Mark 2011/05/06(Fri)18:02 No. 301978 ID: a9ba96
File 130473014201.png - (81.34KB , 873x1089 , Dungeoncrawlers001.png )

Oh! And, uh... I found this... this nice looking... thing. Loot is always good for an adventurer, regardless of the outcome of his quest, right?

If I were to grade this particular escapade from a completely objective standpoint, I would probably give myself uh... a "C-."

Well, a "C."

Sell your story to a wandering bard who does weekly comic strips for a barely-read newspaper. You look like the type.

I give you an F for utter failure. You killed the people you were supposed to save, and now you're trying to justify your fuck-up. You're a couple of steps from being an utter heel, but your moral compass is obviously not completely broken so maybe a failing grade will be a wake up call.

Go see who you can save from that mess.

>>301978
Dude you failed more than would normally be possible. Well, if you were EVIL this would be a success. I recommend leaving the scene of the crime... unless... Well, are you sure everyone is dead already? You could look for survivors, or someone to rescue.

Make up for it.

Negligent homicide of an entire village is still something you are very likely to be sentenced to hang from the nuts until dead for, how far gone are you to assign this anything but a F- in heroics?
It is a C-, or maybe even as much as a C in being a raider and warlord though. The problem is that you did not loot before burning. But taking out a whole village by yourself is still a special mention as a raider, even if the profit is low. It'll help you be feared and hated by anybody who knew this village existed.

Anonymous 2011/05/06(Fri)18:52 No. 301995 ID: a9ba96
File 130473317654.png - (138.90KB , 1052x1569 , Dungeoncrawlers002.png )

Oh hey. You talk. That's interesting, haven't seen that before.

>>301983
Unfortunately, there isn't much of a story to tell that hasn't been told countless times over. Got tired of life as a common beggar in the Capitol of Egias, decided to make it big as an adventurer. Quester. Dungeon Crawler, if you will. Seemed like a better life than a street urchin.

First few ventures into the world of adventure have been... of varying success. This being the worst, of course.

>>301995
Maybe you should start a bit slower? Hunt down some exceedingly large rats?

Mark 2011/05/06(Fri)19:00 No. 302005 ID: a9ba96
File 130473360879.png - (140.39KB , 713x1267 , Dungeoncrawlers003.png )

>>301984
>>301987
>>301994

Oh. You're uh, you're harsh, too. I was kind of hoping for a talking orb that gave me compliments, would have been good for morale while out adventuring, but this works too.

If you really must know, the Goblin locked himself inside of his little Goblin shack, so I decided to set the thing ablaze to drive him out.

Results were... different than I expected.

I'm pretty sure that everyone who was going to make it out alive is out by now, town's been burning for quite some time now. I was contemplating going back in, but I saw Paladins coming over the hills and I think if there is anyone left in that town, they'll be able to handle it. That's what Paladins are for, when they aren't getting in the way of a good adventure. Best go, in case they want to ask questions.

I wouldn't worry much about gaining any infamy from this. Village was in the outlands between Egias and Farway, one of the settlements that broke off for one reason or another. Place isn't under the authority of either kingdom, so it's not like I'll have to worry about the royal guard or anything coming after me.

Don't worry about it too much. It was an outland village. Probably Drow sympathizers or something. We'll have plenty of time to correct this!

Look, we are an artifact of perspective, many voices can speak to you from it and give you much useful advice and knowledge. We're pretty close to useless if you're not honest with yourself and honest with us though, and if you lack strength of will and clarity of insight our aid can be a Faustian bargain.
What is your goal? We can handle more than one but with less than one we will consume your soul. If it's not a very good one we'll gnaw on it very slowly in a way that leaves you a tortured wreck long before we're done.

>>302005

F minus! No, wait, F Minus MINUS! A double minus!

How long have you been a hero anyway?

Okay I kind of think you should sell us to some good-looking adventurer/adventuress and go back to being a commoner.

>>302005
Alright, let's jet. Where can we go now?

Yeah are you sure you want to be an adventurer? How about you find a nice place with easy access to lots of stuff and you become like, I dunno, a merchant or something safe?

