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Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>6143578
You can see Millie composing her confidence right before your eyes, and pointed at the rabbit she knew.

"Orville! So you'the head of this cell. Why are you still working with the Singularity cultists?! Weren't you freed from ULF's influence?! Why are you doing this?!"

The rabbit, Orville, adjusts his glasses with his left hand. You can see he's radiating a subtle confidence, despite facing off against nine people - and three of them are combatants.

"It is none of your concern, fraulein. Und why zhould I tell any of meine secrets? After all..."

He launches towards the team, yelling!

"You will all be dead!!"

>ROLL 1D20 WITH YOUR CHOICE

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Block him, Clyde!
>□ Can you counter, mime?
>□ Catch his knife, Valencio!
>□ You can pretend you'll shoot him!
>□ Surprise him with magic, Craig!
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6143600
>□ Catch his knife, Valencio
Stop that blade!
https://youtu.be/WM33Hr94SKw

>□ Catch his knife, Valencio!
Glad to see this back

>>6143600
>□ Catch his knife, Valencio!

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>6143600
>□ Catch his knife, Valencio!

Rolled 17 (1d20)

Looks like I'm retardedd

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>6143602
ROLLING FOR MY VOTE

>>6143675
>>6143679
Knife jugaloo Valencio confirmed.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>6143600
>□ Surprise him with magic, Craig!

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>6143600
>□ You can pretend you'll shoot him!

>>6144424
It's ogre.

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>>6143600
Panic sets into you, triggered by Orville's sudden assault - his swiftness somehow bypassing Clyde's guard. You grabbed your gun in an attempt to bluff him, but as his knife closes the distance, you realize too late that his target is you.

"Hold it!"

But Valencio, that beautiful drunken bastard of a monk, moved faster. You didn't even register exactly when he blocked your view; for a moment you thought he took the blow with his body. Instead, you see him catching the rabbit's blade with his hands - and... it seems like Orville's writhing in pain?

"Ach, zis frequency! Scheisse! Make it stop, I beg of you!"

Well, the advantage is yours - well, Valencio's, since he seems to be pulsing a tremor-something through the knife. But you bet the rabbit won't stay stunned for long...

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Clyde, grab him from behind! Then interrogate!
>□ Craig, use your magic hand to hold him while I interrogate!
>□ Knock him out, mime! Then let's hogtie him up!
>□ Millie, quickly read his mind about cult stuff! Then knock him out!
>□ Other (fill in)

>□>□ Other (Craig uses magic hand while we interrogate him, BUT also signal to Millie to read his mind while we do so)
Even if he answers wrongly or refuses to talk, he'll think of the answer as a reflex. Most people do. If someone asks you "What's 2+2" you're probably gonna think "4", even if the answer you actually say out loud is 5.

>>6145280
I'll support that.

>>6145280
+1
The "Don't think of a white elephant!" effect

>>6145280
+1

>>6145267

>>6145280
+1
Smart.

>>6145280
+1

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>>6145267
"Craig, grab him!"

Immediately, a big ghostly green hand swoops in and grips the rabbit whole. His knife safely handled by Valencio, Orville's stun faded away quickly.

"What is zis?! Magic?!"

The hand floats the rabbit in mid-air, his feet no longer touching the cavern floor.

"I got him, Rosa!"

You see Craig concentrating, trying to keep the magic grip stable.

"Nice! Keep him there. Millie, get ready to read!"

Doesn't matter if he answers or not, there'll be glimpses of the truth that Millie can pick up, you think to yourself.

"Got it!"

The two of you approach the would-be cultist assassin.

"You've got a lot to answer, bucko!"

That same scowl answered you.

"Ach, your mind tricks won't work on me, jungfraulein... I know you, little witch. I have trained meine self for zis. Und zis magic would not last. I vill make ghosts out of you all!"

It's true, his mind is harder to crack, says a thought that isn't yours. Huh, is that you, Millie? Yes, I'm using telepathy, you have to make him drop his guard somehow, the thought fades. Seems like Millie's focusing on reading Orville's mind now. But how are you going to make him drop his guard?

