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You can feel some of the feeling in your left leg, the fake one, start to return. You can walk on it, haltingly, and you do so to check on your fellows who are up as early as you, cleaning and cooking for the other servants.

Your promenade down the cobblestone hallway comes to a sudden stop as you combat the most difficult enemy you've faced yet.

Stairs.

>>14399148
Yeah Sorcerer Quest!

IIRC, we were going to our "master", and, in doing so, find a way out.

>>14399182
Is there a rail?

>>14399182
well, we tried. sit down and kill ourself

>>14399206

Nope. You have your crutch, and not much grip on the sides of the walls.

>>14399227

That might be a way out, but you doubt you could muster up the will to commit such a deed, even if it would just kill a projection of you. Besides, think of the existential repercussions!

>>14399200

You recall this correctly.

bump, because I don't know what's going on and can't be bothered to read up but I like op's pic.

>>14399292
Let us begin the climb, using the wall and our crutch in conjunction with each other. Baby steps, now...

You make your way up the stairs by bracing your crutch in one part of the step while your free hand is planted against the wall. You put your good leg up a stair and drag the other up behind it. This gets you up the stairs in a reasonably timely manner.

You proceed into the kitchen, where several gnolls/ripouse are cooking a pork and potato slurry called Holem for breakfast. You can see exits up the copious stairs to other levels of the tower, and to the Dining Room.

>>14399441
Let's ask one of the ripouse cooks where the master (I keep forgetting his name) is.

>>14399463

"Excuse me," You say, to one of the ripouse who is stirring the mixture.

"Yes?" She says, looking over to you pleasantly.

"Where is Master Murejed right now?" You ask her.

She looks sympathetic. "Oh Algers, the drugs they gave you must be making you pretty woozy, huh? He's up in his Bedroom," She says, pointing up the stairs, "Still sleeping. Not due up for another half an hour. If you need me to, I can ask someone else to go up and wake him. You of all people deserve a sick day."

>>14399522
"Yes...the drugs have made me a little light-headed..."

I suppose we can wait a half-hour before we talk to him. That'll give us time to collect our thoughts and think of a plan.

>>14399571

You sit down and have breakfast. As you do so, you regain some of the feeling in your calf.

The food is simple, unspiced but filling. You know your grandfather could read during this time, and even if he couldn't you can read and speak fluent Aldini. Your family used it as a code language. You're a bit rusty, but so far you've understood everything perfectly as though they were speaking modern Ripouse.

You find it a bit easier to walk now, but you notice that the feeling is coming back in big chunks. Strange. But with magical equipment like this that you know nothing about, the strange should be expected.

You figure there has to be a dummy way out of this thing, and there are only so many options.

1. It kicks you out after a certain amount of time. This would prevent the accidental mistaking of this world for the real one and keep someone from remaining here for long enough that they could die.

2. There is some kind of a "command" to end the session. You either have to say or do something to get out. Saying something seems unlikely, as the potential for the command to come up in conversation would exist. Unless it's really complicated. Regardless, you think that Melane, mad as she may have been, would've given you that extremely important information along with the Memory.

3. You have to reach a certain point before exiting each time. While an extremely poor method, it would ensure that the memories could be taken in as chunks. You have no idea as to the time in the real world that is passing in here, so you might be doing this in real time or close to it. That format would make sense if that was true.

>>14399874
Betting on options 1 and 3. Either way, let's wait for Murejed to wake up.

In the meantime, let's satisfy Paima's curiosity about slave life by having him ask around; stuff like "are you happy?" or "do you want to be free?" I'm sure he'll try to slide it into conversation somehow, but he hasn't been that smooth so far.

There are several possibilities inherent in option 3.

You may have to find out certain things in order for the session to end. Maybe about the lizardman, Kresis, since that was the original purpose of this session. Perhaps something about Alkenin, your "master"? Regardless, chatting someone up seems to be the best course of action, should this be the case.

You finish your meal, invigorated.

What will you do?

>>14399979
Do this -->>14399936

You are a surprisingly smooth talker, most of the time. But your Quick Temper tends to make you much more acerbic and irritable than normal. Most of the time, this is a bad thing. Slavery tends to trigger this impulse, but these people do not seem like the slaves you remember.

"Are you happy?" You ask one of the cooks.

