Oken 2011/07/08(Fri)16:38 No. 323779 ID: e1c562
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let's check the "pirate" setting on the SpaceCompass!

hmmm looks like there's a distant pirate reading coming from the south

Well since your last contact with the guilder pirates was to the south west, this makes sense. It's also very handy. Anyway, looks like it's time to scratch Mint behind the ears for luck and head above-ground, then hopefully make it to the town before anything else goes wrong.

Let's go.

Oken 2011/07/09(Sat)18:27 No. 324372 ID: e1c562
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Now what to do with the torches?

snuff them and put them all on the opposite side of the hole you are going.

>>324372

Get some pitchforks and pretend to be an angry mob of villagers.

Perhaps set fire to the forest in order to create a smoke cloud cover and possible a forest fire to make a diversion? Or would it attract attention to us? Maybe if we can make it a delayed fire...

>>324376
>Set fire to the forest your in.

Nope.jpg

You have no sense of adventure.

But like I said, maybe you can make an hour-long fuse before it lights fire to the brush?

I don't think there 'is' brush here... or anything to burn really, mushrooms tend to be fairly damp things, might be able to burn the spores, but the caps and stems should be too juicy I imagine.

Oken 2011/07/10(Sun)16:26 No. 324746 ID: e1c562
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the torches are put out and left behind

* * *

Travel continues,
but after hours of further marching my team has become exhausted and still there is no hint of our destination.

There haven't been any complaints, but I can see their weariness in the way they limp forward.

our bodies aren't built for this kind of travel, I'm not sure how much further we'll be able to walk . . .

Well all we can really do is check the various settings of our Space Compass (tm) and see if there's any nearby tech that might correspond with either the Pirates or the Town... and then we can rest, but is it possible to make the Space Compass into an alarm where it goes off if Pirates come near? And while we rest Mint can repair shit.

go to the top of the cliffs to get a look around.

Oken 2011/07/10(Sun)20:06 No. 324908 ID: e1c562
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the cliffs go up too high, so I climb a mushroom instead, it doesn't give me much better bearings on the area . . .

I try flipping through the space compass's other settings. there are some inclinations towards north east but I can't get any sort of accurate distance reading.

Mint might be able to rig the compass into some sort of alarm but I'd rather she not tamper with it.

before you come down can you see any small caves to rest in?

Well then find a suitable place to camp and have Mint fix Hoft's gun. Silly small-legged Astranians... Mr Jones made the trip in less than a day!

I think you should keep moving, the pirates might also be able to sense the distinctive power signatures of Astranian tech (what if they have a Space Compass too?)

Don't want to be caught by them again.

Oken 2011/07/11(Mon)10:08 No. 325050 ID: e1c562
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At this point it seems that rest is our only option.

Oken: "this looks like a good place"

During the rest time as team leader I can choose to Bond and increase the morale of one of my team mates, who should I pick?

Uh, why don't you guys just sit in a circle and talk as a group?

Start by talking about the first thing you want to do as soon as you get out of here. Maybe have a nice Skrynn trout dinner or a Maloran ice pop on the beach at sunset.

>>325050
Hoft.
He's been hostile to Mint, has shown poor judgement, does not deffer to your command, and has shown unstable and irrational behavior.

You need to find out what's going on and get him back under control before he screws everything up again.

Either Hoft or Mint. Hoft seems like he's kind of becoming a crazed loner but Mint seems more the type to harbor secret grudges and then turn traitor. Fuze, to note, is wonderfully submissive to your every tiny-deer whim.

Talk with all of them and improve TEAMWORK. MORALE is ok, but TEAMWORK is better (and much more in need of improvement).

>>325050
I would suggest Mint. She seems to have been hiding some Bad Habits from everyone, and had a bad run in with that creature in the swamp.

You may need to find out what her problem is before you reach civilization. It could be harmful to everyone if she goes into withdrawal in the middle of nowhere, or tries to sneak away for a 'fix' somewhere in the trading post ahead.

Given the circumstances, try not to 'fix' her issues, or force her to make any promises regarding them. A greater awareness is the best you can hope for right now, so you can better protect one another.

Getting Hoft to stop being crazy is a good idea, I think.

Oken 2011/07/11(Mon)21:35 No. 325213 ID: e1c562
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Hoft: " . . . Oken, I owe you my life. if you hadn't come back for me that Guilder would've torn my head off!"

Oken: "Hoft, I would never leave anyone behind!"

Hoft: "that's why you're team leader and I'm not.
It's hard to follow orders, to just be the pawn on a chess board, to accept that others know better than you.
but now I understand how foolish I've been, now I'm ready Asnia Oken, I'm ready to obey!"

