Unsafe Sects 2 (2/2)
“Not it!” Zuula and Madeline chorused.
Threadbare shook his head, and started poking around under the moldy bed, while Madeline rummaged through crates and the few items of furniture down here.
CRACK!
Everyone jumped, and Fluffbear peered down into the hole again. “What was that?”
“Mom!” Garon howled.
Zuula looked over from the wreckage of the barrel she’d smashed, and put down the rusty crowbar. “What? Is barrel!”
“Geeze. Not this gain. Mom, look, you can’t just go around smashing every barrel you come across…”
“Yes she can! Sometimes is loot inside!”
“Mom, look, no, that was ONE small dungeon, and Taylor’s Delve had that one sealed years back-”
“Ho, so you tell de story? You want Zuula to stay awhile and listen?” The little half-orc grinned.
“Don’t get me started. Just… please, no more barrel smashing. Not now.”
“Psh. Could have been somet’ing in dere.” Zuula said, sitting down and pouting. “Maybe dat one kid’s spare pegleg. Never could find it for dat little fucker. He would have had good loot for reward, too!”
“Yeah, he was totally an item smuggler. Pretty sure pegleg was code for reagents.”
“Found it!” Madeline whooped. “I think so, anyway.” She held up a pink book, with bunnies on it, labeled “Dear diary.” The bunnies had tentacles.
“I want to see!” Fluffbear said.
“We’ll come to you,” Threadbare said, coming out from under the bed, covered in dust bunnies. “There’s nothing under there but more drawings. I’m pretty sure they would cost you more sanity,” he told his friends.
Upstairs, in the moldering library, they read the book. Some of the words took a little guesswork, the guy was fond of using obscure words with way too many syllables.
It didn’t take long. For all he was verbose, his entries were very short, all things considered.
Also pretty blasphemous.
By studying forbidden lore you have unlocked the Cultist job!
You cannot become a Cultist at this time!
“We need to find this guy,” Garon concluded. “Quickly.”
“Someone’s coming!” Fluffbear said, scrambling down from the windowsill. “A whole bunch of someones! They have crossbows and spears.”
“Shit,” Garon said. “We need to get out of here-”
“Why?” Threadbare asked.
“Well, if they’re armed, they’re not going to be friendly. I think this is going to go bad.”
“Isn’t that why we’re using the dummy?”
The toys considered Annie in silence. She waved.
A minute later, when the cultists shoved the door open, Annie was sitting in one of the lone chairs in the room, reading through a storybook. Her toys sat around her, still and clearly deanimated. “Oh, hello sirs and madams!” Annie said, closing the book. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah,” Daav said. “The pastor wants to see you. Now.”
“And no funny business!” Mhorty said, his voice squeaking and breaking as he waggled a fishing spear in her direction.
“Of course not. I was just practicing some stories for your little dears. Such cute little scaly kids.”
The half-dozen cultists relaxed. “Yeah, they’re little angels, ain’t they? Maybe you’ll be blessed with one of your own!” Phred said.
Annie went peacefully with the group, who seemed much relieved at her acceptance of the matter.
Five minutes passed. Ten. And then Threadbare twitched, and stood up. “I think that should do it. Also, I caught a glimpse of Pulsivar. We can collect him and Mopsy on the way, I think.”
“On the way where?” Fluffbear asked.