She giggles a bit. "Well, I'm glad that you're doing better, if that's what you mean. We were all scared you wouldn't make it."

"That's not what I mean." You say, smiling a bit. "Thank you, though. I mean, are you happy being Master Murejed's servant?"

"I suppose it's not bad. Especially when you hear about what went on at the Grehed Household last month. He treats us well, don't you think, Algers?" She says.

"Well, say you were free." You say, keeping your voice lower. "What would you do?"

"Right now? I would ask Master Murejed to hire me on!" She says, surprised. "There are all sorts of things going on out on the rest of the continent. War's coming up, dragons burning whole gnoll regiments to a man." She seems a bit apprehensive at this. "I'd just want to live somewhere secure. Being free would be nice, don't get me wrong, but if you're free you have to protect yourself. I think I'm better protected here then I would be on my own." She sighs. "You get in your moods every once in a while. We'd follow you if you left, but weren't you the one talking about how stable this place is?"

"I said that?" You slip, in surprise.

The ripouse woman chuckles. "Yes! You put your back into the research, said tactically it was the best option." She pauses, looking into the boiling holem. "I can't agree that the master is a good man, though. After what he did to that lizardman, justified as it was, most of the house was worried he'd punish one of us for not protecting you."

You feel anger seethe in your stomach. How can so many be cowed by one man? "It's not right." You say, simply.

The riposue looks over at you, surprised. "Well, and here I thought you were the smart one."

"What?" You say, somewhat angrily.

"Algers, there's a big difference between what's right and what is." She fishes out a decent sized bit of pork from the holem and nibbles on it. "We haven't got a way to change the way things are now. So why think on it? I'm just grateful we can run things smoothly, that he hasn't punished anyone in years aside from keeping 'em in their rooms, and that we all keep a full belly and have somewhere to sleep."

>>14400175
Paima is not ok with this bullshit, but I don't think he has room to complain now that he's stuck in the past...

You pause to think on this. You aren't used to settling, but then again, in your time you don't have a continent wide war that you're on the losing side of. Against power magicians, the possibility of combat must look slim to those who have no training in it. Your thoughts are interrupted by a curious feeling of something running along your left thigh and calf, beneath the shell. You look down, quickly, but see nothing out of the ordinary. It was uncanny, like someone running a finger under your skin, painlessly. Why exactly did your leg stop working, anyway? According to Algers' memory, it was working well yesterday, with little pain. If not for his practice walking, you down you could've made it up the stairs, even with a crutch. This means something must've changed between then and now. You remember to be on the lookout for this factor.

You remember as a small child, climbing up on Algers' knee as he told you stories of legendary creatures, brave heroes, and wise magicians. You always insisted on sitting on his left leg, as it warmed through the blanket he had over his lap. He found this amusing, and would always tickle you affectionately or tussle your hair when you brought it up. He always made moving with it look so easy, you never thought about all the effort he must've gone through in these early days. You remember his complaints of stiffness, and feel a bit bad about having been a part of the plan to keep him safe below ground. Was he reliving these days, when even moving was a chore, as he walked about with Melane?

You look over to the stairs going up the tower, and the small ones going back to the servant's quarters. Either way, it's going to take a while.

>>14400456
Let's go and wait by Murejed's door; that way, we can be "ready to serve". Plus, who knows how many stairs we have to climb, so we should get started now.

>>14400501

You get started with the long climb, the ability to maneuver even just your calf making the slow climb much easier. The feeling comes back in your foot about two floors up, and after a brief rest, you continue without the crutch. You pass a few servants on your way up who give you looks of encouragement, and admire your tenacity. You are out of breath by the time you reach the great oaken doors to Alkenin's Bedroom, but do not feel like panting. You know that you can go inside when it is time to wake him. It was probably that time several minutes ago.

>>14400591
Knock lightly on the door before entering.

"Murejed? It is time to arise!"

>>14400611

"Murejed? It is time to arise!" You say, as you enter the room. A great blue marble floor stretches out before you, with a large balcony blocked by some cloth curtains, beautiful wooden furniture, and a few tapestries up on the walls depicting patterned designs.

