Bump

>>17360616
Apprehend our culprit; this chase has gone on far enough. Hold person, making sure that either Tayn or Turen are ready to bag the guy's head; we don't want him knowing who we are.

>>17362211

You whisper a holding spell, and begin to close the door as you feel the target of your spell resist it. The head under the fur-clad form turns slowly, a white furred near-canine face like that of a gnoll with crazed bluish-black eyes, framed with black flesh lining the eye. The creature's nose is the same brilliant crimson as its nails, and it grins as it taps the side of its head, and you see the briefest of flashes across its eyes as it looks right at you.

"Try to run, try to hide, you'll pay in spades for your foolish pride!" The creature cackles, its laughter seeming to ricochet off of the walls and ringing in your head. The gnoll-like fiend advances slowly, its nails seeming to slowly grow in length and becoming pointier by the second.

>>17363009
If Turen and Tayn are still invisible, grant them an opportunity. Use the tactics of our people!

"Oh, vile creature! Stay away!" Back off as if we're fleeing. If he follows for a bit, that should give more than enough opportunity to our allies in waiting.

If they're visible as well, then we'll just use a bigger gun. If Hold Person doesn't work, then I'm sure a gratuitous amount of force to the wall will keep him still.

>>17363044

You follow the creature's gaze and see him look over each of your shoulders. He sees them. You sharply inhale, pressing out at the gnoll-like fiend with a huge hand made of force. The shimmering hand begins to close its fingers, but then you hear a cracking sound as the creature twists out, one of the fingers of the hand of force twisted around backwards, and the creature's cloak hanging from it. It is definitely a gnoll-like creature, with wide shoulders and lanky arms. It wears a tattered pair of pants held up to its shoulders by straps. You slap at him, and he ducks low to the ground, crawling along on the ground like some sort of crazed, furry insect, his arms rolling in their sockets as his palms twist back in towards himself, his mouth slavering with drool as his lips peel back, revealing brilliant red teeth.

>>17363598
"Impressive for a spy..."

Hm...he's very slippery; let's see him bend fire.

Once we launch our fire spell of choice (I'm all for a simple fireball), then we'll see what he does. If he manages to wiggle his way out, try paying close attention to how he does it. Is it some magical ability, a near-godly physique, or the good-ol' racial ability.

>>17363637

Now, with the obscuring cloak gone, you can see that the creature's body is muscular, and its fur is a near-white blonde color, as though it had been left out in the sun too long. Its upper body is streaked with black lines that seem much like tattoos. You create a cage of force around it, and it stops momentarily, squeezing through the bars like some kind of a liquid. The image is confusing and mildly nauseating.

"Nice trick." The gnoll-like creature hisses, grinning. "How about one of mine?"

The creature suddenly swells in size, muscled frame bulging with more bulk as it stands up, the claws twisting in its frame.

"I'll take him. You two stay back." Tayn says, stepping forwards.

>>17363735
Bull Strength seems like it would do little considering how large he already is, so... Cat's Grace go!

>>17363791

You quickly cast a spell to boost Tayn's agility, backing away as you feel him surge free from your magic, and a great ripple appears in his midsection, like a rock creating a ripple in water. The creature's flesh seems to roll with the impact, and he takes several more rapid strikes before making a gasping sound, and as it does so, you see its head pulled back quickly, the neck collapsing as the creature bowls over some sort of invisible opponent, hanging in the air for a moment before slamming into the ground face-first, and you hear a gagging sound from it as it grasps at its throat with one hand, the other arm fully extended, but slowly and surely bending inwards, claws extending towards the area next to the creature's head.

"I'll try and weaken him, sir. You keep trying to bind him." Turen says, an ebony bolt streaking out from his position and striking the creature, whose musculature seems to deflate slightly, like an old balloon.

But how to bind him? You ask yourself. Tayn's method seems to be working well enough. Why not yours, then?

You give it one last try, attempting to force the creature's body into a small crystalline structure you have on your belt. The creature's body seems to twist, but you quickly realize that the motions it's making are consistent with having a receptacle that is too small. You redouble your efforts, taking out the structure and melding it with magic to temporarily accept a more powerful soul.

"Any... Time!" Tayn grunts, as the furred, taloned arm slowly descends towards him.

>>17363888
Push him in, even if we need to clip some limbs.

>>17363916
It, unfortunately, always traps the subject whole. In essence, an enchantment on their local area.

