>>22282876
"I'm glad you like it, Tori, it's not everyday you get to carve someone's hand."

>>22282876
"Probably some of my best work to be honest."

>>22282876
"It's not going to make your hand weaker, is it? If you knock it hard on something will it shatter?"

"I'm glad you like it, Tori. It's not every day you get to carve someone's hand." You say. "Probably some of my best work, to be honest."
"I didn't know you carved." Ariana said, examining her sister's hand, running her fingers along the cracks between the scales.
"It's not going to make your hand weaker, is it? If you knock it hard on something will it shatter?"
"No, it won't." Tori said. "It's more durable than the rest of me. And we couldn't carve the talons because those are pretty much indestructible. I'll be fine, and even if it does shatter, I'll just have to use my Gift to bring it back. Then I'll have you carve it again."
Eventually, Talbot gets to his feet, brushes himself off, and declares that lunch is over, and that it's time to get moving again. The sandborn start putting things back into the wagons, as Ariana shakes Tannis awake, and as everyone pays Kale for being able to stand on his hands for nearly a full hour.

>Who travel with?

>>22283068
Cass.
We haven't talked to her at all lately.

>>22283068
Kale and Ariana.

>>22283068
Cass, Kale and anyone else that wants to join us.

You climb into the back of one of the covered wagons, to find that cass was already sitting there, her tail long, powerfully muscled, with six short spikes on the tip. Her forehead was strangely slanted, and soft green and black scales sat there, her pupils shaped almost like diamonds, slowly pulsing.
"The dry is really bothering my troll blood." She said by way of explanation, and rubbed at her eyes. "I feel like I'll start coughing up dust soon."
Behind you, Ariana and Kale climbed in, and the wagon set off.
"Well, Talbot would give you some extra water if you wanted it." Ariana said.
"Not... not to drink, but to soak in." Cass said. "That would help, though."

>>22283153
Offer her our waterskin or canteen or whatever.

>>22283153
"I guess you prefer higher humidity then?"

"So Kale, how many backflips did you manage to do?"

>>22283153
"Hopefully we won't be in the desert too long."

"I guess you prefer higher humidity then?" You ask.
"I always lived in that swamp, so I didn't know the desert would do this." She said, frowning.
"Hopefully we won't be in the desert too long."
"Hopefully." She responded.
You hand her your waterskin, and she immediately upended it over her face, soaking her in water. The scales on her brow slowly faded back into skin. You turn to Kale.
"So, Kale, how many backflips did you manage to do?"
"More than anyone thought." He responded, with a grin. "Enough that they all lost their bets. That's how I earned all my money in the past few centuries. Just go to a bar and show off."
Ariana, you notice, was rather quiet, thoughtful, as she looked out the back of the wagon at the desert behind.

>>22283288
"Enjoying the new sights, Ariana?"

>>22283288
"Are your Glamours back yet, Kale?"

"Are your glamours back yet, Kale?"
"Indeed!" He said, and wiggled his fingers- a single bioluminescent butterfly appeared in his hands, before vanishing. "This desert is easy to use glamours in. It's... what's the word? Something to do with mirages."
"Enjoying the new sights, Ariana?" You ask.
She nodded, and then turned back.
"Not just the sights, but... the people. I like talking to all these new people. Nobody cares that I'm a witch here, and they aren't scared of me like people back home." She said. "And... I'm thinking of getting a tattoo."
"I think you're a little young for that, aren't you?" Cass asked.
"That's what Astora would say, which is why I haven't told her." Ariana said. "This is my coming of age, after all. I'm going to carry... a lot of marks. One that you can see won't be too different."

>>22283418
"Yeah, I was thinking the same too."

>>22283418
"Any idea what you'd have tattoo'd?"

>>22283418
"Maybe if Eldin's successful, then one day it'll be the same back north."

"Maybe if Eldin's successful, then one day it'll be the same back north. Any idea what you'd have tattoo'd?" You ask.
"An ankh." She said. "On my back. Because it means life and peace and kindness here. And that's what's important to me."
"Yeah, I was thinking the same too." You say.
Cass chuckled.
"I'd get one, except the ink would need cold iron or it'd go away like Tannis's did." She said. She looked much more comfortable now, with her eyes and tail normal. She sighed. "Maybe I should just get a cooking pan of water and get Astora to hold it and keep it boiling for me, so it gets more humid."
"An ankh like me, or something different?" Ariana asked you.

>>22283519
"Probably something different, but I'm not sure what."

>>22283519
"Probably not an Ankh. Maybe sometime to symbolize the passing of my mother and the start of this journey.

>>22283519
"Not sure. Cass, Kale, any suggestions?"

"Probably not an ankh. Not sure. Cass, Kale, any suggestions?"
"I don't have one." Cass said.
"... I think if you got one, it needs to be an intensely personal choice." Kale said. "It's not something I- or anyone- could decide for you."
"Maybe something to symbolize the passing of my mother, and the start of this journey."
"... A wolf." Ariana said, suddenly. "If you had a familiar... that's what it would be, Abel. I'm sure of it."

>>22283648
"That's...that's not a bad idea. I'll definitely consider it."

>>22283648
"I was only asking for a suggestion, Kale, you're as much a part of the tattoo, considering you decided to travel with me."

"That's.... that's not a bad idea." You say. "I'll definitely consider it."
"I was only asking for a suggestion, Kale. You're as much a part of the tattoo, considering you decided to travel with me."
"No, I'm not." He said, with a slight smile and the shaking of his head. "Transforming of the self is something one undertakes very warily. A tattoo is just a mark of ink, yes, but it's something more, isn't it? That's how I saw it."
He shrugged then, and then grinned broadly. "I've met wolves, and you remind me of one. They all act like princes, leaders, hunters. Noble in statue and proud- but kind to their pack. You remind me of my lover sometimes."
Cass sat up, took another drink of your waterskin, and handed it back.
"I don't know." She said, and shrugged, her tail wrapping around her leg. "Go with whatever you want to. Or nothing, I suppose. But come to think of it, how *do* atlaskans get tattoos? Do they do them themselves, or are there tattoo artists in the cities, or...? I don't know, we could just ask Talbot next time we stop."

>>22283648
"You sure it'd be a wolf?"

>>22283775
>noble in statue
>Stature, I mean. whoops.

>>22283775
"Yeah, good idea. It might be some big think that they only let citizens do as well."

>>22283775
"I thought they just dipped needles in ink and pricked you with it?"

>>22283775
"Hey, Ariana! Any new Gifts yet?"

"Yeah, good idea." You say. "It might be some big thing they only let citizens do, as well."
"I don't think so." Ariana said. "In the councilor's hall, I saw some people from the Free Cities with tattoos."
You nod, and then think for some time.
"You sure it'd be a wolf?"
"Positive." She said. "While we were on the ship, I started asking myself what your familiar would be. I decided it would be a wolf."
"And what do you think your own is?" Cass asked.
"... Sme kind of bird." She said. "Not a crow like Eldin's, but something smaller. Like a songbird."
"Any new gifts yet?"
"If I had a new gift, I'd tell all of you." She said. "I don't think I do. I could have one that I can't feel, but I don't think I do."

>>22283874
"That's a shame, good luck though!"

>>22283874
We should probably make a small bit of gunpowder, just incase we run into any trouble.

