SMT Devil Summoner - Task Force 666 Quest #30

>Hit the ones that are Wounded.

Finish them.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Tiebreaker

1. Wounded.
2. Lightly Wounded.

Writing...

Ose would use swords, but yeah he's a badass.

Hope we take out the enemy so we can limit their dps.

Edit in a flask on his belt.

I cant but that would be glorious.

“…get the ones that took the most damage!”

“Understood!” He levels his assault rifle, aims down the sights, cries “Deus Vult!” and fires a three-round burst into one of the Oozes. MacKay isn’t the best shot out of the five of you, but at the slow pace his target was moving, it was almost a statistical improbability for him to miss.

The key word being “almost”. Because only two of the three shots strike the demon, and it is only through sheer dumb luck that the third one misses. The shock of being hit by the first two causes the demon to reel back violently enough to dodge on accident. But it’s a moot point now.

Because no less than three seconds after the second bullet hit that first Ooze does it give off a ghastly wail and dissolve into…well, a puddle of ooze. There isn’t much flowery language to describe the process of something demonic melting in front of your eyes.

MacKay’s orders for his demons snap you out of your internal monologue. “Bufu! Strike!”
Knocker grunts, vaulting over a stone barrier to get a proper line of sight on the last Wounded demon. With a snap of his fingers, crystalline shards of ice fly towards the demon. It is not enough to kill it, nor cause it to Freeze in its own trail, but it’s enough to slow it down. Just in time for Hua Po to deliver the finishing strike with a “HIYAH!”

>There are two Lightly Wounded Black Oozes.

The two remaining Oozes on the surface turn as one to regard all of you with their souless eyes. The fissures where their mouths would be grow, extending, distending until they’re about as tall as a yardstick.

And then they scream.

It isn’t as much a discordant noise as much as it’s a sound that pierces into the very depths of your soul. Every primal instinct locked within your DNA, every nerve hardwired to flee away from apex predators, all of them are screaming at you to run.

>Roll 2d100 to resist {Panic Voice}
>Best of three.

Rolled 5, 33 = 38 (2d100)

>Deus Vult
I love MacKay.

Rolled 41, 31 = 72 (2d100)

Rolled 73, 52 = 125 (2d100)

Fuck you and get shot!

Rolled 56, 49 = 105 (2d100)

Rolled 29, 99 = 128 (2d100)

Imma roll anyway

Mediocre!

Rolled 92, 95, 8, 83, 11 = 289 (5d100)

>Rolling for Pixie, Gryphon, MacKay, Knocker, Hua Po.
>MacKay recieves +20 bonus due to [Man of the Faith] Perk (+20 to resist Mind ailments)

youtube.com/watch?v=zlJrEwEMIpM

Our demons know what's up. Sorry Mackay, High Pixie will Me Patra you in just a second.

....................
Mackay, Hua Po why you gotta jobber?

Knocker is too old for this shit.

A B E S T
B
E
S
T

But the feeling passes, and your senses are yours once more. Gryphon and High Pixie shake their heads of the spell’s influence and resume their positions. It seems that just like you, they were able to resist the Mind Ailment spell.

Not so much for MacKay.

The priest freezes in his steps, breathing as hard as he can with every breath making very audible sound. His eyes are wide and dilated underneath his helmet, and you can see his boots shaking as the magic takes hold of his mind. You have to give him props. At least he didn’t do what Hua Po did.

She had screamed, tried to flee and then promptly into a tree in her blind terror.

Knocker’s face speaks volumes at the sight.

The spriggan sighs, muttering about the pitfalls of hired help before he lumbers over to the remaining Black Oozes. With a grunt, he brings a massive gardening tool down upon one of the demons. The demon barely has enough time to let out a “meep” sound before the bronze of the spriggan’s hoe turns it into paste.

>There is one Lightly Wounded Slime left.

Grimacing, you raise your rifle to finish the job off…

>Roll 3d100 + 10 (+20 Combat, -10 Three Burst Shot)
>Best of three

>Last thread had a typo, Adrian has only +20 Combat, not +30.

Rolled 43, 18, 66 + 10 = 137 (3d100 + 10)

Rolled 43, 56, 100 + 10 = 209 (3d100 + 10)

Rolled 83, 83, 49 = 215 (3d100)

83, 83, 100

we good

Oh baby.