That was it! Spell resistance! You think for a moment, quickly realizing that even with such an ability, it shouldn't have affected the force cage.

You line up the gem with the creature and Tayn, visualizing the world around the creature as the crystal. The creature flails once inside, realizing itself to be trapped. The crystal pulsates slightly. It should hold for a while, a day or so. At least 12 hours, you think.

"OK, can we not fight one of them again? He was much stronger than he looked." Tayn's voice rings out, in-between panting.

"How strong was he?" Turen asks, and you can hear Tayn sigh in resignation before answering.

"Let's just say I've wrestled with devils who were weaker. If I kept facing him, I don't know if I could have held him."

>>17364029
Take a deep breath. "Agreed; stealth will, once again, be of the top degree for our affairs in this world. Hopefully, our stay here is coming to a close."

Clench the crystal.

"We have a few words to ask before we depart from our friend here."

Hold the crystal out so that Turen and Tayn can see.

"You put up quite the fight, creature. What is your name?"

>>17364056

"Agreed; stealth will, once again, be of the top degree for our affairs in this world. Hopefully, our stay here is coming to a close." Your grip on the crystal tightens. "We have a few words to ask before we depart from our friend here." You hold up the crystal so that Tayn and Turen can see the tiny figure imprisoned within. "You put up quite the fight, creature. What is your name?"

"Yagheero has not been captured often." The gnoll-like creature says, smiling with its tiny crimson fangs. "Quite the ability. Thank you for showing it to me."

>>17366395
Narrow our eyes at him.

"I will be the first to admit that, at this time, I am not very patient. If you do not answer my questions, I /will/ resort to less than merciful techniques to get what I need." Send a slight shock through the crystal. "So, once again, what is your name?"

All of this is implying that kobolds are even smart enough to know how to use magic

>>17366495

lol. That reminds me, I don't think I have graced this message board with my tale of my 5 Int sorcerer, have I? Best teamster ever.

>>17366488

"I will be the first to admit that, at this time, I am not very patient. If you do not answer my questions, I /will/ resort to less than merciful techniques to get what I need." You clench the crystal a bit more tightly. "So, once again, what is your name?"

The shrunken creature grins, and despite the size difference, you detect an eerie smile on its face. "Oh, come now, little lizard. Yagheero would never be so impolite as to not introduce himself. And yet, I already have twice!" The hyena-like cackle that the creature makes causes the crystal to shake violently in your hand. The creature puts a hand on the inside of the crystal. "Hmm. What's that? Feature? Design flaw? I'm interested to know." The creature seems focused on the crystal for the moment.

>>17366863
"Very well, Yagheero. Visit any interesting places, lately?"

If he starts getting dodgy, then be direct.

"Might you explain what you were doing in a certain Halfing merchant camp?"

>>17366890

"Very well, Yagheero. Visit any interesting places, lately?" You ask him.

"Well, there was that world with all the bandersnatches. But none of them were frumious, so I left." The hyena-headed creature responds.

"Might you explain what you were doing in a certain Halfing merchant camp?" You say more directly.

"Ah, so that's where I tracked you in from! I was puzzling over that a bit, thank you." Yagheero smiles, chuckling to himself. "Scrounging for food, I expect. Not having a home makes it quite difficult to grow them on our own."

>>17366951
Flare our nostrils.

"Your presence looked far more sinister when we saw you, Yagheero. Are you lying to me?" Shake our head. "I don't enjoy it when people lie to me."

>>17366969

"Your presence looked far more sinister when we saw you, Yagheero. Are you lying to me?" You look down at him more closely. "I don't enjoy it when people lie to me."

"Yagheero would never lie about food! Why, it's the number one thing of value amongst my people!" Yagheero says, smiling and staring at you through the crystal.

"You're right. I don't think he's being truthful." Tayn says. "But there's not much to do about that."

>>17367140
Look around his home.

"You have a lot of animals, Yagheero. Food too, per chance?"

>>17367165

"You have a lot of animals, Yagheero. Food too, per chance?" You ask him, looking around at the various cats and rats in cages up on the walls.

"Precisely." The gnoll-like creature nods. "Need something to feed them as well. Wouldn't do any good to have them go starving on me." He looks out of the crystal at you with a red-toothed grin. "Would you kindly feed them for me while I'm in here? Wouldn't want my food supply to disappear because of this little mix-up."

Quests are stories and therefore don't belong on /tg/.
Go back to /lit/.

