/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>102667
She smiles back, in her half menacing, almost toothy way, and leans over the table with her knees on the tabletop.
“Do you have any plans?”

>>102668
"Yea i was going to go see the Foals after i finished that job. but that Got put on hold for a little bit."
He Laughs
"I'll probably go see them after we finish lunch. you should come along. they would love you."
He smiles at her

>>102669
"Why do you say that?" she asks

>>102670
"they're good boys.and they have no mother figure in their lives."

>>102671
“... What are you implying?”

>>102672
"What do you mean?"

>>102673
“Oh, nevermind”

>>102675
Poob?

>>102680
That or the vodka must’ve done him in

>>102681
I dunno. I probably passed the anonfaggotry through the bite.
BTW Gif is freaking out on my end.

>>102681
>>102682
Back from the dead and reporting for duty.

>>102683
Your duty is to roll 10 more times to make the colts ride you.

>>102692
Hello

>>102683
Oh there you are

>>102693
Welp, I dunno why I didn't respond sooner buy heyo.
I sure hope the bat consented to Luna's hoof wrapping.

I'll be gone most of the day gonna be at a friends house.

>>102697
Better bring your horse to make the party the most fun!

Okay, am here

>>102699
How do you do, fellow horsefucker?

Okay, so Iron is out in the open, with the bandit with the Panama Hat visible, the pony with the Pilt Helmet, and now two more bandits

>>102701
Cauldron and Pear are inside the brush?

>>102702
They would be inside the Temple/cavern entrance. Iron dashed out on his own

>>102703
Alright.
Any particular enemy that can be hit from this distance, for example?
If you want, you can make a simple Excel map to make things easier and give me some semblance of understanding of my position.
I can wait, don't worry.

>>102704
Hit? Iron is unencumbered, and so can charge fairly quickly. Likely most of them are in range

[1d20+8 = 14]
>>102705
Ok, let the rolling begin then.
Iron charges at one of the two bandits, eager to end this battle as swiftly as he can.
(Perhaps I will have to deal killing blows to the ponies that stand out. Maybe their group integrity will fall.)
With that, this particular blow is non-lethal but powerful.

[1d20+3 = 8]
[1d20 = 13]
>>102706
Hit

Two shots oppose

[2d8 = 5]
>>102707
A rifle round hits Iron

[1d20+8 = 23]
[1d3+12 = 13]
>>102708
>>102707
I'll roll damage. I think Iron's health is lower than 30. About 27 probs.

Iron winces at the pain of yet another bit of metal digging itself nonconsenually into his skin.
He charges at the second bandit with a vengenance.

[1d3+12 = 13]
>>102709
And damage again

[1d20+4 = 24]
>>102709
You said he has 16 last time

Both bandits are knocked to the ground, though they don’t really look as if they’ve taken enough damage to be out for good

Another shot

[2d6 = 3]
[1d20+4 = 16]
>>102711
Uh

[1d20+8 = 16]
>>102712
>>102711
Really? Well damn.
I think that's six damage.
Damn lucky 20.

Iron feels a particularly deep wound on his chest, making him cough.
Knowing that he cannot take any chances, he charges at the person who last shot at him for a clean punch.
(First I should know who is the leader here.)

[1d3+12 = 13]
>>102713
And damage.

[1d20+5 = 13]
>>102713
He punches Iron back

[1d20+6 = 15]
>>102716
>>102715
Iron's chest pain increased quite a bit from that blow with 4 HP remaining.
He aims for the offending limb that dared to hit him and bucks it with absolute power. No charge bonus cuz they're too close together.

[1d3+12 = 14]
>>102717
Damage.

>>102718
>Assuming a hit
Nigger, I never told you his AC

>>102719
Oh whoops. Force of habit. So did it hit?

>>102720
Good enough. But this bronco nears Iron on toughness

“Have you had enough?”

>>102720
>>102721
I am here once again.

