"How may I help you?", the man asks, scanning both you and Tahenohan. He is not quite blocking your passage, just using nonverbal communication to remind you that you're in his house.

"I would like to talk with the Captain of the People on a matter regarding the outskirts of Reboldeux", you state clearly enough to hopefully generate enough interest to be taken seriously. You haven't faced overt racism or distrust yet, you suspect it's both thanks to everyone being too busy to care and a bit because Reboldeux is not exactly the most isolated, ignorant of thorps out there.

"And who might you be, miss...?".

"Lillith Taieart", it's probably your pride tinting your opinion, but you think having a last name is enough to strike a better impression on people, it sure feels that way to you, "And this is my companion, Tahenohan".

"Nice home!", the half-elf compliments spontaneously, "It feels so airy and cool inside!".

The man allows himself a smile in front of such colourful company, "I understand. Unfortunately my father is busy with other people, and he- Oh", he stops as he turns, hearing voices from upstairs, "You appear to be in luck".

Two men climb down from a cozy set of wooden stairs in the far corner. The first has the looks of a successful artisan: good silk clothes, in red and white, and enough body fat to show his agiated lifestyle, but his large, calloused hands show that he worked hard to earn all of that. The second has the athletic body of one who lived by the sword, with hair and beard so white that it's obvious such times were decades ago; even though his skin is wrinkled and his scars more visible, he still has the upright posture of a man in good health.

"Rest assured I will let the Duke know about the supply problem", the older man says as he accompanies the other in the common room, "If there are dangers in the Crystal Sea it would be best to act fast, lest more problems will haunt us in the future".

>Continue

Tipping his round hat to both the old man and the rest of you, the well-dressed artisan leaves and the younger man who welcomed you turns to what you presume to be the Captain of the People. "Father, these good ladies are Lillith Taieart and Tahenohan, they wish to discuss you a matter regarding the outskirts of Reboldeux".

The man, his name should be Marrican the Rockwise if your memory serves you well, looks both of you up and down and seems to be quite satisfied with what he's seeing, "The outskirts of Reboldeux, eh? Well, if there's one thing I learned in life is that adventurers always deserve audience. Rorin, please inform whomever else comes that I'll be busy discussing important matters and I can't be disturbed".

"Yes, father", and the man nods, motioning for you to follow Marrican as he heads back upstairs.

The second floor is just one large study, built like a cupola, with many potted plants scattered amongst books, tables, chairs and a few old maps. You see a few bird cages as well, but they are all empty, and the double doors you saw from the outside give you access to the balcony, and a very nice elevated sight of the whole street.

"Thank you for coming to my rescue", the man offers you a sincere smile and a hark as he sits down on one of several chairs loosely arranged around the room. They are wrought in wood and padded with soft cushions with flower patterns, "I was expecting a few more busybodies panicking over a few ships being late and expecting me to help. Please stay here until they give up and go home and I'll listen to everyting you have to say. Deal?", he winks at you with a chuckle, motioning for you to sit.

>Inform him about the dismantled tenements
>Inquire about the Duke's housing policy
>Inquire about the state of housing in Reboldeux
>Other?

Character info, setting info and other general useful stuff here: http://pastebin.com/u/MagicalPrincess

>>35199330
>Inform him about the dismantled tenements
It's what we said.

Oh boy, time for my favourite quest about a curvy futa tiefling that's a cultist for the interracial fertility goddess!

"A few people were trying to build simple houses outside the walls, they probably started when it was still dark", you presume they did: you came shortly after dawn and they were mostly done, it makes sense in your head, "Some guards arrived and dismantled them, saying the Duke has a policy against tenements outside the town walls. They took the house down and carried away most of the boards too".

Marrican nods, shifting his position on his chair until he finds himself a bit more comfortable, "Mm-hm. I see", he doesn't seem excessively involved in the situation, but he is listening.

"I have told the commoners to try their luck farther away from the city. I understand there's much more freedom to build elsewhere in the marches", you continue, "But still, I have promised to inform you of the situation. There's many others like them who don't have a house and are being forbidden to build more. From what I understand there's little to no space left to live in Reboldeux, this might become a serious problem soon".

Your thoughts instinctively go to Lucas and Zillis, who are expecting a child and are still without a place to live and little to nothing in the way of property. Marrican nods again, waiting a little more before speaking himself.

"What would you like me to do?", he asks in a friendly tone, staring straight at you.

>"I would like you to negotiate with the Duke to allow tenements outside the walls"
>"I would like you to organize a protest against this law"
>"I would like you to convince the commoners to dislocate themselves elsewhere if they have no house"
>"I would like you to help trying make the town expand past its current borders"
>Other?

>>35199634
Oh man, I missed this starting up.
>"I would like you to help trying make the town expand past its current borders"

>>35199634
>"I would like you to convince the commoners to dislocate themselves elsewhere if they have no house"
This one maybe? I mean we did tell them it was a good idea before, and we DO have to go to the marches ourselves

>>35199467

You have my attention.

>>35199330

>Ask him how fertile are the fields around the city.

Time to whore out that rite of fertility.

>>35199634
>"I would like you to convince the commoners to dislocate themselves elsewhere if they have no house"
Get 'em out!

>>35199634
>Help to expand the city

And I reiterate >>35199703

"Do you think it's feasible to expand Reboldeux?", you suggest. You're no real expert on the matter and you have little to no actual expertise in the field, but your surrogate mothers always told you you were a smart kid, that has to count for something, right? "Because I would like you to help me convince those who are in need of a house to build it elsewhere. For most people it shouldn't be a problem, the traffic of colonists is ongoing".

The man nods sagely, pondering your question, "Mmmh. I see what you're trying to get at".

"Also", you add, "Are the lands outside fertile? If there are problems with farming or foraging enough food, I can help with that. I happen to be an expert on the matter". This is no lie.

"Very fertile. Most people can survive out in the wilderness just by taking whatever fruits they find hanging from the trees, or just gather berries and herbs, most of them are edible", he chuckles, "They call them the Shadow Marches but they're actually a very welcoming place".

You weren't expecting the land to be this fertile already, but then again it doesn't mean it cannot be further improved. A part of you is curious as to what exactly you could accomplish with a base already this solid.

