This is it. Today you're going to explore the Shadow Marches on behalf of the Duke of Reboldeux, proudly fulfilling your Exploration Charter. You remember about the imminent bureaucratic change of a proper March being reinstituted soon, which would mean your charter would no longer depend on Reboldeux but on the new Marquise, whomever he or she might be. You're not sure what kind of impact this will have on your work but you've seen enough bureaucracy to be certain it will have some.

Your companions are still either asleep or stirring lightly, their bodies preparing to recover from their slumber. It's just you, Tahenohan and Bryld, and out of three only the half-elf has any experience in actual exploration.

You're pretty sure you can go and fetch a good breakfast from the gossip-mongers that take care of the open-air communal kitchen for all the workers and volunteers that help this village grow. The idea of facing their endless, and most importantly pointless chatter makes you shiver, but at least you have a very good excuse to leave them behind and run away as fast as you can if they ever become that overbearing again.

You've checked your equipment more than once and you're more than sure that everything is in order. It's all a matter of getting breakfast and then finally leaving.

>Stay a bit and ask for information about the surrounding area while you have breakfast
>Explore North-east, towards the low grasslands
>Explore East, towards the light woods
>Explore South-East, towards the thicker jungle
>Explore South, towards high grassland
>Other?

File: ohhowhynotadventureourselves.png (135 KB, 1000x700)

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Character and setting info: http://pastebin.com/u/MagicalPrincess
Archives: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Start+Over+Quest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicalMarquise
Ask.fm: http://ask.fm/MagicalMarquise
Collection of character descriptions (WIP, courtesy of anon): http://pastebin.com/LHr4meHg

>>36248713
>Explore South-East, towards the thicker jungle

This is where the arachne is, right?

>>36248732
>filename

Every damn time.

I love this picture.

>>36248704
>Explore South-East, towards the thicker jungle

>>36248732
http://pastebin.com/pzYffs0R
Update.

Thinking of doing some more of these at some point, maybe. If I get more time. Maybe a Eugenics one to lay things out? Race encyclopedia? Not sure

>>36248713
>>Explore South-East, towards the thicker jungle
I feel kind of bad forcing Bryld to start mapping with the jungle, though.

>>36248946

What about lillith?

>>36248985
Lillith's details are currently rather vague, on top of this we gain more details as the quest continues. If I was going to add Lillith to the list it'd essentially be copy and pasting the description across from the regular sheet and adding outfits.

The real reason is because I forgot.

>>36248713
>Explore South, towards high grassland
Elevated land should help getting an idea of the surroundings if a decent hill can be found I suppose.

>>36249040

Lillith has quite a bit of info spread in the threads too. Like how her horns feel, and her tail.

her hair to, no?

As expected, fetching breakfast is a nerve-wracking experience where you do your best to avoid being caught in the land of endless gossip once again. Since the kind of people that have nothing to do other than talk about other people's business are much bolder than your cartographer, one of the first questions you're asked is whether Tahenohan is your girlfriend or not.

You glaze over the issue, not wanting to get stuck trying to explain something complicated to people who want nothing but to use you as a topic to distract them from the passing of time. You gather breakfast and bring it to your companions who are grooming and dressing up. They thank you and give you time to do the same. You can tell they are all eager and excited, and Bryld looks a little worried too, but you suppose she is about as concerned as you are about the expedition, being your first time and all.

Dressed for the situation, you hoist your backpacks and leave, heading South-east, towards the thicker jungle.

Most of what you cross is grasslands, at first, and you can't help but notice something you've picked on for a while: palms and coconut trees are rather scarce compared to how frequently you would stumble into one while you were along the coast. They haven't disappeared completely, but you realize that coconut milk won't exactly be the substitute to water you might have first believed.

You remember people mentioning rivers being scarce as well, and yet the village of New Royo didn't seem to have problems with water being supplied and even used for the showers despite the lack of a working aqueduct. Of course, they have huge water collecting basins on top of the showers and on some other roofs, or on the ground. Still, waiting for rain to fall just to quench your thirst doesn't seem like a good idea.

But you've seen people come and go with buckets, so there might be a river or at least a stream nearby. You're not sure where, but maybe you'll just find it.

>Continue

File: THE RED MAN.gif (986 KB, 500x281)

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>>36249069
You know, I hadn't thought about including the sensitivities of things or how they feel. Also didn't see the lack of hair description in the main info thing. I'll get to it.

After a couple hours, the grasslands and occasional, isolated copse of trees turns into a veritable jungle. Light still shines bright from the hot sun and it's pleasantly filtered by the thick vegetation; however, while the shade is welcome, you also immediately realize that you can't see in the distance too well, and while there's no area of the jungle so thick that it falls into darkness, there's so much foliage and obstacles in general that it's hard to see far ahead.

You begin to wonder if this wasn't the worst place to start from, it looks like it's extremely easy to get lost in a place this complex with this little visibility, and Bryld might have problems mapping something like this. She isn't complaining, but you suspect she's the sort of person that doesn't voice a complaint until she really can't take it any more.

You also realize that it's difficult to progress at all in certain areas, the vegetation is just too thick to move further without violently chopping everything away with something both sharp and heavy, and even that would take time. You then resolve to just go around such obstructions, and generally keep in the outskirts of the jungle, exploring a little without going deep inside. Yet.

The jungle is everything but quiet. Chirping and odd animal calls fill the air and there is practically not a single moment where no sound reaches your ears. The trees are very close to each other, not too large individually but all rich in foilage and creepers. Bushes and similar low plants also make it difficult to both walk and see where you're going, with colourful strands of vegetation hanging from above. Most of them are green, but blood red and bright yellow aren't uncommon either, and the brown of the various trees ranges through many shades.

>Focus on the flora
>Focus on the fauna
>Move deeper inside
>Stop and ask your companions for suggestions
>Look for edible food
>Look for water
>Other?

>>36249269
>Stop and ask your companions for suggestions
Bryld, I mean, she's the cartographer even it's her first time out and mapping on her own.

Alternatively look for water.

>>36249269
>>Look for water

This is priority any time.

>>36249269
>>Look for water

>>36249269
>Look for edible food
>Look for water
>Focus on the flora

The actual risk of dying of thirst out in the wilderness is rather low unless you actually become lost. You don't think this will happen if you don't delve deeper into the jungle: you can still look behind you and see where the trees give way to more grassland, and from there it's rather easy to find New Royo once again. At worst it will have been a bad adventure and you'll call it a day and try again later.

But still, you decide to not underestimate the issue.

You scan the outskirts of the jungle for water sources, moving brushes aside, looking around trees, but quickly realize that there are no water sources in sight unless you decide to move deeper inside or walk all around the jungle, effectively changing your destination.

You then stop and focus, trying to listen for the sound of rushing water. All kinds of animal calls, brushing, slithering and other odd noises come to your ears but nothing resembling water. Well, not that you can be certain about.

It's only when you notice Bryld cautiously looking about with her ears fully perked that you remember she has a much better sense of hearing than you do. You're not sure about Tahenohan's, her pointy ears might be just for show, but Bryld already proved herself once, even if you found nothing in the end.

"Do you hear rustling water?", you ask, and she nearly jumps when you talk to her, wide-eyed for a moment until she forces herself to relax.

"Uh-Uhm... No", she shakes her head but then tenses her ears again, "No... I don't think so. This- this place is full of sounds. I think there might be snakes. W-we should be careful".

Snakes and who knows what else. You realize that all sorts of things could hide in a place this thick in vegetation. You actually suspect that something dangerous and possibly poisonous might come out from behind every leaf you brush aside.

>Look for edible food
>Focus on the flora
>Focus on the fauna
>Stop and ask for suggestions
>Move deeper inside
>Other?

>>36249530
>Stop and ask for suggestions
Yup, I'm clueless.