All it takes is a single squeeze of the trigger. One moment, you’re staring down the wobbly bastard down the sights, and the next, it’s turned into multiple steaming puddles of goo. Smelly, nutrient-rich goo to keep the spriggan happy.

You’re not being paid enough for this job…

>You told High Pixie to use Me Patra on MacKay and Hua Po

The priest promptly snaps out of his terror-induced stupor, almost stumbling before your hands reach out to grab him. Within a few seconds, the light returns to his eyes, and he grunts as he stands up straighter. His breath is still coming out in harsh gasps, but he’s nowhere near hyperventilating. He’d have that under control within a minute’s time.

Hua Po bobs pitifully towards her master, doing her best to hide the noticeable lump growing on her forehead as well as her face proper. From the minute glimpse of her cheeks that you can see through her hands, she appears to have turned a shade of red even darker than her normal complexion. You’d be fascinated if you didn’t feel bad about it.

“Th-thank you,” MacKay coughs out, grunting once and slapping his face to get the aftereffects out of his head. “Oh Lord, that was awful. I’ve had my fair share of bleak moments, but that…that was something completely on a whole different level…”

You nod in agreement. “Yeah, it was…really, really awful…”

“Made you want to run as far away as you could?”

“Screaming and with my tail between my legs, aye it did…”

...

…the moment of silence is accompanied by Knocker awkwardly patting Hua Po and his master on the back. Shin, in MacKay’s case.

…

“We shall never speak of this again.”

“Speak of what?”

“Good man.”

(cont.)

After your little affirmation, you return to the spriggan, who is happily spreading the remnants of the Oozes across the soil his vegetables and fruit trees have taken root into. It is singing as it goes about its work, in a tone of voice that sounds like rocks grinding against each other. In a melodious, and completely not-disturbing way.

“In the fey garden
there were rosebuds dripping a sweet nectar
that pooled on the ground crimson
wafting a heavenly scent
and the smell made ears ring
and sing with the cries
of the butterflies caught
left to rot, in the pretty fey garden.

In the fey garden
there were sweet fruits swelling with poison
and a fluttering song
caressing the fallen
though the tune was sharp
to the dead they were calling
the screeching rang strong, in fey garden.

In the fey garden
was a mystery told
the mundane, young and old
came longing for gold
they were sold by the fables
but the tables were turned
with the tune
sung of blood,
that flooded fey garden.”

…

…yeah, not disturbing at all.

You only notice the puddle on the ground when your boot goes into it. At the sound of your cursing, the spriggan turns towards you. His eyes widen, as if he’s either surprised to see you still standing there, or if he’s just remembered something. Probably both, given what he has to say.

“Ah, thank you very much for the help,” it rumbles, “Doubtless they shall come once more, but for now, the fetid stink of their kin should keep them away. Now, for your reward…”

(cont.)

The demon sets the bronze hoe on the ground, and begins to rummage around in the cloth that covers its stone body. After a few moments, it produces two small pouches in its giant hands, and sets them down on one of the stone walls. They jingle with the tell-tale sound of coinage as they fall upon the barricade.

But the demon isn’t finished. It sets two mesh bags filled with dried fruit adjacent to the money bags. Even though the sack has enclosed the contents within, you can still smell the rich scent of dried grapes, apples, and the rich scents of summer sprinkled along the bag.

“One thousand Macca and a bag of Coven Fruit for each of you,” it rumbles, turning back to its work. “Should you ever go hungry or find yourself on the brink of exhaustion, consume the food at once. It not only offers a balm to minor aches and pains, but also alleviates the mind from the coils of mental fatigue.”

>You received 1000 Macca!
>You received one serving of Coven Fruit!
>Coven Fruit restores half of a user’s HP and SP.

“Now, you may take your leave, young helpers. I must return to my work…”

>Choose one:
>“Thank you for the gift.”
>“Oh, we can’t take this…”

>Choose one:
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”
>“So about that goblin you’re fighting with…”
>"Okay, see you later."

If you went to the goblin first, he would have given you a special weapon in addition to the Macca.

>“Oh, we can’t take this…”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>“Thank you for the gift.”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>>“Thank you for the gift.”

>>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>“Oh, we can’t take this…”
>>Choose one:
>>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”
it's the journey cough, exp that counts, not the reward

>consumables, or a weapon

How were we supposed to know? Fugg.

