Welcome to Ant Detective Quest, where you play as the titular Ant Detective.This is your office, it's rather messy. Your filing cabinet is filled to the brim with hot cases you'd like to sink your mandibles into. The messaging application on your computer is also filled with unanswered queries, on account of you not having found a solution for actually using it.>What will you do?
>>6474653>Look for crumbs
>>6474653>Crumbs!!!
>>6474653>LOOK FOR CRUMBS
>>6474653>Conceptualize the nature of CRUMBS.
>>6474658>>6474660>>6474667>>6474669Of course, just what every good detective needs, a pick me up!You step out of your office building, the smell of fresh baked bread and cigarettes greets you. The pavement is cold and damp, there's a slight nip in the air.But, oh, what's this? A delicious treat discarded by an unlucky pedestrian?It would seem you have located, "crumbs".>What will you do?
>>6474679>Drag the whole big thing of it to your office like a predatorial animal dragging its kill to its lair
>>6474679>Put one of the smaller crumbs under our hat. For safe keeping.
>>6474679>>Drag the whole big thing of it to your office like a predatorial animal dragging its kill to its lai
>>6474684You lug the entire treat back to your office, it's hard work, but you manage. Seems like you're all set on food for the foreseeable future.>>6474685You store a crumb in your hat for later. As a detective, you can never be too prepared.Now that you've had some brain food, it feels like you're finally ready to get down to some really important detective work. It's not a pretty job, but you love what you do.>What very important thing will you tackle first?
>>6474712Clean up. Then a broad with gams that don't quit will show up.
>>6474712Call your cousins to clean up the office, they live in the walls and help you with stuff in exchange for food and lodging. Share your donut.
>>6474723+1 Also>Offer to hire one as a muscle for the next case we have yet to actually decide upon (can never be too careful)
>>6474723You call cousin Vinny to come help clean up, telling him that he'll get something nice out of it. He shows up with some of your extended family and they make quick work of the mess. Vinny greedily accepts a quarter of your pillaged dessert as payment.>>6474735You explain to Vinny that, due to the dubious nature of your clients as of late, you'll be needing some muscle. He agrees to help you out and, in exchange, you'll have to pay him up front with another quarter of your donut.>What will you do?
>>6474744>Tell Vinny we'll contact him if we need it later, since it's not guaranteed muscle will be useful on the next case, and finally get on with the plot the QM has been nudging us towards since the very first post by inspecting one of the hot cases in the filing cabinet
>>6474744>Enter: Troublesome Dame
>>6474744>look at the messages on your iBanana computation device
>>6474798You climb up to your laptop and find the messaging application open, filled with unanswered correspondence.Namely, your landlord seems to be pressing you on rent for this month. Having already used up any good faith between you two, you really can't afford to miss another payment.
>>6474782You send Vinny on his way, he tells you to be safe.You grab several case files from your filing cabinet and spread them out on the floor. You're particularly interested in these three.From left to right, the cases are...1. A string of murders in the area. 2. A missing person report with a picture of a mantis.3. A drug trafficking ring run by someone called "Don Slug".The last of the three has hit a wall, but you're always keeping a feeler out for new leads.>Which case will you choose?
>>6474824>2. A missing person report with a picture of a mantis.
>>64748242. A missing person report with a picture of a mantis.
>>6474824>2. A missing person report with a picture of a mantis.The heart next to an antscort girl on the sticker has the same color as the word "missing" on the poster. This surely isn't a coincidence. Call her.
>>6474871Reviewing the content of the missing person report, you discover the Mantis's name is Orchid. Apparently, he's a dancer at a popular nightclub, and was last seen walking home after a night shift. His place of work called in a wellness check after he missed 3 consecutive shifts with no contact. A missing person report was filed after officers found his apartment broken into and completely wrecked.>>6474885You pause a moment as you read the name of the club Orchid works at, "The Crunchy Leaf". You recognize it as one you visited quite recently. One of the workers there gave you her headshot and wrote her phone number on the back. You figure it wouldn't hurt to call.After some ringing, a sultry voice greets you, it seems she recognizes your number.>What will you say?