>>302005
Eh, atleast you tried. But consider the possibilities of arson in the future. Don't set fire to things unless you're sure it won't spread or you don't have a problem with it spreading. Sucks about your pay though, and with those paladins there you can't sneak in to take anything unburnt as payment.

But it's best to look at the future then and move on. To areas where an adventurer can make some cash, you know places with villages that are standing and maybe a kobold problem or two. Some place that will appreciate your talents. So lets not look back or play the blame game. Let's look forward and consider new possibilities!

>>302005
Interesting to note, gold silver and copper doesn't burn, they only melt. So if they 'had' monetary recompense still in there, it will be there after the fire is gone (albeit in a somewhat melted state.)

>>302237

The silver will be tarnished, and both sorts of metals will be sooty beyond recognition. Of course, they'll need those funds to live on while they rebuild their village. That you burned down.

>>302005
So, you took a job assassinating a minority, chased your fleeing victim into to their home, and burned them alive. Due to sheer negligence you then murdered every innocent man, woman, and child in the area, and are now fleeing before the authorities arrive.

Did you even consider other methods? Such as, perhaps, talking the goblin into leaving? Bribing them?
Obviously the goblin wasn't breaking any laws, as otherwise the paladins would have already dealt with it. You were hired to murder an innocent person, and ended up murdering many innocent people.

You don't even feel guilty about what you did. You don't even feel guilty that you don't feel guilty. You are a terrible, terrible person. You monster.

>>302297
I see no problems with any of that.

Mark 2011/05/07(Sat)17:25 No. 302363 ID: a9ba96
File 130481431351.png - (102.38KB , 464x584 , dungeoncrawlers004.png )

>>302017
>>302297

Hey now, mister angry necklace orb thing, before we start playing “Mark is a terrible person,” let me explain a few things.

First of all, I wasn’t hired to assassinate an innocent person. It was a goblin, even if it hadn’t been stealing from the village butcher who hired me and threatening to kill his wife, it was probably up to no good anyway. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been outside of the forest.

Second, people tend to ask adventurers to do things they don’t want paladins to deal with, not necessarily because it’s an evil job, but because there’s too many risks asking Paladins to help your town considering that most paladins are fucking nuts. Sure, maybe the butcher could have asked paladins to smite the goblin for him, but maybe the paladins would have decided to smite half the village afterwards because they were judged to be unclean.

And third, the aforementioned paladin issue is exactly why I’m getting the hell out of here. They won’t want to hear my story; I’ll probably only get as far as “I set the town on fire” before they drive a holy blade of holiness through my chest.

I've been at this about two and a half years, to answer that question. Still a "fresh" adventurer, all things considered. Plenty of time for you guys to help get me on the right track.
>>302076
>>302030

You know, I’ve considered it. I really have. It’s why in recent months I’ve been keeping all of my adventuring a few days away from the border of Egias, in case I decide to give it all up and go back. Sure, maybe being a merchant or a blacksmith gives you safety, but do you know what it doesn’t give you?

Mark 2011/05/07(Sat)17:28 No. 302364 ID: a9ba96
File 130481451904.png - (448.59KB , 781x639 , dungeoncrawlers005.png )

A legacy. A story to be told. Something the bards sing about in taverns.

A life of quiet mediocrity doesn't give you the tales that people remember for eons, like Samon the Barbarian, or Shyind the Rogue, or the other heroes who cast the Drow underground and broke up the Kobold tribes generations ago.

That's what I want. A story.

Mark 2011/05/07(Sat)17:31 No. 302367 ID: a9ba96
File 130481470373.png - (154.65KB , 491x341 , dungeoncrawlers006.png )

You also don't get half as much loot doing those other things.

>>302364
Hey, what a coincidence! That's what we want too! So give us to one of those guys.

>>302367
Alright, cool. You've been in the business for a couple of years so I assume you're good in a fight. Otherwise you'd be dead. What kind of skills do you have? Stealth? Skill? Magic?

Again I ask, where can we go from here? You should leave, but to where?

>>302367
If you want bards to sing your story, better hair is a must.