>“Oh, we can’t take this…”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

>“Thank you for the gift.”
>“We’re just here to talk about the land dispute…”

But pragmatism...

That's literally half a Soma Drop and some actual goddamn demon currency that WE DON"T HAVE YET. What if we negotiate with a nigger and he asks for Macca?

We headbutt him.

That shit establishes dominance.

And low loyalty. Remember where Gryphon started?

But that's fine, if you guys want to throw some decent stuff away for brownie points it might help down the road.

Hopefully.

1000 macca is pretty sweet, but I'll put priority on doing a good job. Getting in Titania's good graces opens doors.

Whoops. Forgot to add a date in the first post.

[Tuesday, June 2nd 2015, 3:42 PM]

Current Currencies
>+$1000 petty cash at the end of every month at Requisition Rank 1.

>Cash: $1442.03
>Macca: M 1000

We're tied for either accepting the Spriggan's reward or declining it. Sudden death, first vote in wins.

>Accept the reward.
>Decline the reward.

>Accept the reward.

>>Decline the reward.
first vote, really? that includes people who've voted before, like me?

That's the way sudden death works IIRC. Can't delay writing by waiting for another voter.

Writing...

Rolled 2 (1d2)

look at the timestamps

And? Look at the Post #
>44
>45

You lost by milliseconds, shit happens.

...well holy shit. For me, I have "accept" as the first option, so that's the way we've gotta go. QM intervention, gentle foot down.

Just out of curiosity, is it different for anyone else?

Writing...

Nope look at the post numbers

You motion for MacKay to join you as you cautiously step forward to the Spriggan. You take a moment to clear your throat, both to get his attention and to get the butterflies out of your stomach. “Thank you for the gift,” You begin, with a very gracious incline of the head. The fairy grunts and begins to turn to his garden before your next words stop him in his tracks, “But we came here to talk about the land dispute…”

THAT certainly gets the demon’s attention.

It sets down the hoe, and shifts the entirety of its bulk towards you, and leers down from its position to stare directly at your face. “So you’re the ones the Pixie Guard sent…” It grumbles, “Which means that it’s now the appointment for Queen Titania’s return to the fairy realm. You must be the servants of the Order, then, come to intrude upon our affairs.”

The sinking feeling in your stomach is quickly quelled by the tired sigh that comes from the spriggan’s mouth. “Then let us get this over with. Doubtless, you have heard of my altercation with my associate. The goblin,” it sneers in distaste. “And you are to determine which of us should get the land our mutual friend left in ambiguity.”

You nod. “Yes, we have. And you’re the first one we’ve come to see.”

“Hmm…and I am to present my case, then, am I?”

“By all means.”

The moist soil underneath the fairy’s weight sinks as it fully settles itself into a sitting position. “I am the Dryad’s best friend in her will. From the beginning to the end, I was there for her. I helped nurture the very sapling from which she sprung into existence, and cared for both her and her lands in the storms and during the Time of Chaos. Even when she fell ill to the corrupting miasma that lingered behind, I was the sole person to stand by her side and make her comfortable. The goblin? Vanished and gone, only to reappear the day after she passed on.”

(cont.)

What exactly are we supposed to use our Macca on aside from the occasional bribe for demon negotiation?

Task Force also uses it.

compendium.

Buying shit when the world ends.

>implying we'll have time to spend that macca before Demi-fiend and Dante clean all that shit up

Dante is better than the actual SMT protag. Deal with it.

You can cash in Demon Currency for requisition points/cash, or bring back demons from the Compendium. Aside from just straight up Demon Negotiation.

And pay this fucker if I ever make up my mind on his inclusion in this quest.

Nah I have Play Coins. Lots and lots of Play Coins.

>Doesn't know Pierce
Okay buddy.

Tetrakarn.

Who's Pierce? When does Dante show up?

Isn't the SMT protag Raido or whatever?

I am so lost.

It raises a fist, and angrily smashes it into a patch of soil uninhabited by crops. A cascade of muddy water flies out from the impact, standing everything on you and MacKay from your thighs downwards with dirty liquids. Gryphon bristles and shakes at the sudden dampness while Knocker stifles a particularly wet cough.