"About your first suggestion... That of making more people leave the city", he adjusts his position on the chair again, which creaks slightly as he shifts his weight, "How would you go about it?".

>"Tell them to join other caravans and colonists, there should be plenty"
>"Try and coordinate with the new settlements and see what kind of people they need for what kind of work"
>"Try and get the Duke to start a campaign encouraging further settling of the Shadow Marches"
>"Try and convince more people to get exploration charters to free up more space for new colonies".
>Other?

>>35199876
>"Try and coordinate with the new settlements and see what kind of people they need for what kind of work"
>"Try and get the Duke to start a campaign encouraging further settling of the Shadow Marches"
Mixxy mixxy

>>35199876
>"Try and coordinate with the new settlements and see what kind of people they need for what kind of work"
>"Try to convince the Duke to give modest settlement-gifts to anyone willing to leave and settle other areas, just things like some seed-packs, cheap tools, a pack of grain or two."

>>35199876
>>35199967
Backing this, at least hear if it's feasible.

You ponder the issue for a moment. You know little to nothing about politics or large scale anything, but you understand when someone is testing you.

"I think it's vital to make sure of what each settlement needs", you start with what you feel is the most obvious part, "To make sure that the appropriate workers go where they're needed and there is little overlap in proficiencies".

"By the way, we'll be doing censoring soon!", Tahenohan intervenes, sounding more than a little excited about the prospect of doing a censor's work, the kind of excitement one has when they have no real idea what the actual job entails, "We can censor something like that too, can't we?".

"That would be useful!", the man exclaims with a laugh, as if he is surprised to hear a half-elf having a good idea. Admittedly, that's surprising on your part too. You guess her human part must be still fresh and active somewhere in her brain, buried beneath all her manic, wide-eyed enthusiasm and general oddities.

"Would it be possible to convince the Duke to help with a campaign in favour of colonists?", you then suggest, riding Tahenohan's opening, "We could give modest gifts to people willing to leave. Mostly seeds and basic tools".

"Convincing the Duke to give out something for free?", he laughs again, though for different reasons, "What was your name again?".

"Lillith Taieart".

"Well Lillith, I don't know where you came from nor what you're doing here, but I like you", he smiles, "And I'm not just talking about your tailed booty, I like the way you do things. Have you ever lived in a place this big before?".

"Not really", you confess. Reboldeux is the biggest city you've been in up to now, and it feels really huge to you.

He nods, as if he was expecting such an answer, "If I may ask, why did you sign up to be a censor? I thought it wasn't even advertised as a career opportunity".

>"I was lucky"
>"I really wanted to do it"
>"I had no other options"
>"Who knows?"
>Other?

>>35200135
"Seemed like the best thing to do at the time."
"Might be hard doing it with an exploration charter too though."

>>35200135
>"I was lucky"

>>35200135
>And I'm not just talking about your tailed booty,
L-lewd

>>35200135
>"I heard about it and decided it sounded like something for me."

"I had a lucky opportunity and seized it. It felt like it fit me, too". You feel there's no reason to lie. After all, you don't feel like this man is trying to con you or anything. You see he likes the company of young women, but then again what man doesn't?

"Like a real adventurer", he smiles.

"We're adventurers alright! And official explorers too!", Tahenohan adds in as well. She really likes to boast, "We're going to reveal more place to build houses into! Kuha~!".

Marrican shares her enthusiasm with a paired laugh, he seems to be enjoying himself a lot. "You two ladies are the best guests I've had in a while. Well, allow me to answer all your offers then". He straightens himself up on his chair and he locks eyes with you again, and you feel that behind his smile he is talking seriously, "You are probably overestimating how well-organized the city is. This isn't a problem, because you're new, but I suspect the Duke is making the same mistake. And by the Abyss, I probably am too".

He chuckles before continuing, "My position works because of one mentality: us and them. The reason the Duke listens to me is because I bring him the voice of many "us" against his few "them", so we're all together and he is forced to take our opinion into account", he sighs, "But I'm afraid things aren't like that any more".

"Why do you say so?", you frown slightly.

"Too many people at once", he shakes his head, "Our community is now full of other people. There's too many "us" and too many "them", we no longer have the advantage of numbers, and this means nobody is really in control of anything".

"Wouldn't it be better to act fast, then?", you suggest, "Before anything happens?".

"It takes something meaningful to convince a noble to do something", Marrican warns.

>"Let's try to organize a protest, then"
>"Let's bring him up to date information about the settlements and their needs"
>"Let's convince the Duke that the emptier the town, the better".
>Other?

>>35200373
>"Let's convince the Duke that the emptier the town, the better".

>>35200373
Must say, I feel quite a bit lost. Maybe that's because I'm almost falling asleep.
>"Let's bring him up to date information about the settlements and their needs"
>"Let's convince the Duke that the emptier the town, the better".

>>35200373
>"And I'm guessing you don't have any ideas?"

>>35200373
>>"Let's bring him up to date information about the settlements and their needs"
>alternatively, seduce the Duke and become the Queen

>>35200485
>Not staying pure and only boning our half-elf Tahenohan

>>35200503
>pure
>boning a half-elf

Choose one. Or only half.

"We should convince the Duke that the emptier the town, the better. Overpopulation is going to be very harmful". You're almost amazed at the idea something like overpopulation can be a thing considering how backwater your homeland is, but you guess the world is huge and varied.

"But that's against his interests", Marrican shrugs, "Not his long-term or anyone else's, but currently he will never accept the idea of letting go of that much profit coming his way".

"What if we show him that he can make long-term profit outside, and invest in future trade and development?", you then suggest, "It is in his interest that the lands right next to him become rich and capable of bringing even more trade, right?".

The Captain of the People's smile is very telling about what he thinks, "Ah, so it is true, your kind really is shrewd".

"Not sure I want to hear that coming from a man who already has these ideas a long time ago", you tease him back with a smile of your own.

"Ahahah! No lady, you overestimate me", he sincerely laughs at your suggestion, "I might have played with you a little, yes, but I really needed a fresh perspective myself. Maybe I am just like that man who was here before you arrived, unable to see past his nose and current affairs. We're all missing the big picture, except for you and a bunch of people who aren't interested in staying here. Heh. Isn't it funny?".