>>302367
Well you know adventuring is hard work, takes dedication and research. There's also a very high rate of deaths, but hey, if you have survived in the game for over a year then you should be ok.

Now epic sagas and stories don't just happen. They need to be built up, you need to be built up to match those. And for that we need research and training. Have to find out information about some magical artifact or weapon that you can go find, as well as train yourself to be able to gain the necessary skills to use such an object effectively.

But small steps need to be taken to reach such a goal. And the first step is better equipment for yourself, since your payment went up in flames we're going to need another way. Like finding out where the goblins have their village in the nearby woods and loot the crap out of it.

Mark 2011/05/07(Sat)18:56 No. 302387 ID: a9ba96
File 130481976742.png - (65.14KB , 340x498 , Dungeoncrawlers007.png )

>>302372
Listen, you caught me on a particularly poor quest. Most of them don't end in burning villages, I assure you. Just, just stick with me, please?

>>302375
Ah yes, one could say that I'm a "seasoned fighter" of sorts. I can handle myself rather well with a sword. I don't have any magic, but neither did Samon the Barbarian.

Unfortunately, I don't have a sword. Just, uh, just this rusted dagger. Broke my sword on the way into the village you just watched burn to the ground, but I figured I could pick up one once I reached town. I was a bit short on coin, so I figured I would exchange good deeds for weaponry from the townsfolk.

The town butcher said he would give me his old sword if I killed that goblin for him. I never got around to claiming my reward, for obvious reasons.

Nowhere to head really except to the next town. It's a straight walk through the woods. We're only a night's walk to the next settlement, so we can get a new swor-

Mark 2011/05/07(Sat)18:57 No. 302388 ID: a9ba96
File 130481983965.png - (147.57KB , 524x494 , Dungeoncrawlers008.png )

An Elf crashed into a tree nearby with incredible force. The Elf's head juts upwards and a sickening crunch can be heard.

Oh gods what

Mark 2011/05/07(Sat)18:59 No. 302390 ID: a9ba96
File 130481996708.png - (138.75KB , 716x386 , Dungeoncrawlers009.png )

Shit.

Bearhound.

>>302390
Hmm, last dude doesn't look like he's likely to stand much of a chance. And you won't be much of a help with only that shit dagger. How are you with thrown rocks? A nicely aimed rock at the eye during a critical moment might save the day, and that guy looks decently well off, save him and he's going to own you. Should be able to get atleast a sword out of that, maybe even more. Don't engage in close combat with the monster using that dagger though, such a thing would be stupid.

>>302390

Look at those legs. Nothing develops like that (wide paws, thick cylindrical legs) unless it is massive. The bone ridges hint at that, and are probably partially composed of some sort of dense metal. The jaw is a predator's jaw, but with a build like that it surely can't run too fast. It's an ambush predator then. If you can talk the elf into leaving with you, you could probably both out-run it. The question is why he didn't run earlier. Not many good reasons to fight a thing like that...

Ask the elf if someone is hurt.

>>302399
I'm betting the elf is dead, or at the very least unconscious.

If the elf had a sword you can grab that and use it. If not... well, do you know anything about how easy these things are to fight? If you have any confidence at all with fighting it using that dagger it would be nice to know.

On the other hand you could request the sword of that person there. From a glance I can't tell if they know what they're doing. If the weapon would work better in your hands then it should be.

On the one hand, bearhound. Yea, probably a good idea to run. As long as you can outrun that guy, you're home free.

On the other hand, you want to be an adventurer. You've got to stand and fight, or at least make sure you both get away. Don't worry, you have plot armor. Nobody with plot armor can die... usually... except Bob... and John, Mike, Sam, Marcy, and Herbert.

But that won't be you, so don't worry about it!

Hello, new voice here.
A few things, we voices are not a single unified entity, not endowed with special wisdom. We have some experience and there are many of us, increasing the likelihood of a creative solution.
Don't rush to do something one of us says if it seems like a stupid idea. If we all agree on a path, well you don't have to take it, we might all be wrong its just less likely the more people agree it is the right path. Even still, you might chose to side with the minority on an issue due to your own desires, we are merely experienced advisers who speak lots and quickly in your head.