>>22283909
yeah.
Not like there's much else to do around here.

"That's a shame." You say. "Good luck, though."
"Thank you." She said, and closed her eyes, leaning back. "Might take a nap, though. Is it bad that I wish we could walk instead?"
"We'd die of heatstroke." Cass said.
"... I think I've learned to like walking." Ariana said, with a slight smile.

Soon enough, time passed, and the darkness of twilight started to come up on the horizon. Kale was entertaining himself with a small, glittering sphere in his palm, twirling and coiling, while Ariana napped, and while Cass curled up, silently. You quickly make a very small pouch of gunpowder, careful when it came to sudden bumps, and slid it away.
"... Hey, Abel?" Cass asked, and you met eyes. "... Have you been avoiding me? It... feels like that."

>>22283991
"Avoiding you? No, of course not. We've been pretty busy the past few days."

>>22283991
"Of course not. There just hasn't really been any opportunities to talk much."

>>22283991
"It just seems like we've both been pretty busy. I got caught up with work on the ship, then we met up with Talbot and then my other sister in Vanni'kal."

"Avoiding you? No, of course not." You say. "We've been pretty busy the past few days."
"We have." She said. "The maenads, the kraken, and all of that. But... now that we have time to talk, I don't..."
She laughed, softly. "Now I don't have anything to say. I've felt like that a lot, lately." She shook her head. "I've been... trying to move on, like you said. It hasn't been going well."

>>22284088
"Still thinking about the people you used to camp with in the forest?"

>>22284088

"my offer still stand, i'm here for you."

>>22284114
That should be 'live with in the swamp?'
"I'm here for you Cass."

>>22284088
"Missing all the people you used to live with in the Swamp?"

"Still thinking about the people you used to live with in the swamp?"
She nodded, and closed her eyes, hugging her knees. "Thor would tell me I'm being weak, then snigger and give me a hug. He'd ask me to stop mourning him. Jaeden would shrug, and try to make me soup. He'd end up burning the water somehow. And Riba... " She opened her eyes. "... Riba's still alive. I'd... I'd forgotten. I'd forgotten to send her a message, or visit her and tell her I was okay, or.. or.."
"I'm here for you, Cass."
"I know." She said quietly, then started to lean on you.

>>22284195
"Ariana and I met Riba, actually. We'll have to go back there at some point and let her know you're alright."

>>22284195
"Hey, I'm sure we'll be heading north again at some point, it'll be no trouble to stop and tell them."

>>22284195

it is possible that more people made it out and into safety, those heavily armored order guys would have a hard time running through the swamp.

Cass did say the main plan was to run like fuck in case they got discovered.

put an arm around her and be really comfortable.

"Ariana and I met Riba, actually." You say. "We'll have to go back there at some point and let her know you're alright."
"Did you?" She asked. "Well, you did come by with the supplies... that we didn't end up needing." She said, bitterly. "Should have realized."
"It is possible that more people made it out." You say, and put an arm around her. "The heavily armored knights would have a hard time running through the swamp."
"You're right, but I shouldn't get my hopes up." She said. "It might be possible that all three of us made it... but the others didn't." She said, and leaned closer to you. "I... I want to ask Astora if she can find them with her gift of sight, but... what if she can't? And I don't know if she can recognize people from description alone."
"I could help with that." Kale said. "Enough to show her faces, if you wish." He said. "It wouldn't even count as a boon."

>>22284353
"Do you want to, Cass?"

>>22284353
"I think it'd be better to know whether they're alive or dead than not. If you know for sure, then you can put it behind you."

>>22282876
Does anybody else notice the OP image is an animated gif?

>>22284399
Pretty much this.

>>22284415
It doesn't look very animated to me.

>>22284433
keep watching.

>>22284353

Kale is a great guy, i like him more every thread.

"you may have lost a lot back there but right now you have us and we'll help you find out what has become of your friends, when you feel the time is right we can ask Astora."

this wouldn't count as Astora helping Ari so even if the crones could stop her they wouldn't.

>>22284446
Nice catch

>>22284415
If you're a lazy bastard like me: http://gif-explode.com/?explode=http:images/1356807044792.gif

"Do you want to, Cass?"
"Well..." She said. "I don't... I ..."
"I think it would be better to know whether they're alive or dead, than not." You say. "If you know for sure, then you can put it behind you."
"But if they're d-dead, then... then I don't want to make sure. I just..."
She shook her head, and went silent.
Blearily, Ariana sat up, scratching her head, and then sidled up next to Cass, before patting the older girl's head.
"Don't worry." Ariana said, clearly. There was something... strange in her eyes, something determined. "Cassandra... you have us. We're here for you, even if they aren't. And if they are... then you have us *and* them."
"... Thank you, Ari." Cass said, and sniffled. "Yeah, I'll ask her."

>>22284415
>>22284433
>>22284446
>>22284488

wow, that is, mildly disturbing if you think about it.

it fits the quest.

>>22284524
Hug lizard-girl.

>>22284567
this

>>22284524

give an assuring squeeze and get ready for some rest.

something about deserts doesn't sit right with me, maybe we should check the surroundings from the cart.

You give Cass a big hug, and Ariana joins in. Finally, Kale drops the glittering sphere in his palms, and it vanishes, and he joins into the hug.
"Can't breathe..." Cass said, finally, and laughed.

Some time later, the sun was down, and the desert was flat, and calm. The sandborn had taken some wood and charcoal and tossed them into a large bonfire, and set out much more ale than you thought they'd had. Together, everyone had some dinner, which was just more bread and water. There were only two true light sources, other than the stars- the fire itself, with the sandborn, Tannis, and Talbot whooping and dancing around it, and Astora, who was laughing at one of the men's antics, her cheeks flushed with inebration. Cass and Kale were in the wagon, as Cass described her friends, and Ariana was...

You look around, looking for her, and find her standing some way away from the fire, just staring out into the desert. After a moment, she carefully lifted a leg, and slowly swept her bare foot across the sand. Something about the way she was moving was strange- where she normally moved deliberately, sometimes too deliberately, here she moved with a strange sort of grace, calmly.

>>22284667
Let's watch her for a while.
No need to interrupt though.

>>22284667
Agreeing with >>22284691
Watch for a bit. For all we know it's related to her familiar and interrupting her might get it hurt

>>22284667

keep an eye on her and be ready if anything seems off in a dangerous way.

>>22284667
throw cass a wink and continue to watch ariana
maybe we should start picking up carving again, make a wolf charm for cass to show we're always with her. (yeah im corny!)

>>22284758

>CARVE THE HEAVENS!
>we might actually do that at some point...

bitching wolf amulets for everyone!

Quietly, you get a bit closer, and watch, her back to you at all times. Faintly, you hear humming, and she raised her arms above her head, sweeping her other foot across the sand. It was a strange sort of dance, you realized.

And then, a moment later, when the sand started glowing, drifting into the air, particles of glittering golden dust swiling around her, you realized that it wasn't normal. Your heart, for no known reason, started pounding, adrenaline flowing through your veins. You looked around to see if anyone noticed, but nobody did- not even Kale, despite how visible the gleaming light was.

High in the sky, among the twinkling stars, a long violet meteor arced, screeching loudly, and you realized that the hum wasn't from Ariana anymore- it was from the grains of sand around her.
She turned back, and eyes of glowing, molten gold stared at you, boring into you.