>>6474892>Greet her back in even more slu- uh, sultrier voice, initiate small talk and then invite to your place. If you'll make her like you, it might make her more willing to share something shady about Orchid. While waiting for her to arrive, quickly forge for both yourself and her resignation letters with job applications dated yesterday evening and tomorrow morning respectively. Worker ants are biologically unable to crunch each other's leaves, so you'll need to go temporarily unemployed.
>>6474892>>6474962Good plan, I'll support it.
>>6474962>>6475004You put on the sultriest voice you can muster and the conversation begins. It all comes very organically, and it's very pleasant. You feel a bit bad, wasting such a nice conversation for the sake of a lead, but this is the life you chose. You can never truly let yourself get too involved.The conversation naturally leads to her coming over, she says that sounds lovely, and that she'll be there in an hour, give or take. You say your goodbyes and begin getting everything in order for her arrival.As soon as you finish putting in the order for some forged work documents, you hear a knock at your office door. You let her in, she's a little earlier than expected, but you accounted for that. Seems like she brought a gift with her.>What will you do?
>>6475101>Offer some of the donut
>>6475130You offer the madame a piece of your delicious cake ring, she happily accepts the treat. You currently have 1/2 of donut left. Make sure you use it wisely.The lady ant formally introduces herself as Sugar. You can't help but think that name suits her quite well. She says you seemed rather eager to have her come over, not that she's complaining. She asks if you have something specific on your mind.>What will you say?
>>6475172Where are jewels you stole from the natives!?
>>6475172Whoops I mean >where are jewels!?
>>6475172>Ask her is she knows anything about the disappearance of Orchid. Run her through the usual questions: if he had any ill-wishers, which places he frequented, what he did the night of the disappearance, etc.I think it'd be worth it to give advertising in the /qtg/ a try, seems a waste for a decent drawquest to pull 1-2 players.
>>6475291I appreciate the advice, I'll give that a try before I work on the next update!
>>6475291Sugar's expression grows somber as you ask your questions. Grooming her antennae nervously, she answers quietly."You heard about that, huh?" she says."He's one of our best dancers, brings in the most revenue out of any one of us. What's more, he's always so enthusiastic, everyone loves him. It's hard to imagine he has any enemies there." she explains."Every shift, he brings us a box of crumbs from this really nice bakery. They always fill it up to the brim, since he's a regular.""The last night I saw him, I offered to walk him home... but, he declined." Her voice breaks as she speaks, tears well up in her eyes."If I had just insisted... maybe this wouldn't have happened." she says in between sobs.>What will you do?
>>6475336Looks like we have the first lead, just need to comfort this broad before we go do detective stuff>ask about the bakery>comfort broad with the typical platitudes>grab coat, escort broad out of office>lock the door and head to bakery
>>6475336Does dear Sugar know where Orchid lived? Did he have a partner? It might be worth checking that place out for any clues before visiting the workplace and bakery.
>>6475346You interlace your antennae with Sugar's, she doesn't stop crying, but it seems to help a little. She apologizes for being a mess, you tell her an apology isn't necessary, it's a lot for anyone to go through. After calming down, she excuses herself to the bathroom to clean up a bit. While she's preoccupied, you write down the details of your conversation in your notebook, which you conveniently keep in your hat.Sugar emerges from the bathroom, still visibly shaken, but holding herself together, attagirl. You offer her a leg and she takes it, giving you an affectionate expression. It's odd, she kind of reminds you of... well, nevermind that.>>6475380You both exit the office building, it's late in the afternoon now, there's many two-legged giants about. The sound of their heavy footsteps nearly drowns out your voice. You have to speak loud when you ask Sugar your follow-up questions. She gives you the address for both the bakery and Orchid's apartment and tells you that Orchid lives alone. You write the details down in your notebook and thank her for everything.Before leaving, she places a quick peck on your mandibles. Wow, what a gal.>Visit bakery first>Visit Orchid's apartment first>Consult Vinny about extra muscle (-1/4 of donut)>Write-in
>>6475453>Visit Orchid's apartment firstBest go there first, any sort of inquiry at the bakery could have unforseen consequences if the wrong person gets wind about our investigation.
>>6475453>Visit bakery firstGet some goodies
>>6475453>Visit Orchid's apartment first
>>6475453Potential romantic interest acquired.>Visit Orchid's apartment firstThere might be something in the apartment that can point us into a right direction. We still have no idea why Ochrid disappeared, whether it was a kidnapping or if he disappeared into the night on his own.