>>36249530
>Focus on the flora
>ask for suggestions

>>36249530
>Focus on the flora

Animals are too variable, as they can move around and present a danger. Flora, though, can be used as reference and to delineate the jungle's limits

>>36249530
>Stop and ask for suggestions

>>36249530
>>Focus on the flora
We can use moss to suss out water sources... right?

Not wanting to lead your expedition astray already because of your overconfidence or incompetence, you decide to stop for a moment and think it through with everyone. At least this way it won't just be your fault, though you already know that kind of thinking is really low.

"Is the jungle too thick to keep going this way? Bryld, can you map a place like this one?", you ask.

Bryld doesn't look so sure. You notice she has a small notebook in hand where she's been sketching something, but she looks down on it with the insecurity of someone that has no idea what they've been writing until just now. "I- It's going to be a challenge. I-I won't draw an actual map until we properly explore the outskirts, though. We have to know how far the borders of this jungle go".

And that is going to take a long time, but you're not here just for mapping. Exploring is more than that.

You realize you need points of reference, and so does Bryld. You look around trying to find some in the nearby vegetation and realize that there's quite a few interesting things.

Other than the sometimes colourful creepers, there's plenty of mushrooms. The most common of which grow on the base of trees: some with very tall and thin stems and brown caps, others with low and very thick stems and similarly brown caps. You spot the occasional group of mushroom with the bright red and white-dotted cap that even you know is tremendously poisonous.

Then there's a few other specimen of fungi, like a kind that grow on trunks that are very small and blue-capped, with some emerald green stripes on the short stems. Higher above you, you see a single, very large tree that has a series of mushrooms growing upside down on its taller branches. They have black caps with bright purple fins, like butterfly wings. Or are they actual butterflies?

>Focus on the fauna
>Look for edible food
>Climb the tree and check the mushrooms
>Take the mushrooms (which kind?)
>Move deeper inside
>Ask Tahenohan for advice
>Other?

>>36249785
>Ask Tahenohan for advice
What's the worst that can happen?

>>36249785
>>Climb the tree and check the mushrooms
See if they're edible. Or if they're not even mushrooms.

>>36249785
>Climb the tree and check the mushrooms
>take the mushrooms (one of each, except for poisonous)

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>>36249785
>Ask Tahenohan for advice
I cannot see how this can go wrong in anyway whatsoever....

>>36249785
>Look for edible food

Since having extra food is better than not having it, you grab one mushroom of each kind, except for the one you know for sure is poisonous. You're actually not completely sure the others are edible, but then again you have a bit of rations with you, you should be able to survive a couple days even if you find nothing to forage. At worst, you'll bring them back to the village and hope someone can identify them.

You turn to Tahenohan and decide to rely on your most experienced party member for advice, "What should we do now? Do you know what these mushrooms up there even are?".

"I don't!", she sounds excited, though, "This is my first time being in such a place! Kuha~".

Of course. She comes from the other side of the world. She's been surrounded by wasteland, deserts and rocks for the majority of her life.

You then decide to climb the tree and check the peculiar mushrooms that grow upside-down. You drop the backpack at the base of the trees and grasp its trunk, looking for useful handholds. It's like being a kid again, except you have nobody screaming at you because you're climbing too high or doing something dangerous and stupid, even though you might be. Also, you're stronger than when you were a kid, which is a good thing because you're also heavier, and climbing higher.

The bark is tough and healthy and holds your weight well; you can't help but feel insects all around you, from ants crawling in the same directions to mosquitoes and other similar buzzing things. Trying your best to ignore them and avoid grabbing mushrooms or other unsteady holds, you hoist yourself up to a branch from where you can take a closer look.

The mushrooms don't have butterflies on them, they really just have vibrant purple crowns that resemble lace on the sleeves of a pretty dress. The branch you're on looks solid enough to hold your weight if you wanted to stand and grab one.

>Grab one
>Don't, climb down
>Look around from your elevated position
>Other?

>>36250136
>Look around from your elevated position

Vantage point! Look for references!

>>36250136
>Look around from your elevated position
>Grab one

>>36250136
>Other?
Leave the jungle, you don't really map a jungle from the inside, the locals probably don't know much about the shrooms & animals in it either since it's a relatively new village.

>>36250136
>>Look around from your elevated position
>>Grab one

>>36250136
>Look around from your elevated position
Yep.

You take a moment to look around since you went through all the trouble to get into a vantage position. While you have to admit first and foremost that the jungle is too thick for this to be an actual advantage, the scenario still feels very nice and exotic.

While the actual tree canopy is still well above your head, you can better appreciate the intricate mix of branches, at various heights and at different thickness, and the colourful contributions of creepers, dense foliage, strange fruits, nuts and berries and other sorts of flowers you don't recognize. It almost feels like being in an entirely different place than when you had your feet on the ground.

You can still look down and see what's there, and you notice that the mushrooms you picked before do in fact come from around the roots of one larger tree, directly in front of you, and it's a circle only broken by the presence of the amanita muscaria on one side, its bright colours in stark contrast with the rest.

Very carefully, you put your feet on the branch and slowly stand as upright as possible without losing your footing. You thank your demonic parent for having given you a tail, Deviluke or something if you are to trust that Yomi fellow, because it really helps your sense of balance and makes you feel relatively safe.

You extend your hand and grab one of the mushrooms from the stems, pulling it down with the bare minimum amount of strength to avoid accidentally falling down. You succeed, and are now in possession of one of the oddest mushrooms you've ever seen. Not that the ones with emerald green veins weren't strange, but still.

You put it in the same satchel as the others and proceed to climb down, returning to the same level as everyone else. You hear Bryld let out a sigh of relief when you join them, still safe and sound.

>Move deeper into the jungle
>Get out, circle its borders Northwards
>Get out, circle its borders Southwards
>Other?

>>36250358
>Move deeper into the jungle
May as well I guess

>>36250358
>Move deeper into the jungle

Arachne where?

Isn't exploring the jungle closest tot he roads a good idea?

>>36250358
>>Get out, circle its borders Southwards
Bryld said go around the borders first.

>>36250358
>Get out, circle its borders Southwards

Going in right now is suicide.

Or a recipe to be rescued.

>>36250358
>Get out, circle its borders Southwards

>>36250358
>Move deeper into the jungle
EXPLORAN!

Gonna need a tie breaker between moving deeper and circling South

>>36250358
>Get out, circle its borders Southwards

You look at the jungle ahead. Even if you pull out your machete and start hacking at it all, you're going to waste a very long time to get... You're not even sure where. You start to doubt this is a good idea, even if you're not an experienced explorer you have the inkling that you're doing something wrong, taking the route straight into the worst parts first.

"It's too thick to go further", you explain the others, "Let's circle out Southwards. Bryld, take notes, the Duke would like to know how big this jungle is".

Bryld nods and you move out, returning into the grasslands but still very close to the jungle itself. Close enough to see where the woods start thickening, far enough to travel without impairment and without hitting anything.

You immediately realize that the jungle is, well, huge. It takes another couple hours of walking before you end up in a more lightly forested area. You're not quite close to the road you followed to arrive in New Royo, not at all, but you feel like the area is similar to what you've seen during that time.

Eastwards, the jungle thickens again, but not as much and only in the distance from what you can tell. There's plenty of lightly forested areas to explore, and even when they thicken they're not as tremendously thick as that jungle was, you're pretty sure you can walk around freely and run a much lower risk of getting lost.

Besides, you were going to camp out anyways, so it's not like you were expecting to come back within the day. That would make exploration take way too long and be way too ineffective.

You also start to feel somewhat hungry. It should be noon, after all, and walking a lot does make people hungry. Good thing you brought rations.