>>22284834
Adriana, I'm scared.

>>22284834
Wave at her

>>22284834

"should i be worried? your eyes are glowing."

>>22284834
"New gift?"

>>22284834
i need an adult.

Should we go get Astora?

>>22284834
>reminds me of the dance from a kingdom of landover that willows mother does.
brace ourselfs

You wave. She waved back.
"Should I be worried? Your eyes are glowing."
"Are they?" She panicked, and covered her face. The sand fell to the ground, no longer possessed by whatever strange power Ariana wielded, and when she pulled her hands away, her eyes were no longer glowing- though they were still a bright yellow, visible even from here.
"... New gift?" You ask, and she nodded.
"I don't... understand it." She said. "Not... not really."

>>22284947
Run, hug, put on shoulders.

Do it again!

>>22284947
"Maybe it's the Gift of Earth Astora was talking about. Although it didn't really look that... earthy to me."

>>22284947
>you started a strange dance and the sand started to rise around you, then a meteor shot across the sky. it was wonderful really. have you heard of anything like this before?

>>22284990
didnt mean the green text

>>22284947
"I dunno, let's go ask Tori."

"Maybe it's the gift of Earth Astora was talking about." You say. "Although it really didn't look that... earthy to me."
"No, it wasn't the Gift of Earth." She closed her eyes, then opened them again, golden irises staring out at you. "I've seen that before, and that's way different then... what just happened. The Gift of Earth doesn't have such a ... pretty song in it."
"I dunno, let's go ask Tori."
"No, let's not." She said suddenly, looking to the fire, where Astora was laughing. "I want to... figure it out by myself. Whatever the Gift is, it deserves that sort of thing."
Then she looked around, to the sky, and then across the desert.
"Still no familiar." She said, absentmindedly.

>>22285084
"Do you want to keep doing it? I'll keep watch over you if you'd like."

I have nothing to add, just glad to see Exabyte still doing quests. One of the few who do it up right.

Free bump.

>>22285084

so, a gift that makes a meteor shoot across the sky, makes sand float and colors your eye like molten gold.

that is... pretty awesome.

>>22285084
Take a seat to watch.

Do it again, again!

Try to make a sand castle

"Do you want to keep doing it? I'll keep watch over you if you'd like."
"... I don't think it's something you just do." She said, and scratched her head.
"So, a gift that makes a meteor shoot across the sky, makes sand float, and colors your eyes like molten gold. That is... pretty awesome."
She shook her head. "Those were side effects. Didn't you hear the song? Or... feel it?"
She scrunched up her face and started scratching her hair, frazzling it every which way.
"Grr. I wish I could explain this better. It's ... right there, but there aren't words for it. It's a... a..."
She shook her head again, and pointed at the fire, with the sandborn drinking and dancing around it, celebrating.
"Like that!" She said, frustrated.

>>22285084
Sing louder. I want to hear, if its so pretty.

>>22285187
It's a spontaneous event? A moment which only occurs when a precise set of conditions are met?

>>22285187
its a...what, im sorry...
could it be when people are having fun and enjoying themselves the feelings of happiness take you over or something. it seems a bit elvish to me

>>22285187

the sound of joyful celebration and the dancing flame.


do you remember when it started?

"It's a spontaneous event? A moment which only occurs when a precise set of conditions are met?"
"No, I mean, it's... not a toy to play with, like my Gift of Shadows." She said.
"Do you remember when it started?"
"I was just out here thinking, and then I heard it." She said.
"The sound of joyful celebration?" You ask.
"Yes! That's what it is. It's a celebration." She said. "It's like... the world celebrating itself. Or... life celebrating life."
She sighed, and frowned. "I'd go to bed, but I'm too... excited to sleep now."

>>22285187
It made me feel very... Alive?

>>22285280
Well then, let us have a celebration!

In honour of Tori, but not of her hand, of her true smile, so rarely seen.

>>22285280
well it seemed to get my heart racing, like your dancing pulled me in from something inside.
lets sit with the others.
ask cass how kale is taking to the explanations of her friends

"It made me feel very... alive." You say. "It got my heart racing."
She nodded. "It did that to me, too." She said.
"Let's sit with the others." You say.
"Okay."

The two of you make your way back toward the campfire, and take a seat. Kale and Cass were still talking, and they seemed to be talking about something private, so you let them be. Suddenly, Tannis's head lolled into your lap, and she giggled up at you, her teeth pointed.
"It's Abel!" She said, her ear poking up and out of her hair, her tail swishing. She raised a hand and pushed her claws into your cheek- not hard enough to pierce the skin, but enough that you could feel how sharp they were. "Hi, Abel. I owe you for that fish still."

>>22285482
"I thought we agreed that was for you saving me from Anakata?"

>>22285482
What is a fish between friends?

>>22285482

Are you currently experiencing some kind of unexplained joy or are you just this happy to be traveling?(is she high on some kind of desert catnip)

>>22285482
"Drunk a little bit too much?"

>>22285482

could be after effects from the dance?
or just the ale.

"I thought we agreed that was for you saving me from Anakata."
"No, the other fish. The one you caught? After you killed the kraken and saved me from drowning. Which I also still owe you for."
She closed her eyes and grinned, her cheeks bright red, and she started purring.
"Are you currently experiencing some kind of unexplained joy, or are you just this happy to be traveling?"
"I'm drunk!" She said. "But I am happy. Not to be traveling, but because I'm surrounded in friends for the first time. I've always been traveling. But I mean, you and Kale and Cass and Ari and 'Stora and dad. I'm not lonely anymore!"

>>22285620

"that is as good as a reward as any for me, if my friends are happy then i am happy." *insert award winning smile here.*

>>22285620
"Consider the second fish extra payment. I'm just glad you're happy."

>>22285620
im glad to hear that tannis!
i would think your happiness is enough to thank me. btw you guys wouldnt happen to have any more of that alcohol would you?

>>22285620
Seeing you smile IS my reward, and ill catch you another anytime I get a chance .

Now apply fingernails to her fluffy ears. Skritches!

"Seeing you smile *is* my reward." You say. "And I'll catch you another anytime I get a chance."
"Well, that's no fair." She said. "I feel like doing things for you but now I don't have any excuse. I'll just have to pounce you one of these days."
You reach down and start skritching her ear, which flicks at you, and with superhuman flexibility, she curls up in your lap, still mostly-human, eyes closed.
Talbot rose his eyebrows, then shrugged and moved on.
You hear Ariana giggle and whisper something to Astora, who glares at her sister and snaps something about *not* being jealous, thank you very much.
"... I dislike Eldin more the more time I spend away from him." Tannis said, quietly, her lips at your ear. "I don't like the idea of magic making me like someone."

>>22285796
"Yeah, that sounds a bit unfair. Is there any way to protect against it?"

>>22285796
"It's not really something he can control, but I know what you mean."

>>22285796
Do you dislike him for who he is, or the fact that he has that gift?

