us. Thoughts of trying to display dominance course through my mind, of growling or roaring, of entering the fray against it as Ping did-but my body falls short. Instead, I make due with naught but my glare, pushing every last bit of impatient attention and focus I can into the glance, personifying 'You really want a piece of this?'

The beast hesitates at my words-
>[NEW TRAIT ANIMAL EMPEROR Gained]
-Or maybe because Ping turns back around, axe in hand to add his glare to mine.
>[UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE'D!]

>>302752
>>302758
>>302761
I see Ping pause, his eyes narrowing in understanding as he wraps his hands in an engine rag-I try to tell him about my injuries but at the first jostle to my should-
I tell myself I went asleep-lets me omit the massive spike of pain that drove me into oblivion.

[DISCONTINUITY]

I am jostled awake to the blaring souds of warning klaxons, the ground shifting and juking beneath me-my body strapped into a stretcher. My eyes snap open, my sight blurred and distorted, to see scores of bodies pressed close together-all aiming their guns out the wind, shells falling to the ground. The ground keeps swinging as the wind continues to roar, eyes still blurry-

A sound so fierce and heavy I nearly think the Doonongaes back blasts away to one side, Lo Fang's face flashing into view-
While I see Go Ping swinging an axe, Diao Yuan working a shotgun as they fight-a red tree trunk?

Someone bumps into my right side and out the lights go.

[DISCONTINUITY]

I wake again-this time the ground isn't shaking, but I'm not on it-hands are around the edges of the stretcher, and I'm being brought into the back of an absurdly well equipped van far dingier on the outside. Once more I see Lo Fang, his suit still impeccably crisp and neat as he inclines his head at me.

>[LF]"Good, I wondered if you'd wake again before-well. Suffice to say, I am singularly impressed-you still fulfilled your mission, despite the... irregular... circumstances-and you did so while exposing yourself to great personal risk, according to Disciple Ping-and I do trust his word. The Triads will see to the wounds you incurred defending our wares on our contract-and a bit of advice-lay low. Khubiliai decided to get more involved with the Akkorokamui in the Bosphorous-we nearly lost you, the cargo, the ship, and the rescue crew just skirting by. ...Well, I imagine laying low shall not be TOO hard... Mr. Laine. Your account has been accredited as agreed-twenty-"

He keeps speaking but the words stop making sense or even mattering as the nice man beside me pumps some stuff in my arm and.... and....

[DISCONTINUITY]

>"king up doctor."
>"Yes I see that... a... Mr. Laine? Can you hear me, Mr. Laine? ...He does speak English, right?"
A dry, cracked and raspy throat I hardly recognize as my own responds.
"I can hear you."
The slightly potbellied, gray-maned doctor grins as he plops down beside me-and I notice a few things.

-First, my head is clearer than it's been since I got whalloped.
-With that clarity, I pick up on the stubble shifting on my face-I've been out for a while, several days at the least.
-I am in a private room, and not a hospital.
-The attending nurse looks related to the doctor attending to me.

I try to pick up more, but still somewhat dazed I find nothing else before the doctor starts rattling on.

>"So, the rundown-I got you from... let's say our friend Uncle Lou, with you in a sorry state about a week ago. Showed evidence of multiple punctures to each lung-one of them sizable-eight fractured ribs, seven of them compound, a webwork of hairline factures to the clavicle and scapula alike, and a nearly disentegrated humerous-oh, you had ruptured some blood vessels in your Pia mater...."
He sees the blank look in my eyes.
>"You know, innermost layer of the Meninges?"
More blank stare.
>"...You had a concussion, and had been hit so hard you had extra issues too-how about that? Well, since you'd been healing for... guess a week, maybe two, under the care of Uncle Lou's boys, I didn't have to open you all the way up, to get ribs out of your lungs or anything-but I've monitored your recovery-your spine is fine, no injuries to your legs-you can walk."
I try to sit up-

My right shoulder explodes into pain-
>"Woah, hold on there-sitting up puts all the wrong kinds of tension on that-here, let me."
Slow seconds tick by as the hospital bed's motorized head slowly elevates, lifting me to a seated position. As it does, I reach with my left arm-slowly, carefully-to a glass of water, drinking gratefully as I finally note the feeding tube up my nose, secured to a nasal oxygen feed-I ignore both for the moment, savoring the quenching of thirst-before I ask the question that's already burning in my mind.

"How long was I out?"

This is where things get a bit odd. I check the date, compare against when I started the job-it's been ten days since the Triad job. Doctor Finnigan had me for a week-yet I can't argue I look to have been healing for nearly a month, no matter how I slice this-and my gut's telling me the doc ain't lying. I try to wrap my head around this as I patiently let the doctor pull out IVs, remove tubes and monitors-

And start when he jerks his finger at the door.

>"Okay, you're up, mobile-get on out of here. Uncle Lou paid up front, covered you till you could leave under your own power. And before you ask, no, you didn't have any possessions when you came in here-barring this change of clothes. So get the hell out-I got five rooms to take patients, quit wasting my money."

Without a single further word, Dr. Finnigan departs-

And leaves me to my devices.

I experimentally try pacing back and forth in the room, checking balance-and while I certainly feel leaden and weak, I don't feel any worse than I did after I got my appendix out. ...So long as I don't jostle my right side.

In my left pocket is my cell phone-and check as I might, I find nothing else in my possession, post change.






What's my next move?
Who am I gonna call?
>>
No. 302937 ID: b5ebec

Well, first order of business is to get your bearings. Then maybe shuffle your ass home and take it easy, you're in no condition to act like Spunky the Wonder Puppy at the moment. Maybe your stuff got delivered there while you were out, and if not, might do to ring Lo Fang up and ask him where it all might be.

...Hopefully not still on the boat.

But seriously, go home, put down some ass-roots in the couch, and recuperate. Maybe go get some donuts if you can find your wallet or something.
>>
No. 302939 ID: e41ad5

First order of business - Find out where the fuck you are. For all we know we could be in the god damn Himalayas.

Second - Where's all of our shit? God, I hope it's not on the boat.

Third - We need a place to stay - somewhere that is safer than our old one.

Fourth - Just... how much money do we have?
>>
No. 302940 ID: f6360f

>>302934
Get your bearings. You mentioned an attending nurse; she can probably tell you where you are. You have no reason to think that you're even in your home city anymore, after all; no telling where the Triads' docs set up shop. Once you know where you are, you can get some cash and hire transport back home for some serious time recuperating.

You'll want to call the Triads at some point to see if they managed to save any of your effects; losing your weapons would be a damned shame on a mission which probably paid less than they were worth. Asking after the rest of your team's welfare would probably also be appropriate, and perhaps passing along your appreciation for getting you out of there alive and condolences over any fallen members.

I wonder if your body armor has arrived yet. Certainly, that trail on the guy who stole the magic out of the gun you wanted from Arkvad is probably getting rather cold, and following up on it while injured wouldn't be particularly prudent.
>>
No. 302944 ID: a6ba65

Maybe see if we can get a name for this clinic from the nurse? A skilled (possibly supernatural) Doc might come in handy in your rolodex.

>>302940
We do have the address for him. We should follow up on that in a few days; we don't want to take on Barby's men without the good AVT-40 we were promised.

In the meantime, after talking to Lo Fang (I like the idea of passing along condolences for Lee), consider ringing up Savoy to find out how the turf war with Barby's men is going. Savoy has had 10 days to tighten his grip on the Mafia holdings, and he seems like one of the hypercompetent types to do just that, maybe even expand his holdings. Keep the reasoning for our nonexistence the past 10 days vague, something like: "Had a more difficult job than usual, needed a little time off," with our apologies.

After 'laying low for a day or two', we'll probably be going stir crazy. Go back to Constanz's gym for a light (no Krav Maga/Combat Sambo marathon) work-out, get ourselves back up to par.

Also, might be time to look into getting a vehicle if we don't have to replace our weapons stock (I doubt they'd let something as valuable as the Mammon Device or Keihas sink to the bottom of the river).
>>
No. 302945 ID: c173fb

>>302934
The Traids. I want our stuff back, and if Mary died and if the Doonongeas got what was coming to it.

Other then that, get home, get up to date with what's been happening in the world, see if we have any messages, get up to date with our contacts.

After that, rest. Plan to throw more connections between the late Gustavo and late Mr. Castelletti and the Orgization that Gustavo was part of. Head to where Florent Smets is living, scope the place and put out any feelers we can. Heck, just hire a bum to watch the place and do some research.
>>
No. 302949 ID: 46c430

While you're talking to Lo Fang, also ask after what he did or used to speed up your healing so much. For talking with Galileo, the only excuse he's likely to accept is directly admitting that we got injured and need time to recoup, along with offering our apologies... And maybe also admitting that you 'owe them a favor' if he doesn't seem understanding. 'Maybe' because owing favors is never a good thing and should be avoided if possible.

I don't think going to the gym is going to help out our recovery, so... ...Vacation? Home, New Zealand, something? We've got the cash and nothin' but time until we're back on our feet.
>>
No. 302951 ID: 903f16

>What's my next move?
Well we're kind of out of commission for anything involving physical activity for the next couple of days. So let's get some intelligence on some of our targets, namely any of the prominent Germans we're targeting and Florent Smets. Check in with Arkvad on our recent acquisition and the upgrades on the Keihäs and Matebas, see if he has any books on magical item creation, maintainance, those kind things. It also might be wise to start spending some time in museums. I would hate to be caught off guard again, the more we study up on any potential threats the better prepared we'll be. Who knows, if we find a decent one we might want to try making donations and working our way into a decent reputation. Then if they happen to get a legitimate looking book on say magic or an artifact we'll be able to pull some strings and get a peek at whatever it is.

>Who am I gonna call?
The Ghostbusters. ...Nah I'm kidding , unless they actually exist and you know the number, that would be pretty cool. Right now it's best to call up Lo Fang first to let him know we came to, though knowing him he probably already knows. We won't be in any shape to work for a while, but we would enjoy working with any of the agents we were with us on this last mission in the future. Speaking of which, did May Lee make it out? If not we would like to pay our respects if at all possible. Finally thank him for the medical services, those doctors did a great job, almost a supernaturally good job <insert verbal variation of wink wink nudge nudge here>.

Then we can check in on Galileo Savoy, see how things are going. If he asks for a reason why we dropped off the radar for a couple of days just say simply and matter of factly that we got into a fight with something we needed to use the Pfeifer Zeliska .600 Nitro Express revolver and customized ammo on, something that actually knew what it was we were firing. He's well versed enough in magic it seems, ask him if he knew about this thing or how Castelletti got in touch with a certain prince of hell.
>>
No. 302984 ID: a9629e

>>302951
And ask about where he got the ammo. Our recuperative downtime must be spent shopping.
>>
No. 303278 ID: a76809
File 130509537533.jpg - (58.08KB , 500x685 , Herr Brandt.jpg )
303278

>>302939
I start running down a checklist, getting my bearings. I turn to the nurse, still in the room, mouth already moving.

"So where exactly am I?"
>[Nurse]"The corner of Bucak and Ahmet Hikmet."
Okay... still in Istanbul, not even that far from my house-if I wasn't walking.
I pull out my phone, calling the Triad contact number. I identify myself, ask to speak with Lo Fang-only to be told he is 'Away on Business.' When I inquire after my belongings, detailing my every weapon, I am told they are being kept for me at the dock warehouse they are based at, and guaranteed by Lo Fang himself to be there whenever I wish to reclaim them. ....Thinking that a pretty decent guarantee, with what little I yet know of the man, I decide to leave that as is-instead asking specifically about my keys and wallet. Turns out they are in the same place. Given how little I actually can do without at least that, I have little choice-but to make the trek to the docks once more, a two-hour long ordeal, given the foot-traffic of a surprisingly balmy weekend. This time the Triads at the gate don't even scowl at me first-they simply nod and let me pass. ...If they all didn't wear damn near the same suit, hat and glasses combination, maybe I could tell them apart more ably.

In the warehouse, I am met by a pleasant surprise-Ping stepping forward, a small smile on his face as he lightly claps a hand on my left shoulder.
>[GP]"Mr. Laine, it is well to see you up and about so soon-Lo Fang will be pleased, I think."
"Ping-I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you, but I definitely didn't expect you."
>[GP]"Rather clearly-ever one to test those who have passed a trial by fire, Lo Fang has left this warehouse under my care, while Wang handles finance."
"Sounds up both your alleys-you shouldn't have an issue leading, and Wang struck me as the meticulous type. So, what about Diao Yuan?"
>[GP]"Sadly, she was a cousin and lifelong friend of May Lee-her passing hit her hard, and for now she still mourns the loss."
"So she did die then-wasn't sure at the time. A sad thing-but little we could do."
>[GP]"We all did what we could, and made our choices-life goes on, as it always does. ...Now, I hear tell you are looking for your things?"
"Not... entirely. I am going to go ahead and assume Lo Fang guaranteeing my goods-"
>[GP]"To quote others we have dealt with 'as good as gold'."
"..Alright. Then, all I need is my wallet and my keys-I won't be doing any shooting for a bit, and would rather not strain myself trying to not put pressure on an entire half of my body lugging the stuff."
>[GP]"Did the healing not take?"
>>302591
"Not at all-the doctors did wonderful work. ...In fact, too good-I'm more healed than I should be, for how I was hurt and how long I was out. The Doctor did not say he was responsible-so I wonder if you know anything about that?"
>[GP]"Ah, that. Well, to explain that, I must tell you a story that you deserve to know. ...The beginning shall be rather abrupt, but it must be lest we prattle all day. The illustrious Lo Fang is my master, my only master-yet I am not his only student. Others labor in the Triads-and Master Fang teaches as a reward, not a matter of course. For my work in this last mission, I was given the chance to get personal tutelage in any of the arts Master Fang knows. ...Thinking of the loss we suffered, I asked to learn how wounds can be healed. I was instructed in a variant of Chi Gong that uses Taoist I Ching to bring one's recuperation farther into the future.... As I feared, I ramble. I was the one who healed you, prior to Doctor Finnigan's care-and I used you as a test dummy to my work. ...In truth, your side should be more recovered than that."
"Eh, I'll be fine naturally soon enough-but if it bothers you enough, then do something about it."
>[GP]"Perhaps at another time-I have many duties that must be attended to. Soy here will get your requested belongings-I am sorry to cut this so brief, but so much to do."
And just like that Ping blows on by, already snapping out orders to those around him as a rather rumpled looking Triad trots off to fetch my wallet and keys.

What can I do?

I leave the warehouse keyed and wallet'ed, make my way to the second-closest bus stop, and start commuting my way home-all while dialing up Arkvad.

>[AS]"Armas? What is it-"
"I think I had a pair of guns go magic on me mid use-mind being a sounding board to confirm or reject my theory?"
>[AS]"I... what?"
"Good. So, it all started when I was hunting this thing called...."

...................................

"So, that's why I'm pretty sure the Matebas are-"
>[AS]"Just... just... stop. I... You... you scared off a Doonongaes? A DOONONGAES?"
"I have to admit I'm surprised you heard about them."
>[AS]"There was a companywide warning issued about one being in the Bosphorus!"
"Well, might not be there anymore, depends how much they like to relocate after a beating."
>[AS]"You expect me to believe... no, of course you do, you wouldn't tell me the rifle had drank its blood idly-you know I can check that. ...Just.. just HOW did you make it flee?"
"Two things, really: A whole mess of religiously applied firepower-and really, I do mean a MESS-and the fact that it turns out that gun I'd picked up-the one I mentioned before?-apparently one of Mammon's Devices-"
>[AS]"WHAT"
"Anyway, shot it with that, used the one shell I had, then bluffed it into thinking I had more-that plus a veritable bullet storm and being set on fire made it run away. SO: Think that would qualify for conditions a gun could go magic under?"
>[AS]"...Yes, yes it does."
"And Keihäs-was it always flat out vampiric like that?"
>[AS]"The prior owners did not deal with supernatural threats, so I could not say-do you even know if it would do the same to mortal blood?"
"Not sure-and I don't feel like trying with myself. So... I got four magic weapons now-is there like some sort of owners guide, maintenance manual or SOMETHING about having these things? I feel a bit blind here."
>[AS]"Let me put it this way-Holland and Holland's Istanbul branch has one-just ONE-book on identifying and restoring imbued weapons, and short of the CEO no one can take it out of the locked room it's kept in. So... we have a book, yes, but we most certainly are NOT sharing. Don't think anyone is. Magic weapon creation is a generally darker area of magic, and known books on the subject do not last long before someone snaps them up. If you wish to ferret out such a topic-I really have little advice to offer you, save to either apply here at Holland and Holland, or to look on your own. ...As I can hear people talking in the background, showing you AGAIN did not call from a secure location, I will end this call here, unless you have actual business to discuss."
"Last question-Florent Smets, I have yet to look into-anything new I should be aware of?"
>[AS]"A little digging has revealed it looks you and I are not the first duped. I have begun to make inquiries-if these other customers feel inclined to it, may I tell them you are interested in meeting to discuss your shared predicament?"
"You really need to ask?"
>[AS]"Of course. I need it on the company record, no matter how well I know you."
"Damn right I want to meet with them."
>[AS]"Very well, Armas. I will contact you when I've spoken with them all."

Nothing more occupies me during the bus trip, and I miss the all-too-brief chance to speak Finnish-or indeed, anything but English. I feel like I'll start getting rusty as a trilingual if I don't do something... but that's so low on my priority list right now I hardly pay the thought any mind.

The fact I have come up with no plans by the time I get home is made immaterial. I find a wealth of packages waiting for me, thankfully held by the one neighbor I know (an old Russian woman that makes excellent piroshkis). The largest are from Sergeant Riker back in the States-my comprehensive body armor package. I slowly bring them inside by trolley, the only way to avoid tweaking my side, one at a time-and am left with packages still presented from those wrinkled, plump little hands. One is a manila envelope, courtesy of Lo Fang-within, a simple note, and forty five thousand dollars-twenty more than agreed. I open the note before I get too focused on the ludicrous funds I'm coming into.

Mr. Laine:
I find myself somewhat perplexed. I had thought you a manipulator, a watcher from the shadows-a skilset I can approve of-and here we are, Ping, Ping, telling me of how you fought. I had not thought you of the same type as Labombard-which is where his mention of your words with the Senecan hippo come in. I find I must apologize to you, something I do rarely: I pride myself on never underestimating people-yet I thought you simply a plotter. You are something more.

I look forward to seeing just what it is you are, Mr. Laine.

Post Script: My compliments on aiding in the Emela-Ntouka's recovery.


I count, and count again, a full half hour going by as I make sure-I have more than a hundred thousand dollars.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,107,459.64]

...Right-new priority-finally figure out a bank I want to use, something nice and discreet, as I have to satisfy at least SOME places' requirements for minimum balance.
>[Note: This means name a real world bank you think Armas should use, given the line of his work and clientele-and potential enemies.]

But before I can worry about just where I am going to open an account-I realize what a wonderful idea it would be to check in with Galileo, so I don't piss of the mafia. I call my contact number, it rings once and-
>[GS]"I am curious where you have been for the last ten days, Armas."
"Honestly? Know there is-or, at least ten days ago, there was a Doonongaes in the Bosphorus?"
>[GS]"...Interesting. So you are what gave it those wounds-rather thorough work, if not enough to finish the job. And before you ask, no, I did not kill it, neither did my men-we had business of our own-which brings me to something you need to know-as of now, the Mafia branch of Istanbul is going to do business with Wizard Dorjpalam Khubiliai. We were hired to his aid during his bout against the Akkorokamui, when it called other aquatic entities to its aide. Took me five days to unravel it, but originally, the Doonongaes was supposed to aid the Akkorokamui, some oath invoked or some such-but instead of having its prized knight, the octopus had no heavy hitting follower-instead, it surfaced mid-battle well away from the fight, claiming scraps of the slain. Had some impressive wounds."
"Huh. Meaning that technically, I did a job to your favor while you were on contract yourself, correct?"
>[GS]"I trust-"
"I don't seek to be paid for something I did of my own free will-I needed to survive, plain and simple. Which... brings me to the Germans."
>[GS]"Which brings ME to the Germans. I've had the local family pressuring them, unable to sit idle while you were gone-only after satisfying myself they could shoot straight and not hesitate-with the net result of two losses to their thirteen. So... they now travel in loose packs spread out over a half-block, impossible to hit all of them at once. ...With one exception. The deceased Mr. Barby had a particularly capable soldier at his side. His Oberstleutnant, his Lieutenant Colonol... Kaspar Brandt. On him, we have a great deal of information-and while he walks alone well... I assume you have a package?"
I look at the last parcel in my hand, ear cradled to shoulder as I speak.
"..Yeah, I'm guessing you want me to op-"
>[GS]"Yes, its-"
"I have just one working arm right now, hold on."

I look at the weapons specifications, the known armaments. [Reffer to earlier blurb about Herr Brandt's equipment for details]

Then I look at the picture of a man that look to be seven feet tall and some four, maybe five hundred pounds-

Of almost cartoonish but still mostly frightening muscle.

...Walking a tiny dog, which the picture's back notes as being named-I kid you not-Snufflupagus.

A cruel world, sometimes.
But the direction of the notes within seems clear-take out their best, cow the rest.
>[GS]"Now, in light of your current state, on this particular approach I can wait some time-perhaps two weeks. But should it not be dealt with in a reasonable time-well, I suppose that will conclude my report to the families on the American mercenary. We'll talk again soon, I trust."

And with that he hangs up.

Leaving my far too aware that:

I have money to spend, a numbered account to seek out, some minor rehabilitation to do, friends to check in with-

All of which will start tomorrow, after I get one good, solid night's sleep.









So what is my plan for the next day?
What kind of itinerary do I see for myself this week? For the week after?
How am I going to approach my return to personal fitness, given my injury and ten days bedrest?
Do I have some places I wish to shop at?
>>
No. 303281 ID: 1854db

>you AGAIN did not call from a secure location
Hey, knock that off.
>>
No. 303365 ID: b5ebec

Okay, first order of business, since you're home and not amongst people, call Arkvad back up and see if you can get any additional info out of him about the doom pistol. Also since he's with H&H, order up some .600 Nitro Express rounds to use in said doom pistol so you've got SOMETHING to shoot with it. Maybe 25 rounds should do, no need to go overboard.

Next, call up Galileo again, see if he can put you in touch with a guy who makes doom bullets for your pistol, and maybe.

After that, time to go shopping. If you get those Nitro rounds on the way, go hit a Silah Dünyası (Gun World), there should be two of the places to pick from. ...And they seem to be the size of a fucking shopping mall.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=a-8216world8217-of-guns-and-then-some-2010-04-11

Anyway, grab a bandolier for the Nitro rounds and a shoulder holster for the pistol. Grab 100 shells each of 12ga slug/shot/bolo if they have it, since the AA-12 eats up so much ammo. ...Spare drums might be good too if they stock any.

Look into getting some more stripper clips and ammo for Keihäs and a PU scope if it doesn't have one already. Also a suppressor if they even sell/stock the things. Maybe see if you can find some belt pouches to accomodate the extra reloads, and a belt harness or something to help hold up the additional weight and prevent it all from yanking your damn pants down to your ankles when you run.

Speaking of which, look into finding a nice set of handloading equipment. You'll probably only need it for the Nitro rounds to save cash on them in the long run, but hey, if you want to try souping up ammo for your other guns you can do that too. Here's a quick guide about the process and general equipment costs.
http://emptormaven.com/reloading/

Also you might want to contact Bagatur Yilmaz and restock your flashbang supply, get a six-pack of those and inquire if he has any RPG-40 anti-tank grenades around. Get at least three if he does, they're HE instead of shaped-charge, so they'll still be somewhat effective even if you don't manage to smack a target directly with them.

Lastly...give your guns a good cleaning when you get them back, eh? They've been through a lot of shit recently and it's important to keep your weapons in order. Respect the weapon and it'll be good to you in return.
>>
No. 303368 ID: ae0719

>Banks
I'd recommend Oyak Securities, myself. It's local, and well-thought of in Turkish banking circles. Maybe sink some of our money into foreign exchange trading. Unless the Gnomes of Zurich are actual gnomes in this world, in which case I'd say go with the swiss bank account for the novelty value (well, and privacy; swiss banks are prohibited by law from even acknowledging that you're a customer with them). If we go with the Swiss account, go with Micheloud & Cie: that way, we don't have to go all the way to Zurich to open the account and can get it all done by mail.

We might want to Incorporate ourselves (Laine, Inc, the one-man PMC?) if we pay taxes, so we don't get hammered with self-employment taxes. Plus, we can write off almost anything we buy for our 'business'; car, bulletproof vest...

>How am I going to approach my return to personal fitness, given my injury and ten days bedrest?
Start with long walks around the city. Once you're not achy anymore, head back to the gym for some light exercises (not the usual 4-6 hour Krav maga/Combat Sambo marathons) and to get back in touch with your Israeli buddies.

>First week
The first day, maybe head on down to the local library, see how well-stocked their mythology section is (particularly on Doonongaes and Mammon)? Also, if you can find any specialty gunsmiths who cast bullets the old fashioned way, by hand or mold? That seems the most likely way to find someone to make the 600 nitro bullets or other unusual (or even magical) ammunition.

Then while you're taking your walks, see if you can scope out the crooked dealer's place, then get in touch with those other victims of his like Arkvad suggested. I want to fix up our AVT-40 before doing the German thing.

I don't want us getting anywhere near Herr Schwarzenegger over there.
>>
No. 303370 ID: e41ad5

>>303368
>Armus Laine Securities

I like it.
>>
No. 303371 ID: 46c430

This is an important job, and we're heading into it at less than 100%... Not good. We should be in top shape for this... ...Hey. Ping can work healing magic, and even if the first session boost you up to full recovery, maybe another will finish the job? Call up Ping tomorrow, ask if further shortcutting through recovery is feasible, and if so, see if you can purchase his services and schedule another healing session. He's going to be busy in his new job, so it's best to offer him something material in return for him helping you out to make it worth his while instead of just making it purely a favor and/or further practice for him; You're pretty new as friends, afterall.
>>
No. 303379 ID: 8b0de1

>>303365
>Speaking of which, look into finding a nice set of handloading equipment.

That's a good idea.
Also get some silver and make silver bullets for Mammon Device. I say about 3 rounds... you never know when you run into were-beasts or something that is vulnerable to silver. ... Maybe even one stripper clip worth of silver ammo for Keihas.

Can we get laser-sights for our weapons? For Keihas? I know it would not look good but anything that can increase accuracy even in the slightest is a big plus. ... Matebas too, they should get laser-sights too.

>How am I going to approach my return to personal fitness, given my injury and ten days bedrest?
don't do any fitness before you are fully healed. I think that goes without saying.

You need rest. Maybe you can arrange with Go Ping to have another healing session.
In mean time, try to get as much of info on Mr.Beef McHugeguy. Maybe we will be able to stake him out and kill him with minimum opposition.

Meet with the guys who got ripped of by Florent Smets.
I don't know why it was seen a good idea to leave unarmed, we should have some weapons on us at any time.
Do you have a car? If not, maybe we should buy one... a cheap one for now. Get your weapons.
Does our armor have a face and head protection? If not, we should get some ... an armored, stylish face-mask preferably.

Since our relationship with the Triads is getting better, can we ask them for supernatural equipment contacts? Or people who can enchant existing ones?
When I suggested getting magical protection amulets, Bob said Armas doesn't know anyone who could give us something like that... so that means those things exist, right? We should really get one even if they are expensive.
>>
No. 303463 ID: c173fb

Oh! Idea! We should see if there's a funeral for May Lee and attend, if we can. Show respect for her.
>>
No. 303589 ID: a76809

>>303281
I make a promise to myself that I'll stop calling Arkvad from public, non-secure locations. I am certain I shall keep it.

>>303365
I decide-that I've been too low-key about my purchasing ability. I don't ALWAYS need to find my munitions in back alleys, from criminal traders-hell, there a damn Silah Dünyası five blocks from my apartment-and I have a great deal of shopping to think about.

>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]

But before I go buying potentially large amounts of supplies with cash, straight out as a new customer-I decide to make a call. Five minutes later Arkvad's hanging up again, on his way to contacting Istanbul's Gun World, informing them of a new customer-implying a wealthy, long-term customer it would behoove them to greet warmly. With such a recommendation from Holland & Holland, any questions my purchases might make will get quashed. So, again I head out by bus-already aware that I'm getting a car back, be it taxi-or, if I play this right, an escort from Gun World.

Say what you will about America, about the ease with which guns can be gained of all shapes and sorts, of rifles needing only minor modifications to be rendered fully automatic-and illegal-and they would be right. But what most folk in the U.S. don't know is that not all european countries are excessively prohibitive with gun purchasing-which is where Silah Dünyası, Gun World, comes in. Mall Sized stores with a dedicated legal staff just for answering customer questions, tens of thousands of weapons, all manner of ammunition, equipment, clothing, gun maintenance supplies-and I have a list. I have a personal shopping assistant from the moment I step up and identify myself-and I spend three hours working my way down a list.

-At $50 per shell they are ludicrously expensive, but I pick up a full thirty .600 Nitro Express-the type of shell Mammon's Device takes, by caliber. [$1,500]
-A compact shoulder rig that will fit Mammon's Device-complete with two front straps doubling as bandoliers, with loops adjusted to accommodate the Nitro rounds. [$250]
-While they don't have the military sized drum magazines I want, I do pick up 100 rounds of 12 gauge shot and sabot alike, as well as a hundred rounds of Dragon's Breath. With no flechette or FRAG-12's legally saleable, I restrict my AA-12 ammunition purchases to this. [$900]
-I pick up a half dozen more stripper clips for 7.62x54, and find out they have semi-universal suppressors they can custom size to a given rifle's barrel. I ask if they have presets for the M28/30-turns out they do. So I pick up two to add to the clips. [$510]
-I get a pouch-laden, heavy-duty belt, complete with clips to hang grenades and loops to secure holsters too-complete with over-shoulder straps to prevent slippage even when it's loaded down. It is waterproof and designed to survive rugged use.[$150]
-I also pick up a kit for hand-loading-really, it's so comprehensive all I need to do is make sure I have a steady table to set up on, complete with the correct turrets and dies for 7.62x54mmR, .600 NE, .454 Casull, 16 gauge and 12 gauge. (For some reason I omit the ten millimeter range)[$450]

All said and done, I spend a bit over thirty seven hundred dollars-and lose another ten in cab fare back to my apartment so I can get my purchases safely transported. But soon enough-I find my apartment well stocked indeed.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,103,681.96]

>>303368
My next stop is Oyak Securities. I've seen their adds all over the place in Istanbul, Ahmad, Hafaz and Yoni all swear by it, with even Shaya and Hadar offering nothing to complain over. I present my visa, provide my address-and open a savings accounts with a five-withdrawals per month limit and a 3.5% interest rate, so long as the balance stays over fifty thousand.

Don't think that will be a problem.

With all that money finally, finally out of my hands I breath a bit easier. I head to Constanz' gym, running into Ahmad, Shaya and Hafaz. They thankfully avoid their bear-hug back-slap combo greeting, and ask no more questions after I say I was injured 'on the job'. I slowly, gingerly join them in their stretches, and continue long after they've broken into their regular sparring, with me just watching. I test my memory, linking what I recollect learning with the moves I watch, hoping to at least preserve my budding skills in Krav Maga until I'm healed enough to resume practice. After doing all I feel safe for my first day back, made quite aware of just how tender my arm and side remain, I offer to take the guys out for a few drinks, and to grab a bite-big surprise, none object. Not a one asks me the specifics of my job-they just patiently, maddeningly make a point of not asking anything at all-something I eventually cave to. I ask if they know what's been going on in the Bosphorus. Could be the light playing tricks on my eyes, but I think I see Hafaz' eyes narrow, even as Ahmad speaks up, commenting several ships were found wrecked, without a known cause. From there conversation flows as easily as the liquor, and after an enjoyable afternoon I head back home with a merry buzz, mind filled with that special drunken, resolute focus on every detail of the Israeli style I can recall. It is a strange way to end my day-but really, after getting home, I don't do much else.

>>303371
Other than call Go Ping, after some careful consideration.

Well, I don't call Ping direct-don't have his number. But I call my Triad contact number, and two minutes later I'm speaking with the man himself.
>[GP]"Yes, Mr. Laine?"
"I find myself in a position where I may be rude out of ignorance, so I ask you bear that in mind."
>[GP]"I shall try to suffer through your insufferable and agonizing heathen ways, Mr. Laine."
-Damn, had to stop myself there-said that so deadpan I barely caught the sarcasm-so even the zen-boy likes to joke?
"The healing you provided me with a week ago-could you assign a ballpark estimation of how much one might expect to pay for something like that?"
>[GP]"The market is excessively niche and prices based on the preferences of the provider. Could be as little as five thousand dollars for a friend-or fifty thousand for a begrudgingly accepted customer."
"Yeesh, not as static of a reference as I'd like."
>[GP]"I take it this is a lead up to asking for further healing, but offering payment rather than asking it as a favor, correct?"
"To the point then-yes, and I want to know what a fair value would be, so that I incur no debt and you feel inclined to provide it."
>[GP]"Ah-you want me to do it?"
"Why not you did the first batch and I feel pretty damn confident I can trust you."
>[GP]"I also did not heal you adequately."
"So you get free practice with Lo Fang's teachings-a chance to look at what you missed, and learn from it-come on, how could I refuse a bud a chance to improve himself?"
>[GP]"...Very well, then you will be at the warehouse tomorrow morning at six-we shall discuss the fee when you arrive."
"Until then."

It is on thoughts of just what strange blend of Taoism and Shaolin Buddhism it is that managed to scoff at the normal progression of healing that I finally slumber.

Five fifty AM, I am let into the dock warehouse by guards wrapped in heavy coats to ignore the chill. I'm lead to a ground-floor room with sound-proofed walls. I see what look like overly complicated Chinese Characters written on aged paper blanketing walls, floor and ceiling alike-even the back of the door displays them as it swings shut-

And the din outside is silenced.

>[GP]"If you would please lay down."

I lay on what looks like an aged acupuncturist's table-

>[GP]"Take off your shirt."
"NOW you tell me..."
Two ginger minutes later, I lay face-down, shirtless, as I feel fingertips ghosting over my injured shoulder blade.
>[GP]"...Yes, I paid too much attention to the clavicle, too focused on a collarbone injury-it is your scapula that I neglected most, and the root of why you did not heal adequately. ....."

Ping begins to chant a low, whispering mutter, something that sounds only vaguely like a sutra, as I feel a piece of paper lightly layered on my back beginning to tingle and sizzle.

I scarce believe it when Ping finally stops, as I get dressed again, wondering at the much freer use of my arm-until I see Ping opening the door and the light of late afternoon leaking in. ...The whole day passed? ...I must have gotten caught up in Ping's chanting, I barely noticed the time passing at all. Still, I think that, barring heavy duty use, I can say I have my full range of motion back.

>[GP]"Still not fully healed, I know-but I can give you but one day. I will make this simpler for you-transfer fifteen thousand into this account, and it will cover the healing-I think you should be considered fully recovered in a few days ...I thank you for the additional chance to practice."

Ping hands me a small slip of paper as he claps a hand on my shoulder-and I don't wince.

Money well spent.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,088,681.96]

I reclaim all my possession from the Triads, and lug them all home, guitar case and all-to spend the evening meticulously breaking down and cleaning my each and every armament.

Morning brings with it the first day of November, as I call Mr. Savoy.

>[GS]"What is it Mr. Laine?"
"I need more intel on Brandt than just a picture, weapon specifications, and a half-paragraph blurb naming him and relating him to the deceased Barby. Where does he live, what bars does he frequent, any habits he indulges-you do have more, right?"
>[GS]"I was under the impression you would be out of commission for several days."
"I am and will be-doesn't mean I don't want to mull over how to approach this-if his Brandt is dealt with properly, his passing could be a huge blow to the Germans."
>[GS]"...Expect a package by the end of the day."
"Another thing-the last thing: The gun Castelletti used-where did he get bullets for it?"
>[GS]"...Fired it, did you? Perhaps after you conclude your second contract we can discuss it."
"...Pleasure talking with you, Galileo."

I spend the entire day at Constanz' gym-to find the same faces as the day before-with Hafaz the only one to not immediately show happily surprised glee at my swift recovery. I ask to be slowly put through the ringer, a way to start getting me back on my feet-so after a light five hour spar and stretching, a lunch break brings us to a more intensive afternoon-a further five hours passing before all of us stop, this time Ahmad offering to pick up the tab for a post-workout boozing. Mind once more filled with musings of the martial persuasion, I find myself swept along with everyone else-

To realize, two beers and thirty minutes later, that something is off-
Right as Hafaz asks me this.
>[Hafaz]"So... quite a wondrous bit of healing there-you must have had a magic doctor to pull that off-what was their name?"
I see the hard probing glare behind his easy smile. ...Is he testing me? I mean, Hafaz is a nice guy, just a big hairy Afghani, usually sporting a giant smile, quick to laugh-I hardly ever see him serious.






What should I say or do?
>>
No. 303597 ID: a9629e

Say "Oh, right, the sling. I was sore, sure, but I only had that thing on cause the doctor said not to take it off until I checked in" if he comments on how much you were favoring your other side, just say you were cautious about reopening wounds. Didn't want to be out of commission for another two weeks, which it's almost been at this point. Stopped worrying when you woke up this morning feeling fine though.

If he presses you to name your Doc, say Dr. Finnigan, and after you leave the bar, call him and bribe him to go with the story. He rushed you out for "wasting his money" so I'd imagine a bribe for a cover story would be fine, especially since "Uncle Lou" cared enough to pay for your visit.
>>
No. 303598 ID: f6360f

There's telling wild tales of our exploits, and then there's naming names. We might be willing to do the former when mostly drunk, but we do not do the other. Particularly when we have no idea what Hafaz's actual motivations, affiliations, or goals are. It would be exceedingly bad for all our business relationships if word got out that all it took to get our contacts' names out of us was a friendly attitude, some sparring, and some drinks over the course of a couple weeks. Plus, Go Ping has never done anything but right by us and some of that involved keeping us alive when he could have easily let us die and saved the Triads some money and netted them some magical gear; therefore he is someone we do not betray or endanger casually if at all.

Hafaz just doesn't rate highly enough to justify spilling any information to him. He's obviously got an agenda of some kind, and until we know what it is we need to start treating him as warily as any other highly dangerous person who wants something from us. It's sad, but if he presses this issue he moves his whole relationship with us from friendship to business.
>>
No. 303632 ID: f0e3ae

>>303598
I agree with this.
I would suggest a (probably) true and curt answer... "from a friend"

Oh, and since it actually managed to get 2 votes... I am downvoting the idea of incorporating... and cool as it sounded for all of 2 seconds, you must realize that almost everything you do is very illegal.

I would imagine learning something about magic would be pretty nifty. Master Fang knows many magics and teaches them as reward for very well done job. Continuing to work with him might pay off on that front, maybe we should broach the issue with him.

Wizard Dorjpalam Khubiliai wants Akkorokamui dead. the Doonongaes was supposed to aid the Akkorokamui. Instead it surfaced mid-battle well away from the fight, claiming scraps of the slain...
1. We can assumed it is healed or is going to be healed soon-ish...
2. We can assume it wants revenge against us...
3. It can take human shape and walk on land...

These are all very very good reasons to get in contact with that wizard, inform him of what we did to the Doonongaes, and ask to be hired to assist him in his quest.
>>
No. 303645 ID: 451691

>Dragon's Breath Rounds.
>AA-12 Shotgun
>Shoots fire for a couple of seconds, Very little recoil force, Increased barrel wear.
>Forced gas blowback operated
>FLAMING CARTRIDGES EVERYWHERE.
>Gun jams because not enough recoil to cycle properly.

Why did we buy these again? To be honest it would make sense for someone to buy Incendiary slugs instead, and even more so for a soldier to avoid these novelty rounds altogether.
Why? Either way you are shooting what amounts to powdered lighter flints at a foe, and on top of that, they are bouncing off a target because they're smaller than SSGs, even the Slug version, the Dragon Slug isn't that great, as barely any flames are produced by the round.
I'm sorry a76809, but as an inexperienced shooter there is no polite way for me to say this.
>>
No. 303661 ID: c173fb

"Yeah, positively magic." Agree. Cagey answers, but friendly. Pun a bit about magic. Put them on the defensive, too, ask if they know any magical techniques we could learn. Activate MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait.
>>
No. 303688 ID: d429c4

Inquire with Arkvad about the possibility of getting Keihas re-barrelled for a larger calibre.

Also, if we're going to be tangling with demi-god monsters we're going to need to upgrade ourselves, not just our gear. Hit the library and research empowerment rituals of both your mother and father's people. Some of them may seem wrong to western sensibilities, but being eaten by a monster is even worse.

Places to start are records of Maori heart eating ceremonies, and the Finnish sacred bear hunt.
>>
No. 303696 ID: 6930ef

>>303688
>Maori heart-eating ceremonies
Why didn't I think of this earlier?
>>
No. 303701 ID: 903f16

>>303688
>>303696
It's been tossed around in the chat for a couple weeks. I hit on it after I was trying to explain why we should go with the mere pounamu. Meres are believed to acquire their own power or mana in Maori culture. Certain mere's are passed through the generations like ours was and were said to possess names and even magical powers. So I asked Bob and wanted to know if our mere had it's own mana and if we could unlock it, answer to that is yes. Easiest way to do that would to try to recreate the same resonance the mere had with it's previous owners by becoming like them, like a Maori warrior. Then of course the flesh component comes in and it's revealed that if we were to consume enough flesh in the ritual Maori flesh eating style we would become a Maori style Wendigo and get some awesome bloodline powers. Why do you think I was trying to get him to grab any books relating to Maori and Finnish folklore or visit any place could potentially house occult tomes and artifacts this whole time? The reason it these suggestions aren't being used is that we need a specific plan to get these books. It's not enough to go looking in the library, you won't get specific instructions, at best you'll get accounts of such practices.
>>
No. 303712 ID: 856690

>>303701
Going down the path of a Maori style Wendigo of the sacred finnish hunt sounds fun!

I mean he is already a badass normal, why not become a badass abnormal!
>>
No. 303714 ID: 6930ef

>>303701
Was this in IRC? I never see any discussion about Bob's quests.
>>
No. 303715 ID: 903f16

>>303714
Well until recently there was quite a bit, there are three fairly full Golem Quest discussion threads on discussion board. Most people use the chat channels now because it's easier, but the discussion threads aren't too neglected. If you ask something or want to talk about something chances are someone will chime in.
>>
No. 303726 ID: a76809

>>303645
[Because Armas has seen how mind-numbingly effective flash bangs have shown to be against supernatural beastiess, especially those with enhanced perceptions (which is a lot of them). And being able to shoot one into something's face is a great alternative when you don't have time to reach for and prime an actual flash bang grenade. Novelty, under the right circumstances, becomes utility. So less something for setting things on fire, so much as a stunner for those with magic senses and a lack of modern teachings. If you want dedicated incendiary rounds then suggest purchasing them.]

>>303597
>>303661
"Yeah, positively magic."
I see Hafaz's eyes stay stony focused on me as he continues to stiffly smile while I continue.
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"Seriously though, I was sore, sure, but I only had that thing on cause the doctor said not to take it off until I checked in-which I did this morning-and big surprise, he said it could come off. Hence today."
>[Ahmad]"So why did you favor your side so yesterday?"
"I'm leery of injuries till cleared by an actual doctor-prolonged way too many because I was impatient, and learned my lesson-which seems to be paying off."
>[Shaya]"Is a wise way to handle them-lets one stay healthy longer!"
>[Hafaz]"I think you still haven't commented on who your doctor is, though."
>>303598
>>303632
"A friend-does it matter? The guy's good-possibly inhumanly so, as far as my opinion goes-but then I could be biased. Speaking of magic-I don't suppose any of you ever tried to learn some of those 'magical' martial styles that seem to float around here and there? Never had time to indulge myself, but I admit it looks fun."
>[Ahmad]"Haha, while you may be entertained by them, I term it foolishness. Why bother with pointless mysticism-practicality is all-important."
>[Shaya]"I do not know about that-it would seem a fun thing to learn-even more fun to use while drunk, eh?"
>[Hafaz]"...Once met a man who claimed he could manipulate his Chakras, make energy-and that despite being an emaciated stick, he said he could trounce me. I liked the guy, shared some drinks with him, gave him someone to talk to-seemed all he wanted, really-and he ended up teaching me... what did he call it... Gahadet? Gehenna? Gya... Gyaketsuote, that was it."
>[Ahmad]"Just how much had you had when you learned this?"
>[Hafaz]"More than a few, to be sure!"
Only now I'm not so sure of that-even as he slips back into his normal behaviors as if he hadn't directed such cold focus at me a second ago. From there the conversation is a bit muted compared to our usual banter-Hafaz and I both just a bit less talkative-and the bar visit ends soon enough.
>>303688
>>303696
>>303701
>>303712
I decide to visit a bookstore afterwords, knowing one to stay open late not overly far from the gym. I decide to finally investigate what the Doonongaes said-calling me a half-blood, as if my bloodlines had some sort of mystical significance. Sure, it could be a quirk of how it addresses things, or even a whim-but it can't hurt to check. So, I ferret out two books, one on Maori lore and traditions, and one on Finnish mythology and ancestral practices. I pay with my new debit card, and am on my way-staying up late into the night as I find myself intrigued by a theme in both books-that of consuming hearts. The Maori had-maybe even have-heart eating ceremonies, the Finnish had rituals revolving around sacred animals they hunted, several of which included the consumption of hearts as well as the veneration of the slain. ...Definitely something to check further on... but I'm a bit stumped where I'd go with this from here-I definitely don't just want to leap into a field trial, but these books don't tell me much about the actual process, just that the practices existed. There has to be some connection between this and being called a mongrel of Summer and Winter-which seems kinda heavily built as a reference to the Sidhe courts. ...There's something vital here, I can feel it-but until I get farther, there isn't much I can do.

>[Armas is now aware of Maori and Finnish traditions involving the eating of the fallen/the hunted, as well as the focus on hearts in particular.]

When I wake up (having dozed off reading) I find a new package at my front door-filled with details about Kaspar Brandt. Several pages worth, in fact. I start leafing through.....

-Brandt goes to a gym called Perfect Fitness-very expensive, offers a bunch of classes in different forms of combat, has a nutritionist on staff twenty-four hours a day, a freaking metal detector at the door-the works. It'd be a nightmare to try to take Brandt out inside the gym, as even sniping is thrown out, by low-set windows preventing any decent vantage points-I'd have to know what machine he uses at what time to even hope to make it work, and these notes suggest he does not stick to a fixed workout schedule.
-His home is a two-story, two bedroom, two bath affair that has rather impressive alarm systems and security services in place-I doubt I could break in without SOMEONE becoming aware. What's more, the house is in the heart of the German territory-at the first gunshot I'd have swarms inbound.
-He's married, has a wife that is always with four to six bodyguards whenever not with her husband, and has a personal assistant that handles shopping. She's out in the open maybe once every other week, and does so erratically-a difficult avenue of approach, but if I can remove her guards fast enough on an outing.... well, something to consider, potential difficulties or no.-
-The vast majority of the time Brandt moves by car, a chauffer always available-complete with two guards to ensure the car remains free of any would-be tampering. It's an ancient BMW-and what I read suggests it's armor plated with bullet-proof glass. There's ways around that.... but still, it complicates things.
-Other than nightly patrols, where Brandt goes armed with an impressive array of ludicrously lethal weapons- and a freaking Battle Bunker shield-for any traces of Mafia in the German territory, the immense man goes out for just one reason: Snufflupagus, his wife's toy dog. He goes on a jog twice daily (during which the reports assure me he carries at least one concealed weapon), for the most part sticking to the German area-but straying for a ten minute window each and every time. At 10:10AM and at 4:15PM the German hitman veers outside of his safety zone to enter a nearby park so his dog can do it's business. No bodyguards, no escort, no local advantage-it looks like a prime, no, the perfect time and place to strike-but I have to assume Brandt himself knows it-there's pages of reports of his mercenary work back when he was part of Paladin Group, and what I see suggests he is NOT just muscle. I just can't see a crafty mind not being prepared for an assassination attempt in the park-I just don't see how he could guard from it, especially if I decided to snipe from a nearby rooftop.








So what is my plan-where, when, how and with what shall I try to take Brandt's life?
Should I try for the seemingly too easy park assassination, and if so how should I do it?
Should I try to claim the highly intriguing weapons Kaspar carries, and target him at night on patrol?
>>
No. 303731 ID: e41ad5

Taking him out on patrol at night offers you a few interesting avenues of advantage.

First of all, at night, you're at your strongest. Flashbangs and Dragon Breath are more effective, you can hide better, and you're naturally effective at ambushes. Rig up a flashbang so you DON'T throw it - he would probably be able to hear a thrown one and react - but instead so you can trigger it sitting still. After the flashbang, you'll want to go all-out with either the newly-magicked Matebas, Keihas, or the AA12. (Full auto slugging it up, bitch) Once he's down, grab what looks valuable and portable.

Before you do all this, you'll want to secure a route through the sewers - remote-activated flares would be KICKASS for this, or just utilizing single shots of DB to scare off the fuckers.

No need to kill the wife, or the dog. Precision.
>>
No. 303776 ID: a9629e

I don't like any of those options. It's clear he's cautious by all the precautions, so why would he walk the dog in the same area at the same time all the time. Seems more like a way to lure out anyone trying to take him out. No, he's looking for Gustavo, I say we try and spread rumor about Gustavo that lures him into a trap. Hazy on specifics since I'm tired, but maybe a story about someone being his contact with the Mafia. Maybe work with Galileo for this? Anyway, make it someone who keeps a tight schedule, and then soon after we leak that information, we make sure they sneak out at the point when they'd be most vulnerable, and we ambush him either when he tries to go in for the kill, or as he's setting up.
>>
No. 303839 ID: f0e3ae

>>303726
You aren't going to learn real magic from a public library... And just eating random hearts can go horribly wrong.
You know master fang has real, and powerful magic.
Galileo from the mob? he made it sound like he could actually kill the Donoongas
There is a wizard here that is at war with the donoongas' master, a being much more dangerous than it.
And you need magic for when the donnongas comes for revenge.
I say work on getting magic lore from the 3 very real sources we know about...

Well, there is also the magic university place, which we know is run by a wizard... but right now might not be the best time to hit them up for classes considering what we did... the bookstore guy we told on to the triads was also possibly a mage, but again not something to persue.

Hafaz obviously knows something, he might be a lead... but be careful not to betray our allies to him. He will have to earn our trust and even if he does we aren't telling him squat about the triads until we know he already has favorable relationship with the triads AND inform them first for permission.
We probably should ask the triads if he has any relationships with the guy.

Also, as awesome as galileo is, you should consider that the triads and the mob are competitors, the triads are happy for this infighting because it helps their bottom line... you might have to decide between the two soon-ish. At the moment, I am in favor of the triads, you have better ties with them, you deceived the mob for your own means, the triads KNOW you have done so because they helped, and you have friends amongst their operatives. But if galileo is generous with magic knowledge and fang proves stingy on that regard than this could change. But I doubt it will... try to keep working for everyone of course and just be confidential whenever you can... remember, if you break someone's trust you are also making them doubt if they can trust YOU.
>>
No. 303874 ID: 451691

Hmm...as the jog in the park seems like the best option, we should go for that. However we should first go to the park and covertly observe him - watch where he runs, any potential hiding spots, whether he puts his dog's crap in a plastic bag, which hand he uses most - as much as you can without being noticed. For this we should either find a spot where most of the park is viewable, as seeing the same guy in different places WILL alert someone like him.

Also, if we are going to be using Dragon's Breath rounds the you should practice manually cycling rounds through the AA-12, as DB rounds do not produce enough gas pressure for a blowback self-loader to function correctly. At best this means you can fire it as fast as you can cycle it - the lack of recoil will make this easier; remember that DB rounds can burn for up to 8 seconds though. At worst you’ll jam the gun and render it inoperable as the round somehow produces enough gas pressure to partially cycle the weapon.
>>
No. 303894 ID: 8b0de1

>Should I try for the seemingly too easy park assassination, and if so how should I do it?

Eeeh... this sounds way too shifty. I don't trust this.

On the other hand
>Should I try to claim the highly intriguing weapons Kaspar carries, and target him at night on patrol?
He does have some sweet-ass loot.
Remember his magical pistol seeks out throats, so get extra neck protection
>>
No. 303924 ID: 28e94e

>>303776
Great idea. Going with this.
>>
No. 303929 ID: c173fb

When we go back to the Gym Gang, bring up Herr Brandt to Hadar and Yoni causally. Activate MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait. It's a long shot, but the long shot might work. Also, directly ask Hafaz if he knows where we could any of this special fighting style. We’re new to this whole. magical world of Istanbul, and if there’s anyone we should know it would be helpful.

We should also do backgrounds checks on Ahmad, Hafez, Shaya, Hadar and Yoni. If we do incorporate ourself, it might be useful to actually get a few people on our paycheck rather than just ourselves and these five seem like good people to start with.

As for Herr Brandt, I would like to get the nutritionist at Perfect Fitness on our side. We could use that contact to poison him or, if we want to face him somehow, we could weaken him.

However, >>303776 is our best bet.
>>
No. 303962 ID: 46c430

I doubt Galileo is going to endanger one of his own men, but yeah, leaking info on the 'rat' might work. Also: No directly asking Hafaz anything, that doesn't seem wise, and no trying to get the nutritionist on our side, we're more likely to have the cops sent after us for trying than anything else. And trying to recruit out buddies at the gym for illegal jobs sounds like a bad idea too.

The park seems too easy, yeah. Scout it out while he's there, it might be a trap, might have a sniper or something covering him while he's there. In any case, maybe try taking a day to familiarize yourself with the park, where you plan to ambush him, though be careful of the Germans catching on to you. As for the background checks thing... ...Yeah, that actually seems pretty smart. Doing it for our buddies might be overkill, but Hafaz definitely, and maybe ask after that technique he told you the name of, see if they recognize the word. Of course this is likely going to cost money, but it seems worth it.
>>
No. 304116 ID: 4d799d

Is that dog really all it seems to be? Maybe he is actually at his most protected when he has that tiny beast at his side. Is there any way to check if it is a shapeshifter or something?

It's possible that most of the good sniping spots near the park have been mapped out and are being monitored as well...

Would it be viable to hire an assistant gunman for an ambush on the nightly patrol? On your own its tricky, but if you have a partner to help you catch Brandt in some crossfire then that shield of his might just become a hindrance. The cost of hiring someone would be paid off by the extra payoff in supernatural loot.
>>
No. 304174 ID: b5ebec

Okay, two plans to take him out on patrol, both requiring a little daytime setup.

First option. Get a cheap POS car that looks like it's on its last legs. You'll need C4 or RDX, a fuckton of large ball bearings, a remote detonator, a bit of black ink, and some Astrolite G. This involves faking a car breakdown along one of Brandt's patrol routes. Park the car at the side of the street and cuss at it whilst mucking about under the hood and pretending to spill 'motor oil' across everything. The oil will actually be the Astrolite mixed with black ink, which should look similar to it, and ideally you should act pissed-off enough to throw the bottle thereof into the middle of the street and let it make a decent-sized puddle before calming down and going to pick it up, splashing a small trail back to the car. Meanwhile, the inside (as in the hollow space inside the door itself, not the inside part of the car) of the door facing the road will be lined with the ball bearings and C4/RDX to turn the car door into a giant fuckoff shotgun bomb. Detonating the explosives in the door should chain onto the trail of Astrolite, creating a shrapnel storm from the side and an eruption from below simultaneously, which would probably fuck Brandt up nicely if caught in the middle thereof, leaving him nice and vulnerable to some finishing shots if he's still alive.

Second option. You'll need an explosive charge of irrelevant strength, remote detonator, a brown paper bag, and a 40oz malt liquor bottle. Cut the bottle in half crosswise and stuff the charge in, glue it back together, and wrap the bag around it like it's just another convenience-store purchase. Locate a trashcan along the patrol route and dump it in after pretending to take a last drink from the bottle, just another pedestrian taking advantage of a convenient waste receptacle. Pop it when he goes past to make him turn around and you'll have a decent shot at his back.

In either case you'll want to handload up some subsonic 7.62mm ammo to use with a suppressed Keihäs.
Quick bit of info here: http://www.silencertests.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=56324
And a demonstration of subsonic/suppressed in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5PGB5eA4GU

Picking an area densely-packed with buildings is imperative, the echo from your gunshots will distort from bouncing off so many acoustic surfaces and make it much more difficult to track your location, especially with the subsonic/suppressed combination to dampen the noise further. Might even let you pick off anyone who runs up to investigate.

Also of course bring the Matebas, your holdouts, and the doom pistol, with I'd say five spare rounds for the latter and the usual number of reloads for the former two. At least four spare stripper clips' worth of ammo for Keihäs in case shit hits the fan and there's a prolonged exchange, and a couple flashbangs too, since if anyone's wearing NVGs it will fuck their eyes RIGHT up.
>>
No. 304188 ID: f0e3ae

The dog walk does trigger all kind of paranoia in me... although if the dog is a shapeshifting monster, killing it will allow upgrades to the guns :)

That being said, I favor the idea of taking him out on patrol, and stealing the guns he has. Including that nice enchanted one.

Someone mentioned setting him on the path towards the guy we framed to trap him... sounds like a good starting point, how about demonstrating why he has Machiavellian machinations by setting layers to it? How do we go about:
1. Making him find several leads all pointing towards the fake assassin we fabricated.
2. Making him HIRE US to track the assassin for him so he could kill him.
3. Showing him to the "location" of the assassin, which is actually a death trap just for him.

It is an ambitious but cool as hell plan... the problem would be the details. I am not sure we could pull it off.
>>
No. 304236 ID: a76809

>>303731
...Attacking him at night might actually be best. Yes he would be in his own territory-but I'd know what he'd have-assuming this report accurate, of course. As I head out for the day, withdrawing a thousand dollars to make some purchases-destined for Bagatur's shop first, I consider how useful a flash bang, especially on top of a concurrent Dragons Breath round, could be at severely impairing and stunning the colossal solder. Certainly, there are immense implicit threats-blinded does not mean immobilized, and a stray bullet can be just as lethal as an aimed one. The problem in this case is just how many other members of Barby's gang I'd have to worry about the moment the firefight starts. ...I actually find myself considering a retreat through the sewers, to avoid them and leave simply their best and brightest dead in the heart of their territory. I purchase a half dozen flash bangs, knowing that even if this method of mayhem does not pan out, more can't hurt-especially with a quick access belt complete with clips for the things.

[FLASH BANGS: 06]
[FUNDS:----- US$000,087,681.96]

...Hrm, but how am I going to get my hands on a map of the sewers, enough that I could have exit routes to employ? A question that needs addressing, if I hope to go this route.

>>303776
...Maybe just outright going to him for the attack is foolish, ambush opportunity or no-it could be that I should be making him come to me-let's me prep a particular location for the ensuing gunfight-maybe let me off him without it ever becoming a gunfight. ...He's looking for Gustavo, right? The guy who's Glock I still possess? Whose address I know? There's got to be some way to use the limited knowledge I have of the guy to lure in this Kaspar.... Maybe something involving the mafia, and a purported contact for Gustavo, who survived the regime change? Give him a way to establish its a difficult hit, then reveal a perfect opportunity he'd have to act on?

>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait not given sufficient basis!]

>>303839
...These ideas are just not structured enough-time to change my thought process. ...I consider what I read. I could feel the magic of the Doonongaes when I encountered it-it shook my bones, it made my eyes, my ears, my nose bleed, my head ache-it was my weapons a thousandfold. I... I genuinely think, now, that I could have gained something, if I ate it's heart-not just for my ancestry, but for the power it held. ...I just can't see myself blindly stepping into experimenting like that unless I was going to die otherwise-or I could learn more first. Which is just not going to happen at a public library or a general bookstore, I am beginning to suspect-who kenw. But I have some options, some paths towards what I seek-Lo Fang of the Triads seems an expert in the arcane, that Ping would speak of him so highly as a fledgling practitioner himself. ..Then there's Galileo Savoy, a man that found me in... six hours from another nation and naught but a phone call-who was so eerily right behind me when I called him in Castelletti's one-time den. I think either individual could at the very least point me in the right direction-perhaps even the ammunition specialist Castelletti used could offer information, or a new contact. I might even, were I feeling truly bold, seek out entry to the magic university I performed the Russian job for-surely they would know something about this-could concretely tell me if it is or isn't possible, or advisable.

>>303874
I return home from purchasing the flash bangs to change, leaving all firearms behind save the holdout rigs as I don winter jogging gear and head out to discreetly investigate the park in question Brandt jogs to-outside of the time he visits it, of course. I run, glancing about only when there is a reason to, an animal passing, another jogger, what have you-so what I see is hardly complete-which is why I do five laps, putting in a thorough bit of cardio as I keep building on my mental map.

-The park is not all that large-perhaps ten blocks by fifteen-but has dense, winding paths, and seems purposefully constructed to seem far larger than it is, sound and sight breaking trees all over the place.
-From any given place inside or out of the park, one can see perhaps ten percent of all the pathways that form the meandering loop of trail through the greener.
-Of the total amount of winding path, perhaps twenty percent total is close enough to the perimeter that one perched on a building could see it-which means given the jogging timeframes the dossier gave, a two-minute shooting window.
-On that note, I distinctly note no less than two people consistently on the rooftops watching the park-and they hardly look like tourists, workers or residents-percehd atop some of the downtown outskirt multistory complexes, just... watching.
-Considering they don't just watch the park but the other buildings with binoculars, it seems likely they are there specifically to watch for attempting assassination by roof-top gunshot-and I think I may have seen another two watchers, though with my stolen glances I can't be sure. I may have to assume they have an effective screen against sniping for several blocks around the park.
-Which brings me to my potential way around this-the park borders the downtown outskirts-in one direction, the buildings keep climbing-and I know the Finnish models to be quite fine at long range performance-the only question here would be my own skill level-as I'd likely only have the one, possibly two shots-but could I pull it off, I could scoff at their security, a huge potential impact to their morale.

...Which gets me to thinking how big an impact to their morale killing him and taking his weapons at night when he's ready would be. While mulling over the potential plans I've come up with, I absent-mindedly practice manually cycling the AA-12, making sure I am familiar enough to perform it reliably in the heat of battle-I know the Dragon's Breath to not produce enough pressure for a full blow-back. Nevertheless, I load the AA-12 with a single, pre-chambered Dragon's Breath followed by shot and sabot alternating. A full thirty two round drum... well, so long as I can get a few rounds around that Battle Bunker shield of his, I should be good.

>>303894
I finally start unpacking my body armor delivery, systematically trying on each piece-finding the leg armor concealable beneath military fatigues-which I have several of in urban colors-the level IV vest compact and high-collared, the shoulder and groin covers fitting cleanly with the Dragonscale over-armor-I can't conceal that, but I can wear a trench coat over it-if I could get one of those KGB Kevlar trench coats to complement all this-and maybe a helmet of some sort-and I'd be as close to bullet proof as I could feasibly get without going into the magical-
And carrying a whole lot of weight, when counting weapons and ammunition too. ..I think I may need to bulk up, if I still want to have some agility with so much gear-two forty at six four, I just don't see myself having much steam to go full blast. I may need to spend a few months putting on another twenty to thirty pounds of muscle if I really want to become a walking tank without getting pinned down.

>>303929
I head out to the gym once more-and run into the full five, Ahmad, Shaya, Hafaz, Yoni and Hadar. It takes little effort to convince them that we should do a round robin tournament, with a full six of us present and me finally knowing a thing or two about the style.. Ten minutes later we start what we continue for the next seven hours with only periodic breaks for drink or the bathroom, an ever-changing set of three spars going on, with only Krav Maga allowed-I can't use any or my knowledge of LINE in this event, a further push to pick up the style. I lose most fights-but one in six, I best Ahmad or Shaya. The whole day Hafaz, Yoni and Hadar remain unstoppable to me-but I'm finally getting genuinely familiar-the all-day sparring sessions, one after another are really piling up. After a meal Yoni picks up the tab for, with more than a few brews being had by all (in which Hafaz shows not a hint of the guarded nature he had yesterday) I mention I'll be spending the afternoon weightlifting, looking to add on some more muscle.
>[Hafaz]"Why-you are already plenty strong and fit, what would extra bulk do for you?"
[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated!'
"I may have a bout with a Mr. Kaspar Brandt soon-and I'm a twig compared to him."
>[Ahmad]"Brandt? The man is a titan, with international trophies for heavyweight boxing, kickboxing, even sumo-all from the fact he uses one style!"
>[Hadar]"Ah-with a body that big, the fact he practices Pankration is a definite issue-he is fast, brutal, gets in close and overwhelms people=you are going to fight him?"
"I might-it's still uncertain, and no I can't say specifics, but I'm a potential combatant and so is he in a coming event-and no, I don't even know where or when it will be happening at this point."
>[Hafaz]"..You would be able to use Krav Maga, your Line against him? A free-style competition?"
"Pretty much."
>[Hafaz]"Yoni and I know of Pankration-some, at least. Perhaps after you've spent a few hours getting more tired moving weights, we could show you a few tricks we picked up-you will need them, I think."
"Hah, don't suppose I could learn that magic style of yours, Hafaz?"
>[Hafaz]"...I genuinely don't think it would help against him-perhaps another time."

>>303962
I drag myself back home from the gym late at night, exhausted and limbs leaden from the brutal, all-day exertion. My last thoughts as I fall asleep are just how much I like the idea of leaking info about a rat to draw him out.

>>304174
...Ultimately-
[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated!'
I make some calls, then once more head out to Constanz' gym for an all-day marathon as wheels set in motion trundle along. Nothing much happens over the course of the day-and so I spend the evening, after a cool shower to relax my strained body, trying my luck with hand-loading some subsonic 7.62x54mmR-with the suppressor included and the chance to use a rooftop in the downtown area, I could make this work. Thoughts of long range shooting, of timing my heartbeat and steadying my aim, that all-or-nothing risk fill my dreams.

The morning comes-and at my door, another package-the complete sewer maps of the German controlled section of town-complete with two circled junctions noted to be Sahagin nests. I can plot an escape path from a nighttime gunfight with these schematics-I have a shotgun loaded for an ambush attempt-

And now I have some choices to make. I'm prepared for a gunfight, a sniping attempt-and with the funds I have, I could eventually find supplies to make improvised explosives if I feel really creative-but the more militaristic the operation, the more police and media attention-and at a certain point, I may drive myself into a corner, attracting so much notice I can't cover my tracks well enough. ...I think I know everything I can about this impending job-







So the question is: How am I going to target Herr Brandt?
>[Time for 1d100 rolls for every proposed shot, and specify in your post what you want to do-try a one-to-two shot sniping attack from a distant building, an in-your-face night-time ambush with flashbangs and the AA-12, an attempted ambush with fabricated evidence of a mafia connection leading to Gustavo, or an improvised explosives use plan? Whichever plan is chosen, add how it will be accomplished as specifically as possible with the plan-and if you see a plan you like, second it while offering your thoughts on how to improve it. The most approved of plan will be used.]
>>
No. 304252 ID: 8b0de1

I don't know which plan we will ultimately take but if we decide to make sewers part of that plan consider this:
From our previous encounter we learned that Sahagin have very sensitive vision and hearing, while flashbangs will certainly still work, we could get some extra protection layer against them:
Get yourself very powerful flashlights (modify one if you must), mount them on your helmet, shoulders or just carry one.
Search for information on these creatures to find out if their hear high-frequency or low-frequency sounds. Get yourself a powerful speaker which could constantly emit those sounds (which are unhearable to humans) to drive Shagin nuts and keep away from us.
The flashlight is if this doesn't work, we can blind them by pointing it at them which has the benefit of not blinding us in process.

Flashbangs are good, but during the silent night someone could hear a bang coming from the severs and alert them to our location.
>>
No. 304261 ID: a9629e

rolled 22, 80, 10, 74, 8, 15, 82, 15 = 306

>an attempted ambush with fabricated evidence of a mafia connection leading to Gustavo, or an improvised explosives use plan?

Or? Why or? We're doing both obviously. Wherever we lure him to is a place we'll pack with explosives. The basement of a condemned building sounds good for that, being an enclosed space, and basements tend to be fairly sturdy. Good place to maximize the fuck you power of things that go boom. Have the rumor say he's squatting in the building, holed up with supplies, shitting his pants because of how pissed the Germans are and hoping they don't find out about him. Hell, if we're willing to explode an innocent hobo, maybe pay a guy to hole-up like that after we rig the place.

Set-up in or near an adjacent building, or or preferably across the way, with a remote detonator, and be prepared to ambush any of his group still outside immediately after setting off the explosives. I say we use Keihas for that, keeping the AA-12 and hand cannon for if the fucker survives the explosion.(Rolling for shooting grunts, and maybe the explosives being set off if that's necessary)
>>
No. 304269 ID: 28e94e

rolled 97, 32, 40, 50, 18, 5, 16, 97, 29, 22, 24, 21, 24, 77, 25 = 577

>>304236
>try a one-to-two shot sniping attack from a distant building, an in-your-face night-time ambush with flashbangs and the AA-12, an attempted ambush with fabricated evidence of a mafia connection leading to Gustavo, or an improvised explosives use plan?
All of the above. Locate a decent firing position from which you can quickly advance (treetops, maybe? Not sure if there'd be enough foliage this late in the year to conceal us). Shoot the dog with the Mosin, then before he can react hit him with the IED. Quickly emerge from your hiding place and finish him off with full-auto shotgun fire and flashbangs. Leave evidence pointing to Gustavo if you want. Activate both traits whenever applicable.
>>
No. 304275 ID: 856690

>>304269

NOOOO don't shoot the dog! if it is supernatural, one shot isn't enough, and if it isn't we just waste a shot and seriously piss off Brandt, don't you know people in fiction are really mean when angry!

Anyway, I'm all for combining plans, basically, this order, try sniping, ambush, then if ambush doesn't work well, retreat and into fake Gustavo bomb plan. Make it seem you are in league with Gustavo etc...
>>
No. 304294 ID: f6360f

rolled 55, 84 = 139

Sniping is mutually exclusive with any of the other plans... mostly. In order to snipe successfully we'll need a position so far away from the park that the constant overwatch doesn't notice us, which precludes pursuit if we miss.

We might, however, be able to arrange other failsafes in the event that our initial sniping strike goes poorly. Perhaps predict his most likely escape routes if he's missed and possibly injured, given that the shots come from a certain direction, and plant subtle explosives which you can remote-trigger along them. Anticipate his overwatchers moving in to assist; pre-planted explosives could take care of them as well, or at least herd Brandt in a specific direction as he flees, which can move him towards a larger trap. Getting the bombs into place will be a problem, though, and planting IEDs all over the city for your own use might attract unwanted levels of attention.

Honestly, the cleanest and least attention-drawing way to do this is a sniper strike that works. I'm just trying to figure out how we can go with that and ALSO have a safety net in case of failure.

Anyway, rolling for two shots with a sniper rifle from well beyond his team's radius of detection. Be sure to use a heavy/deadly enough gun to make it stick. Consider explosives as a backup plan- IF you can get them into place without their obviously being noticed and/or disposed of by unwanted parties, and can come up with a reliable trigger method from that distance that no one else will accidentally set off. I've heard that disposable cell phones can be easily repurposed into cheap remote detonators, so that might work for the latter.
>>
No. 304302 ID: b5ebec

rolled 29, 27, 93, 37, 4, 64, 89, 41, 14, 91, 11 = 500

>Second option. You'll need an explosive charge of irrelevant strength, remote detonator, a brown paper bag, and a 40oz malt liquor bottle. Cut the bottle in half crosswise and stuff the charge in, glue it back together, and wrap the bag around it like it's just another convenience-store purchase. Locate a trashcan along the patrol route and dump it in after pretending to take a last drink from the bottle, just another pedestrian taking advantage of a convenient waste receptacle. Pop it when he goes past to make him turn around and you'll have a decent shot at his back.

Adding something to this. Don't make the shot from atop a building, takes too long to get down to get the loot if it works and is a potential trap if there's support nearby to storm the place. Also instead of explosive, make the charge vaguely incindiary, just enough to set the contents on fire and maybe pop the lid off so it clatters enough to get Brandt's attention. Meanwhile, you camp out in an adjacent alleyway with a dumpster or something else that's big at your back so nobody can see you from behind (also to serve as cover to duck around should shit go wrong), and drape a fireproof over Keihas' barrel to further reduce any flash from your suppressed shots. Staynig at the back of the alley will give you the needed field of fire to plug Brandt when he turns, but keep you clear of any counter-sniping that might occur from within the buildings nearby. First five shots are from Keihas to Brandt's braincase (reserving any unneeded rounds for post-kill support disposal), second six are from the Matebas, three shots each and two bullets to a target, to clean up any potential support lurking nearby before sucking Brandt's blood up with Keihas and GTFOing with the loot, assisted by the sewer plan detailed by >>304252. Also remember to bloody reload once you're down below.
>>
No. 304306 ID: 903f16

>>304252
I approve, finding the right frequency could be as easy as asking a little advice from Lo Fang, but I wouldn't want to call just for that. It may be best to test it our self, there are two nests we know of. If we can find an access tunnel and drop one into one of the nests and close up the lid we can listen for the sounds of them scattering.

>>304261
I'm approving the general notion of luring him into an advantageous position, but against the idea of using explosives. No, instead I think a quieter, less attention grabbing method would be better. I was thinking we use a gas, chlorine would be the easiest to come by and most effectie I think. If we pump it into a sealable room, like one we could make out of an abandoned basement or a ready made one we could find in the form of an old walk in freezer room in a no longer functioning factory, we could gas the men inside and clean up with the authorities being none the wiser. The basic system for rigging up the gas would be a hose that leads into the ventilation system of the sealed room, both elements (Ammonia and bleach) seperated until told to combine via a cellphone trigger. I have been informed that the resulting reaction would cause the water in the mucosa of the lungs to form hydrochloric acid in the people breathing it in. To ensure no one escapes or the man made of muscles doesn't tear the door leading into the room off it should have a concealed car battery attached. As a final layer of protection onto the plan we'll be waiting outside of the range and hidden, ready to pull the cleanup duty and and shoot every damn corpse in the head to make sure.

Of course the key to the whole plan is actually getting him into the death trap to start with, that part of our plan also needs a bit of shoring up. Instead of leaking the information that a generic mafia contact of Gustavo's lives at so and so, we should get a specific name to use. For that name I was thinking we call in on Galileo Savoy, see if he can offer up the name of a known snitch, one not for the Germans and one that has been identified as such but not yet killed for his actions. Tell him we'll offer to end the snitch in a way that also helps kill Brandt, all they need to do is "offer him protection" and tell him to contact us for his redemption mission. Should we get the snitch we'll tell him to call Brandt, saying he was Gustavo's contact in the mafia, he's scared as shit and this whole thing is going in the wrong direction for him. He knows he probably won't trust him, but he wants to meet with Brandt and does not care about him bringing others. As a sign of good will he'll be unarmed. After that spiel he'll get Brandt to meet him at the prepared location. We'll send him off to said location with fake papers of information and evidence against Gustavo. Then the two parties will meet, the door will be sealed, and the gas let in. If we don't get a live snitch we can at least get a snitch's name, one that has been put to rest but the death was not public and covered up nicely. We do the talking ourself and get a stand in to play the fake contact.
>>
No. 304308 ID: a9629e

>>304306
Seconding, but also try and make sure it's not a triad snitch. KGB snitch, so we don't piss of anyone we're friends with and don't let the info leak to the Germans. And making sure to properly seal the ventilation when rigging the hose to make sure the Gas works well. Hell, if we can set it up in a walk-in freezer, we could set things up to also start a fire in there. Smoke above, Chlorine Gas below, and fire. Glorious fire. Walk in freezers are good at containing fires, so if we come prepared to put it out afterwards, we'd be fine. Granted, if he gets out and we have to play cat and mouse fighting him, the fire would spread, but if we can either trap him inside or tag him immediatly after...
>>
No. 304309 ID: f0e3ae

>>304306
I second this plan. Lure him into an abandoned basement via said snitch with info about the "assassin" and set a gas trap in there... but I wouldn't you a lethal gas, too much can go wrong. Remember last time you used poisons that crippled your opponents without killing them. You can do that again then charge in there and kill everyone with your guns and take their loot.
OR you could go with a lethal gas and set up in a sniping position in case someone escapes the trap.
>>
No. 304310 ID: 903f16

Oh and the best part is how delicious the irony of putting a bunch of Neo-Nazis in a gas chamber is. The biggest shame is that we couldn't show it to the other Germans, it would be a wonderful way to scare off the rest of Barby's men and hit two bird with one stone. Then again I suppose we could, as long as we keep evidence tracing back to us at a minimum.
>>
No. 304322 ID: 903f16

>>304309
How about we add a secondary hose and pump system to the main portion of the building's ventilation system that uses tear gas? That way if something goes wrong and they abort the plan while in building we can activate the nonlethal gas and cripple the forces inside. We could also sprinkle in flash bang caches and shotgun traps that are triggered by wire traps attached to doors inside. Maybe find a way to taunt them into looking for us inside the building to trigger said traps while we are secretly outside in a sniping position picking them off. Eh it's sound a bit over elaborate and costly, but by god if this isn't a through ambush.
>>
No. 304366 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 71 = 71

We have hand-loading equipment, right?
Can't we make custom bullets using it (I'm not sure how HL equipment works).
If we can, we should make AP bullets, specifically we should make one or two 600 nitro AP round and chamber it.
Then, when we are ambushing him, start with Mammon Device, aim for his head or neck ,depending which is less armored... though it shouldn't matter with 600 nitro. Even if he has some powerful head protection which even these can't go through (really doubt it), he will be knocked out by the sheer force.
If we do this right (as in, don't miss it), we could deal with him with just one shot which will save us a lot of trouble and time to loot his shit.
>>
No. 304437 ID: 46c430

If you're gonna snipe, go to another rooftop with that 'mechanic' act you did before, be careful of any security camera's that may be up there. And if you're gonna use the subsonic ammunition, -practice- with it before using it in the field, it probably shoots differently than normal ammo.
>>
No. 304464 ID: a76809

>>304252
I consider my mountable halogen flashlight, a remnant of my Ranger time-with what I know of Sahagin, at the very least, well-mounting it on the AA-12 seems an obvious move. The more light I have on hand, the better, when or if I face the sewers.

>>304261
[PLANNED EXPLOSIVE: 022/100]
Back to Brandt.... maybe I should wash my hands of the fight completely-use the planned lure to place him in a well-insulated basement in an abandoned building-then blow it up. Doesn't matter how strong or potentially capable at sharpshooting Brandt is if he never sees me and gets turned to paste. ....I REALLY like what I'm reading about his weapons, though, and I'd hate to miss out.

I begin to suspect myself a hoarder, as I pull out Ranger-era glow-sticks, thankfully finding several still clear of their expiration dates. Another addition to my sewer plan's viability.

>[NEW TRAIT DISCOVERED: REFLEXIVE RETENTION Armas will attempt to keep anything he is allowed to use on even a temporary basis unless given a good reason not to (couldn't with Triad equipment since he was unconscious). This can have potential negative repercussions if Armas (I.E. The Posters) doesn't take note of when he should make sure to return everything he is loaned that can be pocketed.

>>304269
[PLANNED SHOT: 097/100]
...There seems another loophole in the surveillance on the jogging route-I saw no park-side watchers, no cameras, just the rooftop sentries-under the cover of night, one could find a home within any of the densely forested canopies. A sniper could go either outside of their perimeter... or within it. Which I cannot help but note to be partly included in the sewer plans I received-I could still make a subterranean escape from this. Short the fact it offers no chance to claim that wondrous weaponry-I like this plan the best. Let's keep thinking...

>>304294
[PLANNED SHOT: 055/100]
I could go a step farther-those rooftops they watched from, surely they are not perpetually manned? And even if so, the adjacent buildings are not-I could rig up flashbangs, completely devoid of a written purchase trail or even a trace of my DNA, to go off prior to my planned shot-Kaspar does jog his route with machined precision, every step at the same time as the day prior-a detail pointed out numerous times in the report. ..Paladin Group member, founded by a former SS... Titled by Barby with a Wehrmacht-position, blond haired, blue eyed Aryan...Boss was Klaus Barby, who by now I have done my research on-this is starting to sound distinctly like some cheesy, B-movie neo-Nazi world threat things. No way it's like that, obviously-but wow-

>>304302
[PLANNED SHOT: 029/100]
I consider again a night-time encounter, going for the secondary prize-his impressive armament. I could distract him without drawing severe attention-rather than an explosive, an incendiary-rather than a car-door improvised shotgun, an abruptly burning trashcan. Still something a child could do-and enough to keep the forensics on whatever's left to classify my presence as 'just another thug' no more worthy of their time than any other bit of inter-gang violence. Sure the AA-12 won't be mistaken as anything but an automatic weapon, but these people are used to the German's heavy hand-I should be fine if I strike fast and exit immediately. ...Starting to look like either 'strike with sniping from within forest, escape via sewer' or 'attack at night in ambush, escape via sewer'. I'm not so sure the obsession with a sewer escape is just because of the difficulty with being tracked-I think I want to encounter more of that which lurks beneath this city-and maybe one of these proposed treks will be that time.

>>304306
>>304308
...Maybe there IS another option, where I need not fire a single shot. Luring Brandt to an abandoned location did have merit-but rather than attention grabbing explosives, why not quiet and discreet poison? But how to lure him to such a place, how to... hm.
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
The Germans still think Gustavo responsible-at the Italian's behest. While Gustavo is their primary goal, especially with Castelletti gone, they have most certainly not FORGOTTEN the Mafia's supposed involvement. So, I could fabricate a lure, bait, to draw them to a room with this. If I use someone already slated to die-a snitch, say-and I can safely kill the entire room-with gas. A closed off vent system, a remotely triggered mixing of ammonia and bleach to flood the airducts, the means to introduce it by removable means-hoses, say-and the ability to clean up afterwards... the timeframe involved would prohibit the plan from meeting Savoy's requirements. ...But if Savoy was able to provide some help, for the sake of getting a clean resolution.... well, then this could work better than any personal confrontation.

I make a call.

>[GS]"...nd so, Mr. Laine, exactly why-in the hypothetical we had a candidate to fit your needs, a known snitch in need of disposal-should I give him to you?"
"For the same reason you will help me prep and clean a room for gassing the target-Gassing the german gang's best hitman and whatever he brings with him? Quite the message."
>[GS]"While I can appreciate the irony and the implicit insult, that is not enough."
"Of course it isn't. But alone, you know I do not command enough resources to get this done fast enough to avoid you looking week-and that I can't just hire anyone for this. Using your men precludes needing to find people who can keep their mouths shut-and keeps this power play firmly an action of the Mafia, I might add."
>[GS]"It will, of course, come out of the prospective fee, the professional services you are requesting-this is after all business."
"Quite understood."
>[GS]"Describe to me what you need."

I tell him-I describe the hidden, out of the way, sound-obscured abandoned building with a sealed basement-I describe the type of room I wish to see Kaspar die within-and I can hear the scarred Sicilian smile through the phone.

>[GS]"....Well. This, I think, we can provide. A room twenty feet by thirty, fed on an independent system from ventilation thanks to its particular position-we could set up and clean up in hours, less if we had to."
"What kind of doors for sealing?"
>[GS]"Air tight-it was a meat locker in a now defunct factory-fit your needs?"
"To the letter. ..How about the snitch, do you have someone you can sacrifice as bait and reveal as a traitor afterwards?"
>[GS]"You do enjoy asking things rather bluntly."
"I need to know if my current plan can work or if I need to rethink it-a pawn then-do you have a pawn I can use?"
>[GS]"...We do. What specifically was your plan on this?"
"Whoever you suspect of being the ones the pawn fed info to-feed it to them first, through the pawn or otherwise-then get it to some street contacts a few hours after-for legitimacy."
>[GS]"And the information this pawn has-what is its nature?"
"Why, that he's picking up the pieces in Castelletti's wake, a glorified accountant in this respect-and that he found some banking files on Gustavo-the payment Castelletti made. The Germans have to have that information by now, when they hear it they'll be intrigued."
>[GS]"And what do you propose for why they should think him in the proposed ambush point?"
"He's meeting with a contact for said connection-nothing more concrete than that, just enough the Germans wonder if it could be Gustavo-or even just someone with more information than they have."
>[GS]"...Very well, Mr. Laine-I see no reason to gainsay your proposal-do be aware that no matter how this falls out, the service you purchase will merely be for the discreet implementation and disposal of chlorine gas through duct manipulation-not a single shot will be fired on your behalf. I will put you in touch with some members related to this field-you can work out the specifics from there."

Two hours and ten thousand off the proposed pay for this job later, I have a cell phone number-when I call it, it will open a connection between two vats, mixing ammonia and bleach while activating a few minor fans-it should flood the tiny room Brandt is to be lured into in minutes. I also have a promise to be notified the instant Brandt is seen moving-so all I have to do is camp out at the basement, and trigger the room after sealing Brandt and whoever he brings within. I saw the schematics-there are several hiding spots within seconds of the onetime freezer, with well-hidden doors, minimal exposure. So it all begins to come together.

The rest of the day is spent on sight, familiarizing myself with the building to be used, and the rack-cluttered, heavy metal door-sporting cooler that shall act as the trap itself, as things are prepared, word is put out-and a snitch is readied for his final service He arrives sometime before midnight, when a mafioso notes there's a place to sleep on sight for me. I take advantage-

Waking sometime before dawn, I continue my vigil, bait in place, tied to a chair and gagged, a pale-faced, rather sorry looking individual sporting the evidence of a rather prolific beating the only other occupant. It isn't until late afternoon until I get a terse call-

>"He's on the move."

Nothing more-but I need nothing more. I've run a feed from security to my little hidey hole-I can see a feed of all approaches to the complex-short of coming in through the sewers himself, he could not enter undetected.

I need not have worried. Four hours later, an hour after nightfall Kaspar and some ten friends all show up. Brandt is covered in what looks like the bastard child of kevlar armor and actual plate armor-and this covers him head-to-toe beneath a quilted black, white and red surcoat-also looking to be kevlar. This being on top of the fact he's carrying the Battle Bunker shield with one hand-sporting a carbine complete with a rotary barrel assembly. The guy came loaded for trouble-but isn't any more cautious than I expected. He sees the evidence I fabricated, the trails only leading towards the one room, no errant tracks through the dust, and proceed without pause through the darkened building, trekking towards the walk-in freezer. Savoy had mentioned leaking a cell phone identification for tracking-it seems Brandt is using it, if he's homing in so easily. I text the number Savoy's men gave me just as Brandt crosses the room's threshold.

Eleven trained, heavily armed and alert operatives move into the darkened room, thinking themselves catching the bait asleep in a hidey-hole.

And all eleven are too focused on their prey to notice me stealing up in their wake to get the door (thankfully given a liberal dosing of WD-40 prior to the plan) swinging shut. I hear voices starting-but I swing the lock into place before more than a few muffled curses can be said-and after the massive metal bar is in place I throw myself away, expecting a hail of bullets. Instead, there are some exploratory shots, some resounding metal-on metal impacts-but nothing breaks through, and I merely hear people speaking.... for a time. Then the chlorine gas, slowly building in the room for the last minute or so, begins to take effect.

I hear the gurgling screams that build from sounds of distress-

Just as I hear the primal roar of a Spartan challenging his foe to face him-as what I can only assume are Kaspar Brandt's fists pound upon the door, a thundering staccato that oh-so slowly deforms the door blow by blow. I watch a metal bar more than an inch thick slowly bough out over two unrelenting minutes of beating-as the screams of his companions slowly die. Undeterred by their death or his continued immersion in a room of Chlorine gas, he keeps beating away, the hinges finally starting to give-

>>304366
[PLANNED SHOT: 071/100]
My hand flies to the handle of Mammon's device, a mundane round chambered as I pull the gun free, swinging it's barrel aroud as the door's seal finally breaks and hinges burst from stone anchors-

[FIRST SHOT]
(71+5Supernatural Bonus+6)82%
I barely even register his bulk being fully visible before the gun blares out its clarion call, its earth-shaking announcement as a 60 caliber bullet blasts away towards Brandt's head. I see the helmet-clad head whipping back-

To start pulling back forward again, helm dented but unbroken, massive shield wall rising, gun barrel moving to track me-

All as I idly not blood around the breathing vents on his metal mask-at least he's human enough the gas did hurt him-








I crouch behind a two foot thick block of stone, next to me is my guitar case: Of the following which weapon should I grab, how many shots should I take (given I need to expose myself to aim) and where should I shoot, given his shield covers nearly every part of him save shoulders and feet?
-Kiehas (5 shot maximum, bolt-action)
-AA-12 (32 round maximum, first round Dragon's Breath, must be manually cycled, automatic Sabot.Shot alternating for the remaining.)
-AVT-40 Sniper (20 round maximum, Automatic)
-Matebas (x2) (6 round maximum, automatic)
-Judges (x2) (5 shot maximum [sabot], double-action)
-Glock 29 (10 round maximum, automatic)
-Mammon's Device (must be reloaded, single-shot)
-Flash Bang (x6)
I know this building's layout from a day of schematic checking and exploring, and I sure as hell should be able to outrun that giant-where should I move to assuming my planned shots do not drop him?
[Militaristic Machiavellian Manipulator Reveals that if Brandt gets up to first floor or higher (currently on second basement level) then he should have full cell reception-and could potentially call for aid.]
>>
No. 304470 ID: e41ad5

rolled 72, 77, 38, 21, 26, 49, 58, 20, 20, 15, 39, 55, 3, 8, 10, 74, 7, 36, 75, 99, 59, 39, 43, 79, 79, 99, 12, 91, 73, 91, 78, 44, 68, 15, 65, 93, 64, 22, 13, 84, 36, 52, 38, 39, 59 = 2237

Manually cycle the AA-12. Cook one flashbang and prep another within hand's reach.

FLASHBANG, first off. Use the opening to carefully aim the AA-12 into his feet - blow apart his mobility. Give this FIVE ROUNDS, into one foot, sheild side. Once he's unbalanced, open fire into his gun hand or his gun - knock it away with THREE ROUNDS. Unarmed and off balance, he should recover from the flashbang by now - give him another, then unload into his arm. 12 shots for his side. You have 12 left - empty them into his shoulder. When he drops from the assault, drop the AA-12, pull out your Matebas, and leap onto him - then unload into his neck and jaw. 12 more shots.

Forty five shots total.
>>
No. 304471 ID: a9629e

rolled 50, 36, 41, 59, 33, 77, 32, 33, 44, 60, 33, 72, 12, 11, 43, 59 = 695

So, flash bang, followed by running the fuck away towards the stairs up while unloading one of the judges into his gun. Outrunning him isn't a problem, and it's unlikely that it'll get through the armor, so trying to make sure he doesn't hit you is a bigger priority. And if you can manage to fuck his gun up a bit more permanently, hey bonus. When we get to the stairs, set up so you can shoot him as he's coming up. Reload the hand cannon, and set the AA-12 next to you for easy access, but hold onto the AVT. Between his lungs melting, the heavy stuff he's wearing, being shot at by the highest caliber automatic you have, he should hopefully fall back down the stairs. Set-up a good distance away, and since he'll have a hard time actually shooting while coming up the stairs you should be relatively safe. Any cover that could be had where you set-up wouldn't hurt though.

We're mainly buying time to let the gas to fuck his lungs up more, and hopefully kill or incapacitate him, so act accordingly.

(Rolling for flashbang, one judge, and half the AVT's ammo)
>>
No. 304482 ID: 903f16

>>304470
>When he drops from the assault, drop the AA-12, pull out your Matebas, and leap onto him - then unload into his neck and jaw. 12 more shots.
What? No, don't jump on him. Don't even think about getting in close with him. Oh and don't fire these in succession, remember to keep moving in between these. Standing still for more than a second or two isn't a good idea either.

>>304471
This is pretty good, might be helpful to make his trip up the stairs as arduous as possible. You know those glow sticks you have? I don't know if I'm recalling correctly but glow sticks usually contain a fair amount of liquid solution in them, if you snap one in half and splash on it the stairway up it could potentially cause him to slip. If this abandoned factory is anything like I think it is the steps should be metal. And if it isn't, well you can probably throw something behind you to add to the chaos.

>>304464
I believe it's a point in many styles of martial arts to control ones emotions, in particular anger. After all, anger clouds one's judgment and makes it hard to think in a fight, but it also goes hand in hand with the hormones called epinephrine and norepinephrine. Those two hormones, norepinephrine in particular are part of the physiological response to anger. They increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and as a result causes one's rate of breathing in order to supply all that extra oxygenated blood around. So in addition to making him much less capable in this fight it'll cause him to tear up his already damaged lungs with extra breathing. How do we get him angry, really angry? It's simple enough, tell the man everything he loves in this world is gone, his wife and that damn dog. That kind of lie usually requires some credibility to stand on, well you just outwitted him and stuck him in a gas chamber-I think you have firm ground to stand on. So go ahead, gloat about how your team reported their death's mere seconds before he stepped into the chamber. Tell him you are a bit happy he survived the chamber, it makes killing him now so much more perfect. After those cyanide capsules his wife and dog were given having him be shot to death completes the Hitler angle you were going for. Laugh and then run like fuck, because if he gets his hands on you after that you're toast. Relish in the knowledge that while he may be more motivated to chase you down after this he'll also be killing himself in the process.
>>
No. 304492 ID: 46c430

rolled 30, 86, 88 = 204

>Beats down a metal door over minutes of chlorine gas exposure to survive a very big bullet hitting him in the head.

...WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS GUY? What is that armor -made- out of? At this point, we need to assume this guy has one foot in the Supernatural. Under no circumstance get into melee distance before he is dead dead dead. Get behind cover before he shoots, and use Keihas, probably the best we've got since Mammon's Device didn't pierce his armor. Try firing into the shoulder of the arm he's holding the shield up with, cripple it so it'll hang free and we can get more shots in at his head. Move back towards the stairwell (I hope there's only one stairwell up), and use a flashbang to cover your retreat as you go up it so he doesn't shoot us in the back. I don't know if we want to try and indirect route and lead him on a merry chase, as he might be smart enough to make a beeline for the stairwell to get up and call for backup. Getting him angry -might- work for that... Or it'll just piss him off and make us even more screwed if he gets his hands on us.

(First two shots, firing into shield-arm shoulder. Third shot, into the head if the shield is down, or also into the shoulder if it isn't crippled yet.)
>>
No. 304495 ID: 46c430

...Oh, and, why are we shooting at his gun? The entire reason we're killing him here and not sniping him is because we -want- his gun, breaking his gun goes against the point of taking him on here, in addition to being a hard target. And remember, first shot in the AA-12 is Dragonbreath, so either fire it at his face or viewport to distract him or manually cycle past it before using the gun, if you do.

Reload Mammon's Device if you have a spare moment, and keep Keihas topped-off if you can, as well.

Last point: Don't go with full auto, simply spraying bullets will do nothing to this walking tank, we need to use the most powerful guns we have in a precise, measured manner if we're to have any hope of taking him down.
>>
No. 304496 ID: 31f32d

>>304492
I mostly agree, but:
1. the mammon gun is currently loaded with mundane bullets, and it hit him in the his face's armor which it dented but did not pierce. (his head is covered). His face is bleeding through the holes in his helmet but he is standing.
2. Retreat will be awkward with all the guns we have, and maybe we should press our advantage.
>>304470
Mostly like this plan, aim for hands rather then gun though. Kill him with overwhelming firepower.

PS. is the chlorine gas an issue for you now that the door has been broken down?
If so you might want to make a short volley and then retreat up a level.
>>
No. 304499 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 31, 67, 56, 52, 67, 10, 9, 70, 100, 50 = 512

Reload Keihas if there are no bullets.

Aim for his gun/arm, legs and if you see on opening shoot at his head to where the mammon device hit, we might have chance of breaking the helmet.

>>304495
I think we can spare few thousands to repeair that gun but we can afford to fight under hail of bullet-storm.
>>
No. 304500 ID: 903f16

>>304492
>...WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS GUY?
A genetically engineered/modified Nazi super soldier. It was kind of obvious going in that this wasn't a normal guy, I mean he goes around carrying a shield that people normally need wheels on to even move. If he wasn't at least a little enhanced I'd have been surprised.

>>304496
>His face is bleeding through the holes in his helmet but he is standing.
His face isn't bleeding through the holes, well it might be but that's not where the blood coming through it is from. The blood is from his lungs, which are filled with acid right now.

>PS. is the chlorine gas an issue for you now that the door has been broken down?
I suspect we're wearing a gas mask. This is our operation after all, one that was intimately concerned with poisonous gasses. We're also the guy that's supposed to clean up, part of the plan being going in there after everything looks dead and shooting it in the face to make sure.
>>
No. 304503 ID: b5ebec

>breathing vents on his metal mask
>breathing vents

Okay seriously, if you're gonna go for headshots, aim for that weak point there. With as strong as that helmet is, if a bullet squeezes through it's going to either sever his medulla oblongata and/or bounce around inside that helmet like Pac-Man on crack and crystal meth until his head's turned into chunky salsa with a side of brain dip.

No rolling here this time, because holy crap there's a lot of that happening already.
>>
No. 304506 ID: 8c06b9

>>304499
...What gun(s) are you rolling for?

>>304503
Yeah, agreeing with aiming for the breathing vents on his mask when trying for headshots, if we have the time to.

...Hey. I wonder if instead of just legging it to the staircase, if we can circle around and ambush him from behind while he tries to escape? I mean, it'd give a risk of him trapping us down here while he tanks his way upstairs and gets backup, but...
>>
No. 304514 ID: 8b0de1

>>304506
>...What gun(s) are you rolling for?
two clips of Keihas
>>
No. 304516 ID: a76809

>>304500
[Actually Armas does NOT have a gas mask (no request for one), as he was planning to leave the room stewing in gas a quarter hour, then slowly pump it clear, THEN open the door to check on things, once the airing out has finished.]
>>304470
[PLANNED SHOT: 072/100, 077/100]
[PLANNED SHOT: 75, 99, 59, 39, 43, 79, 79, 99, 12, 91, 73, 91, 78, 44, 68 [STORED]]
>[Rest of plan discarded to allow time for incorporation of other plans-and because jumping on this guy is dumb-he can beat down a heavily reinforced, bullet-proof metal door with his bare hands when his lungs are filled with acid, why the hell would you want to get closer?]
...There's not much room, but I can aim for his feet-
>>304471
[PLANNED GRENADE: 050/100]
>[PLANNED SHOT: 032/100, 033/100, 044/100, 060/100, 033/100, 072/100, 012/100, 011/100, 043/100, 059/100]
Should probably toss a flash-bang too, a little extra light and noise as distraction shouldn't hurt my chances-then use the time he takes to recover to get up the stairs with the AA, set up and plink at Brandt whenever he tries to ascend-acid in lungs, all that weight he carries, all plus some heavy impacts-should at the very least stymie his attempts to climb, if not outright drop him on his ass-more time for the acid to finally drop him. He's already dead-he just hasn't let out that last breath yet. ..To keep him from climbing, I need weapons he can't ignore-which means automatic longarms. AA-12 and AVT-40-you're it.

While I toss Mammon's device into the semi-concealed guitar case, reaching for the my two chosen methods of mayhem's straps, my other hand is flying to my new belt-unclipping and priming a flash-bang as my eyes track that ominously rising gun-barrel of Brandt's... gonna be close-

[FLASH-BANG:]
(050+7)57%

I'm a bit faster than my norm with hand movements, grenade leaving me fingers-
But not quite fast enough-something I realize as my body gets thrown about, a heavy slug slamming into my side-depleted uranium searing a hole right through the Dragon Scale-but slowed enough it stops before reaching my flesh. Small consolation as I realize that cracked a rib, more bullets flying past-
My head drops beneath the fallen pillar's cover just in time for the flash-bang to go off.

Knowing this my time, I pop up, ignoring my side as adrenaline kicks in, the AA-12 already in my hands as I take aim-belatedly realizing that unlike the supernaturals I've been fighting recently, Brandt knows EXACTLY what a flash-bang is-with his eyes and gun both swinging towards me.

[FIRST SHOT]
(72+6)78%
Luckily for me, this time I manage to move faster-and in the darkened room, right on the tails of a flash bang, military expert or no Brandt most certainly does NOT expect the flare of light the Dragon's breath round brings-especially the parts of light that skitter under his shield, from a shot aimed at his foot.
...Really wish I did not have to note I briefly forgot the first round was Dragon's Breath.
I manually cycle to the next round, weighed down by my armor, small arms, AA-12 and AVT-40 alone, and take aim.
[SECOND SHOT]
(77+6)84%
I can say wonderful things about my second shot. On the move, in a low-light setting, I manage to place a shot forty feet away in a moving target some three inches across, the sabot round going squarely into Brand't ankle. ...If his damned layered steal and ballistic plating with kevlar surcoat armor monstrosity didn't give him damn near perfect coverage, maybe it would do more than denting his ankle shroud.

Hence why I do not at all stop to trade shots, or give him time to recover his vision-instead of standing and fighting I leg it to the stairs-only two paths up from the bottom floor basement, and schematics of this place are hard enough to find he shouldn't know of the other on the far side of the complex. A few dozen rounds biting into stone behind me speed my feet as I finish rounding the corner and practically fly up the stairwell-

Before spinning about to plant a knee, leaning around the corner to shoulder the AVT-40 as fast as I can.

Which, despite the massive difference in amounts of equipment weight being carried, is only just barely fast enough.

[FULL AUTO: 10 ROUNDS]
[PLANNED SHOTS 03-12]
(32+7)39%, (33+7)40%
(44+7)51%, (60+7)67%
(33+7)40%, (72+7)79%
(12+7)19%, (11+7)18%
(43+7)50%, (59+7)66%

Bullets fly less in a controlled, precision burst and more in a directed stream, a sledgehammer thrown at the metal-encased bulk ascending the stairs. I see bullets strike sparks where they hit metal, adding dings and scores to the myriad already decorating his massive battle suit-but he does not slow-or stop. Just one bullet, lucky enough to catch him above the warped ankle armor, even budges him-it turns what would have been a sweeping, lethal tracking line of fire into a hectic, wild burst as he tries to regain his balance, two steps up out of twenty. I hear his wet, deep growl echoing up the stairwell as I finish my ten-round barrage-

And switch to grasping the AA-12 during his moment of stabilization. ...Think Armas, think-why do you know that ISN'T useless-

-Brand't Surcoat is kevlar-recognize the material anywhere. So, torso and upper leg shots, even if I get a clean shot past his shield, are likely to do squat.
-His arm is not flagging in the slightest, carrying that four hundred plus pound shield-and I don't think I have anything potent enough to bust it-so the massive shield he holds in his left hand, which covers him from mid-calf upward is effectively an unbreakable wall-and one he can see through, as he has bullet proof glass.
-Brandt has his M16 Gatmalite monstrosity equipped-and the thing is a beast-he's fired it for all of one second, maybe, and I'd reckon it spat out some thirty rounds in that time-that plus the belt means he's probably not running out of ammunition any time soon.
-Beyond being able to throw bullets faster than me-they are at the least armor piercing, probably tungsten or uranium-with my gut saying uranium-not much hits armor quit like that. So my wall cover here may be useless, if I don't keep him off-balance on his way up the stairs.
-I see more blood around the breathing vents of his mask-but I can't tell if he's slowed down or anything like that.
-KEY POINT: A single shot to a joint shroud has notably impacted mobility-joint shots are prefferable, if I want to have any impact.

Let's do this then.

[FULL AUTO: 15 ROUNDS]
[PLANNED SHOTS 13-28]
(75+6)81%, (99+6)100%
The first pair of shot and sabot is placed on the outside curve of his shield-the two successive impacts turning Brand's wrist, exposing a few more inches of his body from behind that slab of metal. I put all the credit on the second round, the sabot shell perhaps a millimeter in from the shield's edge, eserting every bit of leverage it can.
(59+6)65%, (39+6)45%
The second pair of shots are grouped, placed in Brand's right shoulder-only to do naught but scratch and dent his heavy pauldron-my finger stays depressed on the trigger as that gun moves back my way-
(43+6)49%, (79+6)85%
Again a paired shot- this time the shot itself is directed at his helm, more to distract than harm-as the sabot round slams home in that joining of shoulder and chest, crumpling the thinnest portions of armor on his left side.
(79+6)85%, (99+6)100% [79/79 DOUBLETAP BONUS. 99/99 DOUBLETAP BONUS]
My fourth pair of shots is what saved me. The first round, the shot, is sent whirling into the just-opened cracks in his left shoulder's protection-and I see a new source of blood beginning to stain his metal-clad form. The second round, the sabot, catches his shield-I swear-on the same point that first round did, completely undoing all his effort to get the ponderous piece of metal swinging back into place-
And finally, I have a clear shot at the majority of his body-while the shifting multi-hundred pound slab of metal prevents him from aiming his gun my way.
I have, at best, a second-time to get to work.
(12+6)18%, (91+6)97%
Another pair of shots-once more I try to pump the shot into his left shoulder, only to have his still distressingly swift movement sway him out of the way, while I place a sabot round against his head, his bull-neck barely staying still-
(73+6)79%, (91+6)97% [91/91 DOUBLETAP BONUS]
The next pair of rounds catch him squarely-shot sprays across his helm, perhaps some make it through his mouth-vents, while the sabot round sent chasing on its heals deepens the dent left half a second ago, finally snapping that monstrous head back.
(78+6)84%, (44+6)50%
Another round of shot is splashed over his helm-while the Sabot round is spent ineffectually on his chest, having no effect-
(68+6)74%
I let go of the trigger just after a final round of shot is sent flying, likewise impacting his left shoulder.
>[Spectacular shooting-Progress made towards a new trait!]

Half-way up the stairs, Kaspar Brandt stands, head stretched back, balance threatened, shield thrown wide-and if I don't do something soon, he'll recover and keep charging me-with only half a drum of AA-12 and half a magazine of AVT to my longarms. Yes, hooray that I see his left shoulder is bleeding, and that there's even more blood on his mask's vents-but as far as I can tell, he still has plenty of steam to shoot me full of holes.

I still crouch in the concrete stairwell, AA-12 in hand, barrel lined up on my foe's body-and still looking for ways to get solid slug ammunition to reach his flesh.








What's my plan from here?
Do I try to put him down here and now, or should I try to drag this out, give more time for the chlorine gas to take effect?
[ARMAS HAS: AA-12, 14 rounds Sabot/Shot alternating, AVT-40 10 rounds, Full smallarms barring Mammon's Device, and five Flash Bangs.]
>>
No. 304517 ID: b5ebec

rolled 24, 3, 18, 67, 70, 94, 9, 57 = 342

Whip another flashbang at him and try to time it so it pops over his head. Already know he won't get blinded, but the concussive shock should reverberate a fuckton inside that can on his head to disorient him and maybe burst his eardrums so he can't track you by sound. The repeated warping of the helmet should also be impairing his vision somewhat, allowing a bit more leeway. Give him six more rounds to the face with the AA-12 since the shot/slug combo is probably the best bet for breaching through that breathing vent. Plus with as huge as he is, his center of gravity is likely a lot higher, possibly giving the opportunity for the barrage to knock him over while he's still getting his balance back. All that weight he's got won't make it easy for him to stay on his feet once he's tilting backward, and if you can knock him over it'll give you another few moments to unload on his ass. If he DOESN'T fall down, duck your ass back behind the stairwell and grab all your stuff, tossing another bang around the corner to stall him while you book it upward to another ambush point at the top of the stairs.

Rolls for first flashbang, 6 AA-12 rounds, second flashbang if needed.
>>
No. 304518 ID: b5ebec

...Bah. Why must my good ideas be fucked by bad dice?
>>
No. 304538 ID: 28e94e

rolled 18, 65, 4, 71, 34, 23, 9, 75, 68, 93, 65, 87, 13, 86, 85, 66, 5, 63, 59, 14, 12, 59 = 1074

>>304516
Fire the Matebas, all twelve rounds. The helmet should have some weak areas around the eyes and mouth, and the .454 rounds will easily penetrate the kevlar of his coat. If you run out of ammo, switch to the AVT-40, aiming for the same parts of his body.
>>
No. 304539 ID: 28e94e

>>304538
RNG wants us to suffer
>>
No. 304549 ID: 4598c6

rolled 15, 33, 40, 33, 31, 54, 22, 76, 88, 33 = 425

WATCH OUT FOR THAT GRENADE LAUNCHER! He's going to use it if the predictable flashbang->autofire cycle repeats!

When you get to the to to next floor and Brandt is presumably deafened from the multiple flashbangs take off running. Then use either the other stairwell or go out a window to get around and behind Brandt so you can give him your last 10 AVT-40 rounds to the back of the head and neck from a perfect distance.
>>
No. 304552 ID: d429c4

rolled 5, 80, 92, 70, 99 = 346

If he's still staggered, follow up the AA-12 with five rounds from Keihas, aiming all of the shots at his injured left shoulder. Hopefully they'll ricochet nicely inside.
>>
No. 304553 ID: e41ad5

rolled 57, 89, 53, 53, 80, 92, 59, 72, 26, 27, 14, 21, 21, 33, 37 = 734

Remember: It's not the damage, it's the hail of high-speed metal impacting his body sending him down the stairs! Rolling for METAL STORM with the AA-12, as well as >>304517 this flashbang!
>>
No. 304556 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 69, 11, 77, 8, 6, 38, 97, 71, 87, 70, 94, 48 = 676

After throwing one flashbang prepare the second one and throw it after it to catch Brandt unawares (hopefully)

Try to use your speed to circle around and flank him.

Reload Mammon Device if you find a chance and shoot that motherfucker at his head again.

(rolling for judges too, just in case)
>>
No. 304560 ID: d429c4

rolled 15, 78, 81, 90, 100 = 364

>>304552
Right, no Keihas or Mammon's device. Use the previous rolls for the Judges, with 5 more in this post for the left hand gun.
>>
No. 304580 ID: 8b0de1
File 130557987404.jpg - (182.11KB , 1000x700 , Armas - Brandt.jpg )
304580

>>
No. 304589 ID: 8b0de1

When you kill him, use your Pounamu (or other blade) to cut out his heart as a trophy.

Yes, I know it is creepy as hell. I don't care.
Let this be our mark (like how we loot the weapons of our foes) - we take the hearts of powerful enemies.

We will preserve it somewhere till we understand the Maori and Finnish rituals better so that we can consume it for Brandts strength.
>>
No. 304620 ID: ae0719

The stairway is a good place to defend, but it doesn't have to be - and shouldn't be - your last stand. Retreat while reloading, then plink away at him from around corners or whatever other cover you can find. Then repeat. Make him chase you and as long as you don't get caught down any unexpectedly long corridors you should be able to outdistance him then turn and ambush him repeatedly.

Even if he gets a distress call out, it'll take time for the Germans to mobilize. Ten heavily armed men plus Brandt himself? I doubt they thought they needed backup for that crew, and if they did it's probably more on the order of snipers on the rooftops than another team like the first one.

Incidentally, he probably has some wireless setup for his phone, but if he tries to pull out a cell phone or walkie talkie, obviously you should immediately put a bullet in it.

If you are forced into close range with him, you got a primer on Pankration from the guys at the gym, right? Keep low and to his shield side, watch out for grabs which will allow him to 'take you to the mat' (so to speak) and straight kicks. Nothing you can do bare-handed will get through his armor except for certain joint locks and mmmaybe chokes, and I wouldn't risk that on a guy with this much raw strength. Just dodge and break away.
>>
No. 304645 ID: 903f16

>>304580
>>304589
Gotta love the fan art, but even with that it's still probably a bit too early to talk about looting. Though while we're on the tangent it'd be worth it to look into his helm, see if we can find a maker or someone who can repair his to full condition and fit it to us. That thing is awesome in terms of durability and we were not too long ago talking about how we could use one. We could even go a step farther and not only get one like it, but custom order one with more features. Also might be worth looking into what the helmet is protecting, if his brain is still in any condition eating it might reveal the secrets of Pankration to us.
>>
No. 304650 ID: 46c430

...No eating hearts until we know WTF we're doing, and certainly no eating brains!
>>
No. 304670 ID: a76809

rolled 2 = 2

>>304517
[PLANNED SHOT: 024/100]
I try reaching for a flash-bang, my hands slow, dragging by a hair-and as I lob the primed object air-ward I see it shattering, the whine of Brandt's revolving barrel set testamant to his culpability-if I give him even a second to breath, don't irk every bit of speed I can out of my smaller frame, he reminds me of his competence-which worries me. If he can bring his skill to bear, then with his brute strength and armor he could easily take me with him-I watch his arm sweeping as he shifts his weight-

>>304538
[PLANNED SHOT: 018/100]
I turn the free hand that had clutched a flash-bang to drawing a Mateba, certain its power could be of use-
The pistol's halfway out of the holster when another bullet gets close-this one grazing my arm, the burning groove making me drop the gun in sudden shock. I'd have to either feel about or look down to recover it-not enough time. Where did my speed go, my surety? ...Get your head in the game, doesn't matter how durable he is, you have ways to hurt him.

>>304549
[PLANNED SHOT 015/100]
My once-more free hand moves to the AVT'S grip, certain a few well-placed rounds to the skull will finish pushing him back over-
And again, in the time I'm taking switching from weapon to weapon, wildly waving arm or no, a bullet fired in that panic blanket finds me. This time, it does not just take a taste, creasing my arm. I feel steaming heat cascade down my arm as my left bicep explodes, meaty gouts ripped free and chips of bone flying from an armor-piercing round that slipped just under my shoulder plates. I dimly note a full five other bullets impacting my shoulder and torso, my armor doing it's job and turning them into naught more than harsh thumps-

While I freeze my mind, channeling adrenaline as I fight my own system, turning what was going to be shock over massive blood loss-into something else.

It's a trick that's always made perfect sense to me-dad and mom both know at least something about it, and never seemed surprised-but every time I ask someone else, they just give me a blank stare. You know that point, where you've given what you have, your body is ready to shut down-and you still have something to do? You know how adrenaline can let you ignore injuries, keep going?

The arteries nearest the gaping arm wound feel like they're slithering as the tubes constrict, blood flow slowed-veins leading around the injury expand, enlarge, and accomodate a higher traffic-and through it all my heart thunders and my mind races, the pain rendered... less important by my clarion focus. I raise my arm, Keihäs at the ready to plant a bullet in my foe-
>>304552
[PLANNED SHOT: 05/100]
Only to realize, too late, that I left the gun behind-and I let an idle fancy become fact for just a split second-the bane of my ability to focus and keep performing through debilitating injuries-the chemical effect on my train of thought. Simply put, I can't make it stop-all I can do is steer as best I can.

>[GAMBLER'S GRIM GUTS Trait revealed!]
>Armas is particularly resistant to being debilitated by shock, and if entering it in an identified 'danger' situation, he can ride the adrenaline to stay functional longer than normal-at the cost of a lessoned grasp of his own physical condition, and increased difficulty identifying details or in any way shifting his thoughts once they've started down a specific route. This is automatic and requires no input from players-but will NOT be put into effect when injuries include serious head trauma.

So focused am I on Brandt that I see his gun's barrel shifting-I jerk my arm back, further tearing the muscle within the limb as I use the pain to restore my link to reality, my mind to the challenge at hand-I have to redefine my focus, make it sharper, more definite-

>>304553
[PLANNED SHOT: 057/100. 089/100, 053/100, 053/100, 080/100, 092/100, 059/100, 072/100]
Had I not reforged my focus, honed it anew post-Guts kicking in, I would have been startled-at least for a breath, a quarter-heartbeat-by Brandt simply discarding the multi-hundred pound shield. As it is, even though this abruptly frees up an armored arm that rises smoothly and swiftly to steady his aim with his overbearing longarm-

The AA-12, barrel already pointed his way, starts chugging through ammo before he gets his barrel realligned.
[FULL AUTO: 8 SHOTS]
(57+5)62%, (89+5)94%
A Sabot round shaves a few layers from Brandt's shoulder armor in a flash of sparks as the Shot again slams into his face-seems he forgot about that tactic in the intervening moments, or maybe the damage is catching up to him, because he flinched to that.
(53+5)58%, (53+5)58% [DOUBLE TAP BONUS] (Total for the AA-12: 04)
I follow it up with shot and sabot alike impacting the same place-on the dented portion of helmet that took paired rounds before, and took a 60 caliber bullet to begin with- and as I see that freakishly swift charge up the remaining stairs aborting mid-first step, I hope he doesn't get close.
(80+5)85%, (92+5)97%
Sabot and shot splash against his neck's coif, further slamming his head back, arching his spine as that ponderous mass begins to finally, truly tip-
(59+5)64%, (72+5)77%
I put the fourth pair of rounds in his upper chest, the cap on his humpty-dumpty impression, too far gone to prevent that fall-as I see his fingers writhe in their metal cases along his gun's handle, what is he-

[BOOM]

I dimly note he fired the underslung grenade launcher, right about when my airborne body passes Brandt by on his trip down the stairs. He crashes with the sound of shattering concrete and squaling metal-I land with the sound of ballistic plates grinding and a recently healed collarbone creaking ominously. Having tucked my head to avoid spinal injury, I begin to scramble upright, head whipping about-

Upside down and on his back, sprawled over the stairwell's base, Brandt resumes his hail of bullets, frame shaking as he coughs.

>>304556
>>304580
I see my guitar case less than ten feet away-behind cover. Without hesitation I surge into motion, leaping towards it as the bullets fly, injured arm pulling free another mundane 600 nitro express round as I grab Mammon's devise in the hale limb, good shoulder smashing into the ground as I make a rough roll.

My body contorted, limbs folded about, sense of balance flailing as my head spins, fingers racing, I consider what I've just done. The Guitar case was right by the stairwell's base-once I've rolled past the concrete pillar's cover, I'll be within ten feet of Brandt. Neither one of us could miss at that range. Which means I'm gambling it all on this one bullet. I could have chosen to run, in the stairwell-not even tried shooting, just withdrawn and outpaced the bastard, let the chlorine do it's job.

...Moot point now.

My body unfurls like a sail snapping taut, eyes darting as I move to take my shot.

[PLANNED SHOT]
[FANART BONUS]
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Activated]
>[AMBUSH EXPERT]
>[GAMBLER'S GRIM GUTS Activated]
(69+5Supernatural Bonus+8+10Fanart Bonus)92%

Bullets flying all around me as the storm continues unabated, I fire but once. The pain, the wooziness of blood loss-neither unsteadies my hand. The suddenness in which I must aim-I barely give the restriction thought. I'd already thought to put the bullet in Brandt's head-to note the metal moreso twisted than I suspected, where all those shots slammed home. So, onto a bed prepared by Mammon itself and kept warm by successive 12 gauge impacts, I lay my last shell, the booming report of the pistol's discharge making the room seem to darken from sensory overload in the enclosed, echo-prone complex.

Brandt's helm, impressive as it was, finally succumbs-metal tears and the weighty round finally strikes home, a gout of blood and bone my reward as Kaspar's skull is broken open.

I only now realize I felt the shocking sting of bullet impact in that exchange-through my honed focus I hardly felt it-where did I get hit?

[Roll is for how many times Armas was hit in the exchange.]
>>
No. 304671 ID: a76809

rolled 6, 34 = 40

>>304670
[Rolling for how bad the shots are-high numbers are superficial impacts, low rolls could endanger vital bodily systems.]
>>
No. 304673 ID: a76809
File 130559979663.jpg - (361.68KB , 912x1199 , The Choice.jpg )
304673

>>304671
[OKAY THEN]

[6]
I slump to the ground, left leg unable to support my weight-too distracted by the blood leaking from my side, and the foul smell coming from the sharp pain in my side-bullet got me in the bowels, then. As I hit the ground, I dimly note where the second bullet got me.
[34]
Unsurprisingly, my left leg-beyond shattering my femur, it seems to have ruptured the femoral artery-if I hadn't already had my body start going into my own special brand of shock, I'd be bleeding out in seconds. Blood oozing and distressingly spurting from my prone form, I blearily move my eyes from Brandt's still twitching form, good hand reaching for my phone.... shit, finger's aren't working right, I think it's.........

It all goes dark.





[CHOOSE]
[MAORI OF THE SUMMER]
[FINNISH OF THE WINTER]
>>
No. 304674 ID: e41ad5

>>304673
SUMMER.
>>
No. 304675 ID: f6360f

>>304673
>[FINNISH OF THE WINTER]
>>
No. 304676 ID: 46c430

...Uh... ...WINTER
>>
No. 304677 ID: 903f16

>>304673
Maori
>>
No. 304679 ID: c173fb

>>304673
[FINNISH OF THE WINTER]
>>
No. 304681 ID: cbd626

summer!
>>
No. 304683 ID: b0a858

Summer

because I prefer it over winter. Fuck cold, we need the warmth of life
>>
No. 304684 ID: d3dfb8
File 130560086882.jpg - (692.67KB , 2582x1932 , meanwhile_in_finland.jpg )
304684

Funnish up in this bitch
>>
No. 304685 ID: b5ebec

Votin' for Summer
>>
No. 304688 ID: ae0719

Tough decision, but I'm going OF WINTER.

Hoping we get us some Valkyrie/Einherjar action going, or if the Summer/Winter thing is a Fae reference, the Erlkonig and the Wild Hunt is just cooler than the Summer equivilents.
>>
No. 304714 ID: 7f017c

Summer
>>
No. 304715 ID: a76809

[VOTING CLOSED: SUMMER WINS]
>>
No. 304724 ID: a76809
File 130560624375.jpg - (99.26KB , 964x964 , Whaitiri Asks a Price.jpg )
304724

>>304674
>>304677
>>304681
>>304683
>>304685
>>304714
Cold... so cold. That's what everyone says, right? Death's cold embrace. The chill of the grave. The cold is death-

So warmth is life.

And I have precious little warmth left.

I can't see, or really perceive, the world around me. I know I'm still in the abandoned building, next to Brandt's corpse-drop by drop losing what warmth I have, bleeding it out onto the ground around me. As I ponder it, the blackness-no, the lack of... anything, of sight or sound, color or texture that envelopes me retreats, revealing the pool of my own blood I'm lying in. I can feel my heart laboring, struggling-I can feel my body shake with each fitful beat, pressure dropping by the second-above it all, the warmth being replaced with cold, more and more cold. I can't shiver, the cold too deep, too pervasive for any reaction-I lay there and bear it as I die....I hate it, I hate the cold-more than the pain, more than the pull of death-I hate losing the warmth of life.... If I could just hold on to that glow....

...I'd do anything to be warm again.

Would you now, child?

At first I wonder if my increasingly disjointed and unravelling mind is simply conjuring up imagined voices-but the puddle of my own making I lie in, the sanguine pond I inhabit steams around me, blood bubbling as it heats, and warmth, precious warmth, ghosts against my chilled form. It's touch is maddening-and not enough, my body still a frozen, numb lump, have of steaming blood beneath and around it or no.

Of course it isn't enough-your body cannot produce the heat needed to live, not on its own.
Well of course it can't. If it could I wouldn't be dying.
You want more warmth-you want Summer's touch to be deeper, more pervasive than just your spilt blood, do you not?
Of course. This isn't where I want to die-and this isn't how I want to die, cold and alone with the death in a stone tomb.
Who would want their tale to end in such a place, to die in Winter's embrace? No child of Summer could hope for such a fate-and I see it bothers you greatly, thinking of it. Do you want to live, little one?
Yes.
Aha, but of course you want to live-but how much do you want it? Would you pay for it?
What wouldn't I pay to live?
A dangerous question-especially to ask in a place like this. Know you the tales of those who cursed their fortune-of deal-makers that lived to regret? Can you say there is no price that would not give you pause, make your commitment falter?
...There are things I don't like, don't want-but beneath it all, the foundation of who I am-I would have to betray it to simply LET myself die, and not fight tooth, nail and claw with every second I have. I can't just accept death-it has to claim me, irrelevant of my will.
...I do not understand-what is it that ensnares your mind about how death comes?
I don't want to choose death-I want death to choose me-any other way of meeting it's embrace falls short of my goals... my dreams.
....Ah, and what delicious dreams you have-such OLD wants and needs that slumber in that mind of yours...
....You say you can help me, can give me warmth, and you say there is a price-you even caution me about it. So tell me, then-what is this price?
If you knew me titled Whaitiri, would it mean anything to you?
I feel them shift, old memories stirring at the name-but nothing pulls itself free of the fog of time-no sudden recollection to give meaning to the name.
A pity-I so dislike how those of the blood can be so ignorant in these times. I shall make it plain for you, then, as your time grows short: I need YOU, to give you warmth, to drive away the cold embrace of death.
...What?
Know this, child of my people: If you accept what I offer, it means I will take some of what you are-I shall feast on the flesh of your mind, the tissue of your soul-I will take in your mortal existence chunk by chunk, until my existence is no longer Tapu to you. If you can endure my feasting, the consumption of your essence-then I will reward you with some of my own flesh, rendered through my meal and your suffering Noa to your existence. And in so taking some of my flesh to replace what is taken... I will give you what you need to drive away the cold of death.
....
There is but one thing holding me back-choice. You must choose to let me feast on you-you must choose to let me tear away your spirit's flesh, if I am to save you. So choose, holder of the blood-choose.

In the depths of the cloying steam rising from my bubbling blood, I see an ancient, emaciated skull, so withered and dried as to look mummified-scrimshaw patterns and tribal markings swirling all over bone and dried flesh alike. From the two empty eye sockets I feel a terrible weight and hunger, I see the spark of the storm itself waiting and watching, my prone form it's sole focus.

In a place that seems to exist outside of what I know... knew.. of reality, an entity calling itself Whaitiri claims it can save me from death-if I let it eat from my spirit. I..... I should be panicked, worried, conflicted... maybe it's the bloodloss, maybe its the surreal nature of where my mind is now... but instead, all I can feel is a building choice.







What choice do I make: Do I accept or reject Whaitiri's offer?
[Rejection will not insta-kill Armas, he will instead recieve medical treatment from either the Triads or the Mafia, improving relations with one while reducing them with the other over a long rehabilitation period. To specify, you are not being FORCED to make a supernatural deal.]
>IF ACCEPTING WHAITIRI'S OFFER: ROLL A 1d1000, High rolls good, to see how Armas' soul does at withstanding the feeding.
>>
No. 304725 ID: 0bd0b0

rolled 139 = 139

Roll out.
>>
No. 304726 ID: f6360f

>>304724
...

I'm going to go with "no".

We'll make it through this, and while we're healing we will read through a shitload of books on Maori and Finnish ancient culture, until we actually know what the fuck we're doing. And then we can consider making this kind of bargain.

Who knows what kind of fucked-up result having part of his soul eaten and replaced would do? We need to go into it only with both eyes open.
>>
No. 304728 ID: c173fb

rolled 110 = 110

I say lets take it. Embrace your birthright.
>>
No. 304729 ID: 903f16

rolled 263 = 263

Let's do it.
>>
No. 304730 ID: b5ebec

rolled 471 = 471

I DEFY YOU, MURPHY
>>
No. 304731 ID: e41ad5

rolled 964 = 964

LET'S DO THIS
>>
No. 304732 ID: ae0719

rolled 694 = 694

In the end, what do we have but our soul? It's the only thing that's truly ours. Guns and money and even magic, pah. Useless. How much do we want to live?

We'll bite and scratch and claw, hang on by our fingernails if we have to and rage against that bitter cold, sell our soul for power. That's humans, for you.
>>
No. 304734 ID: 7f017c

rolled 805 = 805

Lets do it!
>>
No. 304735 ID: b0a858

rolled 459 = 459

>Dem rolls
>dem rolls

It was nice knowing you Armas
>>
No. 304737 ID: a9629e

rolled 576 = 576

They see me rollin', they hatin
>>
No. 304740 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 1 = 1

I'm in ur quests, killin ur d00ds
>>
No. 304743 ID: d3dfb8
File 130560879124.jpg - (13.87KB , 249x322 , WutenDice.jpg )
304743

>>304740
:3c
>>
No. 304744 ID: e41ad5

wutenheimerdice.png
>>
No. 304746 ID: 323ff3

rolled 300 = 300

oh wow
>>
No. 304747 ID: 7ea041

rolled 744 = 744

things can be no worse
>>
No. 304748 ID: 0a734b

rolled 764 = 764

Ahhhhhh.
>>
No. 304749 ID: a435ab

rolled 216 = 216

come on good roll i get the magic tongue if its 900 or more
>>
No. 304759 ID: a76809

[I would recommend that people stop rolling. Will update in morning.]
>>
No. 304772 ID: 337b24

rolled 965 = 965

Hope you like massive spiritual damage.
>>
No. 304799 ID: 28e94e

>>304740
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

>>304724
Do not. This will end badly.
>>
No. 304803 ID: 8b0de1
File 130562894052.jpg - (79.58KB , 750x550 , Armas - Whaitiri.jpg )
304803

>>304740
>rolled 1 = 1

Go away, bad rolls
>>
No. 304804 ID: 8b0de1
File 130563031736.jpg - (115.44KB , 1000x700 , Armas - Whaitiri2.jpg )
304804

>>304728
>rolled 110 = 110
SHOO! SHOO!
BAD ROLL!


[spoiler]meh, I'm tured
>>
No. 304807 ID: 77c458

so... summer of the maoi, winter of the finnish...
Remember you were being referred to as "half breed" while the others were just mortals, recall that elves and other fay belong to either summor or winter court, or are unaligned.

You must have some special ancestry, summer court on the maoi side and winter court on the finnish side.
>>
No. 304826 ID: a76809

>>304726
For the briefest of moments, through the haze of impending death, through the haze of this dreamscape, I entertain a thought, so simple, so pure-I could say no. I could reject this offer, this chance at life restored-instead of gambling on the supernatural, on the unknown, I could gamble on mortals. The Mafia's cleanup crew is still in the building-with all that noise they should find me soon. I tell myself there's a good chance they could find me.
But only a chance-not a certainty. Sadly, there is no certain path from the place you've wandered to, warrior of the past. ...Now, make your choice.

"....Do it."
The skull grins, flesh too dry and taut to stretch doing just that-before that floating, macabre image descends on my still form, mouth yawning wide.

>>304725
[14%]
The first bit sears like a burning coal pressed to my flesh-those dried teeth scooping out a gibbet from my belly, digging past my skin and muscle to begin exposing the intestines within, disemboided skull drifitng back as it swallows its prize, claimed flesh vanishing into a non-existent throat.
>>304728
[11%]
Whaitiri dives back in-her teeth click and scrape against my shoulder bone as she bites deep, muscle and tendon alike pulling a tender steak-and this time, her skull floating inches away, I can see it-with each bite she takes, I see that withered, husk-like flesh covering her body beginning to fill out.
>>304729
[26%]
Next she bites deep into my calf, tearing a weighty, bloody gobbet of my flesh free, her trophy dangling from her teeth as she slops and slurps away, slowly consuming the trophy, her dried out eyes beginning to swell again with fluid along with her flesh.

[14+11+26=51% DANGER, SYNCHRONIZATION RATE IRREGULARITY]
>>304740
[.1%]
>[HUNGER OF THE GODS TRIGGERED]

In the half-regrown, still-dead eyes of this spirit, in the stormy depths of her sightless gaze, I see slumbering a great and terrible want, a need so vast my mind shies from trying to grasp it-and I recognize it as hunger, a bone-gnawing, gut-wrenching, all-pervading need for sustenance-that Whaitiri seems to be discarding.

With a glee lacking in her earlier bites, she dives straight into my chest, teeth chattering as they tear through my chest-ribs cracking as she pries them away, sternum split in her frenzy-

As she pauses, for the briefest of instants, over my heart, exposed and oh so laboriously beating.

>>304744
[30%]
She gouges out a scoop of my heart, two ventricles simply gone beneath her investigative fangs, not a drop of my own blood falling back down onto me, every single bit claimed and consumed-a fuzz of hair beginning to sprout on her re-fleshing skull.
>>304749
[22%]
[14+11+26+30+22=103% NEAR PERFECT SYNCHRONIZATION ACHIEVED-CRITICAL SPIRIT LOSS]
Just as she swoops in for another bite, coming to finish off my heart, I dully realize that I can see her too-white, blind eyes, fully regrown, tracking and darting in her now merely emaciated looking face-thin lips pulled back over those blood-stained teeth as she worries at a particular morsel-I can feel a kinship between us, wondering if this was what she sought in feasting on me-

And realize I may never know, as her teeth descend on me once more, no pause in her feasting, an indescribable sensation of something cold deep in my chest being cracked and broken jarring my mind into action.

>[Armas' inability to withstand Whaitiri's feeding has led to damage to the Winter aspect of his soul-unlocking it will be harder, and the power unveiled will be lesser compared to what it would have been had Whaitiri's feeding not gone so poorly.]

>>304803
[FANART BONUS]
...Wait.
That is not how it works-you let me have claim on your flesh, and I am taking my due-if you cannot survive to satisfy my hunger, then you are not worthy of my blessing, and will perish in my belly.
>>304804
You owe me some of your flesh-you can't fulfill your deal if I exist no more.
You would presume to lecture the divine?
I would advise to not make it impossible to fulfill a deal you offered.
...Very well. Take some of my flesh then-if you can withstand it. Be you overwhelmed, and I'll claim you all as my meal.
>>304730
[47%]
My mind is nearly erased, as from Whaitiri's gapin mouth flesh and blood spews, wrapping itself into my body.
>>304731
[96%]
An instant before it all goes so dark I wonder if I'd ever feel or think again, I manage to pull my mind back together-and set to war against the new meat on my frame, that which slithers, writhes and shifts to replace what was taken. It's powerful, calamitious, fully of vigor and drive-all of it means nothing to me, as a will made cold from a brush with death, tempered by the finality of the scenario, lets me perservere-I once more can see Whaitiri's floating, lightly-haired head floating over me, managing to watch me with imperious eyes as she continues to vomit meat on me.
>>304732
[69%]
Her head flicks back, her prize strewn over my leg-and the darkness creeps back in as I struggle to include my leg in my internal war of dominance.
Perhaps you were worth my time after all....
>>304734
[80%]
Her mouth yawns yet wider, and her deluge intensifies-with me ready, turning some of her own flesh against her, what little I've already dominated. Setting or no, this is like any other battle-it is with implacable momentum that the day is won, a lesson I will apply here.

Or I will die.

>>304772
[96%]
[47+96+69+80+96=388%, RESURGE SYNCHRONIZATION, SPIRIT LOSS MITIGATED]
I don't really remember how that dream, in the sea of black, amidst my steaming blood ended. I know I kept fighting to dominate Whaitiri's flesh as she offered it-I know she was cackling as I struggled, watching me with those blind, storm-filled eyes-

But I don't know how I got back to my own body.

How do I know I'm in my own body?
-Leg's caked in blood.
-Lower abdomen caked in blood.
-Bicep similarly covered in blood.
-Bullet lodged in each place (arm, leg, bowels)
-I'm still staring at Brandt's corpse-which finally stopped twitching.
-The pool of blood I'm in is still damp-and warm. I've been out a minute or two, at the most.
-All three of my wounds aren't bleeding any more.
-The moment I try to move limbs begin to respond-

I am assaulted by a hunger that starts from my fingertips and toes, racing through every bit of my form before slamming home in my gut-it is all I can do to not double over in agonized, maddening lust for food.
You live up to your bloodline, half-breed. And I lived up to my bargain-you have partaken of my spiritual flesh, claimed it as your own-and it has saved you, stopped blood loss, prevented death. But my flesh's power has a price-any wound can be healed, so long as you partake of flesh. I care not be it human or magical-but the flesh of simple beasts will do little for you, when you feel the hungerpains of healing.

[NEW RULES]
-Armas, unless wounded in such a manner he cannot eat before dying, can prevent his own death by cannibalization, or the consumption of magical beasts.
-Even one bight of qualifying food will drastically slow bloodloss.
-This has no impact on his ability to process normal meats, fruits or vegetables, nor does it impact his need to eat regularly.
-Instantly fatal injuries (such as a headshot) will not allow this healing ability to be activated.
-Armas can heal a week's worth in a day, so long as he supplies himself with sufficient amounts of the required meat.
-Healing cannot take place if foreign elements are still inside the body-bullets, shrapnel and such must be manually dug out first.
-Due to the damages his soul sustained in the feeding (and the damages to his Finnish bloodline's heritage) Armas' soul will be treated as 'spiritually weak' until enough time and events have passed for it to recover (expected recovery timeframe is several months)
-The damage to Armas' Winter aspect will not recover over time, and makes any potential interactions with Winter court members or scandinavian mythological creatures harder.
-Armas' absorption of Whaitiri's flesh will classify him as 'friend' to many creatures in the Summer Court.

...God, so hungry....
You know what you must do.
Eat someone? Seriously, I can't grab a power bar?
It is not the flesh you eat that sustains you, drives your recover-it is the fragments, the remnants of life and spirit you consume, and add to your own to replace what was damaged-there is no other food to satisfy such a need.
Shit, not even tiger's blood?
What?
I mean they sell that-hell, if I looked hard enough I could probably find places that sold soul-parts. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.
...Perhaps options exist. In the here and now, however....
Right. Do or die, huh?

...So I do what I have to.





.....Twenty minutes later, I consider my situation.

-The room prepped for gassing is still ajar thanks to Brandt de-dooring it, and will be harder to clean up after, now that the room is unsealed.
-Brandt's backup is still dead and gassed in the room itself-and I don't feel like wading through all that chlorine gas to try to loot them.
-Brandt himself is dead, his armor's chest straps undone... his heart and pectorals pointedly missing...and I claimed his heavily modified M16 GatMalite, barely managing to stuff it into my guitar case.
-With Brandt's gun in place, after I reclaim my other implements, I'm left carrying the guitar case over one shoulder, the AVT-40 and Keihäs slung over the other.
-I was supposed to call the Mafia cleanup crew-who were expecting a call a quarter hour ago. I note there to be a missed call on my phone, but no message.
-I managed to dig each bullet out of me, and in the process concretely confirmed the rounds to be depleted uranium.

....Well, I finished the job-Kaspar Brandt is dead.







So what do I tell the cleanup crew when I call them?
What reason will I give for the delayed call, the prolonged firefight and the new, highly suspcious wounds on Brandt?
What will I tell Savoy when I call him seeking the 30K for this job?
What do I make of what just happened? Whaitiri? Tapu, Noa? Cannibalism? What WAS that?
>>
No. 304833 ID: e41ad5

Tell them you dropped the phone in the fight - and you were a little disoriented by the pain of getting shot a few times. It took some time to recover and get the phone again.

Also, remember how you disposed of that one guy, sectioning away the bits of body that could lead to ID? Guess what, it's time to get yourself a freezer and keep yourself some bits to snack on when you get hurt. I'm not sure if the bits of soul will stick around, but hey - doesn't hurt to try.

>What will I tell Savoy when I call him seeking the 30K for this job?

He's dead, you killed him, end of story. Took his gun, it's worth the price you paid for the cleanup crew and the gassing. Business as usual - better to simply not mention your wounds.

>the new, highly suspcious wounds on Brandt?

Er.
Yeah, that's a bit... Yeah.
Hm.
Maybe you can do the cleanup of his body yourself. Take the head as proof, get rid of the rest - the Sauhaugin will feed well tonight.

>What do I make of what just happened? Whaitiri? Tapu, Noa? Cannibalism? What WAS that?

Uuuuh. Do you have any family contacts on the Maori side of the family?
>>
No. 304838 ID: d429c4

>>304826
>So what do I tell the cleanup crew when I call them?
Job done. Recommend that they disappear the bodies very thoroughly and as fast as possible. Best way to shake up the Germans is for their hit squad to disappear.
>What reason will I give for the delayed call,
You took at hit that knocked you cold for a while.
>the prolonged firefight
Brandt is one mean piece of work.
>and the new, highly suspcious wounds on Brandt?
Take out Keihas, use that to suck out all his blood, and then chop his chest apart with your elven bayonet. Oh, and f you think you can get away with it, chop the top off his head off with the bayonet, eat his brain, and then put a round into both skull and chest at close range with something explosive, if you have it.
>What will I tell Savoy when I call him seeking the 30K for this job?
Brandt was modified, heavily. Can we expect any more like him on the rest of the job.
>What do I make of what just happened? Whaitiri? Tapu, Noa? Cannibalism? What WAS that?
A bad deal that you need to make the best of. You really need to learn about what happened to you, and found a compensating power source to balance her.
>>
No. 304841 ID: 8b0de1
File 130566151876.jpg - (115.15KB , 800x800 , Armas - Whaitiri3.jpg )
304841

Aw dang it.
I was almost done with this picture. Well, I'll post it anyway. Maybe we'll get some post-transformation bonus.


>and the new, highly suspcious wounds on Brandt?
Grenades.
Do you have some? Did Brandt have some on him? Maybe get some of his men.
If not, lob a grenade on his body from GatMalite. Just mess the fuck out of him so that these injuries will not bring questions.

Heck, lob a few Dragonfire rounds to set him on fire.
>>
No. 304845 ID: 8b0de1

>>304838
>Take out Keihas, use that to suck out all his blood, and then chop his chest apart with your elven bayonet
Oh, right. Do that before blowing him up >>304841


Also. did you loot his body good enough? Was the GatMalite the only weapons on him?
He should have supernatural pistol, right?
>>
No. 304851 ID: b5ebec

If there're any grenade rounds left on him, use one of those to flush/burn the gas out of the trap room so you can loot the dead guys inside. ...Make sure to give it a few minutes afterward, so it's dispersed enough to be harmless, just in case.
>>
No. 304857 ID: a76809
File 130566842099.jpg - (439.68KB , 800x800 , Finnish Troll Objects.jpg )
304857

>>304833
Stomach-turning when I think it or no, I may need to pick up a minifridge to... stock up... on things my new hunger can work with. Morbid or not, that means, short of hunting up some Sahagin, I'll need to dine on people. ..Does not sound fun, but hunting Sahagin sounds less fun. I do have better guns now, and some maps of certain sewer sections-I could do it, I think. Whaitiri doesn't chime in with anything new, so I start pondering.

>>304838
>>304841
I jam Keihäs' stock in the gory mess of Brandt's chest, stock greedily feeding on the blood-

[FANART BONUS]

Something seezes at my heart, my veins, my body-I can't move, as I regain that otherworldly sense I had in my 'chat' with Whaitiri. I feel that heady warmth my bodies been flooded with since I got up crumble, the remembered shards of shattered ice deep in my core resurging. But THIS cold, unlike that of the death, isn't numbing-it's resolute, piercing, it freezes as it invigorates, every bit as rough a ride as what Whaitiri gave me. I can't even breath, suspended on the clash of warm and cold, winter and summer.
He did not turn to you-you have no claim on this one!
MINE.

For the briefest of instants, my blood boils and freezes, my body surging in rioting, clashing forces-as I glimpse an image that never was, a glacial beast hewn of winter's heart, baleful, old and filled with a hate colder than death, towering before me, not uttering a word, its entire frozen form vibrating like a tuning fork, an impossible sub-zero sound washing over and through me-

As it drives back the presence of Whaitiri, before regarding me with a cold eye-

And vanishing without a word, as reality resumes its normal flow around me.

The HELL is all this crap happening to me here?

[CHANGES]
-Armas can now no longer commune with Whaitiri without first travelling to New Zealand to re-establish the connection.
-Armas' connection to the Winter courts was partly restored-only power has been restored, not the loss of relations.

...Fuck it, got to wrap up here. I pull Keihäs' stock out of Brandt's bloodless corpse-then I grab a thermobaric grenade strapped to his waist. I pop the pin, and shortly enough his entire cjhest is belching out greasy black smoke, the fire and heat trapped inside his armor. ..So, with my handiwork dealt with-I call cleanup.

>"The hell was with that delay? And all that shooting?"
"No problem-the job is done, minor snags or no."
>"What happened?"
"I'll let Mr. Savoy know in my report. For the here and now, Target breached the door, the seal was lost, and there is a small fire, located on what was the target."
>"..Fine. Scanners say the police got a tip about the gunfire ten minutes ago-when we called you-but that no dispatch has yet been made. Get going."
"Gone."

I wince and grunt my way up the stairs, side and leg alike not at all happy to be doing steps with all the weight I'm carrying. I make my way to the building's rear entrance one step at a time, having snagged an old tarp to wrap my longarms in-

And I walk home, three miles in the dead of night, having been shot three times less than an hour ago, and carrying more than a hundred pounds of gear.

Could be worse.

I know I opened my door and made my way to the bed because I find myself sitting on it, phone in hand. What was I-right, Savoy.

I dial, forcing my eyes to stay open as my body continues to scream about its need of rest.

>[GS]"I was wondering when you would call-my associates mentioned you had quite the little party."
"Would have been nice to know he was supernatural."
>[GS]"I assure you he was not."
"Pssh-steroids can only do so much-bashing a reinforced steel door out of concrete supports with acid-filled lungs is not on that list. Or how many times I had to shoot him in the head to put him down. Tell me he's not supernatural-fine, then tell me what he IS."
>[GS]"...An interesting question, Mr. Laine. You are familiar with Hitlers Schutzstaffel?"
"The SS?"
>[GS]"The same. The Mr. Barby you killed? Klaus Barby, the Butcher of Lyon. As it happens, he had gotten in contact with another old Schutzstaffel member, founder of the Paladin Group, Otto Skorzeny. Klaus was operating here under Skorzeny's orders-hence why we sought such a sensitive solution to our border clashes. Well, since we are beyond that debacle, know that Kaspar Brandt was here thanks to Skorzeny-who is still operating in Germany, having found some rather affluent Nazi sympathizers to house him."
"Thank you for the corrected rendition of modern history to current events."
>[GS]"The point-what you and the cleanup crew described is indeed more than a human should be able to accomplish-yet I checked for myself, not a whit of magic on his body."
"Don't suppose he had any of those other weapons on him? The ones from the report?"
>[GS]"He did not. Back to my concern-the body shows rather... extensive... modification. I would seem someone has been reading too much Frankenstein."
"...Really? Honest to god Nazi supersoldiers?"
>[GS]"I admit to a bitter taste in my mouth mentioning that all those movies, books and comics are now vindicated-but it seems rather clear. I may have further work for you, thanks to this."
"Ahuh. And the job itself? The target plus ten is enough to cow them, right?"
"Indeed, Mr. Laine. Your account will be credited the day after tomorrow."
"What, no wire transfer?"
>[GS]"I could restore the rates for professional cleaning if you wanted to expedite-"
"The point is made-and I'll talk to you later."
>[GS]"...Good night, Mr. Laine."

I don't really remember putting the phone down-the moment I no longer had to focus on interacting with a boss, I was out.

I know this because it is now Sunday morning mid-November, 2010.

I feel hungry... and some of that hunger isn't the normal type... and the barely closed wounds in leg, arm and stomach are not at all 'good to go'







What's my next move here?
>>
No. 304862 ID: e41ad5

>What's my next move here?

Time to go hobo hunting.
>>
No. 304869 ID: 57e809

Nuh uh
No hobo killings

We could kill some sewer creatures.
Aslo, Savoy promised to set us up with the demonologist. I bet he has some supernatural blood he could sell us besides the Mammon bullets
>>
No. 304876 ID: ff2e92

Well maybe you were seeking for your spiritual self in Istanbul all along and now you've found it. Not in the best way however. You'll just have to bite the bullet and get on with things.

The leg arm and stomach may be the LEAST of your worries. You were filled with some incredibly toxic depleted uranium. You do NOT want the sort of permanent damage that could do to you so relying on your supernatural healing might be required. Hunting down a Sahagin might just be your best shot.
>>
No. 304881 ID: 31f32d

>>304876
depleted uranium is toxic, but I wouldn't call it extreme... besides you just got magic healing so its not a problem, and the bullets HAD to be removed before you could magically heal.
http://www.ibilabs.com/URANIUM-MSDS.htm
https://www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/detail.cfm?MSDSID=3451
it rates a mere 1 out of 4 on toxicity

>>304869
Yes... he did say he will get us such a contact... and that is an interesting purchase to make.
Hobo hunting is a bad idea simply because you will be leaving far far too much personally identifying information. (your saliva, your hair, etc) near an obviously cannibalized corpse... although you could dump them into the sewers... magical animal should be better than human... so maybe use a hobo as a lure... if you do hunt sewer beats do it as far away as possible from any nests. that way you encounter manageable amounts... actually, see about large game hunting... with flashbangs, massive lights, high frequency horns, bear traps, and maybe something more specific... heck maybe there is a large magical game hunters club / league you could join.
Plus I am sure you can buy some supernatural flesh from your friends in the triads whom you KNOW for a fact are dealing in such. Remember, you only need a really small amount

So, do we go repair relationships with the winter court first to reconnect with their aspect of your ancestry... or reestablish connection with waitiri?
I am thinking winter court.
>>
No. 304889 ID: d429c4

Ask the Triads if they have any pieces of the Doonegeas' tongues that you cut off as a trophy.

Apart from that, we know a bent doctor. See if we can buy some blood from him - or some human corpses - he probably has contacts at the morgue.
>>
No. 304903 ID: f6360f

>>304857
>What's my next move here?
You need to get more information on Maori and Finnish legends. Lots of it, and fast. You know that you can heal from eating human or magical beast flesh- but are there side effects? Particularly negative ones? Some cultures have very nasty things happening to cannibals in their legends, and while neither side of your heritage seems likely to, that doesn't mean that their style of cannibalism won't bring its own problems.

So. Call up any family you've got and ask for information on myths, or failing that tips on where you could look for such information.

I would definitely not trust the Mafia or Triads with specific information on what you're looking for, or even significant hints that you're developing significant magical powers; that means no using those connections to acquire the blood of supernaturals or knowledge about the topics. It would be far too easy for them to move from employers to the people who own you, and it's never a good thing to have full disclosure of your abilities to someone who- in spite of how nice they've been as employers thus far- might ultimately decide to cut you loose with a bullet to the head.
>>
No. 304915 ID: 77c458

>>304906
all around good ideas... the other customers might also provide you with connections.
>>
No. 304925 ID: ae0719

>>304869
Generally I'd prefer to eat sewer creatures rather than hobos, but do we really want to go hunting sahaguin with our arm and leg fucked up? No.

That said, there are things we can do to make 'hobo hunting' more secure. We have gloves, and when we find and kill someone, drag them just inside the sewer system and use a knife or our bayonet to cut the meaty bits out rather than just dig in. Weird, freaky corpse (if it's ever found), but not identifying us in any way. Maybe we could even bring an ice chest and see if we can pack some cold cuts back with us, make things slightly more civilized.

Brainmeat tacos, after all, are delicious.

Once we have fed our hunger somewhat, see about getting in touch with our fellow angry customers and take care of the AVT guy. He must have some fancy firearms and security systems after all this skimming off the top he's been doing (with supernatural stuff, no less), so we might need to think this through before we just break in and blow his face off.

Following that, Savoy's demonologist friend, and maybe a roadtrip.

Oh, and put that machiavellian manipulator trait to work to find a freestyle tournament in the area, preferrably for cash prizes. Shore up that baldfaced lie from earlier. Maybe there's some way to find out from Constanz's gym without tipping off your four buddies.
>>
No. 304935 ID: c173fb

>>304857
We are to hungry to thing straight. Even if we wanted, I wouldn't say that snacking on people is a good idea right now. If we killed a transient at this point it's more then likely that we'll leave damning evidence. So, I suggest a sewer crawl. Don't go too deep, just find a unwatched manhole cover, and just wait for those beasties to come to you. We have some heavy weapons, flash bangs and the like, so this shouldn't be as hard as when we were running away, or when we went in without knowing what was there.
>>
No. 304939 ID: a9629e

Buy some heavy duty lights. Go down sewerhole and wait for Sahaguin. Unload AA-12 into one, until' dead, turn on lights to scare others away. Feast.
>>
No. 304941 ID: 903f16

I would suggest examining our mere pounamu, the recent experience with Whaitiri may have opened up some connection with out ancestral weapon.
>>
No. 304943 ID: cbd626

>>304941
I wouldn't count on that, considering we didn't even have it on us during the encounter.

>>304939
I like this, short and sweet. and we don't risk getting caught quite as much.
If we do it, though, we should get a cooler and save as much of the meat as we can. the less we have to do this, the better
>>
No. 304945 ID: a76809
File 130569168822.jpg - (127.93KB , 764x1046 , Goblin.jpg )
304945

>>304862
For the briefest of moments I think about stalking some homeless person, cannibalizing them over a few days to finish off my healing-
>>304869
A thought I immediately smash down, certain I can make Sahagin hunting work-as my mind turns to Savoy. I dial, and on the second ring-
>[GS]"Is there a particular reason you are bothering me on a Sunday with no active job to discuss the status of?"
"Yes-You told me, upon completion of both jobs that I would be put in contact with-"
>[GS]"The Demonologist... yes, that's right. Very well... I'm about to give you the number of a man named Johan Straus. What you do with the contact line is ultimately up to you."
After giving me the number, Savoy wastes no time in hanging up-so, with my phone already out, I decide to call the supposed Demonologist here and now. The phone rings for half a minute before being picked up.

>[JS]"..Yes, who is it?"
"This is Armas Laine, I-"
>[JS]"Laine... no, I don't know you."
"I got the number through a friend of Castelletti's."
>[JS]"...Ah, that one. What is it?"
"I happen to now have a firearm Castelletti had, and I heard the shells were specially made by you."
>[JS]"....."
"...Do you have any you would be willing to sell? 600 nitro express rounds?"
>[JS]"....I have nine shells. Five thousand each-forty five thousand for them all."
"Actually-while I am certainly interested in that-right now I had a slightly different request, kinda focused around the job description I hear paired with 'gunsmith' about you so much."
>[JS]"..That being?"
"Would you be able to sell me, or barring that, direct me towards someone that could sell me demon's blood?"
>[JS]"What kind?"
What? Kind? Uh-
[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"For now it wouldn't really matter-I'm trying to get myself set up to try a few very basic bits of equipment augmentation, so whatever I get is probably going to get wasted in that early trial and error. So... as much as it pains me to phrase it that way, whatever you have that's cheapest, at least for now."
>[JS]"...Per liter, two thousand for... 'practice'... blood."
"For now, I'd like three liters then."
>[JS]"Six thousand-Give me address, I will have it delivered."
"My money's in the bank, not on hand."
>[JS]"Give me account number-I check, make sure you have balance-then you can send me check, pay by cash-I don't care. Just pay in a week of delivery, yah?"
"...Okay, that's workable-how long would delivery take?"
>[JS]"....Have tomorrow. Number?"
I give the account number at Oyak Securities to Demonologist Straus,and after a tense wait on the phone while he checked, he grunts, and offers me two words as he hangs up.
>[JS]"Deal made."

