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File 130298644782.jpg - (143.22KB , 800x600 , splash2.jpg )
297174 No. 297174 ID: d93696
This is a "re-vamp" of Ink Quest. Background of the quest will be explained gradually throughout, so I encourage new readers to ask Muriel questions about anything that you do not understand. It will resume roughly where it left off.
Expand all images
>>
No. 297176 ID: d93696
File 130298648706.jpg - (157.19KB , 800x600 , page1.jpg )
297176
Alright, so the idiots in the bar did not know much about Peter Lucky. If that told me anything at all, it is that he is no longer in this town.

I have no ink and no money, but a couple of other places to look. This city reminds me of Penn and my dusty childhood, and it is growing painful to stay here. I will want to find the guardsman who confiscated my things on the way back out. Before I go, I want to have a place to go to. It pretty much leaves Temple of the Sefa or the City Hall as sources for information on Peter Lucky that will not be a waste of anyone's breath.


The Temple is a place of worship honoring, above all, the Great Sefa, who founded the world and supplies it with his holy ink. Well, at least he did before the great shortage began. Also beheld in the temple is Li, for whom we the Liites are named. A herald of the Sefa, he drew the Li flats, and his ancestor, Pang, founded and named this city-state. The town's ink well is heavily guarded within the Temple.

City Hall is the center of law enforcement in the city-state, and the home of the mayor. From what I can tell, the Temple and the City Hall have checked each other's power since the beginning. I will need to find a way to make appointment with the mayor or his stewards if I wish to inquire here.

Where should I go first?
>>
No. 297180 ID: 868a23
The Temple. (btw what drink did you get at the bar?)
>>
No. 297181 ID: 8e18cd
>>297176

I think dealing with City Hall people will be easier for now...
>>
No. 297187 ID: d677cc
>>297176
Iunno, I guess the Temple first?
>>
No. 297192 ID: f123de
Weren't there some kind of apartments you could check out? Ask around about your brother?

...let's look at that temple thing. It is probably more interesting than City Hall. (Votechange, woo.)
>>
No. 297212 ID: ce15d1
Temple
>>
No. 297286 ID: 263f99
I highly recommend going to City Hall. Do you really want to deal with people that are speaking in fatalistic terms (in regards to the current shortage)?
>>
No. 297291 ID: 8c73c8
sure, city hall.
>>
No. 297324 ID: d93696
File 130302778729.jpg - (152.77KB , 800x600 , page2.jpg )
297324
>>297180
What did I drink? Some fizzy stuff called 'Incompetence'. The logo was like...


▲ ▲

I don't know, I can't even do it right

>>297192
My brother? I do not think that he would have hidden anything like that from me. I could ask around the apartment where Peter Lucky lived, as well.

Wow, this place is pretty big and old. I can only imagine what it must have been like to fabricate it. There are so many guards around that it looks more like a fortress than a temple.
>>
No. 297326 ID: d93696
File 130302794228.jpg - (187.54KB , 800x600 , page3.jpg )
297326
Alright, this is looking pretty familiar. There are a bunch of nuns and monks around, and even more soldiers. That big hole in the middle is the ink well. I think that it drains out in the bottom to valves where people are given their rations. Penn was only ever able to get ink once per month if we were lucky.

The soldiers look a bit young, but there are some old people in the clergy. Maybe they know a thing or two. There is a priest, a monk, and I think that that is a nun in the far corner near the corridor, but it is hard to tell with those big robes on.
>>
No. 297328 ID: f01ac4
>>297326
Talk to the Priest. They're more than likely to know their congregation, if this religion holds services to that effect.
>>
No. 297335 ID: 1854db
>>297326
Let's talk to the priest and the monk at the same time since they're right there.
>>
No. 297348 ID: ce15d1
Can you buy a plush squid?

Talk to the monk.
>>
No. 297413 ID: d93696
File 130306951987.jpg - (92.14KB , 800x600 , page4.jpg )
297413
Muriel: "Excuse me, father. I have a few questions about someone who lived in Pang a number of years ago."