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Try a quick punch to the gut, that should rattle him
>□ Perhaps go in for a kiss? He looks like a kissless virgin
>□ Maybe confront him with a blatantly false, wrong accusation? He looks nerdy enough to correct it
>□ Or get Valencio to do his Tremor-thing on him, that worked last time
>□ The mime might have their own interrogation technique that could work
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6147264
>Write-In: Sock him in the nuts

>>6147264
>A kiss is a bit much, but laying on some charm and touching his face and such might do the trick

>>6147265
That, but after
>>□ Perhaps go in for a kiss? He looks like a kissless virgin
Maximum confusion

>>6147264
>□ The mime might have their own interrogation technique that could work
That ought to be comedy gold. That guy looks way too autistic to be convinced by a mere kiss, anyways.

>>6147265
+1
but no kiss, we ain't no ho

>>6147355
+1

I just can't condone punching a man in the nuts. That's the one place you should never hit.

>>6147360
I can respect that viewpoint.

>>6147282
+1

>>6147264
>□ Maybe confront him with a blatantly false, wrong accusation? He looks nerdy enough to correct it

And smug enough to at least think of some of his real crimes

>>6147264
>□ Maybe confront him with a blatantly false, wrong accusation? He looks nerdy enough to correct it
Have him "erm, actually" and then when he least expects it
>□ The mime might have their own interrogation technique that could work
Mime shenanigans.

>>6147264
>□ The mime might have their own interrogation technique that could work

Drawing, writing.

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>>6147264
He seems to be awfully confident in himself - with what Millie said about him being a serial killer, you doubt thay pain nor the feminine charm will move him. Fortunately, there's someone here that could provide a third alternative. You turn to the mime. You sign 'you' 'try' to him, and he acknowledges. Let's see what he does...

He silently steps up to the rabbit, and without a word, pulls out a custard pie from his inventory.

"Hah! How very predictable. Throw pie on meine face? Really? I've endured worse."

As the rabbit gloats, the muted clown pulls out another item, a canister of whipped cream. Or is that instant cake frosting? Either way, the clown starts putting it on the pie. Perhaps as a piece de resistance?

But soon after, you notice what's going on.

"Zat's... a lot of frosting. Where are you going with zis?"

The mime kept on piling the frosting. One layer, two layers, five layers...

"Halt! Haaaalt!! Cease zis!!"

The killer rabbit's confidence crumbles in front of the mighty tower of frosting. You decide this is the perfect time to interject.

"Tell us what's the cult's plan here!"

The rabbit returns into a scowling mood, but you feel that the mime's tower of pie has unnerved him enough for Millie to snatch the info from his mind. Correct, says a thought that isn't yours. I'll tell you the plan later, out of the cave. Now what to do with him? The thought that is Millie's asked.

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Clyde, knock him out
>□ Valencio, tremor him until we get out
>□ Craig, you know any sleep spells?
>□ Let's tie him up. Anyone got rope?
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6149276
>□ Craig, you know any sleep spells?

>>6149276
>□ Craig, you know any sleep spells?

>>6149276
>>□ Clyde, knock him out
While
>Valencio, tremor him

let's be safe.

>>6149276
>□ Clyde, knock him out
>□ Valencio, tremor him until we get out
>□ Craig, you know any sleep spells?
>□ Let's tie him up. Anyone got rope?
I fail to see why we can't do EVERYTHING

Drawing, writing. Apologies for the relatively lethargic update pace, feeling a bit under the weather...

>>6151315
'Tis the season to get sick, QM. Well, in my climatic region, no idea when Indonesia's cold/flu/covid/etc season is No worries.

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>>6149276
Well, Craig can't continuously use magic to hold the rabbit - so let's see if he knows another trick.

"Craig, you know any sleep spells?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Cast one on him, then."

Orville visibly flinched at this notion, as Craig reconfigures his spell into some kind of gas.

"Zat will not work on m-"

His protest was soon disrupted as the spell took hold. Craig's ghostly magic hand dissipates, and the rabbit slumps onto the waiting hands of Clyde, who quickly binds a rope onto the serial killer's wrists and ankles.

"Now we can check that passage he came from - looks like he was guarding it. Wonder where it leads?"

The gang follows you through the tunnel, which lead to the other side of the cave-hill. A back exit! And look there, on the ground - wheel tracks. Some of the cultists might've escaped via autowagon already... but then again, the Ravens' cordon should catch them if they do.

Another thing you've noticed is that these escapees rushed through their departure, based on the paper trash and an entire crate left behind. Perhaps there may be clues there? Or maybe it's better to head to town and check on McDowd?