“…I am deserving because I stood by her side and helped keep her safe from all the harm. That goblin would have her go exploring around the realm on ‘adventures’. Fun times for the both of them, to see new things. Pah! I would not be surprised if that is how she contacted the taint. Such brash recklessness...”

The spriggan lapses into silence. “If you have no questions, then I recommend that you leave. I have returned into a melancholic mood, and wish to be left alone…”

>Do you have any questions?
>If you do not, you will automatically set off towards the Goblin.

Pierce is a passive skill that lets Physical attacks beat resistances.

Dante (or Raidou in the Jap version) is a side character that's a boss fight and is recruitable in SMT Nocturne.

SMT Protags vary game to game. Raidou is the Protagonist of his two titular Devil Summoner games.

Taint? Where was her will? May we see a copy?

I need to read up on this whole case again. To the archives.

How often did she go off with the Goblin?

Did she talk to you about their adventures?

Were you ever mention by name elsewhere in the will?

The last question is really important

Can we see the will? What taint?

And what could you say ABOUT her, as someone who stood by her for so long?

>What taint?

For the first time since you’ve met him, the spriggan’s brow creases into a very noticeable frown. Even with the Black Oozes, you’ve never seen anything else other than a mild irritation. Here, it’s straight up anger, pure and concentrated as it grinds its teeth with a noise to set your ears on edge.

“Ten of your human years ago, the hidden world of the supernatural came under attack by a horde of demons that stank of corruption. Their very presence poisoned the earth they stood upon, make the air foul with their breath, and to ingest their fluids was to die a very slow and painful death…

“They came to our realm first. And one by one, they laid waste to our realm, leaving nothing but withered forests and trees in their midst. Members of your Order were here by happenstance, and rallied to fight back with their demons. Four of your Summoners gave their lives to drive it back from our lands, but the cost was too high for the last of them to be referred to as a hero…”

It pauses to take a deep breath. “…in the years that have passed since then, no amount of magic or purification rituals can completely remove the taint from our infested lands. The Darkbriar Woods that lie south of our city are forbidden for a reason, as the corruption still lingers. It’s the only way she would have been able to contract the taint.”

>MacKay spent the last few days before the mission reading in the archives.

You glance towards the priest, who gives you a puzzled look in response. “This is the first time I’ve heard of this. I went all the way back as far as I could, all the way to World War Two. I would have noticed something that big. Nothing other than minor occurrences around the world. Perhaps we should ask Commander Alger?”

You nod absently, still focused on the spriggan. “Yeah, we’ll do that. As soon as we finish the mission.”

(cont.)

“I have lived many of your years, but I remember that terrible war as if it only happened yesterday. Corruption or its symptoms are not something so easily forgotten…”

You quickly decide to change the subject.

>How often did she go off with the goblin?
>Did she talk to you about her adventures?

The spriggan growls. “More than enough, almost one disappearance every month to go gallivanting off to gods-know-where. And she was very open about her adventures, save for the moments when asked if she strayed too close to Darkbriar. She has never lied or had the need to. Not before that reckless fool.”

>Can we see the will?

It shakes its head, with a sad expression on its face. “The will was destroyed in our fight. That is the reason why I need helpers; I swore an oath to not use magic for the next five phases of the moon. Had I my magics, slug extermination would be a simple chore.”

>Were you ever mention by name elsewhere in the will?

“Nothing else save for a reminder to water the carrots…” The spriggan says quietly. “As well as a paragraph thanking me for staying by her side.”

>You can feel the atmosphere getting progressively gloomier.

MacKay makes a “chop-chop” motion with his hands.

>And what could you say ABOUT her, as someone who stood by her for so long?

“…she was unique for a dryad, never shied away from stone as others do to me. Trusted others too much for her own good. Inquisitive, always asking questions with an insatiable desire to know all there is about the world. I doubt one like her will exist ever again…”

>The spriggan lapses into silence.
>The sun is out and there are only a few clouds high above, but the crops around the stone are receiving more water than they need.
>You quietly take your leave.

Choose one:
>Go to the goblin.
>Investigate the taint.

>>Go to the goblin.

>Go to the goblin.

>Go to the goblin.

>Go to the goblin.

>>Go to the goblin.

>after that creepy song people still wanted to take the reward
>mfw

You can investigate this ‘taint’ later. It definitely seems like something worth checking out. But you undertook the task of determining who got the land. And even though unexpected developments happened along the way, you’ve still got a task to complete.