"So...", Tahenohan is putting some serious, visible effort in her thought, "If we do our job well, we're going to change the world?".

>"Yes, starting from Reboldeux!".
>"Not really, just Reboldeux"
>"We're certainly going to change the Shadow Marches"
>"I'm not sure anyone will even acknowledge our role in this"
>Other?

>>35200572
>"We're certainly going to change the Shadow Marches"

>>35200572
>"Yes, starting from Reboldeux!".

Lilith is destined for greatness.

>>35200572
>"Hmmhmm, well we'll see, no? At least, we'll change SOMETHING...hopefully."

>>35199293
>"Yes, starting from Revoldeux!"

Ishtar cult when?

"Yes!", you cross your legs and puff your chest, pointing out in the distance towards a future you can imagine even if you can't see it, "Nalesia is going to be our playground! Everyone should tremble in awe upon hearing our names?".

Tahenohan and Marrican clap at your performance, to the point you begin to suspect even the half-elf isn't really taking you seriously. "Well...", you tone yourself down a little, "We're planning to make an impact in the Shadow Marches at the very least".

"No, you have to aim high", the old man reprimands you, "If you set the bar too low, you'll never know if you didn't get higher because you couldn't or because you didn't try". He pauses, then laughs, "But not too high! I have seen way too many friends of mine play hero and get cut down like grass back in the day, it would be a pity if it happened to you as well".

"Don't worry, our line of work is less dangerous than a battlefield", or so you hope.

"Maybe", he smiles at you, "But I really suggest you give your best. If you bring more details than necessary, someone will be thankful. I think the Chamber of commerce in particular would like to receive thorough information regarding supply and demand in that anarchic cluster of houses and almost-villages that are filling the land outside".

"I'll keep that in mind", you thank him, "But will you help?".

"I'll do what I can, but I can only really come into play when you give the situation enough of a push. Set things in motion, and everyone will notice. Believe me", he smiles and then gets up from his chair, "Ah. My old bones...".

>Thank him and leave
>"There's something else I'd like to ask..." (what?)
>"Bones? Tahenohan, this is your cue!"
>Other?

>>35200825
>"Bones? Tahenohan, this is your cue!"
I can't resist that.

>>35200825
>Thank him and leave
>"You wanna become someone who can change the world then, Tahe?"

>>35200825
>Thank him and leave
>Ask Tahenohan if there's anything she wants to do now

>>35200825
>"Bones? Tahenohan, this is your cue!"

"Bones?", you stop and look at Tahenohan. This is probably going to be stupid. You're probably going to regret this.

"Bones?", Tahenohan echoes you with a lot more enthusiasm and an odd shine in her eyes. As expected, around elves watch yourselves and all that stuff was true.

"... Bones?", the man asks, suspecting something's going to happen soon and he might not like it.

"BONES!", and Tahenohan hops gleefully at Marrican's side, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him towards the currently unused and somewhat messy table as the man looks at you with the air of someone who expects some sort of explanation, but knows better than to ask a half-elf directly.

"Oh don't worry, she's a good doctor", you lie, in part at least, necromancers count as doctors right? "She can't help it but assist others".

"Oh really? Then I'm glaAAH!", uh-oh. That didn't make a nice sound, especially not when Tahenohan did a somewhat forceful push against his back.

"A-are you okay?", you ask, suddenly worried that she broke something.

"I... I'm actually fine", he sounds surprised himself, stretching a little, "Hey, who would have guessed?".

"Old bones tend to do that", Tahenohan herself sighs, a little unsatisfied, "They tend to erode a bit towards the front, the vertebrae, and they make old people hunch. If I could cut him up a little bit I could".

"No", you forbid her.

"But just a little bit!".

"No", you have to be firm this time, it's good enough she was helpful instead of harmful, but better not push your luck.

"Oh don't worry, I appreciate what she did", at least Marrican looks satisfied, "Although maybe we'll save whatever she had in mind for some other time?".

"Maybe it's best, yes", you agree, and pat Tahenohan on the head, "Hear that? Maybe another time".

"Okay~", she goes with a smile, eliciting some laughter from the man, too.

"Well, now I'm in your debt", he jokes, "When you come back, I'll be forced to help you more!"

>Continue

>>35201088
Tahe the best and most necromantic.

You thank the Captain of the People and take your leave. You did what you promised and probably got more than you expected in change. All in all you must admit he was an interesting fellow, even though his gaze did linger on your curves quite a bit. You guess all men get a bit dirtier when they get old. Or maybe you're just so damn hot, Tahenohan didn't receive as much attention, but then again who in his right mind would contemplate doing lewd things to someone of elven blood?

Well, someone must have, or there wouldn't be a Tahenohan right now.

Once you're back in the busy streets of Reboldeux you realize it's almost noon, you're hungry, you still need a bath and your pockets are still empty. You wonder how everyone else is doing at The Hairy Mermaid and if you can work off a bit for some food, at least for lunch.

But before that, "So, Tahenohan, feel like changing the world?", you ask with a teasing smile.

"Actually I'm just hungry".

Oh.

Well, you can't blame her, the streets are starting to fill with all the scents food makes when it's being cooked and baked. You smell vegetable soups, carrot timbale, jacked potatoes, fresh bread, flatbread and even apple pies. And, of course, all sorts of fish-like scents, as you're in a port town.

By Ishtar's breasts you could go for some meat too, you haven't had that in ages.

Well, not much to do then...

>Head back to The Hairy Mermaid
>Tahenohan should have some change or stuff for barter. Stop and eat outside
>Other?

>>35201152
>>Ask Tahe which she'd prefer, it's her money after all.

>>35201152
>Head back to The Hairy Mermaid

I like how aware of herself Lillith is.

>>35201152
>Tahenohan should have some change or stuff for barter. Stop and eat outside

>By Ishtar's breasts
Why are we so lewd?

>Go visit the temples in the area

Maybe also look for someone who's also open to Ishtar?

>>35201152
>but then again who in his right mind would contemplate doing lewd things to someone of elven blood?
You would! good taste

>>35201152
>Tahenohan should have some change or stuff for barter. Stop and eat outside
Something cheap, we don't want to mooch.

