rolled 99 = 99

>>14881826
We took most of her wounds away and have a hideous scar on our face now, right? Play injured. Pretend that whatever hurt her hurt us as well. We know that Elves are still a problem for the Empire. I say we make up a story about chasing down an Elven marauder when we saw it kidnap her. It injured us, and her, and then ran when we started calling to 'the guards' as if they were nearby. We can play this all off as an attack by subhumans and divert suspicion away from ourselves. We come out the scarred hero. If anyone asks what we were doing out of the monastery this late, we're well known in town for gambling with off-duty guards and fleecing them for all they've got. Just say we were on our way to teach more guards the folly of gambling when we saw the animal kidnap her and gave chase.

[BTW, thanks ever-so-much to the guys who went full retard yesterday after we set things up for a safe, secure, and low-visibility sanctum with which to experiment. Oh well, what's done is done, and we now know more than we did. Enough to never trust Tenebrotep again.]

[[Bumping with art while any new participants get up to date with the quest.]]

You decide that now that you are the injured one and she the one in good health you will just have to play the victim. Hopefully the girl is sympathetic enough and not too frightened that she would interpret the situation in the wrong way. Sitting by the fire with your back to her you pull your sleeves as low as possible and bundle you night cloak about you to try to hide the emerald crest upon your body. But no matter what you do the serpent heads upon your head are still clearly visible, dimly reflecting the light of the fire.
You quickly concoct a story in your mind of a lone elven raider passing within sight of the gardens and your heroic attempt to rescue the fair maiden he had stolen from her bed. The story might work well since there have been hunts for elves across the northwestern mountains, but you do not yet know how much the girl remembers or what exactly happened to her.
You hear her stir, sitting up behind you and letting out a hushed gasp in confusion of the situation at hand. You turn slightly to let her know that you've heard her but don't get up.
You speak in a low voice, trying to be as gentle as possible. "So you're awake. I was worried that you wouldn't make it. You were barely breathing when I found you."
"Who are you?" she says. Her voice is beautiful like that of a songbird's. "Where are we? Is the hunter gone?"

rolled 64 = 64

>>14882043
"Yes, though he may return. Unfortunately, I seem to have lost my way during the chase, and I know not where we are. I was stroke most grievously and lost consciousness soon after he fled."
[didn't Seno and Eno say we could opt out of the binding whenever we wished? Now would be the ideal time, before she sees us. Or that it would end if we tried to channel more life than we had stored? If we're already on empty, just try to pump a little into the grass at our feet and the binding should end.]

>>14882118
[replace "stroke" with "struck"]

rolled 5 = 5

>>14882118
Tell her that we found due the guidance of the Brother. We mean her no harm and are curious about the situation.
{I would suggest we continue to keep the powers, they are to good to pass up}

>>14882185
we can get them again later, and if she sees us now with the tatoos, and we don't have them later, that may raise questions. Best to dispose of them. And if we have them now, and escort her back to town, then the guards/fellow monks will wonder where they came from.

>>14882207
We could easily explain them away. Mostly i would suggest we not break the pact unless we have to in case there is some sort of hidden retribution for doing so.

>>14882224
it's not a breaking, they left us several opt-out clauses. And a pious monk getting full-body tatoos of that complexity so quickly? Hard to explain to the chaplain, to say the least. And we don't know if Arnold knows anything about Seno and Eno. He may recognize them. I really think that we need to do the bulk of this on our own. We can re-acquire the powers later.

Thinking quickly you play along with her story, "He seems to be gone for now, but who knows when he may return? I gave chase but was struck a most grievous blow when I lost sight of him. I chased him off but succumbed to my own wounds. When I awoke I was here, wherever here is."
She shuffles about behind you, and it sounds as though she gets slowly to her feet. You fear she may approach and the glint of your hand may provoke too many questions. Thinking of the terms you set for your pact, you turn your palms towards the open fire and give the silent thought to give life to the dead and burning leaves. You see the fire die down for a moment as the wood seems to slowly regrow and leafy growths burst from the crackling wood before quickly being consumed again. But weakness begins to creep into your body and you feel the life force of your own body being drawn from. Holding your concentration as long as you can you see the snake eyes alight with a glint before the serpent uncoils from your arms and quickly slithers away into the underbrush and off into the darkness. You drop your hands to your sides, and fall from the stone upon which you sit into the grass beside you, barely catching yourself on an outstretched palm.
"Zarus' light, you're injured!" comes a startled response from behind you. She runs to your side and grabs you by your head and your side. She looks at your bleeding face. "If you have any other wounds I'll need to see them. I know some ways to tend to the injured and I can help." She looks up into your eyes, her face an ebony beauty wreathed in a corona of gold in the fiery light. Her eyes look your features over before her lips part and words pour forth in her silky voice, "I know you... I've seen you about the monastery in passing. What is your name?"

