The good news is that you're not alone in this situation. Bryld, who slept sandwiched between you and Tahenohan, is still right in front of you, your arm still over her shoulder as if you were holding someone close to you both, but that someone seems to be already awake and full of energies. Also devoid of thigh pains.

In order to be as little in the way as possible for the two giant spiders, whose weight you really, really wouldn't be able to hold even if very briefly, you slept quite close to each other. Your breasts are still touching her back, not quite pressing which is fortunate because you're already sweaty enough as it is; likewise, you feel her fluffy bunny tail tickling against your pants, twitching lightly. You hope she doesn't have enough sensitivity to perceive morning woods, if anything because moving your hip back is probably beyond your abilities right now.

"... Are you awake?", you hear her half-sleepy half-pained voice, she doesn't even turn, or move in any way.

"Yes".

A moment of silence passes, "... Can you move? My thighs feel like they've been petrified, but just on the outside. The inside... They feel like someone put-".

"A thousand thorns inside", you confirm. It's amazing how the feeling she's describing is exactly the same you're experiencing. The mere reminder of that makes you grit your teeth, partly because of your impotence towards such pain; it wouldn't be as terrible if you could somehow relax instead of being all tense and making it worse, but you just can't, and trying only makes your lower body tenser.

"How does she do that?", Bryld mutters. You don't know where she's looking, but your gaze instinctively falls on Tahenohan, who's hopping around like she's the freshest thing in this cave.

Which she currently is, anyways.

>Don't you dare move, stay down and rest
>Try and move farther from Bryld
>Try and move closer to Bryld
>Try to reposition (how?)
>Try to get up
>Call Tahenohan
>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/pzYffs0R

>>37182648
Yaaay it's back!
>Don't you dare move, stay down and rest

Huh, slow start...

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>>37182839
It's okay, I'll just wait until a couple more replies come.

It's probably still early in the year and most sane people are still on vacation somewhere.

>>37182648
>Try and move closer to Bryld
finally home! What a day to be alive!

>>37182866
Yeah but it's been pretty fast replies before. Oh well.

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>>37183039
There also wasn't much forewarning for this session. I just seized a chance I had.

Speaking of which it's funny how there's two replies for two different options, I sure hope the third player won't just come and pick a third one.

>>37182648
>Try and move farther from Bryld

>>37183078
yeah that's right, I came and picked a third one

I guess you could say the move closer and move farther cancel out and we stay still if you want to update fast

>>37182648
Best time of the year until next thread is finally here!

>call tahenohan
Hel, my boner is poking her

>>37183186
pls

>4-way tie
Not the first 4-way contemplated in this quest.

You're rather confused as to what to do right now.

Your lower body is out of commission. Trying to do anything that requires moving your legs provokes jolts of dull pain all through your thighs, then down to your calves and back up to your hips. Even just thinking about it hurts.

Fortunately, using your arms for extra strength and the ability to push and pull allow you to drag yourself closer to Bryld, which does nothing but press your breasts against your back because as soon as you get your waist to move, just dragging your legs around sends you a thunderous jolt of searing pain through your thighs again, forcing you to stop.

"... Are you trying to get up?", Bryld asks.

It takes you a while before you can confidently say "Yes", simply because it sounds like the best thing to say in that moment. You can hardly think straight.

"Uhm... Well, you probably should give up. Also, uhm... Can you... Move away a bit? It's... Hot".

That sounded like an oddly shy request, mostly because as soon as the pain subsides a little, you feel something pressing against her bunny tail through your pants. Well there you go, you made her notice the morning wood, which unfortunately doesn't help you one bit in getting up... Not with the rest of your body.

You slowly push yourself away from her, and between slowly sliding away and slowly pushing Bryld forward you resume a friendly but comfortable distance, and you just stop and rest for a while. Your cartographer isn't moving at all, not even trying, and you honestly can't blame her.

"Tahenohan?", you try and call, "Hey, Tahenohan?".

Fortunately, her pointy ears pick up your voice and she turns, flashing a manic smile as she notices you're awake. She waves with an iron ladle, which sprinkles some kind of warm liquid around.

>Ask her what she's doing
>Ask her to come and help you up
>Ask her if she can do anything about your thighs
>Ask her how the hell she can still walk
>Other?

>>37183369
>Ask her if she can do anything about your thighs
other options?

>>37183369
>Ask her how the hell she can still walk
>Ask her if she can do anything about your thighs

>Ask her if she can do anything about your thighs
>ask her how she's doing

Nicely combined, MP.

>>37183369
>Ask her what she's doing
>Ask her if she can do anything about your thighs

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Daily reminder.

>>37183529
What?

"Can you...", you pause, "... Can you come over here?".

She merrily hops towards you, and seeing her legs bend and flex and relax with such ease gives you further feelings of pain to your lower body. "How do you do that?", you instinctively ask".