You're not sure whether you want to take advantage of Tahenohan's (potential) riches or just head back to The Hairy Mermaid. You're not sure the innkeeper's going to let you work again on such a short, practically non-existent notice, you get the feeling he didn't like you too much, or maybe there were just more people than he was ready to receive even with a recommendation. Or maybe you're just imagining things.

In the end, you only have one option.

"Tahenohan, would you like to eat somewhere outside?", you ask.

"Why, sure!", always that smile, and those eyes. You wonder if they ever get dry, she doesn't seem to blink as often as she should.

"However, as you know, I'm totally broke", you explain, "If we eat outside, it has to be your treat. I won't indulge myself too much, don't worry".

"It's okay, it's okay!", she smiles even brighter, "What are riches for if not to be spent?".

Well, she has a point.

You have so many options to eat out that you really only have to follow your nose, and the smell of food is, right now, much stronger than that of sweat from the huge crowd that isn't giving up even in the middle of lunchtime. In the end, right now, you really feel like...

>Meat
>Fish
>Local specialties
>Just somewhere cheap
>Other?

>>35201300
>Local specialties
Why not try them?

>>35201300
>Meat

>>35201300
>Meat

Also
> you get the feeling he didn't like you too much

Inkeeper, bro, Lillith is top wench material. Just give her a shorter uniform and you'd be rich in no time.

>>35201300
>Just somewhere cheap
We're stingy, no luxuries like real food allowed!

You decide you're really going to hit some place where you can eat meat. You haven't had it in a long while and you're going to indulge a bit, even just a little bit, right now that you have the chance to.

You then find yourself facing one problem: meat is apparently not that readily available.

It's not really a problem with supply: meat is expensive, and Reboldeux is full of people. Also, nearly everyone likes meat, especially because it's not so common or easy to get all the time, which means that red meat is very expensive, and you decided to not mooch off Tahenohan more than you can help.

Following both your nose and some suggestions you grab up from around the street, you find yourself in a tavern in the north-western corner of the town, close to the walls and to what passes for a tiny beach nearby, although it's mostly grass and then a sharp drop into the seawater.

There, you and Tahenohan receive a whole oven-cooked pie, which is cut open from the top and the very edible lid moved aside to show its contents, along with plenty of hot steam. The inside of the pie is filled with macaroni and minced white meat mixed with basil, oregano and a tasty sauce made from assorted game. Even if you have to share it between the two of you, there's plenty, and the itself pie acts as bread to clean everything up afterwards.

A dessert is also included: pickled candied bananas and a few slices of coconut along with some camembert cheese, whose softness goes well with the candied banana slices, turned into mustard, that have a rather odd taste compared to its ordinary version, which usually involves pears, apples and oranges.

All in all, it was a good eat, and the most meat you could manage with your budget and without mooching off Tahenohan too much.

Now that you're both full and can think clearly without the throes of hunger, you should...

>Really get a bath
>Visit the local temples
>Head back to The Hairy Mermaid
>Check the Duke's palace again
>Other?

>>35201571
>>Really get a bath
We should offer to give her a massage or something as thanks

>>35201571
>Head back to The Hairy Mermaid

>>35201571
>Really get a bath
Once we're clean as well, we'll be ready to take on the world!

>>35201571
>Really get a bath

You decide you've been smelly for long enough and if you keep getting smellier and smellier it's going to start inconveniencing your social encounters earlier or later. And what's worse than a censor that smells bad? You wouldn't be representing the duchy of Reboldeux properly, and that might cost you a lot. Well, maybe not really, but smelling of sweat and not having the chance to properly take off the dirt and grime off your whole body isn't great.

Fortunately, most civilized places have public bath houses, and even though you doubt there's going to be thermal baths you're at least going to find heated water.

Unfortunately, as in most places larger than small villages and some odd place or two, public bath houses usually divide their rooms by gender.

According to some, you might not exactly look like the sex you're supposed to be. It's only really evident when you're naked... Which you're going to be if you're going to take a bath.

You have no idea how much of a fuss this is going to make, but if the public bath house is half as full as the streets, there's bound to be at least one person that will be disgusted at the idea of a woman flaunting a dick around.

Then again, there's the Crystal Sea nearby. And if you want to strip fully and properly, you can just briefly leave through the nearby North gates. You don't have to go too far... The beaches certainly can't be full to that extent, can they?

>Leave and take a bath in the sea. It's also free!
>Screw it and risk unnerving people in the public bath house
>Give up, do something else (what?)
>Other?

>>35201810
>Leave and take a bath in the sea. It's also free!
Free sounds great to me!

>>35201810
>Screw it and risk unnerving people in the public bath house
We wear it with pride! All the young ladies will no doubt be too smitten to complain anyway, and who cares about crones.

>>35201810
>>Leave and take a bath in the sea. It's also free!

We'll have a private bathhouse built with cultists' money soon

>>35201810
>Screw it and risk unnerving people in the public bath house

Bath house!

>Screw it and risk unnervin people in the bath house

This is too good to not do ot.

>>35201810
>Leave and take a bath in the sea. It's also free!
This'll be Tahe's first exposure to it, she's liable to make a scene. Which would be bad in a bathhouse.

>>35201810
>Leave and take a bath in the sea. It's also free!
it is free, and we are poor

File: 1390071077467.jpg (78 KB, 230x340)

78 KB JPG

And the tiebreaker came.

Writing...

>>35202009
We better get to visit one eventually!

"You know, Tahenohan", you look at your companion straight in the eye, "We need a bath".

She stares back at you, sniffs her own armpits and ponders upon the olfactory feedback she just received.

"I'd say we're good for a few more days but okay", she smiles in the end, though you kind of wonder just what standards of hygiene she's used to, as a western barbarian and everything. They're probably rather low and you get the feeling you shouldn't ask.

"Since we need to take a bath, how about we hit the beach outside town?", you suggest. You've taken advantage of her money already, it'd be rude to keep relying on her, even if it means no heated water. But well, it's hot outside anyways, which is why you're all sweating so much, so it should be okay, right?

"Yeah, that's a good idea!", Tahenohan skips in place, "There weren't many seas where I lived, so this is all new and exciting for me", she pauses, "Well I did bathe in saltwater before but still I'd like to do it again".