Now, you just came across a bear-monster who just killed one elf and is about to kill another. You have one rusty dagger and your skill-set is that of a swordsman... You are practically unarmed and you cannot harm this beast, you need to run for your life.

Alternatively, if you really feel like playing the hero, you could toss a rock or your dagger (not recommended unless you can peg it in the eye with the sharp end) to distract the beast and try to get the surviving elf to run away with you. Yell "run, your friend is already dead" and run yourself as soon as your distraction takes hold, hopefully he will be smart enough to follow. That is risky, heroic, and I doubt it will be all that effective but the choice is yours.

Mark 2011/05/08(Sun)08:30 No. 302483 ID: a9ba96
File 130486862624.png - (106.22KB , 579x499 , Dungeoncrawlers010.png )

Elf's dead. Or at the very least, not moving. Impact with the tree probably killed him. I would make a comment about elves and being one with nature, but it would probably be in poor taste.

Bearhounds aren't the brightest monsters. A loud noise or an odd smell in the distance is enough to break its concentration and distract it for a brief moment, even if it's in the middle of mauling you. They aren't very quick either. They aren't slow, but those gigantic back legs still restrict their movement quite a bit, to the point where it takes the thing a couple of seconds to fully turn around.

Still, they make up for it by being really strong. A swipe from one of these things can send you flying, and it can easily crush a man to death if he gets pinned under those front paws. Besides being worth quite a bit to cooks and magicians, the bone ridges that protrude from their backs provide a lot of protection from body blows.

They tend to stalk their prey and catch them off guard, since they have difficulty chasing after fast targets. That probably explains the elf, but this guy should have started running as soon as it got his elf friend, but he seems to be standing his ground. I've seen an orc kill a bearhound with its bare hands, but this guy is no orc. It usually takes three guys to take one of these things down, and the way that this guy is staying to fight this thing means one or two things;

He's either really confident that he can take it, or thinks the elf is still coming to back him up.

>>302483
He looks confident enough. If you can create an opening then he will likely exploit it. A sword isn't the best thing to go after a bear with, but if he can get it in the throat then he should be able to get it down. So lets get some rocks and throw at it for a distraction.

>>302483
Flank the bearhound, then throw a rock at it. Since it's easily distracted it will turn to see what hit it, and since it takes so long to turn around you can hide in a tree or something and be safe.
That will give the elf a window in which he can skewer something vital, and will show that you're friendly.

... assuming you're not so big a screwup that you can't hit something the size of a carriage with a rock. ... Shit, there goes THAT plan.
Here, throw us at the bearhound. That way we'll be able to help somebody at least marginally competent when you miss and hit the elf.

Or just start screaming, flailing your arms, and climbing the nearest tree.

You should distract it, then. Giving us(the artifact) to it might be an option except for the fact that it took a while before we were able to talk to you. So I assume there is a warmup period before we can talk to our holder.

Throwing rocks may work. So would yelling at it. Also tell the guy that the elf is dead, what the hell is he doing trying to fight this thing.

as suggested, flank the hound, throw a rock at it to give the elf guy an opening. Based on what you said, worse comes to worse you should be able to run away. Just run in a curved manner to exploit its difficulty turning. If he looks really confident there is a chance he might down it.

Mark 2011/05/08(Sun)17:34 No. 302595 ID: a9ba96
File 130490125739.png - (96.22KB , 486x791 , Dungeoncrawlers011.png )

Alright, got it. Move around to the back of the bearhound, throw something distracting at it. As long as I keep moving, we should be able to keep away from it long enough for the swordsman to make his move.

>>302491
Okay, come on now. It was funny at first, but now it's getting tiring. Cut it out, before I throw you at... the...

...hold on a second, that gives me an idea...

Mark 2011/05/08(Sun)17:35 No. 302596 ID: a9ba96
File 130490135912.png - (67.97KB , 229x605 , Dungeoncrawlers012.png )

Alright guys, I'm really sorry about this...

but you're gonna have to bear with me on this one.