>>304876
>>304889
My impending trip into the sewers for creature meat-my plan to see if Demon's blood would be viable-maybe even preferable-This time yesterday I wasn't a cannibal. It should bother me more that I had a nazi's heart for dinner last night-and it should bother me that I'm adapting so fast. But the thing that gets me isn't how fast I'm acclimatizing-it's how familiar it feels. I've moved my minifridge into my gunroom, and now, after arranging to get blood packs as.... drinks... I'm mulling over how to ask the Triads for the chunk of Doonongaes tongue I lopped off-maybe even buying other mythical creature parts from them.

...There'll be time to consider moral quandaries later-but for now, that hunger in my belly is burning hotter.

>>304903
Two hours later, I've checked out ever local library book on Finnish and Maori lore and legend I can find, a pile of eleven books now awaiting my perusal-
>>304881
>>304925
>>304935
>>304955
From there, I waste little time-I take apart and clean the AA-12 before reloading its drum magazine once more with alternating sabot and shot, leave Brandt's gun and the AVT-40 behind as I make my way to the sewer grate nearest my house, drop down into the gloom-

And wait, cautiously, quietly, while my eyes begin to adjust, and get used to the normal background noises of echoing, murmuring water.

Five minutes later, my eyes as adjusted as they'll get, having made not a sound since entry, I begin to stand up-

>[???]"...Hm, so you're the one that's been playing down here in our home?"

I freeze, trying to triangulate-it sounded like it came from right behind me, but my back's a hand away from the wall!

>[???]"Hm? You smell of fear-why?"
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"I came down here to find some food-it is not my intention to start a fight, and that is what I have apprehension about."
>[???]"...I see."

Five feet in front of me light springs into being at head level, a halo wrought in faerie-fire dancing over the head of a greenskinned man, a full-faced helm obscuring his every feature. ...But I heard the voice coming from BEHIND me!

>[???]"So, you seek food-a want many can sympathize with, myself included. What kind of food are you looking for?"
"Meat."
>[???]"Also to my liking-but would you care to get more specific?"
"I... don't know that I can, actually."
>[???]"Okay, I can work with that."
"Just so long as it isn't from mundane animals."
>[???]"....Oh-HOO, really? Maybe I SHOULD Bargain with you, then."
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"Won't it be hard to bargain if I don't have a name to call you?"
>[???]"Call me Goblin if you wish-a title so many give to my kind-but there is a Deal to be discussed, and that takes precedence. Tell me, mortal who wanders the deep and dark for meat: What is it you most crave to taste? And what is it you'd most hesitantly part with to make it happen? How deep does your commitment to find food run, human? Because depending on your answer... you can have anything you want."

...Yeah, starting to get EXCESSIVELY perturbed by this.







What should I say or do?
>>
No. 304947 ID: e41ad5

Let's assume for now that he can discern truth from lies.

That fire - he might be from the Summer courts. Probably why he hasn't killed you dead. You've got a few options:

One: Answer honestly. Tell him you want the flesh of Doonongaes. As for what you're least willing to part with? Your ability to hunt. Agency.

Two: Answer evasively. Tell him you came down here to feast on Sauhagin, and that you'll be willing to part with cash or labor to see it in your belly.
>>
No. 304958 ID: a9629e

...Go ahead and be honest. your intent was to "hunt" a Sahaguin. But if the conversation comes down to bartering for things, which I'm suggesting we do, ask for Näkki. Maybe it'll help tap into your finnish bloodline too. And I definitely agree we should try and use our services as barter rather than other things. Not sure I want to try other things until' we get a sense for what is usually bartered and going rates for such trades.
>>
No. 304960 ID: ae0719

So, a magical merchant, interesting. Do your best not to be beholden to the Goblin, is my recommendation. My guess is if you give him a finger he'll try and take the whole arm. Still, might as well try and fit in with the locals.

"I find myself possessed of a singular hunger. In the short term: Meat, the rarer and more magical, the better. In the longer term... things of magic, perhaps, or knowledge. But I would just as soon hunt and feast, myself. We say on the surface, he who does not work, does not eat.

"But now I turn that question around. What does Goblin desire? I doubt it is surface currency, which I have. Worked metal? Favors? Or something more... ephemeral? A sense, a name, a future in potentia freely given?"

I wonder how thinking beings like the goblins share space with animals like the sahagin; does one command the other, or would they not have a problem with us thinning the herd?
>>
No. 304961 ID: 903f16

>>304945
A goblin with a halo of faerie-fire atop it's head? He's an interesting one to say the least, but I'm hesitant to make any sort of deal with him. For now I believe we should just take of him, ask him his accepted currency, and secure safe passage through his home so that we may hunt.

Hum, he said "our" home didn't he. It doesn't sound like he has problems with his command on the language and it doesn't sound like he's using the royal we, so we either just stumbled into a den or perhaps something larger that bars light investigation.

>>304943
>I wouldn't count on that, considering we didn't even have it on us during the encounter.
I don't know where you got the notion I think the weapon changed and that that's the reason why we should look at it. I want to look at it because WE changed. We have allowed one of our deities to feast on our soul and in turn have feasted on hers. That kind of ritual and the power flowing through us now should be enough to unlock at least a spark of our mere pounamu's Mana.

>>304947
If we ask for the flesh of a Doonongaes we should specify it be prepared in a fashion that would remove it of it's poison or otherwise make it safe to consume.
>>
No. 304962 ID: 8b0de1

Asking for flesh of Doonongaeas is not very smart, I think. I am sure the Goblin will ask insane price for it. At least tell it "the flesh that you have taken from it", so that at least it knows it should have been our spoils if we did not pass out.

Tell it that you actually intended to hunt your flesh, and not buy it....
But still, ask it what other services it gives and how much they cost.

.... Ask it for magical protection amulets. This one is always good.


Also ask it how to contact it in future.
>>
No. 304981 ID: d429c4

Say we prefer to hunt for the flesh we are eat - we are more interested in the best way of preparing it, if he gets our drift...
>>
No. 304994 ID: 31f32d

>And what is it you'd most hesitantly part with to make it happen?
Translation: what is the greatest payment you are willing to offer.

So make sure you don't say anything we aren't willing to offer, else he might just answer with "deal is made" and take it in exchange for mere meat.

>>304960
This I approve of.
>>
No. 305011 ID: c173fb

Dealing with a Goblin in a Goblin Market? And a Goblin that hasn't even told you its name? haha. No. Make it perfectly clear that, unless we get an actual name and not something like us calling ourselves ‘Human’ or ‘Finnish’, we’re not gonna deal with him. Tell him that we are just hunting Sahagin for food. Also, ask if he knows what happened to Allenaethos.
>>
No. 305032 ID: a76809

>>304947
Goblin... okay, those are classified as Fae, as far as I know-which means like the rest of them, he's bound by his word. No lying on his part-and I can't even think of a story where lying to the Sidhe does NOT backfire horribly. So, by intuition... Sidhe are either very good at catching lies, or can tell when they're spoken.

Completely above-board conversation it is, then.

>>304958
"The answer to your question is not just a single sentance-I wonder at my ability to be concise listing it all."
>[Goblin]"Please, enumerate your reasons."
"Well, originally, I came down here to hunt Sahagin, since I know supernatural meat would fulfill my need, and personally, it would be my preference to not dine on the flesh of my own kind."
>[Gobin]"A sentiment I am familiar with, even if I do not share it-go on."
>>304960
"This was before I knew I would run into a... shall I call you a 'sometimes' merchant?"
>[Goblin]"...You could. In fact you should... The Sometimes Merchant... yes, I like that title."
"Well, I find myself possessed of a singular hunger, it's what drove me to my original hunt, and now drives this bargaining. In the short term: Meat, the rarer and more magical, the better. In the longer term... things of magic, perhaps, or knowledge. But I would just as soon hunt and feast, myself. We say on the surface, he who does not work, does not eat. "
>[Goblin]"Ah... that is a saying I have heard before, an old and true one."
"But now I turn that question around. What does Goblin desire? I doubt it is surface currency, which I have. Worked metal? Favors? Or something more... ephemeral? A sense, a name, a future in potentia freely given?"
>[Goblin]"What I desire and what would be accepted in trade are very different things. We are quite aware of how mortals value those strips of colored paper, have always loved precious metals, and favors are never turned away. Names and possibilities, abilities.... those two can be bargained away, and are recognized for their value."
>>304961
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated.]
"That's the second time you pluralized. Are you acting to represent yourself, or a collective, in the bargaining?"
>[Goblin]"An important distinction. I represent the other Goblins of Byzantium's sewers, insofar as prospective food sales go. Should the later bargaining involving more than food ever occur, you may deal with me, or you may not-the future is not revealed to us as it is to some."
The Goblin claps his hands, not a sound echoing from the meeting limbs-as his voice comes from my left even while I stare at him before me, a rich chuckle his leading intonation.
>[Goblin]"But you haven't yet said what specifically you seek as a magical meat, courtesy or no. We can hardly Bargain lacking finite boundaries."
>>304962
>>304981
"To be blunt, I still know little enough of the intricacies and preferences of my need, and the physiology or personal health benefits of a given creature's flesh are still unknown to me. I'd rather hunt right now for Sahagin-"
>[Goblin]"That could be a problem. Your earlier killing can be forgiven, as you defended yourself. But the Sahagin are ours, our pets, our cattle, our guards-only those Mortals covered in the Deal are allowed free access-and we would not appreciate having our guards killed out of hand by a hunter on our lands."
"Yes, I see how that could be a problem."
>[Goblin]"And your circumstances mean nothing-I cannot offer you something unless you are more specific about your desires to begin with."
"...Very well. I was going to ask for Doonongaes meat, but that request, I think, shall be tabled for now."
>[Goblin]"A circuitous route you take-but do we at last come to our Bargain's bones?"
"You tell me. Would magical amulets to ward off harm be in your care, and viable for trade?"
Again a throaty laugh-once more from behind me-as the faerie-fire crowned goblin before me slaps his knee.
>[Goblin]"I must thank you for that-it has been some time since I spoke to one quite so... abruptly prone to circuitous phrasing. The rest of the sidhe will take hours to slowly weave their way through complex schemes and haggling-but this, it is a breath of fresh air."
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated.]
"Why, did I give you something you enjoyed?"
The laughter cuts short, as the goblin's hand cups his helmeted chin, head cocked as he continues to speak.
>[Goblin]"Sophistry and wordplay-most mortals don't seem to care for that now. I suppose I grew idle-yes, it would seem a different Bargain's bones were set here-for know that no matter what value I assigned to our verbal jousting, it is not comparable to any of the amulets we possess."
"Then perhaps I could name something lesser to ask in exchange?"
>[Goblin]"It is your right."
"...What of some methods of food preparation, focused around the more common beasts and monsters of supernatural origins? Something to give me a cornerstone to build off as I learn more about my needs-and come back with actual food requirements."
>[Goblin]"....Deal made."
The goblin raises a hand to his head, reaching up towards that burning halo-hand going through it's center as if reaching outside reality, the halo widening as he pulls a stitched, leather-bound book free, and proffers it to me. I accept with my free hand, as the halo stabilizes and the goblin continues to watch me.
>[Goblin]"So-you spoke of needing Amulets. Wards against harm. We could provide something that can turn any blade, make your skin like iron-an amulet that draws strength, power from the user, stores it, and can be reused. Wearing it for a month makes every action more exhausting, but it can buy an hour's worth of blade turning. The Amulet I offer, Bladeward, holds enough power for one hour, should you desire it. Just be warned that should a magic blade find your skin, the ward shall not avail you. We also have amulets focused around arrows, weapons that fly to distant foes-a charm that grasps at luck, probability, and skews chance-in consuming itself, it will prevent the next projectile from hitting the wearer. These Arrow Charms are cheaper than the Bladeward, being disposable and not reusable. The final type of protective amulet we can offer is based on the Arcane-it can let the bearer ignore but one spell thrown their way-save that of a Wizard or a God. These Arcane Nullifiers are the most prized of amulets we vend.... and now you know the three families of treasures we offer. Now, tell me what kind of amulet you want-and tell me what you would be willing to offer-I shall tell you in turn what Bargain we think fair."
>>305011
On an idle thought-
"Oh, do you know what happened to Allenaethos?"
>[Goblin]"How did you come by the late Summer Elf's name?"











What do I say or do?
What do I offer, and for what type of amulet?
What do I say about knowing Allenaethos' name?
>>
No. 305040 ID: d429c4

>What do I say or do?
Ask him what he wants in payment for knowledge of his wares. We don't want to walk away with a debt without knowing it.
>What do I offer, and for what type of amulet?
Ask him if corpses freshly slain with a magical weapon have any value to him. The Bladeward will be most useful, I think - it would allow us to focus on pure ballistic rather than hybrid armour. What we really want is something to boost our endurance and carrying capacity, but that doesn't seem to be on the table.
>What do I say about knowing Allenaethos' name?
"I will tell you this for free, I first heard is name from a human, but the final piece of the story I learned from a far less approachable source. For more details, make your offer?"
If he takes the bait, tell him the story in stages. First sell him the name of the human who told you, then sell him that the elf seemed to have made a deal with a pawn of Mammon's that went sour, and then sell him the information that you learned of this from a Doonegeas.
>>
No. 305050 ID: 8b0de1

How about Stories?
Do the goblins appreciate stories as payment? Especially actual stories which happened to us?

We could tell the story of our fight with the ancient horror of the deep seas. How a simple mission turned to nightmare, how simple mortals fought like possessed by ancient gods of war. How we used our tongue for our advantage. Of a great loss and how we in the end we scared if off.
A story so outrageous that it could come only out of a fairy tail, but is true.

Or the story of how we dealt with Castelletti. The story of betrayal and intrigue of manipulation and lies.

I think they will appreciate these things.

Another thing we might offer is the demon blood. Shit, if we play this right we might actually get something far more valuable by buying stuff from the Demonologist and trading it with Goblins.
SPECULATING AHOY!

...unless, of course, they already have their own contracts.

Ask him if they would accept precious metals and gems. We could buy some and trade it with them and just like before, if we do this right, we could potentially profit from this.
Or maybe we could buy them off them after comparing prices and it turns out we can sell it for more on the surface.
(example: buy demonblood for 2K, sell that blood for gems or metals, sell those for 5K.)

What kind of tech do the Goblins have?
Would they appreciate modern fire-arms? Or do they have no use for them. Remember how we took out that Elf, it was mostly due to the fact that it was unfamiliar with firearms and needed to get into melee to harm us.

>Arrow Charms
These require clarification.
How exactly do they work. Do they protect against ANY damage, even insignificant ones (like being scraped in the leg) or could we get specialized ones which work only for a part of the body or the seriousness of the injury.
If they can provide for such specific protections, then we should take an arrow talisman protecting the head and one which protects against near-fatal or fatal injuries.

>Arcane Nullifiers
You know what? This could certainly be useful.
You never know when you will run into a Wizard and I doubt you can tell them apart from other people so they could take you down with a surprise spell attack. Heck, maybe the guy who scammed us is a mage of sorts...
We should get one.

>What do I say about knowing Allenaethos' name?
If you decide to tell the story of how you fought against him and killed him make sure to mention that he was bound by a contract to defend someone to death and we had a contract (non-magical, but don't say that) to kill the person who he was protecting. Our jobs brought us one against other and there was no harm intended, we had to fulfill our respective jobs and unfortunately that meant that one of us was going to die.

>But the Sahagin are ours, our pets, our cattle, our guards
So that means they could have domestic non-mundane animals bred for consumption (cows if you will). They would probably cheaper than trained guards. Ask him if they sell meat of these and how much they would cost.
Also ask if there are places we could hunt without stepping on anyones toes, open hunt grounds. Naturally, ask what kind of beasts we are going to deal with.
>-only those Mortals covered in the Deal are allowed free access
Ask about the Deal.

Since we have flesh of Whaiti in us, we should be identified as "friendly" to creatures of summer. Does that also apply for Sahagin? Would we be safe to travel the sewers from now on? Or could we set up a deal with goblins so that Sahagin leave us alone?
>>
No. 305074 ID: 8b0de1

Oh!

Ask him the possibility of magicking up and upgrading your equipment. Be it the weapons you bear or the armor.
>>
No. 305091 ID: 77c458

rolled 25 = 25

>>305050
Could also be spun a little (we don't want to be insulting) as "knowledge".

We could ask something like "so what you desire is not what you would take in trade? Then, do you trade based on what value the person you trade with places on his offer?

Speaking of, I would ask if the goblins here, and those everywhere, are winter or summer court... The fire halo makes me guess summer court...
mmm, since we now confirmed that armas has both summer and winter court ancestry..
[Try and SENSE which court the goblin belongs to, dice roll for that]
>>
No. 305120 ID: ae0719

These things have been down here since the days of Byzantium? That's, what, 2500 years?

>>305040
I like the idea of putting knowledge up for trade; not that we specifically killed him (seems likely this guy is Summer, and while they aren't all buddy-buddy with each other they are still allies against Winter), but where and how and from whom we heard of the elf's fate. Perhaps trade knowledge for knowledge; a list of things that exist in the sewers, or even maps?

There may be other things of knowledge from the surface we may be able to trade (things in the Bosphorus, off the top of my head), or things we could find out for them. We would be far less conspicuous aboveground than they, that may be worth something.

As much as I like those amulets, I can't really think of many goods we have for trade besides info (and not much of that) or our guns. Years, maybe, since we're heading down the Wendigo path anyway? Some of our sense of taste (I could do without Bitter or Sour)? Maybe a few childhood memories?
>>
No. 305121 ID: f6360f

Be very careful when trading knowledge. Make sure that he knows it's not an exclusive trade (that is, you don't intend to lose whatever you tell him). It could seriously fuck us over to lose our memory of our past deeds. Or of anything, really.
>>
No. 305122 ID: 73920a

Ask for Doonongeas poison antidote. I am sure we will run into it again in future.

For trading... do they appreciate human technology? Would things like cellphones and other electronics appel to them? (I think not, but still worth trying)
How about works of art? We could get some stupid abstract paintings and statues from some art students for cheap and trade them... could they appreciate them? Iirc, fey have some twisted sense of beauty and appreciation of "art"
Of course we could always get high quality oil paintings from no name artists for cheap.
Besides paintings there are a lot of human crafts we can sell, we just need to make sure that they are geniune and handmade.

Some herbs which can be found in mortal word only, perhaps? Weed? I dunno... a long strech.

And into the realm of ridiculous:
Human sweets and beverages, like Snickers, Pepsi, etc.. I am sure they don't produce those things there and might be seen as delicacies
>>
No. 305154 ID: a76809

>>305040
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"So-we have this one deal currently pending, is that correct?"
>[Goblin]"Please clarify what you reference lest I answer in error."
"Our current discussion on magic amulets, my acquisition thereof, and what I would offer for them, with the prior deal culminating in my acquisition of this tome here concluded."
>[Goblin]"That is correct."
"So then I owe you nothing for the knowledge of your wares, nor indeed for anything else which you have not already received payment for, is that not so?"
Rather than the ever-shifting voice, the completely silent Goblin merely nods his head.
"Well, as to Allenaethos-I will tell you this for free: I first heard his name from a human, but the final piece of the story I learned from a far less approachable source. For more details, well..... care to make your offer? We are, as you put it, Bargaining, are we not?"
>[Goblin]"...Perhaps payment could be had in flesh? Would the Mortal seek the flesh of Kelpies?"
"Do you offer just that, a pound, for the secrets I hold?"
The helmeted head cocks to one side-and this time I take note that the faerie-fire halo does not move with the skull, still floating square above the shoulders.
>[Goblin]"Time is a small thing. A pound of Kelpie flesh each week's cycle, till the end of your life-coudl that make you seek this deal?"
>>305120
"You know, I should have put two and two together-Byzantium? I'm going to guess here, but you've been here for more than two and a half millennia, then?"
>[Goblin]"I never cared for the mortal chronology system, but the numbers sound similar to those I heard from one of your ilk half a generation ago, so I assume them still accurate."
"No wonder a few decades of food to someone doesn't bother you. Since it was not the inconvenience I thought it-then yes, accepted, as I tell you this: The one from whom I heard the Elf Allenaethos' name was the Mortal Angiluzzo Castelletti, a member and local leader of the Mafia."
>[Goblin]"...Castelletti is known to us, as is the organization from which he hails... you spoke with the one that held Allenaethos' oath?"
"On several occassions. In fact, I've done business for him in the past-the nature of our communication, as it were. With that, I believe you know where the tale starts. Now, if you want to know what I think led to his fate... well, I'm afraid that is an entirely different question."
>[Goblin]"Meaning another Bargain."
"I do believe last time you offered meat."
>[Goblin]"....Perhaps your hunting expedition was not a failure. Consider this: A pound a week of Sahagin livestock flesh, likewise to the end of your days."
"Agreed again-really works out for both of us, me being mortal and seeing it as forever, you seeing it as a blip in-"
>[Goblin]"You spoke as if you know how Allenaethos died. What was this thing you taunted me with?"
"Fine-Allenaethos owed an oath to a pawn of Mammon-"
>[Goblin]"That... is a lie, but not intentionally so."
"...Okay, I'll rephrase: The elf owed an oath to a bearer of one of Mammon's Devices, and an adherent of Mammon's 'virtues'. I was bound by contract and word to take the life of said Device wielder. Our oath's clashed-and I managed to both defend mine and my life."
>[Goblin]"That.... Well played indeed then, mortal, for Allenaethos, while horrifically unsubtle, was not incapable of defending himself."
"I will note this still omits the final piece of this puzzle-the source even I would not believe as an outsider that told me of what Castelletti carried."
>[Goblin]"...To put this story to rest I offer this-A pound of Sæhrímnir flesh once per week till the end of your days, but only to answer my questions concerning Allenaethos' death and your involvement therein-so long as you answer those I swear to probe no deeper under the confines of the Bargain."
...I can see his tightening knuckles-time to ditch the wordplay, at least for a bit. Not really sure what a Sæhrímnir is, but for a total of three pounds of creature flesh per week for life... well, it takes me ten minutes, but insofar as the final portions of the Castelletti job, in which I felled the elf, the Goblin now knows as much as I-save of my rifle's special existence, and feast on the elf's blood. I was thankfully able to imply the weapon I carry now my only longarm-and the Goblin did not think to question it.
>[Goblin]"...The Bargain is satisfied. Brownies know of where your dwelling lies-your threshold presents no challenge to them, and you shall find your first week's payment already in your care."
"Can they place it in the smaller of my two chilled boxes so the meet does not spoil?"
>[Goblin]"Agreed."
>>305050
"Well-back to the amulets-"
>[Goblin]"So you do still seek such?"
"Yes-but only under a few conditions. Namely-the Arrow Charms, can I get ones with slightly different rules? I mean, does it have to trigger if something was going to nick me, or only if it would have slain me?"
>[Goblin]"You can stipulate your specific need-among our craftsmen are Svartelfs, your requirements can be met."
"Then I want to get two different type of Arrow Charms-one that will only trigger for a fatal ranged injury, and no other condition, with a wound that causes me to die from trauma or blood loss within thirty seconds or less being considered 'fatal'."
>[Goblin]"A comparatively common request. The second variant?"
"One that only applies to my head, but prevents any impact that would transfer thirty percent or more of its energy in impact to me."
>[Goblin]"Both types of Arrow Charms can be provided."
"Before I say whether that's all I want or not-could you give a rough estimate of how much a low-grade Arcane Nullifier goes for, in mortal currency-let's say US dollars?"
>[Goblin]"Two hundred fifteen thousand two hundred ninety two dollars, for the lowest valued one sold in the last two years. Wards of protection are not idly made or obtained-those of magic proper least of all."
...OOOoookay.
"What about the two Arrow Charms? I note you mentioned that type the least expensive-"
>[Goblin]"Why would I tell you what value it could have?"
"..So you're saying that you can't tell me the specific value of the two amulets, because you know the funds I have could potentially cover it, and you don't want me to know just how much is considered 'fair'?"

The goblin says nothing.

...Well, it COULD be up to eighty thousand dollars, maybe one hundred plus if we're including the coming pay. Either way... that is expensive as all hell. I start entertaining thoughts of selling something a bit less tangible-I've heard supernatural dealmakers can take all sorts of barter, and what do I need my sense of taste for bitter things for? It might not cover the whole value, but it could help. Maybe I can even sell a year of my life-odds are good I'm not going to die of old age anyway, what would it matter?






Decision time: Do I try to barter some possession or quality of myself to the Goblin for what was offered?
Or do I try to pay for the charms with actual currency?
Once my dealings in the sewers are concluded for now, what should I do?
>>
No. 305157 ID: b5ebec

>what do I need my sense of taste for bitter things for?

Cyanide detection, for one thing...
>>
No. 305158 ID: e41ad5

Well well well.

We could offer him labour - any task a mortal of your stature can complete within a single week without damaging his reputation in the Summer Court or among mortals of good authority? I have to admit, I'm not good at these sorts of deals...
>>
No. 305161 ID: ae0719

Would, say, four years of life be sufficient for the two charms? Hard to judge value on something like that. Failing that, offer this: a single favor, redeemable any time in the next ten years. The favor may be refused if you judge it goes too much against your own interests; i.e., if the Goblins attempt to use you against the Mafia or the Triad (though agreements with those two may be subject to change in time...) or in a fight that you judge has no chance of success and whose only possible outcome will lead to your death. This is the word of someone who forced a Doonongaes to retreat, and as such should have some worth to them.

Following this, eat this week's pound of flesh (hopefully it'll regenerate your arm and leg more), then get back on the trail of that AVT bastard.
>>
No. 305163 ID: f6360f

>>305154
>Do I try to barter some possession or quality of myself to the Goblin for what was offered?
Possessions you can spare. Qualities of yourself you should not- not for something like this.

Paying with actual currency is a little inconvenient because I believe that your bank account requires you to maintain a balance over fifty thousand, so dipping beneath that figure would probably not be great for your financial solidity. Paying partly with money and then making up the difference is likely more reasonable.

You might also consider paying with a favor- though of course you should set restrictions on what exactly the favor might consist of, and how long it can be held before being called in. An unrestricted favor could be said to be almost as valuable as your entire life, since it could theoretically be called in to demand anything of you. Lesser favors- any deed which you might complete within a day of starting it, and which will not be beyond a certain amount of risk, which will not be likely to damage your standing with the mafia, the triads, either of the courts, and so forth- can be valued proportionately. They are likely the most valuable thing that you can offer, perhaps even competing with the more valuable of your intangibles.
>>
No. 305175 ID: 31f32d

>>305158
>>305163
Agreed, you are a mercenary... offer to WORK for the charms...

Is it worth mentioning that you are probably descended from a summer court member?... although maybe its better to know more, this could horribly backfire
>>
No. 305189 ID: 692cff

I'd avoid mentioning our relationship with the courts. We do eventually want to tap into our winter ancestry, and aligning too strongly with the summer could hurt that. Also, giving information for free sounds bad.

>>305163 I agree with this. Not a good idea to be selling years off our life or qualities that may eventually come back to bite us. But using labor to cover, or at least bring down the price, would be good.

Or perhaps we put off the purchase of these things until' we meet up with the collector. If we get more out of him then just the one magic gun, we might have a lot more to bargain with.
>>
No. 305193 ID: 36bede

Dont offer years of your life or other qualities of yourself, like sense of bitter taste, even though it is unpleasent it serves a purpose, for example not poisoning yourself with spoiled food.
We could offer work or favours but obviously you need to be cautious with that so that you don't drive yourself into corner.
I suppose they are not interested in demon blood then? Suppose they have much better ways of obtaining it then.

I guess we can refuse to buy them if we find the pricr to be too expensive (though you cant really place a price on protection against sure deathshots)

3 pounds of supernatural flesh might be overkill. Suppose we can sell it to someone?
With the cookbook and demon blood, we could prepare something pretty awesome. Maybe even something that can enchant us for a period. That would be awesome.

>half a generation ago
from whos percpective, I wonder. If from his perspective then it is A LONG time ago. Maybe not that many mortals deal with then like we thought?
>>
No. 305201 ID: 36bede

Wait
could we ask for the meat to be raw and bloody as if taken from the animal while alive (or without removing the boold from carcass)? Or at least the amount of blood which would be in a pound of fleash in a seperate container. I am willing to make extra deal out of this, I suspect it should't cost too much since we are asking blood from the same source (unless it isnt, and is crazy expensive)
The blood will definately be useful. Not only for feeding ourself but also Keihas.
>>
No. 305204 ID: e41ad5

>>305201
>Hold strips of meat to Keihas
>Super-easy jerky!
>>
No. 305227 ID: 31f32d
File 130580260365.jpg - (6.88KB , 184x208 , l4d_health_pack_jpg.jpg )
305227

>>305204
Refinement...
1. buy a bunch of common off the shelf jerky packets.
2. Eat it (or dump some)
3. Hold meat you receive against keihas to turn it into insta magic jerky.
4. Place magic jerky in emptied out bags, carry a bunch with you EVERYWHERE... You will get a reputation as a jerky fanatic, its your "favorite food"... and nobody would suspect a thing!.
5. To conserve magic meat and prevent people from connecting meat to healing, eat regular jerky regularly even when healthy. Regular jerky can be identified by being in a sealed packet... if someone notices, explain healing requires food, in general.
Congrats: you have unlocked the "healing kit" item.
>>
No. 305252 ID: c173fb

>>305158
I too agree with offering work. But offer mercenary work – hunting, body guard, killing. I don’t want to be stuck being something’s guinea pig or a snack. “Two contracts, equaling total of 40,000 dollars American. I will be supplied with the proper dossiers and information about the target. If the target is more dangerous than the information you provide suggests, I will be paid recompense.”

>>305227
I like this idea, but check to see if Magic Jerky works as well as Magic Flesh.

As for post-Goblin stuff, look into Gyaketsuote, Whaitiri, Nazi Occultism, Rudolf von Sebottendorf and getting a new car. Also, seeing if there are magic cars and how and where we can get them.

After that, call up Ping about your bullet wounds and any spiritual healing he can offer.
>>
No. 305253 ID: 8b0de1

>After that, call up Ping about your bullet wounds and any spiritual healing he can offer.
Before doing that, we should try the magical meat and demon blood first.
>>
No. 305254 ID: a76809

>>305157
...Oh right, a bitter taste is one of the signs of, among other things, Cyanide. ...Maybe I shouldn't barter away my ability to differentiate that, given my line of work-and how fast I'm accruing things that want me dead.

>>305158
"Do you accept labor... no, I'm not sure that's the right word... do you accept vocational work as trade?"
>[Goblin]"Give a clearer example of what you speak. Be you a smith, a woodworker?"
"...No. My profession would currently be termed mercenary-"
>[Goblin]"Ah, a sell sword, a hedge knight, is that right?"
"Former more so than the latter-I do not believe I am seeking a lord to serve."
>[Goblin]"...No, you don't. Well, why should your services be considered needed? What backing does the quality of your work have?"
>>305161
"Well, put it this way-you are familiar with that bout Wizard Khubiliai with the Akkorokamui a few days ago?"
>[Goblin]"Several among our clan-myself included-were recruited into service by some of the Wizard's allies looking to curry favor-yes, I am familiar."
"So then it would be safe to say you are aware that one of the Akkorokamui's main supporters, a Doonongaes, did not show up as expected."
>[Goblin]"That would also be correct."
"You did find out about the Doonongaes surfacing with considerable wounds outside the battle to feed and recuperate, yes?"
>[Goblin]"For a third time I must confirm your suspicions."
"Okay, then knowing all this, how is this bit of information, as demonstration of my skill: The reason the Doonongaes was wounded, forced to avoid taking part in that battle? I hurt it so badly it could not take place in the second, larger battle."
>[Goblin]"...Your choice of phrasing was interesting. Answer this, then-if you were aiding the Wizard's faction, why did you not then come to participate in the battle proper? Surely, as skilled as you imply yourself your aid could have been vital."
"I may be good-but not good enough to drive away a Doonongaes without getting injured myself-I entered the field under the Triad's service, should you be familiar with them as you are with the Mafia."
>[Goblin]"We are. Word choice or no, I find no hint of falsehood in what you uttered-I shall accept your example as evidence of ability, then, and take that under consideration as reference for your competence. What of specifics, concerning this offered job?"
"Well, why not tell me what you think would be worth the two Arrow Charms I mentioned?"
>[Goblin]"A favor, to be redeemed at a time of our choosing, in the form of a freely performed service. Would you strike this Deal for the amulets you seek?"
>>305161
"Well hold on there-say I've just finished another job, some big affair that's left me severely wounded, to the point I would be incapable of ably performing a service-would I be forced to still work in such a state, or do I have the ability to claim exception to your call?"
>[Goblin]"In times of injury, no demand would be made."
"And what about my profession? Say that I am actively under contract to perform a deed, but physically fit-what if your coming to demand payment then would force me to fail at me pre-existing work? Or say a request of yours would directly pit me against a faction I associate with often-would I damn myself to fulfill the deal?"
>[Goblin]"Please do not suggest we would have such low respect for Bargains as to impinge on those of others."
"Okay, I just had to be sure-last question: If I know the job will result in my death-say, for example, going alone to take on multiple Doonongaes in their homeland-then I can reject the job, and instead wait for some work that would not result in my own life ending."
>[Goblin]"There are many conditions you wish to see applied to your potential work."
"I got this far by making sure I finish what I start-I don't want to offer you something that ultimately ends with me not delivering-the dead part I don't care much for either."
>[Goblin]"That is a sentiment I feel a kinship to-but it does nothing to change the fact the offered favor's weight is reduced by your requests-to pay for what you seek, you needs must offer a second to balance the scales."
>>305163
>>305175
"As long as it's work that I can complete in one single day for each favor, and, now that I think about it, you don't use me in such a way that I find myself enemy to an entire Court-then yes, I accept two favors offered for two charms received."
>[Goblin]"Your favors shrink smaller still-now, the power of Three is needed to match what is demanded.
>[No haggling trait to trigger]
"...Fine then."
>[Goblin]"The Bargain is struck? The Mortal's demanded pair of Arrow Charm amulets, in exchange for favors numbering three, fitting the requirements the Mortal laid out?"
"The Bargain is struck."
Once more the close-helmed goblin reaches up, a heavily scarred arm taut with ropy muscle questing into his faerie-fire halo, moving to and fro with the sense of rummaging in that elsewhere he reaches. A handful of seconds later his hand comes forth again, a leather thong looped about his fingers, a pair of silver and bronze amulets fitted with Tiger's eye and delicate inscription dangling freely, each adorned with tiny paper strips covered in a cramped, angular script. I happen to blink while I reach my free hand forward-just blink-and I find the amulet-laden thong already in my hand. The goblin is nowhere to be seen, the sewers once more shrouded in shadow-yet I hear it's gravelly, scratchy voice whispering from beside my ear.

>[Goblin]"We will find you when your Bargain must be honored."

Yeah.

TOTALLY not creepy or disturbing, being told that in the dark by a ventriloquist, voice throwing goblin that does not personally make sound-or seem to care overmuch about physics.

Well, let's just put on the magic amulets, and get the hell out of here.

>>305204
>>305227
On my way back up the ladder, I have a thought. I trek the short distance home as directly and inconspicuously swiftly as I can-making note of a twenty four hour convenience store a block down the street. Upon entering my house, I check to find-sure enough, my minifridge has five parcels wrapped in ancient-looking butcher's paper with twine string holding it fast. With nothing written on any of the packages, I open one at random, selecting the rightmost-

Within is a meat that's only lightly marbled with fat, a distinctive blue tone, dark and nearly neon complements the almost... scaly nature of the dense muscle, making it look like polished stone under the right light. The meat smells tangy and salty, and feels slightly greasy to the touch. I pull free the tome on supernatural cuisine-

To find it written in the same cramped, angular script as found on the amulets. Great, it's in goblin or some such. ...REALLY should have specified a book I can actually read.

I grab Keihas, and, following up on my thought, press it's stock to the blood-soaked meat to see-

The meat writhes and shrinks in my hands, withering and toughening until I hold a lumpy piece...

Of jerky.

I take a bite before I can start second guessing myself-

Behind the rich, potent aquatic flavor, so reminiscent of swordfish and catfish mixed into one, I feel a reaction-the newer, deeper hunger I can feel rousing as I tear into the meet. I feel flesh growing warm on leg and arm-I feel my side shivering over where I was nearly disemboweled. The meat is still viable-and after I finish the unseasoned hunk of meat, tasty more for its novelty than its quality, I strip out of my combat gear, put on casual clothes, tuck the Glock into the back of my pants as a 'just in case' and trek out to the convenience store. I return less than ten minutes later, already tearing open a jumbo bag of jerky-

So that, after I've Jerkified the rest of the meat (one a dark red, heavily marbled and so-greasy-I-can-barely-grab-it with the most savory aroma I've yet smelt, the other a pale pink that has almost perfectly ordered muscle, looking more manufactured than natural) I can shove it all in the open jerky bag, reseal it-and add it to my gear, safely beside my right hip's Mateba.

Already in casual clothes, I consider:
-I still need another full day, maybe two, of accelerated healing-so strenuous work, or intensive gym visits, are not in my best interest, what with having the mundane equivalent of a week's worth of healing from three gunshot wounds.
-I recently checked out a great deal of books on Finnish and Maori mythology and lore, and between them and Wikipedia, I hope I can learn a bit more about my blood when I take a day or two to hunker down and read.
-I also could benefit from another trip to Gun World-there are some things I may want to pick up, and I wouldn't mind a chance to try out their gun range.
-I could even go to the Triads to seek another bout of healing, and get back on my feet even faster for a price.






So what should I do?
>>
No. 305257 ID: 8b0de1

>-I could even go to the Triads to seek another bout of healing, and get back on my feet even faster for a price.
Nah, we aren't in a hurry

>-I also could benefit from another trip to Gun World-there are some things I may want to pick up, and I wouldn't mind a chance to try out their gun range.
Ammunition for GatMalite. High-explosive and/or Armor Piercing rounds.

>-I recently checked out a great deal of books on Finnish and Maori mythology and lore, and between them and Wikipedia, I hope I can learn a bit more about my blood when I take a day or two to hunker down and read.
Yeah, use the free time for reading the mythology. I say we focus on our Finnish roots now.
also >>305252 , lets find out about Goblins and such too.

>-I still need another full day, maybe two, of accelerated healing

Did you eat the maximum amount for days healing? How much was it? A single jerky is enough for that?

>To find it written in the same cramped, angular script as found on the amulets. Great, it's in goblin or some such. ...REALLY should have specified a book I can actually read.
Ah, dammit. Do we know anyone who can speak Goblin?
>>
No. 305259 ID: e41ad5

Let's get reading.

As you've seen, the most expensive commodity in the Courts is Knowledge. This being among the immortals and creatures like Doonongaes should tell you something. Knowledge will not come easily. You'll have to garner it yourself. In other words, take what you can get for free, because 'buying' it will be fucking expensive!

While you're reading, feed up to accelerate your healing. Make sure you find a way to record what you get from what you eat, so you don't, like, overeat and so you know how much you need later.

As for the Goblin cookbook, put it on the shelf until you can find a person to translate it. As it is, Keihas'ing the meat provides us with yet another benefit to the meat, so there's that, I suppose.

I'm somewhat against buying things at the moment, as someone mentioned we only have so much actual money to work with. For now, keep it to standard bullets, ammo, etc. While we're lazing about, though, you might want to set up some work to take up when you're back on your feet. Go with the Triads this time - simple alternating between the two seems to be working thus far, and Fang's been a pretty cool dude anyway.
>>
No. 305270 ID: 8b0de1

The cookbook.
Maybe everything is not as bad as it seems. Could it be written in ancient Byzanthine language? We could seek some history professors and theologists? I bet we wouldn't even need top pay them for translation.

You should take a bite out of each meat type just to see how they taste and if they have different effects on you.

>>305257
>Ammunition for GatMalite. High-explosive and/or Armor Piercing rounds.
Actually, why don't we get explosive and armor piercing ammo for all of our weapons.
>>
No. 305299 ID: 9e6fcb

We have lifetime supply of different kind of supernatural meat.
In coming days, try to find out if anyone is interested in buying it. Maybe somekind of restaurant ... eh, better to go through your contracts first
>>
No. 305318 ID: b5ebec

If you go out shopping, pick up some ammo and belts + cans (ones with loops you can attach a shoulder strap to) for your new gatling rifle while you're at it.
Tracer, ballistic tip JHP, Mk 262 Mod 1, and M995 armor-piercing rounds. If you can't get the AP, go with M855 instead.
...Hell, you could just buy it all online, alternately.
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/cPath/29_43_48/products_id/1977
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/50rds-223-black-hills-60gr-vmax-ballistic-tip-ammo/cName/223-556-ba
llistic-tip-ammo
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/products_id/5474
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/100rds-556-nato-lithuanian-military-62gr-ss109-penetrator/cName/223
-556-penetrator-ammo
Buy at least a couple hundred of each and alternate 'em down the belt, in order of tracer>AP/M885>Mk 262 Mod 1>ballistic tip JHP

Also you might wanna grab a couple boxes of these for Keihas. Mmm, incindiary goodness.
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/20rds-762x54r-super-incendiary-ammo/cName/super-incendiary-raufoss
>>
No. 305328 ID: 7dbc01

We sbould also get some smoke grenades .... and regular ones too
>>
No. 305329 ID: d3dfb8

Acquire or make some mercury filled hollow points to cause pressure-cavities inside target's bodies.

If we do end up going to gun world see if you can find any books on gun smithing. Considering the number of customized guns we've seen and the supernatural enemies it'll probably pay to be able to modify or make our own guns. We live in dangerous times.

Go to an art supply store and get gold leaf, just tear that up, put it in a shotshell, and it turns into a fine mist whenever you fire. Suddenly that douchebag can't breathe. Well he can, I just wouldn't reccomend it for a while.

Also, drop by a hardware store and buy a dremel. Endlessly useful those things are.
>>
No. 305336 ID: ae0719

>>305299
Better see how often and powerfully the Hunger hits us first. Not to mention having a stockpile of jerked life-saving meat isn't a bad thing.

I'm still for getting the ball rolling on the AVT guy, but studying up on various lore isn't a bad thing. Try and find information on the creature you saw in that vision, for one. The Troll. Whaitiri, and other Maori spirits, too; the basics, but also any places of worship or spots sacred to them, in case we decide to travel to New Zealand to re-establish that connection, after all.

For another... the Summer and Winter courts are really varied, but I believe they originated in Ireland, so that maybe should be our next reading project, after this one. After that, Seneca legends for the Doonongaes, although those are mostly oral. Any mythological knowledge won't be wasted, though, since it's pretty much all here somewhere.

I'm kind of hoping our near-death experience doesn't make us more interesting to certain kinds of death-based spirit like our ancestry did for Summer and Winter. We are basically in the Mecca for that sort of thing; Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire, the Mediterranean, not all that far from the Holy Land or Alexandria... oh yeah, and modern Turkey was right on the edge of the Cradle of Civilization. Akkadia, Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria have got some scary, scary myths.
>>
No. 305342 ID: b5ebec

Oh yeah, might want to pick up some basic medical supplies, now that I think of it. Because this probably ain't the last time you'll be torn up.

http://www.oldsargesdropzone.com/products.php?scatid=2
See if you can find anything like that on your shopping trip, or again just internet 'em if need be. One of each kit and a couple extra hemo bandage packs. Not that you'll take it all with you on jobs but it'd be good to at least have some quick bleeding control on hand.

Also don't forget to try and find a link loader (and possibly adapter plate) so it doesn't take forever to belt up ammo. See link (heh) for details.
http://beltfedplus.com/linkloaders.html
>>
No. 305352 ID: 34c809

Yoi are going to get demon blood soon.
See if drinking it has the same healing effect, to be sure dont eat meat on the same day. If it works, then you can make vials of blood as healing potions.
Also check your armor, Brandt hit you in several spots, you might need to fix it.

A specific search: since you are becomming a full-flesged cannibal, I suggest you look into mythos concering the consumption of flesh and blood of your enemies, be it Finnish or Maori. You might uncover things that will make you feasting ability even better
>>
No. 305371 ID: f0e3ae

get in contact with the other people ripped off by the gun trader guy. At least to start planning action (which you could take when healed)
>>
No. 305384 ID: c173fb

>-I could even go to the Triads to seek another bout of healing, and get back on my feet even faster for a price.
Price doesn't matter. We need to know just what having part of our soul eaten did to us in the long term. Going to Go Ping might even balance our hot and cold Qi - Ying and Yang, Summer and Winter.

Also look into Gyaketsuote, Dim Mak, Whaitiri, Maori gods, Nazi Occultism, Rudolf von Sebottendorf, Dorjpalam Khubiliai, Frankenstein, University of Ingolstadt and getting a new car and seeing if there are magic cars and how and where we can get them.
>>
No. 305394 ID: a76809
File 130586436213.jpg - (1.87MB , 5444x2504 , Turkish Police Officer Adelat met at shooting rang.jpg )
305394

>>305352
[...Fix his armor? Just what, have Armas pop over to his imaginary metalworking shop with multithousand dollar machinery to attempt to repair his Dragon Scale armor not knowing exactly how they are made-or wait, he can just fix those ballistic plates with his imaginary knowledge of how to craft them.... wait I'm detecting a flaw here. Please try and only suggest things that you can off the top of your head think of a reasonable justification for Armas to actually do. As he just knows how to wear and maintain body armor, not repair or fabricate it (which is most certainly a specialized skill) he can't do squat.]

>>305384
[It's great that you want Armas to do so much-but if you give such vague directives as that, it's less of a quest more of a story. So, if you want things to get done-actually tell Armas how he will do them.]

>>305257
>>305259
I decide to spend the morning through early afternoon reading-learning a great deal about Finnish hunting traditions and the sacred nature of several animals, while complementing it with a basic grasp of how the Maori system of Tapu, Noa and Mana is all supposed to work. The whole while through the bout of reading my injuries continue to feel overly warm and tingle-but the hunger does not return. After having a quartet of simple sandwichs at home for lunch, I keep reading as I pay attention to the healing process-it's itchy like any normal wound, and the tingling, hot and shifting sensation I think is just due to a faster cell division-I didn't pay all that much attention in high school biology, but I have spoken with quite a few army medics, I get how healing 'works', and other than that, I can't really think just how what's happening is supposed to work. All I know is that throughout an entire day, just that one pound of jerky was enough to keep my newer type of hunger sated, my wounds recovering. Nevertheless I find myself far hungrier than normal and have three steaks and a double helping of potatoes for dinner, going to sleep with new lore floating around in my head.

>>305270
I jolt awake far earlier than I intended Monday morning as I realize the goblin cookbook could very well be written in the old Byzantine language. I check online and find no less than three professors of Language and/or Archaeology who could be instrumental in deciphering this tome. Right about when the dawn's first rays begin to shine down I nearly double over in hunger-before I consume a half pound of my special jerky-to no effect. I keep eating-and halfway through the last portion, I feel the hunger dissipate, and the wounds, now looking more than two weeks old, once more itch and burn. ...So, the amount of flesh I must consume is proportionate to the amount of recovery I need to do? Something to keep in mind at all times. Finding one professor to have listed Monday office hours for an open-campus college, I decide to take a walk, leaving behind my every weapon save my mere pounamu, slowly crossing Istanbul. At ten minutes until ten, I arrive at the modest college, and track down Professor Jagdo's office. When I arrive there are three students waiting to see him-but for some reason they all leave before ten rolls around-and I hear a voice echoing from within.

>"Come in!"
Seeing no one else he could possibly be speaking to, I enter the office. At first the professor is immediately suspicious of my presence, but the moment he lays eyes on the ancient tome he forgets his earlier skepticism. He notes that my theory was correct-it is a dialect of Latin used here, when this city went by the name Byzantium. He notes that because he also sees lines in the medieval Greek associated with the same empire, it will take him time-he estimates at least a month, given his current class workload, before he can even make a decent start-but if I leave the book with him, he promises to have a translation within a season. With no pressing need to find a faster solution, I accept his offer.

>>205318
With the book out of my hands and my wounds, if better, still impairing enough I would not wish to visit the gym, I make my way first home, to de-bayonet Keihäs and make my way to Gun World, rifle in hand. One of the representatives spots me shortly after entrance, and helps me as I work my way down a new list. Several hundred rounds of 5.56 Tracer, JHP, Hollow Points and Armor penetrators each work their way into a shopping basket. After grabbing some six hundred of each type of round, I move on to my next focus. Having spotted them earlier, I pick up a full hundred rounds of 7.62x54R Super Incendiary, to expand my list of options for the aged Mosin Nagant.
>>305328
Not even a single sideways glance when I add a half-dozen smoke grenades to my shopping cart-the level of professionalism I've found here each visit has been superb. While I most certainly cannot just up and buy grenades of the more explosive sort-I happen to possess now less than two long 40mm HEAP rounds, so it's not like I have no options whatsoever.
>>305329
[Psst-mercury filled hollow points are illegal, cannot acquire at Gun World!]
I add to the cart two hundred dollars worth of instructive and reference material for gunsmithing, figuring that while I may lack the tools and knowledge NOW-the information will surely prove useful at some point or other. I also pick up a rather complete dremel set, figuring the rotary tool to likewise place in the category of 'I'll need this later'.
>>305342
In the vein of preparedness, I pick up a quartet of Quik Clot coagulating material, A USGI First Aid and Surgical kit, two each, and three USGI SAM splints. With medical equipment covered, I pick up an M7 Link Loader, and pick up five thousand links, Gun World happily selling them in bulk. Lastly I get a IIIa Ballistic face mask and a level IV helmet, looking to make my body armor collection a little more complete. As I make my way to the register, two full shopping carts in tow, I pay the extra $50 to have it all delivered to my doorstep for me-as I take a complementary 30 round case of 7.62x54% rounds to try some target practice at the range. With it being the early afternoon of a monday, most of the stalls are empty, save for a few elderly individuals trying to recapture memories of their youth with their idle time. I set up in the station farthest from anyone else, and meticulously take apart and inspect the old rifle, to ensure everything in perfect order.
[FUNDS:----- US$000,115,079.13]
>[?]"What kind of wood is that? Too bright to be mahogany...."

I turn to my left, to see the booth I had assumed empty now occupied by a relatively tall woman with six guns sitting before her.
"You know... I haven't the foggiest what kind of wood it is. How'd you know I spoke English?"
>"Saw you talking with the sales rep-kinda hard to miss."
"Or maybe you're just perceptive."
>"Flattery by the second sentence-moving fast. Not going to work this time though."
"And why is that?"
>"See, I have an excuse for being perceptive-I'm in Law enforcement-say, that's the Finnish type, that chambers 7.62x54R, right?"
I do not have words for how many alarm bells what she just said triggered. I try to hide it by changing the subject.
"...Really? Is that why you have six guns in front of you?"
>"Oh you know, just looking to find a nice concealed carry piece for when I'm on my own time, that sort of thing-I can read all the technical readouts I want, but until I've shot a few rounds it just won't mean much to me."
She takes note of the fact I've finally finished putting Keihäs back together.
>"Look like you know your way around a gun-care for a little wager?"
"Well now that would depend on what's involved, wouldn't it?"
>"Playfully cautious-haha, okay. How about this-I've got six guns, you've got 30 rounds for a five round rifle. What say we have a shootoff-five bullets from you, six from me-after all, I'm using a smallarm, here. If I wiiiiin.... how about you buy me a case of whatever ammunition goes for the gun I end up choosing? And if I lose-"
"I get to show you an incredible bar and grill-do you like mead?"
>"I love it, but-ah, fine. Okay big guy, let's see how you do."
"So I lead then?"
>"Don't you know it."
I settle the stock against my shoulder, sighting at the target some three hundred feet away after loading five rounds, finger closing on the trigger when-
>"You know, you're the first person I've seen with a gun chambering that kind of ammunition in more than a month? Turns out most of the people who own them aren't city frequenters-and those that are collectors that don't shoot them."
"That a fact? And question-does this mean I can talk when YOU are shooting?"
>"Okay okay-lips sealed."





What am I going to do about this?
Is this officer implying what I think she is, that she's eying me for that failed assassination job?
Do I ask the Turkish Law Officer what her name is, or anything more about her job?
How am I going to get out of this situation?
[I need five seperate 1d100 rolls for shooting, AND I will need someone to identify which gun of those shown in the picture you wish to match up against this time around.]
[Bonus if you can name every model of gun in the attached picture.]
>>
No. 305409 ID: ae0719

rolled 24 = 24

Okay, time to work that gun-nut knowledge. Make like we're just a collector, shooting the shit.

"I am a bit of a collector, but I can't even imagine never firing this baby. Home-made by my own countrymen, they tell me; the care that goes into crafting them makes them superior to other models in accuracy, and they're rarer and more valuable than their Russian counterparts due to fewer production models."

Hell, maybe try and sound like we're trying to use the gun to impress her. An assassin would be cagey and evasive; every gun collector I know can wax poetic about his collection for days if you let him. And immediately trying to back-out when she points that out could also set off her instincts.

I say, shoot to win, go out with her, have a good time. Get her name and number if you can. Be normal, dude.
>>
No. 305411 ID: 692cff

rolled 88 = 88

Okay, we need to win so we don't seem incompetent enough to fail an assassination. And maybe share ex-military stories if we end up taking her to a bar. And talk guns to play up the collector role.
>>
No. 305412 ID: b5ebec

rolled 56 = 56

Okay, got a Browning Hi-power in 9mm, Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull, Glock 35 competition model in .40 S&W, Chiappa Rhino in .357 Magnum, Mitchell Arms American Eagle reproduction of the Luger P08 in 9mm, and American Derringer Model 4 Alaskan Survival in .45-70 Gov't for the top barrel, .45 Colt/.410 gauge shotgun shells for the bottom barrel.

Also, some comments.
Derringer's obvious disadvantage is it's only got two rounds to its name and is break-action reloading, plus, y'know, short barrel + bigass bullets = big recoil.
The Ruger's gonna have a whallop of a kick, putting Casull into a bloody snubnose, so another bad choice.
The Mitchell knockoff of the Luger was another problem gun, soft steel, weak magazine springs, some incompatibilities with parts from the authentic model if I remember right.
Browning's time-proven to be reliable, so that one's okay there.
The Rhino's a bit low on capacity but would be more accurate overall due to design and pack a little more punch. Also shorter than the Browning by a little bit for easier concealment.
The Glock's longer than the Browning by a touch, but weighs less than both it and the Rhino, also carries more ammo and in a larger caliber.

Overall the Glock is probably the most well-rounded of the lot.

May as well start off against the Derringer for this round.
>>
No. 305425 ID: 8b0de1

rolled 44 = 44

"So who is the other WWI-era [WWII?, I don't know but Armas should know what category rifle this is] rifle enthusiast then? I admit, I love comparing these guns and arguing which is better and like you said, not many people have these beauties let alone ones willing to take them out of their cases for a spin."

I just had a though:
chants, incantations

Since we fed Keihas so much and it has supernatural connection to our Finnish roots, I think we could whisper battle-chants of sorts before shooting for extra power or accuracy.
Not now ofcourse, but a food for thought.
>>
No. 305429 ID: 903f16

rolled 36 = 36

>>305394
I guess now would be the best time to get her name and details about her job down. The last thing most people want to talk about is work so we might as well get the relevant information now as opposed to trying later. Specifically we should find out what division of law enforcement she works in, how long she's been working, and things along that line.
>>
No. 305430 ID: 8b0de1

Well.... I guess we aren't impressing any ladies here.
>>
No. 305436 ID: 692cff

36=Glock
44=Derringer
56=Ruger
88=Mitchell
24=Rhino

Is how I suggest we do the match-up. And based on the gun descriptions Gun gave, I say we recommend the Rhino to her, but gush about the other guns at the sametime.
>>
No. 305473 ID: a76809

rolled 34, 19, 83, 1, 1, 73 = 211

>>305436
[Nope. First five shots is how you shoot against the first of her guns-with the roll I provide in this post being HER set of rolls-which, in this case, will be for the Derringer, which she will reload three times to get her six shots in. Then, once she's got six shots, you've got five, we compare her five best against your five shots, and see who shot better (Psst, she doesn't have a magic gun, if you lose you suck).
>>
No. 305480 ID: c173fb

>>305473
>83
Nice!
>1
>1
Did she just kill herself?
>>
No. 305483 ID: 8b0de1

>>305480
That would be so funny.

Hey, I just noticed something.

When she asked about the wood our gun is made if, we said we had no idea.
But now there are suggestion to pretend to be a gun enthusiast and drool over our rifle.

She might notice this too.

We could tell her this about the wood:
"I really don't know.
I have never seen any other rifle to be made of similar wood, that for sure. This is a custom made rifle... maybe the original owner had wood from a very rare tree imported from somewhere.
I would give it for expertise, but I just can't hand off my beauty to some stranger like that ... who knows what they do to determine the materials?"
Or something similar if she asks about the wood again.
>>
No. 305485 ID: f0e3ae

>>305473
>Psst, she doesn't have a magic gun, if you lose you suck
She is getting an extra shot handicap though. Plus RNG...

>Armus rolls: 24, 88, 56, 44, 36 + magic bonus.
NO! RNG hate!
>She rolls: 34, 19, 83, 1, 1, 73 (handicap, she gets 1 extra shot)
Welp, seems RNG hates everyone.

Comparison of her best five against your only five:
Armus______MysteryPoliceGirl
88+magic___83
56+magic___73
44+magic___34
36+magic___19
24+magic___1
>>
No. 305495 ID: 8b0de1
File 130591327547.jpg - (90.74KB , 1000x700 , Armas - Keiha.jpg )
305495

Aw hell no!

We aren't going to be outdone by some random girly girl.

Come on, Keihas, show her the true might of our Ancestral Blood!
>>
No. 305496 ID: 8b0de1

Also, now that I think about it.

We did kill a police officer back when framing Castelletti, right? (a move that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth)
What if that was her friend?
Well... that might be unlikely, but still when someone murders an officer they all feel the need for vengeance.

I sure hope Armas is not going to blabber something even remotely that could link him to that.
>>
No. 305500 ID: a76809

>>305409
[PLANNED SHOT 024/100]
I carefully take aim, noting something distinctly lacking firing at a strip of paper at the range, and pull off a shot.
[FIRST SHOT]
(34+11Supernatural Bonus+6)50%
Aimed at the heart, it goes two inches wide from dead center-close enough to still damage the organ in question, but not as accurate as I'd like.
"You know." I begin as I lower the rifle from my shoulder, squinting at my target so I can avoid looking at her, "I am a bit of a collector, but I can't even imagine never firing this baby. Home-made by my own countrymen, they tell me; the care that goes into crafting them makes them superior to other models in accuracy, and they're rarer and more valuable than their Russian counterparts due to fewer production models. In fact, I'd-"
>[Law]"Woah, stop right there, thank you-shooting contest, not a gun snobbery competition, right? Get on with your shooting."
>>305411
[PLANNED SHOT: 088/100]
"Okay okay, I'll hold off-for now."
I once more bring the rifle to my shoulder, carefully peering through its scope as I squeeze the trigger-
[SECOND SHOT]
(88+11Supernatural Bonus+3)102%
The bullet, aimed between the paper target's eyes, kicks particularly hard-and the hole left in the target somehow manages to tear away the paper over when either eye would be on a human face-I may not know much about projectile motion intricacies-but shouldn't that have just shot a comparably clean hole to the one next to its heart? I once more lower the gun, rolling my shoulder as I check that none of what I do threatens my recovery.
>[Law]"Wheeew, not bad shooting there."
"I aim to please."
>[Law]"Ugh, really?"
"There are some puns one simply must make."
>[LAW]"Just.... just finish shooting."
>>305412
[PLANNED SHOT: 056/100]
"So-"
>[Law]"I wonder if I'll regret asking-yes?"
"Well-the guns you got. The Browning Hi-power and the Glock 35 would probably be your best bets-most ammunition, slugs that have stopping power-don't get me wrong, the Ruger Redhawk Alaskan there is probably the most potent of the bunch, but a snub-nose with 454 Casull? Have fun breaking your wrist. Then there's the American knockoff Ruger in 9mm.... I think I can just stop there when noting it's a knockoff. The Derringer likewise has power-but two shots, from a gun that small and light? Again, recoil is going to be a huge issue."
>[Law]"...I note you didn't make any comment about one of the guns."
"Right, the Rhino Chiappa in 357 Magnum. Well, other than the standard revolver issue of 'not enough bullets' I can't think of a reason to bad-mouth it. Barrel configuration means the kick is more like a rifle, helps with accuracy-and frankly, if you need a self defence weapon to have more than six rounds, you're doing something wrong."
>[Law]"Amen to that."
"And yes, I'll keep shooting, thank you."
>[Law]"Good I was beginning to wonder."
Once more the rifle rises. Once more I sight.
[THIRD SHOT]
(56+11Supernatural Bonus+10Max plan bonus)77%
With a booming report, the third round goes right through the forehead, just a hair off dead-center, a few fingers above the last impact.
>>305425
[PLANNED SHOT: 044/100]
"So who's the other Mosin Nagant enthusiast-no, my appologies, who is the other FINNISH Mosin Nagant enthusiast you met?"
>[Law]"...Hm. You like puns and wordplay, I'm going to go ahead and guess that."
"There is a chance you may be on to something there."
>[Law]"*Sigh*Well, then I'll tell you this:"
I did not know a face could look that mischevious. Good to know.
>[Law]"A girl never tells."
"...Really?"
>[Law]"You want to throw puns my way, then just expect me to have some fun back. Now-"
"I'm shooting, I'm shooting."
Once more, rifle to shoulder, peering through the scope-
[FOURTH SHOT]
(44+11Supernatural Bonus+5)60%
This time the bullet hits closer to the ear, a few inches off center, enough so that it likely would not be instantly fatal-well, if it was a normal gun, it wouldn't be instantly fatal. Against something Keihäs has tasted... well, I wonder.
>[Law]"Alright already, finish up so we can get this contest going."
>>305429
[PLANNED SHOT: 036/100]
"Sure, sure-say, you said you work in law enforcement, right?"
>[Law]"What a wonderful ability to understand words spoken to you."
"Ouch. I just wanted to get a better idea what you meant, specifically, when you said Law Enforcement."
>[Law]"What, you mean who I work for, where I work, all that delicious stalking information?"
"More I wanted to know if you are a detective, a patrol officer, or what."
>[Law]"OH. ...Make your last shot."
"Fine."
Stock to shoulder, eye to sight, finger on trigger-
[FIFTH SHOT]
(36+11Supernatural Bonus+4)51%
The final bullet brings me full circle, slamming into the target's chest a few centimeters off from the heart-and that concludes my first round of shooting. I press the button for calling up my target for evaluation, as I turn an inquiring eye on my companion. Instead of replying, she busies herself setting up two reloads for the Derringer, and getting into stance.
>>305473
[34, 19, 83, 1, 1, 73]
Her first shot goes a bit too high-looks like she didn't account for recoil enough-
Same for her second shot, actually-I think she tried to snap off both shots in one go and couldn't stop in time-one round a few inches above the heart, another round lodged in the neck. As she grumbles, reloading the gun, she finally speaks.
>[Law]"...Adelat."
"...I... am going to guess that your name."
>[Adelat]"What, not offering a name in turn?"
"Just wanted to be sure it WAS a name-and Armas."
>[Adelat]"Armas... okay."
The Derringer reloaded, she again sites-her aim notably lowered this time. The first shot is perfect or damn near it, dead center to the heart. The second-
>[Adelat]"Are you kidding me, a dud?"
"It could be an issue with the machining of the gun itself."
>[Adelat]"One way to find out, right?"
After she refills the gun, switching out the 410 shot shell for a new one, she again assumes a firing stance-only to have the 45-70 misfire. Gritting her teeth and grumbling what I can only assume are Turkish curse words, she pulls the trigger again-finishing with a final shot to the head, just below the left eye. She presses the button to call up her target as she tosses down the derringer like a discarded toy.
>[Adelat]"Okay, not getting that gun, irrelevant of where the issue lies."
"Probably a good idea-Derringers are really just a last-line holdout, so you have something AFTER your primary smallarm."
>>305495
[FANART BONUS]
>[Adelat]"....Well what would you suggest then?"
"Honestly? Either the Glock for the extra capacity, or the Rhino for its reliability. That and I've always been a fan of the aesthetic sense of revolvers."
>[Adelat]"Huh. ....Well maybe I'll do just that."
"You know, you never mentioned where in policing you work."
>[Adelat]"You know what, fine. I work in the Emniyet İstihbarat Daire. Know what that is?"
"...No, I don't."
As she starts cleaning up after herself at the range, she smiles wryly at me over her shoulder.
>[Adelat]"I guess you'll just have to do some investigating then, won't you?"
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated.]
"Nah, I'll just ask you at dinner."
>[Adelat]"Wha-"
"I mean, we got set up for a shooting contest, did a round-which I feel I won-and now seem to be cancelling the rest of the contest-does that not mean I won?"
>[Adelat]"Just bec-"
"Great, I'll see you at the Pitstop to Valhalla... what day works best for you?"
>[Adelat]"I-Wednesday?"
"Sure-what time?"
>[Adelat]"....Six."
"Six it is."

I start to walk away, enjoying the playful smile on her face-when her parting query reminds me why I was terrified of her a moment ago.

>[Adelat]"You know, I just realized I never asked you back: What do YOU do for work, Armas?"

Uh.









What should I say or do?
Once I leave Gun World, what should I do with the rest of the day?
>>
No. 305503 ID: 6868bc

Just say you're ex-military. Act calm, confident, act as though that should suffice as an answer. Then, leave. You've got til Wednesday to come up with a more satisfactory answer.

After you leave, consider doing a bit of research on Ms. Adelat. You can't rule out the possibility she'll be doing the same, where you're concerned. Be prepared for the possibility she'll know a few things about you, when next you meet.
>>
No. 305504 ID: d3dfb8

Either say you're Ex-military and you're between jobs at the moment, or lie out your ass and say you're a sales representative for Holland&Holland. Specializing in bulk sales to large companies.
>>
No. 305507 ID: 692cff

>>305504
We have a friend of the family working there. Not sure that's a big enough in to just start claiming we work for them. On the other hand, we could say we're a professional collector who often does profitable business with a Holland&Holland associate.
>>
No. 305512 ID: f0e3ae

>>297498
>The name's Armus Laine
>>305500
>"Just wanted to be sure it WAS a name-and Armas."

So... which is it? Armus or Armas?
>>
No. 305515 ID: a76809

>>305512
[Armas]
>>
No. 305529 ID: d429c4

"My last permanent employer was Uncle Sam, since them, I've been enjoying his largesse, although I'm considering getting back into the extordinary consulting game."
>>
No. 305544 ID: b0a858

How well is the security at our place?
With have a shitload expensive equipment there, I wouldn't want someone just breaking in and taking shit we had fought tooth and nail for.
I suggest evaluating your security and improvimg it as needed.

You shoulf have recieved demon blood by now?
I suggest trying it out to see if it sates your Hunger, and if it does, how much blood you need to drink to max out your daily healing process.

It has come to my attention that while Armas is and excellent wordsmith, he absolutely sucks at haggling and barter. That is to say that he never tries to get better deal or lower the price, he just takes what has been offered.
So I propose a new policy, Armas is to ALWAYS try to negociate a better deal (because the nature of this quest, the players dont have control when a dialog is started and since updates are Huge that means the conversation almost always ends before the next update, we dont get bits of conversation where where we could steer it into different directions depending on the sotuation. Thats is why I am suggesting that Armas tries to haggle by default)
For the starters I suggest Armas gets a good self-study book on haggling, online guides and protips, sings up for a class or hires a proffesional tutor.
Since he knows nothing of it, he should try slow and safe, it doesnt matter if he succeseeds or not, the important part is the experience.
Think about it, this is Turkey, while not exactly Arab world, it is not a Western country either. I midle-east it practically EXPECTED to haggle, you could go to a respectful-looking electronics shop and haggle down the price of the brand-new plasma television (at least that is what people who have been in those countries tell me)
Anyway, I suggest Armas spends couple of hours each day for few weeks learning from books
>>
No. 305555 ID: b0a858

While you arw still in GunWorld look for mods and other upgrades which will be useful for your GatMalite (sorry, I dont know specifics of wepons like other players do). Brandt was a walking industrial warehouse, he used GatMalite in one hand with no problems, Armas on other hand might need to modify few things to be comfortable with the gun.
Call your contact from H&H (from secure location!) ask him if he can get you supernatural parts which you can replace on your GatMalite: stock, barrels, magazine, trigger... doesnt matter.
Haggle with him a bit but dont go overboard

Actually, we haven really examinied the gun yet, riht? Maybe it is already supernatural?
>>
No. 305556 ID: a76809

>>305544
[You need to at least give him haggling examples-just saying 'haggle with him' does nothing, you need to work the person-like, for example, the deals with the Goblin-THAT was haggling, when selling the story, hence why it worked so well. Want Armas to haggle better-tell him how, don't just tell him to do it.]
>>
No. 305558 ID: b0a858

>>305556
Damn.
Can he at least use his free time learning the theoretical aspects of bartering?

Hmm, I dont have much but when dealing with the representative of H&H I could give some pointers:
First, I expect GatMalite is not a widespread weapon, so if by chance they have some supernatural parts which can be used on it, Armas can make the case that they aren't likely to get another client with such specific order any time soon
He could guilt trip him a little bit of our semifailed deal from before, when we didn't get supernatural parts we ordered (but still paid the same price? I admit, I am not sure on specifics... we did give away 2 heavily modified matebas for a mundane weapon... maybe I am missing something)
-He should be giving us a discount for being a regular customer
-Demand a lower price by buying in bulk (several parts at once, even if we buy only 2)
-Discount for a very close friend? (Okay, this one is not going to work)

I don't have anything else. Would this suffice for Armas to try haggling?
>>
No. 305562 ID: ae0719

"Independent contractor to Holland & Holland, among other places." That keeps it vague; we could be private security, an investigator, consultant, even a sales rep or personal trainer.

Only problem is that, in the US at least, a company that pays an independent contractor more than $600 has to file with the IRS. I don't think Arkvad would like it if we made him go through an audit for lying on his tax returns.

For the rest of the day- I'll suggest meeting up with Arkvad's burned contacts again, or casing the broker's place. I'd like to do that sidequest before hitting a roadtrip or a new big job comes down the pipe.
>>
No. 305569 ID: c173fb

You know, we -could- go 'I know', and walk away. But, if we want to tell her right now, Securities. It's not actually a lie, we are rather a one-man PMC right now, and we -were- trying to start up our own company.

After that, go to Go. Healing is good, and he may tell us what Whaitiri did to us. And then relax at home. We have no jobs right now, no one wants to kill us at the moment, and and we could spare some time reading up on this magical place we've found ourselves in. Hit the Finnish and Maori books you got, and see if Whaitiri or whatever it was that was so cold get mentioned. Call up Arkvad Söderström from a secure line and ask about our family history, any Finnish or Maori myths about hunger spirits and just where we should turn for occult information, if anywhere.

Oh yeah, and Emniyet İstihbarat Daire is the Police force's intelligence wing.
>>
No. 305593 ID: ae0719

>>305569
Probably not a good idea on Go Ping. Lo Fang isn't always going to be our ally, and it'd be best if they don't know everything we can do.
>>
No. 305594 ID: f0e3ae

>>305529
As Bang Boom would say "Very yes"... With a slight modification:
"My last permanent employer was Uncle Sam, since them, I've been enjoying his largesse. I am currently considering perusing several of my dreams: being a professional wrestler, a private security consultant, or a trader of exotic firearms"

Extraordinary sounds fishy. And spending so much money without even looking for a job even more so. And lying and claiming we have a job that we do NOT have is even a worse idea.

Keep in mind that she can verify things if she gets suspecious... "guy with lots of money and lots of guns who goes through bullets often, has suspecious injuries, and fishy work" can ring all sorts of alarm bells and might be enough to warrant a background search. Speaking of, we need some sort of legit cover for having funds...

And as awesome as armas is going against magic beasts, he is still volnerable to simple things like tax audits... He needs a cover job and a "security consultant" for banks, rich folk, etc would be a great cover...
And could even be used to get back at the guy who stole our magic gun shaft!
Maybe contact your friends in the mafia or triads to help set you up for something like that? It is as simple as having them set up a few fake customers for us.

Best thing about security consultant is that if it falls through you can just say that the private security consulting market was tougher then you thought and you are choosing a different career.

And it needn't even be a lie, armas CAN get a "dayjob" as a cover... all three jobs I suggested are possible to do on a very "part time" basis. By phrasing it as "looking for... dreams" you get the option to change it in the future, and if she comments on your spending without even having a new job yet retort with confidence that with your myriad talents you are certain you could get many jobs, its just a matter of choosing.
>>
No. 305607 ID: a76809
File 130595378958.jpg - (231.62KB , 945x1181 , Summer Fae.jpg )
305607

>>305503<<
>>305504
"What can I say, I'm ex military."
>[Adelat]"..That's your answer?"
"Obviously."
>[Adelat]"And you think that suffices, then?"
"Definitely."
>[Adelat]"...Okay, fine."
"Good to see I'm so charming you'd follow me to the door-I guess you really must be looking forward to wednesday-I'll make sure the evening lives up to it!"
>[Adelat]"That i-"
"Alright, see you at Pitstop-you have the address!"

Leaving her no more time to question me I depart from Gunworld, knowing my purchases en route to my domocile-
>>305562
>>305569
I take some time to find an isolated seat within one of the many miniature parks in my trekking across the city, verify none nearby could overhear me-and call Arkvad.
>[AS]"You are calling about Smets' other 'customers', yes I know several days have passed."
"I went to the trouble of actually calling from a secure location here-what's the hold up?"
>[AS]"Smets himself. It would seem he got wind of the want for a get together, and has been dissuading people from participating. So far, only two people are willing to meet anymore."
"Three's better than one. When and where?"
>[AS]"That is why I had not yet called-both happen to be notoriously hard to reach intermittently." I will inform you when I have networked with them to see when both could be in Istanbul at the same time."
"...Okay, keep me informed."


>>305503<<
[PALENDROME RESONANCE]

I feel a strange sense of déjà vu as my thumb depresses the button to hang up-and with the chime of compliance from my cellular, a visible ripple, a tightly controlled heat wave spreads out, slowly expanding through open air as if it were water. I take a step back, the ground shaking and rolling like a billowing curtain beneath me, upsetting my foot and sending me tipping backwards, phone going flying as I become airborne-

The ripples terminate by the time I hit the ground, normalcy returned and the earth flat once more.

...What the hell was that?

I look around to see if anyone else saw that-but the location I picked for its privacy does not avail me now, and I see no one. With no real idea what just happened or what to do about it...

I start walking towards the docks, already calling the Triads. Sure, the Demon's blood, three liters worth, should let me sustain my accelerated healing for three more days-but why expend my one non-replenishing supply? I know Go Ping, or the Triads in general, to have their own means of enhanced recovery-perhaps I can expedite my recovery enough to be fully healed by dawn tomorrow. For once the line rings several times before being picked up, and when I ask to speak with Lo Fang or Go Ping-
>[LF]"...Hello, Mr. Laine. We have not spoken for some time."
"Last I had tried to reach you I was told you were unavailable."
>[LF]"Yes-business called, as it were. ..So, Ping is somewhat better at the method of healing I taught than I expected-and I did not have to chastise him for misusing his time as interim leader."
"Yeah-actually why I called now."
>[LF]"You wish to purchase more healing services, then?"
"Yes-I'm mostly recovered from some earlier injuries, but I need to appear as if I'd not been injured at all by dawn."
>[LF]"So it is not healing that you need to have, but healing finished-that is the prize you seek."
"Exactly it."
>[LF]"Sadly, what I taught Ping is not well suited to concluding things."
"Is there not someone who can?"
>[LF]"Me."
"...I see."
>[LF]"But rather than tell you I am busy, or that my time is far more valuable than Ping's-I will offer you healing at the same rate Ping did. I assume you need it now?"
"Ah-"
>[LF]"I am currently at the warehouse-I can at least look at you, see if your request is outrageous or not."
"...Okay, coming in then."

>>305503<<
[PALENDROME RESONANCE]

Once more when I hang up-a sense of déjà vu. Rather than the strange ripples, this time when I flip the phone's case shut, a dust devil violently springs into being before me, scouring dust and grit off the old street side for several seconds before dissipating. While the air swirled, my vision swam at the peripheries-and so entranced was I by the almost too-visible wind to dare look more closely. Just like last time the... the strangeness does not persist for long, and reality restores itself-

As I find myself holding my phone away from me as if it poisonous.

When again, nothing irregular happens... I pocket the phone, and keep going. Forty minutes later, I'm stepping into the very same room with Lo Fang as I did Go Ping-only this time, the inscription covered paper paneling the room's interior is different, the script softer, more curvaceous and meandering, cleaner that Ping's rough text. He directs me to disrobe, inspecting my leg and arm and belly alike, eyeing the still semi-tender flesh, which I only now realize has continued to writhe and feel hot-I had simply walled it off thanks to acclimatization.

Too late now.

I lay down on the table, this time face up, as Lo Fang rolls up his shirt's sleeves, and begins chanting sub-vocally , his words felt more than heard as strips of paper dance about his hands-

>>305503<<
[PALENDROME RESONANCE]
>305503 RULE OF THREE INVOKED IN A PALENDROME RESONANCE

As power dances from Lo Fang to me, as I begin to slip into the trance I slumbered in when last receiving waking healing-I feel that same sense of deja vu from twice before-stronger than both prior times combined. In that brief instant of perception before action, where I know that something is about to happen, I try to surge into action, to call out to Lo Fang-finding my body locked in place, captive audience to what unfolds.

The trio of papers on my body burst into flame, warring scarlet and periwinkle conflagrations snaking about one another as they reach ever higher, emitting not a whit of heat. One of the seals blasts fire straight at Lo Fang's face-but in a blur of motion one of his hands intercepts the flame while he steps back-and while I see soot on his palm, I see no evidence of burns upon his flesh as he stares at me from a distance with a neutral expression.

Again I try to move-and again I am trapped, helpless.

I note the flames of red and blue twisting and winding through the air, slowly building a cage around my prone form.

>[LF]"...What do we have here.... The Courts at work without Sidhe influence? Hmm..."
I try to ask Lo Fang what he's talking about-but whatever stills me stills my tongue as well-and I distinctly note a building sense of pain as the ropy flames continue to constrict about me.

Within, I feel a chilled presence, a biting, sharp cold deeper than the grave that I face without the aid of Whaitiri's supportive warmth-the mere thoughts directed my way nearly enough to freeze my mind.
[Winter]THE CONFLICT WILL BREAK YOU, AND THERE IS NOT TIME TO SCHOOL YOUR MIND TO THIS-INVOKE ME, INVOKE WINTER, AND I SHALL DESTROY THAT WHICH WOULD UNMAKE YOU.
[???]A moment, mortal at the crossroads!
A blazing heat that should seer and burn but instead inflames and awakens floods through my mind-as the image of a frozen void now shifts to accommodate a corner of fire. Within I glimpse a feminine shape not wreathed in but generating the fire, pulling it about herself like a dress, shifting sheets of molten metal accessories to her attire.
[Summer]Do not listen to the sion of Winter-he would make you hard yet brittle, and the powers at work would shatter your mortal soul. Invoke your tie to Summer-I shall fill you with such heat that even the coming tempest can do nothing.

I try to wordlessly communicate my confusion, my lack of understanding of the situation-but even that fails. It seems my only choice is to either reach to one of those two offering to me-or do nothing, and hope Lo Fang can heal me.
















What choice do I make: Winter, Summer or Mortal?
>>
No. 305609 ID: e41ad5

Fairies will do whatever entertains them the most, bottom line. They don't really give that much of a shit about mortal time except to fuck around with them. Something so morally distorted cannot POSSIBLY advise you without slanting it to thier favour.

However, Fang has been trustworthy to this point. You might owe him a lot - but he would not put you in such a position that you'd never be able to work it off. To put it another way - What is more important? Betting your soul on picking the Court that might actually give a shit? Or spending a few years doing what you do best and paying off a debt, worst case scenario?

Mortals, motherfucker. Always more trustworthy than the Courts, BOTTOM LINE.
>>
No. 305612 ID: 8b0de1

Wait, wait

Why do we have to choose?
What's happening here?

Eh, we already have chosen summer once, might as well make winter connection now
>>
No. 305615 ID: a76809

>>305612
[As Armas has no idea in-game what is going on-neither do you. Work with it, clearly something rather major is happening.]
>>
No. 305618 ID: c6ce12

>>305607
I'm not too clear on what 'That which would unmake us' is supposed to mean. As long as he isn't implying he's going to kill the Summer Fae or any Summer aspect of us than I suppose we should go with Winter. This is not for any particular inclination towards Winter, but more for the fact it's better to strike a balance and we may get access to some other side powers, maybe not bloodline, but something.
>>
No. 305619 ID: c8b402

Mortals, after all fae are much more dangerous and difficult to deal with. While there are benefits to fae relations, it would be better to not entangle yourself in their feuds.
>>
No. 305621 ID: d3dfb8

WIN-ter up in this
>>
No. 305624 ID: ae0719

Challenge: Find the name of Armas's troll, hewn of ice left when worlds die.
If it's not Ymir, I dunno. Trying to find an ice troll that predated Ymir, all I can find is Hvergelmir, the spring from which all was created and to which all will return.

Anyway... the way these mythic things keep catching us at bad times and all but forcing us to join them to survive pisses me off, but what can you do? If we need to make a choice now I'll go with Winter.

The Scion of Winter was powerful enough to kick Whaitiri - reborn cannibal goddess - out of our head. AFTER we exchanged blood and flesh with her, marking us as hers. When we never reached out to him in the first place. He just did it.

He is some kind of monster, this guy. We could use that for whatever's ahead.
>>
No. 305625 ID: c6ce12

>>305624
It's supposed to be within Norse mythology as well, but I can not find a Frost Giant/Troll/Ogre with such characteristics. I have scoured the internet, a set of encyclopedias, and a book on creation mythologies and I still have nothing. At this point I kind of just kind of want to know what source this thing was pulled from.
>>
No. 305627 ID: d429c4

Don't choose either. Tell them you we stand the the equinox, and be both Autumn and Spring. You will master the fire within you by your own efforts, and not accept either force's patronage.

Note what the winter spirit implies, that you could school your mind to control the tempest. You should trust Lo Fang to keep you around for now - then ask him to teach you meditation, how to control your Ying and Yang Chi, in return for a future favour.
>>
No. 305628 ID: 8b0de1
File 130596462002.jpg - (1.77MB , 1865x1400 , Troll vs Fae.jpg )
305628

Whoever wins - WE LOSE!

...
wait thats not right
>>
No. 305631 ID: 692cff

Winter this time, to balance things out, on the condition that it doesn't remove your ties to Summer. Otherwise, go for Mortal.
>>
No. 305638 ID: 692cff

Bob said in IRC super mega awesome bonus if we could name the lore he grabbed the troll from, after saying he's a "troll hewn of the ice left wen worlds die", and later adding in he's older than Ymir. And after about an hour of checking I'm beginning to understand why it's worth a super mega awesome bonus. Almost positive it's Aurgelmir, since Búri is the only other that would count as being made of dead world's ice, while most places don't list his age compared to Ymir, the couple sources that do say Ymir came first. But then most sources that say Aurgelmir is made from Nifleheim as actually about Ymir, using the names interchangeably since Snorri fused the two into one figure in the Prose Edda, as well as many other separate myths. The myths solely about Aurgelmir say he was made of the poison river of Élivágar passing from Muspelheim into Nifleheim and the primal heat and cold mixing, but that isn't being made from the ice of dead world's, unless you want to count Ginnungagap the void of power as a dead world, as that is where Élivágar comes from. So it had to be one of Ymir's myths, but there's so many god damn sources for his creation that finding the one Bob plucked the lore from is damn near impossible.

So I'm just going to say the source is the Prose Edda's twisting of Vafþrúðnismál, and if anyone wants to try and find something more specific I hope I've given you a good jumping off point.
>>
No. 305641 ID: f0e3ae

>THE CONFLICT WILL BREAK YOU, AND THERE IS NOT TIME TO SCHOOL YOUR MIND TO THIS-INVOKE ME, INVOKE WINTER, AND I SHALL DESTROY THAT WHICH WOULD UNMAKE YOU.
>Do not listen to the sion of Winter-he would make you hard yet brittle, and the powers at work would shatter your mortal soul. Invoke your tie to Summer-I shall fill you with such heat that even the coming tempest can do nothing.

Choosing winter will clearly not bring about balance. Choosing winter will eliminate your summer aspect, choosing summer eliminate your winter aspect.

It seems to me that:
1. Awakening your winter and summer aspect is causing them to oppose each other within you.
2. Balance is possible, as said "THERE IS NOT TIME TO SCHOOL YOUR MIND TO THIS". but balance requires knowledge that you do not have and winter claims you don't have the time to learn.
3. Mortal (LP) might allow you to learn balance and preserve both powers... but might snub both.
4. You could try reaching for both at once... probably cause a huge strain, potentially lethal, but if you survive it results should be awesome. Its also got the "third option" coolness to it.
5. Either choice is liable to MAKE you a sidhe, a member of the courts... great power, but great limitations on said power. (can't lie? etc)

I say either go with lo pang, he should be able to teach you to balance the forces within you since balance is a big deal in the healing tai chi he practices. Or reach both at once.
>>
No. 305642 ID: 692cff

>>305641
I'm still not seeing where it says choosing one eliminates the other, but if so I agree we should either go mortal or grab for both. And if there is a roll involved, we do not under any circumstances allow Wut to roll.
>>
No. 305645 ID: c173fb

Mortal, who has made both Summer and Winter bend beneath His Strength.
>>
No. 305646 ID: f2e3e2

>>305645
Heh, you're a funny guy. I'll eat you last


but seriously, I severely doubt that what you say ia going to work any time soon, if ever.
>>
No. 305647 ID: a76809

>>305642
[Post will be later today, but I'm just letting you know now, attempting to reach for both, short of something like '3d100 rolls are made, all are 95+. Failure will end Armas.]


[Oh, and that example was if ONLY 3 seperate rolls are made and none are bad-attempting to SCREW THE RULES I CHOOSE BOTH with even one bad roll will fail. So yes, there is a non-mortal middle ground, but in DND terms, its considerably above your ECL, and you have no cheesed out wizards to help you ignore that.]
>>
No. 305648 ID: f2e3e2

>>305647
I am just going ahead and vote against trying to go both ways at once because I have a suspicion someone will roll anyway, so I'm trying to counter their rolls.
>>
No. 305650 ID: 692cff

>>305647
Yeah, nevermind that then. Downvoting any attempts of that course of action. Going back to WInter if it doesn't crew with Summer, Mortal otherwise. And specifically, if possible, actually add that conditional to our acceptance of Winter. As part of the courts, I'm hoping that, Sidhe or not, those sorts of rules still apply.
>>
No. 305651 ID: 856690

i'm gonna say both anyway, in spite of the risks, the higher the risk, the higher the gain
>>
No. 305667 ID: 50e491

You're a mercenary, you don't want to be committed to any one dide, instead, you should have the freedom to contract as you will.

Take the mortal option for now. Later you can try to master both powers, but for now you must endure them.
>>
No. 305668 ID: e6f309

Go with Mortal, Armas need knowledge, Lo Fang has knowledge and can definitely teach him, he probably will after seeing what just happened and we know for a fact that LF is trustworthy, Besides, do you guys really think that choosing one of sidhe over the other right now, when you have absolutely no idea what is and is going to happen, is a good idea? That's like screaming outloud to Bob that we want to get fucked by cosmic horrors.

So yeah, Mortal all the way and fuck choosing between Winter and Summer.
>>
No. 305677 ID: 8b0de1

I think you guys are putting just way too much trust into Fang and Triads in general.
Sure, they are friendly and all but in the end they will still always look out for themselves. Armas is not a "family" and will probably never, ever be.

Also,
>I SHALL DESTROY THAT WHICH WOULD UNMAKE YOU
and
>I shall fill you with such heat that even the coming tempest can do nothing

>THAT WHICH WOULD UNMAKE
>coming tempest

I don't think that they are referring to each other. I think that there is some unknown danger waiting for us in near future and that is why they made appearance.
They probably do not want the other side to have more influence over Armas, I doubt they can sever the links with opposing courts (even when our Finnish spiritual heart was eaten by Whaitiri, we still didn't lose the possibility to connect with Winter Court) or destroy each other.

At least that is what I think.
so I support either Winter or Summer .... going mortal is probably safe for now, but also boring.
>>
No. 305684 ID: 4aae12

Definitely Winter
>>
No. 305687 ID: 488adb

>>305668

Of course you're saying Lo Fang. Even your name is Triad.

Winter up in this bitch. Motherfucker be fierce.
>>
No. 305688 ID: 6914ed

Anything but the mortal option.

I'd say winter because i prefer winter to summer, but there is no telling which is better.

Depending on Lo Fang to save you without string attached is foolish.

Also, it is guaranteed to make him disappointed in us, what with needing to be saved.
>>
No. 305689 ID: 8594b3

wuts wich al dis humie talk? wes gunna smash and smash wich da best of um after wes makes us a deel wich da troll

then we finds us a choppa
>>
No. 305711 ID: f0e3ae

>>305677
it is possible that they refer to a third party... Maybe the donoongas is coming for you right now.
>>305647
3d100 @ DC95 pushes it from "possibly lethal" territory to "almost certainly lethal". thats a mere 0.0125% chance of success...
>I doubt they can sever the links with opposing courts
Waitiri almost did when it empowered armas... but if they are referring to a 3rd party, then if you roll well enough for empowerment...
>Depending on Lo Fang to save you without string attached is foolish.
You could always join the triads under lo fang... their goals are simple and human, money & power; Climb up the triad ranks, prove yourself and gain money and power. Sidhe on the other hand? who can fathom those crazies?
>>
No. 305713 ID: 6930ef

Mortal.

If that's not happening, vote changed to Summer, to counteract all these Winter votes.
>>
No. 305738 ID: 9afd0d

>>305713
> If that's not happening, vote changed to Summer, to counteract all these Winter votes.

For this you shall freeze for all eternity in the deepest bowels of nordic hell.

Winter it is.
>>
No. 305748 ID: 8b0de1

>>305711
>it is possible that they refer to a third party... Maybe the donoongas is coming for you right now.

We have dealt with Doonongeas quite neatly the last time, and the only thing we must do to avoid it is not to go near body of water.
I doubt they would bother to come out for it. No, whatever it is, it is far more dangerous than Doonongeas.

>You could always join the triads under lo fang... their goals are simple and human, money & power; Climb up the triad ranks, prove yourself and gain money and power.
I don't think it would work as you think. Chinese have some powerful blood-ties and sense of kinship, no matter how good we perform and loyal we be, we will never be a "part of the family", so to speak.
Besides, I am not planning Amras to pledge alliance to anyone soon.
>>
No. 305815 ID: f0e3ae

>>305748
Family ties can be forged via marriage... but yes, that is a good point.

Oh to heck with it, the supernatural is too damn awesome to deny. Winter it is. Choosing both is simply beyond you and you might as well choose one and just hope it does not burn out the power of your other half. If it is anything like waitiri then focus very hard on withstanding and controlling the power. Then ask fang to teach you some yin yang stuff to balance it.
>>
No. 305836 ID: 28e94e

Summer and Winter, simultaneously. Don't bother with Mortal.
>>
No. 305878 ID: ae0719

>>305748
We dealt with the Doonongaes 'quite neatly' last time? We tag-teamed him five on one, pulled a trump card he wasn't expecting (which we do not have bullets for at the moment), and then he casually bitchslapped us before fleeing. That bitchslap broke ALL OUR BONES.

Also, Istanbul is practically right on the water, both Bosphorus and the Marmara sea.
>>
No. 305881 ID: a76809

>>305624
[Not that close-I mean, hooray that you know about Hvergelmir, as it is a relevant device in-quest on a cosmic level.]
>>305638
[Closer. The fact you recognize the distinction between Ymir and Aurgelmir as two seperate entities is on the right path-but still not quite it.]

>>305651
>>305836
[Then you would have killed Armas. Good thing you are in the minority.]

>>305689
[yeh, and after you find da choppa, you GET TO THE CHOPPA!!]

>>305677
I grasp, in that tenuous, temporally unstable sliver of time, that from what I've experienced, what the two have said-there is an external threat coming, something they can see. It likely has something to do with the magic fire binding about me like a coffin, but that's pure guesswork. I mean, this could easily be a portent, on their part, of some future threat, not an imminent one, as manifested by why the fuck am I being bound in fire!?
>>305711
-Or hey, maybe they're speaking about that god-awful nightmare-fuel abomination the Doonongaes, and it coming back for revenge. I'm sure that's a more salient threat than the building pressure in my veins, in my every bone and fiber as pain grows and flames tighten-wait no no the pain-fire-tomb combo is worse what was I thinking!
-Okay, back in control, adrenaline really, reeeaaaally kicking in.... and I realize I have to make a choice.

>>305609
>>305619
>>305627
>>305645
>>305667
>>305668
>>305713
For an agonized moment, I hang there, suspended on a spike of building pain and heat, listening to the urging voices echoing in my head, one hot and sinuous, one cold and flat-thinking how much I want to damn it all, tell the supernatural deal-makers to fuck off and letting a fellow mortal handle the situation. Lo Fang has shown me nothing but evidence he is the poster boy of professionalism. If anyone can save me, he can-right?
It won't work-you see how fast the pain builds-there is not even time to tell you what comes, do you not grasp no mortal could do this? It would take a Conduit to accomplish what you propose-the very heart of your problem!
MORTAL FANG CANNOT SAVE YOU. SUMMER CANNOT SAVE YOU FROM A FLAME LIKE THIS. WINTER CAN. I CAN.

>>305612
>>305618
>>305624
>>305631
>>305684
>>305687
>>305688
>>305738
>>305815
I feel it, the mountanous weight of truth in the ice troll's words... thoughts-
DO NOT CALL ME ICE TROLL
Then what?
IF A NAME IS NEEDED, OGRIMIR WILL SERVE.
The pain keeps building, the heat keeps rising-and only now Lo Fang is moving into action, having watched and assessed for those agonized seconds till now-
No you don't know what he is don't!-
Ogrimir, I invoke you and Winter-

That's all it took.

I can feel the influence of the feminine fire fae, the scion of Summer tenaciously clinging to a patch of the nothing-ness within the surreal world I now seem destined to retreat to when the forces within me war. I can feel that blazing existence pit its everything on claiming just the space around it, nothing more.

Because that was all it could do in the face of Ogrimir.

The troll, the beast of ice colder than the void swells in my mind, a cold that shoves me past that of the grave in an instant races outward, clutching at everything-

My mind half-frozen by sheer metaphysical weight, just being witness to the forces at work, I dimly note the sweat on my body, the Taoist seals-everything touching me freezes solid before I can attempt to blink. As if sensing the chill that Lo Fang miraculously withdrew his hands from just in time, the twining blue and red flames constrict ever closer, heat, pressure, anxietyterrorexcitementenergypowerswiftlyrising-
THIS ONE WILL NOT BE BURNED OUT.
The Summer being within the abyss of my mind is nearly battered into pieces as that weight of cold so vast I see Lo Fang being physically pushed back by it's coming force triples.

The air around me snaps and pops, drying instantly as a tiny hail begins around me.
The flames themselves do not snuff out-some supernatural force sustaining them-but the color blue freezes out of the flames, leaving naught but red, the heat of Summer about me. I note frost forming on the seals all over the room as Lo Fang, already partly frozen, marches to the door as if nothing were amiss amidst a shower of artificial snow, his frozen suit beginning to break around him. He spares me a last look as he opens the door-what is it that hides in those lidded eyes-is it fear, suspicion, greed, malice, good will? I will never know, the Triad boss far too able a manipulator to be assessed so astutely by me. A good thing, knowing this beforehand, as I don't even consider his presence beyond idly noting it-so fully wrapped in what Ogrimir does.

The singularly red flames binding me burn brighter and brighter-my eyes, already shut, beginning to ache from the sheer intensity of light-but not a whit of heat touches me, not a thing in the room ignites, no matter how the coiling flames writhe. The grow, swelling and building, growing more calamitous and powerful by the instant-Ogrimir's implacable freeze warding it all. As the seconds tick by, the flames growing without pause, I note them beginning to slow, the outlines flashing through my shut lids showing their flames beginning to dim. My eyes are hesitantly opened to behold the microscopic hail generated from freezing the room's moisture has multiplied a hundredfold, and now swirls about the flames-and pushes them back. Where the ice storm advances, the flames retreat, as if fearing it's touch.
SPAWN OF SUMMER-CLAIM THIS FLAME SO THAT THIS MAY BE ENDED.
Why do you dwell here, Old one?
PERFORM THE SERVICE OR DON'T-MAKE YOUR CHOICE.
There is no response, not that I can perceive-but something begins to shift in the volcanic power Ogrimir holds at bay, the flames and light and heat now roiling to a different beat.
If power is offered, without need of a Bargain....
Slender arms of molten rock, steel and naked flame reach past me on either side of my head, reaching out of my mind to grasp the flames-

[DISCONTINUITY]

The flames are gone-or being made gone, it's hard to-
ARMAS.
But the pain is still there the pressure the need the-
ARMAS.
I... Ogrimir?
YOU INVOKED ME, ASKED MY AID, CALLED A NAME-AND SO I ANSWER
The darkness around me is absolute and utter, not a shred of light visible no matter where I look-

Save for right in front of me, where, before my floating form, towers a miles-high titan of ice so shockingly cold it freezes the darkness itself, making the gloom shatter and break away... wait, that doesn't make sen-
ARMAS. THRICE ARE YOU NAMED.
My eyes freeze in a pain so horrific and biting it scours away my every concern of what befell me-
THE NEVERNEVER'S HUNGER WILL NOT UNMAKE YOU.
Just like that the pressure the pain the urgency is gone, my eyes somehow functioning despite being frozen, despite the agony spreading outward as my body begins to freeze.
NOTHING WILL UNMAKE YOU.
My blood comes to a stop in my veins as my heart freezes over.
BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE.
It keeps getting colder and I-

[DISCONTINUITY]

My eyes snap open as the room's door is kicked off it's hinges, men in black clothes and heavy armor, assault rifles ready charge into the room, setting an initial perimeter, some few already lowering their guns-

As Lo Fang walks in behind them, look around before staring at me on the table.

>[LF]"...I am beginning to grow tired of re-evaluating you, Mr. Laine. Just how did you stop the Other side from manifesting a Gate in your flesh-and how did you do all of this?"

With a hand, Lo Fang gestures to the room around me, covered in several inches of crystal clear ice. As I begin to sit up, I realize I am the only thing NOT covered in ice.

...What the fuck?







What do I say or do?
>>
No. 305884 ID: d3dfb8

"Fucking ice giants man, fucking ice giants. Honestly, I have not the words to offer a better answer than that. Oh, and I'm sorry about your suit. If you'd like me to replace it I'd understand."
Think at Ogrimir 'We should go out for drinks some time. On me.'
>>
No. 305893 ID: e41ad5

Rub your head and mutter about the goddamn sidhe courts and your goddamn bloodline and your goddamn choices and goddamn huge ice monsters and fire bitches and good lord this day is just fucking crazy and do you have anyone that I can shoot becaus fuck that would feel AWESOME right now, shooting someone, nice, clean simple, none of this magic bullshit with goblins and guns and shit and huge talking fish and healing and motherfucking supernazis can we just get a simple assassination for once what is the world coming to.
>>
No. 305897 ID: 692cff

"Well dad froze it in place, and I'm pretty sure Mom ate it after that. I think anyway. They were having a bit of a spat at that point and like any smart child from a broken home I decided that'd be a good time to get some rest in case things turned ugly."
>>
No. 305902 ID: 7566ce

Wait,
what was the fan-art bonus?
or you didn't use it?
>>
No. 305941 ID: d429c4

Act confident, but not arrogant. Try to take control of the situation as much as possible.

"First, I must extend my most humble apologies for bringing my troubles to your door. If I had been aware that matters were so advanced, I would not have troubled you.

I trust that no harm has been done here. I are prepared to share the ice with you as a token of our mutual respect."
>>
No. 305951 ID: a76809
File 130608446542.jpg - (19.45KB , 450x300 , Lo Fangs Gunners.jpg )
305951

>>305902
[Did you see a Fanart Bonus, or see the post in question referenced? No? Then it didn't get used last post.]

>>305884
>>305893
"Goddamn Courts and their bullshit, goddamn-fucking ice giants man, fucking ice giants. Honestly, I have not the words to offer a better answer than that. ..Do you have anyone that I can shoot? Because that would feel AWESOME right now, nice and simple, none of this magic bullshit with gods and goblins and shit and huge talking fish and healing and motherfucking supernazis can we just get a simple assassination for once what is the world coming to."
Lo Fang quirks an eyebrow at me, letting the silence drag before finally speaking.
>[LF]"...Is that all you have to say?"
Finally starting to catch my breath from eight assault rifles being trained on me, I slow my speech back down and start regaining my composure-
"...Oh, and I'm sorry about your suit. If you'd like me to replace it I'd understand."
>[LF]"...I know you are not a practitioner-this is fact, in the here and now. What Bloodline would let you do this-while still emanating baseline Summer influences?"
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
I decide... to tell the truth.
"Do you honestly think I actually know what happened?"
>[LF]"You implied you did, and I desire answers."
"I only know a small facet of what happened-I don't even know what that energy was, that gate?"
>[LF]"...This is not a segway, so follow along: You are familiar with the concept of spontaneous combustion?"
"..Yes?"
>[LF]"The vast majority of cases are due to the Other side. As it and beings within it try to reach the mortal plane, they reach out to anything that can act as anchor. While some beings from the Other side can directly possess individuals without immediate issue, the Other side itself cannot. So when is it not an individual, but... a multidimensional living world, no mortal can take it. They are destroyed as a Gate to the Other side is opened in their flesh."
"What causes it?"
>[LF]"As far as it is understood, pure happenstance. Thankfully it is rare enough one should not realistically worry about it."
"Yet here I am."
>[LF]"Here you are-now more aware what assaulted you-and what was negated. Now, I believe I may have been able to accomplish this, when the four disciples I called had arrived-but that is only a possibility, not a certainty. What is it you have that could match that as a purely internal force, while being assaulted by the Gate? Tell me your secrets, Mr. Laine."
"Hey, a man's entitled to-"
Eight guns have fingers slip back onto triggers at a signal from Fang-
Shattered ice showers my naked back as two suppressed rifles spit out bullets to either side of my head.
>[LF]"This is not the time for games, Mr. Laine. You will tell me what I need to know."
...Right, imminent bullet to face versus not being able to stay snarky...
"I got some kinda Ice-man, giant, whatever in my head-don't know where I got it, don't know when I got it, but I'm pretty sure it's Norse-I don't think I know it's Name, either, from how it phrased giving me the title I currently use."
>[LF]"What title?"
"Before I answer that-"
>[LF]"You are on tenuous footing, Mr. Laine."
"Look, I get you have to understand what's going on here, and I will comply with that, but let's be clear that if you are planning to keep questioning me beyond that, looking for more secrets or what have you-then just shoot me now."
>[LF]"The title, Mr. Laine?"
"Ogrimir."
>[LF]"Norse... it has the sound. How did it save you from the Gate? Where did the energy go?"
"I don't know."
>[LF]"You were the only one in a magically warded room, Mr. Laine. There is no one but you who could see. So think. Think hard."
"If I wasn't sure if I remembered or knew or not, I wouldn't of said 'I don't know.' I. Don't. Know."
>[LF]"I find you alert and responsive, fully uninjured when I enter-if clear of mind, how could you not at least have an idea?"
"When Ogrimir did... whatever it did, it got so cold I couldn't think-"
>[LF]"Explain."
"I.. I don't know, it kept getting colder and colder and it was like I just... stopped thinking, like my thoughts were frozen-I got blank spots in my memory thanks to all this, so really-can't answer your question."
>[LF]"...Interesting."

Another wave of his hand, and the eight shooters step uniformly to either side of the entrance, Lo Fang alone occupying some of the entry space.
>[LF]"Then I shall not dissuade you from thinking us professional, Mr. Laine-I believe the truth of what you said, and see there is nothing more I can get from you. You are free to go."

Again, those dead, flat eyes, filled with an age and confidence far beyond the apparent youth of the Triad Boss, and while I note all eight body-armored and masked gunman have their barrels pointing earthwards, all still seem tense and ready. I dimly note I'm not even shivering, sitting naked on a frozen table in a room so frigid I see breath frosting in the air.





What should I say or do?
If I leave, where should I go, what should I do with what's left of the day?
What about tomorrow or the day after?
>>
No. 305956 ID: d429c4

>>305941
Trying this again.

Go on to say. "A word of caution. When you make use of the ice. The scant memories I have of its likely creator would suggest that he doesn't like to share."

And finally, with a grim smile. "I thank you for your forbearance. A lesser man may have felt compelled to take rash steps in the face of the unknown. I look forward to future business.
>>
No. 305957 ID: c173fb

>>305951
Well, get dressed for one. Apologize again, and ask how much we owe him for the healing. Also, what day is it and/or what time is it, in case we missed our date. And, before we leave, ask if he knows anyone we can talk to about this...this weirdness. We are so in over our heads it's not even funny.

After that, go home and sit down. Relax, study our folk lore books, try to find out WHAT JUST HAPPENED. Tomorrow, check to see how hungry/healed we are and then just go and whale on your friends at the Gym. Day after, call Arkvad Söderström - secure location - and ask if he has a single fuck of an idea about what happened. Also, look into the Emniyet İstihbarat Daire. Pretty sure they're the Turkish FBI, but just make sure.
>>
No. 305959 ID: 6914ed

As for a silly guess for Ogrimmir's name: Loki.

It's probably not him, but when it comes to a being of enormous power that wield ice but still could accept fire he is a necessary first guess.
>>
No. 305961 ID: 8b0de1

Apologize for the outburst earlier citing that
weird shit has been piling on you since Casttelletis job (Elf, Doonongeas, waitiri, goblin), each weirder than the last. Too much for shit in such short time.

then do these
>>305503
>>305544
>>305555
>>305569
[just reciting the suggestion before this shit happened]

No need to take any more jobs. We have loads of cash, loads of studying and improvement to do.
Still need to heal up (I think)
And a date.
>>
No. 305973 ID: c6ce12

>>305951
At some point you're going to want to try and pay that demonologist for the blood. So when you wake up tomorrow write the check and deal with that whole situation.
>>
No. 305986 ID: ae0719

>>305957
Man, don't apologize.

Yes, we accidentally brought this Gate stuff into his domain, but Fang just forced what few answers we have out of us at gunpoint.

Reckon that makes us even. And I don't really want to appear weak and apologetic in front of this man.

Also: still grasping at Ogrimir's name. My next guess is Nidhogg Nagar. Typically described as a dragon eating the World Tree rather than anything like a jotun, but in the Vafthrúdnismál its poison dripping into the Elivagar from its home in the Hvergelmir in the heart of Niflheim was what formed Aurgelmir. It certainly sounds like the original creature of winter which feasts upon the world.

It's a stretch, I guess. I'll see if I can find some sources on the Fimbulwinter.
>>
No. 306041 ID: c173fb

This might be a stretch and a half, but Grímnir is mentioned as a giant in the Nafnaþulur but also used by Odin in Grímnismál as a disguise.

We may have just been protected by the All Father himself.
>>
No. 306148 ID: a76809

>>305956
>>305957
I note my clothes folded in the corner likewise encased in ice and unreachable. ...So much for getting dressed in a dignified manner. Well, hell if I'll let that mess me up here-

"A word of caution: Should you try to use this ice, be aware the scant memories I have suggest Ogrimir does not like to share."
I begin to smile.
"I thank you for the forbearance, a le-"
>[LF]"Perhaps I was not clear: your presence now is actively detracting from our profit margin, with each extra minute I have to wonder if things will freeze around you again. The room you encased in ice cost several hundred thousand dollars to ward so meticulously-and this ice seems to be forcing such to decay. I would prefer to not kill you out of hand for situational aggravation, so I will make it as cut and dry as I can: Get. Out."
Lo Fang, the man always happy to mince words, dance around topics and in general shoot the breeze with me, the man with the old voice and the young face looks at me with eyes as cold as Ogrimir's handiwork-and I begin to re-assess the Triad boss. More importantly-

I exit that room, and naked or not, I waste no time in vacating the warehouse proper, certain a charge of public indecency won't matter much stacked against bullet wounds.
>>305628
[FANART BONUS]
It is during this quiet, furtive walk, with my bare feet silently padding through pools of shadow as I dodge lamplight, chill night air dimpling my flesh-that I once more see the world around me begin to fade, as voices cold and hot fill my mind.
...We must converse.
And at this, I find myself stopping, naked or not, cold or not, fists on my hips as I try my damnedest to scowl at the inside of my own head. So, after TWO separate times crazy shit's happened, NOW you want to talk. Exactly what prevented this from occuring earlier?
Many things-my own inclination among them. But as things stand now, I am required to speak with you-due to what the Winter representative did.
What, the saving my life through beyond-the-physical levels of cold?
No, as tantalizing a prize as your soul could be for either court, your life is not what I must converse about.
Aggravating-but also intriguing. What is it you are so driven to speak on?
The Conduit that attempted to open in you-
The magic stuff that made ripples, dustdevils then wrapped me in fire?
..Yes, the surge of energy from the Nevernever is what I speak of. The one you call Ogrimir... unbalanced the scales. The power of an opening Conduit was warped, made palatable for an individual Court member... and consumed.
By you.
Had I attempted to refuse what was offered, Winter's scion could have used my refusal to heavily unbalance the Courts. However, accepting the offer still creates such an issue.
...Instead of being weakened, you were strengthened.
Yes.
And... that's a problem?
The courts must be balanced.
...But you and Winter both are trying to sway me towards your respective sides.
The scale can be freely tipped by mortal hands and mortal choice.
...But not by [i]your
choice, is that what you are saying?
That is the greatest treasure your kind possesses-free will, the right to choose. What I did upset the balance-and it was not wrought by Mortal hands.
...So, what does that mean?
IT MEANS WE MUST LEAVE YOU-MAHUIKA'S DISCIPLE MUST NOW FIND HER NEW ROLE IN THE COURT OF SUMMER, AND I MUST LEAVE LEST A NEWER, MORE EXPERIENCED SUMMER REPRESENTATIVE COMES TO FILL HER PLACE.
We have discussed it-an Accords has been reached, that neither side shall move till this... situation is resolved.
So what-you're both agreeing to be 'hands off' with my soul and personal freedom-until both of you are ready for round two?
DOES THIS SURPRISE YOU?
No-I just wish someone would tell me why I have you all in my mind.
THOSE POSSESSED OF BLOOD MOST ANCIENT CAN PLAY HOST TO AN ASSORTMENT OF POWERS OR ENTITIES.
...I can feel Titania's pull-I needs must report on what transpired.
So... this will be just my head again?
FOR A TIME.
...And why is it I can't just say 'no, you can't come back?'
PERHAPS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF THAT.

I try to think back something snarky-but reality slams back into me full force, and I feel that now almost alien emptiness of not having other voices stuck in my head. ...Well, that was something. Almost enough of something to make me forget I basically streaking my way home in the middle of the night-and I'm not there yet. It takes another hour of discrete dashes and weaving, but I make my way home without being arrested. I shower, continue to enjoy the lack of supernatural voices in my head-

And get some sleep.

>>305961
>>305973
Tuesday morning-
And I'm not hungry-any moreso than I would be on a normal morning. My injuries seem to finally be dealt with-a good thing indeed.
I hit the ground running by snapping off a check for Johan to cover the demon blood now residing in my minifridge, before I start making some calls and doing some checking. Three hours later I find myself no more informed than when I started-every book on Finnish lore, every entry on Norse mythology I could find searching the internet, even calling Arkvad-not a single clue as to just what Ogrimir is, or what legends he is from. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I switch trains of thought and instead think about barter. I remember people telling me before moving to Turkey about how haggle-oriented the market is here. I remember them shoving instructional manuals on me, general rules and principles to always remember when trading-and I remember the books being utterly useless. I learn by doing, not by reading. Still, I run through a few ideas, methods of referencing past trade, implying I must leave to force a sale to close sooner-it's not much, not nearly enough, but it's a start.

I spend the last half of the day at Constanz' gym-and after noting not a one of the group of five I'm now used to present, I go through a six-hour routine on my own, methodically repeating each and every Krav Maga move I know a hundred times minimum, paying as much attention to form and flow as I can. While I think the time to reforge my understanding of the style was certainly useful, I can't shake the feeling my mind is not in the zone, and that I could have performed better. I drink alone for an hour afterwords, trying to clear my mind to no avail, before I retire for the evening.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,113,079.13]




Wednesday morning arrives.
What am I supposed to do today?
>>
No. 306149 ID: b5ebec

Might want to check around on Google Maps or something for an out-of-the-way, open space you could set up as a temporary outdoor shooting range that's unlikely to be within even hearing distance of passersby. I doubt autofire would be appreciated by the local authorities and you don't want to take the thing to Gun World where it'll make everyone notice you. Find somewhere like that and make a note of it, you need to practice with the GatMalite so it doesn't surprise you in the middle of actual combat.

Also check the local papers, classifieds and advertisements, for cars, see what's on the market that's used but not too beat up or uncommon. Generic and reliable is the point on this one, with an anti-theft system preferably, and extra cargo space is a plus if it doesn't make the vehicle's profile too bulky.

...And don't forget your damn date, go buy a set of decent clothes for the occasion or something.
>>
No. 306168 ID: ae0719

>>306149
Might not want to waste those fancy depleted uranium shells on practice, although it'd be good to get used to it. What's the ammo on the underslung grenade launcher, and can we pick up ammo for it on the black market if we need it?

Take this opportunity to cover our asses. See about the freestyle prizefights (illegal or not) the city holds; maybe try the Combat Sambo instructor we've met a few times since our buds are out, or check out other gyms in the area. Fun fact: the freestyle wrestling 2011 World Championships are being held in Istanbul, if Brandt was going to be in any tourney, it'd be that one. There's also the official Turkish MMA-BJJ team Equipe Corvos does private lessons and competitions at the Corvos Academy gym in Kavacik, Istanbul.

It would be interesting to see how we measure up against a (sport) pro. Burak Deger Bicer (protege of a 2-time World Champion, and credited with bringing Brazilian Jiujitsu to Turkey) and Ertan Balaban (five state championships and several tournament wins in various disciplines, and I believe he's 6-1-0 in the WFC) are skilled in, variously, Muay Thai, Brazilian Juijitsu, Kickboxing, Karate, and MMA.

Also check in with Uncle Arkvad, see how he feels about putting us on the books as an independent contractor so you can impress a girl when our date inevitably starts digging. We did ourselves no favors by telling her we're ex-military but refused to tell her our job.
>>
No. 306172 ID: 234c26

>>306148
>What am I supposed to do today?
You have a date. Do what checking up on her you can- find out what the Emniyet İstihbarat Daire is, and see if a bit of internet stalking turns up anyone named Adelat working there. Without a lot of experience working with computers I wouldn't expect to find anything, but she might be careless- or notable for some reason. Almost anyone working on the legal side of things is vulnerable to having their name in a newspaper at some point, even if they try to stay mostly offline.
>>
No. 306232 ID: 8b0de1

I was thinking that Armas gets himself a workshop, outfitted with all variety equipment for working metals and wood to craft, modify and repair weapons and armor.

Sooner or later he will have to make his own guns and enchant equipment.

So he should start looking into this.
>>
No. 306260 ID: d429c4

>>306148
Stop wasting your time with the Krav Maga. Against the supernatural opponents you facing, conditioning yourself with those reflexes is an active liability thanks to their superior strength, toughness, and inhuman anatomy. It's also not really suitable for use when wearing armour.

Instead, go back to the Jukendo dojo you discovered, and start working on that. Unlike your bare hands, using Keihas with the elven sabre attached as a sword bayonet is actually viable. It substantially increases your reach, so that monsters simply can't tear you apart in a grapple, the sword is supernaturally sharp, and the stock... well, we all know what the stock can do. It's also designed to be used when wearing armour.

Later on, you should investigate whether the teacher at the dojo knows some jukenjitsu, for the more lethal variants, but for now, simply knowing how to properly use your rifle as a glaive would be a substantial advantage.

On other guns, you should look into whether you have any contacts who can find you something like a HEAP MATADOR. When the Doonegeas comes back, you want something that will properly mess it up.

+1 vote for setting up a workshop. Don't set it up at home. Rent a lock-up with cash for this.
>>
No. 306261 ID: 8b0de1

>>306260
I agree with training up to use Elven bayonet more effectively
>>
No. 306263 ID: 727854

I agree with above, with the caveat that you should still try to stay in contact with the guy who knows a 'magical' martial art.

Possibly try to invite him or something.
>>
No. 306265 ID: f0e3ae

Call H&H gun store, ask about methods of identifying magic. If they have a method, use some of the blood you bought (under the pretense of experimenting with enchantment) to soak into a wooden stock of a non magical gun. Don't overdo it though, don't want it to rot.

Ask H&H if your bayoneting of the elf sword could be improved, or if the gun itself could (remember, the magic is in the wooden stock, so that means that the metal parts should be improvable).

Call your friend who sold you the armor. Ask him:
1. About repairs to the damage, cite "Honest to god nazi super soldier" as cause of damage.
2. Ask him to share info about the supernatural in general... he is in the know, is a friend, and you could share knowledge with each other.

After the date, consider that you still need to get back the gun stock that was stolen from you, as well as travel to reconnect with waitiri.
>>
No. 306268 ID: 727854

>>306265
Do that call from a secure location
>>
No. 306321 ID: ed9087

>>306265
I think we'll need a new phone before we can make calls again, our old one got left behind with our clothes.
>>
No. 306374 ID: a76809

>>306149
My morning is spent perusing websites and doing legwork. I have several automatic weapons, none of them registered, and I'd like a place I could discreetly set up a firing range. Wherever I end up going, by dint of the sound of automatic gunfire being workable, I should be able to eventually set up for handloading and potentially some machining. With the goal of a well-guarded, sound-warded and out of the way storage space my target, I set to work. After twelve calls from my land line (cell phone frozen along with my clothes), six emails and seven bus transfers, I step off Aynali Kavak road as I survey what might end up being my home away from home.

...The Mosque and the school this close to the dockyards the storage is at bothers me some, but I have to duck by two noisy warehouses before getting to the walled enclosure-and I like what I see. Tall, sound-breaking walls, framed by noisy shipping warehouses on three sides and the fourth filled with stacked freight containers, marking the beginning of the storage area, a rejection and division from the tumultuous and noisy dock it inhabits. I find that there is but one break in the wall-a watched metal gate with no visible gaps in the camera coverage. As I approach a voice blares from an intercom... a familiar voice.

>[???]"Who are you?"
"Sent an email, made some calls a few hours ago-I was interested in renting one of these storage units."
>[???]"Well that's too bad because they're all full."
Where do I know that voice from?
"Really? The website said you still had slots-and, in point of fact, when I called in I was told there were some available."
>[???]"Maybe I just don't like your mug then-now scram."
....Now I know where that voice comes from.
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"...Now now, after you were so cooperative when speaking with the confessor, it would be a shame for you to act this way now."
I give the unseen mafia goon, the very same I plied into backing me when I turned the mafia against Castelletti, some time to consider just what I said. It doesn't take him long. The gates open, and ten seconds after walking through a balding, florid man runs out to meet me, his face visibly blanched. I decide to keep the momentum rolling and speak first.
"Good reasoning. Now, as a follow-up evaluation: Given I am here to procure a space for discreet storage, how do you suppose this should be handled from here?"
>[Mafia Goon]"...I... think that there will be a space ready for you-free of charge?"
"You ask that as a question-do you think it insufficient?"
>[Mafia Goon]"No, I mean-ah, I was wondering, what do I put down for name..."
"You know, we've spoken twice now, and I still have not given you my name, nor asked you yours. What conclusion do you think you can draw from that?"
>[Mafia Goon]"..Right. Okay, as far as the books are concerned, unit twenty seven has a broken door, and we're booked for getting it repaired-or it'll be in my name, or just not on the roster-I'll figure it out."
I look at the horrifically nervous man, somewhere in his forties, watching me like a cornered rat. He genuinely believes me some high-ranking member of the mafia's inner circle, and would bend over backward to help me-what's more, since he has no name he can't check on me... this man could become a source of information if used right-but, to make sure this locker will work...

"I have some questions related to the storage unit, to determine what I set up in it."
>[Mafia Goon]"..Yeah?"
"Say I fired a high-caliber, unsuppressed gun inside the storage unit-how much would be audible beyond the walls?"
>[Mafia Goon]"Short of someone leaning up against the walls, nothing. The docks drown out whatever all the walls, unit-specific and general, don't block. ...Also, each unit is ten feet wide by forty feet long, so-"
"I am aware of the size restrictions of the units."
>[Mafia Goon]"Right."
"Next question: Who uses the other units?"
The goon begins to look even more excessively uncomfortable, something I had until a moment ago thought impossible.
>[Mafia Goon]"You know I can't tell you that."
"You seem to be misinterpreting me-I don't want names, I want to know if this is storage exclusively for Family and friends, or if the general public uses it as well."
>[Mafia Goon]"...Aha. Family only."
"I see. ...The key?"
The man fumbles at a heavy set on his side, and moves at first to hand me just on key, but at my quirked eyebrow hands me a second.
>[Mafia Goon]"Okay, there you go, both keys to unit twenty seven. Short of a bolt cutter or a lock pick, no one but you is getting in there."
"Thank you-I will be back later, not necessarily today, to drop off some things."
>[Mafia Goon]"I'll add your face to the list of instant-access people."
"Until later."

I barely make it around the corner before the facade cracks. ...I need to stop flying by the seat of my pants like that, sure it's been working so far but just making up things as I go along? It's going to bite me in the ass one day....

I distract myself from such morbid thoughts by checking the classifieds on the bus trip back home-before making a call on my return, looking at a used car add. It takes some time, as the seller doesn't speak English and has to get their neighbor to help, but shortly enough I have a verbal agreement to buy his '94 GMC Vandura with fifty thousand miles on it for $4,000. That, and getting his name (Jaego) is as far as I get, as he has a late shift to prepare for. Still... a highly everyday van that could be easily armor plated and can hold a great deal would be useful indeed... would likely take a massive amount of modding to make it genuinely worthwhile, but it's a start.
>>306168
Next I finally do something about all the adds I've seen for Corvos Academy, and call them. When I can't provide them with the names of any tournaments I've won, or even participated in, and a month's worth of time going to a gym, they scoff at my interest-but when I mention I'm going to Constanz' Crash Course, I am told that if I can get a recommendation from the owner, then they would bring me in for an evaluation. What with how impressive all the stuff I've seen about the academy is, and how impressive the Equipe Corvos team's history is, I decide this is a worthwhile goal.

With my potential path to enrollment at the Corvos Academy now known, I turn my attention to yet another call-this time to Arkvad.
"Before you say anything I am calling from my home and there's no one who can overhear."
>[AS]"How quaint, actually adhering to my requests-that means you want something?"
"Does it have to be about me wanting something everytime I call?"
>[AS]"No it doesn't"
"Can't I just call to say hi to a family friend?"
>[AS]"It's entirely within the realm of possibility-so why don't you tell me why you did call, then?"
"Well, you may have noticed I have something of a tendency-in recent months particularly-to attract... non-normal attention."
>[AS]"A mild way to put it."
"Well, I was thinking, since Holland and Holland does deal in magical weaponry, maybe I could go on the books as a contractor for you-do part time work collecting antiques or relics, that sort of thing."
>[AS]"...Okay few things. One, do you know anything about how to haggle? By the way, the answer is no, you've traded with me before remember? You still approach sales like an American, thinking it impersonal. Two, there is an excessively rigorous vetting process for potential contractors of that nature-and three, it seems you are calling in to ask for a job, which means you DID call in because you want something."
"...So, how's that meeting with the others going, in terms of getting it set up?"
>[AS]"...I can put your name on the list of those that will be called in and assessed, that's it. Up to you whether you pass or fail. And with that heavy-handed bit of convivial arm-twisting done with-"
Arkvad hangs up.

I look at the clock-it's getting close. I shit, shampoo shower and shave (the four S's, always stood by them), throw on some clothes and head out to the Pitstop-where I find Adelat waiting in a much more girlish sun dress than I would have pegged her for wearing. The date itself isn't all that noteworthy-I'm not as suave as I could be, too focused on watching for probing questions-and Adelat seems only too happy to complain about her boss. I try to ply her focus into more information about her work at the Emniyet İstihbarat Daire, but she is distressingly accomplished at off-handedly diverting my questioning. Ultimately she spends a great deal of time laughing, and I end up wondering if I was the only one faking my enthusiasm. She didn't ask a single question about guns, or in any way follow up on her questioning earlier-but that doesn't mean she isn't still watching me.

>>306172
When I get back home I use what little information I gleaned in conjunction with her name to try and look up Adelat-the organization she works for is looking more and more like the Turkish FBI, and that is not putting me in my happy place. ..Just one search result that seems related-a commendation for infiltrating a German extremist cell, which lead to their eventual arrest and capture? Great, someone who is skilled at deceiving others-yeah, this is going to be fun-

Especially since we swapped numbers after the meal.

Exhausted and mind whirling, I go to sleep without much preamble in the slightest.

>>306260
>>306261
>>306263
Today I go for something different. After spending the morning becoming the ambivalent new owner of a used GMC Vandura-

[FUNDS:----- US$000,109,080.02]

-and making my first trip the one where I relocate every one of my firearms save Keihäs, all my non-7.62x54R ammunition and every piece of body armor to the newly acquired storage unit, I drive over to the Jukendo school I found. The building is small and ramshackle, out of the way and somewhat dirty-the old japanese man that greets me at the door shows me in to an empty yet meticulously clean training room. He tosses me a weighted staff, made to emulate the sizing and proportions of a rifle, and asks me to show him what I know.

[I need some things here: I need five separate 1d500 rolls , and if anyone has thoughts on what should be noted about adapting Maori Taiaha Stick fight-based rifleplay to Jukendo, make note of them to gain a bonus.]
[I also need to know what you want Armas to do Friday and on the weekend.
>>
No. 306375 ID: b5ebec

rolled 248 = 248

Rrrrrrollin'. Hey RNG, don't be an ass and there's vodka in it for you.
>>
No. 306381 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 398 = 398

Can't spell trollin' without rollin'
>>
No. 306392 ID: ae0719

rolled 380 = 380

Taiahan stick fighting and Jukendo are both alike and different, seems like. Taiaha are longer, around 6' to the bayonet's 4-5'. The usual stance for both is pretty similar, weapon held in front forward and pointed somewhat up. But when the taiha attacks it's with a similar stabbing or short slashing motion as the bayonet, it's more often used as a defensive fending weapon to knock attacks out of alignment with the ate until the enemy overextends and then stabbing with the arero.

Jukendo is more of a piercing weapon; a little lighter, less good for blocking. Watch out for the kendo quickstep lunge and then stab, stab and stab again with the occasional feint thrown in, that's what I assume the sensei is going to hit you with.
>>
No. 306408 ID: d429c4

rolled 363 = 363

>>306392
Note that Jukendo is designed to be used with sword bayonets, not spear bayonets. Fortunately, we have a sword bayonet.

Spear bayonets are used as the name suggests, as piercing weapons, where as Jukendo also incorporates some exercises designed to use the the cutting edge, and the butt of the rifle.

This is not too dissimilar to the design of the Taiaha, which also has a pointed tip, the arero , analogous to the bayonet, and a broader base, the ate, analogous to the stock.
>>
No. 306409 ID: 727854

rolling
>>
No. 306411 ID: 727854

rolled 456 = 456

trying to make the roll function please?
>>
No. 306438 ID: 692cff

rolled 468 = 468

Rollin.
>>
No. 306490 ID: a76809

>>306375
[PHASE ONE PERFORMANCE: 49.6%]
I thankfully am given some time to demonstrate what I know first-and so-
>[TAIAHAN RIFLEPLAY used.]
I show the adapted Maori fighting style I use when bayonet fighting-I've never been good at doing forms, since I'm so used to having live opponents or at least destructible dummies, but the old man, now introducing himself as Ito Sensei, does not seem disapproving. ...And that's about all I can say-he doesn't look happy, it's just he doesn't specifically look un-happy. Not the best footing to start on, but the old man steps up with a practice staff of his own, so I hope to really show him what I can do.
>>306381
[PHASE TWO PERFORMANCE: 79.6%]
Unfortunately for me, I don't account for Ito's underestimation-or his weight. When he calls to begin, I ply my size and power, throwing a massive lunging thrust straight into his sternum. The padded end comes faster and with more power than he expects, can't block or deflect it-and takes the hit squarely in the chest. The older man half my size is thrown off his feet and airborne, and for a moment I wonder for his safety-
>>306392
[PHASE THREE PERFORMANCE: 76%]
And completely disregard it as he throws a stab at me in mid-air to correct his body-position, land feet first and step in fast as a ghost, already throwing more stabs at me, sharp and precise. He withdraws for just a moment after I deflect his third shot with the 'rifle's' butt, and I dive back in with a heavy slash, predicting him evasive when actually ready. I am not disappointed. He darts to the side with deceptively minimal movements-but he still hasn't fully adjusted for how much longer my arms and upper body are-and how far it extends my range. I clip him with the padded tip, throwing off his balance-
>>306408
[PHASE FOUR PERFORMANCE: 72.6%]
My lunging strike throws off the slash Ito throws my way, turning his pirouette into a forceful strike-hard enough that it throws me off, and neither of us strike. Feeling that with him now more used to how much power I put behind attacks, he'll finally have decided on the best approach to my reach-

>[AMBUSH EXPERT used.]
I dart back just in time to stop his abrupt charge from putting him inside my reach and his staff in my gut, lunging to the side inches ahead of his following pair of thrusts-coming to my feet on the heels of the third to strike, looking for that back-step to temper his assault. While I find it, he again deflects my thrust-and when I follow it with a heavy slash, he redirects it as well. I use a vigorous wall of attacks to prevent him from gaining momentum-and the strikes start getting closer. Is he running out of steam pushing all these weighty hits aside?

Could be time to end this-
>>306411
[FINAL PHASE PERFORMANCE: 91.2%]
[Bonus for Jukendo semi-analysis.]
[Bonus for Taiahan Rifleplay]
[Bonus for Ambush Expert]
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated
...But if I was a teacher, I wouldn't fight all out from the get go-so even if I underestimated someone I could surge back and-

Just barely in time does my staff come up to shunt aside a strike that comes like lightning, my eyes and hands alike nearly falling behind on the second strike, starting to feel numb from the ringing sharpness by the thirds strike-

And too slow on the fourth strike, where Ito stops his staff an inch from my throat.

"So... how did I do?"
>[Ito]"...You lucky, tried teaching in United Kingdom, learned some English. Learned Turkish coming here."
"That is lucky for me-and I can't help but note that as I hoped, you beat me. Can you teach me Jukendo?"
>[Ito]"No."
"No?"
>[Ito]"You a killer."
"I was in the military for half a decade, so yes."
>[Ito]"Not what I meant. Not teach Jukendo-too soft. Teach you old way, from War-Jukenjitsu."
"Great, sounds like it's not a problem."
>[Ito]"Problem for you though."
"That being?"
>[Ito]"I am only instructor of this in Istanbul-or within four hundred miles. But last student left two months ago-no interest in the art, not here. I shut down dojo soon... too soon to train you for more than a week."
"I believe you are going to tell me this impacts class prices."
>[Ito]"Until have more students again, would need to charge... two thousand four hundred lira per month."

...That's around fifteen hundred US per month.




[HAGGLING TIME]
What does Armas say, how does he try to lower the price, or bring in other commodities to substitute for personal payment? You want Armas to learn how to Haggle? Teach him.
>>
No. 306491 ID: b5ebec

Only instructor, eh? That can be exploited, especially if we're the only prospective student, moreso if he's getting all of his cash flow from teaching. Also would mean quicker process since without extra bodies around to spread his attention over, you'll be the exclusive focus of lessons.

As for hagging, hrm.
Skill unused is like water in an open well. Left untouched for too long, it goes stagnant and fouls itself. But if one steadily draws out of the well from which skill flows, it remains clear to the eye and fresh in the mind, fit to serve the purpose it is meant for. And unlike water, skill does not diminish with use, but increases all the more for the practice.

Also, you could offer to teach him some of the LINE you know in exchange, an instructor too proud to learn something new isn't fit to teach.
>>
No. 306494 ID: c6ce12

>>306490
Other commodities? Well the most valuable commodity for a teacher is students. It may reduce the quality of our own training just a bit, but it is a major bargaining chip for us. His dojo is failing, his profession, the one it seems like he's dedicated his life to, is about to reach it's end. So offering him students, the lifeblood of his work, instead of just money to bide time with is a rather powerful offering and puts us in an even better position of power to argue from. Getting students should be simple enough, we've got some friends we could ask and if not them then we can find other opportunities by entering in regular Jukendo competitions. Our skill is already considerable enough that we should be able to win a couple within the next few months, get some people from other dojos to jump ship once they see us. If worse comes to worse then we'll hoof it around and put up fliers or something. For every new student we bring him he cuts down our tuition.
>>
No. 306495 ID: 8b0de1

Okay, 1500$/mounth doesn't sound that bad actually.
You will be the only student, meaning that you will gain much more per training and that you could easily set your own schedule. Also, this man seems to know his stuff.. even an ancient fighting style which is not being taught these days. It is also very possible he is aware of supernatural and later can teach you a "magic" fighting style, or at least knows someone who can. After training with him for a while you could try to find out about his knowledge of the "other".
So this is worth it.

Of course you will not let him know that

Here are some angles you can work with:
First of all: War-Jukenjitsu. How often do you think that the old man gets a chance to train this older, deadlier and probably much more harsher art? These days not many people are worth it and even less willing to spent time and effort learning such a hard style. So I would think that for the old man, the fact that he can pass over this style is a treat on itself.
The fact that he even chooses to teach you, shows how impressed he was with you [yay for good rolls], he would never admit it, being an old traditional man and such, but I think it is clear that he would like a promising student. I think people like him don't see that much value in money save for basic necessities.

Give him the promise of increasing the prestige of his dojo, that we will join tournaments and the better he teaches us the more chance that we will win them and make his school more popular and he will have more students.
Of course we will try to give our best.

The fact that he could not ever need that much money. There is no way he pays a lot for this ramshackle hut and I doubt he spends money on luxuries and recreational stuff.

The fact that he will not have to move and start over again, there is nothing guaranteeing him that at new place he will suddenly find bunch of students. By taking us (for lower price), he gets a chance at staying here longer meaning that the possibility of gaining more students increases.

Promise to pay in advance for, I dunno, 3 months or something.

Umm, what else?
Well, having us as the only student will give him a lot of free time, even if we push ourself to limit and try to squeeze out the maximum of this training.

shit, maybe he is a connoisseur of fine supernatural meat and we could promise to give him a pound or two of the stuff each month (.. of course, we will have to steer the conversation in such a way that we find out if he know anything of such or not)
>>
No. 306505 ID: ae0719

>>306491
While Armas understands the cost of living in Istanbul can be expensive, and the rarity of the skill Ito-sensei offers is fairly incredible, it would be terribly unfortunate for both of them if Armas couldn't afford his prices. Surely they might come to some more equitable agreement that they can both afford?

Also point out that of course once Armas begins to demonstrate the increased level of skill and grace as Ito's training seems likely to give him, naturally this will create more demand. Jukenjitsu is an unusual martial art, outside of certain militaries, but Armas attends several high-level gyms (name drop, maybe), has a fair number of ex-military friends and acquaintances, and hopes to join H&H as a independent contractor; all good places to find prospective students. Armas will be happy to point these prospective students back to Ito; angle for either a general decrease in price, or a 'finders fee' (i.e.: knock the price down each month Armas brings in a new student).

>>306495
The possibility of him knowing of magic wouldn't surprise me. Japan's shinto has a saying about the '8 million gods'. Youkai and yuurei, spirits and shrines and gods of the land are thick on the ground over there.
>>
No. 306511 ID: c6ce12

>>306494
Just to clarify I mean regular Jukendo competitions, not War-Jukenjitsu competitions. I took what he said about the rarity to mean that he is the only instructor of War-Jukenjitsu within several hundred miles, not that he is the only Jukendo instructor within several hundred miles. If t he normal brand of Jukendo is similarly as rare then I suppose we could seek competitions that are not specifically for it. There might be some general martial weapons competitions around, underground if we really need to.
>>
No. 306516 ID: f0e3ae

push too hard and he might be insulted... plus he is sure to have expenses and a mutually beneficial long term relationship cannot stand on misdirection.
Note that he is actually shutting down the dojo and leaving... you have to offer him enough to stay. 1,500$/mo is surprisingly low considering the local living expenses (we know how much armas pays for rent). And note that he already said "until I have other students again"... meaning that if you DO score more students he would be amiable to paying less. in fact if he IS capable of teaching you magic then playing hardball with him like that might not endear him to you... getting him a dojo full of students will.

Yes, armas needs haggling practice... which he could go out and get.
I say, if you must haggle, then haggle for discount upon getting more students; even that might not necessarily be the ideal way to go about it with a person you wish to be your teacher. You can also try to verbally probe him to see if he knows anything about magic to help make a decision on how to approach him.
>>
No. 306518 ID: 692cff

>>306505
If we're going to negotiate how much the price lowers based on other students, stick with the higher flat rate, but try and get a better buy down rate. Trying to get a better deal all around usually doesn't work, so we need to pick and choose. Also, it'd be good to find out how much other students would be paying to work that in.
>>
No. 306528 ID: d429c4

Don't haggle over the price.

This man is a master of his art. He is proud. He is strong. Whatever price he asks for is fair.

Of course, after you agree to pay what is asked, you politely discuss opportunities to promote his style, about other masters whose students need some cross-style training... Essentially, about what opportunities he can open for us. Of course, nothing so direct could be mentioned. He is the master here. Another time, we should bow our heads and ask for guidance on more esoteric matters. But not today.
>>
No. 306529 ID: 989dc3

I say we keep the "I will get you students if you decrease the price " deal as a last ditch effort.
It is not really favourable deal and where are we going to get him students? The guys from the gym? Please, who says they will agree? Besides them, there is no one else that Armas knows.
>>
No. 306533 ID: 989dc3

>>306528
Shit man, we just want some haggling practice and we will get it from wherever we can get it from now on. Yout kind of way of thinking can be applied to virtually every person we have dealt with before.

It doesnt matter if we successed or not, we need that practice
>>
No. 306536 ID: d429c4

Don't haggle over the price.

This man is a master of his art. He is proud. He is strong. Whatever price he asks for is fair.

Of course, after you agree to pay what is asked, you politely discuss opportunities to promote his style, about other masters whose students need some cross-style training... Essentially, about what opportunities he can open for us. Of course, nothing so direct could be mentioned. He is the master here. Another time, we should bow our heads and ask for guidance on more esoteric matters. But not today.

You need to bring in other students. Get in contact with the Goblin, and sell training with a representative of the fighting art of "high modernity*". Whatever happens, don't lie. You have other contacts, use them. Talk to the Confessor, ask him if your previous job is done. Then, suggest that you might be able to put a regime in place that helps secure their influence. It might take a while, but we believe we may be able to act as a courier. Of course, the price is high.


* high modernity being pretty much the period up to and including WW I"
>>
No. 306542 ID: f0e3ae

>>306528
very much this
>>306533
You can practice in tons of places, go out the market and get some practice then.
>>
No. 306545 ID: 234c26

Offering to find him other students is not desirable because it will both eat up our time unnecessarily and cut into his time; we want his time and effort to be spent on us.

>>306490
I would definitely haggle hard on this one- but not over the price. Remember, when haggling both sides of the offer are entirely negotiable; that is to say, if you can't or won't change what you're offering, instead change what you're buying.

In this case, if this guy genuinely doesn't have a single student but he teaches this for a living, you're basically exclusively supporting his livelihood, and if you don't pay him enough he'll work hard to find other students, or simply move away. It would be better to keep him overpaid and happy. You can, however, haggle what you're getting upwards. Your objective here is to get as much applicable martial skill as possible, as fast as possible; this guy has a fair bit more than the occasional class which he could offer towards that endeavor, so push for it.

A big principle in haggling is to always start high- that means to ask for something which you would be ecstatic to get, aiming to settle for something sometimes as small as 5% or so of your initial offer. In this case, I would start out by saying that for 2400 lira a month, you would expect him to devote his every effort to making you a master of all the arts he knows- to give you as much training as you can spare the time for, every day that you can spare the time for it, to mix in teaching you the principles of as many other styles as he can get and how to combat them, to introduce you to other warriors worth training against, and to provide as much good advice as he can for the task of turning you into a better warrior. Basically, to make him your exclusive personal intensive trainer. He's almost surely not going to accept, but you can move down from there quite a bit- give only a little at a time, aiming to have six or seven offers and counteroffers before finally settling on getting about as much training as you can stand- probably something along the lines of thirty or forty hours a week, in both jukenjitsu and as many other disciplines as he thinks will be useful.
>>
No. 306547 ID: 692cff

>>306545
Him having other students means we'll have more people to practice against, likely increase his view of us, likely improve our relationship with whoever we find to be his students, and lower the price all at the same time. Moreover, our work is not the kind that is easily scheduled, is something we may not want him looking into, and is done in a manner that preferably doesn't lead to close combat. So we really shouldn't be paying this much for close combat training solely for it's benefits alone.
>>
No. 306568 ID: 8b0de1

Arams just doesn't have time to go around and search for other students. He has a lot of shit on his hands and shouldn't waste time on that bollocks.

>>306536
>>306542

No, DO haggle the price. Even if you manage to lower the price by 100$, you've made progress, though I would aim for at least 1000$ as a target
>>
No. 306571 ID: a76809

>>306491
[First Haggle attempt]
"I have to wonder-when was the last time you taught someone?"
>[Ito]"Two months."
"And if you did move, would you have guaranteed students, or would you need to start from scratch?"
>[Ito]"..Scratch?"
"Start with just the new dojo."
>[Ito]"Yes."
"Would not your skills be better preserved by training me here and now? What if it takes time to find new pupils-so much so your skills decay, not plied as often as they could be?"
>[Ito]"Practice every day-will not rust."
[HAGGLE ATTEMPT: FAILURE]
>>306494
[Second Haggle attempt]
"Hm-well, if you need students, I know five other people off the top of my head I feel confident would, ah, have similar past experiences with death, life and the taking of-and all could benefit from your teaching."
>[Ito]"...You would bring more students?"
[HAGGLE ATTEMPT: INTEREST GARNERED]
>>306545
[Second Haggle attempt modifier]
"Well not right away-first we need to figure out my training."
>[Ito]"So you interested despite price?"
"Well, the ability to get personalized, by-my-schedule training is something I won't squander. How about this-given that you could train me all day every day, how long do you think it would take to teach me all you know of Jukenjitsu?"
>[Ito]"...How many hours a day?"
"Ten, in two five-hour chunks so there is a break in between."
>[Ito]"A great deal of time you offer. If you learn as well as you fought... one season, perhaps two."
"And at that point.. what, I'd know everything about Jukenjitsu?"
>[Ito]"You will know what is written, what is taught, what is proper-you will learn my opinion of both. But to know everything... I do not believe such can be done with any one martial style, without having to master ALL martial styles. Since we cannot live that long, it can't be done. All you can do is learn enough you are familiar with the craft, as familiar as you are with how to walk or breath. From there, what happens with the skill is up to you."
"And in this, I won't just be learning the style's forms and motions, but how to apply it against other martial crafts, correct?"
>[Ito]"As much as I know them."
"..Well, what styles DO you know how to use Jukenjitsu against?"
>[Ito]"....Most Chinese and Korean styles. Many Japanese styles."
"And learning those counters won't increase the learning timeframe?"
>[Ito]"Won't know till teaching."
[HAGGLE ATTEMPT: SUCCESS, QUALITY OF GOODS IMPROVED]
>>306495
[Third Haggle Attempt]
"Another thing comes to mind about your dojo, and what will come of my training."
>[Ito]"Hm?"
"I plan to enter tournaments at some point-and with the intense training I am procuring, I should represent your school nicely. Between that and several capable other students being brought to your doors-well, it seems to me that your dojo issues could be a thing of the past."
>[Ito]"...More words. Why should I treat them as any heavier than the wind?"
"As of right now? You don't really have a reason, you just met me-you'll have to watch for yourself to see how seriously I take my word."
>[Ito]"Hm... wonder how Ryohei would react to you."
"Who?"
"Nothing-an old name from long ago. You speak of being trained-we can begin now, and the first month's fee can be brought sometime this week."
[HAGGLE ATTEMPT: SUCCESS, RELATIONAL TIES IMPROVED]
>>306505
"So-and granted, I know this is significantly in the future from now-how much would the cost of classes decrease per student I bring in?"
>[Ito]"Three hundred fifty lira."
Not quite two hundred dollars then-even with all five gym-buddies going here I'd still be paying more than the standard fee.
"Which of course means that until I've found you enough students that without me you can cover your expenses, my training will always take priority until such time you cannot teach me any more."
>[Ito]"How do I keep the other students if I must pander to you so?"
"How would you even get the students if I don't bring them-and how will you have doors open for them if I'm not here?"
>[Ito]"...Very well."
[HAGGLE ATTEMPT: PREFERENTIAL SERVICES TIMEFRAME MAXIMIZED]
>[2/3 HAGGLE TRIGGERS MET PEFORMANCE: COMPETENT]

Ito taps his staff against the ground and beckons to me.
>[Ito]"Come-let us begin."

When we break for a late-day lunch, about half my body has bruises on it from his damnably fast strikes. By the time we call it quits a few hours shy of midnight, I wonder if I have any flesh left that ISN'T battered at this point-little guy or no, he is as harsh as any teacher I've had-Riker included.

>>306536
When I make my way home, I find myself unable to sleep as an idea grabs hold of me. It goes a bit like this:
Item one: Thus far, supernatural's I have met have been woefully ignorant of modern technologies and conveniences.
Item two: I have encountered supernatural, deal-making goblins in the sewers around my house.
Item three: Knowledge has been established as a highly viable commodity for trade.
Item four: Given the above, the ability to learn Jukenjitsu from Ito could be considered a valuable trade commodity.

And so, nearly midnight or no, I arm myself with Keihäs, the single gun still remaining at my house rather than my Mafia Storage unit, and creep down the nearest manhole. After pulling the cover shut overhead, I call out.
"...Goblin?"
No answer.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
"....Sometimes Merchant?"
>[SM]"That mortal free will of yours has made you different-where are those that had been within you before, those of Winter and Summer? And what brings you hear?"

The voice coming from just behind my right ear is accompanied by a flickering light some ten feet away like a lightbulb snuffing out in reverse as the now familiar faerie-fire halo springs into being above the full-helm wearing, scarred bodied Goblin.







What do I say to the Goblin's query about why Ogrimir and the Summer Scion are not present within me?
How do I pitch the idea of training under a mortal to handle a mortal weapon to the Sometimes Merchant?
If it is noted they do not even know how to operate firearms, should I attempt to sell them shooting instruction and weapon maintenance instruction, and if so, should I teach them, someone else? What would I want to charge?
>[This is the second segment of determining what Barter Trait Armas gets]
>>
No. 306576 ID: e41ad5

"I'll be happy to tell the tale for a price."
>>
No. 306582 ID: 234c26

>>306571
>What do I say to the Goblin's query about why Ogrimir and the Summer Scion are not present within me?
That information is, of course, available for a price. For something so touching upon our personal health and well-being, a payment also touching upon our well-being seems fitting; if those in the sewers in close proximity to your home (several hundred yards) will allow you free passage and warn you of any intruders who may have ill intent towards you, the tale of Winter and Summer's departure from your body will be told in full.

>If it is noted they do not even know how to operate firearms, should I attempt to sell them shooting instruction and weapon maintenance instruction, and if so, should I teach them, someone else? What would I want to charge?
Ask their knowledge and time for your knowledge and time- it's clear that information is pricey enough in the supernatural world that you'll have a tough time getting it much of the time, so you might as well invest this opportunity. For every minute that you spend teaching a pupil about modern weaponry, they must spend an equal amount of time teaching you of something which they know and you wish to learn.

With any luck, teaching and charging on a per-pupil basis will result in your training several goblins (or others) in the same tactics and methods while you gain many different areas of knowledge in return. By not setting a specific area of knowledge, you leave your options open to take on new pupils and learn more and more, basically indefinitely.

Remember what Arkvad said to you earlier: Haggling is not impersonal. Do not attempt to make it impersonal by passing off their training to someone else. There are several reasons- you don't want them to catch on that many people could teach them what you'll be teaching them, by reducing yourself to the status of middleman you'd be massively reducing the value of what you personally are offering, the more you personally interact with them the more connection you build, and by spending time in the company of supernaturals it is likely that you will pick up a lot more information about them even if you're not paying for it. You should be attempting to get personal instruction from you to no more than a handful of students at a time, and preferably ones who will be unable or unwilling to pass on what you've taught them to others, so that your instruction remains a viable trade item for many months and years to come.
>>
No. 306610 ID: c6ce12

He understands the name of the game, he wants our story he needs to pay the price. The idea of forewarning against threats from the sewer is definitely nice, perhaps add in a little bit about home not just being our current residence, but whatever location we currently consider our primary home and that is within his area his area of influence. We could also ask for a favor owed to him to be considered repaid. Then once we have reached an agreement on the price for the story we can tell him a supernatural force attempted to use us as a conduit or create one within us to reach this world. Although we did not know what was afflicting us at the time, we went out to seek healing from a skilled mortal ally, only to find that the two within us were willing to offer such services. They each promised protection, but in the process the offered protection led to an unbalancing of the courts that was not wrought by mortal influence. To be specific force's power was twisted, made consumable by one side which forced the hand of the other to eat it. The two have agreed to leave us and hold their struggle until this little quandary has reached resolution. If he wants specifics, like what tried to use us or what side did what that will cost more. For each additional level of details added he can either add more yards to the area in which we are warned of threats or he can offer defense to the area immediately under our home by adding minor wards. If he prefers he could also strike more favors from the record instead of the extra area of warning.

As for our actual proposition, how we handle selling the idea to him depends on what his main objections would be. If he doubts the effectiveness of it we can point out our own training in these skills allowed us to face Allenaethos. Let him consider that for a moment, us, a simple mortal, was able to face down a veteran elf warrior and win thanks to these skills and tools. Imagine what they could do with the same skills? This could give them the edge on any of their enemies, make them more prized warriors and thus able to charge more for their services, and give them more options in conflict. Or if that doesn't persuade them, then perhaps point out that even the simple knowledge of our mortal tools could allow them to avoid a fate similar to Allenaethos' should they ever be in his situation. If his concerns lie in the fact he is being taught be a mortal and that he and his kind have poor opinion of us then let's play that to our advantage. Bring up the parallel to how we mortals often use beasts as examples for how we should fight, taking the skills of these baser creatures and adapting them to our own use. If he prefers he can think of it like that, he is not so much being taught as he is observing us and adapting a fighting style from us.

And we definitely want to teach them how to use and maintain firearms in addition to the other training. I already made the argument vague enough to cover both. Anyway, training for training is good, how about contacts for contacts? As we learn from and discover more trainers of exotic mortal fighting styles we could bring more teachers of said styles to the attention of the goblins in exchange for contacts of theirs in other fields they could refer us to. I know I for one would like to consult an alchemist about a couple things.

I can't help but think our new contract with the goblins opens up a very nice avenue for advancing our goals of becoming a contractor for Holland and Holland. As their teacher on the subject we would be in a fantastic position to recommend to them or directly supply them with weapons from the company, in return earning them what could be an exclusive contract with a large and wealthy group of supernaturals who could not only provide money, but reagents needed to empower weapons. If we supply them directly we can make sure it all runs through us too, making us less of a middleman and more of an important lynchpin in a lucrative trade to both parties.
>>
No. 306612 ID: 8b0de1

>What do I say to the Goblin's query about why Ogrimir and the Summer Scion are not present within me?

Now.
We know that this guy loves stories and we know that he is willing to pay for them, no question about it.
The real deal is how we are are going to sell it, how much we are going to get for it and how we are going to present the story.
Just like before, we can split the story into several chunks and tell them part by part.
>"where are those that had been within you before, those of Winter and Summer?
If he accepts to pay for the answer, and if you decide to tell the full story you can start by directly answering his query without giving any context or whatsoever. Something like "They have left me for my own devices for a while"
Then by raise his curiosity so that he asks for the full story and you can try to sell it in 2 or 3 chunks depending how lucky you feel.
Also don't tell him you have ruined Fangs magical room because I don't want that coming back to bite us in the ass. Or at least make him swear that that part is not to be shared with anyone.

And then by the end of it, you can offer to tell him HOW it all began: the duel with super-nazi, the death experience, the possession by cannibal goddess Waitiri and her her subsequent expulsion by your Winter aspect. That can be also worthy of a deal.

Also, do not tell him what exactly your aspects were. Sure, you can't tell much about the Scion of Summer but you have a little knowledge about Ogrimmir... heck, maybe even telling what kind of Winter/Summer aspects we had (their apprentice) is a worthy information.


>How do I pitch the idea of training under a mortal to handle a mortal weapon to the Sometimes Merchant?
Eeh... maybe the dojo Master does not want to train supernatural creatures, ever thought of that? We should have first found out how Master feels about them before promising the Goblin a training regime

>If it is noted they do not even know how to operate firearms, should I attempt to sell them shooting instruction and weapon maintenance instruction, and if so, should I teach them, someone else?

This is interesting.

Before offering anything, you should first probe what they know about modern world and how much influence they have. If they have any interests in human affairs and their progress, if they have any agents on the field surveying and passing reports.
If they have knowledge of modern tech and weapons, then try to find out if they use them and if not, why.