The two men in the peculiar hats look at me in unison, their conversation coming to a gradual halt. I did not realize at first how much louder I spoke than the two clergymen, as my voice echoed throughout the cavernous dome and even managed to turn the heads of the armed guards.

Priest: "Of course, child."

Muriel: "I want to know about Peter Lucky, because I want to find him to speak with him."

Priest: "Peter Lucky, you said?"

I nod, and the men exchange looks as though mutually considering how to tactfully provide an answer to the query. The priest is an old man, but the monk appears only to be in his thirties or so.

Priest: "I have not heard that name in a long time. I remember when he came through this town. He had a presence that made him known somehow. The young man was a magnificent fabricator. The stewards of our cloister who have trained lifelong wilted in comparison to him." There is a pause here, though the man tries to begin again twice unsuccessfully before carrying on, "He was, however, a raucous one. He was a good boy, but he could not keep himself out of trouble. Him and his friend, of course - the two of them were positively inseparable."

Muriel: "I believe that that was Penn. He was my older brother."

Priest: "Penn? Oh yes, of course. He was?"

Why did he have to ask? He could have just left it there. I nodded anyway, and the monk next to him placed his hand on my shoulder. I did not want to be touched, so I shrugged him off. The already morose-looking men donned frowns.

Priest: "I am sorry child. Uh... ehem. I wish that I could help you more."

Muriel: "Where did Peter Lucky go?"

Priest: "I wish that I knew. What a fascinating young man he was."

Muriel: "Thank you, father."

As I waved them off in my curt way, the monk followed behind for a few steps.

Monk: "Miss, I happen to know a thing. See, I was just about your age when Peter Lucky walked the city. After the Second Ink War, he left. He said that he was going to end the fighting and do big things. Uh... help people, he said. He just kept on saying that. I can hear his voice in my head even now with it."

Muriel: "Thank you."

I walked out of the temple alone again, even my bare footfalls echoing through the dome. If I had known that it would be this difficult to find Lucky, maybe I would have reconsidered, but what else am I going to do? This city is a dead-end. There are no jobs, and my house is literally a hole in the ground.

If this is what I have, should I be resigned to staying here until I get sick and die?
>>
No. 297414 ID: d93696
File 130306954641.jpg - (118.04KB , 800x600 , page5.jpg )
297414
AH! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT

There was a ground-shaking percussion coming from outside of the temple, followed by pattering like heavy rain. I can feel the floor rumbling still, and now people inside and out are shouting. There are bits of plaster and metal crumbling from the ceiling, and the soldiers are scrambling in through the front door. What is going on?!
>>
No. 297415 ID: ee1442
Bears. Bears are attacking the city.
>>
No. 297416 ID: 868a23
>>297414
could the ink shortage caused a neighboring nation to start a war for ink?
>>
No. 297420 ID: 3046f0
Probably just the wind. Walk out.
>>
No. 297421 ID: a5dbe5
So we need to find Penn.
>>
No. 297424 ID: 07416a
So, uh, what's with the Ink fixation?
>>
No. 297432 ID: a5dbe5
>>297424
Ink can make things, simply by painting them in the air.
>>
No. 297439 ID: b6ca92
>>297424
Ink is the stuff of literal existence. All that is, comes from the Ink of Sefa. Yes, even people, and including our PLayer Character, Muriel. THe problmem is, that Ink will fade back into nonexistence unless refreshed with more ink, so everyone will die if the ink runs out. Hell, the world will stop existing when the Ink runs out.
Guess where the Ink comes from? The Great Sefa. Problem is, though, is that he's dead, so the world is already doomed to a very fast version of 'universal heat death'. I think. We covered this in the last thread.

>>
No. 297447 ID: 1854db
>>297414
Fucking hell. Go find a guard and ask what's going on.
>>
No. 297886 ID: d93696
File 130327799305.jpg - (174.13KB , 800x600 , page6.jpg )
297886
I can not see anything out here! I can barely even breath. There is dust and smoke everywhere, and I can only hear gunfire and screaming! Am I going to die?