>Eat your rations
>Try to cook the mushrooms (which?)
>Look for edible food nearby
>Other?

>>36250739
>Look for edible food nearby
We should be able to find food, based on what, well, everyone's said.

>>36250739
>Look for edible food nearby
Taproots and grass for everyone! Yaaaay...

>>36250739
>>Look for edible food nearby

>>36250739
>Look for edible food nearby

There are various berries on the higher part of the jungle, no?

You've been told going hungry is nearly impossible in the Shadow Marches, or that at least these lands should be so fertile that finding food for a small group such as yours should be very easy. You've also heard Jacob, the man that gave you a ride on his caravan with his wife, claim that everyone was overestimating how far that will get considering the speed at which population was growing, but you don't think that applies to your current situation.

As expected, you still find a coconut tree, and go grab one of them each, easily climbing up the palm's trunk. You then look around and notice your group is being curiously stared at by a few members of the local wildlife, a group of three small lemurs, with soft-looking, short brown fur and long fluffy tails. But the most important part is that they're all nibbling on something that looks like fruit.

Looking around more, especially where they came from, you notice a few mango trees in the distance, and that some of the taller trees in this lightly forested area have nuts on them. The bushes also carry berries, bright red in colour and not familiar to you. The nuts are of a shape and type you've never seen before either, all rough and irregular but otherwise very round.

You idly wonder how much of this is edible, but you're sure the fruit is. The berries and nuts may be a bit of a gamble, but it's better than resorting to eat roots. And there's plenty of that all around, that's why everyone was telling you going hungry was impossible.

Still, it's better to try and eat something tasty while you can, good morale and a varied diet are both very important to the success of your expedition.

"Ah, look look!", as soon as you return with your findings, you see Tahenohan showing you a bunch of black berries she has collected while Bryld was busy pulling over some large, fallen branches to act as impromptu benches.

>Eat all the safe food
>Also eat the nuts
>Also eat your berries
>Also eat Tahenohan's berries
>Other?

>>36250991
>Eat all the safe food
>eat Tahenohan's berries

Here's hoping they're hallucinogenics.

>>36250991
>Eat all the safe food
>Also eat the nuts
>Also eat Tahenohan's berries

>>36250991
>Eat all the safe food
>Ask Tahe if she knows anything about those berries.

>>36250991
>>Eat all the safe food
>>eat Tahenohan's berries
Berries typically aren't hallucinogenic, though, right?

>>36251084

Hopefully they are, in this new wild land.

"Do you know anything about these berries?", you ask Tahenohan, wondering why she picked them up.

"They look tasty don't they?", she answers, showing she doesn't, "Don't they look like those blackberries they use to make jam?".

You don't think they're the same, but then again they don't look too different, you wonder if it's a tropical variation of those blackberries. Since that's that, you consider it's worth risking it and add them to your diet.

You then look ad Bryld, busy moving large branches and dead, hollow trunks about. At first you wonder why she's going through all that trouble when you can just sit on the ground, then you realize she's forming some kind of triangle, which would be a very easy to recognize landmark in case you become lost and happen to stumble around these parts again. As soon as you realize this, you move over to help her, and she thanks you with a small smile, more than happy to be done and then sit down to eat.

She stares at the collection of food, mostly fruit, to which you add some bread from your rations in order to give you more energy for the rest of the day. You think she's probably wondering if those berries are safe for eating, just like you are, but she eventually accepts the risk, which means she has no idea either.

You don't think you're risking much more than tummy ache, but then again you thought telling edible from non-edible food would have been easier out in the wilderness. You're quite confident you could have done it very well back in your homeland, but here? Everything seems a little alien, even when it shouldn't.

After your lunch break, you stop to rest and recuperate for a little, which gives you time to ponder what to do next, and Bryld to trace a better sketch of the area you've explored until now.

>Move East, deeper into the woods
>Keep going South, towards taller grassland
>Turn back North, circle the jungle the other way
>Other?

>>36251217
>Move East, deeper into the woods

At least it's not a jungle.

>>36251217
Move East, deeper into the woods

>>36251217
>>Move East, deeper into the woods
We should find it easier to navigate the woods than the jungle, though we should constantly mark our route.

Feeling that the woods are much easier to navigate than the thick jungle you were in before, you decide to head Eastwards, continuing to circle the jungle that, you're sure, is a lot larger than you first thought, and possibly too large for just one group to explore completely unless you decide to start spending months just doing that.

You immediately realize that going in a straight line is almost impossible without either entering the jungle again or finding obstacles; even with Bryld's compass it becomes very easy to go off route. You first thought about bringing your utility knife out and marking trees, but then you considered that unless you made such marks with a machete it was going to be difficult to even just find such marks, especially when it starts getting dark. You instead copy Bryld's idea and occasionally stop to move rocks or branches about in odd patterns that don't occur naturally, just so you can be sure you've already been there, if you ever become lost.

The woods are pleasant and the chirping of birds is accompanied by the sounds of slithering and the calls of other animals, many of them primates. You can also hear insect calls, like those of crickets, but a little different, just enough to sound alien to your ears. The air smells fresh and moist and the temperature is still quite hot, it's practically impossible to not sweat, and this means your waterskin is going to be put to use a bit more than you first imagined.

Tahenohan is smart enough to be quiet as she walks despite the clearly excited (read: manic) expression. Bryld too is quiet, although she always looks on edge, with her bunny ears constantly perked. You wonder if they're going to be sore with tension tonight.

You then come across a few cobwebs between some of the closer trees. They're again rather isolated, but way too large for an ordinary spider.

>Investigate the cobwebs
>Grab the cobwebs
>Cut the cobwebs
>Look around for signs of spiders
>Ignore them, move on
>Other?

>>36251505
>>Look around for signs of spiders
>Investigate the cobwebs
SPIIIIIIDERS

>>36251505
>Investigate the cobwebs
>Look around for signs of spiders

No. Touching. Tell Tahe to not touch.

>>36251505
>>Investigate the cobwebs
>>Look around for signs of spiders
Prepare to flee at first sign of red skulls.

>>36251505
>Investigate the cobwebs
>Look around for signs of spiders

Gettign hot?

>>36251505
>Look around for signs of spiders
>Investigate the cobwebs

You could understand getting concerned over nothing if it was once. But twice?

There's clearly something that needs to be confirmed here, and you're here to do it. It's part of your job as an explorer. You move in closer to the cobwebs to investigate, and notice that they create some kind of string barrier between a few trees, in no particular pattern or order. They're not like ordinary webs: they don't have that, well, web shape, they look more like strings pulled from one tree to another to make someone trip and fall... Like a giant, because you're pretty sure you would just get caught completely as they reach a bit above your midriff.

Tahenohan is also clearly fascinated, looking at them from close enough to almost poke her nose against them. Bryld is staying back and doesn't look like she likes these cobwebs much.

You also look around for signs of spider presence, because you can't possibly miss something that can spin a web this large. Then again, looking around, especially up, makes you realize that if whomever made this web was still there, you would have noticed already.

Instead, you notice a large brown spider poised on one of the trees you are examining. Its bloated abdomen has short hair but its legs seem to be devoid of such pigment, instead being in black and brown stripes. Its many black eyes stare at its surroundings as you investigate the cobwebs, and doesn't seem to care much when you spot it.

Then, when it becomes apparent even to a mere spider that you can tell it was not the culprit of such cobweb-spinning activities, it starts slowly creeping downwards towards the ground. It's about as large as your open hand. Large, but not large enough.

"I wonder if this is the kind of spider silk they make exotic clothes with", Tahenohan still looks very fascinated. Admittedly, it does look sturdy...

>Grab some cobweb
>Cut some cobweb
>Try and track the huge spider down
>The huge spider is clearly not here, move on
>Other?

>>36251505
.........
Lyra is that you?