... 2011/05/08(Sun)17:42 No. 302598 ID: a9ba96
File 130490176702.png - (96.37KB , 689x409 , dungeoncrawlers013.png )

The artifact hits the side of the Bearhound and snags on one of its bone ridges.

>>302598
Growl, rargh, rrrrrr. Morr morr, vov vov.

>>302599
Hey. Bear. Yeah, you heard me.
Cut that shit out.
Go eat the dead elf, leave that guy alone.
Seriously, chill.

>>302598
THESE ARE FRIENDS ROLL OVER BELLYRUBS BELLYRUBS BELLYRUBS

*make loud noises to distract the bear

>>302598
Hey, bro. Sup?
That thing is gonna put up a fight, so forget about it and find something easier. Like the thing behind you that just threw something at you, or the thing you smacked into a tree.

Of course, if you just want them to go away then just roll over once on the ground and go stand off to the side. That'll get the shiny thing stuck to you off, and once they take that they'll all run away.

This is awesome.

I have a question for you, bear.

Do you shit in the woods?

OH GOD ALL THESE VOICES ALL OF A SUDDEN

BLAGH A RAAAGH RABBLE GRAAH GRAAGH GRAAAH

>>302598
HEY BEAR HEY BEAR

HEY

WHAT'S THAT THING OVER THERE TO YOUR RIGHT?

hey bear, look at this
http://www.timecube.com/

bears don't speak english... focus on noise over content.

[focus on loud bang noise]

  >>302598
>>302792
MINE'S BETTER

Friend bear, I have a feeling the elves need your gallbladder to cure the princesses fatal syphilis or something.

... 2011/05/09(Mon)15:42 No. 302833 ID: a9ba96
File 130498096726.png - (183.81KB , 623x470 , Dungeoncrawlers014.png )

Overcome by a sudden surge of loud noises, thoughts, and sounds, the bearhound becomes bewildered. It's focus on the man it was about to maul broken, the monster begins to turn, searching for a source of the noise.

>"Ar? Was that you? Well, whatever you did, good job! I'll take it from here!"

... 2011/05/09(Mon)15:43 No. 302835 ID: a9ba96
File 130498103708.png - (121.29KB , 503x505 , Dungeoncrawlers015.png )

The bearhound is too distracted to notice as the man climbs up on its back. It struggles to find a thought to focus on...

... 2011/05/09(Mon)15:45 No. 302836 ID: a9ba96
File 130498111192.png - (87.51KB , 340x374 , Dungeoncrawlers016.png )

It decides to focus its attention on the man on top of it...

... 2011/05/09(Mon)15:45 No. 302837 ID: a9ba96
File 130498115268.png - (118.82KB , 328x637 , Dungeoncrawlers017.png )

...a decision made a bit too late.

... 2011/05/09(Mon)15:47 No. 302838 ID: a9ba96
File 130498123862.png - (139.66KB , 547x407 , Dungeoncrawlers018.png )

The man sees mark as he runs out from behind the bushes.
>"Good show, Ar! I told you there was nothing to... Wait, you're not Aradel."

>>302838
Awesome... would anyone mind picking us up from the ground? It's boring here.

Mark 2011/05/09(Mon)15:49 No. 302840 ID: a9ba96
File 130498137762.png - (51.25KB , 273x433 , Dungeoncrawlers019.png )

Wow! That was awesome, guys! Did, uh, did you guys catch that thing I did when I said to "bear with me?"

Because, uh, because I thought that was rather clever. Not as clever as throwing you guys though, I bet that thing could hardly bear all that noise!

>"Uh, sir? Have you seen a well-dressed elven fellow around here?"

psshhh, that's nothing. one time we drove a giant worm beast insane.
anyway show him to his elf-friend. maybe he is just horrible wounded and not dead?

>>302840
We have made things crazier. Think we drove that worm thing to suicide. It was fun.

Anyway, time to show him the elf and maybe commend him for his bravery and sword work. This guy that is, the elf seem to have died like a bitch.

>>302840
Mark, stop with the puns. We can do that same thing to you.

Show the elf his friend. Apologize for his loss.