The temple is behind me, so I must be near the statue of Li in the town square.

>>297421
I know where Penn is! I buried him early this morning after he died of illness. I can not think about that now!

>>297416
Could it happen? Yes! There have been two Ink Wars in the past twenty years with momentary peace in between. What would cause this sudden violence?
>>
No. 297887 ID: d93696
File 130327807990.jpg - (164.31KB , 800x600 , page7.jpg )
297887
"Muriel!"

I think that someone just called my name.

"MURIEL!"

It is the guard who stopped me when I came into the city the morning! He found me in the dust! He gives me my CROWBAR.

Guard: "This is yours. Now you have to follow me, Muriel. Hurry!"
>>
No. 297891 ID: 868a23
>>297887
follow him, but not too closely
>>
No. 297894 ID: 1854db
>>297887
Go! Follow!
>>
No. 297901 ID: 3416ec
Waste no time! Grab your crowbar go! GO GO GO!
>>
No. 297911 ID: ba5e43
>>297887
Snag that bar of crow and follow him at a distance of about two people. Demand to know what is going on and what the hell happened to your supply of Ink.
>>
No. 297918 ID: ce15d1
Ask what's going on for sure, but let's move
>>
No. 299489 ID: d93696
File 130386678801.jpg - (145.84KB , 800x600 , page8.jpg )
299489
Guard: "Go toward the west gate! That way! Go!"

We run across the dusty courtyard. I can barely breathe! There is so much dust and debris. I can see only flames through the smoke, aside from what is the nearest to me.

There are bodies. What is going on?

The guard fires his rifle into the smoke. He sees something that I did not, but I do not dare stop to look. That is loud! I have not been so close to gunfire before.

I think that I am getting close to the west wall. I can see some apartments coming up.
>>
No. 299490 ID: d93696
File 130386680526.jpg - (293.64KB , 800x800 , page9.jpg )
299490
I think that I know where I am. I only now regret not coming into this smelly city more with Penn when I was younger. There is the west gate!

You may not believe me, but I hear a quacking noise in front of me. The dust is beginning to clear, and the quacking is becoming closer-


HOLY SQUID WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT
>>
No. 299491 ID: 3416ec
>>299490

SWEET ROLLER IT HAS A CHAINSAW FAIL.

RUN! RUN AWAY!
>>
No. 299494 ID: 868a23
>>299490
uhh yeah, you're COMPLETELY outclassed here. run.
>>
No. 299495 ID: 5caf28
only hope is to run ungodly fast or get on it's back and use that crowbar.
>>
No. 299498 ID: 906197
>>299490
The fuck? RUN, DON'T JUST STAND THERE.
>>
No. 299499 ID: 35a02e
>>299490
Looks like your friendly neighborhood Rape-smith.
From the brand on his chest it looks like he's guild certified.

Run. Do not hide, flee. If you can draw him towards soldiers, they may be able to perforate him.
>>
No. 299530 ID: 54d1d0
>>299499

>Rape-smith

I will find a way to use this in the future.

Also, wait for him to rear up, then dash through his legs. Nut him if you can do it without losing anything.
>>
No. 299547 ID: 13317c
>>299530
Do this, but be sure to provide the free castration with the claw side of the crowbar. Be sure to yank down hard as you can.
>>
No. 299585 ID: d93696
File 130389093374.jpg - (171.57KB , 800x600 , page10.jpg )
299585
RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN

"HEEELP!"

I do not think that anyone can hear me over the gunfire! There are two things that I do reasonably well: fabricate, and run. I can not do the first without ink, and I can not do the second when my lungs are clogged with dust.

FFFFFUUU-
>>
No. 299586 ID: d93696
File 130389096516.jpg - (196.09KB , 800x600 , page11.jpg )
299586
-UUUUCK!

Oof!
>>
No. 299587 ID: d93696
File 130389098819.jpg - (135.30KB , 800x600 , page12.jpg )
299587
...
>>
No. 299588 ID: d93696
File 130389118895.jpg - (61.57KB , 800x600 , page13.jpg )
299588
My ears are ringing. I can not breathe...