"Yeah, that sounds a bit unfair." You say. "Is there any way to protect against it?"
"... Not go near him." She said. "Or maybe stay human for long enough, or maybe get to like someone else more... But... his plan is helping everyone, so I'm still going to help him." She said. "For now."
"Do you dislike him for who he is, or the fact that he has that gift? It's not really something he can control."
"I dislike him because of the gift." She said. "If he was normal, I might be his friend... but he isn't."
She closed her eyes again, purring more as you scratched her ear, and then suddenly she clenched her fingers, claws slashing marks into your cheek.
"Sorry." Tannis said, climbing out of your lap, as her tail, ears, and claws disappeared. for a moment, she looked... miserable. "I didn't mean to do that."

>>22285996
Ouch.

"Something the matter?"

>>22285996

Its fine, I needed to shave anyway. I just have to be more careful when I scratch your ears.


(I like Tannis more than the other girls, Is this bad)

>>22286105
yes you have a furry fetish

>>22285996

examine the scratches and remark that at least she isn't a bear.

>>22286105

nothing wrong with that.

>>22286105
Perfect. Play it off. "Heh, I needed a shave anyway."

(stora is the best and you know it.)

"Heh, I needed a shave anyway." you say, brushing your hand across your cheek, and you wipe the blood off onto your tunic. The scratches weren't bad, just slightly painful- it wouldn't scar, you knew.
"I'm sorry." She said again.
"Something the matter?"
You had a feeling that if she had her ears, they would be drooping, and she nodded.
Without explaining any more, she got to her feet and made her way away from the fire, into the night.

Oh god the misunderstandings when we tell Tori or Cass that the scratches are from Tannis.

>>22286230
Go after.

>>22286230

its not wise to go off in to the desert at night, need to make sure trouble doesn't find her.

tell someone she ran off and that we plan to go after her.

I think there might be some Tannis drama later. We are basically treating her like a loyal talking pet. All the physical affection we are showing her is just evidence piling up for that fight.

>>22286316
yeah i feel ya, i think we outta make things official with cass and have some crazy reptilian sex before shit starts going down
>>22286230
exabyte you mentioned the other night on a novel, have you written any of them actually? i would love to read them

You follow get to your feet, tell someone where you were going, and dart off. Eventually, you find Tannis sitting on a small dune, hunched over, her tail puffed out and ears twitching, her claws unsheathed. She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and brought her claws alongside the top of her arm, where her wounds healed. She didn't seem to notice you, and you hear her sniffle, bringing her claws across her arm again.
"I gotta hunt." she said to herself, grumbling, her ears flat across her head. She twisted her neck this way and that, and then saw you- and her ears drooped again.
"'S new moon." She mumbled, and you hear her grind her teeth. "I'm sorry."

>>22286394
"That's when your maenad side is at it's strongest right?"

>>22286394

>new moon

i think we are in trouble, maybe.

ask her if she wants us to stay here or leave.

"That's when your maenad side is at it's strongest, right?"
She nodded.
"I have to hunt." She said. "But there's nothing to hunt, and I'm... twitchy, and... and... I just want to claw everything."
"Do you want me to stay here or leave?"
"... dunno." She mumbled. "If you stay, I could hurt you, but... I really don't want you to leave."

>>22286514
"What if I get you a bit of wood to claw on?"

>>22286514
hmm id say a little sparring might help right? but im not sure id be able to defend against your claws

>>22286514

does it have to be a living prey or could we substitute something inanimate?

"What if I got you a bit of wood to claw on?" You ask.
"That... that would help." She said, nodding. Her hair was poofier than it normally was, and her tail was still freaking out, fluffed up as much as it possibly could. She nodded, and started grinding her claws into the dirt. "It would keep me busy and help me... work things out."

You make your way to the caravan and come back with a large wooden log, which she started scratching wildly at, staring at it, only meeting your eyes every now or then.

>>22286658
"This happen every full moon? Does alcohol help?"

>>22286658

i think we need a bigger log.

stay with her for a while but do notice that the outside temperature must have dropped to dangerously cold levels.

"This happen every new moon?" You ask, as she scraped her claws loudly against the log, grinning with some sort of primal satisfaction.
She looked up and nodded.
"'S why dad sent me away to learn about my kind." She said. "Because this started, and I attacked someone."
"Does alcohol help?"
"A little." She said.

>>22286658
"Would hunting one of Kale's glamours help?"

>>22286814
>>22286823

kind of like a lazer light and a normal cat, this could work but lets stick to the wood for now, Kale was very busy talking to Cass

>>22286814

would you like to talk about it?

>>22286844
Well, Kale doesn't sleep and neither does she, so maybe he can keep her occupied for the evening?

>>22286814
Someone you liked?

"Would you like to talk about it?"
"... It started two years ago." She said. "I started feeling... feral. urges to do things, attack things, to hide and pounce, to tear my claws through things. I always kept an eye out, because I had a feeling- an instinct- that there would be a prowl to join, so we could go hunting. There wasn't. There was nothing to hunt. Just desert, oxen, and people. I started to get frustrated, very frustrated."
She took a few steps back, and pounced at the log with superhuman speed, skidding as she chomped down on it. She calmed down - mostly- and went back to clawing it absentmindedly.
"Then, one night that I couldn't sleep, there was a man- a sandborn, in the caravan. I didn't know his name." She said. "But I wanted... him. And before I knew what I was doing, I pounced. He- and I- were lucky that my father was awake. He happened to.. pull me off."
She sniffled, and stopped clawing at the log.
"You saw the scar on his face? The long one?" She asked, drawing an imaginary line from one cheekbone to the other, her eyes glistening. "That was my response. I was... angry at him for stopping me from hunting. Angry at my own father."

>>22286990
"That's...difficult."

>>22286990
Your father seems to hold you no ill will. How long ago did you leave for the north?

So what did the other meanad teach you? Do they just fall to their insticts?

"That's... difficult." You say.
She sniffled, and nodded.
"Your father seems to hold you no ill will." You say. "How long ago did you leave for the north?"
"Two years." She said. "Twenty four moons."
"So, what did the other maenad teach you? Do they just fall to their instincts?"
"They do." She said, quietly, and went back to scratching- angrily, this time, her jaw clenched. "And they taught me that I'm not one of them. That I was born... wrong. They taught me that I was... twisted, because I never had a prowl before. My mother should have had a litter instead of just me, and we should have grown up together. That is how maenad are raised. I was raised wrong, they said. Raised broken."

What happens when a meanad gets defeated by the one she was hunting?

>>22287142
raised broken yet youve defeated a pack leader and saved our lives before. i think you were raised just perfect. youve grown to be a great friend of mine and a member of our little crew

>>22287142
That's horrible! I think Talbot made an excellet father.

>>22287142
"Well, for what it's worth, I think Talbot did a good job raising you."

>>22287142
"Or you were raised right. How many of them could travel the lands like you do? None, because they all just give in when the new moon comes around."

>>22287142

"just because you were raised differently doesn't mean you are broken, Talbot did his best and i gotta say, i like you a whole lot more than some of the other maenad we have encountered."

>>22287142
"Honestly? I'd say you were raised right. None of the other Maenad's we've met have been particularly friendly."

"Or." You say, quietly, and she looked up again. "You were raised right. How many of them could travel the lands like you do? None, because they all just give in when the new moon comes around. Just because you were raised differently doesn't mean you are broken, Tannis. None of the other maenad we've met have been particularly friendly."
"... Because you're human." She said. "Because you act human, and smell human, and feel human. Maenad aren't. We aren't cats, we aren't humans, we're... something else. A third thing, that resembles the first two. But I'm... too human. Too human to fit in with a pride, too maenad to pretend to be human."