>>36251729
>Try and track the huge spider down

>>36251729
>Other?
Grab a stick and poke the web. Hopefully it'll attract them.
>Try and track the huge spider down

>>36251729
>>Try and track the huge spider down
I feel a bit bad about it, since Bryld wants to rabbit out of here.

>>36251729
>Grab some cobweb
Maybe it'll draw the spider out.

>>36251729
>Cut some cobweb
>>Try and track the huge spider down

>>36251733
Go on, explain anon.

>>36251805
REQM's quest thread the mc's name is Lyra and she is a Arachne

>>36251826
Oh. THAT again.

>>36251729
>Poke the cobweb with a stick

Cutting cobweb- especially some that thick seems a bit daft.

>>36251847
Sorry i can't help but make that joke and wait what do you mean again?

>>36251729
>Pluck the web like the string on an instrument
Vibrations!

Astreya told you about an arachne she still hasn't met and that should live around here. You therefore decide it's your sacred duty to find it, especially because it sounds like the local arachne population is in need of help. Filled with holy conviction, you set out and track the giant spider down.

And immediately realize you have absolutely no idea what kind of tracks a giant spider leaves.

You try and rack your brain, but real spiders are no real indication of anything, they're not large enough to leave footprints on the ground. Even the large one you saw before doesn't, no matter how hard you stare at it as it lazily scuttles along the somewhat grassy ground, uncaring about your presence. You scan the ground once more but find absolutely zero signs of any kind of footprint you can imagine associating to a giant spider.

You then remember that you actually do have a useful mundane reference: the cobweb itself. You nearly extend your hand towards it before pulling it back immediately, realizing that would be quite stupid. You then grab a stick and proceed to poke it.

As expected, the stick gets stuck in there. You pull it a bit, then yank, and somehow manage to unlodge it, but if it was something organic or heavier you're pretty sure it would get stuck for good. Like, if you were to bump into a web like that one you're not sure how you'd get out.

And now that you think about it, unless there's some invisible strings, the cobwebs only reach a few trees away, you don't think the vibrations are getting anywhere, you might be unable to alert the giant spider of your presence just by soliciting the cobwebs. Maybe the arachne just spun them to mark the area and not get lost?

Bryld still looks rather uncomfortable near them. You hope she doesn't freak out at the sight of spiders because that might make things difficult.

>Stay awhile and wait
>Proceed and be on the look for more cobwebs
>Ask Bryld if she hates spiders
>Other?

>>36252035
>Proceed and be on the look for more cobwebs

>>36252035
>Ask Bryld if she hates spiders

>>36252035
>Proceed and be on the look for more cobwebs
>>Ask Bryld if she hates spiders

>>36252035
>Proceed and be on the look for more cobwebs
>Ask Bryld if she hates spiders
>Ask Tahe what she thinks of spiders
Just some smalltalk while walking around

>>36252035
>>Proceed and be on the look for more cobwebs
>>Ask Bryld if she hates spiders
>>Ask Tahe what she thinks of spiders
Sure.

>>36252035
>Ask Bryld if she hates spiders

>>36252035
>Proceed and be on the look for more cobwebs

It's too important to not ask, and it also makes you genuinely curious.

"Do you dislike spiders, Bryld?", you wonder, moving away from the cobwebs so she can join you once again.

"N-not particularly", she claims at first, but her voice is unsure, "I-I mean I don't really like them. I can take small ones, those that crawl around the house, even if they're icky, but... I-I don't know, spiders that big? Ew... Just the thought of having one crawl on me is...", and she visibly shivers.

Not that you don't understand her, if that brown spider from before, the size of your hand, was actually on your hand instead of on the tree, you're not sure how much you would have managed to keep your cool. You can understand that she feels uncomfortable, but then again she was with you when you were talking about arachne and other monsters around, she should be aware of what to expect.

"How do you feel about spiders?", you then ask Tahenohan.

"Eh", she shrugs, "They make webs, which are annoying, really. Contrarily to popular belief they're not really a useful component for magic, they just stick to your hair and face and everything and then the spiders crawl on you because they're pissed and sometimes they bite too. That's bad when you're going somewhere already dark, damp and dangerous", she makes an icked face, "And some are really, really poisonous. You could die if they bite you".

The latest comment makes Bryld go pale and be a lot more careful where she puts her feet.

Nonetheless, you proceed onwards, walking through the forest and avoiding the parts where it thickens and begins to turn into a jungle. You notice that the vegetation isn't too different from what little you've seen, it's just the density that's really, really very different.

The sunlight is also starting to slightly, but noticeably decrease. You've been walking for a while, and you have a few hours of daylight left, but still no cobwebs in sight.

>March onwards while you can
>Stop and set up camp
>Other?

>>36252245
>Stop and set up camp
Getting stuck in the jungle without light is a very bad idea

>>36252245
>March onwards while you can

>>36252245
>Stop and set up camp
Don't wanna make camp while you can't see anything. Although getting a fire ging might be difficult since it's a tropical area.

>>36252245
>March onwards while you can

There's still light

>>36252245
>>Stop and set up camp
Make a camp while it's light out: we've yet to actually make a camp, so we need as much light as we can get.

>>36252245
>March onwards while you can

>>36252245
>Stop and set up camp
Safe rather than sorry.

You decide to take it safe and set up camp. You're not very experienced with tents in the first place and you don't want to risk doing so without the adequate amount of light; and, as Astreya already told you last night, your lantern oil is better saved for when you really need it.

As expected, putting up a tent correctly isn't something that can be done well the first time, and by the time you find an even enough surface to do it and get it right, the amount of daylight available has drastically decreased to barely acceptable levels. You can still see where you're putting your feet, but it's not helping.

You also realize that the place is so humid that starting a campfire isn't as easy as you first thought. For one because there's little in the way of dry branches, and for another because, well, it's very humid. You don't remember lighting fires being this difficult.

"Can you light a fire with magic?", you ask Tahenohan, trying to hide your frustration, but it only gets worse when she shakes her head.

"I could freeze up some water, though", she smiles, trying to find a way of being useful. Despite her attempt, you can't really make use of that ability right now.

You're hungry again, and hunting for food right now would be very dangerous. Tahenohan still manages to get some kind of fire going, but it's small and somewhat weak. You still could cook something that doesn't require much heat, but you're not sure for how long it will be there.

Good thing it's very warm out here, at least.

The sounds are very different at night. The rustling, albeit distant, is still there and somewhat constant, the birds don't chirp any more but you hear the calls of bird of prey and the constant grating of insect calls, like crickets but not quite crickets. You rarely hear something from your immediate vicinities.

>Look for edible food nonetheless
>Briefly explore the surroundings
>Try and eat the nuts you collected
>Try and eat the mushrooms (which?)
>Just relax
>Other?

>>36252653
>Briefly explore the surroundings

>>36252653
>Try and eat the nuts you collected
>"Hello~ Any arachne out there?"

>>36252653
>Briefly explore the surroundings
>>Try and eat the mushrooms (the last one picked)

>>36252653
>>Try and eat the nuts you collected
>>Talk to the others to see how they're doing. Any aches, pains, itches, et cetera?

>>36252727
>>36252702
>>36252653
This

>>36252653
>>Try and eat the nuts you collected
We need the shrooms for study later.

>>36252653
>Briefly explore the surroundings

Random Encounter time?

>>36252653
>Try and eat the nuts you collected

You decide it's time to try the nuts. You take advantage of the fire to put them on the small iron pot they gave you and tell Bryld to try and warm them up a little. You have to openly admit they just put you in the mood for some roasted chestnuts, which you haven't had in a long while. You even realize you don't have the right pan to cook them properly, which would need to be holed, but that can't stop you from having the next best thing, right?