There could be several possibilities to that question:
1.They don't care that much and believe that their own old ways and weapons are superior to humans.

2.There is a huge time difference between the worlds. Maybe they have yearly/decade reports but the last such report might portray the 18th century or earlier, so they simply do not know about the mortal progress.

3.They do know about that but there are certain restrictions that they simply cannot surpass. Perhaps they cannot steal and reverse engineer mortal discoveries or even use the knowledge that guns (for example) exist and try to develop their own. Maybe they cannot even ask to trade for that, waiting till a mortal offers it himself. And it could be that no mortal has ever thought doing that or that they were smart enough to not give away our advantage to them.


If the last one is true, then we are in unique position to dictate our own terms and prices, meaning that you can squeeze out of them more. Since you would be the only mortal offering this deal, they will not be able to turn it down in favor of more favorable offer from somewhere else as you would be the sole provider.
But even if that part is not true, it is obvious that not many mortals are willing to give them firearms.

If the first point is true (that they scoff at our boomsticks), you can retell the fight with the Elf in more detail showing that the reason you won was due to the Elfs woeful ignorance of modern combat. That alone should suffice to show the power of firearms. If not, we still have examples: that beast in the sewers and Doonongeas.

ATTENTION!
If you manage to start up weapons trade (and you should, long-term contract where you supply firearms and they give you whatever else is awesome) and training them in use of said firearms make absolutely sure, that they never, under any circumstance, disclose that it was you who did it.
Make sure to put that into the deal, heck, do not disclose that information to supernaturals either and whoever we train must give their oath too.
I would not want mortals finding out that Armas made the supernatural races eveb more dangerous and deadly than they were before. They would be out for his blood.

>if so, should I teach them, someone else?
Teach them yourself. You've have got a nice shooting place for your own where no one could observe you.


>What would I want to charge?
Well, there are several things you can ask for:

More meat? I admit, at first I thought that what we have gained before was already too much, but now that I think of it, we do some really harsh exercise routines (gym, Krav Maga, Jukenjitsu). After today's training, normally a human would need at least one day of rest, meaning that the days would alternate between resting and training. But with our cannibalistic power, Armas can recover for 7 days worth meaning that he can potentially train all day, every day. Heck, he should take his meat jerky with him during gym sessions and Dojo training and eat it during the break to regain strength.
Try to ask for Unicorn meat if possible (and if the price is not extremely high), it seems to me, that if we have anything left over, we could sell our meat and for Unicorn meat would probably get more money than others just because it is freaking Unicorn meat!
like before X pounds per week.
This time try to get more meat for the same price than before or get more rare meat (like Unicorn) for cheaper since we don't have such acute need for supernatural meat as we used to before.

Spices?
Herbs and seasonings which cannot be found in mortal world so that you can prepare your meat with them.
Since we have not yet read the Goblin cookbook we can't ask for something specific, but we can do this: "2 most prominent non-mortal world herbs in from the cookbook you gave me"
And just as before: 1 [portion] per week

Knowledge retention charm/bracelet/ring/amulet.
Armas needs some serious boost for his learning capacities. He is doing a lot of shit and gradually has less and less free time.
He will probably learn more martial styles (maybe even something "magical") and aside from that there are several skills that I am sure he will need to learn in future (gunsmithing for example).
So it would be great if he could learn shit faster. For that I suggest something that boost the retention of skills and knowledge. Armas will still have to learn the hard way but when he practices something, he will be able to master it much faster as he will not have to waste time trying to recall correctly what he did before.
And since one can order custom enchantments, make sure that the retention charm only works when Armas has successfully performed an action, so that he doesn't retain sub-par and failed attempts.
If the price is insanely high like before, refuse to pay and offer to buy it for more reasonable price. If that doesn't work. Then forget it.

Paying off favors.
This one is straight forward. As a price for aforementioned services, if you cannot find anything you desire try to remove your favors to them.
>>
No. 306618 ID: f0e3ae

I would say the number 1 thing to purchase is knowledge. Knowledge will allow you to better direct your future trades.

Paying off your favors works too.

I like the idea of splitting the story again.

And as said, it is absolutely essential that there is confidentiality about WHO taught them about modern weaponry.

Don't ask for unicorn meat or any meat for that matter. Just the above. You should ask what sort of body enhancements can they trade to you. With the stipulation that EVERY aspect of said modifications must be explained to you in detail before the deal is made. If they bulk at that, include such knowledge in your trade for knowledge.
>>
No. 306639 ID: c173fb

An idle suggestion, but we did dump Andre Gustavo down the sewers not too long ago. Maybe we could bring this up, feeding the Goblins Guards would be a good deed we might be paid for, or sweet the pot. After all, we kill a lot of people and disposing of them when we're not hungry would be useful.
>>
No. 306656 ID: f0e3ae

>>306639
it was done to our own benefit though. And you don't do things without asking then demand payments for them. They might also not have wanted you doing that so don't mention it.
>>
No. 306666 ID: 8b0de1

Oh, also, remember how you talked circuitously last but at the same time not too much? And how the Goblin was pleased with that?
Try to do that now too, maybe you wont get anything out of it but at least the Goblin will be happy and probably more amiable towards you.

>>306618
Well the thinking behind the unicorn meat was that just how much weight that name carries. If we manage to find someone to sell it off to, we could potentially rake tens of thousands dollars per pound. There ought to be rich snobs willing to pay such extravagant price.

But of course I have no idea how common unicorns are. Maybe they are domesticated and bred like horses, or maybe they are powerful creatures capable of taking out dragons with a shot of pure energy from their horn.... probably the latter.
>>
No. 306672 ID: a76809

>>306576
"I'll be happy to tell the tale for a price."
>[SM]"Indeed you will-though I wonder if you conceive what the price will be."
>>306582
"Well-first I'd need to know something, but I need to phrase the question carefully so that answering it does not reveal anything beyond the clarifying bit of information."
>[SM]"By all means-take your time fabricating your data request-I am intrigued."
"...Does the area around my house, within three hundred yards of where it's over the sewers, fall under your sway, or the sway of those beholden to you?"
>[SM]"..I see, very vague."
"And beyond clarifying what I need to know to set my price, I stand to gain nothing from it-and with the only gain made communal, since it facilitates our dealing-the answer shall be given freely: Yes."
"Okay, then-I shall tell you what lead to the Aspects leaving me, for the price of guaranteed safe passage in the sewers within three hundred yards of my house, and to be warned of any threat to my person or belongings detected in that area."
>[SM]"You would ask to be named Friend to the Goblinkin, but in only a tiny space... fifty yards, your propensity to answer in fragments is known."
I feel like attempting to redirect the price from here, now that it's been moved-
>[Haggling success rate check: PASS]
"One hundred fifty."
>[SM]"Clearly you do indeed plan to answer in fragments aplenty, to acquiesce so swiftly. Seventy five."
>[Haggling experience check: FAIL]
"One hundred."
>[SM]"...I am not here to argue trifles-either agree to seventy five, or name a new price."
>[Haggling experience check: FAIL]
"....Fine, seventy five yards."
The helmed goblin's halo flickers-and he goes from standing several dozen feet distant, leaning against the wall to squatting on a ledge a few feet to my left, while his voice now seems to come from my own shirt.
>[SM]"The Bargain shall be made when an answer is heard."
"...Well, what lead to the Aspects leaving me was what they called a Gate to the Other side-I misspoke, they called it the Nevernever-opening."
>[SM]"A gate? They were required to return?"
"That, I'm afraid, is a separate question."
>[SM]"I shall pick the question you answer then-How did a Gate opening make them leave you?"
"The gate was opening inside of a person."
At this the goblin rocks back, knocking on his helmet's brow with scarred knuckles as his voice now echoes from behind me.
>[SM]"It was opening inside of you. How was the Gate closed? You have not become a living Conduit, nor have you died."
"That is your third question, how the Gate was closed?"
>[SM]"....No, my question is 'Which Aspect did what to close the Gate."
"Bear in mind I do not know how to analyze or describe much of what either Aspect can do."
>[SM]"That is understood-the Truth shall be heard."
"Very well-The Winter Aspect was able to take a blue-colored portion of magic that appeared to be the physical manifestation of the gate opening, and either negate or absorb it. The Winter aspect went on to contain the red-colored flames, allowing the Summer Aspect to accept being asked to absorb the energy."
The goblin's crown flickers again-this time the ropy goblin stands inches away from me, his eyeless helm somehow giving an implacable sense of being watched.
>[SM]"...You do not lie, interesting. It seems I have a fourth question then: What do you know of the identity of your prior Winter Aspect?"
"It gave me the name Ogrimir to call it by, but I suspect it to not be it's true name. I know it is strong enough to stand off a god, and to contain a Gate opening in one's flesh. I know it cold, and implacable. Beyond that, I know nothing about it, and have naught but baseless speculation."
>[SM]"...How is it Truth for you to say that the one called Ogrimir could stand off a god?"
>>306610
>[Supernatural Haggling experience check: FAIL]
"You know, I think that's as much safe area as I currently need around my domocile."
>[SM]"What do you propose as alternative price?"
"Well, maybe I could get a favor stricken fro-"
>[SM]"Favors cannot be recanted, rescinded or returned-they can only be paid."
"What about wards preferential to me around-"
>[SM]"The information you hold does not interest me enough for any of our wards to be offered."
...Hm.
>>306612
>[Haggling experience check: PASS]
"...Spices."
>[SM]"Clarify."
"I will answer your question for a weekly supply of spices that are not harmful to humans viable for all three types of meat I receive from you and yours, specifically spices directly mentioned and used in the recipe book I received, in sufficient quantities to spice the meat I receive."
>[SM]"....Agreeable. Now-to my question."
"I was host to Ogrimir ejecting Whaitiri's presence from my mind, spirit, soul, whatever."
>[SM]"...I feel Whaitiri's presence about you, her magic, woven into your skin and sinew and bone. I feel traces of the Winter Aspect Ogrimir that were not present when last we met. That shall conclude my questions-I have answers of my own to find before I consider asking you further."
"Fine-that's enough spices to season three pounds of meat for life, and three hundred yards of safe zone about my home, correct?"
>[SM]"So it is."
>>306582
>>306610
>>306612
"Which now brings me to why I am down here."
>[SM]"Please go on."
"Do you know what this is in my hands?"
>[SM]"A weapon of decidedly dark enchanting-a spear that can hurl metal. A.. gun."
"Are you familiar with its use?"
>[SM]"No."
"In the interest of determining if a Bargain well in excess of what was already worked out is viable, will you tell me why you do not know?"
>[SM]"It looks a trivial skill."
>[Haggling experience check: PASS]
"Consider that expertise in gun handling skills is what lead me to being the victor against Allenaothos."
>[SM]"A poignant remark, with his sword and blood on your ...gun. But what good is something like that? Wood is easier to enchant, and fast as the metal fangs may travel, many are faster still-an enchanted homing arrow is more lethal."
"...When was the last time you actually watched guns in action-no, how many seasons have passed?"
>"Two hundred nineteen."
>[Haggling experience check: PASS]
"Guns-rifles, pistols, cannons-all manner of human weapons have been steadily advancing. I stood off a Doonongaes thanks to mortal weaponry. Would it not behoove you and yours to learn of it?"
>[SM]"...Perhaps. What is it you propose, that you teach us?"
"Yes-I have access to multiple different mortal masters in related sub-sets of gun use, and can access a vast wealth of information on the subject, in addition to my own expertise. I could provide individualized training to those that sought it."
>[SM]"Presume for a moment your deal intrigues-what conditions would it labor under?"
"First-time for time. For every hour I spend instructing you, or someone sent to train with me per this deal, must be repaid with an hour of learning."
>[SM]"There are many subjects we would find unacceptable to ask after."
"How about only combat and survival related knowledge, so that it matches with what I offer?"
>[SM]"...What else?"
"I would have to ask for an oath that my name, presence or identity never be referenced by you, any that train with me, or any of your group that do not come for training but are otherwise aware of the Bargain's details."
>[SM]"If you were to ask such a thing as that-in this hypothetical-know we would ask you to swear to teach only our group-without a counterweight oath from your side, the deal would not be acceptable."









What else do I have to say about this prospective deal?
How should my attempts at haggling go from here?
[Last chance to influence what Haggling Trait Armas gets to start]
>>
No. 306676 ID: 8b0de1

>[SM]"If you were to ask such a thing as that-in this hypothetical-know we would ask you to swear to teach only our group-without a counterweight oath from your side, the deal would not be acceptable."

Hmm, this offer is too binding.
Agree to teach only them exclusively and share knowledge for 1 year .. or two. Or for as long as you are training them, you will not train anyone else (from supernatural world, we reserve the right to train mortals of our mortals skills), and you can end the deal whenever you want to. Or, we can set up the deal for a period of time (say, two seasons) and it has to be renewed after that time.

you could also counter that offer by giving the similar oath that you would never disclose to anyone those you have taught and your Bargain with the Goblin.

Also, tell him that the oath is for your protection. If the world would get out, Armas could be targeted and killed, leaving the Goblin and the group with no trainer, not to forget that they would not collect the favors we own them if we expire to soon because someone couldn't keep their mouth shut. Basically, this oath is like an insurance for him that the deal he has agreed to will be completed.
>>
No. 306682 ID: 692cff

>>306676
I'm not so sure about limiting the timeframe, and I definitely think saying we can end the deal whenever we like is off the table, but I do in fact highly agree ensuring we can teach those whom we BELIEVE to be mortal is of the utmost importance in this deal.

Also, I think some haggling is in order. Namely, I think we should actually try and sway the amount of time in their favor, but add knowledge of making magical equipment as something we can be taught as well. That bit of information I think is valuable enough to have the ratio be one to two, three, or even 4. But one and a half is a good starting place I believe. And when we bring up the subject of enchantments, we should note that how to make guns is something we could teach as well, since we brought up what we learn matching what we can teach.
>>
No. 306687 ID: 8b0de1
File 130636617797.jpg - (61.62KB , 1000x750 , Business as usual.jpg )
306687

We will discuss these matters as civilized businessmen
>>
No. 306709 ID: f0e3ae

>>306682
Very much this. A year is meaningless to an immortal. Extend the amount of time you teach per time they teach in exchange for access to more knowledge. Wouldn't gun-making already be included? besides you don't actually KNOW how to make guns.

A refinement... rather then simply saying X:1 hours for access to more knowledge, instead suggest that the hours you teach are counted, and may then be traded for different knowledges at different rates. That is 1 hour of your teaching can be traded for 1 hour of combat and survival related knowledge. 1 hour for historical knowledge. 2 hours of your teaching for 1 hour of weapon enchantment knowledge. 2 hours for teaching item enchantment in general. And 3 hours of your teaching for 1 hour if instruction in magics. Be willing to go way further on how much hours per hour of teaching you offer for the last 2. It is your choice on how to "spend" the hours you earn. They are not however obligated to send you more then 1 student for 1 hour. If they feel the knowledge or your teaching is not useful they may stop sending students at any time.

You can also possibly agree that those "higher order" learning subjects will not be available until at least a minimum amount of hours have been earned. That is, you will not get the ability to get magic teachings until you have taught their students for 30 hours. Thus, if they decide after 29 hours your tutelage isn't sufficiently worthwhile then they simple do not send any more students.

Say you shall set time-frames wherein you can teach, and they decide how many students they wish to send to those times. If they insist on a minimum amount then you can obligate yourself to 1 or 2 days a week (up to 10 hours per day). Either way specify that if you are injured, unconscious, held prisoner, or somehow incapacitated then you will have to reschedule and it does not count as breach of contract.

As for not teaching anyone else.
To never in my life teach anyone anything again?
A few stipulation before I agree.
1. The limitation on who I teach shall only apply to what I offer to teach you; the teaching of modern human weaponry. Other skills such as cooking, grappling, history, tracking, or any other skill I possess is mine to teach whom I please.
2. I shall be able to teach modern human weaponry to those I believe to be human.
3. A concession to the second point, you shall name specific organizations, courts, or individuals, both mortal humans and others, whom you wish for me to never teach and I shall not teach them; Those cannot be unassociated people such as "anyone with eyes" or "all humans", but actual groups whom you must describe in enough detail for me to recognize them. You may add or remove individuals from the list of those I am forbidden to teach said knowledge at your discretion.
4. As an exception to all the above rules, I may teach those of my own blood anything I know without limitations and that they cannot be named amongst those forbidden to teach. I do after all want to pass knowledge to whatever children I one day have.

If they bulk at #2, then be willing to drop it entirely. 3 is important, it prevents us from accidentally teaching someone forbidden, it gives us knowledge automatically (we must know WHOM they do not want us to teach, as such we are informed by them of any other supernatural groups who are enemies of these guys and given enough info to recognize them.
#4 is obvious.
>>
No. 306717 ID: ae0719

>>306682
Our teaching will be limited to them... in matters relating to firearms? Limited to them among all immortals and supernatural beings? Or binding entirely all knowledge we would desire to ever teach? The middle option seems best; it seems unlikely that we would need to teach anything to a different supernatural faction. I just hope we don't unbalance anything; Summer elves armed with M-16s could be trouble.

'Combat' knowledge is a bit vague; it seems like we could be able to get that to include all aspects of combat. Maneuver (movement of large and small groups), support (weaponsmithing, armorsmithing), and tactical (knowledge or martial lore as pertaining to battle). 'Survival' is likewise a bit vague, but may include things which help us to survive, such as things like magic warding.

I guess we should sound out Ito on if he knows about the supernatural; he could get his students quite quickly, albeit not ones he expected.
>>
No. 306744 ID: f0e3ae

A though about better haggling. When the other party suggests a price lower/higher (depends on which one of you is selling), don't merely counter offer with a figure between the two. Couple it with a justification why they should go closer to your price, either suggesting their goods are not as valuable, yours are more valuable, their need is great, your need is low, etc. you have done it before, but not consistently. Make sure to avoid being insulting when you do that.

Probably a more difficult to perform method would be countering with term alterations. So that if you say 300 feet, and they say 50ft, you can counter with "200 feet but relocatable" or "300 feet and I shall keep the nature of this deal a secret" or "How about 400 feet and I also add X, Y, and Z to my own offer". This does carry the risk of getting you a worse deal overall so use with care.
>>
No. 306772 ID: ae0719

Here's a thought: ask the Goblin to throw in the name of his faction (pro bono). We're going to be doing business exclusively with them in this matter, we'll need to know who NOT to discuss business with in order to honor our end of the deal.

We can research it later (don't tell him that part).
>>
No. 306825 ID: a76809

>>306676
"...To never be able to share my training is too binding-what if some events occur that we break ties, and withholding the information leads to my demise? Far better for it to only last so long as I am being used as an instructor."
>[SM]"There would need to be a counterbalance."
>[Haggle experience check: PASS]
"Obviously at whatever point in time I end up being released from instructional services, it would release you from your oath not to speak of my instruction at the same time it releases me."
>[SM]"...That condition is acceptable."
>>306682
"Another stipulation-I am to be able to teach those I perceive as mortals during this time in the same skills I offer you and yours-but only mortals."
>[SM]"So long as those you help are not supporters of either Court, that would not bother us."
"But beyond that, I'm wondering what exchange ratio would be necessary for item-weapon, specifically-enchantment."
>[SM]"Instruction in the ways of magical crafting is carefully guarded. Until some time has passed and we can evaluate your teaching ability, no exchange rate could be quoted."
"Which means that such training is indeed available-good to know."
>>306687
>>306709
"Well really, I just wanted to get a bit more specific on how the 'training for training' thing will work. I had an idea as to how to get around all the technicalities and specifics of a direct exchange system."
>[SM]"That being?"
>[Haggle success check: PASS]
"Instead of getting my own training immediately in return, I could save up owed hours of instruction, to redeem at a time that fits both my and your schedule"
>[SM]"Agreeable."
"The real question is what kind of exchange rate I get for different types of things you can teach me."
>[SM]"As to that...."

[Haggle performance tallied]
>[NEW HAGGLE TRAIT: WON'T TAKE NO.]
>[For Armas, the golden rule of trade is that there is no such thing as a final sale, deal or anything-a bargain isn't done until the exchange has taken place-and by that same token, a rejected offer can simply be pursued again. This improves Armas' baseline haggling ability, and lowers the prices at many shops-but his pushy attitude will give negative modifiers with certain vendors.]
[FANART BONUS]
>[NEW HAGGLE TRAIT: WORD LIKE GOLD.]
>[While some mortals eye Fae dealings askance, and steer clear of the supernatural pacts and sometimes lethal wordplay, Armas has charged forward, continuing to make contracts and transactions as he has with any others he's met. Between his forthright approach and his (thus-far) blemish free record of keeping his word, most Supernatural entities will view pacts with him more along the lines as they would those with other fae than Mortals. Supernatural stock placed in Armas' word of honor has increased.]
TRAINING EXCHANGE RATE:
># of hours of offered training required for one hour of Goblin training.
1----Sneaking
1----Stalking
1----Moving Silently
1----Archery
1----Trapmaking and setup
3----Supernatural physiology and anatomy pertaining to butchering and hunting of assorted beasts
3----Enchanting Ingredient gathering
4----Expendable charm crafting
5----Magic weapon forging
6----Passive charm crafting



It takes another hour to hash out some last specifics-how the goblins will inform me of prospective students and their need for trainind (A Brownie will seek me out to pass on the information), how I'll know of groups the Goblins do not ever want me training (Any time there is a group of mortals they want blacklisted they will contact me) and so forth-but I clasp hands with Sometimes Merchant at last, and the deal is struck. I excuse myself shortly thereafter, and go to sleep, my thoughts filled with spears and contracts.

I'd like to say I had an interesting, engaging weekend. That I somehow found time to do my training, some Goblin training, and also refitted the Vanduras, went on another date with Adelat after doing more research on her, got set up at the Mafia Storage for target practice and talked with my Krav Maga friends at Constanz'. I'd like to say I expertly sliced my time to squeeze in every bit of activity I could. And it's true-from the moment I got up Saturday and Sunday each, I labored till finally collapsing into sleep. I pushed myself so hard that each morning I have to nibble on some jerky to help my bodies recovery along. Between Ito's classes-positively Spartan at that-and the Goblin's propensity to request nocturnal training-well, if this keeps up I'm going to have to get used to twenty hour days again-did that plenty of times in the military, never liked it.

Still, if I put up with it-I could eventually find a way to ply saved up hours into more... practical commodities... I'll get access to training directly from supernatural instructors, that plus the work to become more capable during missions could really put me in a good spot. In fact, now that I look at it, while it may be monotonous and potentially boring, I could spend entire weeks doing nothing but training with Ito and training goblins-and probably get my training done faster with less distractions. Then again, I as always have things to follow up on.

Like Arkvad leaving me a message that a Mr. Locke and a Ms. Havoc will be in Istanbul to discuss Smets on Tuesday.
Or Savoy calling to say he will be leaving to return to Sicily soon, once the newly appointed local boss arrives-and that he wants me to meet the new boss. Expected arrival: Thursday.
Adelat left a voicemail saying she would like to meet on Thursday-at the same time as Savoy.

I also saved up six hours worth of training due from the goblins over the weekend, besides putting in sixteen hours working on Jukenjitsu.






What should I do?
What activities should I pursue beside Bayonet training and goblin teaching this week?
Which events should I attend this week and why?
At the end of this week monthly expenses will be due (Currently $3,750 between gym, dojo and house)-Should Armas continue spending or seek out more funds?
>>
No. 306837 ID: 234c26

>>306825
>What should I do?
Call Adelat and ask her out on Wednesday instead. Dates get rescheduled more easily than business. Hopefully she won't take that as a sign to stalk you during the time that she wanted.

Call Arkvad at some point this week and scrupulously avoid talking about business. He was very right when he said that you only call him to exploit his connections; that's not good. Keep that relationship strong, not just based on business.

Keep on banking hours of training with the goblins. You can spend them later- preferably after you've gotten enough hours to put a decent class on magic weapon forging together. See if you can acquire some (legitimate) materials which you can use to expand your own knowledge base for teaching them; your side of the deal can easily be interpreted to include things like the history and evolution various weapon types and the tactics which emerged in response to them- topics both broad and deep which you could probably teach them about for hundreds of hours without running out of material. The goblins seem to value stories very highly, so they would probably eat up history lessons being mixed in with practical application. That is obviously quite desirable from your perspective, since the more teaching you can do for them the more you can receive in return. Basically, take steps to expand your own knowledge- or at least to prepare to expand your own knowledge as you need to, since you're so pressed for time at the moment- so that you're well prepared to continue your instruction indefinitely.

>What activities should I pursue beside Bayonet training and goblin teaching this week?
Make sure you get six hours of sleep a night. This is important. You're not as young as you used to be, and don't have enough magical power pumping through your veins to make up for accumulating exhaustion.

Try to keep working your way through your resources on Finnish and Maori lore in whatever time you can spare. That's rather important.

And whatever spare time you have after that can go to practicing hand-to-hand and shooting.

>Which events should I attend this week and why?
The meeting re: Smets is obviously important to your plans with him, so go to that, of course.

Missing the meet with the mafia boss would be antagonizing them needlessly, so go to that. Keep on your toes, though; while you seem to be friendly enough with them at the moment your positive relationship with them is based largely on having balls of steel and a bold streak a mile wide, neither of which is particularly solid.

Ladies hate to be shoved aside. Don't miss a date you don't have to, unless you're starting to find her boring or think the paranoia isn't worth it.

>At the end of this week monthly expenses will be due (Currently $3,750 between gym, dojo and house)-Should Armas continue spending or seek out more funds?
Continue spending. You've no shortage of cash at the moment, and more jobs are certain to emerge in their own due time; you don't need to go chasing them. If your funds fall to seventy thousand or so, you need to go looking for a job; until then you can coast and wait for customers to come to you.
>>
No. 306844 ID: d3dfb8
 

Call up Savoy and let him know there's a Turkish FBI agent looking into us. Unfortunately, we do not wish to be associated with the Mafia however we may meet friday.
Phone Arkvad and let him know you'll be in Finland over the weekend, ask him to collect some books on local mythology and look into some professors in the subject for us. Then book an overnight flight on friday night. Remember to pay your bills before you head out.

As for money we're kind of set for the moment, I say we just train some.

Video is Armas and Arkvad after a night of moderate drinking.
>>
No. 306873 ID: f0e3ae

When you DO get training from the goblins, write down what you learn into a journal. Hopefully in code (do you know any?), and keep it in a safe... hidden somewhere in your house. Get a 2 decoy safes. One unhidden, and one badly hidden.
If you learn some about crafting magical items of any sorts that might help you score said job at H&H... not as a barterer but as a craftsman. What you are forbidden of teaching is the knowledge you give them, not the knowledge they give you. But of course, such secret and expensive knowledge is too valuable to just give away. but if you got a job at H&H as a crafter...

Currently you are "empty" of representatives of winter and summer, this means you lost a safety net. Reconnecting with waitiri at least would be useful. However it will have to wait as currently you have too many commitments here.

>>306837
I agree. Attend all functions. Sleep 6 hours. Those particular days will just have to do with less training. Reschedule date with adelet. Keep spending, you have the money for it right now and the training is invaluable. And you should aim to actually MEET with Arkvad on a weekly basis just to chat and keep in touch. No asking him for favors for a little while. He is a family friend and needs to be treated as such.
Although, don't focus too much on history and the mundane. You have to hook the goblins and show them the info is pertinent. Show them a few of the more impressive weapons that they would be weak against. A flash-bang, a machine-gun. It doesn't have to be in person, you can tell them about helicopter mounted machineguns and nuclear weapons without showing them anything more then a video of the weapon and explaining its specifics.

>>306844
I do not think we should miss the meeting, nor should we tell him about adelet. Nor should we continue to press Arkvad for favors at the moment.
>>
No. 306876 ID: f0e3ae

Apologies for double post but:

1. We need specifics on HOW to hide the safes... lets come up with a plan in discussion thread.

2. Why are we even persuing adelet? Yea she is a cutie but:
A. She is the local FBI equivalent while you work with organized crime and have some very nasty skeletons in your closet.
B. You don't have the time for it.
C. She has a history in infiltrating criminal groups, that is, she could be playing you.
D. A long term serious relationship will require that you keep pretty huge secret and lies.

It is POSSIBLE that she is just in her job for power/money and will have no problem with your work... But this is too much of a risk for too vague a reward. As far as I can tell you are pursuing her because she is there. Its not like there aren't cute daughters of mafia bosses, sexy fey women (you are a "half blood" after all so its possible) and female wizards you can't pursue. Or completely mundane women who wouldn't oppose, or female mafia grunts... Or pretty much anyone BUT her. Seriously, break it up with her and if you MUST be courting a woman find one of the above to date.

Now, it is POSSIBLE but improbable that she is investigating you, or that they believe you are associated with the mafia/triads already and she simply wishes to infiltrate them through you. You CAN call on your contacts in one or both organizations, have their informants check to see if such an investigation exists, and if so engage in careful misdirection verbal jutsu on your dates... if such an investigation doesn't exist then you need to break it up, gently.
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No. 306881 ID: c6ce12

It is nice to see that our schedule is filling itself out, but I think we should try and keep our self a bit more focused, like we are probably getting a fair amount of target practice done with the Goblins when we train them or at least enough to keep us sharp. With that in mind it might be worth it to cut down on our visits to the the storage container or reduce the amount of time we spend there. I would say we could stand to cut back on the hand to hand training too, stick to socializing and some lighter training with our buddies that know Krav Maga, if they ask why we aren't around as much tell we're seeing someone. And instead of just going off to study Maori and Finnish in a broad sense we should try to be specific, for instance now I would suggest looking into Mahuika as Ogrimir told us that the Summer Fae was one of it's disciples and on the Finnish end we should be studying up on beserkers and Sami shamanism. With this extra time we can afford to put more effort into our current endeavors and barrel through them as fast so we can reap the rewards or you know get some sleep.

As for big events for this week. The meeting with Mr. Locke and a Ms. Havoc on Tuesday is a must do, would prefer to have a bit more specifics on the exact when and where though. It seems to me like they're being cautious enough to operate under pseudonym, which coupled with their apparent elusiveness makes me believe the two are more than a touch cautious. Seeing as how both are aware enough of the supernatural to have been lured in by Smets' offer of magical weaponry I would think they may have valid reasons for such caution, especially with how Smets has been able to scare off others from attending our meeting. I suspect they may have made precautions beforehand, but I'm sure they would appreciate us giving it a once over before anything goes down, if we find anything that leads us to believe Smets knew where we were going to meet we should move to a secure location not even he could touch, like a local branch of Holland and Holland

The thing with Savoy is slightly irritating, but we really can't do anything about it, the meeting is important so we may as well try to make a decent enough impression. I say we try to find a decent bottle of wine and offer it to the new boss as a welcome gift. Give Savoy a decent send off, maybe ask him if he has any last minute jobs or information pertaining to the German situation.

I guess we could move the meeting with Adelat, but we would need a valid reason to avoid garnering any suspicion. So let's spend some time looking into any interesting things opening up on Wednesday, like for instance a new movie, museum exhibit, zoo enclosure, play, or a carnival coming to town. You should have some inkling as to what her interests are by now, just go along those and try to find something. Then once you find what you're looking for call her up, tell her you got her message, but you were wondering if she was free Wednesday because you just heard about or got tickets to [insert what you found here] and thought that would be fun. I would say offer to pick her up but now that I think about it our van isn't exactly the kind of car for that, unless we opt for a very nonthreatening 80s look with fuzzy dice, shag carpeting, and a disco ball in the back.
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No. 306882 ID: c173fb

Regarding Adelat, lets see if we can find an event to go to that isn't when our mob boss meeting is.

Regarding our business, we need to make it known we're in the business of helping people. We have only actually had jobs with three groups and four people and most of those are super natural in nature. We really need to expand, and take some non-supernatural jobs.

>>306844
So not this.
>>
No. 306883 ID: c6ce12

>>306876
You've never heard the phrase 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer' have you?
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No. 306884 ID: f0e3ae

I can't find the discussion thread. I looked through pages of questdis as well as on the wiki. There was no wiki page for this quest at all so I went ahead and created one.
Is there a questdis for this quest? and if so what is the address (use >>questdis\####)
>>
No. 306887 ID: c6ce12

>>306844
Let's not tell him about Adelat , I don't want us to look incompetent. A big yes to going out for a drink with Arkvad though.
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No. 306893 ID: 8b0de1
File 130642389836.jpg - (29.84KB , 512x384 , ateamvan.jpg )
306893

>and also refitted the Vanduras
Specify.
Also, if you do not make it to look like pic-related, I will be very, very disappointed.
...
Of course, it would not be exactly subtle if we ever need to lose a pursuit.

I wonder if we could make a deal with goblins to teach them to drive too.

>Should Armas continue spending or seek out more funds?
No. Don't search for more jobs tight now. Armas can live comfortably for 2 years with the funds he has right now.
I think he should spend about 2 seasons with intensive learning and teaching.
I would say to divide your time like this: 40%: goblin lessons, 40%: Ito's classes, 20%:gym/bulking up/Krav-Maga. I wouldn't mind a time-skip after we have dealt with immediate concerns.
But of course, do not refuse if a job come knocking on your door.


>1----Sneaking
>1----Moving Silently
>1----Trapmaking and setup
I think we should learn these and master them as soon as possible. Sure, magical weapon and amulet crafting is great and all but as it stands we are not hurting for equipment right now but aforementioned skills will work amazingly in conjunction with our Ambush Expert trait. We could potentially become some-kind of shadow-warrior, killing enemies before they even know what hit them.
Besides, I am certain that magical crafting will be The hardest and most time-intensive training our of the all.

>>306837
>Call Adelat and ask her out on Wednesday instead. Dates get rescheduled more easily than business. Hopefully she won't take that as a sign to stalk you during the time that she wanted.
We can reschedule it to Saturday or Sunday too if she wants. But make sure to convey her that you can be only certain after Thursday, when your meeting is concluded.

Oh, and I agree with others that her interest in you is probably more than just "pleasure"

>>306844
>Call up Savoy and let him know there's a Turkish FBI agent looking into us.
What? Why?
I don't see why we need to do that. Makes us look kind of dependent and weak, actually.
what we could ask Savoy, is to relay any relevant information about the retaliation of Germans for the killing of Brandt. If they get any, and I mean any, information he should share it with us. [here's to hoping that Armas gets notified in advance that there is someone hunting him]

>>306884
We use Golem Quest discussion for this actually.
>>
No. 306894 ID: 692cff

Things I agree with.
Rescheduling with Adelat, using some sort of event as a reasoning behind it. Not necessarily Wednesday either, limiting yourself to just Wednesday makes finding something a lot harder. So check Friday too.
Talking with Arkvad about non-business matters. If he's in the area, getting a drink with him.
Having rescheduled, go to all three of the listed events.
Cut down a bit on the Hand-to-Hand training. Use the extra time for reading up on lore, sleep, and more Goblin training if you can.
Things I don't agree with:
Blowing off Adelat at anytime. That would make her more suspicious.
Telling anyone about Adelat.

Now that I've upvoted and downvoted things, on to more original ideas and comments. With the Spets meeting, assuming Arkvad didn't use our name, use the Alias Mr. Shepard, since both Locke and Havoc are characters in Command&Conquer: Renegade.

It seems like what we're teaching supernaturals about Guns is by their request, so the history thing may not be something we can use. That said, something to think about when our ability to teach starts running low, humans largely have to worry about being able to actually shoot the gun and not destroy their arm in the process. These guys might not, so we could teach them about things like Warhammer bolters, and they might actually be able to utilize that. Now, giving them the means to use that sort of ordinance might not be a good idea, but it would likely get us a lot more of their students to teach, so we'd rack up more hours a lot more quickly.
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No. 306896 ID: f0e3ae

>>306894
>Blowing off Adelat at anytime. That would make her more suspicious.
Not a single person suggested blowing her off.
I did suggest breaking up with her, gently. Preferably in a non suspicious manner AFTER verifying there is no investigation of us. That is, have a few awkward dates where you intentionally make sure to find no common interest, just tell her it isn't working out and that although she is a beautiful woman you just don't seem to share common interests.
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No. 306991 ID: a76809

>>306844
[You know Arkvad works IN Istanbul, right?]

>>306837
>>306881
[To Clarify-Armas did not do any shooting practice in his Mafia storage unit outside of that which took place in the lessons to a goblin-the same one for all six hours, so far. Krav Maga and Sambo training (and indeed Constanz gym attendence) is currently on hold, with JUST all day training, between Ito and teaching the Goblins.]
I decide to call Adelat, already thinking how to reschedule without arousing investigative suspicion, all while wondering how I can break off this relation as swiftly as possible. Someone with a background like hers is HARDLY the place I want to start practicing intelligence operations of my own.
>[Adelat]"Been busy this weekend?"
"Yeah-I found a guy that teaches traditional Japanese bayonet work, I've been trying to get a sense of the style-make one of my historical relics be my own memories, I suppose. I must say, it's been quite enjoyable."
>[Adelat]"Why didn't you call back at night then?"
"I may not have made it clear at the Pitstop, but my passion for this subject is quite intense-I didn't get home earlier than midnight over the weekend, and went back to practice on waking."
>[Adelat]"...I guess you didn't make the depth of your interest clear before, then, because this... I did not expect."
"What can I say-I love warfare lore and history."
>[Adelat]"...Well, since you've danced past why you hadn't called-I was thinking on thursday we-"
"Hold on-that was part of why I called. I have a meeting I can't duck out of on Thursday-I can do Wednesday or Friday-or the weekend if you want."
>[Adelat]"Really? Who with?"
"Honestly I haven't even read the file yet-was going to do that today, in fact."
>[Adelat]"..Hah, that's no good."
"No it's not but I'll be ready in time for my little event. So when do you want to reschedule to?"
>[Adelat]"Let's say Wednesday... five o'clock?"
"I'll make it work-we can meet outside the Blue Mosque, let's say?"
>[Adelat]"A bit touristy..."
Perfect, she doesn't like the location.
"Yeah but there's nice food up there-come on, it'll be fun."
>[Adelat]"...Okay, Wednesday at five at the Blue Mosque."
"'Till then."
I hang up before she has any chance to start a new tangent, already rolling around a couple ideas on how to be a boorish date without looking like I'm actively trying to be one.. and get on with my Monday. There is eating, and there is Jukenjitsu practice-that occupies the whole of the day-and after the sun sets, I find another three hours to teach the same Goblin in rifle use-not the one I made the deal with, but likewise wearing a full-face helm-at my storage unit. I again marvel at the thickly walled, potentially sound-proofed dividers between each unit. I've worked through the Mosin Nagant, the SVT-40, the Matebas and the Judges-and I stop.
"I... would recommend we find a more discreet location for the more advanced weaponry. Some of the implements can attract a great deal more mundane enforcement attention than other implements-and are a good deal louder."
>[Goblin]"Should the room be inaudible to all that lays without, would that suffice to eliminate the need?"
"...I suppose it would. Are you not concerned about being seen by mortal guards on these training sessions, coming or going?"
>[Goblin]"Do you think we are seen when we do not wish to be seen?"
"..Okay... well, this particular implement is a Shotgun, and...."

The lesson ends with the goblin only having learned of the AA-12, Brandt's heavily modified M16-come-gatling-gun still on the lesson plan. I go to sleep, thinking what to do with nine hours of instruction saved up.

Tuesday morning comes, with me immediately leaping into action, dashing to a heavy training session with Ito with the old man practically throwing me out the door for the lunch break. I munch on a mouthful of my special jerky, the bruises and acid buildup beginning to smooth away as my body starts to forget I pushed it right to its limits nonstop for five hours. I think I've done a few different moves... what, forty thousand times each, by this point? Once I learn the correct form, I just keep trying to do the move faster and faster without getting sloppy-figured it would give me a chance to maintain my fitness while I focus more on learning than conditioning.

After a thorough shower and scrub back home, I change into the one suit I have with me-a simple single-breasted affair over a white shirt, before deciding to wear my single tie-a nearly neon solid orange-anyway, since it's my favorite color. I place the mere pounamu discreetly at my belt line, hidden from view behind my back and under my jacket, before tucking my ski-mask into one inner breast pocket, and the shooting gloves in the other.

Then I check my prize from the warehouse-my Judges and their holdout systems, both fitted securely and invisible beneath the purposefully oversized sleeves. It is a pity I cannot conceal my body armor under a suit-but I pack a full pound of Jerky (having made three more pounds with my second batch of meat), a tourniquet pack and a blood-coagulating pack. Lastly, I put on my shades.

Let's roll.

I take the bus after getting the meeting location by text from Arkvad one hour before the official meet time. Turns out to be a public park, way out away from buildings, yet surrounded by a combination of a dozen trees and a score of shrubs. In other words, a location that would be a nightmare to attempt assassination via sniping, and that provides no immediate areas an ambush could be staged. I find the degree of caution I displayed in preparing for this absolutely vindicated.

Once I get within five hundred feet of the meeting location-a gazebo within the tiny copse-I see two individuals, likewise dressed in bland business attire, waiting.

I also note neither of them wore a color other than black or white. Assholes.

I get closer and I get a better look at them. One's big-nearly as tall as me, and more heavily built with muscle. His thick, oiled black hair is only partly visible beneath a bowler, his reddish face scarred from adolescent acne or some such. He stands silently, with his feet spread and thumbs tucked behind his belt-I can't see where he's looking through his aviators, but his head does not even twitch to orient on me during my approach. The other, a woman in a muted business suit, is five eight, maybe five nine Her lips look stuck in a perpetual pout, and I idly wonder if she's had facelifts, multiple-something about what I can see makes me think the brunette is older than her smooth skin suggests. She stands ramrod straight, head locked on me, eyes likewise obscured, her red, reflective sunglasses hiding even a hint of what she watches from me.
"Mr. Locke, and Ms. Havoc?
>[Ms. Havoc]"..You are Mr. Laine?"
>[Mr. Locke]"Seems we found one another."
"I'm afraid I find myself pressed for time so-"
>[Ms. Havoc]"Yes-to business. Let us discuss Mr. Smets."

An hour later I leave the meeting with two new contact numbers and a new disposable cell phone just for contacting them. Turns out my suspicions about them were right-they didn't SAY it, but they work in the grayer areas, no doubt, and each know bloodshed. After they discussed their findings, that being several others Smets swindled having reputations and businesses destroyed when they looked ready to do something about his disregard fairness, going over all the ways Smets has consistently used his wealth and position to squash those who would object, we are left plotting one of two things.

Either a heist or an assassination-or both. We'll need to work it out at a follow-up meeting.

I'm beginning to like these guys.

The rest of the day from there is once again, spent at Ito's house, followed by another three hours of goblin training. The goblin finally gets the feel for how the AA-12 works midway through the lesson, when I finally move on to Brandt's gun-

And all that progress on automatic weaponry I thought he'd made with the SVT40 and the AA-12 just... goes out the window. It's like he can't apply knowledge from one particular field to another on his own, or some other weird stuff like that. I don't ask, because I am way too tired to try bargaining right now. I hit the sack with the M-16 still perplexing to the goblin, twelve total training hours logged-and forty four hours of my own training as well. I hardly notice that for the third night in a row I dream of practicing with goblins and little old men, with spears that shoot thunder.

>>306876
Another day, another grueling practice that leaves me exhausted enough for two days before lunch, which I chase with some blue jerky to pep myself back up, and have a short afternoon of even more practice-

Before I have to leave, and get ready for date numero dos. ...Now, how to get the scary intelligence chick off my back....

All in all, the 'date' was a complete success. I failed to make smalltalk while we walked about, had not made reservations, chose to wait at a restaurant for a table where the food did not end up being very good-and I acted slightly distracted and generally disinterested in what she was saying. No spark there, that's for sure. She leaves with a decidedly less happy demeanor than last time-and I decide I've likely got her primed to call up and say the relationship isn't working. One step at a time. From the date, I go back to training, back to teaching-still not wrapping up how to use Brandt's gun-and then to sleep, fifteen hours of owed teaching on the clock.

Thursday morning comes, and again I meet with Ito. In the morning we do so much footwork my feet are bleeding by the end-and in the afternoon we do enough hand-placement drills I end up ripping away several of the larger calluses on my hands.

In between, I meet with Savoy at the very restaurant I murdered Castelletti in, where I am introduced to a man named Rocco Armani, who while only five five quite possible outweighs me in muscle mass by some thirty pounds. The muscle-boulder appraises me with lidded eyes when Savoy introduces me as a Contractor vouched for by a Confessor after work evaluation-would have been nice if Savoy had told me what they thought of my work before this, but oh well. All in all, the guy seems very interested in me-but it seems he won't have a use for me right away-he has to do a sendoff party for Savoy and get settled in before he starts looking at potential wetwork needs. I leave, noting Savoy to be staring at me with a singularly strange expression from a corner of the room, half his body hidden in shadow-with the scar running vertically along his face and torso almost seeming to glow in the gloom.

In the evening, I finally wrap up instructing the goblin in how to use every weapon I own-save Mammon's Device-and ask what comes next. The goblin notes that tomorrow a trio of goblins would come knocking on my door to learn of how firearms functioned. I go to sleep with eighteen hours total logged with the goblins-and nearly seventy with Ito, in less than a week. I'm beginning to see brooms and umbrellas as bayoneted rifles out of the corner of my eye-but I can't complain about the teaching-Ito won't let me go on to a new move until he's sure I can perfectly and cleanly perform the one I'm learning at any angle, tired, injured or impaired. ...I have to admit, it's not many teachers that have your final test of master of a given move be to perform it while drunk in a spar with a foe that makes no purposeful opening, but it sure as hell is giving me confidence that once he says I've learned how to do something, I know it front to back.

Friday... is uneventful. I wake, I train-I meet my new students, but all are green-skinned, bare-chested humanoids wearing differing full-face helms, some angelic, some demonic, some unclassifiable, and I begin their lessons from square one.

Saturday morning comes-and I send off checks to assorted destinations, Ito among them, to pay my monthly dues.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,105,330.08]

From there-I don't break my pace, going once more to training with Ito, then instruction with the goblins... twenty four hours total logged teaching goblins (who do indeed learn slower as a group, the same as everyone), and eighty-eight hours of Jukenjitsu training total, that is where my day ends. Every day, another step.

Sunday comes-and with it, a break in the monotony, of teaching and being taught. While I have lunch at home, on break from my training, I hear a flutter of wings beside my head, and a tiny voice whispers in my ear like a lover's murmur.
>"'Ware the northward gateway to beneath-a mortal intruder looks to escape our territory. Unknown if harm is meant towards you."

My head snaps to the side-but I see nothing, the Brownie messenger gone.

...Okay.

With only Keihas still in the apartment (the Judges and holdout rigs returned to the storage room with the rest of my unregistered firearms), I make my way to the window overlooking the manhole north of my house, crouch down, rifle trained, and wait.

Fifteen seconds later I begin to hear automatic gunfire, heavily muffled and growing louder-before a hand pushes open the manhole cover, and a camo-covered figure begins to emerge, outfitted in body armor and full military gear-

And bleeding from three separate places her uniform's been shredded as she slams the sewer grate shut, rolling onto her back as she pants heavily, rifle dropping from an unresisting hand. I cannot help but note her rifle to be an FN SCAR-H, complete with identical grenade launcher to the one on Brandt's gun-

Nor can I help but note she has a P90 TR with a laser sight mounted on the rails with a transparent and empty clip, nor can I help but note her Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun, with each attached loop for holding extra shells empty.

Last but most CERTAINLY not least, I can detect at least five different bloodstains that don't match to where her injuries are just on the visible side of her body.

Still crouched, Keihäs once more outfitted with a silencer and trained on the prone presumed Italian military member (I can see an Italian patch on her shoulder to complement her armaments), I get to wondering-





Just what move should I make here?
There's clearly a lot of questions to be asked about this situation-what do I think I can infer from what I've seen so far?
>>
No. 306993 ID: e41ad5

Part of me wants to just headshot her and take her shit.

WHo else wants some free shit?
>>
No. 306995 ID: 8b0de1

>>306993
If you want free shit just wait till she dies or passes out, certainly not leave a bullet hole in her head which if examined properly can determine that it was shot from Nosin Nagat. And who lives nearby with a Nosin Nagat? Someone who is probably already in files of Turkish FBI?

>Italian military member
Perhaps she is special forces dedicated to bringing down Italian Mafia?
>>
No. 306997 ID: d3dfb8

She looks like a member of the military eh?
If you're going to shoot her be sure to at least move to a new location, they'll be able to trace the trajectory to roughly around your apartment.
Personally I'd recommend against it.
>>
No. 306999 ID: b5ebec

Longarm dropped, no visible ammo for SMG, any rounds left for the shotgun would be in it. So shotgun and sidearm are the only options, with the shotgun only being a possible. Suggesting contact and/or capture, advantage of range and accuracy is yours against a shotgun and sidearm. Get downstairs and cover her while she's busy catching her breath, only calling out once you've got your sights trained. How hostile you'll have to be will depend on the response, but either way it would be prudent to find out what the hell was going on, preferably indoors under agreeable terms, or through coercion if need be.
>>
No. 307003 ID: c173fb

First off, stop being a bore with Adelat. You started this, so either actual be a man with her or tell her that you don't think you can date, but you would like to remain friends. Just man up, and stop acting like some teen who's trying to get a girl to stop liking him.

Second, walk out there and check up on the girl. Bring Keihäs with you if she attacks you so you can practice some of your drills and bash her head in and have Keihäs drink her blood.
>>
No. 307009 ID: 8b0de1

I would advise against killing her.
If we do not want to make contact we should just ignore her... while the weapons are juicy indeed, they are not worth the amount of heat we will generate on ourself if we just go and kill her for them.
>>
No. 307023 ID: 234c26

>>307003
>First off, stop being a bore with Adelat. You started this, so either actual be a man with her or tell her that you don't think you can date, but you would like to remain friends. Just man up, and stop acting like some teen who's trying to get a girl to stop liking him.
The hell do you mean "man up"? The concern with Adelat isn't whether she likes us, it's if she's a Turkish FBI agent trying to either get us to admit to or locate evidence that we are undertaking criminal activities. If she is, then breaking things off without a "this isn't working out" justification could easily be taken as an indication that we're inclined to hide something which we don't want her to find out about. And even if she isn't, if she does discover what our job is it's likely that she would be legally obligated to act against us- making her a total minefield as either a lover or a friend. We cannot approach this from an interpersonal/romantic relationship point of view, we have to treat her as a potentially hostile agent.

That said, personally I don't think that she actually is one. She probably wouldn't have given us her actual job or name if she were. That means that we're being a dick here, yes, but she'll get over a few bad dates and we won't need to worry as much once she's gone. It would be a much more dickish thing to do to keep dating her and keep her locked out of virtually everything important that we do, if she's being completely on the level. Anyway, she is not exceptionally charming, not exceptionally attractive, and our every conversation with her is filled with quiet tension and paranoia. Unless Armas likes that kind of thing, and I've seen no indication that he does, there's little reason to pursue her except the long-shot theory that the investigative agent we know is better than the one we don't.

>>306991
>I can detect at least five different bloodstains that don't match to where her injuries are just on the visible side of her body.
That is interesting. Three possibilities here:
-The blood comes from other people or beings that she has recently fought in close enough quarters to get their blood on her.
-She is not the original owner of that uniform, and they are the one who did the bleeding.
-She has some kind of crazy fast healing ability and the injuries which caused those bloodstains have already healed enough to not be visible.

>what do I think I can infer from what I've seen so far?
She's very heavily armed, but has used virtually all of her ammunition. That means that she's probably done far more fighting than she expected to have to do- and I doubt that all of it was in the sewers. It's more likely that she tried to use the sewers as an escape from a fight and then ran into a hell of a lot more trouble down there than she expected.

If she survived the sewers at all, she's highly dangerous and at least minimally versed in the supernatural. Don't assume that she is weak or disabled at any point; mortals who deal with the other side of things are a wily and tenacious bunch, as you well know.

>she slams the sewer grate shut, rolling onto her back as she pants heavily, rifle dropping from an unresisting hand
Even though she made it through the sewers, it was a close thing, and she's probably not expecting any hostiles right here- even if you were harried and exhausted, you would never drop your weapon and lie on the ground in clear view of a target who might have just heard your gunfire. She probably thinks that she's safe- meaning that you're clear to let her go or make your own move to ambush her, as you please. Keep an eye on her either way, though, just in case.

My own inclination would be to make contact, preferably from a position of strength. It's pointlessly risky, but building connections and getting information is always nice.
>>
No. 307033 ID: c6ce12

>>306993
This is stupid, don't do this.

>>306999
I will vote for this as the best course of action, but I don't particularly like the idea of inviting her into our home. I suppose it's really the only secure place we can get to right away, but I really don't like the idea of her knowing where we live should she prove to be an enemy.

>>307003
I am against the idea that we should try to break up with Adelat, it's better to keep her closer than not. If we do decide to break up with her though agree with the first statement in this post.

Let's see here. She was obviously in a fight, her clothing is described as 'shredded' and her wounds are originate from the same place as said shredding. The word shredded to me implies an attack from either a creature mauling her or a close range attack from a particularly brutal slashing weapon. The blood on her clothes indicates she scored some heavy hits, but she was still running and gunning as she approached the manhole. Her urgency to run indicates whatever she was killing either came in number or was able to withstand all of those attacks and keep going, the number of bullets she has spent also lends credence to this. The logical conclusion is she just encountered Sahagin, but that's not the whole story. She had to have come down into the sewers for a reason. Her injuries and empty guns show that she was not prepared to deal with Sahagin, so she must have fled down here. That Italian military patch is puzzling, perhaps a friend of Mafia? An infiltrator who just did harm to our employers? There's not enough to go off of on that front. What we do have enough to say is that she just did something that will attract a lot of heat from someone and she is not aware what lives in the sewers, sounds like an awful familiar situation to me.

So whatever she just did we really don't want to be a part of, unless of course she was helping our friends, then we want as much credit as we can claim. Either way it's best to get us moved out of our home as soon as possible. We should give basic first aid and questioning inside our home, the most important questions being who did she just do a job for and what did the job entail. Then depending on her answers we take the proper course of action, if her goals are ultimately against us make no overt movements towards violence, but prepare to subdue her and talk to the contact in the organization she acted against. If she was working with one of our friends or a neutral party we are allowed to interact with then we offer to take her to a doctor we know that won't ask questions about any of her wounds. We will of course verify her claims by making some calls while she is in our home and no threat to us.
>>
No. 307034 ID: c6ce12

>>307023
>>307033
Derp, looks like I'm a little late on those points.
>>
No. 307050 ID: a76809

>>306993
Seeing her laying there like that, I start to pondering what to do-
And my darker side offers up its thoughts first.
'Kill her' it says, noting how easy it would be to take her stuff-I could probably get a new plate for my regular vest, possibly even for the damaged leg armor, and that's on top of several reasonably valuable weapons that no one would know I have. I can see my potential gains from this with ease-

>>306995
>>306997
Before I start to think about where to put a bullet in her, I start ticking off the horrendous flaws with my plan.

-Her gunfire was confined to the sewers, and muted. An unsuprressed shot from a Mosin Nagant during the middle of a sunday in a city... not the most discreet thing around.
-Other than Keihäs, I have no firearms on me-and I don't fancy the idea of trying to put her down with a knife.
-Even if I could keep from being spotted shooting her and keep from leaving any evidence on her corpse when I loot it, ballistics could track the bullet back to my house-I'd have to leave my covered location if I wanted any chance at all of this not biting me in the ass.
-There's a distinct possibility I am in Turkish intelligence files-I suppose it's possible I ran into Adelat by chance, but I find my trust in coincidence a tenuous one at best.

And so, with my morals screaming at me about not being involved in the decision making process, I recheck my sighting, keeping the rifle trained on her inner thigh where body armor can't be placed-and I know the femoral artery to lay. Not a quick death-but between her helmet and what looks like a damn comprehensive set of armor, I'd rather have a sure shot available.

And so, with a rifle trained on her from the facing window, I call out to the blood-stained woman some forty feet away, panting on the ground.

"Don't move-I have a rifle trained on you."

Before I finish saying 'don't', she's already moving, a Berretta appearing in her hand like magic as she one-hands her rifle-and she freezes when she still hasn't spotted me (good thing she came out facing away from my house) by the time I get to 'rifle'. At that-she freezes dead still.

"Drop your weapons."
She complies. Thank god she understands English.
"Are you in immediate and pressing need of medical assistance?"
She hesitates, almost looking over her shoulder (at this point having triangulated the source of my voice), but shakes her head, still breathing heavily.
"Drop the rest of your weaponry-I don't see a bootknife, bayonet or anything in your gear."
>"No... I have none."
Hrn, definitely an Italian accent.
"I refuse to believe you have no bayonets or knives, given you still have so many unopened pouches."
>"No-look, I am reaching into a pocket, okay?"
"Slowly."
In a blood-covered hand, she pulls free a hatchet, wicked and sharp, tossing it onto the ground. ...An Axe-gal? I note there to be recent blood stains on the thing, too.
"I still see too many bulges on your person-empty your pockets and remove the body armor so I can visually check you for concealed weapons."
She glances back down towards the manhole she came from, before starting to look back at me-
"Eyes forward."
She stops trying to sneak a glance-but still does not move to comply. ...Perhaps.
"The creatures in the sewers do not roam in the light-they will not follow after you."
I damn near put a bullet in her when she starts at my words, shock plainly written in her figure.
>"...You know about those monsters?"
"Empty your pouches and pockets, remove the body armor, kneel on the ground with hands behind your head, and we'll see what I tell you."
>"Where am I?"
"I can answer that-IF you can comply."
I see her look down the alleyway towards the distant street corner-I wonder if she contemplates attempting to make a break for it, before-

It takes her two minutes, but she leaves three grenades, four flash bangs, another hatchet and a pair of spiked knuckled dusters with her assault rifle, SMG, shotgun and sidearm. Next to that she piles an empty first aid kit and a half-used one, a roll of gauze, a plethora of empty magazines, no less than five hip flasks, a white bic lighter and a pocket knife. Next to that, she piles two tactical vests-one of which was concealed under her uniform-a set of armor for her legs, her helmet (complete with adjustable lenses that either give nightvision or thermal vision when active, not sure), a radio and an earpiece.

It is at this point a note a few new things, as she kneels on the ground, face away, hands on the back of her head.

-I saw white through the tattered remains of one pant leg-and despite exposed bone, she's barely limping.
-The amount of gear she had with her, all said and done, was comperable in weight to my own. That, coupled with the wider-than norm shoulders and form-obscuring fatigues, leads me to wonder just how strong she is.

>"So? Where am I?"
She's been compliant, and I don't want a scene-so I answer.
"This would be Turkey-Istanbul, specifically. If you want a street address-'fraid I'm not offering just now."
She doesn't seem to hear my latter words-I see her stiffen in shock. ...That's wierd.
>"...That can't be right. Why are you lying to me?"
"Seriously? Why would I? I have you dead to rights here, what would I gain?"
>"This CAN'T be Turkey, I was in Mongolia before all this-"
And she cuts off, her words terminating with such clipped precision I know her to be consciously choosing to say no more, not simply failing to find the right words to describe something. Curiouser and curiouser.
"Before all what?"
>"...Who are you?"
"Quite the question: Depending on what you tell me, I could be the guy who sees to it you get medical attention and all that fun stuff-or I could be the guy who puts a bullet in you. Really dependent on what you say."
She sways on her knees for a moment, before responding.
>"....Tell me your name."
"Last I checked I was the one asking questions."
>"Please..."
Dammit.
>"...The name's Armas. You?"
"I'm-"

And with that, the still heavily breathing, unhealthily pale soldier falls on her side, and I notice a few MORE things.

-She was kneeling in a puddle of blood-and her leg is now just one big wet mess. 'Doesn't need immediate medical attention' my ass.

The longer she's out there, the more likely a civvy's gonna see this and make this one big clusterfuck...

....Shit.







What am I going to do?
>>
No. 307059 ID: 252e1b

Well you had a chance at not getting involved before you talked to her. Too late now. In for a penny, in for a pound (or so my mamma says), so you ought to collect her and her artifacts, get them out of sight, get her bleeding under control, and then get her some real medical attention.
>>
No. 307062 ID: 234c26

>>307050
>The longer she's out there, the more likely a civvy's gonna see this and make this one big clusterfuck...
Only one thing TO do- she knows your name now, which means that if anyone else picks her up she'll be able to mention you. Get out there and retrieve her, tourniquet her leg, and get her into your house. There's not much danger that she'll regain consciousness in her current state, so you should have time to retrieve all her gear to get it out of the street and get her as stabilized as you can manage. Splash some water or something on the street to wash away most of the bloodstains from casual inspection, too.

You can't take her to a doctor on the legit side of things without having potentially awkward questions asked, your relations with the Triads are questionable enough that involving them would be a bad idea, particularly over someone you don't know. Nor do you have any serious black doctor contacts. Honestly, your best bet for healing her would probably to drop down into the sewers and trade some of her armament (preferably anything that looks standard-issue; anything unusual is likely to have personal value) for possibly-supernatural medical attention on her behalf. Stash the rest of her gear so that she can't get at it easily after waking up, and dose her with some kind of painkillers that will leave her conveniently mostly unable to move. When she wakes up, you can get some answers... and since she'll be in your power at that point, it still won't be too late to sell her and all her things to the goblins at a profit.
>>
No. 307072 ID: e41ad5

>>307062
>When she wakes up, you can get some answers... and since she'll be in your power at that point, it still won't be too late to sell her and all her things to the goblins at a profit.

Hah~!
>>
No. 307073 ID: ae0719

Yeah, drag her inside.

Actually, considering the injuries, I'm tempted to drop her off at the nearest hospital with a number to contact us to get her shit back. But I want to know what this is all about. She's been through the ringer, and is in a completely different part of the world. Pretty sure that's not a lie - nobody would be so willing to sell it they'd mangle their own leg on top of a bunch of other injuries.

So when she wakes up, have her guns - and yours - on the other side of the room. Don't be overly threatening, but don't get within arms reach of her if you can help it. Ask her if she wants to go to a hospital, and we can wash our hands of her. If she's rather avoid it or call someone, you can drop her off in a public place and leave her be. But if she wants to know what the fuck is going on, well... so do we.

Unsure if you should mention the goblins warned us about her, considering she's probably been fighting a running battle with them in the sewers for a week. We should probably just play up the supernatural tourist guide angle.

Question for question, and all that.
>>
No. 307078 ID: 692cff

>>307073
Seconding this, but think we should actively try and convince her to let us take care of her. Trading with the Goblin to heal her a bit if necessary. And downvoting any attempt to harm her, cross her, or do anything we assume might give her a reason to think poorly of us. We have sucked at cultivating allies so far. We're like anti-Mordre as far as that's concerned.
>>
No. 307080 ID: 252e1b

Our very own Italian Special Operative! I promise we'll feed her and keep her clean and make sure she doesn't bleed to death! Can we keep her? Huh dad? Can we?
>>
No. 307114 ID: 8b0de1

Yeah
you definitely need to drag her in and stabilize her.

She has all lot of junk on her that we will not need and could potentially slow us down if we try to retrieve anything but take:
FN SCAR-H
P90 TR
M4 Super 90 shotgun

Then stash them somewhere away.
Of course, if you can take her AND all of her gear without being slowed down too much, then do it.

Take her to you apartment, try to heal her wounds to the best of you abilities.
Also, restrain her, thoroughly. Wouldn't want her trashing about in our place or catching us unsuspecting and attacking.

Call Arkvard, apologize for sudden request but tell him that this is critical. Ask him for a trustworthy doctor contact info. We might need professional help here.

Would be nice to get the translation of that cookbook. The professor should have translated at least 1/4 or 1/3 of the book right now.
Maybe there are recipes which can help boosting regeneration
or have healing properties.... that would be nice.

>Selling her to goblins
Oh shit, niggers, what are you doing?
It has been stated already that the greatest and most valuable thing that mortals posses is their Free Will. Do you think that human can capture someone and then sell him against his will to supernatural entities?
I really doubt that.
Even if it was possible, I am against it.
>>
No. 307117 ID: 234c26

>>307073
>So when she wakes up
This will take a while, and if she doesn't get some form of medical attention it might not happen at all. Thus my suggestion to get the goblins to heal her up a bit. If we don't go with that, we will need a black doc of some kind, and I don't want to spill this situation to any of our mortal contacts. Because she's unlikely to regain consciousness, we cannot feasibly ask her what she wants done and will have to make that call on our own- which does not involve handing her off to anyone when all she knows is that someone called Armas told her where she was. Armas is not that common of a name in Istanbul.

>Question for question, and all that.
We are in the position of power here. We can get a much better deal than one question for one question out of this. She will already owe us a hell of a lot for just keeping her alive; that should be more than enough on our side of the scales to warrant having all the questions that we want answered without telling her shit. Anything else that we tell her is just biasing the trade even more in her favor unless she has something else to throw in on her side.

>>307114
>She has all lot of junk on her that we will not need and could potentially slow us down if we try to retrieve anything but take:
She is right next to our house. Getting everything will be relatively easy. We also do not want random piles of Italian military gear mysteriously appearing outside our house and being noticed by anyone else; it will draw unwanted questions to this area.

>Also, restrain her, thoroughly. Wouldn't want her trashing about in our place or catching us unsuspecting and attacking.
Thus my suggestion to drug her with mostly-disabling painkillers. It doubles as a method of restraint and something that we can claim was done as a kindness instead of a security measure; none of the bad PR of, say, tying her down.

>Do you think that human can capture someone and then sell him against his will to supernatural entities?
Of course they can. You can sell anything to supernatural entities. In this case, we would be selling our possession of and level of control over the person in question- an easy enough commodity to exchange. It's just like the courts couldn't tilt the balance between them on their own, but once we got involved they could; even if the goblins couldn't normally enslave someone, once we apply our free will to allowing them to do so it becomes a viable option.

That said, that was presented as a possible method for disposing of her at a profit should other options go south, not a first choice. She would likely be more valuable as an ally and contact than as a bargaining chip.
>>
No. 307123 ID: 8b0de1

Oh, by the way, for anyone interested:

>[08:47] <TheBeardiestBob> I swear if anyone can figure out what the hell's going on before I give you enough info in posts to be sure, I'll....
>[08:47] <TheBeardiestBob> fuck I don't have something to bet to show how confident I am you won't figure it out.
>[08:48] <Grail> It's all a trap set by Injun Joe and Wifey
>[08:48] <Grail> She's really an alien disguised as an Italian here to probe us
>[08:48] <TheBeardiestBob> Go on, I like hearing your theories
>[08:57] <Grail> Bob if we figure this out will you make our future self come back in time to teach us a single trick?
>[09:00] <TheBeardiestBob> I could do that if you figure it out by the second update tomorrow

The rest of the relevant conversation is here (also includes information on the new girl):
http://www.mediafire.com/?8xwg2du68gjl33l

I suggest using Golem Quest discussion thread for theories and discussion on the matter, I posted here so that everyone can be alerted before the deadline.
>>
No. 307126 ID: f0e3ae

I actually believe her that she thought she was in mongolia... must have teleported somehow. She is a soldier, but no need to kill her. She probably was not familiar with the supernatural before this. She DOES need immediate medical attention. I would help her. She was probably not here for you.

I am not sure we are qualified to treat her ourselves. We know a discreet doctor (the one who treated us last time) but he is expensive and we are not sure we should reveal her to him...
Or we can always just call 911 equivalent and get her an ambulance to a normal hospital.

Getting the goblins to heal her is an interesting option... After doing that you could use your gun to clean up the blood puddle. make sure she isn't in it since you don't want to kill her via blood-drain.

Actually, first step is to make her relax and not see you as an enemy. I suggest you put away your gun and say "I believe you, I am putting my weapon away and will assist you" and then go assess her injuries. Start with a tourniquet if she needs it, administer first aid, based on how severe her injuries are we can decide if she needs a hospital or whatever. You could answer some of her questions too.
>>
No. 307128 ID: 8b0de1

Oh
since she is passed out that means we can touch her all over the place without her knowing ... err, I mean search her body for information like documents and such. Anything that can help us know who she is and what her mission was.
If she has a PDA, search that too.
>>
No. 307136 ID: f0e3ae

>>307128
DO NOT molest her.
DO administer first aid and examine the severity of her injuries to decide where to take her next.

And for the next time skip, you should aim to both assassinate (1st priority) AND heist (2nd priority) the guy who stole your gun. You need to meet with arkvard outside of work to just get a few drinks and socialize.

BTW, would any of your lessons with the goblins include magic healing? perhaps the teacher can demonstrate on her. :P
>>
No. 307142 ID: 8b0de1
File 130651568279.jpg - (48.83KB , 900x650 , Armas - mystery girl.jpg )
307142

Actually,
make sure she is passed out and is not faking it or something.

>>307136
>DO NOT molest her.
lol,
that was a joke. Read further, I said to search for information in her pockets or whatever.
>>
No. 307150 ID: a76809
File 130651910672.jpg - (268.14KB , 725x996 , Camella Larosa.jpg )
307150

>>307114
>Heavy stuff
>Don't want to be slowed down
>Your house is less than fifty feet away
>Implying you do not already have a black market contact doctor from the end of the Doonongaes mission, or that Arkvad would know an off-the-books, back-door doctor.

>>307059
>>307062
I do the only thing I can-I bring her inside (In the process noting she's heavy enough she's close to two hundred pounds, WITHOUT her gear), lay down some towles on the couch, lay her down, and after bringing all her gear in the house and throwing a bucket of water on her blood to wash it down into the sewers, I get to assessing her condition. ...She is not doing well. Her right fibula is broken, as is at least one foot bone on that side, all of which is paired with a shin that looks like someone took a meat grinder to it. She has no less than nine neat looking puncture marks on her arms-none of which went that hole way through but all of which penetrated at least an inch. I note a massive lump on her forhead, large enough I wonder if she got a concussion in the process. I note her right leg to already be bandaged-and with where the bloodstain is, over the femoral artery, I don't want to move it when the wound's not actively bleeding.

After disinfecting, I use up all my anti-coagulating solution in the process, but after ten minutes I've gotten her bleeding to stop. From there, I dry and bandage every wound save that on her left leg. To that, I apply one of my emergency splints after re-setting the bone and bandaging it up. I take a step back, twenty minutes after starting, and appraise my handiwork-I'm no doctor, but unless she's got some organ failure or massive hemorhagging-neither of which looks to be the case-then she's out of danger.

Just to be safe, I place all of her gear across the room from her, driectly visible when she wakes up. ...Granted, I do not include any ammunition or melee weapons in the selection, but a guy has to be careful. Once I'm sure she's as stable as I can get her at home, I go back outside, and put a little more effort into cleaning up the bloodstain. By the time I call it quits the stain is still there-but it would be nearly impossible to determine what caused it, now identical to the countless other stains on the asphalt.
>>307128
I decide with her health seen to-for the moment at least-to check her gear and pockets for identification. I find a Military ID, and while I can't read most of it, what with it being written in Italian, I CAN make out a few things: Chiefly, her name-Camella Larosa-and her birthdate-02/19/1984, making her 26. I can't tell from her ID anything more-but I do find a PDA, a rather rugged one at that. I try to open it-to find it locked to a thumbprint. ...Well, that's easy enough. After pressing her thumb to the PDA-I am prompted for a password.

...Crap. Guess I am not getting at whatever's in her PDA. What the hell could be on it that you'd need a two layer security system like that? Whatever it is, it piques my interest. Beyond her PDA and her ID, she does not have any documents or dossiers anywhere in her belongings.....

>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
>[WORD LIKE GOLD Trait activated]
...Plus since she's not waking up any time soon..... it's time I gathered more information.
I make my way over to the sewers-using a different alleyway entry than the one Camella emerged from, pry it open-

And, feeling far more cavalier about the sewer residents, merely stick my head in.
"Sometimes Merchant? I'd be willing to trade information about the intruder for more of the same."
>[Sometimes Merchant]"Oh... knowledge for knowledge, eh? What do you ask, what do you offer?"
"Well, without knowing what you know-"
>[Sometimes Merchant]"We know where she started in her trek-and I believe you would be very interested in it. But what information of hers could you have that we want?"
"I could tell you the intruder's current fate-"
>[Sometimes Merchant]"Not worth it-"
>[[b]WON'T TAKE NO Trait activated[/i]
"What about the intruder's name-would that be worth it?"
>[Sometimes Merchant]"For a Name, I would be happy to tell you what we know."
"Alright-so where DID she start out?"
>[Sometimes Merchent]"She started deep, well beneath us-even beneath the remains of Byzantium. She appeared in the heart of the darkest, oldest and most baleful parts of this city's subterrainean section, and over the course of six days, she fought her way to the surface. Beyond that I could not comment, as other deals prevent me from giving more. Now... her Name?"
"Camella."
>[Sometimes Merchant]"Camella... what? You mortals often have multiple names."
"Sure, but you didn't ask for-nor did I offer-her FULL name, just her name. As that is her first name, it adheres to the letter of the bargain. Thank you for the inforamtion."
I begin to slide the sewer grate shut, when words echo from within my own ear, as I see a flicker of familiar light, a faerie-fire halo blinking briefly into existence.
>[Sometimes Merchant]"A well-played deal-and I hope for your sake she is dead-in her running fight, she... aggravated... multiple denizens of the Deep."

With those less-than-encouraging words coming just as I slide the cover shut, I make my way back into my house. She.. started in the deepest parts? How? Why? Could she have entered one of those mythic cave systems with euclidean geometry that can deposit inhabitants anywhere on the world? Possible I suppose... but I still have too many questions.

As I make my way back inside-
>>307114
I decide to call Professor Jagda, who while not in his office-it being a Sunday-will nevertheless have a message waiting for him Monday, inquiring if he has fully translated any of the recipes. I wonder what he shall have to say.

>>307117
I make my way back over to the unconscious Camella to double-check something-ah. She's already been using her field supply of Morphine-might explain how she could move so ably on that leg-so if I tried to give her more, I could put her in greater medical danger. ...The fact she was so alert, despite having morphine in her system likewise bothers me-sure, it COULD be from a fantastic constitution, but I've run into too many supernatural things recently to accept that fully.

>>307073
>>307117
>>307126
>>307142
[FANART BONUS]

And so-

I wait. Keihäs resting across my legs, seated right in front of her gear. I occupy myself going through her heavily used but (up until recently) excellently maintained firearms, stripping, cleaning and reassembling them, more as a way to keep myself busy than anything else. After an hour I realize Ito is probably expecting me, so I call him, and explain something came up today, and I won't be coming to practice. He accepts a bit more readily than I expected-which makes sense, when I stop and think about the recovery times of an old man versus a young one with an unfair revitalization advantage.

Once I've finished going through her every weapon, I take an inventory of her ammunition-all of which I placed on either side of the couch, out of her line of sight. ...Five 40mm long Grenade rounds, all HEAP.... a total of three 12 gauge Frag-12's....a mere sixteen rounds for the FN SCAR, and eleven bullets between two magazines for her Berreta. ...Considering she had more than a SCORE of assorted magazines, I have little issue believing she was down there for so long. ...Which brings up a new question. After rechecking her belongings, I find no rations-so she already ate her provisions. Did she have enough for a week's trek? Maybe... but probably not.

Lastly, I set to assessing her body armor. I note claw marks scoring the back of her over-vest, having cut cleanly through the Lv IV ballistic plate-and I see one shoulder warped as if a fist of steel had pounded on it. Beyond that, and a multitude of scratches on her leg armor, her equipment seems in reasonably good condition.

It is at this point I glance up to see Camella's eyes open and watching me, unmoving on the couch. How long has she been awake? I last looked at her five minutes ago-was she actually asleep then or just pretending? ...No matter, there are things to discuss.
"You may have noticed I gave you first aid-in the future if someone asks whether you need medical attention, be honest, okay Camella?"
No surprise, no 'how did you know my name'. Exhausted, pumped full of painkillers and missing a considerable amount of blood, Camella just stares at me.
"So-still trying to disbelieve that this is Istanbul?"
>[Camella]"I... no, no I accept this is Istanbul. I've been here before-I recognize the trappings of Turkey. ...But how did I get here?"
"I'd love to know that too-and I might be able to help you figure it out."
>[Camella]"You held a gun to me-why should I trust you?"
"I also gave you first aid that I could have withheld."
>[Camella]"You took my gear."
"I'd prefer not to get shot by someone I'm giving treatment to."
I lean Keihäs against the wall beside me as I steeple my fingers.
"Perhaps you can offer some input: How would you respond if, while at home, you hear automatic weaponry being used, and see a foreign military member pop out of the sewers right next to you? I merely took reasonable precautions-I could have tied you up if I really wanted to be sure."
>[Camella]"Maybe you can offer input too-why am I here? How did I get to Turkey?"
"If I knew where specifically you were and what you were doing, I might be able to help."
>[Cemlla]"No-Il Nono missions are classified."
"Il Nono? That's Italian for ninth... the Ninth Parachute Assault Regiment, Peak Moschin?"
>[Camella]"....."
"You are aware I saw your ID badge already so that was rhetorical-now, I have a choice to lay out before you: I can take you to a hospital, and hold onto your gear until you get cleared for discharge-my medical skills only go so far, and if you have any internal injuries..."
>[Camella]"...My other option?"
"Let me continue to treat you here until you recover, and I see if I can help you figure out what happened-which would require you being more open with me."
>[Camella]"....You know about monsters from faerie tales and aren't surprised by their existence-you had enough military medical supplies to finish my field treatment-and I saw how you handled stripping down my weapons. Who are you?"
"Already told you I'm Armas-till you make a choice, I don't feel inclined to say more."
>[Camella]"...Before I can make a choice, I need a phone."
"Who are you going to call?"
>[Camella]"My superiors in Italy-they may know what happened."
"Possible, I suppose."
>[Camella]"...My PDA."
I toss it to her underhanded, and refuse to budge as she pointedly stares at me-yeah, not leaving you alone with all these weapons just yet. I try to listen into her conversation-but she starts throwing out Italian way too fast for me to even get a sense of what she's saying-so I watch her face. I see the rigid professionalism of a military bearing as she starts-but confusion, hesitation and worry begin to slow her words and leach into her expression. Five minutes later she hangs up... and looks none too pleased.
>[Camella]"...I have another favor to ask-can you take me to the Italian embassy here in Istanbul?"
"...So you don't want to go to a doctor?"
>[Camella]"No, I... I need to figure something out."
"What was it in that phone call that's distressing you so?"
>[Camella]"....They said they didn't have any record of a Camella Larosa in Il Nono."

...Well now that IS interesting.





What's my call here-do I take her to the Italian Embassy here in Istanbul, or reject her request?
>>
No. 307155 ID: ae0719

Might as well take her to the embassy. It's either that or lock her in your house, and it's not right to keep a grown woman locked in your house unless you're using her for sex.

... Uh, nevermind. So, sounds like a dimensional slider rather than just some kind of spacial anomaly. Although, hell, considering she clawed her way out of the deepest, darkest places beneath Byzantium's ruins... 'hell' might be more than metaphorical.

If the conversation goes that way in the next update, we could tell her a little bit about Istanbul. I leave it to Armas to work out an equitable arrangement. Something like,

"We are in an old, old place. Old, old, old, old... On the edge of Mesopotamia, the Cradle of Civilization from which all that we are sprung. The Eastern Roman Empire. Byzantium. The Crusades. The Turks and Constantinople. All layered like an onion beneath our feet, fortification upon fortification, ancient history upon now-forgotten myth.

"The things in the sewers have been there for at least 2500 years, since Byzantium-that-was, and you were deeper than that. A place with that much history... it's inevitable that you'll get strange things. Magical things that modern Istanbul has forgotten. Although how they could when you have giant sea monsters in the damn Bosphorus, I don't know..."
>>
No. 307157 ID: 46c430

Ok... So, I see three possibilities: One, her own memories have been modified, and that identify truly doesn't exist. Two, her government erased records of her, for reasons unknown. Three, the records and possibly memories of her were erased in a supernatural fashion, for reasons unknown.

...Don't take her to the embassey, I've got a bad feeling about this. Asides, she should see that off-the-books doctor, medical attention comes first, we can try and figure out what's going on after we're sure she's firmly on the road to getting healthy again.
>>
No. 307162 ID: 8b0de1

Nah,

tell her that embassy is not going anywhere and that she really should let us call a doctor to treat her.

Besides, it would be better for her to go there when she has recovered.
>>
No. 307163 ID: 252e1b

She should at least eat and drink before you move her, she's lost a lot of blood.
>>
No. 307165 ID: d429c4

Suggest that she checks other records of her identity first. Her school/college transcripts, birth announcements in local paper, pretty much anything that could be found on the web. Also, do a general web search for her name, and try to find her number.

Do all of this from an anonymous web cafe - one without a security camera.

To convince her, point out that she's seen a lot of crazy shit in the last week, and she needs to check for other side effects of what's happened.
>>
No. 307167 ID: 234c26

>>307150
>Implying you do not already have a black market contact doctor from the end of the Doonongaes mission
I was concerned that that doctor would be a Triad affiliate and therefore unsafe to use.

>What's my call here-do I take her to the Italian Embassy here in Istanbul, or reject her request?
Okay, that is interesting, and assuming that she encounters similar situations elsewhere there are basically two options: Either she is wrong about her identity, or everyone else is wrong about her identity.

If she is wrong, there are a couple possibilities:
-She was created with all her current (incorrect) memories.
-She was given a false identity in a supernatural fashion, possibly erasing a previous identity.
-She came from a place where her memories were correct, but in this one they no longer apply.

If everyone else is wrong, then there are less options.
-She was erased from their knowledge in a supernatural fashion by some entity.
-She was erased from their knowledge in a mundane but remarkably thorough fashion by some organization.

In either of the latter cases, she has a very powerful enemy which has gone out of its way to fuck with her for what is doubtless a very specific reason. There could have been some kind of horrible magi-accident, but I seriously doubt it. In any of the former cases, she is less likely to have a very powerful enemy, aside from the ones in the Deeps that the goblin mentioned.


Regardless, if you take her to the Italian embassy and they don't recognize her, they will almost certainly get pissed that someone has very accurate imitations of all their identification cards. Hell, her superiors are probably very concerned already that someone apparently outside their organization was able to give them a call with what are doubtless their exclusive ultra-secure PDA stuff. They'll probably cut her PDA off soon in response, so she should get everything she wants to keep off it sooner rather than later and then destroy it, since they'll be tracking it. She might already have been flagged as someone to bring in if possible so that they can poke and prod her until an answer to how the hell she knows what she knows emerges.

So. To avoid problems, I would give her a disposable cell phone and counsel her to do the following:
-First, call someone that she know
s well personally, who is not work-related in any fashion. See if they remember her. If they don't, there is a serious problem here.
-Second, call the Italian embassy and make sure that they have a record of her existence before strolling up there with apparently counterfeit documents and claiming to be a member of their military.

Destroy the cell phone afterward, obviously. And make your decision on if it would be wise to go to the Italian embassy based upon your newly learned information (it probably won't be). Point out your logic on why if she evinces emotional attachment which makes her inclined to act irrationally.


Anyway. She's in a bad state medically, so moving her wouldn't be great, but at the same time you really don't want to keep her here. Sometimes Merchant's freebie warning that there are things after her means that she is probably like a damned homing beacon for nasties, and they'll be incoming towards wherever she is sooner rather than later. You probably want to anticipate incoming hostiles and take appropriate steps; even if you get rid of her they might smell her on you or something and still come after you. Is tracking down the solution to this mystery worth the risk?

You need more information to decide. If you're not going to the embassy, get a full run-down on what happened and don't take no for an answer- she has no responsibility whatsoever to keep the secrets of a government which won't acknowledge her very existence, so "classified" is a joke. Learn what it takes to get answers, and if she's not willing to share and trust you in getting to the bottom of her situation... then my choice would be to take Sometimes Merchant's implicit advice and kill her off in order to eliminate the risk from the denizens of the Deeps. There's no point in playing nice with a person who won't pay you back and will leave you endangered for doing so.
>>
No. 307168 ID: 8b0de1

Oh, don't forget what Sometimes Merchant said.
>"I hope for your sake she is dead-in her running fight, she... aggravated... multiple denizens of the Deep."

We better gear up.
if we are going anywhere, make a detour to get our shit.
>>
No. 307169 ID: d3dfb8

Well, if they managed to erase your file in the military it stands to reason that they could erase your files in the rest of the government archives. Which means that if you go to the Italian Embassy they'll have no idea who you are and kick you out. At which point you'll be detained as an illegal immigrant. In any case I need to get rid of you. The sooner the better, it seems you pissed some things of on your trek.

>>307157
Four: Multiverse.
Honestly at this point I wouldn't be surprised if other realities existed or if occasionally people or THINGS managed to get through occasionally.
>>
No. 307170 ID: c173fb

>>307162
Favoring this, other then the 'Nah' statement. Tell her that we'll pay for a doctor visit - and use our MANIPULATOR Trait to make a back room doctor seem like a better option, especially if she doesn't seem to exist.

After we get her to the doctor, then the Embassy.
>>
No. 307172 ID: 46c430

>>307169
...Orrrrr, option 5, she time-travelled back from the future and she isn't in the record system 'yet'. ...Doesn't sound very likely, but still.
>>
No. 307179 ID: 252e1b

>>307172

Her birthday was on her ID. She was born in 1984.

Something that is possible is that she is a whole-cloth creation, an unbound mortal created fully formed like Athena. And like Athena she sprang forth in full battle gear, ready for a fight. This begs the question, who was her Zeus, the creative force that initially wrought her form, and who stood in for Hephaestus and forced open the portal for her?
>>
No. 307182 ID: f0e3ae

take her to the embassy.

More so, I would suggest saying "since you no longer seem inclined to kill me, perhaps it would be best you rearm yourself. My supernatural associates warned me, and I quote: "I hope for your sake she is dead-in her running fight, she... aggravated... multiple denizens of the Deep."", oh, and arm yourself.

She seems scared about the supernatural which she obviously hasn't seen before and you being a potential source of such knowledge could be in your interest.

>>307172
Of course! She is your time traveling future daughter! :P (ok not really).
>>
No. 307183 ID: 8b0de1

>>307182
Oh no

don't tell her about our dealings with supernatural entities just yet
>>
No. 307192 ID: f0e3ae

In the future, blood spills should be cleaned using our magic gun sucking gun.
>>
No. 307193 ID: 8b0de1

we really need to make her think that she owes us.
I mean, we did save her fucking life when we could just ignore her or let her die and steal her shit.

It would be even better to recruit her.
At least, it would be great to have a favor from her ... we really need some back up to deal with the coming Injun [though Armas does not know that bit of info]

Heh, if we somehow convince her to stay here in Istanbul with us, we could make her join Ito's classes and BAM! a discount! (on the other hand, she will remove one of our meager advantages over her)
>>
No. 307202 ID: d429c4

Do not, under any circumstances, take her to the embassy.

That is a seriously stupid thing to do. Until you know more, she can't get in touch with anything official.
>>
No. 307209 ID: f0e3ae

>>307193
But she doesn't. all you did was detain her at gunpoint until she passed out then gave her first aid. She could have just wobbled to the street and someone would have called 115 (Istanbul general emergency number) or 155 (police) or 112 (ambulance).
>>307167
These are good points so I am changing my vote. Also a few refinements.
If she INSISTS then drive her to the embassy, we don't want to appear as her captors. but try to convince her to do some legwork first. Someone dumped her deep in a place where no mortal would normally survive and erased her records from her sensitive government job. Does she even still exist on paper? A heavily armed woman walking into an embassy claiming to be a nonexistent person would be a danger, and whomever erased her could come after her.

Call some people she knows, coworkers, her boss, friends in high places. Look up her own publically available info online from a public library, etc. If things seem safe, then go to embassy.
>>
No. 307226 ID: 234c26

>>307209
>But she doesn't. all you did was detain her at gunpoint until she passed out then gave her first aid. She could have just wobbled to the street and someone would have called 115 (Istanbul general emergency number) or 155 (police) or 112 (ambulance).
If she's really in a "nonexistent woman" situation, that would probably have resulted in her being black holed by powerful people interested in her, even assuming that emergency services arrived in time. It also might have resulted in nasties coming after her and killing her while she wasn't accompanied by anyone relatively prepared for them, like ourself.

We might not have saved her life directly, but we're setting ourselves up to be just about the best friend that she could have asked for, within reason.

>>307167
Additional thoughts on what she might be: She's very strong and very tough. Almost unbelievably so, in fact, for all that she was called a mortal, and six days is a very long time to run and gun no matter the ammo. She emerged from the depths... call me paranoid, but I can't help but wonder if she isn't some sort of bodysnatcher. Some kind of supernatural entity inhabiting a mortal that it gots its claws into, imitating some other mortal that it caught and ripped the mind out of at some point. The goblin called her a mortal, but then it calls us a mortal too and we can eat things' hearts to heal virtually any wound. It would have called Brandt the same, and he could punch through reinforced steel doors while breathing chlorine gas. The definition of 'mortal' is getting fuzzier all the time.
>>
No. 307227 ID: 83c7d0

>>307182
>>307183
Besides, do not forget that we have made an oath to not disclose information. I admit, I do not know if telling her that we deal with supernaturals falls under that buy lets noy tempt fate, shall we?
>>
No. 307240 ID: f0e3ae

>>307227
We made an oath not to teach other courts or mortals beholden to them any modern weaponry.
they made an oath not to disclose information about us. We never made an oath to keep their identity secret. Besides, I didn't specify WHO said it, just an unnamed "contact"
>>
No. 307242 ID: 692cff

>>307182
>>307155
No, don't start dropping information on supernatural stuff yet, and definitely not telling her things we were involved in, or that we checked up on what she did.

>>307165
>>307192
I like these ideas.
>>
No. 307258 ID: ae0719

Also, she's running on about 4 hours (and a ton of medications) over the last WEEK.

Don't be too surprised if she collapses at some point when her adrenaline cuts off, starts having hallucinations, or even lapses into temporary insanity. Try not to hold it against her, but also be ready to apply butt of Keihas gently to back of head if she starts talking to thin air or starts thinking we're the devil or something.
>>
No. 307271 ID: f0e3ae

>>307258
If you DO absolutely MUST do that use ANYTHING OTHER than the magical handle of vampire gun.
>>
No. 307277 ID: 252e1b

Food, and let her know she can use the bathroom to clean up or whatever if she is confident she can gimp in there.

Going straight to the embassy isn't a good idea. She should be capable of running away if they decide to detain her and blackhole her. See if you can talk her into waiting until she's fully mobile again before trying the embassy.
>>
No. 307285 ID: a76809
File 130655555319.jpg - (1.87MB , 1920x1200 , Camellas Mission.jpg )
307285

>>307155
>>307157
>>307162
>>307163
>>307165
>>307167
Still way too many questions-and a whole bunch of possible explanations have 'going to the embassy' or indeed any authority group firmly situated in the 'BAD IDEA' group. ...Then again she's distressed and rather exceptionally focused on this-SO.
"...Before we worry about getting to the Embassy-why not do a bit more empirical testing."
>[Camella]"I.. what?"
"Well you're not in the Italian military database according to who you called, right?"
>[Camella]"It must be wrong, I-"
"What I'm saying is-are you gone from ONLY the military? Before going to an authority we should do some fact checking? Were there news articles you were mentioned in you could find only, tournaments you participated in, citations that made the papers, an online yearbook-hey, you could check if your Email exists."
>[Camella]"Why would I not have an email? What are you talking about?"
"So much to say-and you look about ready to pass out, so crib notes version it is: We are in an old, old place. Old, old, old, old... On the edge of Mesopotamia, the Cradle of Civilization from which all that we are sprung. The Eastern Roman Empire. Byzantium. The Crusades. The Turks and Constantinople. All layered like an onion beneath our feet, fortification upon fortification, ancient history upon now-forgotten myth. The things in the surface sewers have been there for at least 2500 years, since Byzantium-that-was, and you were deeper than that. A place with that much history... it's inevitable that you'll get strange things. Magical things that modern Istanbul has forgotten. Although how they could when you have giant sea monsters in the damn Bosphorus, I don't know... Not the point. Point is, you could be looking at some severe magical happenings going on. So best to check."
>[Camella]"Magic? You take me for a fool?"
"Okay, then how did you get underneath Istanbul?"
>[Camella]"...."
"And what did you fight in the sewers-I'm going to guess not alligators and vagrants, right? Possibly things that took way more firepower than they should have to put down? Possibly things you couldn't put down?"
>[Camella]"...Who are you?"
"Already gave you a name-try to use it, yeah? Let's look at this another way-your military files have been erased-was the 'agency' responsible more pervasive? Did they erase other records? Come on, this is basic intel, you'd do it in the field to confirm suspicions, wouldn't you?"
>[Camella]"...Fine."

I bring her my laptop, and keep out of arm's reach as she checks some sights. Her findings are troubling, to say the least. Her eyes glisten in her stony, resolute face as she checks article after article-every place she goes, I see no trace of her name. She checks Kickboxing tournaments, free-style wrestling, marksman competions-high school records, all of it-and she doesn't exist. In her graduating year, her face and name are nowhere to be found. No record exists of her entering the military, or participating in any of the myriad competitions she entered-in all cases where she placed, the person beneath her seems to have been moved up to fill her spot-second placers now in first, according to her shocked murmurs-she almost begins to steel herself to what she finds-

Until she logs on to her email.

It's her name, the password is the same-but the contents seem entirely unfamiliar to her. She busies herself systematically checking emails-

And finally runs out of juice, slumping forward into unconsciousness mid-email.

Now that she's finally asleep, I note tears finally falling-the hardened exterior cracking within the embrace of oblivion. I don't know if I could even relate to what she's going through-conceptually I grasp the concept of not existing, but-

...Maybe she does exist. Her email was there-different contents or no, right? I carefully slide the laptop out from under her and start checking a few documents, looking for some key terms to search... hn, contents of this mailbox make it look like Camella's a painter and... a ballerina? Really? Yet sure enough when I do some internet wide searches-there she is, Camella Larosa, an artist based in northern Italy-and she participates in the local theatre. ...In fact, she's been having an open studio this week-with pictures of her within the last twenty four hours. And yes, the jawline, the hair, the eyes-she looks ALMOST the same-but the Camella I see on the the computer is far more willowy, more lithe and swan-like, compared to who resides in my house now.

I return the browser to exactly as it was when Camella passed out, and place it within arm's reach for her. Then, after putting a blanket over her (I don't like using the heater), I think on what to do next.

...I call Doctor Finnigan, after noting her body temp to be at 102 degrees, and her breathing shallow.
>[DF]"..Who the fuck is this?"
"A prior patient, referred by Uncle Lou."
>[DF]"...Ah yeah. What do you want?"
"I have someone in need of your services."
>[DF]"That a fact-they mobile, or do I need to get over there?"
"I would prefer to not move the patient during the day-and I do not think it can wait until nightfall."
>[DF]"Ah, one of THOSE patients. Okay, what's your address?"
I provide it.
>[DF]"Great, we can talk price then. "

In the half hour it takes the doctor to make his way to my house, Camella does not stir-whatever kept her going seems to have finally worn out. The overweight, bearded and balding healer trundles in with a heavy duffle bag, and for the next two hours I'm his personal assistant as we strip off her fatigues and he systematically unbinds, cleans and disinfects then rebandages each wound, setting up an IV drip after she's been re-splinted as a finishing touch. Her color looks a bit better-and since she got a sponge bath out of the process she's finally clean again-who would guess fighting in a sewer for a week could get your grimy?

All through the work, Dr. Finnigan says not a word-and when he's done, stripping off his gloves, what he says bothers me.
>[DF]"I make a habit of not asking questions-and in this case it seems to have bitten me in the ass. I don't want to know why you have a soldier like that here-and I don't want to be involved any further. With luck, she shouldn't get an infection-I gave you some good antibiotics-but some of those wounds were nearly a week old, so I can't say for certain. But if she needs more treatment... she's not getting it from me. As a conciliatory gesture, this little trip was free-just don't contact me until this whole thing is resolved-I want no part of it."

And with that, the doctor leaves.

I spend the next hour mulling over thoughts, constantly checking to see if her temperature has started going down yet-until I find myself interupted.
>[Brownie]"The Sometimes Merchant mentions his students require teaching tonight, as they do all nights."
I look at Camella-and answer as I move to remove my landline's actual cord.
"...Fine, I can make it-is there a way the practice could be done closer to home today?"
>[Brownie]"I am only to pass on the request."
"...Right, I'll see them there."
With no other choice, I drive my van (Which I decide on an impulse to name The Right Laine because it is an awesome name) out to the storage locker, and bring up my teaching hours to twenty seven. With only a half day's worth of training with Ito, I've only acquired ninety four hours worth of Jukenjitsu training, but I find it nothing to sneeze at.

When I return home I find Camella once more awake, laptop before her-
>[Camella]"...You were right."
"Usually am on stuff like this."
>[Camella]"...But... how can there just be another me? If I called my parents-would they even know who I am? Dios mio.... this can't be real."
"Woah, hold on, stop right there-that mindset right there? That's just going to make this worse. Think like a soldier-you've had an unexpected worst-case scenario occur, do you just sit down and despair?"
>[Camella]"..No."
She looks up at me, some of that bleakness leaving her eyes as they gleam like stone.
"So what should you do then?"
>[Camella]"...I carry on, I look for solutions-I keep moving."
"Great-well, except for the moving part, I'd prefer you not open up your wounds."
>[Camella]"I noticed they've been rebound-among other things."
"Yeah-after you passed out on the laptop I called a doc I know, he came over and together we made your treatment a bit more professional then either of our stopgap measures-feeling better?"
>[Camella]"Some. .....I....."

Camella says nothing for a moment, eyes focused on nothing, while I continue to lean against the entry doorframe, patiently awaiting her words.

>[Camella]"..I don't know what's going on-but I DO know you seem to know more than me-can you tell me what's happened?"
"Specifically? Not a chance-way too many variables involved. If you could give me some details on what you were doing before you popped up underground="
>[Camella]"I can't divulge that, it's classified-"
"Is it? Did the mission even occur? Who classified it? If, as it appears, the world is acting as if you never became a soldier-then why is it classified?"
For a full minute she says nothing, and I wonder if I've pushed too hard.
>[Camella]"....I was on an exchange with the Mongolian 84th Airborne, one of three Il Nono representatives there to share training techniques-diplomatic bullshit, you understand? While training, base got a call-some of the army loaded up and left.... and didn't come back. By the next day, the Cquad I was helping train was called to investigate-being bored, we three Il Nonos went with them. On the way we see the dossier-an original report of a farmstead being found empty, then people continuing to disappear, even after the army was sent, no real idea why. We get there-for a time, nothing, just open plains, a few huts-no trace of anyone."
From here her tone changes, becoming colder, more robotic.
"Until Abramo started screaming-all we saw was him being pulled under the sand with nothing but blood left to show he had even been there. ...There were sixteen of us, all said and done. This... thing beneath the sand kept dragging us all down, one by one. There was no place to hide-the truck we took was half-submerged in the sand, the farmstead had earthen floors, and a roof too flimsy to sit on. It was down to just myself and two of the Mongolians..... and that's the last I remember."
"Before you were here."
>[Camella]"Yes."
"...Hell of a thing that happened to you-and I don't want to give you guesses. Let me sleep on what you said-I'll have some thoughts for you tomorrow."

Monday morning starts even earlier than normal for me, as the disposable phone I recieved from my fellow non-fans of Mr. Smets vibrates-a text. It's short and to the point-a new meeting location on Wednesday, nothing more.

I go to the livingroom, to find Camella still asleep-and when I check, her temperature's finally started going down. Good.

.....So.....






What am I going to do?
Is it okay to just leave Camella here while I go out and train?
What do I think happened to her, given her story and what else I've pieced together? [Last chance for an intuition bonus!]
Or is there something else I should do with my time now that she's here?
Should I attempt to make any other appointments besides the one with Havoc and Locke?
With enough time having passed, how best can I call Adelat and break off the relationship to attract as little interest from her as possible?
>>
No. 307294 ID: ae0719

Just for curiosity's sake, ask her if this was in the Gobi desert; the burrowing creature could have been a Death Worm. But those just eat people, there's no... dimensional crossover or whatever happened.

Ask if there was anything particularly odd about when she found herself transported (besides the obvious), specifically anything that might stand for Summer or Winter, like the blue and red flames (wouldn't it be weird if she had somehow been nominated as the new Summer representative for you after Ogrimir's stunt?).

If it's not dimensional crossover (from the worm, or that nevernever gate that almost opened in us, or whatever), then all I can see is this Camella being a magical pod person. Changeling, fetch, skinthief, evil doppelganger, clone with fake memories? Man, it just gets more outlandish the more I keep talking.

Was there any kind of dead drop that Il Nono operatives - or the three of them in particular - utilized that she could check? They might have wound up in the area, too, even if its unlikely (they were taken by the worm - or whatever - leaving a bloody spot, and Camella was uninjured before finding herself below Byzantium).

For Adelat: just tell her, "I have a lot of things going on in my life right now, and it's just not a good time. My fault entirely. Sorry, but I think it would be best if we called it off, at least for now." Basically, 'Sorry baby, it's not you, it's me.'

For this one... I'm tempted to bring her along and make her wait in the van, because I don't want her poking around in our things, maybe finding that demon blood. But she probably shouldn't be moved.

Anyway, she seems reasonably intelligent. Before leaving, give her back her guns and warn her she's pissed off some things down there. Hopefully you won't return to find the place burned down or something.

For Smets, I'm thinking 'heist' with the possibility of "home invasion; burglar shoots home owner" if the opportunity presents itself. See about trading a few of your accrued hours for lessons on Goblin-type Sneaking (pretty much the cheapest type of lessons, being 1-to-1 ratio). It seems like it would come in handy for the task at hand.
>>
No. 307299 ID: c6ce12

Eh, I'm really not keen on the idea of leaving our house with her in this condition. I'm not really keen on leaving anyone alone our house to begin with though. I would much rather stay here for the first few days and keep an eye on her, occupying our self with research, a little bit of shopping, make a couple calls, and trying to puzzle out what happened with her.

I'll recommend again specifically researching Mahuika, beserkers and Sami shamanism In between that we can do the shopping, they sell some bullet proof trench coats and executive vests online, we could get one of each for $3,400 or so at the highest protection grade and couple bullet proof undershirts for a $100 a piece. She also has that fancy helmet with the adjustable lenses, I'm sure you could try to look up the make of it and place an order in with Riker, maybe chat about the hole in our armor. We need a decent set of kitchen tools too, might need them to properly prepare meals listed in the cookbook. And speaking of that we need to call up scholar boy and ask if he has any pages of the book done, he may have an interesting response. If he has questions I'd suggest inviting him over for a meal. Oh one of the biggest reasons we should stick around is that she might be more than a little hungry when she wakes up, it would be a big plus for us to have a hot meal waiting for her so I guess prepare to cook for two if you get hungry before she wakes up. If we have to leave then let's leave a note or wait until she wakes up to tell her we'll be gone.

When we call Adelat we can twist this situation to our advantage, saying we're seeing someone isn't really genuine, but we can tell her a friend of ours has gotten ill recently and our life just isn't in the right place for a relationship.

I would try to lead our meetings with Havoc and Locke towards at the very least killing Smets, the man isn't someone I'd like to rob and leave around to plot my demise later. Anything and everything after killing him is gravy. I mean we could try to loot his collection of magical weapons, might be a nice bit of poetic justice to kill him with the weapons he scammed our group for. In fact looting first and killing afterwords would be optimal if we plan to loot the place, with his neighborhood the police will probably be there in a jiffy after gunshots are heard. Whatever way we go we need to get some specifics down-schematics of the house, guard shifts, that kind of thing need to taken care of this meeting or the next.
>>
No. 307312 ID: 8b0de1

>Camellas Mission.jpg

>The Name of the Rose By Giovanni Di Gregorio
>One of the most incredible Italian churches, the oratory of Santa Maria della Pietà at Rocca Calascio in Abruzzo, Italy.

Damn you, that's no where close to Mongolia!
>>
No. 307320 ID: 692cff

>>307294
Saying you've got a lot going on seems the kind of thing that can draw interest if she's already suspicious of us. I think it'd be better to say there's someone else we're interested in, and don't want to string her around. If she decides to check this in a non-direct fashion, the way I hope she would, she'll hopefully see Camella and just accept it.

>Is it okay to just leave Camella here while I go out and train?
I'd say yes, but since she keeps asking who you are, at least telling her you're ex-US military might put her a bit at ease. If she asks for more continue being cagey for now. Oh, and maybe you should grab her an outfit while you're out. The military uniform would draw too much attention I think, and she can buy her own after she has something to go out in.

>What do I think happened to her, given her story and what else I've pieced together?
Well... I don't think the thing pulling people under is how she got here. Maybe the sand shifted too much and she fell underground and something down there caused it, non-euclidean geometry cave theory again, maybe one of the Mongolians left had some freaky bloodline power that activated and hurled the three of them across the multiverse, or maybe something down under the sewers activated and brought her there at a very convenient time. But I don't think a mongolian death-worm ate her and pooped her out at a distant location in another dimension.
>>
No. 307321 ID: d429c4

>>307285
You should also check whether her unit actually accepts female members in front line roles.

You want to get her out of your house. A first step may be to take her to your shooting range/workshop - as it as Mafia owned it may deter some of denizens of the deep from attacking straight away. There are downsides to this, of course.

Now, if you want to take a risk, you could sell Sometimes Merchant a confidential interview with her - he could not tell anyone else that she still lived or our involvement. Tell him the price would be telling us which of her statements were true, and which she merely believed to be true, as well a future favour.

I suspect she's a copy of someone from an alternate world who died after being eaten by a Summer Fae, created from the overflow of the energy the fire elemental ate. Possibly, she's the elemental herself, wearing the identity like a mask.

You should also make preparations to be attacked. You're going to want to set up an ambush for anything that comes after you, If you've got enough time, the corrupt weapons dealer is the way to go, so you can get some more equipment. For mundane equipment, see if you can track down some white phosphorus rounds, and some recoil-less rifles, something like an AT4-CS.
>>
No. 307325 ID: ae0719

>>307299
Put a silencer on the glock and leave it at the scene? We've been meaning to get rid of it anyway...

>>307321
I kinda like her, but I don't know that we want to go to war with Summer or worse for her sake.
>>
No. 307329 ID: 8b0de1

Oh, we have an excellent opportunity to gather some trading goods right now!

Save the history of Cammela searches on your laptop, using these spinets of information and what you already know, you will be able to piece together a decent history of her past.

Then, using her e-mail and your own searches you will have her alternate past, the life of Cammela the painter, the ballerina,

Then you have the story of her last mission and how all of it went to hell. You should try to gather as much information about her journey to the surface, what she fought there, how she survived.

All in all, you will have 3 decent stories you could trade with the Goblins.

As for what to ask of them, I was thinking of getting more supernatural contacts, preferably traders, from another collectives and races. Dwarves or Elves perhaps?

If that doesn't work, we can still continue to hound them for cooking ingredients. This time, we should ask for vegetables and fruit used in the cookbook which cannot be found in mortal world (or are extremely rare)
Also I keep forgetting to add this: HAVE THEM LABEL THEM! We have no idea what they are bringing us, so we need to know the names of the ingredients. We still haven't figured out which meat is which. Have them label ALL of the products from now on (meat, spices, vegetables), and in 2 languages: English and then one they used in the cookbook.

Armas, the Battle Chef
>>
No. 307341 ID: 8b0de1

>Is it okay to just leave Camella here while I go out and train?

Yeah, let her. She shouldn't be move lest her wounds open. And we have removed all the ammo from her weapons.
Better take the ammo with us to the storage.
Perhaps her weaponry too. If she doesn't like that, tell her we have a safe place to hide weapons ... we wouldn't want to get arrested for possessing such firepower, would we?
If she refuses to accept that reasoning ... well, then leave them here, I guess. Still, she would be putting us into a risky situation.

>Should I attempt to make any other appointments besides the one with Havoc and Locke?
Nah, I don't see any need for another appointments.

>What am I going to do?
Tell her, that since she has literally no where to go and no one to ask for help, she can stay here till she decides what to do next.

Oh, oh
also, ask how she feels about Italian mafia in general
>>
No. 307342 ID: 8b0de1

[Ah damn, hate to post again but...]

We had left a message for the scholar.
See if he has replied, if he has translated some of the book, go get the notes.
If he asks where we got it just say: "I made a trade for it with a merchant here in Istanbul" and leave it at that
>>
No. 307344 ID: c173fb

>>307321
>>307329
Yeah, I'm all against telling anything else about the woman to the Fae. She's our responsibility.

>What do I think happened to her, given her story and what else I've pieced together?
I honestly think she was taken by a doppleganger - or the Chinese equivalent - and replaced in Mongolia. She couldn't have been from an alternate universe or time stolen, or such if her password works, and it must have been recent or the password would have been changed.
As for how she got to Istanbul, a deep underground location filled with demons could be mystical location for the Chinese. One of the many hells. That, or the spirit was a Chinese trader who needed to replace their body with her's in order to get free.

>Is it okay to just leave Camella here while I go out and train?
Check with her first. I mean, we have a big van, she could carefully ride in the back. If she decides to stay, tell her not to leave because she still needs to heal.
>>
No. 307355 ID: a76809

>>307294
I leave a note for her, saying I'll be away in the morning, along with a plate built around a garlic, bell pepper, onion and mushroom omelet, french toast, grapes and a banana, as I go to Ito's. He does not ask what happened last night-but when, after a particularly rigorous six hour block, I note I won't be coming tonight either, he finally asks.
"Well, I got someone that needs medical attention right now, got to take care of them, that sort of thing."
>[Ito]"Perhaps now could be the time to look into more students?"
...You know what?
"Sure, I can ask a few I've thought of today-no promises on whether they'll attend, though."
>[Ito]"Naturally. Until tomorrow, then?"
"Yup-see you then."

On the drive home (man I love how much gas a Vanduras can hold) I decide to try calling each of the guys from the gym. With each, I spend an average of about two minutes briefly catching up-they were wondering where I was, what I was up to, tell them I got a girl that's eating up time, they make conciliatory noises-and out of the five, Hafaz and Shaya both express interest, whereas the other three seem content to let those two act as a 'demo' for them. I give them each Ito's address-and call be Ito.

"So, got two people who at the very least you could teach Jukendo, and would probably be the right type for Jukenjitsu-after you've had a lesson with them, let me know how much you're dropping the monthly fee."
>[Ito]"You will be informed."

Next, I call up Adelat-hoping to finally wrap up what I'm still half-convinced is an attempt by Turkish intelligence to investigate me.
>[Adelat]"..Oh hi Armas."
"Yeah, hi Adelat."
>[Adelat]"So how are you?"
"Eh-more busy than I'd like-actually why I'm calling. I have a lot of things going on in my life right now, and it's just not a good time. My fault entirely. Sorry, but I think it would be best if we called it off, at least for now."
>[Adelat]"...Just like that?"
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"...Look, I'll be honest-I wasn't feeling much of a spark on either of our dates-did you?"
>[Adelat]"It doesn't always look-"
"So you didn't feel much either, then. Maybe this can work out between us-I just don't see it working out right now."
>[Adelat]"...Fine, if that's the way you feel."
*Click*

Hm-she hangs up on me, a bit of irritation in her voice.... but I'd be willing to bet money she wasn't irritated at me, specifically... so what was she irritated about? Possibly that I ruined her undercover investigation? She coincidentally read something distressing while speaking with me? Many potential explanations-and I simply do not have the time or impetus to investigate.

I return home to find the plate of food completely picked clean beside Camella-once more on my laptop.

I also note that when I see her she has her Beretta in hand and trained on the doorframe-and drops it the moment she identifies me. I decide to ignore the gun pointed at me as it seems clear she wasn't intending to shoot me, and lean back against the wall, arms crossed.

"Learn anything new?"
>[Camella]"...Maybe. Il Nono's security code is valid-I was able to log onto one of the munitions websites we use-and so far I've found a P90, a SCAR and an M4, all with identical serial numbers to mine registered as in use by Il Nono."
"...Which, given the fact that as far as they are concerned you do not exist, is interesting. Were you able to access who is using them?"
>[Camella]"Only partly-I can tell they aren't being used by the same operative, since different countries are listed, but that's all I can find out from here."

"Hmm...."
Camella turns to face me, eyes lidded and guarded.
>[Camella]"So, what happened to me?"
"Well-that's the problem. You know how big and convoluted the international military scene is, when you try and figure out who is from where and does what, especially in joint operations? You know how you need support teams just to keep the facts straight?"
A lengthy pause as Camella continues to appraise me.
>[Camella]"...Yes."
"Well they got nothing on the supernatural. With what information you've given me, I can only narrow it down, not be certain. Knowing I can only give you a few likely guesses, do you still want to know?"
Not a moment's of hesitation before-
>[Camella]"Yes."
"Alright-well, my gut's telling me this is a dimensional crossover event-making you a Slider, here from a parallel world. In your world, you joined the military, had all the history you remember up until the worm incident. Here, things went different, and you became an artist. ...You could help prove or disprove this by commenting on your thoughts about painting and dancing."
Camella gives me a sharp look.
"I have a potentially nonexistent special forces operative in my house, you better believe I'm doing my own checking on this too. So?"
>[Camella]"..I enjoyed painting when I was younger-I never tried ballet."
"Okay, so still very possible. Next guess would be that you are somehow a clone-"
>[Camella]"Excuse me?"
"Hold on let me finish-a clone in the sense you are a duplicate of another Camella, possibly dead, possibly not, who is still in said parallel world. Really, I just don't see how this situation could have occured WITHOUT dimensional shenanigans-which, to be fair, are not really my forte."
>{Camella]"Whose forte ARE they, then?"
"That's the problem-those knowledgeable about this are not keen on sharing."
Camella pulls back the slide on her berretta.
>[Camella]"I'm willing to ask them."
"You are willing to do nothing whatsoever until you get better. On that note-"
>[Camella]"The IV drips still going fine, and my temperature is a little under 38 Centigrade"
..About 100 degrees then... well, not a HUGE issue....
"Any active bleeding?"
>[Camella]"None that I have been able to detect without undue movement and torsion."
"Ahuh-you awake on your own power or with the aid of a stimulant?"
>[Camella]"I may still have some stims left in my system from yesterday, but I took none today."
"Last question-you still hungry?"
>[Camella]"No, the meal was delicious, I-"

My landline starts ringing, and Camella stops talking, watching me for my reaction. I sidle over, picking up the phone.
>>307342
[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
>[Pr. Jagda]"Where the DEVIL did you get this book?"
"I take it that means the translation is proceeding smoothly?"
>[Pr. Jagda]"Is this some kind of joke!?"
"Well, I'm sure you have friends who can test the document for age-"
>[PR. Jagda]"They did! And they say the book is more than three THOUSAND years old! Do you even grasp what kind of conditions a leather-bound book would have to be kept in to stay in this good of condition for that long?"
"Only enough to know that those I got the book from had been taking good care of it."
>[Pr. Jagda]"..Somone gave you this book? Who the-"
"Tell you what Professor- just send over what you have translated so I have something to work with, and I can give you the full scoop after you've finished the book."
>[Pr. Jagda]"...And you think you have an explanation that will suffice, when I am done?"
"I feel quite certain you will want to be sitting for that conversation-so yes."
>[Pr. Jagda]"...Fine, I have midterms to grade-you'll get what I've done in your email."
"It was a pleasure talking with you."
>[Pr. Jagda]"And we WILL be talking again."
"Count on it."
*click*

>[Camella]"...Who was that?"
"Someone I'd only discuss with a friend-and I don't think that's the category you fit in right now."
>[Camella]"...Fine."
"I wonder, though, if you grasp your situation."
>[Camella]"How could I, I still don't know what happened!"
"I don't mean understand what has happened-I mean understand what this means you will have to do. I speak of choices. You do not officially exist-it is exceptionally doubtful you could return to active duty, since no record persists. So I'd recommend you think very hard about what it is you plan to do from here. Now, if You'll excuse me-"

I reclaim my laptop from her-not fast enough to prevent her from clearing recent browser history and the cookie cache or whatever it's called-and take a seat, purposefully leaving the screen partly visible to her.
>>307299
With my pile of Maori and Finish lore still waiting for me to finish wading through it, I skip looking up Mahuika for now-and get right to the nitty gritty. I find a website marketing a wide range of 'executive products' ranging from bullet and knife-resistant trenchcoats, jackets, vests-shit, they sell helicopters AND SUBMARINES?


...Bookmarking that, no question.
http://www.argoasecurity.com/default.aspx

I order up a brown pseudo leather bomber jacket, roomy enough for my holdout rigs, a black trenchcoat, similarly roomy, and a black business vest-all of the highest protective grade availabe, IIIa complete with knife turning fabrics. Not impregnable, by any means-but now I have body armor I can wear casually-and adding the trenchcoat to my existing body armor setup would make it about as hard to shoot me in the back as it was to shoot Brandt at all. IIIa trenchcoat over a V Dragonscale overvest over a IV vest, with a lv IIIa facemask, a lv IV helmet and lv IV leg, shoulder and groin armor-and that's not counting my two specialized Arrow Charms..... yeah, bit of protection there. Order comes up to $3,800 all said and done, tax included-

And it should be at my door within three days-gotta love expedited shipping.

>>307320
An idea occurs to me.
"...I could have been looking at this all wrong-it might have nothing to do with the monster-which I now feel pretty confident was a Mongolian Death Worm-but more to do with the holes it left. Plenty of euclidean geometry cave systems in lore-you could have fallen into one of those."
>[Camella]"If I had, when I woke up wouldn't I have some injuries from the fall?"
"Not necessarily-but that does make it less likely. Hmm...."
>[Camella]"I have a question for you, at this point."
"Yes?"
>[Camella]"You've told me your first name-Armas, right?"
"Don't wear it out, now."
>[Camella]"You seem to know a great deal more than you should-you were able to get me dead to rights within ten seconds of me surfacing-you know enough jargon I've got you pegged as ex-military, you know as much about field injury treatment as most of the more... independant, let's say, military groups-and now I see you buying plainclothes body armor. Mind telling me what all that says about you?"

Hm. Looks like she's had enough of being kept in the dark about who I am-and I've known enough Italian girls-she is going to throw a shitfit if I don't tell her SOMETHING.

Thankfully I am saved-for the moment-by a voice whispering in my ear.
>[Brownie]"It is time for lessons to be offered."

"..Sorry Camella, but I got an appointment tonight I can't miss-so why don't we talk about this later?"
For a time she says nothing, merely watching me from my couch-but finally she turns her face away, nodding almost unwillingly.
>[Camella]"Tomorrow, then."
"Okay-see you in a bit."

I leave, make my way to the storage unit, on the way wondering what conclusions Camella would have drawn if I hadn't moved my... less legal implements prior to her arrival. The lesson proceeds apace-All three goblins finally comfortable with Keihäs and the Judges alike-and terminates after three hours like every other time. ...Huh, thirty hours teaching saved up, one hundred hours learning logged.... nice numberical lineup there. I mull over what I'm going to do tomorrow on the trip home-and resolve to go to sleep early tonight, to do an extra early training session tomorrow before I go to the second meeting with Mr. Locke and Ms. Havoc.

Four AM rolls up tuesday morning-and I get up, the first thought in my mind a dim realization that when only doing one Jukenjitsu session a day I don't need help recovering. I check on Camella-still resting-and quietly exit the house, heading to my pre-dawn training. Ito seems quite pleased, Shaya and Hafaz both seemed interested in his lessons-though I feel somewhat bitter when he notes that Hafaz is quite likely to be a prodigy. ...Gonna have to keep an eye on that. Training ends with me barely noticing that the practice stick is starting to feel like part of my arm, and as I drive home my thoughts are not of bayonets-but of a certain pair of business suit wearing individuals.

On my return, I note Camella to once more be up-once again training a gun on me as I enter, lowering it the moment she identifies me.
"As much as I appreciate you watching the house so diligently, mind not pointing a gun at me each time I walk in?"
>[Camella]"If you had fought what I had on the way out of those nightmarish tunnels.... well, are you ready to talk?"
"Not QUITE yet-got another meeting."
Camella frowns as I march past her, reaching out an arm to my pant leg to catch my attention.
>[Camella]"You aren't trying to brush me off, right?"
"You are inside my house-exactly how am I going to brush you off?"
Again, a lengthy moment of silence-and she lets her arm drop. I change into my business attire once more (again going with my Orange power tie of awesomeness) And head to the meet. This time it's in a train station cafe. I see Mr. Locke and Ms. Havoc already sitting at a table, awaiting my arrival. I start walking over, wondering....







What specifically am I going to propose as our plan here?
Assuming they brought blueprints of the house, guard route timings or similar data, what should be our primary goal in construction the Smets mission?
Should I bring up Smet's collection, and determining who gets what?
Should I risk checking my email about the goblin cookbook with Camella in the house?
>>
No. 307371 ID: f0e3ae

Considering how vindicative smets is I think it is imperative that he dies.
Missions goals:
1. Kill smets.
2. Loot his collection

As for splitting loot... they most likely lost things of greater value then yours. but lets play nice here. Tell each other ahead of time what was stolen from you. Each one of you gets back what is yours, the rest of it gets valuated by H&H. Total value is split in 3 and is then used to select your share, stuff none of you wants gets sold for cash which is then split. If more than 1 of you wants a certain item, bid on it.

You really should meet with arkvard outside of work. at least once a week.

You could buy a second laptop for carmella. Your has a password, right? then you can check your emails in private... but that would make her more suspicious of you.

You really should tell her something. You don't need to lie, just be selective about what you reveal. I suggest sticking to the basics. I am an ex US marine, ex ranger. I saw too many impossible things during your active duty, shared those stories with my comrades and heard too many similar stories. Istanbul, being one of the oldest cities on earth, is one of the places I heard of as swarming with the supernatural. I had to know, I had to find answers, so I came here. I have thus far found all manner of supernatural beings here. I did indeed know to expect you, I have bartered with the fey to be notified of potential attacks, they informed me of a heavily armed woman fighting her way through the monsters in the sewers going in my direction, her intentions towards me unknown. So I came to investigate and found you.
>>
No. 307402 ID: 234c26

>Should I risk checking my email about the goblin cookbook with Camella in the house?
You could buy her a new laptop; you can easily afford it. Then she no longer gets to use yours, and don't have to let her see what you're doing on it unless you actually have a reason to. Remember that information is a precious commodity, and you have no good reason right now to share it for free. I'd recommend throwing a program on the laptop to record what she's up to, except that you're probably not computer-savvy enough to manage it against someone who knows what they're doing and trying but failing would be far worse than useless.

Realize that she's been going to classified sites with what is probably an unmasked source address, and that those sites keep records of where their traffic comes from. Your ISP is now in the records of the Italian military as having accessed their secure data; that could definitely be a problem at some point in the future. This is a talking point which you should remember for when you're telling her just how ridiculously generous you've been in an effort to get her to do whatever you want her to do later.

>Mind telling me what all that says about you?
When you finally do have this conversation... she knows that you're on your toes enough to defend against most things, you're connected enough to get her treated and do some investigation, you're capable enough to keep her alive when she was bleeding out, and you're informed enough not to blink when facing things that most people would deny the existence of. Further, you're silly enough to apply these traits to her benefit in spite of the fact that no reward has been offered and there is substantial risk involved.

Now, earlier she made the choice- and we think it was the right one- to stick with you instead of going to a hospital that would put her on the grid as a woman who doesn't exist. We've given her medical treatment, some information, and our trust that she won't do anything stupid in response. We've already taken some significant risks for her, too.

If she wants more answers, then she's got another choice right now. She can swear by Winter, by Summer, and by her own name to be your friend, your ally, and someone worthy of your trust, and mean it; in that case, you will treat her as just that. Or she can refuse to do so, in which case you will continue as things are now, telling her only what is directly relevant to her situation and living with the annoying level of discomfort and paranoia involved in keeping her in your house.

The important point here is this: She has already received a great deal of aid from you, and is poised to receive more. You are under no obligation to accede to her demands for still more unless she gives you something in return, and essentially the only thing she has to offer that you would be interested in is her own friendship and loyalty. Treat it as a bargain and don't take no.

If you can, drop in by Sometimes Merchant and see if you can find out how to make an oath by something mystically effective before doing this. Even if he won't sell that information for free, I bet that you could cash in a few of your hours of instruction on how to make it work, or come up with something else relatively affordable. Then if Camella is willing to name herself your friend you can really make it stick.

>Should I bring up Smet's collection, and determining who gets what?
Wait to see if one of them brings it up first, but if it comes to determining a division of returns from this venture, as even as possible a split seems obvious. Assuming no items which stand out so exceptionally as to eclipse everything else completely in value, simply choosing items each in turn until all are gone is a tried-and-true method.

>Assuming they brought blueprints of the house, guard route timings or similar data, what should be our primary goal in construction the Smets mission?
If you steal from Smets and leave him alive, he'll start pushing his connections to find you. As it doesn't seem like he has an organization backing him who would seek vengeance, assassination is thus our primary objective here. Theft of his collection is an important but ultimately secondary objective. Remaining unidentified is also a vital concern, as Smets is by no means a low-profile target and there will certainly be an investigation into his demise.
>>
No. 307418 ID: 692cff

Plan for the thing. Sneak in, cut electricity, have Locke and Havoc sneak in after. Before this goes down, spend six or seven hours on sneaking training with Goblins and two or three on moving silently training. Depending on how tight the security is, maybe have a plan for some sort of subtle distraction while you first attempt to sneak in. Like, maybe using a prepaid phone to arrange a contractor to show up to give an estimate on an addition to his house.

Then, once in, either off him silently or hit his collection and then off him. We really want the chance to loot his stuff after all.
>>
No. 307422 ID: ae0719

>>307371
Everyone gets back their stuff, for certain. The rest... we can work out once we have it.

For the plan... we need the layout of the place, and to discover what security system Smets has (I'm assuming electrical or infrared sensors at least; maybe supernatural stuff too). We want to do this quietly (buy a silencer for Gustav's glock and use it to kill him, if you can; we need to ditch that, anyway). Try to plan for contingencies; it'd be nice if Smets is an easy kill, but when have your missions ever gone smoothly?

I believe Arkvad said this guy took mystical items from the other two too, so they might have talents to bring to the table that you don't. Ask in a diffident way if you can.

I recommend that two go in and one covers from a distance in case of problems. I don't know if we trust these guys enough to have a sniper rifle at our backs, so we could conceivably take that role with Keihas or AVT-40. Of course, they'd probably be nervous about that very same issue if the roles are reversed.

If it seems like you're going to be doing the lions' share of the work, push for a 'hazard pay' split. If it's more evenly shared or you get the sniper gig, you're the Three Musketeers; all for one and one for all. In other words, try to angle for an even split.

>>307402
>If she wants more answers, then she's got another choice right now. She can swear by Winter, by Summer, and by her own name to be your friend, your ally, and someone worthy of your trust, and mean it; in that case, you will treat her as just that.
This sounds pretty good.

Explain to her that in this world, many supernatural creatures may twist the truth but never lie, and breaking Deals is anathema to their very core essence. Those who sometimes deal with them must hold to their bargains likewise. When you give your word that you will do a thing, it gets done come hell or high water.

Also bring up the question of what she's going to do for the (possibly quite long) amount of time she's here. There are people out there who can get you the right (fraudulent) paperwork to have an identity again, for an exorbitant price, if that's what she wants. And money is also useful for, well... finding information of this sort; the supernatural does, in fact, take legal tender in some cases, and they like shiny rocks and worked metals. But that leaves the question of how to get that money. If she wants, she could probably get a job at a mom and pop store without credentials. If she wants to use her training, there are people you could probably get her in touch with for that.

Not that you're kicking her out, but... well. Plan ahead. Be prepared. That's the Boy Scout motto (I don't think we're a Boy Scout).
>>
No. 307423 ID: d429c4

Assume that Smet is a very high order threat, to be able to even contemplate getting away with this, or more likely, he made a bad deal, and something has slithered out of the darkness and ate his identity.
You have faced the Doonegeas. You want something that can put a monster down hard. How about a disposable recoil-less rifle. A bunker-busting AT4-CS might be the thing for the job.
>>
No. 307427 ID: c6ce12

>307418
I'm a bit short on time to come up with a dastardly plan so I'll second this for now, mainly want to say we should buy a couple of rounds for the Mammom Device before we decide to go in there. I have a sneaking suspicion there's more to this guy than we know and having a nice big holdout weapon is a good insurance policy for whatever he's been hiding. I want at least two rounds, ten thousand is a drop in the bucket compared to what you'll make from this.
>>
No. 307428 ID: f0e3ae

>>307423
well... we COULD buy some of the magic bullets that actually scared the doonongas... they cost 5000$ a piece and we know the merchant that made them.
>>
No. 307433 ID: 8b0de1

Alright, sooner or later we will have to buy those Mammon Device demon rounds. So we'd better get on to it.
Just because we got a haggling trait does not mean that we should stop haggling and leave everything to Bob. We need to get those rounds as cheap as possible, 5 grand is just too much. Since the demologist bought them back for 2.5k we can't really go lower than that.. unless Armas is particularly good. I say he tries to get them for 3k
As for haggling:
-Tell him that since you have the device, there is literally no other person in the world who will be interested in those rounds. So he either sells them to us for cheap or he is stuck with useless bullets.
-He has already received money from Castelletti and we know that. So he asks for too much money for his services
-We will buy all 9 rounds at once and demand a discount.
I say we settle for no more than 25-30K

>I reclaim my laptop from her-not fast enough to prevent her from clearing recent browser history and the cookie cache or whatever it's called
Hah, how sweet.
In this day and age save for dissolving the HDD in acid, your files are NEVER safely deleted, they can always be recovered.
Have Armas take his laptop and start searching on something, do not face it in her direction. Say something about doing a "research". If she insists on watching, tell her it is confidential ... or let her and do actual research on... stuff, perhaps Finnish/Maori myths.
When you are confident she is not looking, recover your deleted history.
Then install stealth key-logger and screen-monitor on your laptop, the ones which cannot be seen even in Task Manager.
Then set up administer privileges: no unauthorized installation or deletion of programs, no use of system tools, no task manager.
Put a password on your account, don't make something simple, go for something like: ArmKei-M28/30Bst [Armas Keihas-M28/30 Best]
Don't forget to make sure that she cannot start up in Safe Mode and enter through the main Administrator account either.
>Should I risk checking my email about the goblin cookbook with Camella in the house?
While you do this you can easily check upon that too.


This all might seem hard for Armas, but he only needs to do a simple Google search, for example:
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=how+to+recover+deleted+browsing+history&aq=0&aqi=g8g-j2&aql=&oq=how+
to+recover+deleted+br

>Should I bring up Smet's collection, and determining who gets what?
Split evenly, I don't care. As long as we get what is ours.
Hmm... actually, how will we determine which weapons are magic and which are not.
Maybe they have some kind of ability to do that and they could easily screw us over... Hmm, I can not think of any other way to do this other than going to the Goblins and striking a Deal.
I would ask for ability to detect magical equipment for one hour, the ability can be triggered by a codeword which can be whispered or muttered if we see the need to, after than we cannot turn in off, it will run its course (so that we can't potentially spread the use of the ability for a long time by turning it off and on whenever needed). The ability cannot impede our other senses or distract us too much, the range should be about 15 feet or less.
And for what to pay for ... the only thing I see for now is an hour or two of training without us getting credit in return.

>Assuming they brought blueprints of the house, guard route timings or similar data, what should be our primary goal in construction the Smets mission?

First, we need to determine the threat level:

Is Smet dangerous by himself? he should have bunch of magical equipment and weapons at best, at worst he is a practitioner, a vampire, a werewolf or something horrible like that. I suggest stocking up on silver bullets and stakes just in case.

We also need to know the capacities of our allies in the mission.

The primary goal should be to take out Smets. If we can help it we should avoid killing guards.
Then we loot to our hearts content.
I suggest trying to sneak in past the guards and the security, if we can, through the sewers. We could ask Goblins for safe passage (pay by giving a small part of Camellas history, or again, training)

Other than that, we just don't have enough information to give any significant plans.

Speaking of which, no one says that we have to do the mission right now, right?
Can we wait for a week or so?
We have 30 hours of training in reserve. I suggest we use them: 5-10 hours of "sneaking" and "moving silently" each.

I also would like to recruit Camella into this (we could pay her by giving her a magic weapon we loot from the house)
>>
No. 307441 ID: 234c26

>>307433
>Mammon Device demon rounds
We could certainly haggle over these, but we don't know that we have the only Mammon's Device in existence. We can certainly emphasize its rarity, though.

>locking down laptop
This is a severe breach of trust if she finds out. Armas is not a particularly savvy computer user, and we don't know how good with computers Camella is. Yes, he could probably muddle through it all using Google and a few hours... but really, do we want to rely upon relatively amateurish abilities for something that could alienate Camella completely if it goes wrong? I say no.

>And for what to pay for ... the only thing I see for now is an hour or two of training without us getting credit in return.
Training time should only be used as training time, i.e. if we use it to pay for something, we should be learning something. Anything else is outside the scope of the Bargain. We could ask him to teach us how to identify and analyze magical weapons and their strengths/abilities; that arguably falls under "magic item enchantment" at five hours per hour.

>I also would like to recruit Camella into this (we could pay her by giving her a magic weapon we loot from the house)
I would not like to recruit her into this. She is coming from the square side of the street; that means even if she does become a reliable ally on this sort of operation eventually we'll need to ease her into it. Throwing her headfirst into assassinations for vengeance and personal gain is a bad plan, particularly when we're working with some very dangerous allies we know very little about who might frown on our bringing in help. Bringing in unreliable help who might have second thoughts would be beyond foolish. If we try to make Camella into our partner/backup, we'll want to ease her into it through a little monster hunting, guard work, or something of the sort.
>>
No. 307460 ID: f0e3ae

>>307441
I agree with everything here, upvoting.
Also camella is still injured AND doesn't trust you AND is rather lost and scared.
>>
No. 307475 ID: 8b0de1

>>307441
>We could certainly haggle over these, but we don't know that we have the only Mammon's Device in existence. We can certainly emphasize its rarity, though.
I am pretty damn sure there is only one such Device in existence.

Pshh
You don't have to be computer wizard to do what I said.... okay, at least he can try to recover the deleted browsed history. That information will be useful as potential bargain chip with the Goblins or whoever.

>Training time should only be used as training time, i.e. if we use it to pay for something, we should be learning something. Anything else is outside the scope of the Bargain.
How do you know?
We can always strike another deal.
"for duration of this deal, the other deal is placed on hold except for the oaths"
If both parties agree, there is nothing stopping us.
And if you are going to talk about the strict letters of the Deal, remember that there is no option for learning to identify magical equipment.

>If we try to make Camella into our partner/backup, we'll want to ease her into it through a little monster hunting, guard work, or something of the sort.
Meh,
If you haven't gotten it yet, she is literary a walking murder machine. She fought to the surface from the bowels of hell.
This task would be a piece of cake for her (assuming shit hits the fan and there is an all-out firefight)

>Also camella is still injured AND doesn't trust you AND is rather lost and scared.
>and scared.
Haha
I wouldn't count on that
>>
No. 307481 ID: f0e3ae

>"for duration of this deal, the other deal is placed on hold except for the oaths"
When we tried to "repay" our promised favors via other deals we were informed that such was impossible. These aren't humans.
>>and scared.
Scared =! trembling and inactive. It means feeling threatened and considering who she is that makes her more likely to lash out at armas if he missteps or make a bad tactical decision (eg: run to the embassy).
>>
No. 307488 ID: 234c26

>>307475
>I am pretty damn sure there is only one such Device in existence.
>"MORTALS DO NOT GET TO MAKE SUCH DEMANDS OF THE DIVINE-BUT I WOULD DEIGN TO SWEAR SUCH, IF THE HALF-BLOODED TELLS ME WHERE IT GOT ONE OF MAMMON'S DEVICES."
That's clearly a plural. The only question is if the beastie was able the recognize the device purely by its magic, implying that the other Devices might take a different form, or if it was recognizable by its exact function, meaning that the other Devices are identical and would be able to share ammo.

>You don't have to be computer wizard to do what I said.... okay, at least he can try to recover the deleted browsed history. That information will be useful as potential bargain chip with the Goblins or whoever.
He could, yes. It wouldn't even be hard. But is the expected gain from that action greater than the potential loss from Camella finding out*the probability of her doing so? I would argue that it is not, and therefore the action is illogical and should be avoided.

>And if you are going to talk about the strict letters of the Deal, remember that there is no option for learning to identify magical equipment.
I meant to say in my post that learning to identify and analyze magical weapons can arguably be considered a topic included in the study of
>5----Magic weapon forging
Because, after all, if one cannot fully understand and admire a finished product, how can one be expected to create it in the first place? It's pushing the Bargain a little, but should be well within its scope as it currently stands.

>>307475
>This task would be a piece of cake for her (assuming shit hits the fan and there is an all-out firefight)
It would be a piece of cake for her, as you say. I'm concerned about her mental/emotional response to the task and her level of loyalty to us, not her capabilities. Just because someone can do something doesn't mean that they either will do it or will like doing it.
>>
No. 307540 ID: a76809

>>307371
I sit down at the table with them, still mulling over what to do, and I find myself uttering the one part I am sure of.

"No matter how we do this, I think Smets has to die."
No surprise on either of the two stoic participants in our triumvirate-but Ms. Havoc speaks first in her deadpan tone.
>[Havoc]"Explain why you think we should complicate our agenda so by seeking his death."
>>307422
"It's his MO-he kept hounding those he had already wronged so they wouldn't stir up trouble-ANY reprisal on our part is going to draw his attention and wrath-with the funds he has at his disposal he could rather considerably inconvenience us all. For instance-all the others that were supposed to be at this meeting-were all just dissuaded from coming or were some made to disappear?"
>[Havoc]"It has not been researched."
"Do you want to take the chance? He's clearly compulsive, having acted against so many, and not afraid to throw his resources around. If we do this clean, it will create far less mess on all ends."
Havoc and Locke share a look in silence before turning back my way.
>[Havoc]"It is agreed your method is preferable."
"Okay, so what do you know of the place, and its security?"
Locke passes a dossier my way as Havoc keeps talking.
>[Havoc]"A three-story inner-city mansion, in the more affluent parts of town. Average police response time to a report is five minutes. The house has three layers of automated security tied to an internal system that is manned twenty four seven, complete with video coverage of the house interior and grounds."
>>307418
I brainstorm amidst the background din of the station.
"House probably has thick walls-if we cut the power-"
>[Havoc]"One of the three security systems is tied to the external power supply-if the connection is severed an internal generator powers an automatic alarm signal to the police."
"The other two systems-their specific function?"
>[Havoc]"contact plates on all windows to detect their opening, and decibel-reactive alarms for breaking down doors or smashing windows. The security camera coverage means stopping to pick a lock would likewise compromise stealth."
"Guard force?"
>[Havoc]"A total of twenty six guards on staff, with eight on duty at any given time."
"...Anyone else besides him live in the house?"
>[Havoc]"A favored butler and a few maids-all of whom have rooms on the entrylevel. Smets is on the second floor-with his gun collection-"
"Wild guess here-third floor."
>[Havoc]"Correct."
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"So, barring the presence of this internal generator, that one alarm system can't trigger, right?"
>[Havoc]"It would lack the power to do so."
"Okay-so where IS the generator? Specifically?"
>[Havoc]"Second floor, east wing-it's not conveniently adjacent to a window, if that is what you are wondering,"
"It's of sufficient size it is bolted to the floor and thus immovable, right?"
>[Havoc]"Correct."
"Well with it's placement information available to us couldn't we shoot straight through a wall to hit it? I'm thinking a subsonic Raufuss round would be ideal-the part that could actually damage the generator would trigger on penetrating the wall. Have any objections to this version?"
>[Havoc]"...What you propose is workable-it would require one of us to be located far enough away that they could not take part in entering the building."
"So only a duo to deal with Smets and gather the collection."
>[Havoc]"I shall take up the external position, and act as coordinator for the event."
"So long as the shot comes at the same time we cut the main power, no alarm should trigger, correct?"
>[Havoc]"Correct. We'd have to likewise cut the phone lines, to prevent external dialing-not much we can do about cellular devices, so we will have to move fast."
"You have copies of the guard patrol routes?"
>[Havoc]"In the dossier."
"Okay.... let me look at this, see if I have any further ideas, and we'll reconvene for a final planning later."
>[Havoc]"What information do we lack that requires waiting?"
>>307423
"For all we know the guy could be some ancient vampire or something."
>[Havoc]"There is no record of him being supernatural in nature."
"Right, because all of them are shitty at hiding what they are."
>[Havoc]"...Very well-we will call you again to schedule our last meeting."

And with that, we part ways, having never discussed how to split the loot. Well, there's next time-which leaves me time to keep helping Camella-a highly trained operative that doesn't exist could be a VEEEERY useful ally in all this.

>>307427
>>307433
>>307441
On my way back from the meet-I call Johan the Demonologist-it's been long enough since I had REAL ammunition for Mammon's device, and living in a port city as I do-well, let's just say I feel confident I'll see the Doonongaes again.
>[JS]"...Ja?"
"Johan, it's Armas. I wanted to talk about bullets."
>[JS]"..Go on."
"Now, I know you have quite a few rounds that would fit what I have-nine total of that kind as I recall-and you'd already sold them, only to buy them back at half price."
>[JS]"Could be."
"So I ask you-why is it last we spoke, you said they would be full price-even in bulk?"
>[JS]"Do you want my work?"
"Not enough to pay full price when I know the craftsmen has already been compensated for time and materials by a prior customer. Just because they were never fired doesn't mean they weren't already sold."
>[JS]"So?"
"So instead of forty five for nine, the full price for a bulk sale of used goods-why not twenty five? You'd still be making money over your buyback price."
>[JS]"Other devices that chamber this caliber can fire the round as well-you are not the only possible customer. Forty thousand."
"That likewise seems excessive-you'd be making several thousand dollars just for HOLDING them... at thirty."
>[JS]"Thirty five or I hang up."
>[WON'T TAKE NO Trait activated]
"Thirty five it is."
>[JS]"Fine-same as before, payment within a week."
"How do you prefer it?"
>[JS]"Cash or check, either is tolerable."
"Alright."

I head home, already expecting to find a package waiting on my doorstep, a small hand-wrapped box with heft to it when I palm it. Nine more of those hell-shots.... well, I do believe I have more options now.

>>307402
Now to the main event-how to respond to Camella's earlier inquiry. As I expect, she's awake-and THIS time, she doesn't reflexively point a gun at my head-hey, it's a start. As always the moment I enter her eyes lock on me, watching and wary, as I drag up a chair to lean against, idly noting she's got her P90 in front of her fully disassembled... still on the couch. She notes my glance, and her cheeks color oh so slightly.
>[Camella]"I did not open my wounds."
"Good."
Okay, we're talking-let's get this rolling.
"So... as you noted earlier, I know a few things more than the average civvy-and as you suspect, I have indeed served in the armed forces before, just like you. Beyond that.. I know about things that the vast majority of the populace is ignorant.. things that go bump, and all that... But what's most relevant is that someone with the skillset you've noted for me chose to help you with the obvious risks involved. For surely you don't think all that you encountered down below will just let you be-I am certain you stepped on some truly big toes down there."
A look more haunted than any graveyard I've seen ghosts across her face.
>[Camella]"...Yes."
"So you realize that anyone who helps you is likewise threatened-and I still gave aid. In fact, you've been accepting my aid freely, I might note. I've given you my trust-even when made aware of things about your recent past most would call you mad for saying-and I believe you."
Her eyes once more guarded, she merely watches in silence, waiting for me to continue.
"Well here's the thing Camella-I know you have questions, and a whole mess of them. And I could probably answer a good number of them-and those I couldn't, I feel certain I could find out, given time. But that would take even more of my time-more than I can afford to give to a stranger. If you want me to keep helping you find answers, then I'd need your word you'd be ready to offer aid, be an extra pair of hands-"
>[Camella]"Be an accomplice? In murdering this man Smets? Tell me something-what did he do to you that he needs to die?"

For a moment I freeze still as stone, mind racing-she couldn't of found anything written down, nothing in the house to track, all information until now verbal at the meetings-
-I remember her tugging at my pant leg-
-My eyes dart down-
>[Camella]"I bugged you, yes-how fortuitous, that you did not more thoroughly check my PDA. As much as I am indebted to you for the treatment and shelter-why should I through my lot in with someone that appears a common criminal?"






So what do I have to say to that?
>>
No. 307542 ID: 252e1b

>>307540
>[Havoc]"Correct. We'd have to likewise cut the phone lines, to prevent external dialing-not much we can do about cellular devices, so we will have to move fast."

Microwave-frequency jammers, denial of service attacks against the cell towers for the area with false requests to make connections, or the much more obvious coordinated attack on the towers themselves (as in knocking the power to them out). More and more it is looking like Armas needs a wire rat buddy.

>>307540
>[Camella]"I bugged you, yes-how fortuitous, that you did not more thoroughly check my PDA. As much as I am indebted to you for the treatment and shelter-why should I through my lot in with someone that appears a common criminal?"

"To fight things that go bump in the night, you need weapons that are up to the task. Stuff that's enhanced beyond what conventional methods can do. Magic weapons, is the common term, but that makes it sound like kid's stuff. I'm talking guns where you start on full automatic, and every shot follows the first. Your aim can shift by whole degrees and it'll still be accurate."

"It was just such a weapon that Smet screwed me on. He swapped parts before it shipped, and made a tidy profit on his scam. He's been doing this to other people too, and like you heard over your bug, he's not afraid to throw around his weight to keep the people he screws from making noise about it. That's not to mention that in the process of screwing people, he's putting their lives on the line.

"If I hadn't found out I got conned, I would have used that gun seriously. I've been in the shit enough to know that something not working like it is supposed to can kill a man.

"And if you've got an objection to my vigilantism here, keep in mind this is over magic weapons, and that he's a rich enough man to buy his way out of a lot of legal trouble. For whatever legal trouble he could get into, dealing magic weapons."
>>
No. 307543 ID: 234c26

>>307540
Well, that's just fucking rude. Don't let her dominate this conversation. SHE has done wrong here; we verbally aggress.

"Common criminal? If nothing else, I should think you would know me as uncommon. But no, not in killing Smets. That's a personal matter, you're still hurt, and the others wouldn't like it.

Grow less calm and change topic.

"That said, bugging me is a hell of a way to repay my treatment of you. I let you keep your secrets. Didn't have someone hack your PDA for me- 'fortuitous' my ass, it's called having some respect for people who aren't your enemies!- put hidden keyloggers on the laptop, or record your conversations and translate the bloody Italian. I even give you good advice and medical treatment, let you put MY apartment on the damned Italian military's web logs as a site someone who knows their passwords and shouldn't is logging in from. I didn't take or sell your weapons and armor, even to pay off an off-the-books doctor called explicitly for your own good. Hell, I didn't sell you or the fact of your existence, and you better believe that being someone with big enemies- someone touched by something unnatural, no less!- means that there would be people willing to pay huge bucks for you.

"So I feel pretty fucking confident in saying that you've abused my generosity unnecessarily. I will have an apology from you, right now, and you will swear upon your name never to betray my trust again, or you can walk out of here and handle your own shit, injuries or no."
>>
No. 307544 ID: ae0719

Look a bit admiring. "You ARE good. Well then, I suppose I shall account for myself. Trust goes both ways, after all.

I do not consider myself a common criminal. Uncommon, at the very least; I do believe this is the first time I have attempted breaking and entering into someone's home, though it certainly wouldn't be the first man I've killed.

"Smets, then. A go-between business man who has made it a habit to replace incredibly expensive items of a mystical nature with powerless knock-offs; I'm talking about tens of thousands of dollars, here, maybe more. I and my two new associates are among the ranks of his victims, and it's not the sort of thing we can go to the police about, since they wouldn't see the difference between the visually identical original and the replacement anyway.

He has also been at the very least intimidating his victims into silence through the use of force, and at worst has been 'disappearing' them, as you no doubt heard from your bug. It wouldn't surprise me if there are other crimes to his name, though I don't know of any. He is not a good man, and frankly I think he deserves a bullet in the head. Though I could be prejudiced in this matter, of course."

"But all that aside, here's the thing. I'm not a particularly good man, though as far as I know I have never killed an innocent. What I am, is an honest one. My word is gold. In the business I am in breaking promises gets some very, very bad things after you.

"More importantly, I'm what you have. I know your situation, and obviously I have no interest in harming you, or you'd have never woken up again. You could go around trying to find someone else who knows this stuff, and you'll probably either end up talking to the mob - who do know about magic, maybe more than me - or the Courts. Which you've met," slant a glance down beneath her feet.

"So... you tell me. Do you want to want to throw your lot in with a common criminal, or should you start looking?"
>>
No. 307545 ID: 252e1b

>>307541
>>307543

Don't admit to being a criminal. Not like that, anyway.

Criminality is as much a matter of intent as of transgressions against the law. Remind her of that. While a vigilante action is illegal, if it is the only way to redress damages and make sure a threat is neutralized, then it isn't criminal per se. It's illegal, but possibly ethical depending on the details of the situation.

That said, in places where there is a legal system it's best to use them if possible. If impossible, as in this case, it's best to keep the collateral damage to the absolute minimum. Which was the point of planning this out.
>>
No. 307546 ID: 692cff

First off, you need to put on your best shit eating grin. She's capable, lucky, and smart. Very useful to have as an ally.

Well, if she bugged you, she knows that you flat out said he's likely been offing people who cross him. And while she didn't hear about this, we also know he ruins the lives of anyone who takes issue with him ripping them off. Pointing these out might be in order.

But that doesn't solve the biggest issue. This information is just what made her aware you're a criminal. We could lie to her, but that doesn't really seem our style. So how about we start with arguing that we're anything if not ordinary. I've been against handing out information on our exploits til' now, but we really need to play ourselves up. "A COMMON criminal? I killed an Elf that was capable of slicing bullets out of mid-air on my own on the way to take out a crime boss. His saber is now my bayonet. A nazi super-soldier covered in armor and with some potent firepower, who bashed through a reinforced steel door with his hands, fell to me in single combat. His gun is mine. While riding a mythic elephant-killer rhinoceros inside of a boat, I drove away a giant, poisonous, shape-shifting immortal amphibian monster for crying out loud. I deal with the supernatural, that's my thing, but the supernatural does not play in the sunlight. It's based in the underworld, the criminal underworld, especially here in Istanbul. And where it is, I am, because that's how Armas mother-fucking Laine does business."
>>
No. 307548 ID: 252e1b

>>307546

As impressive as all that is, saying it like that make Armas sound crazy. Sure, she's fought things that are bizarre beyond measure, and she's in a remarkably shitty situation, but she's still looking at things from the perspective of an elite soldier. This magic stuff still strains her credulity.
>>
No. 307550 ID: 692cff

>"So I feel pretty fucking confident in saying that you've abused my generosity unnecessarily. I will have an apology from you, right now, and you will swear upon your name never to betray my trust again, or you can walk out of here and handle your own shit, injuries or no."

Do not say this. I don't have too much of a problem with anything anyone else said or the other parts of that post, but do not say this part. Do not give her ultimatums involving swearing hella constricting oaths, because noone in their right mind would agree to that if they thought it might be supernaturally binding.
>>
No. 307553 ID: 234c26

>>307550
Swearing to not betray someone's trust is not "hella constricting". It is, in fact, only inconvenient at all if you think that you're going to want to fuck them over.

If she's not even willing to promise not to betray us, we should be kicking her to the curb and writing off all time and resources invested in her as a loss anyway. She'll only grow more dangerous as she heals. We are not a charity center for lost and confused people touched by the supernatural, and our life has enough problems without adding huge risks that we can't trust to it.

>>307548
Yeah, flashing our resume does sound kind of insane, doesn't it?

>>307544
>Well then, I suppose I shall account for myself. Trust goes both ways, after all.
While I can see the reasoning in explaining why we're doing what we're doing to her, trust does go both ways- and frankly, it's all going one way here. She has given us something very close to the absolute minimum information required to receive such help as we've been able to give her. She is a massive risk to our safety and security, and still feels self-righteous enough to be justified in looking down on us. We need to change that, not reinforce it.
>>
No. 307558 ID: 692cff

>>307548
>>307553
If you weren't aware, she's a player character. With what she went through in the sewers and her current situation, I highly doubt she's going to think we're insane for claiming those things.

Also, the minimum information to help us was pretty much all of her personal information, where we've told her nothing about us. As far as the dangers of information being handed out, it's been one way against her. She knows nothing that's dangerous for us, we know pretty much everything that could be dangerous for her. Sure she was hesitant, but that's not the total fuck-you that you're making it out to be. And we only made her aware of the risks we were taking when trying to leverage her to do stuff, so what reason does she have to actually believe we're taking a risk, when we haven't shared any information on ourselves with her.
>>
No. 307560 ID: f0e3ae

>>307545
excellent point, don't admit to being a criminal.

Smets is a high profile thief of supernatural objects who either intimidates or disappears his victims. As one this makes him a mass murderer, pursuing this any other way will likely get you killed. She listened in on you, she knows you have said he offs his victims. So why does she frame it as if you are a common criminal and he is a murder victim?

>>307548
plus she probably fought scarier things down below the city...
>>
No. 307561 ID: 692cff

>>307558
Oh, and to add to that, Bob said on IRC that these demands pretty much guarantee she'll say "Fuck your shit" and leave.

[02:24]TheBeardiestBobTMI I'll just let you know Jess probably WILL say 'fuck yer shit' and bounce if push comes to shove-she is still EXCEPTIONALLY vulnerable trusting you, and pushing her on that is not going to help
[02:24]TMIoverloadWe've been helping her, but we've been doing so without any clear risk, to her, on our part while she was helpless against us. And then we only told her we were at risk when asking her for shit
[02:26]TMIoverloadWe know enough that we could fuck her over, and she knows nothing about us. If the situations were reversed, we'd assume she was masterminding us into some bullshit.
[02:26]TheBeardiestBobpretty much
[02:26]TheBeardiestBobhence why 'if pressed, will say fuck your shit and leave'
>>
No. 307564 ID: 252e1b

>>307553
>>307558

I'm not saying to not give our bona fides, I'm saying don't give them like that! Explain what all that stuff was to her. Even if she fought things like what Armas has, or worse, she didn't get to know what they were. Don't strain her credulity with crazy jibber jabber, be explicitly clear about it.
>>
No. 307567 ID: 234c26

>>307558
We gave her free access to our laptop and home. Given that she's obviously a nosy git or she wouldn't be bugging us, she has almost certainly looked through both thoroughly for any personally identifying information- and I doubt that we've bothered to strip our home of all documents with our name on them, or all vestiges of our history. She has an unknown amount of information on us, but it almost certainly includes everything publicly available from internet searches after discovering our full name, which she again has almost certainly found on a discarded envelope or something, or even watching us type in where to send the stuff we ordered online to.