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Follow the wheel tracks
>□ Check the trash
>□ Check inside the crate
>□ Go back to Pinewatch with prisoners in tow
>□ Go back to Pinewatch, but leave the prisoners with the Ravens
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6151859
>□ Follow the wheel tracks

>>6151859
>□ Check inside the crate
They left this behind in a rush. I got a good feeling about this.

>>6151859
>>□ Follow the wheel tracks

>>6151859
>□ Check inside the crate
Gonna follow that other anon's intuition.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

A tie? Let us consult the winds of fate!
>1: wheel tracks
>2: crate

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>>6151859
The tracks, while interesting, does not capture your attention more than the crate. I mean, an entire crate! Did they really leave it here in their haste? You wonder if it's another duplicated relic bones kind of crate.

"That's a lotta crystals..."

The crate's lid easily falls off, revealing that it is chocked full of crystals.

"Mana crystals! And natural ones, too! Shame that most of them had been drained, natural mana stones can store at least double mana power than regular output."

Valencio's explanation makes you wonder what the cult was doing with them as you rummage into the crate.

"Hey, this isn't a mana crystal!"

You spotted that tetrahedron buried under the other crystals and held it out. Surprisingly, Millie points at it as if she saw a long-lost family jewel.

"That's a data crystal, Rosa! Hand it over! ...please!"

Now, why is she very interested in one, anyways? This piques your interest. Then again, finders keepers... along with the rest of the crystalline trove in the crate. You're not quite sure, but you did sense that some of them weren't drained thoroughly...

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Give Millie the data crystal, no strings
>□ Trade her it for the low price of asking why she needed it
>□ Keep the crystal, safer in your inventory than hers
>□ Other (fill in)

>ALSO CHOOSE TWO

>□ Grab a couple drained crystals for yourself
>□ Grab a couple half-charged crystals
>□ Give Craig some crystals with about half charge
>□ Give Craig a crystal that still has most of its charge
>□ Just leave them alone
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6153321
>□ Trade her it for the low price of asking why she needed it
and
>□ Give Craig a crystal that still has most of its charge
>□ Grab a couple drained crystals for yourself
Jackpot

>>6153321
>□ Trade her it for the low price of asking why she needed it

>□ Give Craig a crystal that still has most of its charge
>□ Grab a couple half-charged crystals

>>6153321
>EAT THE CRYST- Nah just kidding, trade her it for the low price of asking why she needed it
and
>□ Give Craig a crystal that still has most of its charge
>□ Grab a couple drained crystals for yourself

>>6153321
>□ Give Millie the data crystal, no strings

>□ Give Craig a crystal that still has most of its charge
>□ Grab a couple half-charged crystals

>>6153321
>□ Trade her it for the low price of asking why she needed it
>□ Give Craig some crystals with about half charge
>□ Grab a couple half-charged crystals

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>>6153321
Some of these crystals still contain some mana - there's even a few that are still fully-charged. You figured Craig could use one, so you hand one such undrained mana crystal to him. Of course, you nab a couple of the half-drained ones, just in case you'll need them later. If anything else, they could fetch a pretty penny somewhere. Speaking of crystals...

"This data crystal... I'll hand it to you, but I'd like to know exactly why, Millie."

A shade of gloom rolls upon Millie's face. Like a sad secret that can no longer be hidden.

"...Well, this is going to sound weird... and a bit personal. Sorry in advance, Rosa, Craig..."

Then you feel that foreign thought intrusion again. Only this time, it's more powerful. Instead of just communication, entire memories are laid bare onto you and Craig's mind - you can sense him, in this condensed moment.

The memories flow in. Of a universe that fell to the Singularity. Of a girl who hid under the bed where her mother was gunned down. Of a horse, the horse, who took the name James Baxter. Of strange things that occurred in that universe, of bifurcated timelines that overlaid each other as the Singularity approaches. Of one such time where the horse mourns the girl. Of another time where the mouse and the horse was happy, even if it was brief. Of them escaping their doomed universe using a machine dreamt up in visions. Of them arriving in Gongalla, and their eventual third death. Of their minds crystallizing into engrams inside data crystals after.

Honestly, the psychic memory maelstrom was quite a show, one-way that it is. It might have even prompted a feeling to rise from the depths of your emotions...

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Sadness. Millie's been through a lot, and nobody should've gone through that.
>□ Anger. She already got someone in her heart, and yet she still fools with Craig's?
>□ Empathy. You've known how it feels to miss someone dear to you.
>□ Disbelief. A girl that young, in a relationship with a grown-up horse?
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6155253
>□ Anger. She already got someone in her heart, and yet she still fools with Craig's?
Sad backstories are a dime a dozen in this place, but messing with our lil guy's heart is one line we won't let her cross.