>>17367450

You know, when you want to troll something, a good troll will read back into the history of something to find something to really stick a barb into the community effectively. But not this troll. This troll proved that with lazy trolling, you can not only be ineffective, but actually look stupid while doing so. Well done, sir. You give the quality trolls in this community something to be appreciated for.

>>17367495
Calm your tits tripfag, he's poking fun at the mod. Polite sage.

>>17367387
How much control do we have over the crystal? Can we cast spells through it?

If so, then get some truth detection spell in there.

If not, then I guess we'll have to take his word for it.

"Tell me Yagheero, what plane is this?"

"And your people live here?"

>>17367515

I don't really get mad about anything anymore. I'm poking fun right back. Out of everything, the trolls for quests have really stayed about the same since RubyQuest, which is just sad.

I mean, when I'm trolling, I at least do my research. Get a bit involved. The story's always more effective when it's got a bit of truth in it.

>>17367529

"Tell me Yagheero, what plane is this?" You ask him.

"Your plane. Not Aknarvam." He points out the door. "And all of my brothers and sisters came along too. This seems like the right plane. Feels right, you know?" The gnoll-like creature seems calm, for a moment, anyway, and then laughs softly. "No. I don't suppose you would, would you?"

"And your people live here?"

>>17367679
Look back outside.

"How far underground are we?"

Yagheero's voice lilts in a high-pitched, hyena-like laugh.

"Not until very recently. Though I must say, we quite like it. No meat-eating plants trying to suck your bones out through your skin, no bad-eyed basilisks causing your best friends to turn into psychotic, single-minded killers, and best of all, no cloud shriekers." The creature babbles on about more things you don't know about. "Yes, I think we'll be staying." Yagheero leans forwards, against the edge of the crystal. His hot breath fogs up the clear walls of the dimension. "For a very long time, I expect."

>>17367772

"How far underground are we?" You ask Tayn.

Tayn closes his eyes for a moment, then presses down with the tip of his nail on the tattoo of an upwards spiral resting on his upper-left chest, and you see a brief spark as the magic of the tattoo is activated. Tayn closes his eyes for a few minutes, moving his head as though peering around.

"We are 40,000 feet down below ground." He says, finally. "No pathway back up."

"I don't remember it being nearly that far..." Turen says, looking worried.

"Still your plane, though. Just... More secluded." The gnoll-like creature says to you.

>>17367898
Frown.

"That is...quite deep."

>>17367796
"New arrivals? Sounds like your previous home was less than pleasant. However, I have apprhended you for one purpose and one purpose only: what did you touch in the Halfing warehouse?" Hold it up to our face and look him square in the eye. "I prefer not to get my hand's dirty, so as soon as you tell me what you were /really/ doing there, then I'll release you and let you get back to your new life." Squint. "I mean no harm, but that doesn't mean I am incapable of it."

>>17367920

"That is... Quite deep." You respond. Tayn looks over at you, grimly.

"So how are we getting back out?"

>>17367796

"New arrivals? Sounds like your previous home was less than pleasant. However, I have apprhended you for one purpose and one purpose only: what did you touch in the Halfing warehouse?" You hold the crystal up to your eye. "I prefer not to get my hand's dirty, so as soon as you tell me what you were /really/ doing there, then I'll release you and let you get back to your new life." You squint at the grinning creature. "I mean no harm, but that doesn't mean I am incapable of it."

Yagheero lets out a high, keening yip of laughter, smiling as the crystal vibrates. "Oh, it was simple. I was scrounging for food, but found none, 'cept food for the animals." The creature's reddish nose seems to twist somewhat, like it's not attached correctly. Then, it extends, sniffing out to each side at a 45 degree angle off of the nose, then sliding back as though nothing had occurred.

>>17368047
Wrap a cloth around the crystal for a moment to obscure Yagheero's senses.

"Tayn, Turen; This...thing...is possibly telling the truth." Sigh deeply. "Though he was very shady when we first saw him, his actions have been fully explained, and the lack of evidence hints at his innocence. However, something as powerful as this creature stealing food? I don't know what to think..."

>>17368168

"Tayn, Turen; This...thing...is possibly telling the truth." You sigh deeply. "Though he was very shady when we first saw him, his actions have been fully explained, and the lack of evidence hints at his innocence. However, something as powerful as this creature stealing food? I don't know what to think..."