[1d20+6 = 15]
>>102721
>nears Iron toughness.
I feel like I'm going to die if that's literally his HP.

Iron simply stares at the offending pony.
"No."
With that admittedly honest reply in his weakened state, he bucks the bronco's face.
Sounds like he's the Pilt Helmet one.

[1d3+12 = 15]
>>102723
Since now I know this connected last time, I'm sure I can roll that damage.

[1d20+5 = 23]
>>102723
Not so fast.

He gets to punch first

>>102725
Ah a clash of punches!

>>102727
Oh boy. Exactly 0 HP. Can I roll a fort save to at least transmit that last punch before I fall unconscious?

>>102728
>>102729
No.

But Iron can collapse without falling unconscious

>>102730
Well, if I can't really attack, it'll have to do.

With the last hit nailing Iron right near the throat cutting off his breathing, he falls to the ground panting.
He stares at the winner of the exchange with a stoic and exhausted expression, awaiting for his impending demise.
"You pack quite a buck."

>>102731
“You know only the least of it. Tell me, who are you, and who sent you?” Says the brown pony with a strong accent

>>102722
Oh hi Silver

>>102732
"Iron. Nopony sent me."
He glances to see if he's in cover in his prone, defenseless position.
(Hopefully Cauldron does not use the sticks while I am behind this.)

[1d20+6 = 23]
>>102733
Is Iron in cover? No. He is prone

“Well then. Know that I am the Ruler of these jungles, and no pony beats me.”
He pulls his revolver, and *bang*

>>102734
Iron's eyes, who were currently focused on the pony, dart around to see where did that shot come from while prone.

>>102735
The bandit is sweaty, looks to be in pain, and was holding part of his barrel with a fire leg before needing it to aim the gun. Then a spurt of red flies out of him as he is jolted, and falls to the ground, over to his right side, near Iron

>>102736
Iron, deciding not to attract attention and being too tired to do anything, remains motionless but with the ghost of a smile, assuming to know what happened.
(Two more, Cauldron.)

>>102737
Cauldron runs over to Iron, throws her rifle to his side, and stands over him with a concerned look. Quickly, she grabs him with her hooves.
“Oh Celestia. Iron. You’re hurt!”

>>102738
Iron nods.
"That last pony had a strong right foreleg."
He looks around him.
"What is our current situation?"

>>102739
“Our current situation? Out current situation is you are wounded, and we just faced a whole square of riflemares”

>>102740
Iron simply pulls up his neck, causing a little grunt.
"I am guessing we are at least in relative safety."
He attempts to stand up in his beaten condition.

>>102741
A white stallion approaches in the twilight

>>102742
Well, I wasn't expecting that to work.
Iron squints his eyes at the figure, trying to get a better look of him.

>>102743
None other than the stallion in the pith helmet and jacket

>>102744
I don't think I can fight at 0 health, can I?
Iron points it out to her striped companion.
"I do not think he is going to be friendly."

A feeling of deja vu washes over Iron.

>>102745
No. He cannot

The stallion calls
“Who is it?”
His voice is a little posh

>>102746
>posh
Another civilized folk, I see.
Iron is a bit confused, and decides to go for the basic answer.
"A pony."

>>102747
“Where are you coming from?”

>>102748
Iron looks to the side at Cauldron.
"Hide. I will make him come here. I need you to act when he tries something funny like try to fight or run away."

With that, he hollers out.
"Over here."
His hoof clops the ground to signal him his position.

>>102749
Oh, he knows where Iron is. He knows Very well where Iron is
“What do you want?”

>>102750
Oh, didn't quite get that.
Iron thinks how much they had to walk to go from the temple back to the city.
"How much time would we need until we reach cee-vee-lai-sei-tion'?" he whispers to Cauldron.