>>6155253
>□ Disbelief. A girl that young, in a relationship with a grown-up horse?

Is Millie older then she looks/pretends, perhaps?

>>6155285
We already know she is, anon. She said so.

I think it'd be more interesting if Rosa got angry.

>>6155253
>□ Anger. She already got someone in her heart, and yet she still fools with Craig's?

>>6155253
>□ Anger. She already got someone in her heart, and yet she still fools with Craig's?
Let's get interesting

>>6155253
>□ Empathy. You've known how it feels to miss someone dear to you.

>>6155256
>>6155291
>>6155297
>>6155335
Anons, I assume James is dead.

>>6155348
>I assume James is dead.
And so was Millie. Multiple times, according to this data crystal. If you have some multi-dimensional lover you always end up finding your way back to no matter how many times you die, messing around with some innocent boy who's pretty much just a temporary lay to you is pretty assholish. Even if he's gone "for real" now, messing around with some boy for the funsies while your heart still belongs to some dead due is pretty jerkish behaviour as well.

Like, even if Craig already knew she was some ancient dimension traveller, he's still a young boy going through what is basically his first love. Rosa, being basically his aunt, wouldn't want him to experience it through some girl to whom he's nothing more than a temporary 'summer crush' she'll probably discard whanever she goes off gallivanting into the sunset of time and space.

Maybe you can say that's a pretty pessimist way of looking at it, but it's perfectly reasonable from the viewpoint of someone protective of Craig.

>>6155253
>□ Anger. She already got someone in her heart, and yet she still fools with Craig's?

>>6155371
That's fair, I suppose.

>>6155253
Switching my vote from >>6155348 to:
>□ Anger

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>>6155253
Anger boils up, overflowing the cauldron of your heart. The realization that Millie already had a paramour lingering in her heart bothers you - the part of you that's protective towards Craig.

"Wait a minute, so you're telling me that you've already got someone in your heart... while you're with Craig?! What about his feelings?! Did you ever consider that??"

The words struck true, as remorse gets more visible on Millie's face. You push on.

"Furthermore! What about Clyde? Who is he to you?! Isn't he looking awfully familiar?!"

Through the regret, Millie's words ring with sincerity.

"Clyde... I've been told that he is my longing for James, given form. He was by my side after I got reconstituted from my engram state... but he's... he's not James."

She then looks towards Craig. Teary-eyed Craig...

"I thought I can just be friends with Craig... a relationship without baggages. I'm sorry if I ended up hurting your feelings, Craig. And you as well, Rosa."

Geh... suddenly, your anger lost its bite. Further quenched by a certain little cousin of yours desperately hugging you, tears leaking out of his face.

"That's enough, Rosa... it's alright. Don't be mad at her..."

Sigh, he's right. Millie saw Craig as but a pure, innocent kid, one that she could befriend - one that doesn't remind her of her past. She saw a refuge in his innocence. Tough then, when Craig developed feelings for her...

As the last of your anger dissipates, you sigh and hand the data crystal to Millie. You kinda get it, she wishes this one will be the one that contained James Baxter's engram, a hope as fleeting and thin as a needle lost in Gongalla.

"There's your data crystal... let's get back to town."

That was all you can say, at that moment. Step by step, Craig follows you, sniffling; the rest of the group followed suit in silence. Millie, cradling the crystal gently, with Clyde carrying the rabbit, right behind her; the clown-mime and his charges, making nary a sound; Valencio, his mask a bit less merry as he hauls the other prisoner; and Nemo, whose single visible eye observes intently.

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ As Rosa, follow the autowagon tracks
>□ As Craig, tell Millie about the grimoire you got
>□ As Valencio, try to lighten up the mood
>□ As Nemo, assess, observe and analyze this awkward situation
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6157065
>□ As Craig, tell Millie about the grimoire you got
Friends without baggage don't flirt as hard as she's been, IMO.

>>6157065
>□ As Nemo, assess, observe and analyze this awkward situation
It's been a while since Nemo's done something. But yeah, it's just like i said...she's not only still longing for Baxter (and doing so to such an extent it literally crates an lifeform), she's still searching for him. If Craig's fallen for her then that's just a doomed crush she should have nipped in the bud given her ability to literally read thoughts. She knew that he was developing a crush on her, and still did stuff like tease him, flirt with him, and seemingly even date him (they were holding hands)

Like, of course he's going to say it's fine, he's an kind, innocent kid. But i doubt he'll feel the same once she finds Baxter's engram and walks off with him.