Is that enough to really screw us, I don't know. But it's definitely enough to at least cause hardship in our life.

>>307561
If she would rather leave than promise not to fuck us over- I mean, really, not asking her to do ANYTHING other than not screw us here- then good fucking riddance. I'm not going willing to gamble on our ability to delicately maintain the loyalty of someone who is (admittedly justifiably) paranoid and has already shown that they're willing to act against us, if in small ways, for their own benefit. How do you think Havoc and Locke would have responded if either of them twigged to the fact that we were bugged? And they could easily have equipment or supernatural abilities which would let them. As she grows stronger her ability to screw us will only grow worse.

So if that's her response, so be it. She can try her luck finding someone else who she feels less exceptionally vulnerable trusting on the streets of Istanbul.

That said, if you want to phrase it more delicately or preface it with something which would make her more positively inclined, I have no objection. But if we don't get her word that she's not going to knife us in the back even in little ways like the bugging, and soon, I would rather end our affiliation with her.
>>
No. 307602 ID: f0e3ae

>then I'd need your word you'd be ready to offer aid, be an extra pair of hands-"
Luckily she stopped you here... that was phrased... poorly. If all you wanted was to hire on for a supernatural job then you should have said so specifically... this bullshit phrasing is just bad, makes it seems like you think she owes you and wish to set her working killing your enemies... like smets.

Ok, we need to think, what exactly are we trying to achieve here? on the one hand we do have some scruples and it just didn't seem right to let her die. On the other hand now that we haven't why are we still bothering with her? Well, she is totally badass, as in a week through the undercity badass. She will make an excellent partner... but this whole "you owe me so I want to know you are willing to do work if you want info" is not how you get partners. Give info, offer to share a job with share of payment. We don't need her for this job, we shouldn't expect her to work for us for free. But if we ARE going on tough supernatural missions we can tell our employers that there is someone we know who might also work well there and then offer her said job. You have been pretty much screwing over the mobsters thus far, your only "bad" actions thus far would be murdering that cop and doing the fake assassination.

I think after explaining why smets has to die and denying being a criminal explain where you were going with your last suggestion:
"lets back up here for a minute. I confronted you originally when you came out of the sewers because I thought she was a threat, potentially here for me. I treated you when you collapsed because it was the right thing to do; while dumping you back in the sewer would have been the wrong but convenient thing to do. That left me trying to figure out what to actually do with you. I will honestly admit that you somewhat intimidate me and I am not sure how to handle that, so yes I phrased that poorly. Ok, no more bullshit then. I help you, you don't have to do anything in return. On a regular basis I am contracted to deal with things that go bump in the night. I am impressed by how you survived the sewers. I will do what I can setting you up with a new identity and what info I can about the entities you angered, no strings attached. You now face with starting your life anew. If you are inclined to then maybe we work together on occasion fighting things that go bump, with proper intel, the right weapons, and a great deal of money for our trouble; not to mention the not inconsiderate excitement of fighting and besting monsters straight out of a fairy tale.

Note that the above is careful "verbal jutsu". We do not offer ultimatums, we do not demand obedience for info... No pressure, we treat her nice and simply assume she will not try to turn us to the police or shank us. And when you think about it, as a HUMAN her word does not bind her to anything. There is no point to it, and don't even think to try a magically binding contract for humans. (assuming such even exists, as the goblins haven't tried using that with you yet).

Speaking of verbal jutsu, I got an idea for a REALLY gutsy move on smets... knock at his door, introduce yourself as the guy who ordered the stock <insert description> and ask for interview, go unarmed. Explain that your investigation lead to him, and showed that he is too powerful and dangerous and you were hoping to buy the item back from him or perform a mercenary job for it. A mercenary job will give you the name of another enemy of his, you get to meet him face to face and memorize his appearance. You get to see his household first hand...
And you also can ask him whether the people that disappeared simply went underground to escape him, or did he actually kill them.

@all the people offended at her "breach of trust":
1. We DID look through her things.
2. We DID secretly go over what she was doing on the computer when she slept.
3. We DIDN'T put a keylogger on our laptop or do data recovery only because we didn't get the chance (although I would have opposed such a plan).

Also can you blame her for bugging you? she knows nothing of you while you know quite a lot about her, she even revealed her classified mission to you and all you did was put her off to go to a meeting, then another one.

NOTE: it IS possible she bugged you for the meeting with the new mafia boss the day before! If she mentions that, definitely point out that those with the money and interest to hire someone to take care of a literal monster are often criminals, but that kind of work doesn't make you a criminal just as a plumber who does work for criminal isn't one.
>>
No. 307606 ID: c6ce12
File 130665787508.png - (382.16KB , 637x655 , 637px-Ranger_helmet.png )
307606

>>307542
>>307544
>>307546
>>307550
>>307558
Seconding these suggestions and downvoting the ones downvoted in the seconded posts. While I have nothing to add on the conversation front I do think we should get a couple more things. With our propensity to use flashbangs and gas in our attacks I think it would be best to buy some simple ear plugs and a gas mask to make things easier on us. You can get the earplugs pretty much anywhere, but I'm thinking either the 3M Full Facepiece Respirator FR-M40 or the Forsheda A4. The gas masks run $468.10 and $169.00 respectively. If things go well later on I would really like to ask Camella about her helmet and see if we can get one just like it or at least the lenses, if not then there's always the H6/SOH-2006 SOH High Ballistic MICH Helmet with Maximum Level IIIA Protection for $369.95. Then we can find a way to incorporate all those elements together with the ballistic face mask and we could get something rather awesome to wear, something that might look similar to the NCR Ranger Helmet from Fallout. This probably pushing our weight limit to the extremes here, but it's head so it shouldn't tip us over the edge yet. It might be best to go the gym soon actually, that or eat the heart of a professional body builder, whatever works.
>>
No. 307628 ID: 8b0de1

"A common criminal!?
...Perhaps you think all this magic stuff is cheap, that as soon as you become aware of it, magical artifacts pour over your head?
This one bullet for example costs more than five thousand dollars.

Any, and I mean ANY deal concerning the 'other world' carries a hefty price. Do you know what I did after I brought you to my house?
I went to the sewers to meet my .... "acquaintances". I needed to know from them who you were and what happened.
Now, these ..."people" live by Deals, they aren't just their bread and butter, they are their Air and Blood. I had to pay for that information, and I will give you this for free, they prefer to ask things which are not substantial, money has little interest for them. I had to pay for that information.
Knowing what I said about them, you would rightly guess that they do not divulge information freely.. but right before I left do you know what they said to me? I quote: "I hope for your sake she is dead-in her running fight, she... aggravated... multiple denizens of the Deep."

Heck, do you think I do not have worries of my own?
Just few weeks ago I pissed off an ancient god of horror from the Deep Sea and now I am wary of going to the beach. By 'pissing off' I mean 'making it run like a bitch with its tail tucked'.

So yeah, I am being generous. Too much perhaps. I could have ignored, let you die, or worse finish you off take your stuff and dump your body right back.
But I guess I have a soft heart or something, seeing how you fought your way back from the bowels off hell, it would have been such a shame letting you die as soon as you reached your destination.

That man, Smet, swindled me out of equipment which easily costs 40000 dollars. Forty thousand, I must add, when the deal was made by an expert trader who is also a close family friend. For anyone else, it could cost twice as much.
And I am not the only one who he cheated. And most of them have either been bullied to silence or have simply disappeared.

Perhaps you would suggest going to officials, to the police perhaps.
'No officer, those illegal guns will not be used for crime. Those are MAGICAL guns, I need them for my job, my job which involves killing mythical monsters'.
...
In this business you cannot rely on their help.

...

You are free to do as you wish, no one is holding you here against your will [and we couldn't even if we wanted to, haha!]
I would have expected some decency not to listen in on someone who has saved your life at a great risk to his own"


Or something like that.
I admit I am not good with writing convincing dialogues...
>>
No. 307635 ID: ae0719

>>307606
Agreement on the downvoting, and the mask.

I bet we could get some kind of [SCARY MOTHERFUCKER] Trait if we go around wearing that getup.

Maybe we could try a little flattery here, about how we wouldn't want to go that deep down ourselves? If she's feeling less vulnerable, she'd be less likely to leave or tear our head off and shit down our neck.
>>
No. 307637 ID: d429c4

>>307543
Yeah. Don't do this.
>>
No. 307644 ID: a76809

>>307542
I remember some tech guys back in the Rangers talking about... wave-jammers, nonservice attacks and whatnot-a tech guy could be a great thing to have. ...I get a sense of Deja Vu, like I've had this exact thought before, meant to act on it, then just let it drop to the wayside. ...Surely the same thing won't happen again.

Ultimately, that little flair of recollection is nothing but a distraction-from the real issue at hand. What to say...

"To fight things that go bump in the night, you need weapons that are up to the task. Stuff that's enhanced beyond what conventional methods can do. Magic weapons, is the common term, but that makes it sound like kid's stuff. I'm talking guns where you start on full automatic, and every shot follows the first perfectly, barrel drift or no. Your aim can shift by whole degrees and it'll still be accurate-handy when facing a nightmare on the run, wouldn't you say?"
The reference to her time underground touches a cord, I can feel it-but it's only a first step.
""It was just such a weapon that Smet screwed me on. He swapped parts before it shipped, and made a tidy profit on his scam. He's been doing this to other people too, and like you heard over your bug, he's not afraid to throw around his weight to keep the people he screws from making noise about it. That's not to mention that in the process of screwing people, he's putting their lives on the line."
Camella frowns.
>[Camella]"This Smets-he is an arms dealer? I thought he was an antiques dealer."
"One and the same-making 'magic' weapons is a pain-in-the-ass process, and one way around that is to just add the weight of years to something, let it build up a history to draw power from."
>[Camella]"So what, old guns can just... become supernatural?"
"Well, ones with wood in them yes-metal is a whole lot harder to imbue with magical energy than wood-less associated with life, all that-and it was one of these older yet unnaturally gifted rifles that I was promised. If I hadn't found out I got conned, I would have used that gun seriously. I've been in the shit enough to know that something not working like it is supposed to can kill a man. And if you've got an objection to my vigilantism here, keep in mind this is over magic weapons, and that he's a rich enough man to buy his way out of a lot of legal trouble. For whatever legal trouble he could get into, dealing magic weapons."
The Italian soldier runs a hand through her straw blond hair, clearly searching for words, face to conflicted for me to get an emotional read on her.
>[Camella]"...It's not the vigiliantism. I grasp it-fairy tales real, who would believe anything related, even magic weapons? What bothers me is how simply you discussed killing him. It wasn't something you hesitantly reached-you pushed for it. ...And those vials of blood in your miniature refridgerator-that is not human blood."
>>307544
"You ARE good-last I checked, I had padlocked that and had the only key rather discreetly stored."
>[Camella]"Last I checked, I know my way around lockpicking."
" Well then, I suppose I shall account for myself. Trust goes both ways, after all. I do not consider myself a common criminal. Uncommon, at the very least; I do believe this is the first time I have attempted breaking and entering into someone's home, though it certainly wouldn't be the first man I've killed."
Camella says nothing and simply continues to watch me.

"Smets, then. He has been at the very least intimidating his victims into silence through the use of force, and at worst has been 'disappearing' them, as you no doubt heard from your bug. It wouldn't surprise me if there are other crimes to his name, though I don't know of any. He is not a good man, and frankly I think he deserves a bullet in the head. His history of massive retaliation suggests it's the only way to ensure the safety of anyone participating in this. ...Though I could be prejudiced in this matter, of course."
I turn my head to face her more squarely, wishing I could read her more easily as I roll on.

"But all that aside, here's the thing: I'm not a particularly good man, and I make no secret of it. What I am, is an honest one. My word is gold. In the business I am in breaking promises gets some very, very bad things after you. More importantly, I'm what you have. I know your situation, and obviously I have no interest in harming you, or you'd have never woken up again. You could go around trying to find someone else who knows this stuff, and you'll probably either end up talking to the mob - who do know about magic, maybe more than me - or the Courts. Which you've met,"
I glance down beneath her reclined form-and she shudders as my gaze makes her think of what dwells in the deeps.

"So... you tell me. Do you want to want to throw your lot in with a common criminal, or should you start looking?"
>[Camella]"So what, it's 'I am not a good person, but I keep my word-now choose to either stay or leave? You haven't told me anything! Just vague and meaningless words-I know your name, that you know the supernatural-I know you are ex-military, US-I know you are planning to kill someone for an arms deal gone wrong-remove the supernatural knowledge, all I see are traits of the very same types of people I and Il Nono were sent out to eliminate. You say you aren't a common criminal-then tell me how you aren't!"
>>307546
"I'll tell you how I differ from a COMMON criminal. I killed an Elf in single combat that was capable of slicing bullets out of mid-air on the way to take out a crime boss. His saber is now my bayonet. A Nazi super-soldier and ex-Paladin Group killer covered in armor and with some potent firepower, who bashed through a reinforced steel door with his hands, fell to me in single combat. How about this-While riding a mythic elephant-killer rhinoceros inside of a boat, I drove away a giant, poisonous, shape-shifting immortal amphibian monster for crying out loud. I deal with the supernatural, that's my thing, but the supernatural does not play in the sunlight. It's based in the underworld, the criminal underworld, especially here in Istanbul. And where it is, I am, because that's how Armas mother-fucking Laine does business. Just because I function in the same circle as them does not make me the same."
>[Camella]"...So, you can do all that, fight whatever monsters you named-why do you even need me then?"
>>307602
Shit, getting a bit too far in the 'build myself up' phase, I have to temper this somehow-
"Let's back up here for a minute. I confronted you originally when you came out of the sewers because I thought you were a threat, potentially here for me. As I said, I've had a... colorful... career in dealing with the supernatural, so it was merely a safety precaution. I treated you when you collapsed because it was the right thing to do; while dumping you back in the sewer would have been the wrong but decidedly more convenient thing to do. That left me trying to figure out what to actually do with you. I will honestly admit that having you inside my house somewhat intimidates me and I am not sure how to handle that, so yes I phrased that poorly. Ok, no more bullshit then. I help you, you don't have to do anything in return. On a regular basis I am contracted to deal with things that go bump in the night. I am impressed by how you survived the sewers. I will do what I can setting you up with a new identity and what info I can about the entities you angered, no strings attached. You now face with starting your life anew. If you are inclined to then maybe we work together-I can guarantee your skillset is tailor made for this profession. With proper intel and the right weapons one can make a great deal of money for their trouble; not to mention the not inconsiderate excitement of fighting and besting monsters straight out of a fairy tale."
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
And there-I see it, the way to plant the seed in her heart.
"Really though-the thing that's most valuable in this line of work?"
I slowly stand up, and begin walking to the door.
"Is someone to watch your back."
Letting my words match reality as she (presumably) watches me leave.
>[NEW SOCIAL TRAIT discovered-more practice required]

I lock the door behind me and wonder-





What is my next move here?
Should I give her time to mull over my words, and go to training with Ito this afternoon? Or fill my time some other way?
Or should I go get some groceries, and make her lunch to further push myself into her good graces in an attempt to force her decision?
>>
No. 307647 ID: 692cff

>Or should I go get some groceries, and make her lunch to further push myself into her good graces in an attempt to force her decision?

What have we just learned about trying to force her into making a decision? Go ahead and order her a pizza, but let her be for awhile.

>Should I give her time to mull over my words, and go to training with Ito this afternoon? Or fill my time some other way?
First off, remove that goddamn bug. Second, I say we head down to talk to the Goblin to try and find out if Smets is a supernatural threat.
>>
No. 307650 ID: d3dfb8

I say we take 6 hours of sneaking training, then go out and get some food to make Camella lunch/dinner, whichever is closer, then take another 6 hours of move silently. Hopefully we can pick those up fairly quickly.
>>
No. 307653 ID: f0e3ae

>>307647
Agreed. Do that. Although its possible you might get some info for free if he IS supernatural and phrased right. Say someone crossed you, describe him, and say that "before I handle him in a permanent manner I wished to ask you, is he aligned with you? your enemies? or neither?".

Now, you did say your word is gold. Well you gave her your word that you will try to get her a new identity, no strings attached. And find out who she pissed off. Certainly a more impressive things to come back home with then lunch... for lunch just phone order thai food. What is she gonna do though? if you hold to your word then at worst she walks out and becomes a florist... And if she does simply say its her choice and you respect it, but the offer to fight the supernatural for money and proper intel remains open.
I give her at most 3 weeks of doing a 9-5 job before she takes you up on the offer. I don't forsee her doing mercenary work against humans at first, or maybe ever... but we have humans handled, its fighting monsters where we could use the help.

So, new identity... This is either the triads or the mafia. Speaking of the triads fang was somewhat cross at you last time. Perhaps ringing him up for a talk is in order. You can placate him with sharing a bit more of what you learned on what caused the last gaffaw.

When describing Carmella its important that she isn't seen as a potential enemy agent. Also if you describe what you DO know about her he MIGHT be able to shed more info on what happened to her. So tell him her story, el ninio woman who fought something under the gobi desert who pulled them under the sand. Found herself under the istanbul, fought her way to the surface for 6 days... got out half dead, saved her with first aid and nursed her to health. Found out that she doesn't exist and instead there is now an artist duplicate of her and her weapons have duplicates too. Think she might work well in fighting the supernatural.

As for information, thats the golbins. You can trade the rest of her name and her current fate in exchange for knowledge of "those of the deep likely to seek revenge against her". Optionally stipulate that the info you gave about her does not reach their ears. If they don't want to give full knowledge then just get the names and find out if your survival training hours with them cover it. If not work our a rate for finding "history, names, capabilities, and weaknesses of supernatural beings".
>>
No. 307654 ID: 8b0de1

>Or should I go get some groceries, and make her lunch to further push myself into her good graces in an attempt to force her decision?

sure, why not?
Must be time for a meal anyway.
Pop into an internet cafe and see the e-mail that the scholar sent you. Maybe you could prepare something of that? ... Or not, maybe it is not safe to use your e-mail in public places.

>Should I give her time to mull over my words, and go to training with Ito this afternoon? Or fill my time some other way?
Do this too, I guess.


What we really need to do, is to find out more information on Smets.
We could ask the Goblins, yes ... but I don't know what to offer them. Maybe hours of training? Or some knowledge about Camellas story.

Hmm... see that you don't have more bugs on you.

Oh!
We definitely need to get sneaking training from Goblins before we do the Smets mission... I say about 10 hours
>>
No. 307655 ID: ae0719

Well, first off, de-bug ourselves. Unless we want to keep it on us to emphasize trust? Then... anyone have any ideas about how to find a 'tech guy'?

And I'll again suggest we do some Goblin Sneaking and Hiding training. It's something we could use for Smets, and maybe even for when Crazy Horse tracks us down, if we can find cover.

Other than that, pick up our bullets, and see about what other interesting stuff the Demonologist might offer. We might want at least a few Holy bullets. Jacketed in silver, melt some stuff from a church or temple or a church graveyard or something into the alloy or powder, quenched in holy water... if it doesn't explode in our Evil Device, it'd be good for hurting both vampires and werewolves. Actually, far better than stealing this stuff (who knows if theft from a holy place might invalidate its power?), try and find a church or mosque that knows about the supernatural so he can bless our stuff for a small donation.

If there's time left after that, hit up Ito.
>>
No. 307656 ID: 8b0de1

>>307653
I am against disclosing ANYTHING about Camella to either the Triads or the Mafia.
We said that we could try to get her a new ID, there is no need to hurry things over.

Also, if you are to trade with the Goblins. Do not trade her name, but her story (her mission, how she appeared here, her past, her alternate past)
>>
No. 307657 ID: 692cff

>>307654
>>307653
I'm against telling anyone about Camella. Fang because he has us over a barrel already and I don't want to give him anything more. Fang ain't our friend, and telling him about someone who might be a genuine ally is simply be a bad idea. The Goblins might sell the information to whats after her and she's living with us at the moment. Plus giving information that might lead to an ally we're courting dying.
>>
No. 307661 ID: 234c26

>>307644
Ugh. Look at this- we tell her all about ourselves and give her goodies while she scowls at us and complains, we nod and smile while she breaks into our shit and sticks bugs on us. She'd better be worth it. I know a reliable person backing you up is utterly priceless, but I just can't bring myself to think well of her at all.

>Or should I go get some groceries, and make her lunch to further push myself into her good graces in an attempt to force her decision?
No, leave her on her own for lunch; get something and make dinner. I guess we're playing this one loosely by the laws of hospitality; even if she's being a remarkably shitty guest, we'll be a good host and take care of her in spite of that.

>Or fill my time some other way?
Talk to the goblins. See if you can learn anything about Smets. Then see if magic weapon enchantment training can include identifying and analyzing magic weapons, which it should; if so, get a couple hours of that. If it doesn't, cash in some time learning sneaking before returning to make dinner, talk with Camella more, and then go off to train more goblins in the evening.

>>307653
>So, new identity... This is either the triads or the mafia.
Do NOT even begin to talk to either the Triads or the Mafia about Camella. That would be giving her personal information to one organized crime group or another, which is very rude. Leave off getting her an ID until she can offer her own opinions on who she's willing to trust about it.

And sure as hell do not trade her full name to the goblins. A name is an important mystical thing, and we don't have a full grasp of what can be done with it; trading hers away would be a huge disservice to her. And potentially dangerous to us, too.
>>
No. 307663 ID: c6ce12

>>307655
>Other than that, pick up our bullets, and see about what other interesting stuff the Demonologist might offer
Actually we picked up the shots when we came in, what we could do is send over a check or pay by cash and ask then.
>>
No. 307686 ID: f0e3ae

>>307657
Fang isn't our friend... but we might work with her for him.
I can't see any harm in trading her story for who is against her, I guess we can ask her too. If we had something ELSE to trade I would do so, but I can't think of something they would want. And I did explicitly specify that the goblins are NOT to trade that information to anyone who wishes her harm.
>>
No. 307688 ID: 692cff

>>307686
Problem is if they aren't willing to take the deal, proposing the trade requires us to inform them of things they can sell that would be harmful. But for things we can trade? They do take cash. Also, we need to ask about Smets butler. We were told he had a favored Butler, and that just reeks of some supernatural bodyguard/partner.
>>
No. 307691 ID: 252e1b

>>307661

Part of her problem is she's laid up. She;s injured and bored.
>>
No. 307692 ID: f0e3ae

>>307688
very good point... and his maids could be too. We need to spend some hours with goblins learning to identify supernatural beings. If we can do that, then we can go see in person.

How about we do my plan of dropping in for some verbal jutsu with him? pretend to be cowed and offer to pay him or work for him for getting the gun you bought back. You will get to see said favored butlers, maids, guards etc and try to detect if they are supernatural or not.
>>
No. 307696 ID: d429c4

Why not kill two birds with one stone. She may not be fit enough to train, but you can take her along to your session with Ito as a sign of trust, and introduce her as a prospective student here to watch the training.

On lunch, pick up some Italian stuff as a conciliatory gesture, but nothing too fancy or that much work. The real demonstration of trust is the introduction to Ito.

Whilst we're out, we should make a secure call to the Mafia. They're our best bet for creating a false Italian identity. The best angle of attack is to enquire whether the job with the franken-soldier succeeded in cowing the Germans, or whether the task that the Confessor wanted you to work with them on remains open. If so, then maybe you can help each other out...

On mobile phones, you should look into buying a jammer that will knock out the signal within a hundred meters or so, and when you have the land line taken out, trash the local substation so that the entire block's telephones go down, so that no-one in the local area can make any calls that way.

You should consider making some of your own bullets for Keihas. There is a natural eternal flame at Mount Chimera that has been burning for many thousands of years, and is the location that inspired the eponymous Greek monster. Those fires would make a fine place to cast, and then heat treat your own bullets. After heat treating them, considering Keihas' nature, then you should could quench the bullets in blood. Then, you can freeze the blood with the bullets inside them, and store until they're needed. Maybe it won't make the bullets magical directly, but it should synergise well with Keihas' nature.
>>
No. 307697 ID: a76809

>>307647
I decide-to give her her space. It seems clear she's not the type to be pushed into things, and I left things on as good a note as possible-no sense ruining it going back early. Now, what to do.... First things first, I thoroughly check my clothes, inside and out, each layer as well as my skin, just to make sure no further devices were planted. Well, short of her doing some surgical implant in my sleep, I think I'm good.

>>307650
>>307661
I decide that it's time to try out some of this goblin training. I hit up a bookstore, buying a generic brown leather journal, and head back home to drop into the sewers (only after making sure Camella can't see me from the house).
"Sometimes merchant-I'd like to discuss a deal before today's training."
>[SM]"Yes, Deal Maker?"
The voice this time comes from atop my head, as I see the goblin sitting cross-legged on the ceiling, openly mocking gravity. To make matters worse, in his hands are a clay jug and a small cup-the heady aroma of liquor filling the air, a complement to the flickering light of his faerie fire halo. He raises the small cup to his relatively minimalistic round helm, adorned with bandanas and scarves-the liquor vanishes, and the cup is lowered.
>[SM]"Ah... a good day indeed. What business did you want to discuss."
"I wished to discuss redeeming some accrued training hours-but I find myself curious about your.... disposition."
>[SM]"An apt query. Due to the elation events inspire, sharing the information is personally viewed as positive, so a Deal need not be established-I'll tell you freely."
This... cannot be normal.
>[SM]"Those living about the bones of Rome-the Italians, today saw one of their most powerful Bloodlines mocked, beaten and rejected by a French half-breed and a Chinese Mortal. We welcome the change of order, and the chaos entailed by this."
"There are several bloodlines in Italy-of which do you speak?"
>[SM]"That of Sicilian kings-that of Savoy."
My brain nearly shuts down at this point, processing ramifications of this new data.
>[SM]"He attempted to remove a leader amongst the Triads, a mortal named Lo Fang-his attempted assassination did not go as planned."
...What? WHAT.
"...You... are happy the attempt failed, obviously."
>[SM]"If you seek the reason why this elicits such joy-that would not be so freely offered."
"I expected as much... still, Savoy went after Lo Fang, huh."
>[SM]"You know both parties."
"Since that's not a question, I'm going to ignore ti-so, I was hoping to get six hours of sneaking training, and an hour of Magic Weapon forging, but JUST on how to identify magical weapon properties."
>[SM]"You request to trade eleven hours out of thirty saved-you are still available to teach tonight?"
"Correct."
>[SM]"For now nineteen, soon twenty two hours will still be credited to you-but your request is acceptable, and will be facilitated. ...For what reason did you bring that book?"
"I wanted to write down what I pick up in the lessons."
>[SM]"Perhaps the portions one can transcribe will behoove you-only time will tell. "
The Goblin's halo spins down and widens into a massive gateway, blazing light underneath the city streets-showing a decidedly different view through its loop than the sewer we inhabit. As I am about to ask about that-
"The Deal shall be honored."
The halo flows forward-

-I'm in a place that distinctly reminds me of where I spoke with Whaitiri, where Ogrimir and Mahuika's servant argued-there is no ground, no sky-merely a goblin, with a mask wrought in silver, styled after an ancient, wizened scholar, drooped with age.
>[Goblin]"We shall begin with the nature of sneaking, the art of not being seen-which requires looking at what it is to be seen. You will find....."
I dutifully write down everything I am told, thankful I learned to write without needing to watch my hands at work, captivated by the sound and tone of my instructor-
>[Goblin]"That feeling when someone is watching you-that sensation that draws your attention to someone looking your way in the periphery-it can be caught, mastered, tempered. You can learn to sense attention as you would sound or smell. This is how one truly...."
As the goblin speaks, shapes form out of the blurred mist around us, a skulker flitting from postion to position, more and more guards being added to the repeated scenario to match the pacing of the lesson.
>[Goblin]"-ot enough to simply know where someone's attention is-you must know where it will be. Lacking that, no amount of perception will let you truly Sneak-merely observe, and watch. This is why you must master that sense of attention, muster it into...."
It feels like hardly any time at all-but I note myself to have filled both sides of fifty sheets of paper throughout the lesson-and I somehow doubt they could have given me less. From there, the lesson goes into something a bit less conceptual and more analytic-an hour spent building on and honing the rough ability to sense magical weapons I've picked up from carrying such items for months-by the end I can tell with a touch if a weapon is magical, and get a rough sense of the scope of its enchantments.
And with that done, the halo appears again-

For me to be deposited in my mafia storage unit, the goblin trio already present. By the end, they have naught but the three automatic weapons left to learn-the three most time consuming to teach, judging by the first goblin. Twenty two hours saved up, one hundred six hours trained with Ito... okay.

>>307653
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
I said I'd get her an ID-new documents to start a life with-and I think I know how. I call the mafia connection number from a public payphone.
"Hey, is Rocco available? I want to talk with him?"
>[Goon]"Who the hell are you, calling like you know the boss?"
"The name's Armas-worked with Savoy, just got the news about him."
>[Goon]"...Oh, Mr. Laine. Ah, hold on a sec. *footsteps* yeah I'll get the boss for you."
>[Rocco]"...Yeah, Armas, right? So you heard, huh?"
"Only the roughest details-I heard it tangentially from a supernatural merchant-which is why I'm coming straight to you. What happened?"
>[Rocco]"My boys say your line is solid, so.... fucked if I know. Savoy and the Confessor both said you're a solid professional-so I'm telling you in confidence I don't know how this clusterfuck started. First we heard of it was when some informants near the triad base said they started world war three over there-two hours later the Dons back home are calling, asking where their Thumb is-All I know is the Triads are saying he tried to assassinate their leader. And yeah, if I could I'd love to get rid of the Triads, sweep them out with the nazis-but this isn't the time. No one's been able to get in contact with Mr. Savoy-so as far as we know the chinks are telling the truth."
"He tried to assassinate Lo Fang alone?"
>[Rocco]"Not like he needs backup-"
"The Savoy bloodline."
>[Rocco]"...Yeah, I see why they said you're on the up and up. Yeah-Savoy can be anywhere at anytime thanks to his heritage-you think an assassin like that could be bothered to slow down so accomplices can keep up? Solo act, always has been. ...But he always did what the Dons said."
"And as far as you know, this was NOT ordered by them."
>[Rocco]"Not a chance-I may not be a celeb like Galileo, but I got my sources-and this was NOT ordered."
"...That is one hell of a pickle you got there."
>[Rocco]"You call me just to tell me what I already know?"
"No-actually, I happen to have found one of your countrywomen with rather outstanding skills in the fields of enforcement and threat removal-someone who could be useful to the family through me, I'd wager. How does the sound of an Il Nono trained gun sound, Rocco?"
>[Rocco]"Keep talking."
"Let's say someone made a mistake-and is not on the good books of your homeland. And now they're getting ready to work-put their skills to use-but to even get supplies she'd need a non-blacklisted identity."
>[Rocco]"You want a forged ID for some special forces girl?"
"With Lo Fang still alive, I would not be surprised if a reprisal came-having a gun like that come with me would be handy indeed should that happen."
>[Rocco]"...Alright, but she better be able to shoot the balls off a fly. Hold on a-LENNY!-here, I'll give you to Lenny, he does our passports and whatnot."
Fifteen minutes later, after passing on her age, height, weight, hair and eye color, Camella has a new Italian passport in the works-one that should be ready by the end of the week.

All without costing me a dime.

When I get home I note the Italian in question to crack open an eye to glance my way before shifting into a more entrenched position on the couch. I hit the sack-

Thursday morning rolls around, and I decide to check my computer. The Professor's email is there, complete with a few translated recipes-most call for meats that I most certainly do NOT have-but one calls for Kelpey-that one, at least, I can manage. By this point, having figured out the red meat to be the supernatural goat, the grean to be Sahagin and the blue Kelpey, I double-check the unmarked spices I receive.... and THINK I have what I need to make... let's see here.... Thrice-baked Kelpy crisps? ...Name kinda loses its impact when it isn't all Latorisfincantanyouhavenoideawhatthismeansonis. Well, MONSTER BREAKFAST TIME IS GO!

It takes me forty minutes-and when I'm done, what I've made does not look that similar at all to the reference page in the cookbook-but it's SORTA similar.....

I try an exploratory bite.

I feel every hair on my body stand up, and each and every pore open up wide while my blood vessels constrict and my heart speeds up.

...Wow, got a kick to it.

And it's DELICIOUS.






So: Do I serve Kelpie Krisps to Camella, unsure of what effect it might have on a totally vanilla human?
It's been nearly a week now since I took in Camella-should I follow through on my idea, and take her with me to Ito's today?
What should I do with my time until I get a call back from Havoc and Locke?
Do I want to try and keep progressing towards recruiting Camella, or let her keep mulling things over on her own until I have her new identity to present her with?
>>
No. 307701 ID: 692cff

>So: Do I serve Kelpie Krisps to Camella, unsure of what effect it might have on a totally vanilla human?
Sure. If we're lucky she'll heal quicker. If not, it's delicious. If it has a bad effect, she's a tough girl.

>It's been nearly a week now since I took in Camella-should I follow through on my idea, and take her with me to Ito's today?
Yeah, that sounds good. If she enjoys it, even if she parts ways, it'll be a way to keep in contact, and lower our bill with Ito. Tell her she's going to get rusty if she keeps her lazy ass on the couch all the time.

Also, for Ito's training, maybe see about putting extra focus on reading the old guy to help work with the sneaking training you just got. With his experience, I bet he's really hard to read, which makes him good practice for that.
>What should I do with my time until I get a call back from Havoc and Locke?
Find out if Smets is supernatural maybe? Seriously, that's why we said we were postponing it, so it might be good to do some checking on that. Also, go drinking with Arkvad. Maybe introduce Camella to him, so she knows somewhere she might be able to find magic guns for dealing with the supernatural.
>Do I want to try and keep progressing towards recruiting Camella, or let her keep mulling things over on her own until I have her new identity to present her with?
In subtle ways, sure. Like taking her come to see Ito, or introducing her to Arkvad. Basicly, do things that will, whether she joins us or not, be beneficial to her ability to survive supernatural confrontations.
>>
No. 307703 ID: 252e1b

>>307697

Enter the living room with them, and set the platter on the coffee table. Say to her, "Hey, Camella. I don't know how deep into the rabbit hole you want to tread, but I thought I would make the offer. These are kelpie crisps, prepared from the meat of supernatural livestock. I got it, and the recipe, from the same guy that tipped me off about you actually.

"They're delicious, but I'm not sure what kind of effect it would have on you. I haven't had this recipe before."

Then, either while you're both eating or just while you are if she refuses, "I've got a line on a new identity for you. You'll need it, no matter what. Now, I don't want anything in return for it, but I had to imply you'd be available for a future favor to the forger. Since I didn't check with you about it, I'd come along, help you complete the favor. Watch your back."

"If you're feeling up to moving around a little, I got a guy I'd like to introduce you to. Expert in Jukenjitsu, bayonet forms, stuff that's useful like that. He's rebuilding his class roster for his dojo, and if you stay here for awhile you'd have a hard time doing better than him to help keep in fighting shape."
>>
No. 307705 ID: ae0719

>So: Do I serve Kelpie Krisps to Camella, unsure of what effect it might have on a totally vanilla human?
No, all ours! More seriously, I want to give our scholarly friend a ring if it looks like Camella is sticking around for a little while, invite them both to dinner. Serve it then. The food itself will be a pretty interesting nugget of proof. "How's the food? Remember 'Thrice-baked Kelpie Crisps'?"

I want that guy on our side almost as much as Camella. Shit we deal with, having a linguist (on dead languages, no less) would be pretty damn helpful.

>It's been nearly a week now since I took in Camella-should I follow through on my idea, and take her with me to Ito's today?
Ask her. Something like, "So, going stir crazy yet?" or "How are your injuries doing? Want to tag along?"

>What should I do with my time until I get a call back from Havoc and Locke?
Still want a tech expert.

Still no idea how to get one.

>Goblin notes
Try to study your notes whenever you have some free time. Before bed, etc.

Once you feel confident you've internalized the teaching, only then do you ask for more training.

>Do I want to try and keep progressing towards recruiting Camella, or let her keep mulling things over on her own until I have her new identity to present her with?
That's going to impress her. On recruiting... not directly. See if she wants to tag along places, though. Show her we're not all that crazy.
>>
No. 307707 ID: 234c26

>>307697
>So: Do I serve Kelpie Krisps to Camella, unsure of what effect it might have on a totally vanilla human?
Ask her if she wants it before feeding it to her. "Surgeon General Laine's warning: This dish is slightly magical and may result in unknown side effects. You want some, or sticking with cereal?"

>It's been nearly a week now since I took in Camella-should I follow through on my idea, and take her with me to Ito's today?
If she's healed enough for it. Before we take her, remind her not to move around in any way that will cause further injury. Also tell her that if we're taking her to meet friends and associates- even wholly legit ones like Ito- it would be polite to not mention things that don't need mentioning, and to keep our respective good names in mind. Relationships and reputations are delicate and precious things for those without legal recourse to fall back on- we can help her with building one of her own, but she'd best look after ours in turn.

>What should I do with my time until I get a call back from Havoc and Locke?
See if you can learn anything useful about Smets from the Sometimes Merchant. Both if he's supernatural personally, and who his connections on the supernatural side are. You could probably promise them a magic weapon or two in exchange for the information easily enough... after all, you'll soon have several available, and even if the whole operation falls through you could still cover the check on your reserves.

Also, look through that dossier carefully and see if anything catches your eye. Important to review all available information.

If you still have time after all that, go over your notes from the goblin training, see how much sense you can make of them. If you're unlucky, the training was somehow magical and the notes will be useless, but hopefully not. If you're not able to get much out of them at first, try to remember the voice and tone of your instructor as you were writing them down, mentally bring yourself back to that moment and recapture the essence of what he was saying. It also might be worth trying to apply some of what he was saying as you move around, for practice.

>Do I want to try and keep progressing towards recruiting Camella, or let her keep mulling things over on her own until I have her new identity to present her with?
Don't overtly push, but make it clear in your interactions with her that the option remains very open and you will expect an answer sooner or later.

>>307699
>Also, go drinking with Arkvad. Maybe introduce Camella to him, so she knows somewhere she might be able to find magic guns for dealing with the supernatural.
Yes to going drinking with Arkvad. We don't spend enough time with him when we're not talking work. Very no to introducing Camella to him. Arkvad is one of our only true friends that we don't need to be suspicious of on some level; Camella is STILL a huge risk due to supernatural grudges who hasn't even expressed a willingness to work with us and might well be biding her time until she's fully taken advantage of our generosity to say thanks but no thanks and ditch us. We have a much, much stronger obligation to Arkvad than we do to Camella, and that means protecting him from the potential danger that she entails. If she wants to buy supernatural weapons at some point soon we can act as middleman for her; if she's still around and in our good books six months down the line we can introduce her to Arkvad.
>>
No. 307713 ID: 252e1b

>>307705
>Still no idea how to get one.

Well, we could ask around with our contacts, but that'd be kind of obvious. We could try finding someone unaffiliated with the whole shadier side of things; look for places where telecom geeks would party (so the white collar clubs, basically) and try to find one there.

Or we could go after a neck beard, and find some HAM operator through a local HAM radio club. Any decent HAM would be able to do what we want, with a little preparation.

>>307707

Yeah, I second holding off on introducing Camella to Arkvad. Maybe later, but not this week.
>>
No. 307715 ID: d3dfb8

Don't give her your breakfast it could be dangerous. Instead make her some good ol' fried bacon, eggs, and toast with optional butter/jam.

Ask her if she's feeling up for some moving. You've got some training to go to and you're sure it'll be more interesting than sitting around here all day. And let her know you've got a fake identity in the works for her. Considering she's even more fucked if she runs into the authorities than us she'll probably find it useful. Being an illegal immigrant she'll be detained or executed if they don't want to deal with her supernatural circumstances.

After you get home from Ito's training review your notes then try and get some practice in, after all you learn from doing not reading.
>>
No. 307721 ID: 28e94e

Give her the breakfast. Don't tell her what it is. When she recovers from the first bite, then you tell her what's in it.
>>
No. 307732 ID: c173fb

So: Do I serve Kelpie Krisps to Camella, unsure of what effect it might have on a totally vanilla human?

>>307707
I agree with this, and give her a very small taster's portion, first.

>It's been nearly a week now since I took in Camella-should I follow through on my idea, and take her with me to Ito's today?

Sure! She'll want to stretch her legs. Tell her this is a good teacher and we're trying to get badasses, such as her, to be taught by him.

>What should I do with my time until I get a call back from Havoc and Locke?

Practice sneaking. Also, call up Edward Riker - from a secrure line - to ask about any tech problems we have and any locals that could help them. Hint-hint.
>>
No. 307742 ID: 252e1b

>>307732

She will need basic things too, clothes and underwear and stuff that fits her properly and isn't just borrowed pajamas of yours. Shopping trip~
>>
No. 307745 ID: f0e3ae

you know, we COULD experimentally test it on a random neighbor first...

IF she gets some its with the warning of "this is magic goat cooked with magic spices using recipe from a magic dish cookbook... *take a bite* not yet sure if it does something or has side effects; want some?".
The problem with presenting it that way is that you might appear too reckless, dangerous to work with... Also she can assume it isn't harmful because you ate from it, she doesn't know you are supernaturally enhanced. So mentioning you have enhancements (no need to go into specifics) might be required too...

@Carmella: don't pressure her, at all. Do invite her to ito, mention he is a martial arts instructor who as far as you know is not involved in supernatural or anything other the martial arts training.

>Carmella as a student = pay less to ito
You DO realize that she has 0$ to her name, right? she has no identity, no money, no visa (to work to get money) no home... her only property are bloodstained clothes and combat gear.

@Goblins: their training of stealth was supernatural based! AWESOME! And you can now recognize magic weapons? AWESOME! Actually, you probably COULD get that job at H&H, especially if you spend a little more on magic weapon training OR even better magic charm (with your aid H&H could branch out to magic charm making)...
Or heck, you could even start making and selling charms to people at ridiculous prices by yourself, start a business. Claim the charms are "expensive art". Supplement your income that way. (technically, armas COULD keep training goblins, learning from them, and retire into a career of magic item crafting as a wealthy individual. Find a wife, have some kids, never fight for money again... kinda boring though so lets just assume that is how the story ends eventually when he has had enough, and keep on playing for now).

Anyways, we should ask the goblins if they can teach us to recognize supernatural beings. If they can then we visit smets mantion under the guise of asking to work for him or buyback
the gun he stole from you. Pretend to be too cowed to attack him outright, and identify for yourself if he or his staff are magical.

>>307701
>In subtle ways
Agreed

>Then, either while you're both eating or just while you are if she refuses, "I've got a line on a new identity for you. You'll need it, no matter what. Now, I don't want anything in return for it, but I had to imply you'd be available for a future favor to the forger. Since I didn't check with you about it, I'd come along, help you complete the favor. Watch your back."

I would NOT say that. If you need to then say "your new identity should be ready by the end of the week". Nothing more.
I WOULD NOT tell her you volunteered her to do a job for it, first of all because you DIDN'T actually do that...
you said she MIGHT be interested in working for them, not in exchange for an identity, but in exchange for money... the fake ID was a freebie to make her more receptive.
All she would have to do is turn down the job saying "sorry, not enough money for something like that". Heck, she can just not come and you say that recruiting her didn't pan out.
And if and ONLY if they raise a fuss at that point, point out that you can still do the job and at most pay them the money it would have cost to arrange such an identity (remember that is a service they offer, for money).
>>
No. 307750 ID: 234c26

>>307703
>Now, I don't want anything in return for it, but I had to imply you'd be available for a future favor to the forger. Since I didn't check with you about it, I'd come along, help you complete the favor. Watch your back.
I would not tell her anything about how we're getting her identity right now. In fact, we don't even have to tell her that it's in the works. We told her that we'd get it done; unless she specifically asks about it I'm content to not mention it until we have a passport to put in her hand.

>>307745
>The problem with presenting it that way is that you might appear too reckless, dangerous to work with...
We claimed to her face that, quote, "While riding a mythic elephant-killer rhinoceros inside of a boat, I drove away a giant, poisonous, shape-shifting immortal amphibian monster". We're obviously pretty fucking reckless and dangerous to work with already.

>Also she can assume it isn't harmful because you ate from it, she doesn't know you are supernaturally enhanced. So mentioning you have enhancements (no need to go into specifics) might be required too...
If she assumes that it's harmless just because we ate it when we specifically told her that it might not be harmless, she's an idiot. She's not an idiot. An obvious parallel here is like taking drugs. We do not have to, and should not, go into the details of our supernatural talents for her- particularly not for a reason this trivial.

>You DO realize that she has 0$ to her name, right?
We're not expecting her to be a student right now; given that she's a super-badass of the first degree, she might not even have that much to learn from him anyway. Nor do we need the discount on Ito's training enough that we really care if she signs up. In either case, it is only a side bonus for later. She'll get money eventually, and lots of it unless I miss my guess.

>If they can then we visit smets mantion under the guise of asking to work for him or buyback
the gun he stole from you. Pretend to be too cowed to attack him outright, and identify for yourself if he or his staff are magical.
What. This is a terrible plan. It puts us into Smets' power which could be fatal even if he's mortal and could be even worse if he's not, puts us on record as having talked to and paid attention to him for any later investigation- and recall that there will likely be serious mortal investigation of his death by mortal agencies alone, because he is a semi-prominent and wealthy man- and tips him off that we're paying attention to him. Worst of all, it could be easily noted by our partners in crime- and they are not the type to take a deviation from our existing plans lightly.
>>
No. 307759 ID: f0e3ae

>>307750

I thought it was obvious that they would be notified...
However, you are absolutely right that it WOULD make us a prime target for any mortal investigation which is sure to follow. I haven't considered it. Good thing we have many people looking over those things.
>>
No. 307781 ID: a76809
File 130673617506.jpg - (442.60KB , 1024x768 , Ito House.jpg )
307781

>>307701
>>307705
I plop a plate down in front of her as I sit opposite to enjoy my breakfast.
"Here-eat."
>[Camella]"...What is it?"
"A free homemade meal-and completely unrelated to what I wanted to talk to you about."
>[Camella]"What?"
"Would you like to get out of this house, have a moment to stretch and in general not go stir crazy?"
>[Camella]"Is this joke?"
"Not this time-I know someone that teaches a method of bayonet fighting I go see now and then-you could come with me to my lesson, watch or participate as much as you want. I'll drive you there and everything-what do you say?"
>[Camella]"You know I am not rejecting a chance to leave your house."
"Okay then-let's get you loaded in the van."
>[Camella]"I can walk on my own."
"...Okay, well we do need to have breakfast first."
>>307707
Just as she's about to put a bite in her mouth, I speak.
"Surgeon General Laine's warning: This dish is slightly magical and has a small possibility of resulting in unknown side effects. You want some, or sticking with cereal?"
She hesitates for a moment, watching me munch down the meal with abandon. I finish my current mouthful with an audible gulp before offering a continuation to my thought.
"It IS quite delicious, if I do say so myself."
She says nothing-but the mouthful of Kelpey Krisps she imbibes says all I need to hear. A half second afterwards her head rocks back as her eyelids flutter.
>[Camella]"THAT..."
"I said it was delicious."
>[Camella]"You made this?"
"Yeah-amazing what a bit less mundane cooking ingredients can do, isn't it? Anyway-ready?"
>[Camella]"Yes."
"Alright let's go."

Camella hobbles her way over to the Right Laine, pulling herself into the passenger seat, her figure heavily obscured as she wears some of my workout clothes (her only clothes a shredded and bloody set of military fatigues likely to attract attention), and we make our way to Ito's house. The aged Japanese instructor greets us both respectfully, and nods in understanding when I explain that Camella was injured recently. He asks her to start working through a set of stretches to see how well she is before asking her to do anything specific, while I set into my morning forms. I've been at work for at least three hours when Camella finally speaks to me.
>[Camella]"...A bit spartan here, is it not?"
>>307703<< [PALENDROMIC RESONANCE]
I'm about to reply-when I get a very, very specific sense of déjà vu.

First, a ripple that spreads from my body, air and ground, flesh and stone, everything shaking and moving in its wake, matched to my beating heart.

Second is the stale air in this tiny practice room swirling around me with such force the wind currents are visibly warping light, which accompanies the second shaking beat of my heart-Camella dancing to her feet even as she grits her teeth, eyes alert and tracking as she looks for a threat.

Before the third manifestation can come-I hear Ito speaking at my side, his words clipped, precise and urgent.
>[Ito]"Power always needs a container to fill-and what container is bigger than the world?"
I do the only thing that makes sense in that split instant I have before the third, the strongest surge of energy hits, before my body is flooded with so much raw energy I can't even feel-

I thrust the training staff in my hands earthward, trying to will the building pressure down.

>[SECOND RULE OF THREES PALENDROME: CONDUIT RANK 2 EVENT]

There's a flash of light brighter than the sun and a quaking so fierce it rattles my bones-

[DISCONTINUITY]

I find myself standing in an ancient house of stone and brick-the floor hardpacked earth and sand, nothing more. I glance about, seeing hand-carved tables, clay jugs and urns-as well as both Camella and Ito, standing exactly where they did before-both wearing looks of shock. It is in a numb silence that the three of us briefly tour the house, finding it in every way matching what I saw online-as being the poster child of a Byzantine-era home.

Our circuit of the building, it and all it's accoutrements, terminates with us exiting the front door to turn about and stare-

As I dimly note Hafaz and Shaya walking up, their words of greeting dying on their lips as they approach.

Not every day you see a modern if dinky building swap places with a multi-millenia old structure.

I note Ito has turned to look my way, his gaze joining Camella's in being locked on me (while I note Shaya to be rather focused on Camella's chest, happy to watch her go braless in a loose tee-shirt at this point lightly soaked in sweat), rather clearly looking for answers-or at the very least, some sort of idea what just happened.

...And I note neither Ogrimir or Mahuika's servant conveniently show up to chime in. Damn.




What am I supposed to say or do about this?
What do I do from here?
>>
No. 307786 ID: 692cff

"So, does the new place cover next months payment? Or at least part of it?"

As for what to do, carry on with what you were going to do anyway. Act like this was unexpected, but nothing something to be all that surprised about. Basically, everything I posted >>307701 that we haven't already done.
>>
No. 307788 ID: d3dfb8

".... I know what you'r thinking, I am NOT a wizard. And this is not a regular occurrence... sort of."
Give it a minute or two to sink in, then thank Ito for both the instructions and the advice. Inform Camella it's probably best if we head out and get her some clothes.
>>
No. 307792 ID: 252e1b

>>307786
>>307788

Hey hey hey, don't be a dick and skip out on a snarky comment like that. I second the "I am not a wizard" comment, and suggest we expand on it.

"I'm not sure what exactly happened here. Is there anything I can do, Ito Sensei?"

We do want to keep Ito's services, so we better be conciliatory and defer to his judgement on what he needs to make up for this inconvenience.
>>
No. 307795 ID: ae0719

"Ah. Well. Um. This is a funny story... just as soon as... I can think of it..." I just don't see any way out of this besides explaining a little about magic and the nevernever. 'A little' is basically all we know about that subject.

"Mostly all I can say is I am really glad I didn't explode this time either. That makes it two for two. Thanks you, Ito-sensei. I'm not sure I would have realized a way to ground myself in time, and it wouldn't have been fun for anyone involved to have to clean bits of me off the dojo walls. Plus, there probably would have been a fireball. I'm really sorry about your house."

My best guess, byzantium had an incredibly strong connection to the nevernever somehow (or the Summer court in particular), and when the conduit opened the nevernever-energy took a form most comfortable to it, which pulled this funky byzantium-era house into being. The Goblins were very pro-byzantium too, after all, being around since that era and the Sometimes Merchant yukking it up when Western Roman Empire's foremost son (Savoy) went and got his arm chopped off.
>>
No. 307801 ID: f0e3ae

>[Ito]"Power always needs a container to fill-and what container is bigger than the world?"
DUDE! ITO KNOWS!
Rather then giving answers you should seek them, how did he know what was happening and to guide you to direct it into the world?... I don't know about wanting Hafaz and Shaya to hear though.
>>
No. 307814 ID: 692cff

>>307801
Bob said in IRC
02:27]TheBeardiestBobHe knew it as 'Oh god why are all of this guy's Chakras open what the hell he's going to explode I don't want to be killed with bone shrapnel'
>>
No. 307815 ID: 234c26

>>307781
Okay. Hafaz and Shaya do not know exactly what happened, so if you can avoid letting them know that it was your doing directly or otherwise that would be a good thing. Large amounts of power attract large amounts of attention, and Hafaz at least has some connections on the supernatural side of things- until we know who he is, I'd be damned wary of letting him know the specifics of who we are or how we work.

So. I would quickly speak to Camella and Ito, before the others get all the way here: "Discretion would be appreciated. Can I explain later?" Unless they demand explanations right now, you should be able to at least avoid spilling all your secrets to all four of them.

Obviously you cannot deny or avoid the fact that this is now a Byzantine era house when speaking to Hafaz and Shaya, but you can avoid the how/why of it. Instead, focus on the practical applications- like, is there a way to make money from this? How many people do you think will notice such an out-of-the-way building having changed, and how suddenly- given the design, you could probably sell it or its contents to a collector or someone interested in the era, whether they buy into its method of existence or not. The proceeds from the sale could probably be channeled into buying a newer and/or better dojo somewhere, since obviously this one is shot.

If you can't avoid explaining at least something, stick to emphasizing that you are occasionally in danger of exploding and are glad to have survived; most people in your situation don't. You are the luckiest of the phenomenally unlucky, as it were; you'll probably explode some day, but at least that day is not now. You don't know why this specific effect emerged; while we could speculate on magical reasons, let's keep that down to a minimum- the more knowledge of the supernatural we display, the more Hafaz' theoretical organization learns about us and our capabilities.
>>
No. 307824 ID: c6ce12

>>307781
Look around a bit, breath in and then sigh, saying "Really? Twice in two weeks?". Motion for everyone to gather around the new table "Well I thank you for the last minute advice Ito Sensei". Proceed to look around the dojo some more and continue with "Though I suspect you were not prepared for the effect it would have on your dojo. On the bright side the place is much more sturdy now. Ah, before I explain, exactly how many people were outside prior to the shift?" As they try to explain make some subtle gestures at Hafaz and then to Shaya, as if to ask if he's aware of the world outside the norm, that or just take him aside and ask him if the conversation allows for it. If he is he can join in on listening to what should be a very nonspecific explanation of the events that just occurred, if not, well ask Hafaz to occupy him for a bit and tell him we'll talk after explaining to the other two.

After everyone we want to tell knows what happened we'll have to deal with the issues involved with suddenly having a Byzantine-era house appear. The furnishing could potentially be sold off at a great profit and/or a potential way to get us connections at the local museums. The house itself? Well I can't really think of a way to do anything with it that wouldn't raise a lot of questions from mortals, supernaturals on the other hand, I doubt they would have qualms. The goblins in particular would be interested in this, with their connection to the era being as strong as it is. I think we might be able to trade the location to the goblins, get them to either move it to a safe place they can use or keep here and obscure it's existence or nature from mortal eyes. Beyond hiding it for us I suspect we could get a fair amount for the location, particularly if we decide not to sell out the furnishing beforehand, I'm mainly thinking a new location for Ito, perhaps a modern building they have recieved in a trade that would suit his needs. If we can sense they value it quite highly perhaps we can ask that we also have all our training transferred to the NeverNever and made so that we lose no time in the mortal world or age while inside of the NeverNever.
>>
No. 307829 ID: d429c4

Do not explain anything to Hafaz and Shaya that you can avoid. Perhaps ask them, "Would you believe that you really don't want to know?"

If they're still curious, ask them how much funny business they've seen.

Now, Ito clearly has some form of supernatural perception, even if he doesn't know exactly what's going on. Thank him for his advice. You've also learned that you can channel the power that courses through you. Ask him humbly, and explain that you don't fully understand the power that you're tapping into, but it can be controlled. Can he teaches us what he knows about controlling the flow of energy within the body through the chakras, so that we don't become an inadvertent hazard to others. Now that we know he's attuned the the supernatural, we may want to bring in Keihas, and ask him to to work with us to tailor our style to Keihas' special features - the unusually long and supernaturally sharp bayonet, and blood eating stock.

You should also go to the goblins, and ask them what the going rate is for learning to control the flow of energy from the Otherside is. More generally, ask them what they would trade for the directed output of an opening conduit, and imply that the second is dependent of the first. Before asking either, ask for a guarantee that the implications of the deals you choose to make won't be shared with others or used against you.

On a side note, examine all your weapons using your newly acquired knowledge of enchanting, and see what you can learn. Also examine the staff that you channelled the energy through - it might have picked up a residue.

I second suggestions that the contents of the house maybe very valuable. The Mafia should have contacts with the local antiquities smugglers, or, you can gather them up and give them to your academic friend. You'd need to find a cover story as to why you have them for the latter though.

You also need to buy a few more different types of gun to train goblins to use. Machine pistol perhaps?
>>
No. 307838 ID: f0e3ae

>>307814
I meant he knows something about supernatural... He could sense the "energy" and knows enough about it to redirect... he might not know that it was a gate, but he could teach you chi manipulation!
>>
No. 307848 ID: 8b0de1

"Huh... what do you know.
Okay, see you next time Ito-sensei!"
And carry on your business like nothing happened.

>>307788
>>307792
>".... I know what you'r thinking, I am NOT a wizard. And this is not a regular occurrence... sort of."
Wait, why?
Don't mention wizard thing. She never said anything about wizards and Armas no reason to believe that she thinks he is [I know she does, bu that is meta-knowledge]
Besides, it is funny that she thinks so.

Also, we shouldn't explain anything or at least be circuitous about it. Armas has had enough dealings with Goblins to know that any kind of knowledge can be very valuable, so why should we give it away freely?
If we do explain, we need something in return, preferably knowledge too.


>What do I do from here?
Oh well, when you deal with this confusion there are some things to do.

First of all, get that bitching helmet that Grail proposed.

Then spend time going over your notes and practicing what you have learned.
>[05:05] <TheBeardiestBob> If Armas goes over his notes a few times and tries it out, he will find that by watching someone for a few seconds, he can read where they are going to look while focused on them-and manipulate this to move out of their vision
Spend a whole evening on this if you must.
Then practice it in a park or something.

Also try to get more info on Smets ... from Goblins, I guess. I don't know anyone else to ask that.
>>
No. 307849 ID: bdd7d3

"I made the world my vessel, now what?" just have this very distant look on your face and really, curse fate.

Once you've done that, look around the house for anything nice. Scrolls, nice pottery, a souvenir would be nice from this...'trip'.
>>
No. 307854 ID: f0e3ae

1. do not mention fang or triads under any circumstances. most people view such associations negatively.
2. do ask ito and carmella to wait for explanation.
3. do not deny or claim to be a wizard.
4. do not ask for a discount in training cost.
5. do wait and see if Shaya and hafaz know about the supernatural before mentioning anything.

When its only you and people in the know, then share info. I would definitely share info with both ito and carmella... we have gotten used to trading with goblins that we are neglecting humans. Humans appreciate being informed and respond in kind. You do not need to wrest every word from them. If you are trying to endear yourself then sharing info is good. I am not saying be totally honest, if you mention the triads for example then the opinion of many would go down and it might put you at risk. I am just saying that you stand to benefit from NOT being too tight lipped. If shaya and hafaz ARE aware of the supernatural then you could share info and learn from them as well. Ito you MUST share with since you want him to teach you chi manipulation and magic martial arts... heck, you might be able to go on to become a living conduit with the right training, assuming that is a good thing... we should trade info about what happened here with the goblins for more info about it and the gates. >>/questdis/347086

As a show of faith to both of them I would share some of what we know, but phrase it right. Our goal isn't to tell them anything and everything, our goal is to appear forthcoming and open and friendly... an ally, someone they can trust. Someone carmella would work with, ito would teach magic martial arts, and hafaz and shaya (if they are included) are willing to share their own contacts and info.

While sharing do not mention the triads, simply explain:
Have you heard of spontaneous combustion? Human lore says that the vast majority of cases are due to the Other side. As it and beings within it try to reach the mortal plane, they reach out to anything that can act as anchor. While some beings from the Other side can directly possess individuals without immediate issue, the Other side itself cannot. So when is it not an individual, but... a multidimensional living world, no mortal can take it. They are destroyed as a Gate to the Other side is opened in their flesh. Fae lore calls those gates the Nevernever-opening. According to such Fae lore a successful opening results in either the death of the target... or them becoming a living conduit. Preventing such a gate from opening is ridiculously difficult, uncertain even with a team of specialists, or requiring the work of several powerful fae from both courts. So, master ito, I must thank you for your suggestion. How did you know to do that, I have never heard of a human throwing off the opening in such a manner.
>>
No. 307857 ID: 44766a

Has any one notice that the magic responded to Carmella's "...A bit spartan here, is it not?"?
Did it react to her statments?
>>
No. 307860 ID: d3dfb8

>>307857
No, it's random. Wherever Bob thinks it'll have the most effect.
Funny though, it's roman not spartan. Plus the sensai is Japanese. She couldn't have been more wrong. Tell Jess I said that Bob.
>>
No. 307861 ID: d429c4

Oh, and one this:
>[05:05] <TheBeardiestBob> If Armas goes over his notes a few times and tries it out, he will find that by watching someone for a few seconds, he can read where they are going to look while focused on them-and manipulate this to move out of their vision

There was a good idea on practising this in a park, but after then, he should try to practice it wherever he walks anywhere, so it becomes second nature. A busy shopping street would probably be the ultimate test to use it on multiple people at once.
>>
No. 307868 ID: ae0719

>>307848
>"Huh... what do you know.
Okay, see you next time Ito-sensei!"
Funny, but no. They - he - deserves more than that.

Don't be TOO evasive. There's a saying that goes something like, 'Knowledge is the coin of trust'? Studies have been done that offering something 'freely' is more successful in getting people to reciprocate than trying to ensure equitablke exchange (the study was, a $20 freely offered is better than $60 with an expectation to be paid back, I believe). Ito, Camella and the other two, they seem like good people. Their own consciences will poke them to reciprocate if we just let it be.
>>
No. 307880 ID: 44766a

Spar·tan (spärtn)
adj.
1. Of or relating to Sparta or its people.
2. also spartan
a. Rigorously self-disciplined or self-restrained.
b. Simple, frugal, or austere: a Spartan diet; a spartan lifestyle.
c. Marked by brevity of speech; laconic.
d. Courageous in the face of pain, danger, or adversity.
>>
No. 307913 ID: a76809

>>307786
>>307824
>>307848
I mutter, soft enough that I know Camella and Ito both can hear, but the more distant Hafaz and Shaya cannot.

"Really? Twice in two weeks? ...I made the world the power's vessel, now what?"
I turn to Ito before any can react to my utterances.
"So, does the new place cover next months payment? Or at least part of it?"
>[Ito]"I need new house, might not get to keep rights-legalities, words. Why give discount?"
...He has a point, the city will probably try to claim it as a cultural monument and evict him...
>[Hafaz]"That... is ancient. What is it-Roman?"
>[Shaya]"You're the one that knows old things, you tell me-just what happened?"
Shaya looks at Camella rather pointedly.
>[Shaya]"And who is she?"
>[Camella]"'She' is Camella, and will be called such-who are you?"
>[Hafaz]"Hafaz-he's Shaya. ...You do not know what has happened here?"
>[Camella]"Ask Armas, not me."
And with that all eyes turn to me.

....Great, thanks Camella.

>>307829
"Would you believe you really don't want to know?"
>[Shaya]"What a load of-"
>[Hafaz]"Yes, I would. ...And I believe you will finally answer my question"
Hafaz spits out out a short and harsh word-

>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait activated]
And I find Shaya and Hafaz both pull out Israeli Micro Tavor submachine guns leaping into their hands, bodies moving to cover the compact weapons from the street at large-
-While Camella pulls out her Barretta (Where she hid it I haven't a clue), sighting it on Hafaz's left eye.
>[Hafaz]"Who are you, Armas, and what is it you want here!?"

Thus begins an ever so slightly tense standoff, with me continuing to stand cavalierly in the middle of it, a gun barrel trained on me from fifteen feet away.

>>307815
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activates]
I confidently (and rather specifically slowly) move my hand up, pushing Camella's gun barrel down, as I look to Hafaz and Shaya, before meaningfully glancing at the street-where people are starting to notice the new structure. A crowd will form shortly.

"Discretion would be appreciated. You'll get your explanation later, lest you want a scene."
>[Hafaz]"....Fine."
A confused looking Shaya re-conceals his weapon as Hafaz does the same.
>[Hafaz]"But you are not leaving our sight until I am satisfied."
"Do as you will."

I turn to Ito.

"Mind watching the house while I contact someone who deals in antiques, and would know wealthy historians interested in such a place? You could have the funds for a MUCH better dojo shortly."
>[Ito]"With what has happened-how can I say no? I have no front door to lock!"
"I imagine a state of the art gym would change that, wouldn't it?"
>[Ito]"We shall see what your friend says, Mr. Laine."

As Ito walks back into what was his house, I call Arkvad at the corner phone booth, blithely ignoring Hafaz and Shaya-and the rather guardedly perplexed Camella.
"Arkvad-it's me. Do you know people who deal with antiques outside the weapon field?"
>[AS]"A refreshing question-can you be more specific?"
"To the point-figure you could market what appears to by a Byzantine house, authentic and perfectly preserved?"
>[AS]"......Hah...... I don't know if I should hang up for all the things you bring-or if I should kiss you for it. Don't even try telling me WHY you've run into something like that here in Istanbul."
"Good, I'll just give you the address then-the owner of the plot would like to sell... expeditiously."
>[AS]"IT'S IN THE CITY-fine, fine-now it's whether I should punch you or marry you. Just promise me this, Armas-can you lay off the... exciting... things after this?"
"I promise what I can."

I give Arkvad Ito's address and contact information, before hanging up, hitting a convenience store for a disposable phone, and bringing it to Ito. I give him Arkvad's number. He calls it-and I see the irritation and resignation on his face beginning to dissipate. With this situation hopefully resolved, I get in the Right Laine-Hafaz sitting shotgun, Camella and Shaya in the back seat. The moment the obscuring doors slide shut again hands fly-
>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait applied]
And again I don't bat an eye, instantly noting Camella to be not only redrawing her Berretta but pulling her Super 90 shotgun out from under the seat. She rests it's barrel against the back of Hafaz's headrest while putting the Berreta against Shaya's temple-while Shaya's gun is presumably pointed my way and I can see Hafaz's discreetly pointed back through his seat at Camella.
"Can't we be civil about this? Have I aggressed you in any way?"
>[Hafaz]"...No, yet with our existing association I feel myself... in need... of a better understanding of where you stand-I had sparred with you in good confidence."
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"Did you? I had thought you complete out of the know-mundane, if you will. Do you not label that deceit, the same as mine?"
>[Hafaz]"Joint lies of omission without any malice, is that what you suggest? A simple misunderstanding?"
"Yes-please note that thus far I have not threatened you while you have now initiated a standoff at gunpoint twice. I believe my actions speak for themselves."
>[Hafaz]"...Or you're something that's not afraid of bullets."
"You think I'm not a human?"
>[Hafaz]"I think 'human' is a very loose term."
>[Camella]"Are you two enjoying your little pissing contest? Did you forget you pointed a gun at someone you didn't even know, just for sheer association with him-which means you're labeling him as a threat in need of termination-not how you approach hearing someone out."
There is a tense silence.
>[Hafaz]"...Perhaps I have been too... paranoid. Perhaps we should leave, and speak again, when our heads are cooler."
"Take what time you need to look at this objectively, Hafaz-I'd rather not have you label me an enemy over a misunderstanding."
>[Camella]"You in the front first."
Hafaz watches me for a time, before putting his Micro Tavar away again, and getting back out of the passenger seat. Camella puts her shotgun down once he's ten feet away, and re-opens the back.
>[Camella]"Now you-slowly."
A few seconds later where I continue to feign disinterest-I hear the doors swing shut, check my mirrors-

And see Hafaz and Shaya both heading to Ito's house. ...I'm not sure I like them being together with him just now, but between Arkvad keeping Ito happy with initial bids, and the need to keep gawkers back, there should not be much reason for them to converse too deeply. And really, with the note that situation ended on, I think Shaya, at least, feels a bit guilty about drawing iron like that. So... Shaya and Hafaz for certain, Ahmad, Yoni and Hadar all potentially are mercenaries or something like it-you don't carry guns like that, and act in unison like that without being part of a very well-made unit. ...And Hafaz is DEFINITELY savvy about magical events-at least enough to recognize them going on. ...Realistically, I think I'm going to need to have a talk with him-and based on it, I'll either include him in the more mystical parts of my life-or cut ties to them all, lest our earlier friendship end in blood. Irritated with how he handled it or not, Hafaz and the rest are still good people in my books, and I can get his shock at something so major happening like that, without any answers. ...Well, that's for later.

I drive back home, not wasting time with questions-obviously Camella found time SOMEWHERE to stash the shotgun in here since the last time I drove it, as it wasn't there before. On our return, I notice the disposable phone for the Smets deal is lit up-a new message.

Camella doesn't miss it.

>[Camella]"...That's those other two-Locke and Havoc-with you on the Smets operation?"
"One would assume. Do you still consider me a criminal for using my skills in this fashion?"
>[Camella]"....."
>[PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS NEW SOCIAL TRAIT-ONE MORE UPDATE'S WORTH OF SOCIAL INTERACTION REQUIRED]

Perhaps my words and actions are beginning to reach her-I say nothing more on the subject for now-

And spend the evening split mulling over the message, and pouring over my notes from the Goblin lessons. At first my shorthand makes no sense even as I put meaning to the words-but I start putting myself back in the mindset of the lesson, thinking of how I saw the crowd watching Ito's house... and it begins to make sense again.

Locke and Havoc's plan is fairly straitforward-they have secured the assistance of a communications expert to set up radio jamming at the same time we cut power and landlines-they want to meet to plan a specific time and day, after going over what they know of Smets' schedule. Proposed meeting date: Sunday.

I slip out after I finish going over all of my notes, and try to put it into practice while I'm in the mindset. For an hour that early evening I pace and prowl after people, focusing on where I think their gaze me be falling.... and I think I may be on to something. When a brownie informs me its time to give another lesson, I happily boost the amount of hours saved up to twenty five-with hours spent training with Ito only up to one hundred ten. It's not as bad as it sounds, as with the intensive foundation I built, I think I can afford a less thorough training regime.


I spend another hour after returning once more sneaking around the neighborhood, shadowing people-and return home to Camella once more meticulously working on her weapons and re-checking her armor. I nod to her as I head off to bed.

Friday morning rolls along-with an email from Arkvad. Turns out a Swedish CEO wanted a home in Istanbul and is a fanatic about Byzantine era history-he's flying out today to inspect the place, but if he approves, Ito could be looking at ten million lira-enough for a VERY nice dojo, one would think. I also note my armored trench coat, jacket and business vest arrived this morning-as did a package from the Triads [Camella Larosa is now... Camella Nardi, so they did keep the first name]-excellent.






What should I do today?
Do I want to talk to Camella about anything today?
I have Ito's disposable Cell number-do I want to call him, and if so, concerning what?
>>
No. 307916 ID: a76809

>>307913
[Typo-package is from Mafia, not Triads]
>>
No. 307918 ID: 692cff

I say we actually take the time to explain what happened to Camella, using the explanation gave here
>Have you heard of spontaneous combustion? Human lore says that the vast majority of cases are due to the Other side. As it and beings within it try to reach the mortal plane, they reach out to anything that can act as anchor. While some beings from the Other side can directly possess individuals without immediate issue, the Other side itself cannot. So when is it not an individual, but... a multidimensional living world, no mortal can take it. They are destroyed as a Gate to the Other side is opened in their flesh. Fae lore calls those gates the Nevernever-opening. According to such Fae lore a successful opening results in either the death of the target... or them becoming a living conduit. Preventing such a gate from opening is ridiculously difficult, uncertain even with a team of specialists, or requiring the work of several powerful fae from both courts.

After that, we immediately go the Goblin to find out about Smets. We need to do that soon. For trade, I say we see about using cash, and play down our need for the information, a supposed to our want of it. They know we own Mammon's device, and we have enough shots that if shit really hits the fan we're very likely to be able to kill whatever comes our way, it's just a matter of making things easier and requiring less resources.

On that note, we really should be carrying it with us in most places in case of ambush. And since we likely made Ito a very rich man and we spend so much time training with him, perhaps we could get him to choose a dojo that has a room that could, perhaps, be rented out to us? We've fallen into a routine which makes it very easy to be ambushed, and moving would help us with this quite a bit.
>>
No. 307920 ID: d429c4

>What should I do today?
Unless we have any appointments, I think it's time to get out of Dodge for a few days. As before, my suggestion is too buy up some blood, and then take a road trip down to the Fires of Chimera, along with a bullet making kit. There, you can try casting some bullets in the eternal fires, and quenching them in blood.

If you don't do this, it's still a good idea to drop out of sight for a while. On the way, try to apply what you learned about stealth to other cars. During this, you can swap out driving with Camella if she wants to come along, whilst you examine your existing magic weapons using your new knowledge.
>Do I want to talk to Camella about anything today?
A basic briefing on the kinds of monsters you are aware of existing.
>I have Ito's disposable Cell number-do I want to call him, and if so, concerning what?
You do want to call him, and maintain the relationship. You haven't thanked him for the advice he gave you, which probably saved your life. Do so. Also, ask him if he can teach you how to perceive what he saw in you at that moment, how to to guide the flow of energy within the body.
>>
No. 307926 ID: 234c26

>>307913
>Do I want to talk to Camella about anything today?
Yes. Sit down with her over whatever decent breakfast you can cook up.
"I should thank you for your assistance yesterday. You were great. That sort of thing is exactly why I need backup in my life."

"In the interest of giving you some idea what exactly happened, since you did act on my side... there are people in the world with magic in them. This takes many forms, but for humans it's often carried through bloodlines. In my case... how can I describe this... do you know what sickle-cell disease is? An inherited trait which has normally beneficial effects- resistance to malaria for sickle cell; various supernatural dispositions in my case- can have strongly negative effects instead. Sickle-cell makes people anemic and die young. My own heritage makes me predisposed to spontaneous combustion."

I would expect a 'WTF' look from her at this point. "I'm entirely serious. You aren't the only one that the supernatural has touched in a bad way. I don't throw myself at everything magical I find just for the thrills, though they're a big part of it; if I can't learn enough, gain enough power and control or somehow otherwise control it... then one day I'll go pop rather messily, or potentially have something else supernatural and ugly and probably worse happen to me. Yesterday was a risk event."

She'll probably have a whole bunch of questions, but this isn't open interview time. Telling her what happened yesterday is polite and appropriate; giving her a full-on briefing when she hasn't actually agreed to work with us is not.

When you're done with all that or want to change the subject, toss her the new ID documents and tell her to not shoot anyone in the Istanbul branch of the Mafia unless she wants her new identity to go very sour, very quickly.


>>307918
I would rather not throw a bunch of arcane terminology and lore at Camella in our explanation. She's still a mundane- phrase things in terms that are rooted there. Bringing up the fae and goblins and nevernever and all that is unnecessary to understand the essence of what's going on and will just confuse the issue.

>I have Ito's disposable Cell number-do I want to call him, and if so, concerning what?
Sure, give him a call. Inquire first as to if it seems your recommendation worked out; apologize for bringing chaos into his life, and thank him for his timely advice. Then ask if he is willing to continue teaching you.

>What should I do today?
We need to find out more about Smets- specifically, any supernatural talents or allies he has available to him. Given our available connections and the fact that he is well covered in the mortal world, that means relying on Sometimes Merchant.

Other matters. The martial artist bunch have your phone number; they can call you when they're ready to talk, I suppose.

Since training with Ito is out for the day, spend the time you'd normally do that practicing sneaking about and getting used to your body armor. You might also ask Camella if she wants to go shopping; she can't wear your old clothes forever and you can spare a couple hundred bucks for a wardrobe. Mention that she'll probably want to buy more ammo at some point, but that's more expensive and more tense so it should probably wait until she's all the way back to 100%.
>>
No. 307928 ID: 8b0de1

>Do I want to talk to Camella about anything today?

Yes... umm...
Lets get to know each other better.
Talk about yourself and have her talk bout herself too.
Get to know her tastes and whatnot, her favorite music, movies, food.
Maybe something about her childhood, her time in service, homeland.. whatever.
I want to know her character, try to find out if you can. But don't be too pushy.
Make her a breakfast, perhaps supernatural, perhaps not.
Give her her new identity. [I am not happy that we made ourself indebted to Mafia as we did, especially hinting that we could help if Triads try to take revenge for what Savoy did]
Heck, since she has nothing to her name, you could get her some clothing and stuff. Or give her money and have her buy them herself or something ... I don't know.


It has come to my attention that Armas has a very predictable schedule these days. It will be very easy to ambush him and get him caught with no weapons and armor and knowing that Crazy Injun and Big Olga are after him [they have already identified him as Brandts killer] this is VERY troubling.
Have we already refitted Right Lane to be bullet proof, explosion proof and be able to drive on empty tires? If not, we should look into it.
Maybe we should legalize our weapons somehow, so that we can have them in our van and apartment without legal worry?
What else can we do to prevent sudden death?

>Friday morning rolls along-with an email from Arkvad. Turns out a Swedish CEO wanted a home in Istanbul and is a fanatic about Byzantine era history-he's flying out today to inspect the place, but if he approves, Ito could be looking at ten million lira
>10,000,000.00 TRY = 6,234,773.44 USD

If this deals goes through, Amras definitely needs to get SOMETHING out of it. It is not like he just stumbled onto it. He practically MADE that house.
Ito shouldn't be too defensive either, we exchanged his house, which wasn't worth a broken wooden coin before into this ancient artifact.
Of course, the legal aspect might prove costly and it is something that Arkvad will need to resolve AS SOON as possible. The deal should go as fast as possible too, the more we wait for better deal the more likely that the house will be confiscated.
But either way, I am looking at least 1 million for Armas (which is about 16%, and that is very generous offer 'makers fee' and not 'finders fee'), 1 mil for Arkvad and ~4 mil for Ito (or whatever they agree to, but 1mil$ for Armas is a must! You hear me?)

>I have Ito's disposable Cell number-do I want to call him, and if so, concerning what?
Arvard will make the deal with him and CEO, there is no need to butt in, he is more experienced at those things.
But the 1mil$ thing, we should call Arvard about it. Heck, haggle for better price too.

>Proposed meeting date: Sunday.
So that means we still have two days, right?
Okay, I propose to put in 3 hours per day into Sneaking. That shit is just too awesome to not to do.
Get yourself another notebook, or a recorder (ask for permission to use the recorder though).
Oh! Since we can ask for specific type of training, ask Goblins at Sneaking class to teach you to "feel" when your are being watched and observed, to feel the conscious gaze of another as you would feel a cold breeze, a strong smell or the warmth of fire nearby.
Also, try to use your sneaking abilities all the time so that it becomes your second nature. The more you practice, the better.


Oh, for your goblin teaching, ask Cammella if you can borrow her weapons. The more weapons we have to teach them, the better, since that increases the time we get in return.
For that matter you could buy cheap(ish), legal weapons. The more variety you have, the better. It seems that the Deal was phrased in such a way, that Goblins are unable to apply the skills and knowledge they got from training on one firearm to another.


send a check to demonologist!
>>
No. 307934 ID: ae0719

Throw in, kind of off-hand, a thanks to Camella. She was mostly protecting herself, but she did get a loaded gun out of your face through her quick action. And it's a good sign that she's coming around. "I am still human, after all. Digging bullets out hurts. A lot."

Then toss her her new passport, visa- whatever you got from the Mafia. "The first part of my promise to you, free of charge, as agreed, Miss Nardi." Just another way we make it clear we're a useful guy to be friends with.

Today, call Ito first. Make sure Arkvad did him a good turn, ask if he's now in the market for a new dojo, how long he thinks it might be before he opens his doors again. And if you're still invited.

Then, you've got to set up a meeting with Hafaz and Shaya. You want to be on the ball on this one. Those guys are your friends - pretty close to your only friends. Plus... well, possible back-up, since they're in your line of work. Ask Camella if she feels like tagging along; don't want to presume, since she hasn't spoken one way or the other. Tell her, "These are good men. Good friends, occasionally drawn guns not-withstanding. But I'd feel a little more at ease with your gun beside me. Besides, you might learn a thing or two of interest."

Around dinner, I'd like to again propose setting up a little get-together. Maybe your scholar, Camella and Arkvad? We've been wanting to meet up with him in an out-of-work scenario.
>>
No. 307937 ID: 252e1b

>>307928

Don't be a boor about the money. Ito's still going to have to go through the trouble of replacing all his stuff, relocating, and dealing with weirdos and legal follow-ups on what the hell happened. Just ask him to not mention your name. If he gives his word not to, that alone would be worth a million (you don't want any of this on you, this is crazy shit even for Istanbul).

>I have Ito's disposable Cell number-do I want to call him, and if so, concerning what?

Call Ito and ask if there's anything else you can do to help him. And ask that he try to not mention you at all if anyone investigates.
>>
No. 307944 ID: f0e3ae

I still stand by sharing some info.
These are humans, not fae. Humans reciprocate very well to being kept in the know. Choose your words carefully but stop demanding payments for every smidgen of information from humans. Don't go around giving all your secrets. but when a human you have an interest in fostering good relationships with (for example, a martial arts instructor who can sense your chi levels or a prospective partner) you don't go around making demands for every smidgen. Tell them the truth (spontaneous combustion, gate, etc), gloss over things that you don't want them to know (first time it happened in a triad house).

Oh, and you already got the 9 demon bullets but you still haven't paid for them... do so now.

Also, I wouldn't press ito for a portion of the house sale. If he offers you, sure. But keep in mind he is now wealthy enough to not need you and you gained quite a lot of good will by arranging as such. Ideally having millions of dollars and some free time would make him inclined to continue teaching you AND to teach you about the magic martial arts. Guy can sense your chakras and knew to tell you what to do with the power. Work on it from the angle of such knowledge being needed by you to save your life when it happens for a third time or beyond.

And trade your second experience with a gate to the nevernever with the goblins for more info about what those gates are and what a "living conduit" is.

Also, explain things to carmella NOW. Explain things to ito in private later today. Then meet with shaya and hafaz to explain things to them. By not having all 4 of them together you can sharing different amounts with each.

And for gods sake meet akvard for a drink and a chat, outside of business. You need to keep up your friendship and goodwill.
>>
No. 307972 ID: c6ce12

>>307913
What to do? What to do? Well for starters let's present Camella her new identity, I like this >>307934 bit of dialogue tempered with a warning concerning the Mafia origin of her new identity. See how she takes the new identity. Then we can give her a bit of money, tell her she can do whatever she likes with it, but we recommend getting some clothes of her own.

Then once she's out give Ito a call, see how the deal is going. Ask him about his plans for the new dojo, if we can get a storage space there, when he plans to resume lessons. I think we could honestly stand to wait a bit, even if our prior deal with him gives us preferential training to the point where we could probably just ask him to meet us, it's a nice gesture and we could honestly use a bit of shaking up in our schedule. When he's got the new place in order in the next couple days we can return to training and then ask him about pursuing training involving the manipulation of Chakras.

Now that all that business is out of the way we can go down to the street, try to do some sneaking around. I would try to put on your new casual body armor while you do this sneaking, give you a sense of the weight you will be carrying on the mission, minus the weight of your actual dragonscale armor. Walk around the block a bit, watch people, observe them, maybe try to see how closely you can follow someone or how quickly you can predict a movement of the eyes. Once you have made a round or two head to your alley, making sure no one sees you, and go inside the sewers to talk to the Sometimes Merchant. We have been harping about that Smets info for days, so let's go ask him for it. I believe our new story about Ito's Dojo should be worth that much, though do leave his name out of the story, his and everyone else save your own. If they want to know how you did it you can tell them the instructions that were told to you for additional cost, like say a bottle of mead milked from Heiðrún. Oh and while you're there clear up something for me, what do they define as home? Like if we move our location will our protection for the sewers under us remain? Once you get all of that done you can leave, maybe shower a bit so you don't smell.

Call up Arkvad as night falls, ask him if he's off his shift. Ask about getting some drinks to celebrate his latest acquisition. This would be the perfect opportunity to just relax with our friend and hang out without asking him for something. Just don't do anything too crazy, I don't want to end up in the NeverNever with our right arm turned into a wing and Arkvad missing or something. Just crawl yourself back home or get a Taxi to pick you up.

When morning comes you can talk to Camella bit more, see about meeting with our friends to discuss what happened yesterday. If all goes well we should try to hit the gym together or do some more celebrating, I'd prefer the gym though. A while ago we wanted to join a major martial arts tournament deal, but they wanted us to get the approval of the person who runs our gym. We will have a lot of free time since Ito will be getting the new dojo in order and if we can get the gym owner's notice we might have a decent in on asking him about approving us.

>>307920
No to the road trip, we're not really in a good place to take any extended trips.

>>307926
You do realize what you would be telling Camella is a lie, right? Our ancestry and bloodlines have nothing to do with our tendency towards these...explosive episodes. The real cause is sheer luck and happenstance due to our multiple palindrome posts. Armas is merely having the worst luck imaginable, with comparable odds being hit by lightening twice, becoming a saint, or winning the damn lottery.
>>
No. 307983 ID: ae0719

When next we do some training in the Mafia storage area, bring back our matebas, hide em in the van. We really shouldn't rely on Camella or our rather obvious Keihas.

>>307928
We also need to pick Camella's brain about what she encountered down there, if she'll let us.

We mostly know about the Byzantium layer, and not much at that. List off some creatures, see if she recognizes them. The goblins' distinctive masks and fiery halos, the elves aristocratic features and ears, little horned imps, sneaky brownies/redcaps, little humanoid mandragoras, the horse shapeshifter pookas? The winged woman Peri? What about demons: gyllou, abyzou, lamia, vardat lilitu, empusa, tavara, the vampiric mormo? The Bird of Sorrow? Dews, djinns or devas? Storm Fiends? The formless spirit bogeyman, Dunganga? The Bag Man? Armenian 'Al', the spirit of flame with snakes for hair? Karakoncolos, the hairy Bigfoot of the Winter Court? Were her dreams visited by the Red Mother?

Those she doesn't recognize from our descriptions, have her write down. We'll look them up.

We're going to have to fight some of those things eventually if we don't want to give up on this ally. We should be forewarned.
>>
No. 308012 ID: a76809

>>307918
>>307926
I make my way to Camella's side, package in hand-noting her eyes tracking me-I still can't tell when she's actually asleep and when she's faking it-and toss her the package containing her new passport.
"Here-courtesy of some of your countrymen-word to the wise, try not to piss off any mafia types, at least for a while, alright?"
Camella eyes the documents as she pulls them out, a frown crinkling her face-but she says nothing, watching, waiting.
"So... about yesterday..."
>[Camella]"Yes, about yesterday. What... what did you do?"
"Ah.... where to start. Have you heard of spontaneous combustion? Welp, turns out that the vast majority of cases are due to the Other side-Nevernever, whatever you want to call it. As it-and beings within it-try to reach the mortal plane, they reach out to anything that can act as anchor. While some beings from the Other side can directly possess individuals without immediate issue, the Other side itself cannot. Too big-can't fit an elephant in a handbag, right? So when it is not an individual, but... a multidimensional living world, no mortal can take it-we're just not built for it. They are destroyed as a Gate to the Other side is opened in their flesh... explosively, to my understanding. Fae lore calls those gates the Nevernever-opening. According to such Fae lore a successful opening results in either the death of the target... or them becoming a Living Conduit-which is really not very relevant to my situation. Preventing such a gate from opening is ridiculously difficult, uncertain even with a team of specialists, or requiring the work of several powerful fae from both courts. Lacking that... you have to take it as it happens."
Camella proceeds to stare at me saying not a word-every inch of her face expressing but a single concept to me: WHAT
"I'm entirely serious. You aren't the only one that the supernatural has touched in a bad way. I don't throw myself at everything magical I find just for the thrills-though they're a big part of it I'll admit; if I can't learn enough, gain enough power and knowledge to somehow control it... then one day I'll go pop rather messily, or potentially have something else supernatural and ugly and probably worse happen to me. Yesterday was a risk event."
>[Camella]"How often has this happened?"
"As you heard, that was the second time in two weeks-I would like to add to that that this is something as rare as lightning striking-or so sayeth those I consider 'in the know'. In theory, I used up all my 'luck' having it happen twice-but I won't hold my breath on that. So there you go-that's what happened."
>[Camella]"...Why did it make Ito's house change?"
"Why? Because I directed the energy away, and it manifested in the building. Why it did specifically that? I couldn't tell you. Last time was coils of snakelike fire binding me in a prison. Doesn't seem to be any pattern, rhyme or reason to its method."
>[Camella]"...That's terrible. You can just... what, explode? Just because?"
"Basically, yes. Though as you saw it is not guaranteed."
>[Camella]"And this can happen to anyone?"
"So it seems-yet I've not seen it strike anyone else before, even though I know it not specific to me. Guess I'm just lucky. By the way-thanks for that out there."
>>307934
>[Camella]"I have to ask, after what that guy said... could he have hurt you with that?"
"I am still human, after all. Digging out bullets hurts. A lot."
>[Camella]"Oh, don't be such a bambino."
"Say that after digging a bullet out of your bowels with a pocket knife."
>[Camella]"Can't say I've done THAT-but I've had to do field treatment of a total of seventeen torso gunshot wounds, and honestly, with all the adrenaline, it's not THAT bad."
"Well bully for you-I'd prefer to not get shot in the first place."
>[Camella]"So why didn't you pull iron?"
"Would that have helped the situation? I LIKE Hafaz and the rest, no reason we can't resolve this peaceably. Hence my diplomatic approach."
>[Camella]"...Dio, it's like you need a baby sitter to keep you from being shot."
"I'll point out I was alive when you got here-and that I wasn't the one popping out of a sewer half dead."
>[Camella]"Circumstantial evidence-if I don't keep your idiotic bravery from killing you, where am I going to sleep?"
...Not what I was hoping for, not a 'hey, I'll work for you' deal-but it's a start. I'll take it.
"So what did you think of Ito, anyway?"
>[Camella]"A nice old man-he did not try to grope me, very polite."
"...And the stuff he teaches, any interest in that?"
>[Camella]"...If I used a longarm with a bayonet? Perhaps. As I do not... no. I would rather have access to a weight room for rehabilitation, not some oriental dojo."
"I'd recommend Constanz' Crash Course-good gym, plenty of instructors that teach Sambo there."
>[Camella]"Several Spetnaz swear by it-perhaps I could spend time there, if I could afford membership."
"Maybe you could do some work for me-something simple, just to get some spending money-it would give you some options, at least."
>[Camella]"...I'll think about it."
"All I can ask."

>>307928
[You do not seem to grasp where the vast majority of this money will go. To think Armas could get such a large percentage of the GROSS as the finder (doesn't matter he made it, it wasn't on purpose) is preposterous.]
As she gets back to her own duties, I call up Ito-but only AFTER I write a check for thirty five thousand dollars, and mail it to Johan-got to stay on top of my payments.
[FUNDS:----- US$000,070,330.08]
"So, how is the sale looking?"
>[Ito]"A buyer is coming here today-if he likes it, then no complaints about the affair."
"So, if the deal goes through, I'm assuming you would get a newer, better dojo to work out of, correct?"
>[Ito]"Correct."
"Personal caveat-if you find one with a cafeteria, and maybe a side room an apprentice or two can shack up in, that would be ideal. I could cook there sometimes, maybe spend the night now and again."
>[Ito]"...I shall keep your request in mind, when looking at new places."
"All I can ask. You available for lessons today?"
>[Ito]"I am truly sorry, but I am not. The buyer could arrive at any time, and must be here to greet him."
"I read you-okay. Call me when you know what's going on, okay?"
>[Ito]"You will stay informed, senior student."
*Click*

I call Arkvad next, checking in.
"SO-how's that deal working out? I know H&H normally deals with firearms..."
>[AS]"Let me put it this way-assuming the price does not go up from the initial quote, just my cut, after the company's portion and taxes-I will STILL be making twenty thousand dollars on this transaction."
"Great!-then you can pick up drinks tonight."
>[AS]"What?"
"You, me, Camella-we can go get shitfaced in celebration tonight."
>[AS]"Camella?"
"Yeah-Italian girl, blond, blue eyes, very fit-"
>[Camella]"Be careful with your choice of words!"
"-Anyway yeah what do you say, the two of us out drinking plus a new face. Should be fun!"
>[Camella]"You did not ask me if I want to go."
"You're right, I didn't-do you want to stay cooped up in the house or go out for a nice meal and some good drinks?"
>[Camella]"...Living with you I NEED a drink."
"You heard the lady Arkvad, three for drinks. What time do you get off?"
>[AS]"At five."
"Okay-can you be at my place at six?"
>[AS]"...Yes, I can. See you at six."
*click*

For a change of pace, I go to Constanz' gym today-noticing all five of the Israeli-Pakistani group present. Shaya looks guilty, Hafaz acts as if nothing is out of the ordinary, whispering 'later' to me when no one is looking-and I find myself truly enjoying a day's workout, once more practicing Krav Maga. My first hour is shaky, given the time that's passed without me even thinking of the style, and at first I use many more moves from LINE than I wished-but two hours in and my forms back where it was, moves sharpening back up. At Ahmad and Hadar's urging, Camella, who tagged along to the gym to check it out, entering under my guest pass, participates in our round robin sparring-it takes all of three minutes for it to be clear she will tie any of us, myself included, into a knot, barring Hafaz. The rest of the guys seem to find this hilarious, and immediately graduate Camella to 'one of the boys'. Ito calls me very briefly around four, letting me know the Swede buyer arrived, and is still interested. Camella spends some time going drink for drink with Ahmad, the resident drunkard, before we have to leave. I note her cheeks to be rosy, tinged pink and glowing above her small smile as I drive back home.

Twenty minutes later Arkvad is knocking on my door.
>[AS]"Armas-Come here you bastard! What a day, eh? You're the man of the hour-finding something like that-so you tell me-where do you want to eat? Doesn't matter where, I'll find a way to get us in-think of it as part of my thank you for making this possible. So.... where are we headed this fine Friday night?






NIGHT ON THE TOWN: Where shall the Trio go in Istanbul to have fun on a Friday night, given their only common language is English and only Arkvad speaks Turkish?
>[This is where you pick an actual real life restaurant or bar or whatnot in Istanbul-or don't, and leave it up to me.]
What kinds of topics should be broached during this meal? What kind of small talk should be made?
>>
No. 308013 ID: c6ce12

I think I have the perfect place, it's called Asitane. The location is Kariye Camii Sokak No: 6 34240 Edirnekapi, Istanbul - Turkey. That's the historic part of town, located right next to Chora Church, which was a Byzantine Church and has now been converted into a museum that houses mosaics and frescoes. The restaurant itself is very highly rated, meals being a bit on the pricier side of things. What is amazing about the food though, is that they have a whole menu dedicated towards serving ancient royal court food from the Ottoman empire, using the same ingredients and cooking techniques used back then.
>>
No. 308014 ID: d3dfb8

http://www.istanbul.net.tr/istanbul_bar.asp
Bars in Istanbul.
>>
No. 308015 ID: 692cff

>>308013
Sure, go here. Though I do love the idea of heading to Konyali Lokantasi Topkapi Palace, getting drunk, and yelling at the Bosphorous that you want your rematch with Doony.

As for what we should talk about, assuming no-one is listening, why don't we tell him some of the crazy stories surrounding some of the stuff we've called him for? And catch-up with him about what he's been up to. Can't just talk about ourselves. And of course go into embarrassing child-hood stories. Hell, make it a drinking game, where each time someone else's story makes you laugh you take a shot.
>>
No. 308027 ID: 234c26

>>308012
>What kinds of topics should be broached during this meal? What kind of small talk should be made?
Well, there was that weapon-turns-magic event that I believe we mentioned to him. We could explain some of the details around that and our speculations on what exactly they do now- presumably we have a very good idea, since we now have magic weapon sensing/identification abilities. Could make for an interesting story and discussion... although I'd try to be sure that you're not right next to anyone else when telling it or discussing Arkvad's thoughts on it. He's a bit touchy about security.

It would be preferable to not go into the details of our jobs, for the most part. It's wildly unprofessional. Talking about specific events within our jobs isn't as bad ("...so there was this giant tentacled hippo thing, and there we are, just the five of us with guns that felt increasingly measly...") but the overview is a no, employers are a no, specifics of names and detailed attributes of who we're working with and what they can do is a no. We can't afford a reputation as someone who will spill everything to his friends after a job is done.

There are other, safer topics anyway. Talk about guns, fighting, history, current events in the world or the city, anything unclassified that you or Camella did in the military or that Arkvad has done in the last however many years, tell the occasional funny story. We don't need to focus on work all the time.
>>
No. 308034 ID: 81f32a

Aw shit, we will run into somekind of ambush, wont we?
Seriously, Armas needs to prepare for that. Don't want to get caught without our equipment and weapons.
Check if your car has been meddled with once in a while.


Don't go anywhere near the Bosphorous for dinner or bars. It seems Doony can pick up sounds transmitted by the water and will immediately recognize you.

We could go to eat at a nice place and then go get shitfaced at some bar.

For talking topics see this >>307928
>>
No. 308036 ID: f0e3ae

Do not discuss supernatural secrets in a bar/restaurant.
Do not discuss arms dealing in a bar/restaurant.
Do not get shitfaced, drink responsibly.
Do not drink and drive, if you end up at a bar then make sure to arrange taxi for you guys.
Do not bring up anything work/business/money related with arkvard. You can tell him those things later, this is a celebration / hanging out.
>>
No. 308037 ID: d3dfb8

>>308036
Do not talk about fight club
Do NOT talk about fight club
>>
No. 308043 ID: a76809

[Just an FYI, this night on the town is a chance for you to define minor character details for Armas. Favorite type of drink (beer-man? Mixed drink? Wine? Shots?), If he likes fish most, or lamb, etc. What sports he follows, what his favorite team is. Any of that can be defined in this meal.]
>>
No. 308045 ID: d429c4

As noted on the chat, Arkvad should be expecting his share of the deal to be something more like $300K, although he'd probably be expected to share the wealth around, otherwise H&H is properly ripping him off.
>>
No. 308046 ID: 81f32a

>[You do not seem to grasp where the vast majority of this money will go. To think Armas could get such a large percentage of the GROSS as the finder (doesn't matter he made it, it wasn't on purpose) is preposterous.]
Hey, you can't blame me for trying.

But still, Arkvad got only 20K? And Armas gets nothing?
I don't actually know how those things work but I am sure they are entitled at least 5%...

>>308043
>Favorite type of drink (beer-man? Mixed drink? Wine? Shots?)
With our intention of making Armas the best chef ever, I bet he has sophisticated tastes. So I guess he understands wines and likes cocktails, but wont shy away from beer-drinking either.

>What sports he follows, what his favorite team is
Well, since we know that he loves Irish music and Ireland in general, I bet the soccer/rugby team he roots for is from Ireland.
>>
No. 308047 ID: ae0719

Can't go wrong getting people to talk about themselves.

Other than that... what are you all interested in? Weapons? History (shared, or the world's)? Clusterfucks of a military nature?

...

Cooking? Painting? Pets? Antiquing?
---
Okay, well... I imagine Armas is into manly sports like rugby or football (also, secretly ballet).

He likes seafood. Used to like calamari. After Doony, well... not so much. It gives him Vietnam-like PTSD flashbacks. Or maybe he likes it even more now ("Ha ha, how do you like being breaded and deep fried, you little bastard," he whispers to every plate in remembrance of his tentacled friend).

Maybe we could be developing a passion for Turkish food? Kavun dolmasi looks really interesting.
>>
No. 308054 ID: 234c26

>>308043
Armas usually drinks beer, favoring pale lagers, as a legacy of his military service where beer was the accepted drink. He likes wine, though he hasn't spent as much time drinking good wine as he'd like. But on a night that he's celebrating instead of just drinking, he'll want a good brandy. Probably a fruit brandy from the Balkans.

He has a fondness for seafood and meat dishes, particularly those which are mostly uncooked. He dislikes sweets and favors dishes with complex flavors; he'll try to identify what spices went into them and usually (but certainly not always) is right.

>>308047
>Okay, well... I imagine Armas is into manly sports like rugby or football (also, secretly ballet).
>football
And not American "football". That's not nearly manly enough. I imagine that Armas only really follows sports casually, though- if there's a game that he hears was really good he'll watch through it, but mostly just enjoys the highlights. Really getting into sports takes more time than he's willing to spend.

>Or maybe he likes it even more now ("Ha ha, how do you like being breaded and deep fried, you little bastard," he whispers to every plate in remembrance of his tentacled friend).
If Armas if drunk and eating calamari he will totally say this. Since he's an eat-the-hearts-of-the-enemy guy, he should delight in devouring anything that reminds him of his victories. Or near-victories. Well, it's a feather in his cap, anyway.

Really, what asserts your victory over something better than eating it? Eating something is a declaration of superiority, that you were the stronger, that you won. If anything, it's the primary defense against trauma, because he can reassure himself vicariously that the fucker is gone by eating something similar.
>>
No. 308079 ID: 81f32a

How about we make Armas an avid lover of classical music, theater and opera?
>>
No. 308081 ID: 690e91

You know, Armas loves his food, he really does. I think we should restaurant crawl. Sample lots of different places, get a couple of bourbons – after all, Arkvad is paying for drinks, but not us, so we need to abuse the hell out of his wallet which I am quite sure we will have to work off later, but oh well – and an entrée platter. Indian – which is always great –, Greek, Turkish, Italian – for Camella –, and, when we get really drunk, German so we can drunkenly laugh while we eat wienerschnitzel.

And, until we get very drunk, we should be asking recipes from the chefs and, when we get really drunk, trying to make food.

Also, we should hit some live shows. Something classy, a tie and tails place with a nice cello and crooner. Along with those lovely Irish songs, we should love some 1930s big band stuff.
>>
No. 308127 ID: cbd626

Armas is a beer man. a real beer man, that is. none of those light lagers for pansies looking to stay thin. its all stouts and porters, the darker the better. a good beer should fit like a light meal in the stomach. in terms of food, anything tasty as fuck, preferably meaty.
>>
No. 308143 ID: a76809
File 130688959756.jpg - (1.68MB , 3872x2592 , Asitane.jpg )
308143

>>308013
>>308015
"So... Arkvad how good are your connects here, specifically?"
>[AS]"I said name a place!"
"Alright-the Asitane."
>[AS]"...You're going to try and get my whole bonus spent in one go, I know it-fine, but you're picking up the tab next time!"
"Seems only fair-so, what say we eat like kings?"
>[AS]"Heh... alright. So... this is Camella, eh? ...What, she's going out in your old clothes?"
"I... hadn't got that far in the planning."
>[AS]"....Hah. Okay-I'll finagle the Asitane reservation, I'll give you an hour to get her attire sorted out-and your own as well. Meet you back here."
As Arkvad departs, I turn to Camella.
"So-what's your color? Or.... really, anything about what kind of dress you want would be nic-"
She offers forth her hand.
>[Camella]"Give me your keys."
"...It's the Right Laine, pretty sure only Laine's can drive it."
>[Camella]"And I don't want to go to whatever laughable excuse of a store you pick-we are on the clock."
I stare her in the eyes....

Smirk, and hand her the damn keys.

Two minutes later she's driving us down the street, and I refuse to ask or even ACT confused as to how she knows where she's going-yet soon enough, we're stopping outside a rather well-to-do store, where a doorman tries (and utterly fails) to stop Camella from barging in. I follow after her, thankful I'm wearing my suit already, as store associates connect me to her and settle down. She goes through three dresses-all in light green like a grassy hill in summer-before settling on a strapless affair that other than being particularly form-fitting is not very stylized, favoring a more minimalistic fashion. She argues for fifteen minutes with a clerk who finally lowers an initially ludicrous price for resizing one of their largest dresses to fit her more 'robust' frame. While she does I buy a better suit than my existing cheap black single-breasted affair. I get a gray silk suit with white pin striping-and a silk Orange tie-lucky find. With ten minutes to spare Camella and I both terminate our frantic haggling, I dole out around $1600, and we're on our way.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,068,712.99]

My hands full with shopping bags, Camella's already got the Right Laine on and door open by the time I get there-I've barely sat down when she guns the engine. I shut the door while giving her a mockingly indignant look.

"Please-you are driving like a criminal"
I get a wry glance as she weaves through traffic.
>[Camella]"We both need to change. Your house is eight minutes away. Do the math."
"...I don't think Arkvad was assigning rigid mission parameters when he said an hour."
>[Camella]"Doesn't matter."
And so, in five minutes, not eight, we get home-and in five minutes, both of us start to change.

>[Camella]"...Was it necessary to get another *unf* orange tie?"
"Orange is the best tie color ever-simple fact." I counter as I even find time to integrate my concealed business vest with my apparel. I'm putting on my bullet-proof trench coat (having already tucked my mere pounamu into the back of my pants) when there is a knock at the door.

Before I can finish what I'm doing Camella's already past me, swiftly and silently checking the peep hole before letting Arkvad in. He murmers appreciatively as he looks at Camella.
>[AS]"...Armas was not lying-I complement your athleticism, dear Camella."
>[Camella]"Thank you for the slightly more euphamistic complement on my figure, Arkvad."
>[AS]"HAH, I like her! Well-Armas, it is not THAT cold, you will not need the extra jacket."
"You never know-you got the appointment?"
>[AS]"Table for three at Asitane-wonderful view of the Bosphorus."
The nightmarish, shadowed figure of the Doonongaes flashes through my mind.
”Yeah, a beautiful place, that strait. ..We going?"
>[AS]"Yes-follow me."


So, turns out Arkvad has a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe-a 2007, in bone-white, to be precise. It gleams like silver under the light of the city, and I vaguely feel like we are riding the moon itself as Camella and I both get in the back seat. As Arkvad starts up the car and puts on some Jazz (father never understood why he seemed so obsessed with it) I note Camella to be hiking her skirt up-

And checking an inner-thigh holster, her Berretta (which I finally identify as a Px4 Storm in .40 S&W) and two extra clips secured against supply muscled thigh. I could have sworn I merely glanced over, but she gives me a look as if I was drooling like a lecher-and then I find myself confused as she whispers.

>[Camella]"You put on body armor-so I'm bringing a gun. End of story."
To which the only response I can make is to smile as Arkvad begins to chat with us on our way to the restaurant.

>>308046
"So Arkvad, been meaning to ask-you follow Soccer-"
>[AS]"FOOTBALL.... you Americans, I swear-and yes, I follow the game, why?"
"How have the boys in green been doing?"
>[AS]"Eh, honestly, you ask about them, not our beloved Huuhkajat? For shame boy, for shame."
"Well maybe if they had some music anywhere as good as Irelands-"
>[Camella]"Dios mio, you think either of them can stop La Squadra Azzurra?"
>[AS]"What's this, a fan of Italy? Who would ever have guessed! This meal may get volatile Camella-dare we continue?"
>[Camella]"Surely we must-I need to get out of his house, and I know I at least need a drink."
>[AS]"Truer words have never been spoken."

We arrive at the Asitane to find the place crowded, the low murmur of intermingled conversations drifting out from within. Arkvad leads the way-and shortly enough we're sitting down after I carefully drape my overly weighty coat and jacket over the chair's back-at least I still have my vest. The waitress comes-
>>308047
>>308054
We order-Arkvad getting a an almond soup, Camella an Artichoke, as I get calamari as an appetizer. Out of habit I order a house pilsner, Camella gets a glass of Merlot and Arkvad a glass of zinfandel. I look down at my calamari for a moment before raising my glass and having a hearty swig. For a time we talk back and forth about different soccer teams-I still call it soccer in my head, no matter how every other part of the world calls it-but that starts to die off as Camella and I both haven't watched a game for quite some time. Next we discuss firearms, Arkvad leading by extolling the virtues of Holland and Holland's hand-crafted firearms, touting their quality as unrivaled-
>[Camella]"That, I think, I must contest-what of FAMARS?"
>[AS]"...Fabbrica Armi d'Abbiatico e Salvelli-"
>[Camella]"Salvinelli."
>[AS]"Touché, beautiful one. ...Yes, I suppose they make some... acceptable... firearms."
"I think you've gone and touched his pride as a Holland and Holland boy."
>[Camella]"What? Oh-I do not mean to say Holland and Holland does not make excellent guns, I simply must defer to my countrymen."
>[AS]"...That, I suppose, I can understand."

Working my way through a second beer, I munch on the calamari, taking a grim satisfaction in eating a tentacle-sporting aquatic creature. As Camella and Arkvad discuss the finer points of finer weapons....

"Ha ha, how do you like being breaded and deep fried, you little bastard."

Thankfully, Camella and Arkvad are too caught up in their discussion to hear what some may label psychotic ramblings-and what I would label a healthy approach to having dealt with a living nightmare.

>>308127
As the meal progresses, with Arkvad advising us on what to order from the Royal court menu, I switch from the lighter lagers and pilsners to stouts and porters as red meat starts entering the equation. I throw myself into the conversation with abandon, taking up the stance of 'function over form' in the esoteric firearms discussion-to immediately be faced with the unbeatable Arkvad-Camella alliance. We share some laughs, continue to eat, and pause for a moment, an hour after arrival, as we wonder what to get next. Having already had five beers, I decide to suggest Arkvad pick a brandy we can have with our latter edibles-

-As I feel the mere pounamu at my back grow warm as if it had baked under a desert sun for a day.

-As the hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I know someone looking at me.

Camella seems to note my abruptly tensing posture, and I see her eyes scanning the room even as she continues to gush about FAMARS to Arkvad, stating how she'd always wanted to start a collection.

I take another few mouthfuls of food to clear my plate, and turn in my seat, looking for the waitress-

There.

A man with almost ashen olive skin, wearing a decades-old, antiquated white cashmere suit with overly large lapels stares at me from across the room. Other than watch me, he does not move.

I do not mean to say that he simply watched me, staying as still as a child in a staring contest. I would put money that were a hand placed against his chest it would not feel a thing, no heart beating, no lungs breathing-he seems as frozen as a fragment of time, staring implacably at me with grey eyes beneath a ruddy brown, close-cropped haircut.

I note Camella's hand straying up her dress as the man in white smiles at me, in that instant our eyes meet-

And I note his teeth sharpened, triangular knives, daggers in place of hammers. I can feel the threat oozing from that sharkish leer, even as I flag the waitress, wondering what to do next. Arkvad continues to talk without having noticed anything.






What should we do?
>>
No. 308148 ID: c6ce12

>>308143

...order some garlic bread.
>>
No. 308149 ID: 692cff

Tell the Waitress to bring a Bloody Mary, Blood sausages, or other possible blood dishes to his table, tell Arkvad there's something, possibly work related you have to do, and that you're ever so sorry you have to leave him alone to talk with a pretty lady, and then go over to his table to chat.
>>
No. 308150 ID: 28e94e

>>308148
I like this.
>>
No. 308151 ID: 44766a

... fuck anyone know what we are dealing with here?

Vampire? something from one of the Courts? I doubt its one of the things Camella pissed off, because it focused on Armus.

Any way quickly and calmly leave. Better to deal with it outside, out of the public eye.
>>
No. 308153 ID: c6ce12

>>308148
Seriously though, I kid. I guess we could invite him over to our table, but inviting vampires anywhere isn't usually a good idea. Now we could go over to him, but that's fairly risky as well. We could order him some drinks as a sign of good will and go up to meet them. I don't know, either way just stay here in the middle of a busy restaurant so he's less likely to try and bite us.
>>
No. 308154 ID: 44766a

Might be Winter aligned if the mere pounamu is acting up. I mean the mere pounamu might be Summer aligned based on which side of the family Armus inherited it from.
>>
No. 308157 ID: 252e1b

>>308151

Could be the butler.

Look, this isn't the place to deal with him, whoever he is. We're in a very public venue, we're with a friend who, while he knows about weird things is not in the business of fighting them, and we're under-armed. We have no intelligence on this guy. We don't even know how he trailed us. Or if he did.

This could be a chance meeting, related to stuff Aramas has been doing that makes him more obvious to those with supernatural senses. Aramas has been eating an awful lot of supernatural meat, after all.
>>
No. 308158 ID: 692cff

>>308149
Change the order to all Calamari ever.
>>308151
IRC, Bob said we've met him before on a cruise. Now I wonder who he could be...
>>
No. 308159 ID: c6ce12

>>308148
>>308153
Scratch this, it is not a vampire. I repeat, it is not a vampire. Tell Camella we're going to see an old friend, catch up, maybe whisper into her ear to pretend that the gun she has is a lot bigger than it actually is. Go up to his table, ask him if he heard us talking to our food, bring up the strange parallel that's happening right now.
>>
No. 308160 ID: d3dfb8

>were a hand placed against his chest it would not feel a thing, no heart beating, no lungs breathing-he seems as frozen as a fragment of time
hmmm, this reminds me of something...
>The Doonongaes stops still-a feet no human could replicate, not even the beat of a heart to disturb its perfect stillness-as it opens a slow, ominous smile.
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
>>
No. 308162 ID: 28e94e

>>308160
Now now, no need to--
>>308158
>met him before on a cruise
OH FUCK
>>
No. 308163 ID: ae0719

>>308159
I don't remember if the Doonongaes has awesome hearing or if he used some other way to find us from across the ship, but better not to whisper. Just motion your hand across your throat or something to tell her to put it back in her pants. A beretta isn't gonna do jack against this guy.

"Damn it. And this was such a nice evening, too. Arkvad, we're probably going to have to skip the dessert course." Possibly due to our imminent death, if this doesn't work.

We're so outgunned it's not even funny. I mean, maybe Doony's human form is less resilient than his serpent-fish-monster form. But he is not something to go hand-to-hand with, no matter how much our pounamu has levelled up.

Shrug on our coat, and go introduce ourselves. The fact that he didn't burst out of the ground, tongue-tentacles flailing, is already more luck than I expected us to have.

"Hello, Doonongaes."

Time to brazen the fuck out of it. Hands in our pockets, stare straight at him, not overly threatening but show no fear.

"Of all the restaraunts in all the world..." Okay, Doony probably doesn't have an appreciation for classic movies, but it seems somehow appropriate. Of course, he isn't exactly an ex of ours... "What brings you up onto dry land? I would have thought you had an akkorokamui to ward from harm. Or failing that, shouldn't you be hibernating in a lake somewhere? Did you come all this way for little old me, or is this just a ... happy coincidence?"
>>
No. 308170 ID: 234c26

>>308143
Okay, shit.

Do not let this conflict come to violence. We need to talk our way through it. We will lose if there is fighting, and we might well get Arkvad (a precious friend) and Camella (okay, well, whatever) killed as well. Keep our cool, do not provoke it.
>>
No. 308172 ID: 44766a

OH SHIT! lets hope the mere pounamu is at least able to stun it for a little awhile if it comes to a fight. This is BAD.
>>
No. 308174 ID: f0e3ae

it is not 100% doonie... but yea, that seems likely.

I see several possible paths.
1. Fast and furious: Tell arkvard and camella to get in the car and get ready to bolt. Call a waitress, give her your card, say an emergency happened and you need to pay and leave now, she should take an extra 50$ tip for herself for her trouble. Keep looking at doonie, either it moves or the waitress comes back with the card and we bolt to the car and have a merry car chase.
2. Balls of steel: Order a calamari dish, bring it over to his table, be ready to fight. Potentially try to bluff it.
3. The noble sacrifice: Tell camella and arkvard to run for their lives, go talk to it and hope it doesn't kill you.

I am honestly conflicted as hell as to which one of those to choose :P
There are of course many permutations for the above.

If it does come to a fight... prioritize trying to eat some of it. regenerating by eating a regenerating monster would be interesting... might be a fascinating fight... although most likely it would just tear you apart.
>>
No. 308178 ID: f0e3ae

!...
Actually, before you do anything touch your mere and analyze the enchantments on it. And when you get home do that for ALL your weapons (I don't know why we didn't think to do it before, right after being trained by the goblins to detect that)
>>
No. 308179 ID: 692cff

So, new pertinent information has come up in IRC. This restaurant is a neutral zone, and the owner is old as fuck misses eating dinosaurs foodbuff Dragon, who is here everyday. The new plan is to subtly piss off Doony until' he attacks us, and when the Dragon gets involved and kills him for fucking with his place, we offer to make Dragon a meal to make up for a fight breaking out in his place. If this works, best social trait ever. Fucking over Doony and buttering up ancient Dragon while out eating with friends? Yeah, sounds awesome.
>>
No. 308181 ID: 44766a

... Let's go with TMI's new plan. I like it.
>>
No. 308186 ID: dde86d

Oh shit
I told you to noy get anywhere near Bosphorus, but Nooo, you had to go there as if there are no other places to go in Istanbul which are not near the sea.
Ffs, you people are retarded? Yeah, right, lets go "and talk it over", lets talk it over with the ancient horror of the deep which we humiliated before the Akkar-whatsitsname.
With our weapons and equipment this would have been actually not so bad, but now. It can kill us with a simple touch.

What the hell did you expect by going near water? It was already stated that Doony and other horrid creatures can use water as conduit for sound.
>>
No. 308190 ID: f0e3ae

>>308179
... that is way too metagamish. Its a good plan but relies on info armas doesn't have...

The consensus plan before you mentioned that was "talk to it" but NOT to try and piss it off; verify it is really the donoongas and if it is figure out why it hasn't killed you yet.
>>
No. 308191 ID: dde86d

Hey
if the dragon idea works, go for it
>>
No. 308199 ID: a76809

>>308148
>>308149
>>308150
>>308151
First thoughts: I start thinking vampire. The serrated teeth, the ashen skin, the unnatural stillness-it could fit. I start plotting my move-potential calculated insult from ordering garlic bread, peace offering of a complementary plate of blood sausage-all manner of convoluted machinations flit through my mind-

>>308158
>>308159
>>308160
>>308162
And then I do a decent impression of stopping dead-cold. My mind finally kicks up the pertinent memory-the last time I saw teeth like that-the last time I saw something stop so perfectly-

It was the Doonongaes.

I look to Camella-I dare not speak, remembering the freakish hearing it demonstrated, and instead try to discreetly gesture she give up on her gun. I'm not sure she gets it, but I push myself away from the table nevertheless, as I think on how to phrase this.

"Would you two excuse me for a moment? I spotted an acquaintance and I think it would behoove me to stop over and say hi. I'll be back shortly."
>[AS]"Hm? Oh, yes, sure-now as I was-"
>[Camella]"...You'll be fine?"
"Don't worry."

>>308163
>>308170
>>308174
As I walk as confidently as I can manage over to the table my onetime foe occupies, I find myself ticking my way down a list of possible ways to react to this.
-The Doonongaes saw me, and even had I not gotten up, the speed it had demonstrated before suggests taht short of driving the likes of which would get every Turkish officer in a mile on our ass, there is no way we could lose it-and that's assuming it does not have a car of its own-I hadn't even thought of it having a humanoid form before, shapeshifter or no.
-Trying to get Arkvad and Camella out of here to remove potential hostages was pretty much doomed to failure from the start-anything I verbalized it would hear, and whatever attention it put on my companions before would be nothing compared to what it would do after verifying I wished them protected.

Which leaves me only one option.

I flag down a waiter as I sit down at his table in the lone seat present besides his own, looking down at the diminuitive man with as blank a look as I can muster.

"Yes I'll have an order of Fried Calamari strips, thank you-and a fruit brandy... let's say the apricot, neat."
>[Waiter]"And you, sir?"
Whatever suspicions I might be wrong vanish as I hear that voice.... that itching, crawling, scratching, spidery rasp.
>[Doonongaes]"No-I think I have everything I need right in front of me."
>[Waiter]"Very good sir."

The waiter walks away as the monster in the guise of man idly drums his corpselike fingers on the table, still smiling like a shark.

"Hello, Doonongaes."
>[Doonongaes]"Hello yourself. I can't help but note I feel no guardian presence of Winter or Summer in you-now where could they have gone...."
I decide to ignore the disturbing reminder of how freakishly perceptive this beast is-as I try to work the fact we are actually talking and not murdering one another.
"What brings you up onto dry land? I would have thought you had an Akkorokamui to ward from harm. Or failing that, shouldn't you be hibernating in a lake somewhere? Did you come all this way for little old me, or is this just a ... happy coincidence?"
A small, oh-so-slightly withered hand, like leather stretched taut over teak, slowly tightens about a knife's handle, the metal deforming in the Doonongaes' grasp.
>[Doonongaes]"...Coincidence, most certainly. I would not strike at you within a house so practiced at ancient culinary styles... but I wonder if the same could be said for you? Tell me, frail mortal, why is it that lacking your guardians I still sense magic from you?"
With the mere pounamu still practically burning through my back, I reply with as even a tone as I can muster.
"You know, funny thing-I felt compelled to find.... deterrents, should we next meet on the field of battle. Maybe you sense the energy of one of them-I'm certainly not limited to just the Device or my rifle."
>[Doonongaes]"No... what I sense is not strong enough to be a threat to me-"
"You sure about that?"
>[Doonongaes]"Quite sure."
"Then how come I'm not dead yet?"
The knife's head drops down onto the table, separated from the handle by sheer grip pressure as that dead face continues to watch me.
>[Doonongaes]"Were it my decision alone your past effrontery would have earned you days of suffering at my hands."
"Meaning it's not your call-"
I mix that with the comment about food-
"Meaning you can't start a fight here."
>[Doonongaes]"You could, should you wish it-I am certain the proprietor would not mind it, oh no."
"Well that is just a terrible attempt at deceit right there-what are you, ten?"
I note the tension in its masklike face-and I note the stiffened limbs. Oh, the Doonongaes WANTS to paste me, not a single question about that-but it isn't. Whatever it is that keeps this place safe-the Doonongaes does not seem willing to mess with it. Could mean a couple things. Could mean an organization protects it, and its far too much a pain in the ass to have them foes than not-or an individual enforces the nonviolence-and Doony here doesn't think it would win.




....I find myself wishing I knew a metaphor that fit-as is, I have to describe myself as wearing jackhammer cleats on thin salted ice over turbulent waters during an earthquake: Suffice to say, I had best watch my word choice.

>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait unlocked]
-Prerequisites: Ambush Expert.
-DD allows Armas to continue negotiating unimpeded, be he at a conference table, on a phone call, or at gunpoint. So long as he is not chemically compromised, environmental stressors have a lessoned impact on his ability to converse or interact socially with others.







What should I say or do?
>>
No. 308201 ID: 692cff

Continue pissing it off. Ask specifically if it's sure it doesn't want to order something spicy and some bourbon. The calamari strips aren't filling enough, and we prefer our catfish marinated, and definitely not bland.
>>
No. 308205 ID: 44766a

Stay calm and try to rile it up so that it starts yelling at you to attract the attention of the people running this place.
>>
No. 308207 ID: ae0719

>[Doonongaes]"No... what I sense is not strong enough to be a threat to me-"
"Good to know. It would be such a shame were we to meet in less... neutral circumstances and I attempted to depend upon it! My thanks, Doonongaes."
>>
No. 308213 ID: 590292

Fish puns. Lots of bad fish puns.

"So, Doony, did you need to visit a sturgeon after our last meeting? Eel bet getting your ass handed to you by a puny little human left you feeling a bit of a sting, ray? Did it make you look like a sucker in front of all the other big monsters in the playground? Well, sorry about that but you did kind of make a bass of yourself there, you know? Maybe you shouldn't underestimate people so much, it just makes you look like another big stupid aholehole when things flounder and go belly-up on you. But I guess I'm baiting you here a little, huh? Can't blame a guy for taking the opportunity when he sees a line ready and waiting though, right? I dunno, maybe you're not as shark as you look but I'll try and give you the benefit of the trout, chum. So I hope you don't mind me stopping over here for a minnow or two to say hi, not very often I run across someone I've fought that's still in good enough condition to talk afterward. Looks like you're doing swimmingly in sprat of the breaming you took, glad to see you're still piking around instead of being lampreyed up. ...Though you do look kinda shrimpy compared to last time, guess I gave you more of a shiner than I thought, huh? Hey, don't look at me like that, I'd hake for this to get rude. Oops, guess I'm sardine to run off at the largemouth here. Mako I should hand the channel off to you, eh? Oh well, at least we can speak in a candiru fashion here since we're being all sillago and pollack to each other here. But enough about medaka, I'm just talking for the halibut now. What's up with you?"
>>
No. 308217 ID: 692cff

Possible ways to use more puns during the rest of the conversation.

is no angelfish
as solid as a rockfish
done on porpoise
evil as Jack the Flipper
Don't be so ruffe
Carp Diem
hard of herring
get of your high seahorse
stop being shellfish
grew up an urchin
net loss
walk the plankton
whale of a time
being crabby
clownfish
>>
No. 308218 ID: d3dfb8
File 130691201944.jpg - (27.08KB , 400x348 , 1306909117666.jpg )
308218

Call him a slippery dick.
>>
No. 308224 ID: 234c26

Guys, I know that we're planning to piss this guy off and get him in trouble, but he can pop a tentacle and strike us in probably a fraction of a second. How the hell are we going to survive his initial hit, let alone the poison that will come with it? No matter how powerful the proprietor of this place is, odds are that he won't have split-second reaction time on putting a stop to violence in his place.

It is ridiculously reckless to provoke him without having something capable of keeping us alive for the first five seconds or so of combat. We were only able to survive his being anywhere near us last time for even the first seconds of engagement thanks to a hail of gunfire and a very nice melee weapon- but if we draw our weapon in here, we could be held in violation of neutrality, too.

That's not to say that we can't piss him off, but a plan for surviving it would be nice.
>>
No. 308225 ID: 692cff

>>308224
We only have to survive and be capable of talking by the time he gets put down, or at least distracted enough that Camella can get over here and we can tell her to give us some jerky from our coat. I think just trying to move and not get hit, given that we managed to avoid tentacles while cutting them up during our first encounter, should be enough to survive for a bit.

Also, I would not be surprised if a Dragon old enough to miss eating dinosaurs has split second reaction time.
>>
No. 308226 ID: ae0719

>>308224
The other problem with this 'goad Doony into attacking' plan is that we KNOW Camella's reaction to threats. She's going to pull her piece and shoot Doony in the head. A bunch of times.

And so, much as I think it would be funny, it's probably not a good idea.
>>
No. 308256 ID: f0e3ae

First thing first, ask if it has a personal name or shall you continue to call it by its species... then you can of course choose to call it doonie regardless of its response.
I also find it hard to believe it is only here for a meal, probe it some more for why its really in here.

>>308224
I am also rather concerned with him getting pissed off enough to abandon its actual business here, "leaving" and waiting for us to walk out of the place to attack us as soon as we are out... or follow us home. Or transform into a ferret and hide in our trunk to make sure he is further away from this restaurant... (remember he can change his size and maybe mass at will). I am quite concerned he would do that now anyways, even if we don't piss it off further.

No... the person I really want to talk to is whomever scares him.. go back to your table, tell arkvard and camella we are safe while here and to not under any circumstances initiate violence here. Explain the situation (do NOT detail your fight with it again, it will hear and find out about some of your deceptions). Flag down a waitress and ask to see the proprietor and try to figure who what that is. Explain the situation to them and ask how is it that they have got even doonie unwilling to act.

It is also possible for you to... schedule a rematch with doonie if you so desire at a later date at a specified location... on land.
>>
No. 308276 ID: 81f32a
File 130694912114.jpg - (104.82KB , 1000x1100 , Armas Chef - Doonongeas.jpg )
308276

"Really?
I though you did not care for any laws or oaths.
Huh, I guess even the mighty Doonongeas has to bow down and kiss feet sometimes.."
And then nonchalantly take a bite out of the dish you have ordered as to mock him even further.

>>308213
>>308217
Do this with as straight and serious expression as possible.

>>308224
I would like to think that it cannot shapeshift instantaneously, or shapshift parts of its body and that it secretes poison only in its default form.
But I am sure that it has superhuman speed and strength (as evidenced by how easily it bends utensils)

>>308256
It refers to us a 'mortal', we sure as hell are not going to refer to it by its name.
Also, I do not think it is as easy to get into the contact with the dragon and it is even less likely it will give a half of a shit about our predicament as long as we don't make a scene.

No, we will keep taunting it and subtly make fun of it till it loses its shit completely and attacks us.


Picture for cooking and serving Doonongeas.
>>
No. 308284 ID: a76809
File 130695208901.jpg - (165.89KB , 631x662 , Cornelius Zosimus.jpg )
308284

>>308201
....Massive risk if I'm wrong or not, it's looking like my best option is to hope the establishment really does not like fights...

I note the Doonongaes looking past me and growing slack as I hear footsteps. Both of us act more civil-and above all, halt our conversation as the server comes, delivering my apricot brandy and second order of calamari. I purposefully take my time eating four pieces, loving the house tartar, and take a healthy swallow of the goblet of brandy.

>>308205
>>308213
"So Doony-I messed you up pretty bad, did you need to visit a sturgeon after our last meeting? Ii-eel bet getting your ass handed to you by a puny little human left you feeling a bit of a sting, ray? Did it make you look like a sucker in front of all the other big monsters in the playground? I bet big old Akko is pissed, huh? All that misfortune for you-well, sorry about that but you did kind of make a bass of yourself there, you know?"
At my first fish pun, I see no reaction-to it or my antagonizing words. When I start my next sentence with another pun, I see an eyelid flutter as I pile on the mockery. By the time I hit the fifth, I see a grimace beginning to turn his cheeks. I eat another piece of calamari, daring the Doonongaes to respond, to give me a sense if my plan is working.
>[Doonongaes]"Perhaps I could wait for you outside-follow you home."
-Right, no backing out now that is a TERRIFYING thought. ...Very odd to be making up puns on the fly under threat of implied impending death, but it does WONDERS for one's creativity. I take another sip of the brandy, continuing to cup the glass as I speak-
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
"Maybe you shouldn't underestimate people so much, it just makes you look like another big stupid aholehole when things flounder and go belly-up on you. But I guess I'm baiting you here a little, huh? Can't blame a guy for taking the opportunity when he sees a line ready and waiting though, right? I dunno, maybe you're not as shark as you look but I'll try and give you the benefit of the trout, chum."
I spear the last piece of calamari and munch away vigorously, considering how that went. The first trio of forced fish puns accompanying continued insouciance and snarkiness (Thank you Literature major and fellow ranger Greg Spalding, for being the irritating-as-shit grammar nazi that kept using big words until we finally asked what they meant) makes the Doonongae's upper lip begin to curl. He abides by the next two-and proceeds to squeeze the metal of his knife's handle out of his hand like a tube of past at my follow-up trio. With my crass wording mixing with puns (thirteen and counting) I am really starting to piss him off.

Hope this actually works out for me.

>[Doonongaes]"...Stop."
I wish I could-too late now. I take another sip of the smooth, heady brandy.
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
"So I hope you don't mind me stopping over here for a minnow or two to say hi, not very often I run across someone I've fought that's still in good enough condition to talk afterward. Looks like you're doing swimmingly in sprat of the breaming[i] you took, glad to see you're still [i]piking around instead of being lampreyed up. ...Though you do look kinda shrimpy compared to last time, guess I gave you more of a shiner than I thought, huh? Hey, don't look at me like that, I'd hake for this to get rude. Oops, guess I'm sardine to run my largemouth here. Mako I should hand the channel off to you, eh? Oh well, at least we can speak in a candiru fashion here since we're being all sillago and pollack to each other here. But enough about medaka, I'm just talking for the halibut now. What's up with you?"
The first pun makes his eyebrow twitch-but he seems to subside as he's subjected to not but conventional mockery for a moment. When I start remembering all the damn fish I inadvertently learned about in the marine, and he's looking at four, seven-sixteen more puns delivered in a condensed packet, as I start to speak a bit faster, my mouth following my heart's example. The Doonongaes, hands finally empty of anything to crush, simply tighten and knot against themselves for a time, cracks and pops one would hear from the bones of a mine emanating from those small dead hands, like trees dusted in soot.
>[Doonongaes]"I will hunt down your family, pathetic little mortal. I'll flay their flesh and feed it to them, then I'll eat them myself."
-Don't show how terrified you are by the utter matter-of-factness of the way he stated that, keep going get him mad enough your plan works-it HAS to work!
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
I smirk at the Doonongaes as I finish the last of the brandy and get back to the game.
>>308217
>>308218
"Pipe down you slippery dick, and get off your high seahorse."
>[Doonongaes]"I'll crack their bo-"
"Are you hard of herring? Don't be so crabby, I'm just being a clownfish-and really, I'm trying to piss you off on porpoise."
He doesn't hear the last part, standing up as I distinctly note him looking larger than before-
>>308276
[FANART BONUS-INTERVENING FORCE ALTERED]
>[???]"Exactly what are you doing, American?"

At the graveled, oddly phrased words, the cadence off for any nationality I know, the Doonongaes once more stops dead still, nothing more than a wax statue. ...Huh, I guess the Doonongaes CAN be called an American-odd choice of phrasing dammit too much adrenaline focus drifting who the hell just made the Doongaes back down please be something that won't kill me-

I turn in my seat to eye the speaker.

He's five nine, maaaaybe five ten. I'd say his suit is probably worth as much as Arkvad's car, and shimmers in a way I've never seen before. Beneath that pristine sable exterior, a crimson collared shirt, brown vest and brilliant silver tie complete his ensemble-all almost.... glowing? Maybe it's a trick of the light. But odd as his attire is, it is the wearer that is most curious. A clean-shaven man with a chin like a hammer, his nose aquiline and brow heavy, looks at us from beneath a neatly manicured, curling cap of auburn hair. I'd almost call him olive in skin coloration as well-but he displays a similar... grayness... to the Doongaes.

>[Doonongaes]"...What is it that you want, Cornelius?"
>[Cornelius]"Now now, that's Mr. Zosimus to you-you know that. Unless you found some family that would take you in that I should care about, hm? ...No, you are still a homeless cur, of that I have no doubt."
I turn back to the Doonongaes, loving the new entrant to the conversation, watching the his human form shattering teeth that hastily begin to regrow, grinding them with such force. It speaks past such an obstruction, voice that special cadence one has when enraged and forced to constrain it.
>[Doonongaes]"Why must my meal be disturbed by you so?"
I turn back to Cornelius Zosimus in time to see him chuckle in a manner so rich in condescencion I'd swear he was professionally tutored on it-that can't be natural.
>[CZ]"You poor dumb brute-you truly need to think things through. You just threatened a mortal and his kin within the Old One's delicatessen. If you visited such harm upon them, it would be a followup to violence initially promised on neutral ground. I wonder how much longer you would live when the Old One knew of this?"
>[Doonongaes]"...What motivates you to protect this mortal? Why would you care?"
>[CZ]"Always looking at the wrong side of things.... I'll tell you, since you are clearly too thick to work it out yourself-I. DON'T. LIKE. YOU. And so, where I or the other Dynasties move, if we see a chance to inconvenience you with minimal personal effort, well."
>[Doonongaes]"....You'd drive me from the Old World."
>[CZ]"It's not your home, and never was. Of course I don't like your rank presence here."
For a moment there is silence.

Then the Doonongaes slowly steps away from the table, carefully saying not another word to me-but I can see the hate in it's eyes, as it starts working on how it could gain vengeance without it qualifying as a fulfillment of one of the two threats offered here. I find myself wishing I'd let him threaten me more-the point at which I double check I am still awake and, as far as I know, not insane.

...Yup, still seem fine.

Cornelius walks around to snap his fingers idly at the seat the Senecan monster vacated-the chair shivers, jumping oh-so-slightly on the ground, before settling. The roman looking, roman sounding man sits down, staring at me over steepled fingers, eyeing my full glass of brandy as his eyes grow more and more intent.
>[CZ]Entertaining as your antagonism of that thug was-explain why I should not either a: orchestrate your death and pin it on the Doonongaes to cleanly and expeditiously get rid of an irritation, or b: turn you in to the Old One for bringing a spiritual weapon onto neutral ground-or the female with your scent on her over there, for bringing a modern weapon. Explain why I should not finish using you as the insignificant speck you are-explain why I should entertain thoughts of leaving you be-if you do it well enough, I might even listen.

I realize two things at that moment.

-Cornelius' lips did not move.
-The thoughts went directly into my mind-I heard not a single spoken word. Meaning no one else heard what he just 'said' to me.

Out of the frying pan, and into... what, the inquisition?






What's my next move here?
What's my take on this Cornelius Zosimus character? Who-or what is he?
>>
No. 308303 ID: 81f32a
File 130696022122.jpg - (53.89KB , 1000x650 , Armas - mocking ancient horrors of the Deep and no.jpg )
308303

>What's my take on this Cornelius Zosimus character? Who-or what is he?
Well, he looks Roman, he has a Roman name... so I guess he is from ancient Rome.
He talked to Doony as if he lived in his neighborhood and did not like that one bit, so I guess the are both ancient horrors from the Deep.
Doonongeas stopped as soon as Cornelius spoke, so I guess Cornelius is much older/powerful creature.
He can use telepathy.
..
Other than that, I have no idea.

>What's my next move here?

Okay, since the man asked you questions you should answer them.

You should apologize for the weapons, stating that you have come to know that this is a neutral zone literally 5 minutes ago and before than you thought that this was a simple, if expensive, mortal establishment.

You could explain that you deduced that this was no mere place when you identified the Doonongeas and it had not yet attacked you.

Then you should explain your quarrel with the Doonongeas. Start by saying that he no doubt knows what happened to Akkar-something-something, that Doonongeas which should have assisted in the fight just came to scavenge bodies. State that you are sure he is no doubt interested how that came to be.
Then reveal that you were the one responsible for his sorry state.

Tell him that after having a brief chat, you realized that this place was under protection and the only way to ensure that you could come out of this place alive is to provoke the Doony into attacking you and hoping that whoever was proprietor of this place would intervene before it killed you.
Seems that it worked but in process we angered someone else.

Also, add that if you were at your full capacity, weapons and equipment, you wouldn't fear fighting Doonongeas again.


Oh, also, introduce yourself.
>>
No. 308309 ID: 81f32a

OOh,

also, they just exchanged valuable information which you could trade with the Goblins.
Things we have learned:
Doonongeas has no family and barely a home, which is called the Old World (Atlantis perhaps?).
These are neutral grounds and the proprietor is an Old One.
Cornelius and Dynasties do not like Doonongeas very much and would like to deal with him if possible, but they cannot .. perhaps he is protected by someone, he has a "rank presence", whatever it means.
...
Hmm, I think this is it.



You should try to get more information out of Cornelius.
Also, refer to him as Mr. Zosimus, we don't want to make the same mistake as Doony. Heck, you could ask him first if you can refer to him like that.
>>
No. 308311 ID: c6ce12

>>308284
Ah good for us, he cares enough about hearing what we have to say to use telepathy and not immediately damn us by speaking his questions aloud. This means that unless he's given us a link into his mind to speak we will need to be very careful with word choice so his effort doesn't go to waste.

So tell him we apologize for any irritation caused, but in case he missed the first part our conversation with Doony the two of us have a bit of a history. We were hired to do a job, he was there, there was a little 'altercation' and why he nearly lost his head, poor fellow had to go catch a bite and calm himself. We didn't really have a choice but to come up and say hello to him when we saw him staring at us from across this fine establishment. I couldn't just leave, you heard him, he was willing to come uninvited to the rest of our night's celebrations, our only choice was to hope to get him flustered and have him removed.

As for our equipment, we weren't aware of the nature of this place. I hadn't even considered my own carry on was quite as potent as it is now. I must admit I was trying to do a little work on it, but I had no idea it was effective yet. For me it was more of a trinket than defense really, but when the lady saw me taking some she had to bring something of her own, you know how these things go.

About Cornelius, he's obviously an old supernatural, though not as old as the Old One he refers to. The way he called Doonongaes an American makes me think he's definitely not one himself. His name, skin, and facial features indicate Roman origin. That tinge of grayness in his skin similar to that of the Doonongaes could mean he's another aquatic creature or simply that he's also just as old and immortal.
>>
No. 308313 ID: f0e3ae

Second most difficult question is: "justify your spiritual weapon". Now, is this the puns he is talking about (aka psychological attack?) - easy enough. The donoongas threatened to follow me home and kill me once outside the neutral zone. I had no doubt he would do that anyways, I did not come here to take advantage of the netural zone, I came here for a meal with friends. Irritating it to the point of flaunting the neutral zone seemed the only chance to avoid him following me out of here.
But what if it isn't the puns? what if he is referring to something else? could he mean that your mataba is the spiritual weapon and carmellas guns are the mortal weapons? in which case the explanation is the same for both and has been detailed by people before me. We should ask him which he meant.

The most difficult question he asked is: "why shouldn't I just kill you now and frame the donoongas to get it in trouble".
Here we should convince him that we are worth more alive... Namely, that if we engaged the donoongas where it believes nobody is watching it is liable to lose its cool and attack. And at that point either it dies since you are actually prepared and armed. Or you die and his plan can proceed.
>>
No. 308315 ID: d429c4

"I had not realised that the courtship rituals of what passes for predators amongst mortals could cause such offence to the mighty amongst your calibre of entity."

And then raise your hand as if to toast.

"But we have mutual acquaintances, I'm sure, even if I am comparatively uneducated. What did you make of the little joust that erupted, in the sad absence of our erstwhile dining companions sad absence, a little while ago? I was disappointed to miss, it, but I was committed to an engagement with him at the time, such that neither of us could attend."

Telling no lies, but hopefully subtly implying that we are connected, in this case to the Wizard, without making an explicit claim.
>>
No. 308321 ID: a76809

>>308313
[He's talking about the mere pounamu? You know, the jade ancestral weapon that in Maori lore can be heavily invested with mana, the thing that burned against your back when the Doonongaes looked your way-the only weapon you actually brought? And not the Matebas, still in your Mafia storage unit.]
>>
No. 308336 ID: 44766a

What ever you say be sure to think it rather than say it out loud.
>>
No. 308347 ID: ae0719

Well, there was a pope named Zosimus in the early half of the 5th century, and Pope Cornelius in the middle of the 3rd. There was also a Zosimus, a Byzantine historian that catologued Roman emperors and the decline thereof (he wrote the "Historia Novia", the New History). But that talk of dynasties, I suspect we're looking at royalty, here.

A Caesar in the Roman sense of the word, perhaps - an emperor. Or in the Byzantine one - heir apparent to the dynasty.

Now, the question is, why is letting us live more valuable than removing Doony from the Old World (which I assume to mean the Mediterranean/Mesopotamian area) by framing him for our death. The answer must be that we can be useful.

"A claim on your beneficence, then. Truly, with my little power I am but a speck of dust to the mighty, though I was able to force a retreat of the unwelcome guest of our acquaintance." In other words, a mortal forcing Doony to retreat. This will give CZ the ability to rub it in Doony's face FOREVER, causing him to lose face and perhaps be driven from these shores in more shame than breaking neutrality accords. I get the sense that this is a guy who LOVES a good insult. "More than that, however... the August must know that even insignificant specks have their uses at times. A speck may move unnoticed where one greater may not, for example. Perhaps in the course of such things, word might reach a speck's ears before it does that of the great."
>>
No. 308351 ID: 7733ee

"Well, to explain myself it’s because I can keep making Fish jokes about Doonie and how I stabbed him the face with a mystic rhino which, considering your hatred of that irritant, I would be happy to describe every agony I inflicted on him. However, regarding my spiritual weapon,” reach back and touch our hips near the mere pounamu, “I did not know that this was neutral ground and that it was enforced so rigorously. I just thought this was a restaurant and a place I could be ambushed by those want wish me harm. That and I had no idea that the weapon was magic, honest.” Breath deep, try to smile. “And why you shouldn’t pin my death on Doonie is because I intend to irritate that irritation until it dies. And what better way to kill him then to have an insignificant speck,” Gesture to ourselves, “Wheedle and needle its way into his lung where he chokes upon it whip him to death with a shoelace, or suffocate him with a tissue."
>>
No. 308352 ID: 28e94e

>>308347
This is a good idea.
>>
No. 308366 ID: f0e3ae

>>308321
i was thinking of the mere and accidently said metabas. I don't know how that happened :P.
Anyways, in that case just go with guile's suggestion.
>>
No. 308370 ID: 234c26

>>308284
When we reply to this, see if we can use telepathy and have him pick it up. I would rather not say whatever we're going to say openly, in the middle of a restaurant- particularly one which is apparently chock-full of supernatural players.

If we can't reply mentally, then choose our words carefully to avoid saying anything incriminating or untoward.


He doesn't have to kill us and pin it on the Doonongaes, because our fishy friend is more than bold enough to come after us with hardly a nudge. If he really wants the Doonongaes dead that way, he could easily provoke it into actually attacking us... and if he gives us a heads-up about it, then we might well be able to take it out. Last time we tangled didn't turn out terribly well for either side, after all. And if we lose, no skin off his nose since he'd have something real instead of something fake to pin on it.

On the second matter, as long as we're an insignificant speck... why bother with reporting us? It was said that we were entertaining. Hardly seems reasonable to have the entertainment shot; that only ensures it will never amuse again.
>>
No. 308377 ID: 692cff

>>308370
I actually like that. I mean, sure, he dies either way, but to die at the hands of a mortal? That's delicious icing on the cake.
>>
No. 308378 ID: 81f32a
File 130697363939.jpg - (44.35KB , 700x1166 , Camella.jpg )
308378

>>308303
>>
No. 308388 ID: a76809

>>308303
>>308347
>>308351
[FANART BONUS]
....Okay, not one for the more blunt wording I practiced with the Doonongaes... I can do this-

"A claim on your beneficence, then. Truly, with my little power I am but a speck of dust to the mighty, though I was able to force a retreat of the unwelcome guest of our acquaintance."
>[CZ]"...Did you now? I do believe you'll need to share more than that before I will elect to believe your claim, and thus change my determined course of action."
So my head's still on the chopping block-
"There's much to offer, and I admit not being sure which specific portions you'd consider relevant-could be quite a bit to tell, in full."
>[CZ]"...No, I would not wish to ruin the night with that long a dialogue-feel free to truncate, mortal who may be of interest."
>>30815
"We have mutual acquaintances, I'm sure, even if I am comparatively uneducated."
>[CZ]"Possible-I know a great many individuals and organizations."
"What did you make of the affair in the Bosphorus some few days ago-what with the sad absence of our erstwhile dining companion's presence?"
>[CZ]"Happy to have backed the Wizard Dorjpalam, of course. A large contest is exactly where you do NOT want to meet something like that Senecan brute... ah but so simply manipulated outside it."
" I was disappointed to miss it, but I was committed to an engagement with our departed dining guest at the time, such that neither of us could attend."
At this I realize I did finish my brandy before-yet there the glass is full again, with no waiter having replaced or serviced it. The Doonongaes and Cornelius both did not touch nor come within several feet of the goblet-yet there it is. Puzzling-but secondary as Cornelius leans forward, lips curling into a smile exposing eerily bright teeth-notably pronounced canines-as he speaks.
>[CZ]"Now, if that is a tale you can convince me of, I would indeed be disinclined to discard you so. By all means, begin your explanation."
>>308311
>>308313
>>308351
>>308370
"Well-let's say I know some Chinese businessmen."
>[CZ]....Such adherance to neutral phrasing and non-identification, beyond that strictly needed to avoid legal ramifications-you're a mercenary, aren't you?
-These words were not spoken. So-
"..Yes, let's say I know some Chinese businessmen that happen to do shipping."
>[CZ]"Let us assume this hypothetical."
"Well, a ship happens to go dark-no communication, middle of the Bosphorus. A ship with a considerable variety of valuable commodities."
>[CZ]"One of those ships... go on, I insist."
"Happens to be that our dear departed guest had decided to have a snack there, as it were. I was sent to reclaim the ship-and not expecting to find him, I was able to drive him away, with considerable... damage... done."
>[CZ]".... I do believe I know of the ship you speak-even of the businessmen you know. Be aware that I will follow up and check on this-but so far, you present a plausible scenario-if you explain specifically how it was made to leave."
"A combination of very high perfmance equipment, and..."
>[CZ]"Yes, our friend has left the building-and what's spoken within cannot be heard without, of that I can assure you."
"...And more than a fair shair of brazen bluffing and luck. I will not deny that he is from my perspective absolutely monstrous and something I would loathe to face head on again. Still, I know him now."
>[CZ]"Do you? Describe him, please."
"Proud-holds a respect for the Summer and Winter Courts-gluttonous, deceitful, fond of short-term plans that favor brute power, fond of sudden appearances-"
>[CZ]"...So you do know him. Well well well."
Cornelius leans back, a thin stemmed flute in hand, filled with... seriously is that blood?
>[CZ]Let me present you with a quandary then-should you face him again, how would you see it going? Look me in the eyes as you say it-this is most vital to your short-term health.
At this point I reflect again on what I have available to me-eyes straying back to my table.
"Assuming that I was prepared to the best of my current ability, then barring an open water confrontation, I feel moderately confident if not better, pragmatically speaking."
>[CZ"...You genuinely believe that."
"And I feel confident that given time I can become capable of reliably accomplishing it. One could say that as such, I would be able to remove our guest from the area for you."
>[CZ]"...Having an unaffiliated mortal do it WOULD be useful, this I grant. No one could say it was unfair, not a one of his supporters and allies-and none of those are stronger than it, for none stronger can respect it."
"...Thank you for the other end's view of him, I had not come to it yet."
>[CZ]"It does help fill out one's picture of that fellow. Hm..."

The gray skinned, heavy-boned man downs his flute in one swallow-and this time I catch it, a flicker of shadow about the glass as it refills. ...Yeah, definitely vampire-and with a Roman name, probably old as hell, meaning strong as hell. Multiple millennia? Ouch. ...But that's more info on him, then-to my understanding, most vampires don't get nearly that old-the ruinous powers that they command slowly overcoming their mental discipline till they are little more than beasts-and put down. Only the iron willed and calculating survive beyond a few centuries-so to be this old-
Yikes. Really wish I knew more about what ancient vampires can do compared to the young ones-besides, apparently, transmit their thoughts and perform shadow magic or whatever that is. Jesus can it read my mind back, am I already screwed-
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
>[CZ]"I find your story plausible and entertaining enough, and your ideas of sufficient merit to make you an offer-a gentleman's wager, if you will. Accept the wager, and I will happily leave you be, and let you be on your way this fine night."
"In the hypothetical of me declining your wager...."
The smile I get at that reminds me of nothing more than a cat finally finished playing with a mouse.
>[CZ]"Why... then, you are used, and discarded, for being a poor sport, whatever potential merits you may or may not hold. Care to hear my wager?"
Stay focused, collected-
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
"I do feel inclined to, yes."
Cornelius raises a single index finger as he replies.
>[CZ]"Capital. It is the following, which I wonder if you recognize the formatting of: Within three months by lunar cycle from this very night, The Senecan Doonongaes known to both wager participants, now within Istanbul will be evaluated."
A middle finger joins the index.
>[CZ]"If Alive, the Wager participant will return to the wager-maker's possession, to be used in the aforementioned plan to further expedite the removal of the Doonongaes from the area."
A ring finger rises to make a trio standing tall accompanying Cornelius' words.
>[CZ]""If dead, the Wager Participant will be granted a card bearing the Wager-maker's contact direct contact information, along with the oath to call a an informal meeting of all the Vampiric Dynasty Representatives within Istanbul, to introduce the Wager Participant with the Wager-maker's backing."
The three fingers drops-and with them the stilted voice vanishes, while I feel a power, heavy and pervasive, saturating Cornelius' hand as he now offers it forth to me.
>[CZ]"So..... will you take my wager?"







What do I do?
Whatever choice I make, what do I do next?
>>
No. 308392 ID: 81f32a

>which I wonder if you recognize the formatting of

Yeah, the rule of 3, an oath that is not magically binding.

Anyway, accept the wager. It is not like you can do anything else about it.
>>
No. 308397 ID: 7733ee

Let’s see. Dying and being played with verses hunting a giant fish. And we get a bonus if said annoying fish dies early.

Yes, say yes.

After -that-, bow our head, raise the glass to him and drink. "Thank you, Cornelius, and I look forward to the hunt." Return to our food, smiling to Arkvad and Camella and ask what we missed. Try not to look panic and eyeing the whole place for anyone we might know or have threatened.
>>
No. 308398 ID: ae0719

3 lunar months from November 19, 2010 is February 11th, 2011. Mark it on our calendars.

Go back to Arkvad and Camella. "Well. I have three months to construct and carry out a plan to permanently kill an immortal, contact-poisonous, shapeshifting sea monster, or my life is forfeit. On the plus side, the Doonongaes is forbidden from killing myself, my friends or my family in any traceable way until that time. So, what's for dessert?"

Camella has proven to have a capable tactical mind, and Arkvad has certain contacts that might be helpful. Get the brain trust together.
>>
No. 308404 ID: a76809

>>308397
[No, there is absolutely no bonus if the fish dies early. It's just a matter of whether, within about three months (the moon waxing and waning through its cycle three times) you manage to kill it so that by the END it is dead. This is an if/else equation.]
>>
No. 308405 ID: 44766a

Later we might want to see if the Goblins have something for supernatural poisons.
>>
No. 308408 ID: 234c26

>>308388
Have to say I'm quite concerned about the fact that this is a dead/alive thing... if the Doonongaes decides to leave Istanbul for some other part of the world or just go hang out underwater for a couple months, we will be utterly screwed after having accepted this deal.

That said, he's pretty much said that we take this deal or else, so it's not like we have a lot of room to argue. And I seriously doubt that the magic of the three-point bargain allows him to take it back and make modifications after holding out his hand to us.

So take the wager. Smile like we mean it, reach out, and shake the dead man's hand.

Then with a parting phrase that someone else can come up with, bid him goodbye and return to the others. Try to recapture the feel of the evening before the Doonongaes disrupted it; all immediate danger is gone and we return to our initial primary objective- having an excellent, enjoyable evening. Resume previous plans. This has the added bonus to making ourselves appear confident and unworried in the eyes of anyone who just watched or heard us make that deal; it's always important to present a strong front.

