You are Isabella Katarina Markova, twelfth of the line of Carmilla, thirteen generations from Dracula, the First. This places you with enough blood and power to make you a minor noble in Shadescast, the city of vampires, and possess your own castle- which does not necessarily have normal geometry, and which is not always in the same place. Though your physical appearance is that of a young girl, you are actually three and a half centuries old.

You spend your time responding to requests from other vampires for lore, and holding tea parties and other social events, both with humans and vampires. On occasion, you indulge in adding one or two of them to your collection of porcelain dolls...

Recently, you were attacked by a human vampire hunter who managed to temporarily kill you. Upon rising from death, you turned him into your faithful hound... but first he managed to majorly deface your castle and burn a portion of your library, including some hard-to-replace texts. Signs point to him having been hired by a rival vampire... one who was here, and took one of your dolls. Your first suspect wasn't the culprit… but that didn't stop you from eating him.

You have turned the Mayor of Mark into your soft, gooey servant. This is useful to you due to your airship yard there, which you got for a song off of a fellow vampiric noble by the name of Blackford. The deal took a little screaming at the foreman, but once it was sorted out, you returned to your castle…

Which was when you found that one of your servants had disappeared. Fortunately, Scarlet, one of your Dolls' creations, dragged her back to the Castle for you. In return, Scarlet was given the girl as her maid.

Five minutes later, you almost ate Scarlet after taking backlash from a failed scrying attempt.

Since then, your head maid attempted to assassinate you with cutlery and is being held for experimentation on, and you have taken an enemy vampire's fief by the old tradition of murder.

>>25385723
It's getting harder and harder to fit the story-so-far into 2,000 characters. So here's the archive of past threads:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Vampire+Doll+Quest

The first thread can be found here:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/24964444/

Isabella's Character sheet:
http://pastebin.com/Dz7QgMM0

>that feel when your favorite quest starts up, but you have to get up early in the morning
To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question.

>>25385841
I tend to answer this question with "don't sleep."

Then I fell asleep while actually running this quest.

Don't make my mistakes.

I am not a vampire in real life, and likely neither are you.

> That said, feel free to stick around for whatever you can catch in the meantime

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>>25385706
>Vampire Doll Quest.
>Starting 9 hours before I need to be awake and at work.
>MFW I'm about to make some bad decisions.

Clearly we send Scarlet to treat with the Hunter. Explain to him that this castle exists in many places at once, at that a less, refined guest needs to be shied away before she can give you proper attention. Feel free to imply that it is another vampire if it will shut him up.

>>25386016
>>25385841
Alas for the east coast.

>>25386016
>>25385841

Amusingly I payed no attention to this as I posted. Are you me anon?

>>25385723
I've been thinking for the future guys. We have a pretty awful track record for selecting henchmen. We basically just wait for some hobo to try to stab us then promote them. Instead how about we try taking the best dregs, saving them up for a while, and then having a mini hunger games in Ulvenwald. They can use weapons, magic, cunning, politics, whatever. Ten hobos enter, one hobo leaves. The huntsman and pack could referee and make sure nobody does anything stupid like escape.

>>25386032
Are you sure you want to reveal the "many places" part?

That's not common knowledge for non-vampires, and even some vampires don't know of it (mainly commoners.)

>>25386079
We can skip that bit then.

>>25385706
Okay, send Scarlet, or another servant if need be, to meet with Ahote's elder. Have her entertain him and share some tea with him, and tell him that the Mistress is busy with some pressing business but will be available quite soon.

>>25386098
>>25386105
Going with this unless someone puts forward an alternative.

>>25386105
Sounds legit. Can she talk to him? Might want to send Ahote as well.

>>25386144
I would assume as much, but having Ahote with her wouldn't hurt in the least.

>>25386144
>>25386152
You quickly call for Scarlet and delegate the task of keeping Ahote's elder entertained to her, quickly working out a plan for where the two visitors will be received such that they won't meet each other. You tell her to take Ahote with her; maybe his catching up with his tribe will buy you some time.

In the meantime, you'll deal with the worker.

The man in the flat cap who's knocking on the door of your gates in Mark is an unassuming sort, wearing simple street clothes; but you can tell exactly why he's visiting. A sakura-print parasol dangles from one hand- the exact same parasol you deliberately left behind a week ago.

It would appear the pecking order of the shipyard has finally decided who to send to you with your missing parasol. Therefore, this man should be the unofficial leader of the workers- the one who can get things to go his way more often than not, and that the workers personally like.

As such… He could be very useful to you, if you can manipulate him effectively. This man is the point at which you'll have to strike if you wish to start a revolution in Grand Victoria radiating out from your shipyards.

Your servants haven't bothered to take his rather ratty coat yet, and he doesn't seem to know quite what to say now that he's here.

> What do you do?

FUCK YOU I WAS GOING TO GET SOME SLEEP

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>>25386320
Problem?

>>25386079
Absolutely no, we have a special castle, it's multiple aspects is unknown to most save a select few, including our wayward sister, and almost certainly dead father. As well as our servants, if any of them have talked under duress or influence or not, we can't know unless mindfuckery is involved.

How do you select which area the door opens to?

Is it a dial a la Howl's Moving Castle, or does it open multiple thresholds at once into the castle and you pick which one to emerge into.