Well, it wasn't a wise move to confront her in the open, though. Rosa should have held in the anger until she could speak privately. Now if she tells Millie to back off and stop leading him on, Craig will just blame her...even if it's best for him that he doesn't end up following a love that isn't returned.

>>6157091
Exactly, I mean, when they were stuck in a closet, the literal first thing she did was compliment his dick size.

You call that 'trying to have an relationship without baggage'????

>>6157091
>>6157096
Do we know that in-media-res?

>>6157116
Rosa doesn't, but Craig does.

>>6157065
>>□ As Valencio, try to lighten up the mood

>>6157116
Rosa doesn't, but that doesn't really matter since she knows she did at least do stuff like holding hands and whatnot.

I was talking more from an OOC perspective that her line about just wanting it to be an 'friendship without baggage' is in one way or the other a total lie. What the hell kind of 'friendship' has you flirting with the boy you know has a crush on you by whispering in his ear that his package is, and i quote, "definitely not the smallest"

>>6157187
It's probably a cope by Millie to make sense of her desire for a genuine romantic (or at least emotional) connection separate from the AI homunculus that apparently is Clyde. Still, despite appearances she is an adult, and Craig is genuinely a kid. She should know better.

>>6157201
>emotional
If by the emotion in question you mean lust, sure.

>She should know better.
It's honestly not her age that i take issue with, she's ageless and stuff so she's pretty much older than any of us save maybe Nemo. If that was just it, I wouldn't have a problem besides maybe making sure she's not taking advantage of him.

It's more so the fact that she pretty much encouraged his crush on her while still having someone she's actively searching for in her heart. Like, she's still in love with this Baxter guy, is still trying to find his engram so they can be together, and is still with a literal psychic tulpa of him.

Like i said, what ending can this have? She's pretty much the first 'love' that Craig has, and those leave a mark. Yet none of the endings to this relationship are happy.
>She finds the engram, dumps Craig, and goes off with her horse husbando
>She doesn't find the engram, but still dumps Craig when she's off to her next adventure to search for him

Unless you believe she'd stop obsessing over this Baxter and choose Craig over him, there's just no scenario that doesn't end with Craig heartbroken.

>>6157203
>If by the emotion in question you mean lust, sure.
I don't think it's that simple, though it's probably a factor. Some people have trouble disentangling physical and emotional conection, and she's probably starved for both.

>>6157211
>I don't think it's that simple
Not necessarily, I was just saying that it's undeniable that it *is* a factor, see her comment about Craig in the closet.
>Some people have trouble disentangling physical and emotional conection
Well sure but it's not like she's never had a platonic friend or anything, so it's doubtful that this is her case.

>>6157065
>>□ As Craig, tell Millie about the grimoire you got

>>6157065
>□ As Rosa, follow the autowagon tracks

Drawing, writing.

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>>6157065
You are temporarily Craig Snorlison, and your tears tastes salty on your cheeks. To actually feel it is different from reading it - so you can sympathize with Millie. That longing for someone... you haven't felt crying like this anymore, not after Rosa took you on an adventure. So you take out the grimoire with the missing pieces from your inventory, and show it to a crestfallen Millie.

"I know how you feel, Millie... I've read through it."

You wipe a dripping tear (thankfully you managed to hold back on the snot) as Millie throws you and your grimoire a questioning glance.

"Wait, what did you mean by read?"

The grimoire gets handed over, and a while later, Millie had skimmed through it.

"Craig, this book is eerily accurate - where'd you get it?"

Millie's voice had changed into an optimistically disbelieving one.

"A bookstore in Crack! Why'd you ask?"

Gone are your sadness, upon seeing Millie getting excited again. She practically grins as she replies.

"Craig, this made me hope that there is another way to revive James Baxter! If not in body, then in spirit and memory."

She grabs your hand, joyful.

"Thank you, Craig! I will never forget you, I mean it!"

You are back as Rosa Montagni again, halfway to the town of Pinewatch - and you hear giggling behind you. Kids, you think, are more resilient than you can imagine. Just a while ago, they were crying - inside or outside - and now, they're happily holding hands. You wish you had their resilience back when you were a kid - well, it doesn't matter now.

