>>38993352

The beam of sunlight coming through the hospital window shifts as time slowly passes. You watch it anxiously as you count down the seconds. You’ve been lying in bed kicking your heels, just waiting until you think it’s been enough time since you spoke to the guard captain. Surely he wouldn’t have anyone still keeping watch?

You had told him the truth or a heavily edited version of it at least. You hadn’t seen another way out of the never-ending spiral of bad choices that begat further bad choices. He had looked at you like you had been crazy but some of it must have rung true because he hadn’t stuck around long after.
And now that just leaves you, trapped in this hospital. Thanks to a few hours of rest and Master Yolan’s antivenoms, you’re feeling pretty fresh. You’re more than ready to go. There’s just one problem. You don’t think you’re allowed to leave. Not anymore.

> Call for Master Yolan.

> Stay in bed for a while longer.

> Get up. It’s time to leave, whether they want you to or not.

> Call for the nurse.

> Through the window!

> Other

>>38993355
>Through the window!

Just kidding.

>Call for the nurse.

>>38993355
> Get up. It’s time to leave, whether they want you to or not.

>>38993355
>> Call for the nurse.

>>38993480
>>38993374
Why?

>>38993506
More info and possible hostage, also we might be able to do other things. We aren't good enough at fighting to fight our way out and escape could end badly if we're on the second story or more.

>>38993546
>possible hostage
fucking great. more idiotic players

>>38993355
>> Call for Master Yolan.
Lets try to figure out what the deal is at least, we're on decent terms with him.

>>38993568
oh shut up, its a possibility, not saying we'll actually do it.

>>38993546
>possible hostage
Go back to BQ, come back when your brain isn't looping constant bad decisions.

You guys do know that we could literally offer Yolan snake skin, saliva, or venom and he'd fall head over heels to help us right? The practical alchemical use of any of that is practically endless, and he knows we were poisoned so were not bullshitting.

>>38993355
>> Call for Master Yolan.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Looks like a tie between calling for the nurse or calling for the alchemist. Odds is the former, evens is the latter.

Writing now.

>>38993722
Ouro I'm not blaming you for our decisions but you gotta include less bad options in votes. Your players generally don't have the brainpower to think things through and avoid them

>>38993722
Woot!

> Call for Master Yolan

There is exactly one person in this place you can feel you can trust even a little and that's the man who concocted the antivenom that saved your life in the first place. Master Yolan should at least provide a sympathetic ear and may even provide aid. He certainly didn't seem approving when describing the Mayor's interrogation processes.

For a moment, you still feel tempted to try and break your way out. If Hiss was in your place right now she'd probably try to shift her form or simply kill her way out. But you lack both her power and her convenient lack of human morality. You're not sure if you'd ever want to be enough like her where either of those two methods was possible.

You call for Master Yolan, first attracting a solemn nurse who then bustles off to find the old alchemist. You wait for almost ten minutes before he arrives, slowly walking past the doorframe. You suppose that's to be expected. Not even a master alchemist can recover lost youth past a certain point.

"Ah, Cennen. Is something the matter with your wound or did you just want to talk shop?"

> "Actually, I haven't been entirely honest with you."

> "What do you know about that captain?"

> Give him a lie for why you need to leave right now.

> Talk shop.

> Other

>>38994013
>> Talk shop.
I would actually like some ideas as to how we can hone our craft.
> "What do you know about that captain?"

>>38994013
> "Actually, I haven't been entirely honest with you."

>>38993780
I'll take it into consideration.

>>38994013
>> "Actually, I haven't been entirely honest with you."
We can easily get this guy onto our side here and it'd be a serious bonus, hell, as an academic we might even be able to get away without serious issues (may need to burn a wish to get hiss to cooperate though)

>>38994013
>What do you know about that captain?"

>>38994013
> "Actually, I haven't been entirely honest with you."
> Talk shop.
> "What do you know about that captain?"

>>38994427
I change my vote to this

> "Actually, I haven't been entirely honest with you."
> "What do you know about that captain?"