>>308398
>Go back to Arkvad and Camella, ruin everyone's evening of partying with stress and work
No. We have three months to deal with this; we can afford putting it off for an evening. Just mention that we took a job and might want to talk about it later, and go back to being relaxed and comfortable.

This restaurant is pretty awesome and Arkvad is still footing the bill; make the most of it.
>>
No. 308432 ID: f0e3ae

>>308408
agreed on both counts. don't tell them tonight.

Also, after agreeing say something like:
The biggest problem with killing him, is that he is a coward and will flee the moment he starts to lose. Do you know of a way to prevent his escape? perhaps some ritual that will prevent either of us from fully withdrawing from combat until one is dead?
>>
No. 308435 ID: 44766a

If they ask what happened tell them that you will tell them tomorrow and not to worry. Its nothing major.
>>
No. 308447 ID: d3dfb8

Haggle with the man, change the contents of the deal. Number 1 priority is access to his network of informants for doonongaes information. Number 2 is more time.
>>
No. 308448 ID: ae0719

>>308447
"A caveat, if I may. The Rule of Three is the form of the deal, is it not? Your offer is: setting up a meeting, and backing the Wager Participant. Might I ask for a third small boon, so that we all might more easily profit?

"I lack a capable network of... friends... who know certain things, being somewhat new to the area. Might I request access to information to enable the Wager to go most smoothly: that is, knowledge of where and how to find the third participant?"
>>
No. 308528 ID: a76809
File 130704228299.jpg - (62.58KB , 1200x1200 , The Brandy.jpg )
308528

>>308432
>>308447
>>308448
I hesitate before reaching for that handing, wondering if this offered Deal, this Wager-be it set in stone, or mutable?
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activate]
I decide to find out.
"A caveat, if I may. The Rule of Three is the form of the deal, is it not?"
>[CZ]"Most certainly."
" Your offer is: setting up a meeting, and backing the Wager Participant. Might I ask for a third small boon, so that we all might more easily profit?
>[CZ]"If you truly wish the bindings of this Wager to be tighter-then yes, I can elevate what is offered-what is it you'd throw away your chance at loosing this oath for, knowing there is much I could offer-and little I will."
"I lack a capable network of... friends... who know certain things, being somewhat new to the area."
>[CZ]"A problem many have in life-why should I 'fix' this for you?"
"You know that one is prone to running if it looks like he may lose-and how ideal for him it is to simply retreat to the waters. Not a place I wish to face him."
>[CZ]"Nor would I. An entertaining issue you have, and the crux of this Wager's challenge to you-but you still have not told me what you want, merely illistrated why I should consider it. So name your third prize, to make this Wager recursive."
" Might I request access to information to enable the Wager to go most smoothly: that is, knowledge of where and how to find the third participant?"
The flute in his hand once more full, the ashen faced vampire lean back, tilting his head as he speculatively sips at his sanguine beverage.
>[CZ]"...Hm. I suppose that it would be quite unfair, if it simply crawled in the lake for a season-I'd hardly call a mortal disinteresting for not being able to take such a thing in its home environment. ....Ah, I believe I have an idea: I provide you with a number, which if called will connect you to one of my assitants well versed in... surveillance. Identify yourself to him-what's your name, human?"
"Armas Laine."
>[CZ]"Finnish? With that skin tone and facial structure?"
"My mother is Maori."
>[CZ]"Well now that is a treat-an unusual combination, to say the least. Now, call this number-"
I note a card appearing before me in a flutter of shadow, soft and subtle, with nothing more than a series of digits etched out on its surface-
>[CZ]"-at any time, and after identifying yourself, you will be provided our most recent information on our departed guest's location. I offer you the simulation of having friends in the right place... and I believe that is all I will offer-it is getting uncomfortable holding this deal in stasis-do you accept or not?"
The hand, still proffered to me uninterrupted through our exchange, has not wavered an inch, not a micron.
>>308392
>>308397
>>308398
>>308408
...February 11th, 2011: The deadline for this wager. It is a date, I think, that I shall have to remember.

I put on a wide, easy smile, hoping that isn't perspiration I feel starting on my brow, as I reach forward and shake a hand as cold as the grave.

"Wager accepted."

I feel.... something slivering up and over and INTO my hand, seeping into skin, vessel and bone, racing through me in a calamitous stampede

>[CZ]"...And so the Wager is made."
The dead man's hand is withdrawn from my now-numb fingers, as I am once more favored with a predatory smile.
>[CZ]"Well it has been an unexpected treat to meet you-I hope for your sake you live up to the expectations you've given me. One way or another, I imagine I will see you again."
With that, the vampire stands up, mockingly inclines his head the scarcest fraction, and flags down a waiter as he makes his way back to a distant table. I pocket his card, heart still pounding and not liable to slow for some time, before abandoning my glass of brandy at the table, and making my way back over to Arkvad and Camella. I see the penetrating gaze she throws my way-but her skirt's in order, her hands occupied with eating, not shooting-good, she did not take rash action-at least there's that. Arkvad looks up from one of his old stories in the Finnish armies, smiling as I return.
>[AS]"Ah, lad, back again? I must ask-who was that fellow in the white suit that introduced you to Zosimus?"
"Oh, you know him?"
>[AS]"Know him? More like why don't you know of him. He's one of the most influential men in the city, and is among the wealthiest people in Turkey-ah, think of him as a modern day Rockefeller, okay?"
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"So let me see-help bring in a multi-million dollar deal, have dinner chats with Zosimus that terminate in a deal being made that is confidential, don't even try-does that sound a bit more like someone that could be contracted at Holland and Holland?"
>[AS]"Fine, I accept perhaps your suggestion was not as ludicrous as you made it sound. ...I'll talk to my boss, explain your credentials, and see if he's willing to meet-and I'll let you know. Incidentally, how are things going with those others-Havoc and Locke?"
At this I see Camella looking at my sharply, clearly intent on my coming response-

As I find myself occupied with something else entirely.

The Brandy glass that I drank at the Doonongaes table, the one that magically refilled itself after I drained it-

It followed me.

And it appeared within my field of vision as naturally as if it had always been there, not a flicker of the shadowy power that Cornelius used. What's more, around the glass' rim, there lies a ghosted engraving, thin letters etching out three words: PLEASE DRINK ME.

.....Huh.







What do I say to Arkvad?
Where does this evening go from here?
What do I do about the mysterious glass of brandy?
>>
No. 308529 ID: 590292

Considering there'd probably reprisals for any intent to mess with you it's probably safe to drink. And hey, it says 'please' on it, so at least it's polite about things.
>>
No. 308530 ID: f0e3ae

its a magical refilling goblet conjured in Zosimus presence and probably by him... so its not poison.
It could just be regular alcohol, but then, why the note?

Could it be some of his blood? but that doesn't make sense, then it would be a newborn vampire fighting donoongas not a human... and again, why even ask? and besides which if you fail to kill doonie you are his anyways.

Could it be spiked with some non harmful drug for giggles? or infused with magic that will empower you? - those two seem the most plausible.

Anyways, all things considered you couldn't stop him if he wanted to force you to do anything so might as well go with it.

@Arkvad: Things are going well, we met and are working out a plan.
>>
No. 308548 ID: 12ec1c

>>308528
Drink that shit. But do it slowly.
>>
No. 308550 ID: 46c430

>>308530
It wasn't moved over with the signature 'Flicker of shadow' that marks our night-owl friend's use of teleportation. So it wasn't him.
>>
No. 308558 ID: ae0719

>What do I say to Arkvad?
Be just a little circumspect. Things are moving along. You still have some shopping to do before the big day. They recently brought in a friend, and you're thinking about hiring an anestheseologist (Agent-15, to work that MMM trait; it'd at least put down the regular security guards).

>Where does this evening go from here?
The night is still young, and you're in Istanbul. Have a little fun, because you could be dead tomorrow.

For bars in Istanbul, you've got some different choices. Babylon does a good line in beer and whiskey (which we like), plus live music. 360Istanbul and Vogue are rooftop bars with with a great view of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Sea of Mamara, an enormous wine and spirit selection and (in the case of Vogue) a wide selection of cigars, if that's our thing.

And this place here (http://www.blackk.net/blackk.net/index2.html) just looks neat.
>>
No. 308560 ID: 44766a

But we are still on neutral ground so it still can't be poison. Drink it.
>>
No. 308561 ID: c6ce12

>>308528
Havoc and Locke? Those two are interesting, they seem like they are experienced enough at working within our field. They have been nothing but professional in our meetings as well, well nothing but professional and a bit paranoid, which they are entitled to given our target. In keeping with that I don't believe they would wish me to compromise any specific information, particularly in a non-secure location such as this, you understand Arkvad. (He should given our earlier habits of calling him from such locations.). So I hope it suffices to say that our planning is going apace and I hope to come back with many interesting things to show you.

For the rest of the night we could just stick around Asitane, maybe give our regards to the chef. We could do that or there is the Chora church right next door if the evening is getting a bit boring and we want to partake in some history.

That brandy is a little suspect. Actually it's less the brandy and more the sudden appearance of words on the glass. I'm half guessing there's a goblin and/or brownie service staff around that refills drinks. It would make perfect sense given their ability to walk about unnoticed and take advantage of people's attention. I suppose that's a bit besides the point though, I guess before we drink we should at least give it a little sniff. Try out your magic weapon sensing to see if there's any magic on this, probably not a skill that's applicable here but it doesn't hurt to try.
>>
No. 308563 ID: d429c4

Drink a sip, savour it, smile, and say, "There are always complications." Afterwards, subtly drawn the residue of your next sip off your lips and wipe it across your mere pounamu, and feel the reaction.

Then, enjoy your diner.

Say to Arkvad that you have been encouraged to hunt some big game, and that you'd appreciate some advice of how you prepare for such an ordeal. After all, you end up being a new man after such a thing.

(Call back to shamanic initiation in the phrasing there.)
>>
No. 308574 ID: 81f32a

Yeah drink it
I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
>>
No. 308599 ID: ae0719

>>308561
>I'm half guessing there's a goblin and/or brownie service staff around that refills drinks.
If that's the case, then it would be boorish to refuse.

For conversation topics: maybe you could ask Arkvad what people are interested in these days in the antiques market, or what new guns are coming down the line for H&H? You know, convert the unbeliever (Camella)?
>>
No. 308602 ID: 234c26

>>308528
>What do I say to Arkvad?
Keep things subtle, not mentioning anything specific, of course, and this is hardly the place for really getting into work details. Say nothing about what your actual plans are; he doesn't need to know them and it won't help if he does. That said... "Both seem professional, competent, and well-connected. I'm optimistic."

>Where does this evening go from here?
Well, you chose the first place to go to, so it would probably be polite to let Arkvad call the next destination. Hanging out enjoying yourself conversing with him and Camella until at least midnight should be the plan, though; you don't have opportunities like this very often and it should be made the most of.

>What do I do about the mysterious glass of brandy?
Well, you're still on neutral ground, so it likely isn't anything overtly hostile. Might as well enjoy it. Be casual about it, like the glass being there is nothing unusual. I would consider muttering "since you ask so nicely..." towards the glass before downing it, but that's just me.

Use your Sneaking skills to try and feel if anyone else is still watching you while doing this. It is likely that whoever kept the glass with you is still keeping an eye on your next action.
>>
No. 308635 ID: 46c430

I really don't think we should drink from it, just to be on the safe side... We don't know -precisely- what the rules are, and there might be loopholes.
>>
No. 308652 ID: a76809

>>308529
>>308548
>>308550
>>308560
>>308563
...This restaurant is neutral ground, that I've come to respect-so this can't be poison, or something harmful-this 'Old One' owner would not stand for it. So I cup the thinly stemmed glass in my left hand, leaning on the table with my right as I shoot a cavalier grin at my dining companions, taking a sip of the brandy-
The moment that nectar touches my tongue, amidst the explosion of plum and peach, or raspberry and boysenberry-the world around me fades away to nothing...

For me to once more find myself in that Inner Place, that corner beyond time, lurking within my mind. Unlike before, there is no image-no floating visage, no chill presence-only words, clipped and measured, fed directly to my mind thought by thought.
Be aware that the Zosimus Dynasty is not the be-all, end-all authority in this area-in fact, I would claim the Were-Kin's clans far more numerous and far-reaching, and thus more able to exert contemporary influence... but I digress. Cornelius snared you in a Deal... but Deals are not immutable, to the correct individuals. Specifically, the Clan of Muburak would find it more beneficial to see Cornelius humbled by not being able to enforce a Deal, than in the removal of the Doonongaes. Should it be desired... the wager you made could be invalidated. Should this interest you... well, there is a house on Kabasakal were you could find such a thing. As it happens, the Muburak Clan boasts a Witch that claims membership-a useful person to know indeed.

And with that, the words without source or sound stop, the featureless void retreats-and I finish taking that first sip, the mixed fruit brandy complex and burning pleasantly as I imbibe it. It takes me a moment, but I recall what Arkvad asked, leap back into the conversation and-

"There's always complications-surely you know that by now, Arkvad."
>[AS]"True enough, true enough-nothing is ever as simple as one hopes."
>[Camella]"I admit curiousity as to who that was-that introduced you to this Cornelius."
>[AS]"Yes-who was that fellow, I may want to look him up if he walks in such circles."
"I would not advise it-he has assets, to be sure, but he uses them poorly, and has not built a favorable reputation amongst those of Zosimus' ilk."
>[AS]"Is that so? A pity."
>[Camella]"As fascinating as it is to know him a poor manager of social assets-that did not answer my question."
"No-no I don't think it did."

I look down at our plates as I take another sip of this deliciously blended brandy.
"Well-it seems we have had quite the enjoyable meal here, is that not so?"
>[AS]"Quite so-though I hope you are not going to claim the evening over so soon, 'tis only eight thirty!"
"Of course not-but I was thinking that with our bellies satisfactorily filled, we could seek a different place to relax from here."
>[AS]"It would be difficult for you to name a place MORE expensive than here-I'm listening."
>>308558
"I was thinking Babylon."
>[AS]"Ah-live music, always a plus in my book. Sadly, I cannot guarantee we'll get in-oh so slightly exclusive, especially this far into the night."
>[Camella]"On that front.... I think we will have no issue."
>[AS]"Oh? Well, if the lady is sure... shall we leave?"
"I feel a change of scenery would be ideal."

>>308602
As I wait for the check to come, Arkvad already trying to calculate out the bill beforehand, I meticulously scan the dining crowd, looking... for something I cannot describe, some sort of hint, I suppose, as to just who sent that message, sealed within liquor. As I do so I swirl the Goblin teachings about in my mind, trying to seek out some hint of just who or what could be observing me... A Witch, member of a Were-kin Clan? I see nothing that makes me think I've found her, and after Arkvad pays we depart. The moment Arkvad turns the car on, Camella, sharing the back seat with me, leans over to whisper in my ear, her breath hot on my neck.
>[Camella]"Now-what was that... man?"
The sounds of traffic already enveloping us in our transit... I decide to tell her.
"Him? Just an ancient, semi-immortal monster from Native American lore-Senecan, to be precise-an aquatic, poisonous, shape shifting beast called a Doonongaes. Think bigger than an elephant, faster than a wolf and strong enough to treat steel bulkheads like cardboard, wrap it all up in a rather impressive amount of gluttonous hunger-and you really know all that needs to be known about the fellow."
Camella recoils into her seat with a shock, eyes goggling for a moment before she masters herself.
>[Camella]"...I recognized that neither he nor Cornelius seemed human. But to think something as... monstrous as you describe could look like that..."
"Completely unfair, how they can just pretend to be normal like that, isn't it?"
>[Camella]"I can't even fathom how much of a nightmare planning an operation against shape-shifters would be."
"I've been on one before, and it's as bad as you think-paranoia vies with the mission itself as your greatest threat."
Both of us school ourselves to silence from our muted conversation as Arkvad turns to face us.
>[AS]"Well, we are hear, but...."

I understand his reluctance: A line stretching fully down the block is visible outside. Amongst the three of us, Camella seems the least concerned, and insists on Arkvad parking, marching ahead of us towards the entrance. As we approach, being heckled by the shifting, seething line of would-be clubbers, a door man roughly the size of a refrigerator steps up, ready to stop us-and beginning to smile as Camella raises a hand as if to push him.

He stops smiling when, three hundred plus pounds or no, she starts driving him back on his heels with one hand, leaning in close, whispering into his ear as a hand strays down to his belt-

The Bouncer's face goes white-

Ten seconds later we're standing inside of Babylon, and I'm STILL wondering just what she said to that bouncer-and mildly irritated she refuses to say. I try to come up with some smoothly manipulative way of teasing the information out of her... and can't, head a bit too fuzzy for it. As Arkvad has Camella thoroughly engrossed with an old war story from his days in the Finnish army, it falls to me to order drinks..... Arkvad's easy, he loves Whiskey in all its forms.... and that's about it for actual preferences. That still leaves two questions:







What drink am I going to get?
What drink am I going to get for Camella?
[Treat Babylon as effectively having any drink you want]
>>
No. 308657 ID: 590292

Why don't the two of you give some absinthe a try, eh? Or mead.
>>
No. 308666 ID: ae0719

For her- limoncello or white sambuca, maybe? Or you could amuse yourself and order her a glass of strega and pretend innocence.

We've been working the ancient Ottoman history tonight. Get yourself a glass of raki ("lion's milk") with ice.

Arkvad gets a Bowmore 12-year single-malt whiskey. Good, solid Irish alcohol.
>>
No. 308677 ID: a76809

>>308666 [666 DEVIL BONUS]
I flag down the bartender-a dour looking man with gleaming, probing eyes-as I come to a conclusion.

"Yeah, I'll get a Limoncello-no, you know what, a Strega. For the older gentleman a... wonderful, you have Bowmore-single malt for him.... and I'll have a Raki."
The whole while I ordered, the bartender continued to polish the mixer in his hands, eyes lidded and disinterested. But the moment I name the popular Turkish drink, the bartender's hands stop still.
>[Bartender]"...Do you mind if I ask why you chose a Raki? You aren't a local."
"True enough-I've been appreciating the age and history of this city, and a drink popular in the Ottoman empire seemed a nice way to 'appreciate' that history some more! So, a glass of Lion's Milk, with ice, if you please."
>[Bartender]"...As the customer orders."
>[AS]"-Armas, you have to hear this!"
I turn to Arkvad.
>[AS]"Yeah, so-hey, if you've already got us drinks, bring them over!"
I look back-
In that instant, the moment I glanced away, the bartender vanished, and three drinks sit before me. ...Well, now that's some fast service. I can't tell which way down the overly busy bar counter the bartender went-but he didn't want payment now, so we should be fine. I sidle back over, carefully depositing everyone's drink before them as I pull up a stool.

And we enjoy ourselves, I have to say. I can't understand a word of the musicians that come and go-but they play a varied bevy of styles, and non are unpracticed in their instruments. I was not expecting to, but Camella, Arkvad and I are in tears, laughing so much as we share old war stories-it seems hilarious inanities are uniform to service, across nation and time-for we all appreciate the same antics, laugh at the same punch lines-and with Camella and I getting refills (after Camella oh-so-coincidentally kicked me by accident just as she complimented me on the choice of Strega) a warm glow begins to encircle the evening.

First it's Camella getting up, excusing herself to sway and slink to the back-and her heading to the restroom reminds me just how badly I need to go. ...Time to break the seal, no doubt about that. I try to wait so that Arkvad is not left alone... but after Camella has not returned for several minutes, I decide I can't wait any longer-
So I head to the restroom.
As I approach the swinging door, I see a short man desperately fighting a receding hairline exciting, noting the smooth cream tile within-the hallway is narrow, and I have to turn as he squeezes past. From the corner of my eye I see Arkvad, swirling a glass of water as he contemplates being the designated driver.
My head swings back, and I push open the once-open door, looking down as I do, having felt something strange under my shoe. Nothing out of the ordinary I complete my step, begin to look up-
>[Camella]"ARMAS NO, KEEP THE DOOR-"
>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait activated]
I act without thought, surging back-and the door that drifted slowly shut before slams shut with a finality oddly stilted by its complete silence-and being accompanied by frenzied italian cursing. I turn around as I start noticing things, watching Camella curse with her back to me.

-This is not, in fact, the men's restroom, despite the fact that this door is labeled as such and I saw a guy come out of it.
-This is a stairwell. Despite us being on ground level.
-Everything-the steps, the walls, ceiling-all of it is perfect, featureless white.
-The stairs proceed down from here only, this being the highest point.
-There is no railing protecting one from a misplaced step-and the room is so blandly homogenous I have to strain my eyes to even distinguish one step from another.
-I cannot see a bottom level-or if I can I do not recognize it as such. Far as I can tell, the steps... just keep going down.

From here, I notice a few more very, VERY important things as I turn in a circle.

-There is no door-not even the outline of one. No handle, no hinges-just a blank, featureless wall.
-I feel a sense of... wrongness, when I look back, back towards the restaurant that now feels so very far away.
-Camella and I both do not cast shadows-in fact, nothing does, a major part of why it hurts the eyes to look at such an environment.
-Despite the almost painful levels of illumination, I can see no light fixtures, no windows, no flames-nothing to provide the lighting we benefit from.

As I stand on that top step, mulling over what I've figured out, Camella finally starting to march her way up to me from the next platform, I add two more things to my list that really cannot be ignored.

-I still need to piss like a racehorse.
-I... am drunk.

Camella stairs at me for a moment before frowning and averting her eyes, heels in one hand, berretta in the other, looking down the stairwell with me as she speaks.

>[Camella]"I would very much so like to not be here right now-and I would very much like to hear you have a plan."

Uh....






So what is my plan?
>>
No. 308679 ID: 234c26

>>308652
Overall objective... enjoy yourself! We don't need to micromanage revelry, I suspect.

Secondary objective, see if you can find out a bit more about Camella's past; as long as the lot of you are telling stories, you can probably learn a fair bit about her. Even if you stick to completely innocuous information, nothing classified or overly probing, knowing things about each others' background builds bonds, and bonds are good for our purpose for her. We can tell tales of our own to match, of course... friendship ties closest when it feels two-way.

>What drink am I going to get?
Whatever you decide on, if your head is already too fuzzy to be manipulative you should be going easy on it. You've got all evening to drink and should try to stay witty and avoid a hangover. Enjoy the music and conversation, don't let yourself get more than a serious buzz. I'd advise going for something quality enough that it deserves to be slowly savored because of this.

>What drink am I going to get for Camella?
Was all she was having before wine? That leaves her preferences mostly a mystery... I suppose we might as well shoot for something fun. If her actions when we took her to the gym are any indication, she can pound down drinks with the best of them, so no worries there. Hell, we can probably keep ordering her whatever we think she might like all night and she'd still get through the evening without getting truly smashed.
>>
No. 308684 ID: ae0719
 

<-- This is us, now.

... okay, I accept full responsibility for this. I was kind of hoping our shot glass would just turn into a magical weapon or something.

"... I swear this never happens. Tonight is just a bad night."

Pull out the mere, because its all we got.

"Okay. Plan. Uh... could be a poltergeist, maybe, or some kind of land/building spirit. I think really strong land gods can re-order reality like this within their demesne. Actually, in retrospect, that disappearing bartender was really suspicious. In my defense, though, I was already a little drunk. Or... I don't suppose you upset any illusionists when you were down below? Because I can't help but notice that stairwell is going down."

"Basically, something is in here with us. It'll have to manifest eventually, and then we hope for the best."

Wince. "Sorry. That's really all I've got."
>>
No. 308685 ID: 234c26

>>308679
*sigh* Updating while I write things. Damn.

Okay, things.

-First, observe that you are really too drunk for this kind of shit.

-Find out if Camella recognizes this place or thinks it's familiar to anything she's seen. It might well be related to her particular brand of shit.

-If you opened the door, then other people might be able to as well... and if they're not able to, then what's the difference that allowed you inside? Would Arkvad also disappear if he came looking for you?

-If the stairway is homogeneous and apparently endless, there is no real point in taking it. Getting to the bottom could take days or weeks, if it's even possible. That said, if we want to assume it's the bartender's fault... raki is the traditional drink, called milk of the strong, right? This might be some kind of test or challenge inherent to the place. Might be relatively harmless if you power through- or that might be wildly optimistic, because Camella certainly wasn't drinking that and she was caught first.

-The door that took you here was magic... or is the wall magic? The direction of the restaurant still feels wrong somehow, so it's obviously different from the other directions. Can your mere pounamu generate any kind of effect on the magical wall, other than the expected clanking noise? If the wall is some sort of illusion or mystic barrier it might fuck it up just that easily.

-You might be able to somehow call on one of your supernatural acquaintances even from bright white crazy world, but I wouldn't bet on it. Still, it's a backup plan if you run into trouble or things seem hopeless. Go down far enough and you're arguably beneath Istanbul; that's Sometimes Merchant's territory.
>>
No. 308687 ID: f0e3ae

ok, armas badly needs to go and is drunk.
how far down do the stairs stretch? maybe carmella should "watch the door" while you walk a little further down and just pee on the wall.
>>
No. 308700 ID: 6ca854

>>308687
This suggestion may be really disgusting and pretty stupid, but since you don't know where you are, you want to find your way out, the are no features on the walls to guide you and you have a full bladder; use your pee to mark where you've been.
>>
No. 308709 ID: 81f32a

>>308687
>>308700

>Camella stairs at me for a moment before frowning and averting her eyes, heels in one hand, berretta in the other, looking down the stairwell with me as she speaks.
>for a moment before frowning and averting her eyes, heels in one hand, berretta in the other,
>heels in one hand


No
What the fuck is wrong with you?!
Armas aint pissing anywhere, he better man up and hold his piss even if that means his bladder exploding.
>>
No. 308797 ID: 73039e

Ok, first, get the mere pounamu out and ready. It's been more observent for any other supernatural threats we've dealth with.
>>
No. 308798 ID: 81f32a

Walk down the stairs without looking at the steps. If you try to, you will just confuse yourself.

I bet you are going to meet mammon or something like that.
>>
No. 308800 ID: a76809

rolled 3, 83, 100 = 186

>>308684
"...I swear this-"
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
"almost never happens. Tonight is just a bad night."
>[Camella]"Less excuses, more ways out of here."
"Okay. Plan. ..Could be a poltergeist-derived being, maybe, or some kind of land/building spirit. I think really strong land gods can re-order reality like this within their demesne. Actually, in retrospect, that disappearing bartender was really suspicious-so it could be a triggered magical trap."
>[Camella]"....A disappearing bartender and you just, what, blew it off?"
"In my defense, though, I was already a little drunk."
>[Camella]"You think that excuses it!? Bah!"
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
Using my sustained calm, I manage to get the conversation back on track to solutions-and not recrimination.
"Or... I don't suppose you upset any illusionists when you were down below? Because I can't help but notice that stairwell is going down."
For a moment Camella glances at me-but she seems as uncomfortable looking back up as I felt, and continues speaking while surveying our surroundings.
>[Camella]"...No, nothing that just... made the world it's clay to remold like this."
"Well there's that then. Ultimately, I still don't have enough information to know what specifically this is."
>[Camella]"Meaning?"
>>308685
>>308797
I pull out the dark jade mere pounamu, it's handle warm in my hand-it's weight comforting to heft.
"Meaning we do some tests, and explore, until we can figure this out."
I put my words into action, tapping the mere's handle against the wall beside me-and it makes not a sound, not a whisper. I feel the indomitable resitance, like banging on a mountain of steal-but no echo, no reaction. I tap my foot on the ground-not a whisper from my shoe.
>[Camella]"What are you doing?"
Just as I am about to respond to her, I realize the barefoot Camella is tapping her foot in impatience-and I can hear it. I rub my arm against my side, holding up a finger for silence-and not a sound. My clothes, my shoes, the mere-nothing made a noise-yet my breathing was heard, as was my voice, Camella's, and her footsteps.... so are we the only things that can produce noise?
>MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"Just doing some tests-for instance, I've established that only our living bodies are making noise."
>[Camella]"...What?"
"Watch."
I stomp my foot in silence on the ground, then snap my fingers audibly. After a few personal tests, her eyes widen as she grasps my finding.
"Still... not enough to know what this is, or how to get out. So-are you positive you want to stay and watch where the door was?"
Again Camella looks back-this time forcing herself to keep looking-but as a sweat breaks out on her forehead she breaks the stare to look back down this empty landscape.
>[Camella]"....No."
"Okay then."

And so we cautiously, quietly set out, mere in my hands, berretta in hers as we prowl down the featureless flights........





[Roll 1d100. I need six separate rolls]
>>
No. 308803 ID: 81f32a

rolled 23 = 23

Here goes nothing
>>
No. 308804 ID: 3f12fc

rolled 25 = 25

rolling
>>
No. 308807 ID: 1b1739

rolled 14 = 14

No bad rolls, no bad rolls...
>>
No. 308808 ID: ae0719

rolled 98 = 98

That kind of sounds... not good. If our weapons aren't working as we expect them to, how can we rely on them?

We might actually have more success PUNCHING whatever's going to show up.
>>
No. 308809 ID: e41ad5

rolled 22 = 22

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit
>>
No. 308813 ID: 73039e

rolled 26 = 26

A suggestion: Both of you wear your shoes so you know if something natural is following you and carve, or mark, on the ground, if you can carve or mark into the ground, some indication that you've been here and what to do if you come in 'Hold Open the Door'.

Also, ask Camella why she didn't charge you when you had opened the door.
>>
No. 308815 ID: 856690
File 130713251747.png - (47.65KB , 383x357 , Armasisscary.png )
308815

[Terrible fanart is Armas being creepy in the shadows, blood on his mere]

What is with you lot and bad rolls! It happens all over the place!

That aside, I recommend we go feral savage on whatever attacks up.

Bite lots, eat your enemy's flesh and soak the mere in blood. All the same don't forget your training.
>>
No. 308832 ID: 81f32a
File 130713346271.jpg - (24.83KB , 650x750 , Armas - stairs.jpg )
308832

>>
No. 308833 ID: 28e94e

>>308803
>>308804
>>308807
>>308809
>>308813
fun while it lasted
>>
No. 308834 ID: 4814f6

We're gonna need moar fanart if we want to survive this time...

I knew you'd betray us eventually, quest dice.
>>
No. 308840 ID: d3dfb8

>>308803
Fuck. Welp, here's an idea, you've got a bladder full of piss and a body full of magic. Take a piss in a corner and kill two birds with one stone.
>>
No. 308841 ID: 81f32a
File 130713632246.jpg - (157.95KB , 1000x750 , Armas- totally not a wizard.jpg )
308841

Oh SHIT, no!
Palindrome again!

>>308840
...
...
..
.
>>
No. 308842 ID: 856690
File 130713640140.png - (57.87KB , 383x357 , Thingisdead.png )
308842

Image is of a 'Thing' getting a glowing mere shoved into it's skull!

>>308840
Also NO PEEING!
I mean, a man needs a bit of class.
>>
No. 308843 ID: a76809

rolled 75, 3 = 78

We proceed down three flights of stairs, with not a single change in the scenery or features, no real sign we've moved at all-
>>308803<<[PALENDROME RESONANCE]
>>208804
[23+25]/2=24%

That's when I feel it-that's sense of déjà vu-
The sense a Gate is about to attempt opening.
"Oh come on, a THIRD time in a month? What the hell?"
>[Camella]"What, what can't happen a-"
She whirls to look at me, eyes wide as I start to grimace, that sense of pressure and pain building in my veins behind my eyes in my head my organs everywhere-
>[GAMBLER'S GRIM GUTS Trait Activated]
I have to stay in command of myself.
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
And there's a way out-what was it Ito said-
>MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"Camella-quickly, do you remember what Ito said, what happened last time-"
>[Camella]"You just slammed your staff into the ground and-"
Right.
The ground. Well, anything should do here. No staff... guess the mere will have to do.

Without the building, creeping sensation, without the buffer period I had the prior two times, this THIRD bolt of raw magic hits me hard and fast-and I'm ready for it, jamming the mere's dark jade point into the blank white wall beside me. I feel the power building, ripping, surging through my body, greater and greater torrents resounding and rioting within-

[DISCONTINUITY]
>[Secret Trait unlocked-TO SCOFF AT THREE]

The first thing I perceive is a hand, warm and worried, atop my own, still tightly gripping the mere's handle. Next I perceive a voice, urgent and low.
>[Camella]"-mas you idiot wake up this is not the time to be in a daze!"

As I finally make sense of what my eyes are seeing, I understand why she was worried.

The perfectly featureless white stairwell into infinity that we had roamed on? A bit more complicated now. As if Escher's Magnum Opus was our cage, I see stairs and corners, impossible angles, a twisted knot of reality-all of it still so brightly white I have to strain to even make out that a change has taken place.
"...How long was I out?"
>[Camella]"Maybe eight seconds."
"..Okay. Well, that was fun-"
>[Camella]"Where is our way out?"
"I don't think we even could GET back out the way we came in, so twisting up the landscape.... well, it can be handled."
>[Camella]"So we just keep going?"
"You have a better idea?"
For a moment it looks like she is about to speak-

And into that moment of silience, where neither of us breathe or speak-I hear a soft, whispered scratch, a furtive noise from a creeper, a crawler. It's for only an instant that I detect it-but I'm sure of it now:

We aren't alone in here.

Ultimately, Camella and I look around at all the different paths-seven from our current location, all eye-twisting and both agree the stairs most inclined towards going down are the ones that feel the least 'wrong', whereas looking at any stairs leading up sets our teeth on edge and fills us with a sense of dread. And so, as quietly as we can muster, we head down, softly, silently.

I almost lose count of how many flights of stairs we descend-yet twisted as the landscape is, every thirteen steps there is a platform, no matter how distorted the scenery-and using them as benchmarks, we are.... eighty six flights down. ...Really? I felt as if we'd only walked for a moment, yet I recall seeing each one. I'm about to ask Camella if she's felt something similar-when I hesitate.

>>308807
>>308808
[14]
There's something... something not quite right. I can't put my finger on it, but-those damn flickers in my peripherals-
[98]
-Wait flickers? Nothing's got detail in here, so what's flickering?
>AMBUSH EXPERT Trait activated]
And I see it, the outline resolving. The same color of bleached, soulless white, rangs as large as my fingers are poised about my throat, a bone white tongue lashing out from behind to encircle my throat. I go with instinct, moving at full throttle, mere rising as my head ducks down, the jade weapon slamming into the creature's skull or jaw as I drop low, beginning to turn around and hoping I don't pop into Camella's line of fire-

But there seems to be no cause for alarm-turns out I did indeed get it in the skull, an eye ruined and the mere having gouged a three inch deep hole into the creature's skull. Yet even as I strain and struggle to keep my eyes on it, to get a proper sense of what the beast looks like-it's outline begins to fade, and in seconds I see naught but walls and stairs once more.
>[Camella]"...So what does THAT tell you about how to get out?"
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
"It tells me that our eyes aren't worth as much finding these creatures as our ears-I heard this one stalking us earlier, so it seems to be under the same rules as us, when it comes to sound."
>[Camella]"....The light is a trap, trying to make you sure if you just look hard enough-all a distraction from the fact you can hear them coming? That.... that sounds kinda symbiotic, right? Could a land-god do this?"
"They should only be solo occupants, barring crazy powerful ones-so this probably isn't the demsne of a Land God. "
>[Camella]"So what does that leave us?"
"I'll let you know when I do-for now, we have to keep moving."
She looks ready to argue-but follows in silence. I count a full hundred flights descended without a peep of sound or any change to the eye-wrenching monotony.
>>308809
>>308813
[22+26]/2=24%
And that's when I hear it.

That delicate, scratching sound, softly trailing us.

And I hear it coming from multiple sources.

>>308815
>>308832
[FANART BONUS]
As I look into Camella's eyes to see she hears it too, I note flickers dancing across the mere's surface-too faint to make out without intense focus-which, given what I'm hearing could be more than a bit dangerous. She and I both begin looking around... but so far, we see nothing.

And I still REALLY need to pee.







What should I do?
>[In addition to plans I will accept up to two perception check 1d100 rolls]
>>
No. 308847 ID: 856690

rolled 24 = 24

Right, well I guess there isn't much to do other staying back to back with Camella. Standard practice in dealing with multiple opponents.

Also try using your goblin stealth lessons to help find them.
>>
No. 308848 ID: 81f32a

rolled 53 = 53

Eyes are pretty useless, so close them.

Try to utilize your Goblin training to determine their position.
>>
No. 308852 ID: 856690
File 130713782530.png - (56.23KB , 383x357 , Carpejugular.png )
308852

[Pic is Armas being all scary, grabbing a thing by the head and bashing it's throat out]

Also I so called it being nasty fanged 'things' attacking him.

Also terrible rolls
>>
No. 308855 ID: f0e3ae

>>308848
yes... the goblin magic "sense who is tracking you" training. Focus on it, use it, find them with it and kill them.
>>
No. 308857 ID: 28e94e

>>308848
I'm going to have to go this one.
>>
No. 308867 ID: ae0719

I say, run. Are Camella's bare feet making noise? Give her your shoes and run on socks, if so. Don't let them pin you and come at you from all sides until it's over for you. Break through the ring.

Also, if we have anything to throw on them - chaff, our jacket, jarate, whatever - we might want to try it. To find out if they're INVISIBLE, or do they literally phase in and out?

If you have NO other choice, take a dive off the stairs and hope for the best. Down is less bad than up.
>>
No. 308876 ID: d429c4

rolled 50 = 50

You need to sober up, and fast. Next time you strike with your mere, you should lunge with your teeth, and try to get a mouthfull of monster, to accelerate the disposal of the alcoholic toxins ruing around your blood stream, and hopefully aid your detection ability.
>>
No. 308883 ID: a76809

rolled 9, 65, 99 = 173

[Camella: 75]
>>308847
I go back to back with Camella, eyes darting-to hear her gun bark once behind me. A few moments later, long enough for me to hear something still slithering about, she speaks.
>[Camella]"....Fragile."
>>308848
>>308852
>>308841
>>308842
[FANART BONUS]
[54]
For just a moment I let my eyes flutter shut, listening with baited breath-a rustle to my right. My eyes spring open LOOKING for those teeth, remembering that tongue, mere in hand, all while trying to read for something watching me. Six feet away I see it-the fangs, the tongue, an image fainter than a ghost yet solid as a coffin-and as my eyes lock on the beast's, homing in on the one spot of differing color, those pale, beady red eyes. As our gazes meet, the creature, still moving so sinuously I scarce perceive it, abandons its attempts at stealth-

Leaping straight at me.

>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait activated
While I leap at it. My feet fall soundlessly on the steps as I briefly ascend, ignoring that feeling of foulness emanating from above, hands flying. One hand bravely goes to strike and grasp the creature's brow-I feel a chalky, scaly texture that reminds me of a rotting house, snapping the beast's fanged head back before it can adjust-driving the mere into its exposed throat with the other. I watch flesh tear like paper, alabaster muscle shredded like cardboard, bone breaking like poorly kilned clay. The creature's eyes capture my gaze for an instant-and as grit drifts into my eye, I blink, the eyes vanishing-for me to see the body crumbled to nothing, breaking down further and further-till I can see it no longer. I hold still, facing upward, still ignoring that building sense of wrongness as I listen....

>>308876
50%
I listen... and here something-maybe.
>[Camella]"I don't hear anything, do you-"
"Sh."
I hear her feet quietly pad over to me, forcing herself to look up the stairs with me, seeking what I heard. With her beside me, however, that abominable sensation redoubles, multiplies and expands, starting to feel like an actual weight, a pressure on my eyes, my ears, all of my skin. I grit my teeth as I witness something new.

The featureless landscape... is starting to gain features. Cracks, seams and corners are being revealed, multiplying across the surroundings, giving texture where they go, shadowed recessed that hint at something beyond this twisted set of stares. From those cracks, those gaps, those rifts, do come a scratching sound-nothing furtive, secretive or cautious about it-the scrapings of desperation, of maddened need and want.

I hear it a billionfold around me echoing from every surface of the environment, growing louder as the cracks spread, the pressure increases, the fear builds-

And the gaps begin to widen.

>[Camella]"I think we should stop looking up now...."
Seeing no flaw to her argument I turn to look back down the steps with her-

The cracks stop spreading, the scratching doesn't stop, merely dimming to a nearly inaudible rustle. Hopefully it will not drown out the sound of those hunters stalking us.... but my god, what kind of hellhole is this?






What should I say or do?
I've learned a few more things about this place-does it change my plans to keep going down until I learn more?
Camella looks exceptionally distressed-do I want to try reassuring her, and if so, how?
[I need another six 1d100 for perception rolls, for the next three encounters, whatever your plan.]
>>
No. 308885 ID: e39041

rolled 69 = 69

>>
No. 308886 ID: f0e3ae

rolled 40 = 40

>>
No. 308888 ID: 81f32a

rolled 80 = 80

Have we looked at the door since the landscape changed?

Anyway, since there is only one staircase which is safe to use, and since it is going down, we should go down there.

Closing eyes and listening worked previous time, I don't see why we shouldn't do that again.

Heh, if we manage to take a bite out of the creature like Alratan suggested. Do that.

Hmm, since weapons aren't living things, they will not make a noise when fired. Tell Cammella not to be surprised by that when it happens.

We have channeled energy through our mere, I don't know if it counts, but it should have become magical somehow.
>>
No. 308891 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 31 = 31

They see me rollin
>>
No. 308892 ID: e39041

rolled 73 = 73

>>
No. 308893 ID: 1b1739

rolled 86 = 86

This place's illusion is falling apart... I'm pretty sure the "owner" will show up soon, since we "released" a monster who's messing his shit up, and in a neutral zone too. Just a small problem, we'll have to last until that comes. If that thing comes at us again, try to communicate with it, maybe it's smart enough to comprehend. And if all else fails, you can still throw it down the stairs.
>>
No. 308896 ID: 44766a

Not the same place, dude. This is not neutral ground.
>>
No. 308901 ID: ae0719

>>308888
They sound... singularly unappetizing. Like rotting wood. They almost sound like part of the building, but since its not a Land God, I doubt it.

Don't suppose they're like the cracks, and ignoring them will make them go away while paying attention to it gives it power? Try it. Believe with all your heart that they don't exist.

Try really, really hard.
>>
No. 308908 ID: 44766a

Tell Camella at least hurting these things is easier than hurting Doonongaes or Nazi super soldiers. Keep calm and try heading down the stairs if you get a chance.
>>
No. 308910 ID: c6ce12

>>308883
Say "Camella, do you remember what the most the important thing to have this line of work? It's someone to watch your back. So don't you worry, I've got your back, and as long as you have mine too we can make through this.". Then offer her your hand and continue to descend into the unknown.

I know, kind of cheesy, but I figure it's more comforting than anything else we're planning to say and it fits since we're in a nightmarish situation right now.
>>
No. 308949 ID: 252e1b

"Camella, you didn't take a leak in here right? Strikes me as a bad idea to leave body fluids behind.

"Wish I had a bottle or something."
>>
No. 308950 ID: 234c26

>I've learned a few more things about this place-does it change my plans to keep going down until I learn more?
I wish it did, but it doesn't seem like there are any other options here. Unless the whole feeling of wrongness is some kind of trap/illusion, which I doubt, you might as well keep going.

>Camella looks exceptionally distressed-do I want to try reassuring her, and if so, how?
"Well, this is getting pretty damned screwy. Stay frosty and keep close; most supernatural things are more frightening than they are dangerous if you keep your head and have someone good watching your back. Remind me to tell you about fighting a zombie horde sometime."

>What should I say or do?
Take your own advice. Try to keep your senses open- hearing and sneakery- to sense the enemy. Keep moving. Don't let it get to you, no matter how horrible it is; just function.
>>
No. 308960 ID: a76809

>>308910
I begin with something I've rarely had to practice, but at least was trained in.
"Camella, do you remember what the most the important thing to have this line of work? It's someone to watch your back. So don't you worry, I've got your back, and as long as you have mine too we can make through this."
I start to reach out my hand to her as a show of support-to have it slapped into my face as she starts down the steps without me.
>[Camella]"What is it with you, do you have a broken record?"
I start walking as well, keeping the mere pounamu, no longer covered in moving lights, held ready.
>[Camella]"..I head you the first time."
The first time-she means back in the apartment. My little spiel about having someone to watch your back. I had almost forgotten about it-strange, given how similar my words were. ...Well, alright then. I move back into point position, being the melee implement user, while we keep going down.
>>308885
>>308886
[69+40]/2=54.5%
Even over that now persistent, spin-tingling, nerve-wracking scratching and scraping-I hear it. That soft rustle, furtive yet distinct that I've come to associate with the stalkers. I nudge Camella's arm-yes, she's heard them too. We scan around us, glaring at the cracked and poorly-sealed white around us, still having to work to see individual steps despite the damage. The darkened cracks making me wish to avert my gaze, I hit upon something-can the creatures shift their tone, or are they just pure white? If so, with the cracks-
I see movement on the mere again, dancing lights that eschew the monotony-this time I glance down, not having heard a rustle in some time-
To see a red blur reflected behind me, where I saw naught but more of the cracked white. My legs keep going as my eyes stay glued for a tense second. What I see is no smudge, and moves consistently with something actually there. So I do the only thing that makes sense-I trust my ancestral weapon, still hot in my hand. The next step I take, I plant my foot with every bit of force I can, lunging to strike at the shadowy blur I can only see indirectly, honed stone club tearing and splitting a familiar tissue-I scalp one of the yellow eyed creepers and crush it's sickeningly soft skull into its neck. The thing dissolves as it slumps-the whole while perfectly mimicking the shadows beneath it, the cracks spreading throughout this land. It is only in the unmarred segments that the beast can be perceived-or so it was, until even its outline faded way.

I turn to Camella, to see two shells on the ground beside her. I step up beside her as I note no more flickering lights on the mere's surface, shooting her a questioning glance.
>[Camella]"Fired my gun. No sound. Two stalkers, both put down.... it's wierd how easy they are to kill-and being that hard to see, why don't they charge sooner? ....Why didn't it make noise this time?"
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
A good question-one I don't have an answer for-but I have some tenuously based speculation-and it couldn't hurt to dress it up bit as we keep walking, flight after flight, once confirming not a whisper beyond the scratches can be heard.
"I think they aren't really alive-or at least, they aren't separate of this place. You noticed how their camouflage shifted?"
>[Camella]"They match the environment-perfectly, as if an instant chameleon."
"Yeah-creatures that good at stealth are pretty much never this soft-and the 'only jump when looking in my eyes' thing is pretty mechanical, when you look at it."
>[Camella]"...So, constructs?"
"You're not quite looking at it right-think of the stairwell as being a living thing-the hunters are like white blood cells-okay the metaphor may be stretching it but...."
>[Camella]"No, it is something to consider... hm."

Several dozen flights of stairs pass in silence, and I note something odd-I still need to pee-but not any more so than when we entered here. But if I'm counting right, that was the two hundred fiftieth flight of stairs we descended-and I don't feel the least bit less drunk. I still have to squint more than I'd like to even be able to see-and I keep forgetting to apply the goblin's teachings to the hunt for foes, damn-next time. ...Wait, I don't want a next time.

>>308888
>>308891
[80+31]/2=-!
>308888 Quartet Bonus
>80 Roll Synchronization: A HAND OF EIGHT
>WUTENHEIMER DICE NEGATED, HIGHEST ROLL TAKEN

It is in this silence that I ponder the many strange properties of this place, constantly kicking my inebriated mind to keep it on track, still moving as silently as we can, that again I hear that rustling sound-stalkers on the prowl.

I have the sense of mind to apply my teachings from the goblins-closing my eyes as I do, listening, counting.... four, this time. Three the last, two before, once the first time. ...More evidence to the automated idea-but why? These thoughts flit to the back of my mind as I open my eyes, staring at the mere-picking out shadowed blurs, placing them. I glance at Camella to adjust for her perspective, then-
"Eight o'clock fifteen degrees up ten feet-four o'clock thirty degrees up twenty feet!"
I leap into motion as she processes my words, relying on what little we've learned of this place to give her that time.
Me?
I go after the two nearest us-again, ones slipping within a handful of feet of us.
...Or, if fabricated by the environment, just generated close to the intruder. Lovely.
Such thoughts keep even the faintest glimmer of hesitation from slowing my strikes as I remove the throat and lower jaw of one in a fell sweep, then crumple another too-soft skull, checking the mere in between to reconfirm positioning. It's a bit awkward, identifying an enemies location by looking at a reflection in a held object-but honestly, being drunk helps.
So I tell myself, anyway.
I turn back around as the monsters disappear watching Camella tap her gun, two more shells on the ground.
>[Camella]"Thank you for the tagging... but-"
"Yeah, I know... you'll run out at some point. Hence we keep moving, and hope we find that way out before then. Least my thing'll keep working."
I resist the urge to follow with a dirty comment solely because I am overwhelmed by my options.

We go down nearly a hundred more flights when something changes again.
>>308892
>>308893
[73+86]/2=79.5%

I'm not really sure when it happens-which says something, given the size and weight of the thing-but somewhere between walking down that last flight and hearing the return of scratching sounds.... Mammon's Device has been returned to me, now nestled against my breast, under my bulletproof business vest. At this turn in events, I find myself most distressed, as I seek an answer as to WHY it's there-
While worrying about, if the pattern holds, a coming wave of five almost impossible to perceive monsters.






What's my next move here? Where does our plan dictate we go from here, and what do we do?
>>
No. 308963 ID: 692cff

So, each time it adds one more to the group. Wonder what happens if we catch one? Will the one that we caught count as part of the next group, will the thing count the group already sent after us as still active and not send another group, or will it change nothing?

And Mammon's gun. Idea for why it's here. This is demon related. This stairwell can be killed but having it's lifeforce drained out with the gun, and the gun really like us so it decided to come and help. Alternatively, this might be a demon related incident, or this place is meant as a test and we're being given something to enable us to complete it, so there may be something bigger coming up. Anyway, be prepared.
>>
No. 308964 ID: f0e3ae

The feeling of wrongness from above, that which you are escaping downwards... Might be something rather dangerous. Something that might catch up with you and require the mamon device to kill.
>>
No. 308965 ID: ae0719

Well, we're definitely not in Kansas anymore. The fact that we're still exactly as drunk as before, not to mention we're still okay after a 250-floor running battle... gotta be a dream, or time-locked in the instant we entered, or some bs like that.

I'm leaning towards 'test' now, too. If an end boss we need to use Mammon's Device on shows up in the next few floors, that pretty much clinches it.

"Still don't know what's going on," comment to her, "but I'm actually feeling a little more confident, suddenly. So if the end boss would like to put in an appearance and make me eat those words, now's the time."

Also, it's PROBABLY nothing, but Raki is another name for Rangi, a Maori god of the sky and one half of the 'Primal couple'. This spirit could actually be trying to get you two together.

Maybe you should have a 'moment' with our temperamental Italian strega, here.
>>
No. 308966 ID: e41ad5

Pretty clear to me - Mammon gave it to you so you can survive this.

Is it loaded?
>>
No. 308993 ID: 44766a

Don't use Mammon's Device unless you are absolutely sure its real.
>>
No. 308995 ID: d429c4

After using your Mere on the creatures, use your magic item sense of Mammon's device.

After the creatures are defeated, so what kind of bullet is in the device, as when you left it at home it was unloaded.

Also, as they're so weak, try to take a bite out of one of them this time, and see if they're real enough to trigger your healing ability.
>>
No. 308997 ID: d429c4

After using your Mere on the creatures, use your magic item sense of Mammon's device.

After the creatures are defeated, so what kind of bullet is in the device, as when you left it at home it was unloaded.

Also, as they're so weak, try to take a bite out of one of them this time, and see if they're real enough to trigger your healing ability.
>>
No. 309007 ID: d3dfb8

>>308993
It's not so much the fact that we've been 'given' it that worries me, it's the fact we have it at all. As in, I think we're going to need it.
>>308960
And for the record, it amuses me to no end that we needed an 80 on a triple 8 roll to negate one of my rolls. This seems surprisingly fitting.
>>
No. 309008 ID: d429c4

After using your Mere on the creatures, use your magic item sense of Mammon's device.

After the creatures are defeated, so what kind of bullet is in the device, as when you left it at home it was unloaded.

Also, as they're so weak, try to take a bite out of one of them this time, and see if they're real enough to trigger your healing ability.
>>
No. 309012 ID: f9092d

A couple of things to ponder -

If the stairwell is alive, can you kneel down and bite a corner to try to eat it and take its essence?

Have Camella check her gun. It makes no sound so is its magazine actually being used?

Ask Camella if you've repeated yourself since you entered this trap. There's definitely something wrong with the flow of time or perception of time here since you're not sobering up. Try making notches in your clothing or scratching your skin for every 20 stairs you've traveled to see if the marking of the act gives it more permanence.

Ask Camella if she can grab your hand or clothes and close her eyes for a few minutes so you can try to navigate other senses than sight. Your visual perception might be reinforcing this illusion-like environment. Especially when you consider that the creatures here only attack when you see them. Does that mean that they can't even materialize without being seen first? You might even be safer if your eyes are closed.

There was something strange underneath your shoe when you stepped in here. There isn't any sort of enchantment laid on your shoes? Can you check them for magic? It's unlikely however since Camella took hers off. You probably just sensed the stairwell entry point. is there any way for you to try to follow that feeling back out?

Does Mammon's Device have a shot loaded? If so which type is it?
>>
No. 309025 ID: 692cff

>If the stairwell is alive, can you kneel down and bite a corner to try to eat it and take its essence?

..I really like your style. We need to attempt to eat the stairwell. Seconding this, and if it doesn't work, be cagey when Camella asks why the hell we just bit the staircase.
>>
No. 309033 ID: 234c26

>>309025
Chewing on the floor is not the solution to our problems. If we must eat some of it, at least try to chip some off and chew on that; have some modicum of dignity here.

>>308960
Mention the creatures' linear increase in numbers to Camella. Patterns are important, and it means that you're effectively on a time limit here; if she runs out of bullets and their numbers keep going up...
>>
No. 309035 ID: a76809

rolled 167, 116, 43 = 326

>>308963
I wonder... the creatures increase in number each time-what happens if we catch one? Will it's presence be accounted from the next round, or ignored? Could they even be captured? The way they fade to nothing when damaged, that strange frailness... I wonder if they even CAN be caught. I've felt them crumbling in my grip from the moment I touch them... yet something about their teeth speaks of more permanence than the rest of them. ....Hm.
>[NEW TRAIT UNLOCKED-more experience required to reveal]
So, with Mammon's Device just appearing I'd have to say this stairwell has a demonic source to it. Following that thought... would that mean these creeper constructs are demonic as well? Most importantly-does that tell me anything useful?
>>308964
Could even be that the Device appeared on me because there's something I need to kill with it down here. Could it be some sort of 'beast from above,' the source of the foul feeling? I pat myself down-well, that means I only got what's in the Device. I'll have to check it-

After I again use the mere.

This time Camella watches me-and I see her eyes widen as she sees the reflected surface of the knife. She says but two words, softly whispered, as the puts both hands on her gun's grip once more.
>[Camella]"That them?"
"Yes."
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR]
"Go for the distant ones-I'm going in low."
There is no response-merely her turning, gun in hand, eyes sharp and darting-before she stakes a single shot. For the first time I actually see her fire, a bullet catching the barely visible monster in the chest while in my peripheral I note the shell ejected from her gun falling off the stair's edge. The beast's body explodes as if hit by anti-tank fire, once more unnaturally destructible, falling apart with ease. Camella continues to sight off memorized target placement as I take my own last check, the one she shot already having vanished.
...Closest, two o'clock, eight feet away.
I bound up the steps, only looking from my knife at the last second-swinging for the upper third of the blur I percieve. I end up slamming the mere into the base of the monster's spine-

While in reflex it bites at me in its death throes, a stray tooth scything through my shirt and skin alike, a few drops of blood slowly welling to the surface. The beast falls with it's head torn halfway off its body, while I spend the briefest of moments attempting to multitask, re-appraising my foes' positioning and checking my arm. ...The bleeding's minor, naught more than a few miniscule beads. I swiftly wipe them away with my free hand-and leap for the next, four feet to my right, just in time to see a third blur vanish from the mere's cast reflection. I lock eyes with the beast on purpose, using the relatively easily noticed feature and goblin training to home in, striking even as it surges from its sloth-like pace into frantic motion. The mere goes below the jaw, used like a pick to brutally gouge out the throat in a single blow-catching a chunk of that dissolving spine at the same moment.... but was it more solid that time? I'll ponder it later-with three down, I appraise the mere again: Okay the two that are left are... one's right in Camella's line of sight, great, the other... where is it, I don't-

There's a blur right behind me.

>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait activated]
I drop down to a knee, twisting about to lunge back, my own survival motivating the unflinching attack rather than some lust for violence... so I tell myself. With another gouging blow, I rip open the beast's stomach-I think, the positioning is right but I can't make it out properly-and begin to turn-
The beast is not crumbling yet, fangs moving for my throat with determination. I drive the mere through its skull to end it, pulling the still-unstained weapon free to see the last blur vanish from its surface.
>[Camella]"..Five this time, right?"
"Yes."
>[Camella]"That's all of them, then. ....Nine rounds, plus thirty four more-after that I'm dry."
>>308965
>>308966
>>308995
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"Funny the ammunition gets used up, but... actually, here's a question, and I want you to take it seriously."
>[Camella]"I don't think that will be hard."
"...Ok. Do you need to pee more than you did when you came in here?"
For a moment she begins to scowl-midway there it shifts to a frown, realization and shock all flitting their way across her germanic features.
>[Camella]"No."
"How many flights of stairs do you remember going down?"
>[Camella]"....Roughly three hundred. Which makes it stranger my ammunition is used up."
"Or, more information for us about where we are."
>[Camella]"...But not enough to actually figure anything out."
I begin reaching inside my vest, tucking the clean mere back behind my belt.
"Well, you never know when some important-"
Mammon's Device comes free in my hands-
"-Detail may change the situation."
I was about to say more when the words die on my lips, all my will redirected into fighting a snigger that could become hysterical laughter with dangerous chances of drunken pants-wetting, all of this from the look on her face. Such disdain for the absurdity of my weapon.
>[Camella]"...What, the .50 BMG pistol was not good enough for you? That is the most ridiculously impractical..."
Now it is Camella's turn to have words die on her lips-for an entirely different reason. With Mammon's Device out, the now habitual sound of scratching behind the cracks begins to resurge. We look sharply at the seams-none are expanding, as far as we see-yet all the same, it fill the air with an extra tinge of dread.
"I'll have you know 'Magic Gun' trumps most measures of impracticality. Now hold this."
Camella has no choice but to catch Mammon's Device as I lob it to her, bending down to try one more test that's been bothering me. I bite at the stairs themselves, finding them as unyielding as iron, my teeth threatening to break if I tried to proceed. I stand back up certain now the landscape is not edible while speaking.
"Still don't know what's going on, but I'm actually feeling a little more confident, suddenly. So if the end boss would like to put in an appearance and make me eat those words, now's the time."
Camella gives me another blank stare-before her eyes narrow as she tosses the Device back to me, noting the widening of my own orbs.

The cracks on the walls form words-I hadn't noticed it before, and it's subtle if you don't look at it from the right angle, but from here, right now, The whole platform we approach seems to say:

W-_-A_-_-S-_-T_-_H-_-A_-_T-_-A_-_N-_-I_-_N-_-V_-_I-_-T_-_A-_-T_-_I-_-O_-_N-_-?

...I don't think Camella's seen it yet.

I can feel power throbbing in the Device, and checking the chamber I find one of Johan's mystical rounds chambered-despite the fact I left it unhampered when last I touched it, not that I'd complain about it. I can't get a make on it-but the gun keep fluctuating between modestly magical to something more potent for brief, fitful instants.... damn, wish I could just clear my head.






What should I say or do?
If I want to start moving again, do I want to go down, up, or keep taking rights or lefts?
[If you want to continue moving, make 1d100 rolls for encounters. The progress rolls are included in this update.]
>>
No. 309037 ID: 1b1739

rolled 48 = 48

"Invitation? Invitation to what, actually? You're the one who started attacking us."

Then, go left. Because right always leads to death.
>>
No. 309038 ID: f0e3ae

rolled 35 = 35

>>309037
its obviously referring to:
>Armas said: So if the end boss would like to put in an appearance and make me eat those words, now's the time.
>>
No. 309041 ID: 46c430

...Are we taking a staircase down to HELL or something? ...I don't know about you guys, but I wonder if going down is really the best idea. I mean, the cracks, the scratches when we see much as look up... ...But still, is simply going deeper and deeper really the best idea? I have to wonder if the sense of dread is some sort of trick... Something to try and force us to keep going downwards, further and further into trouble.
>>
No. 309042 ID: 692cff

Huh, looks like you're in the Nevernever, and not aging seems to apply to other things as well, such as needing to pee. And maybe being drunk too. Have you not sobered up? Anyway, I think that means you're pretty much at the mercy of whatever brought you here, short of maybe nailing it with Mammon's device, so here's hoping this is really a test. As for the question about the invitation, how bout saying something like

"Oh, so you're willing to communicate? How about face to face then, since I'm sure you've got a lovely voice and I'd love to hear it."
>>
No. 309043 ID: b43d58

"It's not an invitation."

...

"It's a challenge."

[HARD MODE ACTIVATED]
>>
No. 309047 ID: c6ce12

rolled 65 = 65

>>309035
Just keep going down.
>>
No. 309049 ID: 81f32a

>>309043
STOP!
This is no way to fight a demon!

no armor
no back-up weapons
no flash-bangs or grenades
one bullet only

FINAL DESTINATION
>>
No. 309051 ID: 46c430

>>309043
NO!
>>
No. 309052 ID: 3f12fc

>>309043
Downvoting this.
>>
No. 309053 ID: f0e3ae

>>309042
I kinda like that idea.
>>
No. 309054 ID: b43d58

>>309052
Your body is not prepared for TPK.
>>
No. 309055 ID: 7b542c

>>309051
Lol, this quest's hard enough as is. Ignore that suggestion, Bob, if you may.
>>
No. 309056 ID: 7b542c

>>309055
Oh fucking Dynamic IP.
>>
No. 309059 ID: ae0719
File 130721131691.jpg - (28.63KB , 750x1023 , stairwellfromhell.jpg )
309059

Here's hoping.
>>
No. 309061 ID: ac161d

rolled 78 = 78

>>
No. 309066 ID: 81f32a
File 130721378330.jpg - (80.71KB , 1535x898 , mammon device.jpg )
309066

>>309042
I think you are right. We are outside of time and space, perhaps that is the reason why the state of the body is the same when they entered.

Hey, if Armas is in NeverNever, could he call up Ogrimmir? I'm missing that guy, sure as hell would have been useful during the last two Palindromic resonances.



>[Camella]"...What, the .50 BMG pistol was not good enough for you? That is the most ridiculously impractical..."

"Hey, I know what you're thinking but I looted it from one of YOUR countrymen"

>W-_-A_-_-S-_-T_-_H-_-A_-_T-_-A_-_N-_-I_-_N-_-V_-_I-_-T_-_A-_-T_-_I-_-O_-_N-_-?

"Perhaps...
care to come out and explain what is going on then?"

Also, don't use mammon device just yet, it seems that we only have one bullet for it. So take out your mere to use it on other creatures.
>>
No. 309081 ID: f0e3ae

>[Camella]"...What, the .50 BMG pistol was not good enough for you? That is the most ridiculously impractical..."
Against humans maybe... against things that go bump its still too small. Which reminds me, we need to get even bigger guns.

>This is the nevernever
If this was the nevernever, then why did a gate to the nevernever open in you while inside here? the concept is getting recursive.
>>
No. 309082 ID: d3dfb8

"Depends. If you're willing to talk you should have just come out from the beginning. If you're going to give us more fancy toys the further down we go then I'd prefer to put it off until later. Otherwise, come on down! This is rather tedious and EXTREMELY repetitive."
>>
No. 309089 ID: d429c4

Don't invite it, as opening the door to a demon like that might be a very bad idea.

Instead, say that it's a shame it hasn't joined us, would it like to? Say nothing that can be construed as granting permission.

Perhaps say that it's a nice place that it has here, it's just a shame that it didn't invite us for the work out at a less pressing moment.

Do you have any of the jerky on you? it may be the moment to take a bite and see if it clears the alcohol from your system.
>>
No. 309100 ID: 46c430

Uh, don't say you killed one of her countrymen, just don't mention where you got it at all.
>>
No. 309101 ID: 81f32a

>>309100
You think she is going to lose sleep over the fact that we killed a mob boss?
>>
No. 309119 ID: a76809

>>309041
....This some kind of staircase to hell, then? I mean, could be that going back up IS the answer-that the feeling of wrongness, the spreading cracks, the fell scratchings from beyond this place-it could all be misleading. Unfortunately lacking anything to make me more certain, I find myself unwilling to 'test' my theory, and make the situation worse. Caution seems the best approach here.
>>309042
...Could be that I'm being too specific-this doesn't need to be hell, but one way or another, this has to be Other Side stuff... ah fuck it I'll call it the Nevernever too. Which means that we are about as subject to the whims of the owner as one can get. Have to hope this is some sort of test, and not some cruel game-or complicated feeding ritual. An unpleasant thought.
>>309081
..Wait, this can't be the Nevernever-a gate to the Nevernever can't open within the Nevernever.... right?
>[NEW TRAIT NEARLY UNLOCKED]
>>309049
>>309051
>>309052
>>309059
>>309066
>>309089
[FANART BONUS]
"Yeah yeah-I know what you're thinking, but I got it from one of YOUR countrymen."
>[Camella]"A poor excuse for a Countryman if ever I heard of it."
"Yeah, you're right about that."

I carefully choose my phrasing.
"Yeah-really a shame this boss figure hasn't joined us-I wonder, would it like to?"
I ignore Camella's odd look as my eyes dart about-there.
T_-_H-_-E_-_R-_-E_-_A-_-R_-_E-_-T_-_H-_-I_-_N-_-G_-_S-_-T_-_O-_-D_-_I-_-S_-_C-_-U_-_S-_-S-_-.[/u]
I shake my head, holding up a finger to Camella as I keep talking.
"You know, if you're willing to talk you could have struck up a conversation earlier-or even made an in-person appearance."
I see her put meaning to my madness, fingers tightening about her gun as eyes dart about. I likewise scan the surroundings-only enough to find another response hidden just where my glance falls.
[u]C_-_A-_-N_-_T-_-M_-_E-_-E_-_T-_-W_-_I-_-T_-_H-_-O_-_U-_-T_-_P-_-E_-_R-_-M_-_I-_-S_-_S-_-I-_-O_-_N-_-.[/i]
"Really now? And exactly what do we have to discuss that would necessitate me inviting anything anywhere?"
[i]Y_-_O-_-U_-_C-_-A_-_N-_-N_-_O-_-T_-_S-_-E_-_E-_-T_-_H-_-E_-_W-_-A_-_Y-_-O_-_U-_-T_-_.
[/code] ...Huh. [code]I_-_N-_-V_-_I-_-T_-_E-_-M_-_E-_-.







What should I do?
Should I invite the entity in control of this place, or keep wandering (using the rolls just made)?
>>
No. 309120 ID: d429c4

Don't invite it for now, but keep it talking.

Note that it said that you couldn't see the way out, not that you couldn't get out on your own.

That means that, if you can find it, you can get out on under your own power. Consider, is it possible that there are doors we're not seeing, or do you sense anything about the shaft in the centre of the staircase.

Also, this place could be a single large magical weapon/trap - use your new ability to detect such things on the stairccase.
>>
No. 309121 ID: 1b1739

Looks like it wants to take advantage of us, promising "a way out." Besides, we still need more info from this guy. Ask questions while descending, saves time.

"Permission? From who?"
"What do you know about this place?
"Invite you to what, exactly? And what do you propose on doing if I accept?"
>>
No. 309123 ID: ae0719

Glance at Camella. "Thoughts? if this is a localised portion of the nevernever, then we may not have a choice. There are things fae can't do if we don't give them permission to do so - it would seem a proper manifestation here is one of them - but it can keep us here pretty much indefinitely."

Kinda feels like this is your fault. It was just some ghost thing, then you gave it a massive injection of nevernever energy and catapulted us all here.
>>
No. 309130 ID: 1854db

If there are multiple Nevernevers then a gate to the Nevernever could in fact open inside you while you're in it. Kindof like a bridge to another island.
>>
No. 309144 ID: d3dfb8

Keep talking, and continue on the way down.
>>
No. 309148 ID: 234c26

>>309119
If you do invite it, be sure to word your invitation carefully. Invite it on the condition that it stand alone before you, offers useful information, and to lets the two of you go in peace. There's no telling if that will actually bind it to those three things, but if it accepts an invitation stated in that fashion that might at least make you a bit safer.
>>
No. 309161 ID: f0e3ae

>multiple nevernevers.
Possible, or maybe it is just different locations with it, like opening a gateway from hawaii to texas. Both are on "earth". Or maybe this was a completely different magic that got merged into the nevernever by you...

>Permission
I am thinking... can we get a friendly "demon" to come back home with us? It needs permission? how about we barter? No harming us or humanity as a whole, yes to defending itself from humans, etc.

We could also try to get more specific information from it. Specifically, what is it, what is this place, what is above and below, what is the feeling of wrongness from above. What type of being is it?
>>
No. 309165 ID: 692cff

You know, we really shouldn't just invite him. We ought to make him pay us to invite him in someway. This is a theory, but I think he's trapped as part of this place, and an invitation would let him exit with us. So we need at least an oath not to harm us or our interests, as well as some sort of tangible benefit on top of that.
>>
No. 309195 ID: a76809
File 130727028318.jpg - (0.98MB , 1254x1050 , Mammons Knight.jpg )
309195

>>I resolve not to flat-out invite it, and to keep the being 'talking'-then I come up with absolutely no ideas on what to keep it talking about. And I'd been on such a roll, too.
>[NEW TRAIT IN DANGER OF DERAILMENT]
I instead think to the specific meaning of the words: That I can't find the way out, suggesting that it could be veiled from me-and I don't know where or how. Still... my gut's telling me I'm on to something here, and I'm two thirds sure it's not drunken bravado. ...Okay, three fifths.
>>309121
My brain starts getting up to speed, and I realize how to stall the thing and pull free some more information. With Camella watching me like a hawk, I continue my strange dialogue.
"Permission? From who?"
T_-_H-_-E_-_G-_-U_-_E-_-S_-_T-_-
"That being me, huh? What do you know about this place?"
N_-_O-_-T_-_H-_-I_-_N-_-G_-_A-_-N_-_D-_-E_-_V-_-E_-_R-_-Y_-_T-_-H_-_I-_-N_-_G-_-.
"Wonderful, a purposefully vague cliché... So, to what, exactly, is it that you want the invitation to? And what do you propose on doing if I accept?"
W_-_A-_-N_-_T-_-I_-_N-_-V_-_I-_-T_-_A-_T_-_I-_-O_-_N-_-T_-_O-_-S_-_T-_-A_-_I-_-R_-_W-_-E-_L -_-L_-_W-_-I_-_L-_-L_-_M-_A_-_K-_-E_-_O-_-F_-_F-_-E_-_R -_--.
>>309123
I glance away from the walls, rubbing my eyes at the maddening landscape as I consider what I'm hearing. ...Yeah, definitely sounding like the buildup to some sort of Faustian deal-problem is I still don't know how to get out. I turn to Camella, her eyes still locked on me.
" Thoughts? if this is a localized portion of the Nevernever, then we may not have a choice. There are things fae can't do if we don't give them permission to do so - it would seem a proper manifestation here is one of them - but it can keep us here pretty much indefinitely."
>[Camella]"Why are you asking me you're the wizard!"
Wizard, what? ...Eh, she's clearly tense as hell, more important things to occupy myself with.
>>309161
"Okay... what if I asked you to swear to a couple of 'playing nice' rules to get permission? Like not harming me, or humanity as a whole-"
This time the cracks spread across my eyes in a horrifying new sensation to add to the list of agonies available within existence, the words sharp and clear.
M_-_O-_-R_-_T-_-A_-_L-_-M_-_O-_-R_-_A-_L_-_I-_-T_-_I-_-E_-_S-_-P_-_O-_-I_-_N-_-T_-_L-_-E-_S -_-S_-_D-_-I_-_S-_-C_-_A-_R_-_D-_-O_-_R-_-R_-_O-_-T_-_-.
As in stay here to rot? I don't think we'd last long enough to rot... not unless this place passed on that rotting composition the beasts have. A horrific thought.
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
>[WON'T TAKE NO Trait activated]
>>309148
"Will you at least swear to not harm us while making your offer, then thereafter leave should we request it?
A_-_C-_-C_-_E-_-P_-_T-_-A_-_B-_-L_-_E-_.
Here goes nothing then.
"Then under the conditions of not offering us harm and respecting our wish to leave if offered-I invite you."

The platform before us, some eight steps down, flutters and ripples, cracks spinning about like a spider web-lens being adjusted, some vastly intricate and likely invisible pulley system at work-damn booze, stop messing with me! From the middle of those ripples emerges a pair of sleek, glistening horns, a whole body shortly rising from what moments ago I would have said more immobile than steel. I'd call the newcomer a doll or a robot for it's metallic form-but I see the shifting panels, the grinding teeth-if ever a being of iron were to be alive, it would be this iron monster-this metal knight standing before me. As if in homage to the vaguely knightly look the nightmarish beast of teeth and eyes bows in a most uncharacteristically fastidious manner.

"Greetings, Prospective Disciple and attendant Concubine-Mammon sends his regards. He saw your coming struggle with the Senecan. In response to the tribute you have offered to his throne he wishes to offer you power."
The demon knight of Mammon is about to say more when I hear Camella beginning to screech at my side.
>[Camella]"No man worth his soul would deal with a Prince of Hell, how-"
No wave of his hand. No flicker, no puff of magic. Just Camella there one instant-not the next.
"I did not appreciate having an audience surplus. To the deal at hand-Mammon could take future strikes of the Nevernever from you-leave your body safe from further harm-and in the process, teach you what the Device is truly meant to do. The knowledge could let you face down the Doonongaes physically just as you have psychologically.... consider being able to best it in it's own field like that."












I don't even know what to say. What do I think of the Demon Knight's words, and Mammon's Deal?
How do I ask about Camella? [No she's not dead don't freak out]
>>
No. 309199 ID: 6868bc

Good lord, just invite the thing. Unless you have any better plans.

...Though you may want to negotiate for your and Camella's guaranteed safety, beforehand. Hopefully this is the kind of thing that is bound by oaths.
>>
No. 309200 ID: 6868bc

Good lord, just invite the thing. Unless you have any better plans.

...Though you may want to negotiate for your and Camella's guaranteed safety, beforehand. Hopefully this is the kind of thing that is bound by oaths.
>>
No. 309203 ID: d429c4

Just a note, but the latest post by Bob isn't showing up in the thread.

To keep it talking, ask it what name you can call it.
>>
No. 309207 ID: 6087e1

(Dammit, I can't read the full text! The quest doesn't update once I open the thread!)
>>
No. 309209 ID: 6087e1

>>309207
Nvm, it fixed itself.
>>309195
Well, those are pretty tempting offers. However, he hasn't mentioned...
The catch.
Every deal must have a price; either that, or Mammon's a Prince of Hell who follows his whims like an arrogant idiot.
Don't accept it right now; keep an open mind, but don't accept it for now. Try to make the Knight elaborate on the other part of the contract, the "catch".
>>
No. 309210 ID: 28e94e

Ask if it will cost us anything.
>>
No. 309211 ID: 6087e1

Also, since we're on the NeverNever, take care not to mention Mammon's name three times.
>>
No. 309212 ID: d429c4

It is critical to keep a good impression here. You are not a supplicant - it has chosen to reach out to offer a deal. Your every mannerism should reinforce that you consider yourself a least an equal, if not the superior party in this negotiation.

Armas should straighten his tie, take a seat on the stairs, and smile. "Well, I suppose we do have all the time in the world to chat..." Raise an eyebrow in the direction Camella was standing, "although my companion may be a little indelicate in her wording, one such of her is of great value to me, and it would not set our negotiations onto a sound footing where I t be distracted by worry for her. I assume she has returned from whence we came?"

This should all be said in an even tone, but the utter lack of emotion in your voice should send its own message. You're running of alcohol here, so remember your control. With that, you have done as much for Camella as you can, so on to business. Let a little academic interest leak into your tone, and inquire, rhetorically, "It is revealing that the scraps I have so far sent to your lord have aroused such interest. I wonder why that would be the case?

As to your offer, well, we must speak of prices, and more importantly, consequences. Your master is the Lord of Avarice, and I think he personifies that principle too well for unasked for generosity to be in character. Tell me plainly - the invocation of Summer and Winter into myself is written on my soul, why should I profit by adding the evoking of demons, and what would I loose?"
>>
No. 309218 ID: 252e1b

Keep in mind that if you don't reach SOME kind of deal here, he'll probably just take the gun back. He might wait until you really need it though! He's obviously got the power to call them home at will.

So while you might not want to give up everything he is asking for, you will want to be prepared to negotiate the right to use it.
>>
No. 309224 ID: 44766a

Definitely find out what the catch is. Also when we get back to Camella tell we are NOT a wizard.
>>
No. 309225 ID: 856690

Dudes, IT IS A DEMON! Considering how 'good' things turned out for the previous owner of the device, I don't think it's a good idea to team up with Mammon.

We don't need it, we have the mere and keihas, and whatever else we seize.

Cursed things are not good. Also you can be sure either we are screwed by demon, or we screw the demon, niether is a good result.

Thus far Armas has manageded to remain relitavily masterless. A pact with demons would be unhealthy for that, besides the point of making various people and groups ill-disposed against us. Camella seemingly included.

The ruinous powers are called so for a reason, lets try and talk our way out of this, trick the demon into releasing Both Camella and Armas.

Mammon's device is expendible, soul and Camella are not. I'm sure nobody is really suggesting we become a demon lord's pawn.
>>
No. 309232 ID: f0e3ae

>Greetings, Prospective Disciple and attendant Concubine
>Concubine
Oh god *spit take*...

>Variety of people: Deals with demons = evil bad wrong terrible.
We can at least hear him out. Selling your soul seems stupid and all, but lets not rush to conclusions here... Also, we are currently dealing with sidha, ancient vampires, and others with either a reputation for making deals that screw you over; or for being beings of pure evil.
One way I can see them trying to trap is to offer power with very few strings attached, "demonstrate your strength for power", then when you are at a critical moment (fighting donoongas for example) they appear and give ultimatum... sell your soul or we take all granted powers right now. So if he makes an offer that does seem enticing, first require a deal that states that you will only agree to dealing with them if they agree that everything you gain in those deals is irrevocably yours, cannot be taken away under any circumstances, and must come with full disclosure on all it entails. (aka, does using power X automatically sell your soul?).
Of course, that all depends on actually being offered a deal we are interested in.

>Mammon device is compromised, may be teleported away at hour of need.
Astute observation.

>Its a demon
So... of what religion?

>Ask if it hurt camella
It agreed to a deal to not hurt either of you and send you back if desired... If it lied on that deal then it can lie to you when you ask. And we don't want to seem ignorant by doubting its word now... But you could ask by phrasing it differently. such as "did you send her back or merely elsewhere in this place?"

Also, I am curious to know if it is what brought us to this stairway.
>>
No. 309234 ID: 6087e1

>>309232
>Concubine
Either the King of Hell is now the Queen of Hell or the Devil's a homo.
>>
No. 309235 ID: 6087e1

>>309234
Nvm, read it wrong. Mammon's the homo.
>>
No. 309236 ID: d429c4

>>309234
What on earth are you talking about?

The demon is referring to Camella as out concubine.
>>
No. 309237 ID: 234c26

Well. We make pacts with everything else without hesitating; why not demons? Admittedly, hell's full of nasty people, but as long as we're careful about exactly what we agree to we should be able to get power out of this.

But we can't negotiate reasonably here unless we learn what the other half of Mammon's deal is. What is the price for this offered power? He said that we've offered tribute already; what tribute is that? And I suspect that Mammon taking the future strikes of the Nevernever from us is not as simple as it sounds; get an exact method for how, and what the other effects of that happening would be. It's possible that we'd become a direct line feeding power from the Nevernever to Mammon, or that he'd be tying himself into our soul to manage it, or something of the sort; obviously those aren't desirable. Also, ask what the Device is truly meant to do- he doesn't have to teach you how to use it, but being more clear about what is on the table is desired.

Ideally, we'd get out of here having made a relatively small deal which will keep us on Mammon's good side and give us a bit of power without tying us down or costing us much. Best to keep our options open.
>>
No. 309238 ID: 44766a

we should remain independent of Mammon if we want to keep Camella on our side.
>>
No. 309239 ID: 735513

demonic power seemingly for free? this is extremely badass, take the deal!
>>
No. 309247 ID: 44766a

You are an idiot. There is no way this power is free. Don't do it
>>
No. 309255 ID: ae0719

>>309212
I like this.

>>309218
I think that it can only do this here, because it controls this subjective reality.


I'm curious what 'tribute' we offered to his throne (perhaps just killing things with the Mammon Device?), but asking about it seems poor form.

Our soul is non-negotiable. The nevernever strikes, however... each one damages our essence; we're becoming magic-less, for good or ill. I think even our bloodline is being hurt by it.

Obviously, the nevernever strikes are too much for any mortal body to hold, but he could make use of it, himself. In the process, he would 'teach us what the Device is meant to do'. Sounds like the Device can siphon magic or other energies, somehow, and send it to Mammon. For that matter, perhaps our 'tribute' is that the Device takes something of US each time we use it, somehow binding us to Mammon without our knowledge. Power isn't free, after all.

I can't say I recommend it. Do we really want to be giving Mammon so much power nearly for free? We can imagine the sort of thing he'd do with it. And for what? We hold the Device, I'm sure we can figure out its functions without giving up a potential advantage.

But if we do end up cutting a deal here, try to make it sweeten the pot (cite that we know how to ground ourselves, and if we wanted we could likely make a deal with any power in existence for that source of energy), and make it with the Rule of Threes. Our ability to break such deals seems to be pretty close to unique, and might be our only ace in the hole, here.

>>309218
I think that it can only do this here, because it controls this subjective reality.
>>
No. 309257 ID: 234c26

>>309255
>The nevernever strikes, however... each one damages our essence; we're becoming magic-less, for good or ill. I think even our bloodline is being hurt by it.
Wait, what? How did you come to this conclusion?
>>
No. 309259 ID: e41ad5

I'm gonna vote for hearing him out - What's the catch? There's always a catch. Whether it's your happiness or money, there is always a catch. Nothing in life is free.
>>
No. 309260 ID: ae0719

>>309257
Some things Bob has said in IRC, and the fact that with Ogrimmir gone our Winter bloodline is down to almost nothing (apparently, he was carrying us on his shoulders, Winter magically speaking). I don't know if Summer is affected, but it wouldn't surprise me much.

Our Wendigo meat-eating magic is fine, since it's part of our soul now, but (for example) magically identifying weapons the way the goblins taught us is weakened; we can feel it's magic, but not what it could do like we could when we first got it.
>>
No. 309264 ID: e41ad5

>>309260
>Some things Bob has said in IRC

THIS. THIS RIGHT HERE. STOP IT. RIGHT NOW.
>>
No. 309268 ID: f0e3ae

>>309255
>we know how to ground ourselves, and if we wanted we could likely make a deal with any power in existence for that source of energy
.... so... how much do you think the goblins would pay for it?
I would like to actually make use it. maybe have a deal with the goblins or someone else where we give them the power X times and in exchange they show us how to capture it and use it for ourselves in future occurances (become living conduit, siphon it to a magic item soulbound to us, eat it directly with our soul, something!)
>>
No. 309270 ID: cbd626

>>309247
no, YOU are an idiot!
>>
No. 309271 ID: 252e1b

>>309268

You need to be magic-less to become a living conduit. We'd need to forsake the bloodline entirely, and excise the magic we've picked up from eating magic livestock somehow (without being killed from the spiritual shock of ripping large chunks of spirit out like that). And then we'd need to learn the technique for harnessing the conduit.

Of course once we did that, Camella would be right to call Armus a wizard.
>>
No. 309274 ID: a76809
File 130730485869.jpg - (166.05KB , 631x1024 , Mammon\'s Embrace.jpg )
309274

>>309209
"...You know, I can't help but notice you're omitting something-something rather critical to such dealings."
"To what specifically do you refer, Mortal?"
"Well, you haven't made mention of a price just yet-so what is it?"
Could a semi-living demonic suit of armor smile.... as it is, I am merely subjected to an overwhelming wave of smugness from the figure... and quite possibly, malice.
>[DANGEROUS DISCUSSION Trait activated]
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"...So the price is the Nevernever gates? Interesting-I'll assume this offered deal to resemble those of goblinoid origin in formatting-so what is it that I would be 'giving up,' given I view the Gates in such a way?"
The suit says nothing. I'm on to something-I can feel it.
>>309210
"So, my cost would be in that energy no longer striking me-hm. What purpose would you put this energy to?"
Again, silence-and a sense of the suit smiling in a far more predatory sense than before. I do believe I'm on to something.
>>309212
Alright-game face time. I heft Mammon's Device in one hand, straightening my tie with the other, and offer back my most vicious grin.
"Well, I suppose we do have all the time in the world to chat..."
I raise an eyebrow, nodding my head in the direction Camella was standing,
"Although my companion may be a little indelicate in her wording, one such of her is of great value to me, and it would not set our negotiations onto a sound footing where I to be distracted by worry for her. I assume she has returned from whence we came?"
"She was here to give you a reason to stay."
"No interest in her at all then-just this deal?"
"It is the sole business to discuss with you."
"Then as to your offer, well, we must speak of prices, and more importantly, consequences. Your master is the Lord of Avarice, and I think he personifies that principle too well for unasked generosity to be in character."
>>309232
"Okay-you've told me what you'd claim as price, and I may have worked out what that could entail-but what exactly am I getting by accepting your offer? What will I learn of the Device?"
"Power. Corporeal manifestation of spiritual urges. Greed made power."
"Well phrased-but it ultimately still tells me nothing. Can you be more specific, so that I may actually appraise this offered Deal?"
The suit of armor drags its sword to the side, head tilted as if listening to a distant voice, eyes darting about madly.
"..Permitted. You ask to be shown what you can be taught, within the confines of this offered deal?"
I run the wording through my mind again, just to be certain.
"Correct."
The knight doesn't move-he's simply seven feet closer to me, gauntlet lashing out to grasp my hand, implacably cementing my fingers to Mammon's Device's grip. The gun is directed my way-
"Feel it/"
-And an urge, a want, a []ihunger[/i] for the power that Castelletti wielded, a hunger for the power that frightened the Doonongaes ripples through my flesh, my every sinew wanting nothing more than to eat that bullet, to claim its strength-
The trigger is pulled in an explosion of sound.

[DISCONTINUITY]

The knight is stepping back from me, a hand gesturing at the adjacent wall. Before I can sort out what's going on, I look to see the white surface shining, reflective, mirror-like-with my words dying on my lips as I see myself.
Had I met this visage a week ago I'd have deemed it monster without a second thought. Even now I keep checking to make sure it is truly me. Powerful, writhing, knotted vines and tendrils, hardened and formed to my body envelope me, a living suit of armor. All the tendrils seem to spring from a central knot on my face-where the barrel was aimed at. As I look down at my arms, encased so fully, that hollow voice continues.
"Bullets, knives, fire, acid-they become meaningless to one so armored by their Greed, and Mammon's blessing. I can make you remember how to feel that greed, that primal want so deep you convert the bullet's magic to a new purpose. How does three minutes of power enough to toss cars and smash buildings, how does three minutes of armor only artillery and the more talented could pierce? Would you give up the energy which strikes at you, to make this knowledge yours? This is the deal Mammon wished you be offered: How do you choose?"

>[TRAIT EVOLUTION: DANGEROUS DISCUSSION became DANGEROUSLY DAPPER DISCUSSION AND DEBATE]





What should I say or do?
>>
No. 309277 ID: 590292

Three minutes TOTAL? Or three minutes per TIME PERIOD? Obviously if it's the former case, that ain't much to go on.
>>
No. 309280 ID: ab390c

I say decline. That greed armour sounds nice, but it would most likely also increase said sin, enslaving us to greed and it´s etearnal master, Mammon. I just can´t see that pact ending well for us. Even more, it would cost us one of the special bullets each time we use that, something we have a limited supply off. Or did Bob tell in IIRC how fast our demonist can make new ones?

Also it would threaten our dealings with Camella, should we do it and she finds out.
>>
No. 309282 ID: 856690

I'm liking this less and less.

He's already doing a classic demon deal. What we get for what we give is completely disproportionate!

Also it's a tainted gift of course! Being bound to Greed is not fun.

Basically he is offering that you become a slave to Mammon, thinly veiled under a offer of transitory power.

He is appealing to armas' greed, it would be crude and pathetic to fall for that.

Unfortunatly apart from pointing out how this guy is trying to pull one over us, I have not a clue how to get out of this situation.

I'm not sure we could fight our way out...

Especally that Camella is being held hostage.
Ah that is it.
Refuse to deal unless Camella is present(in order to get her back), maybe she'll have ideas.

If all else fails, stab the thing in the head with mere.
>>
No. 309283 ID: 44766a

NO. Sure it sounds good but think of what would happen. Plus if we can somehow harness the Nevernever gate ourselves think of how powerful we would be without being subservient to a demon.
>>
No. 309284 ID: aef734

>>309274
Hmm... Where would they take the energy?
Let's see, my guess is that the clashing of the NeverNever with the normal world releases a huge amount of power. When they both come into contact, the NeverNever seems to overwrite the real world, so where does the rest go? Easy enough: it is released as excess energy, powerful and raw. And who would desire power and energy more than anyone? Mammon of course.
On one hand, you obtain incredible power and remove the NN gates from equation.
On the other hand, you lose the ability for eventful things to happen, things which you may yet not know will come to be. In addition, if we look at it from a coldly calculating point of view, the scales of balance between the Princes of Hell will be tipped in Mammon's favor; and we know how important balance is.
However, let us consider that rejecting this offer may make us an enemy of Mammon.
>>
No. 309285 ID: ae0719

And... does repeated use of a demon's power do any harm to our immortal soul? How about just our body, channeling a Prince of Hell's power?

The other question is, why is this worth so much to Mammon? Will it give him a portal to the nevernever, or is it just about having such power at his beck and call?

Will we become, I dunno, 'more greedy'? If Mammon exists, does heaven? Do the other Princes of Hell (Asmodeus, Belphegor, Leviathan, Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub)?

If Camela was our reason to stay, this implies that we can leave under our own power, somehow. Which means we might not have to cut this deal if we don't want to (at this point, the fact that Camela might break ties with us is one of the major problems I have with this deal).
>>
No. 309286 ID: aef734

>>309284
Also, what the other guys said. Armas is a gun for hire, not a demonic slave to a sin.
>>
No. 309288 ID: e41ad5

>>309287
>Dude, what the hell? Bob gives out lots of setting information, possible implications of stuff, and the occasional warnings on irc. It's the only reason we know Savoy, Camella, and Labombard are player characters too.

That's my point. Information required to post suggestions should not be posted in IRC - nor should information that can AFFECT suggestions, such as what Guile said.

Because, hurrr, some folks aren't on IRC!
>>
No. 309289 ID: d429c4

An interesting demonstration, one that, in an earlier age, would be a boon almost beyond measure, but now, in a time when a man can carry a weapon that would blow through a castle wall, is it worth the same.

Your master should know what I hunger for, more than such ephemera as armoured skin. I seek skill, knowledge and the power that brings, not simple boons such as this. Just as the power your lord would gain from the gates would come time and again, I would seek a price that like wise continues to give.

What I would first ask is the enhancement of my ability to consume the flesh of others, to allow me to steal the power and knowledge of those I consume.

And, we agreed to speak not just of price, but of consequence. What stain would this leave on my soul that his enemies and others could perceive, and think me your lord's agent, and what other paths of development would this preclude?

You have yet to speak of any of this, or of the many other effects this could have on mind and body alike. I have walked enough steps down this infinite staircase towards your master, I do not want to leap the rest of the way unknowing.
>>
No. 309290 ID: e41ad5

Go on to comment that power such as this is easily countered, easily known about, and thus only useful once or twice in truth - after, those wishing to kill you will only need bring what is needed to do so.
>>
No. 309291 ID: 252e1b

>>309274

"For good or for ill, the gates are my problem to deal with. Taking a shortcut with them seems unwise, given how intimately they are tied to my very spirit.

"What is the asking price for being allowed to continue using this particular Mammon's Device?"
>>
No. 309292 ID: 856690

Wait a moment!
Deception is a trademark of all demons.

While talking, subtly walk up the stairs, we were tricked into going down, tricked into inviting this guy and tricked when he vansihed Camella.

We need to be less under these guy's power.

Slowly back up the stairs, keep the demon focused on our words, not actions.
>>
No. 309293 ID: 234c26

>>309274
Let's see....

We give Mammon a shit-ton of power.

In return, we get to warp our mind into something wildly avaricious and can pay $1500/minute to turn into a super-powerful monster.


I don't think that this is a particularly good deal. Not in the least because anyone who knows that we've cut a deal with Mammon will like us less- and anyone who knows that he's getting ridiculous quantities of power out of it will probably become desperate to kill us. What's more, we don't know how much our mind will end up warped by the training to access our inner super-greed. It sounds like the sort of thing that would cause significant mental damage.


The question, of course, is how to get out of here without pissing off Mammon that we declined. Perhaps a lesser deal? Give him the energy from only a single event, in exchange for other boons- either magical knowledge and power or simple mortal things like money. Mammon's disciples are almost always rich, should be trivial for him to get us a couple million. But we definitely need to avoid giving him a constant flow of power for something like what he's offering; we need something more valuable and more usable if we make this trade, and we need to be sure that we won't pay unexpected prices because of it.


>>309291
Don't say that we're going to let them charge us for something that they haven't put on the table. Mammon is lord of greed; he'll gouge us if we show an inch of willingness to pay.
>>
No. 309294 ID: 692cff

>>309288
It isn't required to post, it just makes it easier to post good suggestions. This isn't information just handed out for the quest either really. Mainly it's stuff we ask or just comes up in conversation about the quest.

Anyway, Isay we immediatly start making a big deal about how lots of others would like the nevernever power, and the fact that weaponry is constantly evolving. Sure it may stand up to BASIC artillery now, but in ten or twenty years how will it handle even portable weaponry? And I'm sure he isn't speaking of standing up to magical weaponry, which is a real concern in your line of work. Frankly, he's offering deminishing returns for consistent power, when we have the potential to seek continous payments from the goblin or perhaps a long lasting alliance with a witch and werewolves. He'd better up his offer if he wants to compete.
>>
No. 309298 ID: e41ad5

>>309294
Again. Information that affects posts should not be put in IRC. Because not everyone is on IRC.
>>
No. 309300 ID: 252e1b

>>309296
>>309293

We're going to get fucked over by it disappearing when we need it if we don't establish either that we have a right to use it now because we took it from a previous bearer, or that we have a right to use it because we make a deal here.

>>309298

It's always been like that, in this quest and in GolemQuest. Bob plays off ideas in IRC and uses the speculation that the dudes in #golemquest spout to help him subtly (and not so subtly) troll the players.
>>
No. 309301 ID: e41ad5

A deal made under duress holds no weight. You were told to either invite him or rot here, a good friend of yours is being held hostage, and if you turn down this offer, you're stuck here, possibly forever.

Tell him that such a deal holds no weight at all, because it is not a deal, merely a threat with a way out.
>>
No. 309302 ID: d429c4

>>309291
>"What is the asking price for being allowed to continue using this particular Mammon's Device?"

Don't ask this! We haven't been told there's a price.

But, general plan, make the counter-suggestion described in >>309829 , and then when it starts looking like you might be about to make a deal, cut off negotiations and say. "But for the moment, this is all academic, just preliminary negotiations before the main event. As you can see." and with this gesture to your attire, "I have another engagement, which it would be most rude to disregard. I look forward to the chance of doing business with you another time."
>>
No. 309303 ID: c6ce12

>>309274
I think all of these concerns should not be used as excuse to leave, but as reasoning for why Armas could perceive Mammon's proposal as one sided and used to argue for a new more equal deal for both parties. I don't want us to be some pansy that scurries away from a deal with a devil, let's be the man who sits down, draws a contract with one, and comes out on top.
>>
No. 309304 ID: 692cff

>>309298
Why? Why shouldn't Bob be allowed to have a conversation about the setting in IRC? Yes, not everyone will get to read it, but those in the irc(not me right now. my phone sucks) tend to share that info when relevant. I mean, by that logic there shouldn't be a discussion thread, because a lot of people don't read it. Sure, anyone who wants to can, same with joining IRC, but not everyone does.
>>
No. 309308 ID: e41ad5

>>309304
You're misreading me.

Setting information, such as what factions do and do not exist and what mythological characters do or do not exist, is fine to share. It doesn't affect suggestions, for the most part, and can be brought up inthread when Armus finds out about it naturally. Same with the other PCs - it shouldn't affect posting either.

Telling us - even with inthread 'hints' - that such and such event is doing such and such thing to us, such that it changes our inthread actions and must be clarified in posts as being based on IRC information, that is rude. It means that in order to follow the quest meaningfully, one MUST join the IRC channel, or miss out on PERTINENT AND RELEVANT QUEST INFORMATION.
>>
No. 309309 ID: 81f32a

I was never a fan of activating powers, especially such expensive powers.
If these were passive upgrades, or powers which don't require us shooting $5k bullet into our mouth and carrying a huge piece of equipment then I might consider this.

But like this ... nah.
They better offer something more substantial.
>>
No. 309311 ID: 234c26

>>309308
Honestly, if they reposted anything important learned on IRC in the discussion thread I wouldn't be with you, but as things stand you're pretty much right. It is frustrating as hell to be suddenly told out of the blue "Oh, all those magics that you've been working so hard to grow? Those are all getting burned out, according to secret insider information that you had no way of accessing." Feels like I'm playing cards while only knowing half my hand.
>>
No. 309317 ID: 28e94e

>>309274
lolno, we are not going to fall for this. Before you decline though, ask if you'll lose the Device, or the Device's original damage-boosting power.
>>
No. 309321 ID: 692cff

>>309311
Secret insider information? IRC is open to everyone. There's no password or secret handshake.

Anyway, figured I'd bring up the possibility that we only gained as much power as we did this time because something much greedier than us triggered the transformation. If that's true, the deal is worth alot less.
>>
No. 309327 ID: 81f32a
File 130731421235.jpg - (19.83KB , 400x611 , Armas - DDDD.jpg )
309327

>[TRAIT EVOLUTION: DANGEROUS DISCUSSION became DANGEROUSLY DAPPER DISCUSSION AND DEBATE]

Oh Armas, you devil you.
>>
No. 309329 ID: 856690

Wait! it is active, the power thingy!
Let us in three minutes wipe the floor with this guy, mere in hand.

We can always claim that we are "testing" it out!
:3
>>
No. 309330 ID: e41ad5

>>309321
Funny you should mention that - The IRC channel isn't mentioned in the OP, and in fact wasn't mentioned at all until the topic was brought up.

It's not in the discussion thread either!

So yes, it is a secret club, since no one who simply reads this thread would have known about it!
>>
No. 309335 ID: 81f32a

>>309330
psssst
it is the same irc channel which is used for Golem Quest
>>
No. 309337 ID: e41ad5

>>309335
Because everyone who reads this quest reads GQ. Yup yup yup.
>>
No. 309340 ID: 856690

What is the IRC channel called?

Also being burned magicless is a logical result of being a conduit in a lot of settings.

As is being empowered.

As is EXPLODING MESSILY.
>>
No. 309341 ID: d3dfb8

>>309330
irc.rizon.net #golemquest

It's not that fucking difficult.
>>
No. 309342 ID: 252e1b

>>309311
>>309330

To be fair, even if you do know about the IRC channel it's not really that much fun to hang out in. Bob likes to play mind games, and the regulars in that room play right into them.
>>
No. 309357 ID: ae0719

>>309303
If we can out-deal him, then I say go for it. After all, this might just be a purposely low-ball deal, and we can now begin haggling.

>>309329
Amusing. He'd still probably kick our ass, though; this reality is basically his to play with.
>>
No. 309370 ID: a76809

>>309227
"...Is that three minutes total, or per each bullet used?"
"Three minutes per each use.
>>309280
>>309282
>>309283
>>309285
>>309286
>>309289
>>309291
>>309293
>>309302
>>309327
[FANART BONUS]
>[DANGEROUSLY DAPPER DISCUSSION & DEBATE Trait critically activated]
"I imagine that offer has worked very well in the past."
"The Knowledge of how to pull out the Greed of masters devices is held in high regard by many."
"Yes.. well you may wish to update it. Did you know there's man-portable weapons that any person with the knowhow can use to blow holes through hardened steel walls? You can get artillery grade fire from infantry now-and I didn't hear any mention of protection from magic. Doesn't sound very worthwhile."
"Magic's grasp of the world around the armored is dimmed-" "But dimmed is not negated-you see where I'm going with this, right? You're offering me something like it's three minutes worth of 'I win' in a bullet-but pragmatically speaking, its just a temporary boost, nothing fancy. And I distinctly note not a single mention has been made of what kind of recoil, cost physical or mental may be associated with this suit." "[code]You know that the Nevernever's realms are outside the pull of time, correct?"
"Could be."
"Then what makes you think you will live long, lacking this power? Turn your queries on themselves-why would we offer you something you could refuse if we could not convince you it was needed?"
"That your words, or your masters?"
Silence.
"You know, great as the sort-of threat is, you're still missing something-there's other parties I could market the supernatural thunder to, so to speak-and off hand I am pretty sure I can get a better offer than that."
"Do you then Reject Mammon's offered Deal, eschew the teachings of his Greed and the position of his Disciple, and leave yourself at the mercy of your coming doom?"








So what do I say to that?
More importantly, it could be the booze or the situation, but I'm feeling pretty comfortable talking to this thing-do I want to try and wheedle some sort of information from it?
FINAL CHOICE: TAKE MAMMON'S DEAL, OR DON'T. PLEASE PUT A (YES) OR A (NO) IN THE HEADER OF YOUR POST TO VOTE.
>>
No. 309374 ID: 856690

(NO)

"You know, DOOm also means fate, MY fate is my own!"
>>
No. 309376 ID: aef734

(NO)
Fuck you, you're not getting our things.
>>
No. 309377 ID: 46c430

(NO)

Yeah, let's -not-. Demonic deals have a tendency to not work out unless you know -exactly- what you're doing, and, well, we don't. Maybe my opinion on dealing with demons will change latter if/when we get more experience with demonic contracts, but for now... Yeah.
>>
No. 309378 ID: 73039e

(NO)

"Did you?"
>>
No. 309379 ID: 234c26

(NO)

"Sorry, but Mammon will need to offer a much sweeter deal than that if he wants what I've got."
>>
No. 309381 ID: ab390c

(NO)

We´ll see about that DOOM part.
>>
No. 309383 ID: c6ce12

(DEPENDS, IF YES TO THE FIRST QUERY THEN NO, OTHERWISE YES)
Is that the only offer he's willing to make? And he wants us to take it or leave it? I'm half tempted to say the majorities rashness to decline the offer and not at least attempt to bargain with him has caused this, but it may have been doomed from the start. I suppose we'll never know now.
>>
No. 309384 ID: d3dfb8

(NO)
DAMNIT GRAIL STOP THAT
>>
No. 309386 ID: ae0719

"How do we even know what you offers won't kill us inside of a year? I know of no such devil-contracts in Istanbul besides the last, and I killed him well enough." (yeah, fishing for other devil-contracts in the area time).

"I'll live or I'll die on my own merits, just like everyone else, it seems." When he fails to pony up, flash him a (dare we call it?) devil-may-care grin. "You'd think Hell would have some good lawyers, not just some muscle-headed minion to makes deals at sword-point. Call me when you're really willing to deal."

Then, test out the 3-minute transformation we could have gotten. Punch Mammon Knight in the face, then skip the stairs and jump up flights. He said magic weakens where the Embrace is - try and punch through this reality and substitute our own.
>>
No. 309388 ID: d69a8b

(YES)
Fuck prices, we can make other deals to make up for the loss. But the power we gain is permanent. So yeah! Accept the deal!
>>
No. 309389 ID: 44766a

(NO)
>>
No. 309394 ID: 692cff

Say "What kind of disciple of greed would I be to take a substandard deal? That's a no by the way"
>>
No. 309395 ID: 856690

>>309386 What this gentleman suggests,
Also try to get the Mammon Knight into one of the cracks.
>>
No. 309399 ID: 46c430

>Provoking/picking a fight with Mammon Knight
Let's -not-, huh?
>>
No. 309400 ID: 44766a

Don't pick a fight but be ready if it attacks you.
>>
No. 309409 ID: e41ad5

(FUCK NO)
>>
No. 309411 ID: 097e6e

>>309400
>>309386
Assuming that the conditions of the invitation hold, and the Knight is bound to the deals made, the Knight should not be able to harm Armas and would must "respect [Armas'] wish to leave if offered." So, say something to the effect of "I want to leave this place and return back to where I was before entering this place."

Still, of course, it would be best if Armas be prepared for a fight anyways, if the Knight doesn't need to abide by the conditions of the invitation.
>>
No. 309428 ID: a76809

[Pretend I quoted each individual post]

>[DANGEROUSLY DAPPER [/i]DISCUSSION[/i] & DEBATE Trait activated]
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
"Funny thing-'Doom' also means fate, depending on how you look at it. And wouldn't you know it, but just like most humans I'm exactly what you're looking for: greedy. Sorry, but Mammon will need to offer a much sweeter deal than that if he wants what I've got."
"You suggest Mammon does not 'pay' well enough, mercenary?"
"That is a major part of it, don't misunderstand me-but how do I even know what you offer won't kill me inside of a year? I know of no such devil-contracts in Istanbul besides the last, and I killed him well enough."
The knight once more inclines its head like a marionette dangling on its strings, its response completely divorced of the pulsing grip on its weapon's hilt.
"Wish you to hear of those like Dorian Gray, mortals that made pacts, brokered deals and contracted power to their own gain rather than ruin? Of people who's luck could not turn foul, or gained knowledge most profound? Such individuals exist-indeed, there are eight such individuals in the city, if all types of contracts qualify. Beyond that... oh, information about a pact maker, potentially beholden to a different prince? Surely you do not think that could be free?"
"Keep it. I'll live or I'll die on my own merits, just like everyone else, it seems."
I find myself wishing my face was visible within the armor as I try to place the time.
"You'd think Hell would have some good lawyers, not just some muscle-headed minion to makes deals at sword-point. Call me when you're really willing to actually deal, okay? And best check in soon-I have competing offers I'll pursue."
I turn my back on the living knight, looking back up the steps, that sense of wrongness multiplying a thousand times over, the cracks and seams screaming open-

And as they do I see a door's outline picked out on the platform above me.

Mid leap, with forty-two seconds of the Embrace left, I idly note the same pattern flashing up all over the twisted fractal of staircases. I crash shoulder-first into the door-image just as the cracks finally spring wide enough-that things begin coming in. edged and hooked, oiled tentacle spines, strangely jointed misshapen claws, grasping limbs and writhing tongues, madness made flesh screams out a trillionfold from the landscape while the wall refuses to budge-
The armor that still feels as alien as a stranger's touch writhes and contorts about my body-recoiling from the wall with enough force to jerk me upright, the suit peeling away from me. I have time enough to register it bleaching white and crumbling as it comes away-and even that is an afterthought to me jumping through, before my eyes even verify what's on the other side.
My shoes hit linoleoum-
>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait Activated]
>[DANGEROUSLY DAPPER [/i]DISCUSSION[/i] & DEBATE Trait activated]
Before I stand I once more shove the Device under my vest, standing upright in the men's bathroom, a couple feet within the door. I idly look behind me, pushing the door back open-and see the hallway beyond. I'm back in Babylon.

After I FINALLY relieve myself, I exit the bathroom with almost inhuman paranoia-

And see Camella standing in the hallway, heels back in place, gun no where to be seen, arms crossed-
And clearly waiting for a report.







What should I say or do?
It's been one hell of a Friday night-what do we do from here?
>>
No. 309429 ID: fe92a0

(NO)
>>
No. 309439 ID: ae0719

"All's well," reassure her. "Though if I see that bartender again, I might have to shoot him and damn the consequences. That was incredibly annoying. Also likely to end in our deaths."

If she brings up the 'deal with the devil', point out, "Well, it is his gun. And the only thing I've seen that our fish friend is actually afraid of. But no, I didn't go selling my soul or other component parts to the first devil that makes an offer."

We might want to go selling the Device after all, if it turns out Mammon can just summon it back to him whenever he feels like it.
>>
No. 309440 ID: 81f32a

"Hey- this might have been a crazy night, riddled with magical and wrapped in terrifying shit for you but for me - it's just Friday."

First you need to see how much time actually passed. I suspect not much but still, doesn't hurt to check.
Go back to Arkvad and continue with your crazy-ass night, contemplate about never going drinking again -because, what the fuck?- this has been the most insane evening ever: Mocking Doonongeas, wagering a deal with an ancient vampire, getting an offer from were-wolf clan, getting trapped in hell-bathroom, hit by magic energy again, fighting some really annoying creatures and finally, dealing with mammons knight and refusing their offer.


If she asks about the deal, tell her that it wasn't lucrative enough for you so you refused till they (or somebody else) give a better offer.
>>
No. 309442 ID: 234c26

>>309428
Grin brightly. "That was possibly the most difficult piss I've ever taken. Here's hoping it stays that way. You get back all right? No problems?"

She says something, probably that she was fine and wants more information about what we did.

"Turns out Mammon doesn't even pay well; odd, for a prince of greed, I thought. Anyway, in the future, please do not say critical or insulting things when supernatural deals are on the table; the people who make them are often touchy and delicate. I'm not fool enough to make a bad bargain, even drunk."

She says something else, probably implying that we're a total incompetent. Ignore such implications.

"I think this calls for more drinks. Whatever ominous and powerful thing is up next, hopefully I'll be unconscious by the time it shows. What're you up for? As we just walked out of hell, I think a pair of backdrafts would be appropriate."

Then go back to really enjoying the evening. Act like you're taking all this in stride, because you're just that cool. Keep an eye on Arkvad; he might not have the stamina for really late night drinking or the patience to put up with designated driver watch-others-drink for too long and enjoy it. Try to wrap things up on a good note.

After you get home, be sure that you and Camella don't go to sleep without you drunkenly pointing at her and announcing in a very serious voice, "I am not a wizard."
>>
No. 309444 ID: 44766a

"First off, I didn't take the deal, ok. It really sucked anyway."
>>
No. 309454 ID: f0e3ae

I wouldn't lecture her. And it would be hypocritical to do so anyways since you did insult.
>>
No. 309459 ID: 234c26

>>309454
We did that after the deal was off the table. Which is not to say that I actually support having done so, because being polite to everyone that we're not actively hostile to is good policy; mouthing off to Mammon's knight gained us nothing. Anyway, it is a good principle and I don't really want to see Camella screwing up deals in the future when it might have even worse effects.
>>
No. 309468 ID: c6ce12

All the speech options suggested already are pretty good, so I'm going to suggest for the rest of the night that while we continue to do some drinking we might as well hit the dance floor too. If this is anything like earlier tonight where we could define some of Armas' character traits then I suggest Armas is fond of swing dancing and the tango, all for comedic value.
>>
No. 309470 ID: 252e1b

"Admit it, that concubine comment pissed you off. Remember, these things go by smell and you've been living with me long enough that it could have been a genuine mistake instead of a verbal jab. Don't let them get to you, they don't have good reference points for human interactions. Most of them are at least a couple of hundred years out of date."
>>
No. 309472 ID: 92a84b

I think it is time to get pissdrunk so that Armas wakes up in unfamiliar place next day and doesnt remember anything.

Barring that, continue to have fun with Arkvad and Camella as if what happened is nothing special and is everyday occurance to you.
Time to wrap this evening up, it has been going on for far too long.

Also, I think we should try to re-establish connection with Ogrimmir and Waitiri, it is getting ratjer complicated lately, would be good to have backup
>>
No. 309498 ID: 856690

Make ir clear that you are not consorting with demons, You have no intention to sell your soul(unless the most awesome gitar case is involved).

Camella likely will have a dim view of trying to get a good deal.
Be careful what you say.
Also: You are not a wizard, make that clear too.

There is several good talky bits done, but I am objecting to any "Demons aren't so bad" and "Quit yer whining Camella" comments.
>>
No. 309504 ID: d3dfb8

"Don't worry, I have no intention of selling my soul.
... Also, don't go around calling people wizards. It's an extremely dangerous topic."
>>
No. 309513 ID: 692cff

Assure her we didn't take the deal without telling her it's because the deal sucked. Also tell her not to call us a wizard without telling her we aren't one unless she asks. And then tease her about being our concubine.
>>
No. 309530 ID: f0e3ae

>>309470
do NOT say that... serious don't.
Its not true and its not wise.

Seriously just say "I turned him down".

And I think armas had enough to drink tonight. He is already drunk and considering just how things are turning out he can hardly afford to drink more. Next thing you know he blacks out and wakes up in bed with a demon... and I mean that both figuratively (made a deal with one) and literally.
>>
No. 309533 ID: 73039e

Offer Camella to pick the next place, and switch over to just water for a while. If Camella doesn't want to pick anywhere, try the X Restaurant at Sadi Konuralp Caddesi Deniz Palas 5, Şişhane. Atop the Deniz Palas, a very nice place. That or Cerciş Murat Konağı at Bostancı Mh., Yazmacı Tahir Sokak 22 looks like divine Mardin food. See if you get get Arkvad to sneak you in to the kitchens to learn some cooking styles, too. You're a budding chef, need to learn from the best, right?

>>309442
>Grin brightly. "That was possibly the most difficult piss I've ever taken. Here's hoping it stays that way. You get back all right? No problems?"

This is decent, we should be worried about what happened to her.

>She says something, probably that she was fine and wants more information about what we did.

This is a bit stupid to assume, but ok.

>"Turns out Mammon doesn't even pay well; odd, for a prince of greed, I thought."

Good.

>"Anyway, in the future, please do not say critical or insulting things when supernatural deals are on the table; the people who make them are often touchy and delicate. I'm not fool enough to make a bad bargain, even drunk."

>She says something else, probably implying that we're a total incompetent. Ignore such implications.

Annnd this is where it gets aweful. No, actually fuck no. We do not talk down to her, ever.
>>
No. 309716 ID: d429c4

Getting drunk is a remarkably bad idea, considering what we just pissed off.

You should consider the implications of what just happened. It is said there are nine circles of Hell, and the demon knight told us there are eight other people with pacts in the city. It's quite possible that each prince in charge of a circle is trying to get a Disciple in Istanbul, and that something unusual is going down.
>>
No. 309720 ID: a76809

>>309439
"All's well-though if I see that bartender again, I may have to shoot him. That was an incredibly annoying waste of time-the fact we could of died only adds to the rudeness."
>[Camella]"...I'm familiar with acting cavalier-it comes with the trade. That doesn't mean I'll just accept a non-answer. What of... that gentleman? And the firearm?"
"Well, it is his gun-not the one we met, the one he represented."
>[Camella]"YOU HAVE-"
"I would like to note it the only thing I've seen that our fish friend from the restaurant is actually afraid of. But no, I didn't go selling my soul or other component parts to the first devil that makes an offer."
>[Camella]"Your oddly specific response concerns me."
>>309442
As another Babylon guest makes his way to the restroom, quirking an eye at us huddled up in the corner, I continue speaking, amending my speech for our guest.
"That was possibly the most difficult piss I've ever taken. Here's hoping it stays that way. You get back all right? No problems?"
>[Camella]"..None, I imagine I was placed where I was going just as you were."
The man now gone-
"Turns out Mammon doesn't even pay well; odd, for a prince of greed, I thought. Anyway, in the future, please do not say critical or insulting things when supernatural deals are on the table; the people who make them are often touchy and delicate. Hard to manipulate the personal idiosyncrasies of such beings if they get tired of words and banish you.."
>[Camella]"You turned down a deal with a prince of hell-because the money wasn't good?"
>>309470
>[DANGEROUSLY DAPPER DISCUSSION & DEBATE Trait activated]
I see a way to deflect her focused anger-and wrest control of the conversation's flow from her.
"I do apologize for you having to hear that concubine comment which so understandably vexed you. Remember, these things go by smell and you've been living with me long enough that it could have been a genuine mistake instead of a verbal jab. Don't let them get to you, they don't have good reference points for human interactions. Most of them are at least a couple of hundred years out of date."
Her liquid, sharp eyes widen in surprise.
>[Camella]"What? No, I don't smell like you!"
"Are you saying I smell then?"
>[Camella]"No, I-"
>>309472
[YOU WANT TO GET PISS DRUNK AND WAKE UP SOMEWHERE UNFAMILIAR, EH?]
"Look-a deal was offered-and I rejected it. We are both safe and sound-"
I look past her-
"And we haven't been missing for hours or anything. I'd call this one a win. It's been a crazy enough night-why don't we get back to actually enjoying it?"

It takes her some time, but she loosens up-accepts that things happen, and continues to enjoy herself with Arkvad and I. When more alcohol hits my system, I am elated to feel my sobriety shifting once more. Last thing I remember, I see the clock rolling around to midnight-

[DISCONTINUITY]

Head pounding, I realize that, while I may argue the term 'awake' I must accept myself as at least being conscious. Eyes still tightly held shut, I lay motionless, slowly trying to banish that post-drinking fugue. I groan, the very sound like knives in my skull. I reactively start to sit up-

An arm slides off my chest.

I turn to my right to see a raven-haired woman, face down against her pillow, perfectly lax-and completely naked. I force my crusty eyes to keep working as I check under the blankets-naked person numero dos would be me then. Just about the time I start noticing the sheets are olive silk, I look on to the room at large. One entire wall is window, and it's immediately apparent this is a high-rise living environment-we're looking DOWN on most of Istanbul's skyline. On the walls hang tapestries and portraits, on pedestals are sculptures and urns, a dizzying mishmash that turns the room into a miniature museum. I see my suit on the ground, in a disheveled pile with a slinky black dress and stiletto heels.

Just about the time I'm moving on to counting exit points, number one opens, the heavy mahogany slammed open like a cheap plastic panel, leaving a massive dent in the gold-colored walls. In walks.... I think it would be easiest to describe her by saying Playboy wished they could get someone like her. Those curves, those legs-somehow she pulls off the 'perfect' image without looking artificial.

Might be helped by the fact her face is twisted into a scowl-and what the hell, she has pointed ears-
>[Elf]"What are you still doing here mortal? We made a Deal, and I expect it hon-what are you doing with that corpse?"

And that's when I realize I did not once see the person in bed with me breath.

Problem.







What should I do from here?
>>
No. 309728 ID: 44766a

What? We had two people down-vote that idea.
>>
No. 309729 ID: 44766a

What? We had two people down-vote that idea.
>>
No. 309731 ID: ceecb5

Stay calm, don't freak out.
"I must say, I am as confused as you are."
>>
No. 309734 ID: e41ad5

>[YOU WANT TO GET PISS DRUNK AND WAKE UP SOMEWHERE UNFAMILIAR, EH?]

No. That's why it was downvoted.
>>
No. 309735 ID: 234c26

>>309720
Argh. Try to ignore the pounding in your head while handling this semi-professionally.

"Trying to recall what happened last night through the hangover pangs, and at the moment I'm not doing anything with it. Sitting next to it while waking up, I suppose. If we have a Deal in effect please remind me of the terms in full so that I may abide by them; my memory is not at its best this morning."
>>
No. 309740 ID: 81f32a

Okay, okay

don't let her on that you don't remember the deal you made, she might abuse that and play you.
Try to steer the conversation in such a way that she reveals parts of what happened last night... maybe you will remember everything as she speaks.

The corpse, try to determine the cause of death.
>>
No. 309741 ID: 856690

"I do apologise my Lady, I am here when I sould not be, and to make matters worse, with a dead body I have no memory of, I clearly took leave of my senses in a most crude fashion. I cannot even remeber our deal, I am truly a conteptable sight. Perhaps we could sort this mess out, our would you prefer I leave, ignorant of our deal?"

[Also ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! Well anyway doesn't matter, lets talk our way out of this, only death would stop us]
>>
No. 309744 ID: d429c4

Well, on the upside, you could have had a threesome with an Elf and a Vampire.

On the downside, you're probably completely fucked. You're not allowed to drink any more.

Now, you have to try to drag yourself out of the hole you've dug - bear in mind, that of course this could we a set up.

You need to get up, walk back to your clothes, and get dressed, as if this is completely normal. Apologise if you've overstayed your welcome, thank your host for her unique hospitality, and get the fuck out. Take a note of the address.

When you get home, call Arkvad on a private line, and say that you think you may have been setup. You need to know all the details of what happened after you and Camella returned from the toilet last night - you suspect you were slipped a mickey.

When you've sobered up, go to Sometimes Merchant and offer him a deal. First, sell him information for information. "The Nine Lords of Hell may well each be placing a mortal disciple here in Istanbul. As of yet, Mammon has failed to recruit his chosen disciple." In return, ask for a favour relating to equivalent information in the future.

Then, offer to sell a package deal: Mammon's Device, training in how to use it, and the memories of accessing the Devices' greed. In return, well, what can he offer of similar value?
>>
No. 309747 ID: 856690

>>309744

This man! This man!
Seconding
>>
No. 309758 ID: 234c26

>>309744
Look we must not leave without learning the terms of our Deal. Our Word Like Gold trait could be nixed if it requires us to do anything and we don't because we don't know about it. We can't let that happen. We must keep our bargains, and that means knowing what they are even if it means admitting to some foolishness.

Besides, for all that she's scowling and annoyed at the moment this woman might be usable as a contact in the future, if we can learn something about her. Supernatural contacts are always nice.


Regarding Sometimes Merchant and selling information about the Lords of Hell, could certainly be good. We don't actually know that Mammon has no living disciples, though; for all we know he's got five of them and the other infernal princes are way behind.

And I am very wary of trading away Mammon's Device. It's still our best weapon against the Doonongaes.

Calling Arkvad and thanking him for hosting last night/asking him how it ended would be good.

>>309741
I would not try to be super-formal. I doubt we can pull it off without looking foolish. Also, the body might not be just a body, so hedging bets when referencing it might be a good thing.
>>
No. 309762 ID: ae0719

>>309735
"What a delightful end to a ridiculous night. Well, I must be off. Things to do, events to reconstruct, etcetera."

Kick the corpse to make sure it isn't a vampire why not.

Inquire of the elf if a Deal is enforceable when one of the party was apparently so far under the influence that they literally have no memory of it. If not (and it seems unlikely that it would be, at least in a magically binding sense), well, then off we go.

>>309744
Downvoting the end bit. Admitting to 'Trying to be recruited by Mammon' and 'Owning a gun that would make ANY supernatural arms dealer salivate' are TERRIBLE ideas. Especially considering we may yet be able to reconstruct enough of the feeling of the Mammon's Embrace to make use of it ourselves, just from the free sample (of course I'd be hesitant to actually try it...). Plus, we don't KNOW this is the case, and Sometimes Merchant would know that. That's bum information.
>>
No. 309766 ID: 1854db

No kicking, or admitting you forgot your Deal. Unless of course you *know* that asking for a repeat of the terms would get you a truthful answer and not piss the elf off too much. We can assume you bedded with something that moves without breathing and that you should leave asap because of the deal. Nudge the girl on the bed. Try to wake her up.

If all goes well there, get your clothes on, check to make sure you didn't leave anything lying around, then gtfo.
>>
No. 309772 ID: ceecb5

>>309762
>kick the corpse
Yeah... Let's not. Just try to shake it and see if it is a vampire.
>>
No. 309787 ID: d429c4

>>309744
Actually, we should probably try to be more charming on our way out.

We've been in worse situations than this - just last night for example, so we should play it cool, and be on our best, and most charming behaviour, before leaving.

To start, bow respectfully, if not deferentially, as from an officer to a lady before a dance. "My lady, I do apologise for the state you find me in. Would you grant me a moment to make myself more presentable?"

With this, we should move as if agreement is assured, and then get dressed. Remember, with an elf in the room, nothing is necessarily as it seems.

"It is a delight to speak with you on this fine morning, and although I would love to take breakfast with you, I am sure that you have other engagements - and I could not deprive them of the joy of your presence. If so, şimdilik hoşça kal, if not, then perhaps I could offer you breakfast. I have recently learned a most delicious recipe..."

şimdilik hoşça kal = until we meet again in Turkish.

>>309762
>Downvoting the end bit. Admitting to 'Trying to be recruited by Mammon' and 'Owning a gun that would make ANY supernatural arms dealer salivate' are TERRIBLE ideas. Especially considering we may yet be able to reconstruct enough of the feeling of the Mammon's Embrace to make use of it ourselves, just from the free sample (of course I'd be hesitant to actually try it...). Plus, we don't KNOW this is the case, and Sometimes Merchant would know that. That's bum information.

We should rephrase so we confirm nothing upfront, and get the SM to make a promise not to use the information we are about to implicitly reveal, by hinting he would be interested to hear what we have to say.
>>
No. 309848 ID: c6ce12

>>309720
I don't want to try and get out of this situation, in fact I'd like to see if we can stick around piece out what happened last night. So let's be calm, cool, and collected about this. Respond to her question as nicely as possible, give an honest answer just in case they can detect lies, something about sleeping in or deflect with flattery. Then ask for where your clothes are. Avoid using their names, seriously, any endearing substitute should suffice. Then offer to cook for them, don't promise anything you aren't sure they have the ingredients for, but if they do have kelpie then supernaturally tasty meals are probably going to make getting information easier. Then work in questions about them as we cook, like asking the elf if she needs to go off to work and if not having her remind us what she does. Just keep gradually working in things like that, maybe taking a break to use the bathroom and try to text Arkvad/Camella for information, no phone calls of course, those big ears are probably functional.

Oh and just a thought, but if that's a vampire she's probably sleeping because it's nearing sunrise and they're nocturnal, well they should be as long as the sun can kill them. She might appreciate being moved from the area very close to a large window if that's the case.

>>309741
>>309787
Downvoting the dialogue. It feels more than a little unnatural and out of character for Armas. This and these girls have probably heard him drunkenly slur who knows what at them tonight so it'll come off as disingenuous.
>>
No. 309959 ID: f0e3ae

you guys seem to be quite sure that this is a vampire and not a corpse.

Also if you DID have a threesome with an elf and vampire then why would she ASK "what are you doing with that corpse?" So I kinda doubt that is what happened.
>>
No. 310031 ID: f0e3ae

sorry for the double post...
Are elves just bound to fulfil their word or are they also incapable of speaking lies?
Either way, a trade will take care of it.
You shall truthfully answer the questions she just asked if she tell you the full and exact wording of your bargin, as you are currently incapable of remembering it.
>>
No. 310079 ID: a76809

>>309731
"I must say, I am as confused as you are."
The elf puts a hand on her deliciously curved hip, arching an eyebrow at me without losing a whit of her irritated expression.
>[???]"Confused? I'm wondering where the promised item is."
>>309735
God, if my head would just stop aching-
"Trying to recall what happened last night through the hangover pains me, and to your earlier query, at the moment I'm not doing anything with it. Sitting next to it while waking up, I suppose. If we have a Deal in effect please remind me of the terms in full so that I may abide by them; my memory is not at its best this morning."
The elf's face stays disdainful, her tone taking on that of one lecturing an idiot.
>[???]"You swore to show us an Item of Power, an Artifact of one of the Nine Princes of the Christian Hell."
>>309740
"You're talking about Mammon's Device, then."
At the name the elf's eyes dilate and her cheeks flush.
>[???]"...It is of Mammon of Avarice?"
Oh-ho, that got her attention and doused her mood lickety-split. Okay.. well, I still don't know jack shit about what I got, for offering such in a deal-though the surroundings suggest something pretty straightforward-and I find myself wondering if they even MAKE deals like that.
>>309744
>[DANGEROUSLY DAPPER DISCUSSION & DEBATE Trait activate
No-positive outlook. For all I know I had a threesome last night and this isn't a corpse, but a vampire. I just have to act calm, assess the situation, get control of this conversation, figure out where I am, and I should be good. I throw the covers off-perhaps a TOUCH more forcefully than is necessary-and calmly ignore the elf in the doorframe as I get my clothes. I leave my bullet-proof vest on the ground, still on top of Mammon's Device and the mere (thankfully) while my slacks and shirt are re-equipped.
"Well, if you feel my presence is an imposition I could leave now-or, perhaps I could fulfill my end of the Deal?"
I smile and look away, putting on a mocking smile and hoping this bluff goes through without issue-and that my earlier words on waking don't damn me.
"Now, what was it you did for such a privilege-I just can't seem to recall."
Again, that eyebrow twitches-she's a whole mess easier to read than Allaenoth.
>[???]"You know you enjoyed Erzsi of Habsburg Dynasty and my own presence for indulging carnal desires last night-this morning."
....Holy shit, I did have a threesome last night and that is a vampire beside me. Uh-play it cool.
"True enough-but shouldn't Erzsi be awake-or does she not get to see the Device?"
The elf marches across the room in a flurry, drawing heavy curtains over the windows as she flicks on the electric lights. At first, the suddenly dimmed room is jarring-

Until I see the corpse-Erzsi-stirring on the bed, sitting up with her raven coils mussed about her head.
>[Erzsi]"...Hm? Why did you wake me Laetissi?"
She sees me standing, already dressed-and pulls off that same unnatural stillness the Doonongaes whipped out.
>[Erzsi]"...It is time then?"
>[Laetissi]"So he implies."

......Huh. I clearly promised to show the Device to them-and that means I'm going to, no doubt on that-but I wonder-could I turn this into an opportunity? I could have the oath Cornelius bound me in broken by the Witch of the Werekin, and still have an in with at least one Dynasty-I could pull it off, having contacts in both collectives. And while I don't know where she places, surely I could use Laetissi as an in with more aspects of the Courts.






What's my plan here?
What should I say or do, specifically?
>>
No. 310097 ID: ae0719

"Normally I don't like to reveal my aces, but you certainly impressed me with the enthusiasm with which you held up your end of the deal. I can do no different."

Whip that thing out! But slowly. Allow it to catch the light and look dangerous and rad, or however you impress ancient supernatural playboy girls with Hell-crafted weaponry. "You'll forgive me for not demonstrating it's true power, I hope. This penthouse suite would lose some of its grandeur if I blew out a wall."

Smile at them. "For that, I think we would need another Deal. Or perhaps... something a bit more permanent than a one-off Deal, if you were so inclined." Try not to come off TOO eager to strike a deal; at the moment, you seem to be in a position of strength. See if you can get them to come to you.

Just out of curiosity, with the Device in hand, try reaching out for that feeling of overwhelming Greed Mammon's Knight showed you. The desire to take everything, to make it all yours.

Let's see if we can put on a show without firing a shot.
>>
No. 310100 ID: c6ce12

>>310079
Why try to offer our self as a contact to these two when it could be so much more satisfying and perhaps effective to get them to make the offer to us? We should make a show of this, make ourselves appear much more significant and relevant than we actually are. If we actually pull this off it'll make our efforts to screw with Camella and the world's sudden desire to help us with magical lightening strikes seem like preparation for this.

Anyway, go get the thing and do a nice slow reveal. Maybe attempt to gaze at it with a sense of appreciation and pride as you do so. Then you can throw some gun nut speak at them, about the make and model. They seem like their on the lower end of the totem poll if they're willing to make the deal they made with us, but they're still supernaturals and far behind the times. We could probably say anything and it would sound like impressive technobabble to them, but let's stick to real hard facts on this one.

We could try to dazzle them with a little tale about our fight with the Doonongaes, nothing specific of course, just a very general and exaggerated story about how we drove off an immortal, shape shifting, fish monster. Hell, we could name drop if we really need to. You could ask to check the time as you're out, complaining of needing to meet a contact of Cornelius's soon. It wouldn't even be a lie, we do need to meet one of his contacts at some point to discuss the location of old Doonongaes.
>>
No. 310106 ID: d3dfb8

"Speaking of the time... I believe it's time for breakfast!"
Then make some delicious breakfast for the two lovely ladies.
>>
No. 310107 ID: ae0719

>>310106
Vampire.
>>
No. 310119 ID: 234c26

>>310079
Not to be paranoid here, but Mammon's Device is exceedingly valuable and these ladies are doubtless potentially quite dangerous. If they were willing to sleep with you just to be shown it, they might well be willing to try and jump you to take it. How to take steps to ward against that without looking super-paranoid, I'm not certain. But considering Laetissi's reaction to even the mention of Mammon's Device, it seems to me that we'd best be ready with some quick words.

If it looks like they're planning a snatch, casually mentioning that the Device will be rather key in the resolution of a certain bet that you have with a certain rather powerful vampire might ward off Erzsi. It would be unfortunate if the Device had to be recovered in order to see to the proper resolution of the wager, after all.

Laetissi I'm less sure about- but if her combat prowess is as much worse than Allaenoth's as her poker face, she's probably not that dangerous directly. And if she seems like she's willing to chance it for the Device, you could casually mention that she's the first elf you've spoken to since Allaenoth, and you're ever so glad that your relations with her seem to be ending on a better note. That would probably intimidate her enough to keep her from trying anything rash.

But just to be clear, the above are contingency plans. They are not intended to be used unless it looks like the lovely ladies are trying to get more than just a good look at our weapon.


>>310106
One of these women is a vampire. Do not mention food.


>>310100
It might be rash to assume that they're far behind the times. I seriously doubt that all supernaturals are that out of touch.

I agree that we should play this as attempting to seem relatively important, or at least relatively personally powerful, though. We can probably be sure that Laetissi will truth-read whatever we say, which gives us a golden opportunity to drop vague hints at our connections without naming any names or offering specifics and still having them know that we're being genuine. We should take advantage, but bear in mind that it would not be professional to share much of our resume or contact list- and trading too much on Zosimus' name before we've completed that bet might come back to bite us.

Anyway, hopefully we'll be able to get this to go over looking like we're important, and get one or both of them to say something to extend our relations here. Manipulating them into initially proposing any bargains would be much better than bringing them up ourselves, of course, as it puts us in a slightly stronger negotiating position.


>>310097
I do not think it would be wise to attempt to feel Mammon's Greed. Anything that warps the functioning of our mind is playing with fire; let's not risk burning ourselves on the off-chance of impressing these girls.
>>
No. 310121 ID: 92dcd7

>>310079
No, I don't want to have the werekin witch break the oath. Despite the terse nature of our relationship with Cornelius, killing the Doonongaes was something we planned to do ourselves beforehand- Getting rewarded for it? Icing on the cake. I could give less of a fuck about what the werekin could possibly offer us if we did break the oath, this is NOT something Armus would do given a choice. Zosimus might be twisting our arm a bit with the deal, but he has made no attempts to fuck us over, and he sure isn't pulling a Castelletti.

And besides- Denying greed... only to embrace rage? Armus Laine is many things, let's not make him a hypocrite please.

Since we agreed to it, show them the device then leave politely. We got vampire and elf poon, we should not aspire to anything else save getting the fuck out. Find out what happened to Arkvad and Camella, and get home. We have better things to be doing.
>>
No. 310123 ID: ad2ecc

Sure
show them the device. You made a Deal and you have a reputation to hold up to.

But try to get contact info and leave with good relations
>>
No. 310125 ID: 252e1b

You know this would be an excellent time for Mammon's Knight to call the device home. Well, excellent for him, not so much for you.

Anyway, show them the device.

>>310119
>If they were willing to sleep with you just to be shown it, they might well be willing to try and jump you to take it.

Dude you are obviously not thinking about how something like that could be used as a pick-up line. "...Or are you just happy to see me?" doesn't even come close. A minor deal as the prelude to a night of adult fun doesn't see too strange to me.
>>
No. 310126 ID: f0e3ae

1. Well, show it to them.
2. Do not break the deal to kill doonie. You want him dead, zos is the only one keeping him from hunting down your family and friends, attacking zos' rep in such a manner is a far greater insult to him then refusing the were's offer. We should and could explain to the were's that as a dealer with the courts your word is gold and unbreakable. The actual magical binding does not worry you at the least as you have no intention to renege on the deal. You could point out that the power to break such bonds is not unique to their witch.
>>
No. 310138 ID: c6ce12

>>310119
I don't think we'll need to take any steps towards securing the safety of the Mammon Device. As long as we are capable of convincing them we are an important man they will be very unlikely to attack us. After all, you don't attack a man who you believe could end you if he desired or secure your doom with the sheer heft of his resources and influences, at least not directly. Giving our self a reputation as such a man not only makes them want to flock around us as someone who make life better for them, it also dissuades them from attacking us because they will believe crossing us will do the exact opposite.

>It might be rash to assume that they're far behind the times. I seriously doubt that all supernaturals are that out of touch.
From what we have seen it's the standard with supernaturals, though I will concede that as a vampire Erzsi could be a wild card in terms of age and knowledge of modern technology and firearms. I did not recommend we do attempt to trick them anyway, only posing it as an option should we need a little extra oomph in selling our self.

>>310121
Who's to say we still can't kill the Doonongaes after break the deal? Zosimus is only offering us the bare minimum of aid in that endeavor, more importantly the aid he offers is that of information, which after we acquire it will leave us free to be done with him and his dynasty. Then we can go the werekin matron, tell her we can break our own deal, get points with her, and negotiate for another reward for our compliance in their plots. Then we can go out, kill the Doonongaes with the information we acquired earlier and resolve the matter entirely.

And I'm sorry, did you just say Zosimus was 'twisting our arm a bit with the deal'? Since when does forcing the other party to take a deal under threat of death, no worse, under threat of being sucked of all their blood until death, count as 'twisting our arm a bit with the deal'? If that's what you consider a twisting of the arm you have some seriously warped ideas about how business dealings should go.

As for the offer of rage? You misunderstand, they aren't offering us the power of bound in rage for merely joining them, they are offering it for the power of our palindromes. No one would offer that power for just joining them. All that joining them does is give us the opportunity to take that path for the trade. As for hypocrisy? Armas makes no pretensions to goodness, he is a mercenary. He takes the lives of others for a living. We are not some saint who denied Mammon's offer on principle, we denied it because he made a bad proposition and one his knight admitted would lead to ruin. This rage isn't demonic, it's not within the demon prince of wrath's realm. This is simply a stat boost that works in line with our bloodline powers, something that is a similar thing to that which lets Labombard go from a rather strong supernatural bruiser to a man who can tango with the Doonongaes. Only it isn't a drug, we don't suffer side effects, and we can potentially reign in a far more potent source of rage than he could ever get.
>>
No. 310139 ID: 44b50c

we could ask if any of them knows how to restore lost memories
>>
No. 310154 ID: 692cff

>>310138
Agree with this.

Also, if we find out the deal specifically allows them to handle the device, make sure it's unloaded first.
>>
No. 310157 ID: 692cff

Oh, and since Armas has a social trait now, he needs to start learning to really manipulate his body language and the pace of the conversation. Seduction sounds like a good place to start. First, imagine something that makes you feel warm and comfortable. Then, focus on the other persons' face, casually noting the details. Now, get a read on how close to you they're most comfortable being. The idea is that you try and keep them feeling comfortable, while playing with, and in process redifining their comfort zone. Basically, you get them to associate getting closer to you, with being a comfortable distance away, and make them associate getting closer to you with either you or them talking. Here's how. If you want them to do most of the talking, shift SLIGHTLY away while you talk(To hide thise, empasize statements with hand gestures more). Most people will naturally move closer to you while they talk to restablish their comfort zone. For when you want to talk, lean away while they do, and back in when you do.
>>
No. 310200 ID: 92dcd7

>>310138
The only reason we're even a part of this deal is because we overextended Armus. Do any of you honestly think that having Armus waltz around picking fights on neutral territory wouldn't have consequences? Our actions were damning to Zosimus and his whole dynasty, had he allowed us to continue, his inaction, his failure to control the situation would've resulted in massive collateral damage which he personally would have to answer for. We had a chance to avoid this situation entirely, we should've taken it. So yes, that is what I call "twisting our arm". We deserved worse punishment for that incident, Zosimus did not enact such upon us- I consider it a blessing that we are locked into this deal that coincides perfectly with what we already were planning and not suffering at the hands of irate supernatural behemoths.

As for the rage binding process- That has a bigger chance of fucking up WORSE than Whatiri's flesh transfer. Armus's soul is already unstable, I'd like to embark on our New Zealand excursion before we even consider it.

On top of it all, I trust the werekin less than I trust Zosimus. The matron witch can break deals, who says she can't break any she makes with us? What stops the werekin from taking an even greater advantage over us before having us disposed of? Zosimus is simple, he wants nothing to do with our mortal speck of dust, he simply wants a scaly ruffian out of his territory. The matron is a completely different story, her alliance can't be quantified.
>>
No. 310214 ID: f0e3ae

>>310200
Agreed on all counts. Plus it was US who suggested that deal in the first place.
He saved our lives there, he is actually going to assist us AND pay us for killing our own greatest enemy... AND he will be protecting our friends and family from said enemy. I cannot fathom why you would want to break such a deal.

Oh, and armas... swear off heavy drinking because this, this was a stroke of good luck.
>>
No. 310220 ID: cd6cce

>>310200
This.
>>
No. 310233 ID: ae0719

>>310200
I don't really think so. Zosimos doesn't own the place as far as I know, he was just there and took the opportunity to stick it to Doony. There was never any mention of us making more trouble for the guy.

And we "deserve worse punishment" for... letting Doony attack us? Somehow that translates into him being a good guy for forcing us into a deathmatch with an immortal monster of legend, or else he'll kill us himself? And we had to talk him up into that, and not just murder us and pin it on Doony?

What about that makes him sound like a good guy?

Also, we don't know that Zosimos can't lie; Doony can, after all. Though with the Rule of Three deal, we at least know he'd uphold that particular bargain.

>>310214
If you want to get technical, he's not protecting us; Doony making a stupid threat while on neutral ground is. The supernatural world's traditions are protecting us. Zosimos just pointed that out.


My own favorite idea is selling the gate to the goblins, personally. Being suddenly ninja like Sometimes Merchant would be cool. But I still think we should meet with the wolves, see how it plays out. It doesn't hurt to know more supernatural players in this game.
>>
No. 310241 ID: 92dcd7

>>310230
I never said Zosimus was in charge of the place, I'm saying that as a supernatural entity in the know, it falls on him to make sure mortals and other supernatural entities alike follow the code of conduct. Sitting there and letting us rile up Doony, no matter the outcome is not good for buisness. We didn't have to go to that restaurant, and we certainly didn't have to pick that fight with Doony.

I'm not saying Zosimus is good. I'm saying the evil you know is better than the evil you don't I'm not even knocking hooking up with the werekin, but this is the wrong time to do it. Breaking our word because we let ourselves get caught in that situation isn't going to help us. We are a cocky annoyance in Zosimus's eyes, he doesn't want to constantly worry whose toes we step on. If we succeed, Zosimus is far more likely to SPONSOR our entry into the werekin, we'll be their problem and not his.
>>
No. 310254 ID: ac9ea0

Stare some more at those perfect curves.
"How 'bout some extra after showing you my "Device", eh?
>>
No. 310261 ID: f1f479

>>310254
BOB DON'T TAKE THIS
DOWNVOTING IT LIKE HELL
>>
No. 310263 ID: 856690

>>310254

Don't you people ever learn? Armus is not a prat teen, he is supposed to be a badass merc, who hunt supernatual things!
>>
No. 310267 ID: f0e3ae

>>310261
Agreed! Seconding his downvote.
>>
No. 310304 ID: c6ce12

>>310233
Who says it's up to him specifically? The place is crawling with other supernaturals and the Mesopatamian Dragon can probably handle his own buisness. The way I see it, Zosimus came in, took the situation and spun it all to work for his own ends.

Keep in mine we'll have time to learn and meet both evils. When we go the witch we don't need to have her break our oath or break our own. We can assess the situation and her beforehand, though I have serious doubts as to how anyone could put on a worse show than Zosimus. And as Zosimus, a leader of a vampire clan, sponsering us to join werewolves, their worst enemies? How in the world do you figure that will happen? It's almost a laughable notion.
>>
No. 310310 ID: 8397a4

>>310254
This is a horrible idea.
Downvoting.
>>
No. 310312 ID: f0e3ae

>>310310
Good, so we now 4-1 against the idea.
>>
No. 310338 ID: 92dcd7

>>310304
Fair enough, a meeting to test the potential benefits of the werekin.

Whatever way this is settled, I think it'd be a good idea to research the Old World Zosimus spoke of. Perhaps we could find better supernatural benefactors than the dynasties of vampires and werekin. Perhaps we could bring it up with Zosimus when we kill Doony, or the werekin if and when we meet with them.
>>
No. 310342 ID: 692cff

>>310338
Old world is Europe, while New World is America.
>>
No. 310356 ID: 92dcd7

>>310342
Oh, I took it literally. Thought there was some kinda hammerspace where all the cool kids were hanging out trying to get Doony to leave them alone.
>>
No. 310360 ID: a76809

>>310097
...Well, no matter what I do, I have to hold up my end of the Deal-I don't even know what happens if you try to break one.
"Normally I don't like to reveal my aces, but you certainly impressed me with the enthusiasm with which you held up your end of the deal. I can do no different."
I pull Mammon's Device out from under the vest slowly, the monstrously sized handgun gleaming evilly in the darkened room, glittering without enough light for it to be natural.
"You'll forgive me for not demonstrating it's true power, I hope. This penthouse suite would lose some of its grandeur if I blew out a wall."
The mop-headed vampire leans forward, her perky breasts ghosting over rumpled sheets as pale, thick lips pull back, pointed canines revealed as she smirks.
>[Erzsi]"...That? It looks like just a gun."
>[Laetissi]"..You fool, you can't read the magic in it...."
The elf, having continued to prowl closer as I pulled forth the Device, leans over to eye the piece more critically, her eyes dilated, lips parted. She stops, her breath catching as her gaze turns my way.
>[Laetissi]"It's incomplete-where is the rest of the Old One's weaving?"
>[DANGEROUSLY DAPPER DISCUSSION & DEBATE Trait activated.]
"The other component is oh-so slightly volatile-and utterly consumable."
Now, to watch her reaction-did I promise to fire it, did I phrase it ambiguously... how did the Deal I don't remember go?
>[Erzsi]"Mm, I wouldn't mind seeing some death and destruction-maybe then I could appreciate what I'm looking at here."
>[Laetissi]"Quiet, you nihilist-do you propose another Deal, then, to witness its power in full, rather than simply observe the Device in question?"
>>310119
>>310138
>>310157
I gesture with the device in hand, disguising my body shifting back a few inches.
"I suppose such a deal could be brokered-I have no shortage of such devices, but I do so love to use them for their intended purpose, rather than... display"
The elf takes a short step, getting even closer than before as she keeps talking, eyes still glued to the device.
>[Laetissi]"What specifically would this intended purpose be?"
I gesture again, rolling my neck-as I turn to the side, shifting away from the bed in the course of my verbage.
"Oh, hard to say specifically as it can vary quite a bit-but usually removing issues of the 'forty foot regenerating contact poisonous beast' type-really, nothing too exciting, all things considered, but it's served me well."
The Vampire's practically brandishes her chest like a weapon, drawing up to only a few inches shy of me. ...Weird, she didn't look like she moved fast, but she got to standing a bit... too fast.
>[Erzsi]"So it isn't just a wall ornament-you use this devilish device?"
>[MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR Trait activated]
I favor her with a patronizing glare.
"I don't care how much money you have-not using such a finely crafted item as this would be a travesty."
>[Erzsi]"Too greedy to let that power be squandered?"
"A rather poor attempt at deducing if I am Mammon's disciple-I must say I am mildly disappointed."
I decide on an exit strategy, as my control starts to waver, and the blinding headache resurges.
"Well, I have much to attend to today-give me your contact information, we can work something out if you really want to see the Device in action."
My memory gets a little hazy after that-damned booze-but I'm re-vested, the Device once more as concealed as possible (not very) as I walk outside and hail a taxi. My mind drifts and flits across many things-like wondering what each prospective buyer for my anomalous attraction for magical gates could offer. The Goblins would HAVE to be able to offer something nice for all that juice-maybe some extensive training inside the nevernever, beyond the flow of time? Knowledge is always useful. The Werekin Witch, the Vampiric Dynasties-even the Wizard Dorjpalam could probably offer something. I am finally starting to grasp the scope of the commodity I can offer-a thought that gladdens me as I pay the taxi driver, and walk up to the front door.

As I reach for the doorknob the door flies open, a berretta shoved in my face-
>AMBUSH EXPERT Trait [Level 2 Trait] could not activate due to hangover!

I stare mutely at Camella, once more dressed in my clothes, as she plants a fist on her hip and steps out of the way. As I walk by, she says something rather simple.

"I'd like an explanation for last night-and why you're getting back at three o'clock."










What should I say or do?
Once I've FINALLY wrapped things up from yesterday, what should I do with the weekend-and the coming week?
>>
No. 310363 ID: 856690

"Which part before or after the messed up staircase?"

Also the truth
"I met some contacts of the supernatural, there is the possibly foisting mammon's device on them, they were not demonic"
>>
No. 310364 ID: 44766a

This is more of a future plan but I don't think that we should sell the Nevernever Gates' power. Ogrimir implied that with time Armus might be able to control the gates himself. Tell Camella that you don't remember much after the stairway to Hell incident.
>>
No. 310371 ID: f0e3ae

I think she is asking for more info about that.. and the doonie encounter. Do NOT mention the vampire and elf!

Say "fair enough, you deserve an explanation" and walk past her ignoring the weapon without speaking. Go make coffee and offer her a cup. While brewing and drinking Explain that:
1. You didn't know or expect those places you went to to be supernatural. Either this was coincidence... or maybe every famous high class establishment has been claimed by supernatural forces.
2. Doonie: Tell her the full story of how we met it, explain that you were underarmed, you wondered why you were still alive and went to talk to him only to find out that is due to the area being neutral ground. It got angry but was scared off by Zos. Whom you made a deal with to slay doonie.
3. Staircase: This was the first time seeing a christian demon, you didn't ask to meet with it. It offered you a Faustian deal and you said no.
4. Afterwards: Don't remember.
5. You came in at 3 pm because you just woke up. - no mention of where or with whom.
>>
No. 310372 ID: ae0719

"Well, last night got just a bit hazy, but the reason I'm back so late... actually, you could call it a business deal."

Saturday- Go out and pick up groceries, and while you're at it, buy a stock of porridge and honey mead. Set it out for the brownies whichever night of the week they restock our fridge with meat/spices; it costs us little enough, and even small spirits can be a help if they're feeling well-appreciated.

Then, look into the churches and mosques in the area, try to find a supernatural-aware priest or imam. I'd say start at the Blue Mosque and work out from there. We're getting into demon and vampire territory now, and we could stand to stock up on things like holy water, blessed ammo, and so on (for a small donation).

That evening, have a talk with Camella. Exchange information; she needs to know what's out there and how to kill it, and we could use a hand on the shooting range to improve our (already pretty good) form. Give her this for free: "Last night, you called me a wizard. That's not quite right, actually; they call me a member of a Bloodline. Gets me in good with various spirits, and... well, you know, that thing I do. And some other stuff I haven't figured out yet. But I'm not at the level of a true Wizard. If you run into someone who ACTUALLY identifies himself or herself as a Wizard, you run the other way, or at least get very, very polite. They're as far beyond us as you are from some gangbanger with a knife." As fun as this has been, she ought to know.

Sunday is the meeting for Smets, isn't it? Talk to the pair, meet their techie, suggest we use gas to deal with the non-supernatural 20 guards. Tell them we know a guy. Pick up Grail's gas mask and talk to our Agent-15 guy we used with Castelletti. 3 grand is worth not having a massive shootout with 20 guards.

I'm still all for having a talk (or dinner) with our professor, where we explain things.

Early next week, get back in touch with Ito, a quick trip to the gym to brush up on our Krav Maga, get our Judges and quickdraw Matebas back from storage (make sure we always carry a damn piece on us), get in touch with the wolves to at least hear them out on the vampire thing, and what they'd offer for the nevernever gate (knowledge is power, as they say).
>>
No. 310375 ID: f0e3ae

>>310371
Clarification, when telling her the doonie story gloss over who was the owner of the boat. Don't say "while doing a job for the triad"... say something like "X weeks ago I was hired to help secure a cargo ship that has gone oddly silent in the middle of the borosphere...".
>>310372
I agree about having a talk with the professor.
>>
No. 310379 ID: 692cff

Be fairly honest, but don't tell her you ever considered actually taking the Demon's deal. Make it sound like you were attempting to gather information and a way to back out of the deal without making an enemy(or losing your best weapon against Doony) by saying you would never deal with demons ect ect. Just because something is pure evil, doesn't mean you should piss in it's face, cause then they might snap at you and you wouldn't have had the fun you did last night. And speaking of last night, your response to that should be "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell."
>>
No. 310382 ID: c6ce12

>>310372
Wow, this kind of covers all the bases so seconding. If we can work in a conversation with the goblins at some point to sell them the tales of our recent adventures that would be great. I do not, nor do I advise trying to bargain with them on the palindrome lightening strikes yet. Let's wait until we at least meet the werekin matron or the vampire council. We know what they could give us, but we can still have room to bargain and I'd like to see if we can squeeze anything extra out.
>>
No. 310383 ID: 92dcd7

>>310360
Maybe we're looking at the Nevernever's magic lightening the wrong way: Why not make some amendments to Ito sensei's teachings- "Power always needs a container to fill-and what better container than the world face of our enemy."

It worked with a normal training stick... What would happen if we struck the Doonongaes with Keihas while a Resonance was in effect?
I can't help but entertain the thought of introducing strikes that inflict spontaneous combustion into our fighting style.