>>14882267
[[Damnit, change 'ebony' to 'alabaster'. I need to read over my posts more before I submit them but I'm trying to be as quick as I can.]]

>>14882267
"I am brother Gregory. Thank you for your attention, but... we must return to town quickly. It is not safe out here. "

"I am Brother Gregory. It is a shame we should have to introduce ourselves under such trying circumstances." You look about the woods as though worried. "I thank you for your attention, but now that you have awoken we must flee this place immediately. The hunter may still be about and we are not safe here."
"You're in no condition to be walking now yourself. You can barely stand." She looks concernedly at you, but you know she is merely examining your face. She glances across the fire to the forest beyond and then fixes her gaze on something in the canopy. She looks back to you and bites her lip, seemingly in deep thought. She is silent for a long time.
You try to stand but you find you have very little strength to do so and fall back into her arms.You are just about to interject and say that you just need some help getting up when she breaks the silence. She looks at you with a very serious face.
"I think I can help you, but you must promise never to tell anyone what you see here."

rolled 32 = 32

>>14882439
"I don't see how, but if you think you can help, please do so, if it does not trouble you much. I swear upon my life that I will hold my tongue about whatever you wish."
[I think I see where this is going.....]

rolled 87 = 87

>>14882439
Ask "Why does such a noble action require my silence?"

You say, curiously, "Why would such a noble action require my silence?"
She puts a finger to your lips to silence you. "Please, just trust in me. You've already saved my life now let me save yours."

She's secretly a bear.

>>14882635
"I trust you. Do as you must. Your secret will be safe. I swear."

rolled 92 = 92

>>14882701
forgot my roll

You nod. You have your suspicions as to what it is she implies, but you decide to continue your ploy. "I trust you. Do as you must. Your secret will be safe with me. I swear it."
"Swear it upon your faith."
You hold back a chuckle at the request. "I swear upon the light of Zarus."
She lays you down upon the ground and stands before you. She reaches her hand up towards the forest canopy and moves it about in a circle about her. She begins to speak a very quick chant under her breath. You don't understand the language but you do recognize it's origin, having heard it spoken before by your brother. She stands still and silent in the moonlight, shining upon her from the parted boughs of the trees above.
She turns and puts her hand into the flame of the fire, grabbing a handful of the burning tinder. She walks towards you and holds the fire before your face chanting again in the fierce and guttural tongue. She ceases her speech and the fire, now as crimson as blood flows about your face, searing into your nose and lungs. You feel the warmth fill you and your strength returns, perhaps even bolstered by the charm she has placed upon you.
You stand up of your own accord and look yourself over, unharmed. You touch your face and find no blood, but the hints of the scar still remain.
"I am sorry," says the girl. You turn to see her standing with her back to you a short distance away. "The spell is useful for healing but not so much for removing scars. The cruel creators of these black arts prefer to keep their scars intact."
She holds herself in the cold breeze of the night, having walked beyond the warmth of the fire. You are certainly surprised by this strange turn of events and she seems well aware of this.

Lets agree to silence, and see what she's got.

Im guessing half nymph or some elven blood in her for the beauty, and a bit of magic.
we may have made an ally and friend if we can keep our traps shut properly

rolled 64 = 64

Gently ask her where she learned such things, or better yet how she can use magic of any sort as a human.

Also give good thanks and a smile, friendly but a bit wary of the damsel come sorceress.

rolled 23 = 23

>>14882701

Agreed.

Is she going to do magic? I bet she's going to do magic.

rolled 94 = 94

>>14882849

We're fine with keeping a scar. We need a reminder to not be so stupid with our pacts in the future. (Obviously don't say this out loud)

I think the less we know about her abilities the better, we don't want anything getting out if a witch hunt starts up in the village. Just say for now, "There's nothing to apologize for, you healed me, such care is not a curse in the slightest."