"And you will", you pat her on the back as you lead her outside, "And you will".

You both leave through the North gate. It's guarded a lot more lightly than the East one you've been through at dawn, and there's very little traffic, mostly to the farmlands and a couple carts bringing armour and weapons, mostly under blankets to shelter them from the weather. Looking in the distance, you see Reboldeux's Redoubt, the local military base, is in the distance, which would explain the shipment.

You immediately move towards the coast and start walking northwards once you find yourself along the sea. The waves lazily crash against the tiny cliff, but there isn't much in the way of a beach until a good hour of walking. It's certainly not right behind the corner, but at least there doesn't seem to be anyone around.

Very well, how about...

>Get in with Tahenohan, wash your clothes too
>Leave the clothes on the beach, get in the water
>Find something to play in the water with
>Other?

>>35202131

>Get in with Tahenohan, wash your clothes too
God we're poor.

>>35202131
>Get in with Tahenohan, wash your clothes too

>>35202131
>Leave the clothes on the beach, get in the water
We should allow ourselves the simple (free) luxuries of life.

>>35202131
>Find something to play in the water with
Fuck if I know what though.

>>35202131
>Get in with Tahenohan, wash your clothes too

We might be wet afterwards, but the sun is hot and should dry it off pretty fast.

>>35202131
>Leave the clothes on the beach, get in the water.

Clothes need better care when being washed than just water. The salt will be terrible.

>Leave the clothes on the beach, get in te water too

Man, salt water is aweful for bathing. Lillith's hair will be horrible after it.

>>35202131
>>Leave the clothes on the beach, get in the water
>Keep an eye on the clothes

>>35202302
We'll take a bucket of water from a fountain and rinse ourselves later.

You briefly look for something to use to play around with in the water, but you're almost immediately struck with the realization that you have absolutely no idea what to look for, so you quickly give up.

You don't even have the time to begin stripping that you see Tahenohan's robe flying about while her naked body leaps gleefully in the water, splashing loudly. You hope she can swim.

Since she doesn't seem to be drowning (and the water probably isn't that deep already), you take the time to properly put her robe down and your own clothes right next to it. Saltwater isn't good for washing, you heard just about every housewife in Izulde claim that, so they must be right.

Now that your clothes are accounted for and your half-elf friend is splashing around in the water with gleeful abandon, you enter the water as well and join her. As expected, it's shallow enough for you to touch the bottom, though you don't know for how long. She's a few metres away from the beach, where the water gets well above your waist, about halfway to your chest; Tahenohan can still keep her nose out without trouble at this depth, but any further and she'll have to swim or sink.

Then again, you're just washing yourselves.

"Ahaha! It's so fresh!", she exclaims. It is very cool, in fact. Not cold, just cool, which is great considering how hot it is. It's the humid kind of hot, which makes it even worse, but it's very easily bearable while in the water.

You take the chance to relax and wash the dirt and grime off you. Unfortunately, your clothes are going to need a proper laundry, which you can't really do anything about right now. You're also going to need more clothes but you decide to not linger on thinking just how broke you are.

Most importantly, Tahenohan wasn't watching when you stripped and slipped in the water. Should you take the chance and...

>Show her your special attributes
>Leave it aside and just play around
>Other?

>>35202467
>Leave it aside and just play around
Hey, if she notices, she notices. Don't bother hiding it but don't show it off.

>>35202467
>Show her your special attributes

I don't think she'll make a big deal out of it.

>>35202467
>Show her your special attributes
In a bashful/'hey don't get alarmed' way, not an 'ayy gurl wan sum fuk' way.

>>35202467
>Show her your special attributes

I can't not chose this.

inb4 it's the horn and tails

>show her your special atrributes
>'ayy gurl wan sum fuk?'

Welp. Better to show her now than to keep it for a surprise later.

Also, better interaction, imo.

>>35202581
anon pls

>>35202467
>Leave it aside and just play around
I kinda like the idea of her never finding out until we're already dating and getting down and dirty.

>>35202619
>waifuing this early

Anon, c'mon. It's too soon for this. New characters will be introduced as the quest goes and Lillith needs to spread the seed all over the world.

>>35202736
>Not waifuing the tanned half-elf necromancer
Are you behind schedule anon?

You cannot not consider the option.

The part that Tahenohan is seeing is fully within everyone's expectation, and so is the everything you saw of her body. You, however, have something else that might need some... Preparation.

It's already somewhat odd that she didn't notice when she slept on top of you last night, but hey, half-elves, don't ask.

You decide it's probably better to avoid misunderstandings or weird surprises.

"Say, Tahenohan", you try to start up the conversation as naturally as possible, but you find out you have no idea how to tactfully say "hi I'm a girl and I have a dick".

"Yea?", and now you got her attention, oh well, the ball is already rolling...

"Have you ever met interesting women before? I mean... Physically interesting, that have... Certain, particular features", you try and remain generic, but she stares at you as if she's waiting for some more details, "Like...".

"I've seen bigger breasts", she suddenly says, staring at yours.

That's definitely not what you were trying to get at.

"I was actually talking about lower regions", you suggest.

"Oh, I've once seen some kind of harem concubine that had a pierced clitoris, she was wearing a silver band there with an engraving that read-".

"I have a penis".

She stares at you for a moment. You even managed to stop her ramblings.

"I have a penis", you repeat. The only surefire way is a direct strike right now.

She blinks a few times, then dunks her head down in the water to take a look. Shortly there after she pulls back up with a huge, manic grin.

"Wow!", is her comment, and she dunks down again, and then she comes up again.

"Wow!"
"Wow!"
"Wow!"

... They all say, and then-

>WAIT JUST A MOMENT THERE!

>>35202886
wut

>>35202886
>she pulls back up with a huge, manic grin.
I thought that was her default?
At least she seems to like it.

You didn't expect this turn.

When Tahenohan comes back up from the water, so do two other girls, bearing smiles just as surprised and excited at what they just saw under the water. You have never seen them before and you have no idea where they come from.

"You really have a penis! That's kind of cool!", Tahenohan compliments you. Well, it's not really an achievement, you were just born that way, but she makes it sound like it's your merit, somehow.