"Why didn't it get any food for itself?" Turen asks, suddenly. He looks over at you. "It makes sense that you didn't see it magistrate. You were busy looking at that magical aura." Turen nods his head. "That tent had every sort of food imaginable, from sugars to flours to dried meat and fruit, vegetables, rice... All that, and not one thing for itself? That sounds suspicious to me."

>>17368716
Look at the animals.

"...I think that his preferred meal of choice is something fresh. Any food he steals is probably to nourish the animals."

Look around for anything resembling a slaughter table or room.

>>17368755

"...I think that his preferred meal of choice is something fresh. Any food he steals is probably to nourish the animals." You check around the small room, noting only a small black iron pot over a fire, and a stirring spoon. There seems to be nowhere to prepare food.

>>17368812
Take out the crystal again.

"Yagheroo, tell me about your native plane." Smile cunningly. "I am interested in the realms of beyond; sort of a hobby, really. A few more questions, and we shall depart."

>>17368836

"Yagheroo, tell me about your native plane." You smile cunningly, brandishing the crystal in front of one eye. "I am interested in the realms of beyond; sort of a hobby, really. A few more questions, and we shall depart."

"Ah. Well, I can assure you we come not from a land of ice and snow," He says, with a knowing grin. "From a land of moist swamps, emerald mists and crimson skies." He chuckles, his right hand extended upwards, the wrist almost turning 360 degrees as he speaks, then back again the other way. "Where men were not known. We came in the time before dream-time acclimation to that plane from this very one you stand in now." He shrugs. "It's not every day that you can say you have met someone from an evolutionary offshoot 20,000 years or more off of yours, can you?" The creature makes a knowing grin. "I am Flind. From Aknarvan. We all were. It is a terrible, barren land of poisonous emerald mists." He breathes out against the crystal. "Though in the high plains we dwelled more comfortably. But most animals were immune to the stuff!" He pauses for a moment. "Now, after having joined with Karnum, we have become immune to the mists. To all poison, in fact. I would show you, but you have me trapped here. I do love entertaining guests, so." He seems almost saddened. You feel a bit sympathetic. Maybe you were wrong about this guy.

>>17368994
Maybe, but he did try to steal food from our ally. Still, since he appears to be telling the truth and we have no reason to detain him any longer, let's sche-dadle.

"Well Yagheroo, as I'm sure you're well aware, this crystal cannot hold you indefinitely. So, as a gentlebold, I will grant your release once we depart." Walk over to a table. "Though we cannot dictate your chosen hunting grounds, me and my compatriots would be most appreciative if you struck our allies' food stores from your list. If we catch you again, we will be back." Smile smugly as we put the crystal down on the table. "So, without further adieu, I bid you a peaceful and bountiful life."

Turn tail and recreate the portal we used.

"Tayn, Turen; I believe we're done here."

>>17369106
But we still didn't get out of him what he did to the food stores. And if he was looking for food for his animals, why did he return empty-handed when there was plenty of feedstock that he could have taken?

>>17370665
Good catch, anon. I just sort of assumed that he didn't find what he was looking for and left.

>>17370665

"Hold it." You say, inadvertently rattling the crystal. The tiny gnoll-like creature within looks a bit startled.

"Yes? What is it?" It asks in mock politeness.

"All that feed, and you didn't bring any back for the animals?" You say, looking over at the low feed stores over by the wall.

The creature's cheeks raise in a silent snarl, and though it wears such an expression, it laughs in the odd, hyena-like fashion. "Oh, not bad. Well, then let's just say they didn't have anything... Appetizing."

"I wasn't even hungry, and looking through there gave me quite the appetite." Tayn says, glaring down into the crystal. "Why go back the next day to take some food and risk being seen again instead of just taking it now? Your motive doesn't explain your actions properly."

"Heeheeheehahahahahahahahahahaha!" The flind laughs, growing in volume and pitch until the crystal seems ready to twist itself apart to be rid of the flind's piercing laugh. He taps a red claw on the wall of the crystal. "Well, maybe we just don't see eye to eye." The bright blue eyes of the creature take on a dangerous, crazed look, and the flind chuckles towards the door.

"I get the feeling that he's not talking about us anymore." Tayn sighs. "I don't think releasing him is such a good idea."

<<And we have a 12 hour time limit.>> You message to each of them, silently explaining how you expanded the crystal. Tayn seems irritated at the news.

<<We could be at this for days, and still not uncover anything. We need to be smart, think about where he's been, and why.>> Tayn looks over at both of you. "I think we should head back to the surface. Much as I hate to take the chance with teleporting, it'll be faster than a 40,000 foot dig."