"Where did you learn such an incredible gift?" you say, trying again to sound gentle and not alarmed. "Such things are impossible. How can a human use magic?"
She turns to you and you can faintly see the glistening of tears in her eyes and upon her cheeks. Her beautiful face is twisted into a mask of anguish.
"Please, don't pretend ignorance." she whispers, choking back tears. "You know very well what I am. Don't make me say it. Please, just don't make me say it..."

rolled 29 = 29

Comfort the girl, say something along the lines of that zarius will obviously forgive her for she uses her curse to do good for humankind.
also maybe hint that it would be good to get back to town, and ask her what all she remembers.

rolled 37 = 37

>>14882921

Just say what I suggested back up here.

rolled 47 = 47

>>14882948
"Yes, I know. My half-brother is the same way, though he lives with his mother, far from the Light of Zarus. Worry not. Your secret is safe, and we shall speak of it no more. What can you tell me of our attacker?"

rolled 13 = 13

>>14883155
this

rolled 5 = 5

>>14883155

Seeing you have obviously touched upon a very sensitive issue, one she has obviously struggled with her whole life, you speak again, trying to comfort her:
"You must cease these thoughts about yourself. Zarus teaches that we must all hold pride in ourself, for if we hide our light from ourself we can only live in darkness. What you have is a gift, and what I have seen you do good works with it. Do not be ashamed of who you are."
She smiles at your kind words and walks back towards the fire, cleaning her face and regaining her composure. "You are too kind, Brother Gregory. You know far better than I how the inquisition feels about those like myself. What they would do if they were to learn me and my father's secret." She glances at you with a look like poison. "And don't you ever involve him with in this. He does not even know and does not need to."
Better understanding how she feels about the matter you take the conversation in a different direction. "The inquisition may be misguided in their beliefs, but I assure you I am not. I have close ties myself to those of more... exotic bloods even within my own family."
You hope that your words will strike a chord without sounding forced. She looks up, her harsh face softening, but a a frown still sits upon her lips. "Then I am sorry that you have known pain such as this. Enough about this..."
"We shall speak of it no more."
She glances up to the now revealed moon in the sky above. "Where are we? How far did he chase me into these woods? I don't remember how long he chased me."

>>14883266

"In the darkness, I lost track of the distance myself. I suggest we rest for the night, we'll have more luck getting back to town in the light of morning."

rolled 47 = 47

>>14883298

Whoops, forgot roll.

rolled 35 = 35

>>14883266
hold our head, as if in pain/confusion.
"I... know not. My memory is dim, at best. Can you tell which direction the town is? We must return before we are missed, and I have lost my way."

rolled 17 = 17

We were a tad busy trying to save her, of course, to busy to take note of our surroundings, just saw a black figure sweep her up while we were out for a walk to clear our head of the musty tomes that usually fill it.

>>14883298
>>14883305
dude, we don't know if Teneb secured the room after we left, or left the book out in the open. We have to get back to the tower ASAP and secure everything before morning. We don't need a maid, or worse: Arnold, snooping around, and we certainly don't need anyone asking questions about where we've been.

rolled 11 = 11

>>14883342
agreed

>>14883342

Oh fuck, good point, but how the hell are we supposed to get back to town if neither of us have any idea where we are?

>>14883342
We have ~The Book~ if that is what you are referring to. But if you mean our studying materials, yeah those are probably just lying around in the room.

You shake your head, unable to provide the answer she seeks. "I lost my way in the darkness of the wood. I could not even say how far we have come." You look about the small camp. "Perhaps we should rest here for the night and return by the morning light."
"No, we must find our way home under cover of darkness," she quickly retorts. "I cannot allow myself to draw any more attention than necessary. And a jaunt through the woods by night is enough to draw questions no matter the cause."
You think to yourself that the eyes of the town, yours among them, have been upon this beautiful young woman for a great while anyways but now is not the time for such flirtatious banter.
She looks to the moon before speaking again. "The river is to the south and only a short while away." She points a finger in a direction off to your left and away from the shelter. "We can follow it back into the town from the forest's edge."

rolled 19 = 19

>>14883466

Sounds like a plan, let's go!