>>102751
“We’re some hours from the train station in Stableside. Or Tenochtitlan”

>>102752
He nods.
(That probably means I will have to make them flee if I want to haul the loot we have gathered back.)
Iron coughs, aiming his mouth at the posh pony to start a vocal interaction.
"I want you to stop desecrating this temple. Let the dead rest."

>>102753
“Desecrating? What?”

>>102754
Iron deadpans at him.
(Seems either he doesn't know about the building's purpose or what is even going on.)
"Are you in charge of the camp near this building?"

>>102755
“Why yes of course. Well, I was. You see, I am a part of an archeological expedition sent by Mistkatonic University to examine old native ruins. Things were rather dandy until some bandits came upon our camp and took me prisoner. They’ve been keeping me hostage for a period of time, and I am rather good and jolly that you’ve come along, as it seems you’ve given them quite a licking...”

Iron facehoofs to himself.
"My mistake."
He looks to his sides for any signs of Pear to see if she can confirms this.
"Pear? I think I found a friend of yours!"

>>102757
Pear’s slow gait lacks the finesse of Cauldron’s, and her hooves make a subtle “clop” as she walks along the ground. But there’s something about her walk that suggests a deliberate attempt to be discrete in the movements of her hooves

“Dr. Grant” she says
“Dr. Faucet” he replies. “I thought we lost you”

>>102758
Iron nods to himself.
(It seems she still thinks she is in danger.)
He decides to stay and see this reunion for a bit before going back inside to look for the gold, trying not to butt in too quickly into what he assumes is a small conversation.

>>102759
Grant:
>”I thought you were inside when they came. How did you get away?”
”I was. They encountered Peer review by the subterranean stream. He refused to surrender the idol of Texcatlipoca. Thet shot him, and they shot Mr. Loans, who was with him. He ran, but collapsed at the top of the incline. I was down by the frescos with Extra Pair. They threatened us to open the chamber, but were spooked when a small earthquake occurred. They shot Extra Pair and ran off with a couple idols. I followed afterwards, not waiting for them to come back.
>”An Earthquake? Might it have been the lightning storm? A bolt struck a bandit guarding us near the camp. Our guide ran, as did Feather Duster. I ran like the dickens myself, but I cannot jog as I used to. Those rapscallions caught up with me...”
”And so you joined them?”
>”Joined them? No, they forced me to tell them things. Give them advice on where to go, and serve as their guide.”
”And you cooperated?”
>Good Heavens no, they caused us to loose a tenured professor and two graduate students. This will look terrible before the Board. And I certainly wasn’t about to let them run off with the greatest archeological find of the decade, even if I do have tenure.”
”They get what they pay for”
>”What happened to that bandit in the cavern on the incline? Was that your... escort’s doing?”
”No, he must have bled out after I left. Must have picked up an ancient disease in one of these sites, or drank water from a stream that is down river from gold mining operation, laced with cyanide”
>”Right... who is your... ‘group.’”
”I don’t know. Some native and his zeeb fillyfriend. Must be adventurers or a smaller group of bandits
>”Dr. Faucet! We do not allow use of racial epithets!”
”Oh hush, after that’s gone down we have far more to worry about.”
>”Well, I wouldn’t say that. You must keep up a good presentation for when we get back to Stableside. The press will want to meet us, and so will High Chair. There will be stories in the papers across the world! You may even get tenure...”
”You’re strangely optimistic under these circumstances...”
>”With the bandits gone now there is reason to be.”
”Peer Review is dead, as are two graduate students”
>”It’s a real shame Peer Review did not make it, but we shall set up a scholarship in his honor, and ask for donations to start it. Maybe even name a new building after him. A building we can finance from the good will from breaking this story. Maybe set up a special statue.”
”Oh, don’t give that”
[Pear rolls her eyes in irritation]
>”What exactly did you find down there? Extra Pair told us the chamber had been found”
Indeed. We found a burial of rebels from the first contact
>“Rebels? Not Hayfeather?”
”Yes. Rebels. We had this discussion yesterday. And before then.”
>”Oh yes of course, rebels. Now tell me. What do the antiquities look like?”
”Just about everything that isn’t gold or stone has rotted or corroded away, as expected, but there are still obsidian pieces, golden masks, and other things. Of course those two tried to grab everything they could carry like the grave robbers they are.”
>”Oh, they did? Hoe much did they disturb the site?”
They removed quite a few objects. I even saw the Zeeb... the female break open a sealed tomb. Typical. They completely bipassed a big calendar wheel though, even though it had gold on it. I’m surprised they didn’t pry off the gilding. But the calendar looks to be quite detailed with Marexica folklore and prophesy...”
>”And those frescos will be quite the attraction in any museum. Tenochtitlan will want it, as will Baltimare. Or even the nation gallery in Canterlot. All the same.”
”I guess that is true”
>”Well, we’ll figure this out...”
The two walk together