Sorry about the 3 hour delay guys. Like many times in my life, I fell asleep before getting to the good part.

In the time while I wait, why don't I inform you about another game that I'm planning on working? It's a modern-era game set on Earth. The players are characters who have special powers or exceptional human ability and who have to act in accordance with the new governments, the shadow governments behind the ones we see every day, and run from illegal genetics experimentors, summoned demons, daemons, dreams and otherworldly beings, other people with powers who don't like your face, and anyone armed with a gun who you spook badly enough. Power is a different kind of superhero game, and a different kind of modern fantasy game. It is a thrilling adventure game where stakes run high and the world is out to get you. How far up the line can you get? Can you stay alive? These are questions for you and the dice to figure out.

>>17370942
Roll up our sleeves and get to cracking on that teleport spell.

"Well, we'll see what you're good for, Yagheroo. I suggest you make sure it isn't as 'dead'."

>>17371210
That's what she said.

>>17371381
Hmm...depends on the level of realism involved? More Than Human Quest had a degree of realism combined with quirky humor to keep me interested. Also, would it be sort of like a Shadowrun universe, Cthulhutech, or maybe something more mundane like Gargoyle Quest?

The main appeal is that it's high content generation, with good art and a steady tone. We offer a finely wrought game and ask only for money if it is purchased. This game uses a slew of fresh mechanics and a dependable, modifiable engine that works for a wide variety of game types.

Overall, because I can, I'm looking to impress with quality, quantity, and a steady output of content. I think we can do it.

>>17371512
>>17371512

Who says that Gargoyle Quest didn't happen inside of that universe? I needed somewhere to test my rough ideas for mechanics, and they seemed sound. I do still need to test Maxwell's Demon, though. That could be a fun quest.

>>17371586
Well, it sounds like you already have a ground plan out. The biggest fear for me would be income (assuming that's an important factor for you in creating a product). However, I'm sure you'll do fine.

>>17371544
Nicccce.

>>17371512

>>That's what she said

You have no idea. Never date a woman as sarcastic as you.

(Anyway...)

"Well, we'll see what you're good for, Yagheroo. I suggest you make sure it isn't as 'dead'." You say to him, stuffing him in a pocket and beginning a teleport spell. Tayn visibly gulps.

You begin focusing, concentrating on the ship, and then, the image grows closer. You feel the warm, dusty ship interior. Yes... You feel exhaustion from the events of the night overwhelm you, and your mind wanes, only for a moment, into uncons-
You drift, for what seems like eternity, in a tiny cocoon.

"It is not yet time. Do not release him." A dominant, masculine voice says.

"But we need to test it!" A more bright, feminine voice says. "We need to see if he can function in this atmosphere."

Atmosphere? The concentration of gases on a planet's surface. The meaning comes to you. You see blue skies, birds, and great crashing oceans and storms in the minds of the two blue-skinned creatures standing outside of your egg. You are designated as no one. You are an empty birth, as many void vorlat often are. You are sharing your awakening consciousness with another being.

"We don't even know what kind of creature this is! It could be anything!" The male one says, the long, flourescent tendril that extends from the center of his head lighting up with small, angry red lights. The female one sighs, her own tendril glowing a cold sea-green.

"If we don't let it hatch, it won't get to do anything." The woman says, calmly. "Then how will we learn from it?"

You feel your consciousness going under once more. Have to get out, have to...

But your proto-gills take over, and you begin lapsing into a dreamless sleep.

"Not today. Not with what's at stake." The deep voice says as you fall back, through the egg and into inky black.

(Will be away for a bit.)

>>17371798
Get a feel for our newly displaced body. Figure out where the hell are we and why we decided to skip in on this subject's entrance into consciousnesses.

>>17371842

You get a feel of your body. Claws, thumbs...You open your eyes as you hear a "buck, buck" call from a golden brown-feathered hen nearby. You immediately wake up, as yourself, Mynthar, and fall prey to the stink of ammonia as you wake up, standing. You are missing your outer robe, and you see a bit of white, pasty goo on the back of your right metal forearm. You clean it off with a spell, groggily, and note the brilliant, painful sun's rays entering into the side of the tent, the green grass on the ground near it having turned a pale brown. Your robes are still on, though covered in straw. Tayn and Turen are unconscious nearby.

>>17372298
Pick at our teeth and exit the tent; let's see what the Halfings are doing at this time of day. After we get our morning breath, take out the crystal and check on our captive.