>>6475453>Visit Orchid's apartment firstCheck the exterior first, especially for someone watching the apartment and for clues regarding possible break-ins or break-outs.
>>6475529>>6475543>>6475547>>6475549Looks like we're hitting Orchid's apartment first. Expect an update some time after 2pm est, thanks everyone!
>>6475529>>6475543>>6475547>>6475549The walk to Orchid’s apartment is rather long, by the time you arrive, the sky begins to look a bit overcast. Still, the sun stubbornly pierces through, draping the building before you in a warm aureole. The building itself seems quite old, but well taken care of. Before entering, you do a cursory perimeter check and find nothing out of the ordinary.Entering the lobby, you’re greeted by a pungent aroma, tobacco mixed with potpourri. The carpet beneath you is heavily worn, with plenty of fun mystery stains. After some wandering, you find a crack in the baseboard of the building’s walls… bingo. The crack opens up into a short hallway with an appropriately sized door for someone of your stature. You approach the door, and notice that it’s ajar.>Enter quietly (roll 2d6+1) >Enter nonchalantly>Listen (roll 2d6+1)>Knock>Write-in
Rolled 6, 3 + 1 = 10 (2d6 + 1)>>6475682Door is already open, then we probably aren't the first to have the bright idea to check mantis' dwelling. >ListenChances of anyone being there multiple days after the supposed disappearance are low, but not 0. We should be careful.
>>6475697You cozy up to the door and hold your breath, listening intently. A faint shuffling sound echoes throughout the dim apartment, it seems you have company. Judging by how muffled the sound is, you discern that whoever this is probably isn't in the room just ahead of you. You poke your head in and find what you expect, a wrecked living room, blanketed in darkness. The door frame is also splintered, suggesting forced entry. Just like the missing person report stated.Across the room, you can see the kitchen. Just to the right, a hallway which connects to a few rooms. One of which, the shuffling seems to originate from.>Investigate living room/kitchen>Confront suspect>Hide and wait (roll 2d6+1)>Write-in
>>6475753Now who in the mickey mouse might be there? A squatter? A rat? The perpetrator themselves? Will be the easiest case ever if the kidnapper is right there waiting to be arrested.>Confront suspect
>>6475753>Confront suspectPut your limbs where I can see them, and make no sudden moves.
>>6475767>>6475772You creep into the quiet apartment, careful to make sure the door’s hinges don’t give you away. As you make your way towards the hallway, you nearly trip over some of Orchid’s toppled furniture. You don’t know why, but something about the mess strikes you as odd. Sure, stuff is knocked over and disorganized, but, nothing is broken. Well, other than the door frame, that is. Maybe it’s nothing…You continue down the hallway. On your right, an open door leads to a messy bathroom. Again, things are in disarray, but nothing damaged. In front of you, a half-open door, giving you an obstructed view of a dark bedroom. As you sidle up to the door, you realize the shuffling is coming from inside. A quick glance into the room confirms your suspicions, you see a dark figure hunched over, messing with… something.You step into the room with a steeled resolve. “Put your limbs where I can see them, and make no sudden moves.” you say. The figure freezes in place, considering their options carefully. Suddenly, they grab whatever they’re messing with and bolt for the window!The suspect is quick, but you have a moment to react. Choose one, and roll 2d6, adding/subtracting the indicated modifier.>Incapacitate suspect with blunt object (-1)>Attempt to restrain suspect (-2)>Grab whatever the suspect has, but let them go (+1)>Let them go and investigate room (+1)>Write-in
Rolled 4 + 1 (1d6 + 1)>>6475989>Grab whatever the suspect has, but let them go (+1)Gimme dat
Rolled 3, 6 - 1 = 8 (2d6 - 1)>>6475989>Incapacitate suspect with blunt object (-1)I cast brick!