>>302840
Yes,that was rather clever. Our idea, I mean; your pun was awful.
We're often carried by filthy, stupid beasts that are as self-absorbed as they are incompetent, so this made for a nice change of pace. To bad the elf went and ruined it.

You know what you need? A sword.
See if you can barter with the elf for one. Since you have little of value, feel free to offer us in trade. I would much rather help somebody explain their friend passing to his next of kin; it would be so much less awkward and tear-inducing than whatever tragedy you'll release on the world next.
Then you can take the sword and the bearhound corpse and use them to impress some bar wench, settle down, and raise a family which you will subsequently kill in a hilariously tragic attempt to dress yourself in the dark.

>>302840
Offer the man your condolences, and point out the elf.

>>302846
I'm for staying with Mark.

>>302846
Aw man. You just got TOLD.

Mark 2011/05/09(Mon)18:00 No. 302864 ID: a9ba96
File 130498921817.png - (53.33KB , 359x394 , Dungeoncrawlers020.png )

Mark points towards the bushes
"I... Uh, I have some bad news about your elf friend."

Without saying a word, the man rushes over to where the elf landed and flips his body on its back with his sword.
>"Aridel? Aridel! Damn it all, Aridel!"

>>302851
>>302844
Condolences, right. This man just lost a good friend, it seems.

"He looks so... peaceful."
>"It was a noble sacrifice Aridel made for me. When all is said and done, a statue shall be erected in his honor, alongside the others."
"Don't worry, I'm sure this is how he would have wanted to go."
>"What do you mean, sir?"
"Well, you know what they say about elves and being one with nature and all."
>"..."

I think that went well.

Haha I'm not so sure about that Mark.

Ask him what he means about statues. What's he doing in the woods?

>>302864
You really suck at condolences. Tell him that, it will make him less likely to stab you violently.

Also tell him that you feel like you should escort him to his goal, since it's dangerous to go alone and he doesn't have anyone to help him anymore. Don't mention anything about debts for saving lives or stuff like that. If he doesn't know about that himself then reminding him won't do any good.

>>302864
I'm sure I could say something here about racism, tact, and the striking lack of overlap between them, but even if you were capable of learning from your mistakes the disconnection between your mind and mouth would render the results of any aid I provided nothing more than another point for Zen monks and philosophers to ponder.

Anonymous 2011/05/09(Mon)18:24 No. 302870 ID: 28e94e
File 130499065222.jpg - (1.40MB , 2893x1875 , facepalm.jpg )

>>302864
Dude.

Mark 2011/05/09(Mon)18:48 No. 302880 ID: a9ba96
File 130499211581.png - (82.29KB , 556x417 , Dungeoncrawlers021.png )

"Uh... sorry. I didn't mean it like..."
>"Worry not. Aridel was a man of many jokes, I'm sure he would have appreciated it."
"You said something about building a statue for him? What do you mean by that?"
>"My good friend, once this journey is complete, I will have the coin to build Aridel and his fallen brethren a statue in their memory ten times over?"
"...What do you mean?"
>"Surely you jest, sir? It's shocking how many people in these Outlands don't recognize royalty when they see it."
"...Huh?"

Mark 2011/05/09(Mon)18:50 No. 302882 ID: a9ba96
File 130499221139.png - (79.62KB , 402x571 , Dungeoncrawlers022.png )

>I am Prince Erick Samwell, son of Gerald and Heir to the throne of Farway!

Mark 2011/05/09(Mon)18:51 No. 302883 ID: a9ba96
File 130499226440.png - (47.78KB , 280x389 , Dungeoncrawlers023.png )

>“Well, technically.

>As the eldest son of the great king Gerald of Farway, I’m rightfully the successor to the throne. Sadly, in my own father’s words, while my two younger brothers are respectively “a great archer and horseback rider,” I am “only great at starting fights and freeloading.” I feel that to be a bit unfair, but long story short? I’ve been disinherited.