Guard: "Fall back! DEFENSIVE FIRE ONLY! GET OUT OF THE CITY!"

...

Now it is quiet.
>>
No. 299590 ID: 8c73c8
pull shirt over mouth. use cloth as a low tech filter.
>>
No. 299615 ID: 1854db
>>299588
You've got to breathe. You need air to live! Try the cloth face covering, yes. Also, look around. Try to get up.
>>
No. 300018 ID: d93696
File 130403539422.jpg - (56.26KB , 800x600 , page12-1.jpg )
300018
Uh... ok. I think that my arm is moving but I can not feel it. Is that it? I think that the ground is rocking back and forth.

The guards are yelling still. I can not understand anymore...
>>
No. 300019 ID: d93696
File 130403542057.jpg - (90.13KB , 800x600 , page13.jpg )
300019
"Haah!" I shouted and took a deep breath of very fresh and dry air. My surroundings are a freshly drawn tent, and the guard who had my things was standing in front of my. I can see past him outside, and it looks dark.

Guard: "Are you awake for real this time?"

"What?"

Guard: "You woke up a couple of times shouting about someone named Peter Lucky, but went back to sleep."
>>
No. 300023 ID: 728d34
>>300019
Sarcastically respond that you are not awake, and this is all an elaborate "talking in your sleep" situation in which you can respond to the other person.
>>
No. 300024 ID: 868a23
>>300019
ask them what the hell happened
>>
No. 300435 ID: d93696
File 130418779807.jpg - (76.87KB , 803x603 , page14.jpg )
300435
"Who are you? What happened to Pang?"

Guard: "I'm Norbert Hong, of the 134¬th Polis Guard. It is not easy for me to explain what happened."

Muriel: "What were those things, then? Where are we?"

Norbert: "They came from the flats without warning. The watchmen on the wall did not even see them until it was too late. I remember hearing quacking after the first wall breach. None of us had ever seen anything like them before.

Sergeant Shuk ordered us to protect the ink well at all costs, but it was a slaughter. All of our best men and civilians were just being mowed down. I gathered my best friends Rowen and Dick and we mutinied. We started to round up everyone that we could find - starting with women and children - and led them out of the walls.

The beasts did not make any attempt to follow us. Captain Leo Sun joined the mutiny, and he was the last one out of the city. He told us that the monsters began to demolish the ink well and spill all of the ink over the ground to dry."

I began to cry. I am not sure which part of it came over me first, but much of it involved Penn. I am glad that he was put to rest before this catastrophe.

Norbert: "Cry fully, Muriel. None of us have any tears to hide tonight. There are around three hundred Liites left from Pang. Anyone who was seen by the beasts was attacked. The soldiers defending the ink were killed with special ferocity."

Norbert stopped for a moment, looking at me with curiosity, "How do you feel? That thing hit you pretty hard."

I had not even thought about it yet. I do not remember being hit. "I feel fine," I said. No broken bones - just a few scrapes and pulled muscles.

Norbert: "You are a girl Sefa blessed. If you are well, drink water, and then you may do as you want to, but do not try to return to Pang. It is not safe."

I wish that I had direction. I have felt like a failure ever since I realized that I would be spending the rest of my life in a hole outside of Pang.

What should I do? I could stay here in the camp for a while. I could run away, I guess. It looks like my things are here in the tent with me, including my nearly empty ink jar and Penn's brush.

For some reason, I do not want to leave Norbert. Should I thank him? I think that he carried me out of the city. He and his friends must have saved like a hundred old ladies, too.
>>
No. 300471 ID: 868a23
>>300435
take a look around the camp
>>
No. 300480 ID: 1854db
>>300435
Yes, you should thank him. Even though he mutinied, it was the right thing to do. The only thing to do, really.