"Do what?".

"Just... Walk", you admit, "I can't get up at all, my thighs are killing me. Bryld is stuck down here too".

Tahenohan gives both of you a good look, then her smile widens and she puts a finger to her lip, "Eeeeeh? It's nothing special. What, are your legs that tired because of a bit of a ride?".

"That... It wasn't really...", you stop, realizing there's no excuses but your own inadequacy, "... Yes". It still burns, because you thought you at least had a strong, healthy body, but it seems like walking around all day every day and travelling that far around the world on foot wasn't enough to prepare you for real adventuring.

"I'm fine~, this was nothing special", she admits with a tone that makes it sound like she's obviously flaunting, just to tease you while you're stuck down and can't do anything, "My thighs have suffered through worse situations, like that one time when I was in the City of Brass and I-", she stops, looks at you, looks at Bryld, then smiles, "So, you need help getting up or...?".

"Can you do anything about our thighs?", you ask, trying to not make it sound like you're pleading.

"Mmmh... I'm more confident about fixing bones, and no matter how hard your muscles feel they're not bones", she dutifully notes, "But I guess I can try to make an ointment for the two of you. I don't know what kind of herbs they have around here, I guess I can always ask...", she then looks at the snoring Arianna and taps her chin, "... I wonder if she has a flaccid paralysis poison...".

>"Why do you need poison?".
>"Actually we're fine, we just need some time to rest".
>"What do you need for that ointment?".
>"Wait let's go back to your City of Brass thing".
>"What were you preparing?"
>Other?

>>37183645
>"What do you need for that ointment?".
>"Wait let's go back to your City of Brass thing".
It was lewd, wasn't it. Dammit Tahe!

>>37183645
>"What do you need for that ointment?".
>"Wait let's go back to your City of Brass thing".

Welp.

>"What do you need for that ointment?".
>"Wait let's go back to your City of Brass thing".
I'm assuming the ointment is to lock the treatment in, instead of doubting it.

>>37183645
>Get up. Be tough. The more you walk around the better your legs will feel.

>>37183645
>"What were you preparing?"
>"What do you need for that ointment?".

"What kind of ingredients do you need to make that oint- Waaaait a moment", you frown, that sounded weird... What could she have done that put a huge strain to her thighs in the City of Brass? What could have given her much more stimulation to the lower regions than a long and hectic spiderback ride? "Let's go back to that City of Brass thing for a moment".

"Naaaaw, it's not important", she smiles and shrugs.

"No no, it is important".

"It's not".

"Well I'm curious".

"Are you? Teehee", she half-covers her mouth as she giggles at you, the look she's giving you is more than just satisfied, "I wonder why, whatever might you be thinking right now?".

"I-", you're not sure if you want Bryld to hear all this conversation, you don't want her to feel scared or stuck between a bunch of perverts. Then again, you guess she's smart enough to have gotten at least a vague idea about what she's getting involved into and what kind of people she's travelling with, "I don't know what to think, that's why I'd like to know".

"Well I'm not telling~".

Well that was direct, and yet that smile seems so sincere and happy, "... Why?".

"Because my master was always a mysterious person, keeping secrets from me, secrets here, secrets there, not telling anything more than just the bare necessary, that kind of stuff", she explains, "And I spent a good part of my time trying to unravel all of his mystery, all of his secrets, all of his hidden things".

You pause, waiting for a continuation, "... And?".

Tahenohan just smiles a sincere smile, "Sometimes the truth is boring, and the silly things you imagine about a person are much better than that. I want to be more like the wild, funny things you imagine".

You can't see Bryld's face, but you can tell she's blinking and making a weird expression.

>"What do you need to make that ointment?".
>"Why do you need poison?".
>"Actually we're fine, we just need some time to rest".
>"What were you preparing?".
>Other?

>>37183869
>"Actually we're fine." Prove it by getting up and only crying a little.

>>37183869
>"What do you need to make that ointment?".
I don't mind trying to stand either though.

>>37183869
>"What were you preparing?".

>>37183869
>>"What do you need to make that ointment?".

Since being treated with poison, some of which might come from Arianna (you guess both of them have poisonous bites, after all, it's just not the most dangerous thing about them), doesn't sound like a stellar idea you decide to put up a brave front: "Actually, we're fine, we can get up on our own after all".

Mustering all of the courage and willpower you possess, and helping yourself with your arms, you begin the extremely painful journey to a standing position. Fierce, hot fangs of pure pain bite your thighs and spread throbbing pain through your legs and even up to your waist, which you realize just now hurts as well. The new, fresh and paralysing pain stops you on your tracks, instantly nailing your lateral abdominals in place and preventing you from further continuing your rise.