>>17372621

You darken the light around you, peering outside to see-

A large number of tall, furry creatures, each near twice your height. They seem to be in tribal decor mixed with human and elven clothing that seems to oddly fit their gaunt limbs. These are gnolls. These are definitely gnolls. You see one holding up a still flapping chicken from his seat next to the doorway you have exited out of, and he appears to be an older gnoll wearing a green and ochre tailcoat, with a near-matching kilt made of thin reed weave, and a black silk top hat with the top at one corner mildly frayed and a bright green ribbon dotted with emerald clovers. His body bears a number of pinkish-white scars through the fur on his forearms and hands. He snorts something in a growling tone, shaking the upside down chicken at you. The sun seems to be rising in the sky, and you can just bear to look at the orb for a moment, even with your shadowy spell.

There are gnolls and wood cabins everywhere, with clay used as mortar and dirt floors in most places. You feel a low chill run through the air.

The suit and sarong wearing gnoll looks over at you expectantly, his doglike face expressionless save the inquisitive gleam in his dark eyes.

>>17373182
Purse our lips, slowing turning around on our heel before shutting the flap and breaking eye contact.

Shuffle over to Turen and Tayn.

"Psst. Wake up. Hey."

"Where...did we exactly step through? I remember stepping out of that deep cavern, but..." Look around the tent. "...I don't remember focusing on a chicken coop."

>>17373252

You turn back around, walking back into the chicken-filled building. "Psst. Wake up. Hey." You nudge Turen and Tayn. The two of them quickly wake up, and Tayn looks around, groaning. "Where... Did we exactly step through? I remember stepping out of that deep cavern, but..." You look around the tent. "...I don't remember focusing on a chicken coop."

Tayn groans, grabbing his stomach. "I knew it. I knew I'd be flung some far place, and my stomach... Oogh."

Turen sighs. "Well, complaining won't do us much good. Let's figure out where we ended up and figure out what to do from there."

"Who's complaining? Just give me a couple of minutes... Urgh!" Tayn grabs at his intestines as you hear a gurgling sound.

The gnoll from the outside peers in, still holding the chicken.

>>17373550
"Now's not the time for stomach problems, Tayn."

Check our pockets to make sure that everything is accounted for. The crystal is our first check.

If we have our coin person still on us, grab a gold coin and fling it at the peeking Gnoll. Smile as we do, gesturing that we'll be out of his coop in a moment.

"Come on, get up." Check for any signs of internal injury. If it's serious...

"Turen, help Tayn. I'll prepare the necessary portal spell."

All of the above doesn't have to happen in any particular order.

>>17373628

"Now's not the time for stomach problems, Tayn." Check our pockets to make sure that everything is accounted for. The crystal is our first check.

You grab a gold coin and fling it at the peeking gnoll. It hits the ground near one of his cloth-wrapped feet, and the gnoll adjusts his top hat quizzically. You smile as we do, gesturing that you'll be out of his coop in a moment. The gnoll stoops, picking up the coin, and biting into it with a yellowed fang. The gnoll seems satisfied by this, nods to you, and walks back out to the front.

"Come on, get up." You say to Tayn. He clutches at his stomach, shaking his head. "Turen, help Tayn. I'll prepare the necessary portal spell."

"Ooh, please don't talk about that." Tayn groans. "I'm sorry, I just don't do well with off-target teleportation or plane shifting." He sits up. "I can walk, just please make sure to give us a bit."

Turen sighs. "Well, it seems these folks aren't hostile. Maybe they know where this is."

>>17373830
I'm guessing we don't have the crystal carrying Yagheroo?

"Son of a gnome...where'd it go?"

Grunt apprehensively at Turen.

"Stay put. If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, come looking for me."

With that, adjust our robes to be the most presentable, and step outside. Our first target is the Gnoll with the chicken.

"Er...excuse me, but...I know this might sound odd, but can you tell me where this is? I'm afraid I hit my head rather hard and my thoughts are a tad shaky..."

>>17373909

Indeed. You didn't find it. "Son of a gnome... Where'd it go?" You grunt apprehensively at Turen. "Stay put. If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, come looking for me."

"Roger." Turen says.

You clean yourself with prestidigitation, then head outside to see the gnoll with the chicken. You cast a spell to allow you to speak and understand his language. "Er... Excuse me, but... I know this might sound odd, but can you tell me where this is? I'm afraid I hit my head rather hard and my thoughts are a tad shaky..." You ask him, the gnoll crouching down into a stoop.