Stay here a while. Get an idea of the state of the surrounding area, maybe fish up some more rumors about Peter Lucky.
>>
No. 302259 ID: d93696
File 130479300659.jpg - (119.28KB , 800x600 , page15.jpg )
302259
I thank Norbert rather daftly for saving my life, and he gives me a smile. I then tell him that I want to look around the camp for anything to do.

Norbert: "I think that anyone who can will be going to bed, but the bonfire will be on during the night. I would not be surprised if a few people cannot sleep tonight."

He reaches into the pocket of his uniform pants, and gives me a folded up map that looks like he just drew it in pencil in a few seconds. He is not a very good artist. Before he forgets, Norbert draws up a circle and writes 'you'. It looks like I am in the barracks for some reason.

The camp is strategically tucked away against the canyon wall. It looks like we are on the far east end of the Li Flats. This is the farthest that I have ever been.
>>
No. 302260 ID: d93696
File 130479311224.jpg - (280.66KB , 800x600 , refugeecamp.jpg )
302260
There is the bonfire in the middle. There is another small fire between the barracks tents. There are some soldiers walking around smoking and talking. I have no idea where to begin!

Norbert says that he has to go, but he will be around if I need him. I wonder which tent he is staying in?

With the city eviscerated, I feel like I have only a small chance of finding anyone here who knows about Peter Lucky. I really wish that I still had Penn to talk to, but he was always very uncomfortable talking about Peter.

Any ideas?
>>
No. 302274 ID: 868a23
>>302260
did he say how long you where out?
>>
No. 302447 ID: 0917ee
Why don't you head to the Mess and see if its still open? A little comfort food might do you some good.
>>
No. 302448 ID: 1854db
The Mess hall likely has the people most willing to talk while being the least busy, and there's also food there. So let's go there.
>>
No. 311503 ID: cb0eb1
File 130773416390.jpg - (135.82KB , 800x600 , messhall-frame1.jpg )
311503
The mess hall is alive with the sounds of chewing, anxious chatter, and silverware striking against trays.

There are two people sitting to my left. I can kind of hear their conversation - they are talking about someone named Falsto who was apparently in the army.

There is another guy sitting farther up. It looks like he might be missing an arm, and he is having trouble eating with his opposite hand.

There is an older woman sitting the farthest up the table to my right.

It smells like food.
>>
No. 311821 ID: 9c538a
>>311503

The older woman may have seen Peter. It seems he came to the city with gusto, but it was a very long time ago. You should focus on food right now, and then perhaps some way to survey what's left of Pang, and surrounding areas. Where relative to you was the Sefa laid to rest?
>>
No. 311825 ID: 1854db
>>311503
It seems that Peter is most likely to be known by older people, so try asking the lady. Unless you can gauge how old the guy missing an arm is? Maybe he's a veteran or something.

Also get some grub.
>>
No. 312260 ID: fbb44b
Listen in on the conversation. They information they have to convey might be relevant. Who knows, they may even speak of Peter.
>>
No. 313008 ID: e1359e
File 130802571628.jpg - (139.98KB , 800x600 , messhall-frame2.jpg )
313008
>Where relative to you was the Sefa laid to rest?

Laid to rest? That... is a very frightening thought. I do not think that it is possible for the Sefa to die. Where? Um... I have not been outside of the Li Flats. I have no idea.

Now, onto the others. Hm, hm. Don't mind me, just a girl with a crowbar.

Luckily, my ears are quite large. I can hear the people speaking even behind me:

"... he was stationed outside of the Li Flats with otherlanders. He wrote, but I don't know why he's not back by now. Silly me - I thought the war had been over for sixteen years."

The other person waits a moment before responding, and sounds a bit concerned, "Don't worry. Falsto's a tough son-of-a-bitch. Besides, there is always some border to guard."

It sounds like they are talking about someone who is close to them. No one that I have heard of, but they might be worth talking to.

"Eavesdropping is a one way ticket into a not-your-problem. Don't you know that?" The woman in front of me says suddenly. Perhaps I need a better poker face.