>>25386376
The castle's geometry is intent-based rather than actually physically linked.
Currently Ulvenwald and Eyesocket are side doors and Shadescast and Grand Victoria are large gates, but as for where they're actually located in relation to each other... Even you aren't sure, and you've lived here for centuries. You just walk intending to go to a room and behold, you're there. The halls all look the same.

As such, it's quite dangerous to walk the halls of the castle without a destination in mind, because then the Castle gets to pick.

>>25386312
Thank him girlishly, invite him in (don't take no for an answer), make tea, commence mind cuddling.

>>25386312
Put Control/Mindcuddling into our voice and adopt a slightly girlier and younger persona. Try to evoke the protective thing that most fathers have for little girls.

"Oh, my parasol, thank you oh so very much. I must apologize but I do not remember your name, and your coat has not even been taken. I am a terrible hostess."

He should tell us his name at this point. Motion for a servant to take his coat and hat and place them away for him. Take the parasol ourself, open it up, and twirl it around.

"This is my favorite parasol, I don't know what I would have done without you kind sir. It was a gift from my parents.

Please, let me offer you some tea. It is the very least I could do. I can not let you refuse."

Take his hand and gently lead him to a sitting room and get him some tea. Once we're there ask him about the shipyard, how it's going, how the workers are feeling. And also ask about how the workers at other places are treated.

I approve of this quest and wish it happiness and success.

You best finish it though, friend.

>>25386312
We gracefully accept the umbrella and invite him in for a spot of tea.

We discuss the general affairs and mood of the workers in the shipyard while very softly mindcuddling him the same way we did the mayor.

I suggest we start with some minor mindcuddling and later make him ghoul if he seems worthy.

Shit, seems my internet is fucking up. It seems i wont be able to stay up all night after all :(

>>25386312
I miss a quest and suddenly it's grand revolution?

What happened to being a quiet vampire building up a collection of living porcelian dolls and tending to gardens of blood red roses?

Starting a revolution is the quickest way to tape a "stake me" sign on your back. Because suddenly you're no longer the reclusive daughter of a noble, someone in your entire revolution said they saw their leader talking to you.

Even if it's a rumor, that is all it takes to sign your death warrant, because Grand Victoria isn't Nalus, it isn't Izzy's father, it isn't Izzy's sister. It's a monster of untold depth and power and someone thought it was a good idea to poke it in the nose.

Sorry, I think that's silly.

That said, I can only suggest ideas that aren't prone to getting yourself murdered. I think eating him, and getting the rest of the shipping yard in line is the best course of action. Squash this thing and remove ourselves from it, if there's a revolution and our workers are involved, and it goes badly, there will be questions asked. Remember, vampires are immortal if they play their cards right, let this blow over, invest, expand, in 100 years you won't need a revolution, it will have already happened all behind the scenes without a shot fired.

>>25386544
It's not going to be tied back to us, it's just we have a successful shipyard, if through word of mouth we can get the other shipyard workers discontent we'll have a major leg up on everyone else and be able to expand easily.

>>25386509
I deliberately refrained from tweeting yesterday "Next quest will be up... sometime... I promise..."

Because I KNOW that line of thinking, and that is the way you stop updating something for good. I do intend to finish this whole thing, though what that looks like is still somewhat hazy.

Disclaimer: Any times I put at the ends of threads are best estimates, not set in stone. I'll try to tweet if there are delays, but I do have a life and I can't keep up a one-per-day posting schedule like I did in the first week or so of the quest long-term.

>>25386544
Revolution was discussed a couple threads back, this man is a pressure point for discontent among the dockworkers. I'm just giving the option.

>omiSpar prophecies

>>25386544
waah, I want my revolution now, down with the bougeouis, it's what the workers want

>>25386544
I don't remember a revolution either.

And i don't think we would leave any pointers or evidence back to us. That would be stupid.

In the same line of thought starting a revolution would be doable if done in someone else's shipyard. But doing it in ours would be just incredibly stupid. You don't shit the place you sleep. And right now a lot of income is coming from our shipyard.

>>25386663
Our people aren't going to revolt, we treat them well. But if people hear some stuff about how nice it is over here, and in an utter coincidence some firebrands start talking to the workers in the other shipyards, well, things might get entertaining.

>>25386544
I was going to reply to this, but captcha had this to say

>trufatalis words

capcha, when did you invest ranks in augury.

>>25386694

Clearly in >>25386615

Rolled 55, 67 = 122

>>25386694
"Hello there! I'm terribly sorry, my servants haven't attended to your coat yet. Please, attend to this wonderful man at once!"

Your servants hasten to relieve the man of his coat and the parasol, which is quickly borne to you.

"Thank you so much for bringing this back to me, Mr…?"

"Crowley, little miss."

"Thank you so much, mister Crowley. This is my favorite parasol in the whole wide world and I'm so glad you found it for me! Please, I insist, won't you have tea with me and tell me how you came by it?"

He seems to hesitate, torn between his long-ingrained belief that 'nobles are trouble, you mark my words' and your childish, impassioned plea.

> Roll Masquerade + Eeriness.
> Roll in this post is his Acumen + Discipline.

>>25386691
That's exactly how a revolution starts though, someone see's what they want, they go to their bosses, hey we want what they have, give it to us now.

Their bosses say, no, that's not right, you can't have it and those other people are crazy. The bosses deny them their request and go to their friends saying hey, that crazy markova girl is making her workers stir up my workers, it says she's a markova right here on the tax form i requested from the mayor's office.

Friend of the boss says, I'll get my friends together and we'll go to their friends and everyone and we'll do what we can to hurt her business because it's going to hurt ours.