"Wow! That's so cool! I wish more girls were like you!", the girl next to her says, she has red hair and something that look like large fins sprouting out from there, flapping excitedly.

"I kind of wish all girls were like you. Men are a bit slimy", says the other girl, who has blue and yellow hair and has a face less excited and more drowsy-looking, though that's probably just how her eyes are.

It takes you a few moments to realize that you're in the company of mermaids. That's why you didn't see them coming.

Mermaids are, along with harpies, an all-female monster race that hunt human males to reproduce. They have no use for women so they can consider themselves relatively safe in their company, or well, women like Tahenohan do.

You have what they want, which might be a good or a bad thing, depending on whether they want to rape you or just do small talk. Though you heard mermaids are less rapey than harpies, but then again what do you know? You don't usually wave your penis around for other monsters to see.

Not that you can help it in the water.

>"Hello there, who are you?", stay friendly, maybe they're just here for sightseeing
>"Uh, I'm sorry, it's for personal use"
>"Uh, I'm sorry, that's only for Tahenohan"
>Smile, get out of the water
>Other?

>>35202989
>"Hello there, who are you?", stay friendly, maybe they're just here for sightseeing
Let's hope.

>>35202989
>"Hello there, who are you?", stay friendly, maybe they're just here for sightseeing
>Smile, get out of the water
Get closer to the edge of the river

>>35202989
>"Uh, nice to meet you, I'm Lillith. And I see you've, uh, kind of met Tahe...well, I guess you've met most of me too really...anyway, who are you?"

>>35202989
Tell them it shoots blanks

>>35202989
>"Hello there, who are you?", stay friendly, maybe they're just here for sightseeing
I really don't think we could beat them to the shore if they really wanted to stop us, might as well stay friendly instead

>>35203088
>Ruining Tahenohans hopes and dreams
Bad anon!

>>35203099
we can tell her we were lying not to get raped later

>>35202989
>"Hello there, who are you?", stay friendly, maybe they're just here for sightseeing
>offer a free trial

Bwahahaha, awesome

>"Hello there, who are you?" stay friendly, maybe they're just here fot sightseeing

And what a sight to see!

"Hello there", you put up your most confident smile, "Who are you? I've never seen you before". You don't think you're in immediate danger, it's just two mermaids, it's not a whole school, if they tried to seduce you maybe the rest of the school would get angry and think they're trying to monopolize you instead of sharing.

You have no idea if they actually share or it's each for her own, you hope it's not the latter because you don't really feel like fertilizing eggs right now.

"I'm Mina!", the red-haired one with a proud expression exclaims, "This one is my friend, Sally".

"Hello!", sally says as she lazily waves her hand with a happy but somewhat dumb-looking smile.

"Hello!", Tahenohan joins in.

"We haven't seen you two around either", Mina furrows her brows and slithers closer to you with a sharp look, "Hu hu hu. What were you doing out there all alone, eh?".

"Taking a bath?", it looks rather obvious to you.

"Of course, it's the water after all!".

"Oh come on Sally you can't believe that!", Mina turns, then points at you, "Come on, she has a dick, she doesn't! What do you think they were going to do?".

Sally pauses and blinks, looking up into the sky as she thinks hard, but with all due time.

"... Trade groins?".

The water feels somewhat colder after that.

"... Forgive my friend", Mina sighs, "She's a tuna".

"We weren't actually going to do anything, though", you insist. You must absolutely insist that there is nothing related to sex going on here, at all. Your virtue might be in danger otherwise, "We're too broke for the public bath house and we were rather sweaty".

"Eeeeeeeeeeeh...", Mina looks really unsatisfied from your answer. You can't tell if it's because she wanted to do something with you or just watch.

"My my, being sweaty is bad for landwalkers", Sally nods sagely, "If they get too wet they melt".

>Move casually out of the water
>Stay closer to Tahenohan
>Stay relaxed
>Ask the mermaids what they're doing
>Other?

>>35202989
>"Hello there, who are you?" stay friendly, maybe they're just here fot sightseeing
But if they actually want to take our little guy for a ride, now way. For Tahe only.

>>35203307
>Move casually out of the water
Just to the edge of the water, don't jump out just yet.
>Stay relaxed
>Ask the mermaids what they're doing

>>35203307
>Stay relaxed

Just chill.

>>35203307
>Move casually out of the water
>Stay closer to Tahenohan
Please no rapey mermaids.

>>35203307
>Stay closer to Tahenohan
>Stay relaxed
>Ask the mermaids what they're doing
No panic yet!

>Stay relaxed
>Ask the mermaids what they're doing

>they melt

Hahaha, adorable misconceptions.

>>35203336
Backing!
I gotta sleep so thanks for running.

After witnessing the exchanges between the two mermaids, you think you can afford to relax a little. You decide to stick to Tahenohan, just to be sure, and fortunately she decides to wrap an arm around your shoulder and a leg around your thighs to support herself so she doesn't have to keep kicking to stay afloat. Her legs are rather lacking in body fat, and so are her arms, but fortunately she has a bit of meat on her sides, but what little breast of hers presses against you is telling that you should look for fat elsewhere on her body.

But hey, at least she looks (inadvertently) possessive which might keep the mermaids at bay if you misjudged them. Well, you can feel safe against Sally at least, she looks to dense to understand the concept of rape.

"So what are you doing out there?", you decide to ask, just to keep the conversation up.

"Nothing much", Mina shrugs, "Just skimming along the coast, see if there's some funny humans around".

"There are!", Sally exclaims with glee.

"Yay!", Tahenohan cheers too.

"Sally they're not even human! How dumb can you be?".
"Oh", and she looks at both you and tahenohan, and moves her finger as if she's making some deep, complex calculus, "Oh, but if you add them up, they make one human".
"Why are we friends?".

"Are there many of you in Reboldeux?", you decide to ask, "Considering how much people there is, you're bound to find plenty of interesting people around the docks".

"Yeah", and Mina rolls her eyes, "It's so crowded, I can't stand it. No way to get personal, you know?".

"And then, they all talk about the same stuff", Sally adds her two cents, "Come here, talk to me, touch me not her, fertilize my eggs not hers...".