You then get up and grab the lantern, lighting it to illuminate your surroundings, "W-where are you going?", Bryld asks, instantly alarmed.

"I'm just scanning the surroundings, to make sure we haven't camped somewhere dangerous", you reassure her, "I'll stay within sight, don't worry".

You plan on holding that promise, you really don't want to stray too far, especially if your campfire suddenly goes out; they're going to need your lantern if it happens.

Your brief scan begins with the immediate realization that no, travelling at night is not a good idea by a fair deal. The woods that looked easy to walk into and impossible to get lost in now appear like an intricate mass of dark, gloomy trees with all sorts of alarming sounds right out of the area illuminated by your lantern, having you point it one way or another more than once but never revealing anything whatsoever.

You take a deep breath and decide to relax. You're tired and you have had a long day, your feet are also aching slightly and you want to go back and chat with your friends and make sure they don't feel any particular pains either, the sort that won't go away with a night's sleep.

As you turn around to join them, your arm gets stuck into something, and so does your lantern. You try to yank it back but to no avail, and then notice a very faint shine, outlining a much more intricate and still very sticky cobweb that was just invisible a moment ago.

Well, crap.

>Try and pull as hard as you can.
>Call for help
>Hold very, very still
>Other?

>>36253009
>Call for help

>>36253009
> Take off our shirt to get free.
If our hand is stuck to it then
> Call for help

>>36253009
>Try and pull as hard as you can.

This always works. Trust me, I'm an arachne.

>>36253009
>Calmly wait for potential arachne and have a chat

>>36253051

...uh, that might work.

>take off your shirt
>if it doesn't work, call for help.

You haven't really tried to put all of your might into the effort of getting away, but you quickly realize two things. The first is, both your lantern and the hand holding it got stuck, along with your forearm, which means taking your clothes off isn't going to help. The second is, this is nothing like the crude, thick cobwebs you've seen before, this is the real deal, this is a proper web web, larger than you are, and possibly strong enough to hold all three of you no matter how hard you struggle.

You might be in deep trouble.

"Bryld! Tahenohan!", you call, trying to not let your distress show. You don't want to alarm them more than necessary.

"What?", your half-elven friend answers, "Are you okay?".

"I need help", you admit, "I think I'm stuck in a cobweb".

"EEEH?", you hear something clattering about and see the campfire sizzle, though it does not die. Fortunately. That was Bryld, and honestly you are beginning to understand her surprise and reluctance in dealing with spiders, the feeling of impotence when stuck into a web is really horrible, especially because it's something you ordinarily wouldn't think could ever happen to you.

"Ah, we're coming!", Tahenohan answers calmly, taking Bryld's hand, who is clearly uneasy on her legs and not really wanting to go. The bunnygirl then pulls the half-elf back and rummages somewhere around the camp until she grabs the longest stick she can find, waving it around in front of her at every step and refusing to move another until she made completely sure there's no cobwebs in the way.

It's not a stupid idea, but if you are to start doing that everywhere you go you will never finish this job of yours.

You can't really do anything more but wait patiently for your two friends to arrive. You idly wonder what they can do to help. Try and cut the cobweb? Try and burn it? That might be bad for you.

However, you hear Bryld let out a brief scream before she stumbles and falls back on her backside.

>Continue

Your first concern is that she snagged her foot on something, or that something bit her, but then you hear a deep voice come from right outside your field of vision: "Well well well, what do we have here?".

You turn around as much as you can, trying to not get further stuck in the web, and you immediately understand why Bryld let out that scream. A spider the size of which you have never seen has sneaked behind you without making a single sound despite its mass, you're no expert but it must be at least as heavy as a horse, if not more. Its eight legs sure make it look a lot larger and imposing.

On the front, above a pair of pedipalps with thick boiled leather covers strapped on them, is the body of a woman dressed in a frilly but simple white chemise and a leather vest on top, with a short red scarf on her neck; her somewhat long red hair, whose exact hue you can't tell in the darkness, is tied into a simple ponytail, and a the hilt of a sword pokes out from above her shoulder, in a uniquely-placed scabbard, with a hand idly resting there but still ready to draw.

Her voice is deep. Not masculine, but still rather deep for a woman. Her spider body is light grey with light red, almost pink stripes, and it is covered by very soft-looking, rather long fur. You also sense a familiar tingling, that of a divine presence. You're sure it doesn't come from the arachne herself but rather from something in her possession that you can't quite see.

You can't see her expression very well, but she's clearly staring at you, expecting an answer as she idly taps her fingers on the hilt of her sword. Your friends are a few paces away, with Bryld shivering, still sat on the ground.

>"It's okay, everyone calm down, no need for violence".
>"I'm sorry, could you please free me? I mean no harm".
>"I'm sorry, could you please show yourself? I'd like to know who I'm talking to".
>Try and yank yourself free with all your might.
>Other?

>>36253550
>>"I'm sorry, could you please free me? I mean no harm".
Is that the sword Pyo was looking for?

>>36253550
>"It's okay, everyone calm down, no need for violence".
>"I'm sorry, could you please show yourself? I'd like to know who I'm talking to".

>>36253294
>taking your clothes off isn't going to help.

Hey, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try, anyway.

>>36253550
>"I'm sorry, could you please show yourself? I'd like to know who I'm talking to".

>"it's okay, everyone calm down, no need for violence"

Found her!

>>36253550
>It's okay, everyone calm down, no need for violence".
>"I'm sorry, could you please free me? I mean no harm".

>>36253550
>Other?
>"It's okay, everyone calm down, no need for violence".
"I'm a friend of Astreya, if that helps."

>>36253550
>"It's okay, everyone calm down, no need for violence".
>"Hi, my name is Lillith, I'm a cleric of Ishtar. My friends and I are surveying the local area."
>"Do you know the wizard Astreya?"

>>36253716
>>36253693
>>36253550
This

"It's okay, everyone calm down, no need for violence", you try and make it sound like you're talking more to your companions than the arachne, although with Bryld quivering like that you don't think your friends are exactly that intimidating. Well, maybe Tahenohan would be if you told her she's a necromancer, but what if she asks where her skeleton army is? You also briefly considering assuring her you're a friend of Astreya's, but then you remember that this is the only arachne that doesn't know who she is.

"That is up to me to decide", the arachne coldly replies, her tapping growing more impatient, "I haven't seen anyone the likes of you in a long time. Explorers, settlers, that sort of thing", she pauses, and you see her expression shift, though it's too dark to tell how, "I liked it better before you came".

"We mean no harm", you assure her in the most convincing tone you can muster, "I am Lillith, I'm a cleric of Isthar, my friends and I are exploring these lands. Could you please free me? Talking like this is a bit difficult".

"I'm not freeing you until I'm sure you actually mean no harm", she shoots your two friends a glance and Bryld scuttles back a little. You don't think Tahenohan is afraid of her, just that she's smart enough to not do anything rash.

"I told you, I'm a cleric of Ishtar, I-".

"How do I know you're not lying?", she interrupts you, her long, furry spider legs tapping the ground soundlessly as she shifts very slightly to the side. How can she not make any sound at all while moving? Look at how absolutely huge she is in the name of Lulwy's skirt!

Still, she's being as diffident as you've been warned she would be. Problem is, you're also stuck on her web, and she's armed. Not that she needs her sword to hurt you.

You should choose your next words well.

>"I have seen in my dreams I must save you, Ishtar ordered me".
>"I am here to make you live in harmony with the settlers".
>"You have an idol of Isthar with you, right?".
>Other?

>>36253890
>"You have an idol of Isthar with you, right?".

>>36253890
>>"You have an idol of Isthar with you, right?".
This is probably the most direct way.

>>36253890
>>"You have an idol of Isthar with you, right?".

>>36253890
>"You have an idol of Isthar with you, right?".
Please tell me Lilith can do magic stuff with it.
She's probably not too interested in "harmony with the settlers".