Boss's workers say, aw man, you're a mean boss. We don't want to work anymore. Boss says, get to work or get fired. Suddenly, they all quit. Boss goes to the crown, says, hey king, my friends and I, all of us have workers that are quitting because that markova girl is destablizing the status quo with her ideas of happiness and retirement funds. Do something king ,we're a lot of merchants, she's just one, fix it or we'll get angry and sell stuff to other countries. King has his hands tied and has to do something or the economy is in peril, so he says, hey Izzy, please be like the rest, don't mess stuff up, or I'll smack a bitch.

>>25386691
Nothing should even point in the general direction of our shipyard. We are a fucking 300 year old vampire. We have lived this long because we are cautious. We also have eternal life and have plenty of time to make these extra precautions.

As far as i have read this character it seems perfectly fine for her personality to be a little paranoid.

Rolled 40, 1 = 41

ROLLAN!

Rolled 77, 19 = 96

>>25386781
Do the puppydog eyes if it looks like he's going. "I ever so rarely get company, please have some tea?"

Rolled 48, 53 = 101

>>25386781
oh boy

capcha
toothly victory


stop that capcha

>>25386615
You have no life.

This is your life.

/tg/ has given you everything, and you are happy to do the same for it in return in any way that you can.

You enjoy repaying /tg/ for its generosity, and will gladly continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

>>25386809
So his brains melt out through his ears basically? And we look only slightly creepy smiling about it?

>>25386809
Those are some powerful puppy dog eyes.

Rolled 25, 40 = 65

>>25386781
"Oh please, I insist" Smile brightly
And when we succeed let just i tiny bit of freaky reflect in our smile

>>25386809
It seems the intergalactic trollforce has missed our thread today.

>>25386829
We're the adorablest.

>>25386825
Yeah, you just failed that Eeriness check.

>>25386852
But, but, puppy dog eyes. Isabella is too adorable to fail that check.

>>25386875
Not the one Isabella is making. Anon just failed at their Isabella impression.

>>25386781
I don't like agreeing with namefags because I'm namebiased, but fuck, it is a valid point, this thread has a serious lack of foresight, I say we find our doll, go home, and wait 10 years to build up holdings through our shipyard.
>>25386544

>>25386852
>>25386894
>getonwithit.jpg

>>25386904
I'm not averse to timeskips, but you will have to make masquerade checks every decade or so to maintain your cover, because otherwise people will notice you're not aging.

>>25386927
alucard, i don't want to sound bossy, but post the guys response so we can start working on Little Miss Markova's next action.

also>>25386624
you know the bougeious are the wealthy merchant nobles, something we're trying to attain. What you're suggesting is tantamount to suicide.

>>25387001
>>25386920
You just look at him with your soulful, innocent eyes, and you can see his resolve melt away like butter. The magic in your words might have had something to do with that, but who can tell? Certainly not him.

It's less than a minute before he's facing you across a finely-set tea service.

"So Mister Crowley, do you like working at my shipyard?"

"Yes indeed I do, little miss. I like it quite a lot. The extra specialists have really brought down the workload."

You smile at him.

"Really?"

He nods.

"Yes, really."

You tilt your head. "But it can be better, right?"

He shrugs.

"It's already a better deal than most shipyards around."

You fix him with your gaze and let a little power leak across.

"But I don't want my shipyard to just be good enough, mister Crowley. I want it to be the best one."

He hems and haws some more, but over a few minutes you manage to pull out some things the workers would like- more sick leave than the two days per year they currently get, some form of company retirement plan, and so on, and so on. It would seem that the workers at your plant are happy, but could be happier; and while the conditions are good, they're not good enough for other workers nearby to start agitating using your shipyards as a model, or risk their jobs trying to apply to join.

>>25387108
The general state of the other workers is "unhappy, but used to conditions and unlikely to really seriously consider change."

> What will you do now?

>>25387164
Good to know. Let's leave it there for now. The glorious people's revolution can wait, but we may want to plant a few fifth columns. Start priming this guy to be our instigator when the time comes, then identify other points of resistance. If the time comes where the state actively hunts us, commie vampire revolution time.

>>25387280
Bid him goodbye and move on to Ahote's Elder?

>>25387308
Sounds good.

>>25387308
Unless we can somehow privately advance the cause of THE PEOPLE with subtly right then we have nothing more we can get from this man. Send him on his way with a subtle bit of mindcuddling to give off the image that we are utterly friendly and adorable so as to throw people off our trail if we have acquired any.

Move on, i have a feeling that the Elder will be MUCH less easy to deal with.

>>25387308
Seems good, be sure to personally walk him to the door, thank him profusely for visiting and that we wouldn't mind in the least if he visited us more often as we can get lonely in our castle.

Maybe bid him farewell with a chaste little girl hug.

>>25387336
Once you feel that there's nothing more to be said to the worker and no more knowledge to be gained from him, you bid him farewell, though you tell him that you might want to speak to him again. He doesn't even question it.

Now then. Time to speak to the Elder.

This… could be interesting.

> Negotiation style? Mindcuddle or not? What do you want from the tribe of monster-killers? Will Ahote remain your representative to the tribe (as a random brave you met in the forest) or would you prefer someone else more qualified as a go-between?