It’s just basic human decency. Once you start something, you have to finish it.

The fact that your mother brought the wrath of God over your head if you didn’t finish anything has nothing to do with your insistence. No sir.

>>Goblin’s Shop

The goblin’s shop is out of the way, even further from the main hub of the city than the spriggan’s grove. You’ve had to navigate through devil’s walking stick, more thorn bushes than you care to count for, and no small amount of brambles that you’re fairly sure got stuck inside of your armor. Ah, nature…just can’t get enough of it.

You find the target of your current mission leaning back against a tree stump. In his hands, he fiddles with a toy, a puzzle ring of some sort. Interlocking pieces of bronze come together to form a puzzle that you’re not even sure the world champ of Rubix Cubes could solve within an hour. It had more moving pieces than your car.

“…the shop is closed,” the goblin mutters as you make your approach. It doesn't even take its eyes off its puzzle.“…redirect your deliveries elsewhere and wait for our reopening to make an order…we appreciate your patience…”

>“We’re here about the territory.” [Blunt]
>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]
>“This is supposed to be a demon?” [Mock]

>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>>“What’s got you down, friend?” [Friendly]

>“This is supposed to be a demon?” [Mock]

>“We’re here about the territory.” [Blunt]

You cough once, and shoot a diplomatic nod to MacKay. Likewise, he prepares himself for a friendly introduction, but he cedes the lead to you once more. Trying to put a positive inflection into your voice, you say, “What’s got you down, friend?”

If anything, that does the opposite of getting the goblin to relax.

The demon drops his puzzle ring, and moves its hand to its side. It gets up slowly, drawing a bronze dagger out of its belt, regarding you with a guarded expression. You yourself and your party members move to a stance, not quite about to preemptively attack, but gearing yourself in anticipation for one.

“Devil Summoners,” the goblin mutters, spitting into the soil, “Always here when we don’t want them…what the hell do you want? I’ve committed no crime and my shop is legitimate. The accords in place will definitely see to that. So check them, and get the bloody hell off of my property before I make you.”

>Speaking to the Spriggan first has unlocked an extra dialogue option.

>“We’re here about the contested territory on orders from the Pixie Guard.”
>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”
>Custom option.

>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

>>"We've spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad..."
Oh this will be good.

>“We’re here about the contested territory on orders from the Pixie Guard.”

.....whoops, forgot the vote in the last one.

>>“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

...

What the hell. In for a penny, in for a pound, right? Although you don’t necessarily know why you’d follow American currency with that of British coinage. Maybe Brady knew? You’d be sure to ask him during down time, or a break period. It doesn’t make any damned sense.
But you digress.

“We’ve spoken to the spriggan and heard about the dryad…”

That’s all that can come out of your mouth before the goblin’s hand moves. The glint of metal flashes through the air, parting the wind itself as it embeds itself deeply in a tree stump right behind your head. Your cheek sings, and you can feel a warm fluid running down to touch your lips. The taste of iron and copper enters into your mouth.

Blood.

“Adrian/Master/Rawk!”

Gryphon moves to shield you, shrieking at the goblin at the top of its lungs even as High Pixie rolls up the sleeves of her Kimono and cracks her knuckles, with absolute murder written across her face. MacKay flicks the safety off his rifle, and motions for his demons to likewise get ready.

“Oh, so you’re here on behalf of that old piece of granite, are you?” The goblin snarls, drawing a bronze hammer out from its tool belt. “That makes this all the more easy. I’ll give it to you plainly: either you walk away now with just a minor scratch…or I make you leave on my own terms. The stone dodger restricted his magic. I made no such promise.

“Try me, Devil Summoner. Just try my patience one more time…give me a good reason to toss you out of my territory."

>Attack.
>Negotiate.
>Walk away.

>>Negotiate.

>Negotiate.
The pixie guard sent us to deal with the issue, I guess if you don't want us to hear your side of the story, we'll have to judge on what the spriggan told us alone.
Then move to walk away.

>Negotiate.bluntly

“We’re here about the contested territory on orders from the Pixie Guard. I came to get both sides of the story, but if you don't want to talk and would rather start stabbing I can just walk away and make my judgement based on the Spriggan's testimony alone."