Rolled 6, 1 - 2 = 5 (2d6 - 2)>>6475989Attempt to restrain suspect (-2)
>>6475991Decided with a coin flip since we didn’t get a popular vote. Mixed success! You succeed, but…You hastily grab a heavy-looking item from the floor, deftly hurling it at the suspect.”CRACK!”The object collides with the stranger, causing them to stagger and drop whatever they were holding. A loud ”THUD” echoes throughout the apartment as they fall to the ground, unconscious. The object continues on, however, and crashes through the window, causing a hail of shattered glass. Shit, there’s no way no one heard that. You’re going to have to wrap this investigation up quickly.Getting a better look at the stranger, they appear to be a hornet. Strong, fast, and the obvious advantage of being able to fly. You’re glad you caught them off guard. They aren’t carrying anything you can ID them with, so you can’t be sure who this is, or why they’re here. You also learn that what they were holding was a bag; it looks very full.>Inspect contents of bag>Tie up hornet>Search a different room>Wrap up investigation (leave)>Write-in
>>6476138>Tie up hornetdont think ant detective will fare well alone against a hornet
>>6476138>Tie up hornetJackpot. Well, almost. We'll probably going to have to either interrogate them right there or bring them to the police station somehow.
>>6476138>Tie up hornet
Hey everyone, thanks for sticking with the quest so far! I've had a lot of fun illustrating and writing Ant Detective Quest, and I hope you all have been having fun participating!Since this thread is saged, I figured I'd take a break from updating today. Expect a new thread tomorrow some time around 4pm est! We'll pick up with the popular vote from the latest update.If you have any suggestions or feedback, I'd love to hear it! Thanks again!
>>6476138>Tie up hornetCan't be sure he won't wake up and do something stupid.>>6476301It won't be neccessary to make a new thread after this one stops being bumped, the slow nature of this board means it's going to stick around another three months or so before it falls off.
>>6476301this board is so slow that sages dont really matter
>>6476301You're still on page 1 of 10. It will take months before this drops of the board, and you can only have 3 quests on the board at a time
>>6476328>>6476512>>6476613Ah, okay, thanks! No new thread, then.
>>6476151>>6476157>>6476180>>6476328Digging around Orchid’s nest, you find a sturdy-looking thread. Sorry, Orchid, it’s for a good cause. You pilfer the thread and use it to hogtie the unidentified hornet. Come to think of it, you don’t think you’ve ever hogtied anything, so the task takes quite a while. You take a step back to admire your work, and it's, uh, well, it’ll do, you think. Even after all of that readjusting, the stranger is still unconscious. You wonder if you put a little too much juice into that throw.Your thinking is interrupted, however, when you hear a muffled conversation. You estimate that the voices are outside of the front door of Orchid’s apartment.“... said it came from this apartment…” one of the voices says.“... doesn’t this apartment belong to…” responds the other.You hear the front door creak open, the light from the hallway illuminates the living room.“IF SOMEONE’S IN HERE, YOU’RE TRESSPASSING! COME OUT PEACEFULLY AND WE WON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS!”Figures, the cops are always nice and lazy until you need them to be.What now?>Grab bag, exit through window>Call out to officers, maybe they’ll see reason>Hide and wait (roll 2d6+1)>Sneak out into living room, try to exit through front door (roll 2d6+1)>Write-in
>>6476801>Grab bag, exit through window
>>6476801>>6476986 +1Let's leave the wasp to be the cops' problem.
>>6476986>>6476801Good thought, we're skeddadling out of here.
>>6476986>>6477015>>6477064That’s your cue, time to bounce. Snatching the bag of goodies, you dexterously leap out of the broken window. The cold night air tickles your feelers as you land on the pavement, the weight of the bag causing you to lurch forward unwillingly. A dimly lit street lay before you, alive with the raucous sounds of the city. The two-legged giants really seem to enjoy nighttime; maybe that’s why they cover their buildings in such beautiful lights. There’s crowds of them, all moving in sync… you’ll have to be careful.You arrive at your office and–Oh, looks like your roommate is back. You aren’t really sure what the guy does all day, but he always looks exhausted when you do see him. Looks like he’s getting familiar with your office chair. It’s a little bothersome, but you decide to let it go since he’s obviously had a long day.Besides, you’ve more pressing matters to tend to. It’s time to figure out what that stranger was doing in Orchid’s apartment. You begin inspecting the contents of the bag, and you find…An expensive-looking perfume,a container of body glitter,various creams and serums,snacks,a framed photo of Orchid posing with Sugar,a business card from a club called “The Leaning Dandelion”and a jacket with a letter sticking out of the pocket.You take the letter out of the jacket and read it.“Come alone, make any trouble and your little friend might disappear.”>Inspect business card>Investigate jacket thoroughly (roll 2d6+2)>Admire framed photo>Douse self in body glitter and perfume>Write-in
Rolled 5, 6 + 2 = 13 (2d6 + 2)>>6477193>Investigate jacket thoroughly.Why would Orchid's jacket be in his apartment if he himself is gone? There is definetly more going on.