As the town comes into view, so does a commotion. Centered around an autowagon, one that is larger than usual. Like a mobile home, even! Townsfolk are congregating around the odd sight, slightly blocking the northwards road. How should you proceed?

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Head directly to the hotel, you can glean info later
>□ Drop off the prisoners at the guild hall
>□ Head towards the clown's residence to drop off the kids
>□ Blend in with the general crowd and observe
>□ Ask the lumberjack crowd what's happening
>□ Ask the brothel girls what's happening
>□ Get close and check the autowagon directly
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6160180
>>□ Head towards the clown's residence to drop off the kids

>>6160180
>□ Drop off the prisoners at the guild hall
The clown and kids aren't going anywhere. If danger happens then the cultists will make a break for it before we can stop them. We drop them off at a jail cell first THEN secure the clown and the kids

>>6160180
>□ Other (Tell Nemo to go drop off the prisoners while we check the commotion)
This seems reasonable, no?

>>6160207
+1

>>6160180
changing my vote from >>6160222 to backing >>6160263

>>6160263
+1

>>6160180

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>>6160180
"Alright then, Nemo, Valencio, Clyde - you three escort the prisoners to the guild hall. Craig and Millie, go accompany Mr. Mime here and the clown kids, see to it they're safe. I'll go check out the commotion."

The gang disperses, hopefully that also gives some time for Craig and Millie to get some info from the kids as well. You hang back from the main crowd to see if there's anyone you know there - and look who's also doing the same.

"Yo, McDowd! What happened while we were gone?"

He nods, and you go over to him.

"Well, I was getting cozy with the locals at the bar, while trying to suss out who's in cahoots with the cult. When all of a sudden this huge autowagon comes in from the north road."

You scrutinize the relatively spotless wagon as McDowd continues.

"The occupants claimed they had broken through a bandit blockade. Had a gunfight and everything."

"What, with the Ravens?"

McDowd smiles, but his eyes still fix a skeptical gaze on the autowagon. A sentiment you share.

"Yeah, apparently some of the passengers were wounded, they're being treated at the Doc's right now. Driver's fine though. They claim to be part of the 'Hammy & Lynn' troupe..."

Now that's a name you remember.

"Isn't that the missing theater troupe?"

"Yeah. I feel like there's something fishy going on here..."

You're also feeling a disrepancy here. What, exactly, twigs you off about the situation?

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ The fact that their autowagon doesn't have bullet holes despite a firefight
>□ The fact that the passengers were hurt but the driver's not
>□ The fact that they arrived from north, when professional highwaymen, the Ravens, can stop them easily
>□ The fact that they claimed they're from the missing theater troupe
>□ Other (fill in)

>ALSO CHOOSE ONE

>□ Sneak a peek into the Doc's clinic
>□ Stealthily check the outside of the autowagon
>□ Survey the crowd for any weird onlookers
>□ Get into the clinic via the mortician's shop
>□ Look for the brothel crew, they should know the latest gossip about this
>□ Go and interrogate the prisoners with the boys
>□ Check up on the clown and the clown kids
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6162035>□ The fact that their autowagon doesn't have bullet holes despite a firefight
>□ The fact that the passengers were hurt but the driver's not
>□ The fact that they arrived from north, when professional highwaymen, the Ravens, can stop them easily
>□ The fact that they claimed they're from the missing theater troupe

All of the above. And I know exactly what it is :
They are definitely the cultists that escaped using the autowagon they stole from fruity theatre kids. We have to punch 'em and capture them.

>Write-in :
Tell the whole story to McDowd and doctor. Let's stop healing ennemies;

>□ The fact that their autowagon doesn't have bullet holes despite a firefight
This is sus
>□ Other (Look for the Driver)
The Driver is the Key.

>>6162035
>□ Other (fill in)
ALL OF THE ABOVE LIKE >>6162093 SAID
>□ Other (fill in)
DO WHAT >>6162093 SAID
TELL THE WHOLE HIDEOUT RAID TO MCDOWD AND GO IN ON THEIR ASSES

Apologies for the delays, the holidays be kinda hectic in multiple fronts. Drawing, writing - and merry Christmas!

>>6162035
>□ The fact that their autowagon doesn't have bullet holes despite a firefight
>□ Stealthily check the outside of the autowagon
Bet they're Singularity Cult reinforcements.

>>6164184
Merry late Christmas to you!
And a happy New Year!