Taiahan Rifleplay<Jukenjitsu<Nevernevergate Knocker?
>>
No. 310384 ID: 44766a

In all honesty, I think we should steer clear of making deals with any demons at all.
>>
No. 310385 ID: f0e3ae

>>310383
bad idea. Power enough non humans can simply absorb it to become stronger. If you are fighting someone you don't want to supercharge them.
>>
No. 310387 ID: 856690

>>310372
This and with
>>310375
These ammendments
>>
No. 310388 ID: c6ce12

>>310382
Oh and in the meeting suggest headsets that everyone can use to communicate with each other, get the techie to make sure they can't be tapped into and aren't bugged or anything crazy. A good communication system will make this less of a clusterfuck and more of a smooth operation.
>>
No. 310392 ID: 46c430

Oh, yeah. We should probably take the chance to chat with Hafaz sometime, we do need to talk over stuffs. Preferably in a more peaceful manner than the last time.
>>
No. 310393 ID: f1f479

>>310387
Upvoting this.
>>
No. 310402 ID: 81f32a

>"I'd like an explanation for last night-and why you're getting back at three o'clock."
"Now, there is a funny story concerning those events. A story, that I unfortunately cannot recall. I was hoping you could fill me on the details?"


----

I was thinking,
perhaps you can strike a minor deal with Goblins so that you can get the memories and the experience/sensation of the previous night restored. It would be a shame to let such a wild night go forgotten.

There is a lot you can offer them, and I am not sure what equal trade would be, I will leave the judgement to Armas:
-Information about Camella, her past, her alternate life, her mission
-The talk with Doonongeas
-Doonongeas standing in the society
-The deal with Cornelius
-The hellish club with devil bartender
-Secret code for magic stairwell
-The creatures from the stairwell
-The deal with mammons knight
-The possibility that the nine princes of hell are amassing their disciples in Istanbul for some seriously heavy shit
-The events with the Laetissi and Erzsi
-The fact that you have been hit by magic lightening twice in two days

>The Goblins would HAVE to be able to offer something nice for all that juice-maybe some extensive training inside the nevernever, beyond the flow of time?

You know what? Is it necessary to ask for that when making the deal? Just by mentioning the training beyond time and age would suddenly increase the value of said deal and we would have to pay more.

The reason why I am bringing this up is this:
We never told to train in NeverNever when making the deal but when we took the training Sometimes Merchant put us in their domain, where we were outside of time, even though we spent 7 or so hours there, the real time did not pass (or am I remembering it differently).
Not only that, but you would expect a person to be dead tired or at least exhausted after such extensive training but iirc Armas felt just as he did before entering the NeverNever.

Then we have the event with the staircase, Armas entered it and the entire time there he had the same level of drunkenness and his need to piss did not escalate. When they came back, the time outside did not move.

So this leads me to believe that in NeverNever one is outside of time and age by default

When making the Deal with goblins we never specified where to train us, so they took the most convenient route: they trained Amras at their turf just as Armas trained Goblins here.


So, to find out if what I think is true and that we don't have to shell out extra 'dosh' for something we would get for free we could:
-Talk circuitously with SM and manipulate him into reveling the information without letting him on how much valuable it is for us to train outside of time.
-Next time we take training, we should do something that could determine if the time passes for our body. For example we could go there slightly hungry or thirsty, take lessons for about 10 hours and see if the feeling escalates.

Speaking of which, after you deal with Camella, go and take more training from goblins. Buy new notebooks, several of them (this time get bigger ones), 2-3 pens and a voice recorder (ask them if they are okay with us recording their speech beforehand though)
I say take 4-6 hours of sneaking, 2-4 hours of moving silently, 2 hours of magic equipment identification.


Another thing.
Things are getting pretty heated lately.
Most of the time we are bereft of our weapons and equipment but it seems that sooner or later (likely sooner) we are going to find ourself in a major fight. Perhaps Doonongeas will make a move or we could be ambushed by someone in our house/when we are driving somewhere, maybe Armas thinks that he doesn't have enemies that warrants precautions but the Nazi Germans spring to mind. They will definitely seek vengeance against the death of their super enforcer.

But Armas can't move around loaded with all of his equipment, so I had a deal in mind.
What if we move our storage into NeverNever and get access to it wherever we want, whenever we want?
..No, getting a lease of space in NeverNever would be expensive (unless we use that place to train Goblins in firearms, that way we can train them forever without wasting time). We could make a Deal for NeverNever travel between two points. Basically we step into NN and step out in out storage, it happens instantaneously that it looks like we have teleported. We cannot return from the storage wherever we want, we must get back from the same point where we entered (if we decide to use NN to travel back, we could just go to the storage and just walk out, effectively making it a good escape route if we find us in deep shit).
So try to get a deal for this from Goblins, this could potentially save your life.


Make yourself a magical dish again, you need to work out the alcohol from your system.

Go to Gun World with Camella and buy her ammunition for her guns and other equipment (flashbangs, smoke grenades)

Call Arkvad, see what he is up to.
>>
No. 310403 ID: f1f479

>>310402
(...Holy shit.)
>>
No. 310404 ID: 252e1b

>>310388

Any digital radio system with good encryption is going to set you back a few grand.
>>
No. 310406 ID: 856690

>>310402
Upvoting this too, also add very ridiculously try to get information on past and present people who have surived being a conduit for the Nevernever
>>
No. 310408 ID: 856690

>>310406
very ridiculously CAREFULLY get info.

Man that could have been bad
"I'll give you this donkey for information!"
>>
No. 310409 ID: 692cff

Call Arkvad and warn him about Doony possibly coming after him. Also make sure Camella gets warned about that too.
>>
No. 310420 ID: 252e1b

>>310409

Aren't they off-limits because the Doonegas made the threat on them in the restaurant?
>>
No. 310425 ID: 81f32a

>>310402
If the suggestion with the NeverNever portal to the storage doesn't work out, I suggest Armas to move his gear back to the apartment. I have a feeling that shit will go down soon.

We already have Camellas weapons in the apartment anyway.

Armas is WAY TOO easy going, he doesn't have any hax powers like Savoy to get out if he finds himself ambushed. In fact, he doesn't have much powers at all besides eating magic jerky.
>>
No. 310486 ID: a76809

>>310363
"I met some contacts in the supernatural-"
>[Camella]"'Contacts?' Is that what you call them?"
>[DDDD Trait activated]
" Well what would you call a vampire of the Habsburg Dynasty and a Seelie elf, then?"
Some of the irritation drains from her face at that-as she changes gears.
>[Camella]"The business with Mammon, the... Doonongaes-what did you do to have an evening like that?"
>>310371
>>310372
"Fine-you want to know? I didn't expect to see the Doonongaes at the Asitane, or find Mammon's Knight hiding in the Babylon's bathroom-it just happened. Sure, I have an item vested with Mammon's power-but if I did not, I'd be dead now, thanks to the Doonongaes."
>[Camella]"Doonongaes, Doonongaes, Doonongaes-what is it?"
"A Native American monster-from one of the Iroquois people, the Seneca. An aquatic shapeshifter, master of death within the waters-and I first met it hungry on a boat."
>[Camella]"..So, you drove it off?"
"With a heaping helping of luck and bluffing on top of every bit of firepower I had? Just barely. It regenerates, shrugs off grenade rounds like they're nothing and was only somewhat hurt by a flaming skull the size of a bulkhead."
>[Camella]"...A what?"
"What Mammon's Device does, if I load it with the proper ammunition. Don't have many shells, but packs a hell of a wallop-might compare it to an RPG or summat."
>[Camella]"So you drove it off... saw it at the restaurant... and went to talk with it?"
"Consider that at the time I didn't have Mammon's Device on me-just the mere. You really think I could take something like that with a knife? Its a big hulking bruiser, a toe to toe fight is the worst way to approach it. It hadn't immediately attacked me-so maybe there was a way out. That's what I was thinking when I went over."
>[Camella]"How to strategically withdraw, and to assess irregular enemy behavior."
"Which is when I find out the restaurant's owner is a big supernatural type-and that many other supernaturals frequent the location. One of them, a particularly old Vampire, noticed me verbally sparring with the Doonongaes, and came over, to offer... I guess you could call it assistance."
>[Camella]"Why the phrasing?"
"Well, he set me a task I was going to do anyway with a heft reward to it-but if I fail to live up to it, well, bad things. And I got a time limit, even. The Doonongaes has to be dead by February 11th of next year."
>[Camella]"....Fine. The Stairwell?"
"It was somewhat inevitable that I encounter Mammon, using his things as I am-I wasn't expecting it then and there, or in that format-but it can happen. You will note neither of us was really harmed."
>[Camella]"So. All of that-even meeting those two when you went looking for the bartender-all of it was logical, coincidental, and not in any way a sample of your everyday life."
"You saw me doing days and days of nothing but training-I'd hardly call that exciting."
>[Camella]"I saw you leave for long periods for days and days-and on my second outing to your place of training you pulled it through time."
"Accidentally-it was just a magical gate-"
>[Camella]"Like how it 'accidentally' happened in the stairwell? If that was Mammon's messenger, was that his area? Did you... feed the magic to Mammon?"
Damnit she's supposed to be ignorant of all this shit-
>[DDDD Trait activated-verbal recovery!]
"Would you rather I exploded and killed us both, and left the power there after our deaths anyway? Hardly seems a preferable alternative. You simply caught me at a coincidentally busy segment of my life, in the times you've done things with me."
>[Camella]"Look, I'm not buying the wizardly question dodging-"
"Since I'm not a wizard I'm not sure how it-"
>[Camella]"Dios mio, you say you are not a wizard? A blatant lie!"
"Have you seen me do any magic? I just know things-"
>[Camella]"Eating supernatural flesh by choice"
"I have a strong ancestral heritage on both sides of my family towards game and hunting-based meals, and you can't deny how tasty those crisps are."
Our exchange halts, hanging in the air, both of us poised to continue our verbal jousting, only my impeccable dedication to erratic wordplay keeping me fully coherant.
>[Camella]"...Ah, fine-another time."

From there, I salvage what I can of NOVEMBER 20th, 2010, picking up a new cell phone while going shopping after a shower and changing into more casual clothes-and packing the loaded Device and mere both on me beneath my jacket. Camella comes with me as I pick up a few things-fresh fruit, produce, milk-the general necessities, as well as porridge and honey mead. When we get back I cook a quiet meal in the house, and both of us immensely enjoy not having anything happen that evening. Night comes, I make my departure for Goblin training. I end up staying late, doing a full six hours to make up for last night's missed training. I hit thirty one hours saved with the goblins, Ito remaining at one hundred ten. I find myself too tired, once finished, to ask about trading in the magic gate attacks I've been having-for surely if Mammon wanted it the Goblins would as well, right? The last thing I do is leave out the porridge and honeyed mead for the brownies, coming tonight to resupply my minifredge with supernatural treats. So I dream of running about, a lightning rod in hand, trying to sell it before the cloud over hand spelled my doom.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2010 rolls along-and I find three things of note:

-I have a letter, from Paul-Jacques Labombard, mentioning that Lo Fang has been calmed, and that it should be fine to contact the Triads again. The letter also cautions me that there is a new Mercenary in town by the name of BLACKBEARD with a very shady history and a great deal of collateral damage behind him-and to stay away from him.
-I have a new disposable cell phone in the mail-with a text message suggesting I call a specific number. When I dial, Mrs. Havoc merely tells me 'It's been arranged-we move on Wednesday.' After she hangs up a text arrives, containing an address-an old church opposite Smets' house. I have a time and place for the Smets revenge mission to start-and I can't shake the feeling I have an honest shot at getting Camella involved-four people would make this a great deal easier.
-I have a package from a Yuri Lenkov, who identifies himself as contracted by 'Mr. L and Mrs. H' to provide some services. Within are comprehensive details on the security system at Smets' abode, pictures of each security camera and notes of their points of coverage, guard patrol schedules, changes of shifts-it also notes other things. It notes Mr. L to have a remote that will trigger a seven-point jamming zone around the house. So... if we get remote detonation based methods set up on the power and landline to the house without making too much noise or fuss, while taking out the backup generator-I'm beginning to see the plan.

Camella and I both go to Constanz' gym, and Camella thoroughly enjoys herself stomping Shaya, Yoni, Hadar and myself into the ground while still overpowering Hafaz more often than not. He makes no mention of our altercation earlier-and has no problems practicing with me. Not sure what changed on his end, but for now I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

From there Camella and I visit Gun World-picking her up some ammunition. She somehow has money, and pays for more 9x19 parabellum and 5.556 NATO herself, giving me one of the smuggest smiles I have yet seen.


>>310402
>>310406
After spending a few more hours at the gym, the time comes for evening training with the goblins once more-but this time, when I meet my trio of students I ask to speak with the Sometimes Merchant first.
>[SM]"You wished to discuss a deal?"
>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait activated]
"So is the bouncing voice and body position thing necessary?"
>[SM]"If one only did what is necessary, what would give their life meaning? This is the answer a mortal some generations ago told me to give to that question-it seems apt enough. So-what is it you came to Deal in?"
"Well, I have some information I believe you would like to trade for-and then a deal most vast to discuss."
>[SM]"...Go on."
Turns out guesswork does not count for shit here-my suspicions about other Demonic disciples lacking substantial evidence, my thoughts on how I reached the stairwell-just as he does not give two shits about my unremembered night with Laetissi and Ervsi, saying the information holds no value for him. He makes no comment about me being struck by magic lightning twice in two days-but is most intrigued when I get to my talk with the Doonongaes, and Cornelius' involvement-the episode with Mammon's device, the nature of the deal offered-that interests him as well.
>[MMM Trait activated, DDDD Trait activated]
I'm able to break the story up into quite a few segments without aggravating Sometimes Merchant, and get quite a haul.

-One pound of Hippocamp meat per week, for life.
-One pound Griffin meat per week, for life.
-One liter of Basilisk blood per week for life. [Which reminds me I should use that Demon blood, I have three liters.]
-One pound of Ushi-oni meat per week, for life.
-One pound of Mandragora root per week, for life.
-One half pound of Erymanthian Boar liver.
-Two liters of Heiðrún's mead-milk per week for life.

A tidy haul, that. I think I could cook a supernatural meal twice a day all week, now. Pretty soon I'll have enough to start my own diner, or something.


Now the main event-how to pitch selling the magic gate strikes to the goblins-and what to ask for. I have to be careful with my word choice-it could mean everything to what is offered.






What should I say, how should I phrase the Deal I seek before doing today's training?
>>
No. 310508 ID: c6ce12

>>310486

I honestly don't think we need to pitch it much, what we're offering is pure magical surges from the Nevernever, the power that comes from a multidimensional living world attempting open, the stuff that Witches and Wizards are made from. If they need examples we can provide them, they already know what happened to the first strike, it god fed to a Summer Fae and strengthened her to the point it upset the balance between her an incredibly strong ice troll. The second strike was powerful enough to take location back more than a millenium and bring up what was once lost to time. That third strike was enough to be considered a suitable tribute to a prince of hell, it warped the location so it no longer obeyed the laws of gravity. This is something you hardly even need to pitch, it's a product that stands on it's own legs without the need for wordplay. What does need pitching is how damn frequently this kind of thing happens to us, it's one thing to be offered this from any schmuck off the street who got struck once and didn't get anything, it's another to be offered this from a guy who got hit three times in the same month. They are getting these potent strikes from a source that has proven to produce time and again, a source which would pledge all the strikes it would recieve for a lifetime. Keep in mind we're not any old mortal either, we have shown an extreme capacity to survive. With out powers and what they could offer us it is a safe bet to assume their contract could last for a generation or perhaps multiple. We should portray our self in a manner similar to the goose that lays the golden eggs, only we don't stop laying. Selling them on this should be cake.

The tricky part to this deal is the wording, the offer has to be just right. We can't have ourselves giving up more than we want to. So considerate and precise word choice would be the best. What we, Armas Laine, are offering to the Goblins of Byzantium's Sewers, herein represented by the one known the Sometimes Merchant, is the rights to the capture, containment, and full usage of our magic gate strikes in the manner they see fit. These rights include the ability to sell or trade the power to others should they desire to do so. The only caveat to this is that the power drawn from the strikes may not directly be used against us or those under our immediate protection. This ideally giving them the rights to build or create whatever they need to intercept strikes from us, store it however they want to, and use it however they want to, as long as it isn't against us.

Our asking price? Well we could probably come up with a list a mile long of things we would like, but I think we should be shooting for just a couple key things. One is having our training in sneaking and moving silently auto-completed to Sometimes Merchant levels, which means being given the hours and training space in the Nevernever required to do so in a manner that is instantaneous. The next is having all of our training done for or received from the goblins from here on out to likewise be moved into the Nevernever and out of time. I am unsure if all of our training received is like that already, it might be considering we seemed to be in the Nevernever when we were first taught sneaking and moving silently, but it never hurts to make sure. It is one of the more important demands as it means we will no longer need to spend real world hours training the goblins, which frees up more of our day for other things. It also means we don't have to constantly drive to our storage container and make both it and us an easy target for an opportunist who watches our schedule carefully. Now, lastly we would like our status Friend to the Goblinkin to be expanded from the meager fifty yards it currently holds to all of Turkey, though I would settle for all of Istanbul if they were to offer sufficient wards and protections for the grounds under any place we deem our home or a meeting with each important goblin of note within the region.
>>
No. 310509 ID: f0e3ae

I just realized, we could set up a bargin for information trading where we tell him the info and barter a price. If we fail to come to an agreement then he forgets that information. This could make trading info interesting and bizzare...

I just realized... smets COULD be one of the 8 others who own mammon devices... And potentially know how to use it.

As for the sales pitch... in addition to power they get knowledge. You got hit 3 times in a row now... fast. Offer to trade up information of a very unusual ability you got thus far, as well as full disclosure on what the strikes actually DID when you survived them. You will continue to offer information on what future strikes give in addition to offering the strikes themselves...

Now, what you should ask for is not the instant ninja (although that would be cool)... See questdis. I am still of the opinion that they should only get several strikes. That is, we want to split future strikes between them, the winter court, and the wizard in exchange for them working together to help us become a wizard... and then regain what has to be stripped from us. We are willing to offer more, we will offer them and the other 2 parties the knowledge of exactly what the strikes did as well as other potential work if needed in exchange for it.

PS. We need to actually figure out a plan and a way to kill doonie. instant ninja is awesome against humans but how effective will it be against him? not very I think.
>>
No. 310519 ID: 856690

I'm not much help with the SM, but you should bring keihais along for the mission coming up, make sure to soak up a load of the blood that you got also, has he tried drinking some? Jerkify a large amount of the meat, also, ALWAYS carry a packet of jerky with the special stuff in it, having that increases your combat rating...

It's one of the few aces in the the hole.
Also people are thinking how powerful Mammon's device is but really Keihais is a really good gun which will be beastly, also it's already got some of the Doonongaes' blood in it, so it is more effective against it.

We might be able to get to the stage where bullets fired from it hunger for blood so much that they burrow through flesh.
>>
No. 310545 ID: 46c430

Err, actually, don't give info on how many strikes and the ability the third strike gave Armas. I don't think we want that getting around. At all.
>>
No. 310546 ID: 692cff

>>310508
This, definitely. If it isn't quite enough... I guess informing them about our ability to break deals of three, provided they cannot tell anyone else about it, would be useful. But that's only a potential thing if we fall short.

And before we leave we need to bargain for a couple other things that they might have. Information on Smets first. We have yet to do this, and it is very important. Start with a question about how potent or kind of a supernatural being he is to get whether he is one at all for free. Maybe ask about the favored butler too if you can afford it. As for how to pay, I think money might be a good start, as mortal information brokers stand as a good price comparison point.

Also, see if they have Doonongaes blood. If we can trade for a goodly amount as a one time deal as opposed to weekly and feed it to Keihas, we'll have a nice back-up for Mammon's device. On that note, given our recent run in with one of Mammon's knights, I say we feed Keihas the demon blood.
>>
No. 310553 ID: 856690

See if you can get any info on christian priests involved with the supernatural...

considering what may be going down, it might be prudent.
>>
No. 310555 ID: 234c26

>>310486
Word choice... we need to make certain that while the goblins are given permission to gain the magic of the nevernever's strikes, they do so in a fashion such that we are neither significantly inconvenienced nor damaged. They will be both required and allowed to intercept all strikes, so that none reach us to cause further harm; that's the main point of making this sale, after all.

For pitching it, emphasizing the power of the strikes- the second one, particularly, is a huge demonstration of this- and their frequency, which we can mention seems to be accelerating, although we have no guarantee that's a reliable trend.

What to ask for:
-First, to be named Friend to the Goblinkin everywhere for life.
-Second, to receive training in sneaking and moving silently until we have reached the limits of what the goblins reasonably believe we can learn from them, while having no real-world time pass.
-Third, advice and guidance when we request it on general matters pertaining to the supernatural.

Ask for three things because three is a magical number, of course.
The first point gets us a reliable set of allies that could prove invaluable; we could really use a support network of some kind.
The second point is a large one-time bonus that is likely to help a great deal in keeping us alive, not to mention accomplishing things.
The third point will hopefully let us stop blindly fumbling around in the metaphorical dark so much; honestly, it's a miracle that we've done as well as we have considering how little we actually know.

When pitching our price, emphasize that while they may be valuable to us, each request costs Sometimes Merchant relatively little in relation to what is offered. What's more, each of them is likely to help keep us alive longer- and we have to stay alive in order for the deal to be worth anything to the goblins at all. Giving us things which are likely to help us live is a solid investment on the goblins' part, since it will keep the power flowing. And we will be the goblins' Friend and often coming to them for advice; that's the foundation of a long and mutually profitable relationship relationship if I've ever heard one. This Bargain is not a mere sale, it's setting the stage for a long-term alliance between ourselves and the goblins.


>>310508
>all of Turkey, though I would settle for all of Istanbul if they were to offer sufficient wards and protections for the grounds under any place we deem our home or a meeting with each important goblin of note within the region
Given the fact that we likely won't be in Turkey forever and that the Nevernever isn't technically part of Turkey, I would really rather not limit ourselves on this score. Also, I don't know that we actually want a meeting with each goblin of note; we don't have an agenda to push and every single meeting would be a dangerous affair, because like any powerful fae goblins are potentially deadly to deal with, however easy it is to forget that. Better to push for other benefits instead.

As far as moving our training with the goblins out of time- I suspect that they're in the warehouse now more because that's what we started using than because they actually care that it's the warehouse. If we ask to move it elsewhere, they probably would without paying, and I'm not actually incredibly averse to spending a couple hours a day training goblins. Our time is not that valuable, and once we can truly Sneak being watched as we move about will be much less of a concern. We can certainly ask for this, but I would consider it fairly unimportant.
>>
No. 310558 ID: 692cff

>>310555
I think a lot of that is asking too much. Especially free advice, since that basically screws them out of trading information to us ever again. They'd never take that. All of goblinkind is likely too far reaching, as I doubt Sometimes Merchant has the authority to make such a deal.

>Our time is not that valuable, and once we can truly Sneak being watched as we move about will be much less of a concern. We can certainly ask for this, but I would consider it fairly unimportant.
The important part is being able to trade hundreds of hours for training and getting an instant upgrade in the process. It's less about saving us time, as making time a non-issue entirely when it comes to trading training. Want to spend a month training goblins and then trade those hours in? Well, now we no longer have to consider our plans for a month, because it happens instantaneously.

>>310546
If we find out what Smets is, trade three hours for an hour of learning that creatures anatomy. Also, three hours of learning Doony's anatmoy.
>>
No. 310559 ID: 856690

>>310558

Up voting this too, know thine enemy!
*Instufferable is on an Upvoting spree, somebody post an idiot suggestion!*
>>
No. 310564 ID: 856690
File 130755071853.png - (91.28KB , 400x640 , SometimesMerchant.png )
310564

Pic is of Sometimes merchant.

I wondering is there a way we could make the deal for the strike be strike based rather than lifetime based as in;
X number of strikes for favour/goodstuff Y
>>
No. 310571 ID: 234c26

>>310558
>All of goblinkind is likely too far reaching, as I doubt Sometimes Merchant has the authority to make such a deal.
We won't know unless we ask. We have no idea how valuable our magical bursts actually are, how extensive goblinkind is, how much authority Sometimes Merchant has, or how common it is to be made Friend to the Goblinkin; considering that we got a tiny area of it in exchange for nothing more than a bit of interesting news, I would say that it's not something which they charge through the nose for- all the more so in this case because, as I noted, it's in their interests to keep us alive anyway, and being Friend to the Goblinkin as I understand it primarily consists of their not attacking us and offering us help in staying safe.

>Especially free advice, since that basically screws them out of trading information to us ever again.
No, it doesn't. In fact, most of what we've traded with them for thus far would not fall under the deal. I specified advice on general matters, which means that anything particularly detailed, not known by many people, about specific individuals, and so forth isn't covered. Basically the Supernatural 101 course- contains many useful and interesting things, but claiming that it's everything is laughable. It's basically getting all the least valuable information they have about everything magical- which is nevertheless far more than we've got.

They would certainly never take a deal for answering all our questions forever. I don't think they'd even take a deal which would require them to answer a certain number of questions every month or year, unless those questions were heavily restricted. But all the relatively low-value questions? That I think they'd take. If we want to lessen the request we could drop it to no more than two hours of getting advice/information a week.

>Well, now we no longer have to consider our plans for a month, because it happens instantaneously.
Upon reflection, that does seem a bit hax. It makes the primary limiter on our training how many goblins want to be trained instead of how much time we have available. Would probably be worth asking.

>If we find out what Smets is, trade three hours for an hour of learning that creatures anatomy. Also, three hours of learning Doony's anatmoy.
I do like that.
>>
No. 310584 ID: 81f32a
File 130755844723.jpg - (70.89KB , 1000x700 , Armas SM - brofist.jpg )
310584

>I'm able to break the story up into quite a few segments without aggravating Sometimes Merchant, and get quite a haul.
>a whole bunch of foodstuff
What!?
I never said to get more food! I wanted them to restore the memory of the night (if they can)
Well, I am not really bothered by the food, just that from previous dealings I have learned that we should ask them to label their products, in English, and if I was making a suggestion for getting more foodstuff, I would have added that clause.

>Within are comprehensive details on the security system at Smets' abode, pictures of each security camera and notes of their points of coverage, guard patrol schedules, changes of shifts-it also notes other things. It notes Mr. L to have a remote that will trigger a seven-point jamming zone around the house. So... if we get remote detonation based methods set up on the power and landline to the house without making too much noise or fuss, while taking out the backup generator-I'm beginning to see the plan.

This is great!
We know that we can ask for specific type of training if we want to, so take these notes and spend an hour or two on Sneaking specifically tailored around Smets house and security.
Also, don't forget to make notes like before.



Whatever you do, try to make it a non-permanent deal. I don't want Armas to be bounded by the deal for a lifetime. Perhaps in the future we will find more lucrative opportunities to use the magic gates, be it ourself or selling it to someone else.
Also, I don't want him to break it using his new trait

I am not sure how to do it, perhaps a pay-by-strike deal (but we should get something in advance just in case we never get hit again).
Or a number of strikes, like next 3 strikes will go to them. After all, that is the number of strikes needed for a vanilla mortal to become an immortal wizard at same powerlevel as gods and ancient dragons.
Or maybe set up a timeframe, like 1 year or 5 years.
I think since we are aiming to get more training and since it takes tens of thousands hours of training to master their skills we could set up the deal where the amount of training we receive, extend the timeframe when the goblins can siphon the energy from us.

Anything, but not lifetime.

>>310508
I think Grail has it right. We tend to get hit way more often. It is like we have won a nationally lottery 3 times in a row. Shit like that doesn't just happen.

>One is having our training in sneaking and moving silently auto-completed to Sometimes Merchant levels, which means being given the hours and training space in the Nevernever required to do so in a manner that is instantaneous.
I don't think this can just happen. I think Armas will HAVE to train either way, from his perspective he will have to train for decades to master all of their skills but as long as it happens in NeverNever and he doesn't age, I don't mind.

I loved that Armas took notes when he first did the training, so I suggest he does that now too. But if he is to get a decade worth of training then he will need a library worth of notebooks and a truckload of pens. We should ask them to provide them without additional pay.

>>310555
>-Second, to receive training in sneaking and moving silently until we have reached the limits of what the goblins reasonably believe we can learn from them, while having no real-world time pass.
>we have reached the limits of what the goblins reasonably believe we can learn from them
NO
Don't include that part.
Do you realize that you will seriously gimp the abilities we will get?!
They will interpret it as the MORTAL limit, meaning that we will NEVER be as good as goblins.
No, we must have the deal where we get the training way beyond mortal scopes, due to the wording the Goblins will be forced to either magic us up or give us somekind of magical artifacts so that we can gain their level of skill.
You really need to be careful when wording the deal.

>>Our time is not that valuable, and once we can truly Sneak being watched as we move about will be much less of a concern. We can certainly ask for this, but I would consider it fairly unimportant.
It is valuable when you realize that to become the same level at sneaking as master goblins we will need to train for tens of thousands of hours, I persume that to become a master passive magic amulet crafter we will need the same amount of time (meaning for 10k of amulet training we will have to train them got 80k hours)

Thing we should ask for the trade:
-2-5% of the energy to be reserved for our use
-Instant access to our storage from anywhere anytime. Or the storage moved to NeverNever. Hell, maybe get a personal retreat in NeverNever, which we can make our homebase instead of costly appartement. Make sure that the "stasis" effect can be manipulated by you in that retreat (ie. when we sleep in the home in NeverNever, we recover as usual but can make it so that we still don't age, hunger, etc)
-Better exchange rates for training (actually, since we might get NNN training, this doesn't matter but it gives us more room to make the deal more favorable)
-When training the goblins, they mess with our memory so that we don't remember them and their weaknesses, they did that because we never bothered to specify when making the deal before. This time we should ask them to stop doing that. (same as before, I do not care that they do it, hell, they could remove ALL of the memory as far as I care but it gives our side more weight)
-More training options. What they offer cannot be everything they can teach us. I'd like to see some supernatural speed, agility, dexterity, endurance, etc training programs.
-Another important thing about the training, we should make sure that it can go on forever. What if they decide after hundred hours or so that they don't want more gun training? Then we are seriously boned. At least ask for minimum of 100,000 hours of training for Armas regardless if we train goblins or not.
>>
No. 310616 ID: 81f32a
File 130756391722.jpg - (50.01KB , 1000x750 , Armas - Ninja.jpg )
310616

Here is something for our super ninja training.
>>
No. 310617 ID: 57db81

>>310616
Beautiful.
>>
No. 310618 ID: d429c4

If we permanently trade away the strikes, we should get a commensurate permanent benefit. Learning stuff is all very well, but we can do that on our ow time. We want some permanent enhancement or transformation that we wouldn't already have access to.

Oh, and I would also suggest you be given 5% of the energy for yourself. We can't use it now, but may well be able to in future.

We shouldn't make the trade now. Say that you understand that a decision of this magnitude requires some thought. We should then get in touch with the Mafia, and inform them that we have something we the Wizard might be interested in.
>>
No. 310646 ID: d429c4

We should also ask the goblins what weapon or magical enhancement to one of our weapons they would sell in return for three things, Mammon's device, training in how to use it, and the memory of how it felt to draw on the Greed it embodies.

If you have anything ancillary to sell, such as some hours of training, see if you can buy some pieces of Basilisk bone. The rubber grips on the judges could do with replacement with something better able to hold a magical charge. If you can do that, soak them in the Basilisk Blood, other wise, feed that to Keihas.

Oh, when you get home, use your magic item sense on the Matebas, and then soak them in the demon blood you have.
>>
No. 310663 ID: 856690
File 130756790767.png - (68.74KB , 487x399 , Arrrgghh.png )
310663

There was an Idea to sell the Mammon gun and memories of the greed armour/mammon's embrace to the SM for a new weapon of near power, or a really kicking upgrade! Why don't we trade it for an upgrade to the AA-12 That would be powerful! Some Rending or Vorpal or anti-healing, something like that! The theory goes that the goblins would be able to do some interest stuff with the memory and the gun combined. We could offer them what bullets we have for free!

Pic related!
>>
No. 310666 ID: 57db81

rolled 98, 17, 8, 92, 50, 55, 52, 37, 82, 15, 25, 90, 65, 34, 8, 67 = 795

>>310664
Derp.
>>
No. 310667 ID: d3dfb8
 

rolled 76, 67, 42, 55, 53, 76, 44, 7, 86, 9, 26, 95, 41, 80, 41, 63 = 861

You're training hasn't included a lot of practice with your weapons. Let's head over to the gun range and train with the AA-12
>>
No. 310670 ID: 57db81

>>310666
>Sorry, I am so full of fail
>"I suggest, after this whole deal thing, we go to the firing range and start training with our weapons, starting with the AA-12"
>>
No. 310678 ID: d3dfb8
File 130756850273.jpg - (37.77KB , 800x438 , 1292308953940.jpg )
310678

>>310667
>861
>average of 53.8
>mfw
>>
No. 310680 ID: c6ce12

>>310663
I'm not digging trading the Mammon's Device just yet. Sure, hand over the memories, but let's make no commitments on the device just yet. We should see what they have to offer, sure, but don't take anything before we have a chance to look over every other party that could be interested in it. And the part about the bullets being free, that's just a no. These are goblins, they'll probably lose respect for us if we start handing this out. The bullets are part of the deals we make, if we make said deals, they cost us money out of our own pocket after all.
>>
No. 310682 ID: 692cff

>>310663
I'll agree with this, as long as we get something we know can fuck up Doony's regen... And only after we get a lecture on Doony anatomy and make sure we know how to kill it if we can keep it from healing. No just giving away the bullets though. Make those part of the trade.
>>
No. 310684 ID: 57db81

>>310680
This. I'm against selling it, as we know it can be used against Dooney. By the way, remember we spent a large sum of money on the shells.
>>
No. 310687 ID: dc383e

>>310682
I like this idea. Not liking the chance that Mammon might just take the gun when we need it against Doony
>>
No. 310693 ID: d429c4

>>310680
It would be much more attractive to sell the gun, training and memories as a package deal. The Doonegeas knows about the Device, and he'll be ready for it. We'd do far better with an equivalently magical weapon, if the goblins can make us one, ad he won't be expecting it. The Device also isn't a very good weapon against the Doonegeas. It's too slow to reload, and as we've pissed of its maker, may turn on us at a critical moment.
>>
No. 310695 ID: 44766a

I am all for sell the device for something that is just as powerful.
>>
No. 310709 ID: 81f32a

>-I have a letter, from Paul-Jacques Labombard, mentioning that Lo Fang has been calmed, and that it should be fine to contact the Triads again. The letter also cautions me that there is a new Mercenary in town by the name of BLACKBEARD with a very shady history and a great deal of collateral damage behind him-and to stay away from him.

Oh right,
If Labombard went out of his way to send you this message, it must be important.
You should research this Blackbeard guy.
>>
No. 310730 ID: 692cff

>>310709
Better yet, see about getting in touch with him, inviting him over for some Kelpy Krisps, and getting him to tell you, since he figured he was bad enough to warn us about.
>>
No. 310742 ID: 81f32a

>>310730
You mean Labombard, right?
not Blackbeard? ... right

we are not inviting Blackbeard if that is what you meant
>>
No. 310749 ID: 3f1426

Dont trade the Device just yet
remember, we could get a good deal out of the elf and vampire ladies just by showing them its power.
We should exploit that before we get rid of it
>>
No. 310751 ID: 57db81

>>310749
Thiiiis.
>>
No. 310753 ID: 234c26

It occurs to me that with all this discussion about saving time going on, we should probably make sure that we don't age when we're in the Nevernever. Just because no time passes in the real world doesn't mean that time isn't passing for us, obviously, and I have no interest in having awesome sneaking skills but also suddenly being fifty because we spent the last thirty subjective years sneaking around fairyland.

>>310584
>Whatever you do, try to make it a non-permanent deal. I don't want Armas to be bounded by the deal for a lifetime.
A non-permanent deal will be worth much less, and there will be a myriad of opportunities for us to gain stupid amounts of power in the years to come- we don't need to cling to this one like it's the only chance we'll get. The only exit clause we need is that if both parties agree to end the Contract, it ends.

>if he is to get a decade worth of training then he will need a library worth of notebooks and a truckload of pens. We should ask them to provide them without additional pay.
The purpose of the notes was to get more out of the training than we otherwise would by being able to reference it later. If we are trained to master level we will no longer have need of such crutches, making this an unnecessary and foolish request.

>They will interpret it as the MORTAL limit, meaning that we will NEVER be as good as goblins.
That's completely ridiculous. The phrase "the limits of what the goblins reasonably believe we can learn from them" means exactly what it says: We learn until we can learn no more. Nowhere in it are mortal limits mentioned. Rephrase it to something which meets your standards if you wish, though.

>-2-5% of the energy to be reserved for our use
That would be the wizard contract. What the heck are we going to do with raw magical energy? How would we store it? We don't need this.

>Instant access to our storage from anywhere anytime.
Essentially what I think you actually want here is the skill to open up gates to the nevernever coupled with a secure area there reserved for our use. I suspect that the ability to open up gates to the nevernever would be a very expensive one, and as it is not an essential or exceptionally useful skill for us right now, I would leave it for a later Bargain.

>mess with our memory
I am not certain how valuable it would be to get them to agree to not mess with our memory without explicit permission, but... I don't think that we really need it. They haven't ever shown an inclination to use that ability in harmful ways.

>More training options
>What if they decide after hundred hours or so that they don't want more gun training?
>Better exchange rates for training
We can make later Bargains to train them in other modern skills and to learn different skills from them. It is not necessary or particularly beneficial to include these points in this Bargain right now, or to modify our prior Bargains in any way. Leave this deal self-contained.

>>310646
>sell Mammon's device, training in how to use it, and the memory of how it felt to draw on the Greed it embodies
I am not inclined to sell Mammon's Device right now. It is an artifact, and aside from its innate power possessing it enhances our reputation, as we saw with the ladies after our party night. When we finish the Smets job we may have a wealth of magical weapons which we will be able to trade to the goblins in exchange for something to use against the Doonongaes.

>>310709
>Paul-Jacques Labombard
We need to express our appreciation for his assistance in looking out for our employment in this matter. Dinner might do it, or failing that we can just remember that we owe him a minor favor.
>>
No. 310754 ID: 44766a

But if right when we are going to show them, Mammon yanks it away from us? Better to get rid of it now on your terms rather than when Mammon decides it would be hilarious to take it away.
>>
No. 310760 ID: 57db81

>>310754
>Mammon
>Prince of Greed
>Use power to take the device from us, when he can gain power every time it is fired
Hurr durr
DURRRRRRRRRRRRRR
>>
No. 310777 ID: d3dfb8
 

rolled 65, 58, 21, 59, 95, 55 = 353

>310777
And rolling for some Mateba training.
Practice your quickdraw, this will be an extremely useful skill in the future.
>>
No. 310778 ID: 692cff

>>310760
Except Mammon will sell it to someone who fires it more. Like Blackbeard. Seriously, we should get rid of it to get something that can screw over Doony that we know won't vanish on us.
>>
No. 310779 ID: 856690
File 130758130666.png - (119.34KB , 640x400 , matebawithboneandwing.png )
310779

One of the Matebas, with more magic, sporting flaring wings of magic and a bone grip of some mythic firey being, like a ifrit bone, or demon or salamander etc... Course I am very open to a magic weapon of great mass(body) destruction.

Also trade device and memories! We could get something as good or almost that isn't such a liability and fires more than one round, and doesn't have such expensive bullets. Also we do not want people mistaking us for a MAMMON crony all the time, nor do we want connected to him, remember his poor deal?

Alternativly trymerging the device with one of our current weapons...


In case of magic weapon creation/upgrade, roll
>>
No. 310782 ID: 57db81

>>310779
I'm still against selling the device, though. Who knows? Maybe we can even use the infernal metal to merge it with another weapon?
>>
No. 310783 ID: 856690

rolled 10 = 10

>>310779

HURRDURR
ROLLA ROLL!
...Sorry
>>
No. 310830 ID: ae0719

>>310509
>Offer to trade up information of a very unusual ability you got thus far, as well as full disclosure on what the strikes actually DID when you survived them.
Not this. A being as Deal-centric as SM would probably kill you.

>>310555
Perhaps instead full training in Sneaking and Hiding, and then adding a 'level' in something else for each given strike? I doubt they'll make us a friend of the whole Summer Court.

Although I'd actually prefer to meet the wolves and see what they have to offer, rather than SM, myself.
>>
No. 310848 ID: f4a94d

You know
if wr learn meyallurgy and gunsmithing, we could melt down the Device and use its metal to modify Keihas. Bigger calibre, bigger magazine and semi-automatic.
THEN we would have extremely powerful weapon.

Remember, the magic in the Device comes from its metal, not the gun itself
>>
No. 310854 ID: d429c4

>>310848
The whole point of getting rid of the Device is that it's a liability. Mammon has demonstrated that he can teleport it around. We don't want to merge it with any of our other weapons, as that will just means that Mammon will be able to screw around with that too. Remember that we've probably pissed him off by refusing his deal.

More over, we only want to sell the Device if we can get an equally and more powerful weapon in exchange, and if that's the case, we want to make the switch before the Doonegeas is defeated, so that it isn't expecting it.
>>
No. 310994 ID: a76809

>>310564
>>310584
>>310616
>>310663
>>310779
[FANART BONUS X5]
>>310666 [WOULD be a DEVIL BONUS if this was in combat. Which it is not.]
>>310777 [...two three of a kind bonuses? Okay, I can work with that.]
>[DDDD Trait critically activated]
>[MMM Trait Critically activated.]

>>310508
>>310555
>555
>666
>777
Trying to recapture that sudden sense of smooth confidence I garnered somewhere in the hectic swirl of Friday night.
"You recall the Gate issue I had some time ago?"
A voice from beneath my feet responds as the Sometimes Merchant sits on the wall.
>[SM]"It is recalled."
"Since then,, I've had two more such events, in that a gate began to open in me."
The goblin's body rock's back as if struck, halo's fire sputtering in perplexion while his words come from beside my ear.
>[SM]"You speak the truth-and you live. How-"
"Respectfully, I believe your focus could be best directed towards this, the crux of my Deal-I would offer to you the power of those gates, those irregularly common strikes, to do with as you will-naturally I'd have some conditions for their use, but I believe you will not find them restrictive."
>[SM]"You say you offer this to us-know you this must perforce mean for life?"
Figures, with their obsession with that payment method.
"Yes-those Gates that, under different circumstances could have made me a Conduit-I offer all future ones that come directly to my flesh or soul, for the rest of my natural life."
>[SM]"....An offer of great worth to us-something you know. So, what is it you would ask for this?"
"First, the conditions of the power's disposition."
>[SM]"Name them."
"Your method of claiming the power must keep it from reaching or harming me. It cannot be used directly against my person, my holdings, or those under my protection by you, your kin, or your own direct trade partners, should you trade the power. Likewise, I must ask that at no point do you reveal the power's source-on this I must be most adamant."
>[SM]"A request to prevent your own offered power from being used against you, and an oath of discretion-accommodations that can be made, but beware it will reduce what we are compelled to offer for an equivalent exchange."
"Well-My biggest focus is two parts-first, I would like whatever information you have on the individual Florent Smets, including any known character flaws or intrinsic vulnerabilities. After that is provided, I wish to learn all that can be taught concerning your two favored physical arts-that of mastering Sight and Sound, of counter-perception, of mastering the arts of sneaking and moving silently. I also note that I require this done before this current week has passed, so it may have to be done in one massive intensive training."
>[SM]"....What you ask can be done tonight, after your pre-arranged lesson."
With the most vital things I can think of dealt with, I move on to the 'would be nice' category of deal items.
"I also need to have a specific firearm modified to have magical properties-this gun here, the-"
>[SM]"AA-12, I know."
...He hasn't been at my lessons, so how-
Focus.
"Idyllically I need it able to ignore or dampen regenerative effects in targets-but I'm open to suggestions if that can't be done."
The merchant's voice seems to swirl about my head, first coming from this way, then that, shifting word by word as his body continues to sit on the wall.
>[SM]"....The request can be met-but nothing further shall be added-the prospective gains of whatever comes your way in the future are not worth more than comprehensive clan teachings and personalized weapon augmentation."
>[WON'T TAKE NO Trait activated]
"Really? Even for someone who has consistently offered equitable deals, a steady source of information, and even training in modern equipment-which I have to discuss with you as well, after this Bargain."
>[SM]"Perhaps you speak true-and from the first you have been a dutiful trade partner and neighbor. ...Speak."
"I'd just want to be able to at least come in and discuss business with any goblins associated with you, you clan-really, I just want a 'foot in the door' introduction to proceed me when dealing with goblin kind."
>[SM]"...Easily offered in Istanbul-the whole of Turkey would be difficult, but achievable. The world is impossible."
"Wherever I can get an introduction, I would truly appreciate it."
>[SM]"You attempt to emotionally ply me-why?"
"You just described me as a friend of sorts-why should I not be upfront with you? I'd rather keep my good word than make an individual profit."
>[SM]"....Very well. The Deal, then, is this: For the power calamitous to your present body, each impending Gate attempt from the Nevernever that you offer us, we offer in turn to train you in our physical arts tonight, within the Nevernever. We offer to tell you what is known of the one named Florent Smets, to name you a known business partner of the Goblins in the land now called Turkey, and to gift one of your implements with gifts most biting, the taste of ruin, of healing made useless. Do you accept this deal?"
Quite frankly I'm amazed that went so well and I am NOT going to push my luck.
"The deal is accepted."
The goblin's halo flashes and dies-and with it, the Sometimes Merchant is no more. The trio of goblins before me clamor for their lesson-and with the AA-12 now missing, I skip to Brandt's gun, the three hours passing in a blur-before I blink....

Finding myself in a strange room. There is no door-yet windows abound, as well as support columns, boulders and small houses-all contained in this one massive room.
>[SM]"Florent Smets is a Vampire of the Zosimus Dynasty, an avid collector of magical firearms. He knows no magic, and is a vain creature, too obsessed with his collection to be that rational when surrounded by them. Has a known problem controlling his drinking when around magically charged bloodlines. This concludes the knowledge we have of the individual known as Florent Smets-and now to teach you that which you asked...."

[DISCONTINUITY]

So it goes-hour after hour in this place with no real reference for time, no rising sun or twinkling stars, no metric to measure by-save by my own actions. First, I measure by how many times I am asked to navigate across sand, gravel, leaves and dry timber, climb all manner of surfaces in a circuitous track throughout the massive room. Each time I do it, at every step I have the Sometimes Merchant, never present, whispering in my ear, as I try to avoid being seen or heard by shadowed figures in each window, as well as patrolling the room itself. I fail a great deal at first-off hand, I'd say the first thousand circuits I was caught at LEAST one hundred times. But I started to get better, as the lessons kept getting drilled in-how to feel someone's eyes on you, read every bit of body language, read them without looking in their eyes-or even directly at them. Listen to the environment-estimate distances, make noise only when something else closer to that which you stalk does likewise. Mask noise with noise, don't move erratically-NOTHING sudden, only smooth, measured movements. By the five thousandth circuit, I'm averaging being caught twenty times per circuit-and have become enthralled in the process, constantly striving to do better. By the ten thousandth time, I'm down to five. By fifteen, two. At twenty one thousand, two hundred and twelve circuits-I have my first incident of not being caught in a full circuit. It takes me until the thirty one thousand, five hundred seventy third circuit before the Merchant is satisfied I can reliably avoid detection moving from any point in the room to any other, no matter the terrain or distance, given sufficient time.

[DISCONTINUITY]

From there the lessons change. The room warps, and shifts-everything is new, different faux-buildings, different terrain and composition-as well as watchers in towers throughout the room, as well as a general doubling of population. All the watchers are different-their patterns of observation new and alien. With so much changed, I begin my count again, as I am asked to keep navigating the monstrous room-with the new goal being to reach a destination undetected and follow a designated patroller on a full circuit of the room. The first attempt massively deflates my ego, as I am discovered a whopping one thousand, two hundred eighty times-it seems I grew reliant on familiar terrain-and now need to move much more swiftly to take advantage of smaller windows of opportunity. It takes me forty two circuits to push the capture rate below one thousand per mission-and eleven thousand, four hundred two to get it below five hundred. It's monstrously difficult to read so many different potential observers at once-yet the timelessly patient Merchant continues to analyze each mistake I make, offer suggestions on how to not make it next time, and tie it back in with the general principles of what he calls the Goblinoid Physical Arts, involved with my error. At fifteen thousand circuits, the room changes-and predictably, my capture rate spikes again. I recover faster this time, and get the capture rate below one hundred by the next reset at thirty thousand-and down to thirty by the next. At sixty three thousand, nine hundred eight circuits completed, I experience my first 'successful' run of the new circuits. It takes another reset, and a total of eighty three thousand, seven hundred fifty eight circuits to satisfy the Sometimes Merchant that, in a small town with a population in the low hundreds, I could effectively be invisible, with sufficient effort and time. He notes that while I now seem to firmly have ingrained the principles into my bones-I am still hesitating far too much-too reliant on familiarity, on time to second guess oneself.

[DISCONTINUITY]

To this end, he says, do we come to the third and final variant of instruction. The room swells, to ten times its original size-skyscrapers, castles, huts, mansions igloos-all manner of terrain one could ever hope to see, from desert to jungle, from beach to mountain-has some representation here. I note the now small-city sized room to be packed with observers. I am told that I will learn how to be alacritous, and how to hide in crowds, and combine it all with my extant lessons. Each 'mission, will require me to use a given portrait of a target, as well as a general area of the massive room they will traverse, and am told to reach them, then stalk them for as long as possible-the goal being to shadow them until they sleep, wake, and sleep again.

[DISCONTINUITY]

The first time I am caught enough times I stop counting after ten thousand. Frustrated that each new lesson version makes the accomplishments of the last seem as dust in my hands, I continue to slog through, mission after mission. I'm down to being caught a thousand times, give or take, by the fifty nine thousandth circuit-and my progress continues to slow from there. I lose count around one hundred thousand times..... and seem to crest at being caught some hundred times, no matter how hard I try. I keep hearing Sometimes Merchant urging me to move faster, to think faster, to perceive and understand faster-and as the circuits pass by I wonder if my human limits have been reached. I couldn't really say just when it happened, but some number of circuits after I came to the conclusion, The Merchant concludes that there is nothing more that can be taught.

With that, I'm back in a tiny metal box with guns everywhere-
Fuck, this is the storage shed I use-those are my Matebas, there's the AVT-40 Sniper, that... big German guy, Brandt's gun, my armor-

And there's the AA-12. Or I think that's what it is.

The metal forestock has been covered in what look like fangs, each perfectly slotted together in a manner vaguely reminiscent of scale-mail. Some creature's vertebra were cored, and slotted around the barrel and muzzle, completing the new look-that's right, I asked for the weapon to be made able to reject regeneration.

>[AA-12 now gets a +5 supernatural bonus to rolls, and negates two level's worth of regeneration in any regenerating target it strikes-up to three levels for the full magazine.]

I feel surreal as I make my way back home, staring myself in the face to make sure I haven't aged-yet despite that eternity, here I am, back home-as I open the door Camella looks up at me like she did any other day before-except that before was today, even if it was a subjective eternity. ....Nothing's changed, did that really happen?

I idly note that Camella, despite having turned her eyes back to her book, is still attentive to me-she has picked up on my awkward body language. I quiet my form-and feel her attention abate. I experimentally sidestep her focus area, moving like a snake, to stand beside her. I wait a few moments-she starts, blinking at me at her side.
>[Camella]"Gah-some quiet footsteps you have there!"
"You have no idea."
>[Camella]"....What did you do?"
"Succinctly, I got rid of my... magic spike problem."
>[Camella]"Dios mio what did you do?"
"I managed to sell them to someone who won't abuse them."
>[Camella]"You... sold them."
"Yeah-amazing the kind of business deals you can make, right?"
"...You aren't explaining any more, are you?"
>[Camella]"I'd rather not."
"...Do you swear what you did will not come back to bite either of us in the ass?"
>[Camella]"You, at least-you may have noticed I have unusual luck. ...Look, I'm really tired, I need some rest."
Camella offers no more questions as I make my way to the bed, and happily sleep, for the first time in a long time.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2010 dawns-

With a letter from Ito at my door, giving nothing more than an address.






What's my plan, from here until the Smets job on Wednesday?
>>
No. 311015 ID: 0d095c

You must IMMEDIATELY inform Mr. L and Ms. H of this whole vampire problem. They will need to restructure their plans and armaments. If we went in now, with the current plan, they might be injured or even killed. Ergo, a meeting. Also, you may as well check out what Mr. Ito wants. Stealthily. This may be a trap from Doonongaes.
>>
No. 311062 ID: ae0719

Monday- visit Ito. See if you can fake being merely normal convincingly; no need to go advertising our new abilities if we can help it.

This will help with Smets, I think- we pretend to be normal-ish, he gets attracted to our bloodline, then if we can step outside of his perception and gun him down with the AA-12...

Tuesday- Smets is a vampire of the Zosimos dynasty; we'll need to have something ready for him. Spend 3 hours of the accrued time to get an hour of instruction on how to properly hurt a vampire. Does blessing and holy stuff hurt them, or is that just a legend? Can they turn into bats, smoke or shadows to escape? How can you be certain you've killed one? Then we can do this two ways- either seek out a church (say, the one Havoc et al want to meet at) and convince or steal some stuff to cast our own shells or fill hollow shells with holy water or whatever. OR, we go meet the wolves, and wonder what they'd offer for under-the-table assistance in a mortal taking out a Zosimos vampire (not Cornelius)? They can only gain if one of their enemies is taken down by some amateur vampire hunter, right?

Also, prior to Wednesday, pick up one of those Scent Shield bar soaps and Scent Killer odor elimination sprays at a hunting goods store. Maybe scent-masking clothes, too. I bet vamps have a good sense of smell.

Then tell Camella, "Well, I'm off to kill a vampire." See if she feels like coming with.
>>
No. 311070 ID: 835a2d

>>311015
Yes - tell them EVERYTHING you learned from your personal contact.

Also, holy shit that AA-12 - get yourself some nasty-ass ammo. Since the GUN ignores regen, we could just use it as a grenade launcher. :3c
>>
No. 311085 ID: 692cff

Send a text to Locke and Havoc to meet once the day before the mission is planned.

Then head Ito's. I say we try and keep our movement natural everywhere but training alone with Ito. Let him see the way you move now, and maybe see if you can get him to give advice about incorporating it into the way you fight. Smoother feints and reading your enemy more aptly might be something you should better incorporate into the foundation of your fighting style. Also, see if you can get him to teach you to help sense Chakra or calm your own. You could incorporate these into your sneaking skills.

For tuesday, head to the suggested meeting, but only after you trade in three hours for vampire hunting training from the Goblins. I get the feeling those two probably know what to do in case of Vampire already, but you want to seem competent so you can't go there without knowing that stuff too.
>>
No. 311110 ID: 856690
File 130766051039.png - (36.53KB , 400x640 , Armasbeingcreepy.png )
311110

Armas sulking in the shadows in his trenchcoat.

I would recommend leaning forwards towards your screen otherwise, all you will see is smile and red eyes.

Red eyes cause they are more creepy than regular ones
>>
No. 311112 ID: d3dfb8

Make Camella some breakfast, don't let her see you enter the kitchen. Be loud and obvious about it, when she comes to check how you got there without her seeing hide, don't let her see you. When it's all done put the plate next to her without her noticing, then return to your bed like you'd gone back to bed and told the food to prepare itself. Fuck yeah wizards.
>>
No. 311113 ID: 81f32a

Oh, now that you have had an eternity of stealth training, you can watch the plans and notes on Smets security on completely different level.
So spend few hours going over them and preparing a better plan.

You should meet your partners and relay the information about Smets. Though I am not sure if we should tell them of his dynasty, they could pull out if they hear of it.
Before trying to gather materials against a vampire you should ask your partners to provide you with if they can.

Since it is getting close to deadline, you could try pitching the idea for Camella to join us. Argue that for last week she has not been doing much and that she could use a break from this boredom.
Of course, tell her what we will be dealing with.
If she comes, give her the GatMalite and maybe AA-12

Speaking of sneaking training.
You have learned to predict where the target will look, where it will MOVE, right?
This can be applied not only for keeping out of someones attention but also in combat situations. You can permanently improve the accuracy of all your ranged attacks because you will know where they will dodge and where they will move. You can dodge better since you can anticipate what their next move will be and dodge/take cover just when they shoot you. Of course, it is always better to ambush them by always keeping out of their sigh, but if you find yourself in a firefight your sneaking skills still will work wonders for you.

On that note, those skills can even be applied in CQC, you can always know your targets next move and strike according to that information but not only that, you could actually try sneaking while fighting, as in, you could always move out of their focus area, don't make sound and conceal your body movements in such way that they cannot accurately tell what you are doing.
You could try this out during Ito's training and when sparring at the Gym.

Actually, try out your abilities as much as you can. Like, when walking a busy street, in the shop, etc..
Shit, we could try to troll Camella more by seemingly disappearing and reappearing at different places.


Look the recipes you have received from the professor and see if any of the new meat can be used for a dish. If they can, then PREPARE SOMETHING!
If not, well, prepare something delicious anyway.


Call up Arkvad, you still don't know what happened to him after that wild night!


You should get an hour or two training on vampire anatomy and their weaknesses, mythical stories are not reliable since vast bulk of them are written by those creatures themselves. For example Erzsi didn't perish into a cloud of dust even though the penthouse suit was brightened by the Sun. She just slept.
Since you will meet with SM for the training anyway, ask him if they are interested in low-quality demon blood you got. Probably not, but hey, never hurts to ask.
You should also get 2-3 hours of magic weapon identification training since due to the palindrome effects he lost the previous training (and Armas should have noticed already due to handling AA-12! )
>>
No. 311114 ID: 692cff

>>311070
Unending Hunger? The fang motif and sucking away at regeneration makes me want to link it to eating somehow. One gun for eating, one for drinking.

Also, call up Erzsi on tuesday. Say you've got another magic gun you might be able to show her, provided she offers up the material for the demonstration. It requires some of her blood. We can then have Keihas get some anti-vamp bonus before we go on the Smets mission that way. Of course, we need to charge her something for this. Not sure what to ask for though. Other posters can come up with suggestions for that.

Also, we should see about getting a Barbed spike of somekind on Keihas' stock, so we can stab it into things and let it stick there draining something to death.
>>
No. 311119 ID: ef6abc

>>311112
This. THIS
>>
No. 311120 ID: 692cff

>>311112
I like this idea so much it hurts.
>>
No. 311123 ID: 81f32a

>>311112
Seconding this.
Too hilarious not to do it.
>>
No. 311130 ID: 856690

>>311113
>>311112
Combine

...nuff said!
Also we really need to find a priest or something.
>>311062
This has a few ideas in it... also what about sanctifying or purifying Mammon's device? Just a thought, also get a cherry or apple wood stake, just in case.

Also I may have said this before, but carry jerky-bag with you at all times. Don't leave home without it!
>>
No. 311132 ID: 81f32a

>>311130
>This has a few ideas in it... also what about sanctifying or purifying Mammon's device? Just a thought, also get a cherry or apple wood stake, just in case.

Better not to. I think in the end we will get just a regular non-magic gun. Inverting the powers like you think might be just too fucking hard and costly for them to bother.
>>
No. 311140 ID: 835a2d

>what about sanctifying or purifying Mammon's device?

:|

Yes, let's just dip the weapon of one of satan's bosom buddies into Holy Water and see what happens, eh?
>>
No. 311146 ID: 1be29c

>>311140
Gun capable of both: One chamber's capable of HOLY attacks, the other's CURSED Hellfire
>>
No. 311150 ID: 234c26

>>310994
Sneak everywhere you go. Even at your best, your sneaking skills are still imperfect; you still showed significant gains from familiarity. That means that familiarity is of benefit to you- that you can become better at unseen movement through this city if you come to know it better. Keep those skills razor sharp. Even when you think you're alone, put yourself into positions where if someone were present they wouldn't notice you. Be relentless.

There is no point in pretending to be normal, because we won't be seen if we're not pretending. The only place where there is a meaningful purpose in concealing our new skills is in the presence of specific people that we want to hide them from, so it would be prudent to arrive at any given destination in a normal human fashion- but during the vast majority of our travels, use our stealth to its fullest to keep our mastery sharp and to learn Istanbul from the correct point of view.


Learn about hunting vampires from the goblins, if you can. Hell, learn about butchering them, too; I bet you can cook up some delicious and very powerful dishes using vampire blood, if you're careful to prepare it in ways that will stop it from influencing you in undesired ways.

Once you have done that, inform your partners that Smets is a vampire and of his weaknesses that you dug up.


Call Arkvad and thank him for going out with you last night, see if you can get a description of exactly what happened without being too obvious about the fact that you remember virtually nothing.


Go see Ito for training, and try to mix stealth into your combat style. Do not let anyone other than Ito see you display the capability for doing so. Only he is allowed to see you use your full goblin-powered fighting abilities outside a true combat situation. Also, congratulate him on his new dojo, if that's indeed what he got, and check out its facilities.


Go see the werewolves once all that other stuff is done and before the Smets job actually takes place; they might have some input on how to best take down a vampire and would likely be more than eager to give it, even though we're not going to take their offer to break our deal with Cornelius. While we're there, maybe we can learn something about politics between the different vampire dynasties; how removed from one another are they? Are they usually friendly or hostile? Would a vampire of one dynasty jump at the chance to harm or destroy one of another dynasty?


>>311112
I am not a huge fan of trolling Camella. But... whatever, I suppose. When she expresses astonishment, explain nothing, but continue to insist that we are not a wizard. Explain that the last time tangled with a wizard, there was a gigantic zombie army slaved to his will involved, so that is the power level that she should expect from them. They do not live in tiny apartments and spend their time tenderly caring for wounded and dimensionally wandering waifs.

>>311113
Hey, palindrome time! I wonder if we'll feel anything.

>Since you will meet with SM for the training anyway, ask him if they are interested in low-quality demon blood you got. Probably not, but hey, never hurts to ask.
We got that blood to use it, not to sell it. It will be useful once we get around to enchanting and cooking awesome things.

>>311114
>Also, we should see about getting a Barbed spike of somekind on Keihas' stock, so we can stab it into things and let it stick there draining something to death.
Perhaps we could just see about extending the blood-draining ability to apply to things stabbed with the bayonet end, rather than modifying the weapon's structure. We will likely be able to learn how to do that once we get a bit more training in weapon enchanting.

>Also, call up Erzsi on tuesday.
Unless we learn that vampires of different dynasties hate one another, I am opposed to this. If we do learn that, though, maybe we can sell her advance knowledge that Smets is going down in exchange for... something. Not her blood, that would be a waste, but perhaps a future favor. Favor-brokering is always good; one never knows when they'll need backup.
>>
No. 311152 ID: 054606

Since you have learned to FEEL when someone is observing you from the sneaking training, be attentive all the time to find out if anyone is observing you, when you go for groceries, when you go to Ito's classes, storage, etc...
>>
No. 311181 ID: c6ce12
File 130766514454.jpg - (25.10KB , 450x600 , 450px-Leiomano.jpg )
311181

I think we should try to contact the werekin clan headed by the matron soon, but not only for help in dealing with Smets. For one there's the standing suggestion to see what they could offer us should we switch to their side, something that we could now add another effect to by saying we're willing to kill one of the Zosimus Clan, but that's not the main reason to go. There have been some concerns raised towards us keeping the Mammon's Device, like if it'll be taken from us, stolen, and any other manner of trickery that could happen related to it. The most suggested solution has been to sell it, and the werewolves would perhaps make some of the best buyers. We could try to recapture what they could have offered for the magical lightening strikes that we just traded to the goblins, giving us a highly customizable rage spirit that we could use to great effect, an effect that would be the equivalent to a level 5 combat trait. We could even make an event out of this, talk to the Sometimes Merchant and negotiate for him to advertize this before we go up to the matron, hold little presentation and right after we immediately sell it to screw with thieves. The Sometimes Merchant can charge for admission, so that takes care of what he could want in exchange.

This also might be a good time to call up Johan Straus, the demonologist. If we end up selling the Mammon's Device he could do something with the ammo, maybe see if he can make some way for us to fire six 454 casulls made from MD bullets to create a similar effect. While we're there we can also pick up a standard array of anti-vampire ammunition, perhaps some anti-werewolf ammo too, never hurts to be prepared. This probably should happen before any of the above.

>>311112
Seconding.

>>311114
How about instead of a big spike we inset the stock with teeth. This would be done in a fashion similar to a Leiomano, a shark toothed club used by the Maori and the Hawaiins. That's one layer of power there because it ties it to our other bloodline. The we could make the teeth anything we want, but I think for the best effect we use vampire fangs. Think about the resonance a vampiric weapon that's power comes from it's stock being given the fangs of the creature it shares.
>>
No. 311185 ID: 856690

>>311176
Wonderful, Upvoting, also we should dose Keihas up on all three bloods we got now! Blood Spoils after all!
>>
No. 311193 ID: 692cff

>>311181
I'm against making our Winter weapon have Summer ties. Vampire fangs I'm all for though. I also think we should arrange for the personal Keihas demonstration for Erzsi right after. We get her blood, the demon blood, and some prepared blood from Armas and soak Keihas in them all at the sametime. Blood spoils, so we can't hold off on the demon blood forever.

And when we bring up the Sometimes merchant marketing the demonstration, maybe get something from it too. The fangs for Keihas for instance? Or maybe some more food.
>>
No. 311201 ID: 692cff

>>311181
I'm against making our Winter weapon have Summer ties. Vampire fangs I'm all for though. I also think we should arrange for the personal Keihas demonstration for Erzsi right after. We get her blood, the demon blood, and some prepared blood from Armas and soak Keihas in them all at the sametime. Blood spoils, so we can't hold off on the demon blood forever. Also, prepare some Basilisk blood pudding ahead of time for her when we do this. We want to win her over no matter what side we take.

And when we bring up the Sometimes merchant marketing the demonstration, maybe get something from it too. The fangs for Keihas for instance? Or maybe some more food.
>>
No. 311217 ID: dc383e

>>311201
the reasoning behind this seems solid. upvote
>>
No. 311218 ID: 92dcd7

>>311114
>>311150
>>311176
Instead of a spike or just some teeth, why not make an entire mechanism devoted to aiding Keihas's feeding? I'm thinking something like a reverse bear-trap attached to the stock: Designed to be flat when closed so Armus won't wound himself when firing and then springs open when we need to attack open wounds and such.

Also, I'm wondering if the regeneration negation from the AA-12 ONLY applies to when it fires? We know smets has a drinking problem, so what exactly stops us from say... Submerging the AA-12 in a mixture of cheap booze and the demon blood we currently have on hand and then packaging it up real nice and sneaking the stuff into his office?
>>
No. 311223 ID: 0d095c

I thought when they said DRINKING problem in connection with a vampire, that they meant he was addicted to magic blood?

I was gonna suggest that Armus bleed a little in front of the guy, then when he goes nuts we beat him to death with out MAGIC GUNS.
>>
No. 311243 ID: 692cff

>>311217
You're a prick

>>311223
Well, we really want to be sneaky, but yes, if we get into a fight, see if we can nick ourselves or something.
>>
No. 311283 ID: 856690
File 130767066755.png - (129.86KB , 640x400 , FlesheaterA12.png )
311283

Bob, wanted a pic of the new look of the a-12, well here is it, such as it is.

Also I love the teeth idea for Keihas, hopefully through magic, it'll end up as a mouth, it would also be hilarious/creepy if Keihas could speak.
>>
No. 311287 ID: 28e94e

>>311283
Unless I'm mistaken the teeth are on the stock, not the receiver.
>>
No. 311288 ID: 692cff

>>311287
The pictures right. Forestock and stock are two different parts.
>>
No. 311337 ID: d3dfb8

>>311337
GET
>>
No. 311338 ID: ae0719

I'm not in favor of trolling Camella, except indirectly. That is, wait for her to be out on a job, then invoke stealth and vanish.

>>311181
I'm okay with going to the werekin, but don't have the SM put up adverts. We'd have to pay him for his time, and we're already going to visit them on unrelated business (re: vampires).

Also, they may be able to bind a Hunger fragment to us, rather than Rage. "A cold, rational hunger-all is discarded save what is relevant to slaying what you face so it can be consumed," was how it was described to me.
>>
No. 311342 ID: 44766a

I like the sound of the Hunger fragment.
>>
No. 311356 ID: 835a2d

>Hunger and Greed are closely related

Hell yeah
>>
No. 311359 ID: 44766a

Wouldn't it be closer to Gluttony?
>>
No. 311363 ID: 81f32a

>>311201
>Over-saturating Keihas with blood

YES
Do that!
Add basilisk blood.
Also Armas can put much more blood than normally would be possible because he can eat magic meat and recover his blood-loss.
>>
No. 311376 ID: a76809

>>311112
I decide to prowl out to the living room, checking on Camella-she sleeps, her attention still unfocused-but it is the light sleep of a deep-field operative. And I decide to have some fun with her. I head into the kitchen, my footfalls timed to her breaths-and start to loudly make breakfast, utilizing a different recipe (this one's name not translating properly, and simply tagged as using the Hippocamp and Kelpy meat alike with Mandragora root-a heart stew that I set to bubble, puts all a-clatter. It takes perhaps ten seconds for Camella to wander into the kitchen-I'm ready when she does. I feel her attention on the far section of the room, her head having just finished turning, adjusting to the lack of shifting surroundings-I move in synchronous with her own head's turning speed-and she doesn't even notice me slipping up behind her. She stands there for a moment, looking at the clearly begun cooking, glancing about-and sees not a trace of me. If I was not controlling my breathing she'd feel it on the back of her neck. I feel her attention leave the kitchen-I whirl about her as she turns and pads back off to the living room.

Which I take as my cue to keep nosily cooking. I manage to get the last of the preparation done, and throw everything into the pot seconds before she walks in once more, this time her eyes far more alert. Sadly for her, I expected it-and left the refridgerator door swinging shut-the distraction keeping her attention away from me as I exit the room and observe from over her shoulder, behind her in the living room. She walks over, inspects the food-she sees progress has been made-and starts to walk towards my room.

Ah.

I dash, steps timed to hers, back to my room, flowing under the covers and steadying my breathing-

There is a brief, but viciously tense stand-off, as I continue to feign sleep, and she continues to watch.... before she relents, and departs. I stay in place, feeling her attention still on me despite her retreating footsteps-and sure enough, ten seconds later her head whips around the corner, as if to catch me in the act-but my sense of focus let me read her too well. And now, cleared, in her mind, I once more get up as she goes back out to the living room, checking on the stew-nothing more needs doing, so I quietly prepare a tray and soup bowl for her-and continue to give her no reason to think me awake. Fifteen minutes later, some twenty after dawn, the stew is done-I serve her up a bowl-and place it beside the couch, just as she is doing a morning exercise routine. I go back to bed and wait.


Two minutes later feet stomp down the haul and my bedroom door is thrust open.
>[Camella]"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"...What?"
>[Camella]"Don't play dumb with me-you, you were cooking, in the kitchen, and-"
"I was? When?"
>[Camella]"Just now!"
"...So why am I in bed then?"
>[Camella]"You-"
"Enjoy your stew, Camella."

It takes an hour before she's willing to talk to me again-in large part because the stew is a rousing success.

>>311015
I decide the 'official' first thing I do this Monday morning-is act on the information I got from the Sometimes Merchant. Fuck, what was it... Smets, vampire-Zosimus Dynasty, that was it. The disposable cell phone, feeling alien in my fingers, a number dialed-
>[Havoc]"What requires contact, Mr. Laine?"
>[DDDD Trait activated]
"Well how about the fact Smets is a vampire-which I do not see mentioned anywhere in your documents."
There is a lengthy pause, and I am content to give her time to regain composure. She doesn't disappoint. Shortly-
>[Havoc]"You have a proposal, I assume."
"Yes-meeting tomorrow-at the church."
>[Havoc]"Where did you come by this?"
"As it happens, I have connections."
Another lengthy pause. What's with her and her heavy pauses?
>[Havoc]"...Dawn?"
"I can do that."
She hangs up....okay, then. Terse as ever-but she listened.

>>311062
From there, I decide to head out, already wondering if I still remember how to move... normally-
>[Camella]"Hey."
I guess I do. I turn my head-
"Hm?"
>[Camella]"Where are you headed?"
"To what I think is Ito's new place."
>[Camella]"The shriveled old prune has a new place? Wonderful-well let's go!"
...I guess she's coming. Well, makes it easier, I suppose-otherwise all those faces I don't know, my instinct now? It'd be to try and stay hidden. But Camella-certainly no lifelong friend or family member, but I know her, at least-so it isn't as hard to force myself to just... walk normally.

Ito's place is impressive-I have to give him that. He has punching bags, practice mats, complete with two padded walls for safe simulation of cramped fighting-I see free weights, and racks of differently sized and weighted practice staffs. I see a yellowed parchment, some Japanese title or commendation for Ito, I'd guess-along with a bevy of polished medals from his service-even placards from past competitions-all for first place. He lined them along the central beam of the main room-can't help but see them coming up the steps-nicely done, Ito.

The old man in question happily gives the two of us a tour-and along the way I note Shaya, Ahmad, Hadar, Hafaz and Yoni all likewise approaching-did he invite all of us? At first our two groups are... somewhat awkward around one another, but Ito has none of it, and after showing us an inbuilt meat freezer, kitchen and dining area, he goes past, to show us what he clearly thinks is the prize-a row of four rooms, two of them sporting pairs of bunkbeds, while the last two each have but one bed. At the end of the hall a miniature group shower and bathroom is adjacent to a steam room-

And that completes the tour. Single floor, I noted all the windows have bars on them-iron no less-indoor plumbing and food storage-walls that aren't just plaster, but seem to have considerable metal framework within-I have to admit, I am very much so liking the eight-room dojo-and with the tour, ask what he's going to call it.

>[Ito]"As of yet, do not know. Do know this-I can get a cook-a younger nephew could serve-but will still need help getting students-even at three hundred per person, it would not be enough to keep this place. May I ask of you all to make mention of me to your friends who may be interested?"
Not a one of us has an issue with Ito's request-and we get to sparring.

It takes me about half an hour to clear the gunk out of my mind-having not thrown a punch in... a very long and short time. ...I still feel out of sorts from the Nevernever training, but enough throws to the mat get me back in the proper mindset. Camella continues to trounce most of the others-and gets to squaring up with Hafaz. They exchange shifting lock and grapple attempts, footwork that conjoins offense and defense, and feints seamlessly woven in with full-force strikes. Camella slowly but inexorably is overwhelming Hafaz, monstrous stamina keeping her going full throttle-

Until he does something I can't see, Camella drops to her knees wheezing-and the fight is over. Hafaz makes some excuse shortly thereafter to leave-while the remaining four swarm about Camella, all offering o take her to lunch, noon having rolled past an hour ago. She accepts, saying she'll be back in a few hours-

Leaving Ito and I alone.

>>311085
>>311113<< [PALENDROMES CAPTURED BY GOBLINS: 001]
>>311150
>[Ito]"You have been acting... different... today."
"I suppose you could say I had the chance to grow up a bit overnight."
>[Ito]"More dealing with spirits? The same as those involved in your energy imbalance?"
"About that-not really an issue anymore."
>[Ito]"That was power enough to rock nations-how is it not an issue?"
"I traded them away-got something rather enjoyable in exchange, I might add-a chance to learn."
>[Ito]"Learn what?"
"...Why don't I show you?"

Once more, Ito and I spar in earnest-and once more, I do not restrict myself to Jukenjitsu. This time, with the Sometimes Merchant's lessons branded into my mind-the fight flows differently.

I imagine it looked quite comical, from the outside. A tiny old man, with a towering youth constantly ducking and lunging, moving to stay hidden behind the old one's own body. Viewers might deride my fighting, saying I spend too much time dancing around-why not fight the old man outright?

Because I already am. I can't get a read off someone, even someone I know as well as Ito, precise enough to know what they are going to do-but I can get a general sense. Conjoining that rough gut feeling of their attack timing with my sense of their focus-I just keep relocating, moving just an instant before he does, too close to his own action for him to change it-

And not once, does Ito's staff reach me. Certainly our bodies make contact often enough-I have no other way to keep moving out of his vision, really-but not a single clean hit, just a multitude of 'almosts'. The fact I don't strike him either does not surprise me-I expect my Jukenjitsu skills to be every bit as decayed as the rest-

And eventually Ito steps back, motioning for me to stop as he wheezes.

>[BLIND SPOT BRAWLER Trait Revealed!
>-This level three Combat trait lets Armas automatically move towards for blind spots in melee combat-it does not in any way make him more lethal, or more durable-it merely makes it harder to concretely target or strike him.

>[Ito]"...Who... taught you that footwork?"
"Where did you learn how to shunt what struck me in your old dojo?"
>[Ito]"....."
"I've funded you and am ultimately responsible for the resurge in your vocation's viability."
>[Ito]"...What?"
"I feel I am due an explanation, before I offer you one."
The old japanese man walks over to the diminutive cafeteria, pulls out a kettle from beneath the bar, and begins making tea. With nothing better to do, I simply sit down at one of the tables-and wait. Finally, after setting down a mug for both of us, Ito sits down-

....To wait for the tea to cool for his first sip, my god. Patience wearing a little thin here.

>[Ito]"My master's master, in the ways of martial arts, was from India-a man with great skill, and strange ideas. He spoke of Chakras within the body, of energy to pull and manipulate.... And some of it, was true. How else you think I keep up with young beasts like you? I am eighty three."
"...And can you teach me this?"
>[Ito]"I can teach what I know-how to move energy, pull it from your core, put it in your muscles-or in your skin. All I can teach you is limited.... hardness, and strong-ness."
"Quite frankly, I'll learn everything I can."
>[Ito]"...You will, won't you."
"So you'll teach me?"
>[Ito]"Something tells me I shouldn't, but no reason can be given to the feeling-yes, you shall be taught. As before, my doors are open to you any time. Here is my current phone number-just call before coming, please."
"Can do."

And with that, the day reuniting with Ito concludes-I am a bit amazed that I sparred with Ito for two solid hours, after several hours of regular sparring-but if anything, it feels far less tiring then I remember such exertions being-srange.

>>311181
The last thing I do-after yet another round of Krav Maga training with everyone else, on the way back with Camella, is call a number.

>[JS]"...Johan."
"I'd like to discuss business with you-in person. Are you free tomorrow in the afternoon?"
>[JS]"..Yes. Address-"
And that's as far as the conversation gets-not one for words, that Demonologist. Still, I should be set-between that appointment, to see if any of the ideas I have about gun retooling can be done, and the appointment to re-look at our approach to the Smets job-well, things should be good.

After adding another trio of hours to my goblin training time-the total now up to thirty seven-I redeem three, getting a comprehensive analysis of general vampire weaknesses. What I learn rumbles about in my head as I finally rest.

-Sunlight does not kill or injure vampires-it does forcibly put them to sleep, however. Only direct sunlight does this-if reflected from a mirror or other surface, the vampire is not forced into a sedated slumber.
-Garlic, silver, crosses-neither do anything. Several religious texts can offer protection to the fanatically devout, but the protection is haphazard at best.
-Wood of any sort introduced into the heart causes a chain reaction system shock that kills the vampire.
-Total destruction of the head will kill any vampire under a hundred years of age.
-Vampires have increased phsyical strength and speed-but are still as fragile as the base humans they are made from. Vampire combat is heavily reliant on their regenerative abilities-which means that you can drain their blood supply by forcing them into a long battle.
-Trying to beat down a vampire toe to toe on a time limit is arguably the worst way one could approach fighting one.

>[Vampire knowledge: gain]

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD, 2010 begins.







What should I do?
For the Havoc/Locke meeting-what kind of plan amendments do I suggest, given our target is a vampire?
What specifically do I propose to Johan when we meet?
Is there anything else I should do before the Smets job on Wednesday?
>>
No. 311381 ID: 835a2d

>Vampire combat is heavily reliant on their regenerative abilities-which means that you can drain their blood supply by forcing them into a long battle.

>Heavily reliant

>Kill them by blood drain

HA

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Armas, feel free to hold the AA-12 and Keihas over your head and cackle maniacally, later.
>>
No. 311386 ID: 692cff

Make Camella breakfast normally today, just to keep her guessing. Havoc and Locke meeting, tell them everything but his dynasty. Because he's likely aware that stalling for time helps him, using a threat to his collection or blood from a bloodline as bait are good options to keep him from doing that. Bring that up.

Assuming that the Wednesday meeting is either at night or gets moved, let's talk to the Sometimes Merchant about him marketing and selling admission to a demonstration of Mammon's device. We then set it up so we go see the Werekins' witch long enough before the demonstration to give us time to finish our business with her and then give the demonstration.

We use this to play up the sale. Not only does this give her a bigger market to go to if she wants to sell it once she gets it, but we factor in that we'd have a lot of potential buyers after as well. We'd prefer if we didn't auction it right there though, but she is very clearly not the only person we could go to. We're giving her first dig, as a token of good faith. That's how we sell it, though really it's so no-one has a chance to steal it from us and so no-one knows what is being traded for it.

Now, as for a general approach to how we present ourselves to the witch, I say we come armed, but offer to hand over our weapons at the door if they don't ask us to. We stay calm, collected, and warm. You started playing with body language before, but now you have that immense amount of experience predicting people in those imaginary cities. Some people must've been flirting, and not just young couples, but business types playing cat and mouse games of seduction in meetings is likely something else you ran into, and you had to know how they'd move and where'd they look. Use this. Imitate the body language the successful ones used. Mention how you appreciate the "Please" over "Accept or die", and how while this meeting was meant for business, and you're still thinking over the implications of the deals, a beautiful women with <insert specific compliment on looks here> as opposed to an overly flashy man tends to tip an even balance.

If you can get her to play along, try and ask her about the Habsburg Dynasty eventually. If she inquires as to why, say that you ran into a young member who is utterly adorable, like a kitten trying to savage your hand. Try and make her a little jealous, and then play up the fact that you think of Erzsi more as a pet a little bit. Flirting with a woman, and then making it seem like you have a slight interest in someone else is one of the most effective ways to get them to pursue you that I know.

>>311338
Have it tie to winter somehow and I'm for the Hunger Fragment over Rage. Maybe tie it to Hati Hróðvitnisson. He Who Hates His Enemies and is very damn dedicated to eating the moon. As for what we host the spirit in, I say we go for either a sub-dermal implant, a full set of normal looking dental implants that are linked under our gums, a belt buckle, or a tattoo. Go ahead and talk with the witch about the benefits of all of these.

and

>>311201

And then after all that we can kill Smets at night. I like Wednesdays, so let's be busy then.
>>
No. 311387 ID: 46c430

Oh, yeah. For the mission (This one and any others you do together), give thought to loaning and/or gifting some of your weapondry to Camella, as you're getting quite the armory. Like, you have Keihas and she has the super AA-12? Mean you could pump out more magical gunfire in a shorter period of time. Heck, look over your armory, try to figure out what she'd get more use out of than you.
>>
No. 311388 ID: 835a2d

I'm half a mind to say we have the AA and Keihas, and she has the Matebas.
>>
No. 311392 ID: d3dfb8

>>311388
Or, because we can use those matebas at the same time as our other weapons via creative use of gravity and momentum, we offer to buy her some weapons of her choice. Then we go on a SHOPPING SPREE!
>>
No. 311393 ID: 692cff

Oh, and since Camella has been so interested in the Smets mission and how he may be innocent, lets flat out tell her that he's a vampire with a taste for snacking on people like Armas with delicious bloodlines.
>>
No. 311414 ID: 234c26

>>311376
>What should I do?
Talk to Camella. Do this before leaving to meet with Havoc and Locke. You cannot spring a new member of the team on them at the last minute, and this is likely your final meeting before the job- meaning that you must know if Camella is in or out before the meeting so that you can inform them that you will be bringing an additional fighter as backup if she's in.

When speaking with Camella, don't press. Just say that the Smets job is moving forward and you need to know if she's in. Mention that it turns out he's a vampire, if she finds it easier to assault something that's not human, although as his guards are human that shouldn't make much difference. Anyway, she needs to be in or out so that you know what you're doing.

>For the Havoc/Locke meeting-what kind of plan amendments do I suggest, given our target is a vampire?
The guards, butler, and servants just stopped being a relatively trivial problem; it's virtually certain that some of them are going to be ghouls. That will make them significantly harder to deal with and change their priorities- protecting Smets is no longer a job, it's a compulsion, and they won't be easily intimidated or tricked away from it. Find out how they would respond to him dying, assuming that he's their vampire master.

It's unlikely that Smets has any lesser vampires on-site, but not impossible. So don't be surprised by that, either.

Your plan should probably also now take place in the daytime; vampires are better at night operation, and ghouls probably get a boost to nocturnal operations relative to humans as well. Just after dawn should work.

This makes Smets a much harder target. It'll take a lot of concentrated firepower to take him down. You'll need to plan for it.

This will also be the last opportunity to discuss division of loot. They covered their contractors presumably out of pocket- which means that if Camella comes, you'll be paying her out of your share; she can't expect an equal portion of the take, and you shouldn't even try to argue for it. Make sure that this is arranged ahead of time so that there is no disagreement when the time comes.

And of course mention that you'll bring an additional person for support, if Camella agreed to come.

>Is there anything else I should do before the Smets job on Wednesday?
Brush up more on your magical weapon ID abilities with the goblins. You'll want that for sorting through the loot.

>>311386
Let's not plan on flirting with someone super-powerful that we've never met, please.

And while hunger does sound better than rage, I am opposed to any power-up which comes with a significant mental alteration as part of its package. Being able to think of nothing but anger or prey doesn't strike me as remotely a good thing.

Nor do I support showing off Mammon's Device before a crowd- at least one of them will likely get a silly idea about being able to take it from us sooner or later.

Actually, I would prefer to leave the whole were-kin and Mammon's Device things for after the Smets job is completely wrapped up. Selling Mammon's Device or showing it off or anything is a big deal, and we can afford to spend a couple days delaying on them.
>>
No. 311416 ID: c6ce12

>>311376
In our next meeting with Havoc and Locke we'll just have to see what they know about vampires and how to kill them. If they know less than we do then try your best to recollect your lessons about them and teach them what you know, correcting any misconceptions they may have. Once they know how to kill a vampire ask them if they have any equipment. They probably don't have any vampire slaying equipment so either recommend they buy small crossbows, that or we could try to get some ammunition for them from Johan after getting weapon specifications. You can finish up the meeting by mentioning his obsession with his collection and peculiar eating habits and asking them if they have any alterations they would like to propose based on this information.

For our meeting with Johan we're basically looking to modify either the shells used in the Mammon's Device to work in Judges and/or our Matebas or modify those guns to accept the shells somehow, probably will require doing both really. I haven't the haziest on the specifics of how this would be done, but I expect a hefty cost. I doubt we can pay up front without breakinng the balance we need to have in our bank, so maybe we could offer to immediately notify him of the next owner of the device so we can sell his wares to them right off the bat or give him a couple of the shells so he can have a ready supply to sell.

Other thing we need to do...oh yeah, need to buy some sort of spray that can mask our scent. Spray could come from any supermarket really, they usually sell some scent neutralizing sprays in the cleaning section. Hunting shops usually carry wipes that hunters use to mask their scent too, there are a bunch of brands like Primos and Scent-A-Way Field Wipes, usually at a bout ten bucks a container. Seeing as how it's not very expensive you can afford to get a container for everyone.

Need to make time to call Arkvad too, see if he's alright and maybe warn him the giant, immortal, fish creature could be trying to hunt him. We would recommend spending a lot more time at work if we were him, Holland and Holland is probably one of the safer places in Istanbul.

>>311386
Going to second these plans regarding the sale of the Mammon device and state my preference for the belt buckle as the container for our spirit, I don't particularly care which type of spirit we get so long as we get the most potent version we can.

One thing to consider though, we were given the location of her home for the purpose of discussing breaking Cornelius' offer, so we may want to be prepared to address that should it come up in conversation. I'm fine with trying to dazzle her with out offer and putting off the offered deal until later, but this might be a good chance to see what they would be willing to offer in the case we do decide to take it. If we decide to do that it might be best to impress her by saying we can unmake our own deals thing, not demonstrate though, just so we can more accurately assess what we could get.
>>
No. 311425 ID: 856690

>>311416
>>311386
Well These are both good, and personally i like the idea of the spirit in the teeth.

There has been good suggestions overall, though I would mention, BRING MAGIC JERKY WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.

Also, between Keihas and anti-regen A-12 we are well set!.

Now on to an interesting Idea, Armas needs to practice with the mere and Keihas' bayonet, we need more flensing in our abilities, That way combined with our stealth, we can cut(given an anesthetic blade edge) bits off people without them knowing, then eat those bits(for healing and power) which would terrify any enemy!

So idea for mere modification is such, get some kind of rending, severing ability on it and give it an obsidian cutting edge! The mere should have a bit of severance, considering the nevernever went through it. get SM to see if he can bring something out of it.

He should be well disposed towards you what with getting a strike, still you'll have to bargain.

Should be worth it.
>>
No. 311430 ID: 81f32a

>Do know this-I can get a cook-a younger nephew could serve
This is good and all but Armas should make meals out of his magic beasts too. Would be pretty neat.
Though, perhaps we need to wait longer till we have more comprehensive amount of otherworldly ingredients and the full translation of the book.

>>[Ito]"I can teach what I know-how to move energy, pull it from your core, put it in your muscles-or in your skin. All I can teach you is limited.... hardness, and strong-ness."
>Chakras
Hey, this is pretty awesome since that means Armas will be able to surpass his human limitations and will be able to pass the plateau he hit during the sneaking training.
Though will need to increase his speed and mental processing but I am sure he will be able to find someone to teach him.
I wonder if we can get something out of Hafaz.

>[Vampire knowledge: gain]
You should get a hardened wooden staff with a sharp end ... basically a wooden spear. With your Rifleplay training you could be able to puncture its heart with that spear... though use it only as a back up, the AA-12 is great for this job and if you get into melee, I'd suggest using the vorpal blade on your rifle.

>For the Havoc/Locke meeting-what kind of plan amendments do I suggest, given our target is a vampire?
Not sure actually, ask them what they know about vampires and how to defeat them. Then correct them if they have it wrong.
You could ask them about plan modifications.
Since he is addicted to bloodline bloods you could act as a bait if need be.

>What should I do?
You should really use that imp blood before it spoils. I am still in favor for saturating Keihas with it, Armas blood and basilisk blood (later Vampire blood)
It will take too long till we can craft magic weapons and amulets on our own (unless we get another super powertraining... which I would not mind actually), besides, we can always get more if we need to.

>it feels far less tiring then I remember such exertions being-srange.
Yeah, training for over a decade and some non-stop will do that for you.

>What specifically do I propose to Johan when we meet?
Hmm. Not sure.
Maybe he can enchant our weapons too? But I suspect it will come with a hefty price-tag.
Well, we should bring Keihas, Matebas, AA-12 and ask him if he can make enchanted ammunition for them too. Maybe not so OP as Device's bullets (being made out of rare needles used to execute criminals) so that we can get more bullets without having to pay too much.
Also, depending on the person we might try to squeeze out some training out of him ... a bit long-shot yes, but would be nice.
And while you are there, try to get information on demons, especially mammon

>>311386
>Trying to woo a witch
Lets not.
Actually, lets not meet the werewolves till we deal with Smets and Doony.
Just because we refuse their offer does not mean we cannot have a way in. Armas is a great talker, he will find a way in.


>advertising Mammon Device.
Lets not trade away the Device till we deal with Donnongeas and don't advertise it unless we mean to trade it away immediately after that.

Besides, we still can cash in a deal with those Elf and Vapire chicks. But we should hurry up with all of this, since we have shown them the device they might want to hire someone to steal it from us or whatever.

>As for what we host the spirit in,
How about we host it into tattoos on the backside of our teeth?
I am against making body-tattoos, piercings or any other visible modifications. Buckle is cool and all, but like any other equipment, it can be lost or stolen, better to get new abilities and traits which are bound to our body or soul.


>>311414
>Make sure that this is arranged ahead of time so that there is no disagreement when the time comes.
I agree with that. It will save us trouble later on.
Also, since Armas might act as a bait, he got the most critical information and from the looks of it, he will be doing the most dangerous stuff (since his new skills work perfectly for this) he could put in weight for Camella to get a better share.

>>311416
>recommend they buy small crossbows
Lets not give them suggestions on what weapons to take, they can make the judgement themselves.
It will be as if someone advised us to take a bow instead of Keihas for a mission. Armas would laugh at that, he never used bows so even if it would be perfect for the mission it would be useless for him.

>Need to make time to call Arkvad too,
THIS!
For heavens sake, this!
I think this has been suggested several times since Armas woke up after that crazy night. Why haven't we called him yet?!
...But don't tell him about Doony. Just ask how he is.

>>311181
>How about instead of a big spike we inset the stock with teeth.
This is cools and all but stocks on guns have their specific functions which I don't think I need to tell.
If we put bloodsucking fangs on it, we risk.... actually we are pretty much guaranteed to puncture our own shoulder.
I'd prefer to make it so that it can channel blood through the vorpal blade we but if we put teeth on the stock, at least make them retractable.
>>
No. 311431 ID: 0d095c

Upvoting saturation of Keihas with Demon Blood. Also, learn to use them Chakras, foo!

And yeah, fangs SOUND cool, until you realize that the stock is where your ARM goes. A bit like wielding a chainsaw by the blades. Call Arkvad.
>>
No. 311434 ID: 234c26

>What specifically do I propose to Johan when we meet?
I think the most important thing he's got is knowledge. He can probably tell you quite a bit about demons in general and Mammon in particular- including what level of control Mammon has over his Device, how common such Devices are, and so forth. We could easily offer a couple thousand dollars an hour as a consulting fee.
>>
No. 311450 ID: ae0719

>>311386
At night, or should we kill Smets during the day (when he may step more cautiously or risk being torpor'd)? They say most burglaries happen during daytime.

Also, ask Havoc et al if they have Bloodlines, citing need to know since Smets is known to preferentially go after Bloodline-users.

If they don't, then we can assume he will target Armas first, and for them to be ready for that.

>>311387
She already has an armory of her own, why give her ours? And her skill more than evens out our magic advantage. If she comes along, she'll get a cut of the proceeds, enough to magic up her own weaponry.

>...But don't tell him about Doony. Just ask how he is.
Arkvad knows Doony's out there, why would we keep it from him when he could be a target? Tell him we don't think Doony knows where to find him, but he's still in the area and would have no problem taking potshots at our friends. Plus, he knows what we all look like. Beware an ashy-skinned man with teeth like knives; stick to broad streets or neutral ground for a few months.

>>311434
Ask him if there's a way to distill the power of the soul bullets to allow a weapon other than the Device to fire them at a similar potency.

Also, try to ID Mammon Knight, and what he thinks was up with that stairwell, if we can do it relatively cheaply.

If he can ID the Knight, ask what it would cost to get a few pints of that blood. For the imp blood, we have three... what was it, pints, quarts, liters? Whatever, we drink one, Keihas gets one, and the third we use to experiment. Try leaving Keihas's rounds in it overnight, maybe.

Maybe mention that you've heard things, Disciples gathering... what does he know?
>>
No. 311468 ID: c2d0f1

>>311430
>Lets not trade away the Device till we deal with Donnongeas and don't advertise it unless we mean to trade it away immediately after that.

As I keep saying, it's a bad idea to use the Device on the Donnongeas. It knows we have it, and will be expecting us to use it, so will have been coming up with ways to counter it.

Not only that, but we refused to give the Demon Prince of Greed something he wanted, indeed, we sold it to someone else, and now we are relying on one of his works, which we know he still exerts control over, in a life-or-death struggle? Surely that sounds like a remarkably bad idea to more than just me?

No, sell the Device ASAP, as it's an active liability. Think about it. We showed it to an elf - an elf who may well be related to the one we killed at the same time as we gained the Device. It's quite likely that someone will come looking for it, even if we don't show it to anyone else. Best for it to be out of our hands by then.

Rather than selling it to the witch, I'd much prefer to sell it, the memory of extracting the greed, and training to use it to the goblins in return for education in magic weapon creation.

Talking of training, we should ask the goblins if they can train us in the use of a glaive, as that is pretty similar to a rifle+sword bayonet.

On Ito, you should start the esoteric training right away. Mastering the energy flows within the body should synergise well with our ability to take power from what we eat. Currently it can only be used to accelerate healing, but perhaps we can learn to do better. In return, we should teach Ito our new footwork, as best we can.

On gun modifications, we should talk to Johann if it's possible to re-barrel Keihas without damaging it, so that it uses larger calibre and more powerful bullets.
>>
No. 311485 ID: f0e3ae

>I redeem three, getting a comprehensive analysis of general vampire weaknesses.
Good, now do the same for doonongas's weaknesses as well as the wereclan weaknesses. (first learn what kind of were creatures exist)

>trade mammon device + memory of its special usage for another weapon
Yes, lets do that.
1. It might actually be a better weapon since we include knowledge.
2. We rejected mammon's deal, insulted him (doesn't pay well snub to his lieutenant), then sold what he wanted to someone else. And we know for a fact that he can teleport his gun at well, as well as empower it or deny its magic to the wielder... I am with those who think that he is going to just take it from us at a critical moment with doonie.
3. Doonie only fears that weapon of ours, and is a coward... this could help us draw him to unfavorable conditions to himself. He is much more likely to do so if we don't have the mammon device...

since you had a falling out with mammon and he can recall the device from you: When trading it away stipulate in the agreement that then the deal is only finalized when you deliver it and if you are unable to deliver it then the deal is off without having been violated.

>Drain vampire with our vampire gun
AWESOME IDEA! Imagine how much more powerfully vampyric it will get?
Also, we should see about putting metal spikes on the keihas butt so as to ensure it causes bleeding (for it to feed on).
Test the stab feed on a cow... alternatively use the bayonette jutsu you are learning to slice him open with the elfsword bayonette and then stick the butt in.
Also, can we get H&H to do a more professional job of mounting the bayonette or is it as good as it gets?

Another Idea of mine:
Sell to sometimes merchant the knowledge of HOW you survived your second and third strikes of nevernever and their exact effects on the environment, all your knowledge and memories of how you did so... (rather, a copy of said memories, we don't want to forget).
Trade it for more training...

Actually, we NEED to get a contact of traders of the winter court from someone. We already sold the strikes and we are obligated to not sell certain things to them... but we can sell some knowledge to the winter court.
>>
No. 311509 ID: 692cff

We aren't going to have time to do much of anything on Wednesday. That meeting takes place at noon. Which thinking about it, we need to be cautious. Entirely possible they were hired by Smets, and that's why Havoc was so shocked and wanted us to know where we got our info. Also, we need to see if Camella wants to come too before this meeting, and if so she comes with. Maybe make it clear this is a very professional sort of thing, cause she tends to be a little mouthy. Do not actually call her mouthy though. Say spirited maybe. Oh, and make sure you're AA-12 is packing ammo meant to cover an area. rhodesian jungle, buckshot, flechette, and tripple decker for some punch. And actually, ask the Goblin if the anti-regen property would activate if you use flashbang ammo.

So, revising things a bit. What we want from Johan is the Mammon's Device replacement. Turn a Mateba into it, so our quickdraw gun packs a hell of a punch. Still talk with Sometimes Merchant about setting up that demonstration, and talking to Erszi about showing off Keihas, but these need to happen on, say, thursday or friday. We don't want to give too much time for anyone interested in the show to track down the guns owner, but he does need time to actually advertise it. And we don't really have time for much else. Spend some time going over the security layout, memorizing the information, maybe with Camella if she's going to come with.
>>
No. 311515 ID: f0e3ae

>>311509
>hired by smets
Thats just plain silly.
Besides which arkvard has told us smets stole from them when they purchased a magic item via H&H.
>>
No. 311528 ID: 835a2d

>Also, we should see about putting metal spikes on the keihas butt so as to ensure it causes bleeding (for it to feed on).
>Test the stab feed on a cow... alternatively use the bayonette jutsu you are learning to slice him open with the elfsword bayonette and then stick the butt in.

Uh.

We stick the butt against our shoulder to absorb recoil.

This is a gun we also want to fire.
>>
No. 311537 ID: 234c26

I am not particularly supportive of this demonstration idea; it attracts attention that we don't need. Sure, we should get rid of it within the next week or so, but that is not a great way to go about it.

>Talking of training, we should ask the goblins if they can train us in the use of a glaive, as that is pretty similar to a rifle+sword bayonet.
>On Ito, you should start the esoteric training right away.
Can we maybe focus our training instead of getting crazily scatterbrained about it? Mastery does not come with dabbling, it comes with pouring many many hours of training into your skills. There are tons of other things for the goblins to teach us, and Ito can teach us what we asked him to teach us first and then move on to magical stuff.

>Also, we should see about putting metal spikes on the keihas butt so as to ensure it causes bleeding (for it to feed on).
No. We put our arm on that. Also, it has a freaking elven sword on the other end and can shoot killer bullets if we need to make things bleed.
>>
No. 311539 ID: 0d095c

Super downvoting the spike idea. It is a BAD IDEA.

Anyway, it already deals concussive damage. If we put more blood into it, it'll start making people explode when we hit them, eliminating any need for spikes.
>>
No. 311542 ID: f0e3ae

i was thinking that spikes could be covered (say, plastic?), but in restrospect removing such covering would take too long. So forget about it.
What about my other ideas? goblins just trained us about vampire volnerability, do the same for doonongas and weres..

>>311537
While you are right about not spreading too thing, chi manipulation is infinitely more valuable then "bayonette martial arts" training.
But yes, we should focus our traiing. Which we have been doing, we just occasionally find something more useful and refocus.
>>
No. 311551 ID: 81f32a

Wait...
We keep forgetting to check our body for buggies, id Camella bugged us once, who says she wont do that again? So do that.

Also, along with flashbangs, get some smoke grenades. That shit will be so useful with your new stealth skills.

Also, you have spent an eternity sneaking and moving silently .... BUT you did all of that in your plain clothes (or so I suspect).
I assume you will be fully armored and equipped when going on Smets mission, so before going there put your shit on and get familiar for few hours. Sneak around and move silently till you are comfortable.
>>
No. 311576 ID: c2d0f1

As an anti-vampire weapon, see if we can get any Lignum Vitae, the wood of life:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Lignum_vitae

It's one of the hardest and densest woods that's commercially available. You buy a piece (somewhere in Istanubul will have a piece) that you can carve into flecchettes using Keihas' bayonet's supernaturally sharp edge. You can then back them into shotgun rounds for use in the AA-12. You need to name it, now it's enchanted.

You also seem to have enhanced endurance, you should test the limits of that, a trip to the gym and a run on the treadmill in full armour might do it. You should also practice your stealth in full armour.
>>
No. 311591 ID: f0e3ae

you know, if wood to heart is deadly to vampires, could we find repeating crossbows with wooden bolts tipped with silver built specifically for slaying vampires?
Silve
>>
No. 311594 ID: 252e1b

>>311576

Lignum vitae is an amazing material to work with but it is not good for a bullet. It tends to shatter when exposed to enough heat and pressure, thus conditions in a gun are not suitable for an unprotected lignum vitae bullet.

However, a frangible round using hardwood shot may be exactly what Armas needs. The copper hollowpoint would protect the wood, and the polymer cap would burst as soon as it hit. Lignum vitae would be a waste in that application, since its special properties aren't needed. You'd want cumaru for its heat-resistance, so that you could be sure it would survive the process of being fired.

>>311416

An easy way to do this would be to take standard glaser safety slugs, pop the cap off, dump the bird shot, and replace it with cumaru bearings. Then you replace the polymer cap and you're good to go. This could be used to deliver other specialty payloads too, although, again, you could not deliver anything too fragile. Cumaru is a dense hardwood too, though not as dense as lignum vitae (and nowhere near as expensive).

Since the wood payload must be protected somehow shotgun shells are not suitable. Shotgun slugs modified to work like glaser slugs would work though.

>>311414
>Camella, don't press. Just say that the Smets job is moving forward and you need to know if she's in. Mention that it turns out he's a vampire, if she finds it easier to assault something that's not human, although as his guards are human that shouldn't make much difference. Anyway, she needs to be in or out so that you know what you're doing.

Very sound advice, and a very sound approach, but you've forgotten the matter of paying her for her work. What are we going to offer her, and how will Mr. L and Ms. H react to a fourth gun?
>>
No. 311666 ID: f0e3ae

mmm, the goblins have given us "for life weekly supply of meats / spices" for information...

How about we sell them the info of exactly WHAT our last 2 strikes did (transformed dojo, transformed staircase) as well as related info (what we saw in staircase, the demon, its offer, the memory of the sample of mammon's power)...

Trade all of that for weekly supplies X pounds of gold. Money will be very useful.

This should give us a handsome passive income... We could then use money to pay her, to buy training and magic weapons and stuff from mortals.
We will from then on only work for favors, magic knowledge, magic items, or other things that promote our own agenda.
>>
No. 311667 ID: 0d095c

NO GOLD. Where there is gold, there is power, and power attracts attention. No government ON EARTH is going to fail to notice someone in their capital city suddenly developing a gold surplus. Unless you want to deal with the Turkish FBI for the rest of forever, stick with other, less obviously abnormal assets. Like shares, money, or walrus blubber. NOT GOLD.
>>
No. 311671 ID: 856690

FAE HATE MONEY DEALS!

NO GOLD ARE YOU INSANE MAN.
The goblins would either.
a. be really not amused.
b. Give use horrible clingy cursed gold.
c. give us fools gold.
>>
No. 311672 ID: 81f32a

>>311666
I am going to vote against money or gold.. which could turn to be fools gold for what we know.

I much prefer options which make us more powerful. Like, NeverNever trainings we got from SM, practitioner skills, magical amulets or trinkets of power, bound spirits, bloodline powers, etc etc
>>
No. 311678 ID: f0e3ae
File 130775771708.jpg - (21.07KB , 390x311 , sell-gold-for-cash.jpg )
311678

1. Fae don't like being PAID money but they aren't against PAYING money. there is a difference... in fact since they undervalue it they might give it to us cheap.
2. We are asking for precious jewels and metals, not for money. What is the difference between spices and meat and a metal?
3. We stipulate its not stolen, not counterfeit, not cursed, etc.
4, It DOES make us more powerful, it allows to:
A. Hire people.
B. Buy better weapons and arms (we can pay the demon bullet making guy to make bullets for OTHER weapons, or buy weapons from H&H)
C. ONLY get paid in knowledge and real power from the triads and others because we have no need for money anymore.

Finally, NOT ONCE Did the goblins ever betray us by giving us cursed items, or fake items.. fools gold? come on that is just ridiculous. Fools gold is NOT gold.

Finally, we can just say we want X*Y/week worth where X is a number we bargin for (and may add to) and Y is the current median weekly income in the current country. And stipulate that we may change the nature of payment in the future. (eg, precious metals, money, bank draft, whatever).
>>
No. 311679 ID: f0e3ae

>>311667
don't be ridiculous. We funnel it through the triad and I SERIOUSLY doubt that the goblins will offer us so much money as to make it noticeable to the government. And if they DO we can more then easily afford a fake mine.
>>
No. 311684 ID: ae0719

>>311671
Downvoting as well, although Leprechaun gold wouldn't be too bad.

It's got Greed connotations, so we might be able to use it somehow before it vanishes on us.
>>
No. 311691 ID: 234c26

>>311678
>1. Fae don't like being PAID money but they aren't against PAYING money. there is a difference... in fact since they undervalue it they might give it to us cheap.
>2. We are asking for precious jewels and metals, not for money. What is the difference between spices and meat and a metal?
You've forgotten something important. Remember when we first met Sometimes Merchant?

>>305032
>[Goblin]"What I desire and what would be accepted in trade are very different things. We are quite aware of how mortals value those strips of colored paper, have always loved precious metals, and favors are never turned away. Names and possibilities, abilities.... those two can be bargained away, and are recognized for their value."

Goblins fucking love gold. They don't give a shit about money, even though they're practical enough to use it, but they are not going to give gold or any other classic valuable away cheap.

The goblins are not a path to quick wealth, and we should not try to use them as such.

>>311594
>Very sound advice, and a very sound approach, but you've forgotten the matter of paying her for her work. What are we going to offer her, and how will Mr. L and Ms. H react to a fourth gun?
Camella could choose a gun from the collection- out of our share, since we're the one contracting her here. As for L&H, that's why we confirm with Camella that she'd be in and bring up the matter in our final meeting, so that they're not surprised and we can work everything out.
>>
No. 311698 ID: f0e3ae

>>311691
Our guns are our guns.
if she is even interested we need to meet with the others, see if we can convince them to bring her onboard. If they are less enthusiastic we can always suggest that her share comes from our cut. So they still get 1/3 of it all each... however I feel camella will be insulted by it herself and rightly so. She is a total badass why is she getting shafted on the loot? IF she is part of it she gets an equal share...

I am against pressing her for it in any way. We said we will take care of him without her aid and I would rather we kept that word.
>>
No. 311703 ID: f0e3ae
File 130775993416.jpg - (18.14KB , 410x287 , Glowing-pork.jpg )
311703

If anyone wants to continue discussing gold lets do it in questdis

>>/questdis/347512

In the meanwhile, an alternative then... ask for more meats and spices. Or even magical LIVESTOCK!
Then contact the triads which we know for a fact traffic in such and ask them how much will they pay for the various meats and spices we got... we already have more then enough to eat nothing but magic food for the rest of our lives.. we could seal some of it and i think it is probably worth more then its weight in gold to the triads.

Call up fang:
1. congratulate him on defeating savoi
2. Guarentee that you have dealt with the risk from last time permanently and promise to explain in person (do so later)
3. Offer to sell him magic meats and spices.
>>
No. 311708 ID: 1be29c

>>311703
>Magical livestock
WHAT.

They need a place to eat, shit, sleep and fuck, someone to take care of all that EVERY SINGLE DAY, and the food they eat. We've barely got enough space for ourselves and Camella, where the hell can we get a space large enough for all that, and a way to NOT create suspicion, since no one's seen these animals before...or at least, most people.
>>
No. 311712 ID: 234c26

>>311703
We should not call the Triads right now. Deal with the Smets job, then worry about contacting other employers- there is a not insignificant risk that we'll be stuck dealing with the fallout from that job for days afterward, so let's not put too much on our plate.

And I am opposed to attempting to sell our supernatural food right now. We need to become a master magic chef and eat our delicious magics, not sell it all off for petty cash to people who are probably more adept with that market than we are in any case.
>>
No. 311740 ID: f0e3ae

>>311708
For sale, as in we sell them...as in, AS SOON AS WE GET THEM.
I am not suggesting we become a fucking rancher of magic meat.

Also you are decidedly lacking in any commend on any of the other issues.

>>311712
They are not mutually exclusive, I explicitly stated we don't sell ALL of it. Only a small amount, and it should be very expensive.
>>
No. 311779 ID: 81f32a

>>311740
>For sale, as in we sell them...as in, AS SOON AS WE GET THEM.

Not as easy as you think.
If we are to sell shit, we should find a customer before making the deal.

And besides, what the hell? You know how little amount of meat we got for previous deals. A magic cow would weight hundreds of pounds, and besides meat they would have myriad of other ingredients even more valuable than just flesh (eyes, brain, heart, liver, bones, etc..)

The shit is going to be expensive
So no, lets not ask for magical livestock, there are shitload of stuff we could get aside from that.

>>311712
Yeah, lets not call Triads anytime soon.
>>
No. 311817 ID: a76809

>>311381
I find myself happy that the AA-12 is with all my other guns barring Keihäs in storage, for I feel I'd be hoisting it in the air to do a jig... a gun that drinks blood, a gun that stops healing, and a foe that heals based on their own magical blood. ..It almost sounds like it will be easy, which immediately dampens my cheer-it's never easy.

>>311386
This morning I make breakfast normally-purposefully mistiming my footfalls like every other person, nothing masking them as I set to work. I can feel Camella watching me from the doorframe-she came the moment she heard activity in the kitchen. Wish I could see the look on her face-but I'd have to turn and face her that way. In lieu of that-without turning away from the seafood salad, Kelpie and Hippocamp both in attendance, I speak, hands still moving.

"A breakfast salad is fine with you, right?"
>[Camella]"...What is this?"
"You know, a salad-stew is a bit heavy for breakfast, so I decided I'd use the other end of the spectrum."
>[Camella]"So.... no comment on the differences, between this bit of cooking and the last?"
"I know a salad is nothing like a stew but I'm not sure what you-"
>[Camella]"So that's a no then."
"That's definitely a no-but hey, feel free to try and figure it out yourself."

>>311576
As we eat the sharply spiced meal of greens and meat slivers, I ponder just how to make this mission a decisive success. ...And no matter how I look at it, I need to put wooden ammunition in the AA-12. 12-gauge is some versatile stuff, it won't be a hard modification, and it should compound the regeneration-dampening effect. Doing so would mean I could eschew a great deal of my possible arsenal, having a weapon superior in mission functionality already in hand-meaning I move faster, and could carry more if we are forced to retreat with some armloads of firearms swiftly. Wood to the heart-a fine thing to say, but how to do it? ...I'll need something dense, something heavy and hard-no balsa wood crap. My first thought is Lignum Vitae-I have to figure a wood with so many connotations with life would be an unpleasant thing to shove into a vampire. The wood's expensive-but this is Istanbul and I have money-I could just buy a chunk and hand-cut flechettes to repack shells with.
>>311594
...No. No, that won't work. Lignum Vitae burns easily-and it shatters with sufficient pressure-definitely not ideal for a chemically propelled ballistic implement. I have the needed materials to hand load in the house, and on reflection, flechettes are likewise a bad choice-the individual slivers would be far too prone to shattering. No, individual slugs, or wooden bearings-I need heavy, solid ammunition, sure to survive both flight and impact alike. ....And so, I refine my idea. Instead of Lignum Vitae, I'll use Cumaru, for its higher heat resistance. It's still plenty heavy, and should serve admirably. There's two separate woodworking places I've seen within ten blocks of here, I could likely pick up a chunk of the stuff before the meeting with Havoc and Locke. While out, I could swing by the storage to pick up the AA-12 and Matebas, get some more 12-gauge rounds-some glaser safety slugs, say, and make myself some new ordinance. ...Yes, that could work far better.

My plans are somewhat dampened as Camella has shopping of her own she wants to do-so I use her need as a segue into a different train of thought.

>>311414
"Well, if you want to come with me, you have to be aware of something I'm having my final meet concerning the Smets issue."
>[Camella]"....Are you now."
"Indeed. Turns out we have to adjust our plans."
>[Camella]"Why is this?"
"Florent Smets is a Vampire-which means his guards and servants are all potential ghoul minions."
>[Camella]"How did you learn-never mind, you will not tell me."
"Very good, you're learning."
>[Camella]"...You enjoy mindgames, don't you."
"I don't think you need an answer to that. And consider what you've watched me deal with-do you think I could do that and NOT end up enjoying it?"
>[Camella]"Humor to suit your 'occupation', then?"
"You could say that."
>[DDDD Trait activated]
>[MMM Trait activated]
"So-how would you like to actually have money again, and do it helping put down a monster of the night? How would you like to fight these creatures with backup? A rather nice change of pace from the deeps, I should think. Wouldn't have to wear my clothes all the time, for one."
>[Camella]"They're just the right size of baggy on me-and that is not the point. You... are asking me to kill a man."
"You act like it's different from your military service. Sure, they were phrased as orders-but you didn't have to follow them. Or down in the deeps-no one TOLD you to fight to defend yourself, but I'm fairly confident you left a corpse or two behind, correct?"
>[Camella]"Those were people that needed-"
"Tell me something: Can you honestly swear that you did not kill people LESS deserving of death than an arms dealer purposefully selling shoddy equipment to make money and cost his clients their lives, has actively acted to financially ruin those who voice objections-and the cherry, is a vampire?"
>[Camella]"....."
"You can't-not while telling the truth. I couldn't either, speaking of my military service. We like to hide behind the thought that 'they were our orders' for anything deemed publically immoral or unjust. Buit that's the same defense nazi soldiers used-and it didn't work out for them very well, did it? Military service or no, every life you took then was a choice you made, as a part of your job. You can dress it up how you want, but at the end, that's what it was. You got paid to kill people before-and were simply given targets. I'm offering you the chance to CHOOSE your target-all of it hinging on whether you want to make money with your primary skillset. Because, while we're on the subject, let's be honest: You think you could make more money with your talents than you could as a mercenary?"
>[Camella]"That's not fair."
"It's perfectly fair. You are good at doing something-very good at it. The skill set requires things you no longer have to be used legally and make you anything like a livable wage. Conversely, using it in the method I propose allows you to do something about being flat broke-and build contacts. With funds and contacts-hey, maybe your little problem isn't impossible to figure out. So what do you say-want to cover my back?"

She stares at me only briefly before picking a fleck of paint on the wall to affix her steely gaze to, her breathing quieting as I feel her attention slip away from me, withdrawing inward. Finally.

>[Camella]"....Then I'll watch your back-and you're paying me, not them. I am not promising to kill anyone-just to defend you from the trouble your idiocy seems to attract."
"Wonderful-happy to have you! Well... shall we go? The meeting's at twelve..."

My first stop is the closes wood shop-which does not have it. The second, however, does-and I buy a thirty pounds of loose chunks, odd-ends unsuited to furniture but PERFECT for my needs. I get ready to make a wood joke as I'm making the purchase, but once more note Camella's attention off of me, her eyes distant-and so I say nothing as we get in the Right Laine. From there, Camella seems... quiet, more so than usual as she gets a new cell phone, a black full body leotard, black pants, shoes and sweater, before announcing she's acquired what she needed-and once more becoming quiet. I head to gun-world, picking up forty glaser safety slugs-

[FUNDS:----- US$000,068,623.40]

My bank account oh-so-slightly lighter, I check the time while I head to the storage unit. Camella doesn't even bother getting suspicious as I duck out to a port-side storage unit-but just to be safe I make sure not a single being's attention falls on me-not a one prickling my skin with their glare. I pick up the AA-12, my single 32 round drum magazine, the Matebas and Mammon's Device-and leave behind the holdouts, the AVT-40 and Brandt's gun. After likewise picking up my full armor set and assorted apparel, I make my way back to the van, loading the Right Laine as Camella continues to remain silent. With the gear obtained, eveerything I need for tomorrow's job gathered... I head to the meeting, thirty five minutes left till noon.

Havoc and Locke are sitting, waiting for me-and Havoc does not at ALL look pleased as she notes Camella with me.

>[Havoc]"Who is this?"
"A rather expert bit of help-something I think we could use in such an endeavor as this. Don't worry, I'm covering her expense myself-nothing has changed in our arrangement."
I hear Locke speak for the first time.
>[Locke]"So be it."
Havoc, who looked excessively ready to argue the point, surprisingly subsides-as we begin to discuss what Smets being a vampire will mean for our mission.

-Turns out Havoc and Locke know enough about vampires-though both thought sunlight killed them, rather than incapacitated-Havoc thanks me for the new information.
-When we get to discussing personal methods of dealing with a vampire, Locke assures me he will not need to change anything-as does Havoc. ...I'm betting magic weapons, then-makes sense, given they'd traded with Smets.
-The plan (after Camella tersely answers a few questions about her qualifications) is for both Havoc and Camella to provide long range support from atop the church itself, while Locke and I enter. The side of the mansion facing the church is rife with windows-something readily visible when we arrived.
-The mission will go as follows: Havoc and/or Camella will disable the internal generator with suppressed rifle fire, while Locke triggers the charges to disable the external power and landlines, while activating the multi-point jamming system. The power will be knocked out and all communication severed-prior to Locke and I breaching the second floor. A neighboring building's fire escape ladders allow one to leap towards one of the many sets of windows in Smets' house-the plan is to breach the window-immediately charge to Smet's display room-the thought being that, as a vampire, he will be able to detect our entry-and it would be better to be standing between him and his arsenal. From there, we kill him, take what weapons we can, and leave-leave the even as to hectic for any response to take place. I offer my van as the getaway vehicle, noting all of us and two loads of firearms could be stored-no one objects.

With the plan seeming perfectly workable to me, we say our goodbyes until tomorrow-with Camella and I both departing for Johan the Demonologist gunsmith's abode. We meet, I discuss what I want-and he tells me what he can do, information I thank him for, and tell him I'll call back with a decision on.

-For ten grand, I could get all seven of my current bulelts converted from 600 Nitro Express to seven sets of six 454 casulls. After looking at My Matebas, he says the base magic could support 'transferring over the Death scheme, but not the Destruction-you weapon will be subtler and more discreet-and lack some punch.' When he explains each set of six bullets fired will write out a magic-breaking ward on a target in an attempt to directly expose the soul to harm-I find myself having no issue with that. He notes to modify the Matebas to allow such potent ammuntion would cost ten thousand per gun.
-For five grand, he can rework the ammunition to work for the AA-12, two shells per Nitro Express used. He notes that only the Destruction trait of the base ammunition and spell mechanic would be transfered over-the gun would be more able to hurt everything, but no more able to end lives notorious for bouncing back from injury than it was to start with. The AA-12 would require an eight thousand dollar refit for this to work.
-Johan notes he also possesses ammunition options for the destruction of all manner of creatures, and when I inquire as to what he'd recommend for vampires-I end up getting a complementary jug of Blessed oil-highly flammable and notoriously difficult to quench. We part with me promising to return soon to follow up on our discussion.

That night, I spend the whole evening slowly preparing a full thirty two wooden 12-gauge slugs, each hewn with the elven epee into miniature stakes that I then soak in the blessed oil before loading-burning blessed mini-stakes HAVE to put down a vampire, a thought that continues to rattle about my mind until I finish plugging back on the last cap, and slot the thirty second shell into the drum magazine. My work complete, I head out to the storage unit, give my three hours (bringing my total to forty) before returning home. Once there, I finally do something with the Demon blood I've been saving, pouring it onto Keihäs greedy stock to a throb of baleful light, dimly echoed as I pour basilisk blood on it as well. I watch the weapon for a time... but after the glow fades I detect no further change. My experiment complete, I go to slee-

Camella's attention is on me-she's walking towards my room-

>[Camella]"...Can we talk?"
...Not liking this...
"Sure-what is it?"
>[Camella]"...How can you be so okay, just... deciding to kill someone like that? On the battlefield, when someone has a gun it's different-I can't argue choices made like that. But... calmly, willfully deciding a specific individual needs to die-what gives us the right to do that? The right to decide who does not deserve to keep existing?"
...Great. A moral crisis, right before sleep. ...Hah. Okay.....







What do I say to Camella? How do I try to convey my viewpoint to her-and what is it, anyway? (If successful, Camella will officially be recruited)
Tomorrow's the day-what should I do with those precious few morning hours tomorrow?
>>
No. 311820 ID: 835a2d

Uuuuugh, I'm not good at this crap.


However, our balance is nearing the minimum for our bank - might want to avoid spending for a while.
>>
No. 311827 ID: 46c430

>>311817
I don't think Armas -is- totally ok with it, or at least, shouldn't be. Deciding calmly and in cold blood to kill somebody is a terrible thing to do. But, so is killing a person period, and both of you have done that. The difference is, you didn't have time to really think things through, the consequences, that you're killing somebody. You have the chance here to do so, both a blessing and a curse, since you can really think it through as to whether it would be morally right or wrong to do so. Whether anyone has the right to decide that sort of thing is an unanswerable question, but you need to make a choice here regardless... And, your choice is, you are going through with the plan, because you can honestly say that you believe, that it isn't morally wrong to kill him. I'm hesitant to say morally right, because claiming the moral high ground is a perilous thing to do, but you spoke before on how Smets has very much gotten and had people killed. He obviously has no care for morals. He shouldn't be able to claim their protection.
>>
No. 311830 ID: 234c26

>>311817
>[Camella]"...How can you be so okay, just... deciding to kill someone like that? On the battlefield, when someone has a gun it's different-I can't argue choices made like that. But... calmly, willfully deciding a specific individual needs to die-what gives us the right to do that? The right to decide who does not deserve to keep existing?"
All right, I'll give this one a shot, taking inspiration from the supernatural angle that we've learned from the goblins... and remembering that whatever logic we use cannot be specific to only the Smets situation, or she'll only continue the moral questions later. Hopefully it'll hold together and be persuasive enough- particularly given her situation, which I'd hope will help the logic strike home.

"Rights aren't something given to you, they're something you give away. That's what free will is; it means that we start with every right in the book. We trade them away by the dozens for all kinds of things- to governments for security, spouses for fidelity, friends for loyalty. It's the social contract.

"But this profession is about the underworld and the supernatural. The things that people trade their right to kill for- the security of laws and police and armies looking after them- are no longer being given to those in it, and it's only a fool who keeps a Deal that the other side broke.

"So our rights are ours once again, and when we run into problems like this the only question is how we can deal with them, rather than how we may, and we make whatever choice we think will work best."
>>
No. 311843 ID: 92dcd7

>>311817
There are people- no, THINGS in this world who can decide on a whim if people should die all the time. These things don't care if you are blissfully ignorant of the world's true state or if you creep along with all the other things that go bump in the night. If it is decided you are to die, you die. That is the way this world works, few people survive the rude awakening. You see, I've made it MY business to involve myself in this world. I refuse to die on a whim, I refuse to be the victim of the ones in this world who could give less of a damn about what is wrong or right. So I roll the dice, and I play with the big boys. I won't let myself be expendable, and I certainly won't let anyone else make me expendable. I am not above helping those I can, but being a hero is an impossible goal. I've made it a rule of mine to keep my involvement with civilians to a minimum, for everyone's sake. Which brings us to you.

Now. There is a very simple reason why I'm trying so hard to make you my partner instead of killing you or releasing you back into the world- You deserve a chance. In this sick fucking place we call home, people dissapear and die on a daily basis, and in a few years anyone who ever loved or cared for them cease to give a fuck altogether. With no insult or pity intended, your situation is even worse. You are not from this timeline, yet you are still subject to the whims of the monsters lurking in it, that makes you the bottom of the food chain. Not only can death come on a whim- No one will know, care, or even remember should you perish here. I think that is SUPREMELY fucked up, and that's why I offer this choice for you.

I'll be completely honest, your chances at returning to Il Nono are slim and my chances at seeing you in a tutu are even slimmer. That's two potential lives you've currently been denied, will you let this world and it's fickle inhabitants claim a third?

From one existance to another: Fight with me Camella, and we'll make sure these bastards never forget.
>>
No. 311844 ID: 856690

>[Camella]"...How can you be so okay, just... deciding to kill someone like that? On the battlefield, when someone has a gun it's different-I can't argue choices made like that. But... calmly, willfully deciding a specific individual needs to die-what gives us the right to do that? The right to decide who does not deserve to keep existing?"

"nothing, nothing gives us the right, but If I leave this man is without morals or honour, I can't just sit back and do nothing, When you were in the depths you fought for survival, So must I."

"Killing can always have some jusification slapped on it, but in the end killing is just that. I ask you though, what would you do, if you were standing were I stand, if I had not known of that man's theivery I could well have died."

"So I plan. In cold blood to kill him, Not once have I kept you here , and you do not need to help me if you wish not to. I can only follow the course I think is best, otherwise, what is the point?"

"In the end, there is no excuses, and now even if I wanted to step down somewhere quiet, I couldn't I am in too deep. Smets was dishonourable and stole from too many people and now, he will reap the destruction he has sown, and I shall be the reaper, not because of right, but because of need. These are the rules of this world of shadows unnamed, of blood and death. At least none of them are innocent"

hmm Well take what works from that, but really you are on to a loser trying to justify/make Camella feel better about doing a vampire in.
>>
No. 311846 ID: 856690

>>311843
This should work much better than my suggestion, it is more incharacter with Armas too
>>
No. 311880 ID: ae0719

>[Camella]"...How can you be so okay, just... deciding to kill someone like that? On the battlefield, when someone has a gun it's different-I can't argue choices made like that. But... calmly, willfully deciding a specific individual needs to die-what gives us the right to do that? The right to decide who does not deserve to keep existing?"
Monologue, go!

"If it's being unarmed you're worried about, then don't be. A vampire with a hundred years under his belt against a normal human? He might as well go after them with a rocket launcher. The Doonongaes? It's like trying to fight a walking M-1 Abrams."

"But that's not really what you're asking, is it."

I think a little humility might be a good thing, here.

"I could say that these people place themselves outside normal society, and sometimes the only recourse to this supernatural world without anyone but their own to police them is to kill. And that's true, but not quite right. Because that's just me placing myself above them, like I'm god, to decide who lives and dies. It's not even deciding my life is more valuable than theirs, it's just choosing to murder them for what they've done."

"I suppose in the end... you have to choose as best you can, according to your own moral compass, and live with that choice. The consequences are grim, but doing nothing might be worse, so what other choice is there?"

"It does make me wonder, sometimes... was the Doonongaes always a monster? When did those Zosimos vampires that decide games of life and death for the mortal are fun, forget that they used to be mortal? Will I be like that, too? Am I like that, and just don't know it?"

"I don't have an answer. I'm hoping that friends, family... these things will keep me from going too far. But I don't have to many of those."

And that's enough of this self-psychoanalysis bullshit.
>>
No. 311882 ID: f0e3ae

We should really tie whatever we say to her beliefs... which unfortunately we know little of... We do know she said "dios mio (oh my god) don't make a deal with the devil" so some christian background...

We DO know she comes from the military and has killed before, right? I think we should at least somewhat include the notion of a commander in the military choosing targets and ordering strikes.

Another approach: And as for cold blood, well anger can make you make mistakes... when someone gets sentenced to death in the legal system it is a cold blooded decision, not on the field of battle, not an armed opponent. The courts do not and cannot deal with the supernatural.
Problem: extrapolating this to non supernatural enemies... Although I can see extrapolating crime lords from it somewhat.

Overall I think we should avoid letting her find out of us ever kill someone... less deserving. Which is a good idea not to do anyways.

@Smets plan:
1. Bring some non vampire killing stuff, he might have a non ghoul non vampire bodyguard on retainer (perhaps the butler?) in case someone who knows what he is attacks.
2. Do try to let keihas suck his blood if at all possible... I am somehow certain that letting vampire gun drain a vampire of blood will power it up.
>>
No. 311888 ID: c2d0f1

>>311882
If we're going to drain Smets with Keihas, we should cut out his heart for later consumption first.

Oh, and you should practice firing one of your wooden rounds first (not soaked in the oil), so you know what the ballistics are like.

It's probably worth donning a mask before hitting the place as well. We don't want our identity to leak. If you have chanc tomorrow morning, buy a gas mask. Undead like vampires may not need to breath.
>>
No. 311890 ID: f0e3ae

>>311888
>Cut heart for later consumption then drain
REALLY Awesome idea... although an even more difficult one to execute.
The problem is that carmella has some serious moral qualms here and I think us cutting out his heart and eating it might really spook her... that being said she is on the outside as a sniper... if we can cut out his heart we will have to eat it on the spot so that she doesn't see us.
>>
No. 311895 ID: 252e1b

>>311882

She's an Italian, most of them at least pay lip service to the Pope. A good number are real believers, and seeing weird shit will make a believer out of someone who has been prepared for it by growing up in a culture that encouraged believing.

>>311817

"Simple faith in my ability to get a read on predators. It's the same thing that made me try talking to the Doonongaes instead of fleeing the restaurant. A predator that smells blood won't let up. The Doonongaes was barely civilized, but Smets has been making a living at being a con man on top being a predator. He'd be able and willing to wage a literal war on someone who attacked him like we're planning on doing. Even if he weren't a vampire, he'd still give me that predator vibe. And since his methods would largely be outside of the legal system, I'd have no legal recourse to make him stop."

"So, I plan on doing what it takes to get what is mine back, and make sure that predators like that can't end me. I don't take pride in having a mindset like that, but when you're playing Machiavellian games with ancient monsters and cut-throat men, there's no room for error. It's a survival trait. It works as long as you don't get arrogant and stupid like Smets. Outright cheating people on deals is a good way to make clever enemies."

"In the service we only die for political power plays on a grand scale; national security, political promises, and other executive level bullshit. In this game, you can die as a lone pawn set against impossible odds by virtue of being lied to. Deal breaking is serious in the underworld."

>>311843

This has some choice bits that would go great after what I wrote.
>>
No. 311909 ID: ae0719

Also, perhaps we could point out that if she's uncomfortable with it, there are other options we could try. She could teach, for example; the goblins are odd business partners, but attentive students.

Sure, they mostly pay in comestibles with us, but we could pay her in dollars if she brokers a deal for us to get magic veggies or whatever (we do accept magic beans in trade).

And of course, mention the possibility of being paid in magical wards, so she's not too thrown off by Blackbeard having some (if she decides to go behind our back on that guy; annoying, but we'd rather she came out of it than he, even if we lose that massive bounty).
>>
No. 311911 ID: 81f32a

Hey guys

Hey

Hey,
guys
Remember

Hey guys

Remember when

Guys, listen to me
Remember when we murdered a police officer, didn't lose a wink of sleep and promptly forgot about after that?

You did?

Don't worry,
I'll remind you of it
Forever
>>
No. 311912 ID: c2d0f1

In addition, when you talk to Camella, and do your best to explain. See if you can use your goblin training of predicting what people will do, to detect the pauses in the conversation that indicate uncertainty, so that you can make appropriate interjections.

Now, the line you should take is this. "By both nature and profession, Smets has placed himself outside of the normal constraints of society, and he is exploiting that position. I don't like the neccessity much more than you do, but I simply don't see any other recourse. This is a vampire, not a man, one I am told, who feeds on the blood of the magically inclined. What choice do we have but to take matters into our own hands?"

Tomorrow morning eat a healthy breakfast of supernatural meat to give you some buffering, and then I recommend buying 5 hours of training in magic weapon identification/manufacture with the goblins, so that you can identify which are the more valuable of is pieces.

If Camella still seems uncomfortable with killing, tell her that you have another option. She doesn't need to become a killer to eat, she has choices. Let her know that you have some contacts who you are paid to train. If they're agreeable (and you'd have to agree a confidentiality clause with them), then you could sub-contract some of the training to her. You will pay her a fair wage to live on, so she's earning her keep, and you will handle negotiations. We know from SM that it's possible to act on the behalf of others, as that's what he does with the goblins.

Be warned, they are supernatural, but they're not hostile, and they won't break a deal. It would be good for her, post traumatic-stress wise, to have some positive contact with supernaturals anyway, and she should know it.

If agreed, the idea is for you to take training hours from the goblins are pay her in dollars/lira. If you can swing it, you might want to try setting up something similar with Ito. You can lead him into asking for it, if you carefully hint around where you learned your footwork. He'd probably do it for the pleasure of teaching, and if you told him it should render his style virtually immortal.
>>
No. 311936 ID: 46c430

>>311911
...Argh. Damnit.
>>
No. 311937 ID: 692cff

Guys, we're not a good guy. Killed a cop in cold blood. Not gonna say that, but stop trying to say Armas is deep down a good guy. He's a friendly guy under normal circumstances, and a cold-blooded one when he has shit to do.

I'm for saying something like "Noone has the right to kill. That's not what this is about. I've thought through the likely consequences of killing and not killing Smets. I think, in the end, that things will be better with him gone. Lives are valuable things, and aren't something to be taken thoughtlessly. And as such, I feel it's my duty to understand under what situations and for what results, I'd be willing to take a life. If you've thought over the situation before, you won't hesitate when you feel it's necessary, and are less likely to pull the trigger on reflex when it isn't. That's why I don't hesitate, because I've thought these things through and made my decisions before the situations have even come up. A vampire with a drinking problem, specifically for people like me, who screws people out of deals that have life or death consequences, well, less people will inevitably die with him gone. For me, right now, that's enough."

>>311912
>Tomorrow morning eat a healthy breakfast of supernatural meat to give you some buffering, and then I recommend buying 5 hours of training in magic weapon identification/manufacture with the goblins, so that you can identify which are the more valuable of is pieces.

Definitely this, but also see if we can rent out a bag of holding type deally for the next... forty-eight hours. Leaves us time incase the mission goes long or we're pursued after. See about paying in cash.

Also, upvote for telling her about training deals and what not.
>>
No. 311939 ID: 234c26

>>311911
I remember. We also killed a significant number of mafia types that had done nothing to us- we've left a trail of blood from those who had done nothing to deserve it behind us and never looked back.

It's why all arguments essentially based upon "he is a bad person and thus should die" are crap here and we can't use them; we are a bad person by society's standards. We should make no claim that would be that hypocritical.

We have the right to kill people because we're playing a game where the only rules and limits are those the players can enforce on each other, where the world's nations and their laws are just the terrain, and where we play to win.


>>311912
If you train someone, you're ultimately responsible on some level for what they do with that training. I suspect that this would stop Camella from freely training goblins- it didn't stop us, but we're more of a right bastard than she is.
>>
No. 311940 ID: 0d095c

>>311939
I'm going with this guy. We ARE pretty damn bastardy, and we got into this thing because we wanted money and power. So yeah.
>>
No. 311945 ID: c2d0f1

Why does the fact that we're not a good guy have any impact what-so-ever on what we tell Camella?

Yes, it's hypocritical. So what?
>>
No. 311950 ID: 252e1b

>>311912

Kinda doubt Sometimes Merchant will want anything to do with her. He explicitly said she pissed off some powerful movers and shakers, and that she's going to draw trouble because of it. He's smart enough to take that into account in dealing with her, and frankly she just doesn't have anything worth the trouble.

>>311939

The argument "He is a predator and he will fuck me over" is not the same as "he is a bad person." The crux of the former is the cost his actions will impose on us, the crux of the latter is an objective evaluation of his actions as they relate to the health of society as a whole.
>>
No. 312000 ID: e13d16

It may still be worth it for Ito, though.
>>
No. 312113 ID: 7c29f8

You know, we need a way to communicate with Camella if something goes wrong inside the hit. I suggest we pick up a pair of disposiable phones under the name 'Locke and Havoc'. One for her, one for us.

Also, Call Arkvad from a Secure Location. Tell him we're going to Havoc and Locke, and is there anything else we should know before we deal with Smets.

Also, be careful, Armas. You didn't look into these two background, you didn't do any information checks on how they contacted Arkvad or why they need Smets dead. That's sloppy and can get you killed.
>>
No. 312117 ID: 692cff

>>312113
Voting for this.
>>
No. 312126 ID: c6ce12

It might be worth it to have a contingency plan just in case Mr. Locke and a Ms. Havoc try to stab us in the back. I suggest after this conversation with Camella in the morning you might caution her against Havoc while they're up on the rooftops. These people are on the rougher side of business too and they may not share our view on killing. It's rather likely they will try to kill us for the equipment during or after the heist. So don't under and circumstance get too comfortable with that woman and be ready to retaliate if she begins firing on you or us. Just place yourself in strategically positioned places, where you can react at a moments notice to threats from both our allies and targets.

>>311937
>Definitely this, but also see if we can rent out a bag of holding type deally for the next... forty-eight hours. Leaves us time incase the mission goes long or we're pursued after. See about paying in cash.

>Also, upvote for telling her about training deals and what not.
Seconding

>>312113
Seconding.
>>
No. 312127 ID: 234c26

>>312113
Use disposable names for disposable phones, not ones which implicate our partners on this venture. There is no advantage whatsoever in bringing their names into it. The fact that we've trusted in Arkvad to only hook us up with decent contacts and thus know nothing about them only makes this more true.

Agreed on keeping Arkvad in the loop.

>>311945
So what? Well... at least as I'd see it, keeping to one's own codes of behavior is a good thing. Armas might not be a nice guy, but he's got some rules he lives by thus far. He does not break his word or contracts- or even seriously consider doing so; he does not outright lie to friends, even though he might conceal information from them or be maddeningly obtuse about it. I would consider avoiding hypocrisy in his justifications another thing for that list; unless he's got a specific purpose in doing so, he's not going to pretend to be something other than the right bastard that he is, even to himself.

>>312121
Yeah, cautioning Camella that we have only a contact's word on the trustworthiness of our partners would be good here. We should also warn her that in this business, rarely do things go smoothly, and we expect at least one thing to go horribly wrong in spite of our fairly thorough planning so she should be ready for unexpected problems.
>>
No. 312131 ID: 81f32a

How about we offer Camella to answer her questions about us as best as we can and tell her everything? (except killing the police officer)
If she wants to hear the missions we did, the details on Brandt fight, the deal with Castelletti, jut tell her everything which would not put us in bad light with her.
If she wants to get information about supernatural, just tell her what we know and what we know of creatures we encountered.
I think this will build up trust with her since she will know more about us.
Where we get the meat. The thing with Ogrimmir, etc..
As things stand, she thinks we are an ass who is holding out on her the important information. While in truth we just do not know.


>>312113
Seconding all of this.

We better get a secure radio connection between Camella and Armas in addition to phones.
But we will set up a jammer to prevent transmitions so the usefulness of them is limited.

There is a possibility we are being set up, those two could easily have agreed to off us and get most of the reward to themselves so be ready for that too and tell Camella to be careful just in case of backstabbing. We don't know these guys good enough.

This bring me to another thing: PLAN FOR EVERYTHING and get shitton of equipment.
Buy flash bangs and smoke grenades for you and Camella.
Take extra ammunition.
I would suggest even taking the damn GatMalite and giving it to Camella while we take matebas, AA-12, judges, Keihas, the Device.
Also give our sniper rifle to Camella.

during the mission keep your attention on your "allies" too, never go in first on your own initiative and have your back to them and if you do, try to keep out of their sight.

>>311937
Definitely this, but also see if we can rent out a bag of holding type deally for the next... forty-eight hours. Leaves us time incase the mission goes long or we're pursued after. See about paying in cash.
Seconding this. But 48 hours?
Can't we just get a specialized bag of holding which transports the stuff to our storage or NeverNever and we can get them back later from SM?
That way we could bargain to get it only for the duration of the mission.
As for paying, we can promise to give him something from the spoils.
>>
No. 312134 ID: 81f32a

>>312126
Seconding
>>
No. 312137 ID: 856690

>>312113
Also upvoting

Also say this to Camella
"Hey, is this because the wife of adeceased nazi supersoldier and herquickdraw-crazy Indian henchman havebeen talking to you in the guise of ourtwo allies for this mission, is it?" Then laugh, because that would be ridiculous

Then say;
"Next you'll tell methat my old ex-mafia contact partneredup with this vampire and a demon whois also a butler for a contract and is now waiting for us inside Smets's house!"

"You're kidding me right, Camella?"

If no then answer her properly with some of the stuff above.

Also seconding the getting a bag of holding for all the loot.
>>
No. 312138 ID: c6ce12

>>312127
>>312131
Seconding these too, because I will not have Armas get back stabbed when we have suggested perfectly good precautions to said attempts.
>>
No. 312166 ID: ae0719
File 130784287252.jpg - (277.55KB , 3477x2550 , Camella___.jpg )
312166

In case of sudden ally reversal, behold silly fanart. It's Armas gently remonstrating the sniper rifle-toting Italian SpecOps, in case you can't tell.

Oh, that Camella.
>>
No. 312221 ID: f0e3ae

>>312126
I would say "possible" rather then "likely". If it was likely then it would be stupid to even work with them in the first place.
>>
No. 312223 ID: c6ce12

>>312221
Boy are you in for a surprise later.
>>
No. 312227 ID: 81f32a

Hell, if we are going to give her example of our lives about some monsters we have met and bested, we totally should dig up the documents on Brandt which we got and show her his picture so that she can get an idea what a nazi super soldiers is.

We could tell her that even knowing pretty much EVERYTHING about him, his gear, his method of fighting, his schedule and after setting up an INSANE ambush we STILL got heavily beaten up... almost died.
So many headshots and he still trucked on.

Tell her that against these people, people who know about supernatural and use it at their fullest, you CANNOT take chances. Even if Smets wasn't vampire he would be crazy dangerous, the amount of magical shit he has makes him so and knowing that he has so much magical shit and connections it would have been safe to assume that he also has some powers on his own.

Tell her that we just cannot ring up someone and tell them we are going to kill them so it would be great if they make sure that their schedule is open.
Tell her that you fully expect this to turn into massive shitstorm. From your experience it is never as planned. EVER.
So if she thinks we see this as a clean assassination. She is wrong.
>>
No. 312229 ID: c6ce12

>>312227
Upvoting, hopefully it will do some good.
>>
No. 312235 ID: 692cff

Hey, remember the last time you expected to fight some supernatural creature and it turned out to be something so much bigger? Of course you do, that ones still coming back to haunt you. As such, pay a visit to Bagatur Yilmaz and buy some grenades, RPG-40 or 41 anti-tank grenades if possible, because if shit goes down, you want to make sure you're the fan it hits, not the other way around.
>>
No. 312239 ID: f0e3ae

>>312223
... then maybe we need to try researching about them too.
>>
No. 312250 ID: 81f32a
 

Hey Armas, remember how Castelletti tried to fuck you over?
Remember how we expected a shapeshifter but got a huge nightmare from the deep?
Remember our "perfect" trap for Brandt who sould have been a normal (albeit juiced up) mortal and after which we almost died?
Or our "relaxing" night out which was a "what-the-fuck" after "what-the-fuck"?

It is always time to be crazy paranoid and overplanning for any events.

The thought that Havoc&Locke will screw you over and try to assassinate you is not just a distant possibility it is a most likely scenario from what you have experienced so far.

So be prepared for that, and if you can try to get information on them.

>>312113
>>312117
>>312131
>>312134
>>312137
>>312138
>>312166
>>312227
>>312235


>[21:46] <TheBeardiestBob> I am welcome to the chance to flashback to the Castelletti moment as triggered by that song in thread at some point
>[21:46] <TheBeardiestBob> remember thats an option
>[21:46] <TheBeardiestBob> it could be useful
>[21:46] <TheBeardiestBob> can only do it once though


Note.
Even if we have discovered this plot (using our own brainmeats and not being told by someone!), we still want to go through this.
Armas, even if he (or Camella) does make connection in game, is still going to the Smets house.
We just want him to be PREPARED for everything and not get taken by surprise when Havoc and Locke turn on him.

>>
No. 312253 ID: ee9344

>>312235
RG-41 is what I think you mean, alongside the RPG-40.
>>
No. 312345 ID: 81f32a

Just in case you forget:
Take regular custom drums for AA-12 in case you are fighting something that is not a vampire.
Buy several magazines for it (drums are illegal it seems) to have more ammo on you.
Get more stripper clips for Keihas.... like at least 10 with handloaded ammo.
10 quick load for Matebas and 6 for judges.

All of this at minimum, if you can stuff more on yourself then do it.

>Tomorrow's the day-what should I do with those precious few morning hours tomorrow?
Completely equip yourself (armor, weapons, ammo) and get used to it so that you can use your stealth skills.

Get ~3-4 hours of magic indetification from SM
And the bag of holding the size of which you can adjust (so that we can take away entire bodies and store them in NeverNever. Entire Vampire of ingredients > heart/fangs ). Smets, being a rich asshole is BOUND to have expensive paintings, silverware and other shit in his house. Armas, being Compulsive Hoarder, will delight in snatching everything of mild worth he can get his greedy hands on.
>>
No. 312349 ID: f0e3ae

Also, bob's vague reference to a repeat of castilini job makes every one think that havoc and locke are going to betray us... Aside from being horribly metagame, couldn't there be other explanations?

We know smets to be of Zossy's bloodline... in the castilini job we THOUGHT we were targetting someone completely irrelevant and small when it turned out he was super important...

Could very well be that Zos is his sire and suddenly zos and lots of other vampires burst out and hunt us down as we run through the sewers to escape?

Speaking of, even before seeing that warning I was taking it up with Zos before doing the job... although I couldn't decide because that could be... problematic on its own.
>>
No. 312367 ID: 0d095c

Y'know what? I don't even CARE if everything in this mission goes horribly wrong and reality itself attempts to destroy us and we become the most wanted man in Istanbul.

I just want to go KILL that bastard. If we must prepare for BATMAN attacking us, so be it. But we must continue in our mission! So yeah. Assume everyone is going to betray you. Be Polite. Be Efficient. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
>>
No. 312371 ID: c2d0f1

When you wake next morning, review events that lead you to this point, and recall part of the deal you made with Arkvad for Smets' name.

>"Honestly? Only if you can genuinely promise me this guy is an individual and not some private warlord or something."

You've now discovered from the Goblins that Smets is actually a vampire - which certainly falls into the "or something" category.

Something's wrong here, very wrong. At the very least, someone has been feeding Arkvad bad info - bad info that could kill you if you didn't know it. Think about what this means - any thing you've received from him is suspect - such such as the introduction to your two allies.

Suspicious too, that on the night you were nearly sucked into hell, Arkvad was with you all not except for then...

Arkvad's the next thing you have to family around here, so you should give him a chance, he's probably not deliberately misleading you, but who knows who or waht lies behind H&H. You should go around to visit him first thing this morning, and if you can't find him or he can't give an explanation, scrub the mission and go to ground - you'll know you've been compromised.
>>
No. 312381 ID: 81f32a
File 130790896415.jpg - (106.94KB , 750x1250 , Armas - Ready for war 2.jpg )
312381

>>312345
A gas mask is fine too.
Go and get one from Gun World or other contacts.... just in case.

Hmm, put your trenchcoat over your Dragonskin too.


Also, another great way to troll Camella:
Just before the mission tell her that you are going to get ready for it and will equip your shit. Then do that (armor, flashbangs, smokegrenades, countless additional ammo, helmet, facemask, gasmask, trenchoat over that) then put on all your weapons (matebas, judges, MD, Keihas and AA-12 on your back, Gatmalite in hands)
Don't use stealth here though, otherwise it would be just too freaky.

Of course, she might freak out and shoot us.


Also, a picture to boost Armas' paranoia and prepare for everything
>>
No. 312384 ID: 92dcd7

I wonder, could the Goblins teach us that thing the Doonongaes and Zosimus does? You know the supernatural stillness thing? As an additional measure, we could even ask for training in Goblin voice throwing. Having as many stealth options as we can is vital to our success.
>>
No. 312388 ID: a76809

>>312250
[Trigger met. Will activate in 3.....]

>>311820
..Eh, this is not going to be fun-I've always had trouble arguing moral issues...
>>311830
>[DD[/i]DD[/i] Trait activated]
I scratch the back of my head as I suppress a yawn, cautiously venturing some verbiage.
"Okay-how to explain this... Rights aren't something given to you, they're something you give away. That's what free will is; it means that we start with every right in the book. We trade them away by the dozens for all kinds of things- to governments for security, spouses for fidelity, friends for loyalty. It's the social contract."
Camella says nothing, and I can't read her face-hoping my words are having impact, I keep speaking.

"But this profession is about the underworld and the supernatural. The things that people trade their right to kill for- the security of laws and police and armies looking after them- are no longer being given to those who need it, and it's only a fool who keeps a Deal that the other side can't uphold."
>[Camella]"So... you claim to be the defender of others, the law where there is none?"
I can feel that mocking tone-and the desire to flay me if I play into it. ...No, that's not the way to convince her, I just have to shift the conversation... I lean back a few hairs as I adjust my words.
"I claim that, at least for myself, and those I care about, I choose to act as... protection, guardian in lieu of others to do the job. That's all-protect what I hold dear. So our rights are ours once again, and when we run into problems like this the only question is how we can deal with them, rather than how we may, and we make whatever choice we think will work best."
Camella looks away.
>[Camella]"...Which you think gives you the right to deliberately elect to seek out and kill someone, rather than doing it reactively in genuine self-defense."
She keeps coming back to that-if I can get her off that point I think I'll have her swayed, but how...
>>311843
"What about things that don't give you time to defend yourself? This isn't like normal life-you aren't working with largely similar individuals, here. You saw only a fraction of the things which lurk in the darkness, when you crept about underground-do you really think a reactive defense would keep ordinary people safe? Hell, you think it could even keep us safe?"
Again, she says nothing.
"Now-There is a very simple reason why I'm trying so hard to make you my partner instead of killing you or booting you back into the world- You deserve a chance. In this sick fucking place we call home, people disappear and die on a daily basis, and in a few years anyone who ever loved or cared for them cease to give a fuck altogether. With no insult or pity intended, your situation is even worse. You are not from this timeline, yet you are still subject to the whims of the monsters lurking in it, that makes you the bottom of the food chain. Not only can death come on a whim- No one will know, care, or even remember should you perish here. I think that is SUPREMELY fucked up, and that's why I offer this choice for you. "
My rather ballsy, cutting words draw her gaze up, and I have to restrain myself from retreating before her focus, back into obscurity. I press on, hoping my gut is leading me the right way.
"I'll be completely honest, your chances at returning to Il Nono are slim-and my chances at seeing you in a tutu are even slimmer. That's two potential lives you've currently been denied, will you let this world and it's fickle inhabitants claim a third? Or will you act to grow and adapt, to forge a new home for yourself in the now you inhabit?"
>[Camella]"...It's always proclamations with you, isn't it?"
Oh, I want to make a side comment on that-and it's clear she recognizes some of my verbal patterns, trying to divert me like that-but I can feel her resistance to my offer weakening-I have to keep pressing on.
>>311880
"Look-I could say that these people place themselves outside normal society, and sometimes the only recourse to this supernatural world without anyone but their own to police them is to kill. And that's true, but not quite right. Because that's just me placing myself above them, like I'm god, to decide who lives and dies. It's not even deciding my life is more valuable than theirs, it's just choosing to murder them for what they've done."
I have her attention more firmly than at any other point-having verbalized her own doubts so succinctly, I have her indelibly hooked. I press on.
"I suppose in the end... you have to choose as best you can, according to your own moral compass, and live with that choice. The consequences are grim, but doing nothing might be worse, so what other choice is there?"
There's something in her eyes-a hint at her heart's key... if I can just grab it-
"It does make me wonder, sometimes... was the Doonongaes always a monster? When did those Zosimos vampires that decide games of life and death for the mortal are fun, forget that they used to be mortal? Will I be like that, too? Am I like that, and just don't know it?"
There it is-her way to accept this.
"I don't have an answer. I'm hoping that friends, family... these things will keep me from going too far. But I don't have to many of those. ...Long winded as that was, I think that sums up my reasons for inviting you pretty well."
Camella continues to stare at me, saying nothing. The silence stretches-so before it gets too awkward, I turn to-
>[Camella]"...I'll go."
I don't bother turning to respond-I can feel her attention off of me, hear her feet padding to another room as she begins gathering her things. Excellent.
>>312113
I decide to call Arkvad, not having spoken with him since Friday night.
>[AS]"Ah-ha, and there you are-I was getting worried, when I had not heard from you! Enjoy your evening with those two?"
"One way to put it-things went alright past there for you?"
>[AS]"Of course-escorted Camella back home.. oh, around one AM, and then this old man tucked himself in."
>>312371
"Good to hear things went well on your end as well. I had something I wanted to run by you, if you have the time."
>[AS]"That being?"
"Well-Florent Smets is a Vampire-did you know that?"
>[AS]"Armas, you're joking."
"I'm not-I very certain he is just that."
>[AS]"Armas, I spoke with Smets under direct sunlight-if he was a vampire, explain how that happened."
He did? Shit.... got to be a reason for that, but for now-
"How about a Goblin Deal as being the origin point of the information-would you say their word on the information's accuracy would mean something?"
>[AS]"...Which goblins-nevermind, I think I know.... You're sure there was no chance you could have misinterpreted them?"
"Not a one-this was rather clearly phrased."
>[AS]"...Then we have a problem."
"Part of which, I think, is the fact that I was promised, on the SVT deal, that I was dealing with an individual."
>[AS]"And how is that not true, vampire with resources or no?"
"Because he's from the Zosimus Dynasty."
I have to hold the phone away from my ear for a few seconds as Arkvad vitriollically curses with gusto, before finally calming himself.
>[AS]"...Okay. I'm going to make some calls-Holland and Holland's information department clearly has a rather critical problem that needs to be dealt with. I'll call you back once I figure this out."
"Talk to you later, then."