You see an old man, the same one from the dream, only a decade or so older, with short, curly black hair. A few wrinkles stretch across his light brown skin, with a few strands of white making their way into his hair. He wears a simple brown silk nightgown, and reaches for a pair of spectacles as he sits up in the huge poster bed. His voice is somewhat quiet and stern.

"Murejed, this morning, hm? Very well." He says, yawning silently. He looks somewhat athletic for his age, with a slight goatee. He smiles over at you warmly. "Good morning, Algers."

>>14400814
"Uh..forgive me master...the, uh...the drugs are still taking their toll."

>>14400854

"Uh..forgive me master...the, uh...the drugs are still taking their toll." You say quickly, silently grateful that you got that quick lesson in improvisation.

"That's alright." Alkenin says, getting up out of bed. "I'm just glad you're able to be up and walking." He walks out over to the balcony, putting on a pair of slippers as he does so. "Are you walking alright? Any trouble?"

>>14400929
"Just a strange feeling in my leg from time to time..."

Perhaps this is Paima's chance to figure out if Murejed is really what he thought he was.

>>14401064

"Just a strange feeling in my leg from time to time..." You say, stretching the metal leg a bit.

"Hmm, well, we'll have to ask Fereed about that." Alkenin says, walking over to his dresser to get his clothes. "Don't worry, you must be exhausted after all that climbing, I can get myself this morning."

I caught you this time, you slippery quest!

"Ah, I know it's early, but there's something I'd like to ask. About yesterday. The rest of the staff is, well, a little shaken. You surprised the lot of us with Kresis' punishment."

>>14401218

"Ah, I know it's early, but there's something I'd like to ask. About yesterday. The rest of the staff is, well, a little shaken. You surprised the lot of us with Kresis' punishment." You sit down on a nearby chair as you say this.

Alkenin slows himself as he gathers up one of his robes. "Yes. I think I surprised myself as well. I..." He looks down into the garment in his hands. "I suppose I was just angry that he could do such a thing to you. I lost my composure, despite him acting as he should have in such a situation." He looks over to you with no real expression on his face. "I didn't mean to cause a disruption."

>>14401194
Oh, the trap. Algers would help him with his morning routine, but would Paima? I'll vote that he, although reluctantly, helps him, if only for the sake of "it's what grandpa would do."

>>14401279
This. Mention we talked with Kresis a little bit.

>>14401279

You go about Algers' normal routine, though he feels a bit irritated that it's going slower than usual. You fold Alkenin's bedclothes after he dresses himself and take the clothing out of the room.

"I talked with Kresis for a short time this morning." You say.

"Really? What did he say?" Alkenin asks, sitting at the edge of his bed. You feel strange, talking to him like this. Algers does, anyway. Most of the time, Alkenin has a number of things to attend to in the morning. But he doesn't seem anxious or impatient.

"He's actually fairly intelligent, though he feels... hmm trapped? I can understand, though. If you had asked me do to that to someone else, well I'd be a little reluctant admittedly, but an order is an order."

>>14401481

"He's actually fairly intelligent, though he feels... hmm trapped? I can understand, though. If you had asked me do to that to someone else, well I'd be a little reluctant admittedly, but an order is an order."

Alkenin pauses. "I would never ask you or anyone else to do such a thing. Such petty things I thought were beneath me," He says, looking away from you as though ashamed, "But even in that instance, none but me should have to dirty their hands with such a thing."

>>14401570
Hopefully that sheds a little bit of light for Paima on what sort of man Murejed was.

"Well master, shall we begin today's duties?"

>>14401570
Maybe now Paima is beginning to understand Alkenin a little better.

Smile. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear that. Violence is so unpalatable."

"Now, I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do, Sir, but for the sake of regaining a little peace around here and putting the rest of the staff at ease, it may be a good idea to make peace with Kresis."

>>14401653

"You have no idea how glad I am to hear that. Violence is so unpalatable." You say, smiling.

Alkenin breaks off his gaze, unconsciously looking at your leg for a moment as he does so. "Yes, you're quite right."

"Now, I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do, Sir, but for the sake of regaining a little peace around here and putting the rest of the staff at ease, it may be a good idea to make peace with Kresis." You mention, getting Alkenin's attention right back.

"To be honest, I wouldn't know where to start, Algers." He says. "It's not as though I can simply apologize and make up for what I did to him." He sighs. "On top of that, how would that look? A master apologizing to a servant. No, there has to be something else."