>>22287290
So you're with us! Ariana's merry crew of misfits. We're your new pride, following our brave little witchling around the world.

>>22287290
"Like you said though, Tannis, you've got us now, you've got me, Ariana, Cass, Tori and Kale."

>>22287290

and we have an elf, a troll changeling, a witch who is also a dragon and I'm not sure if i really qualify as a human being myself.

we can be your pride until you decide otherwise.

>>22287290
"Start your own pride, call it the Friendly Maenads. I'm sure it'd be a hit."

>>22287290
"You are Tannis. You are smart, proud, lovable and everything you were meant to be.

What's past is past, you can't change it. What You CAN do is embrace who you are and use that to shape your future."

>Hey Exabyte, is she in heat?

>Also, I can confirm, from being scratched across the face, that it will scar if it draws blood. The scars will fade after a little while.

"Like you said though, Tannis, you've got us now." You say. "You've got me, Ariana, Cass, Tori, and Kale."
"That's what I had thought... until I scratched you without thinking." She said, quietly. "I can't even pretend, because I'm too... wild, feral. What if I was feeling this way and.. Ariana was the only one around? You think I'd just be okay with hurting her?"
There was a pause, and she dropped the log, where it rolled down the dune.
"I could probably buy some silver shackles or something." She said, as an afterthought, her voice bitter and sarcastic. "That's a happy thought."

>>22287416
I'm afraid I can't really just magically solve your problems, Tannis, but if you do think of anything I can do, you have only to ask, and I will gladly do it for you.

>>22287416
"The log seems to work pretty well. And the next time this happens, we can go hunting."

>>22287416

the least we can do is help her cope with stuff like this, the log helped quite a bit if i do say so.

>i can't into emotions anymore, 0:47 here and i need sleeeeeep.

i like this quest to much, .

>>22287416
"So what do you want to do? Leave, now that you've found some friends? Like you said, you're feeling this way because of the moon, I'm sure we can work something out."

"So what do you want to do? Leave, now that you've found some friends?"
"No, that's not what I want at all." She said.
"Like you said, you're feeling this way because of the moon. I'm sure we can work something out."
"We can." She said, and pointed to the sky. "We destroy the moon! Then it won't be a problem."
"The log seems to work pretty well." You say.
"It's satisfying." She said, quietly lowering her arm.
"And the next time this happens, we can go hunting."
She gave you a small smile, and nodded.
"I'd like that." She said, and closed her eyes. You could tell it took a *lot* of focus, but eventually she was entirely human again. Her fingers clasped together, she lay back, staring up at the stars.
"I'd really really like that." She said, eying you. "But I'd end up pouncing you. I know I would. I just have to learn how mother did it without killing dad."

>>22287570
Maybe I'll respawn like Gabriel does, and it won't matter?

In the meantime then, I'll avoid giving you headscratches on new moons?

>>22287570
"Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he'd understand. If that doesn't work, you could always try hunting one of Kale's glamours."

>>22287570
"What does silver actually do to you anyway?"

"Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he'd understand." You say. "Or maybe I'll respawn like Gabriel does, and it won't matter?"
"I don't want to risk that." She said. "You're my best friend, and I feel horrible just for that little bitty scratch. I'd feel worse for dicing you up, even if you did come back."
"What does silver actually do to you, anyway?"
"It makes it hard for me to change shape, and slows down my healing." She said. "It was really hard for me to turn human right now, though, because of the new moon. Maybe I could... "
Then she sighed, and sat up. "I will ask him." She said, finally. "It'll be awkward, but I have to or I'll hurt somebody."
Carefully, warily, she knelt down and gave you a hug, squeezing you tightly.
"Thank you for coming out here to keep me company." She said, eyes closed.

>>22287729
"Wait! I've got an idea in case your father can't help. What if on a full moon, you turn human, the we sprinkle silver dust in your food? It's worth a try isn't it?"

>>22287729
Of course!

Ruffle her hair and let's head back to camp.

>>22287570

destroy the moon!
no that sounds like something interesting

first off learn every thing we can about it

then a way to get there

final boom (make hands tight together then apart)

>>22287788
how about instead of destroying the moon, we try to decompile it?

Rolled 46

>>22287825
Might as well give it a try.

Removing the moon would probably have some bad effects.
Like completely fucking anything near/on the ocean.

Rolled 29

>>22287872
How about we decompile the moon and recompile it into a large wedg-

stay with me here

might be mind-blowing

-a large wedge of gouda?

"Wait!" You say. "I've got an idea in case your father can't help. What if, on a full moon, you turn human, then we sprinkle silver dust in your food? It's worth a try, isn't it?"
"If I couldn't turn maenad, I couldn't claw anyone up." She said, smiling. "I'd still be frustrated with no way to release anything, but everyone else would be safe. I like it! It makes a nice backup plan. Though... it might be better to get something I could wear instead, in case of an emergency. But it's a good idea!"
She grinned, and you ruffled her hair, and the two of you headed back to camp. Halfway there, you notice her slink away, making sure to keep a distance. She was moving oddly, focusing exclusively on the fire.
"I'm going to go to sleep." Tannis said finally. "So this night will be over."

After Tannis went to bed, you take a seat again next to Astora and Ariana, the latter who, surprisingly, still had golden irises, obviously unnatural.
"She asked me not to help the group figure out what her Gift is." Astora told you, her cheeks red, slightly slurring her words. Surprisingly, though, she seemed to hold her liquor better than you thought. "Though she is marked, which is usually an obvious clue as to the nature of the gift. The ones that mark people is usually-"
"Shh, that would be helping us." Ariana said, with a grin. "But usually really powerful, right?"
Unhappy at being shushed, Tori nodded.

>>22287921
"Hah. Go on, whisper it to me, Stora."

>>22287921
Grab some ale for ourselves.

"Well we know that it's a celebration, and it rouses the hearts of people. Maybe some sort of leadership skill?"

"The violet meteor and the glowing eyes sound like portents, maybe some sort of oracle?"

"I doubt it'll be as amazing as your Gift Of Sticking Your Hands In Rocks though. That one's the cake."

>>22287921
"So what can it do and what do you mean marked?"

>>22287921
Is it the Gift of summon space-rocks on people?

>>22287977
"what does it meat to be 'marked'"

Rolled 16

>>22287825
we will wait till we sleep next ask the sword about destroying the moon or altering the perhaps constructs and other methods of cheating if this were a game

>>22287977
The glowing eyes no doubt.

"Hah. Go on, whisper it to me, Stora."
She leaned close, and, licking her lips, hissed in your ear.
"My name isn't 'Stora'." She whispered, punctuating her sentence with a withering glare.
Then, after a moment, she blushed.
"I do kind of like-"
Then she stopped blushing.
"... You're scratched." She said. "And you just came out of the desert with Tannis... wait, you didn't-"
"So, about my gift." Ariana said.
"What do you mean 'marked'?" You ask.
"The eyes." Astora said. "Her eyes are golden now, and they likely always will be. Like my hand. It usually means something powerful."