>>14883466
"Excellent. Now that I may move again, we can return."
Begin moving towards the riverbank.
As we walk, ask what we can "Please, is there ANYTHING you can tell me about your attacker, so that I may divert the eyes of the guards and inquisitors into seeking him out and hunting him down? What was he? I didn't get a clear look at his face."
Avoid speaking of her heritage or powers.

rolled 38 = 38

>>14883531

This all sounds good. We need to know how much she remembers of...well, of what we looked like when we attacked her.

rolled 2 = 2

gently grill her for information yes, and make towards home post haste

"Then we have little time to waste," you say, extinguishing the fire with a kick of dirt and a few stamps upon the embers. You lead the way, walking through the rocky foothills of the Nordrime Forest. Your footsteps are careful but your pace is as quick as you can manage without letting the girl fall behind. Deciding to try to gain more information as walk among the trees you ask, "Did you happen to see anything of your assailant? What did he look like?"
"I don't really know at all," she says as she climbs laboriously over a fallen tree. "I never even saw his face. I awoke to him dropping me onto the northern river bank across from the town. He stood over me as a shadow and whispered to me that I had better start running. He held up his hand and I saw the blade so I ran, fearing for my life. I sought the safety of the woods, as they have always protected me before but I could not escape him. He seemed to be everywhere at once laughing at me but I could not see him anywhere in the shadows. After running as long as I could he grabbed me from behind and told me not to scream and ran his blade lightly across my face. Of course, I screamed as loud as I could, and I seem to have startled him because he threw me away and shouted in pain. The last I remember he lashed out as me in a rage and then everything went black."
You ponder what she has told you, walking in silence. After a moment your realized she has stopped following you. She stares at you with a gentle look upon her face. "Just who are you Brother Gregory? How did you find me? And more, how did you manage to chase off such a fiend as that?"
Smiling a bit she laughs and says, "You haven't even asked me my name."

>>14883686

"Just someone who happened to be at the right place at the right time...

It seems your scream may have saved your life, from your story it sounds like the noise scared off your assailant."

(True, we know that one of Tenebrotep's weaknesses is noise.)

Also, yes, ask for her name. We need to be properly introduced, since it seems we've only admired her from afar until now.

rolled 77 = 77

>>14883718

Fuck, I keep forgetting my roll.

rolled 40 = 40

go ahead and give our name, mention that we more chased the sounds of her flight then the hunter, who attacked us before rushing away into the dark.

>>14883686
"I know you by sight, if not by name. The eyes of every young man in town have lingered upon you at one time or another, and your smile has brightened many dreary days. I know your father well, and have spoken with him on occasion, though he bares no great liking for me, or any man old enough to notice you. As for how I found you, I have always been a swift runner, and while your assailant was one of the swiftest I have ever seen, I was able to follow his path. Barely. I followed him not by where he was, but where he had been, for his passing disturbed many bushes. I think Zarus himself must have smiled upon my pursuit, for I can think of no other reason so skilled a monster could be caught by a simple scholar like myself. I came upon him looming over your prone form, and immediately called out 'she's over here! Hurry! To arms, men!' as if the guards were likewise searching. He was a blur as he charged after me. I screamed in pain before passing out. When I awoke, you were there, unconscious. I built the fire to better see by, in case he returned, and waited until you awoke. You know the rest."

rolled 98 = 98

Lets politely ask her name, then mention that it was a combination of her sudden struggle and the surprise of our arrival that probably scared the creature off, whatever strange beast it might have been

rolled 9 = 9

>>14883848
derp, rolling. Captcha ate my dice.

"I'm sorry for being so rude, everything has just happened so fast," you say a tad flustered, your words somewhat of an understatement in the greater context of things. "I'm just someone who happened to be at the right place at the right time. I was wandering through your father's gardens outside of the monastery when I saw you pursued into the woods. I gave chase and found you by your scream. It is very likely that your scream saved your life, for it startled you attacker long enough for me to arrive. It seems he fled when I arrived, perhaps thinking I was not alone."
She chuckles again, her laugh so beautiful and innocent. "You are a good man Brother Gregory," she says as she walks past you and mounts the next hill ahead of you. "You are far more brave and kind than any man of the cloth I have ever known." She turns and smiles at you. "And its Rosemary, by the way." Then she turns and rushes down the hill. You run after her and find her standing beside the forest's edge, looking to the river and the town beyond.
"It seems we were not all that far after all," you say. You look to your left at the Monastery upon the top of the hill and the town before you. You could try to regain entry to the castle through the sewer gate, but how empty the castle is at this hour you cannot be sure with the festival only recently passed. You look at the eastern tower but it's windows are dark. The town is quiet and the streets that you can see are empty, most of the townsfolk having followed the sun into their beds.

rolled 60 = 60

>>14883881

How much attention could we possibly attract if we just bring our hood up and look like another monk?