I hang up... and with far more questions than I had prior to the call-I grab some precious, fitful hours of sleep.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24RD, 2010 begins.

Camella spends the morning meticulously going over her gear, and slowly re-equipping herself-a reloaded P90 on one hip, a Franchi double-barreled sawn-off shotgun next to her berretta on the other, the SCAR and Super 90 both slung over her shoulders. She has eschewed the desert camo fatigues, donning the nondescript black clothing she purchased yesterday.

While she outfits herself, I don my comprehensive body armor set, conceal my AA-12 and Keihäs under my trenchcoat, and carry my helmet/mask combination under my arm. I wait, a few feet behind Camella, for her attention to latch on to me. I do not have to wait long-

And I find myself regretting it as an axe is almost buried in my skull. Note to self: Fun as it is to tease Camella, she is VIOLENTLY jumpy-something to bear in mind. After that minor wrinkle in the morning is accounted for-Camella and I load into the Right Laine-

And drive off to kill someone.

We arrive at the church-little is said, as Havoc and Camella abscond to the roof, away from prying eyes, while Locke and I take up position on the fire escape adjacent to Smet's manse. Locke and I wait for perhaps ten minutes, before the signal: Locke presses his button, I hear several muffled thumps-and my phone vibrates, a text arriving just as the jammer goes into effect. I cup the phone in one hand as we both leap across the intervening distance, shattering the plate glass window and rolling to our feet on rich carpet, flipping the phone open-

>>312166
>>312381
[FANART BONUS: ARKVAD COMPLETES HIS RESEARCH TWO HOURS EARLIER]

Arkvad: Jason Locke and Gertrude Havoc died two weeks ago.

..The one I had called Locke, standing beside me, plasters his red face with a smile as he turns to face me.
>[NotLocke]"You know, I wish we could have met under different circumstances."

He was going to say more. I know it-I could see it in his eyes.

The Vampire Florent Smets rounding the corner at slightly under forty miles an hour, a legitimate sawn-off punt gun in his hands derails both of our trains of thought.

WHY THE HELL IS THAT VAMPIRE MOVING IN SUNLIGHT?






What's my next move from here?
[Remember, if anyone wants to do any shooting, say what gun, what you are shooting at, and roll a 1d100 per each bullet you want to fire.]
>>
No. 312390 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 30, 86, 47, 31, 16 = 210

You know, Mr. Big, it's not too late. You don't know Camella.
I'm confident she'll kill Ms. Brandt handily. You can join us if you wish. At least for now let's kill us some vampires.

Drop a couple rounds into smets with the AA-12 once he closes a bit of distance.
>>
No. 312391 ID: 234c26

>>312385
Smets is providing a distraction for Locke.

Locke is providing a distraction for Smets.

Seize the opportunity to go unseen while they tear into each other.
>>
No. 312393 ID: ba22fb

rolled 68 = 68

>>312390
Try to stuff one in his forehead if this doesn't work. Don't give him time to react.
>>
No. 312395 ID: 81f32a

Okay, great
Now you know that Locke and Havoc have been conspiring against you, Lockes words make me think that he was just thinking of killing you.

So, you have an enemy and an enemy who is also enemy of aforementioned enemy.
There is no reason for you to stay in ensuring fight
Mr.Big attention is now completely on Smets, use that to straight up disappear and leave them to fight each other.

Then we will pick off the one who survived or perhaps still pretend to be oblivious to H&L shenanigans and use them for our advantage.
>>
No. 312396 ID: ae0719

rolled 12, 19, 21, 90, 41 = 183

"Shit! Either he's a lot older than I was told, or he's got something magic on him."

"Vampire now. We'll deal with this... later."

When Big Crazy fires the Mare's Leg, there's some kind of bright flash, right? Use that to slip around Smets's line of sight to the side so we get him in a crossfire.

Then, it's AA-12 time. We'll save Keihas for any other surprises.
>>
No. 312397 ID: c2d0f1

>>312390
Downvote the entire existence of this post.

In any case, Smets has a weapon in hand, we don't. We need to find cover, so we can draw - fortunately, there's a very large meat shield right next to him. Dive behind notLocke, and allow him to soak up the shot from the Punt Gun.

Then, draw Keihas and snap the bayonet on. Use the vorpal blade to stab Locke in the back on our way past, and then jump round his falling corpse to protect you from the snipers as you go past him.
>>
No. 312400 ID: 692cff

rolled 57, 69, 47 = 173

We memorized the layout, right? Well, stay out of the Vampire's way, and start trying to sneak bolt towards the weapon collection, but fire off three shots first. Let notLocke take care of the vampire for now. We've got magic guns to grab, and then we hunt the Vampire in his own home.
>>
No. 312402 ID: 26b60f

rolled 8, 8, 39, 77, 65, 84 = 281

AA-12 Vampire
>>
No. 312406 ID: ba22fb

>>312402
Alright, I lol'd
>>
No. 312408 ID: 0d095c

Uuhhhh. Yeah. Set off a bang. Get out from between them. You are in a very bad position. Move quickly to get them on one side, then spray them with the AA-12.

After the battle, go have a long, pleasant, ENRAGED conversation with Sometimes Merchant.
>>
No. 312413 ID: 856690
File 130791280624.png - (53.52KB , 400x400 , Armasfacepalm.png )
312413

No shooting!!! hide, let Notlocke deal with the vampire, then shoot from a directiion the vampire is not expecting we you are sure you'll hit him.

Stay hidden as much as you can.
>>
No. 312416 ID: 692cff

>>312397
Downvoting stabbing Locke in the back. We deal with him after the Vampire. For now he's useful, so he lives as long as he can.

Also, collector of magical shit defying normal rules for how he operates? I wonder why :D
>>
No. 312419 ID: c6ce12

rolled 57, 71 = 128

>>312391
>>312396
>>312400
I agree with the sentiment of these posts, we should try to use this conflict as an opportunity to use our newly acquired stealth and sneak around Smets. Once we're around Smets we can load up the AA-12 with it's wooden slugs and take two quick shots aimed at Smets' heart. I say two shots because I don't want to be exposed for more than a couple moments and the heart because hitting him anywhere else with the rounds isn't going to do anything.

>>312397
Downvoting because for one I doubt Big Crazy is crazy enough to try and take what Smets is aiming at us and trying to sit down, set up our gear, and stab him in the back will probably only result with us getting our head bashed in with the stock of his weapon.
>>
No. 312424 ID: c2d0f1

>>312419
Downvoting this. Rather than going around him, we should try to get out the other end of the hallway with Big Crazy as cover and see if we can double back another way around. Worst comes to worst we can try to use Keihas' bayonet to cut holes in the walls in one of the rooms, if they're made of wood/plasterboard.
>>
No. 312427 ID: 692cff

>>312419
Upvoting this, it synchs so well with my roll
>>
No. 312438 ID: 81f32a

I am going to suggest that we just hide and AMBUSH EXPERT out of our ass all the time.
Going from one place to another and shooting when they can't see us.

Heck, try to time your shots with theirs so that they cannot even hear where they come from.

If we are seen, we try to divert their attention to each other and then BAM- Ambush expert again motherfucker!
>>
No. 312443 ID: 9bfeef

>>312419
Upvoting, seems like a good plan
>>
No. 312444 ID: 81f32a
File 130791690491.jpg - (72.48KB , 750x1000 , Armas - ready for war 3.jpg )
312444

Holy shit!
We are so totally getting an scary looking full-head helmet later on.
>>
No. 312445 ID: 856690

rolled 33 = 33

>>856690
This picture is now relevant, if it is permissable, can it be used?

NOW TIME ALL SHOTS TO OTHER PEOPLES SHOTS, try to do it from a similar position to them.
We're in a hallway and Notlocke can be our distraction. Seriously, making use of distractions was a big part of our training, and there's a lot of those in a fight.

We snuck out of a kitchen going straightpast Camella, when she was looking for us!

So basicaslly hide behind Notlocke, then >>312424 but really if you don't see the opportunity, retreat back the way.THAT OR CUT A HOLE IN THE WALL, if it is weak enough. Also hide and throw flashbang from a direction that notLocke will see it, but smets won't. Then shoot smets in chest with AA-12 try to shoot shortly after the throw so your position isn't revealed by sound, then hide before the flash dies. Make sure to stay out of Notlocke's sight too.

In fact make sure never to be seen by anyone until everyone we want dead is dead. Currently NotLocke is not quite yet in the must die catagory. We have a wonderful Ambushing trait for shooting at people from the shadows.

We no longer are being ambushed, we are going to ambush him. We don't need lots of shots, we just need the one that'll kill smets.
>>
No. 312446 ID: c2d0f1

rolled 50, 41, 44, 43, 83, 23 = 284

Thinkign about it 40 mph is 18 meters per second. That's just not enough time to pull anything but our Matebas, as they're super fast. Use them.
>>
No. 312483 ID: c2d0f1

>>312446
Note, by this I mean shoot notLocke.

It's clear that he and Smets are allies, as the vampire is ready, waiting, and armed to the teeth right where we entered. This means that this entire situation is a set-up from the start, designed as a trap for us.

So, what does this mean?

The raid is a bust. Knowing that we were hitting the place, there's no reason for Smets' guns to be easily accessible or even still be in the building. The only objective from here on is our own survival.

Camella is a write off. As Smets and who ever he could hire know the exact details of her location, at best she's probably under assault by overwhelming odds right now. At worse, she's another hostile.

This leaves at least one hostile sniper, possibly more, covering the outside of the building. Get away from any windows on this side of the building.

The layout and blueprints we were given are unreliable, and are potentially deliberately misleading. Instead, take a leaf from the Doonegeas and make your own exit. Use Keihas' bayonet to cut holes in the floor and walls to effect your escape heading downwards and towards the other side of the building as soon as you can get clear and out of sight for a moment.

When you're out, do not go home. It's probably compromised. Everything left there must be considered lost for now. Contact Arkvad afterwards on a secure line, to warn him he may be in danger too. You are a friend of the goblins all over Istanbul, so duck into the sewers and contact SM. See if we can pay him a small amount to collect our stuff from our apartment.
>>
No. 312485 ID: 44766a

Downvoting this. we need to at least attempt to extract Camella.
>>
No. 312488 ID: 44766a

plus if you check the discussion tread, this is a three way cluster fuck. NotLocke and NotHavoc are not working with the vampire.
>>
No. 312489 ID: 81f32a

>>312485
Camella is outside, on the roof of the church, fyi.

But yeah, lets not shoot Locke yet. Betterdeal with the vampire first and then go toe on toe with a mortal
>>
No. 312491 ID: 0d095c

So everyone is stabbing each other in the back? GOOD! We must keep NotLocke and NotHavoc on our side. Until we kill Smets. Then we cut NotLocke's head off and put a cloud of wooden pellets through NotHavoc's chest cavity.

But first, Smets. I'm all for the "get into cover" plan. Do so ASAP, via your most expeditious means.
>>
No. 312599 ID: 15861a

>>312491
Meh, lets not kill the "Not"s until we know a bit more about them, such as who hired them, for what purpose, any why this crazy-ass situation for a backstab. I have a feeling we can make this situation a little better with the right actions...
>>
No. 312651 ID: a76809

>>312390
[PLANNED SHOTS: 030, 086, 047, 031, 16]
>[5 shots]
>>312400
[PLANNED SHOTS: 057, 069, 047]
>[IDENTICAL PLANNED SHOT SYNCHRONIZATION BONUS]
>[3 shots-2 rounds short for Synchronization. Absorbing next two planned shots for AA-12]
>>312419
[PLANNED SHOTS: 057, 071]
>New rolls: ( 57, 86, 47, 57, 71)
>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait Activated]
I avoid immediately squeezing off shots, feeling the weight and subtleties of Smet's attention-and defining its borders. As the AA-12 rises into my hands, I begin to move. Behind me a flash of light and thunder threatens to rupture my ears, as whatever gun Locke uses makes a horrendous racket just as Smet's Punt Gun likewise discharges-and Locke pulls Smets attention further onto himself. With the assistance, I finish slipping off the vampire's personal radar as I see it's flesh knitting back together from Locke's attack, leveling the AA-12's barrel on the well-dressed monster as it rebuilds its momentum, now a mere ten feet from the red skinned Locke.

[FIRST SHOT]
(57+5Supernatural Bonus+4)=66%
The first wood slug explodes out the barrel and slams into the vampire's left knee-the creature hardly pays it any attention initially, but as the fire takes root I can feel the vampire's attention writhing. The trigger stays depressed-
[SECOND SHOT]
(86+5Supernatural Bonus+4)=95%
The next round catches the vampire square in the back-and had the spine itself not stopped the wooden projectile, I'm sure it would have pierced his heart.
[THIRD SHOT]
(47+5Supernatural Bonus+4)=56%
My third shot in the automatic burst catches nothing-blurring past Smets and Locke alike to add a bit more destruction to the hallway devastated by Smet's own weapon. ...The entire hallway is wrecked, why is Locke still fine?
[FOURTH SHOT]
(57+5Supernatural Bonus+4)=66%
Having gone airborne to leap away from my attacks, clearly beginning to grasp their fell power and design, bane to his existence, I lead and manage to add a second burning wooden spike to Smet's now ruined left knee-I'd imagine he's hobbled at this point, as there's not much actual tissue left to work the joint. Feeling Smet's attention locking onto me even as Locke's own begins to shift my way, I start moving to correct this and fade away with one final parting bullet.
[FIFTH SHOT]
(71+5Supernatural Bonus+4)=80%
The fifth wood slug catches Smets in the right shoulder, twisting his body about as he bounces off the wood-paneled wall heavily.

>>312408
>>312413
>>312444
>>312445
[DOUBLE FANART BONUS]
[PLANNED SHOT: 33]
>[FLASHBANGS: -1 TOTAL:02]
I toss a flash bang, noting the vampire to be closing it's eyes before the device even leaves my hands, Locke's sunglasses obscured eyes unreadable as always-and use the distraction wisely. I slip once more from the vampire's senses, from Locke's detection-and feel the weight of not a single person's attention. I peer from behind a display case, sighting on Smets as an idea takes root in my mind. I learned many things from the Sometimes Merchant-all focused around sight and hearing. One of the most useful tricks I learned was how to 'hide' sounds within others-time my breathing to another's, my footsteps to theirs-and suddenly they can't detect me nearly as well. Now, not much can mask unsuppressed gunfire.... other than more gunfire.

As Lock calmly puts another round into Smet's, practically staking the vampire to the wall as it struggles to rise, I get a better look at his implement. A lever action, short barreled rifle... a Mare's Leg, I think they're called. Damn thing's muzzle flash is physically painful to watch-and even forty feet away it's loud as hell. I see Locke's finger tightening once more-

[SIXTH SHOT]
(33+5Supernatural Bonus+10+10Shooting Skill Bonus)=58%
There is a third explosion of blood and gore as whatever Locke's packing punches a fist-sized hole through the vampire-and while the gun bucked in my hands, and a new spike has been embedded in the vampire's side, I felt not a tremor in Locke's focus, still locked entirely on the vampire. I wonder if he'd be aware of me even were I not hiding right now, so focused is he.

Smets, on the other hand, is another story. I can feel him struggling to find me-practically ignoring Locke in his search-and I have to say, the sheer weight of sense of hearing is overwhelming-I doubt I can move without CONSIDERABLE coverage noise, if I want him to not detect me. On the plus side, his left knee is a flaming mess, his side and shoulder alike are injure, and I cracked his spine with another round. Despite this, I watch him pull from his jacket pocket a copper shell etched with brown runes as large as a baby's leg-and begin to break open his sawn-off punt gun to reload, attention still seeking me out.

I am some forty feet away, crouching down behind a display case near to the hallway's corner. According to the schematics, the stairs to the third level are around the corner. I oddly have not felt a single other presence here besides Smets and Locke.

Which changes, as I rather abruptly feel someone's attention lock on me. A human, whoever it is-but the very moment they perceive me they focus so hard I nearly stagger under the weight of their attention. I wonder if anything else even exists for them. Where is that-

The heavy window to my left shatters and one of the two amulets around my neck burns with sudden heat, the smell of sulphuric smoke filling my nose.

The attention I felt so sharply focused on me breaks off as suddenly as it arrived-to the distinct sound of automatic fire on the church rooftop-which sounds quite a bit like a P90. Camella.





What is my next move from here?
Given that there is potentially a sniper watching for me from windows, and a vampire listening for the slightest noise I make-how should I attempt to move, should my plans involve such?
>>
No. 312667 ID: 81f32a
File 130794718325.jpg - (16.07KB , 700x291 , New AA-12.jpg )
312667

rolled 39, 89, 60, 71, 67, 53, 15, 79, 39, 99, 28, 23 = 662

Rely heavily on ambushes.

Oh shit that must be Savoy.

As soon as you notice that sensation on you again, start speaking directly to him, doesn't matter what, say whatever you want.
As you know, he has teleportation ability as long as he is not observed, so talking to him locks him into a single space... or at least keep YOUR attention on him too.

You should be totally be able to know where that smell came from (ie, from behind you). When he tries that shit again, you will be ready. Just before he ports behind you, turn around and empty whatever gun you have on hand.

Or maybe I am not getting this right.
He shot you through the window. So keep away from windows then and hide even better now.

Since any move could expose you to Smets, wait till Locke reloads before making an attack.

(rolls for AA-12 or matebas quickdraw if no bullets are left for AA-12)
>>
No. 312668 ID: ae0719
File 130794722298.jpg - (147.41KB , 1691x2193 , HesGotAWholeLottaHeart.jpg )
312668

Hope Camella has the situation with 'Havoc' under control, because I don't want to move early and risk getting Smets's attention. Still, when we DO move... keep those senses open for that intense focus again, and fucking move your ass no matter what Smets hears. Magical wards don't grow on trees (or do they? hell if I know how goblins make 'em).

If there's something to use for cover, try to close the gap between you and Smets whenever Locke fires away. We'll want to be close enough to switch to Keihas for blood drinking (further weakening his regeneration) or using our elf blade jukenjitsu to strike at the gun itself or his dominant wrist.

Perhaps try scooping up a piece of debris from the ruined hallway and throwing it during the thunder of Locke's shot, so that it lands during the lull, away from us?

Also... count how many shots Locke has emptied, and see when he reloads. That might be useful information.

Fanart of Nightmare Chef Armas to be used for devouring Smets's heart without problems, hopefully.
>>
No. 312669 ID: 81f32a
File 130794731215.jpg - (101.16KB , 1000x1000 , Armas - ready for war.jpg )
312669

This is how I imagined Armas should look like when fully equipping himself.
>>
No. 312673 ID: 44766a

That was the sniper's attention he felt, guys. The focus was so intense because the sniper was concentrating on shooting Armus. If Armus feels that attention again he needs to get to cover right away.
>>
No. 312674 ID: c6ce12

rolled 52, 74, 21 = 147

>>312651
Well my first thoughts are to get that amulet off of us, that thing's smell could give us away and it's of no use to us anymore. We can't just throw it though, but maybe grab one of the flashbangs and wrap it around before the throw. I don't really want him to hear our hand coming from behind the display case, but if we can hold out for long enough Locke/Big Crazy will probably attract enough of Smets attention onto himself to allow for the throw. Lob the thing right under him and quickly enough so he won't have time to react. Pop off three more shots from the AA-12 into him while retreating up the staircase. Then from there we can just hope Locke/Big Crazy slow him down enough and Camella can keep Havoc/Olga busy enough so we can get to the top and pull a disappearing act on him. Try to lie in ambush somewhere to hit him as he comes up the stairs.

>>312667
That was Mrs. Havoc/Olga, no need to go waiting for Savoy to pop us behind us just yet.
>>
No. 312675 ID: 44766a

On the plus side we now know that Armus effectively has an anti-sniper warning alarm. After this is all over we need to get more of those amulets.
>>
No. 312677 ID: 15861a

rolled 44, 69, 60, 86, 9, 24, 10, 67, 5, 29, 93, 61 = 557

Shoot ze vampire!!
>>
No. 312680 ID: f0e3ae

>>312673
Yes, Also I would like to remind you that we came here with 2 snipers... one was camella and one is an impersonator, pretending to be a murdered individual... It seems obvious who shot us and who carmella is fighting now.

On the one hand, we got the upper hand on smets and can shoot him... on the other hand we were betrayed and might try to sit back, hide, avoid getting sniped, and let them wear each other down a bit before finishing them both off.
>>
No. 312716 ID: 0d095c

Ah SHIT. Our magic amulets just got used up. I mean, I'm glad we didn't just get shot with whatever the hell that rifle fired, but still. 1. We must get into DEEP cover, and THEN assist Carmella. She's very tough, but she's gonna need help 2.Once Smets is eliminated and Locke refocuses on her.
>>
No. 312727 ID: 234c26

>>312651
All right. Shit. If that was the fatal-wound amulet, you're now unprotected against anything other than headshots. If that was the headshot amulet, you're still probably okay. But you have to assume the worst- that you're now completely unshielded against any and all body shots. This means you cannot afford to fuck around with snipers- the instant you feel that ultra-focused attention upon you ever again, MOVE, no matter what else is going on.

Odds are that the vampire's attention is going to get locked on to us as soon as we move- and he might just charge whatever just got shot at anyway, gambling that it's us. He will move at frightening speed, probably while firing his weapon. Expect this- and remember that even if he's got crazy vampiric strength and speed, he still only has the mass of a normal person. You can break his charge, aim, and perhaps even attention with properly directed gunfire. Seize any distraction to fade away.

When you're engaging the vampire, be aware that Locke will have a free shot at either of you he chooses- and if he's savvy, he's already caught on that you're too sneaky for him to kill if you're not seriously preoccupied. So when you move, try to move so that the vampire holds more of his attention than you do- and if you feel Locke's attention focusing in on you, particularly when his rifle is involved, dodge just like you would that sniper. If he gets a decent hit on you, you'll be in deep shit since your best defensive abilities rely upon being able to sneak around freely, which is hard when you're crippled and leaving a giant blood trail.
>>
No. 312728 ID: 81f32a

>the smell of sulphuric smoke filling my nose.

Oh right, that smell came from the burnt-out amulet, right?
Meaning that the vampire with heightened senses can smell it too.
Meaning that your stealth is moot for now.
>>
No. 312741 ID: 692cff

We should get out of the immediate area, so time your movements with Locke's gunshots. You can feel his attempts to hear you, so judge how long Locke's gun strains his hearing by the way that shifts. Don't head to the staircase. Head to a room, cut a hole in the wall with Keihas' bayonet, and try and make your way to Smets' gun collection. Do this all sneaky like.
>>
No. 312755 ID: c2d0f1

rolled 97, 74, 98, 79, 21 = 369

Time your fire for when Locke shoots, aiming for the side of Smets' head to knock out his hearing, and then, when Smets next fires the big gun, use the cover of the muzzle flash and the retort to jump away and empty the rest of the AA-12 drum into him.

Then, when out of sight, you need to ready Keihas, and start the cutting through walls plan.
>>
No. 312757 ID: 46c430

>>312755
HOLY HIGH ROLLS BATMAN
>>
No. 312759 ID: 0d095c

>>312755
Yeah. Let's go with this guy's plan.
>>
No. 312766 ID: c2d0f1

>>312755
Whilst shooting, carefully match the cadence of notLocke's shooting, and try to judge how his attention peaks. You may not know how many shots he has remaining before he runs dry, but he does, so you should watch out of the corner of your eye for the tells as he reaches the end and goes for his next set of rounds.

If this takes the vampire down, we need to vanish from notLocke's sight for a second, grab the vampires' body (taking the chance to cut its head off with Keihas and taking that too), and run off to a shadowed corner. There, out of sight, we should use Keihas' supernaturally sharp blade to cut out the vampire's heart, wolf that down, and use Keihas' stock to suck out all the vampire's remaining blood.
>>
No. 312767 ID: c2d0f1

rolled 51 = 51

>>312766
Messed up the code
>>
No. 312768 ID: c6ce12

>>312766
Don't forget the teeth, we need to pocket those canines for later.
>>
No. 312770 ID: c2d0f1

>>312767
That was for bayonet, sigh
>>
No. 312776 ID: 9d7f9f

rolled 92 = 92

Try to fire off a shot that will distract the vampire- Aim at his head, and while he is disconcerted quickly sneak out of the house and search for Camella.

Nobody's going to snipe us.
>>
No. 312777 ID: 692cff

>>312766
>>312768
Definitely these. Teeth go on the bottom of Keihas' stock, not the butt. Let it bite into people when we smack them with our rifleplay.
>>
No. 312821 ID: 28e94e

>>312776
Seconding this.
>>
No. 312824 ID: 692cff

>>312776
Downvoting any leaving the house or searching for Camella. She doesn't need our help.
>>
No. 312844 ID: 2d3c96

If you can
cut out his heart and fangs with your mere or bayonet and stuff them into your pouches of trenchcoats pocket or something.

be stealthy about it
>>
No. 312845 ID: d4f98d

Oh for gods sake, stop trying to fucking harvest his body parts in a team based mission when we've got a morally torn partner and two guys who may want us dead, AND THE TARGETS STILL ALIVE.
>>
No. 312985 ID: f0e3ae

>>312845
I am going to have to go with this one.
There is a time and place.
>>
No. 313010 ID: a76809
File 130802590465.jpg - (345.89KB , 620x877 , Smets Butler.jpg )
313010

>>312668
>>312668
[DOUBLE FANART BONUS]
>[MMM Trait automatically activates]
...If there's a sniper outside, and I have smoke grenades on my person-my course of action seems clear. Before I can feel any attention swing back to me, I pull the pins on three separate smoke grenades, and scatter them about the hallway-one rolling past Locke and Smets alike, thick and cloying clouds rising up, struggling to obscure everything.

Locke seems to decide this makes it the perfect time to empty his gun into Smets-just to be sure.
>>312755
[PLANNED SHOT: 97, 74, 98, 79, 21]
The AA-12 barks at the same time as Locke's thundering gun-and I feel neither individual's attention swing my way.

[FIRST SHOT]
(97+5Supernatural Bonus+9+10Shooting Skill Bonus)=121%
I'm not really sure what it is, exactly-too many things different between here and now-and the realm I learned from the Sometimes Merchant in. Could be natural to even using such skills in combat-could be coincidence-could even be some other reason beyond my grasp.

Whatever the reason, the first burning wood spike doesn't have the slightest deviation from the path I imagined, catching Smets completely unprepared-obliterating one of his ears and burying deep in his skull, setting fire to his brain. Locke works his rifle's lever, Smet's body spasms-and starts raising the punt gun, attention dulled but finally resolved-redirected at Locke.

Locke fires.
I fire.
Smets fires.

And to this day I could not say which of the three shot first.

[SECOND SHOT]
(74+5Supernatural Bonus+9+10Shooting Skill Bonus)=98%
The next round erases his right nipple, leaving a burning wound that should be seeping blood-yet isn't. Locke's own round catches Smets in the head-where his head once was, that is. Whatever Locke is packing is enough to vaporize huge chunks of flesh.

Locke himself, however... is not doing quite as well. Smets' punt gun had been chambered in flechettes-and the big man's whole front is a crazy mess, a psychopathic rendition of a porcupine. Massive metal spikes rise by the dozens from his flesh-yet not a one seems to have fully penetrated. ...Odd, given I don't think Locke is wearing body armor. Raises even more questions about who it is masquerading as Locke-and what they were going to say before Smets arrived. The idea is shelved, as the now only lightly bleeding Locke again works his rifle.

[THIRD SHOT]
(98+5Supernatural Bonus+9+10Shooting Skill Bonus)=122%
Smets continues to keep his one arm cupped about his chest, adding an extra layer of defense to his heart-while he may not know specifically where I am, he knows enough to guard against my general direction-which is why I grin as Locke's bullet and my own 12-gauge specialty shell both tear into the vampire's shoulder-and rip the offending limb away. In the second that's past since the smoke grenades activated, hectic gunfire has been exchanged-but now the obscuring curtain begins to rise too high-with only his blood stump to sight by, Locke and I both fire again.

[FOURTH SHOT]
(79+5Supernatural Bonus+9+10Shooting Skill Bonus)=103%
Despite the obscuring smoke, both Lock's slug and my own find a meaty home, wherein I find myself surprised as Locke works his lever again, even as the smoke rises past either of our heads, the hallways filling. Blind-firing by last known position? So be it.

[FIFTH SHOT]
(21+5Supernatural Bonus+9+10Shooting Skill Bonus)=45%
I honestly couldn't say if the final round hits-I'm too distant to be certain. Likewise for what Locke's own last discharge did.

I am close enough to hear Locke begin reloading-my cue to close the distance.

I move, sinuous and inobtrusive, creeping through the smoke to where I saw Smets fall, my hands switching from the AA-12... to Keihäs. I step a bit closer-

A hand closes about my foot a fraction of a second after I feel Smets' roving attention settle-on me.
>[AMBUSH EXPERT Trait Activated
Before those fingers can tighten with bone-crushing force I slam Keihäs' butt into what I hope to be the mangled corpse of Smets-

I am filled with a sense of déjà vu, the rifle vibrating, invisibly held in place as nightmarish sounds of bones liquefying and flesh flowing roar upwards at me-my sense of reverie is broken as I feel Locke's attention brush past me, locking onto the sound-as he cocks his gun. Thankfully, the force that holds the rifle in place while it feasts directly is as ever only briefly present, leaving me time enough to throw myself aside before I once more hear that gun thunder. Which makes me want to revist the whole 'Locke's gun is loud thing'. I didn't do it justice-this isn't so much sound as it is a pervasive assault on the senses-the accompanying flash of light trips up my bodies motion-but instead of stumbling and revealing my location with further sound, I manage to catch myself-

While Locke commences emptying his gun, shot by shot, smoke or no-he seems to want to be rather thorough about insuring Smets' death. Given I... don't really think he'll even find a body left any more, he's welcome to waste the bullets. While he does, I skulk down the hallway, hitting a corner opposite the one I was at prior to Smets' death. Along the way I have the chance to expand my attention-and note the sound of gunfire continuing across the street-as well as people screaming outside. ...Okay, cops in about five minutes, if those earlier reports had any accuracy. Now facing the back of the house, rather than the front, I should likewise find a stairwell when I round this corner-

There is a stairwell leading both down to the first floor and above to Smets' display area-on the far side of a waifishly thin, ambiguously androgynous, ashen skinned, gold eyed humanoid, blood-red hair the only lively thing about an otherwise deathly visage. This would-be corpse, dressed as a butler, holds forth a silver platter on one white-gloved hand, a bevvy of wine glasses, each filled with a red far to opaque to be wine-and its eyes are locked on me.

Could be it intended to speak.
>>312667 [EVENS]
>>312674 [EVENS]
>>312677 [EVENS]
>>312767 [SOLO]
>>312776 [SOLO]
>>312777 [LUCKY SEVENS-NEW FANART BONUS TRIGGERS]
[FANART BONUS: EVEN/ODD PREFERENTIAL COMPOSITE]
>[ALL EVEN BONUS]
[PLANNED SHOTS: 89, 71, 53, 79, 99, 23, 74, 69, 86, 24, 67, 29, 61, 51, 92]

[UNPLANNED REACTIVE AUTOMATIC SHOOTING:]
(89+71+53+79+99+23+74+69+86+24+67+29+61+51+92)/15=64.466%
64.466-50=14.466X15=Automatic score: 217

Fifteen burning wooden bullets scream out of my gun, pouring forth before I even skid to a halt. They shred and rip their way through the butler, carving out gray flesh and burning its cashmere attire in a massive sustained explosion of gore-

>[Smets' Butler]"Would you mind overmuch stopping that?"

....The butler does not sound worried-or even distressed, that its body is at least a third literally blown away. He continues to speak as bullets fly.

>[Smets' Butler]"You know, I am now required to be of service to you-I would appreciate it if you-"
The AA-12 runs dry-damn I got to distracted by its nonchalant attitude. It's still holding the tray of wine glasses!
>[Smets' Butler]"Thank you. Now there is something that need must be resolved-I am required to be of service to the whomsoever holds the blood of Sisuthros-that which was held in Smets' veins-and now in your possession. This necessitates me serving you-but there is a conflicting order.
The butler raises an arm that is visibly completely unharmed, pointing at the stairwell behind him.
>[Smets' Butler]"For as it happens, I was left with orders by Smets to follow a [i]different gentleman's orders.... my, how can this be resolved.[/i]"
...So. Someone ELSE is here-someone that Smets was dealing with-and they're on the third floor with the guns. As I finally tear the discharged amulet from my neck, careful to leave its still functioning twin in place, an empty AA-12 in hand, I wonder....



What should my next move be?
I think I have about five minutes until law enforcement shows up, thanks to the highly audible gunfight on the church rooftop-and possibly the use of a punt gun in the middle of a city-what should I do with that time?
>>
No. 313018 ID: ee9344

WOO UNDEAD BUTLER ACCQUIRED...sort of.

Well, ask who the other guy is for one thing. And also, the butler never said anything about not honoring requests, so if there's something relevant, perhaps phrasing it in the form of a polite requisition instead of an outright command would get some results. Hell, maybe you can ask if he'd bring all the guns down out of the collection for you, or to take care of whoever Camella is scrapping it up with topside.
>>
No. 313025 ID: 692cff

Tell the Butler

"Were you ordered to only follow his orders? If not, I order you not to follow the other gentleman's orders"

Than order him to help you kill the other man. If that doesn't work, find out what orders the butler has been given by the otherman.

If the orders he's been given allow for this, or if you can't be told, "I order you to observe and watch the otherman, while preventing yourself from receiving any communication from him, and prevent any attempts he makes at lethally injuring me"

If neither of those works, and I think one probably should, we go down to kill the dude anyway, cause man does Armas want a butler.
>>
No. 313036 ID: f8aa66
File 130802922392.jpg - (107.03KB , 582x800 , PT-93-ORANGE.jpg )
313036

"Come on! Blessed oil, magic gun- nothing?"

>[Smets' Butler]"Thank you. Now there is something that need must be resolved-I am required to be of service to the whomsoever holds the blood of Sisuthros-that which was held in Smets' veins-and now in your possession. This necessitates me serving you-
Well, this sounds a little suspicious, but whatever, it's not actively hostile, deal with it later. We have five minutes until the police arrive- which means we should be out in 4.

"Well, since I'm going in there anyway... I suppose I could discuss things with the gentleman." Perhaps quaff one of his glasses of bloodwine; I anticipate needing a magic pick-me-up for our healing soon. "In lieu of this gentleman's orders to the contrary, would you mind gathering things of particular value or magic the late and unlamented Mister Smets left behind? I'm going to need to see myself out shortly."

While standing beside the doorway, crack the door, toss the last two smoke grenades in, and step inside. Keep low, and duck aside from the door as soon as you can (while staying in the resulting smoke cloud), then announce yourself. "Hello! The butler just showed me in. May I ask to whom I may be speaking?"

Use your sense of his attention to orient on his position if you can. And keep up the chatter; if that's Galileo Savoy in there, you'll be glad you did.

Also, once we have acquired his services, I think goth chic just doesn't suit Armas's style. We should make him wear this suit. Or perhaps an orange zoot suit. You know, something classy.
>>
No. 313041 ID: 234c26

>>313010
Reload your AA-12 if you have any more ammo for it. Otherwise, keep Keihäs out. Pocket the amulet; no sense leaving evidence you don't have to behind.


I am inclined to take this butler character at face value, all things considered. I can't think of many reasons to stand there and be repeatedly shot if it's not. While speaking to it, begin to move so that you are not visible through any windows and anyone entering through any of the significant entrances will have their attention immediately caught by the butler rather than you. And start talking, pitching your voice so that it carries no farther than the butler. It probably has supernatural hearing, anyway.

"If I can now issue orders with the same authority that Smets once had, then I should be able to cancel any of his orders, no? That being the case, obey only orders issued by me from now on. Failing that, please obey orders issued by others only after first completing all tasks I ask of you, and interrupt tasks requested by others if I should ask something."

Regardless of how that goes, next: "A description of the other gentleman, if you would, with especial note paid to his combat abilities and intentions here, followed by an introduction for yourself and a description of your undoubtedly myriad talents."

>what should I do with that time?
Your overall goals are the following:
-Kill not-Havoc for trying to assassinate you. Devour heart to prove superiority.
-Kill not-Locke for trying to assassinate you. Devour heart in case of magic.
-Raid Smets' collection.
-Investigate this 'other gentleman'. (We'll put "Devour heart" on the "maybe" list.)
-Locate Camella and keep her alive.

Completion of all five goals takes priority over escaping before the police arrive; with your sneaking abilities you should be quite able to get away even if you run over the available time. For now, go to the collection- two of your objectives are there, and hopefully not-Locke will go there as well. Once that is dealt with you can move on to not-Havoc and Camella.

>>313031
I wouldn't be overly concerned about beating the police. After all, Armas is the sneakiest fucker here; he could probably stay in the house through their whole investigation of what happened here and not get spotted.
>>
No. 313045 ID: d4f98d

>>313041

I would point out we know too little about the NotLocke situation to follow through with a murder. CAPTURING them is a definite though.
>>
No. 313053 ID: 234c26

>>313045
Bullshit, we don't know enough to go through with a murder. We know:
-Havoc and Locke were killed, then impersonated by these people.
-There were only two snipers present in position to shoot us; one was not-Havoc, the other was Camella.
-Our charm would not have gone off unless that bullet was going to be fatal. That means Havoc has already demonstrated both intent and capability to kill us.
-The pair of them were working together on this, and not-Locke's "I wish we could have met under different circumstances" sounded a hell of a lot like "we could have been friends if I wasn't about to kill you". That makes him guilty of intent and capability to murder us by association.
-They have unknown magical capabilities as demonstrated by not-Locke's durability and their unfazed attitude when faced by the prospect of a vampire. We thus have no guarantee of our ability to incapacitate them- we can't afford to hold back.

That's not just enough to kill them both now, that's enough to hunt them down and kill them if they escape, because they'd be all but certain to come back when we're less ready. Seriously, if they're not both confirmed dead in ten minutes, I'm going to advocate diving down the nearest sewer and trading Sometimes Merchant the full and complete tale of what happened here and why in exchange for his aid in tracking them.
>>
No. 313060 ID: c6ce12

>>313010
I'd like to think we have an extra drum to reload the AA-12 with, but I think I recall when we were loading up it was mentioned we picked up our "single 32 round drum magazine". We could get the Keihas, but I think everyone recalls our meeting with a certain police officer who took special notice in the type of rounds it uses. So for now our best option is to switch to the Matebas which have much less recognizable ammunition.

As for what to say to the butler, well apologize for attempting to blast him eight ways to Zimbabwe. Then we try to squeeze as much information as we can out of him, like what is he, why he didn't get blown eight ways to Zimbabwe, what he can do, who this other guy is, what this other guy can do, and what weapons is this guy using. Issue whatever orders we have to the guy assuming he will follow them and then bid him goodbye for now, we have to go settle the rights to his contract.

Now we can go the two flights of stairs to the third floor where our opponent is, being careful to listen and avoid Big Crazy as he stalks about the place. The blueprints you got before don't seem to be failing you so just take the most circuitous route possible and try to avoid any obstacles they may have set for you. When we get in the room with this guy we'll have to plan around what he can do. If it turns out to be Savoy we just can't stop talking. Babble as much and inanely possible, if he's listening to us then we can sense his perception, meaning we can perceive him and his ability doesn't work.

>If neither of those works, and I think one probably should, we go down to kill the dude anyway, cause man does Armas want a butler.

Well if neither of those work perhaps we could ask him to simply bar anyone else from attempting to intrude on our meeting with the other gentleman unless we give them the go ahead first. I would rather not have Mr. Locke/Big Crazy barge in on us, well at least without knowing he's on our side first.

>>313036
>"Well, since I'm going in there anyway... I suppose I could discuss things with the gentleman." Perhaps quaff one of his glasses of bloodwine; I anticipate needing a magic pick-me-up for our healing soon. "In lieu of this gentleman's orders to the contrary, would you mind gathering things of particular value or magic the late and unlamented Mister Smets left behind? I'm going to need to see myself out shortly."

This is good, but if we do ask him to fetch the valuables from Smets' storage we should specify he move them to our vehicle, it is parked just outside.
>>
No. 313067 ID: d4f98d

>>313053
>-Havoc and Locke were killed, then impersonated by these people.

This is true, but we neither know the reason WHY, nor their intention towards us.

>-There were only two snipers present in position to shoot us; one was not-Havoc, the other was Camella.

THAT WE KNOW OF, unless we suddenly became clairvoyant and aware of every other potential plot going on, which may or may not include a Mafia assassin who can be anywhere he wants at anytime.

>-Our charm would not have gone off unless that bullet was going to be fatal. That means Havoc has already demonstrated both intent and capability to kill us.

See above

-The pair of them were working together on this, and not-Locke's "I wish we could have met under different circumstances" sounded a hell of a lot like "we could have been friends if I wasn't about to kill you". That makes him guilty of intent and capability to murder us by association.

Paranoia. It COULD have meant alot of things, hence the impetus to capture them. If you kill them, you learn JACK and SHIT.

>-They have unknown magical capabilities as demonstrated by not-Locke's durability and their unfazed attitude when faced by the prospect of a vampire. We thus have no guarantee of our ability to incapacitate them- we can't afford to hold back.

We also have no idea as to their backing. Let me put it this way to you: If their whole goal in this is simply to off us (And given notLocke's attention on the Vampire, that doesn't seem the case), then they would have had to have had prior knowledge of our dealings with Smets, which implies feelers in Holland and Holland, they'd have to have the backing to take whatever backlash could conceivable come from the Zosimus vamps, and they'd have to consider earning the ire of said vampire organization worth the goal of simply killing US.

And WHY would they do that? Why desire to kill Armas, who's done a handful of jobs in the area?

Well we won't FUCKING KNOW if we off them on the spot, WILL WE?
>>
No. 313068 ID: d4f98d

And regarding asking SM for the tale: THat hinges on the assumption that they KNOW what this is about, and we already have verified that the goblins are merely generally informed, NOT omniscient. There is no guarantee whatsoever that we'll get anything from them, and no guarantee that if they DO have something, the price won't potentially be high.
>>
No. 313075 ID: c2d0f1

>>313025
Don't order he to kill the other gentleman, order him to avoid his known location and completely ignore him or any sign of his very existence. Hopefully this will mean that it's impossible for the other potential master to give him orders.

Then, order him to act in our best interests, in accordance with basic morality, as a general principal, save when we give him specific orders overriding this.

Then, give him the specific orders. We are to go to a private location. He is to tell us of:

Any immediate contingencies his master had in the case of his death.
The name, nature, and known or suspected powers of the "other gentleman".
His name and his nature, if he can speak of them without violating his binding or otherwise doing anything against my interests.
What other defences does this place have we should be aware of?
Any orders left by Smets that are damaging to us are cancelled.
He is to move Smets collection of magical objects, starting with the most potent and working down, into our van. He should avoid all others apart from me whilst doing so - and if he cannot reach an an item because of this, he is to leave it. After he has finished, he should move items of mundane portable wealth to the van. He is not to overfill the van so that three people cannot fit in it, or the stuff is visible from the outside.

Finally, we apologise about the suit. As his new master, it's our responsibility to replace it.
>>
No. 313080 ID: c6ce12

>>313060
Also a thought occurs, that other person who the butler was promised to hasn't tried to do anything in the midst of all this chaos. He's making us come to him, which probably means he has something prepared for us in the collection room where he is no doubt hiding. I would say we should proceed with caution, perhaps not even attempting to enter the room in a normal fashion. This could be a chance to do the 'slice through a wall' trick Alratan keeps yammering about. Let's do the smoke grenade rolls through the door that Guile wanted to do and talk while we do so, but don't step through the door, instead we cut our own path in. We even get to quote Jack Nicholson if we want to.

And it's rather likely this person is Savoy now that I think about it. It makes a great deal of sense since he's slated to be in the fight, but hasn't appeared yet. He wouldn't want to go fight with Smets because he knows Smets would eat him, makes me question why he would command his butler to serve him though. Savoy even stands to gain if Smets dies, because again if he did leave the butler to him letting Smets get killed gives him a powerful servant, he just wasn't expecting our little bloodsucking weapon to foil that plan. That and Savoy's power is more suited to having less people around him who could block him from teleporting. So it's almost certainly Savoy, behind that door with a trap ready for us.
>>
No. 313086 ID: f8aa66

>>313067
If we can take them alive, we should. But if not, I won't lose too much sleep over it, either.

Also, it has been suggested to me that cutting a hole in the wall, or ceiling into the attic and then coming down on the gentleman would be sneakier than using the door.

I kind of approve. He's sitting in what is likely a personal armory. He might have a surprise in store like Castelletti had.
>>
No. 313091 ID: 92dcd7

>>313010
So? What stops you from following the orders of BOTH individuals? As long as our orders don't conflict, I don't see a problem. Could you give me the exact wording of the orders Smets bound you to?

Also, I hope you don't mind if I partake of that exquisite offering you hold- My Keihas has been quite parched the last few days.
>>
No. 313098 ID: 46c430

Uh, no, sticking him with Keihas doesn't sound very smart.
>>
No. 313111 ID: 81f32a

rolled 25, 44, 56, 91, 99, 34, 35, 23, 80, 46, 72, 28, 71, 15, 4, 99, 96, 3, 20, 63, 36, 76, 9, 79 = 1204

Okay, what?
Is that a woman or a man? From the picture that looks like a woman, I mean, feminine face, figure, and even small boobs if I am not mistaken .... eh, we will specify later.

Definitely not a human
Not a vampire or a ghoul as those shots should have bothered him...
wait, why are we guess, just ask what he is.

Also,
>[Smets' Butler]"Thank you. Now there is something that need must be resolved-I am required to be of service to the whomsoever holds the blood of Sisuthros-that which was held in Smets' veins-and now in your possession. This necessitates me serving you-but there is a conflicting order.
Awesome!
This changes the mission rewards completely!. FUCK getting magical weapons, I prefer we get the service of this guy... look how badass he is!

Anyway, this is clearly an invitation to find a loophole in his deal/order so that we can completely take his servitude.
But we don't have time to monologue for half-an-hour
So use you MMM, WLG and WTN traits and your extensive experience dealing with supernaturals to quickly form an argument that the previous orders do not apply anymore.
We know how serious supernaturals take Deals, and they take them literally, to the word. We are lucky that the deal said "whoever holds Sisuthros blood" and not "in who's veins flows Susuthros blood", we can exploit it.
From his standpoint and from the point of the Deal, we are right now, effectively, Mr.Smets (or at least should be). So I think it is a give that Smets can at any point cancel his previous order (imagine how awful it would be if for Smets if Savoy betrays him but he cannot remove his order for the butler to follow Savoy). So our word is above any other previous orders.
And ass to that, that Smets is dead so his word carries much less weight than before (imagine if another Susuthros kin would come to butler after Smets death, does that mean they cannot order Butler-kun anymore? Of course not, their word is higher because of their blood)

So, at this point, as the holder of the Susthros blood you can cancel the previous order to follow another gentleman.

Now, this should work.
If not, there's is still a way to not get into the fight with the Butler-kun. Tell him that before you and Savoy resolve you issues between yourself, he is not to intervene. That should hold him off.


No matter if you can convince him to get into your service or not, you can ask him about the person who is waiting for you on the third floor. Ask his name, the powers that Butler-kun knows about, how to circumvent them and weaknesses (that should get us the info on his shiny new demon arm and how to undermine his teleport anilities), what weapons and equipment he has and what magical enchantments they have, if he has any amulets or protective charms, if he has set up any traps and the layout of the room.

Now, I would like to chat more, for example I'd like to know what his service actually entitles. But we simply do not have time. Remember, aside from the Police, we have the possibility of NotLocke coming right behind us.

Depending on how this goes there are different plans on how to act further:

first and the most important thing, tell him to order that the ghouls and security stop the attack on Camella and focus on NotHavoc. Tell him to tell them that Camella is safe now and that NotHavoc is a traitor, also tell them to get back to the house and ask Camella to come too.

a) Tell the Butler-kun to go to the third floor when the gent is. Tell him to distract him, talk to him about whatever while loving to the opposite side of the room so that Savoy keeps his attention on him. tell him to make up bullshit story that Smets has sent him and that there are change of plans, blablabla. Really, he should keep his attention for 30 seconds or so.
Tell him we will enter after 10-15 seconds after he does, so he better have Savoy looking at him.
I don't know what the butlers usual behavior is, but tell him to make his steps audible, on the same level as usual human would as not to arouse Savoy's suspicion and to speak at normal tones and without stopping.

Also, tell the Butler, if he can, to regenerate himself. Offer magic jerky.
...And also order him to protect you and act as your bodyguard from now on till you say otherwise (this, in case the things with Savoy go exceptionally poorly).

We will use these distractions to get into place, behind Savoy and as close as possible.
>>313060
I was going to also call for Keihas but you are right.
Draw your matebas before you enter.
While Butler is distracting Savoy, use those moments to slip behind him and keep moving closer with your guns aimed at him either till you are at pointblank range or till you feel that his attention/bodylanguage indicates, even in the slightest, that something is off and shoot him. Aim your right gun at his head, the left at his spine or heart. Then unload EVERYTHING.
Remember your spar with Ito, keep in his blind spot never stop looking at him as you might miss body clues, if you need to reload, do it without looking.
No talks, no monologues, just murder.

b) Now this is harder.
This time you need to employ your smoke grenades and perhaps flashbangs. If the butler-kun tell you the weakness of Savoys ability, you should know that you can lock him down if you can observe him, meaning if you can feel his attention on yourself, you can prevent his ability.
So if you fill his room with smoke, he will try to listen to you. If his efforts are good enough to make you feel his attention, then don't make noise, move into his blind spot and centering on his attention unload your Matebas. If not, then purposely make noise, talk to him, make puns, monologue, whatever as long as his attention is on you.


After we asked the Butler about Savoy's abilities, we should know that he has a demon hand. So, cut that shit out as a trophy. Then cut out his heart. Use Mere for all that.
Bag the spoils and only after that feed him to Keihas.


Now, these are order for the Butler-kun after the plan A or while we enact plan B:
Tell him to collect any valuable documents that Smets had, preferably the documents on the Mansion, if we are lucky and have someone who can deal with legal matters (H&H, Triads, Mafia) we could get the ownership of this mansion. If not, we still have valuable documents.
Then ask Butler to gather, to the extent of his abilities the most valuable, from the point of supernatural view (ie. things that have more value to supernatural that they would to mortal), things form this mansion. These include: magical weaponry, magical charms and other equipment, money, gold, paintings, etc. Everything he could carry. Then gather the next valuable shit that we could carry.
Then ask him if there are secret exits. The same for Camella and the security/ghouls.
If there is a secret exit, through the sewers perhaps (Yay! Sewers!), take it. Hell, we could call SM right there and make a Deal with him.


Another course of viable action:
Ask the Butler if he can make it so that the police does not intrude the Mansion. If he can, then Awesome! We can take our sweet-ass time.


After the deal with Savoy, the butler will have more time to explain some things. Ask him what his service entitles.
I want to know if there are any limits to it (i.e. he is only bound to serve us in a mansion or some bullshit like that) or is he effectively our servant who we can order anything.
Now, it is clear that as long as we hold Keihas he is in service to us, but we should make somethings clear:
Unless we willingly give the ownership of Keihas to somebody else (if that person is a supernatural we need to make a magical binding deal, if that person is a mortal we need to make a receipt or have a witness) we will retain the claim and the ownership of the gun. So if somebody steals it from us or if somebody takes it to examine it, does not make them the holders of Susuthros blood. (The Butler would not follow the order of somebody who kidnapped Smets and put him into forced sleep, would he?)
We can lend, willing, our gun to somebody but unless we specify that does not mean they can make a temporary claim for Susuthros blood.
If we are dead and somebody takes the Keihas and makes the claim of it, then they can also make the claim of Susuthros.


>>313036
No having useless chatter and proclamations with the butler. Every second is precious. This conversation should be short and completely to the point. Ask the butler to be to the point too if he starts talking too circuitously.

>>313041
I agree on getting out of the sight of the windows.
But no on killing NotLocke. The guy could be a bro (actually from meta-knowledge ,we know he would totally want to be)

>>313075
>Any immediate contingencies his master had in the case of his death.
I bet his master never planned for "Being devoured by an infernal rifle"
>Finally, we apologise about the suit. As his new master, it's our responsibility to replace it.
Hell no, that suit might have cost more than everything we own put together.

>>313080
Hey...
we can always try to enter alternatively. Consult your memory of the layout ... or better just ask the Butler-kun here if there are multiple entries to the room.
If not, see if you could enter through the window (wait no, that exposes us to the sniper)

(rolls for Matebas, fast reload and again for Matebas)
>>
No. 313112 ID: 81f32a
File 130804109387.jpg - (32.42KB , 450x600 , Armas - Keihas.jpg )
313112

>>313111
Whoops, forgot my picture.
>>
No. 313113 ID: 81f32a
File 130804344715.jpg - (74.18KB , 650x866 , Armas - Matebas.jpg )
313113

Matebas up your ass motherfucker!
>>
No. 313116 ID: 81f32a
File 130804469576.jpg - (44.14KB , 600x799 , Camella2.jpg )
313116

This one is for Camella,
whatever she's doing, bless her soul.

Bob, you should totally go [Special Bonus] on Camella's player. When she goes "what?" only say to her that Armas did something to improve her actions.
Gotta love trolling Camella without even being near her.

>>
No. 313117 ID: 92dcd7

>>313091
>>313098
I'm not talking about stabbing the butler. He's holding a tray of wine glasses filled with BLOOD- Smets, being a rich vampire must have access to some good fucking blood full of delicious history and stuff. We killed Smets, we got the blood in his veins, Butler is ours, wine glasses full of blood are ours.

BOTTOMS UP FOR KEIHAS.
>>
No. 313126 ID: e13d16

I think that we should ask what the butler what the blood is from. If it's interesting, we should drink half and give the other half to Keihas.
>>
No. 313133 ID: 0d095c

I'm all for taking the Butler's "wine" glasses.

I'm also all for asking the butler where the other gentleman is and requesting that the butler not get involved. Oh, and ask him where the Armory is, for future reference. And if we kill EVERYONE here.... FREE VAMPIRE MANSION!

But first things first. Ask the butler Who and Where this other being is.
>>
No. 313136 ID: 252e1b

Day 1: Armas worked for the Triads as a guard, met Labombard, made his first supernatural kills. [September 27th, 2010]

Day 2: Ratted out the Pawnshop Owner to the Triads (P.O. was offering $8k to kill a bum who was a regular Triad informant). Bought "Frakenstein" from Garbage Pete. Performed the Russian Job, frightened the Wizard Khubilai. Put in the order to Arkvad for the "Super SVT-40" and agreed to trade in "Frankenstein" for a $10k credit. Spoke to Arkvad from non-secure location.

Day 3: Met Castelletti. Took the job to kill Barby, O'Connor, Lachlan, and Tyson. Bought flash-bangs from arms dealer Bagatur Yilmaz.

Day 4: Completed Castelletti's job. TRAIT UNLOCKED: AMBUSH EXPERT! Realized Castelletti gave bad information. Collected the AA-12, and four Matebas. Killed Andre Gustavo, a guard working for Barby, and disposed of his corpse after sanitizing it. Collected Gustavo's wallet, car keys, and pistol (Glock 20). Fought sewer monsters (Sahagins) while escaping the manhunt from the Castelletti job. Ran up Gustavo's debit card in a legit gun shop (no cameras, but credit transaction would have left a record, and the merchant may have remembered Armas). Enroll in the gym Constanz' Crash Course, meet the Iranians. Get exposed to Krav Maga (Iranians) and Sambo (Boris Mihailov, gym instructor) fighting styles. Arranged to trade two Matebas to Arkvad for credit on the "Super SVT-40." Arranged for Castelletti to wire 75% of money into Gustavo's account, and to deliver the remainder in a week. Arranged with the Triads for help in draining Gustavo's account.

Day 5: Met Lo Fang in person, gave Gustavo's car keys to him. Closed Gustavo's accounts using ID that the Traids modified (no cameras, but the teller may have remembered Armas). Arranged to meet Castelletti's representative at Gustavo's house. Planted seeds of suspicion with Barby's followers about Gustavo's loyalties. Went to the gym, met the Iranaians again (Ahmad, Hafez and Shaya) and the Israelis (Hadar and Yoni).

Day 6: Met Arkvad, learned about Smet's swapping parts on the SVT, traded in Frankenstien and the two Matebas. Constructed a credit-card use trail pointing toward Gustavo fleeing the country.

Days 7 through 11: Spent time learning Krav Maga from Ahmad, Hafez, Shaya, Hadar and Yoni. One of Barby's men kills one of Castelletti's men.

Day 12: Got the Confessor's number from Lo Fang. Purchased a double-barreled shotgun from Garbage Pete. Barby's men shoot up Castelletti's restauraunt. Armas frames one of Castelletii's men for murdering a Policeman with the shotgun. Called one of Castelletti's more tractable thugs and implied that a Confessor would be looking into things. Called the Confessor and used the tractable thug to corroborate. Armas confirmed his identity with the Confessor as the man hired to kill Mr. Barby.

Day 13: Met Galileo Savoy. Took the job to kill Castelletti, and to retaliate against Barby's men.

Days 14 and 15: Made preparations.

Day 16: Attacked Castelletti's restauraunt, met and killed the Summer Elf Allenaethos, killed Castelletti. Claimed Castelletti's Mammon Device and Allenaethos rapier. Keihäs drank Allenaethos' blood. Savoy took control of Mafia operations in Istanbul. Armas arranged to buy body armor through Edward Riker (Riker has Armas' address, and is aware of the supernatural). Worked out at Constanz's gym with Ahmad, Hafaz and Shaya (the Israelis were out of town). TRAIT UNLOCKED: MILITARISTIC MACHIAVELLIAN MANIPULATOR!

Day 17: Exercised at Constanz's gym with Shaya, learned more Sambo from Boris Mihailov. Spoke to Arkvad about the elf. Got a briefing about supernatural residents of the Bosphorus strait from Lo Fang including a fully grown Akkorokamui, and agreed to take the Boat Job. Met May Lee, Diao Yuan, Go Ping, Long Wang. Boarded "The Lucky Lady" and killed a harpy. Found evidence of the mythic monster, the Doonongaes. Learned that the Doonongaes was after the totem of Hagondes. Fought the Doonongaes. Keihäs drank the Doonongaes' blood. Rode the Emela-Ntouka. The Matebas became magically empowered. Armas was injured badly, but not fatally. May Lee died.

Days 18 through 20: Recieved magical healing from Go Ping (variant of Chi Gong that uses Taoist I Ching) and then transferred to Dr. Finnigan's care.

Days 21 through 27: Woke up and met Dr. Finnigan. Got the news about May from Go Ping. Talked to Arkvad (from non-secure location). Arkvad arranged to have Armas meet with other people conned by Smets. Collected mail from neighbor (body armor, $45k payment from Lo Fang). Checked in with Savoy, solidified reputation as having battled the Doonongaes. Savoy explains that the mafia is now doing business with Wizard Khubiliai (from the Russian Job) and that the mafia helped him in a fight against the Akkorokamui (and its aquatica allies). Savoy arranges for the Brandt job to be how Armas deals his retaliation to Barby's men. Arranged to become a preferred customer at Istanbul's Gun

World. Opened account at Oyak Securities (they have Armas' real name and address on file). Took it easy at the gym, Hafaz links Armas' injuries to a question about the Bosphorus. Bought additional magical healing from Go Ping.

Day 28: Exercised in the gym. Hafaz made suspicious by Armas' improvement in condition. Hafaz reveals he knows the chakra-manipulating martial art Gyaketsuote. Researched Maori and Finnish traditions.

Day 29: Researched Brandt. Cased the park. Armas exercised at the gym and revealed to Hafaz and company that he might be fighting Brandt in a "free-style competition."

Day 31: Exercised in the gym, took it easy. Mulled hand-loading subsonic 7.62x55mmR.

Day 32: Recieved a map of the German-area sewers. Decided on the gas plan, and arranged for it with Savoy. Savoy displays distaste at using people as pawns but agrees to the plan. TRAIT REVEALED: REFLEXIVE RETENTION!

Day 33: Brandt arrives with a posse and Armas springs the trap. Armas fights Brandt. TRAIT REVEALED: GAMBLER'S GRIM GUTS! Armas narrowly wins, but is wounded badly. Met Whaitiri of the Summer Court, and she offered a deal: spirit for spirit, she would feast on his soul, and he on her. Armas accepted, and suffered spiritual damage to his Winter aspect when Whaitiri feasted on his soul. Armas' soul was left 'spiritually weak' (with an expected recovery time of at least several months) but he survived and through eating part of Whaitiri's soul gained the ability to regenerate damage by eating human or magical flesh. Armas is classified as "friend" to the Summer Court thanks to this.

Armas claimed Brant's heart, and his M16 GatMalite. Keihäs drank Brandt's blood. The Winter Court responds, and severs Armas' connection with Whaitiri, meaning he must travel to New Zealand to re-establish the connection if he wants to commune with her. The power of Armas' Winter bloodline is restored, but not the respect of the court.

Day 34: Armas gets Johan Straus' contact information. Purchased demon blood (Straus has Armas' address and account number). Armas elected to go hunting, and met Sometimes Merchant. Learned Sometimes Merchant has no aversion to cannibalism, and that his clan of goblins have lived under the city for over 2500 years. Purchased recipies, supernatural meat, and learned the goblins' brownie servants already knew where Armas lived. Armas traded 3 days of mercenary work for 2 disposable arrow amulets. Keihäs drank Sahagin, Sæhrímnir, and Kelpie blood from the meat, creating jerky. Armas studied Maori and Finnish traditions. [Sunday October 31st, 2010]

Day 35: Contacted Professor Jagdo, and arranged for him to translate the cook book. Visited Gun World and made purchases. Paid for delivery (Gun World has Armas' address). Met Adelat (Emniyet İstihbarat Daire) and had a shooting match with her. Armas won and talked her into a date. Contacted Arkvad and learned Smets has been discouraging people from meeting about his con work. First Palendrome Resonance hits, and is summer aspected.

Arranged for healing from Lo Fang. Second Palendrome Resonance hits, and is summer aspected. Armas arrives at the Triad compound for healing, and while Lo Fang is tending to him a third Palendrome Resonance hits, invoking the rule of three. Met Ogrimir, who channeled the gate into ice in Lo Fang's magically warded room. Lo Fang was not amused. The Summer and Winter courts agreed to leave Armas alone for now.

Day 36: Research and gym time alone.

Day 37: Wednesday. Armas intimidated the tractable mafia goon (see day 12) into letting him use a mafia-only storage facility off the books. Armas' face is added to the instant-access list. Spoke to, and managed to mildly irritate,

Arkvad. Went on a date with Adelat, did not enjoy it. Researched her further, discovered she earned commendation for infiltrating a German extremist cell.

Day 38: Bought a used GMC Vandura, named it "The Right Laine." Transferred body armor and weapons (except Keihäs) to the storage unit. Auditioned with Ito, and did well enough for Ito to declare that he would teach Armas the war form of Jukendo, Jukenjitsu. Armas spoke to Sometimes Merchant and traded the story about Ogrimir for being named a friend to goblinkind within a 75 yard radius of his home, and arranged to trade training in guns for training in useful Goblin techniques. TRAITS REVEALED: WON'T TAKE NO and WORD LIKE GOLD!

Days 39 through 41: Goblin training. Refitted the van (armored it). Had another date with Adelat. Set up a target range in the mafia storage facility.

Day 42: Rescheduled a date with Adelat. More practice and training. [Monday November 8th, 2010. Camella appears under the city and begins fighting her way out.]

Day 43: Jukenjitsu practice. Met with "Mr. Locke, and Ms. Havoc" for the first time. Goblin training reveals a quirk in the wording of the contract makes it harder for the goblins to take to it. [The real Locke and Havoc are killed, presumably they were going to make themselves known to Armas somehow. This is 15 days before Armas learns of their deaths.]

Day 44: Jukenjitsu practice. Manipulated the date with Adelat to set the stage for plausibly breaking the relationship off. Goblin training. [Wednesday November 10th, 2010.]

Day 45: Jukenjitsu practice. Introduced to Rocco Armani (muscle-bound man, new leader of the mafia in this region) by Savoy. Savoy detects something strange about Armas.

Day 46: Jukenjitsu practice. Goblin training (three at a time now).

Day 47: Bills paid. Jukenjitsu practice. Goblin training.

Day 48: Jukenjitsu practice. Brownies warned of Camella's approach. Armas met Camella, questioned her at gunpoint until she passed out. Armas took her into his home and performed first aid. Sometimes Merchant trades

knoweldge of Camella's origin point deep under the ruins of Old Byzantium six days ago for her name. Armas and Camella had a conversation, and she discovered she is not on the duty roster for the Ninth Parachute Assault Regiment. She checked her email and found that none of it related to her, but instead to another person by the same name. Armas realized that this Camella is likely a dimensional slider. Armas called Doctor Finnigan to treat her. Finnigan made a house call and helped Armas clean her up, but ultimately decided he wanted nothing more to do with this mess since Armas took no steps to conceal her identity from him. Armas went to the night's goblin training. Camella told him her story.

Day 49: Morning Jukenjitsu practice. Armas spoke to his gym buddies, and talked Hafaz and Shaya into visiting Ito. Broke up with Adelat. She was annoyed. Professor Jagda called back, promised to e-mail recipes that he had translated so far. Armas purchased low-profile body armor. Goblin training. [Monday November 15th, 2010]

Day 50: Jukenjitsu practice. Ito noted that Hafaz will likely be a prodigy. Camella electronically bugged Armas. Armas met with "Mr. Locke, and Ms. Havoc" and convinced them to go along with killing Smets. Armas purchased ammunition for Mammon's device from Johan (nine shots). Camella confronted Armas about his plan to kill Smets. Armas explained his reasons, and his previous victories. Armas met with Sometimes Merchant, and found him inebriated. Sometimes Merchant dubbed Armas "Deal Maker" and explained he was celebrating Savoy's defeat at the hands of Labombard and Fang, and that Savoy has a high value bloodline. Armas purchased training from the goblins in sneaking and magic item detection. He had his usual goblin training session as well. Armas talked to Rocco, learned about Savoy's ability to teleport, and talked Rocco into having a passport forged for Camella.

Day 51: [Skipped somehow? Wednesday was not mentioned at all in >>307697 Maybe Armas traded his memory of this day for some reason. Ask Camella later.]

Day 52: Armas picked a recipe from the translanted ones provided by the professor and served Kelpie Krisps for breakfast. Camella accepted an invitation to visit Ito, and while at Ito's dojo Armas experienced a powerful Palendrome Rensonace. Ito realized Armas' chakras were all opening up, and advised him to ground the power into the earth. Armas did so, and ended up replacing Ito's entire dojo with an ancient Byzantine-era home. Hafaz and Shaya walked in. Hafaz grew upset at Armas trying to duck questions about what happened, and he and Shaya pulled submachine guns. Camella pulled her Beretta and everyone had a standoff. Armas talked everyone down, and called Arkvad to arrange for the building to be sold. A second standoff happened in the van, and Armas again talked everyone down. Armas resolves to have a long conversation with Hafaz later. "Mr. Locke, and Ms. Havoc" messaged that they secured the services of a communication expert to perform radio jamming. Armas practiced sneaking in the neighborhood. Goblin training rounded out the day. [Thursday November 18th]

Day 53: Low-profile body armor arrived. Camella got her passport and new identity. Armas spoke to Ito and then Arkvad, and arranged to go get drinks to celebrate Arkvad's hefty commission. Armas and Camella visited the gym, and Camella bonded with the gym bros. Ahmad and Camella have a drinking contest after, and then she and Armas meet with Arkvad. Armas couldn't resist trying out his new armor and brought his mere, and Camella packed a pistol on their dinner outing with Arkvad. Armas noticed the Doonongeas is in the restaurant and observing him intensely. Armas went to his table and insulted him. TRAIT UNLOCKED: DANGEROUS DISCUSSION! Armas goaded the Doonongaes until Cornelius Zosimus (ancient roman vampire) intervened and pointed out that threats against Armas and his family could not be followed up on lest the Doonongaes bring the wrath of the restaurant's owner on his head. The Doonongaes left. Cornelius then pointed out that Armas' mere (a spiritual weapon) and Camella's modern pistol were out of place, and offered a wager in exchange for not using Armas as a pawn to bring trouble to the Doonongaes. Armas was to kill the Doonongaes in three lunar cycles, or submit to being used as a pawn. If he won, Conelius would provide Armas an introduction to the Vampiric Dynasty and contact information. Regardless of if he wins, Armas gets intelligence on the Doonongaes' doings. Armas accepted, and did a little mental math: February 11th, 2011 was the day the wager would end. After dinner Arkvad, Armas, and Camella go to the club Babylon, where Camella and Armas are both snared into an otherworldly staircase. There Armas suffers another Palendrome Resonance, and drains it into the environs. SECRET TRAIT UNLOCKED: TO SCOFF AT THREE! They met a Knight of Mammon, who insulted Camella (deliberately or not) and offered Armas a deal. TRAIT EVOLUTION: DANGEROUS DISCUSSION became DANGEROUSLY DAPPER DISCUSSION AND DEBATE! Armas learned that 8 others in Istanbul had contracts with Mammon. He talked the Knight into letting him sample the offered power, and then rejected the deal, insulted the Knight, and used the power to leave. Later he hooked up with an Elf and a Vampire. [Friday November 19th 2010]

Day 54: Armas treated with Erzsi of Habsburg Dynasty (vampire) and Laetissi (elf). Both acted like magic item groupies, and Armas proposed a deal to show them the Mammon Device being fired. Camella was irritated that she got ditched for them. Armas got a new cell phone, went shopping, and went to train the goblins (pulling a longer shift to make up for the missed time last night).

Day 55: A letter from Labombard arrived letting Armas know Lo Fang had calmed down over the damage to his magically warded room three weeks ago, and a warning about the mercenary Blackbeard. Yuri Lenkok provided new intelligence on Smets' residence. Camella and Armas go to the gym. Relations with Hafaz normalized. Camella bought ammo with money she got somehow (arm wrestling contest apparently). Armas traded information with Sometimes Merchant for more meat, blood, root, and mead-milk. Armas traded the power from future Palendrome Resonances for being named a business partner of the goblins of Turkey, anti-regen enchantments on his AA-12 shotgun, comprehensive training on goblin sneaking techniques (performed in the Nevernever, so a lifetime's worth of training was compressed into a night), and information on Florent Smets. Smets was a vampire of the Zosimus Dynasty.

Day 56: Armas teased Camella by using his new sneaking skills to pretend to have a phantom chef. Camella was irritated but could not deny the food Armas cooked (and claimed to have not) was delicious. Armas let "Mr. Locke, and Ms. Havoc" know that Smets was a vampire. Armas and Camella visit Ito's new dojo. Ito got a place with space for students to sleep over and eat, per Armas' suggestion Friday night. Armas showed off his new training to Ito. TRAIT REVEALED: BLIND SPOT BRAWLER! Ito agreed to teach Armas chakra techniques later. Armas learned general vampire vulnerabilities and advantages after his training session with the goblins.

Day 57: Armas devised anti-vampire loads for his guns. Camella agreed to watch Armas' back in the fight with Smets. Camella was introduced to "Mr. Locke, and Ms. Havoc." Armas talked to Johan the Demonologist about different potential loads for his guns. Armas makes anti-vampire rounds at home. Keihäs drank the demon and basilisk blood Armas had been saving. Camella broached the ethical issue of killing Smets again, and Armas says that his reasons for not letting the forces he fights turn him into a monster will ultimately be his friends and family, and he implies that he counts Camella among them now. Armas called Arkvad, caught up, and let him know what he learned about Smets (Zosimus Dynasty vampire). Arkvad became aware of a problem in Holland and Holland's information department, and promised to call back once it was solved.

Day 58: Armas, Camella, "Ms. Havoc" and "Mr. Locke" go to the church to kill Smets. Armas gets a text from Arkvad saying Jason Locke and Gertrude Havoc died two weeks ago. Armas and "Mr. Locke" battle Smets. Armas is attacked by "Ms. Havoc" but his arrow amulet prevents him from being killed by the sniper shot. Camella engages "Ms. Havoc". Armas evades both "Mr. Locke" and Smets. Armas defeats Smets and claims his blood with Keihäs. Armas meets the butler, and learns that a third party is involved in this fight. [Wednesday, November 24th, 2010]
>>
No. 313137 ID: 252e1b

>>313136
>Day 51: [Skipped somehow? Wednesday was not mentioned at all in >>307697 Maybe Armas traded his memory of this day for some reason. Ask Camella later.]

Pay attention to that, if nothing else.
>>
No. 313140 ID: e13d16

Oh, and if we send the butler to get weapons, it might be worth ordering him to say, "I am fetching weapons for the Master.", as he enters. That way, if someone else is there, he will hear the message, even if the butler is ignoring their existance.
>>
No. 313175 ID: 81f32a

>>313136

Hey man, this is pretty awesome.
Thanks for going through the trouble to do this.
Now I finally know that the cookbook will be translated at 1st November, among other things.

You should post this in Disc thread too.
>>
No. 313252 ID: 252e1b

>>313175

When it's all laid out like that it's pretty clear what happened. Shortly after we killed Brandt his wife started hunting for us. She tapped her contacts in Turkey, and followed up on the leads related to Gustavo's accounts (namely, the eyewitness accounts from the merchants and bankers). When she realized that Gustavo's accounts had been drained by a somewhat conspicuous half-Maori she put her energy into tracking down Armas.

Since Armas' fight ran long he cost the cleanup crew a full ten minutes. On top of that the broken seal on the gas chamber probably complicated matters. While the mafia are pros, they would have worked a little too quickly and may have missed something. Like a 7.62x54mmR shell casing from either the AVT-40 or Keihäs. The cops probably found it, and Frau Brandt learned of it through whatever contacts she has in the police.

Adelat may have been connected to the Brandts. She had German connections after all, and likely kept her eyes open after she heard about the shell being found in a very weird crime scene related to her German connections (depleted uranium dust gets everywhere, and using gas fits the profile Armas established in the Castelli killing, thus creating a tenuous link between that killing, the Brandt killing, and the prior nonsense with the gangwar where the cop was killed to Armas).

Circumstantial evidence, but Adelat may have passed it on to her German connections anyway, and Frau Brandt would have thought it good enough given the ties to Gustavo's accounts.

Prior to killing Brandt, Armas had Arkvad put his name out to people who had been ripped off by Smets. It is likely that Brandt had a mole in H&H's information and intelligence department, and thus was able to learn what weapons Armas had at his disposal.

Thus the pieces fell together for Frau Brandt, and she was able to observe and confirm Armas' identity. At that point, realizing what she was up against, she hired Big Crazy to help. They concocted the plan of posing as Havoc and Locke with the original plan of sticking the entire mess on Armas after they robbed Smets.

When Armas suggested killing Smets, they had to remain in character. Later they decided that they could still rob Smets and just kill Armas there.

Frau Brandt should be using that Walther WA 2000 that belonged to her husband.

Smets didn't know to expect us because of Big Crazy and Frau Brandt. They want him dead. He knew because of someone else.

Savoy went rogue and attacked the Triads 17 days after we killed Brandt. He probably found evidence of the frame-up job on Gustavo that pointed to them. Perhaps Gustavo's car. In any case, he went rogue because the higher-ups didn't want a war with the Triads, and he didn't want to toe the line. Savoy either learned of Armas' connection then, or shortly after. He didn't go after Armas at that time because he knew Armas was armed with a Mammon Device and was cunning enough to severely wound a Doononegas.

Instead he bugged Armas' house and listened in to the discussion between him and Camella about killing Smets. From there the rest was legwork and cooperation with Smets.

The third party alluded to by the Butler is probably Smets.
>>
No. 313256 ID: b39da2

so... did we actually leave keihas behind to finish devouring smets or are we currently carrying it?
>>
No. 313308 ID: a76809
File 130810166923.jpg - (191.65KB , 3500x881 , Buntline Special.jpg )
313308

>>313256
[You did not-Keihäs is still slung over your shoulder.]
>>313041
[Not with you, no. Matebas, Mammon's Device and Keihas are your options currently-outside of flash bangs or smoke bombs.]

>>313018
"So who is the other guy, then?"
The pale-faced butler smiles, as he (she?) opens her mouth once more.
>[Smets' Butler]"Confidentiality is beyond being a prerequisite for my kind-it is a necessity, a force of nature we cannot resist."
So no names for me then... okay...
"Would you be amenable to bringing the deceased Smets' firearms to a place of my designation?"
>[Smets' Butler]"[i]I'm afraid my last master was most demanding-and had me bound to this houses' property. I cannot leave the premises."
...Damn.
>>313025
"Were you ordered to only follow his orders?"
>[Smets' Butler]"[i]By 'him', you reference the other potential master, is that correct?
"
"Yes."
>[Smets' Butler]"That is correct."
"Then I order you not to follow the other gentleman's orders-in fact, I order you to not listen to anything the other individual says."
>[Smets' Butler]"A request that can be met."
The butler's smirk tells me I missed something-yet with the clock ticking, I don't really have time to investigate.
>>313036
"Well, since I'm going in there anyway... I suppose I could discuss things with the gentleman."
I grab one of the two flutes of blood and down it-the coppery taste coating the back of my throat as the viscous liquid takes up residence in my gut.
"Oh-next time I see you, I fully expect you in an orange suit."
That damnable smirk finally ghosts off the butler's face for the briefest of instants.
>[Smets' Butler]"...Orange?"
"Positively NEON, no less."
The butler bows to me.
>[Smets' Butler]"As requested."
>>313111
"Oh, and tell Smet's ghouls, servants, whatever to stop attacking the people on the nearby church's roof."
>[Smets' Butler]"Between the interdiction affecting cellular devices and my restriction to the house grounds-I cannot meet your request."
...Damn, can't order it outside of it's comfort zone, either.


I march past the butler, still feeling not a whit of attention on my person-belatedly realizing that as of yet I still have not felt the butler's attention on me-despite the butler having stared at me throughout this whole conversation.

>>313060
I turn back to the butler as I move to ascend the stairs.
"Oh-sorry about shooting you there."
>[Smets' Butler]"Understandable, given you are hear to take Smets' possessions by right of force. No insult was percieved."

I ascend the stairs, unnerved by the Butler's undetectable attention, senses sharpened, body ready and waiting. I move as silently as I can-but given what I had been doing, I find it doubtful this third party won't know to expect my coming.
>>313080
A half-foot before my head crests the landing to the third floor my brain catches up with the scenario. This 'Other' the butler mentioned... has been absent throughout this hectic exchange so far. I find it inconceivable, given how much noise we have made, that we were not noticed. So why would this person wait in place for us? Specifically, why would they wait in the gun trophy room?

I unholster both Matebas and let them lead me to the third floor, barrels roving as I seek my target.
>>313112
>>313113
>>313116
[FANART BONUS: AMBUSH EXPERT TREATED AS IF TWO LEVELS HIGHER]
Going not on instinct or intuition, my body reflexively recoils as I crest the divider between floors-and a sharp report blares in my ear. Matebas up, I whirl to the side-

The second shot, however, does indeed catch me-I can tell by the remaining Arrow Charm burning itself out.

My foe only has time to fire the two times before I finish turning-

To see a scarred face most familiar-Galileo Savoy, as always dressed in an impeccable suit, his right arm in a sling across his chest and oddly lumpy-

A .45 Buntline in his good hand, complete with a conspicuous gap in the wall-to-wall firearm display.

As Savoy sees my face he smiles a smile that has nothing to do with warmth or hospitality-smiling like a butcher about to cut some particularly tender meet. With both of us training guns on one another, I listen to his distractingly calm and convivial words in the midst of our standoff.

>[GS]"Ah... Mr. Laine. Why am I not surprised to see you here."
Unable to help myself I respond, even as my mind is occupied coming up with ways to fight such a foe-having already shunted aside such useless concerns as why a mafia member is assaulting me.
"As it happens, I get around."
>[GS]"Indeed you do-your tenacity reminds me of sexually transmitted diseases."
"...Really? That's your insult for me? Kinda weak, isn't it?"
Savoy grins.
>[GS]"You're right, it is. Well how about this-"

As Galileo is about to speak, his attention locked on me-I feel another individual coming up the stairs- Not-Locke's attention flitting over me to fixate on the well-dressed Italian. I note Savoy's eyes to have shifted to the stairwell as his smile died.








Given I have Not-Locke behind me, just now cresting the stairwell, and I am in a mexican standoff with Savoy.... what should I do?
The room is wide and minimally furnished-there is very little for me to work with, in the realm of stealth-should I try using some smoke or flash grenades?
>>
No. 313314 ID: 44766a

Flashbang, then smoke.
>>
No. 313316 ID: 835a2d

>>313314
Then SNEAKMODE to the armory, steal anything you can hold, get to Camella, and GTFO.
>>
No. 313320 ID: 44766a

Seconding this plan
>>
No. 313330 ID: 0d095c

>>313314
Hold on a moment. We know Galileo can teleport anywhere he "needs to be". He can FIND us if we leave or sneak, no matter what. He has attacked our allies and abandoned his own. At this point, he's a rogue element, and a rogue element who knows who we are and CAN TELEPORT DIRECTLY BEHIND US WHEN WE ARE ASLEEP. He must be eliminated, SOMEHOW no matter how this battle concludes. Locke is bullet-proofed, so therefore, I support doing the Ninja Flash-bang thing and skidooing to the Armory. Then, while Locke and Galileo are slaughtering each other, we waltz up behind them with the most powerful weapon we can identify in Smetz's arsenal, and blow them away.

That OR after we skidoo to the Armory and come back, we kill Locke first, question Galileo on his batshit insane actions, and perhaps come out of this less dead and.... Fuck it, let's kill em all. We can get Galileo's side later, I wanna Vampire Mansion and a Ghost Butler!
>>
No. 313333 ID: 81f32a
File 130810497308.jpg - (32.29KB , 600x742 , Armas - scary mothefucker.jpg )
313333

rolled 12, 61, 100, 33, 27, 80, 76, 72, 95, 81, 13, 13 = 663

Savoy is distracted.
Use that to get into his blind spot, behind him.
Don't let him out of your sight.

Lets have NotLocke and Savoy duke it out on the frontline, while we stay away from the fight and shoot from safety.

shoot whenever you get the chance but always keep behind Savoy.

i dont' think Savoy know shit about CQC
Use the Ito's experience and close in while staying in blind spot.
The closer you are the easier it is to evade his giant gun
>>
No. 313334 ID: 692cff

Well, we could stall for NotLocke to come down, but he might get more trigger hapy as NotLocke descends the stairs. NotLocke may shoot us first too, seeing Savoy as an injured man and less trouble, rather than a teleporting bastard with a potential Demon Arm.

So inch out of the way of NotLocke. Maybe say something like "Well, Smets is dead, but this demon commanding asshole is still here" Because we need to make him think Savoy is a bigger threat than us, which as long as he doesn't know we know he's not Locke shouldn't be too hard hopefully.

Get ready to toss some smoke bombs down though, but close enough that we could go from one cloud to the other without being seen. Try and let NotLocke ask first, and just avoid getting hit or being in a position to be hit.
>>
No. 313336 ID: f8aa66

>The butler's smirk tells me I missed something-yet with the clock ticking, I don't really have time to investigate.
I suppose Savoy could have given the butler the same order. 'The request can be met' is not 'The request WILL be met', after all.

>>313316
If we take our eyes off him, he can teleport - then we just get shot in the back. If you run, you die tired. We either kill him, or he shoots us dead on the rug.

"Well, since we're being all gentlemanly and shit, how about answering a question or two? Like what the hell you're even doing here? Maybe you expected me, but you were way, WAY down the list of people I thought would be hanging around with Laurent Smets.

"You left the mafia to jump in bed with the Zosimus dynasty? And a fairly pathetic specimen, at that. I'm not sure I'm the one we should be comparing to STD's, here."

Glance at Locke, keeping one eye on Savoy. "Anyway... the only way you'll get to talk to me is if we deal with this guy first. So... get 'im, partner!" And hope Locke wants you all to himself. When Savoy's glance cuts over to Locke, do the vanishing trick. Then fire a shot into the hand holding the Buntline.
>>
No. 313337 ID: 81f32a
File 130810531076.jpg - (22.33KB , 500x812 , Armas - Invisible Man.jpg )
313337

>>313333
Speaking of CQC
Use Keihas' bayonet to cut his shit up.

After we deal with Savoy, I don't particularly want to fight NorLocke.
So throw smokes if we kill Savoy, then either try to talk with NotLocke or sneak behind him back to the second floor and take the butler with you to restrain NotLocke
>>
No. 313340 ID: 81f32a
File 130810608809.jpg - (57.62KB , 700x933 , Armas - Ready for war 4.jpg )
313340

>>
No. 313341 ID: f8aa66

rolled 31 = 31

Roll for trick shot, as described above.
>>
No. 313342 ID: 234c26

>>313308
>Given I have Not-Locke behind me, just now cresting the stairwell, and I am in a mexican standoff with Savoy.... what should I do?
You need to communicate to not-Locke that Savoy is the greatest danger here. He won't know about Savoy's abilities, but he knows that you're deadly. Move slightly to the side- not quickly enough to startle anyone- so that not-Locke has a clear shot at Savoy, and say "Locke! Don't take your eyes off him, or he'll teleport behind you and shoot you in the head. Nasty trick, but we can keep him from using it as long as one of us is always watching him." Pitch your tone so that you sound glad that not-Locke showed up even though you know he's dangerous; make it obvious that you consider Savoy a greater threat than Smets ever was.

If not-Locke shoots us at that point, well, we're in deep shit- feel for the focus of his attention to try and predict any shots and dodge. If he buys it, though, the pair of us will hopefully be able to take out Savoy by working together.

>The room is wide and minimally furnished-there is very little for me to work with, in the realm of stealth-should I try using some smoke or flash grenades?
No. Not right now. If you take your eyes off Savoy, he'll teleport behind you again and you have no Arrow Charms left to save you. Anything which obscures your vision helps against not-Locke, but it would be a fatal mistake against Savoy. At most, you'd be able to get away with tossing a flashbang behind yourself, so that the flash doesn't break your gaze.


Overall, when it comes to shooting, killing Savoy is priority one. He would find it too easy to assassinate us after escape, otherwise. He can't be allowed to live through this.

After Savoy is dead, either talk down or kill not-Locke. Talking is much more of an option because we'll be a hell of a lot better at escaping from him- but if he shoots us even once we'll be in trouble, so stay on our toes. Stealth is life.
>>
No. 313343 ID: 81f32a
File 130810679249.jpg - (65.83KB , 700x933 , Armas - ready for war 5.jpg )
313343

>>
No. 313349 ID: c6ce12
File 130810848640.png - (19.12KB , 698x500 , Guns for hire.png )
313349

Fan art for the fight, took over nine thousand hours in paint.
>>
No. 313353 ID: 44766a

...why is Armus a level 6?
>>
No. 313354 ID: c6ce12

>>313353
It's Armas and Bob has told us that prior to our training we were, in comparison to other players around a level three. I figure Armas about doubled since then with our goblin training. The other characters and their levels are taken from that same conversation, which I believe is in the huge file that was linked in the disc thread.
>>
No. 313355 ID: 81f32a

>>313353
Because Armas is the weakest link.
levle 6 might be even generous. He should be at level 3-4.

Camella is at level 4 btw
>>
No. 313356 ID: 81f32a

>>313353
>>313355

Also, read the damn logs I posted
>>
No. 313360 ID: 44766a

ok... what level is Olga?
>>
No. 313363 ID: 92dcd7

>>313308
Deftly as you can, drop a smoke grenade at your feet to obscure the doorway while using stealth to stay just outside his sight. While moving, make it your goal to... Conform? Mimic? Uh, fit yourself to Savoy as fluidly as possible. Your back should be to his back just as you come to rest, if you've done this right you'll be nearly hidden to Savoy.
>>
No. 313368 ID: c6ce12

rolled 72, 13, 49, 90, 19 = 243

>>313316
>>313320
Down-voting, there is no running in this fight.

>>313333
>>313342
Seconding, sans the parts about getting close to Savoy just yet. That demonic arm is an unknown factor and I don't want to get in close to him without knowing what it can do. And adding five more rolls for shooting because why the hell not?
>>
No. 313394 ID: b39da2

so... not-locke and savoy are now fighting each other... savoy shot us but mainly because he didn't realize it is us, might shoot us again even knowing it. Not-locke probably didn't have anything good in store for us.
At least not-havok is (probably) a human. (sniper we sensed was human).

Main benefit of killing savoy is having the butler all to ourselves. Probably will piss off the mafia, potentially appease fang.

I am having trouble seeing us succeeding in this fight though. both enemies are exceptional. Speaking of OOC knowledge is that both are player characters. Which makes this one huging clusterfuck :P
>>
No. 313436 ID: 81f32a

rolled 37 = 37

If all else fails
Mammon Device the fuck out of him!
>>
No. 313438 ID: 81f32a
File 130813276903.jpg - (57.45KB , 657x505 , Device - shot.jpg )
313438

>>313436
*sigh*....

I don't even feel like finishing the picture I started for this anymore.
>>
No. 313440 ID: 28e94e

>>313333
I second this.
>>
No. 313444 ID: 81f32a
File 130813734764.jpg - (80.00KB , 750x1000 , Armas - Ready for war 6.jpg )
313444

>>
No. 313447 ID: 0d095c

They're BOTH PCs? Shit. Well, I still suggest we kill em both. Galileo is too dangerous to allow to live. He was cocky enough to RANDOMLY TRY AND ASSASSINATE FANG FOR NO REASON. What the fuck!? That was a betrayal of the Mafia, no bones about it. The resulting gang war would've ripped Istanbul apart! And the Mafia would likely have lost since Armus nuked their previous operation here, and helped the Triads out a lot. Therefore, we must kill EVERYONE. Except Camella. She can stay. And Orange Powersuit Butler.

WE CANNOT TRUST A PC. HE IS FAR TOO COCKY. HIS POWERS HAVE MADE HIM DUMB ENOUGH TO THINK HE CAN TAKE US.
>>
No. 313453 ID: e13d16

We shouldn't try to kill BC, Savoy is the major threat. Note that he somehow has two arms, after we were told Lo Fang cut one off. There's something funky there.

With Savoy distracted by notLocke's appearance, we should silently vanish from both their fields of view. Then, just as notLocke fires we should lunge in with Keihas, and try to cut off Savoy's new arm at the shoulder whilst it's still bound up, using Ito and the goblin's teachings to remain in his blind spot. Savoy shouldn't be expectibg the flash-bang like effects of the Mare's Leg, but we are so we should make sure that we keep our attention on Savoy and look away from the gun when it's about to fire.

We should them dart back out of range, taking full advantage of the greater reach allowed by a three foot blade on the end of a four foot gun, and start slicing other extremities off.
>>
No. 313485 ID: a76809

rolled 80, 82 = 162

[Roll for Big Crazy. Please do not respond.]
>>
No. 313487 ID: a76809

>>313447
Would you like to guess what the OTHER PC's say about Armas-who is DEFINITELY cocky?

It's funny: In my standoff with Savoy, an event I sure as shit did not expect to happen during this mission-I find my mind skirting back to Castelletti, and the madness I had to wade through with him. The lies, the mistrust, the deceit-and yet I'd gladly trade Savoy for Castelletti-at least with him I knew how to maneuver around him. Savoy... what is it that drives him? ..Guess I never figured that out with Castelletti, either.
>>312250
The mind is a funny thing. Sometimes a handful of seconds isn't long enough to make even the most rudimentary conclusions-environmental stresses will see to that-and other times.... Could be the adrenaline. Whatever it is, I find myself recalling the assault on the Mafia eatery-and Castelletti's death. Why-what about that event is calling my attention? ..There's something I missed, has to be but wha-

Savoy was there.

I called him, with him still outside and the altercation on the first floor still in full swing-yet when I called, he was instantly there-and right behind me. Even the fact he arrived at my apartment door so swiftly pops into my mind, another low-key question I am only now solving. I combine that with what I know of his one-man assault on the Triads, his attempt on Lo Fang's life-that he somehow escaped-sans an arm. Which makes the fact he has a full pair far more curious. I cobble together everything I know or suspect about Galileo-and assemble an interesting picture.
>-His powers seem to let him be... anywhere, given the wide variety of places he has 'appeared' at.
>-There is some sort of catch or limitation to triggering his power-why else would he not have instantly fled when the attempt on Lo Fang's life failed?
>-Whatever the limitation on his teleportation is, it did not effect him at Castelletti's eatery-nor did it affect him travelling to my domocile. The only time I know of him having issues was during the Triad attempt-and the only real thing different there is the level of security and number of bodies.
>-Given the above data, it seems likely that to teleport, he needs to not be witnessed attempting to teleport-hopefully my intuition as to why his power failed him is on the right track.
>-A teleporting assassin that just tried to kill me-great.

Savoy speaks first in our tense standoff, distracting me from my string of theorization.
>[NEW TRAIT NEARLY UNLOCKED]

>[GS]"Why, I do believe you just had a brainwave, Mr. Laine-tell me, do you see a way out of this?"
His eyes look past me to Not Locke.
>[GS}"I do find myself disappointed you haven't killed him yet."
I dare not look back at Not Locke, eyes locked on Savoy-but I feel Not Locke's attention still focused away from me-there is that, at least.
>[NotLocke]" Ónhka ki?"
...The hell did he just say?
>[NotLocke]"Little Bear doesn't know you-Dirt Snake does not know you-who are you?"
>[GS]"My, I am deeply wounded Olga did not tell you-I'll answer if you tell me who you were talking to."
>[Not Locke]" They are my Otkon. My totems."
>[GS]"..Shamanism amongst natives of the new world-of course."
>[Not Locke]"Your name, Mr. Buntline?"
As they continue speaking, I patiently stay focused on Savoy, waiting for a crack, an opening in his attention on me.
>[GS]"Galileo Savoy, the head of the Don's Hand. ...Well, one time head. I assure you I will have titles aplenty to replace it-now, why is it that Mr. Laine is not dead? I was under the impression Olga hired you for that."
>[NotLocke]"Maybe I'd be following mission parameters if Smets hadn't betrayed us like an asshole."
>[GS]"It may have had something to do with me telling Smets to do some cleanup after this little altercation-a pity Olga could not shoot Mr. Laine before he reached the third floor."
I have to struggle to keep listening, as my mind keeps going through ramification after ramification. Olga? Olga Brandt? That monster's wife? But Havoc wasn't.... shit. I thought her face looked a bit too plasticy-she had a face lift, or did something-but when I know who to compare against, I see the bone structure simularities, in my mind's eye-and I understand why she wore such large aviators-hid her eyes. ...So, who is Locke, then? Don't think I've run into him before, but.... shit, hard to puzzle things out when I'm getting more and more pissed off at Savoy. He KNEW about assassins sent after me, sounds like he has known for a time, never told me, and has been actively attempting to make this mission claim not just my life-but those of the assassins. Couple this with his attempt on Lo Fang's life after saying he had to leave... I am beginning to detect a pattern.
>>313333 Four of a kind bonus
>>313337
>>313340
>>313343
>>313349
>>313438
>>313444
[FANART x6]
I feel Savoy's attention on me slackening, oh so slightly.
>[GS]"Well, since those two clearly failed to complete their job before I was done using them-A bit of extra information, because I am just feeling so generous right now. I wonder-what do you know of Skorzeny?"
A name I know-former SS member-should be dead, but like several historical individuals is apparantly not.
>[GS]"I happened to come across that gentleman's contact information-and wouldn't you know it, he was MOST interested to know about your little scuffle with Barby-I do believe he is most wroth with you, Mr. Laine."
>[Not Locke]"I am not particularly appreciating how much you are ignoring me, given I have a gun trained on you-keep it up, and you might hurt my feelings. Not advisable, after admitting to planning to off me."
...That's wierd-Savoy's speaking to me but his attention is still slipping away... usually talking to someone sharpens your focus on them. ...Well, no matter: His attention has wavered enough-
>>313341
[FIRST SHOT]
(31+5Supernatural Bonus+30Fanart Bonus x6+10)=72%
I snap off a shot the moment I see his eyes drift a bit farther towards Not Locke-aiming not to kill, but to disarm. The Mateba in my right hand barks-and blood spurts from Savoy's hand as the bullet takes the shortest route to getting at the handle behind Savoy's grip-going right through his fingers. The gun clatters to the ground with a curse from Savoy, two fingers joining it-

>>313485
I am once again partly deafened as a dozen feet to my left Not Locke's oversized Mare's Leg roars, light flashing across the room as the slug catches Savoy square in the chest, knocking him off his feet as it slams into his cradled arm, his body tumbling as it falls. Not Locke works the lever even as I use the distraction to start relocating, attention still locked on Savoy. I idly note Savoy's feet scrabbling on the ground-and as Not Locke's gun barks again, the slug once more catches Savoy square in the chest, slamming into his slung arm, finishing knocking him to the ground.

-Something Savoy immediately rolls right back up from, his bandaged arm ripping free of the sling, purplish blood staining the wrappings-as a clawed hand rises towards us, two fingers sticking out. Openings appear on each offered finger's tip-and Savoy grins, apparently no worse for wear.
>[GS]"You can have these back."
>>313333 [Rolls triggered due to four of a kind]
There is no planning-no estimation. Just reflex.
>PAIRED AUTOMATIC FIRE
[12, 61, 100, 33, 27, 80, 76, 72, 95, 81, 13]
The first shot goes wide-but I use it's kick to finish aiming while the other Mateba barks-a bullet colliding with Savoy's bandaged arm-despite the fact I aimed for his heart. The third bullet however, catches him squarely in the shoulder above the bandaged arm-and from across the room I hear that collarbone shatter.

I continue to fire, fully emptying both Matebas-but I am distracted as Savoy's arm roars-
-And Not Locke is blasted back into the wall hard enough several antique firearms clatter down about him, two seeping wounds in his gut joining the prodigious number of flechettes still embedded in his flesh. Not Locke seems to be trying to move-but as a third shot from Savoy's arm slams into him, he stops struggling to rise.

In his assault on Not Locke, Savoy did indeed get a few more bullet holes in him-I figured out that if I shoot for wounding, rather than killing shots, whatever force attracts bullets to that arm of his is dampened. A bullet scored against his right calf, his left bicep, his outer left thigh, his opposed shoulder and his right side. The human parts of his body are bleeding very nicely-and I doubt he has that much mobility left-yet his arm looks no worse for wear.
>[GS]"Well... that's Big Crazy dealt with, Olga's likely been handled.... so now."
Savoy's attention practically fills the room, and with all the bulk I'm carrying, between my armor and my weapons, I wonder if I can move without attracting his focus. On the plus side, he can't currently see me-but I sure as shit can see him.


Both Matebas are out of ammunition, and reloading would both generate noise and take time. Keihäs is fully loaded and equipped with it's bayonet-while Mammon's Device is likewise loaded. Last, but DEFINITELY not least important point-it's been two minutes since I heard people screaming outside-police could be here as soon as in three minutes.






What should I do?
What's my plan here?
>>
No. 313488 ID: c2d0f1

>>313453
Do this, but make sure you aim for the human part of his body to cut through.

Be wary, the arm may have a mind of its own, and we've just learned that some beings, like the butler, do not trigger our sense of being perceived.
>>
No. 313490 ID: 0d095c

Shit. I suddenly realize why one does not sneak around in clanking battle armor. Well, let's go with Keihas. It's one of our most powerful weapons. And it is OUR weapon. And if we kill Savoy with it, it could fire teleporting bullets. Therefore, we must try and kill Savoy with it. I reccommend we try and close the distance and slice him up. Cut off his other arm, to stop that crazy gun-arm. Then cut off everything else at the neck and drain him dry with Keihas.

And after all that, call Lo Fang. We'll desperately need a Cleaning Crew, and a way to avoid the police.
>>
No. 313492 ID: 6f1e66

>>313490
like this, but after cutting his demon arm shot him in the head with the mammon device, them eat his heart and his demon arm
>>
No. 313493 ID: 856690

I'm against using MD on him, it is not needed and I'm not giving anypart of Savoy to MAMMON.

I like the whole cut him up with Keihas idea, but we need to be stealthly. Make sure to stay in his blind spot, also that are, if it heals, shoot it with the AA-12. But really I think it is time to shoot Keihas.

Here is the idea, shoot Keihas at his head and then relocate and then go cutting with the blade, remember it has a long reach. If there is a window be ready to jump out in case of things going badly, use the blade to slow your fall.
>>
No. 313494 ID: dbf6f0

I believe we are out of AA-12 ammo.
>>
No. 313495 ID: 856690

rolled 96 = 96

Forgot to roll for Keihas
Also remember you don't want to be seen, this guy is way more powerful, lets just hope Keihas is thristy to shoot.
>>
No. 313496 ID: 835a2d

I don't think we should use Mammon's Device in this fight.

Why?

Well, he has a Demon Arm. and Mammon is a Demonic Weapon. It's not THAT far-fetched to think, maybe, possibly... Those would add up well. Or badly, in our case. So remember.

If we use the Device, we HAVE to kill him - or he will hunt us down for it.
>>
No. 313498 ID: 28e94e

>>313495
>>313493
Seconding.
>>
No. 313516 ID: 7c29f8
File 130816538124.jpg - (34.63KB , 640x400 , lookatmygrassdrawing.jpg )
313516

Armas, hiding amongst the gun collection.
>>
No. 313517 ID: 6f1e66

>>313496
yeah because demons are all a big happy family and would never ever think of hurting each other
>>
No. 313519 ID: 81f32a
File 130816615676.jpg - (59.84KB , 700x933 , Armas - Ready for war 7.jpg )
313519

RELEASE THE FANARTS
>>
No. 313522 ID: 81f32a
File 130816634064.jpg - (60.20KB , 700x933 , Armas - Ready for war 8.jpg )
313522

RELEASE THE FANARTS!
>>
No. 313525 ID: c2d0f1

>>313493
Don't shoot at his head until after darting in and cutting his arm off. It's a fatal shot, so the arm will eat it otherwise.
>>
No. 313527 ID: 856690
File 130816723151.png - (73.75KB , 700x300 , MonstergunKeihas.png )
313527

Yesh, cut then shoot.
Anyway this is the monster gun Keihas, yes, it has grown an eye
IT'S ALIVEEEE!!!!!
>>
No. 313528 ID: 856690
File 130816741527.png - (139.14KB , 700x300 , DemongunKeihas.png )
313528

This is the Demon Gun Keihas.
Guys I think we fed it too much.
IT HAS AWOKEN!!!
Yes those are teeth on the stock, using the demongun HURTS!

I couldn't resist!
>>
No. 313529 ID: 81f32a
File 130816747132.jpg - (55.34KB , 700x933 , Armas - Ready for war 9.jpg )
313529

>>
No. 313534 ID: c6ce12
File 130816817732.png - (16.80KB , 698x500 , Bat Armas.png )
313534

Because Armas so fits as Batman.
>>
No. 313535 ID: b39da2

>>313447
Not just them... Not-lane, Not-havoc, Camella, and savoy are all PCs :P... so actually this is a 5 way PC battle.

>Would you like to guess what the OTHER PC's say about Armas-who is DEFINITELY cocky?
Oh god, I can just imagine :P...
>>
No. 313540 ID: 92dcd7

>>313522
>>313529
Is it just me or does this look like a cross between the shadow complex and haze armors? Armus has to get down with the funky futuristic later on.

Also, use Tom & Jerry physics! Savoy can't see you if you put a lampshade over your head and say "Sorry pal, Smets forgot to pay the electricity bill.".
>>
No. 313545 ID: 0d095c

>>313535
Uhhh, Not-Lane? Who the hell is that? Do you mean Not-Locke?
And I realize Armus is cocky as all hell, but he can't teleport directly behind you, and is not known to have betrayed anyone he worked for. Castelletti doesn't count. He was a dick.

I still suggest Keihas'ing the bastard to death. Stabbity stabbity stabbity SLICE. Or vice versa. Either way, CQC for the gold!
>>
No. 313550 ID: 46c430

...Hey. We're in a room full of magic guns arn't we? GRAB THAT SHIT AND SHOOT HIM. Aim for the shoulder above his demon arm, above where the demon flesh is, maybe we can blow the arm off.
>>
No. 313552 ID: a76809

>>313545
[Yes, typo-was supposed to be Not-Locke, who is in fact Big Crazy.]
>>
No. 313558 ID: 692cff

>>313550
Upvoting removing the arm, perhaps not through that method though. Using Keihas to slice off that portion of the shoulder perhaps?
>>
No. 313561 ID: 44766a

The problem with grabbing random guns is that we have no idea what they do...
>>
No. 313565 ID: b39da2

>>313550
Do collectors normally leave their display items LOADED? I seriously doubt that.

>What do
Ok, sniper outside, olga, is the wife of brandt the nazi supersoldier. She has to die.
She hired the demon in the room with us who seem immune to bullets, he is also a cool guy, he likes us, and he is a shaman. He was backstabbed as well by smets attacking him instead of helping him fight us so he might be amiable to joining us.

savoy worked with smets to kill us, savoy is currently an enemy of fang and a traitor to the familia, savoy is also a clear danger to us and is currently fighting demon dude. Oh, and savoy is the only thing standing between us and owning a downright kickass androgen butler.

I say that we join with demon dude and kill savoy. Then convince him he was betrayed by his employer and should join us instead. Then we snag the loot and leave.

As for the method... "disarm" him at the shoulder with your elfsword bayonette. Then we feed his blood to keihas and we eat the demon arm ourselves.
>>
No. 313569 ID: 856690
Audio 369926_Sharpen_The_Blade.mp3 - (3.47MB )
313569

Music for the battle both what has already happened and what is yet to come!
>>
No. 313572 ID: 81f32a

We are in his blind spot. Good.

We heavily wounded him so his mobility is shit, he would be far less agile than before and probably will not be able to turn fast enough to see us.
combine that with our training at Ito, I am fairly sure we can stay behind him and kill him without giving him the chance to retaliate.
Of course the arm is unknown factor, but we have to do with what we got.
Also, if he realizes what we are doing, he could put his back to the wall and severely limit us from being outside his vision.

Anyway, the closer you are to someone (from the back), the easier it is to stay in their blind spot.
So get close but outside the reach of his arm.

Shoot him in his legs, aim for arteries or knees to bleed him out and limit his mobility even more.

Might want to try to sever his Achilles tendon too.

>>313550
You cannot be sure that they are loaded. Those are collection pieces, as far as I know, no one keeps their collection fully loaded.

>>313493
>I'm against using MD on him, it is not needed and I'm not giving anypart of Savoy to MAMMON.
The hell?
Is this really a thing to get worried about right now?

>>313496
Demon weaponry would be completely and utterly useless if it didn't work on other demons, wouldn't it be?
Remember: Demons=assholes, they will kill and backstab each other as much as they would the mortals.
>>
No. 313575 ID: 46c430

>>313565
Well, Savoy -did- grab a buntline right off the wall and proceeded to shoot with it, so I figure it's possible that they're loaded. But, yeah, good point.
>>
No. 313576 ID: 44766a

MrTT Savoy is not fight anyone else... what "demon dude" are you talking about? Are you talking about Big Crazy? Am pretty sure he is not a demon.
>>
No. 313582 ID: 0d095c
File 130817337413.jpg - (215.47KB , 426x600 , Alpharius.jpg )
313582

>>313540
"Armus? Who's that?"
>>
No. 313597 ID: 835a2d

>>313572

>Demon weaponry would be completely and utterly useless if it didn't work on other demons, wouldn't it be?
>Remember: Demons=assholes, they will kill and backstab each other as much as they would the mortals.

Whether it works is a moot point: He will want that gun if he can tell what it is - he will want it enough to kill us, he will want it enough for it to become a priority.

Think on that for a second. Do we really want that to happen? Armas is powerful because he can get the drop on people, because he is sneaky, because he is unknown and a free radical. If someone knows about us, researches us, learns about us, we lose about half our advantage.

If we use Mammon's Device, Savoy MUST die.
>>
No. 313599 ID: 98ef26

>>313597
...Uh, since when were you under the impression this wasn't a life and death struggle, and that Savoy wouldn't kill us anyway?

It's kill or be killed. We are going to kill Savoy either way.
>>
No. 313600 ID: b39da2

>Demon?
I mean NotLocke, and what is he then?
>The one I had called Locke, standing beside me, plasters his red face with a smile as he turns to face me.
He is red skin
>Locke himself, however... is not doing quite as well. Smets' punt gun had been chambered in flechettes-and the big man's whole front is a crazy mess, a psychopathic rendition of a porcupine. Massive metal spikes rise by the dozens from his flesh-yet not a one seems to have fully penetrated. ...Odd, given I don't think Locke is wearing body armor. Raises even more questions about who it is masquerading as Locke-and what they were going to say before Smets arrived. The idea is shelved, as the now only lightly bleeding Locke again works his rifle.
His red skin is crazy armored.

NotLocke is too much of a mouthful, I am just calling him "Demondude" until I learn something to suggest an alternative.
>>
No. 313607 ID: 44766a

NotLocke = Big Crazy. Big Crazy is a Native American mercenary... his red skin is probably a side effect of one of spirit totems.
>>
No. 313610 ID: 81f32a
File 130817718107.jpg - (38.29KB , 310x266 , crying-indian.jpg )
313610

Big Crazy's (NotLocke) face when you accuse him of being a demon
<===
>>
No. 313614 ID: c6ce12
File 130817797776.png - (31.08KB , 499x901 , Savoy.png )
313614

Let's review what's going on with Savoy, while he is desperately searching for you he also has seven bullet wounds in him which are impeding his movement, one of which has also broken the collarbone above his demon arm. That broken collarbone is going to be hell for him, it should cause his shoulder to drag and any attempted movement will force his arm down reflexively due to the pain it'll cause. His other arm is gone too, bullet in the hand and bicep means he won't be able to shoot straight even if he had another gun. Now we know what that demon arm could do under the right circumstances, you've seen it work, it takes in projectiles that would be fatal shots and absorbs them before they hit Savoy. What he got from the demons is like one of your arrow charms, only it's reusable and you can fire back with what was fired at you. That's a mighty dangerous trick, but it seems like he should be out of rounds. He had no holes in his arm before we got to him and Big Crazy fired two rounds at him, we fired one, he fired three back out at Big Crazy. So Savoy has limited mobility, is slowly bleeding out, and his demon arm weapon can't move and has nothing to fire at us.

Now we are nice and hidden and this is shaping up to be a fan-fucking-tastic situation for us. We can holster all of our unneeded guns and take out the Keihas, go in there, abuse the hell out of stealth training and his back and get in really close. Then once we're in there we can take our elven vorpal blade bayonet and remove his arm at the shoulder, while we focus all our thoughts on the intent to maim, not kill. If we aim just right we could go through the crack we made in his collarbone and cut through it there, a nice little snicker-snack. Once his reflexive demon arm defense is gone we can end him by stabbing him through the heart or cutting his head off, whatever works. Just think about it, we've been preparing for a moment like this without even realizing it. We have Taiahan Rifleplay, Jukenjitsu, Blind Spot Brawler, and we might even trigger Ambush expert. We're perfect for this, Savoy isn't, he doesn't seem like a melee guy and he just got that arm not too long ago if the bandages are any indication. Whereas we have been training up our melee skills, aren't injured, and have a nasty desire to see his blood on the floor for what he's done to us. This is our time people, we can do this.

I'm going to second this plan >>313490 with this modification >>313495 and this roll >>313558 as our melee roll too.
>>
No. 313615 ID: f8aa66

rolled 9, 97, 94, 16, 63, 76 = 355

The reason not to use Mammon's Device until the arm has been dealt with one way or another is that it is most definitely a shoot-to-kill weapon, which activates Savoy's shielding arm.

So we either do something about that arm, or we plink him to death by inches.

I vote we kill him by inches, myself. Pull out Keihas and start firing. One shot going high - the other collarbone, maybe. Then one low, bury it in his gut. Elbow, knees. Chest, feet.
>>
No. 313620 ID: c2d0f1

>>313615
Downvoting shooting, as that will reveal our position. We should use the sword bayonet rather than shooting, as given the close quarters and the long reach its just as within range, and it probably does more damage and is much stealthier.

What we should do, as we lunge in, is try to silently touch Keishas' stock to one of the pools of blood Savoy will have left on the floor, both the red blood of his normal body and the purple blood of the demon arm.
>>
No. 313621 ID: 1854db

Why don't we just use the Mammon Device to blow off his arm at the shoulder? Find where the bullet protection stops, and sever it at that point.
>>
No. 313622 ID: 98ef26

>>313621
FUCK THAT NOPE NOPE NOPE

Who knows what kind of weird demonic reaction will happen!?
>>
No. 313623 ID: 81f32a

>>313622
I know what reaction will happen.

It will blow a fourth of Savoy to hell.... probably.

Nut yeah. I guess we should leave MD as last thing to use.
>>
No. 313625 ID: c6ce12

>>313621
The arm attracts any attempt at a fatal blow and the Mammon's Device fires magical shells that spew out a skull large enough to take out a bulkhead. So any attempt to fire it at him with such a round will be taken as lethal and the arm will absorb it and try to fling it back at us, a recursively powered demon bullet flung from a demon arm headed at our head will probably kill us. Beyond that it's a damn flaming skull, that is not something that you can make a precision strike with.
>>
No. 313631 ID: 6f1e66

>>313625
storing bullets is very different from storing a flaming skull of doom
>>
No. 313632 ID: 0d095c

>>313631
And dying in a fiery hell blast is different from being alive! Seriously, demon's are serious shit! Don't give them any excuse to explode.
>>
No. 313636 ID: 44766a

No to use the Mammon's Device. Too many unknowns to use it safely. use as a last resort. As it "HOLY FUCK AM GOING TO DIE" last resort.
>>
No. 313641 ID: 234c26

>>313487
>Would you like to guess what the OTHER PC's say about Armas-who is DEFINITELY cocky?

...that he's mostly harmless and not worth worrying about?

>>313490
First, cell phone jammers are still active. Second, we don't really need a way to avoid the police; we are supremely sneaky, recall? Third, we do not want to be asking Lo Fang for favors when our last interaction with him was trashing his very expensive warded room. Fourth, I doubt that even the Triads could provide a cleaning crew good enough to eliminate the evidence of this one.

So calling Lo Fang is a bad idea.

>>313614
I would mostly support this, but I'm concerned that we might not be able to move without having Savoy spot our location. Perhaps we could use the classic "toss something to draw attention" trick; his focus should snap to whatever we throw for at least a few moments before he tracks its path back to our current location, by which time we'll have taken advantage of his distraction to have moved and be slicing his arm off. Even if he's highly disciplined, having one's attention drawn to movement is basically involuntary, this should buy us the time we need to move in safely.
>>
No. 313646 ID: 44766a

You know what Armus needs to learn? How to throw his voice.
>>
No. 313651 ID: 92dcd7

>>312384
>>313646
>>
No. 313656 ID: 1a610e

Give him a good old beating with Mr moist. Aim for bleeding, have our baby suck him dry.
>>
No. 313657 ID: c6ce12

>>313614
And I have just been informed that this is slightly off. Savoy's demonic arm will still be able to react despite Savoy's collarbone injury, sure it'll hurt him a lot, but it will react. In fact it will react to any attempts at it's removal or towards any loss of limb that will result in a noticeable loss of blood. So I guess I will down vote my own suggestion in part and suggest that instead of going for the arm we instead attempt to go for bashing strikes that will not immediately be lethal, but instead will result in shattered bones that could pierce vital bits.
>>
No. 313665 ID: 81f32a
File 130818543634.jpg - (272.89KB , 700x793 , Armas - Horror emerging from the shadows.jpg )
313665

rolled 63, 64, 54, 67, 16 = 264

Rolling for Keihas.
I don't care if police finds shells or bullets, we have much more pressing matter to attend to.
Besides, we could order the butler to gather those and dispose of them (make sure to phrase the order right with no room for leeway).

Like it has been said before, better not take any chances and shoot to maim. Knees, femoral arteries... spine maybe.
Aim to main, not to kill.
Hopefully, he will bleed out soon while we keep looking at him to make sure he doesn't teleport away.

After the initial attack (be it melee or ranged), there is no reason to stay quiet so we can reload our weapons. Just keep in his blind spot and never stop looking at him

>>313540
Futuristic look is cool and all but I much more prefer we go the "nightmare route" and put on clothing that inspires fear and horror.
>>
No. 313666 ID: 856690

>>313620
We shoot after we cut.
So basically we go in, blindspot him, steal blood with Keihas, chop demon arm off and then retreat and shoot Savoy in the face/any tender body part.

>>313495
This roll was meant for Keihas generally, but if I have to specify it is melee.

We have to make sure he cannot gain full attention on us, also we cannot let him out of our sight. BE VERY WARY OF THAT ARM, if it hits you it may mean game over. By hit I mean a old fashioned thwack.

IF THE ARM ATTACKS COUNTER WITH KEIHAS' STOCK!
>>
No. 313667 ID: 81f32a

rolled 46, 62, 12, 46, 74 = 240

>>313665
ffs
>>
No. 313670 ID: 234c26

>>313657
Well, shit. That ruins a very nice plan. Honestly, if we can't cut the arm off and it can fight without Savoy's input then I'm rather reluctant to engage him in melee at all; I'm not particularly eager to have it blasting bullets at us point-blank and punching us with terrifyingly supernatural strength and speed. It would probably be better just to blast his lower spine so that he can't walk or react to us as effectively. We can throw a smoke grenade (inactive) at his feet to draw his attention and hopefully make him panic as he reacts to it in order to buy ourselves time.


In the future, perhaps we should invest in tiny strobes or sparklers that we can throw around and carry tons of, just to ensure that no matter where we are there is always something flashy and attention-drawing in the room to reduce others' abilities to focus on us. Preferably it would make persistent annoying noises, too. Or maybe braces of firecrackers? Something much smaller and easier to carry in quantity than grenades, at any rate, meant purely as an assist to our sneak-based combat in situations where we don't want to obscure our own vision with smoke.
>>
No. 313695 ID: f8aa66
File 130819094670.jpg - (130.95KB , 2211x1698 , Trolling Like a Finn.jpg )
313695

We must stealth-troll Savoy so hard Ogrimir comes back.

Incidentally, if we actually manage to pull out a win here, we should rub it in Savoy's face with great relish. Something like, "Your power outclasses mine by an order of magnitude. You should have won. Think on why you didn't, on your way down into hell."
>>
No. 313698 ID: b39da2

>>313610
I do hope that bob wasn't describing him as "red skinned" because of some supernatural thing and not because he is a native american...
>>
No. 313701 ID: a76809

>>313698
He's a legitimate pure-blooded native American of the Mowhawk tribe who ended up growing up in Texas-and he is red-skinned as hell. As in people actually ask him periodically if he got sunburned-THAT red. Given that when he was first seen, he was wearing large, obscuring shades, observing his body size, hair color and skin color was about it Armas could do. So yes, he was described as red-skinned as a native American from Armas' perspective.
>>
No. 313744 ID: 1be251

rolled 97 = 97

The arm has to intercept the shots to do anything. So if we shove the barrel of the gun into a wound, all non-lethal like, he's gonna have one hell of a time having his demon arm intercept the bullet without killing himself. So if we go in to melee him, this should be our goal.
>>
No. 313763 ID: 4ff7f2

>>313744
an actual plan? it's almost like i gave you it or something... nice roll though

upvoting obviously
>>
No. 313773 ID: 7bb0d2

Why not sneak from behind and sever his spine
not lethal but will leave him paralyzed.
>>
No. 313809 ID: c2d0f1

Think, Savoy is currently without a gun, and his arm seems to have no ammunition. If we start shooting him, there's a good chance that we'll end up making him more dangerous by reloading his arm.

We should go for the peripheral strategy described above, but go for death by a thousand cuts with the bayonet. It's supernaturally sharp, so we can make very precise shallow cuts to cripple him rather than risk a lethal bullet wound. The blade may be so sharp he doesn't even feel the cut happening. I suggest we first take off his ears, then go for the muscles in his lower back that are used to move his arms up and down, then hamstring him, and then, if he's still moving, attempt to spear out his eyes from the side and behind without touching his brain.
>>
No. 313810 ID: 7bb0d2

Sneak from behind as clise as possible to Savoy
shoot MD from pointblank

....

why didnt we think of it earlier?
>>
No. 313811 ID: 1be251

>>313810
Because Bob laughed for several minutes at the idea of his Arm not being able to absorb it, and risking that as anything other than a last ditch effort is insane.
>>
No. 313813 ID: 7bb0d2

I mean point motherfucking blank
like the barrel at the base of the fucking skull

the hand will have to move inside his head to intercept the bullet
>>
No. 313819 ID: 1be251

>>313813
Or he could move back before we get the shot off, and then the arm could intercept it. I do not want him firing the shot back at us, so it's a last resort kind of thing.
>>
No. 313831 ID: 3f12fc

or he could absorb the power of the shot, and becomes Uber!GS.

not looking forward to gamble against a PC when we have safe ways to fight (stealth).
>>
No. 313832 ID: b39da2

>>313701
alright, that makes sense. my apologies
>>
No. 313833 ID: 81f32a
File 130822611511.jpg - (113.69KB , 800x640 , Where is Armas.jpg )
313833

eeeh

You know, now that I think about it, we shouldn't get into Savoys melee range at all. Like, no bayonet cutting.

It seems people think that the devil arm redirection of the bullets is not as powerful as shooting said bullets from the guns .... which I completely disagree. If anything, it throws them at the force several magnitudes stronger than the original shot.

Take NotLocke, he had been shot at close range with a sawed-off punt gun... A PUNT GUN! Have you seen those things! Just search for one, those guns are enormous!
Aside fro, that Smets used modified, feet-long rounds.
Now imagine all the power coming out of that gun.
NotLocke was hit full-force and he did not even bulge.

Savoy threw the bullets back at him and the force slammed him against the wall sending firearms on the display flying.
That is enormous power coming out of that arm.

If we even get half-assed bitchslap on the cheek, it will send our jaw flying.


So,under no circumstances are you to come close to arms-reach to Savoy!
Don't even go for bayonet cutting as the arm could catch the gun and crush it.

I mean, yeah, get closer to him. The closer you are, the easier it is to stay in his blind spot but do not get too close.

Oh, and the .454 Casull round he got would probably penetrate the armor we have... assuming he aims at the armor and not the head, specifically eyes.

Use the bleeding to death approach by shooting him to wound.
The best bet would be the femoral arteries in his legs, he should bleed out in a minute or so. So keep shooting there, at his legs, at his feet, if fact reduce his feet to pair of stumps.

After you start shooting, there is no use trying to be quiet so reload and shoot, reload and shoot...

Also, if he manages to turn towards you, shoot his dick off.
I AM COMPLETELY SERIOUS
There is a high chance that we are not coming out of here alive, if Savoy kills us, we will at least have shot off his dick/balls.
Who would be a real loser in this outcome I wonder?
>>
No. 313839 ID: e13d16

>>313833
It's a good point that the demon arm fired the bullets out harder than the original gun, but why is that a reason to shoot and potentaially reload him?

If we use the bayonet we can attack from out of his melee range but within ours.

As a note, we should try to sever the remaining fingrs off his right hand, and hook up the gun he dropped with the blunt side of the bayonet and throw it out of the room.

We just need to take advantage of our greater reach to make quivk non-lethwl strikes, and gradually flay him and slice off his larger muscle groups without severing a major artery.

At the moment, despite his demon arm, I think we're better at meler than him. If his arm eats any more bullets, then we're at a disadvantage in ranged combat.

If we can suck up some of the purple blood spatters from the floor with Keihas's stock, we could try lightly tapping one of the bleeding holes in the arm with it, and see if we csn drain it dry.
>>
No. 313841 ID: e13d16

>>313833
It's a good point that the demon arm fired the bullets out harder than the original gun, but why is that a reason to shoot and potentaially reload him?

If we use the bayonet we can attack from out of his melee range but within ours.

As a note, we should try to sever the remaining fingrs off his right hand, and hook up the gun he dropped with the blunt side of the bayonet and throw it out of the room.

We just need to take advantage of our greater reach to make quivk non-lethwl strikes, and gradually flay him and slice off his larger muscle groups without severing a major artery.

At the moment, despite his demon arm, I think we're better at meler than him. If his arm eats any more bullets, then we're at a disadvantage in ranged combat.

If we can suck up some of the purple blood spatters from the floor with Keihas's stock, we could try lightly tapping one of the bleeding holes in the arm with it, and see if we csn drain it dry.
>>
No. 313842 ID: 0d095c

Yes
NO SHOOTY. Remember Prince Ashitaka's arm in Princess Mononoke? THAT is Savoy's arm. He can kill us by throwing an unerringly accurate piece of gravel at us. He's like the Hulk combined with Bullseye. Our only hope is to drain him, and we sure as hell cannot let him live. And he can't let us live. Go in with Keihas stock, drink his soul.
>>
No. 313854 ID: 81f32a

>>313839
sigh....

Because the Demon Arms ability doesn't work well when shooting to wound.... did you not read the update?

Getting into his range, even with the bayonet could prove to be disastrous.
Where does the idea that he can use the arm for only one trick (catching bullets) come from? You think he can't use it for other tasks? Like grabbing Keihas' barrel?
That's what I am trying to say here
>>
No. 313884 ID: a76809

rolled 98, 70, 17 = 185

>>313641
Armas.... harmless.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA yeah sure let's say that's what they believe why not.

>>313493
>>313495
>>313550
>>313558
[PLANNED SHOT: 096/100]
I holster the Matebas, slowly, quietly, paying attention to Savoy's roving gaze. Keihäs is wedged against my shoulder, the transparent double-sided bayonet incrementally loosing it's bobbing and wavering, the rifle's barrel steadying-my heart rate starts to drop back down, my breathing equalizes from the hectic exchange on the second floor, the world starts shrinking to just me-and the target. As I do, I hear Savoy begin speaking again-with not the slightest glimmer of discomfort in his voice.

>[GS]"I really have to complement Smets on his servant's handiwork-this is quite a wondrous new limb I have. ...Ah, the blood its generating for me is quite energizing."
Savoy chuckles.
>[GS]"Well? Going to try and put a bullet in my head? I welcome the attempt."
...Welp, that tears it-between the evidence and what he just said, that arm is DEFINITELY able to absorb lethal attacks.

..Okay, can't go for something outright lethal-that seems pretty clear, with how that arm works. So-

[FIRST SHOT
(96+11Supernatural Bonus+4)=111%

From ten feet away, I respond to his continued taunts by putting a bullet square through his right knee, shattering the joint-Savoy drops to a knee at the impact as blood sprays over the wall-and begins to laugh as the bandages on his arm fall away-letting red-rimmed eyes with slitted pupils open all over the monstrous limb, each bump and eye, looking everywhere-

Savoy's attention amplifies a hundred fold, and I feel him locating me as I work the bolt. He starts to turn towards me as I dance to the side, trying to stay to his back.

>>313615
Mosin Nagant M28/30 has a five round capacity. Not six.
>>313615
With the plethora of injuries on his form he can't keep up with me turning-so as I get closer than ten feet, I couch the rifle against my shoulder again, training the gun on him-
[SECOND SHOT
(9+11Supernatural Bonus+4)=24%
The gun roars as the bullet heads towards Savoy's midsection-and his demonic arm abruptly inverts its elbow joint, the limb's wrist intercepting the bullet-
[THIRD SHOT
(97+11Supernatural Bonus+4)=112%
Which is fine with me-as I've already shifted the barrel, squeezing off a shot at his left ankle, bits of bone flying as Savoy topples, no good leg to stand on-
[FOURTH SHOT
(94+11Supernatural Bonus+4)=109%
As he falls I blast another bullet forth, this one catching him in the groin as he drops-at which point I finally hear him cry out from pain-yeah, that only took ten bullets getting lodged in him...

I work the bolt as Savoy seemlessly transitions from agonized moans to words, even as his demonic arm rises to orient on me. I throw myself to the side-only to have the bullet catch me in the hip, blasting through the bottom of my vest and getting lodged in my crotch protector. ...THANK YOU SELF, for buying a crotch protector. I tumble into a roll as I listen, Savoy's attention inescapable in this Spartan room.
>[GS]"Did I ever tell you that Castelletti was fully prepared to deal with you-fully willing to pay, even-and thanks to your reticence to meet, he was prime for me to convince you were a threat in need of removal-and even then, he had a healthy enough respect for your skills to be reluctant-a pity you never gave him the chance. Oh, doesn't that irk you? Had you trusted him, I wouldn't even be here."
I throw myself into another dive as the absorbed Casull round is hurled my way, catching me square in the upper forehead-

My neck snaps and my body falls limply to the ground, unresponsive.

....This... this is not good.

Savoy and I both lay on the ground-my armor nearly penetrated twice by his gunfire (thank god I got a mask that covered the upper forehead so there was armor overlap where I was struck... hooray, I'm only paralyzed and not dead...
Yet I feel that burning, tingling sensation of healing taking place, and I hope with every fiber of my being it's the blood I drank, and my healing kicking in. Got to buy time.
"So-got to ask, do you have any friends-hell, even one person you halfway trust? Because with the shit you pull it seems like you'd be a lonely motherfucker-you know, what with being a deceitful asshole."
...Not my best work, but hey.
>[GS]"Heh-that's cute, trying to buy time. But I saw-I got you. I know a breaking neck when I see it."
Crap, he's perceptive.
"So are you going to be walking out of here then? I somehow doubt it."
>[GS]"I... admit you have inconvenienced me-but a thought-I know I will not bleed out before the police arrive. They take me away, give me medical treatment-and at SOME point, no one will be watching me-and I will leave. You have delayed a few of my projects, nothing more. Unless you plan to bite me to death, ha-ha."
..If I could move even one finger, I'd keep shooting him. As it is... the healing is just too slow-I'll be right here when the cops arrive too-and that would not work too well. There has to be some way-

>>313516
>>313519
>>313522
>>313527
>>313528
>>313529
>>313534
>>313665
>>313695
>>313833
[MASSIVE FANART BONUS=ALTERNATE DEVIL BONUS TRIGGER]
>>313666 [DEVIL BONUS FORCIBLY TRIGGERED WITHOUT SHOOTING ROLLS]
>[Smets' Butler]"My my my... we can't have this. A contest of potential masters left inconclusive, in limbo? No, that will not do at all.
I turn my eyes to the side, the ghostly quiet androgynous butler standing at my side-and in my peripherals I note the walls to now be clear, where before scores of guns hung upon them-when did they-
>GS]"Ah, there you are-go ahead and kill Mr. Laine."
The Butler, its back to Savoy, continues speaking, ignoring Savoy's spoken words.
>[Smets' Butler]"Well well well. I wondered why you drank that, not being vampiric-but I understand now. It is a most faint magical ability-hardly worthy of the name-but it could be more."
Tick tock, tick tock-how long until I hear sirens?
"..What are you suggesting?"
>[GS]"Amen, I order you to slay Armas Laine!"
>[Amen]"Why... why why-it's quite simple. Your knack's structure allows you healing's advanced speed to be based on how saturated with magic your body is from past feedings-but such a new, such a [i]fledgling ability. If you want to finish this fight-[/i]"
>[GS]"...What did you do, Armas? What did you do!!"
Amen shoves its index finger into its wrist, golden fluid welling up around the injury-strange, it did not bleed when I shot it before....
That golden blood pools in the butler's cupped hands, and it smiles at me, not a trace of kindness in its eyes.
>[Amen]"Heh... heh... heh. As I am bound to ingore the pleas of the other potential master at this juncture, to you, and you alone do I make this offer: Will the current carrier of Sisuthros' blood take my blood into him, to forcibly augment his ability? Will the current carrier accept my offer, and finish this contest so that I am no longer stuck in limb, unable to concretely serve a single master?"
Tick tock. My eyes roll as I think as fast and furiously as I can, noting Big Crazy still slumped against the wall-and beginning to move.

In the distance, I begin to hear sirens.








I need to make a choice-what's my decision?
Do I dare risk spending time asking clarifying questions with the police within earshot, and risk being too late to do anything?
>>
No. 313888 ID: 6f1e66

YES
>>
No. 313889 ID: 0d095c

>>313884
Hrmmmm... Welp. The alternative is death or prison. Shit. I'm going with a tentative "Yes". I may change it later depending on arguments.
>>
No. 313891 ID: 7efaf6

Accept. There's no time to gamble--

--And we will get busted by the police if we don't do something soon.

I'm not sure if Amen means he's going to be released from serving us, or if we have to end Savoy. Either way, I say we accept.
>>
No. 313892 ID: 81f32a

Yes.
Definitely.

>Do I dare risk spending time asking clarifying questions with the police within earshot, and risk being too late to do anything?
Nah.
The only negative thing I can see from this is that we will release the demon from its bindings to serve us. But seeing how this is life or death situation and the fact that our regeneration ability is going to be upgraded, this is a favourable deal.
>>
No. 313893 ID: 81f32a
File 130825506777.jpg - (185.29KB , 700x574 , Armas - Not a single fuck.jpg )
313893

Armas' face after every mission he has been in.
Every. God. Damn. Mission.
<====
>>
No. 313894 ID: 0d095c

>>313893
It's perfect. I have been swayed from "Maybe yes?" to "FUCK YES". Screw it, who cares if our demon butler eats our soul, WOLVERINE POWERS HOOOOOOOOOO!
>>
No. 313898 ID: c6ce12

>>313884
If it's taking his offer or going to prison and/or suffering a terrible death I say we take the damn offer.

And if we're any shape we should try to end Savoy before someone barges in here. It sounds like we should be able to since the butler is giving his blood to us for that express purpose. I'm not sure how, but I'm sure the butler could tell us where to shoot since he seems inclined to help. Once he's dead we can order him to clean up any mess we may have made while inside. Simple things like blood, hair, skin cells, finger prints, spent ammunition, damage to the property, and bodies. We'll definitely help with the last one if we can. Then he needs to hide any and all valuables in such a way that they will whole and safe, but not be found until we ask for them to be retrieved. Then I guess we hide our self using our stealth skills until there's a good enough commotion to leave.
>>
No. 313900 ID: c6ce12

>>313898
And I guess if he's dies we should try to take a bite of him and his arm, sever the arm, and tell the butler to store it with everything else and keep it preserved and functioning, but not attached to anything.
>>
No. 313902 ID: 7efaf6
File 130825645602.jpg - (111.17KB , 1024x768 , Durr.jpg )
313902

<=== Also, QUALITY

/sarcasm
>>
No. 313903 ID: 9d07ee

take the deal. kill savoy

cut off savoy's demon arm. actually, cut off both arms. then eat his heart, and drain the rest with keihas. maybe take a bite out of the demon arm to see what happens.

now, for the planning. gonna use the butler for this since that should help put a layer of not gonna find out it was me on the plan. smets has no body to speak of, so lets use that. order the butler to do the following, and specifiy that these are a list of things he is to accomplish, and that these orders do not supercede one another. also, be quick about it. time is important.

1)order him to follow your orders. we need to make sure he's bound to us when we're not in possesion of keihas
2)gather the most valuable combination of magic weapons and ammo in the house he believes us capable of carrying to the van without being spotted in appropriate storage containers near whatever exit we're going to use. Also include the two arms in what he should gather. and have him provide a list of what everything is too.
3)remove any evidence the police could use to trace back to Armas, notLocke, or Camella to anything that happened today
4)bind notlocke, without killing him, in a manner that appropriately compensates for any supernatural methods of removing or destroying the bindings
5)hide notLocke, himself, and any other valuable weapons or ammo in the house from anyone other than us coming to investigate, while ensuring the safety of both. Clarify that he must keep notLocke alive and healthy, while doing his best to not drive him insane in the process. So no dragging him through hell to hide him. Maybe let him tell notLocke that because he was planning at one point to kill Armas, he has to be restrained until' Armas can speak with him about that. tell him that he may only tell notLocke that while in a position where only the two of them could hear it.
6)get a member of the security force, or their body, and dispose of the body entirely and evidence of the body being disposed, and you don't care if he as to tie some sheets into a lasso long enough to reach any bodies on the church to do it. also make sure he does this with the most disgression possible and remove any evidence relating to him claiming the body
7)plant evidence that suggests the completely gone member of the security force led several other members to try and steal smets collection, succeeded, and escaped. clarify that none of the planted evidence of any of the orders you ever give should lead back to you unless stated otherwise
8)plant evidence to suggest Smets has been away from the mansion since at least last night, and is likely hiding out after what happened
9)erase or alter as appropriate any evidence that suggests he has been in the mansion recently
10)prepare to have Smets holding's in turkey legally transferred to Armas, under the guise of Smets moving his operations overseas.
11)contact Armas when he believes he could return to the mansion without drawing too much attention from the police
12)when the police investigation is over, have the mansion fixed
13)ask if he's capable of removing however Smets was able to walk around in the sun without either destroying the mansion or undoing his binding to it. if so, have him remove it in such a manner.
14)order him to, in the event of any complications with the following orders, act, according to his best judgement, to further Armas' interests in a way he believe Armas would not dissaprove of.
15)Have him tell us how much the Demon Arm is worth.

now, take your shit and get to the van, and pick up Camella or whatever. hopefully she's there already. call Fang, let him know you'll be stopping by with a gift later. Savoy's other arm. call Arkvad, let him know we've got some stuff to sell, which we will sell at least a small portion of it through holland&holland and if he could identify it for free given how their information dudes fucked up. arrange the meeting for after we see fang. drop Camella off, letting her know our next bit of buisiness take us into the sewers, then we head immediatly for the goblins to sell Savoy's demon arm.
>>
No. 313904 ID: 0d095c

>>313902
Look, I know it's not really the BEST solution, but it's the solution where we DON'T die and go to Hell (and if you think Armus is going anywhere else, I have a bridge in London to sell you) and have to punch our way out like the Doom Marine. Seriously, it's extremely risky and potentially suicidal gambit or DEATH. Or Turkish Prison. TAKE YOUR CHOICE.
>>
No. 313905 ID: 81f32a
File 130825686832.jpg - (136.96KB , 700x933 , Armas - Ready for war 10.jpg )
313905

At least, just to be sure.

"I order you to not follow Smets order to regard Savoy as your master or potentiall master."
"in addition, I order you not regard Savoy as Master or Potential Master"

Also order him to tell you the ramifications of drinking that blood in short and to the point.
>>
No. 313906 ID: 9d07ee

Also, keep an eye on Savoy when you drink the demon's blood
>>
No. 313908 ID: 0d095c

>>313905
Sir, we are out of time, we must decide quickly. And Savoy already TRIED ordering Amen the Dark Butler to kill/main/nothelpus AND IT DID NOT WORK. So don't do that!
>>
No. 313909 ID: c6ce12

Also side note, DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF SAVOY FOR EVEN A MOMENT. We do not want him to get even a chance to teleport out of this. Make sure the butler's hands don't cover your eyes when you drink. Talk loudly if you have to so that he sets off your perception by hearing you.
>>
No. 313911 ID: 81f32a
File 130825874292.jpg - (121.18KB , 700x933 , Armas - Keihas.jpg )
313911

>>313908
You don't understand. We ordered Amen not to follow Savoys orders but being a dick-ass demon he still can interpret that Savoy is a potential master.
I am suggesting that he stops that interpretation so that IF drinking the blood of demon releases him from our binding he does not go to serve Savoy again.
>>
No. 313916 ID: 0d095c

>>313911
Oh. Well that makes sense. I may yield to you, drawing man, for your arguments and kickass sketches do much to convince me.
>>
No. 313919 ID: 81f32a
File 130826010445.jpg - (146.99KB , 700x933 , Armas - Ready for war 11.jpg )
313919

>>313916
heh
it's just a precaution, would take a few seconds to voice the order.

>>313903
I mostly agree with this plan, especially #10

>eat his heart
STORE the heart. We will eat it when we learn more about Maori and Finnish rituals concerning eating hearts of enemies.

Also order the Butler to remove the police to the best of his abilities without resorting to physical methods (not restraining or killin). In other words, he is to use his knowledge of local Law and Social skills to remove the investigation.
>>
No. 313931 ID: 81f32a
File 130826258623.jpg - (146.79KB , 700x933 , Armas - AA-12.jpg )
313931

Well

After we take the deal, we still need to kill Savoy, though.

Keep shooting till even his demon arm pumping blood can't keep him?

Also, don't stop looking/talking/keeping your attention on him
>>
No. 313949 ID: 44766a

How many drawings do you have? Anyways, take the deal.
>>
No. 313955 ID: c2d0f1

No.

Command the butler to bring you the heart of the other man in the corner of the room, and be quick about it.

Whilst this happens, lock your eyes on Savoy.
>>
No. 313958 ID: c2d0f1

Actually, first command the butler to put the jerky in your mouth,
>>
No. 313972 ID: 234c26

Can't we just order the butler to feed us some of the emergency healing jerky that we brought with us instead of taking his blood and presumably freeing him/being placed under his power somehow? Wouldn't that work?

Failing that, we could drink Big Crazy's blood with his assistance. With the butler here and bound to serve us, there is no need to take his demon deal.

Whatever happens, do not let our gaze leave Savoy.
>>
No. 313977 ID: c6ce12

>>313955
Down-voting, I'd rather not kill Big Crazy right now. I'm not saying we should be fine and dandy with him playing a part in a plot to betray us, but killing him is just so wasteful. He can be of so much use to us, he presumably knows a great deal more on the conspiracy to kill us, less so than Olga, but enough to make him worth keeping around. That and it sounded like he was perfectly willing to work with us if not for his current employers orders. He has skills that may be immediately of use to us, like for instance he's a pure-blooded native. While not of the same tribe as those that dealt with the Doonongaes he could have relevant knowledge that could help us slay the thing.

And per meta knowledge we know that he'd be perfectly willing to join up with us and that if we kill him he'll just come back as Blackbeard, but have an even bigger grudge against us than the normal Blackbeard. Blackbeard needing no excuse to try and go balls to the wall kill us or screw up the nice little operation we have because the character is built to be a dick like that already.
>>
No. 313984 ID: 0d095c

There is a problem with the magical jerky. We are paralyzed, and may have trouble swallowing. However, I am willing to give downing magical blood a shot. Telling DEMON BUTLER to give us a glass of.... Savoy's blood? It IS leaking all over the room.
>>
No. 313985 ID: 5cc175

Guys calm down and think. This deal is too good to be free, Amen is obiviously a extremely powerful entity capable of feats that we can't even begin to imagine right now. But, let me ask all of you this question. If Smets had such a powerful servant, why did he choose to fight against us himself? Why didn't he order Amen to take care of us, when it would have been safer and smarter? Perhaps of something like the contract that binds him may entitle something, like him saving a potential master or just his master's life or having someone drink his blood.

Also, think about how he conviently choose this exact instant where Armas and Savoy are both incapacited and need his help in order to end this fight. Notice how he didn't offer help to Savoy, the more powerful man, who would've probably have won the fight in the long run. Instead he choose Armas, the weaker one, the potential master that knows the least about him and the one that is probably the more desperate one right now. Not only that he choose to offer us his blood, which I'm pretty sure hold some sort mystical significance, in order to make us more powerful, if this doesn't stink of something like a faustian demon. Let's face it he may have even plan this to happen. So no way in hell are we drinking his goddamn blood right now, we could always drink it later, when we know more about this new 'business partener.'

Personally, I'd rather order Amen to cut of Savoy's fucking demon arm and feed it to us. Now it still risky, but its a hell of alot safer and smarter than just drinking gold blood willingly offer to us by a smart and somewhat sublte demon.
>>
No. 313991 ID: 0d095c

Thank god you guys are better at thinking under pressure than me. Changing vote all the way to "Order Butler to get us some magical [substance not of his veins]"
>>
No. 313999 ID: 7efaf6

>>313984
But can our body handle the demonic blood coming from THAT arm?
>>
No. 314001 ID: 1be251

>>313903
Seconding this, because we need to move quickly and if we don't I think he'll turn to Savoy, read his lips, and kill us for him.
>>
No. 314002 ID: 6f1e66

let's just take the demons blood,it will not just heal us, he specific said that it will make us stronger
>>
No. 314003 ID: 234c26

>>313985
I strongly suspect that Amen will be unable to work against Savoy directly even if we order him to do so.

>>313984
Being unable to swallow could definitely be a problem. However- given that Amen had magical blood in a couple glasses before, there's likely a storage area in the house somewhere? If we order him to bring us fresh magical blood which is not his and will give no other any significant hold on us, he would probably be able to do so quite quickly. Or we could order him to help us swallow, which would be undignified but might well work. Paralyzed people can still eat things, after all.

>>313977
We can specify that we should leave Big Crazy alive while drinking his blood. It would probably be a good idea to order Amen to disarm him regardless, though.


Whatever happens, be sure to emphasize that it must happen fast.
>>
No. 314007 ID: 5cc175

Or alternatively, we could just ask Amen to wake Big Crazy and ask him to help, but that'd be even a even more desperate act and would be way too metagaming.
>>
No. 314017 ID: 1a610e

>>313893
holy fuck I lold so hard.

Anyway, start laughing maniacally. Then order your first minion to make no deals without explaining in full any and all hidden or unclear strings. Including deals already offered. Then accept his deal, we've kind of not got a choice. Afterwards look for something to help you with the police situation. Perhaps legal documents, you might be able to convince them you ARE smets. if you find something useful our next goal is to inform camella to escape.
>>
No. 314071 ID: a76809

>>313972
Magic jerky gives you a weeks worth of healing spread over a day. You have a few minutes to fix a broken spine. Even if it could heal damages the body has no natural way to resolve (which it doesn't) the timeframe you have to work with is too short.

>>313903
>[DDDD Trait activated]
"Uh-couple things first: Get ready to transfer all of Smets' holdings in Turkey to my name-only under the condition you can do so in a legally acceptable, non-fraudulent manner. Rather not have it, than have it bite me in the ass."
Are the sirens a bit closer? Vapor trails rise from the golden sanguine pool in Amen as it grins at me, head inclining.
>[Amen]"Ah, ah ah.... Order heard and understood-what else do you wish to waste time requesting now?"
"Bind, hide and prevent that man against the wall there from dying-need to talk to him after this."
>[Amen]"Fine fine fine. The offer?"
"In a minute. The gun collection's hidden?"
>[Amen]"Indeed, indeed indeed... Mr. Laine, is that not so?"
...Savoy's been quiet-I don't like that, or the ever louder sirens. Have to speak faster. ..Those crazed golden eyes...
>>313905
"I order you, as the current bearer of Sisuthros' blood, to disregard Smets' order to regard Savoy as you master or potential-"
>[Amen]"My my my-we discussed this, I cannot counteract given orders so simply."
"Then I order you to personally reclassify Savoy so that he is no longer eligible to be a master, potential or otherwise."
>[Amen]"Well well well... It has been done."
The sirens are perhaps a block away now. The vapor trails continue to spin about-and Savoy stays silent. ...This is it, then, I'm out of time for questions.

>>313888 [888]
>>313891
>>313892
>>313894
>>313898
>>313903
>>313909
>>313949
>>313984
>>313985
>[MMM Trait Critically activated!
"..Different idea. Take off Savoy's right arm, feed me that-it has enough power for this, right?"
>[Amen]"Hm, hm hm....If you had a way to properly metabolize it's energy, yes. My own blood can serve that roll-but nothing else in this house is potent enough to serve."
>[GS]"YOU WANT TO EAT MY-"
>[Amen]"In twenty seconds the police will enter the front door-your choice?"
Can I say anything else?
"Do it then-Savoy's arm with your blood."

Amen leans over me, cradling my head in one arm as his other hand rises-Savoy's demonic arm already in his grasp, the Italian assassin's screams following an instant after I see the limb-Savoy rolling on the ground as the wounds all over his body spasm with writhing tendrils of black blood reaching out of his flesh, grasping at the air. I try to keep my gaze focused on Savoy-

The blinking, writhing mass of demon arm, golden blood tracing out archaice symbols over it's surface, liquefies and begins flowing down my mouth, up my nose can't even breath-

>>313893
>>313902
>>313905
>>313911
>>313919
>>313931
[SEXTUPLE FANART BONUS-AMEN'S SHELTERING ABILITY OFFERED IN FULL WITHOUT EXPLICIT NEED TO REQUEST IT-ARMAS' PSYCHE SPARED SHOCK]
[DISCONTINUITY]

Amen's arm leaves the back of my head-and I catch myself from falling back.

...I can move again.

And I hear shouts down below-the Turkish police.

DAMN IT, Savoy is nowhere to be seen! I dimly note Big Crazy to be conspicuously missing from the wall-he was already hidden?
"Where is Savoy!?"
>[Amen]"Oh? Oh oh? Had I not sheltered your mind as thoroughly as I did, you would now be naught but a blank soul-what price is it, to see a foe flee, if you get to keep your mind?
I push myself to my feet in time to hear the entry level door being broken down, dozens of booted feet thudding down the entryway, clipped voices issuing terse orders.
>[Amen]"In one hour, you will have to deal with the assimilation's price-for now, act as you will."

I hear the booted feet pounding up to the second floor-
"Can you remove all evidence that could link me to this entire event from the house?"
>[Amen]"Done... done and done. How do you wish me to greet the guests, master?"
Again that predatorial smile-
Yeah, Amen totally did not set plans in motion with this offer here, no, couldn't have.... yeah, right.






So... what am I going to do?
What is my plan for getting out of here?
Should I question how Amen already got a tailored, pin-striped orange and gold suit already, or leave it be?
>>
No. 314079 ID: 1be251

I'm still for having the butler frame the security force and using stealth to get the hell out of dodge. The butler speaking with the cops would make an excellent distraction, but at the same time if they want him to leave for questioning, he can't do that. Maybe ask if taking a piece of the house, carving it into something to go in the bottom of his shoes, and having him wear those constantly would let him leave the mansion.
>>
No. 314080 ID: 0d095c

>>314071
Hmm... We've healed up. And we can order Amen around. So we are fully capable. First things first. We must SAVE CAMELLA YOU FOOLS. She's out there fighting a Space Nazi!

THIS IS A STEALTH MISSION. SNEAKING WILL BE REQUIRED. Tell Amen to treat Big Crazy's injuries. Sneak out of the building to find Olga and Camella. Kill Olga. Sneak back in.

BUT BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, COMPLEMENT AMEN'S SUIT.
>>
No. 314085 ID: c6ce12

>>314071
I don't particularly care how he got that amazing suit, but it does give me an idea, well it gives me an idea for a modification to an existing idea. Let's have the butler get a Turkish police uniform for us in the same manner he got his suit and dress us. Normally I would say that this would be ridiculous but the little guy can pull things off fast. He can hold our body armor suit for us with the rest of the valuables. Then we can use a combination of our stealth training, the disguise, and the commotion created from the raid that's about to happen on this place to get out of here. Once we're outside we can go look for Camella, if she's on the roof we can help get her down, hope into the Right Laine and take off the disguise. Oh and then we'll have to deal with her yelling at us over the events of today, that will be wonderful.
>>
No. 314087 ID: f8aa66
File 130827881341.jpg - (147.25KB , 1689x2193 , Dinnertime.jpg )
314087

>>314080
"Sharp. That's the kind of initiative I like to see from the ancient evils in my employ."

"More importantly- what's the price? I assume the demon arm doesn't take cash or check. Some kind of horrible toll on my mind, body and soul, I assume?"

Anyway, yeah, let's go help out Camella. See how well we can stealth while climbing up a building- I assume not very well. If there happens to be sewer access to the church... well, I doubt there is. Anyway, then once we have her, see if we can help her move like we do, at least temporarily.

Nightmare Chef Armas pic #2 to hopefully aid that cause.

In an hour we need to be back in our apartment, and let Camella know we are probably going to be having a screaming shit fit of some kind, and to watch out for one-armed teleporting assassins, just in case.
>>
No. 314089 ID: 92dcd7

>>314071
Hmmm. You have the ability to shield minds- Could you rework that same ability to shield the minds of our guests? Block them from percieving my person or any signs of the struggle outside? Perhaps your powers over the mind include the erasing of memories and implanting new ones?

Also, I don't suppose you could repair the damages done to the house during our scuffle? That would be most appreciated, Amen.
>>
No. 314091 ID: 234c26

>>314071
>[Amen]"Done... done and done. How do you wish me to greet the guests, master?"
"Peacefully. Talk them out of here so that they suspect as little as possible. Ensure they find nothing which would justify further investigation."

Even magical super-demon-butler might have problems with that one, but we'll see.

As for plots...

"Give me a written summary of your capabilities, limitations, and history. Also, a summary of the effects both positive and negative which you expect to occur from my ingesting Savoy's arm with your blood, and a summary of any social and political aftereffects you anticipate due to Smets' death from which I can gain advantage. Write them in Finnish if you know it, English otherwise, no more than three pages each."

>What is my plan for getting out of here?
"Get me from here to a portion of the house the police will not reach for some time."