"When they're not that overt it's even worse", Mina frowns, "All backstabbity and competitive and for what? Just a few cocks, pff", she shakes her head, "Women...".

>Ask how many mermaids are there
>Ask where mermaids live
>Well, that was fun, time to leave
>Other?

>>35203525
>Ask how many mermaids are there
>Ask where mermaids live

>>35203525
>Ask how many mermaids are there
>Ask where mermaids live
Yep yep.

>>35203525
>Ask how many mermaids are there
>offer to fertilize some eggs

Might as well take this opportunity.

>Ask how many mermaids are there
>Ask where mermaids livr
>"aay gurl wan sum fuk?"

I smell a plot hook? Or at least a minir side quest, maybe? Deal with the mermaid problem and only one way to do it~

>>35203648
>>35203607
>Taking mermaid sluts over delicious half-elf
This would be good for the cult admittedly, we could set up a small outpost here to boost relations and cohesiveness between the mermaids and humans, I'm sure they could be put to work properly in the docks.
And I'm 100% sure the men in the docks would be happy to give them their rewards in cum rather than in gold

>>35203525
>Ask where mermaids live

>But hey, at least she looks (inadvertently) possessive
>inadvertently
How naive!

>>35203674

Yep. Making friends with them would definetly good, maybe even reducing the amount of rape and possible hate for them.

Please no lewd with random mermaids.

>>35203727

They're not random! They're Mina and Sally!

"Do you mermaids live close to the port?", you ask. The situation turned out to be a lot friendlier than you first feared.

"Eh, sorta", Mina looks at Sally, "It's not like it's one place".
"We're all pretty much self-sufficient", Sally smiles.
"I don't know how to explain it to a landwalker. How and where we live I mean".
"It's amazing how you can build so far from the water!".
"Sally of course they can, they have legs. And they don't breathe water".
"Ooooh, right. I always forget about that part".

You see a hint of a shiver run down Mina's spine and you get the feeling you're both afraid Sally forgot about you having legs, not that you don't breathe water, and you both silently decide to just not ask.

"I don't think you have population problems though. Not with the amount of available men that we have right now", you suggest, trying to get a better grasp on how mermaids work around here.

"Eeeeeeeh", Mina just sprawls out on the water, hands behind her head, swimming slowly and lazily in circles around you. They're wearing some kind of odd, thick and non-transparent cloth to support their breasts and mostly jewelry, the cheap sort, to decorate their bodies. Waists and arms mostly, but Sally does have a simple clamshell necklace. She also has a lot more breast to show than Mina.

You wait for Mina to continue, and she just sighs, "We never had problems actually. I think there's like one hundred of us?", she talks as if that's a lot.
"Only from the blue reef or do you want to also count the sandy pits and the shell wastes and the-".
"There's lots of us", Mina cuts short, "We've been at peace with Reboldeux since forever and never had problems reproducing. But right now the popular girls are hogging all the meat".

Sally nods in agreement, "It's odd. If there's more men, shouldn't there be enough for everyone?".

>Ask who's hogging them all
>Ask if this is a problem
>Ask if they need help finding mates
>Ask if they need help having children
>Other?

>>35203792
>Ask who's hogging them all
>Ask if this is a problem

>>35203792
>Ask who's hogging them all
>Ask if they need help having children

So that's what's going on

>>35203792
>Ask who's hogging them all
>Ask if they need help having children

>>35203792
>Ask if this is a problem
>Ask if they need help having children

Time to offer the services only a cultist of Ishta can! Does the rite's paint wear off in water?

>>35203792
>Ask who's hogging them all
Please refrain from offering to have sex with them, they're used goods.

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>>35203874
>Does the rite's paint wear off in water?

Huh.

Good question.

You have no idea, but if you're going to throw a guess you'd say "yes".

You know orcs have traditional makeup that is water-proof, if you find some you can ask them if they can get you any. Or maybe you can just ask any merchant for orc-style makeup.

>>35203919

And we can even begin setting up an economy with the cult! Look at that, everyone will benefit from it.

"Who can be so insatiable as to want all the men for herself?", let's be honest: everyone has weird erotic fantasies from time to time, you included, but then you face reality and realize there's no way that can actually happen. To have so many potential mates available and have a few girls hog them all is odd, to say the least.

"Well, you see... There's limited space in the docks. Unless you want to be "accidentally" run over by a ship", she does the finger quotes at the accidentally part too. You wonder how common such accidents are, "And if a few girls and their clique hog them all...".

"The rest don't get any", the picture is clear and makes more sense now. It just couldn't be that more men meant less for everyone, "I suppose people like us are exceptions?".

"Yep", she nods, "It's better to have all the potential mates and various prey in one place. I don't think there's one mermaid left that is willing to hunt along the coast. Or remembers how to".

"Is this a problem for you?", you ask the mermaids, and Sally seems to be a little sad.

"Well...", she says, "I would like to get one for myself, but... I can't even get close to the dock...".

"Those girls are all pretty above the water but they're nasty, violent beasts below", Mina fumes briefly, then tries to relax as she almost accidentally drops underwater.

"Just to be clear...", you start to get your brain to work on something, "Do you need help having children?".

Mina suddenly blushes and drops underwater for good, Sally instead just smiles, "Eeeeh, that would be great~".

"Because if that's the problem, then I can help you".

>"I am a priestess of Isthar"
>"I can find a way to send men in other places than the dock"
>"I can try and do something about the selfish mermaids"
>Other?

>>35204048
>"I am a priestess of Isthar"
>"I can find a way to send men in other places than the dock"
>"I can try and do something about the selfish mermaids"

>>35204048
>"I am a priestess of Isthar"

PRAISE ISHTAR

>"I am a priest of Ishtar."

Hm, ishtar is known amond the monsterfolk, this will be good

>>35204048
>"I am a priestess of Isthar"
>"I can try and do something about the selfish mermaids"
Quick question, what other reason would someone have to not stay around the dock? For someone who's not a mermaid, at least.

All I can think of is fishing, so sending people to the coast seems a bit iffy? The docks are limited, though, the problem would begin again as soon as it's solved the first time.

>>35204184
Actually, with all the ships moving to and fro, if you need to fish you have better luck getting a fishing boat and sailing further up in the sea. There's also more catch.