You grab some ale for yourself, and drink deeply from it.
"So, the violet meteor and the glowing eyes sound like portents. Maybe some sort of oracle?"
"No, if it was an oracle thing I would know more." Ariana said. "Or I'd have said some kind of prophecy."
"Well, we know it's a celebration, and it rouses the hearts of people. Maybe some kind of leadership skill?"
"Maybe." Ariana said. "But it didn't... feel like it."

>>22288082
Tannis was just having some trouble, so I talked with her. I shouldn't say more, without her permission. I'm sure she'd tell you if you asked. She's got some wicked sharp claws though.

Can gifts interact? Could the gift of dreams have gotten more overt? Nobody else seemed to notice the sand or the meteor.

>>22288082
"The Golden eyes are pretty nice."

"No, I didn't, Tori. She's having difficulty with her shapeshifting because of the full moon."

>>22288146
It's called the gift of Truth.

"The golden eyes are pretty nice."
"Yeah, they are pretty dazzling." Astora said.
"Thank you." Ariana said. "Now I have to find a mirror sometime."
"And no, I didn't, Tori." You say. "She's having some trouble because of the new moon. I'm sure she'd tell you if you asked."
"Oh, that's okay then." Astora responded.
"Can gifts interact? Coudl the Gift of Truth have gotten more overt? Nobody else seemed to notice the sand or the meteor."
"They usually don't- Well, actually they don't at all, but it's not impossible, theoretically." Astora said. "But Ari kept talking about some song, and nobody else heard it. Maybe you need to hear the song to see the meteor?"
"You aren't supposed to help." Ariana said.
"Well, since I don't know, and I don't have any secret clues that you don't, then it wouldn't be cheating if I helped." Astora said.
"But now because you said that, I know it's not in the book." Ariana said. "Which means it's... something new. Brand new."
"... Well." Astora said, scratching your head.

>>22288277
>scratching your head
>scratching her *own* head, even. Whoops.

>>22288277
im jealous, golden eyes would be an awesome feature to have. so hmm a new gift, thats very exciting isnt it? i hope it works well with the other gifts because combinations are better than any power on their own

Rolled 12

>>22288327
if you want to be her so bad give her the sword

>>22288277
You could try singing again. Do you remember the song?

>Does abel know how to sing?

>>22288277
"That's what you were hoping for, right? Something about new gifts being better than old ones."

>>22288277
"I guess you'll have to figure it out all on your own, Ariana."

>>22288277
Can you still see everything fine? All the colours are right, and dark things are still dark, lights are not painful?

>>22288343
i dont want to be her at all, just digging the gold eyes -_-

>>22288390
Abel has glowy blue eyes.

"That's what you were hoping for, right?" You ask. "Something about new gifts being better than old ones."
"The old ones- the ones in our family- are all ones for fighting, and combat." Ariana said. "And I wanted one that did the opposite. And I have a feeling I do."
"Can you still see everything fine? All the colors are right, and dark things are still dark, lights are not painful?"
"No, they're not painful." She said. "And everything... looks right."
"I guess you'll have to figure it out all on your own, Ariana."
"I know." She said. "It's part of my coming of age after all."
She stretched, and got to her feet, which were covered in sand- she still wasn't wearing any shoes. "I think I'm going to get some sleep, though. I feel relaxed, now. Goodnight, you two."
"Night, Ari." Astora said, and gave her sister a hug. As soon as Ariana was gone, she stole your ale and took a drink.
"So." She said, passing it back to you. "What now?"

>>22288461
"Let's drink ourselves under the table, fall asleep. hope I have another weird dream and wake up with a gun in my hand. Sound good?"

>>22288461
I'm not sure. Ariana's gift is awe inspiring. You certainly weren't lying when you said she had great power.

Let's just drink untill we pass out, I've far too many women issues at the moment to worry about anything more.

"I'm not sure." You say. "Ariana's gift is awe inspiring. You certainly weren't lying when you said she had great power."
"It's in the blood." Astora said, and leaned close. "But I have something to tell you. Don't tell Ari. Gifts... aren't just from the blood. Power is from the blood, yes. But the nature of the gifts themselves? It stems from your soul. From who you are. Your nature. No matter what her blood says, or what it had a tendancy to do... she made her gift, just by the titanic forces of her own passion. I don't know, that's just what one of the crones told me once."
She took another deep drink of your ale.

She raised her talons, and absentmindedly put the tips up against your other cheek. "Maybe I should make a mark of my own." She said. "Claim some territory for myself. What do you think?"

>>22288617
"I wouldn't stop you."

>>22288617
"I think by the end of this week I'd die from blood loss."

>>22288647
this

>>22288617
I'm not to happy with that idea.

Besides, wouldn't your mark be better as a burn?

But I will get a mark for you. For each of you. A tattoo to represent what you mean to me. For Ariana, perhaps a cute critter. Or maybe something that scares me. For you... maybe a bird?

>>22288617
-_-.

>>22288677
I like this idea

>>22288617
Thus, all the spaghetti fell out of Abel's pockets. The End.

"I think by the end of this week I'd die from blood loss." You say dryly, and she giggled.
"That's a good point." She said, grinning and patting your cheek. "I'm so dexterious with this, now. It makes me giddy. Though, the ale might do something about that."
She seemed to think for a moment, and then grabbed at one of the phials on your bandolier, pulling out the one made of crushed and dried rosemary.
"... I'm not using my gifts anyway, and Ari's going to sleep." She said, and held her nose with her claw, pulling out a single pinch, putting it in the jug of ale, before slipping it back in your bandolier.
She gave you another grin.
"... I really like the scales you carved for me." She said, eyes half-lidded as she took a sip.

>>22288779
"Doesn't rosemary mess you up?"

>>22288779
"Is that stuff like cocaine for you?"

>>22288779
Astora the Stoner Witch has slipped roofies into her own drink. Wat do?

>>22288779
Hey no fair! That was my ale.

Scrufle her hair and find another.

>>22288779
can we please just go and screw the sexy lizard lady already

>>22288829
No. I vote against this.

>>22288807
Make sure she gets home and into bed safely.
then take advantage of her

>>22288829
I also vote against this. She is unstable due to emotional trauma.

"Doesn't rosemary mess you up?"
"The ale's too thin." She said, by way of explanation. "But I guess that's by necessity."
"Hey, no fair. That was my ale." You say, and ruffle her hair. You almost expected her to shoot you a glare for it, but she just grinned.
"'Was' being the most important word there." She said, her head lolling back as you grabbed your own jug. "Seriously though, the guys south of sanctuary make way stronger drinks. They used to give it to me for a sight of their dragon, and I think some of them tried to offer their own daughters to me for a ride. I'm really fond of those guys, actually."

>>22288829
I vote against it for now, but not in the long run.

>>22288894
"Tell me more about them. We have all night."

Where is Cass at the moment?