>>25387467
Let's hold off on cuddling him until we take his measure. He's quite likely to resist it furiously, and Ahote might see too. Maybe once we know more we can try. As for what we want? Special forces. Monster hunting security forces that will be absolutely loyal. In exchange we will give them... power? wealth? Security? What do they want? We could ask. Let's see who they have as a go-between.

>>25387467
If the elder isn't easy to mindcuddle, take him down and mindhug him vigorously with fluffy and scarlet present to take him out if he is a fighter or stop you if we flip out from a failed challenge.

>>25387467
Do not start with mind cuddling, he knows our tricks and we should be able to get what we want with honey. If we need a show of force at some point we can go for a bit, but don't throw it at him immediately.

I like Ahote personally, he has personal investment with us and gave us a lovely name, I say keep him.

>>25387572
I really don't think dominating these guys is a good idea. They're monster hunters. They know what we can do. They'd probably notice that we mindhugged their Elder, considering that it leaves traces.

Just negotiate after finding out what they want.

>>25387572
yea thats a stupid idea to do to the Elder of a tribe of vampire hunting murderhobos

>>25387467
No mindcuddle. We're approaching him as an equal. King meeting king, to use a chess analogy. Offering respect is the surest way to gain true respect, and there's no reason not to respect these people.
Let's hear out their history. Let them tell the story of their brave people standing in defiance of all that lurks in Ulvenwald (especially since letting the guest talk is a nice way to earn brownie points). Make sure to bring up how Ahote was most critical in a recent bit of vampire hunting, and that if the Espowye are all as reliable, clever and strong as Ahote here, then I can see the most fruitful of relationships by combining forces.

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>>25387108
>more sick leave than the two days per year they currently get
Are you fucking with me?
You're fucking with me.
Only two sick days a YEAR? What is this, Wells Fargo?

>>25387659
As for the exact terms of the relationship, find out what the Espowye need before we start haggling.

>>25387618
They would notice precisely who cuddled the elder. Because unless they're psychic they don't know who we are. Now ahote May notice, but who cares if he gets upset, tough shot dear, you decided to work for a fucking vampire.
>dealwithit.jpg

>>25387708
This is Dickensian Japchingland. It's like if you were a prison rented convict temp worker for wells fargo.

>>25387759
You're risking the alienation of an entire tribal clan of professional monster hunters just because you wanted the elder's brain that badly for no immediate reason than asserting perceived authority on a people in no position to recognize it at this moment.

This is the worst thing.

>>25387659
Oh, hey tribe of vampire hunters, you'll be my friend right because I'm totally a nice vampire.
Yeah, I see that going real well.

captcha
>closing portalis
Yeah captcha lets close that door.

>>25387759
>implying the elder came alone
>implying the elder didn't even tell anyone he was going to meet with the vampire who lives over that way

>>25387874
We know for a fact (because Ahote's mind told us so) that the Espowye are known to conduct business with and actively serve beneath vampires of note. It's not unheard of.

>>25387882
Makes you wonder how he found us. Either it was one of Ahote's tricks, or the elder has a keen eye.

>>25387910
In short, the Espowye won't kill Isabella if they don't have a good reason to.

>>25387948
You decide that using any form of enchantment on Ahote's elder is probably a bad idea. You will treat with him fairly… or at least, you intend to for the moment.

You open the door of the room where Scarlet was told to bring Ahote and his Elder, and catch your first glimpse of the man who leads the Espowye.

Sitting in an armchair by the fire, Ahote by his side, is a deeply tanned man; not particularly large, but not short or slim, either; evidently well-muscled, but not a colossus; an athlete, a runner, feathers braided into his silvering hair from some great bird of prey. His clothing is simple, but well-made, beaded with tiny pieces of glass no doubt traded for with the settlers, and embroidered with complex designs that evoke feathers.

His fingers are long and dextrous; his eyes are quick and lively. A silver-gripped pistol is holstered in a pouch at his side, carefully adjusted to be able to be drawn at a moment's notice. Ahote carefully does not look in his direction.

He nods to you; and for the first time you notice the weathering of his face, the sun-baked cragginess of a man who has stared long into the sky for years on end.

And the flame of that sun burns in his face; in his too-golden eyes, and in the tattoo that brands his entire visage with flame. Though it slumbers, you can sense it, can feel its power even where you stand.

No wonder Ahote averts his eyes from this man.

You make your way across the room to the comfortable armchair across the table from the Elder. Scarlet is waiting for you, her blood-red hair hiding her face as she looks deliberately at Ahote.

You wonder if she can look at the elder. You suspect that she cannot.

The elder speaks; and his voice is a low whisper, but carries power and authority not unlike your own.

"So, little wolf. I see you have found a stray, and for that the Espowye are grateful. But he has done his service to you, and now we are equals; so I ask of you, what do you intend for my people?"

>>25388080
I will be simple, work with or work for me. Decide quickly before I feel your presence is offensive a I decide to fix it.

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>>25388080
"Nothing, for the moment. And may I reiterate that your warrior is a mighty specimen, indeed. Far stronger and better than other hunters I've met. Believe me, I speak from experience.
"At any rate, I'm merely curious about your people. I don't leave my domain all that often, so Ulvenwald is still a mystery to me. Your people's wisdom and insight into the region would be positively invaluable. Am I right?"

>>25388080
>The elder speaks; and his voice is a low whisper, but carries power and authority not unlike your own.
Are.... are we getting cuddled?
>"So, little wolf. I see you have found a stray, and for that the Espowye are grateful. But he has done his service to you, and now we are equals; so I ask of you, what do you intend for my people?"
"Nothing more than a mutually beneficial arrangement. Your people possess great strength and skill. I would see it put to good use. Your tribe could grow strong in my service, and find... great rewards in exchange for leal service.