You could merely lift your hood to disguise yourself and walk among the streets as just another monk out after dark. You would likely not be the only one. You've undergone this practice before in your midnight trips to gamble with the soldiers but having the girl with you would certainly make you stand out.
Apparently she is has the same thought, for she speaks her own mind. "I think it would be best if we parted ways now. We will be much less noticeable travelling alone." She looks again at you with concern, "What will you tell them when they ask about your scar?"

rolled 42 = 42

>>14884021
Tell them it was the result of a folly that led you to becoming a Monk. Try to bore those who ask by preaching to them about virtue and what not.

rolled 9 = 9

>>14883881
are the gates locked? Regardless, we should escort Rosemary home to ensure her safety, then see to sneaking back into the monastery and making directly for the tower.

>>14884047
[[She was referring more to the other monks and those who know you in the Monastery than the city watch or passing strangers. The scar already looks as though it's had time to heal so no one will think of it as a recent wound.

>>14884060
The gates to the sewers are indeed locked but you know that several of the bars are rusted and easily removed.]]

rolled 3 = 3

>>14884021
If she wants to part, so be it. How big is the scar?

Scar should be easy enough - pretend it's an actual wound (bandage) while enough time passes for it to "heal." If anyone asks we very ashamedly acknowledge that we tripped and fell like a total clutz.

rolled 96 = 96

>>14884047

The other monks will likely ask questions though....

We can claim injury, but as to how an injury could be healed and leave a scar in one night would attract more suspicion, and I don't really know how we can deflect such questions.

rolled 52 = 52

>>14884125
Worse comes to worse, we ay have to take a knife and actually re-open it, claim we were attacked. But how big/noticeable is it?

rolled 45 = 45

>>14884125


That's true, we can cover it with a bandage to make it seem like it took more time to heal than a single night.

You think about what you will say. The scar should already appear healed so no one will think you recently injured, but this could be trickery to explain to those accustomed to seeing you in the monastery.

Her comment about travelling seperately does make sense to you, but you feel as though you should escort her home just to ensure her safety. After all, you've come this far together. And you feel a sense of attachment to her despite your brief time.

As for gaining access to the monastery, the gates to the sewer have always been locked but you know well that several of the old corroded bars can be lifter out of place with a little effort.

rolled 66 = 66

>>14884143
Ask her if she's be willing to help us re-open it so it appears to be a fresh wound.

How big is the scar? Jawline to scalp? Just the cheek? Hair lip? What?

You walk forward to the river to look at your reflection and see you face. Though your natural good looks are hardly diminished, the scar is very large and the two gashes look like they were once quite a grievous wound. They run parallel form your jaw to your scalp.
You return to the woodland's edge and formulate a plan. "It would indeed be troublesome if they were to find so large a wound inflicted and healed in a single night. I will return to my corridor under cover of darkness and bandage my face to hide the scar, removing them after a few days to give the appearance of natural healing. If any should ask I will tell them it was a result of the drunken festivities of the evening that took place this night. Even if this will still draw suspicion it will never be traced back to you. You need not worry about yourself."
She smiles at your words, "You are far too considerate Brother Gregory. You should think more of yourself before rushing so quickly to the aid of young ladies. Truly you are quite foolish." She leans over and gives you a kiss upon your cheek. "And for that I admire you."
Without another word she turns and runs quickly and quietly across the river, slowing only when she has reached the cobbled streets of the lower marketplace. For a moment you consider running after her, but she turns a corner and disappears into the back alleys of the town.

rolled 58 = 58

Also, would it be possible to re-bind Seno and Eno and transfer the scar to someone else? Who is the town drunk?

rolled 44 = 44

>>14884235
>>14884256
Well, time to sneak back into the monastery and go secure the tower room. Make for one of the sewer grates.

Turning to make your own way back, you bundle up your cloak about you and set off for your own home. You walk parallel to the river along the wood line, trying to stay out of sight. It only takes a few minutes walk to circle around to the Northern side of the Castle where the old sewer gate sits. You cross the river where it is shallowest and make your way up to the grate. Making sure you have no eyes upon you from the gardens above, you lift the three loose bars out of place and slip beneath them. The narrow sewers are damp and water flows through the channel beside your feet, a multitude of litter floating within it. Supposedly at the very top of the hill where water wells up from underground, but you've never seen it yourself, this tunnel having another gate a little ways further. You make sure you are beneath the courtyard and climb the rungs of the ladder, the moonlight filtering through the grate above onto your face. You can't see anyone through the slits and you know the grate opens up behind a hedge near the chapel, but you can still hear a few distant voices despite the late hour.