Oken: "thank you Phestrius Tsen-Hoft"

Oken performs the ritual of bonding

* * *

The Ritual is successful! Hoft's Loyalty is now bound to Oken's Command!

Hoft: "Oken, I'm sorry for all the mistakes I've made, I will not fail you again! I shall fight by your word now and your word alone, I swear it"

>>325213
ASSUMING CONTROL

"one last thing, you aren't a pawn, you're a knight"

THAT was your idea of BONDING? No wonder you Astranians are so depressed.

Seconding the knight reference. that'll do hoft.

mint can be a pawn. i bet she only moved two spaces one time in her life ever until she becomes queen.

Oken 2011/07/12(Tue)12:56 No. 325404 ID: e1c562
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Oken: "Phestrius, you are not a pawn, you're a knight!"

I'm not exactly sure what that's suppose to mean, but it seems to make him feel better anyways.

as I talk more with Phestrius, the conflicts of our cultures, the politics between our worlds and all the other differences we hold seem to have faded away. It is as if we are simply two clanmates, long time friends and true allies fighting against the universe for our survival.

We exchange war stories, reminisce of simpler times, and joke about our plans for the future.

Time seems to pass quickly . . .

Someone needs to photoshop above/under Mint 'And so a super villain was born'
Seriously, great job on Hoft and all (even if Oken used a chess analogy when Astranian culture has no knowledge of chess) but I'd be surprised if Mint doesn't turn traitor soon

>>325419
To be fair, Fuze is there too, Mint just looks naturally sulky I suspect.

Besides, I don't think we have the luxury to get all paranoid, especially not after saving her life.

mint may be a druggy but i can't think of any reasons for her to betray us.

Fuze 2011/07/13(Wed)00:00 No. 325876 ID: e1c562
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Fuze: "you don't appear to be working on AntiMatter Cannno . . ."

Mint: "I'm not, I'm working on improving the piece of pinkskin scrap you've been waving around"

Fuze: . . .

"How did you get that anyways?"

Mint: "I picked it up after you dropped it back in the tunnel."

Fuze: "I don't recall that . . ."

Mint: "your welcome."

She doesn't seem in much of a mood to chat

just stutter out a 'thank you'

>>325876
It's kind of rude to accuse her of stealing when she's only trying to help. Say thanks.

Fuze: Weep quietly because no one ever understands you or appreciates your good intentions.

Mint: Explain how exactly you're making his weapon better. No use 'upgrading' it if he uses it in the same way he always has been, right?

Oken and Hoft: Get it on.

Seriously though, do make sure to get that Antimatter Cannon fixed, or be ready to explain why you didn't do so.

Fuze 2011/07/13(Wed)14:57 No. 326043 ID: e1c562
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what am I doing? Mint has been a great asset to our team, and has worked very hard to insure our success. Despite her peculiarities and objectionable attitude she deserves far more respect then I've given her!"

Fuze: ". . . thank you Mint, thank you for everything you've done for us, none us would have made it this far if it weren't for you, I apologize for my poor conduct and lack of respect."

Mint: "Don't worry about it Fuze, like any good soldier I'm just doing what's best for the Alliance."

Fuze always looks so sad...

He does have a bit of a 'long face'...

Huh, I wonder why he hasn't gotten surgery for his eyes. I mean, surely that would be possible?

Fuze 2011/07/14(Thu)20:47 No. 326444 ID: e1c562
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hmmm something sounded off about what she just said-

huh? what is she doing pointing the gun at-

>>326444
DODGE, POINDEXTER!

Fuze 2011/07/14(Thu)20:50 No. 326446 ID: e1c562
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oh!

I feel a sharp burning sensation in my chest!
I've been shot!

I try to cry out, but the words die in my throat

everything begins to fade . . .

FUZE

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Relax, it's just a stun gun. I'm sure she's just going to use the opportunity to get the physical gratification out of him that she'd never manage were he conscious.

>>326446
Which is hopefully limited to making him out to be a random chick she found and laughing as Meaty McHotPants gets it on only to realize... it's Fuze! (not that there's such a difference)

oken: turn around and draw your gun due to gut instinct.

WHAT A TWIST!

Fuze 2011/07/14(Thu)21:23 No. 326467 ID: e1c562
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Chapter 3: End

MINT I AM GOING TO THROTTLE THE LIFE OUT OF YOU, YOU LITTLE SHITWHORE

BELIAL FUZE IS TEN THOUSAND TIMES THE ALLIANCE CITIZEN YOU ARE, AND IT WOULD BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO FUCKING TINKER WITH THAT GUN ENOUGH TO MAKE IT LETHAL AND THEN TURN IT ON YOURSELF BEFORE I GET THERE AND TEAR YOUR FUCKING FAT HEAD OFF WITH MY BARE GOD DAMNED HANDS