Still, you force yourself to not give up and continue despite your body is sending you wracking and tremendously painful signals to make you stop. You fight your own common sense as you use your elbow to force yourself higher, only to be stopped as your back starts aching quite violently as well. At that point, despite your valiant efforts, you cannot do anything more than remain locked in place, but at least you got up.

You're up enough to be able to look over Bryld's shoulder.

Tahenohan climbs over you and bends to gently and very, very carefully put you back down, moving your arm so your elbow is no longer in the way while making sure to support your side and avoid sudden movements, which might be too much for you to handle after all this effort. You only cried a little, just a couple tears of pain rolling down your cheeks.

"You were brave", Tahenohan pats you on the head, "You were very brave".

"I never could have done that", the sincerity in Bryld's voice strikes you, her true admiration makes you feel proud and accomplished.

And also a little pathetic, but you hush that voice in your head.

>"What do you need to make that ointment?".
>"What were you preparing?".
>Other?

>>37184165
>"What were you preparing?".
I wanna knooow.

>>37184165
>"Do you really need to give us poison?"

>>37184165
>"What do you need to make that ointment?".
Lillith...

>>37184165
>"What do you need to make that ointment?".
That was so heroic.

>>37184257
I, too, cried at the bravery of our demonic protagonist.

>>37184165
>>"What do you need to make that ointment?"
Such bravery.

Also, two hours late. I am sobbing. And imagining what Tahe was doing in the City of Brass. My mind is going crazy.

"What were you preparing?", you ask Tahenohan, trying to distract yourself from what you just tried to do. You had no idea sudden, prolonged and apparently easy but in fact very strenuous exercise could do that to you, you practically worked yourself into a wreck and didn't even realize it. To think you were walking normally until last night...

"Breakfast! Or, well, lunch", Tahenohan looks at the hole in the ceiling and doesn't sound so sure herself, "It's somewhere in the middle so we're doing both. I'm mixing mostly leeks and potatoes into a minced soup, it tastes good! There's some chilli peppers in too. Do you know arachne eat a lot? A huge lot?".

You're not surprised, considering their size, "What do you need to make that ointment anyways? And do you really need poison? Won't that just hurt us?".

"Depends", she shrugs with a huge smile, "Poison can heal and poultices can hurt, it all depends on what you use and how and for what. Well, not that I know much about alchemy and proper medicine, but I know that some poisons can be used to treat conditions. I think. I guess I did that a few times", she then frowns, "Or was that because I was building an immunity? ".

Well that's reassuring, "Do you need other ingredients? Can we hel-", no, you can't, and save yourself from further embarrassment.

"Nah, I'll have the two arachne help me, they know this place better", she smiles, "I don't know where else I could find some five-pointed silver crests and bloodroot".

The fact you never heard of these plants before isn't very reassuring either.

"How long will that take?", Bryld wonders, looking a little uncomfortable.

"I don't know", Tahenohan shrugs, "I can start working on it as soon as I find the ingredients. Tonight or tomorrow at worst, I guess?".

This doesn't seem to make Bryld more comfortable, "... What if I had to pee?".

Oh well.

>"Can you get up?".
>"Can you hold it?".
>"Help us get up".
>"Tahenohan, can't you just use magic?".
>Other?

>>37184375
>>"Help us get up".
Let's try to help our bunnybutt.

>>37184375
>"Help us get up".
It's our only hope!

>>37184375
>"Can you hold it?".
C'mon, this will be hilarious

>>37184375
>"Can you hold it?".

>>37184375
>"Tahenohan, can't you just use magic?".
Maybe she knows an 'enlarge bladder' spell.

>>37184483
That sounds terribly inconvenient

>>37184501
So are our poor thighs!

"Can you hold it?", oh why did she say it now you feel like going too.

"Not for a whole day. Not until tomorrow", she frowns nervously. You can kind of understand, being stuck all day in the same position would be unnerving to anyone. It's like having both your legs broken, except you don't even have a funny story to tell about how you broke both your legs at once.

And you certainly don't want to have a story about how you soiled yourself because your thighs hurt too much to get up, and you got that from riding a spider too fast too long. Although you have to admit it certainly does sound like a unique tale.

"Tahenohan", you start, grim determination in your eyes, "Help us get up".

"Whaaat?", she makes a strange, partly amused face, "Look you just-".

"This is important, Tahenohan", you do your best to sound as serious as possible, "I know it hurts, but this is a battle we cannot lose, our honour is at stake".

The half-elf stares at you for a bit, then looks at Bryld, and decides you're both crazy but it's okay because the thighs are yours so why would she care. With a bright smile, she goes "Okay", and takes Bryld's hands.

You can hear the gnashing of her teeth, the squeals that get past her shut mouth and the painful trembling that shakes her whole lower body, and upper one too. You see Tahenohan support her by the waist but most importantly you see Bryld's pained expression as she realizes she cannot support her weight on the muscles that usually keep her body in an erect position all day long. Tears of effort roll down her face as she bravely bears the unspeakable pain that defeated your valiant efforts earlier.