>>36253946
She can detect divinity within others, holy relics, and idols of Ishtar. We're taking a gamble that she has an idol and not something else.

>>36253890
>Other?
"Your people are in tough times, but the human settlers don't care, the were-people don't care, you only have each other don't you?"
"Ishtar knows this, while I don't think she sent the best person in the world to help you, I can prove to you that I'm her priestess."
"I can perform rites, if you don't want me to move I can simply recite how to perform them. Ishtar sent me here to help you and your people, as her children she does not want you to be extinguished."

>>36253983

That seems better for AFTER Lillith is free and the aracne is friendly.

>>36254011
Maybe, oh well. Hopefully MP will butcher it up into workable pieces.

"You have an idol of Ishtar with you, right?".

You cannot be completely sure. Your ability to sense divine presences works, but it's never too clear which divine presence it is. It could be an idol of something else, or a symbol of Nao, or a wind rose blessed by Lulwy, or who knows what else. That's quite a gamble you're taking with an armed and possibly angry arachne on whose territory you just trespassed.

She stares at you for what you feel is the longest time ever, and then, slowly, her hand goes on a satchel she has strapped to her second, spidery thorax and pulls out something.

It shines in the faint light that comes from your lantern, which is pointed in the wrong direction to properly illuminate her, but you can see it's made of brass and in the shape of a woman, with wide hips and large breasts. The arachne stares at it with an almost longing look, and then looks up at you.

"You just guessed", she says.

"What were the chances?", you answer, "I'm telling you the truth".

She stares at you some more, then at her idol before putting it back in her satchel, "And, pray tell, what is a priestess of Ishtar doing in this forsaken place? Aren't your settler friends worried that you would side with us monsters?".

"That is exactly what I have come here for. I know times are tough, I have talked with Astreya, an autarch, and she already talked with the other arachne that still live here. I know what happened to your kind. I am here to help, I want you to live in peace with us, not go extinct".

You keep staring at the giant spider woman. You've been sweating all day, but this time it's cold sweat. Even if you know your divine mission is to help monsters, you have to admit some of them can be really, really scary.

"And pray tell", she insists, though her voice sounds less harsh now, "Just how do you plan to do it?".

>"I want you to meet the settlers".
>"I want you to work with us".
>"Tell me what you need and I'll provide".
>Other?

>>36254137
>"I want you to work with us".

Meeting the humans right now is not a good idea.

>>36254137
>"Tell me what you need and I'll provide".

She needs babies

I think it's time to discover new things about Lillith.

>>36254137
>"Tell me what you need and I'll provide".

Fertility ritual and Fade to Black?

>>36254207
Let's... hold off for a moment. I'm looking back to see the exact circumstance of the arachnes, but us promising to provide what she needs is a tall order at this moment.

File: 1412219385178.jpg (240 KB, 800x800)

240 KB JPG

>>36254137
>"Tell me what you need and I'll provide".
>Tell her we're here to help what's left of her people through this

>>36254207

Only one way to discover, eh?

>>36254137
>"Tell me what you need and I will provide"

>>36254234
>"The arachne are very few in number and facing potential extinction from this continent", she lets out a sorry sigh, "Three females survived, and two are eager to come out and meet humans but are still a bit shy. The third one... I couldn't find her until now, but she has to be around somewhere. If you do, try and be as calm and understanding as you can, she has to be terrified of other beings with all that happened to her and her dears".
>"I-is it that bad?", Bryld asks, talking as if though she has something in her throat.
>"They all saw their families, their brothers and sisters, die one by one, at the hands of both fomors and humans. They survived because they were protected, so they could one day reproduce and not let their line go extinct, but surviving carries guilt sometimes", she looks at you straight in the eye, "Please try and be understanding".

So, only three left, killed by both Fomor and humans, and this one is skittish. She'll probably take some time to be convinced to meet with the humans, and I'm unsure what "working with us" entails, except maybe sharing knowledge. The last option... I'm still unsure about, and I don't think it'll involve babies.

>>36254137
>Other?
"There are few of you left now, you need a chance to regain the numbers you once had, maybe even protection in this time"
"Although you may not want to work with the settlers, or even us, it is imperative in any case to hold a neutral relationship with them, holding a terse relationship will only dry the wood for a fire that would consume those on both sides."

>>36254296

It probably won't, but it should open her slightly to Lillith.

>>36254207
>>36254234
>>36254276
It's very unlikely we'll be the breeder.

>>36254327

Yes, and? The baby jokes are just an amusement right now.

>>36254137
>"Tell me what you need and I'll provide".
If she needs someone to be the mommy OR the daddy, we can be either! Or even both!

"Tell me what you need and I'll provide", you offer with the best intentions.

"I don't think you can", she shakes her head with a snarky, but somewhat sad grin.

"You don't know what I'm capable of", you insist, "I've been able to do plenty of things despite my position, I can-".

"Can you provide safety?", she suddenly asks, "Can you provide tranquillity? Can you provide peace?".

That's a tall order, but you can at least try. However, before you can even open your mouth, she decides to continue, "You say you know our situation. Very well, then you know there's three of us. Three. How many of you are out there? How many in that village over there?", and she points vaguely in the direction of New Royo, "A hundred? Two? A thousand? What are three monsters compared to that?".

"There's no reason to worry", you try to calm her down, "We're not here to chase you off or hurt you. I want you to regain your numbers, I know you don't want to work with the settlers but-".

She then lets out a short, derisive chuckle that sounded closer to a snort than anything, "You're thousands already, I hear dozens of new people come in every day from Reboldeux. Don't even try to make me think I'm in a position to make demands. It costs you humans nothing to ignore me because it would cost you nothing to erase me. You're friendly now, but if tomorrow you wanted to come back and hunt me out, you could".

"I won't", you promise.

"You won't, but someone will, and he'll have the numbers, the power to", the grip on her sword tightens, "Do you have any idea how this works? I've seen three of my four brothers die to this game you call "diplomacy", I'm not quite ready to meet the same end".

Her tone was really harsh there, she must have some really bad memories of humans.

>"I won't tell anyone about you until you're ready".
>"You can't hide forever, you need to be able to trust us".
>"We can be the protection you need, what's dangerous to you is dangerous to us too".
>Other?

>>36254468
>"I won't tell anyone about you until you're ready".
>"You can't hide forever, you need to be able to trust us".

>>36254468
>>"We can be the protection you need, what's dangerous to you is dangerous to us too".
Not voting: who is the "we" we are referring to?

>>36254468
>"I won't tell anyone about you until you're ready".
>"You can't hide forever, you need to be able to trust us."
This is basically a sure path to extinction.

>>36254468
>"We can be the protection you need, what's dangerous to you is dangerous to us too".


We can't not talk about her, if we are to amke the village friendlier to her.

>>36254502
"Humans" in general.

If you want to specify it's just you and your two friends, say so, you can do that too.

>>36254468
>"We can be the protection you need, what's dangerous to you is dangerous to us too".

>>36254468
>You humans
Er....
>"I won't tell anyone about you until you're ready".
>"You can't hide forever, you need to be able to trust us".

To be honest though, with all the semi-human species, I don't think they'd be all that adverse to an arachne. Could probably even make a living from making stuff from the spider silk.

>>36254518 Here. I had thought of just Lillith's group.

>>36254468
>Other?
"Then I will die in your stead, I will do the work for you, I will make the demands."
"Even if that means I fall to "diplomacy", even if that means I will oppose that "Someone", even if it means I whore my body out on the street for the money needed for you and your people."

>>36254577
... uh...

>>36254468
>"I won't tell anyone about you until you're ready".
>"You can't hide forever, you need to be able to trust us."