"You just have to be sneaky about it. Maybe something that, at the time, doesn't seem like much, but can only be fully understood looking back."

>>14401754
additionally, as a joke. "Or, you could always get him his own dragon cat."

>>14401724
Does Paima know how the present's Kreiga's leg is?

"Hm...maybe you can make it up to him somehow? Perhaps heal his leg, and, without the overt apologies, you'll retain your status." Downplay the idea though; make it so that he decides on it. "I suppose that's a stupid idea, master. Forgive my small talk..."

>>14401754

"You just have to be sneaky about it. Maybe something that, at the time, doesn't seem like much, but can only be fully understood looking back." You say, channeling a bit of your own guile.

Alkenin ponders this for a bit, then grins. "I like the idea. Did you have something in mind?"

>>14401788
Nah, Fereed is not overly fond of Kresis at this point, and you wouldn't really be able to predict how he'd react. Besides, prosthetics was the only actual option at the time.

As for what the apology could be, I've got nothing. Can we leave this one up to Paima to figure out?

>>14401765

"Or, you could always get him his own dragon cat." You mention with a chuckle.

Alkenin grins a bit. "Perhaps. Though she's proven to be a bit of a menace as just one. Two I don't think our house could handle."

>>14401788

You have no idea as to how Kresis' leg is in present day.

"Hm...maybe you can make it up to him somehow? Perhaps heal his leg, and, without the overt apologies, you'll retain your status." You mention.

"I suppose that's a stupid idea, master. Forgive my small talk..." You say, after a bit.

"No, Algers, it's not stupid." Alkenin says, sounding a bit concerned. "I wish it were that easy. Then, in your case..."

You realize that yeah, that actually was kind of stupid.

You ponder for a while.

Alkenin hasn't had his breakfast yet. Suggest he'll have his thinking cap on once he's eaten.

>>14401930
This.

Also, what if we were to suggest that we take care of Kresis from now on? Perhaps giving him some of that good ol' Alkenin security will be all he needs? ...hopefully. :(

>>14401930

"Maybe something will come to you after you eat, master." You say, trying to buy yourself a bit of time.

"You're probably right. This isn't something we can just sit down and solve right away." Alkenin says, stretching his back as he stands.

He walks out of his door, past you, pausing for a moment. "I didn't mean to scare you." He says quietly, before closing the door.

You are soon done with your cleaning duties.

>>14401950

You ponder doing this after breakfast.

>>14402017
How long before Alkenin finishes his breakfast? Should we do anything in that time, like go see Kresis? Or should we just keep our mouth shut and see what happens? I don't know. D:

>>14402100

He takes a while with his breakfast. You know it's going to take you a while to navigate the stairs. Alkenin doesn't need you at his beck and call every waking moment of his life, though. You're free for quite some time to manage the household.

>>14402167
Alright, well, let's go about our daily duties as best we can. Should also be making sure the other lizardmen are integrating well enough for the situation.

Going to be back in 30 minutes, come up with a few ideas before I get back!

>>14402191
Well, I think our best bet is having Kresis start working for Alkenin. Basic premise is:
-for attacking my servant, I severed your leg in my anger
-since I abhor violence, I have come up with an alternative
-I'm a generous slave-owner, so I'll clothe and feed you in return for you new services
-thus, it'll make your previous master look like horrible

+Prestige, -Guilt

It's a win-win...I am horrible at these. D:

>>14402181
>>14402340

This seems like a good enough plan. Kill 'em with kindness, as they say. Though it does seem a bit overt, it's not a direct apology.

The other lizardmen are in a bunker, farther than you'd care to walk, and are all trained soldiers. Not the sort you'd want to get on the bad side of. Kresis was their leader, after all. You decide you can see what one lizardman is doing, anyway.

You make your way all the way down to the servant's quarters, noting that your left leg still feels twice as heavy as your right, and plunking it down ahead of you as you walk. You take a few steps normally as you start to reach the bottom, feeling more like someone who is off-balance than someone with a limp.

You knock on Kresis' door.

"I already said, I don't need food for another day or so." He hisses through the door.

>>14402594
Sternly cough. Hopefully, he'll recognize it's us. If not, say: "It's me: Algers...I have some news for you."