“The place it all started…”
THREADBARE'S CHARACTER SHEET
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Threadbare
Age: 5
Jobs:
Greater Toy Golem Level 12
Cave Bear Level 10
Ruler Level 5
Scout Level 6
Tailor Level 10
Model Level 7
Necromancer Level 10
Duelist Level 3
Animator Level 11
Enchanter Level 2
Golemist Level 7
Smith Level 5
Attributes:
Strength: 103 Constitution: 105 Hit Points: 268(343) Armor: 42(46)
Intelligence: 156 Wisdom: 153(159) Sanity: 309(421) Mental Fortitude: 32
Dexterity: 97(103) Agility: 91(103) Stamina: 198(291) Endurance: 52
Charisma: 86(117) Willpower: 139 Moxie: 225(331) Cool: 20(32)
Perception: 94 Luck: 68(74) Fortune: 162(243) Fate: 11(17)
Generic Skills
Brawling - Level 25 (+5)
Climb - Level 13
Clubs and Maces - Level 9
Dagger - Level 9
Dodge - Level 7
Fishing - Level 1
Ride - Level 8
Stealth - Level 10
Swim - Level 2
Greater Toy Golem Skills
Adorable - Level 30
Bodyguard - Level 6
Gift of Sapience - Level NA
Golem Body - Level 21
Innocent Embrace - Level 11
Magic Resistance -Level 6
Bear Skills
Animalistic Interface - NA
Claw Swipes - 22
Darkspawn - NA
Forage - 13
Growl - 2
Hibernate - 37
Scents and Sensibility - 18
Stubborn - 8
Toughness - 15
Ruler Skills
Appoint Official - Level NA
Emboldening Speech - Level 7
Identify Subject - Level 1
Noblesse Oblige - Level 20
Organize Minions - Level NA
Royal Audience - Level 1
Simple Decree - Level 1
Swear Fealty - Level NA
Scout Skills
Alertness - Level 1
Best Route - Level 1
Camouflage - Level 1
Firestarter - Level 4
Keen Eye - Level 2
Sturdy Back - Level 6
Wind's Whisper - Level 5
Tailor Skills
Tailoring - Level 45(51)
Clean and Press - Level 9
Adjust Outfit - Level 2
Model Skills
Call Outfit - Level 1
Dietary Restriction - Level 35 (+70 to all pools)
Fascination - Level 4
Flex - Level 14
Makeup - Level 1
Self-Esteem - Level 14
Strong Pose - Level 1
Work it Baby - Level 30
Necromancer Skills
Assess Corpse - Level 10
Command the Dead - Level 28
Deathsight - Level 6
Drain Life - Level 1
Invite Undead - Level 12
Mana Focus - Level NA (+10% to sanity)
Skeletons - Level 16
Soulstone - Level 24
Speak With Dead - Level 18
Zombies - Level 3
Duelist Skills
Challenge - Level 3
Dazzling Entrance - Level 8
Fancy Flourish - Level 6 (12)
Guard Stance - Level 8
Weapon Specialist - Level 10 (Brawling +5)
Animator Skills
Animus - Level 29
Animus Blade - Level 8
Animus Shield - Level 1
Arm Creation - Level 6
Command Animus - Level 18
Creator's Guardians - Level 20
Dollseye - Level 17
Eye for Detail - Level 19
Magic Mouth - Level 17
Mend - Level 31
Enchanter Skills
Appraise - Level 9
Glowgleam - Level 1
Harden - Level 5
Soften - Level 1
Spellstore - Level 1
Golemist Skills
Command Golem - Level 1
Golem Animus - Level 6
Invite Golem - Level 2
Mend Golem - Level 2
Program Golem - Level 1
Toy Golem - Level 6
Wood Golem - Level 1
Smith Skills
Adjust Arms and Armor - Level 4
Refine Ore - Level 1
Smithing - Level 21
Equipment
Apprentice Tailor's Apron (+4 Armor, +4 Tailoring)(+1 Armor, Tailoring, from WIB)
Baggy Pants of Hammerspace (+5 AGL, +5 CHA, Allows hammerspace for one blunt weapon)(+1 AGI, CHA, from WIB)
Poor Quality Bling
Ringtail Master's Coat (+5 CHA, +5 LUCK, +5 Armor, +5 Fate)(+1 CHA, LUCK, Armor, Fate from WIB)
Rod of Baronly Might (+5 CHA, +5 WIS, +10 Cool)(+1 CHA, WIS, +3 Cool from WIB)
Yellow Belt of Bravado (+5 AGL, +5 DEX, +5 to the Fancy Flourish skill)(+1 AGL, DEX, Fancy Flourish from WIB)
Toy Top Hat (CHA +10)(+3 CHA from WIB)
Inventory
A Finely-Made Dagger (Dagger Level 5)
A Dungeon Core
Tailor's Tools
A small jewelry box full of reagents and crystals, most minor.
Minorphone (Enhances voice and social skills focused through it twice per day)
Quests
Save Celia
Unlocked Jobs
Berserker, Cleric, Cook, Cultist, Grifter, Spirit Medium, Tamer, Wizard