>>22288894
"Oh? I guess they were taking the wrong approach then."
>>22288929
Asleep

"Tell me more about them." You say. "We have all night."
"Right, okay." She said, and raised her hands. "This side here, my normal hand, is sanctuary, up at a mountain, flattened, and with all sorts of trees surrounding it. And then south of it, is more forest. It's all cold and pines and stuff, but half of it's been chopped down and turned into log houses. Or longhouses. Or whatever. That, my Gifted hand, is where the barbarians live. They aren't barbarians, but I don't remember their own names for themselves right now. Anyway, they have a chief in each village, and then some sort of... meet or whatever where they decide who their king or warchief or.. superchief is. Then the superchief rules the entire nation, but usually he just ends up relaxing in a throne. Sometimes a throne made up of women. Anyway, for the past few hundred years, we and the barbarians have been allied, and those guys really respect us witches. But most of us don't really respect that, and I always kind of thought that was rude. So after my Coming of Age, I spent most of my time there. They fell in love with my familiar, and they tried to elect me as a chief because I could control the beast or whatever they thought, but I declined. I don't know exactly what was going on, because my grasp of the language isn't very good."
She blinked, and then rubbed at her eyes. "Sorry, I'm rambling. But that's it, really."

>>22288999
"Hah, it's certainly a story for the ages. Got any more?"

>>22288999
Sounds like fun! Did they try to offer your dragon gifts to appease it? Maybe something delicious?

I think I would like to visit them, after Ariana's journey is over.

>>22288999
You should have accepted, I can see you on a throne of women.

don't actually say this.

"Sounds like fun! Did they try to offer your dragon gifts to appease it? Maybe something delicious?"
"They carved a statue in my familiar's honor." She said. "I translated most of the writing at the base, and they spoke mostly of the fire-headed warrioress, as stern as a mountain and as relentless as the sea. I liked that. It's in the manor now."
"Hah, it's certainly a story for the ages. Got any more?"
"I could tell you about my own coming of age." She said. "Me and Eldin were set down by the crone's owl somewhere around... Celesthem, I think. We wandered for a bit, and Eldin started trying to find food. We weren't very smart at the time, and ended up chewing on tree bark because we heard it was edible. It didn't help with the hunger much, and we spent a few days without food. Tried using my Gift of Sight until I couldn't anymore, and Eldin ended up trying to use his Gift of Vermin to find cats to find rats, but there weren't any cats in the wilderness. So he decided we should enter the city itself. And we did, by lying that our parents were just inside. We ended up splitting up to find food, and it turns out that something happened to Eldin, he was caught by the order, and in his panic, he ratted me out."
>Field too long!

>>22289064
best thing to say ever

I can picture you on a throne of women.

>>22289064
Say this
We're both drunk anyway. It'll be funny.

"Oh?"
"They found me where me and Eldin planned to meet. Time passed, and we were tied up to the stakes outside of the city, and then they set us alight."
She grinned- a savage grin.
"I don't know what possessed the order not to use rosemary on us, but... I caught the fire. Made it my own. Burned the ropes, my familiar came soaring from the sky, personification of my soul... and burned the lot of them. I ended up dumping Eldin a few miles away, and flying home on my familiar. I think the grass stopped growing there, come to think of it. And that's the story of my coming of age. Less than a week, earned one gift, lost one arm, killed nearly a dozen Order Knights, and a scared little girl became Nobilis."

>>22289175
"Would you have done anything differently?"

>>22289175
It's almost sad, but I think everything ended up alright.

And I wouldn't say you lost an arm, it's still there.

Do young witchlings ever not come back from their comings of age?

"It's almost sad, but I think everything ended up alright."
"I know, I do too." She said.
"And I wouldn't say you lost an arm. It's still there."
"It wasn't there for a year." She said. "It was just... a spire of flame, spewing from my elbow. It took time for all that stone to grow."
"Do young witchlings ever not come back?"
She was quiet for a while, and then nodded.
"I watched over Ari for a reason." She said. "To make sure she was safe. And the first real person she met, right as I was about to blow into the village where she was tied, alongside the order knight, was the greatest guardian she could ever have met."
She met your eyes, and tears started to come from hers.
"Thank you for taking care of her." She said, and pulled you into a hug. "I don't know what I would have done if something happened. Every time my gift of sight went away, I'd worry, but eventually... I stopped worrying, because you were there to protect her."

>>22289301
"It's the least I could do."

>>22289301
"...You know, I'm glad I met her too."

>>22289301
It was the right thing to do.

I try to protect her, but I am only human.

But you know... >>22289064 <this>

"... You know, I'm glad I met her too."
"I don't see why you wouldn't be." She said. "Ariana is adorable, even when she's trying to complicate your love life."
"I try to protect her, but I am only human."
"We're all only human." She said, closing her eyes.
"... But you know." You say, with the corner of your mouth pulled up into a grin. "You should have accepted the barbarian's offer."
"Huh? Why?" She asked, eyes opening.
"I could see you on a throne of women."
...

There was a moment of silence, and then she tittered.
"I probably should have." She said, giggling. "Though I'd prefer a throne of men."
She closed her eyes again, and leaned on you, still hugging you... and eventually, she started snoring.

>>22289450
Carry her to designated sleeping-place.
Then sleep too.

>>22289450
Pick her up, tuck her in, get some sleep ourself. It doesn't matter much who we sleep with, we're probably going to have a catgirl on top of us in the morning anyways.

>>22289498
We've slept with all of them except Tori, so I guess it's her turn now.

>>22289450
Let her sleep on us. See if there's a blanket in arms reach.

Also, file a mental note to tease her for snoring.

>>22289530
Voting this. I think we've woken up with every girl but Tori so far.

>>22289549
We did, briefly, on the boat before the kraken interrupted us.

But I don't think that sould matter. I'd argue that these acts don't mean so much to Abel. He's just keeping people he likes warm when they need it.

For the moment, we want to seduce Cass, but we have strong emotional connections to the others, so we're not <word i forget>.

You pick her up, surprised at how light she was, and then take her over to her spot in the bedrolls, setting her down and tucking her in. You make to leave, when something grabs you.
"... You should stay." Astora said, eyes still closed, her talons grabbing your butt. "It gets cold at night, and I'm a living fireplace. Remember?"
You sigh, push over your bedroll next to hers, and go to sleep, trying to ignore the ways Tori is touching you, focused primarily on your shoulders and behind.

You're entirely unsurprised when you were standing on a great, silver dome, Stirge on one side, and Gabriel on the other.
"Oh, it's *you*." Gabriel said, sneering at Stirge. He turned to you. "I hope you haven't listened to anything this bint says. She killed us!"

>End of thread!
>Sticking around for a bit to answer questions, and I *might* end up doing character interviews.
>Also, my twitter is @futureexabyte, and I hang out on the IRC like all the time. (#Exabyte on rizon.)

>>22289599
You might want Abel to seduce Cass, I want Abel to seduce Tori but thats just my 2 cents, not that I have any clue how to disengage from the potinetial harem weve discovered, none of them seem particularly willing to share

>>22289616
Always manage to end on a tease, don't you, Exa?

Thanks for running!

>>22289648
How do I put it... I think that the way it should happen is for abel to have a relationship with Cass, then after a while it fails and he gets with Astora. Tannis is my favorite girl, but I think that Abel is more for Tori.

So I agree with you, but Cass should be done first, because Abel is fallible.

>>22289616
Question! How many elves are there in the world? Are they particularly common? Why does the order hunt them? they don't seem much threatening.

Also, who founded the order, and why?

>>22289703
>>22289648
I've always had Abel pegged down for Astora, to be honest. She seems much more interesting.