>>102760
Iron, for his part, tries to pretend to be busy by standing still and looking forwards.
(So she was captured but then ran due to an earthquake-sounding lightning storm giving her a chance to escape? Clearly the gods meant to lead us here. What other explanation would there be?)
Pear's talk about diseases only makes him confused.
(The god of death was living there and punishing reckless and dishonorable behaviour. It was obvious most of them should have felt punishment for disturbing the graves without giving something in return. I think that's how it works...)
The little mention of Cauldron as his fillyfriend made his hair spike.
(Am I as obvious to read as a cave painting?)
Iron can sense why Pear dislkies his colleagues.
(I suppose that would honor his bravery when on the other end of the gun, but something seems off about it.)
The mare's comment about his most recent actions come to little surprise by Iron.
(I am betting she secretly wants some of it, judging by her comment back at the cave... I might be reading a bit too deeply.)
Eventually he mentally shrugs.
(She does have what she is looking for. After all, she did not care about the gold itself.)
He smiles to himself.
(It seems those are some buyers to sell the pots from what Grant is saying. Nice.)

Leaving them be, he looks over to Cauldron, with a smile on his face.
"Do you want to come along and fetch the pots we left back in the cave? It should still be there waiting for us."

>>102761
“Are you strong enough?” Cauldron asks
A second look at Cauldron’s face shows she is indeed serious

Is the “his” on “his colleagues” supposed to be a “her” or does that refer to Iron, Grant, or the bandit leader?

>>102762
Pear dislikes her colleagues. Did an oopsie.
Iron shrugs.
"If I can still stand, I think so. We can reduce the load in the worst case scenario."
He starts sauntering back towards the entrance with a determined expression.
"We do have to try at the very least. I promised life-changing money and I am not settling for less."

>>102763
“Are you wanting to leave in the night? You are very hurt”

>>102764
Iron ponders for a bit.
"Do you think you can dissuade predators from coming after us?"

>>102765
“Yes? I hope so”
Grant and Pear likewise are heading towards the entrance

>>102766
Iron nods, leaning closer to Cauldron.
"Then we shall go at night, but we should secure the pots we separated before the other two get any ideas."

>>102767
She nods, but repeats back to him
>”Before”
In a kind of ironic manner, as if to imply to premise of the statement is incorrect

>>102768
Iron nods, making sure to whisper this.
"Right. Be sure to have your gun loaded if the stallion tries anything. I think my figure, even in this sorry state, could be imposing enough but I would rather not let them act on said ideas."

>>102769
“He looks like a middle-aged, overly pampered wimp to me. What are you expecting?”

>>102770
He nods.
"Greed could make them... more uncooperative than usual."
Now, what kind of walk are we having? Is Cauldron going to talk about the most recent adventure along the way, more dialog from the two expedition ponies or a skip right to the pots?

>>102771
Yes

Okay, I need to go to sleep

>>102772
Night.

Hello

>>102775
Hi.

>>102775
Hi

>>102777
Hello

>>102776
What