Oh, we can post again. Nice.>>6477193>Investigate jacket thoroughly (roll 2d6+2)Do this now since we'll probably forget about it if not. Check business card later - it's our most relevant clue for where to go next. Try to not think about the photo as it surely is just a picture of two happy co-workers; pocket it anyway because Sugar might want it as a keepsake.
>>6477459I was worried the quest fully died for a minute there lmao. Expect an update some time after 8:00pm est!
>>6477378Success!It’s a very nice looking leather jacket with some floral embellishes. Lightly distressed, but still in great condition. Checking the pockets, you find some pretty mundane stuff; loose change, gum wrappers, crumpled receipts. Among these odds and ends, you also find Orchid’s apartment keys. His keys? Did he know he wouldn’t be coming back? You decide to consult the letter again, maybe you missed something. The light in your office illuminates the parchment, you see some writing on the other side. You flip it over and read…“Make it look conspicuous, don’t bring anything. Someone will be there to grab any personal effects after the report is filed.”>>6477459You store the letter, apartment keys and framed photo in your hat. A migraine sets in as you wrack your brain, trying to digest everything. Setting aside Orchid’s jacket, you inspect the business card closely. The address and phone number for “The Leaning Dandelion” is superimposed over a salacious photo of an insect you’ve never met. The Leaning Dandelion isn’t a club you frequent, you only vaguely recognize the name because of their dealings with Orchid’s place of work, The Crunchy Leaf. Could this be some kind of deal gone sideways?>Investigate the “meeting spot” mentioned in the letter>Investigate The Leaning Dandelion>Consult Vinny about extra muscle (-1/4 of donut)>Write-in
>>6477716>Investigate the “meeting spot” mentioned in the letter
>>6477716For some reason I can't get rid of the feelng like the leaning dandelion is a red herring. Plus now it seems like the disappearance was staged to look like a kidnapping.>Investigate the “meeting spot” mentioned in the letter.Might as well see if there's still anything there, multiple days later.
>>6477783>>6477843The address on the letter belongs to a small bakery called “Charlotte’s”. Sugar mentioned Orchid’s tendency to bring in a box of pastry crumbs for the dancers at The Crunchy Leaf. You wonder if Charlotte’s is where he gets them. Exhaustion fully sets in as you idly ponder your new lead. It’s getting late now, you decide it’s time to turn in for the night. With the moon at its apex, you drift into a peaceful, rejuvenating sleep.The next morning…You triple-check the contents of your hat, everything you need for the day is present and accounted for. With a labored stretch, you shake off any lingering sleepiness and exit your office. From what you know, Charlotte’s is on the other side of the city. Walking there isn’t really an option, it would be closed by the time you arrive.How will you get to the bakery?>Wave hat, try to get the attention of a (hopefully kind) bird>Climb onto the leg of a human, hope they’re going to bakery>Try to commandeer one of the humans’ metal steeds>Write-in
>>6478015>Try to commandeer one of the humans’ metal steeds
>>6478015>Try to commandeer one of the humans’ metal steedsOnward we go!
>>6478015>Climb onto the leg of a human, hope they’re going to bakeryLook for anyone that look especially bread-like. Surely they would be going to the bakery.
>>6478107>>6478154If memory serves you right, your roommate has one that you might be able to borrow for the day. You’re not particularly keen on these contraptions, but their efficiency is undeniable. You locate your roommate’s car, and slip into the seam of the driver-side door. Investigating the interior, it quickly sets in just how out of your league you are. You’ve seen your roommate operate this vehicle a handful of times, you know you have to turn… something. Your legs tremble as you scale the steering wheel, it’s a wonder humans can drive these things so effortlessly.Eventually, you discover a curious little alcove with a narrow, metal slot for something. ”This must be the ignition.” you think to yourself. Without a second thought, you squeeze into the crevasse. It’s pitch black inside, you have to rely almost entirely on your feelers to get around. Something thin and rubbery makes contact with your antennae; a wire, perhaps?>Chew wires until something happens>Attempt to hotwire car (roll 2d6-1)>Set off car alarm, maybe your roommate will come downstairs>Reconsider your options>Write-in
Rolled 3, 3 - 1 = 5 (2d6 - 1)>>6478382>Attempt to hotwire car (roll 2d6-1)
Taking a break from updating for today. Thank you to the 3-ish people who have been sticking around! Expect an update sometime tomorrow afternoon est.