You ask him about the guard and he creases his forehead in thought.
"Captain Frahm? Not a lot, I've always been quite divorced from his usual clientele. But you aren't the first person that he's brought here to be cared for. And all of them conveniently without money, of course. The Sisters say he's a veteran, served in the Jheri War. I wouldn't be surprised."

"But can he be trusted?"

Master Yolan laughs.
"With my wallet? Not at all. But I would trust him to do his job."
That's not exactly the answer you wanted.
"Why do you ask?"

"I may have told him something that I'm not sure whether I should have. Master Yolan, I don't think I've been entirely honest with you..."
You spill the beans, giving the elderly alchemist a similar edited-down story of your recent travels.

He rocks back on his feet and for a long while there is just silence after your retelling.
"That's a hard story to believe."

"Brew up a truth elixir if you must, it'll still be the same."
You really hope he doesn't actually do this.

"Bah. Do you think I'm one of the Mayor's pet interrogators? I have no place with those sort of recipes. Do you have any sort of proof?"

An idea alights upon you.
"Get me my pack."

A nurse is called and returns a minute later, your backpack still unopened. After she leaves, you pull out one of Hiss' old snake-skins and present it to Master Yolan.
He doesn't say anything but you can hear him whistle.
"Are you bribing me, Cennen?"

"What? No!"

"And yet, a more tempting form you could not have chosen. What am I to do now? Throw something like this away? Take it from you and prove myself a villain? No, you leave me little choice."
He sounds almost sorrowful at what you have shown him.
"What help do you require?"

1/2

>>38994824

> "I need to go to the gaol."

> "Can you get me to the Mayor's house?"

> "Just get me out of the hospital, that's all you have to do for me."

> "Brew me a dispel elixir, I know you must be able."

> Other

>>38994850
Fuck I can't decide what if get a bad choice again?

>>38994850
> "Can you get me to the Mayor's house?"
> "Brew me a dispel elixir, I know you must be able."
With priority to the first one

>>38994850
>A few lessons or a couple study books
and
> "Can you get me to the Mayor's house?"

>>38994876
We're freaking jinxed man, no matter what looks good now it'll come back to bite us hard.

>>38994850
>>38994905
Supporting, we've got a lot to learn about our trade.

>>38994850
I deciced
>teach us how to brew the dispel thingy
and
>take us to the major

What is the dispel elixr for again?

>>38994850
> "Brew me a dispel elixir, I know you must be able."
> "Just get me out of the hospital, that's all you have to do for me."
This is a relatively cheap cost for a supposedly non existent magical reagent.

>>38995121
for th majors daughter

>>38995121
We owe one to Iana because she used hers on us when we were cursed

> "Can you get me to the Mayor's house?"
> Ask him about dispel elixirs, both the brewing thereof and the knowledge how.

"I only seek two things from you. First of all, can you get me to the Mayor's house?"

He nods grimly.
"I think I see your intention. You want to rescue your lady, this serpent princess. I don't know how much of that was true but I'll tell you this. The dungeons of the Mayor are a place where no man should go. I shall guide you there and do my best to help you enter but from there you will be alone."

"If all goes well, I won't be alone for long. And now the second. After all of this, we need to talk about dispel elixirs. Maybe even a few lessons or some study books?"

His grim visage cracks a little, a small smile showing itself.
"Oh dear, is that it? Cennen, all you had to do was ask. I will gladly share my knowledge. If I ever see you again."
He doesn't say it out loud but you know he doubts he will. Well, you will prove him wrong. Hopefully. Either that or he's totally right and you're about to enter a world for hurt. But you won't back down now.

You kick your sheets aside and stand up, Master Yolan offering a steadying hand. He waves you past the nurses with ease as he walks you out. There's a short, fat guard standing around outside the hospital but he does nothing but watch the two of you leave.

He leads you through the streets slowly, hobbling towards more and more expensive districts. A few guards attempt to you stop you, a clear peasant, from entering the wealthy neighborhoods but Master Yolan's robe warns them off.

Before long, the two of you are standing before a large treacle-brown mansion sitting alone in a set of overgrown gardens.
"The official residence of the Duke. Or at least it was, decades ago. But until he returns to Melire, it and the governance of the city belongs to the Mayor In-Standing."
He shows something to the men at the gate who exchange glances with each other and nod.
"Good luck."
1/2

I say instead of trying to sneak into the Mayor's house we just pray nearby and get Hiss to meet up with us

>>38995269
2/2

> Maybe you should try to sneak in rather than just going through the front gate.