>>14402616

You cough. Kresis goes quiet for a moment. "What, who is it?"

"It's me: Algers...I have some news for you." You say.

"Oh. Well come in then." He says.

As you walk in, you notice Kresis sitting on a pile of flour bags, and that his left leg is assembled.

Kinda.

It looks rather rough and warped, with numerous small edged bits, but it's in the right general shape. It looks completely cracked through, save the foot, which is still perfectly intact.

"Well, it's not pretty, but it's all in one piece again." Kresis says, patting the side of his thigh.

>>14402687
"I talked it over with my master. Though he was distraught with anger, he is now possibly considering using you as an example of his mercy..."

Get closer to him.

"You are going to be fine."

Alkenin seems like a cool guy, so I think that's in line; hopefully we don't get screwed over by the actual timeline.

"You just have to will it together? That's sure something else."

"I talked it over with my master. Though he was distraught with anger, he is now possibly considering using you as an example of his mercy..." Kresis looks a bit uncomfortable as you say these words.

You walk closer to him, trying to look relaxed.

"You are going to be fine." You assure him.

"I can't understand why you're not mad at me, though." Kresis says, raising an eyebrow. "If I was in your position, I would've tried to kill me."

"I'm not really the sort to hold a grudge. Besides, I hurt you, and all that happens is I perpetuate a meaningless cycle of hatred that helps no-one."

>>14402833
"Well..." mutter under our breath. "...I'm sure that's what grandpa would have done..."

"I'm not really the sort to hold a grudge. Besides, I hurt you, and all that happens is I perpetuate a meaningless cycle of hatred that helps no-one."

Kresis' tongue flickers out of his mouth for a moment, and he appears contemplative.

"I guess all I know how to do is violence, so that was my first instinct." He looks over at you, fairly calm. "I'll try not to hold a grudge if you're not going to."

"You just have to will it together? That's sure something else." You add, indicating his leg.

"Well, I tried sorting out the pieces, but then I decided I'd just stick them together." Kresis says, pressing in on the sides of his leg with his hands. "Seems like any water, really, I can incorporate in here." He moves a hand along the top of his leg, smoothing the mass of it out. You feel a wide mass push across the top of your leg, much like before, and can't help but shiver and reach for it, reflexively.

Kresis notices this. "Something wrong?"

"I felt that. When you moved your hand over your leg. Uh..." knock on our knee to see if it's two-way.

>>14402924

"I felt that. When you moved your hand over your leg. Uh..." You knock on your knee.

"What? When I was shaping the ice? You must be imagining things." Kresis says.

You feel your temper flare up. "No, I wasn't." You rear back and kick the flagstone wall with your left leg, feeling the vibration run through it.

"Aaah!" Kresis says, his leg visibly vibrating. He flexes his ice toes, making sure they work. "How is this possible? You didn't feel it when I fell out of bed, did you?" He asks.

>>14402924
I believe we have found a major puzzle piece, ladies and elegen/tg/entlemen.

>>14402951
"I think that's what woke me up. I was in bed, and suddenly I couldn't use or feel my leg."

>>14402967

"I think that's what woke me up. I was in bed, and suddenly I couldn't use or feel my leg." You explain.

Kresis pounds his hand into the palm of the other. "And the reason for that was because my leg was shattered! But I hit my elbow in the fall as well. Does yours hurt?"

"No, it doesn't." You answer.

The lizardman crosses his arms. "Hmm..."

"I wonder... Maybe we share sensations in our legs precisely because they aren't there anymore?"

"This, could be useful. Maybe we could figure out a way to communicate like this without having to be nearby?"

>>14403039

"I wonder... Maybe we share sensations in our legs precisely because they aren't there anymore?" You point out.

"Yes, that seems likely. I remember a strange feeling when our spirits erm..." If you didn't know better, you'd swear the lizardman was embarrassed. "Exchanged elements. It felt like something was off with my leg, but I didn't have long before they put me under."

"This, could be useful. Maybe we could figure out a way to communicate like this without having to be nearby?" You suggest.

"As long as it doesn't involve pain, I'm up for it." Kresis says, smoothing out his leg once again.

You feel your hair stand on end as he does it, and you glare at him.