>>14884259
Waiting for the voices to move a little further away you think to yourself. Having transferred the scar to yourself by the power of Seno and Eno you could certainly pass it along to another by it. But who you choose would have to be a very careful consideration and you would have to be subtle about it. Perhaps someone prone to drink that no one would be surprised should he gain a scar? The town drunk you would not know, though you might guess the soldiers are high on the list. The Monastery drunk is very likely Brother Arnold, as he is known for his love of drink and at one time even had his own key to the Buttery where the wine was stored. Though now you understand he had other purposes for that and may not even be a true drunk for all you know.

rolled 61 = 61

>>14884615
A lizard was unsuitable for transfer of the scar. could we inflict it upon a higher animal? Like a boar, or deer? If so, then see if we can gain entrance to the larder/buttery. For who would notice a scar upon stripped meat? But first, we must secure our... 'lair' for lack of a better word. To the tower.

rolled 30 = 30

>>14884615
Could we pass off the scar to an animal?
If not I say we find an unsuspecting drunk and pass the scar.

>>14884693
I'm pretty sure it'd have to be a living animal, but that's just me.

>>14884749
Maybe a mule?

Gaining a scar is easy enough to explain.

Losing it isn't so much. How do we explain that to Rosemary, should we meet her again?

rolled 29 = 29

>>14884863
This. We''ll just wear a bandage for a while.

rolled 83 = 83

>>14884863
We agreed to keep a secret for her so we could ask her to trust us again and not inquire about the manner.

>>14884863
whisper 'a gift from my brother' and leave it at that. She'll know better than to pry into THAT line of thought.

It's not just gaining a scar, it's gaining a HEALED scar. We need to either make it look fresh, or get rid of it completely.

Just bandage it.

At worst cut yourself.

Are you so concerned about remaining a baby face?

rolled 92 = 92

>>14884899
Let's just sneak into a stable and pass off the scar to a horse.

>>14884937
no, but we REALLY don't want an inquisitor to get wind of a monk who spontaneously manifests healed scars.

You consider the limitations of the power of Seno and Eno. They seem to very much require a balance in all things, and any trade requires something of equal value to exchange. The scar could not be transferred to the lizard, but the chest wound could. What could the true distinction be? You wish the rules of these spirits were more clear cut. But then you realize they probably are, just written out in a language you cannot read.
When the voices finally fade you quickly fling open the grate and hop out onto your feet, closing it as quietly as possible. Walking across the courtyard past what seem to be the last few drunken revelers awake you head straight for the tower to ensure everything there is still secure. You find many passed out and drunk in various amounts of clothing against the walls in the chill air of the halls. Not needing to hold much fear of any midnight wanderers, you vault the spiral stairwell and quickly unlock the room. You lock the door as you wait for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. The room looks as you left it, windows ajar and table neatly organized with the steel disk upon the book stack and your extinguished lantern sitting upon it. You check the closet, still unlocked as you left it, and find all of the letters you stashed there still present. You turn about and think of what to do next.

rolled 18 = 18

Try to find more info on Seno and Eno.

You consider trying to find some mention of the origin of Seno and Eno or try to determine more about them. They were not as talkative as Tenbrotep and though they were much more cooperative, they were also much more enigmatic. You could try to research them in the book, but you cannot translate its passages. You could attempt another binding, but tonight has already been an adventure all its own. You could search your assembled texts or go to the library to seek new research material, but the night is growing long and you are not sure how much longer your eyes can remain wide.

rolled 5 = 5

Get some sleep back in our room I suppose. Fetch a bandage or something so we can cover our face when we need to.

rolled 41 = 41

>>14885173
Suck it up and continue to research in the library.

>>14885173
summon them again. exchange your knowledge in all other languages other than the ones you ABSOLUTELY MUST KNOW (the one you speak, and the ones your prayers/texts are written in) for the ability to understand the language of the book, in all it's potential meanings and incarnations. which likely means you can't ever learn those languages again, but a small matter, who needs them when you have one that explains the true power of the vestiges you can control?

rolled 66 = 66

>>14885278
damn, forgot my dice.

rolled 56 = 56

>>14885278
I'd worry about people being suspicious that suddenly we can't translate the books we're always working with. The abbot guy wants us to keep our normal routine and that includes translating texts in different languages.

rolled 68 = 68

>>14885300
the abbot? ha, a mere worm before our potential.

this is not the time to return to the life of a monk, this is the time to seize this power for our own sake.