> No. That'd just give him an excuse to dispose of us.

> Are you sure that Master Yolan can't come with us?

> Pray.

> Other

>>38995303
>Pray.
>No. That'd just give him an excuse to dispose of us.

the spirits (and hiss) may help us

>>38995303
>> No. That'd just give him an excuse to dispose of us.
> Pray.

>>38995303
> Pray.

>>38995303
> Pray.
> No. That'd just give him an excuse to dispose of us.

> No. That'd just give him an excuse to dispose of us.
> Pray.

You let the gatekeepers escort you along the path through the grounds. The grounds are stuffed with hedges, trees and rows of flowers, all of which have obviously not been tended to for a long time as they have all grown together, merging into a single thorny mass of flora and undergrowth that dominates the grounds.
The mansion itself exists within an immaculately kept circle of flat grass dotted with decorative roses, a wall against the wilder gardens without.
You can't help but wonder just what the story behind this is, if there even is one.

As you walk the narrow path, you send your thoughts skyward, beseeching aid from the spirits, thus hopefully alerting Hiss to your presence.

You are diverted from the main door, a huge oaken portal made for grander men then you and taken around through a less impressive side-entrance. From here you are guided through a cramped winding passage with peeling brown wall-paper. This is not part of the mansion where the nobles tread, that much is certain.

You are bundled into a small room where a man in spectacles and well-made but unimpressive clothes is bent over a pile of ledgers.
"State your business."

"I-"

You don't get more than that in before another servant enters, one significantly better dressed.
"This one is to come with us."

The bookkeeper blinks.
"Into the household? But...oh very well. Whatever his lordship desires."

Two men with the look of private guardsmen pick you up and escort you further into the mansion, taking you through a door that seamlessly melds the stuffy servant's corridors into the opulence of the Mayor's home. You can only stare at the wealth on the display. Any one of these rooms could have fit your entire village hut in it with room to spare.

You don't get to see much of it however, as the men frogmarch you through the mansion with commendable speed. Are they afraid you'll nobble something?
1/2

>>38995612
2/2

Well you're not going to, you're on your best behavior. For now.

You are deposited inside what must be a dining hall, a room taken up by a long table with a roaring fireplace in one end of the room. The table is filled with a variety of meats, pastries and wines, with servants standing discreetly by.
At the head of the table opposite you sits a chubby man of middle years, his brown hair just beginning to recede. He doesn't look impressive and yet there is an air of power to him, a man in complete command of his surroundings. He looks up from his delicate meal as you enter, a look of disdain flashing across his features.
"Is this the retainer you speak of, your Highness?"

"Yes. More's the pity."
The familiar voice comes from the other end of the table, close to the raging fire. She is sitting there, uncomfortably picking at a meat-filled pie with knife and fork, before simply scooping it up with her hands. The servant behind her winces.

You know who it is. Hiss is not only still alive, she seems to have come out on top somehow. Fantastic.
But what the hell is she doing now?

> Ask just that.

> Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

> Flee

> Pull up a seat and start eating.

> Ignore Hiss and speak to the Mayor.

> Other

>>38995777
> Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

>>38995777
>Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

>apologize for kicking her

>>38995777
>> Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

>>38995777
> Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

>>38995777
> Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

>>38995777
>> Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

Seems like everything's coming up Milhouse now.

> Be more polite and act as her loyal retainer that you were introduced as. Something's up here.

Not knowing entirely what to do, you bow as low as you can. First to the Mayor In-Standing and then to Hiss herself. As you rise to your feet you can see her smirk grow so wide that you can't help but look for her face splitting around the edges.
"It's about ti-...Finally you have arrived, my loyal servant. It is good to see you display obeisance towards your betters. Attend me."

Obeisance? When did she even learn that word? You have a sinking feeling that it probably involved eating someone.
You follow her command, taking your place standing by her side. Now that you've gotten close you can see that she moves with an almost exaggerated care and that her arm is bandaged underneath her sleeve and that the parts of her chest that you can see past her collar are blotchy with bruises.
"I have been taking part of the Mayor's hospitality, in more ways than one."