(Is this guy stupid enough to be tempted by a promise of siring? He's old, so he might be getting desperate. Let's circle in on it without being too obvious.)

>>25388212
Yes. Let's bully the WALKING SUN into indentured servitude. Need I remind that Isabella is deathly allergic to the sun?

>>25388236
Since you asked the question...

Roll Eeriness + Discipline.

>>25388236
>Are.... are we getting cuddled?
No, but Isabella knows power -- especially mystic power -- when she sees it. The Espowye chief is a juggernaut and should not be taken lightly.

Rolled 98, 78 = 176

>>25388274
I think it's a risky train of questions to ask, but any knowledge is better than no knowledge.

>>25388080
Make sure he has a cup of tea, if he doesn't yet then get one for him and for us.

"Nothing that would harm them. In fact in the example that Ahote has set of the Espowye has made me like you quite a bit. You are, for lack of a better word, fun, not dreary like so many other things.

I wish to work with the Espowye. You are strong, you hunt monsters when others sit afraid, and are clever where others dull. I could have many uses for such a people. You can walk in places that I can not, and have talents I can not replicate.

I would place the Espowye in my service as trusted and loyal retainers, or should you be unwilling to go so far as close allies, in exchange for this I would protect you from the machinations of the others of my kind, I would provide you with things that come from places far from the dark forests of Ulvenwald, I could, should your men be willing, make them stronger and faster, and gift them hunting hounds beyond that of a normal beast, give you places to expand and grow. All I would ask for is you to hunt for me and serve me kindly. It would be beneficial to the both of us."

>>25388212
What the hell is this guy, a rainforest or something, I have a bad feeling about this, I'm in favor of a quick decision. Let him know we are unsettled by him, but ensure we are speaking from a position of obvious strength. Be ready to bolt because I think this guy can fuck us up, and just might.

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>>25388309
See, even the dice agree that we shouldn't go through with it, lest we risk a vigorous session of mystic asswhoop. Abandon that thought about siring posthaste.

Rolled 84, 1 = 85

>>25388274

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>>25388336
I don't think this is going well.

>>25388336
You realize that roll was to resist his mind-fucking right?

>>25388309
Crit fail, regular fail

>>25388356
Regular fail, Crit success

I think I will go with

"Critical fail, critical success."

>>25388331
Fuck autocorrect how do you get rainforest from sunpriest?

Fortune favors the bold, with us or for us.

>>25388382
Oh. Huh. Well. This is awkward.

Side question, Alucard: is Isabella's blood magic the only form of direct magic she has? Nothing blasty or otherwise unique like the actual Remilia Scarlet?

>>25388431
Blood and shadow, though they can be turned to be blasty.

Her unique specialization is fleshcraft.

>>25388331
>>25388412
Again, it's not often that a time comes along where we meet someone who could legitimately beat the shit out of us. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES. Advocating our strength is one thing, but you don't browbeat the guy who can browbeat you right back.

>>25388274
What the fuck? Did he just try to invade our mind in our own god damned tearoom? This guy just signed his death warrant, he is a guest in our home, he needs to die perhaps we have enough influence with ahote to turn on the elder for his audacious act of disrespect.

>>25388468
We definitely shouldn't fuck with him.

I think in our castle we'd have a chance of taking him out between our magic and throwing the entirety of our Hounds, Scarlet, the Dolls, the Toy Soldiers, the Angel, all of them at him, we might win. But we definitely shouldn't start shit.

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>>25388463
So she CAN be a direct magician, but she usually isn't. Good to know we can rely on energy and magic when the mind or our constructs fail. Have some Patchy for answering.

(Isabella's personal note: bankroll Patchouli Knowledge, or at least someone with appreciable skills in magic.)

>>25388526
Nah I like this guy, he's got chutzpah. Let's beat him in a mind war just to prove we can, then let him go. He seems like he's respect that.

>>25388526
I really don't think we should try to fuck with this guy, there's no mileage in it. We either win and lose the Espowye, or we lose and die, probably permanently.

But we can note that we noticed it and are aghast at his rudeness after we let him into our home and offered him tea and cookies.

>>25388526
Are Izzy's jimmies really so easily rustleable? I doubt it. So what if the chief went for something? Acknowledge it and move on.

>>25388529
This avatars already tried to mess with us, he needs to be taught why you don't fuck with Izzy.

I say, bolt, call the troops and the hounds, it's a fight on our turf, this asshole has no idea what he's in for.

>>25388642
That just proves that we're weak and fearful. This is just a game to him, show him it's a game we can win.

>>25388642
No, that's stupid. There is no benefit in starting shit over a little mindcuddling between friends. Losing our cool means we get jack shit from this.

Stop being reactionary and having no control over your emotions, or just responding to a slight slight with "KILLBURNMAIM" that's not how Izzy rolls, Izzy rolls smart.

>>25388569
>>25388642
Why the hell are we trying to start a fight with this guy in our house? That would be really dumb.

>>25388642
I'm going to autocorrect my wrists if that happens again, it doesn't help that I'm on an hour long train ride home. Bumpy as hell.

My vote is to brook no disrespect, walk out summon the guards, let the castle tear him up, then go in for the dominate once he is weakend.