"Sorry, but it's not going to fix itself." He says. "You should probably sit down"

He reshapes his leg for a while, which is disconcerting to you the entire time he does so. He eventually turns it much sleeker, perhaps a bit more muscular than it was before.

"There." He says, brushing his hand across it. "Just like molding clay."

"Alright, it's fixed. Just don't break it again." You say, trying to ignore the urge to scratch your leg.

"Hey, it wasn't a good time for me either. I thought I was done." He says, his tail twitching. "And it was really painful. Right where I was jabbed earlier." He grabs at his upper thigh.

Jabbed? What poked him?

>>14403210

"What happened?" You ask.

He looks off to one side, suddenly aware of what he said. "No, forget it. It's nothing."

"If it has something to do with others on the staff, I'd like to know. A house divided cannot stand, and the support staff is the foundation of any house."

"If it has something to do with others on the staff, I'd like to know. A house divided cannot stand, and the support staff is the foundation of any house." You say to him.

Kresis shakes his head. "I'll be fine, really."

"Tell me." You say, sternly.

Kresis looks down at the floor, away from you. "Well after Mu- Master Murejed forced me to remove my own leg, the gnolls came in. Some of them jeered at me, a couple of them took my leg and taunted me with it, then threw it into the fireplace." He sits quietly for a moment before continuing. "I thought that would be enough. Two of them came back with a piece of iron, one pinned me down, and the other jabbed it into my leg." He looks over at you, apologetically. "I tried not to prod too hard when the master told me to. You looked like you were in plenty of pain." He sighs. "Anyway, the muscle is bruised, and that fall rammed the leg back into my bone. I had trouble walking yesterday because of it."

"I'm sorry, I must sound like a complete horse's ass complaining like this. Forget it." He says, standing up. "See, fine. Nothing the matter. Just a little pain, well deserved, that's all."

"I see. I may have to talk with them later."

"I suppose now's as good a time as any for this. Come with me. I'll show you around, get you familiar with the grounds."

"I see. I may have to talk with them later." You say.

"I don't want to stir up any trouble," Kresis says, waving his hand over at you.

"If I recall, Alkenin told them to leave you alone." You shake your head. "If we don't attend to this soon, it could get out of control, quickly." You respond, knowledgeably.

Kresis doesn't have much to say to that.

"I suppose now's as good a time as any for this. Come with me. I'll show you around, get you familiar with the grounds." You say.

"Sure, if you don't mind." Kresis says, brushing off his loincloth.

"And I guess we'll have to get you fitted for something more suitable to wear."

>>14403443

"And I guess we'll have to get you fitted for something more suitable to wear." You say, raising an eyebrow.

"This isn't suitable?" The lizardman asks, confused.

You shake your head. "No. Why would it be?"

Kresis looks sheepish. "Well, it's all we wear back at the barracks."

You get some pants and a shirt for Kresis in short order, the seamstress working wonders. Kresis keeps looking over at his leg, as though expecting it to leak onto the pants.

You show him to the Servant's Quarters, Kitchen, Dining Hall, and Lounge. The lounge is not for servant use normally, but he collapses down onto one of the couches.

"Quite the nice setup here. Much bigger than I'm used to." He says, putting his feet up on one of the stuffed ottomans.

"We're not really supposed to-" You start. You suddenly realize what an incredible stickler your grandfather used to be.

"C'mon. We're walking wounded here. He can give us a break." Kresis says, stretching out a bit. "You've never sat down in here?"

You sit down, shrugging.

"There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Kresis says, putting his head back and closing his eyes.

"I have been in here before, actually." You say, bridging your fingers. "When I was being taught."

Kresis opens an eye, grinning. "I never saw the use in learning that kind of thing. I spent my life fighting."

You shrug. "It was good for what I was bred for." is what Algers is thinking.

"There's nothing wrong with either way. We're just good at different things."

"Well, I don't like the idea of being unable to defend myself." Kresis says. "You haven't fought much, have you?"

"Never." You confess.

"Hmm, I thought as much." Kresis says, closing his eyes once again.

yiff yiff yiff

>>14403701

Shouldn't you be in bed, kid?

Well, as dumb as it is that some moron has to come in and ruin it, I'm going to close up for now. See you guys on Wednesday.

May your future seem bright, no matter how far off it is.