She can't disguise the sudden venom in her voice and the Mayor reacts, raising a wine-glass as if he was addressing an entire table's worth of nobles.
"Once again your Highness, I offer my sincerest condolences about the gaol business and everything that occurred there. Rest assured, all involved have been dealt with appropriately. Had I only known the nature of your nobility, none of this would have happened. I beg your forgiveness."

"We all make mistakes," she says insincerely. "And now that the interruption has been dealt with, shall we attend back to work?"

"Of course. Anything your Highness desires."
Hiss nods pleasantly and you can see her previous venom begin to melt away. You suppose she is susceptible to flattery and good treatment as anyone else. More so, in fact.

Servants bring out a sheath of papers and scrolls, full of unintelligible scrawl. It's written in a diagonal slant however so you know that it's rich-man unintelligible scrawl at least.

1/2

File: 1398927799260.png (278 KB, 512x384)

278 KB PNG

>>38996125
Give it time anon.

>>38996166
2/2

A scribe takes up position by the Mayor's side, dipping his quill and taking up another scroll.
"I believe we were somewhere in the vicinity of trade agreements along the border of...what did you call it, your Highness? Snakehome?"

"Yes."

"A very simple name. Straight to the point, I like it I believe we can set up a caravan between our peoples that should ensure a series of mutually beneficial..."

Hiss keeps nodding as the Mayor goes on and on, all of this clearly going well above her head. Spirits know it certainly goes above yours.

> Whisper to Hiss that he's probably trying to trick her into something.

> Don't risk that now. Just wait until this all over and you two can be alone.

> Ask to see the papers yourself and do your best to decipher them.

> Other

>>38996282
>Don't risk that now. Just wait until this all over and you two can be alone.

>>38996282
> Ask to see the papers yourself and do your best to decipher them.

>>38996282
> Don't risk that now. Just wait until this all over and you two can be alone.

servants gonna serve

>>38996282
>> Don't risk that now. Just wait until this all over and you two can be alone.
>> Ask to see the papers yourself and do your best to decipher them.

The lass is so hopelessly naive she will believe every lie she is told and will wear her every reaction on her sleeve. She has absolutely no capacity for subterfuge or deception and we cannot hope to honestly negotiate with her around. We have to get her into a private room and quiz her over what she has told these people.

>>38996282
>> Don't risk that now. Just wait until this all over and you two can be alone.
> Ask to see the papers yourself and do your best to decipher them.

>>38996282
>> Don't risk that now. Just wait until this all over and you two can be alone.
>> Ask to see the papers yourself and do your best to decipher them.

Do you think we could wish our way out of what appears to be a sale of title?

>> Don't risk that now. Just wait until this all over and you two can be alone.
>> Ask to see the papers yourself and do your best to decipher them.

You keep your mouth shut as Hiss grows more and more bemused. But the food is good (as your growling stomach constantly reminds you), the fire is exceptionally warm and she is finally being treated with the respect she feels she deserves so she sits demurely and keeps assenting. If only you could you get your hands on them to study at your leisure. You almost consider just reaching over to look but that would probably be unfitting of a servant.

It goes on and on and your feet begin to ache. You try to hide your discomfort but Hiss glances up at you for a moment before interrupting the Mayor and his scribe.
"You have been most kind. But I begin to tire of such trivialities. Myself and my manservant shall retire now."

He nods.
"Of course, your Highness. The finest rooms shall be prepared for you. Please prepare them to the princess's preferences."
One of the servants twitches but leaves to go do so anyway.
"Shall we convene again over dinner?"

Hiss stands up with enough force to push her chair into the fireplace behind her.
"Absolutely. I look forward to it."
She walks out, letting a servant guide her to her rooms. You almost follow but stop yourself at the last minute and instead pull the scribe aside.
"Her highness requests a copy of all the relevant documents, to be delivered to her quarters."

This job done, you follow Hiss through the mansion. It's an odd sight, the make of her clothes and her elegance of looks fit her into these surroundings perfectly but her bearing couldn't contrast itself more.