It seems like she can manage some unstable stumbling, but only because Tahenohan is there and practically forcing her to walk. "Wow, you're doing well, so it doesn't really hurt that much", the half-elf comments.

>It actually does damn it! You're just a normal person!
>She's right, it doesn't. Get up!
>Wait for Tahenohan's help
>Other?

>>37184647
>She's right, it doesn't. Get up!
What new failure will you deliver to us, Lillith?

>>37184647
>Wait for Tahenohan's help

>>37184647
>It actually does damn it! You're just a normal person!
How demotivating

>>37184647
>>Wait for Tahenohan's help
Elfbutt~

>>37184647
>And you certainly don't want to have a story about how you soiled yourself because your thighs hurt too much to get up, and you got that from riding a spider too fast too long. Although you have to admit it certainly does sound like a unique tale.
Everybody has a "how I shat myself" story, and they're all morbidly entertaining.

Seeing Bryld succeed where you failed is a bad blow to your pride, but you wave it off on the grounds that she had Tahenohan's help, and you didn't, and you know for sure that the half-elf's help might not be what you want or need but it is always good to have and definitely irreplaceable.

You consider the possibility of doing yet another attempt while nobody's looking, but not having to look good in front of anyone you don't feel the same motivation and your attempts see you quit prematurely at the first sign of pain. A part of you wishes someone would be there to encourage your efforts, but all you hear is Arianna snoring, which doesn't really help.

Fortunately, Tahenohan eventually comes back, even if she's without Bryld and offers her hands to you, "See? It's not that bad, once you get up and move a bit it gets better, you might just have to walk a little... Awkwardly".

"Like that time at the City of Brass?", you comment with a wry smile.

Tahenohan laughs, "Not quite. Here, let me help".

You take her hands and she slowly pulls you up, making sure to support you as best as she can. You have to make an active, painfully wracking effort to not yelp or cry, and having experienced this kind of pain before makes a part of your brain that doesn't want to feel it again kick in and resist your efforts to stand. You are forced to fight both the throbbing pain in your thighs and your own cowardice, a war on two fronts, and you already couldn't win against just one.

However, this time you have a half-elf necromancer on your side.

She kind of lied to you, it still hurts like hell and you can't take much more than tiny steps while keeping a wide stance with bent knees. You look ridiculous, and some lewd-minded immature might get the wrong idea about what caused this situation.

Still, you can move, more or less.

>Thank Tahenohan, you'll be fine.
>Thank Tahenohan, but ask her to make the ointment still
>Thank Tahenohan, but ask her to use healing magic
>Other?

>>37184910
>>Thank Tahenohan, but ask her to make the ointment still
We can always use it later, and she'd like being able to use her skills to help out.

>>37184910
>Thank Tahenohan, but ask her to make the ointment still
Leg massages~

>>37184910
>Thank Tahenohan, but ask her to make the ointment still
I can't even imagine what it'd be like if we had to ride a spider again tomorrow.

>>37184910
>Thank Tahenohan, but ask her to use healing magic
I wanna see what she can do with it.

"Thank you", the words come out rather sincerely from your mouth, and without effort, as does the follow-up: "But still, please make that ointment, I don't think I can travel like this".

"Well I think we can take it easy for a bit. We're in a safe place, there's running water, there's plenty of food around...", Tahenohan seems to take it easy, "It's not like Voronia. Well, not like the parts I've travelled at least. Finding food was a lot more difficult, you had to be careful and plan ahead. Or just be very very lucky and improvise a lot".

For some reason you have the lingering feeling that someone around here belongs to the latter camp.

At that point, you hear some yawning and see a huge spider stretch its legs, body and the arms and back on the humanoid part of its body. The process takes a bit of time and is very thorough and enviably comfortable, but by the time it's over, Arianna is awake... If drowsy. She has quite a sleepy face.

"Mhnnh... Breakfast done?", is the first thing she asks.

"It takes a lot to boil properly but it'll be ready before lunch", Tahenohan explains, almost letting you go. Well, you don't think you still need her support to stand and walk. Maybe. "Do you have any bread? Bread would be great to snap and toss in there. Make it a lot tastier".

Arianna blinks, wiping her sleepy eyes, "... Whaa? Bread? I don't even remember what bread tastes like".

You guess they don't have ovens around here, which is very sad, because you think there's enough wild grain to harvest it and make it if you had the tools to prepare it. Not that you've ever made bread yourself, but you don't think a stone oven would be too difficult to make, and there certainly isn't a lack of firewood around here.

"Ah!", the arachne then notices you and stands, stretching again, "Can I ask you a favour?".

"Sure", you say.