She is not so old after all - probably in her mid thirties. I give her a sour look, and she smiles, "You remind me a bit of myself, don't you know? When I was younger. I just hope that you're smarter and don't get yourself knocked up."

I nod absently through her warning, and ask her about Peter Lucky.

She immediately chokes on her current bite, hacking it up onto her plate.
>>
No. 313014 ID: 35e1a0
yeah, that is pretty bad for a poker face. anyway pat her back so she doesn't choke. sounds like we got a lead.
>>
No. 313020 ID: 1854db
Oh shit, don't let her choke.
>>
No. 313110 ID: 294859
>>313008
Save here! Then, give her some water. Ask if she's okay then idly steer the conversation back to Peter.
>>
No. 313115 ID: a41aaf
>>313020
>>313110
She just coughed it up.
Offer her a napkin if there's one handy.
>>
No. 314130 ID: e1359e
File 130828497691.jpg - (99.73KB , 800x600 , scorn.jpg )
314130
I ask her if she is alright, and she snaps back at me that she is. After I ask her about Peter again, she clears her throat and begins to talk. She seems to be sour toward me now.

"I don't know why you would want to know anything about him. I don't know you, so I don't have to say a word to you."

Well, she clearly knows more than a few things. How can I get her to speak?
>>
No. 314132 ID: 35e1a0
"he was with my brother, and peter is more famous then him so if i find peter i find my brother"
>>
No. 314136 ID: 1854db
Ask her if you can sit next to her and talk, so that you can change the fact that she doesn't know you.

Or you can just tell her that you only want to find Peter Lucky to find your brother, who was with him last you knew.
>>
No. 314154 ID: 9c538a
>>313008

Wait, what? Why are there ink wars then, if you can still get ink from the Sefa? Nevertheless as it is probably the biggest thing, Peter would probably have been interested in it. Especially if he wanted to "end the fighting".

>>314130

Haha Peter was the one who knocked her up I betcha. You could say you don't know much about Peter. That should calm her from allying you with the scoundrel. Say you're a relative of one of his friends and have been trying to bring him the news that Penn has passed away.
>>
No. 314155 ID: 35e1a0
>>314154
cause the sefa VANISHED. as in POOF gone to nowhere. they didn't lay it to rest cause there is NO BODY.
>>
No. 315282 ID: e1359e
File 130854234479.jpg - (96.60KB , 800x600 , scorn2.jpg )
315282
>>314132
>>314136

I know where my brother is. He died of a sickness last night and I buried him outside of our house.

>Say you're a relative of one of his friends and have been trying to bring him the news that Penn has passed away.

I tell her this, and she appears unconcerned, though she expresses some half-assed sympathy for my loss.

"Look," she says, "If I am going to make your life easier, I would expect the same. Bring me some ink, and I'll tell you what I know. Now go run off with a soldier boy and let me finish my food."

Squid, what a bitch
>>
No. 315321 ID: 1854db
BLUH BLUH

Okay. Whatever. Get some food, sit near that other guy who might be missing the arm.
>>
No. 315793 ID: a8159f
>>315282
Kindly (perhaps not so kindly) inform her that ink is in short supply and acquiring some would be difficult. Then, propose an alternative, like alcohol.
>>
No. 315810 ID: 9c538a
>>314155

Ooh vanished. That is a good deal more serious. Please disregard my ignorance then.

>>315282

BLuh. Good advice though. Go talk to someone else. You'll have to find out more about this lady before bugging her more about it.
>>
No. 315819 ID: 46c430
>>315793
...I think the rarity of ink is the point of her asking, mate.
>>
No. 316158 ID: e1359e
File 130871151776.jpg - (110.04KB , 800x600 , superarm.jpg )
316158
>Get some food

Well, I have some Choop bars in my backpack, but I guess it could not hurt to get some real food. I will go grab some of that broth and a muffin.

>sit near that other guy who might be missing the arm.
>Go talk to someone else.

Ok, I will just go talk to the one-arm guy over

WOAH

He is really kind of fucked up.