You almost follow her into her quarters before a guard stops you.
"You will be staying in the servants quarters down the hall. You will present yourself when her Highness calls for you."

1/2

>>38996773
2/2

> Tell him you are her personal servant and that you stay where she pleases.

> Pray.

> Go to your assigned quarters and wait.

> Hang around outside the door to her quarters instead.

> Go find the kitchens and see if you can get something to eat.

> Other

>>38996795
>> Go find the kitchens and see if you can get something to eat.

>>38996795
> Pray.
> Tell him you are her personal servant and that you stay where she pleases.

>>38996795
> Tell him you are her personal servant and that you stay where she pleases.
If that fails pray and tell her to call for us

>>38996808
Why anon?

>>38996859
afraid our brain is going to conk out on us without food.

>>38996795
>> Tell him you are her personal servant and that you stay where she pleases.
>> Pray.

> Tell him you are her personal servant and that you stay where she pleases.
> Pray

You draw yourself to attention and attempt to sound as haughty as possible. You're pretty sure you fail.
"Excuse me? I am the personal manservant of the princess. I stay where she pleases."

At the same time you inwardly praying, requesting that Hiss do something about this. And yet nothing happens. She doesn't open the door instantly to imperiously command the guard. You suppose the idea of you being shuttled off elsewhere probably amuses her to no end.

The guard thinks for a moment, obviously weighing up your word with that of his master, the Mayor.
"I'm sorry but I think not. This room is only for o-"

Something slams against the door behind him and he stops.
"Are you second-guessing my closest servant? I didn't know that the help around here was so clumsy. One shall have to complain."

He almost throws you through the door, slamming it behind him.
You are now trapped in her chambers. The first thing you notice is the size. All of this just for a bedroom? A huge four-poster bed sits by the wall and the floor and walls are covered by thick luxurious rugs and tapestries respectively.
There's even a fireplace and a door that looks to lead to a separate ablutions room.

Hiss is lounging on the floor in front of the fireplace, poking a log into it. Another small log of firewood is lying on the floor next to the door, no doubt what she had pelted at it to get the guard's attention without having to move.
She looks very pleased with herself.

"I have graciously permitted you to share my chambers, servant. Surely a grand honor for one as lowborn as you."
Okay, you're starting to think she is buying into this a little too much.

> "Lowborn? You live on a rock!"

> Remind her that you are not actually her servant. Almost the opposite in fact.

> "Enjoying yourself?"

> Ask her if she has any food.

> "I can't help but notice there's only one bed."

> Other

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>38997245
> "Enjoying yourself?"
> Attempt to hide the fact that you feared for her life and wellbeing only a short few hours ago.

>>38997245
Sorry about kicking you. I panicked and didn't realize what your natural reaction would be. Thank her for saving us anyway

>apologize
>ask for food

Seriously, OP is trying to tell us something, we need food

>>38997245
Make her a healing potion if possible
> Ask her if she has any food.

>>38997245
>> "Enjoying yourself?"
>> Ask her if she has any food.
>>Ask her what she discussed with the mayor.

>>38997245
>> "Enjoying yourself?"
> Ask her if she has any food.

>>38997306
You do realize she did absolutely nothing to save us right? As a matter of fact, every single action of hers on that day simply compounded the situation.

>>38997458
She got us medical attention that we would've died without. Don't be an idiot

>>38997245
Do we still have old barts staff orou? Also, how exactly does magic work in your setting? Are mages born, or can anyone learn it?

>>38997579

She did not. She tried to defend our dying body from soldiers who intervened. Soldiers who brought us to a hospital which saved our lives.

Perhaps she knows some way of reversing the effects of her venom, and it was noble of her to try and protect us. But as it happened, the very men she was protecting us from saved our life, not her.

>>38997666
Apparently it requires sacrificing to satan according to your trips.

>>38997703
She used us as a hostage so that they would try to keep us alive and get information from us and then allowed herself to be captured

>>38997666
>>38997737
If he can give us magical powers so that we aren't practically useless whenever shit hits the fan, then hail satan. And can hiss bequeath snake arts onto us like her dad did with his henchmen? Having even one of her powers would make things much much easier.