"Can you perform the Rite of Fertility?".

>"Yes".
>"No".
>"Wait what?".
>Other?

>>37185177
>"Yes".
aw yeah

>>37185177
>"What, right now?"

>>37185177
>>"Yes".
Because we can, and that's partly why we're here, to ensure that they are able to continue their line.

>>37185177
>Other
"Sure, with who though? You need a partner, and as there are only girls here, I don't know if it works with only two women."

>"Yes"

Aha, finally time to do Ishtar priest stuff

>>37185177
>"Well I kinda could use some healthy thighs first..."

"Yes".

The question was posed very naturally, so you just went along and answered truthfully. It takes you just a few moments to notice that something's odd about all this.

First of all, this is the very first time someone asks you to perform a rite. Secondly, it's the first time somebody specifically asks you for the Rite of Fertility, meaning it's a supposedly well-known thing in the cult of Ishtar, which you've never been formally trained in.

But that's not much of a big deal compared to the fact Arianna's smiling quite gladly. At first, you're kind of worrying that she might ask to have you both perform the rite and partake as her partner, but then you remember that she doesn't know about your surprise package.

"That's good to hear!", she sounds actually happy, "Can you perform it on me?".

And then she goes out and just asks.

"... Uhm... Arianna, was it?", you try to buy time as Tahenohan holds you up and gleefully waits to see how this plays out. She looks like she can't wait.

"Yes?".

"You... Do realize you need a partner to do that?".

Moments of silence pass.

"What, you mean like, immediately?", she looks confused.

"Yes", you explain, "The Rite of Fertility only works if you mate right after it's performed. You need a partner to do that, or it's just... Well, pointless".

"Oh. Aaaaw", she looks disappointed, "I thought... I thought it was something like... Like you do it and then next time I'd do it I'd make lots of babies".

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's not how it works".

"Oh. Well dang", she stretches, not seeming overly concerned, "You'll stick around a bit, right? I'd like to have you handy for when I find a partner".

"I... Certainly plan to help you out, yes", you reassure her. You don't know where you'll physically be in the next few days, but that's not important.

>"Why are you so eager to have that rite?".
>"Where is Leiana?".
>"What will the two of you do now?".
>"Do you live alone here?".
>Other?

>>37185414
>"Where is Leiana?".
>"What will the two of you do now?".

>>37185414
>"What will the two of you do now?".
>"If you can't find a partner, though...I, uh, might know someone who could help witht hat too."

>>37185470
Who?

>>37185414
>"Why are you so eager to have that rite?".
>"Where is Leiana?".
>"What will the two of you do now?".

>>37185484
He means US.

>>37185414
>"Where is Leiana?".
>"What will the two of you do now?".

>>37185521
I was worried as much!
No prostituting the demonbutt.

>"What do you need for that ointment?".
>"Wait let's go back to your City of Brass thing".

>>37185484
Only one way to know.

>>37185544
Wait wait wait how can you fuck up and vote for something that old but still reply to a recent post simultaneously?

>>37185543
>prostituting
What, no. That's not what I had in mind at all anon.

Helping =/= protutition

>>37185559
Ack. My keyboard is breaking apart and the C key fails sometimes.

>>37185414
>"Where is Leiana?"
>"What will the two of you do now?"
>"If you can't find a partner, though...I, uh, might know someone who could help with that too.

>>37185575
Just because we're not getting paid...
Unless the whole idea is different.

You decide to let go of the Rite of Fertility issue for the time being, you have other things to concern yourself over that have quite a bit more precedence than something Arianna is going to need when you'll have solved plenty more things about human-monster relationships.

"What are the two of you going to do now, anyways?", you ask Arianna, gently motioning for Tahenohan to try and let go of you. You keep moving your legs and although painful you're starting to learn to bear it. It doesn't hurt as much, you guess the muscles are starting to loosen up with forced movement, but a massage might help more, as long as it's given to someone competent, because you're sure that as soon as you sit back down your legs will give you hell again.

"Mh? Live together I guess", Arianna seems to feel it's normal, "There's just three of us left, we'll have to stick together. It'll be safer, and easier to share mates and everything".

"Are you sure Leiana is going to agree that readily? I think she should start trusting humans again first. By the way, where is she?".

Arianna looks around, as if that would help. Meanwhile, Tahenohan leaves your side and uses her ladle to stir the soup a little, sniffing it eagerly even though it doesn't have a particular scent, "I don't know, probably somewhere around".

Well that doesn't help much.

"She'll be back though, she's probably just gathering food and stuff, she's always been paranoid about that. Like we could run out of that", she doesn't seem very concerned about food reserves despite being a half-ton monster that eats like... A half-ton monster.

"Why are you so eager to have that rite, anyways?", you decide to ask.