I sit down with my tray of food, greeting him, "I'm Muriel Ming. I want to ask you a few things, if you'd let me."

His lip twitches once, but he does not make any objection.

I think that I should be careful about how I word my questions, or I might offend him.
>>
No. 316165 ID: 1854db
Just say that you're asking around about Peter Lucky and he didn't seem busy.
>>
No. 316422 ID: 5c8741
>>316158
>>316158
Get down to brass tax and ask him about Lucky.

Also, ask him if he has any spare ink that you could borrow. I have a hunch.
>>
No. 316685 ID: 9c538a
Ask him about Peter LuWHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE JEZUS CHRIST
>>
No. 318759 ID: e1359e
File 130923851030.jpg - (108.86KB , 800x600 , page16.jpg )
318759
>>316685
As much as I want to, Penn told me not to ask about the war unless the veteran initiates the subject. If he was even in the war. He might have lost an arm in the DRENK factory or something.

I ask him about Lucky, repeating the now practically rehearsed words and feeling like a door-to-door saleswoman.

He looks at me in silence yet for a few more seconds, then says, "Lucky... hm, that is a name that I have not heard for a while. The fuck do you want to know about him for?"

I tell him that it is for personal research. I do not really even know what that means but it sounds legitimate.

"Lucky lived in the same barracks as me for a period of about three weeks, but I never saw him more than once, probably in the bathroom or somethin'. He was big shit back in the day. People were always talking about him. His regiment had its own fancy tents drawn up and everything. They were stoppin' there on their march to the Battle of Zikur."

I ask him where Lucky is now, and he shrugs. I think that his lazy eye is looking at my boobs but I do not want to say anything about it

Oh, and one more thing, I say. "Do you have any ink to spare?"

The guy looks over his shoulder, then leans toward me, lowering his gruff voice, "No, I don't got any ink for you, but..." he looks around again, then clears his throat, "I saw a group o' four guardsmen carrying a tank of it when they left the city. They put it somewhere in the camp, but I did not see where. I had to lead a pregnant woman and her dumbass husband out of Pang."

There is not much to do other than thank him, and he grins and calls me "cheeks".

I need to find and somehow acquire some of that ink. I have a hunch that it is the only supply of it for miles. To be honest, if I had been this pro-active during my youth, I would probably be a doctor or something

There are a few ways I can go about this:

A - Stealth (find the ink, sneak in, and take some)
B - Barter (find something to trade for ink from the soldiers)
C - Connection (befriend someone in the town guard, bum ink)
D - Violence (threaten a guard into giving me ink)
E - Seduction (seduce a guard for ink)
F - Service (do work, get ink)
G (additional suggestions) - ??? (???, get ink)

Your decision here will help to influence how Muriel approaches problems in the future
>>
No. 318822 ID: a3e92f
>>318759
Let's not go with seduction. :/

I'd be all for barter or service, but we are in a kind of end of the world scenario here, and I guess trade goods and money will lose value soon (same goes for ervice).

Violence and stealth will be most useful tools in the future, when society goes to hell, but we can still be violent or stealthy with the help of a friend. A friend is useful and has long-term benefits (no, not that kind of benefits).

I say Connections, C.
>>
No. 318826 ID: 0d4861
>>318759
hmm it's tough choice but I think I'd go with Service. It's simple and useful to be ready to get work hard to meet your goals, and a healthy respect for hard work is always a good trait. Plus Service can work well with Connections; by doing jobs for others you are meeting new people, forming connections and perhaps gathering a few favours in the process. People remember those that get jobs done.
>>
No. 318845 ID: 6e44d2
If this were a proper video game, I'd create a second save file and choose seduction. Since it isn't, I'll go with connection.
>>
No. 319051 ID: 07416a
>>318759
>>318759
I'd vote for A or E.
>>
No. 319055 ID: ce15d1
seduce everything
>>
No. 319058 ID: 221021
Seduction is always the answer, of course!
>>
No. 319065 ID: 180ec2
Is this a trick question? If you give the option people will pick "Seduce". Consequently, that has my vote.
>>
No. 319066 ID: 35e1a0
C
>>
No. 319080 ID: 547c7c
>>318759
Herp derp seduction
>>
No. 319109 ID: e1359e
File 130930610884.jpg - (152.74KB , 800x600 , page17.jpg )
319109
oh god, that was just supposed to be to troll prudes. Welp, here we go.