>To gain the quest that will regain my title, I was told I must journey east to Egias and meet with their king. And so, my father cast me out on my great journey, with but my sword, the clothes on my back, and four men to accompany me. To travel from Farway to Egias is only supposed to be a few months journey, but due to several… unfortunate circumstances, it has taken a year and the lives of all four of my escorts to make it this far. You see, it was a highly publicized event in Farway; we found ourselves often targeted by ruffians and bandits and the sort looking to capture or kill the king’s son all the way to the nation’s border. After that, once we reached the barbaric outlands, we were target just because that is the way in these lawless parts. It has done a good deal to… derail this whole event. A lot.

>I only survived this fight because Aridel threw himself between me and that creature. The capitol of Egias is only a few days away on foot… but with no protection, another encounter with a beast like that will surely end poorly for me.

>Oh well, after a year’s journey, what more are a few days? Perhaps it’s for the best that I lodge at the next settlement until a few roaming paladins or mercenaries pass by who I can…”

Mark 2011/05/09(Mon)18:52 No. 302884 ID: a9ba96
File 130499232864.png - (87.26KB , 497x365 , Dungeoncrawlers024.png )

>"…Then again, mercenaries and paladins are quite expensive…"

…Wait, why is he-

>"Tell me, good sir. For saving my life, how would you like for me to bestow upon you a great honor?"

Oh. Oh dear.

>>302884
"Sadly, I'm just a beggar with no skills to speak of, but I did manage to get something off a goblin I murdered..."
Then offer us to him.
"It's dangerous to go alone; take this!"

Go with him, this is a chance to earn your name! That is, if anything he just said is true.

guys, he made one mistake early on with fire (which was really educational, make sure to use fire whenever sneaking into enemy camps in the future)...

aside from that he is a good enough adventurer to last a year already and he has the drive and willingness to face death for a shot at everlasting glory. I say we stick with him and help him avoid such mistakes in the future and climb to the top. So stop telling him to pass us off to a "more worthy" adventurer, I think he is plenty worthy and a great candidate; a freeloading princeling doing one quest to regain his inheritance and then going back to freeloading isn't a step up... heck, the guy managed to get his four escorts killed... although to be fair it might not be his fault if things were as bad as he said.

As for his question... might as well travel with him for now. Practice swordsmanship with him daily. Bury his last bodyguard and ask if its ok if you were to take up his sword for this noble cause.

If you actually pull off this quest with the prince it would be a huge boost in your adventurer career... recognition and funding would be yours.

yeah, you two would make a great team.

This SEEMS to be exactly what you want, is it not?

oh yea, and do NOT jump in front of him to save him at the cost of your own life.

>>302892
This. Hate to say it, but you're a bit of a liability, and we could do a better job helping him directly than we could through you.

>>302884
Well what are you waiting for, accept. This is your chance to make it into a history book, granted, unless you do something awesome afterwards it's likely to only be a footnote. But having a prince indebted to you for helping him on his quest to reclaim the throne is a very good thing. Could help immensly in further adventuring.

So accept and help him. Also, don't give him us. Keep us for yourself. Oh, and his tendency to start fights, that's probably one of the things that has reduced his number of comrades. So you should probably try to keep him out of that.

Mark 2011/05/10(Tue)17:46 No. 303164 ID: a9ba96
File 130507478559.png - (94.45KB , 429x368 , Dungeoncrawlers025.png )

"Samwell? As in, "The Lost Prince" Samwell? I heard that Farway exiled their heir, but that was a year ago! Everyone just kind of assumed that you were dead."
>"Indeed, I've heard rumors of my demise many times during my travels."
"They say you and your men were eaten by cursed trees, or thrown off a cliff by an ogre!"
>"Both true accounts, but neither always fatal."
"Either way, it's an honor to serve you, your highness!"
>"No, the honor is all mine, sir..."
"Mark."
>"Well, sir Mark, it's a pleasure to know you are by my side. Rest assured, should you perish, a statue of you shall be built right next to Aridel's!"

Bodyguard to the Lost Prince? If this isn't the start of a grand adventure, I don't know what is!

>>303164
Yeah yeah, just remember what happened to his last four bodyguards. Lets try to stay on the path, and don't let him get into fights. Also, loot elf-boy, he has no more needs of his wordly possessions.