"Nawt ta wurry." The gnoll says in a thick, melodic drawl. "Yer at the south end of the riv'r, in Chief Braghan's town." He looks down at you, raising an eyebrow. "Found ya three some ways outa town teh the norh, wuz lookin fer some fresh grass seed." The hyena-man points at you with a slightly crooked, furred finger. "Yew got more gold, I ken get yew sit-chee-ated."

>>17374133
"...I see...I think." Wave our hand in dismissal. "We won't be staying for long, though I thank you for your offer."

Peek back at the chicken coop.

"This is yours, I assume?"

"Might you give me and my friends a few more minutes before we depart? Hopefully, we'll be quick and quiet."

"Can you tell me how far of a journey it is to [I forget the Halfing leader's name]'s caravan."

"I recall him being near a river. Is this the same river?"

"Ah, I see...well, thank you for the information." Begin to walk back towards the coop. "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself...my name is [insert previous alias here that Turen and Tayn know]."

Also, I'm heading to bed, OP. See you tomorrow.

Bump.

Will be back in an hour.

>>17378610
Cool.

>>17374200

"...I see...I think." Wave our hand in dismissal. "We won't be staying for long, though I thank you for your offer." You look back at the chicken coop. Tayn is standing, though the glazed over look in his eye shows that he is woozy. Turen holds his hand, leading him along carefully. "This is yours, I assume?" You ask the gnoll.

"Napp. I jest attend the coop." The gnoll drawls in return.

"Might you give me and my friends a few more minutes before we depart? Hopefully, we'll be quick and quiet." You ask him.

The gnoll nods to you. "Mistur, if that's real gold yew gave mee then yew kin have the coop fer a few weeks fer all I care."

"Can you tell me how far of a journey it is to the nearest Halfling's caravan? To Fording Rest?" You ask the gnoll. "I recall him being near a river. Is this the same river?"

"Yep, ere's ownlee won river thet goes dauwn sew far thru the red plains." The gnoll says, looking at you expectantly.

"Ah, I see... Well, thank you for the information." You say after a bit, slowly backing up towards the coop. "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself... My name is Polk." You say to him.

"Neym's Narghul." The old gnoll says. "Naw relation tew th' troglodyte gawd a' deep caves an' whutnawt."

>>17379337
Smile grimly at his last comment.

"Ha..haha...ha..." Clear our throat. "Well Narghul, if you'll excuse me."

"Tayn, you feeling good enough for travel?"

"Narghul, the Gnoll outside, said that the Halfing camp is close by. Once we return to the ship, I'm going to do a little bit of scrying on where the crystal managed to get flung off to...and where my good robe went."

Typing in quashalian gnoll is taking a long time. But, I will persevere.

>>17379412

"Ha..haha...ha..." You laugh, swiftly becoming more uncomfortable. "Well Narghul, if you'll excuse me." You spin back into the building, looking to your companions. "Tayn, you feeling good enough for travel?"

"Yes, just nowhere fast." He says, grunting. "I don't have a problem with a vehicle or mount, just planar travel."

"Well, shouldn't the two of you have the same sort of issues? From a genetic standpoint, you're identical, right?" Turen asks.

Tayn looks a bit startled. "What? When did you-"

"Well, you didn't have to tell me. It's been fairly obvious." Turen says, bearing Tayn on his shoulder. "The marks on your arm aren't used in the army's mage division anymore, and the rest are different designs." He looks over at you, as though expecting you to chime in. "The two of you have the same facial structure, and are the same height. Despite differences in muscle and skin tone, you two look incredibly similar when you use basic disguise theory." Turen says, setting Tayn down.

"Basic what now?" Tayn asks, confused and in pain.

"Narghul, the Gnoll outside, said that the Halfing camp is close by." You say, before hearing a sharp rap from the doorframe. You quickly turn to look as a voice rings out.

"Naw I dint." Comes the mentioned gnoll's voice, gruffly. "I sed there's onlee won river whut flows thru the Red Plains. Fordin' Rest's a good eytee miles frum here." The gnoll looks over the lot of you, waiting for his words to sink in. "Upstream." He adds, turning to leave back out to the porch of the building.

>>17379521
"Eighty miles isn't much of a problem...though I must ask you, Tayn; are you fit for one last teleport? I promise we won't do any for quite a while after this, but I'd rather not keep our hosts and crewmen wandering for however long it would take us to travel upstream."