I am not sure how much I am cut out for this. There are far better looking girls in this camp who didn't grow up in a hole in the ground. I have no social skills, so I will need some kind of help. The only reason I even know what boys look like in the pants is because I walked in on Penn with an intern from the city center once

Ok, I have to get out of this box. This is just another way to make connections, right? It does not make me any kind of whore or anything. People do this kind of thing all the time. I can fake confidence and maybe show off my drawing skills. I mean, the crowbar is not my best work, but it will show them that I can at least make metal. That is not as easy as it sounds! Ok, ok.

The first step, even before I get to the hard part of interacting with boys, will be to find out who knows where the ink is. I mean, they would not have that kind of thing out in the open, would they? No, of course not.

Ok, where to start. Where do I start? I only known Norbert by name. He was carrying me, so I do not think that he was with the ink tank. Maybe there is a clue, like an ink trail or something? No, that would be too obvious.

I can look at the map that Norbert gave me again to find out where to start, but I would have to guess if every soldier is even in on this.

At least people are out talking. It takes some attention off of me. Everyone is shaken up. There is an unusual amount of both laughter and crying, and I can smell some alcohol from somewhere.

This is just like before, though. Nothing complicated. I just need a lead.
>>
No. 319124 ID: 0d7a83
>>319109
Consider the prudes thoroughly trolled

Ehh relax this will be easier than you think. You just have to use your natural feminine charms. These are soldiers your dealing with after all; guys who spend a lot of time with only other guys as company. They'll be highly susceptible to your mystique. Plus, if this fails horribly you could then try a MORE REALISTIC AND REASONABLE METHOD.
>>
No. 319128 ID: 35e1a0
it's cause you stated it in irc before tallying the votes, meaning you brought attention to it.

if you really don't think you can do it then don't. seriously. friends (connections) are much better because the odds of them stabbing you in the back go down. while if you use seduction and don't put out they could get angry.
look around for a tent that seems to have more guards then the others.
>>
No. 319141 ID: e6b6b9
The chances of a virgin who has questionable social skills, and who's brother is the only guy she's seen naked, successfully seducing someone are slim to none. Sorry to be blunt there, but I don't want you wasting time or getting yourself hurt when there are better ways to do this.
>>
No. 319326 ID: d0d439
>>319109
How about keeping this as a backup plan?

I mean >>319141 has a point.

You can go the comrade route first, and if this does not yield the expected results, go down the bed-comrade route anyway.

Herpderp final solution joke
>>
No. 319349 ID: 6e44d2
Oh, you're a virgin? Jeez. How'd that happen? Anyway, forget seduction. That's a bad call. Connections. Learn to flex those social skills!
>>
No. 319416 ID: 8555c2
Say you're a country girl looking to trade a good time for some info. You don't have to seduce anyone. Make yourself out as a piece of fresh meat and they will fight over you.
>>
No. 319435 ID: 1854db
>>319109
Might want to shelve the seduction bit. Try to trace the smell of alcohol.
>>
No. 321081 ID: e1359e
File 130972118284.jpg - (99.85KB , 800x600 , page18.jpg )
321081
Yes... yes. I like this idea better. What could have been may have been horrific.

>>319349
I have always felt trapped, as if in a box in social situations. It is not so bad with only one other person, but in a crowd, I feel by myself. Boys do not really dig that. Plus I live in a hole and kind of only get to shower twice a week when I am in town.

>>319435
>>319416

This leaves me with a few options. I feel like I already have a friend here. Norbert the watchman seems nice, and he saved my life, so at the very least he is an ally. I could go find Norbert, or trace the alcohol smell. Or I guess anything else, but I can not think of anything smart right now. Where to?
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