>>36254468
>>"I won't tell anyone about you until you're ready".
>"Also, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not /entirely/ human, and neither are my friends."

"You cannot hide forever", you try and rack your brain as you talk. She can't be too young, which means she was born a while before the last Fomor wars finished. The Reconquista is a new thing to her, but she was already an adult when it started, "That's a sure path to extinction. I won't tell anyone about you until you're ready, but you have to come out earlier or later".

"I could if I wanted", she seems to lower her position a little, bending her spider legs to get closer to you, "Especially when you first started to come back here. I could have kidnapped a man, any man, at any time, and forced him to impregnate me. But I'm not that stupid. It takes more than just a breeder to make sure our species won't go extinct".

"I know that", you assure her, "You need to protect yourself and your children. We need to do the same. The Fomor wars haven't been kind to us either. I'm sorry about what happened to your brothers, but the people who did it aren't here any more. We're all starting anew, and in case you haven't noticed I'm not entirely human", and you motion to your friends, "And neither are my friends".

You stare at each other for a long time. There is a hint of sadness in her stern gaze, and you can feel it is fighting with a spark of hatred that is dwelling deep inside of her.

After a long time, enough for Bryld to get back on her feet and hide apprehensively behind Tahenohan, the arachne lets out a long sigh, scuttling soundlessly closer to you, her pedipalps extending towards your stuck arm, "Hold still for a moment".

You couldn't quite see what she did, but you are now free from her web. She moves back and to the side a little, giving you the chance to join your friends again. As soon as you're within reach, Bryld holds onto your arm. She is literally quivering.

"Don't misunderstand", she goes with a frown.

>"What is your name?".
>"What are you going to do now?".
>"Where did you get that sword?".
>"Do you know what is in this forest?".
>Other?

>>36254764
>"What is your name?".

>>36254764
>>"What is your name?"
>>"Where did you get that sword? It looks kind of familiar."

>>36254764
>Other
>"Thanks for freeing me."
>"What is your name?".
>"What are you going to do now?".

>>36254811
Oh, and
>>"Thank you for freeing me."

>>36254764
>"What is your name?".
>Smalltalk, bonfire bureaucracy

>>36254764
>Other?
Hug Bryld, hard. Stroke hair, calm her down.

>>36254764
>"What is your name?".
>"What are you going to do now?".

Interest in her first.

>>36254849
>>36254764
Seconding that.
>"What is your name?".
>"What are you going to do now?".

>>36254764
>"What is your name?".
also
>Pet Bryld to calm her down.

>>36254812
this

"Thank you for freeing me", you feel like thanking her properly is the first step to a better relationship.

"I said don't misunderstand", she repeats. Seems like she wants to be really hard to deal with.

"What is your name?", you wrap your arm around Bryld and squeeze her shoulders to try and calm her down while keeping your eyes on the arachne. Your cartographer is trying her best to get a hold of herself, but she's still noticeably shivering and her breathing feels uneasy too despite her attempts to steady it.

"... Leiana", the spider woman answers after a while, still idly gripping the hilt of her sword.

"Very well Leiana. What are you going to do now?", you ask.

She looks around uneasily, then shrugs, "I don't know. Same things I usually did. I'm certainly not going to come to your villages with open arms just because I met you".

"That's not what I want you to do. I just want you to be safe", you stroke Bryld's hair a little as you say that, attempting to calm her down further. You think it's working a little, but she's still reacting the same way an ordinary person would react if a half-ton spider was in front of her, "Is there anything I can do to earn your trust?".

She skitters a little uneasily on her eight legs, like it's some form of arachne fidgeting, "Look, I let you go, I'm allowing you to live and even hang around without protesting. Can't we just leave it at that?".

Now that you think of it, it must be over a decade since she last had someone visiting the place she calls home. And the last few visits ended in the bloody murder of her brothers. That would explain why she is suddenly so nervous. Which is bad, because it's difficult to reason with someone who's nervous, and it's especially dangerous if that someone is also armed and a huge spider.

>"When was the last time someone visited you?".
>"When was the last time you met another arachne?".
>"When was the last time you talked to someone?".
>"What is that sword you have?
>Other?

>>36255002
>"What is that sword you have?
Divert away from sad stuff?

>>36255002
>"When was the last time you talked to someone?".
Aside from your sisters.

>>36255002
>"When was the last time you talked to someone?".

>>36255002
>"Will you join us at our camp?"
Give her the option to talk to us on her terms.

>>36255002
>"When was the last time you met another arachne?".

>>36255002
>What's that sword you have?

>>36255002
>"When was the last time you talked to someone?".

>>36255002
>>"What is that sword you have?

"When was the last time you talked to someone?", you ask, fearing for the worst. Considering what Astreya told you about the monster population you think she must've had many chances to have a social life even without humans, but from what you're seeing of her she's quite a bit of a recluse.

She doesn't answer immediately, and frowns after a bit, "Why do you care?".

"You're up to date with what's happening in Reboldeux", you remind her, "That means you're not really alone. You know someone that goes outside".

"Oh", she mutters, "It's just the harpies. They fly around all day, and sometimes drop by when they're done with school".

"School?", the idea of harpies attending school is a mind-blowing thing. Mind-blowing in how utterly pointless and wasteful it sounds.

"Susanna's school. She's an ogre... And a good person. Arianna lives nearby, she's one of the other arachne you probably heard about", she explains, but you already knew that, "She used to drop by here from time to time".

"Doesn't she come any more?", you wonder.

"This isn't your business", and she gets defensive again, "Why? Are you saying I don't want to have people around?".

You're tempted to answer yes, but it's clear her issues can't be solved in one day, and that answer really wouldn't help right now.

"Look, why don't you come over our camp?", you offer. A bit reluctantly, she follows you where there's more light. You all sit on the ground, and let Tahenohan pat Bryld's hair in your stead to try and calm her, but now that she's sitting she does look a little better. Leiana doesn't properly sit, she just... Bends her spider legs and keeps them closer to her body, which lowers her stance somewhat.

Now that you can see her better, her hair is red, darker near the root and brighter near the tip until it becomes nearly pink.

>"Tell me more about your sword".
>"Tell me more about Arianna".
>"Tell me more about Susanna".
>"Tell me more about the harpies".
>Other?

>>36255283
>she's quite a bit of a recluse
disgusting

>>36255283
>Other?
"Tell me about yourself."

>>36255283
>"Tell me more about the harpies".

>>36255283
>>"Tell me more about Susanna".
>>"Tell me more about Arianna".
>>> "'Used to'?"

>>36255283
>Other
>Properly introduce ourselves
>Tell her about us and what we're doing here

>>36255283
This
>>36255338
And
>"Tell me more about Arianna".
>"Tell me more about Susanna".
>"Tell me more about the harpies".
All the things! Smalltalk.

You take the chance to properly introduce yourselves. "Allow me to repeat the introductions: I am Lillith Taieart, explorer, censor and priestess of Ishtar", you pat Bryld's head, who seems to be only quivering a bit right now, a huge step forwards compared to the ragged breathing she had before, even if she still looks uneasy, "This is Bryld Norling, she's our cartographer, and this", you pat Tahenohan's shoulder, "Is Tahenohan. Adventurer, necromancer and friend of mine".

"Hi!", the half-elf goes at the arachne, who doesn't answer, looking uneasy in her own way.

"Tell me more about yourself", you ask Leiana.

"There's not much to tell about me", she looks away. This girl isn't going to be easy to deal with.

"Then tell me more about the others. Susanna, Arianna and the harpies. Why did Arianna stop coming here?".

"I-", she pauses, then looks away, "I... well. She... She had a sister. Before the Fomors came here and killed most of our families. We used to play around a lot when we were still all together. Her sister and my younger brother got along very well, too. I was happy about it. They... Well, they loved each other".