"Mh? Because I want lots of babies. We have to repopulate after all", she's amazingly straightforward about it.

>"Aren't you worried about how and where you'll raise them?".
>"Aren't you worried about the humans?".
>"Aren't you going a little fast?".
>"How do you plan to get a mate?".
>Other?

>>37185715
>"Aren't you worried about the humans?".
Probably should do the whole diplomacy thing first.
damnit I was too late to vote for >>37185470

>>37185715
>>"Aren't you going a little fast?".
>>"How do you plan to get a mate?".

>>37185715
>"How do you plan to get a mate?".

>>37185715
>"Aren't you worried about how and where you'll raise them?".
>"Aren't you worried how the humans would see a hurried re-population like that? I think you should work on some diplomatic ties first...

>>37185715
>"Aren't you going a little fast?".
>"Aren't you worried about the humans?".

"Aren't you worried about the implications of your plan?", you have to wonder.

"My what?".

"What's your relationship with humans? They're repopulating the Shadow Marches... You know that, right?".

"Oh, yes", she gives a knowing nod, "The harpies talk about it all the time. Well, almost. Well, they're harpies, you know".

"How do you think they would see a hurried re-population? Where will you raise your children? Yours come in litters, right? You're going to need plenty of space and food and everything".

Arianna looks around, opening her arms to the fertile abundance of the jungle even though you're in a (large) cave, "Plenty of all that".

"But you can't just ignore the humans and how they'll see you. Leiana became overly paranoid and I don't think there will be any conflict, not if I can help it", you assure them, "But she has a point. You have to think about all of this. You can't just find a mate and make babies and that's it".

"I can't?", she looks confused, crossing her arms. She's listening to you, and trying to understand what you're saying, but her line of thought must be a lot simpler than yours as she's visibly struggling to follow you.

"How were you planning to find a mate?", you try to start from the simple parts.

"Oh, I'd just go and find a cute human, then I'll grab him and bring him back and that'd be my mate", she simply claims with a face full of innocence, "Oh but I'd call you first for the Rite of Fertility".

You pause, staring at her for a bit, but you don't think she's joking. "That's rape", you inform her.

Unfortunately, she gives you the long look of someone who doesn't understand what you're talking about.

This is going to take a while...

Bryld returns on her own two legs while you wonder how to make Arianna not be a creep, or a sex criminal, and not make her scare the entirety of the Shadow Marches with her antics.

>Explain her how courtship works
>Change topic (into what?)
>Disregard that, help with breakfast/lunch
>Other?

>>37185986
>>Explain her how courtship works
Use Tahe and Bryld as examples on how to court someone.

>>37185986
>>Explain her how courtship works
>Other
Explain to her how the normal human views harpies nearby.
Explain to her what that would mean for HER children if this became a trend

>>37185986
>Explain her how courtship works
Could you also explain it to me?

>>37185986
>Explain her how courtship works
>Explain how grabbing a random dude and running off is likely to bring seasoned monster-hunters hired by pragmatic asshole clerks on the back of some panicked humans banging on their doors.

>>37186099
>>37186051
These

>>37185986
[x] >>37186051
[x] >>37186099

What follows is one of the most awkward moments in your life.

You're getting paid to do the following things: explore the Shadow Marches, report your findings, draw a map of the area and do a population census in the new settlements.

In nothing of the parts you've signed up or agreed on doing was there a clause that said "Oh by the way if you find giant spider girls somewhere in the jungle please teach them about courtship and make sure they don't go out kidnapping and raping men without realizing it's a crime".

It's more difficult than you thought. You would expect harpies to be incapable of understanding why they shouldn't rape humans, you might even consider to give them a bit of leeway on the grounds of being an all-female race of birdbrains, but you wouldn't expect to find an arachne in a similar situation.

"... And this is why it's bad to appear like an evil monster. Do you understand? It's not just about you, people will also take it out on your friends and especially your children". You're feeling tired, it's strenuous to talk this much in the morning, "Do you understand? You have to be careful about your relationships with humans".

She stares at you with a mixture of confusion and admiration, the kind of awe you feel in the presence of someone who understands things you don't and you can't help but wonder how she can do it. She must think you're magical or something, judging from her face.

And it's about at that time that Leiana comes back, already frowning, "Why are you talking about rape and why does anyone need to be told it's a bad thing?", she wonders.

"Oh, Leiana!", Arianna greets her, "Our priestess's saying we might have a problem with repopulating".

Leiana lets out a loud sigh as she puts a net containing the carcasses of a half-dozen birds with bright feathers, "You don't say".

>Ask Leiana to help beat some sense into Arianna
>Assure Leiana that her friend's going to behave
>Ask if they feel ready to meet the new humans
>Other?

>>37186260
>Ask Leiana to help beat some sense into Arianna

>>37186260
>Ask Leiana to help beat some sense into Arianna
Yes, let's!