>>22289703
>How many elves
Nobody knows! They seem to be born out of thin air (Technically, a flower bud or dew on the grass or even a reflection in a bit of glass), and it's been theorized that there's always a minimum amount of elves in the world.
>Are elves common?
Short answer: Nobody knows.
Long Answer: No! And yes! They've been pushed into hiding since the order started hunting them, and if an elf doesn't want you to see them, they don't. So there's no way to tell if they're common or uncommon in an area.

>Why does the order hunt them?
Because they're magic, and magic is evil.

>Who founded the order, and why?
A Skiitaran knight named Kristoph went out into the world, took down dragons, evil witches, and such. He eventually created an order to hunt them down, and he aged and died calmly, overseeing everything to make sure the Order didn't stray from the path of killing only evil magic. The moment he died (the second, some say) the order veered off the path like players off the GM's plot, and decided that all magic was evil.

>>22289703
I have to agree with you Tannis is tops, now to figure out how to do this without hurting Cass (pretty much impossible but enough of a chance to give it a shot, especially considering that that would also be Abel's first concern as well)

>>22289786
Mostly because Exabyte's done nothing with Cass, while Astora gets more characterization.

>>22289811
I knew you only cared about my scaly tail!

>>22289811
I wouldn't say that, Cass got plenty of characterization when we first met her, it's just at this point I can't see us being romantically interested in her, she is more of a comrade and bro than a love interest at least to me

>>22289800
We will hurt Cass, but that's the way of it. Abel needs to hurt people, and learn from it.
This is probably discussion that Exa shouldn't read, but whatever.

>>22289799
Who would win, between 50 barbarians from the north, and 50 meanads?
Can you give us any hints towards Ariana's new gift?
Does it involve lasers? Sonic resonances? SPAAAACE?

What is ValeQ's cosmology like? Are there other planets? Only one moon?

Tannis is a problem sort of, because maenads don't live very long.
That "old" maenad we met was in her mid-thirties.

>>22289894
Well that's your opinion.
I still like her though.

>>22289895
>Barbarians versus maenads:
Really, it matters on two things:
Is it a full moon or do the barbarians have silver weapons?
Is it in an open plain?

If the first answer is no, then the maenads regenerate too quickly to kill in a straight fight.
If the second answer is no, then the maenad pride splits into prowls, and hunts them down from the underbrush, whittling them away.
So I'd say the maenads would win, unless the barbarians knew their weaknesses and planned for it.

>Hint:
Your heart, for no known reason, started pounding, adrenaline flowing through your veins.
"It's like... the world celebrating itself. Or... life celebrating life."
"But Ari kept talking about some song, and nobody else heard it"
"Which means it's... something new. Brand new."
Also, no to any of those questions.

>Cosmology
Originally, it had two moons, but that would fuck with maenads and werecreatures, so I decided against it. ValeQ contains a single world, stars, and the sun. Any other planets in the system are too far to be seen without telescopes.

>>22289941
Fair enough well see a conclusion to this eventually anyways, now if I am not mistaken there is also this whole problem with us breaking reality on a regular basis

>>22290025
Yeah, I guess that is slightly more of a concern then picking a companion. We should probably get the under control before we do anything we regret.

>>22290018
Does witchtown have an enlisted armed force?

>>22290111
Actually, no, though the crones happen to be very handy with their Gifts, and with manipulating the Nobilis to deal with their problems. The more powerful witches tend to end up as crones or high up in the totem pole, so they end up strong enough to deal with any wrongdoing.

>>22290143
How many noblis are alive at the moment?
Which powers make them noblis?

>>22290143
could we some how destroy the moon?

what else could we cheat to get?

>>22290143
How do we input cheat codes into the world?

>>22290214
actually on that, can different witches have the same gift, but of differing strength?

>>22290250
Seems so. Ariana's Gift of Vermin is all sorts of crawly things, while Eldin's Gift of Vermin is just cats.

>>22290214
There are less than a dozen nobilis.
Astora with the Gift of Flame, two with the gift of fate, one with the Gift of Prophecy, one with a wyvern familiar, and one with *two* familiars. Then there's one that *might* be a nobilis due to his familiar, but nobody's certain because they've never seen anything like it before. (It's an oversized velociraptor, if you're curious.)

>>22290250
Sometimes, though the gifts are usually so close strength compared to one another that they're functionally the same. Some last a few seconds longer, some have a slightly larger radius.
Sometimes gifts only affect certain people or types of beings- like a female witch with the Gift of Swag only affects men, while a warlock with the Gift of Swag only affects women.

>>22290344
Is the Gift of Swag a real thing? Is it actually called that?

>>22290371
... I planned to spoiler it and replace it with the Gift of Charm. And no, it doesn't. It's a tongue-in-cheek version of the Gift of Vermin that works on people.

>>22290344
Are there natural born witches? Ones from human bloodlines?
Are any witchlings sent out to find their gifts, only for it to find out that they have none?

>>22290398
Extension to this: For a witch/warlock to be produced, do both the parents have to be a witch and warlock?

>>22290398
>witches from human bloodlines?
>>22290423
>Witchlings from human-witch couples?
I can't decide if witchitude is dominant or recessive, but it's relevant to these two questions.

>Witchlings without gifts
Yes. Well, no. they're never sent out because they get their familiar when they're born, and are considered to have already completed their Coming of Age. They're rare as hell, though, and usually end up keeping the library and Sanctuary's records. It's a prestigious position, really.

>>22290486
I think it was asked before, but are sorcerers a thing?

>>22290344
what has the guy with two familiars got? the same critter twice or two different ones?

>>22290486
Is the only way to know if you've got the gift of life to die?

>>22290572
Nope, not a thing. Though Wizards exist, as normal humans with witch gifts (though the process and idea of swapping gifts is heavily suppressed and taboo and bad bad evil wrong.)

>>22290587
>twofamiliar
She has two serpents- a white one and a black one.
>Gift of Life
Any wound, save ones caused by rowan, will regenerate. Though the activation might be to die, or fall, or something normally fatal, once it's awakened, it's awakened.

>>22290608
What familiar does the Prophecy witch have? What gifts does the twin serpent witch have?
Do they have names?
What sort of jobs do they hold?

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but this stuff is really interesting.

>>22290666
... You're going to make me make them into full fledged characters, aren't you.

Oh well, I don't have to by saying it'd be spoilers.

>>22290686
If I could pout over the internet then I would be doing that at you.

>>22290710
Well, by asking these questions you've fired up my creativity and I already have ideas bouncing around. So be calm, anon, for you shall meet them when if Abel reaches sanctuary.

>>22290733
If? is that a bad omen? Is the lethality set at 11/10 without us realising?

>>22290815
It began as a low fantasy don't-get-burned-at-the-stake style world. Then we blew a kraken to pieces with a barrel of gunpowder.

I'm not sure anymore.

>>22290847
>It began as a low fantasy don't-get-burned-at-the-stake style world. Then we blew a kraken to pieces with a barrel of gunpowder.

>I'm not sure anymore.

Neither am I, anon, neither am I.

>>22290863
now i am scared

>>22290863
That's the best part, none of us have any idea where this is going, but it's going to be good.

>>22290863
No one's archived yet, anyone want to do it?

>>22291191
Oh shit, thanks for reminding me. I'd forgotten.

>>22291209
Not a problem, I was going to do it, but I couldn't think of a suitable description.

>>22291209
Shame on you Extrabutt.

>>22290018
So is Ariana a paladin now?