>>25388642
Again, your jimmies are too easily rustled. The chief is still presumeably human, and Isabella is a vampire. Even if Isabella wasn't bothered, they operate on two different trains of thought. Just because someone tried something doesn't mean you obliterate him on the spot for perceived insubordination. By threatening, never mind attempting to kill, the chief, we risk the entire tribe of monster hunters bearing down on us, and we've burned a bridge that never had to be set fire to in the first place.

You are laying down train tracks towards a situation where EVERYBODY LOSES. Don't do that.

>>25388762
>>25388309
You search the elder's face for a sign of what magic this might be, but all you get for your troubles is an intense feeling of dread. Though your stomach churns, you meet his eyes, and instantly feel the burning power within; though you cannot begin to guess what might be the cause of this intense sensation, you know it now for what it is; he is branded with authority, with the power to awe others and make them bow down to him, to be the voice that drowns out all others. It is not a subtle power, but it is strong.

But you have known fear deeper and more powerful than this pretender can marshal, and you will not ever bow down again.

So you meet that power with a deep strength, remembering the taste of hot blood, the burning of wind and sun, the feeling of heavy wood in your hand…

And the shadows of your heart reach out and snuff the encroaching flame in your mind before it blinds you.

You see him. You know part of his power for what it is. And you will not submit, not even to look away.

He quirks an eyebrow at you.

You bare your teeth at him in something that is not quite a smile.

You have a feeling he's just reappraised you somewhat.

Carefully, you set down your tea. Your hands are not shaking. Your response is measured.

"I wish for us both to work together. I will bring your people things from far away, and aid them in many other things as well. You will share with me your knowledge and your skill as fighters, whether as loyal retainers or close allies. I would find it a great loss if we could not come to some arrangement."

The sun-weathered man nods to you.

"I agree, Kuruk. I have heard from my brave that you possess strong warriors and the will to use them, as well as the presence of mind to listen to your allies. But we must ask: What will our warriors do in your service? What do you wish to learn from us? What can you give to us we cannot make or do ourselves?"

>>25388749
Well I think everyone else thinks you're being an idiot and aiming for a no-win scenario instead of actually being calm and sorting it out.

>>25388642
for the love of god, why are you so retarded?

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>>25388792
>You have a feeling he's just reappraised you somewhat.
Gotta sleep, like the filthy human I am. A few points.

*We want fighters, elite special forces to be precise.
*As a selling point offer him fights. Shit goes down around us, crazy shit, all the time. He'll get to travel the world, meet new people, and murder them. It will test the tribe and keep them strong. That's what they value, it's all they seem to care about. We can provide it in spades.
*Don't offer him stuff. It looks like he has advanced tech already (gun), and is unlikely to be impressed by baubles at any rate.
*Circle in on immortality. Don't be obvious about it, as it might insult him. But keep hinting at it.

Good luck anons, stay unrustled!

>>25388792
"The legends and beasts of Ulvenwald are many and varied, and it would do well to have insight into all things. My specialty among my kind is knowledge, after all. In exchange, you have the full protection of my estate from others of my kind who would prey upon the Espowye people. A wolf-that-walks's enemies, especially among those among its racial kin, are many and varied, far beyond what many could ever understand.

"I promise and assure you, I am and will forever be the most pleasent wolf-that-walks you've ever met in this era. That's saying something."

>>25388925
>[Fighting]'s what they value, it's all they seem to care about. We can provide it in spades.
Nnnnnnot by my accounts. They're just a standard tribal people who are very good at what they do, which just so happens to be hunting the supernatural.

>>25388792
"Please, Lady Kuruk, and I would have your name as well, I can not very well simply call you Elder.

In my service your warriors shall do what they have always done. They shall hunt, they shall hunt my enemies, they shall hunt those who would harm me, they shall hunt that which would destabilize that which I consider mine.

I wish to learn more of your magics and how it works, I am an esteemed scholar of magic in some circles. I wish to know of your culture, your legends and stories.

As for what I can offer. I could make your men stronger and faster, keener of smell and eye, greater hunters, should they wish it. I could gift them with hounds and hunting companions beyond what they could find themselves. I can protect you from the machinations and plots of other of my kind, and other things similar to my kind if there is need. As well as aiding you in your defense against the numerous monsters you hunt. I can give you things from lands far from yours, places far from your home, and some that you would never find nor enter. In fact I could show you these places and let your warriors hunt in great foreign places, imagine the tales they could tell of hunting mechanical beasts, the tattoos that would be born from such a venture. I can give you more land to govern under me.

And know this, I keep my word, I would not betray you or harm your people should they serve me well, I would protect and care for them as best I could."

>>25388792
"KNEEEEEEEEEEL!!!!!!"

>>25389007
That's essentially what his tattoos passively radiate, yes.

Offer him modern goods(weapons, food, clothes etc.) He may have a pistol but I bet he's the only one in his tribe with one

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>>25388938
>>25388994
So ultimately, we're offering
>protection under our estate from other vampires (and others)
>potential use of Isabella's personal assets, including the Pack
>expanded worldview
in exchange for
>a tribe of monster hunters at beck and call
>mighty juju magic
>knowledge of Ulvenwald and everything therein

Doesn't sound too bad to me.

>>25389047
Let's not be too presumptuous. After all, Native Americans had plenty of guns.

>>25389047
Roll Acumen for some best guesses at the culture and tech of the tribe.