>>37186260
>>Ask Leiana to help beat some sense into Arianna
Ah, so it's just Arianna and not a monster girl thing.

Well, this will be harder than expected.

>>37186381
I hope not, otherwise Lilith will have a difficult time keeping her secret hidden.

>>37186260
>Ask Leiana to help beat some sense into Arianna
Off to sleep here, thanks for the thread.

"Leiana?", you ask.

"Don't ask me to beat any sense into her, I gave up a long time ago".

Well, crap.

"Think of the children", you insist.

"What children?", Leiana frowns as she opens the net and starts pulling the feathers off from the carcasses, "What are you talking about?".

"The children Arianna will have whether you like it or not", you know it to be true, and so does Leiana, "Please, you know what I'm talking about, we need to educate her. You have common sense, don't you? Of course you do".

Leiana facepalms. You feel a little guilty talking about all this with Arianna just right next to you, but she doesn't seem to mind one bit. You're not sure if it's because she has a thick skin or she's really that dumb. Or maybe she's actually aware of her difficulties and understands your stress.

"You'll need to think about your children too, won't you?", you suggest just to press Leiana a bit more, "Since you're going to stick together and help each other out. You don't want to let a stupid misunderstanding jeopardize your future, do you?".

"Okay, okay, fine!", she sighs, then stares straight at the other arachne, "Arianna".

"Yes?".

"You're a big dumbass who grew her tits instead of her brain".

"I missed you saying that".

You get the vague feeling Leiana blushed a little during that pause, but you can't be sure, "Which is why I want you to listen to us both and don't do anything stupid, especially with a human, okay?".

"Okay".

"Seriously, you have to let us handle it. Okay? Don't say anything inappropriate, don't do anything on your own, don't mate with anyone that doesn't agree with it. And make sure he will feel fine with having children with you".

Arianna doesn't answer as readily as before, as if struggling with some of those ideas, "... Okay".

"I don't know if it's breakfast or lunch but it's ready!", Tahenohan announces.

>Ask what their next plans are
>Ask what's around these parts
>Ask if you can stay here a few days
>Other?

>>37186529
>>Ask what's around these parts
We should try meeting that ogre Mage.

>>37186529
>Ask what their next plans are
Hnnngh, I want to go mate hunting soon

>>37186529
>>Ask what's around these parts

>>37186586
But we have two mates right here with us, Anon.

You all stay comfortably inside the cave. The arachne don't really need to sit, but fortunately there's boulders where you can, and although it's not the most comfortable accommodation you've received, it's still workable and not too bad.

"Ah, careful", Arianna goes as you were adjusting your position and came close to one of her eight, hairy legs, "You shouldn't touch my hair".

"Why not?", you wonder.

"It's coated in irritant oil. If you touch it, your skin will go red and you'll feel like scratching yourself until it bleeds", she claims like it's nothing really serious, "It shouldn't go through thick clothing, but unless you're wearing leather I wouldn't risk it".

Well that's a surprise, you look up at Leiana while Tahenohan is filling bowls with the minced leek and potato soup, and the other arachne shrugs, "That's just how her species is. I've developed a bit of immunity to it but if I touch it with my bare hands it still stings".

"Well, anyways", you focus back on what you wanted to talk about as Tahenohan hands you a bowl full of hot, ochre liquid; it's thicker than ordinary soup but not by much. It tastes like potatoes with a sprinkle of vegetable, but it's also hot and spicy thanks to the chilli. You wonder what happened to the fruits you're sure you smelled earlier in the morning, "What's around these parts? Any landmarks of note?".

"There's the Iron Mountain and Susanna's home, which is right at its foot", Arianna explains, "And there's plenty of other nice places but I didn't really give them names. I guess places don't need names if you don't have anyone to share them with". She gives Leiana a long stare as she says that, but the other arachne just frowns and sighs.

"Is the mountain dangerous?", you wonder.

"Not unless you climb very high", is Arianna's answer.

>Ask if you can meet Susanna
>Ask what their next plans are
>Ask if there's any landmarks of note
>Ask if anyone else lives nearby
>Ask how far you are from Reboldeux
>Other?

>>37186875
>>Ask if there's any landmarks of note
>Ask how far you are from Reboldeux
These are important, and part of both jobs

>>37186875
>>Ask if there's any landmarks of note
>>Ask how far you are from Reboldeux
>>Ask if you can meet Susanna
Gotta remember Bryld's job.

>>37186875
[x] >>37187072

Landmarks would be important, that's your guess. You don't know much about mapmaking but you presume landmarks are important to that end, and knowing as many as possible is going to make Bryld's job easier. And she needs to be able to do her job, or you're not going to make any money. Actually, you think accepting a job like that on behalf of the Duke and then doing it wrong would earn you more trouble than just not getting paid.