If he still complains and gripes...

"Oh, you big hatchling; do you want me to put you to sleep while we do it?"

>>17379569

"Eighty miles isn't much of a problem... Though I must ask you, Tayn; are you fit for one last teleport? I promise we won't do any for quite a while after this, but I'd rather not keep our hosts and crewmen wandering for however long it would take us to travel upstream." You ask, impatiently.

"Don't we need to locate the crystal first, sir?" Turen adds.

"I can, just don't mess up again." Tayn growls, heaving himself towards the door. "And sun. Hoo-ray." He mumbles.

"Oh, you big hatchling; do you want me to put you to sleep while we do it?" You shout at him. He snarls something swear-worthy back.

"Geez, he's no one's pal lately." Turen says, strapping on his sundark goggles.

>>17380255
Keep our face stern.

"We nearly got killed by fighting that creature; tough love will keep you alive, now..." Prepare the portal. "...as for the crystal, since it was a possession of mine, scrying for it should be easy. All the more reason why we can't dilly-dally here."

Frown slightly..

"...and I'm sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but we have a job to do. You can take the rest of the day to recuperate on-board the ship if you need it."

"Everyone ready?"

>>17380378

"We nearly got killed by fighting that creature; tough love will keep you alive, now..." You concentrate on the spell, bringing the image in better view. "...as for the crystal, since it was a possession of mine, scrying for it should be easy. All the more reason why we can't dilly-dally here." You frown a bit. "...and I'm sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but we have a job to do. You can take the rest of the day to recuperate on-board the ship if you need it."

Tayn grumbles something about extradimensional travel not being what he signed on for.

"Everyone ready?" You ask. Finding no one who isn't, you head on back into the ship a bit more precisely. Tayn looks ill as you appear on board.

"I knew it, that was a close one too." He says, staggering below deck.

>>17380941
"Go rest for now; Turen and I should be able to take it from here."

"Turen, sometimes I wonder about him..."

Retrieve our portable scrying dish and search for the crystal.

>>17381004

"Go rest for now; Turen and I should be able to take it from here." You call after the retreating kobold. You slowly shake your head. "Turen, sometimes I wonder about him..." You say, quietly, to Turen.

"What do you mean?" Turen asks, after a short time.

>>17381174
Chuckle, then shrug.

"I thought I was made of tougher stuff..."

"Tayn's become a good friend, but sometimes I can't help but think about how young he is...or, rather, how young he acts." Scratch our chin. "Maybe I'm just getting older..."

>>17381228

"I thought I was made of tougher stuff..." You say, shaking your head. "Tayn's become a good friend, but sometimes I can't help but think about how young he is... or, rather, how young he acts." You scratch your chin. "Maybe I'm just getting older..."

"Well, it must be some sort of genetic difference, like white and violet flowers." Turen says. "He was grown differently that you, maybe the pattern started at a weird place."

You catch sight of the crystal through scrying into the pocket of a robed gnoll, who has numerous bright feathers ornamenting his head and a thick black leather eyepatch. He calmly hums to himself as he roasts a fresh-plucked chicken over the fire.

>>17381961
How many more uses of teleport do we have for today?

"I don't blame Tayn for getting sick...I used to get sick, but that was years ago."

Zoom out on the Gnoll's surroundings; we don't want to end up warping to the chicken coop again.

"You ok with one more trip?"

>>17381998

"I don't blame Tayn for getting sick... I used to get sick too, but that was years ago, when I was still in training." You say to Turen.

"Ah, so there is precedent for it! Here I was worried it'd be just him." Turen says. "It's something like motion sickness, right? He might well grow out of it, though his body's not going to grow any..."

You zoom out on the gnoll's surroundings, seeing a well-stocked hut with furs and reed-woven tapestries in four colors: near-white, dark green, light green, and olive. They prove to be surprisingly expressive and extol the greatness of the one-eyed gnoll, whom you now remember having seen on playing cards in a CC hospital. "You ok with one more trip?"

"Sure, provided you are." Turen jabs at you, good-naturedly.

>>17382778
"But of course." Smile deviously.

With that, pick out a place behind the hut and focus on it. Then, away we go!

Also OP, I understand it's late, so I wouldn't mind cutting it off here for tonight.

>>17382785

We will. As the two of you disappear, some unseen eyes peer at you from behind the cover of another dimension.

And that's all for me. I'm pooped.

>>17382896
Good night, OP. See you next week.