Rolled 89

>>25389079
Yeah, they might have a few from settlers. But they don't have access to anywhere near the level of tech we can get at somewhere like Eyesocket.

And the luxury goods we could bring them, nicer textiles, delicacies from all around the world, pretty baubles and trinkets.

Also, we're adorable, that has to count for something.

>>25389128
Rollin!

Rolled 47

>>25389128

>>25389138
Nope, no info for you. The information you got from Ahote's mind was too fragmented to get much more out of than you have already.

>>25389184
Then amend the pitch in >>25389066 to
>POTENTIALLY expanded worldview

>>25388925
Offer tally:
> Give fights/hunts: 2
> Give tech/other unvailiable things: 4
> Give passage through castle: 2
> Give castle guard/ other warriors/ protection: 2
> Immortality: 1

> Warriors will hunt your enemies.
> You want to learn more of the tribe's magic.
> You also would like information on Ulvenwald itself.

Okay, so tech is pretty solid, but the rest is a bit up in the air. Is >>25389066 more or less agreed on?

>>25389350
I'd also like to know their culture and stories, they sound like an interesting people. And getting his name, and having him call us Lady Kuruk, we are a lady after all.

We can also offer, but not insist on, granting them strength through our magics, seeing if we can put our magic together. Imagine the Huntsman with their magic and tattoos, now imagine a tribe of them.

>>25389418
The "learn Espowye culture" was suggested earlier, particularly in >>25387659 and >>25388229. I figured that kinda went without saying at this point. I imagine Izzy loves any excuse for a good story, if her library and wide knowledge is anything to go by.

>>25389350
About half an hour to an hour until I'm off to sleep myself.

If nobody objects I'm going with >>25389418
and >>25389066.

Post will be up when it's up.

>>25389350
>> Give fights/hunts: 2
>> Give tech/other unvailiable things: 4
>> Give passage through castle: 2
>> Give castle guard/ other warriors/ protection: 2
>> Immortality: 1
>> Warriors will hunt your enemies.
>> You want to learn more of the tribe's magic.
>> You also would like information on Ulvenwald itself.

These all sound good

>>25389558
"Please, use my title. I am Lady Kuruk, not merely Kuruk."
"And I am Chante Dowanhowee, but neither have you addressed me as such. Let us dispense with formality, and merely use our names, Kuruk. You may call me Dowanhowee."

You decide the familiarity is useful, at least for the moment, and change tack.

"Dowanhowee. I wish to learn more of your tribe; of its magic, of its culture, of its surroundings; and I would use its warriors as hunters of my enemies, just as if I were of the tribe myself. In exchange for this, I will give your tribe wonders from far aw-"

"Wonders. Do not speak to me of wonders. This place is wild, but it is worse since the settlers came with their 'wonders', their black, blasted towers of rock, their boats that sailed through the sky and spat flame down on the land. Their wonders have hurt this land and not saved them from its vengeance. Do not speak to me of 'wonders.' I have seen enough."

> How do you reply? Continue the spiel? In any case, Roll Acumen.

>>25390084
If this gets through, be advised my Internet is dying, please archive!

Rolled 19

>>25390084
Ah, I figured a story like this would come up. Obviously, he speaks from experience. Assure him several times over that we are nothing like those "settlers" that came to Ulvenwald and wrecked everything. Either way, we'll set it aside for now.

>>25390182
I believe this was OP as his internet died....
could someone archive this?

>>25390182
The thread has been safely archived.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/25385706/

>>25390084
"Yes, the settlers were quite obnoxious and destructive, but not all wonders set things on fire. Judging all things from the outside by that metric would be like assuming the Espowye are ignorant and savage, a thing obviously not true after learning more of you, because you mark your faces and perform rituals some do not understand, nor try to. All cultures have facets to them, and you must look at them from different angles if you wish to understand them.

I am not like those settlers, nor do I wish to force things from the outside on you. But there are things you may like. Such as the glass beaded in your clothes, such a thing is rare here, yet a trifle elsewhere, and there are more beautiful things from outside, things of craftsmanship, beauty, and detail. I could show you some of them if you would like. Should you wish to prevent the settlers from impinging upon you and your people knowing of their wonders and how they work would be invaluable.

Besides, you have hunted all manner of beasts in these lands, a story of hunting things from beyond them would be quite a tale to tell around the fire."

I say continue, be sympathetic, but try to point out that everything has multiple sides to it, and while wonders have hurt him, they can help him as well.

>>25390084
"Dowanhowee, please hear me out. Unlike the others who have previously come peddling wonders, I have little desire for your land, and less in trying to change or somehow reform your culture. What I offer is a chance for your people to visit, trade with, and possibly exploit far flung lands. These far flung lands may have goods and services either unavailable or at least practically so, here in your lands."

>>25390357
We didn't say anything about actually taking the Espowye abroad.

>>25390594
We offered passage through our castle which would have that result.

>>25390594
Well some of the things/people we'd have them hunt wouldn't exactly be local.

>>25390606
I don't think we said precisely that. We agreed they were allowed some of our assets, but it didn't explicitly say anything of the castle itself. I thought it meant soldiers or a packhound or two or if they need help figuring out something they just hunted.

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>>25388925
>>25390084
>Wake up.
>Read progress.
Goddamn it anons.

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>>25390084

Well, if Alucard ever comes back (since I just got up):

This guy seems like all he wants is the preservation of his people's way of life. He doesn't want settlers coming, raping the land and causing his tribe to forget their traditions.