Better not think about it.

"Are there any landmarks of note? While we're there, how far are we from Reboldeux, exactly?", you're glad to notice Bryld's ears perking up immediately. She's paying attention, which means the topic really is important.

"Well... Other than the Iron Mountain?", Arianna scratches her head, "Mh... There's the bubbly spring, there's the reed ponds, there's the icy stream that flows into the lake, there's the Lonely Hill, the one with those remains".

"Remains?", you wonder.

"Remains of a stone tower or something", she's a bit vague, "Nothing left but dust and cobweb. Oh, speaking of which", she looks at Leiana with a bit of expectation, "Are you going to spin some in our house?".

"... Our house?", the face she's making is hard to describe.

"Yes. You know, to decorate and stuff".

"I-", she sighs, "... Maybe".

"You're totally going to, aren't you?".

Instead of answering, Leiana focuses on you, "I don't know how far we are from Reboldeux. We don't have milestones nor roads to put them on. But if you can figure out how much distance we travelled from where I picked you up to here I think you'll be able to figure it out".

"We just have to use our previous landmarks, such as the lake, to tell how much distance we covered while riding", Bryld confirms, nodding to herself, "I think I can do that".

That's kind of amazing, you'd have no idea where to even start.

>Ask if you can meet Susanna
>Ask what their next plans are
>Ask if anyone else lives nearby
>Other?

>>37187375
>>Ask if you can meet Susanna
Yay we helped our bunnybutt! And my phone autocorrects "bunnybutt" that's fantastic.

>>37187375
>Ask what their next plans are

>>37187375
>Ask if you can meet Susanna

>>37187375
>>Ask if anyone else lives nearby

>>37187375
>Ask if you can meet Susanna
>>Ask what their next plans are
If this is not mutually exclusive

"I remember you mentioned a certain Susanna living nearby?", you ask over the course of lunch. Or breakfast. Whatever, you don't think it's important, "Do you think it would be possible to meet her?".

"Yes", Arianna readily answers, but Leiana gives her an odd look.

"I'm... Well, we can try", the other arachne is a lot more cautious.

"Is there a problem?", you wonder.

"No", Arianna shrugs.

"Y- Maybe", Leiana disagrees, then sighs, "We'll try, I can't say more than that".

You're split between insisting and letting go for a moment, but you decide to just let go at this point, "Anyone else living nearby?".

"Other than a flock of harpies? Well, a lot of wild animals", Arianna explains, "Oh, and the wyverns".

"W-wyverns?", you can't help but be shocked at the revelation. Wyverns are huge, very dangerous animals, they're not just flying carnivores, they also have poisonous stingers on their tails. Not that you're going to die because of the poison when they have teeth and claws that large and sharp. Wyverns are usually terrible news. "Aren't they really dangerous?".

"They won't come far down if you don't bother them", she shrugs, "We're not worth their trouble and you're too small for them to notice. Just stay in the cover of the trees and you'll be fine".

Easy to say, but Bryld too has frozen at the mention of wyverns.

"Well...", you try and change topic, "What about you? What are your plans now?".

The arachne look at each other, then Arianna shrugs, "We'll be happy and live together".

Leiana then sighs, "We'll lead you to Susanna, then we'll think as we go".

That surely sounded more practical. And after a filling lunch you feel ready to take on the world.

Except that you sat. And now that you are trying to get up, your thighs are killing you. Not literally, but, well, you know the kind of pain you're feeling all too well.

Tahenohan notices your suffering and smiles, "Don't worry! I'll get that ointment ready!".

Somehow that doesn't make you feel safe.

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And this is it for Episode 17!

Closing it earlier than usual because I always complain about running late and I am, in fact, a bit tired. It's also somewhat early in the year I feel, and there was little to no advance notice for this session.

It's okay though, I still hope we managed to have some fun.

>>37187847
>Tahenohan notices your suffering and smiles, "Don't worry! I'll get that ointment ready!".
>Somehow that doesn't make you feel safe.
THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET LEWD.
>>37187888
Thanks for running, you're the best.

>>37187888
It was fun! Even though I didn't realize you were running until two hours after you started. And Leiana and Arianna make for a cute hetero(?)sexual life partner couple.

>>37188062
I usually put a bit more advance warning on Twitter, but this time I just seized a chance I got because I didn't know when the next one would come.

It's okay, Episode 18 will have more people.

>>37187888
Thank you very much for the thread!

>>37188094

We had one player less than usual. Maybe he's still enjoying the holidays

ANyway, thanks for the thread, MP. WIsh I had some new art to post, but unfortunately, it will take a bit longer.

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231 KB JPG

>>37188229
Don't worry, nobody's in a hurry. New art is always appreciated of course but certainly not required.

>>37187888
I just caught up, thanks for the thread MP.