Rolled 1, 2 - 1 = 2 (2d6 - 1)>>6478382>Attempt to hotwire carI assumed we would hitch a ride on a taxi or something, but I guess we're about to be the first ant ever to drive a car... let's pray it's not a manual.>>6478594Thanks for feeding my bug obsession episode, QM.
>>6478517>>6478595Yikes!With no prior knowledge of automobiles, you begin doing what you think hotwiring is. Using your mandibles, you chew the rubber insulation off some wires and join them with others. A few over here… maybe this red one can go there… and presto!”CRASH!”The vehicle lurches forward suddenly, colliding with a car parked a few spaces ahead of you. Both vehicles erupt into a cacophony of alarms. Not what you intended, but, you may be able to use this to your advantage. Several humans flock around the commotion, peering into the windows of your roommate’s car. Blaring sirens cut through the onlookers’ concerned chatter; sounds like the police are on their way. If there’s one thing you know about officers, it’s that they can’t resist the call of a doughy treat. When they get here, you’re sure to have a free ride to Charlotte’s.They arrive at the scene roughly half an hour later, punctual as always. Your roommate is outside conversing with one of the sheriffs. You have a moment of silence for his freshly wrecked, possibly totaled, car; its sacrifice will not be forgotten. You deftly leap from the car’s shattered windshield, and skitter into one of the many present cop cars.A tow truck arrives soon after, and the crowd of bystanders dissolves. Your new ride’s driver returns after handing your roommate a pink slip of paper. She lets out a disgruntled sigh, deflating in her seat. You see her visibly considering something, and just like clockwork, you find yourself at Charlotte’s.>Go inside, talk to employee>Investigate outside of bakery>Dig through bakery trash>Write-in
>>6479114>Dig through bakery trash
>>6479114>Go inside, talk to employeeAsk if anyone remembers anything strange about him, or if anyone met up with him on the night of the disappearance.
>>6479261Before entering the bakery, you decide to take a little detour ‘round back. Alleyways in the city are usually pretty gnarly in terms of smell. Though, this one produces an alluring aroma of fresh baked goods, only slightly tainted by cigarettes. You examine the dumpster belonging to the bakery and find that it’s quite full. It doesn’t seem like Charlotte’s creates a lot of food waste; there’s only a few bags that contain anything worth pillaging.After some searching, you find a warm, buttery croissant. Congratulations, your stale donut crumb becomes the deluxe pastry crumb! You can consume the deluxe pastry crumb to gain a +1 bonus to your next roll!>>6479279Satisfied with your find, you head back to the entrance and make your way inside. Charlotte’s is primarily catered to humans, like most things in the city. Human-scale tables with pink checkerboard patterns, a newspaper rack with the latest issue of the city’s journal, and tons of glass cases containing delectable treats. Hunching over the counter, a tired-looking human takes the orders of other tired-looking humans. You aren’t here to talk to any run-of-the-mill employee, however. You’re here to talk to Charlotte.”Detective, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I hope you’re well.” she says enthusiastically.“I’m managing…” you say, failing to suppress the exhaustion in your voice.”You poor thing, you look utterly drained…”“Busy night, nothing a little caffeine can’t fix–””Don’t say another word!”Charlotte hastily fixes you a thimble of tea. Taking a sip from it, a warmth spreads throughout your body. It’s no replacement for coffee by any means, but it’s comforting. Charlotte looks at you expectantly.“Lovely as always, Charlotte. Thank you.” you say awkwardly, struggling to find a way to organically segue to the questions you have prepared.“So, er… this business about Orchid disappearing–””Dreadful! Completely and terribly dreadful! He’s such a lovely customer, I don’t know how someone could do something so awful.”“Right, I was hoping I could ask you a few questions.”Charlotte nods eagerly.“Did you notice anything strange about Orchid before his disappearance? Do you know if he met with anyone the night of?””As a matter of fact, he seemed very nervous. I asked him about it, but he just brushed it off… He definitely met with someone, though, a hornet, if memory serves me right.”What will you say?>”Did you recognize the hornet, any identifying features?”>”Did Orchid say anything strange?”>”I have some other questions…” (write-in questions)>”Thank you, that’ll be all.” (no more questions)>Write-in
>>6479436>Did you recognize the hornet, any identifying features?”