We also happen to always be in need of bodies for slave trade/fleshcrafting. We can "deal" with settlers for him. Angel can scout out around the tribe. If any settlers come within say 50 miles of them, we can... Make them to away.

>>25390182
This was, indeed, me.

>>25390204
And the acumen roll passes. I'm just going to quickly do one more post to cap off this thread until we can continue later today.

>>25395445

... Wait a moment. Black, twisted towers of rock? Airships that spat fire? Colonists that 'failed to endure the land's vengeance'?

... Is Dowanhowee talking about EYESOCKET?

No wonder the damn forest's filled with all these strange things- the nobles of Eyesocket have been using it as a dumping ground for failed projects!

> Okay, you're going to have to take a moment to digest that one.

>>25395445
Hooray, you're not dead!
...Re-dead?

>>25395448
Oh, wow. These folks are monster cleanup crew.

No wonders, then!

>>25395448
"So settlers have come with wonders that are not so wondrous?

We have many things to offer each other. For a start, I can offer you greater protection from you enemies, in exchange, you can provide me with the resources I require.

You'r people are skilled trackers and hunters. Ask Ahote how much safer and prosperous your hunts could be with my Hounds.
In exchange, I would like the monsters of Ulvenweld. If you could trap some of them alive, that would be excellent, but their remains should be useful also.

As for these settlers, I would consider a reliable supply of slaves quite valuable. If any of them threaten your tribe, my own forces would fight along side your Braves.

I could also grant you access to distant lands for trade.

I'm sure we would have much more to offer each other if we were to come to an arrangement."

>>25395448
So, the nobles of eyesocket share our penchant for phyrexian shenanigans?

Interesting. I doubt they share our aptitude for it, though perhaps we could improve on their results if we could acquire some via Ahote's tribe. In return, we provide them with monstrosities of their own, which they can use to clear the Ulvenweld of the imitations. With our help, they can easily take their forest, and it can be a part of our domain.

>>25395681
>>25395778
>"Wonders. Do not speak to me of wonders. This place is wild, but it is worse since the settlers came with their 'wonders', their black, blasted towers of rock, their boats that sailed through the sky and spat flame down on the land. Their wonders have hurt this land and not saved them from its vengeance. Do not speak to me of 'wonders.' I have seen enough."

It sounds like this man has been on the wrong end of the wonders that's been given out.

"The creatures are not of this land, as you are, Dowanhowee. As your people are. These monsters may be strong, but they are not tempered with your own wisdom, your own power."

"What I would give to you is this strength for you to use for your own purposes, that you could choose to rid your lands of what you wished not to have. Or whatever else you wished for.

"To face such 'wonders' and to own them are two very different things."

Something like that, eh?

>>25395874
That last line is pretty evocative. I like it.

>>25395681
>>25395778
>>25395874
In summary. We offer our Hounds and other forces as needed to aid the tribe.
We help them defeat the monsters and the settlers that are fucking them over.

In exchange, we get monsterflesh and slaves.
I like it.

>>25395917
Okay, now we're talking about sacking Eyesocket, and that is something that will bring A LOT of attention down on us.

We need to do a lot more fieldwork before we can start on such things. We would need to have enough creatures at our beck to ensure our own defense, primarily.

For now, we can give them back their forest, and in exchange they give us their allegiance and provide us with specimens to work with.

>>25395975
No, we're just talking about hunting monsters and maybe attacking the local settlers.

Attacking Eyesocket hasn't even been mentioned.

>>25396033
He said that we help them defeat the settlers that are fucking them over. That means going into Eyesocket and killing the nobles that are dumping their fleshcraft into the forest.

I'm all for reclaiming the forest and killing the nobles if they are dumb enough to go into the forest themselves, but do you really think they won't just be sending servants to drop their creatures off? The nobles will continue to dump, we can only control and use that opportunity until we have enough power gathered up to actually deal with the source.

>>25396090
Yes, I said help defeat the settlers fucking them over. I never said anything about attacking Eyesocket.

Maybe, someday, when we've got a fleet and real army and want to launch some real conquests.
Maybe, if we decide to go that way.

But for now, all we need to do is take out the local settlements and disrupt shipping and transport between Eyesocket and Ulvenwald.

That's if we even want to go that far.
Periodic raids to prevent the settlers expanding or claiming new lands and regular hunts to bring down the monster population would do the job too.

We'll need to get a better idea of the situation before we decide how far to go with this and how much to invest.

Guys.

The forests isn't a dumping ground. It's far too easy to just kill off failed experiments.

It's a testing ground as well, to see if any of the "risky" experiments can survive.

We'll have to be careful about retaliation - we should still help, but our actions should be through proxies only - through strengthening the tribe itself.

>>25396349
>It's a testing ground as well, to see if any of the "risky" experiments can survive.
That's a good possibility...
We should go Gendo on this whole thing

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>>25396728

>>25396780
Good job! We're done here.

We could also offer them a place of refuge. If they ever need to flee, they could do so through our castle. Because our castle is a safe place and have impenetrable defenses worst case scenario we simply cut the link with Ulvenwald..

We could also offer them our protection.

We should also ask if there is anything they could want.

I think AS's internet is down again or something.

>>25397004
Not down, I merely don't have time to run ATM.

You can consider this thread done; If I'm going to run more VDQ today it'll be a new thread.

>>25399987
My name's slipping again.

>>25400003
Extra space.