You look down to your ripped clothing and decide that a little more damage won't make any difference now, so you rip several thin strips of cloth from them. You quickly tie a bandage over the scar and wrap the extra cloth around your head and neck. Looking in your small hand mirror, you see that now the scar is completely covered, though the colored cloth makes it much more obvious that something is out of the ordinary. You could tie a better and cleaner bandage with proper equipment, using strips designed for this purpose, but it looks like a fairly good job and you are proud of your remembered medical skills.
Deciding that you must find out more about Seno and Eno, you shake off your fatigue and, return the book to the cabinet and lock it in. You leave the room without your lantern and head for the library to gather a few research materials and bring them here. You quietly approach the library and find it vacant, closing the door behind you.
You light a single candle and tear up and down the shelves with an experienced eye, seeking collections of myths and legendry. With a small collection in hand you extinguish the candle and return to the room undisturbed.
Feeling a new wave of fatigue you doubt you will have the energy to pour over the gathered texts tonight, but you may be able to speak again with the sisters themselves before you turn in. You remove the book from the cabinet again and open the page of the summoning, considering the risks.

rolled 3 = 3

>>14885321
Begin the summoning

rolled 92 = 92

>>14885321
after the summoning, make sure to be VERY CLEAR on the terms of this deal, and to ensure that it will actually work..if we cannot get anything but total understanding, regardless of circumstance (none of that "only when pacted with us" bullshit, we want that info in our minds, easily accessible) and ensuring we wont have to give up, you know, our eyes, or something as well.

rolled 64 = 64

>>14885417
Don't forget no total releases.

rolled 65 = 65

>>14885488
would they even want a total release? after all, unlike tenebrotep, they aren't in the void, they are omnipresent (I think) thus they really wouldn't give a flying about having a body

Deciding there is much to be gained and little to be lost you invoke the summoning of the spirit again.
"Dichotomous serpent, Seno and Eno, I seek your wizened guise. Crawl again upon the earth alighting mortal eyes. Come hither and stand before me."
It is not long before the enormous snake crawls out from beneath the elegant bed and curls with a hiss into a circle once again. The two heads curl about and the gorgeous serpent sister's emerge halfway out of their maws again.
"You have called upon us again, pact maker. What is it that you seek from us this time."
"I would like to strike a bargain," you say calmly to the beguiling forms before you. "I wish to acquire complete knowledge of the language of the void. In exchange I offer up all of my knowledge of other dead languages, with the exception of Samoyan," you add catching yourself at the last second, "to you."
The sisters laugh a hideous cackling laugh like scales sliding over your skin. "A very generous offer, pact maker, but we are in no position to offer such a thing to you. We can only deal in things of value to the living or the dead. The denizens of the void are neither, and so we cannot claim to be its masters."
The two maidens coil about each other and continue to speak as one and yet somehow also individually, "Furthermore, our powers are mostly exclusive to the vital force of beings. Information is of little use to us in the terms of the grand design. So," they speak, drawing the word out into a long hiss, "What else can we do for you?"

rolled 43 = 43

>>14885628
jack shit, see ya later girls.

rolled 5 = 5

>>14885628
Ask them about themselves try to find out as much as we can about them.

>>14885723
This. Every little thing we learn about vestiges helps.

rolled 66 = 66

>>14885723
agreed

"I'm afraid I have no further use for you at the moment then," you say, disappointed.
"Ah, but we have been called and so a pact must be made. It is the way of these things. By our mere answering of your call we have already begun the negotiations, though what we are negotiating has not yet been determined. So tell us, what do you desire?"
Considering your desire to learn more about each of your vestiges, you ask the obvious question. "Perhaps we can still exchange information after all. Can you tell me how it is that you came to be?"
"We could certainly do such a thing. But all things require a price. In exchange for our words, you will give us your word. For our services, you will swear an oath. Under the light of tomorrow's noonday sun, you will seek out a fruit tree. Before the day is through you will plant a seed from the tree in the fertile earth exactly as far as you can throw a stone from it's base. Where that seed is planted you will stand until a small animal comes to stand before you. If you perform the ritual properly, it offer itself to your open hand. You will take the animal in hand and you will thank it for playing it's part. Then you will kill the animal and you will bury it with the seed. This you shall do as a service to turn the spokes of the great wheel. Will you accept our simple request?"

rolled 42 = 42

>>14885860
What if no animal comes, or I cannot find a fruit tree? After all, winter is coming.

rolled 87 = 87

>>14885860
Sounds fun, sure.