After that we can probably head out.

Mark 2011/05/10(Tue)17:51 No. 303169 ID: a9ba96
File 130507510832.png - (108.44KB , 588x522 , Dungeoncrawlers026.png )

"Speaking of Aridel..."
>"Ah yes. Truly a shame. He was a great man, it is only fair that we give him a proper burial before we go. His sword flew off... somewhere... when that bear creature struck him. If you help me bury my friend, I'll let you keep it."
"Of course. I'll get right to helping you dig-"
>"Wait a moment."
"Hm?"
>"Well, this is kind of awkward... but uh... Aridel was a great man, true, but I believe he also had about thirty gold coins on him. It would feel, well, wrong to loot the corpse of a good friend like Aridel, but... no reason to let good coin go to waste. If you don't mind, could you..."
"..."
>"Please?"
"...Wh...Whatever you say, your highness..."

Mark 2011/05/10(Tue)18:13 No. 303188 ID: a9ba96
File 130507639438.png - (2.40KB , 502x350 , blank.png )

>"Yes, like that. Check the coat pocket too. Once we finish here, we-"

Lin 2011/05/10(Tue)18:13 No. 303189 ID: a9ba96
File 130507641435.png - (134.40KB , 502x350 , Dungeoncrawlers027.png )

“So, you’re POSITIVE that this is what the “bad man looked” like?
>“Sogux draw good picture of badman! Badman come into town, and badman keel everyone! Cut down the mens, cut down the womens, cut down the childs, everyone! Sogux hide in hut, but badman set hut on fire to keel Sogux! Badman set fire to keel everyone! Sogux get face burned, but Sogux get away in secret door!
“And you’re saying that he killed everyone?”
>“Ony Sogux live, because Sogux is cleverest! Please, nicelady! Hunt down and keel the badman before he does this to other town!”

Lin 2011/05/10(Tue)18:13 No. 303190 ID: a9ba96
File 130507643338.png - (136.16KB , 482x416 , Dungeoncrawlers028.png )

>“Looket this!”
“And what’s this thing?”
>“Is one of Sogux treasures! Sogux always carry treasures in bag everywhere, can’t trust them in house! Treasure is matching set, one is missing. Sogux think that one was dropped while being chased to hut! Sogux think badman has it! Please, Please, Please, nicelady! Keel the badman and bring back Sogux’s treasure!”

haha
ahahahha
HAHAHAHAHAHA
ahem. hello.

Hello there, Paladin.

The goblin is a liar, I'll have you know. The owner of the other half of us isn't competent enough to murder the entire town.

oooh, a potential love interest?

>>303190
Come now, you don't believe that creature do you? It's clearly stupid and incompetent. What are you willing to bet that it was actually this snivelling goblin who accidentaly set fire to the town and then blamed it all on some imaginary boogeyman?

>>303190
The man in that picture was hired to kill the goblin. He tried to burn down the goblin's hut, but the goblin escaped out of his secret exit and burned down the rest of the village in revenge.

Watch this, she won't believe any of us.

FRESH MEAT

Lets be completely honest here other voices...

Ms. Paladin, what is you name by the way? We are voices from other worlds, the twin spheres let us speak. We are many individuals who peer through those spheres and provide advice, some of it good, some of it stupid. The advantage is that time flows differently for us so you get a lot of people coming up with creative solutions over a long period of time during what is seconds on your world.

Anyways miss, the man in the picture is a very crude and inaccurate drawing of an adventurer who is trying to become a famous hero. According to said adventurer the goblin was stealing from the butcher and threatened to murder the butcher's wife. So the butcher hired him to get rid of the goblin, he set fire to the goblin's hut and the fire spread out of control and burned the village, which prompted the villagers to evacuate. He skipped town to avoid being lynched for what was essentially an accident. He didn't murder anyone with his sword... but depending on how fast the fire spread he might have accidentally killed someone, he didn't know. Do you? were there any corpses in the flames?

As for the goblin, it is possible that the butcher lied and the goblin is innocent, or maybe he really did threaten to kill his wife, we do not know.