>>6479436>”Did you recognize the hornet, any identifying features?”
>>6479591>>6479681”He was wearing a jacket that said “Security” on it, kind of like a bouncer.” she explains.A bouncer… from The Leaning Dandelion? You guess that pretty much checks out, considering the business card you found. Still, since when was The Leaning Dandelion in the business of fake kidnapping people? Maybe The Leaning Dandelion and the Crunchy Leaf have some unresolved beef? You know they’re competing clubs, but this seems needlessly excessive.“Charlotte, do you know anything about the relationship between The Leaning Dandelion and The Crunchy Leaf?” you ask.”No more than you, detective.”“Do you know anyone who might?”Charlotte thinks for a moment, tapping one of her many legs against her chelicerae.”Come to think of it, Orchid was pretty good friends with Sugar, right? They work at the same club, why don’t you ask her?”“I talked to her yesterday afternoon, she didn’t mention anything specific about that.””I’m afraid that’s all I’ve got, hun.” she says apologetically.What now?>Call Sugar>Ask Charlotte more questions (write-in questions)>Thank Charlotte for help, leave>Write-in
>>6479798>Thank Charlotte for help, leave
>>6479798Welp, got everything we could out of that lead. Maybe leaning dandelion isn't a red herring afterall and we should go check it out later.>Thank Charlotte for help, leave.
>>6479919>>6480060You thank Charlotte for her help and take your leave. While it seems like The Leaning Dandelion’s involvement in this is certain, the why of it still eludes you. Visiting the club doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Though, the loose end you left at Orchid’s apartment makes you somewhat nervous. You aren’t sure what happened to that hornet after the police crashed your investigation. The consequences of last night are sure to impede your investigation at some point; you can only hope that the police take their sweet time.A gentle afternoon breeze tickles your antennae, the sidewalks are once again crowded with humans. A familiar raven stands outside of the bakery, idly foraging for crumbs.“Roger.” you acknowledge the raven.Roger straightens up at the sound of your voice, twisting and tilting their head to locate you.“Tiny detective…? Ah, tiny detective! Fancy meeting you here, are you out on business?” they ask.“I am. I’m currently looking into the disappearance of a mantis named Orchid.”“A disappearance, you say? Sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you.”What will you do?>Ask Roger if they know anything>Ask Roger for a ride… >To your office >To The Leaning Dandelion >To The Crunchy Leaf>Excuse yourself and call Sugar>Write-in
>>6480114>Ask Roger if they know anything
>>6480114>>Ask Roger if they know anything
>>6480241>>6480315>>6480348Roger doesn’t tend to bother themself with the business of bugs, but you think it can’t hurt to ask.“Dandelions and leaves… have you checked the park?”“That… isn’t what I–”“Gehahah! I kid, I kid. I did not realize being big-time detective meant losing your sense of humor!”“So, do you know anything? Or–”“I know many things, tiny detective. I may be old, but I have eyes like hawk!”You shift uncomfortably as you realize where this is going.“Information comes at price, you know this, tiny detective.”What will you do?>Try to sweet-talk it out of them (roll 2d6+1)*>Intimidate Roger (roll 2d6+1)**>Consume deluxe pastry crumb for extra +1 bonus (optional)>Promise Roger the last half of your donut (currently at your office)>Sell out a group of conspiring worms as a snack for Roger (--reputation with worms)>Write-in
>>6480418>Ravens love shiny things, and you just happen to have a bottle of body glitter at your office. Offer to smudge it all over Roger as a payment
>>6480510Oh hi, nice to see you again!No update for tonight, sorry for the late notice. Hope everyone had/is having a nice Halloween! Expect an update some time in the afternoon (est) tomorrow!
>>6480418>>6480510 +1