You wait patiently for her to continue, but you feel that the conversation is getting a little heavy, "When... When the Fomors came, they were on the other side of the lake, near the mountains. Arianna wasn't with them, she barely managed to escape their raid. But my brother, and her sister. They were killed, and their nest was destroyed, their eggs crushed".

She gets growingly uneasy as she talks, clenching her sword harder and harder, "Last time she came I... I yelled at her, because if they had stayed near my nest they would still be alive, and their children would have hatched".

She relaxes the grip on her sword, although it takes her effort, "I... Overreacted. It wasn't her fault. But she never came back so I could never apologize".

>"Why not visit her?".
>"Want me to call her over?".
>Let's talk about something else (what?)
>Other

>>36255601
>"Why not visit her?".

>>36255601
>"Want me to call her over?".
We can do that?

>>36255601
>"Why not visit her together?".

>>36255601
>>"Want me to call her over?".

>>36255644
You know i like this better changing my vote and deleting my old one
>"Why not visit her together?".

>>36255601
>HUG HER
it's time for some healing

Unless there's a deleted vote that I'm still seeing, there's a tie break between visiting Arianna and calling her over.

>>36255778

>>36255635 was deleted

"Why not visit her?", you ask, "We can go together if you'd like".

"I- I don't think she wants to see me, and she doesn't exactly live next door, I-".

"You were understandably distressed", you explain her, "And you've known each other since you were kids, I'm sure she knows you didn't mean all the things you told her".

"But... She hasn't come again since then", she actually looks like she's about to start crying despite her voice still sounding rather steady.

"Maybe she's busy with the school. Look, why don't we go visit her together?", you repeat your offer, "We need to explore, and you need to reunite with a friends. I told you I'm here to help you, didn't I?".

You actually have plenty of interest in joining her company. For one thing, it's going to be a lot safer with her around, for another she certainly knows her way around the place, and especially where to find food, water and shelter should you need it. All in all, she's one of the best guides you could ask for.

If only she would agree instead of fidgeting around like a half-ton spider.

"Why would you do this for me? We're strangers!".

"I'm Lillith Taieart", you repeat, then pat Bryld's shoulder, "This is Bry-".

"Oh fine, fine, FINE!", she pushes herself back up, standing tall and making Bryld instinctively scuttle backwards. She certainly looks huge and threatening when she's like that, "If you insist so much! By Ishtar's breasts you're so annoying!". She grunts loudly, tapping the hilt of her sword a few times, "Look, fine, I'll come back tomorrow and then we'll be going, okay? I need to get my things. You stay here and don't move until I come back, okay?".

"Okay", not that you had any idea of where to go anyways.

Leiana then stares at you, very intently, and turns around, "... Then, bye", she goes, and moves away with amazing speed.

And she still makes no sound whatsoever.

>Check Bryld's state
>Ask for Tahenohan's opinion
>Where's our dinner?
>Screw that, bedtime
>Other?

>>36255985
>Check Bryld's state
Has she passed out?
>Where's our dinner?
>Bedtime

>>36255985
>>Check Bryld's state
>>Ask for Tahenohan's opinion
Our bunnybutt needs comforting.

>>36255985
>>Ask for Tahenohan's opinion
>>Where's our dinner?

>>36255985
>Check Bryld's state
>Ask for Tahenohan's opinion
Tahe, help cuddle Bryld! Right now!

You immediately check Bryld's state, but you see that she was just scared about Leiana's sudden move. Again, understandable: it's a half-ton giant spider with a sword, anyone would be scared.

You grab her shoulder to comfort her and she gives you a tired smile, "I'm fine, I'm fine", she claims, but you still feel a faint vibration now that you're touching her, and she does look very tired indeed.

"What do you think, Tahenohan?", you ask as you gently pat Bryld's hair again, feeling her tension be slowly swept away as you run your fingers through her smooth, straight cut, "I'm sure she knows her way around here, we should be able to survive quite well".

"I wonder if she'll let us ride her", she asks with a hint of excitement. You don't think she will, you know, for example, that centaurs take the idea of someone riding them very seriously and don't let anyone even try unless they're completely sure they can absolutely trust them, and utterly respect them. Admittedly, we're talking about a giant, furry spider here, so the conditions might be a little different.

"I don't know", you honestly answer, "We'll ask her tomorrow". You then look around, "... Where's our dinner?".

... In the end, you eat the nuts cold, along with the leftover bread from today's lunch. It's not much of a dinner, but you suspect Bryld's stomach couldn't handle much more in any case, not after the emotional roller-coaster she's been through.

At least the tent is welcoming, and when you all slip inside to get a good night's rest, you feel like it's not that small either. You can't really stretch all the way but it's better than nothing. Plus, with Tahenohan sleeping on top of you, you save precious space for Bryld to stay comfortably. Although you do feel her tugging at your sleeve, even if lightly. It seems to help her fall asleep, something she couldn't manage despite being dead tired from a whole day of strolling through jungles and woods.

Wonder what will come tomorrow...

And Episode 12 is done!

Damn I really should cut episodes earlier and get to the good parts when I'm still not dead tired. Oh well, next episode will be... Interesting.

I'm getting eager to see where these adventures will take all of you.

>>36256238
>Still didn't manage to confess to Bryld we have a cock
Gggrrrrnjhkjfkd

>>36256265
You'll have your chance to. And dealing with an emotionally wrecked half-ton spider really isn't the best moment for that kind of thing.

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>>36256260
Thank you very much for Episode 12, I can't wait for 13.

Are you staying for Q&A or will you be getting off to sleep?

Thanks alot, MP! Your thread made my day a lot better.

>>36256238
>Plus, with Tahenohan sleeping on top of you, you save precious space for Bryld to stay comfortably. Although you do feel her tugging at your sleeve, even if lightly. It seems to help her fall asleep, something she couldn't manage despite being dead tired from a whole day of strolling through jungles and woods.
D'aww. I just want to see Bryld start snuggling.

>>36256304
Just wants to get it done before we started sharing a bed in case of anything in the morning. Or simply from having her body up against ours in fact, we're still suffering from the teenage hormones I'd bet.

>>36256310
I can stay a bit, but just a little bit, try and be quick.

>>36256342
Teenage hormones aren't as bad as they were a few years ago, but really, what's the worst that can happen?

>>36256362
Getting a boner, having it whack against Bryld. That's about it.

>>36256362
Only one question, is there anything you've liked that the players have been doing? Could we improve?

Cute spider.

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326 KB PNG

>>36256401
I like when you show initiative and expand on the prompts I give in a way that makes sense considering the flow of the game. It makes me feel like you're really participating.

>>36256304
How would the spiders respond to offers to fertilise their eggs for them?

>>36256460
You really should ask the spiders in question.

Though if you had paid attention you'd know that the remaining arachne pregnant is the least of the problems.

>>36256446
Thank you, I'll make sure to try and do just that more often.

I hope this episode didn't take too much time out of your schedule. I hope you have time again to run soon MP.

>>36256446
Should I autistically pick out anything else? Should I start making eugenic or philosophical essays on the races and gods of this world? Gah, I want to participate more.

>>36256490
Well of course it is, it's just the one we can do something about right now rather than embarking on a grand quest for monster tolerance.

>>36256537
You're not required to, but if you enjoy doing so I won't stop you.

>>36256554
Then you'd need to ask the spiders in questions, their spidery wombs are theirs after alls. Or ovaries. Or... You'd need to ask them how exactly they work too, while you're at it.

>>36256589
Bah. I feel directionless. I suppose I'll finish up the other project first though.

>>36256620
Take your time, no one's forcing you to do anything.

And this is bedtime for me. Bye.

>>36256668
Enjoy your sleep Magical Princess.

>>36256668
Have some nice and comfy dreams MP.