>Should I question how Amen already got a tailored, pin-striped orange and gold suit already, or leave it be?
That needs no questioning.


>So... what am I going to do?
Once you're wherever he puts you, stealth up and try to find Camella, and Olga if she's still alive. We're on a time limit.
>>
No. 314102 ID: f8aa66

Ask Amen if his contract has an escape clause, perhaps.

Also, see if we can wring out some Savoy from the carpet, or if he bled on the Buntline or something, go lick it. Our pride is less important than getting some royal blood in us.
>>
No. 314105 ID: 81f32a

>>314102
Why not ask Amen to just collect the blood if that possible
>>
No. 314152 ID: 81f32a

It seems we have a lot of questions for Amen but not a lot of time to ask them.

So, I propose we keep moving and sneaking while we ask those questions to him to keep.

We can always order him to sneak along with us, I bet he has the ability to do so.

We could ask:
What the price is that he is talking about.
The reason why he cannot leave the house and if we can remove that binding right now or in future. (If we can circumvent this
The specifics of his service, what we can order him and what we can't.
His relation with Savoy, how he got the arm and what he paid for it.
What the consequences of drinking his blood are
Ask him how long he has been in employ to Smets and Susuthros line in general.
Ask him if another of the Susuthros line comes along, will he be bound to serve them too. If so, order him to avoid any kind of contact with those of that line. (I assume we cannot order him to outright refuse their orders, so the best bet is that he just doesn't give them the chance to see him and give him orders)
Ask him where he stored the magic guns and BigCrazy

Order him:
To help us out to retrieve Camella, kill Olga and any Ghouls if they get in our way to the best of his abilities.
If he knows where the jammers are and can disable them to do that. (If he does that, we can contact Camella)
to remove all signs of battle, blood and whatnot.
Tell him to contact us when the police leave the place.

Hmm... if he can leave the premise of the mansion order him to deal with police in non-violent matter using his knowledge of the mortal Law and social skills to make them leave as soon as possible.

>Should I question how Amen already got a tailored, pin-striped orange and gold suit already, or leave it be?
Yeah, definitely.
>>
No. 314171 ID: 89f4ee

Don't ask about the suit/

Do try to consume what blood Savoy left behind. Given his wounds, he must have lost a huge amount of blood, and should have had chunks of flesh blasted out of him to boot. Eat any of them you can as well. When you've got as much as you can, use Keihas's to hoover up first NotLocke and then Savoy's remaining blood. Keep one blood soaked piece of fabric (of Savoy) stuff it in a shotgun shell case.

Do not keep the butler with non essential questions, (s)he has to be ready to answer the door. Have it tell the police that the house seems to have been hit with rounds fired from the church where the gun battle is raging.

Civilians are notoriously unreliable at pinpointing where shooting is coming from in urban areas, so it's plausible. This should give us a few free moments, so run down to the place where you killed Smets, and use Keihas to suck up any blood left there, if you can do so whilst avoiding observers.

The next step is to quickly get over to the church without being observed, try to meet up with Camella and arrange to meet up with her at a random bar across the city in say, 4 hours. Do not go home - Savoy knows where it is.

Whilst Camella makes her way across the city, or if you can't meet up with her, duck into the sewers and call for Sometimes Merchant. In return for the story of the death of Smets and the humbling and repeat of the disarmment of the scion of the Italian kings, and a sample of his blood ask them to give you the medical care required to ride out the consequences of eating a powerful piece of demon, which is coming, and the services of the goblins of moving your residence, when you have identified a new place to live. Half jokingly, as how much rent they charge.
>>
No. 314206 ID: 81f32a

Hmm.

Amen has shown to be able to carry BigCrazy in matter of seconds. Crazy is a huge guy, as huge if not bigger as Armas.

So why should we walk/sneak around when we can just ask Amen to carry us around the mansion?
So tell in to carry you in the way that it does not hurt you.

Also, we asked to bind and hide Crazy, but if Crazy wakes up, removes his bindings there is nothing stopping him from leaving because we did not tell Amen to stop him from leaving.
>>
No. 314208 ID: c8687a

i just realized something, Amen can do what we relied in goblins to do,things like making charms or magiking our gear, after we escape we should have him work on our armor, things like making it weightless, and so that it can distribute any impact along it surface
>>
No. 314213 ID: 28e94e

>>314206
>>314208
>implying that Amen isn't perfectly willing to screw us over if it benefits him
>>
No. 314226 ID: f0e3ae

so there is no evidence you were there, big red has been removed as well...
you have goblin super stealth traiing. can you sneak out past the police?
>>
No. 314229 ID: 5409a3

Don't forget to, y'know, grab the REAL sniper AVT before leaving. Since that was the whole reason you came here originally and whatnot.
>>
No. 314259 ID: a76809

>>314079
>>314085
>>314091
"Hide my weapons save the smallarms and my body armor with the rest-get me a turkish police officer's suit-and do what you can to non-violently remove the officers from the house so they feel they do not need to investigate."
Amen turns it's head to me, blood-red hair whipping up and making my eyes involuntarily squint shut-
As I open them, the butler is gone-and so is the vast majority of my gear. Instead, I wear a police officer's uniform, a slightly modified belt holding both Matebas, and a shoulder harness holding Mammon's Device securely to my chest. I hear the pounding feet coming to a halt as heated voices bark out-and amidst it I hear the calm, oiled tones of Amen-already at work. ..He bought me time, then. A good thing-it sounds like they are largely on the second floor now-a pity no time existed to see if Amen could remove the actual damages to the house-but the evidence of my own presence has been removed-for now, 'tis all that matters-

I have to get across the street, check on Camella-Was she captured? Is the alive? I have to know-

>>314102
...Odd. I said to remove and store the collection-yet the .44 Buntline Savoy was using is still here... was it not part of the collection? I stuff the bloodied gun next to Mammon's Device, distractedly licking away the blood that adhered to my hand, checking myself to make sure that outwardly I look like a law officer... okay, let's do this.

>>314087
[FANART BONUS]
>[MMM Trait critically activated!]
An idea occurs to me, after having witnessed Amen's abilities on the property grounds-I quickly scribble my cell phone number on the bottom of a drink coaster, flip it back right side up, and speak to the room at large.
"When the chance presents itself, claim the number I just wrote without anyone witnessing you do so, or having seen it before you claim it. Once the police are no longer investigating the house, call me for further instructions."
There is no response-yet when I glance back, the drink coaster is already gone.

I navigate the second floor with no issue, timing my steps to the more vocal speakers, and blending in with the policing crowd before any attention can settle on me-and no longer isolated, I feel that vague, presumed recognition that means I am being recognized only as a body-nothing more. I continue to fall farther and farther back, listening to Amen patiently and politely explain that their forced entry despite his presence is unlawful given the circumstances,-he continues to slyly throw out reason after reason why the police.. .should just walk away. I can feel their uncertainty on my back as I slip outside with another police officer, head tucked as I note an early response news crew already on the scene. Dozens of police cars fill the street-and I need wait only a handful of seconds to find a small group of officers entering the church-attaching myself to them, I pass by the restricted line without a single person even looking me in the face.

Within the church is death-bodies and blood strewn everwhere. I start meticulously patrolling the room, watching my feet, looking like any other officer observing the scene on response-as I think.

>>314512
[spoiler]If Amen is following you, it can't be doing anything else, like talking to the police-fun as the butler is, it can't be in two places at once. Talking is NOT something you can magically quiet-so that would mean you'd either get caught when talking, or have to be quiet any time sneaking within earshot of the police-which would likely be a very considerable portion of the time. Amen has already stated he cannot leave the house, so he cannot help you do anything outside the premises-aside for all posters, putting bits of the house in his shoes would do nothing-And again, since he can't leave the premises, he would need a phone number to contact you by. Also responding to an either/or question with a 'yes' is in general a bit of a dick move, as it answers absolutely nothing-are you saying yes to one side or the other-yes ask, or yes don't ask?/spoiler]

..Well, I see a dozen bodies in twenty six total pieces, but not a single bit of evidence Camella is amongst them. Remembering that the stairs to the roof were old and disused, I begin making my way to the hidden door-noting the density of law enforcement far reduced, this far from the first floor slaughter field. Up and up I climb, carefully drawing a Mateba in one hand as I approach the door, hand quietly, softly grasping the handle-

I snap the door open as softly as I can, cautiously walking forth-

To see Ms. Havoc-no, Olga Brandt-with her right arm brutally hacked off and a heavy cut piercing bone and brain, square in the middle of her forhead, glasses split in twain by the blow. Hmm... First those below, now Olga-not a one of them has weapons on them. That, and the majority of what I saw looked like axe-work.

>[NEW TRAIT REVEALED: RAPID RATIONALIST
>-Armas can reason and make intuitive leaps objectively even on subjects where he would normally be subject to heavy bias.

Well, Camella uses axes, I note her body to not be here-that and the missing weapons lead me to believe she was able to flee before the police arrived. GIven she is as much of an out-of-towner as it is possible to be, she is limited in where she can go-thus far, I do not believe she has any reason to want to retreat to a place other than my house-

Or my van, parked down the block. Thankful my paranoia led my distant parking space to be outside the walled off zone, I approach the Right Laine, reaching for the door-

To recall how often I've had a gun reflexively aimed at me by Camella-and choose instead, to jangle my keys outside the door, and say-

"Camella?"
>[Camella]"..Armas?"

Okay then. I open the driver's side door, climb in and take a seat-and sigh as a gun is put to the back of my head.

"Oh come on you heard my voice I have the key to the Right Laine -is the cop's suit really that distracting?"
>[Camella]"I had to deal with some sort of vampire mob and a damned shapeshifter disguised as a priest-and that's AFTER having to kill the person I was working with-and you say I shouldn't be jumpy? Not a wizard like you."
"Well, you'll be happy to know the mission, at least, was a success."
>[Camella]"That a fact? So why did you come back empty handed?"
"Hm? Oh I just had the butler stow it all-far too much to load in the van with the police right now-he'll give me a call when they're gone, we can go back and reclaim it. Incidentally there is a good chance that will become my property, over there."
>[Camella]"...I swear to god, I really should just murder you now."
"But who would make you Kelpie Crisps, then?"
>[Camella]"Just... just drive, okay?"
"No problem."

As I drive not like a getaway driver, but rather as an everyday commuter, I glance into the van's back-spotting a darkened pile of guns in the corner, as well as an exceptionally bloody rag beneath her pair of axes.
"So-was Olga carrying anything interesting?"
>[Camella]"...Who?"
"Right, right-the person we previously knew as Ms. Havoc-real name Olga Brandt."
>[Camella]"You know this how?"
"Person who helped tip them to my involvement in offing Klaus Barby an-"
>[Camella]"Could you repeat that, for a second it sounded like you claimed to kill the Butcher of Lyon."
"Yeah-turns out he was living here-oh, and extra thing, Skorzeny is also alive-this according to a Sicilian king. ...Oh right, I need to interrogate the one masquerading as Locke-well, I can do that when Amen calls me-"
>[Camella]"I think it would be better for my sanity if, instead of ruminating... you just kept it inside your head for now."
"Look on the bright side-because of how this turned out, I might have a new house-could even convert it into an upscale restaurant, catering to the supernatural-I bet Vampires would pay a premium for a place they could have meals under sunlight at..."
>[Camella]"Seriously?"
"Fine-subvocal rumination it is."

From there, the drive lapses into silence, as I hit a major intersection, at a junction between express routes to the docks and the same part of town my apartment is at. A quick check of the clock shows that in about fifty minutes, I'm going to be experiencing that recoil, whatever it is-and Amen has not called me back-unsurprising, as I doubt convincing the police to leave will be all that simple.





What's my next move?
>>
No. 314262 ID: 0dfb27

First, describe Savoy and his abilities to Camella and note that he is still alive. State that we can't go back to the flat yet.

Whilst the news is still hot, go and sell the information on Smets' death and Savoy's injury to the goblins. In return ask for help dealing with potential indigestion caused by a powerfully magical meal.

Then, get to a secure location and phone Arkvad. He must be worried sick.
>>
No. 314265 ID: 7c29f8

>>314259
When we get home, I'm gonna suggest we tell Camella we need to go do some things related to the job, then we hightail it to the goblins and try to get as much information as we possibly can on this blow back and Amen before the fifty minutes are up...and ask if there's somewhere private in this sewer for the backlash to happen.
>>
No. 314269 ID: c6ce12

>>314259
Right, we're between our house which has access to the Sometimes Merchant and the docks which has access to the Triads and their healing services. Going home is probably the better option because for one that last time we went to the Triads to get healed we destroyed Lo Fang's warded room. I think he's probably still a little angry at that, plus we're driving Camella and now is probably not the time to introduce her to our other criminal friends.

And while in transit we really do need to go against Camella's wishes and tell her about Savoy, he's not only a threat to us but to her since she both lives with and is often accompanying us. Also mention a possible problem that could arise from Smets' dynasty, but that's something we might be able to fix or at least get protection from.

Then once home tell her we would appreciate it if she took the weapons we looted, mainly the .44 Buntline and Olga's things, and brought them to Arkvad at Holland & Holland. See if she can't get him to offer a free analysis of the weapons due to the terrible information we got from his people. If she asks why we can't come tell her we have to handle something important and then slink away from her using stealth to get into the sewers.

Go to the Sometimes Merchant and see if he can't offer help after selling him the story of the day, put into as many possible parts of course, for his services helping us ride through the feedback of the demon arm.
>>
No. 314273 ID: 252e1b

>>314259

You have less than an hour before the backlash and consequences of eating Savoy's arm kick in. Get somewhere safe. Not your house, he knows about that and it's generally not secure now.

Call Arkvad back, tell him what went down and let him know you're alive.
>>
No. 314278 ID: 1be251

Tell Camella about Savoy. Head home and to the goblins. Ask if the palindrome deal is working out well for them. Try and make a deal for them to help you with the backlash for the story of what happened before revealing what the backlash came from, as that's part of the story. And as always, see if you can sell the story in parts. If you manage that, the first part you tell them, as it would involve them helping with the backlash, is the eating of the demon arm.
>>
No. 314286 ID: 234c26

Tell Camella about Savoy, and in particular about his abilities and apparent connections with the Nazis. We have no idea how quickly he will be able to recover from losing his arm (again) and having his legs blasted out from under him, and once he does he will be a severe threat. Regardless of what she wants to know, we cannot in good conscience keep her around us without telling her about him. Make sure she knows that Savoy is serious business, even in crazy Armas-world where nothing is taken seriously. We will need to come up with a plan to deal with him sooner rather than later, and if she could take point on that it would be good. We'll pursue means of trying to deal with his crazy mojo, but that likely won't be enough.

Then call Arkvad. Tell him we're alive, Smets is dead, turns out the fake Havoc was a Nazi named Olga Brandt, she is also dead, and we'll get back to him on the rest of it after we've got everything more thoroughly sorted.

>"So-was Olga carrying anything interesting?"
I like the way that Camella never actually answered this question. We need to remember to look over all the weapons she looted to check them for magic; who knows what kind of crazy random enchantments might be on her new things.


Anyway. When we get home, drop by Sometimes Merchant. First, tell him for free that the blood of Sicilian kings has been beaten once again, this time by us. He shared similar info for free last time and it seemed to put him in a good mood so it seems an excellent tidbit to drop before selling him anything. With that said, hopefully he'll be eager to buy our full tale. Try to sell the whole thing for his help mitigating the upcoming backlash, and if we can get more, his knowledge of what Amen may have been seeking by convincing us to drink his blood or advice on methods we might use to detect or ward against an incoming Savoy in the future.
>>
No. 314291 ID: e0ef2b

See if we can buy some angelic blood/flesh from SM to act as a balancing factor for the demon arm we ate.
>>
No. 314304 ID: 0d095c

>>314291
Aren't angels made of fire? And wings? And other horrible things? I mean, demons are just crappy versions of angels. I don't think that will help. Pouring a whole lot of Matter on Antimatter doesn't really help either...
>>
No. 314321 ID: 81f32a
File 130835844925.jpg - (229.80KB , 600x922 , Armas - PROBLEM SAVOY.jpg )
314321

>>[GS]"YOU WANT TO EAT MY-"
This sentence amuses me to no end.

We have some time on the way back.
So while driving explain Camella everything from the beginnig and to how this all lead to this.
You job with Castelletti, "his betrayal", Savoys part in this, the job to kill Brandt, Smets, how the mission went, the fight with Savoy. You might want to add the part of him having Sicilian royal bloodline and hit being former head assassin of the Italian mafia.

If you have time, ask her what happened on the roof. Did Olga attack her?

Ah, also tell her again that you are not a wizard.

Now, when we get back. We will have a little time before whatever backlash eating of the demon arm will hit us. So I propose we go to SM and see if he can help us there.
We tell him the story and ask him to help alleviate the the negative and harmful while keeping all the positive and even amplifying them.
Rummage through the weapons that Camella looted, to see if there is something magical among them to offer them (tell Camella that she'll get a replacement). Or perhaps offer the Buntline, it might have been magical in nature too.

Lets see
We have eaten the flesh/drank the blood from:
Mortal - Divine (Waitiri)
Demon -
King (Savoy. Sicilian royal bloodline) -

We need to get Angelic blood and Queen blood. So ask for SM for a one-time drop of angel and royal queen blood. Doesn't matter what king of angel or queen (cherubs and some backwater princess count too), of course the higher quality the better but if we can't afford the best ones, we will settle for the second best.
A single drop should suffice. Not a weekly drop, just one frop from each.

After that we will have the mix of many bloodlines and unlock special trait!


If after all this we manage to squeeze out more out of our insane story (which we can tell in many, many parts. Including the revealed parts about the Deal with Castelletti), lets get more ingredients... I think asking for vegetables could be a good idea too.

Also, the picture to help with the backlash.
>>
No. 314324 ID: f0e3ae

>place to rest
Your storage unit where you train goblins. Go buy an inflatable mattress or sleeping bag, some pillows and blankets, food, water, etc and crash there.

>Savoy
Savoy admitted to have orchestrated the whole castilieti thing... we could potentially call the confessor and tell him savoy made such an admission to us. Its risky if he asks more, but could get the mafia to go from considering him a loose cannon to an outright traitor... and maybe you can get the boss to hire you to kill him.
As a double whammy you could get paid twice by calling up fang and asking if he wants you to take a hit on savoy as well :P.

>Carmella
Stop jerking her around and be more honest with her.

>Butler dude/dudette
Wen s/he calls you should ask him/her how old s/he is, what s/he is, various information about whatever creature it turns out to be... oh, and what gender s/he is.
Also, while forcing him/her to wear an orange suit is hilarious it is getting quite dickish to someone who saved us out of their own (quite limited) free will. I would tell her/him to dress up as s/he pleases.
>>
No. 314325 ID: f8aa66

>>314262
"I know, you don't want to deal with any more crazy shit - I do want to hear about the shapeshifting priest eventually, mind you - but I need to go hole up back at the house. In a little under an hour, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have some sort of excruciatingly painful adjustment period as my body tries to get used to an infusion of... nevermind, you probably don't want to know."

"And it's really unlikely - I did fill him full of holes and remove his arm - but it's just barely possible that a one-armed teleporting Italian assassin might show up looking for revenge. If he does, keep your eyes on him at all times, and you should be fine; I've never seen him actually do the teleport trick where other people can see."
>>
No. 314327 ID: 1be251

>>314324
>Savoy admitted to have orchestrated the whole castilieti thing... we could potentially call the confessor and tell him savoy made such an admission to us. Its risky if he asks more, but could get the mafia to go from considering him a loose cannon to an outright traitor... and maybe you can get the boss to hire you to kill him. As a double whammy you could get paid twice by calling up fang and asking if he wants you to take a hit on savoy as well :P.

Do this, but also add in the information on him working with the Germans now.
>>
No. 314333 ID: 81f32a

>>314327
And demons.


Though Armas does not know that Savoy has already been excommunicated from Italian mafia so he when calling them out he should probe them first to see how Savoy stands with mafia still.
>>
No. 314334 ID: 28e94e

Wait, why are we assuming that Savoy survived this fight again? Even if he teleported away there's basically no way he could recover from being shot a dozen times and having his arm ripped off.
>>
No. 314337 ID: 234c26

>>314324
>Savoy admitted to have orchestrated the whole castilieti thing... we could potentially call the confessor and tell him savoy made such an admission to us.
Dangerous. Very dangerous. Remember that initially we approached the Confessor after killing a cop and framing the mafia for it, specifically in order to make Castelletti look bad. We orchestrated some of the events involved there, just as Savoy did. If we do talk to a Confessor again, we'll need to be very careful what we say.

It would probably be safer just to contact Rocco Armani and drop what we know about Savoy's current activities. Like the fact that he's working with the Nazis, who the mafia have been fighting for quite some time, and sold out the fact that we were the one who pulled the Brandt job to them, thereby causing us problems. He's also working with demons, as evidenced by the demon arm which we divested him of. Telling the current mafia boss here should get the information where it needs to go without undue risk, and offering it freely will hopefully gain us some cred with them.


>Stop jerking her around and be more honest with her.
In the latest post, we were completely up-front about what was going on and our thoughts on it, and she told us to stop. We do not need to somehow be more honest with Camella when she's already made clear that she does not wish to know right now.

Also I find the tone of our current relationship with her highly entertaining and wish to maintain it, even as she becomes gradually more informed.

>Also, while forcing him/her to wear an orange suit is hilarious it is getting quite dickish to someone who saved us out of their own (quite limited) free will. I would tell her/him to dress up as s/he pleases.
That butler is not our friend. It has its own agenda. And orange suits are awesome.


>>314321
>Ah, also tell her again that you are not a wizard.
One day we're going to have to explain to her what a wizard actually is.
>>
No. 314339 ID: 81f32a

>>314334
Nazi super-science, man.

They can rebuild him!
They have the technology!
>>
No. 314342 ID: f0e3ae

>>314334
Of course he could, he was conscious and able to teleport, he just needed to appear in a hospital and they could staunch the bleeding and give him blood transfusion. He could have also gone to a magical healing place or whomever gave him that arm in the first place. There is no reason for him to have died.

>>314327
Oh god, when I read that I literally went "mwhahaha" in real life... it was quite an odd but pleasing sensation.

>>314337
Yes it is dangerous, I did point that out. I am honestly not sure if its worth it. Maybe just contacting rocco would be enough as you said.
>>
No. 314343 ID: f0e3ae

>That butler is not our friend. It has its own agenda. And orange suits are awesome.
Its not our friend, but if we piss it off enough it might be a dangerous enemy. Don't mentally abuse your butler.
>>
No. 314357 ID: c6ce12

>>314334
Do you recall the bit about the demon arm pumping him full of energizing blood from a while ago? That demon blood will probably keep him stable enough until either the Germans can patch him up. At this point he's probably attached by the hip to their organization, he's going to owe them big. I wonder if merely giving up our name is worth what he's going to need to get put back together.
>>
No. 314375 ID: 44766a

When we talk to the Sometimes Merchant, tell him that we shot off Savory's balls for free.
>>
No. 314385 ID: f8aa66
File 130836616306.jpg - (88.87KB , 1297x1680 , Armas n Camella.jpg )
314385

More fanart. It came out roughly 100% creepier and with much more of a skeezy sex offender vibe than I was originally going for, but that the hell.
>>
No. 314412 ID: c6ce12

Hope the goblins enjoy their palindrome soon.
>>
No. 314413 ID: 1be251

>>314321
Definitely want the Angel and Queen meat/blood. Make it part of a trade for parts of the story.

Downvoting telling her about the jobs we've done though. just make her aware an ex-mafia teleporting royal blooded asshole with what appears to be heavy ties to the Nazis hates our guts.
>>
No. 314518 ID: 28e94e

>>314412
>>314413
Done.

>>314385
Try 1000%.

Saged because not really relevant.
>>
No. 314568 ID: a76809

>>314262
"One thing you should get a heads up about right now though-Italian Mafia member by the name of Galileo Savoy is probably going to put in some effort to try and kill me."
>[Camella]"...One of the Fingers of the Hand of the Mafia wants to kill you specifically?"
"Actually I don't think he's in the Mafia anymore, since he's been going on some sort of double-cross frenzy with... well, kinda everyone. ...Course, he does have a really annoying magic ability-can teleport just about anywhere he wants-rather usefull for an assassination."
>[Camella]"So... you saying he could just-what, appear behind you?"
"Actually-yeah. Not going to be doing it any time soon as I rather thoroughly crippled him-missing one arm, remaining hand too wrecked to hold a gun, unable to walk-so the silver lining is he isn't coming looking for me anytime soon."
>[Camella]"...But he is not in danger of death from such wounds?"
"Well the arm I removed was a demonic graft, and pumped him full of some magically imbued blood-I sincerely doubt bleed out is a possibility for him."
>[Camella]"..Assuming this to be accurate, how do you prevent him from just... killing you?"
"Well there's ways-simplest one is he can't teleport when being observed, with any of your senses."
>[Camella]"...How does that prevent him from teleporting from a distant place to right behind you?"
"It doesn't-but that's where other options come in to play."
>[Camella]"..Such as?"
>>314265
>>314629
>>314273
>>314286
"I'd answer if I wasn't on a timetable-tell you later, okay?"
Before she can respond, I dial Arkvad.
>[AS]"Thank god-you got my message then?"
"Yeah-I don't have much time right now, but real quick-Havoc was a German named Olga Brandt, the situation's resolved for the moment-I'll call you later with some more thorough information-and to discuss some sales."
>[AS]"...Hypothetically speaking, someone with a collection like Smets' would want to contact several venders to move them-otherwise it would take years, potentially, to sell them. Something to think on."
"..Thanks for the advise-we'll talk later."

I hang up and continue driving home. On return, I help Camella unload the Walther WA 2000 rifle that I recall mentioned in the papers on Brandt, as well as a full dozen MP5's. After making sure everything is safely stowed for the moment-
"Back in a bit."
>[Camella]"Wait, but-"
I exit via the window before she can re-enter the room, and smile as I hear her angrily huff at my vanishing act. No time is wasted as I make my way to the nearby manhole, pry the cover off to descend into the darkness.

"Sometimes Merchant, I have news you would wish to hear."
Light flickers into being behind me as a voice comes from a foot before my face, the sense of attention brushing against my back.
>[SM]"What news would that be-and what do you want?"
"You recall mentioning to me the injuries a son of Rome suffered-a mortal by the name of Galileo Savoy."
>[SM]"Of course, all deals are remembered."
"Well I offer this to you freely as a show of good faith-I ran into Savoy today, and managed to remove the new arm he had gotten in placement of the one lost before, barring enhanced healing I crippled him-and from what I saw I believe one of my shots castrated him."
The light flickers again as Sometimes Merchant now stands before me, halo dancing merrily above his head as I note his previously minimalistic helm to now be festooned with a gleeful mask.
>[SM]"You speak Truth-and have provided knowledge of value-for free. Why?"
>>314321
>[DDDD Trait activated]
"I ended up consuming Savoy's replacement limb-a demonic one, to my understanding-and with it consumed some golden blood from an entity previously serving Smets by the given name of Amen-I was informed that which I consumed will have a recoil, a price-and from the timetables I was given that's about ten minutes away."
>[SM]"So you seek protection from the internal cost, then?"
"I seek discreet protection from it."
>[SM]"This can be offered-but the one you call Amen is most potent-it is costly to provide what you seek."
[FANART BONUS SERENDIPITOUS TIMING]
>>314413<< [PALENDROMIC RESONANCE CAUGHT BY THE GOBLINS: 02]
I see the Sometimes Merchant's halo sputtering and flaring, as a sense of power, raw and unfocused, courses through the walls of our subterranean meeting place. What could-
>>314385
[FANART BONUS: RAPID RATIONALIST Trait critically activated]
Hm. Never felt that before-or seen a response like that from the goblin's halo. In fact... I'd say it feels vaguely familiar. Déjà vu-of the exact sort that I've had before-meaning this is the energy of a gate that would have opened in me. So.. they just got a heaping helping of power from me-I can roll with that for bargaining-
[WON'T TAKE NO Trait activated]
[DDDD Trait activated]
[MMM Trait activated
>[SUM RELEVANT TRAIT LEVEL: LEVEL 10]
"I can't help but note that you are benefitting rather immensely from your deal with me-that was the second gate you've absorbed from me, wasn't it?"
>[SM]"Indeed."
"And the power represented in just one of those is of high value to you, correct?"
>[SM]"Again, accurate."
"I have also been a consistently useful customer and business partner-or do you believe that assessment is innacurate?"
>[SM]"It is accurate to say several generations have passed since last I spoke with a mortal so.... keen on deals-and prone to keeping his word rather than attempting a trickster's gambit."
"So would you classify me as a valued business partner?"
>[SM]"If the history we have yet established continues, I see no reason you would not be considered a valuable trading partner."
"Well, what if the recoil removes my ability to deal with you-what if it kills me, and cuts off your access to future gates?"
>[SM]"What are you implying-speak clearly so a Deal may be assessed."
"I am saying it is my belief you would benefit a great deal from offering me such protection , and that it should be offered for fre-"
>[SM]"You do not grasp the depth of power you are asking for: I cannot make such a Deal."
The way he said that... didn't sound like an opinion, but a fact. Okay...
"Alright-I will shortly have Smets' gun collection in my possession-what about taking some imbued weapons in barter?"
Finally, the goblin shifts-sitting on the ceiling now, as his voice echoes off every wall, source seemingly everywhere.
>[SM]"....A different Deal is offered-one of your owed Favors to us will be erased, and the protection you seek offered-for every gun of Smets' collection that will be coming into your possession."
...Fuck, that's pricey-just how much juice is it going to cost them to protect me from the recoil?
...Double fuck, three minutes until an hour's passed-I'm running out of time. If I want to barter from here, I have a very limited window... I could probably only get in five or six sentences worth of further haggling attempts (not including run-on sentences)
Seriously-I bolded that last line because there seems to be an issue where plans are not truncated or rendered concise when time is specifically noted to be at a premium: If you spend too long trying to bargain, you will not finish the deal before the recoil hits-and will either end up crippled in some permanent fashion or in a worst case scenario dead. This concludes my rant.





Do I accept the deal?
Do I risk delaying further and continue haggling-and if so, how shall I do that, what shall I say?
What should I do with the rest of the day?
What about the rest of this week?
>>
No. 314572 ID: 3f12fc

ok, i say we accept the deal.

I get no sudden flash of a better idea, and trying to be too smart here could be BAD.
>>
No. 314573 ID: e87303

se if he can accept half of the weapons and if can add the chepest blood of a angel and a queen that he has that still can be used as such, as oppose to imp blood
>>
No. 314576 ID: eef34b

>>314573
Downvoting this.

Just accept it, damnit. We can get guns later.
>>
No. 314582 ID: c2d0f1

Tell SM you accept the deal, and then say that you agreed to split the magic weapon cache with the other participants of the raid. One other survives, so the goblins will only be getting half the collection, we trust them to split it fairly by value.

To partially make up for this we will throw in training with the weapons we hand over for the low, low price of a mouthful of angelic blood and a mouthful of the blood of a queen.

End haggle.
>>
No. 314584 ID: eef34b

>>314582
Yeah, this is a good idea.
>>
No. 314586 ID: 0d095c

>>314576
Yes. We must accept. Otherwise we will explode

And hey, we already got the blood of a Demon, a Sicillian King, and Whatyroyeornoy. We can bargain for the other stuff later. NOT NOW.
>>
No. 314589 ID: 856690

>>314582
This though offer that the favour remains unerased, If he doesn't accept we take the old deal, cause Armas really doesn't want to die.

Also speak VERY QUICKLY!
>>
No. 314591 ID: 234c26

>>314568
>Do I risk delaying further and continue haggling-and if so, how shall I do that, what shall I say?
One sentence only. The collection is large enough that reducing its value by a few items shouldn't impact the deal too much, so-
"Every gun but three of my choice, and the Deal is made."

If he does not accept, drop to keeping a single gun. After that there's no time left and must take the deal regardless.

>What should I do with the rest of the day?
Once the protection deal is made, inquire as to if you can buy some good luck from Sometimes Merchant, and how much it would run. You could really use some, I think, and given that you can sell the goblins intangibles you can logically buy such from them as well.

Inquire also as to what they can offer in trade which you might be able to use against Savoy in the future, particularly as regards to predicting or preventing his appearance in immediate proximity to you- that sneak attack trick is a nasty one and you need a counter.

Once done with the goblins, call Rocco Armani and make sure that the mafia knows Savoy is in bed with the Nazis; hopefully that will ensure that he's fully severed all his ties with them and will be entirely unable to use them against you.

>What about the rest of this week?
Sit down with Camella, and discuss options insofar as the Nazis and Savoy being after you. Your apartment is okay for security, but far from great; a couple guys with bombs could really ruin your day. You need security precautions for not only your home, but also insofar as going about your normal life- regular trips to Ito's and such are much too predictable, not to mention likely to draw down fire on your friends. What are our options beyond simple sneakery for moving about?

Oh, and give Camella a significant sum of money for her help in this job. Say, eight thousand dollars.

We should see about having a chat with Hafaz and company regarding certain truths of who we are and what we do. Recent events have made me inclined to say that we should step up our game, and five competent militant types with guns could be extremely valuable if we can get them on our side. We can share that we're basically a mercenary who fights magic things and is also partially powered by magic, becoming more so as time goes on. Hopefully we'll discover just what they are.

Send Labombard a note, thank him for his message and note that Savoy is now working with/for the Nazis and some demons, and also that we shot him in the balls. Also note that we are back in the job market and have handled the occurrence of certain problems which displeased Lo Fang at our last encounter, so those should not come up again.

>>314573
That is dropping the price way too much, considering our timetable, and is asking for something that could be potentially quite valuable. It would be crazy to try.

>>314582
Training with the weapons is a huge chuck of our time that I do not have any desire to spend.

>>314587
It's already not part of the deal, which specifies "will be coming into your possession", future tense, i.e. anything which we already have is not included.
>>
No. 314608 ID: 234c26

>>314600
The deal as SM presented it specifies "every gun of Smets' collection that will be coming into your possession", and his whole collection will be coming into our possession because Amen will be giving them all to us, regardless of who else may be arguably due some of them. We cannot accept the deal and then claim that he'll be getting less than the whole thing; if we don't want to give him all of it that will have to be laid out beforehand.

It also feels like being a weasel and I oppose it on those grounds.
>>
No. 314609 ID: 81f32a

>>314572
eh... if you got no idea for a bargain, perhaps let others try out something before accepting the deal when we could get something more favorable out of it?

>>314573
Half seems to be too steep. Really, it looks like the recoil is going to be awful.
Realistically, we should aim to keep 1/5th of our share at maximum...
I like the idea of keeping couple of guns of our choice.

>>314587
You are wasting valuable time.

>>314603
why mouthful? A drop is more than enough.

For the haggle:
Let them keep the favor.
Try to get the drop of angel and queen blood.
Offer the training in said guns too for 5 goblins 2 hours each gun (otherwise we will be stuck training them for free forever). Or perhaps offer them to learn to use those guns so that they can pass the skills of using those specific guns to others.


Also add that we are going to deliver guns later (need to retrieve them, assess their price, determine Crazy's share and if get to keep several guns which we will keep)
>>
No. 314610 ID: 0d095c

>>314608
Hrmmm. Go with this. But whatever we do, DO IT, cuz I don't wanna explode. Savoy would rub it in our face for the rest of time.
>>
No. 314616 ID: c2d0f1

>>314582
I messed this up, forgot Crazy survived:

>Do I accept the deal?
Yes
>Do I risk delaying further and continue haggling-and if so, how shall I do that, what shall I say?
Yes, say, "We agreed to split the magic weapon cache with the other participants of the raid, one of them who is due a half share, and another due a quarter survived, so you will only receive our share, a quarter of the collection. We can act as an agent for both parties if you would seek to purchase any of the remainder.

To partially make up for this we will throw in training with the weapons we hand over for the low, low price of a mouthful of angelic blood and a mouthful of the blood of a queen."

>What should I do with the rest of the day?
Continue to deal, as if nothing has happened.
Ask SM what the price would be to pay the goblins to move your possessions and your nominated residence to another location, imply that it's low by how you ask this.
Tell SM that whilst you've made lots of progress with the goblins on individual weapons training, to consolidate it you need to lead long, repeated exercises on modern combat. From what you saw of the Nevernever, it would be idea at providing a training ground for a few years of accelerated experience to be gained. Now, you're not ready yet, as you need to cover some more weapons, but it's something he should consider.
When Amen gets in touch, tell him that you need to have a chat with your ill friend. When that's set up, go with Camella to have to a chat with Big Crazy. If he comes out with the story, tell him that maybe you can see a way to employing him. Also let him know, you're happy to keep with the terms of the old deal, and so he now gets half the weapons cache, but you think that you need a new deal as well. In return for your consideration and saving his life, it's only right if he appoints you agent to dispose of his share, and pay a fair fee for the privilege, say, 50% of the gross.
>What about the rest of this week?
Find a new flat, and move in. Do not return to your old one.
Get in touch with Amen, and find out if you inherited any liquid assets from Smets.
Train with Ito on chakra manipulation, as a priority.
Get in touch with Arkvad on a secure line, and discuss sales. If selling Crazy's share, take your agency fee in the form of exchanges of magical weapons from H&H. Do not ever touch any of the guns that were once Smets'.
>>
No. 314617 ID: f8aa66
File 130843040440.jpg - (132.37KB , 2191x1691 , Armas Being Armas.jpg )
314617

>>314582
I like it. It's very Armas. Do it.
>>
No. 314626 ID: f8aa66

I have a possible minor haggle:
"One caveat: I have in my possession a Buntline taken from the hand of Galileo Savoy, which Amen did not seem to consider as part of the collection. May it not be counted as part of this Deal?"

Perhaps, after the crisis has passed, bring up a query on what the goblins might be planning to use their new expertise and cache of magical weapons for. You know, in the spirit of friendship, just like you offered Savoy's castration.

We don't really know the goals or desires of our sewer-dwelling business partner.
>>
No. 314636 ID: 234c26

>>314616
It is ridiculously risky to try to get the goblins down from the full collection to a quarter of it.

If we tell them before making the deal, then what we have on the table is much, much less than what they initially asked for- we might be stuck giving them extra favors or something else in order to get protected at all.

If we tell them after making the deal, then we're effectively cheating them- on a huge Bargain, no less, after specifically arguing ourselves as a valuable business partner. Our argument for claiming that we can only give them some of the collection is imperfect and we'll be a weaselly fuck for it regardless.

Neither option is good. Play it safe and straight; haggle the price down only a tad and take the bargain there instead of going for ridiculous bullshit that is going to get us killed. Big Crazy tried to kill us and thus deserves nothing, and we promised Camella something but never specified a full quarter of the collection- in fact, her expectation was reasonably only for half of what we personally could carry so even a gun or two would cover her expected fee.

So basically you're trying to screw over Sometimes Merchant here in exchange for giving unexpected presents to others. We don't need to do that, and it's a bastardly thing to do, so don't.
>>
No. 314638 ID: e87303

does SM know that we gonna have all of smets colection?
>>
No. 314655 ID: 81f32a
File 130843315597.jpg - (164.51KB , 1000x750 , Armas - the storyseller.jpg )
314655

We made a deal with someone that we will divide the loot before we made the deal with the Goblin.
Simple as that.
He should know better than anyone that that part of the collection cannot be considered ours. We haven't even touched the guns, we asked the butler to store them but we are yet to make the claim for their ownership.
>>
No. 314672 ID: 234c26

>>314649
>If we do this we're breaking our previous deals with others, which is even worse for our credibility with the goblins. The other weapons are not our's to trade away. Smets is dead, and our share is one quarter. Note that Crazy made no hostile moves towards us, he lived up to his end of the deal, and helped us kill Smets and take the collection.
This is false. In all the arrangements that we made with Locke/Havoc/Camella, nowhere in any of our conversations with them did we agree to any division of the spoils in spite of numerous suggestions to do so; the closest we came was anticipating getting away with two armloads of guns taken after Smets died, but that didn't specify how they would be divided. (I just checked this; feel free to go back and find a reference otherwise if you can, as it is rather important to our move here.) We told the others that we would be covering Camella's fee, but we explicitly promised her money rather than loot from the op, so she effectively has no rights to any of it- only to pay out of our pocket which we would owe her regardless of the level of success or failure in the Smets job.

Therefore, with no agreement made regarding the disposition of the guns the only rights that apply to their ownership are the rights of control and force. By those rules, we get them all and claiming that we have any prior deals in place is a goddamn joke, which the goblins will immediately detect as a lie.

It would not be completely impossible to argue that Big Crazy has an implicit right to some of the Smets collection, but there was no actual deal made. Further, regardless of the fact that he didn't shoot us, he openly said that he fully intended to betray us if Smets had not tried to kill him. Effectively, he double crossed us and then was double crossed himself; two betrayals in sequence does not qualify as a kept bargain, it makes two broken bargains. He is owed nothing.
>>
No. 314674 ID: c2d0f1

>>314636
If we do this we're breaking our previous deals with others, which is even worse for our credibility with the goblins. The other weapons are not our's to trade away. Smets and Olga are dead, so our share is one half. Note that Crazy made no hostile moves towards us, he lived up to his end of the deal, and helped us kill Smets and take the collection.

Be apologetic about this, and use the training mentioned above to sweeten the pill.

He made an offer, we accepted. If he didn't do due diligence, that's his look out. Consider it fair play for the Palindrones, they're getting an amazing deal out of them, something pretty much unique, where as we received training from them.

On checking, we may not be bulletproof on the Camella side of things. Tell them they get 1/2 rather than 1/4 as in my earlier posts.
>>
No. 314677 ID: 28e94e

"You can keep the favor, but I get to keep three guns of my choosing."

If he declines, drop it to one gun. If not, go with the original offer.
>>
No. 314699 ID: fa51b7

Ok. Although I was sure that the conspirators to hit Smets had an arrangement, as it was specified that the introduction of Camella wouldn't change it, perhaps the details were not told to us in quest.

So, revised haggle, say that we have an implicit arrangement with our partner to share the spoils, and we wouldn't want to be seen to cheat them of their share. Can they accept taking the half of the collection that is mine beyond question, in return from only sheltering me from the bulk of the backlash, leaving enough to leak through that still harms me, but nothing that I cannot recover from in a week's rest?
>>
No. 314710 ID: 81f32a
File 130843760012.jpg - (132.03KB , 700x933 , Armas - Meat of the Champions.jpg )
314710

Try to haggle but don't spend too much time and don't go for outrageous attempts (like going from full collection to 1/4th).
Accept the deal eitherway.

What I really want is to get that Angel and Queen blood.

>>314699
Make sure that we are able to talk during that week and eat (as I suspect we will need some heavy magical meat eating to recover from this) and that we are at least transported to our bed.
But other than that, yeah as long as we can fully recover with not crippling and last negative effects.
>>
No. 314725 ID: fa51b7

Oh? As a note, never offer the goblins anything for free ever again. It's an utter waste of time. Only ever sell them things.
>>
No. 314728 ID: 234c26

>>314699
And I have to object to that on the grounds that it will take way too long to say. I stand with the one-sentence argument for leaving us with a gun or three; if we feel that Big Crazy is owed something we can pay him from that, which would be roughly equal to the share that he'd have gotten out of the original job if everything went according to the plan that we thought everyone was using.

At this point we're only effectively determining whether wealth goes to Big Crazy or Sometimes Merchant, since by the terms of the Bargain if the guns become ours we'll have to hand them over. Giving it to Big Crazy will presumably increase his loyalty/goodwill; giving it to Sometimes Merchant will presumably make this deal better for us. I value the latter significantly more due to the negative consequences if we fuck it up, so it seems senseless to try to argue that Big Crazy is owed half the collection when that will be massively reducing the value of our side of the Bargain. And I certainly value a week of our time and health more than I do a slight bonus to Big Crazy's goodwill.

Anyway, adding frills and explanations to our persuasion works most of the time and it's our usual strategy- but if we exceed six sentences here we're crippled or die. Therefore, we should not be using any statements that take more than two. This is a time to play it safe rather than take risks. Condense anything you want to say to ten words or less, please.

>>314626
As was mentioned before, the deal is in future tense and the Buntline is already claimed as ours, so we don't need this caveat. Also, it's wasting precious time to say it.

>>314677
We really don't want them to keep that favor. Getting it thrown into the deal was a huge stroke of fortune; every favor they have is potentially a Doonongaes-level job that we'll be required to undertake for no compensation. Don't take it out of the deal.
>>
No. 314752 ID: 28e94e

>>314728
Wait. That just gave me an idea.

We already payed for the AVT and should by all rights be the current rightful owners of it.

Exploit this.
>>
No. 314755 ID: 1be251

Offer them to charge admission to a presentation, and auction of Mammon's device instead. If that doesn't work, a quarter, our share, of Smets' collection as well, auctioned at the same time. If still not, two hour nevernever training with each gun aside from Mammon's Device.
>>
No. 314759 ID: 234c26

>>314725
>Oh? As a note, never offer the goblins anything for free ever again. It's an utter waste of time. Only ever sell them things.
It is not a waste of time. The goblins are fundamentally tied to the concept of the deal- and one of the first lessons we learned when beginning to haggle was that sales are not impersonal. The relationship between the buyer and the seller is as much a part of a deal as the terms of the bargain are. This was only emphasized by our later encounter with Go Ping, where he quoted his price as changing by a full order of magnitude based upon how much he liked a customer. Providing relatively minor items that you know the other party will enjoy, as we just did, is part of building up goodwill which fosters a positive relationship.

We know that this applies to the goblins on some level because they are not purely mercenary, doing nothing except what the Bargains they make require. Sometimes Merchant has been joyful and has given us information for free as a result of that joy. And as he quoted to us, "If one only did what is necessary, what would give their life meaning?" and called it an apt answer when we asked him why he did something unnecessary. Sometimes Merchant is an individual with personality, and in spite of his alien nature can therefore establish a positive relationship with others.

As a better relationship generally means that a merchant is willing to offer lower prices and a wider range of the goods which are available to them, I would consider the occasional free item- or deliberately discounted item- sent Sometimes Merchant's way to be an investment in ties with a business partner rather than a waste.


>>314752
We need a how to exploit it using a method that requires no more than one sentence of talking to Sometimes Merchant. Otherwise there's no time and we can't use it.


>>314755
This will take too long to describe, discuss, and argue. There is no time for it. Further, its value strikes me as far less than what is currently on the table, and therefore likely to bring only refusal and the waste of precious time, resulting in our crippling and/or death.
>>
No. 314766 ID: 1be251

>>314759
>This will take too long to describe, discuss, and argue. There is no time for it. Further, its value strikes me as far less than what is currently on the table, and therefore likely to bring only refusal and the waste of precious time, resulting in our crippling and/or death.

It's three concise sentences. We get five or six. Also, they can charge a decent sum to a very large number of people for a presentation of Mammon's device. If they say no, we can accept what they offered immediately after.
>>
No. 314768 ID: 9d07ee

>>314755
upvoting. want a presentation and auction anyway, don't want to lose the entire collection.
>>
No. 314770 ID: 28e94e

>>314759
>We need a how to exploit it using a method that requires no more than one sentence of talking to Sometimes Merchant. Otherwise there's no time and we can't use it.
"One of the guns in the collection was stolen from me, and I've just claimed a second. Those two will be excluded."
>>
No. 314771 ID: 44766a

Try the 3 or 1 gun haggle attempt, then accept the frigging deal so we don't DIE!
>>
No. 314777 ID: 2532ff

wtf dudes! quest runner says we get a few sentences to haggle and everyone's all "NOT ONE SENTENCE NO!!!!! HAND OVER EVERY GUN BLARGLEMARGLE!!!!" holy jesus you all are stupid
>>314755
this.
>>
No. 314781 ID: 5fc3e4

Yet another idea. Add this to the offer of training. I offer anything left behind from when Savoy was severely wounded, indeed emasculated in the dwelling I have claimed.
>>
No. 314786 ID: 81f32a

For the record, do not make a deal where you plan to fuck with them in future.
Our reputation is worth far more than those old guns.

>>314755
Meh, I do not like this.
I prefer we get the deals from the presentation for ourself and as one person already stated this will take too long to explain.


When haggling do not go over 5 sentences.
Whatever you get, go for it after them. No time to lose.
Just imagine what kind of power they are going to use to shield you. Now imagine what will happen if you are not protected.... yeah.
>>
No. 314813 ID: 15861a

"how about most of the collection, where I get to keep, say, 5 of my choosing, and give the rest to you?"
>>
No. 314815 ID: f0e3ae

You could try to reduce the magnitude of the service they provide. Rather then blocking the backlash entirely, merely reduce it enough so it is does not cause you permanent harm, nor incapacitate you for more then a week.
>>
No. 314967 ID: 252e1b

>>314815

Being out of commission for a week could be little better than a delayed death sentence given who is gunning for us now.

Also, take note that since we're asking for help from them that will require them to further link themselves to us, Sometimes Merchant is now able to modify previous deals. It may have something to do with being a Friend to the Goblin clans of Turkey, or it may be that we're changing enough for them to revalue our utility and ability to survive a fight.

In any case, owing fewer favors is to our benefit, and we don't lose anything we actually had anyway. Specify that the weapons you, NotLocke, and Frau Brandt named are not part of the collection since they were rightfully sold to you three by Smets through H&H.

In fact here, use this:

"There are a few weapons among the collection which rightfully belong to others, having been retained by Smets in an attempt to cheat me and them. I can describe the particular guns in full. Those, and Smet's personal weapon, would not be part of this deal. If that's acceptable, I agree."
>>
No. 314978 ID: 5cc175

http://quest.lv/kusaba/quest/res/297498.html#i314967

This. Definitely this.
>>
No. 314979 ID: 5cc175

Fuck me, I fail at linking.
>>
No. 315007 ID: d4f98d

>>314967
This has my full support, SAVE Smets personal weapon. We have no claim to it.

NOTHING ELSE.
>>
No. 315016 ID: 46c430

>>314967
Olga and NotLocke didn't actually buy anything themselves, the purchasers are dead, so I don't know if this really works.

Also, apologize after making the deal for trying to ask for something for free, we might have offended him.
>>
No. 315021 ID: 252e1b

>>315016

The weapons NotLocke and Olga described would belong to Ms. Havoc and Mr. Locke's estates. When we retrieve them we can decide how to contact their survivors, and perhaps make some interesting new friends.
>>
No. 315027 ID: 1854db

HEY.

To make the deal stick even if we can't give all the weapons, ask for merely enough protection so that we do not incur any damage we cannot recover from on our own. We didn't specify how much protection we wanted so this deal might be for complete protection. That could be why it's so expensive.

In the end, offer whatever we can in exchange for the bare minimum we need to keep going, and if we owe the goblins favors so be it.
>>
No. 315041 ID: 81f32a
File 130848403470.jpg - (104.84KB , 650x700 , Armas - Bullet snatch.jpg )
315041

Here is to hoping that we will get a trait to catch bullets in mid-air from eating that arm or something.


Also, I said this before but I will repeat myself:
Don't try to haggle for too long. Only make reasonable attempts.
Perhaps trying to weasel out the half of collection to Big Crazy is not the smartest thing.
If fact, you should realize that we are already getting a good deal out of this: Amen is quiet possibly a primal god or a demi-god, he is from Egyptian mythology, one of the oldest and most powerful mythologies. Plus with ate a damn sentient demon-arm.
The recoil is going to be enormous. So what SM asks is not unreasonable.


But there is one thing that bothers me actually:
>"I seek discreet protection from it."
Can anyone explain me why we need a discreet protection?
From Amen?
Why?
Why do we need to hide this from him? He said we will need to pay a price, he never said WHAT price, and we are paying a price which from our standpoint is very expensive.
So why do we need to hide this from him?
Besides, he is our servant and cannot do anything against us if we protect ourself from backlash. In fact, we should have straight up told him to protect ourself from it.
So remove this part from the deal. I suspect protecting us discreetly add up a lot to the price.
>>
No. 315052 ID: e87303

how about half the collection plus Savoy blood
>>
No. 315053 ID: 81f32a

>>315052
Not sure if that is a good idea.
Savoys blood cannot be that valuable.

We are going to waste time by asking this...
>>
No. 315054 ID: c6ce12

>>314568
>Do I risk delaying further and continue haggling-and if so, how shall I do that, what shall I say?

>>314967
I'll toss my vote in for how to handle our very brief haggling attempt with this.

>>314582
>>314616
>>314674
>>314699
Down-voting, we have been informed they won't settle for half and if by some miracle we trick them into doing so they will try to sever ties with us for screwing them on this deal.

>>314725
This is incorrect, our free information actually got us the offer to strike off one of our favors as part of our deal.

>>315027
Hell no, with how the Sometimes Merchant is talking the backlash of this will be massive. The bare minimum of protection will probably leave us out of commission for months.


>What should I do with the rest of the day?
If we're still down in the sewers after riding out the backlash we might as well do some follow up trades with the goblins. We can do the trade for angelic and royal queen's blood, offering the full story on the mission for a small amount of each to be paid today and today only. Now if Sometimes Merchant says they don't have what we need just break it up and get some more ingredients for our kitchen. Then we can offer to the auction listed >>311386.

Then we can head up into our apartment and try for a mission debriefing with Camella. We can discuss what happened to us after we breached the window, sans our dealings with Amen and how he helped us in the end. She can tell us about what happened to her, mostly on the shapeshifter end though. Shapeshifters are worrisome, particularly since we have no clue why this one attacked her and she didn't mention killing it.

Round out the day by trying to set up a couple meetings. One with Hafaz about what we do. He seems to be the only one of the gym bros who is magically aware so we'll want the story on that. Another with Rocco, regarding Savoy and his alliance with Skorzeny. And the last with Labombard to thank him for calming Lo Fang down and for the information he passed on to us. Maybe invite him to the gym and we'll cook him up a meal, discuss our enemies and do some plotting.

>What about the rest of this week?
We need to plan around when you can get the meetings for the most part.

I guess we can sell the dozen or so guns Camella got from the security force. We're the one with all the criminal contacts, should be easy enough to filter them through Mafia, Triads, and independents like Garbage Pete. The guns go for a minimum of thousand a piece from what I hear, shouldn't be too hard to get ten thousand for the lot.

See if we can't get the Walther WA 2000 and the Buntline Special test to find their magical properties out. We could have Camella take them Arkvad, keep us removed from the situation so Arkvad doesn't get a target painted on his back for Savoy to shoot later.

And at some point Amen will probably get the house freed up too, which means we'll get a status report on what happened to Smet's assets and the fate of the house. It will also mean we can start questioning Big Crazy, see what we can get out of him. Just a thought here, but the deal makes no mention towards ammunition. We can get Amen to bring us any ammunition Smets had. The mundane ammo he had is likely not worth much to the goblins, unless they have yet to make a deal for it with a supplier, but either way it could be of use to us. The real meat of this idea and the deal comes from any magical ammunition Smets had, we know he at least kept some on hand for his rather ridiculous home defense weapon. Now he might not have anything more, but I'm hedging my bets on him having at least of a couple guns that, like the Mammon's Device, were designed to take specialty ammunition. Offering the goblins magical ammunition made for their newly acquired magical guns will probably net us something nice.
>>
No. 315057 ID: c2d0f1

>>315054
We were told they wouldn't accept a quarter, not a half.

Your suggestion is basically to roll over and show our belly, accepting what we are offered.

A note, we would not be offering the the Goblins Savoy's blood, but the results of us castrating him. Still, it might be better to try to make a deal with him for the mashed bollocks for something else after we've received the protection. I posted a list of upgrades for the AA-12 and components to add to in the disc thread. I suggest we try to bargain for them.

The Buntline is an all metal gun, I think. It might be interesting to see if we can upgrade Keihas by replacing the barrel and chamber with a new one made from Savoy's old gun.
>>
No. 315085 ID: f0e3ae

>>314967
Point, then how about enough damage & or coupled with healing so that we take no permanent harm and will be fully recovered within a day? or a few hours? Its not much, but it is a reduction in cost to them.

Also good point in how to haggle for keeping some weapons. Agreed.

>>315041
good points. Didn't big crazy actually help set us up so he could kill us? And is currently our captive? Why are we paying him? we didn't even make an agreement about how to split the loot.

The only person we need to pay is CARMELLA! Did you all forget her? she needs her share here.
I think armas needs to get back the gun smets stole from him, then a few for carmella and that it.

And I also am voting for dropping the discreet portion.

Don't even try to screw them out of half the collection. We want to keep in their good graces.

For the sake of quickness you should combine the suggestions... as in "What if we drop the need for being discreet, only reduce backlash and/or couple it with healing based on whichever is cheaper so that I receive no permanent damage and am fully recovered by the end of the day, and allow for me to keep X"
Where X is whatever guns we haggle for.
>>
No. 315087 ID: a76809

>>314573
Good thing this is not the majority opinion, as this would have caused the deal to not be made in time and the recoil to hit Armas without any protective force. Bit of advice: when it is said time is at a premium-that's not the time to keep trying to barter on more than one subject-haggling involves back and forth, so you need to try and account for the time it takes the other person to respond. Also you didn't structure this as a bartering attempt, but general instructions for the character-which means leaving it up to me to write the haggling-which in no way means I will auto-format your words to comply with the sentence restriction. Things to consider for the future.

>>314617
>>314655
>>314710
>>315041
[QUADRUPAL FANART BONUS]
It feels like something clicks in my head-and just like that I can feel the building power, the energy untamed within me that must be adressed-and with that perception comes a more specific sense of how long I have-I must make my words count.
>>314967
>>314978
>>315007
>>315054
"There are a few weapons among the collection which rightfully belong to others, having been retained by Smets in an attempt to cheat me and them. I can describe the particular guns in full. Those would not be part of this deal. If that's acceptable, I agree."
My head is pounding ever harder as the Sometimes Merchant nods.
>[SM]"The Deal is struck-you will be sheltered from the coming force-and none shall know of it from our lips or actions."

I try to respond as the sense of wrongness within me doubles and doubles again in the blink of an eye and my knees wobble-my mouth starts to open just as my right leg buckles and I start to fall to the ground, feeling like an over packed sausage about to burst, the Sometimes Merchant's hand reaching for me-

[DISCONTINUITY]

I realize my eyes are open, dry and burning-I close my eyelids for a moment as I assess where I am. ...Okay, I'm lying prone on something flat, hard and dry-feels like stone. ...No, not completely flat-I feel some engravings beneath my hands on either side of me. I'm still clothed-definitely a plus-and my head is no longer throbbing. My eyes rehydrated, I finally begin looking at my surroundings-and see fuckall. Great-surrounded by darkness.

The Buntline is in my hand before I have time to finish registering I feel a hand on my left shoulder.
>[SM]"It is done."
My movement stills-and as the halo flickers into life, illuminating the subterrainean room-I see the smooth stone walls, the cavernous ceiling-and I know us not to be in the sewer proper. Where?-
>[SM]"I am returning you to your domocile, as it is becoming agitating preventing the mortal you took in from chasing after you."
Wha-Camella. But if she's doing THAT-
"How long did this take?"
>[SM]"a tenth of a day's worth of light."
...One hell of a strange way to phrase it-okay, a tenth of twelve hours of sunlight-over an hour. No wonder she got worried, with how quick I vanished.
>[MMM Trait activaged]
"So what changes were wrought by that which I imbibed?"
>[SM]"You are no longer limited by your bodies' innate inability to regenerate lost limbs-if you survive a given injury, given sufficient time and nutrients, you will recover to full capacity. This, from the energies Demonic you consumed."
"What about Amen's blood?"
At this I see a completely alien set of body language from the Sometimes Merchant-if I didn't know better I'd say he was-
>[SM]"....I do not know."
"You... don't know? Why not?"
..Wow, great sentence structure there Armas-head so damn out of sorts-
>[SM]"...The one you call Amen... it's blood would not allow us to interpret or analyze it-I cannot offer you an answer. Now."
Sometimes Merchant flashes a hand in front of my face quick as lightning, a hair's breadth from my eyes-I involuntarily blink-

I'm on the surface, a few feet away from the manhole I descended-

With Camella, SCAR in hand, working on the sewer entrance.

She does not seem to have noticed me.








What is my next move from here?
>>
No. 315091 ID: 44766a

Carefully inform her that you are there and that you are alright.
>>
No. 315098 ID: 44766a

Also, additional plan for the next few days, brief Camella on the various supernatural things we know about. Lesson One: Why Armus is not a Wizard and what a Wizard actually is.
>>
No. 315104 ID: 0d095c

>>315087
Also, explain that we now have a scary ghost butler, and also explain the story behind all those Nazis, and perhaps also about the Sewer Goblins.
>>
No. 315106 ID: 234c26

>>315087
Inform Camella that we're here and apologize for taking so long. Try to do it in a fashion that won't immediately set off her combat-kill-everything mode, because she is normally jumpy as hell and likely to be even more so than usual after today's events. Also, thank her for being concerned enough to come looking for us. It's nice to have someone who gives a shit.

If she asks what the hell we were doing, explain that we were dodging the bullet of our own recklessness. Doing so was more expensive and time-consuming than expected. If she wants a more thorough explanation we can give it, of course, but based upon what she said before she'd rather have us keep quiet on the details.

If she really wants details, explain that Savoy shot us in the head and broke our neck during the fight and we made a bargain with this supernatural creepy person/thing to absorb a bunch of power in order to fix it quick, but doing that left us with only about an hour before we suffered horrible backlash that would probably have killed us. We had to bargain with someone else fast to keep us alive, which we did, but as we said it was expensive and time-consuming. Try to avoid explaining who or what the goblins are to her; our watchword when dealing with them thus far has been to keep their existence and our deals with them a secret unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise.


After that, plans for the day/week are in >>314591 and >>315054.
>>
No. 315115 ID: c2d0f1

>>315087
Call to her quietly. Say, "Apologies for being gone so long. A serious error we made during the fight was coming back to haunt us. I'll explain in more detail in a secure location."

Then get back in the van. Do not enter your house, Savoy knew where it was, and he told us that Skorzeny is also after us. He could well have told the Germans, so we have to assume it's compromised or even rigged to blow. You can never go back.

Drive away, and book into a random hotel in the middle of a random suburb. From now on you're going to need to sleep in shifts in the same room - for all you know, Savoy also has access to a source of supernatural healing and is back on his feet and ready to hit you.

Whilst there, tell Camella that you managed to get yourself poisoned during your fight with Savoy, and you went to the only person you thought could help. You can do little more save wait for Amen's call.

Whilst waiting, you can call Arkvad and call off the sale, and apologise for getting his hopes up. We won't be getting the weapons cahce after all.

Then, make contact with the mafia and give them the information that Savoy has admitted selling out their private infomration to the mafia to the Nazis, and was also in bed with vampires and demons. The mafia tend to be strongly Catholic, so I doubt they'll approve at all.

A thought for the guns that Camella took. If you have gained any liquid assets amongst Smets' holdings, it might be best to pay Camella for them out of those, and then sell them all to the goblins along with training to use them.

Now, we've learned that the goblins are aware that Camella is with us, so we should return to the idea of getting her on this training gig, once again paying her in cash whilst the goblins pay in training hours.

We should put this deal to Ito as well, asking him if he would like the opportunity to immortalise his art and train the creatures who taught me the footwork he was so amazed by.

If Amen hasn't got back in touch by the next day, go to see Ito and start on the basics of chakra training. Take Camella along as well.

If Amen gets in touch, take a trip to see him. You want to get Keihas back in your hands asap. When you see him, ask for an accounting of what you have "inherited" from Smets. You should be particularly interested in liquid assets or any other magical items Smets had, such as magical ammunition for the guns we gave to the goblins, so we can sell it to them. You should inquire whether it's possible for Amen to control teleportation within the house, such as, for example, redirecting any attempts to teleport to, from, or within it to a sealed box that contains nothing, not even air, that can be set to crush the contents.

Also ask about the 'pieces' of Savoy we shot off. Ask for them at the start. If he has them, take them to SM and ask us how much he would like to own Savoy's manhood?
>>
No. 315116 ID: f0e3ae

>>315087
Huh, I thought we have more time...

Since locke and havok were murdered 2 weeks ago and replaced by big red and nazibitch (whom carmella killed, right?), then that gives us 3 guns we get to keep (the ones stolen by smets from havok, locke, and us). Unless he stole more then one weapon from either of them (we need to ask arkvard). We could, technically, ask arkvard which other guns smets has stolen from people who chickened out. I am worried that it might end up being too many though, we don't want to actually screw the goblins.

I say the one gun we bought is ours, lcoke's and havok's guns are carmella's share of this operation. Big red wasn't actually Locke so he holds no claim to that gun... I wonder what he was being paid to kill us. Did carmella lift any magic weapons from her downed foes?

After briefing carmella, we should barter some knowledge with SM for anything he knows about our new super butler. And use up some hours of survival to learn about weaknesses of donoongas (whom we have a limited time to deal with) and werewolves.
>>
No. 315183 ID: 1be251

>>315116
Learning Doony's weaknesses is fine. No reason to spend hours on Werewolves right now though.

I have no particular thoughts what to do until' we get that call from Amen. When we do, order him to see us as his master even when not holding Keihas. Then identify the weapons we can keep. The others go to the goblins, and then we bring up a presentation for Mammon's device, followed by a secret auction for the device. In exchange for setting it up, as well as some other sort of fee, they get to charge admission. Play up that any of the guns that they wish to sell could fetch a higher price at this event, and that if set-up as a social event as well, they might be able to gather a good deal of information just from chatter.
>>
No. 315191 ID: f8aa66

Be touched. You KNOW she doesn't want to go back down there - you know those are some bad memories - but she's willing to do it for you. "Sorry. Thanks for coming to my rescue, but I wasn't spirited away or anything. I was just... well, I know a guy down there. Sort of a guy. He's not a bad sort, anyway."

If she asks what you needed your underground friend for, make it vague. "Healing a broken neck is... kind of hard. And it was taking too long, and Savoy was still there, so I ... hm. Well, basically, let's just call it an error in judgment. But it's all fixed now. Cost a LOT of money, however. I should still be able to afford your fee, though."

I would like at least a quick primer course in Ito's chakra training. Get in touch with the wolves, both to scope out the wolf versus vampire situation, and possibly selling Mammon's Device.

Then find out what our liquid assets are looking like; if Smets had some holdings we can convert into quick cash, I say it's roadtrip (to Finland) or booking a flight (to New Zealand) time. If not, it's time to take a few quick jobs.
>>
No. 315239 ID: 234c26

>>315115
>Then get back in the van. Do not enter your house, Savoy knew where it was, and he told us that Skorzeny is also after us. He could well have told the Germans, so we have to assume it's compromised or even rigged to blow. You can never go back.
We were just in our house. While I agree that we'll probably need to either move or somehow fortify before too much longer, this is an irrational level of paranoia. Even the Nazis will take time to act on whatever information Savoy has given them; we likely have at least 48 hours to get our shit together before the earliest problems could reasonably emerge.

>we've learned that the goblins are aware that Camella is with us
Considering that they've had their brownies in and out of our house the entire time that she's been living there, I'm pretty sure they've known exactly where she's been this entire time.

>>315116
>I say the one gun we bought is ours, lcoke's and havok's guns are carmella's share of this operation
We will be paying Camella in cash, as agreed upon before the operation. The guns belonging to Locke and Havoc should in good conscience be given over to whoever their heirs or organizations were, if Arkvad can investigate that for us; it's a gamble, but it might turn up some rather useful contacts. Claiming to the goblins that we wouldn't give them the guns because Smets cheated someone else out of them and then using the guns strictly for our own benefits is pretty questionable and I'd like to avoid it if possible.

>And use up some hours of survival to learn about weaknesses of donoongas (whom we have a limited time to deal with) and werewolves.
I would back the Doonongaes bit, but we probably don't need more than an hour on werewolves.

As far as goblin training goes, I would be interested in getting a bit more training on magic weapon crafting with an emphasis on analyzing existing ones. Eventually I'd like to be able to sense the magic of weapons like that elf girl Laetissi could.

>>315191
>I say it's roadtrip (to Finland) or booking a flight (to New Zealand) time. If not, it's time to take a few quick jobs.
Do you figure we would take Camella with us on these trips? She doesn't really have anywhere else to stay for the moment, although of course she could use her money from this op to secure a place of her own. In any case I would like to have a better idea of specifically we're looking to do/accomplish in our native lands before going there. Get more in touch with our heritage, obviously, but how specifically? Wandering into the wilderness and hoping to trigger something supernatural seems unwise.
>>
No. 315260 ID: 81f32a

I was waiting for the right time to bring this up:

>Yet I feel that burning, tingling sensation of healing taking place, and I hope with every fiber of my being it's the blood I drank, and my healing kicking in.

Arams has discovered the "pre-healing" ability of his regeneration. That means that he can "store" an amount of healing by eating materials which heal him before sustaining injuries, and he get hurt that "stored" healing gets used up to heal him in mid-battle without him needing to eat something.
The stored healing diminishes after time so he needs to eat magic meat everyday as much as possible to sustain it (thankfully we have that part covered).
So, from now on, I propose Armas eats as much as magical meat as possible and before any mission has a hefty meal.

I guess this will not save us from lethal injuries till we upgrade regeneration further but it will be still very useful.

>What is my next move from here?
You know how incredibly jumpy she is. So be careful.

>>315098
>>315104
Yeah, I agree with these too.

Say something like: "While it has been very amusing I think it's time to explain some things..."
The tell her about Wizards and witches. Tell her that you don't have magic abilities yet, just some minor tricks you can pull. Let her know about bloodline powers and tell her that one is born with a special bloodline (you don't know if Camella has any, so she needs to find that out herself too... I guess SM could help us out there), you could give the example of Savoys Sicilian royal bloodline.
Tell her about practitioner powers and binding spirits and how to get them (as far as we know from Witches and Wizards), so that she finally has a reason to get out and take some independent contracts/action to better herself.

Also, after thinking a bit I came to conclusion that we have no claim on the weapons she looted .
If you think about it, she thought tooth and nail for them: killed the sniper assassin, 12 ghoulified guards, some shapeshifting faggot.
Imagine us in that situation. We would definitely have hard time doing that and would feel pissed off if someone tried to claim them.
So, we can offer her to help selling them (we have several contacts) and perhaps ask to borrow one for the Goblin training (we need vast array of different weapons to prolong these lessons)

Also, we cannot sell additional training for goblins to teach them how to use Smets collection... because we already have a Deal saying that we will teach them to use firearms, iirc it says no where that those guns must be from our possession. They could come with their own guns and ask us to train them and we would have too because that is what we agreed for (if I am not mistaken).

>>315106
Agree... but avoid mentioning that you have consumed and assimilated Demon flesh/blood


>>315183
I agree.
Till we get contact from Amen we shouldn't do anything special.

Actually, I am in favor of acquiring the mansion in less-than-legal means if we fail to do it legally.

>>315239
>We were just in our house. While I agree that we'll probably need to either move or somehow fortify before too much longer, this is an irrational level of paranoia.
I have to agree here

>should in good conscience be given over to whoever their heirs or organizations were,
Eh...
good conscience? Do you even know who Armas is?
He does not give a shit about that.

>I say it's roadtrip (to Finland) or booking a flight (to New Zealand) time. If not, it's time to take a few quick jobs.
>Do you figure we would take Camella with us on these trips?

I say we put this off till we determine if we are getting Smets mansion and his assets or not.
Then we move to the mansion, order Amen to protect us from any hostilities (yes, that includes Savoy. He cannot do SHIT in that mansion against us) but instead of killing people sent after us, he should capture, restrain and prevent their escape.
Then, if Camella wants, she can come with us or stay here in mansion and take independent missions if she wants to. But we should be vary of giving orders to Amen like "while I am gone do what Camella says" because that will be bad.
>>
No. 315307 ID: 252e1b

>>315087

"Camella, I owe you some answers, if you want to hear them. And if you don't, I still owe you my thanks. I wasn't in danger in there, but you didn't know that. Thank you for trying to come after me. And for covering me earlier. And for keeping me grounded the past few days. Let's go inside. I'll tell you what I know about your new rifle."

The Walther is rightfully hers, after all. She took it from Olga's body as a battle trophy.

"First, Savoy manipulated events there to try to use Olga and her mercenary to kill me and Smets, so that he could then kill them and claim Smets' supernatural butler Amen for some purpose. Smets thought Savoy was cooperating with him. His practice of making fast allies and then betraying them later is something he did to me, too.

"It backfired on him in two ways. First, he didn't kill me, so I was able to hurt him very badly. Second, I got control of Amen in the fight. I have a feeling it's going to be one long mindgame with Amen to figure out why Savoy needed him. If you want to be a part of that, be my guest."

"You got any questions so far?"
>>
No. 315319 ID: 234c26

>>315260
>good conscience? Do you even know who Armas is?
>He does not give a shit about that.
By "good conscience" in this context I meant something more along the lines of "abiding by the spirit of our agreements" rather than "acting in a morally correct manner". Armas does give a shit about keeping his deals- it's why he has a Word Like Gold trait which makes supernatural entities more inclined to trust his word. He keeps his bargains- and almost always in the spirit that they were meant as well as their letter. Even the bit of tricky wordplay that he's done has been basically above the table/taking advantage of the other party's carelessness.

In this case, we just got the goblins to exclude certain guns from the agreement on the specific grounds that Smets had cheated people out of them, and therefore they rightfully belong to people other than us. Turning around and claiming them as ours after doing that would not actually violate our word, but would be a definite case of having made a bargain on shaky or false premises. I would consider that an undesirable blemish on our record, so we should dispose of those weapons in ways that keeps to the spirit of what we told the goblins.

>Also, after thinking a bit I came to conclusion that we have no claim on the weapons she looted
Certainly we don't. Everything off her kills is hers. She might want us to fence them on her behalf, though, or at least introduce her to an arms dealer or two.
>>
No. 315340 ID: 252e1b

We should probably give that intelligence line we were given a call and check up on the Doonongeas' status too. We've got plenty of enemies now, but at least he's one we can keep an eye on.

And also we should ask Camella about that missing day.
>>
No. 315343 ID: 81f32a

>>315340
Iirc, we can use that only once.
So I prefer we keep that ability till we think we are ready to deal with Doony.
Also, we should learn Maori heart-eating rituals, and/or awake bloodline power which lets us consume the strength of our enemies before we try to kill him.
>>
No. 315439 ID: 1c9e0a

Good idea to see if the real Havock and Locke have any heirs to give their guns to.

On travelling, driving up to Finland seems safe enough, but until Savoy is dead going to New Zealand is crazy. He can just teleport onto the plane in midair, drop a bomb primed to detonate in the hold, and teleport straight out, and then we just die.
>>
No. 315443 ID: 252e1b

>>315439

They make small planes, and there are these things called boats...
>>
No. 315500 ID: f0e3ae

>Also, after thinking a bit I came to conclusion that we have no claim on the weapons she looted.
Did anyone actually attempt to make such a suggestion? obviously anything she looted off of the olga is hers. The question was DID she actually loot anything, remember she is a soldier and they are trained NOT to loot enemy weapons.
>Help her fence them / introductions
First thing first, use your identify enchantment skills to identify if they are magical and what they do. Then she can trade with H&H as an "aware customer"

>Get the weapons belonging to locke and havok to their heirs
Fair enough suggestion and supporting arguments, go ahead with that.

>We agreed to pay carmella cash
We did? I missed that part, or just forgot. Go ahead then.
>>
No. 315503 ID: c2d0f1

>>315443
Savoy can just as easily kill us on a boat, and light planes are too slow.

>>315500
We lost our identify abilities when we were hit be the 3rd Palindrome.
>>
No. 315504 ID: 252e1b

>>315503

In a little business jet the entire cabin and cargo area will be watched by the crew and passengers.

Boats are harder, I'll give you that, but a small yacht could be observed constantly too.
>>
No. 315507 ID: 856690

>>315504
You forget that we really don't want to go on water right now, not with a magical shapeshifter wanting to kill us.

Right also Camella needs to know stuff for your surival and hers. For now though don't get shot and be touched by her trying to find you like this.
>>
No. 315513 ID: c2d0f1

>>315504
A little business jet with the range to be useful on this journey would still have a hold.
>>
No. 315515 ID: 81f32a

So, it came to my attention that we ordered Amen to remove police in no-violent means. While this could work the first day, I am sure there will be a criminal investigation, maybe even involving Turkish FBI.
Now, while we did ask Amen to politely show the police to the door, we never prohibited him to answer their questions. Sooner or later an agent will come to question him and at one point Amen will refer to "his master" and since we never told Amen to keep his trap shut, he will definitely tell them our name.

So this is something we need to take care of, as soon as possible.
I am sure, Armas can sneak into the mansion even with police there if he doesn't go there fully equipped.


Also, check the news. I want to see what they say about the raid on Smets house.
>>
No. 315532 ID: f8aa66
File 130860600863.jpg - (201.38KB , 2191x1689 , Creepy Santa.jpg )
315532

>>315239
>Do you figure we would take Camella with us on these trips? She doesn't really have anywhere else to stay for the moment, although of course she could use her money from this op to secure a place of her own. In any case I would like to have a better idea of specifically we're looking to do/accomplish in our native lands before going there. Get more in touch with our heritage, obviously, but how specifically? Wandering into the wilderness and hoping to trigger something supernatural seems unwise.
In New Zealand, I'd like to check out Roturua. It sits in a caldera and is filled with boiling geysers, hot springs, hot mud pools and other things that seem like they should be associated with Summer. After that, maybe Te Kahui Tapua, do some hiking through the sacred mountains?

Maori have a shitton of mountain gods, so mountains and volcanoes seem to be the place to look.

For Finland, Ukonsaari is the traditional place of worship for the Sami shamanists (bear cult, as I understand it). Sammallahdenmäki is a grouping of burial cairns going back 3000+ years. The Norse gods don't have a lot of idols and things; they seemed to mostly do their worship out in natural areas. Find a cool place outside, set up a frið-garðr, and call out to Ogrimir.

>>315439
It's early december, isn't it? We could be the creepiest santa ever. We leave bow-wrapped guns for all bad little boys and girls.
>>
No. 315667 ID: 81f32a

Oh right, the translation of the book might be ready in the coming week.
I think the estimated time was 1st December.


>>315532
Hah, Guile you have a knack to make Armas as creepy as possible.
>>
No. 315896 ID: c6ce12

I like >>315191 and >>315307 for how to deal with the immediate situation. I do take issue with the questions part, but that's because I would hate for the next update to end with us having to answer them and me having to type all this shit out again.

First call Ito using the number he gave us and ask him if it would be alright if we could come to the place tomorrow afternoon to do some Chakra training and if it would be okay to bring both Hafaz and Camella. He'll probably say yes given Hafaz's potential prodigy status and Camella's fast learning. If he says no just get the lesson changed to a normal training session. After that contact Hafaz and ask him to meet us at Ito Sensei's tomorrow in the afternoon. Tell him there's might be a special lesson and we would like him to join us and maybe he should stick around after the lesson to talk.

Call up Rocco Armani, tell him we just had a very interesting meeting with Savoy. It looks like he's not taking his excommunication well and he's switching sides. He's not only working with the Germans under Otto Skorzeny, but he's been taking pacts with vampire and devils. Now he and his allies are going to be making some very big waves in the area and we would like to be a part of the discussion on how this situation is resolved, perhaps offer the intelligence we have gathered and our services towards the matter. Say Friday night at the restaurant?

Then write up a letter to Labombard. Thank him for calming Lo Fang and the forewarning on Blackbeard. One good turn deserves another so tell him about our recent experience with Savoy. Explain how he set up a plot to kill us, how he revealed both his powerful demonic arm and new alliance with Skorzeny, and how he failed to kill us and has now lost that new arm and his testicles in the process. We would like to discuss the matter and others like it in great detail if he would like that, he can meet us at the diner in Ito's gym on Sunday if he wants. Hm, also make a point to call Ito at some point later and tell him we might be using his kitchen on that day, the old guy did tell us to call him before we go in the gym. Anyway take the letter and drive to the warehouse to drop it off with someone you think can get it to Labombard. Camella will probably want to come or at least make sure we don't disappear on her again. So when we get there see if any of our buddies from the Doonongaes mission are around, Go Ping should be if I recall correctly and he was promoted to watch over the warehouse. Ask him how things have been going, if Camella is with us introduce them. They might hit it off, Go Ping likes double axes, she likes double axes, they can talk and maybe Camella won't go crazy on us for working with more criminals.

Tomorrow wake up bright and early and make some breakfast for the two of you. Ask Camella if she would like to go out and meet some very helpful vendors that can help us with the dozen guns she got. The first stop is Garbage Pete's, dear god that will be amusing to see Camella's face when she sees that guy's set up. I don't think he'll be able to buy many, but I bet we can drop off at least two or three of the guns off on him and collect a thousand a piece. We could either try to go to our storage locker and get the one guard we know to direct us to a nice place we can drop them off or we can go back down to the warehouse and see if they Triads wouldn't mind a couple extra guns. Once that's over go to Ito's and train and do the meeting with Hafaz afterwords. He asked us what we were and what we wanted earlier. Tell him in the simplest way possible, we're a mercenary, one that works with and against things most think are only found in storybooks. That thing we did with the house was an accidental, but necessary discharge from a rare magical phenomenon. Now he needs to explain who he and his friends are. They were obviously in a unit together, but what do they do now? Why is he the only one that seems to know anything about the mystic? How much did he learn from that teacher he once told us about? If he answers those well enough maybe we can move past this and see if he can't help us help Ito a bit and hook us up into some tournaments we could attend so we can garner his school attention. That or if they know the owner of the gym go to, maybe they can get him to recommend us to the Corvos Academy and we can try to do some competitions or training there.

The day after that we should go down to the Holland & Holland offices here and see Arkvad. Tell him it turns out we didn't get away with as much as thought we did, but we do have some pieces. We were wondering if his people could take a look at the Walther and Buntline and see what they do or what the magical parts of the guns are. See if he can get the guys to do the work for free given the faulty information we got, speaking of which ask about the real Havoc and Locke. Who were they? If we have their guns with us ask him for the address of their estates and see if we can mail them with a note or if it's local enough if we can plan a trip later. When night hits we go down to the restaurant, Camella might want to attend, we kind of promised she would be of help to their organization if they got her a new identity. Then we can tell Rocco the full story on Savoy, about how Skorzeny's people will probably be getting a bit crazy and their upper management might soon direct more forces down here thanks to him. Try to imply he's no longer just someone who shamed the family, but a traitor. Talk about Savoy's devil pact that lead to him getting a demonic arm that could absorb and throw back bullets grafted onto him and his partnership with a very deranged vampire. Now he's not only a traitor, but someone who spits on the heritage and roots of the family, a heretic. He needs to be dealt with, he can't just be ignored anymore, if he do they'll have a serious German problem soon. The bosses will probably be pissed and send down the other digits in the hand to take him down, but Rocco can temper having to give the bad news if can say he already had the forethought to hire the man who crippled the many to help with their hunt. Ask for a dossier on Savoy to finish off the meeting.
>>
No. 315913 ID: d3dfb8

While you're out and about doing stuff these other asshats suggested, be sure to drop by a music store and pick up a few albums. If you're going to have a new place let's at least make it livable. One album in particular we need to pick up is Foxy Shazam's album by the same name.
Anyway, at some point in the future prepare dinner for Camella. Order Amen to play Foxy Shazam - With An Axe when she comes in for delicious foods. Act like there's nothing out of place, you were just casually listening to good music while preparing food for your room mate. Then when she blinks have Amen place a single lit scented candle in the middle of the table. Say nothing about it.
>>
No. 315930 ID: 4738ba

>>315896
Down voting inviting Hafaz to chakra training, and also down voting converting it to regular training. Learning chakra manipulation is a priority, and we shouldn't insult Ito's teaching by making implicit conditions on it in this way. We can meet Hafaz separately. I also don't think it's appropriate to ask for Camella to be involved, Ito can invite her if he chooses to, but she hasn't put in the hours with him.

Also down voting selling the MP5s to anyone mortal. These weapons were just involved in one of the largest mass murders Istanbul has seen for years, they're as hot as can be. Also, a fence would give you a tiny fraction of their legitimate value. Instead, tell Camella that you will sell them on her behalf, and sell them and training using them to the goblins for whatever supernatural stuff you can get, and give her money.
>>
No. 315937 ID: f8aa66

>>315896
Mostly good suggestions.

I'm kinda inclined to keep Camella our ace in the hole, since none of the other PCs (or Lo Fang, I assume) know about her, though it wouldn't really hurt anything, either. Plus (here's the more cold-blooded reasoning) it keeps her more dependent on us.

The guns we may want to offload to Sometimes Merchant (and training too, perhaps); Al did have a point about a church being shot up with MP5s and then us selling a huge batch of them the next day kind of implicates us, especially when we can't explain where we got them from. Angle for another arrow charm from them, or just surface currency if they have that (they do accept it for their charms).

And I'm inclined for at least the first couple of Ito's chakra classes to be focused on just us; then we can broach adding Hafaz and Camella.

>>315913
Keeping it classy. What's next, jello shots with magical jelly?

...

Magical booze. Just a thought.
>>
No. 315938 ID: 234c26

>>315896
>he can meet us at the diner in Ito's gym on Sunday if he wants
I would prefer not to involve Ito with the mafia or Triads if at all possible, and that includes Labombard. Ito has done well by us, and we should not repay him by dragging criminals into his dojo to discuss business. It's dangerous enough for him just having us hang out there already.

Also, no bringing other people to chakra class #1. We still have status as Ito's favored/senior student, and we should be exploiting it. One-on-one tutoring is far more effective for learning just about anything in the novice stages.

>Camella will probably want to come or at least make sure we don't disappear on her again.
I am not a fan of introducing Camella to the Triads, because she is still a nonexistent woman as far as most of the world is concerned- it would be foolish of us to squander that asset. Keep her floating. Not to mention that she's probably still not willing to throw herself wholesale into cavorting with criminals, and we are still on relatively thin ice with the Triads- bringing unknowns with us to their turf with no good cause will not earn us points.

>>315913
Really? Really? Using Amen as a crutch for manipulating our relationship with Camella? I thought better of us. Do not involve him in anything that we don't have a very good reason to involve him in.

If we can't pawn a lit candle onto the table on our own, with all our crazy stealth skills, then we can live without a candle.
>>
No. 315941 ID: 81f32a

I think that we should start making moves against Savoy before it is too late.
Doing nothing or, worse, trying to hide from him and just "wait" out are the worst possible courses of action.

Call the Confessor and Rocco. Tell them everything about Savoy. Actually, make it seem even worse. Spice things up, tell them he is in league with the nazis and in bed with demons, etc, etc. You could make some bullshit up. We want mafia to direct all of their efforts into removing Savoy.

Then we need to track him down somehow and locate him. This will be hard since he can be anywhere in the world. Though if he is still in Istanbul, we can ask SM for help. Also, we need to question Amen more diligently, try to circumvent his confidentiality binding and get more information out of him.
You can always sneak in the mansion during the night to give more orders to Amen, check on Big Crazy or whatever.
Speaking of Amen, order him collect all the remains of Savoy and put them in neat package and give them to us, to remove ALL signs of battle. Also check up how the prospect of getting Smets holdings is going. Ask him what valuables Smets has in the mansion (expensive jewelry, works of art, money, precious gems and metals, etc)
>>
No. 315946 ID: b1f0e2

>>315930
+1 vote to everything he said.

>Romance carmella
Am I the only one who thinks this would be awfully awkward and creepy?
>>
No. 315955 ID: a76809

>>315091
>>315106
>>315115
...How to alert her to my presence without getting a gun pointed at me.... ah.
"*Ahem*"
She stiffens-but does not spin about, gun in hand-hey, look at that-progress!
>[Camella]"You better have a good explanation for the vanishing act."
"Sorry for taking so long-a serious error was made in the fight at Smets', and I had to resolve it... rather immediately."
>[Camella]"...But it's handled now, correct?"
"Correct-but there is a further issue that needs to be addressed-Savoy."
>[Camella]"...That teleporting thing?"
"There's that-but also in my scuffle with him I ended up needing sufficient aid after the fact that I lost the guns collected from Smets."
>[Camella]"Last I checked, I was the only one to load firearms into... ugh, the Right Laine."
"Well, moot point now-incidentally I know several places you could fence those MP5s-could make a tidy sum from that."
>[Camella]"Are any of those contacts NOT illegal?"
"...Depends. Would a supernatural fence count as illegal, if they predate any laws to the contrary?"
>[Camella]"...I think I'd rather deal with criminals, actually-them, at least, I can fathom."
"...You may not be thinking that through. Consider how much the police will be looking for those weapons."
>[Camella]"And what-selling it to a... supernatural source would be better?"
"Not exactly like they register their firearms-or indeed, interact with law enforcement much... at all, really. ..Anyway, think about it-I have some phone calls to make."

Camella follows me inside, replacing all her weapons in the van save the P90, which she keeps on hand and finger near at hand to the trigger-she's still on edge, that much is clear. Arkvad picks up on the third ring.

>[AS]"Look, if you're calling about the collection-"
"Actually I am-gonna have to cancel the sail-they were needed for a different purpose."
>[AS]"...For the best, I suspect-several of Smets' pieces were.... quite unique. Would be hard to resale without having questions."
"Saves us both some trouble. Next time I get a cache though, you'll be the first to know."
>[AS]"I can hardly wait. ...Oh, right: A heads-up, your name is now in our system for having helped facilitate that deal with Ito-I figure one more $100,000+ deal and you will have a job with us-whether you want it or not."
"Liked the Byzantine house thing that much, huh?"
>[AS]"It opened new possibilities-for all parties, really. Was that all?"
"Yeah-busy day."
>[AS]"I can believe it. Good hunting."

From there, my next call goes to a somewhat less legal target-Rocco Armani. I once more find myself happy I have a direct line to him.
>[RA]"Eeehh, it's Armas, right? Haven't heard from you in a while. How's that girl working out for you? Better yet-how's she working out for us?"
...Right, I got Camella's fake identification by implying she'd be of use with the mafia...
>[MMM Trait activated]
"Why don't you tell me after I fill you in on what happened."
The bemused cheer and slightly slurred words immediately resolve into crisp, focused speech.
>[RA]"...Okay, lay it on me."
"Where to start-well, ran into Savoy, who admitted to my face that he encouraged Castelletti to mistrust me on his arrival-implicating himself in escalating the whole clusterfuck that took your predecessor's life-which I am pretty sure was NOT endorsed by the rest of you guys, for one."
>[RA]".....Where did he tell you this?"
"At Florent Smets' house-a vampire of the Zosimus Dynasty."
>[RA]"....Go on."
"He also had replaced a lost arm with a demonic limb, presumably provided by said vampire-"
>[RA]"What makes you think it was demonic?"
"The pulling bullets into it's flesh and shooting them out the fingers, the slitted eyes all over the limb, the purple and black blood-I guess it could have been something else, but-"
>[RA]"...Jesus. Truck with vampires and demons?"
"It gets better: He flat out stated he had been in contact with Neonazis under Skorzeny-and that he was going to rondevue with them after our... altercation."
>[RA]"Woah woah woah-you saying you went toe to toe with Savoy... and you're still breathing?"
"Which is what brings me to your original question-I wouldn't be if it weren't for the girl you provided papers for-and it's thanks to her that the only people still alive that know what I learned about Savoy are the three of us-you, me and her. Would you say she was of use?"
>[RA]"Fuck-if what you say is true-"
"I'll swear it on anything or in front of anyone-short of Savoy lying on the parts he verbalized, no way this could be innacurate."
>[RA]"...That's what I was afraid of."
"Look-I got a whole mess of shit I need to resolve on my end thanks to that shitstorm-not the least of which keeping my ass clear of the law-I just wanted to let you know as soon as possible-hate to see him drag you all down with him."
>[RA]"If what you say is true-well, doesn't matter how strong a thumb is when the other fingers coil about it."
...Fingers, what-
[RAPID RATIONALIZATION Trait activated]
Camella called Savoy a finger of the mafia-coupled with Rocco's words, I assume him to be the Thumb-which would leave four other fingers. All assassins? Seems likely....
"Anyway-I'll keep you informed if I learn anything-I'd ask for the same, since Savoy seems to want me dead for learning of this."
>[RA]"Big surprise there-you know how his power works?"
"Teleportation-I think he can't do it when he's being watched?"
>[RA]"...Explains why you're still alive, then. Yes-but theres more to it. He doesn't have to know where he's teleporting to-he just needs to set... guidelines, for what kind of place he ends up appearing at. He can teleport to places he doesn't know exist, if he's concrete enough on his imaging."
...Shit.
"That.. is very useful information. Are there any wards that could keep him out?"
>[RA]"If there are, I don't know of them-not really much of a supernatural buff like Castelletti was.... shit, so Castelletti wasn't trying to fuck us?"
"Far as I can tell, Savoy played Castelletti and I, and convinced us both the other would not negotiate for any reason."
>[RA]"A damn shame... we'll be in touch Armas-okay?"
"Count on it."

Well-the Mafia knows the important bits-Savoy's betrayals, his truck with vampires and demons, and his new association with neo-Nazi's. Hopefully having the mafia's attention on him will keep him distracted.

As I hang up I feel it-Camella's attention on me as she raps her knuckles on the doorframe.

>[Camella]"So, that supernatural fence that would make these guns... disappear-how fast could you make a sale?"
"Under an hour-I can contact them via the sewers."
>[Camella]"...Then, I ask you sell the MP5s for me."
"Right now?"
>[Camella]"I would like to have more than a few hundred dollars to my name again."
"Okay-done deal. Be back in a bit."

I take Camella's haul-sans the Walther WA 2000-and cart them all down into the sewers-and again call out to the Sometimes Merchant.
>[WON'T TAKE NO Trait activated]
>[WORD LIKE GOLD Trait activated]
>>315183
It takes some back and forth-but shortly enough I leave the sewers, one hour less stored for redemption but enriched with knowledge, two and a half pounds of pure gold in a cloth pouch having replaced the dozen submachine guns. Camella quirks an eyebrow at my approach, even as I consider that the Doonongaes weakness.... is the cold.
"Not big fans of paper money, those folks-hope gold works."
>[Camella]"...Dios mio, how much is-"
"Well, at two and a half pounds-that's forty ounces, and last I checked gold was a little over thirteen hundred an ounce-fifty thousand and change. Think that covers your wage for this job?"
Who knew the goblins valued used guns over new ones, when the prior owners were supernatural? Definitely something to keep in mind.
For once Camella has nothing to say. Think I'll take that as a yes.
>>315191
"I... just wanted to say thankyou for being worried-I know how much you dislike the sewers."
>[Camella]"....What am I supposed to do if you die, hm? Infuriating as you are, what would I even do without you? I don't know this city, I still know far too little-and I have monsters that are out for my blood."
Doesn't seem to be much to say to that

>>3152239
It would take about one hundred hours of training to be able to sense magical weapons similarly to Laetessi. Given the exchange rate, it will be some time before you have enough hours saved up to do that.
I fire off an email to Arkvad-looking to find out who Havoc and Locke's heirs are, that I can give them the weapons that they were shorted on, before leaning back in my chair, thinking.
>>315260
...At Smets', I was able to begin healing based on food already imbibed-something I couldn't do before. Can I 'store' healing energy from food for later use? ...Well, guess I'm having supernatural meat and/or herbs with every meal, now-I suppose after doing that for a while I can do some tests or something, see if my suspicion is accurate.
>>315307
Camella is staring at me again-I can feel her eyes on my back. She probably still wants answers... okay.
"Camella, I owe you some answers, if you want to hear them. And if you don't, I still owe you my thanks. I wasn't in danger in there, but you didn't know that. Thank you for trying to come after me. And for covering me earlier. And for keeping me grounded the past few days. I'll tell you what I know about your new rifle, if you want."
>[Camella]"..I think I know how to work a rifle, bullpup of a highly limited run or no. But answers... those I would like very much indeed."
"Okay. First, Savoy manipulated events there to try to use Olga and her mercenary to kill me and Smets, so that he could then kill them and claim Smets' supernatural butler Amen for some purpose. Looking to be the last one standing, it looked like. Smets thought Savoy was cooperating with him. His practice of making fast allies and then betraying them later is something he did to me, too."
>[Camella]"...."

"It backfired on him in two ways. First, he didn't kill me, so I was able to hurt him very badly. Second, I got control of Amen in the fight. I have a feeling it's going to be one long mindgame with Amen to figure out why Savoy needed him. If you want to be a part of that, be my guest."
>[Camella]"That is all you, Armas-have fun with... Amen?"
"You got any questions so far?"
>[Camella]"...Just one, and I wonder if you can answer it: Why? Why would Savoy do that? He had a position of great power and influence in the mafia, and beyond that, the repetitious betrayals are destroying whatever reputation he had-but why? I can't see a gain he'd get from this-and I doubt it's as simple as him being insane."
"Got me on that one-if you figure it out, please let me know."

>>315340
With the conversation done for now-I call the contact line from Zosimus, looking to find out where the Doonongaes is-
>[Amen]"Yes, master?"
....Oh shit. Smets was my contact. ...Well. That... that makes this harder, then. Uh....
"Police still there?"
>[Amen]"There are still officers around the building, but not within it."
"...Any progress on the funds transfer?"
>{Amen]"As of yet none."
"Okay-keep me informed."
>[Amen]"You shall remain informed, master."
>>315515
"...Beyond the Turkish police, are there any other individuals investigating on or near the house grounds?"
>[Amen]"Four news-crews, three individuals in suits that as of yet have not stepped close enough to the house for me to more.. deeply read them who I suspect to be involved in Turkish intelligence. They have been here since the police vacated the premises."
"Can you describe them?"
>[Amen]"Certainly."

The first two descriptions are phenomenal-I imagine I could recognize either individual at a glance now-but the third one....

The third one sounded exactly like Adelat. ...Media coverage and Turkish intelligence-wonderful. ...That vacation is sounding better and better.


"...Have you yet given my name to any of the investigators you have encountered?"
>[Amen]"No."
"Good-continue to withhold that information. If they ask, you can tell them whatever cover story Smets had in place for interacting with mortal authorities."
>[Amen]"It shall be as you say."
I hang up-

>>315896
Only to make one more phone call.
>[Ito]"...Yes, Laine-san?"
"I was wondering if I could come and get some training today."
>[Ito]"You know my doors are always open to you."
"Thing is-not looking for Jukenjitsu training this time."
>[Ito]"...Ah."
"Is that acceptable?"
>[Ito]"...Give me an hour to prepare, and we can spend the rest of the day on the subject."
*click*
...Okay then.

Camella stays behind-after I explain Ito is teaching a private lesson and didn't agree to other students or even witnesses, she elects to spend her time methodically maintaining her weapons-and getting more familiar with her new rifle.

The lesson itself? A bit... odd.

A great deal of sitting in meditation and focusing inward, trying to percieve internal energy flow-alternating with exhaustive exercise designed to tire one out. An hour after the sun has set, when I'm so beat I'm lightheaded and near to passing out, drenched in sweat-I finally feel one of my chakras. Ito says it was a good start, and I try to believe him as I shower and head back home. On my return I check with Camella-and learn she is now looking up information about our escapade today. I head back out, and provide another trio of hours to the goblins, affirming that I still need to wait for things to die down before I can give them the agreed upon weapons-and push my training hours with the goblins back up to forty two.

When I get home... I decide to draft a return letter to Labombard. I thank him for interceding with Lo Fang on my behalf, and informing me of Blackbeard-and from there go on to give him as much information from the Smets job as I can, insofar as it pertains to savoy. I detail the injuries he incurred, his short-lived demonic limb-all of it. By the time I'm done it's almost midnight-and I fall asleep without much issue-my dreams filled with thoughts of a broken, bleeding Savoy attempting to kill me in my sleep-surreal, to be sure.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25th, 2010

I wake up early-making a breakfast with from the minifridge yet again, this time steak and eggs to really get some protein in the morning-as Camella continues to watch me like a hawk when I cook I don't have a chance to stealthily prepare the meal-but sooner or later her attentiveness will slacken-I merely have to wait.

Our first business is heading to Ito's gym for an early day workout-and I finally hit a hundred and ten hours in training with Jukenjitsu-with Camella having brought her axes, and looking quite distraught the aged instructor has nothing to teach her on their use. To cheer her up, I call the Triads, asking to speak with Go Ping-and ask if he would want to spar with another individual fond of using double axes.
>[Go Ping]"...What is this individual's name?"
"Camella."
>[Go Ping]"Is she a human?"
"Last I checked yes."
>[Go Ping]"I missed your flair for... snarkiness. How do you know her?"
"I work with her sometimes-she's a hot hand, no doubt about that, and I'm trying to do her a favor."
I do my best to completely ignore Camella's incredulous look as I drive and chat.
>[Go Ping]"Final question then-how would you rate her proficiency?"
"Let me put it this way-fourteen enter-one leaves. The others had guns-and many were supernatural-changed nothing for her."
>[Go Ping]"A healthy endorsement, that-then may I speak with her?"
"One moment."

I turn to Camella.

"So-someone quite practiced with axes is interested in talking with you-interested?"
Saying nothing, she takes the phone from my hands. It takes all of ten minutes, during which she purposefully pitches her voice low and makes it hard as sin to overhear-before flipping the phone shut.
"So?"
>[Camella]"...Can you drop me off at-"

After I leave Camella with Go Ping at the docks, promising Go Ping we'll share a drink soon, I head to a different location-Constanz' Crash Course. Only Hafaz and Shaya are there-and when I jerk my head towards the door, Hafaz follows me out. We both walk down the alley a little before I turn to face him. So I tell him-I explain that I am a mercenary by trade-and that many of my jobs involve things normally found in fairy tales-and that what happened to Ito's house was the result of a now resolved magical issue that had cropped up. He listens in silence, giving away nothing-and when I'm done.....

>[Hafaz]"What you do... sounds little different from me. Shaya, Hadar, Ahmad, Yoni-all are bodyguards, just like me-but they only deal with the mundane. Like you, I have supernatural clients-and problems, to deal with."
"...How can a human be a bodyguard when the threat is... say, a vampire? A horde of vampires? How do you not end up pissing off enough things that eventually they just up and kill you?"
>[Hafaz]"By specializing in incapacitation, not lethality. Grudges, for the supernatural, at least, are harder to nurse when you know your immortal life COULD have been ended."
"..Well, that explains things."
>[Hafaz]"As did you explanation. ...Yoni and Ahmad have both been wondering where you have gotten to."
"Yeah, guess I haven't trained with you all in a while."
>[Hafaz]"Since we have both.. come clean as it were, would you like to spend some time? I know Shaya would be happy to let the others know you've returned."
"Honestly? Sure. I could use another refresher on Krav Maga-haven't used it in a bit."

And so goes the latter portion of my day-sparring with Shaya and Hafaz, endless bouts and matches for hours-until my phone rings, Camella ready for pickup. Right as I hang up I get another call-Amen informing me that he has twenty nine thousand dollars available for transfer as of yet, and that the house is still under heavy surveillance. I mull this over as I pick up Camella, finding her and Ping alike sweating and happily tired-before telling Camella to head home with the Right Laine herself. After being dropped off near the docks, I head to my storage unit, put in another few hours with the goblins-and push my stored hours to forty five. I jog home, along the way having no issue making sure not a single person's attention falls on me-

And happily go to sleep.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26th, 2010

Camella wakes up first, for a change-and has something to share with me.

BRUTAL KILLINGS IN DOWNTOWN SHOCK ISTANBUL
...Hah. We are front page news... Yesterday AND today, for multiple newspapers-the job is mentioned on scores of internet news sights-but not a single mention of the name Florent Smets, or his residence, oddly enough-just the bodies at the church.



...Huh.

>>315532
[FANART BONUS-INTUITIVE THOUGHT]
....I think I may need a vacation-the thought of heading off to New Zealand or Finland is starting to look better and better-a chance to take a step back from all the madness I work with-and I am sorely tempted to do just that.











What's my next move here?
>>
No. 315994 ID: f8aa66

On the Big Crazy front, I think we should let him go with a slap on the wrist. "Your employer is dead, and frankly, I've got a lot more problems than you right now. One of the larger ones is one we share- Galileo Savoy. So... here's the deal. I'm letting you go. If you still want to, track me down again and we'll have ourselves a gentlemanly duel. If you want to try and take on Savoy again, give me a call."

It feels a bit dickish to up and leave right after Camella said we're pretty much her only contact, but I'm still for it. I guess we could ask if she wants to come with (zany roadtrip style, plus someone to keep an eye out for Savoy), but I'd be just as happy going alone.

Finland for now, methinks. Steal a car, bring Keihas (recover it from Amen), the Judges, maybe the mere. Learn how to set up a frid-gardr, hit up the Sami shamanists, maybe hunt yourself up a bear. Try to set up a ritual on the Winter solstice (the 21st); the Sami do the Beiwi festival on that day. Sure, it's basically to honor their sun-goddess, Beiwi, but it's still sacrificing white-furred animals to the gods. Also, Lussi night is on the 13th of December; it's a night when a witch rides through the air with her followers, a lot like the Wyld Hunt. From Lussi night to Yule, it is believed that trolls are the most active of any time in the year.
>>
No. 316007 ID: b1f0e2

There is lots of knowledge we have yet to trade the goblins.
We haven't sold them the info on exactly what happened the first 3 times we were hit by a gate and how we survived it. Or the memory of the sample of mammon's device's true power.

We also haven't traded away the mammon device for something. Nor have we asked the goblins if they have a working method of teleportation.

STEALING a car is a terrible idea. Normal law enforcement would be after you. You are perfectly able to rent one, with money.

And we totally need a good explanation for Zossy when he asks us why we killed the contact he gave us if he finds out (as if he wouldn't, ha!)
>>
No. 316012 ID: 0d095c

>>315994
Perhaps Finland, and Yes to Roadtripping with Camella, but NO STEALING CARS. We must be STEALTHY. Turkey's most dangerous entities are after us. ALL OF THEM. Doonongaes, the Karmakarmakamui, the Zosimus-Dynasty-if-we-don't-kill-Doonongaes, Savoy, and Turkish Intelligence.

If we do take our little trip now, we must return before our deadline passes, and remain HIDDEN. That Turkish Intel woman seemed to be onto us. She may have suspicions about us. If our name shows up ANYWHERE, we may be endangered, especially with the Super Nazis on our ass.

Therefore, I suggest we press Big Crazy into our elite team, take him with us, and rent a car in his name. BEST PLAN EVER.
>>
No. 316016 ID: cd63e9

if the Doonongaes is weak against cold we should probably buy us some liquid nitrogen and a delivery system, if the weakness is enough to be noticed prior to the invention of refrigeration dumping a tank of liquid nitrogen on him should be have some interesting affects.
>>
No. 316017 ID: c2d0f1

>>315955
Amen: Review what you know of Amen.
He's demonic
He's so powerful as to be inscrutable to the goblins.
Smets' preferred to die, or at least risk death, when there were wooden bullets burning him with a holy flame from the inside, rather than call on Amen to help.
Savoy had just had a demon arm fitted - perhaps Amen did this for him.

So, put the pieces together. Smets, who knew Amen, wasn't prepared to make direct use of him, but was willing to allow others to, presumably for a fee. Now, Smets probably knows more than you do about that it, so you should follow his lead. Perhaps offer SM the chance to meet Amen as a favour, although warn him of the above.

This is an opportunity to gain face with the Witch without breaking our deal with Cornilius. Get in touch with the number on the card, and ask them if it would be worth a boon to see evidence of the loss of a great power that the Zosimus have suffered. If they take up the deal, offer the witch the use of Amen, for a suitable price, but explain the above limitations. I imagine that she is sufficiently arrogant not to care.

Suggest to both that you have done all right with very simple orders so far, so they should possibly do the same, and that one way of working for one practised in magic, is to give it a large number of unambiguous commands sequentially, where one can check the intermediate steps. you obviously can't do that, but they could use it as a magical lathe that's prone to backfiring, directing its power as a tool without allowing it any discretion.

We would have to give some standard orders for this. Without risking harm to me or any other, or risking transferring control of you, obey X's literal commands exactly, and warning of any negative side effects or potential breaches of the first rules before following each command, for the next Y period.

Even if the witch doesn't take either of those offers, you can still suggest that you have come across a Device of great power that she might be interested in, along with an insight into how the power stored within can be harnessed. Would she be interested in discussing this further.

On Amen generally, you need to ask him what happened to the man it was looking after. Savoy's Buntline was in the house, so it might be worth asking Smets to tell us its full magical properties. It may not know, but it's worth a go. Ask Amen if a open a safe, unobserved from outside path us into the house from the sewers exists, or to create one if it doesn't, through which only you are allowed to pass. Then, enter the house to talk to Amen and check on our captive. Armas can be instructed to let anyone you invite into the house in the near future can be given one time permission to enter and leave via this entrance on a case by case basis. Get Keihas back into your hands first thing you do

You should ask Amen ASAP for any remains of Savoy that survives. I distinctly remember Savoy being emasculated, and I suspect that SM would pay handsomely for the evidence of this. He might even be able to do something interesting with them. If you get them, take them straight to SM for sale. Also ask Amen what the magical blood in the mansion, is from, also offer to sell this to SM.

You need to arrange the transfer of Smets' collection to the goblins. At the same time, ask if Smets has any more magical ammo for the guns, any magical devices apart from guns, such as bayonets, other weapons, or charms. Depending on what this is, you may have something to sell to SM in return for upgrading the AA-12 before your road trip.

You should speak to Big Crazy, and ask him how he feels about Savoy, who set him up to die. Is he willing to swear a binding oath to work with me to take him out. If he accepts, unbind him, let him eat, and invite him on our road trip. We want to learn how he survived what he experienced in the mansion, and he would be useful if Savoy jumps us in th emiddel of nowhere. If not, well, I wonder if SM would buy a live whatever he is...

You should ask Ito whether the chakra training would perhaps go more smoothly without all the living energy of the people of Istanbul around us. you should then ask him if he would like to accompany us on a training trip. you're going on a long drive, and you would be very happy for him to accompany us, and do some training in the great outdoors. I'm sure he's had a pretty stressful time of it, setting up a new dojo at his age, and the break will be good for him as well. He doesn't need to come with us all the way, of course, but you'd be honoured by his presence.

In any case, you should leave in a week for a road trip to Finland, as leaving straight after the hit is obvious. Do your very best to go subtly. You don't want any official record of your departure, return, or the borders you cross. Savoy may be able to find you anywhere, but the Germans presumably have to use normal means. Don't make it easy for them.

Spend the weak in intense training with Ito on chakras, protein loading on spiced supernatural meat every night to keep going. You should train the goblins up on the weapons you just sold them.

You should also broach the idea of a new deal with SM. As SM does himself for other goblins, you would like to act as a broker for training. If he can guarantee discretion, you can find other teachers for his clan. you will pay them, and handle the arrangements, and he can then pay us.

There is another deal you would like to suggest, in addition. It's all very well teaching the goblins to shoot, but practice in the range, is, as he knows, insufficient. you need to lead the goblins of repeated, long duration exercises in a wide variety of environments and situations, with varying weapon loadouts, team sizes and objectives. Now, this is obviously very challenging to arrange in a small room in the middle of Istanbul, but the Nevernever training facilities you previously usedwould be ideal as a exercise ground, as long as you don't age during the process. This will allow them to integrate their skills, to learn the small unit tactics required to use many of the weapons you've taught to support each other, and all the other skills of modern infantry warfare. This is win-win. His people will skill-up much faster and more thoroughly, and you will be able to gain our payment that much faster. In return, you would like a return of the favour of accelerated training in what you select. With the way things are hotting up in Istanbul, you would all be best served by skill-ing up as soon as possible. you're not quite fit enough to lead the training yet, as he observed in our previous Nevernever session, our mortal limits hinder how much you can be taught, or could teach, but you're working to redress this. When this is done, you'll be ready - unless he'd like to expedite matters, in which case an accelerated ageless training session for your teacher and you would allow this. It's his choice.

You also need to arrange to move flat before you go, and change the location that the goblins are sending your meat to.

Ask Camella and the goblins about the missing day.
>>
No. 316020 ID: 856690

>>316004
These plans will lead to fun things.
I am on board.

Now some words for talking to BC
"Hello, Mr, well you aren't locke in any case, though I have kept you here under lock and key, I imagine you wonder why I have not simply killed you. Well I am a mercincary , same as you and although your employer had an axe to grind with me, you do not. On the matter of your employer she was killed by a friend of mine, not axidentally at all, so Olga got that ax she was wanting, in the fact to be axect!

Now I do hope you are BEARing with me so far, I propose that we team up, lessen the chances of men like savoy having the balls to double cross us, ah yes I forgot he doesn't anymore, not after I shot them. A rather grizzly battle we had really. I managed to disarm him though, he'll be needing another hand with that, he isn't quite 'armless yet though. A danger to both of us.

So my offer is this, work with me as a partner, you know I have balls enough, and as a little more on this deal, axtra, I'll take you on a little road trip I'm wanting to go on, get away from the police swarming over our little spat, what you say Mr.Crazy?"

Stay out of sight the whole while when talking to him and release him from the start. If he'll only join for money then pay him.

If he declines let him go or sell him to the goblins as a trainer or whatever...
>>
No. 316045 ID: 835a2d

>Karmakarmakamui

What is this? I did a word-search, and yours was the only mention.
>>
No. 316048 ID: 0d095c

>>316045
All I could remember of the giant River Squid's name was that it had Kamui somewhere in it. So I just pulled some lyrics out of the 80's to replace "Okkoro" which I just remembered. But yeah, it's the River Squid. I thought he'd be pissed off because of what we did to his big badass Doony.
>>
No. 316054 ID: b1f0e2

the local wizard is at WAR with doonie's boss... we need to get in contact with him. Maybe he can provide us with an instafreeze spell.
We need to also contact fang, let him know that:
1. We permanently resolved the issue with the gates. Share more info about it as a show of good faith. (specifically, it happened 3 times, i survived in manner X, I sold it to get rid of it and the buyer which is anonymous already caught 2 without any effect so I am safe to be around)
2. Inform him of savoys current dealings (the guy tried to kill fang, fang would be interested about the demon arm, its removal, etc).
3. Inform him we are after doonie and ask if he is interested in the hunt.
>>
No. 316073 ID: b1f0e2

Apologies for double post:
>Leave carmella
What? why!
She is perfectly able to come with us. Remember we set her up with an identity, she is sticking with us to learn more about supernatural.

>investigation
I hope they don't find anything incriminating carmella there. Then again, she is special forces so she has the gear and training to avoid that.

>>/questdis/348207
Someone before me suggested it, we really should at least try to go for it.
>>
No. 316083 ID: 44766a

Roadtrip to Finland with Camella (and Big Crazy if we can convince him to join our team). Rent a car.
>>
No. 316085 ID: 0d095c

>>316054
Wouldn't that be the same wizard whose glasses we shot off his face? I don't think "The Russians told me to" is going to work as an excuse. And before you say it, YES, I THINK HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO READ OUR MINDS AND FIND OUT.
>>
No. 316090 ID: 234c26

>>315955
>the Doonongaes weakness.... is the cold
Welp. I wonder if we can get a line on some liquid nitrogen. It'd cost us a few thousand dollars, but I bet we could buy some and rig up a grenade system with it- how harmful exactly it will be to the Doonongaes I don't know, but it would probably be worth a try. Likely to be better than frags, at any rate. Or perhaps we could manage some more expansive explosively cold situation; a bit of training in the fine goblin art of trap-setting could be of great use here.

>Saying nothing, she takes the phone from my hands. It takes all of ten minutes, during which she purposefully pitches her voice low and makes it hard as sin to overhear-before flipping the phone shut.
Keeping her conversations secret from us, how rude. We need to acquire sharper hearing somewhere.

>>316054
I would prefer not to tell Lo Fang much about the resolution of our gate problem, aside from that it is solved. He is a cold and calculating leader in spite of his usual friendly front, and we cannot forget that every bit of information about us he gets is information which he might use to exploit us. He is still several hundred thousand dollars in the red on his overall relationship with us; we cannot expect him to treat us with any generosity.

>heading off to New Zealand or Finland
I wonder, could we move to there through the nevernever? Might be expensive to get guide, but could be an awesome adventure and get us all kinds of supernatural experience.
>>
No. 316091 ID: 5409a3

Before you go on a road trip, go out shopping. You will need a mannequin, a set of clothing similar to some of what you already have, another orange tie, and a cheap generic Mosin. Dress the mannequin up like you and leave it behind in case of unfriendly people trying to pay you a call. Hang a sign with "GONE TO TIJUANA FOR TEQUILA AND BITCHES, FUCK YOU ALL AT THE NEXT DONKEY SHOW" on the dummy. Meanwhile make a half-assed effort at hiding a notepad with a fake plan to hole up in Smets' place on it, and tell Amen to, royally fuck up anyone who tries to get in due to following said fraudulent plan, in the most utterly cruel, sadistic, and disturbing ways he can think of.
>>
No. 316092 ID: 6d2351

we must get Savoys blood (and whatever else he let there) and exchange with SM for angel and queen blood
>>
No. 316103 ID: 0d095c

>>316091
This. This. THIS. Make this a habit, for whenever we go to another country. Someday, gods willing, we'll throw them off by actually GOING to Tijuana. The one Caveat I have, is that we should make sure that Amen doesn't kill any official members of the Turkish Police, Mafia, Triad, or others who are trying to CONTACT us. We'd be in DEEP SHIT if the Turkish Intelligence officers sent to nonviolently investigate our house were NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN.

Also, we should do this>>316092
>>
No. 316104 ID: 0d095c

Oh, and get Amen an Internet Connection or something. He must be REALLY bored all day, sitting in that house and being mysterious.
>>
No. 316115 ID: a76809

>>316045
[A very impressive mispelling of Akkorokamui]
>>
No. 316116 ID: 0d095c

>>316115
[Danke]
>>
No. 316122 ID: 252e1b

>>316020

Oh my god those puns completely suck, don't use those.

>>316012

Oh hey speaking of BC maybe we should tell Amen to make sure he's fed, watered, and comfortable. Since we, y'know, didn't. Being prevented from dying is not the same as being kept in relative comfort as a prisoner.

Anyway wouldn't a safer option be to get a fake identity through one of our less than legal contacts? Either the Triads or the Mafia, either of them should be quite capable of furnishing Armas with a fake ID and passport to clear the borders. We'd just need to pay for it in cash or barter.

>>316085

Yes it's the same man, but he may not think to even ask us ahead of time. Also, we took that job specifically because it called for no killing, period. Plus it was funny as hell. It's worth putting out feelers.

>>315994

Let's not condescend to him. Let's talk to him, make nice, and get the groundwork for a personal connection.

"So. First, let me ask if you need anything. Are you comfortable?"

"Alright. When the shooting started, you said you wanted us to have met under different circumstances. I am completely willing to go along with that. It was just a job, nothing personal. Olga and Smets are dead now."

"Savoy's playing his own weird game; he doesn't forget, so I'll give you some free information about him. He's got a bloodline that lets him teleport to any place he can clearly visualize. He's fantastic at using that for infiltrating and gathering intelligence. If you have anyone who can get you a new identity, now's the time to talk to them. I think he may try to track you down. Your name, appearance, and nationality would make it easy for him. Messing with your paper trail will help."

"If you get into another fight with Savoy, keep your eyes on him. He can't teleport away if he's being watched."

"He slipped my grasp because I was badly injured. He's got the entire mafia after him now, so hopefully they'll corner him before either of us has to deal with him again."

"I'm back on my feet because it's tough to keep a good man down. Seriously, that fight took a lot out of me."

"Just to satisfy my curiosity, how much was the price on my head anyway?"

>>315946

You are not alone! Romance is the last thing we should attempt with her, we've only known her for like a week and half. Let the friendship continue to develop. Armas has very few friends anyway, there's no reason to risk a perfectly good partnership and platonic friendship.

Besides that, pursuing romance with her is not really possible as long as she is dependent on Armas. She's far too independent a person to see a (fairly ham-handed) attempt at romance as anything but an attempt to exploit her right now.

>>315955

Real causally, next time we have a meal with Camella, ask her what she thinks of her new magic weapon. Offer to show her the Brandt file that's got information on it. Remind her Johaan can make special loads for it too. He'll need to take a look at it to pick the right magic for the bullets though.

The Doonongeas' vulnerability to the cold is interesting. Magic cold will help, but so will picking the right venue. Ice rinks and food packaging facilities come to mind.
>>
No. 316126 ID: b1f0e2

>>316103
you could order Aman to diplomatically turn away law enforcement, eliminate known enemies, and capture anyone else for later interrogation.
>>
No. 316222 ID: f8aa66

I have it on good authority that Big Crazy's player likes puns. "I understand you're still getting your bearings, but bear with me and no 'arm will come to you. Savoy has escaped; it's enought o give me paws. Boy, am I red in the face over that. I'm drawing a blank as to where he might be now but its time to saddle up and ride. I want to end him before he can do the same to me, and it came to be in a flash. I could use you; you have consider-a-bull talent. And you know he's gunning for the both of us. I could throw a few bucks your way if that would lift your spirits and make you more willing to stirrup trouble. It's a bit of a loaded question, but will you join me?"

Also, maybe take a step back, be glad we're alive after that clusterfuck. See if the nice old neighbor lady is in, spend an hour learning to bake cookies or something.
>>
No. 316223 ID: d3dfb8

rolled 73 = 73

Rolling for Savoy's next plan of action
>>
No. 316225 ID: 81f32a

If we are going anywhere. Lets go to Finland. I want to re-establish the connection with Ogrimmir, I miss that guy.
Stock up on magic meat jerky before going though.
>>
No. 316242 ID: 135880

>>316017
This.

Also, if we're rejecting the vampires offer, you should go for the most you can get. Say to the representative of the other family. "If you were prepared to pay for the Zosimus to be shamed for falling to enforce the results of available, how much more valuable is the opportunity to publicise that the Zosimus themselves can not be trusted to fulfill their obligations under it?"

If they agree to buy the information, then say, "I can provide testimony, with a guarantee that I speak true, that the representative the Zosimus had nominated to speak for them in this matter was actively involved in a plot to trap or kill me, well before I had a chance to face the Doonegeas."

Now, every word of that is the complete truth. It's a very selective telling, but given Savoy's previous form, the entire thing could have been a set up from the start.
>>
No. 316265 ID: 1be251

>>316085
You think we could shoot a wizard's glasses off and survive?! That was no wizard. That was just a guy who taught at a school the Wizard owns.

>>316242
If we do this, part of the deal should be that they play up Savoy's involvement in this. Get the Vampires to blame Savoy for this, so he has even more shit. If we don't do that, as a pit stop just as we leave for Finland, swing the Asitane, and ask someone someone to give an envelope to a one Cornelius Zosimus the next time he stops in. In it should be a letter in your finest handwriting that reads

"Dear Mr. Zosimus,

Thank for you sending me to a man who was working with a Galileo Savoy to kill me.

Love,
A little more than a napkin"

Amen gets an order to kill Savoy the moment he steps on the property. He also gets an order not to make any more deals with Savoy, because while they will inevitably screw him up, he might be able to do the same to us before that happens. Plus an order to throw something that only has Savoy's fingerprints on it, and is of little value to us, to the crime scene over by the church when no-one is looking and in a manner that can't be traced back to the Mansion.

Then we also send a letter to the germans letting them know that while we're not their fans and totally did everything Savoy said we did, he was the one who hired us to kill Brandt.
>>
No. 316266 ID: 856690

Remember before anything, sneak to Amen and ask her about herself, also Really need to talk to Big Crazy.
>>316020
This
>>316222
And that

>>316262
good, but lets do one better, we make it clear that Savoy was using Smets and wanted to kill smets, Also recognise that Smets wasn't beloved, but point out how Savoy was really snubbing all of Zosimus.

We want the Vamps after Savoy, detail the extent of his betrayal, noting how Smets was your contact and you'll need a new one, also make it clear that you killed smets before you knew he was your contact.

If telling them we killed him by having keihas eat him, might help, the do, if it won't then don't!

also you might want to plant a rumour in the Nazis that Savoy was the one who ordered Brandt's death, (truth in a way), get your Mafia friends to help there... they should have a few sleeper agents or something.

Also get in contact with Arkvad about Savoy, see if he has any idea/friends that would help.

Also meet with Sometimes Merchant and talk about dealing with Savoy see if you can bit savoy remains from Amen for this, make some nasty hunting monsters or something.

SM should also be able to hook you up with some supernatural hitmen or merc, hire a few to take on Savoy, also see about a general bounty on his head, something not too high or low...

The plan is simple, the plan is to make a really hard time for Savoy, then we rig our places and vanish form Istanbul for finland for a while.

Also dem Triads, they do not like Savoy either, follow that on.

Also as a show of friendliness to the wolves warn them of Savoy.

Now get on MD auction, this might lure Doony or Savoy, but lets make an interesting idea, the person who buys the MD has to use it agianst Savoy! anyway you need to talk to SM about the auction the get admittion fee sercery and all, make it clear it is an oppertunity for your own profit and his.

Now Road trip...
Bring Keihas and the mere, and infact a number of weapons, have Camella do the stashing in the vehicle and also, get over borders without being caught, or Fake idents and disguises from Criminal contacts Also make sure that everyone who needs to know you are vanishing knows and those who don't , don't know. SM in particular need to do something about food deals, halt them or have them follow you. Don't go before doing all this and the stuff above.

Now upvotes:
>>316091
>>316103
This, we really don't want messed up there, but it is too good of an idea not to use, see about getting some supernatual nasties to come out on the trigger too.

>>316017
This, combine with other suggestions, especailly the bit about Ito. ON the wolf ploy, go straight to the Vamps with the info afterwards. And sell the info to the weres first remember, and get them to say Savoy boasted to them of how he played the vampires, if they don't do that, tell the vamps the weres said that anyway.

>>316012
Due levels of paraniona
>>
No. 316291 ID: c6ce12

If we're going to sell the Mammon's Device let's do it right. Get down to the alley and into the sewers to talk to the Sometimes Merchant. Explain to him we're of the mind to sell the Mammon's Device and we have a proposal that could make this endeavor very profitable for the both of us. We would like him to hold an auction for the gun, drum up attention for our deal, and take in and inform us of bids made for the item and the people tied to them. We do require they keep our identity a secret for the obvious reasons. Where they get something out of this starts with being able to charging admission for any interested bidders under the guise of ascertaining people both serious about buying. Also make note that this is as much advertizing for the goblins as it is for us, they can use this to draw attention towards other deals they would wish to make with interested parties. In fact this not only draws attention for their deals, but it makes a very nice statement towards the trading power of his people by having such a wonderful item being brokered through them. And not only will this be a valuable deal in ways of advertizing, but it provides an excellent opportunity for information gathering. People will make bids and their bids will reveal to the goblins valuables possessed by parties they may have been unaware of previously, in essence they will have dozens of powerful people freely offering information which they would otherwise have to work or pay for. What they don't reveal freely in the form of bids could also be collected, no doubt people there will talk and with the goblins stealth they could glean much from the potential buyers. We do of course want to be informed of any information they glean that could be of use to us as part of the deal.

Once we're done with the goblins we can head out to see Johan Straus, he had some interesting offers for what we could convert the rounds into so we can use them after the device has been sold. I'm thinking we take the offer he had for the Matebas. It seems like one tailored to our situation, previously there were complaints about the Mammon Device's lack of subtly, the pure Death scheme gives us this and all we lose is a bit of power. The effect is also particularly nice, all it takes is six bullets to form a ward that exposes a soul to harm. This is amazing considering it could allow us to hurt enemies we might not normally be able to, even with something like the AA-12. The total cost for the changes to the rounds and to the gun so it can fire the rounds was thirty thousand. We were just informed that Amen freed up twenty-nine thousand from Smets' accounts. It seems like it would be simple enough to haggle him down couple thousand or only purchase six sets of six rounds and then pay him with the money we just got freed up. And while we're at it ask him if he has anything for teleporters or creatures vulnerable to cold. He should have something for both, but the former will probably be something considerably expensive whereas the latter is a rather simple weakness and we could probably make rounds our self, but it never hurts to ask. Who knows? He might surprise us with something.

While we're out we might as well get all the fake documentation needed to leave the country. Get back home and rig up some luggage with fake compartments we could use in case we need to hide anything. Maybe call up Arkvad, he has a job and he probably can't come, but he at least should know a couple people we might want to visit while we're in the homeland. Ask him if there's anything we could bring back for him, maybe a special food he can't get over here. Then try to get the house ready, pack up all our books, files, intelligence and whatever else we have in the ways of documents. In particular I do not want to leave that book of notes on goblin stealth for one of Savoy's goons to find, we should either burn that thing or give/sell it to someone we know won't be able to use it against us. Once all the information in the house is away we need to get our food in order, see if we can't stick our head down the sewer and get Sometimes Merchant to change the location where it's delivered to the fridge in Ito's gym or to Arkvad's house with a note that says not to eat it in English. Finish up by cleaning the place down and making sure we didn't leave much to identify the place as ours.

The next day we should check out how the goblin's auction has been going. We'll want to see the witch if it's been going on well, use the address we were given to go to her home. We have a great deal to discuss with her.



>>316017
>You should ask Ito whether the chakra training would perhaps go more smoothly without all the living energy of the people of Istanbul around us. you should then ask him if he would like to accompany us on a training trip. you're going on a long drive, and you would be very happy for him to accompany us, and do some training in the great outdoors. I'm sure he's had a pretty stressful time of it, setting up a new dojo at his age, and the break will be good for him as well. He doesn't need to come with us all the way, of course, but you'd be honoured by his presence.
Down-voting this, you can't really expect him to do come with us. The man has a school to run, one he can't even afford to keep at the current number of students, he can't just run off on the others for an indeterminate amount of time. It's not good for the dojo and by extension us as we need him to have one so we can continue learning. Sure having him come with us would be nice and we might get to learn a little on the way, but in the long term it doesn't really help us out. Getting him to go only part of the way with us is just irritating if we intend to drive there in a rented car, we would have to arrange for transport back possibly across several borders.

>>316091
This is some good stuff, up-voting. I do hope Amen gives us a log of suckers who fell for the ploy and what became of them, could be an interesting read.

>>316104
Giving an entity of great and terrible power like Amen access to the internet is an...interesting idea.

>>316222
>Also, maybe take a step back, be glad we're alive after that clusterfuck. See if the nice old neighbor lady is in, spend an hour learning to bake cookies or something.
A big yes to saying hello to the old neighbor lady. I wonder if those pages of the cookbook we got have a recipe for a nice casserole we could make her?

>>316242
>>316265
Up-voting these and up-voting hard.

>>316266
>SM should also be able to hook you up with some supernatural hitmen or merc, hire a few to take on Savoy, also see about a general bounty on his head, something not too high or low...
This is interesting and brings an idea to mind. We should try to work a way into getting one of the factions that is pissed at Savoy to hire Blackbeard to work against him. Get that potential threat off our ass and move him onto Savoy. It would be a win for us either way the contest goes.

>Now get on MD auction, this might lure Doony or Savoy, but lets make an interesting idea, the person who buys the MD has to use it agianst Savoy! anyway you need to talk to SM about the auction the get admittion fee sercery and all, make it clear it is an oppertunity for your own profit and his.
A big no the first part. It greatly reduces the value of the device when one attaches such a big string to it and we could go for having several interested people to none in no time.
>>
No. 316315 ID: b1f0e2

>>316291
excellent ideas. A few refinements.
1. Sell the goblins the memories of the true potential of the gun, they could then sell that to whomever buys it.
2. Sell with the gun contact info of a person who can make those super demon bullets.
2a. Caveats for #2: First get in touch with the guy and:
A. Ask if its ok
B. Work it into asking for a discount on the mateba modification on the grounds of hooking him up with a new customer.

Ask if goblins or the guy who makes demon bullets can make bullets with a freezing enchantment. :)

>Teleporting
Since teleporting would be exceedingly expensive I imagine, ask for any alternative and discreet methods of fast travel. A way to travel to the other side of the world discreetly in a few hours (shadowwalking or whatever) would be awesome as well and probably a lot cheaper.

Another thing you can do is ask for information of where and how you can acquire such abilities. Specifically, are there lost artifacts guarded by monsters which you can defeat and claim? How about teachers? etc.

>SM halo is an angel's halo he won in a bet
It occurs to me, SM actually has contacts with angels... Lets ask him if he can introduce us. Its one more force to make deals with, and besides if we consider carmella's reaction to mammon I believe she would be happier making deals with the nicer supernaturals.
>>
No. 316332 ID: f8aa66

>>316265
I still think we can play both ends against the middle and not piss off either vampires or wolves, but I have to admit, this is a very Armas thing to do.

>>316315
Not a bad idea, selling the memory of how the Embrace works and the number of the Demonologist (with his permission), but the goblins, strictly speaking, wouldn't be selling the device. They would be our guarantors, assisting in our private auction and a group that people know hold to all deals, thus ensuring the Device's authenticity. We wouldn't be selling the Device to the goblins to sell to other people.
>>
No. 316335 ID: 835a2d

>the nicer supernaturals.

THe angels this is referring to could easily be the floating-wheels-of-eyes, shit-your-pants-in-terror angels.
>>
No. 316337 ID: 856690

Ok here is an idea for dealing with some of Savoy's junk.
First, we frame him for the stuff in the church and Smet's place, do it ourselves or get Amen to do it.
Then after that we go to the vampires, tell of Savoy's betrayal, play up that Smets dying(your contact) was His fault, and that he was basically snubbing the vamps. swear an oath you won't say a word of this to anyone else. Then go to wolves, have Amen play back Savoy's words, warn them that Savoy is dishonourable backstabbing swine. Also put it into their heads that the vamps will lose face if they kill Savoy, if they capture him, then the vamps will have to beg/give them things for him.

This connects with the other plans of dealing with Vamps and Werewolves.

>>316335
Well yeah, but Camella would still feel better and think of it this way, Savoy is into demons and whatnot so a bit of holy power wouldn't go astray.

I am in support of trying to get Holy contacts. We need a priest who is involved with the supernatural, SM might know something.
>>
No. 316351 ID: 15216f

So, this could be our chance to find out about angels--

But I really think we need to strengthen our Winter bond. I say we go to Finland.
>>
No. 316381 ID: a76809

>[TO THOSE THAT THINK THE RUSSIAN JOB INVOLVED SHOOTING AT A WIZARD: SEE DISCUSSION THREAD http://quest.lv/kusaba/questdis/res/347115.html]

>>315994
>>316012
I consider what to do-and leave Camella to the papers as I move. Not much for it-if I call the house again, it could look suspicious to anyone that pulls the call record-so I head over to the house, and after waiting for half an hour find a chance to enter the house unobserved, careful to touch nothing. The moment I step onto the house grounds officially-a voice is heard.

>[Amen]"Hm, hm hm-The investigation still alights upon this house, oh master of mine-is it your intent to risk capture?"
"No-but I had some things to discuss with you. For one-I'm going on a trip soon, and in the interim people I have approved may be coming to meet with you. So unless something or someone offers you purposeful harm, be a courteous, non-violent host to them."
>[Amen]"Well well well-That can most certainly be done."
"Next, I want every gun of Smets' collection save the AVT-40 promised to me, and the weapons promised to the real individuals Olga and the fellow you have incapacitated all brought into the sewers without anyone noticing, to be given to the goblins living below-only give them to one that can confirm they are associated with the Sometimes Merchant."
>[Amen]"The guns of my prior master's collection save the four named will be distributed so."
"I'll need to speak with the captive-"
>[Amen]"Oh, oh oh? I shall need to rouse him-currently the captive mortal is unconscious."
"...You have been feeding him, giving him water, all of that.. right?"
>[Amen]"I was merely asked to capture and keep alive-not make comfortable."
"...Okay-well, take me where he is-"
The world blurs around me-and I'm in a concrete cellar with no doors, the man I originally knew as lock bound in barbed chains to the wall, sigils inscribed into the walls around him, his breathing labored-but even. I note Amen to be standing next to me, still dressed in the crisp orange pinstriped suit.
>>316337
>[MMM Trait activated]
"Answer me this-do you know enough of modern day forensics that you can leave evidence within this house such that the next round of investigation would then have reason to believe Galileo Savoy responsible for the shootings across the street?"
As I speak, I hear the bound man groaning, starting to wake up.
>[Amen]"Of course."
"I need to talk with our friend here-please busy yourself setting that up whilst I do so, and come get me when I call for you."
Amen bows, a tidy smirk pained across that ashen face.
>[Amen]"Of course, master."
Amen vanishes without so much as a breeze or sound-

Leaving me alone with my would-be assassin, who ended up aiding me far more than any assassin worth the name should. How to approach this... As his black eyes open and focus on me, I come to a conclusion.
>[DDDD Trait activated]
"So-I happen to know of your contract with Olga Brandt-now deceased. Is there anything you would care to tell me of your own free will?"
For a while the man says nothing, bound to the wall-but finally he acts.
>[BC]"Name's Big Crazy-I'm a mercenary, which I imagine could describe you as well."
"Go on."
>[BC]"Nah- 'afore I go further, I'd like an assurance that I'm not making the whole information extraction job easier for you for nothing."
"You are in no position to haggle."
>[BC]"Maybe. Or maybe you'd be surprised how hard it is to get information from me I don't want to give."
"A possibility-what did Olga tell you of me, before you agreed to this job on my life?"
>[BC]"That cunt? Said you killed someone she respected."
"I did kill a prominent neo-Nazi she and her husband followed-so completely accurate."
>[BC]"'Scuse me?"
"Oh, you did not know your employer was a neo-Nazi?"
The bound man stares at me in silence for a handful of seconds, the gears in his mind whirling-
>[BC]"...Shit. Even best case scenario, having that in my job history would fuck me."
"Hence why if you answer my questions, the nature of your past employer, the job uncompleted-remain our little secret, and your reputaion goes untarnished. Surely that would interest you."
>[BC]"Depends if I survive the conversation."
"Provide me all the information I request-and so long as you swear to not make further attempts on my life, I will let you go."
>[BC]"And why should I believe that?"
"Look at it this way-while you were hired to kill me, you did not shoot at me, but at one of my enemies-in fact, despite your job our interactions have been quite non-antagonistic-thus far. Based on this-I see no reason to not let you go if you are cooperative."
>[BC]"....Okay, so what do you want?"
"Was it Olga that hired you?"
>[BC]"No-old man Bob was contacted by an old friend, passed the job on to me-with no mention of the nature of the employers as Hitler fans."
"The job?"
>[BC]"To impersonate a Mr. Locke until such time as the target-you-could be lead into a trap and killed."
"The trap being this house?"
>[BC]"..We're still in that Smets guy's house?"
"Largely."
>[BC]"Then yes."
"Who were you working with concerning this trap-beyond Olga?"
>[BC]"The fucker that shot me-he arranged the trap-and now I know why-fuckin' asshole."
"Do you know his name?"
>[BC]"Guy that shot me? No."
"His name is Galileo Savoy."
>[BC]"If I get out of here, I'll be sure to remember it. ....Italian?"
"Correct. How much were you paid?"
>[BC]"Ten up front, forty on completion-and I sure as shit am not getting that forty."
"Glad to see you recognize that. Frankly, I've got a lot more problems than you right now. One of the larger ones is one we share- Galileo Savoy."
>[BC]"Didn't off him after I passed out then?"
"He is notoriously hard to make stay still. So... here's the deal. I'm letting you go."
>[BC]"The catch?"
"If you still want to, track me down again and we'll have ourselves a gentlemanly duel. If you want to try and take on Savoy again, give me a call."
>[BC]"A-huh. And the catch?"
"There is none-you did yourself a great service behaving as you did in that job's endgame. Shortly I will have Amen release you-and you can be on your way."
>[BC]"You keeping my Doorbell?"
"..Do you reference that Mare's Leg of yours? No, that shall be returned to you as well."
>[BC]"I don't like asking this, but I have to-you're going to let someone hired to kill you walk away-just like that?"
"Just like that."
>[BC]"...Suddenly I don't feel so bad about my living conditions the last bit. I actually had one more question, then."
"I may answer."
>[BC]"You going to try to kill Savoy?"
"Count on it."
>[BC]"Then I'd like to help you-got this thing where I really don't like betrayel-and I can't complain to Olga about being hired to help neo-Nazis, so... well, I have to lay my complaints at someone's feet."
"I am taking a brief trip-when I return, we can discuss that, if you truly mean it."
>[BC]"How would I contact you?"
"Simply speak with this house's butler-he can inform me of your desire to meet, when I return-but I warn you, Savoy is not so kindly as I am."
>[BC]"Which is why he needs to die-I get the feeling he'll see me as a loose end in need of tidying."
"Perhaps. Amen!"
>[Amen]"Yes, master?"
"Please release Big Crazy and return his belongings to him in a place where he can exit the grounds, please."
>[Amen]"Done."
And so it is-the chains hang loose on the engraved walls.
"Now, please return to me my rifle Keihäs"
>[Amen]"Done."
I can feel the sling hanging over my shoulder-and I still don't detect a whit of attention on me.
"Great-continue to keep the few guns I named out of the collection and the rest of my belongings hidden and safely stored until such time I ask for them-actually, if you can repair the arm to it's pristine, unmarred state that would be ideal."
>[Amen]"I can fulfill such a function-yes, yes, yes I can."
"Do you have access to contacts amongst the rest of the Zosimus dynasty?"
>[Amen]"Indeed-indeed, indeed I do, master."
"Please inform them that Savoy tricked Smets and two other parties into having a three-way altercation, with the hope of being the last one standing-imply that it seems very likely he was after your ownership."
>[Amen]"They shall be informed."
Well-between the Zosimus dynasty, the police and the mafia-Savoy has just a few collectives seeking him out now-hopefully that can keep him quite occupied.
"Last thing-when turning over the weapons to the goblins in the sewers, also provide, at my behest, whatever is left of Savoy's manhood-tell them of its source, and explain they are free to use it as they wish."
The goblins seem to hate Savoy thanks to his ancestry,maybe they could be a fourth party hounding him.
>[Amen]"Understood-and obeyed."
>>316017
"Do you have means of contacting the Muburak clan?"
>[Amen]"That is likewise within my capabilities."
"Then please introduce yourself to their matron Witch, explain you are calling on my behalf, and that I would be most amenable to discussing trade, such that she gets access to your skills and abilities. If she wishes to discuss details, she can leave a direct contact number with you-or contact me herself, if she so chooses."
>[Amen]"She will be informed."
"If anyone comes looking for me, or information on me, you are not to provide it to them unless I personally clear the individual in question."
>[Amen]"Understood... understood understood."
"Oh-as you get money freed up from Smets estate, please transfer it into this account-as discreetly as possible, I wish no overt money trail to officially link me to Smets just yet."
>[Amen]"Requests, requests requests-all heard, all fulfilled."
"Excellent-please relocate me to the house proper-"
I'm standing on the second floor, Amen still before me.
"Well-you have tasks set before you, and I shall leave you to them-call me if something of note occurs."
Amen merely bows-and I vacate the premises, taking twenty minutes to get away from the crime scene, not a single person spotting me.


That... didn't take very long, but a great deal was set in motion. Now... what next?

-Scratch that, someone's attention is on me-I track that focus back to its source-Big Crazy, leaning against the alleyway.
"Something more you needed?"
>[BC]"As it happens-I don't have a passport with me-nor do I have the funds on hand to quitely make my way back home."
"And?"
>[BC]"I seem to be in need of money or connections."
"I have both-why should I offer either?"
>[BC]"You shouldn't-but let me tag along on your 'excursion' and I imagine I can prove you should help me out."
"Is that a bet?"
>[BC]"It's a guarantee."
.....
>[MMM Trait activated]
"Accepted, then-just be aware that Amen knows you now-and I would not recommend trying to hurt that one's master."
>[BC]"Read you loud and clear."
I jot down the location of a lot within a block of my apartment.
"Okay then... meet me at this location at..." I glance at my watch "Five pm."
>[BC]"I'll be there."

I fade into the crowd-and feel Big Crazy's attention slip away from me.
>>316054
...There is another group I could set upon Savoy. So I call my triad contact, and ask to speak with Lo Fang. I get connected-and I tell him everything. I tell him about my 'gate' issue being resolved, I tell him about Savoy's severance of ties with the mafia and exceissively duplicitous actions at Smets' abode-I explain that the police will shortly be looking for him in connection to the event-and that's on top of the mafia and quite likely a Vampire Dynasty. I explain that I heard of Savoy's attempt on his life-and thought Lo Fang would like to be informed. After I finish my information dump, there is a pause long enough I wonder if I was disconnected without noticing, but finally-
>[LF]"...It would seem Labombard was most correct: That event in the healing room was isolated. I find I must thank you for this information-for it most CERTAINLY is relevant to me."
"One more thing-I've been contracted to kill the Doonongaes by a certain date-and after my current errands, I would most appreciate some assistance on the matter."
>[LF]"I shall inform Go Ping, Long Wang and Diao Yuan that May Lee's killer is soon to be hunted-I make no promises on whether they shall choose to aid you-unless, of course, you are looking to purchase assistance?"
"Maybe when I get back."
>[LF]"As I suspected-I imagine we will be speaking more regularly very shortly, Mr. Laine. Until then."
>>316016
>>316090
"Actually-one thing I DO want to discuss purchasing."
>[LF]"Yes?"
"Would you be able to procure some sort of liquid nitrogen grenades? I will need something very... cold when I do hunt the Doonongaes."
>[LF]"Why not ask me on your return-I am certain I will have a conclusive answer for you then."
*click*
Okay-Mafia, Goblins, Vampire Dynasty, Police AND the Triads-have fucking fun, Savoy you shit-eating asshole.



>>316091
>>316103
A plan comes to me-a plan that requires me to hit quite a few different shops-all of it ending with me picking up a mannequin.

[FUNDS:----- US$000,099,699.56]

I assemble my purchases-I scribble down a note in sharpee-and soon enough I have.... me. I've dressed the mannequin up in a cheap pimp's costume, like those I always laughed at back in the states-complete with a neon orange tie. I put the nonfunctioning Mosin Nagant Model 1891/30, complete with a dull bayonet, in the figure's hands-and smirk at the writing on its blank face:

GONE TO TIJUANA FOR TEQUILA AND BITCHES, SEE YOU AT THE DONKEY SHOW

I then check the inside of the breast pocket, the tiny parchment reading:

Camella, too dangerous-at Smets.

Amen won't tell them shit-so they'll have a dead end, and time wasted. Something more.. drastic may be more entertaining-but could earn me a whole mess more enemies without much gain for me.

As I arrive back home, setting up the mannequin directly before the front door, as visible as possible. From there, I slowly turn to Camella, who has been pointedly staring at me since the moment I walked in, mannequin in hand.

"As it happens I have a vacation upcoming. Have to leave a little something in case anyone comes knocking in my absence."
>[Camella]"Somehow I get the feeling you are not going to Tijuana."
>[DDDD Trait activated]
"Indeed not-I go to Finland, actually-been planning one of those 'explore your roots' trips for quite some time-I'm sure you can understand the impetus to know more about one's blood."
For once I seem to catch her off-guard-and the irritation bleeds away from her face, replaced with understanding and pain-
>[RAPID RATIONALISM Trait activated]
-Her lost family-the world she can never see again-I made her think about it.... crap. Okay-
"Do you want to come? You don't have to answer now, not leaving JUST yet-going to Ito's, right now. Want to go there, and think about the other one?"
>[Camella]"Pushy, pushy-fine, let us go to Ito's-I could do with a workout."

At Ito's, turns out the whole gang is there-Ahmad, Hadar, Shaya, Yoni, Hafaz-all drilling in Jukenjitsu. At our arrival we get a welcome warmer than any since Hafaz first began to suspect me-and shortly enough Camella has got them all riled up, a furious set of unstructured sparring breaking out-she wasn't kidding, she's practically trying to beat each and every one of them into the ground-well, works for me. I use the distraction to step into a private room with Ito-and resume my training on the nature of Chakras.

Lessons seem to have been radically revamped-my meditation is now exertion, my body spread eagle, only hands and feet on tiny handles, suspending my bodyweight in the air-with burning hot stones placed on my back, my neck, even my skull-seven stones, for the seven chakras. Ito lectures me, periodically quizzing me as he without warning lashes out with a reed whip-the goal being to focus on his words so well that despite my strain I remain in position. At first I fall time and again-but my magical saturation from constant meals of otherworldly origin, my decades spent tirelessly stalking under goblin tutelage each behoove me-and I start being able to answer his questions. The Muladhara, the Root Chakra-it lies in my prostate, beneath the burning stone resting on my pelvis. The Swadisthana, the Sacral chakra, lies in the tail of my spine, a burning stone resting atop it. The Manipura-the Solar Plexus chakra-I feel the stone burning through my back, reaching out towards a place near my navel. The Anahata, the Heart Chakra-I feel the stone's heat reaching about my spine and between my ribs, questing for my core. Vishuddha, the Throat Chakra-the stone resting over the span of two cervical vertebra makes my neck feel like molten fire. Ajna, the Third Eye Chakra, a stone on the back of my head reaching for my brow. Lastly... the Sahasrara, the Crown Chakra-the stone's heat boiling my scalp over the space that, when I was an infant, was called the soft spot. On and on it goes, him naming each of the seven Chakras, describing the segment of the body they lay in, and quizzing me as I strain myself into stillness, heat pouring through my body.

As the lesson progresses.. it shifts, attaining new facets. He begins to describe the sensation of energy within each chakra, the varying nuances he was taught and has experienced, implacably keeping the stones upon me piping hot. After four hours of this-he exits the room, leaving me in silence with no company save myself. I couldn't say how long he was gone-I was far too busy differentiating between absorbed heat... and Ito's description of energy. Something... I can feel it, some force, a pinprick of energy here and there...which ones? Where? I keep focusing, my breathing steady, my body rigid-as I start naming those perceived energies. Swadhisthana.....Vishuddha.... and Sahasrara. I feel something... more, than the heat that should burn yet doesn't. I carefully let myself down, stand, stretching as the stones clatter to the ground, the heat fading-

Yet the sense of those three chakra's remaining. I exit the room-to find Ito pushing me back within. He sits me down-and we converse. He changed the lessons because it seemed to suit my style more-and as a result, three of the chakra's along my my median line fitfully awoke. He goes on to say I should do no more lessons on the subject-until I can find a way of tapping the energies of the chakras yet active. He tells me that the method is something I will have to come to myself-even as he notes it interesting that I learned far more swiftly from the original lessons than the ones Ito himself learned from.

I duck out of the gym, with the time approaching five, and head off to my rendevous. I am greeted with a gun tossed my way-a Tokerov with a blood-stained muzzle and the faint sense of magic. Big Crazy calls it an axe-burier for us-and says he would be happy to go on the trip.

I make some plans with him-and head back to Ito's gym, joining the rest in the still continuing but now far more structured fighting taking place within. This continues for some time-before my phone rings.

I excuse myself from the continued spars and answer.
"Armas-"
>[Cornelius Zosimus]"I have only one question for you, so think carefully before answering: What happened to Amen?"
>[MMM Trait activated]
"Still bound-currently listening to me."
>[CZ]"....Very well then. It would seem you will need a new contact-I shall send it shortly. ...Thank you for the name of the party responsible for this."
I can feel him moving to hang up-
>>316265
And am seized in a fey mood.
"Mr. Zosimus: Thank for you sending me to a man who was working with Savoy to kill me. Really, compliments from a little more than a napkin"
>[CZ]"Wha-"
"We'll be in touch."
*click*
Maybe not my most brilliant move... but hey, at least for the moment my plans aren't biting me in the ass-so I figure I'm doing okay. And I got to mouth off to him. Always nice.

>>316291
After the lessons are concluded-at least for Camella and Me-culminating in us leaving, I bring my goblinic training hours up to forty eight-
And ask to speak with the Sometimes Merchant. I explain that I want to hold an auction for Mammon's Device-and sell to the goblins the memories of how Mammon offered me a means of more fully tapping the greed based powers within-which they can then sell to the highest bidder. Sometimes Merchant notes that for a respectable attendance-a crowd that could push the price to suitable levels in bidding wars-would take some time to set up-many of those who would be interested in such an item have... rather irregular schedules. Making them match up will be difficult-and pricey. I note how I provided Galileo's balls to them-and Sometimes Merchant, his mask switching back to the gleeful visage, relents. Well, got that pending now.

I head back home.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27th, 2010


The day dawn as most do-with a caveat. Camella says nothing over breakfast-right until we are finishing.
>[Camella]"...I don't think I want to go with you-I need to get my affairs, such as they are, in order-the gold needs to be liquidated-and I think I could work at Ito's as an assistant instructor-he implied such. Maybe next time?"
"If that's how you feel. Will you be staying-"
>[Camella]"At his place-I want nothing to do with your purusuers-or what they'll do when they see your taunt."
"What, it's a good idea. Call me if something happens, okay?"
>[Camella]"Wait, you're leaving today?"
"Probably. Oh, mind checking the mail while I'm out? Looking for something from either a Mr. Jagda or Labombard. Call me if they write?"
>[Camella]"...Sure."
She looks for a moment as if she is going to say more, then-
>[Camella]"Are you taking the van?"
"Nah-you can hold onto the Right Laine. Don't want to give them something easily tracked like that. Besides, you need wheels too."
>[Camella]"...Thank you."
She gets up rather swiftly-moving to collect her things and get ready to move house-as I go through my mental inventory-I have my Matebas-I'll swing by the storage and reclaim the judges-and I have Keihas. That should be good for a little trip, with no intention of killing anyone. ..Oh right, I'll have the Buntline too.

I trot off,, making my stops-before bringing the three MD rounds I hadn't brought on the mission with me to Johan's after calling ahead-and give him the Matebas, the twenty grand in check for retooling each to take converted MD rounds-with five thousand covering the conversion of the three rounds I brought into eighteen rounds set between three speed loaders. He says he'll be done in a day-

[FUNDS:----- US$000,074,699.56]


Which is my cue to call Big Crazy with the number he gave me-and ask if he has a car. He notes Olga had a car.

Even better, I find out that my minifridge fits inside of it-along with my cutlery and cooking utensils. With that established...


And just like that, my roadtrip to Finland with Big Crazy, a man who was originally hired to kill me... begins.
>>
No. 316401 ID: b1f0e2

I am starting to feel bad for savoy... Which means we still haven't gone far enough :P
>>
No. 316402 ID: f8aa66

>>316401
Give him a little while, I'm sure he'll up his own levels of trollishness to counter ours.
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