"I give you my oath."
"Then it is settled," they say in unison. The sisters cease their constant writhing and descend to eye level before you. "Once in times of old, we were worshiped as a god. Though the great cycle of creation and destruction exists beyond the workings of the gods, for they are only a small part of it, we were called forth and created from the void to fill this vacuum. Upon our altars blood was spilled that we would consecrate the new life of a great harvest. We sat in judgement, always fair but also giving no more reward or less punishment than deserved.
But, as is the way of all things, we too ran our course around the great wheel. When our people grew to great numbers they hunted all the life from the lands of their birth. Disrupting the cycle of the desecrated lands, I delivered unto them exactly what they deserved, and did not return the life to the land. And so, the people were broken and scattered to the winds across countless distant lands. Our altars became dry and the land remained dead. Like so many gods before, we were also forgotten. We returned to the void from which we came, but we still watch the balance of life and death through the eyes of the descendants of those who once gave us tribute."

"Our terms are fulfilled and we shall receive payment in full. Remember, we shall be watching." Two two sylvan sisters return to the mouth of the snake and one head turns and begins to consume the other. The snake slowly contracts as it's coils vanish into itself. You step over the snake as the circle rapidly diminishes and with the sound of a small crack you are again alone in the room.
You look over the room, and look longingly at the bed. It would be ever so nice to lay in it for some rest. Though you have no duties tomorrow to the Monastery, your afternoon has suddenly become full. You wonder what you should do to round of the chaos that this night has been.

[[Last couple of posts. Going to call it a night.]]

rolled 79 = 79

Take the books, stash everything back in our rooms secret compartment and hit the hay.

rolled 9 = 9

take a knife and cut the scar into a shallow wound just for aesthetic puroses(blood/scab)

rolled 69 = 69

>>14886117
this

rolled 29 = 29

Instead of butchering ourselves transfer the Scar to a drunk or sleeping monk.

Thinking of one last thing to accomplish before the night is up, you search for a sharp implement. You find in the coffer at the foot of the bed a small set of plates and dining utensils and you draw the sharp knife out. Using the small hand mirror you carefully reopen the wound along the center of each of the scars so as to make the wound appear fresh. It is painful, but you have an incredible will and set yourself firmly to the task. When you are satisfied that the would looks fresh, you return your makeshift bandages. The last thing you would want is to accidentally bleed out in the night.
You gather up your things and hastily pile the whole lot into the cabinet and lock it. Hopefully even if the maids return they do not seem to care about any items left behind and they certainly don't have a copy of the cabinet key. With only your lantern in hand you return quickly to your room and, with barely another thought, fall into your bed and fall immediately into a dark, dreamless sleep.

[[And here is where we shall conclude the evening's quest. If you have any questions feel free to ask or if you have any comments feel free to say so. The next episode may occur tomorrow but more likely Friday at 12:00 server time.]]

Also, any suggestions posted as to what to do in the morning tomorrow or in general will still be considered for the start of the next chapter.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14881826/
Archived. Vote it up if you're so inclined. Might encourage more players.

rolled 59 = 59

When someone asks about the scar, say that we were sneaking out to [blah blah blah, out for midnight walk] when someone drunkenly stumbled into, became enraged, and slashed at us. We managed to get away, but not before having a broken bottle jammed into our face. Done. Ideal cover story.

Do we have a way of proactively sending letters to our half brother, or do we have to wait until he sends one to us? If we can contact him, ask him how far back elven historical and linguistic records go, see if he might have access to a translation of some of the more common symbols we've recorded.

When we get the time, we need to go check the holy texts, write down a list of every 'agent' or manifestation Zarus has ever used. If we get caught Binding something, we need a list of 'angels' or their equivalents that we can pass this off as a religious experience.

Make it a point to say hello to the old gardener if/when we see him tomorrow. Don't say a word about last night, just judge his reactions, see if his daughter told him anything.

Also, when we have time tomorrow, use some charcoal to take rubbings from the Book, duplicating the Seals. If we ever lose the book, we may need a backup method of acquiring a Binding in order to retrieve it. Make an extra rubbing of the Seno/Eno seal on an old scrap of cleaning-cloth. If we want to string Arnold around, we could say we found this symbol stuffed into an old history text with no clue what it is or where it comes from. Watch his reaction, see if he tries to figure out which vestige it comes from and bind it.

Make certain we perform the ritual exactly on-time and as demanded.

Those are my suggestions for the beginning of the next chapter.

Hello O'Grady.
Your suggestions have been noted.

I'll be sure to include them if applicable in tomorrow's quest when it begins.