That and fishing in a place that mermaids hang out in is a bad idea. What if your hook gets tangled in their hair or worse? You won't hear the end of it.

>>35204048
>"I am a priestess of Isthar"

"I am a priestess of Ishtar", you proclaim.

"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"BLBLRBURB!"

You were expecting Sally's excited reaction, and even Mina bursting back up from the water, but you could only wonder if Tahenohan had an idea of who Isthar was until now, that she looks at you with eyes that have a mixture of amazement and surprise.

"Oh goodness! I'm so happy!", Sally clasps her hands on her chest with a sincere smile, "I never would have expected a human to worship Ishtar!".

"They exist, but I didn't think I'd find one here!", Tahenohan stares at you with wide, merry eyes, "How did you receive your calling?".

"BBRGLSTOP! WAIT!", Mina flails about in the water a little, as red as a bell pepper. Of the red variety. "SALLY! How can you talk of such embarrassing things so openly!".
"Eeeeh? What's wrong with that?".
"Don't "what's wrong" me! We're talking about having our eggs f-f-fertilized!", she wasn't embarrassed when talking about the topic in general, but now that the conversation moved towards her eggs, she's getting all flustered.

"I can help you if you have fertility problems. Don't be ashamed, I'll keep it private", you offer, "I can also try and help you get mates".

"I-I don't need any help doing that!", and Mina buries half her face down in the water as Sally pats her head with a content smile.

"Still, something needs to be done about those selfish mermaids", you decide. Being now more than safe in the assumption that you won't be raped, you wonder if you can do something to help the local mermaid community, even if strictly speaking they don't really need help. The population is high and they're not having problems getting mates per se.

But still...

>"Let's try to organize mate-calling a bit better. I'll confront the mermaids"
>"Let's try to organize mate-calling a bit better. Get the non-popular mermaids together"
>"The dock alone is too little, let's make more hot spots"
>"Let me organize some people, you bring me the needy mermaids"
>Other?

>>35204048
>"I can find a way to send men in other places than the dock"
>"I can try and do something about the selfish mermaids"
Not having sex with you, though. You can forget that.

>>35204315
>"Let's try to organize mate-calling a bit better. I'll confront the mermaids"
>"Let's try to organize mate-calling a bit better. Get the non-popular mermaids together"
>"The dock alone is too little, let's make more hot spots"
>"Let me organize some people, you bring me the needy mermaids"

>>35204315
>"The dock alone is too little, let's make more hot spots"

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>>35204329
I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you really need to give yourself some priorities. Sometimes doing everything is a waste of effort instead of a valid option.

>>35204315
>"The dock alone is too little, let's make more hot spots"
>"Let's try to organize mate-calling a bit better. I'll confront the mermaids"

This will need lots of dialogue between mermaids and landdwellers

I can't believe this isn't a smut quest

"Even if we organize the mate-calling better, it won't solve the problem with the mermaids", you feel that they're likely no threat at all to the land dwellers, who might not mind their attentions, but it's creating some noticeable discontent amongst the mermaids, and this needs to be addressed. Creating more hot spots is a good start, but it won't solve everything.

"They don't listen, and actually get violent where the men can't see", Mina grumps, frowning noticeably and flaring her fins and hair a bit, "Dirty bastards, down to the last of them, I'll just-".
"No, no", Sally shakes her head, holding Mina's shoulders, "No violence. That is bad".
"Well then tell me how we're going to put them in their place!".

"I will go confront them", you offer, and the two mermaids turn to look at you as if they don't know what they should say. "They won't listen if it's you, and can get violent where they can't be seen by human eyes, right?", you tap your chest with a confident smile, "They can't do that to me, and I can talk to the land walkers and tell them just how horrible they are".

The two mermaids blink, and Sally looks very relieved, "You would do that for us?".

"Absolutely", you promise.

"Thank you!", and she suddenly hugs you, also getting Tahenohan in the process as she's still clung to you.
"Yay!" Tahenohan goes, joining the group hug. Of course, Mina's absence is painfully obvious as she stares at you from a few paces away.

"Come on!", Sally invites her.
"Oh no I-".
"Come on!".
"FFFFINE!", and she flares her fins as she reluctantly hugs you as well, but only for the bare minimum necessary, "D-don't misunderstand, I'm glad, I just...".

"Yes, yes", you pat her shoulder with an understanding smile, "Don't you worry. I'll make sure the situation is resolved as soon as possible".

Well that's a high promise of you to make, but then again it is your first effort in favour of the local monster population. Ishtar will be proud of you.

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Aaaand this is the end of Episode four! Thanks to everyone for bearing with me.

Wow, I was expecting to fall asleep halfway through and instead I managed to keep trucking. I'm kind of proud of myself. He he.

I'll stay around for about ten or twenty minutes this time, I really have to go to bed soon. I'll be archiving the thread right now.

>>35204588

Thanks for running, MP! It was an enjoyable thread.

Next time, get on IRC!

>>35204588
Really enjoyed the thread today, politics work was cool, got an uncontrollable boner when we showed our boner, and rather liked the mermaids too

>>35204588

I like your characters. I thought the mermaids would be just a single scene, or maybe two, but this, heh, a sidequest already? Me likes.

>>35204588

Might want to advertise the quest, btw. This very low amount of players is dangerous...but so is attracting the wrong audience, i guess...

>>35204588

Oh, right, next thread when?

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>>35204606
I was busy enough on Skype as it was running, but next time I'll try and remember

>>35204628
Expect more monstergirls in the future considering whose goddess you're a priestess of.

>>35204704
I wasn't expecting that development either but hey, sidequesting is good.

>>35204736
Advertise where?

>>35204759
Not sure. I'll see if it can be this week but I doubt it.

>>35204800

Well.../qtg/ is usually the place for it, so it's a bit iffy.

You can try hanging out on IRC, and some people will get curious/interested in it naturally. Last time you were there, someone read the three archived threads and liked it, remember?

>>35204852
I remember, yes. I'll see if I can be a bit more present.

I probably should remember to link the archives too when I start the next episode.

And now I'm off to bed because it's super late. Thanks again for staying through this episode!

>>35204736
>>35204800
Advertising probably isn't a great idea. You just kinda run in a slow timezone.