>>6164184
Makes sense. Don't sweat it! I hope you had a... Rad Ramadan?

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>>6162035
Everything about this whole situation seems off. A firefight that left no bullet holes on this mobile barn of an autowagon. Injured passengers, but unharmed driver. Their claim to be from the north, while the Ravens had set up a blockade there. And lastly, claiming to be from a theater troupe that's been missing for weeks now.

"All of this seems wrong."

McDowd nods, a slight surprise.

"Never thought I'd agree with you, but here we are. Mind telling me what happened at the cave?"

"Well, we arrived there to see a sentry, and a silent clown taking down said sentry..."

A quick recap later, and McDowd seems to have formulated a plan.

"If what you said is true... then we need to get in Doc's clinic and arrest them quietly. Can't let the town panic and make a fuss. Let's go 'round the back."

A good idea, now that there's only two of you here. Slowly, you and the ex-lawman make your way behind the growing crowd, and made it to an alley that led behind the main street buildings. Only problem is, it's not as deserted as you both think.

"It's a bit crowded!"

McDowd whispers as he pulls out his gun. True, by your own peekings you see a stranger hiding behind a crate and holding a gun - and a familiar goblin peeping into the clinic's windows. Is that whatshername- Rita? The one from the brothel? She looks giddy, at least.

Aside from those two, you can see a shadow flitting about the roofs, and the sound of curtains softly opened from the building you're currently leaning on... isn't this the mortuary?

You gotta plan on what to do next.

>CHOOSE ONE

>□ Wait it out, see what happens
>□ Create a distraction, then sneak in
>□ Get in via the mortuary house, the mortcian won't mind, right?
>□ Knock out the stranger, then ask Rita what she's doing here
>□ Get in via roof, maybe?
>□ Other (fill in)

>>6167184
>□ Knock out the stranger, then ask Rita what she's doing here

>>6167184
Oh shite, I totally forgot about this..
>□ Knock out the stranger, then ask Rita what she's doing here

>>6167184
>□ Knock out the stranger, then ask Rita what she's doing here

>>6167184
>□ Knock out the stranger, then ask Rita what she's doing here

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>>6167184
"I don't know that man, McDowd."

Your whisper reaches his floppy ears.

"Me neither. But that girl, isn't she from the brothel-"

"Yeah, Rita."

"So that gunman's the only threat. I can't shoot him here, it'll cause too much of a ruckus..."

Well, he's right, it'll risk alerting the possible cultists inside the clinic, and maybe even start a gunfight with that mustachioed stranger. Hmm, what to do, what to do... aha, is that a rock you see?

"Oh look, a solution lying around!"

McDowd eyes you with a questioning look, as you cock your throwing arm back. One, two, three, easy as pie - and the stone sails across the alley, squarely hitting the stranger on his forehead. Well, more like it thwacked hard, as the middle-aged gunman went down with little noise.

"Damn, you nailed him good!"

McDowd whispered quickly before materializing some rope and a gag from his inventory. As expected, he quickly used them on the latest prisoner; which means it's your cue to sneak up on Rita.

"What are you up to?"

Rita doesn't seem to be surprised by your presence.

"Ah, you're that Rosa gal! I hope your boy heals good. Anyways, that's Hammy, right there, in the flesh! I'm his biggest fan! So, you here to stalk him too, eh?"

You glance towards where Rita is pointing, and inside is a human kid being treated for bruises. Granted, he does have that entertainer feel on him.

"Rita, that's a child. You sure it's him?"

"Yea! That's Hammy alright, I own several photoshoots of him. He's one of those 'ageless' kids, you know?"

Well, that threw your theory about the passengers being cultists out the window. Then again, things still don't add up, and you'll get to the bottom of this cult stuff... just so you can get directions towards the next reality anchor. You'll need to be careful with your next moves...

>END OF THREAD

>THANK YOU FOR PLAYING
>APOLOGIES FOR THE SLOWING DOWN NEAR THE END THERE, HOLIDAYS AND START OF YEAR BEING BUSY DAYS FOR ME
>JAIL QUEST WILL RETURN LATER THIS MONTH

>SUGGESTIONS, FEEDBACK, CRITIQUE WELCOME!

>>6172363
>Petunia was into the trio
>Rosa is into Craig (at least a bit)
>Rita is into Hammy
.. You got something to say to us IG buddy?
All jokes aside, this was great!

>>6172363
Thanks for running, IG!