> "Enjoying yourself?"
>Apologize? (Maybe)
> Ask her if she has any food.

"Enjoying yourself?"

She pauses for a moment, actually thinking it over.
"Not really. All of this human pleasantry is exhausting."

You dither about what to do for a moment before deciding on your course of action. You walk over and sit down next to her, probably the closest you have ever willingly been to her just about ever.
Well, not counting the time you captured her, you guess. But it was a little different then. You're not sure when exactly but at some point along the way, you've actually become happy to see her mostly unharmed.
>>38997306
You try to hide this lest you give Hiss an advantage but she smirks anyway. Actually no. Not quite a smirk. You can feel an all-time low in general malice and hostility.
"I was really mad at you a little while ago, you know."

No surprise there considering that being pissy with you is her default state of being.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry about kicking you before."

She looks puzzled for a moment before it dawns.
"Pfft. I don't have time to care about something like that. It was just you being stupid, hardly anything new. What happened next...I think that was my fault."

"Next?"
You're not sure what to say here, afraid that her sudden openness will slam shut and you'll just be facing her fangs again.

"I let myself get hurt. I was too weak. Not as weak as you, mind you but a failure all the same. I told them too much and now I'm all wrapped in a...very human situation and I don't know where to go."

"You seemed to have picked up the attitude pretty well."

"Just because these humans know to show respect when deserved doesn't mean anything. I'm already sick of having to dress up my actions for them."
She adds more wood to the fireplace, which was already uncomfortably hot. She looks listless, intoxicated by both the heat and a very full stomach. She's probably saying far more than she ever intended because of just that.
1/2

>>38997848
now kiss

>>38997738
I don't know how you got that from the thread. The way I read it, she just tried to prevent them from getting to us. She didn't make any effort to give them a specific reason to keep us alive once they got us, they were just willing to give us free health care thanks to the abundance of alchemists in the city.

>>38997900
This kills the alchemist.

>>38997902
I'm not surprised at all that some players here lack reading comprehension

>>38997848
2/2

"Would you believe," she starts. "Would you believe that I actually felt a little worried about you? I mean, it's only right to look out for one's servants. Yes. And I can actually feel like me with you rather than whatever soft thing these people want me to be."
She stops, clearly struggling with the next words. It's a fight to even let them escape her lips.
"I guess what I'm leading to is that...I'm sorry?"

You're aren't sure what to do with this. Depressive Hiss is a lot more friendly than regular Hiss but it almost doesn't feel like her at all. You dress yourself in false cheer to try and alleviate the mood.
"Well if you're feeling sorry, how about some food? I haven't eaten since breakfast!"

Another log is thrown at the door and a summons for food is sent. It arrives very quickly, a servant entering with a covered tray before departing with the same speed. Hiss smiles at that.
"They fear me. All is as it should be."

It's a barely cooked steak, obviously prepared for Hiss' preferences. You're not a great fan of blood but you've eaten much rarer in the past. It tastes absolutely delicious and is without a doubt the most expensive thing you've eaten in your life.
You can't even finish it all and instead opt to throw your leftovers into your cauldron and begin to brew over the fireplace. A potion of small healing and restoration might go a little to making both of you feel better.
By the time you turn back however, Hiss has fallen asleep.

> Wake her up and try to administer the potion.

> Just leave her be and wait.

> See if you can explore the mansion.

> Go into town. You still have this Shortwood business to take care of.

> Other

>>38997848

Oh whoops. That >>38997306 in 1/2 was supposed to be >>38997281 instead, referring to the roll.

Fun Snake Fact: Many snakes become sluggish and MUCH easier to handle if they've stuffed themselves first.

>>38998067
> Just leave her be and wait.

>>38998067
The fuck? We didn't ask her at all about this deal she worked out with the mayor?

>>38998147

We shouldn't wake her up now.

>>38998067
>just leave her be and wait

>>38998147
That only got one vote total and also I'm saving that discussion for when the copied scrolls are delivered to her quarters later so you can look over them.

>>38998067
> Just leave her be and wait.
Brew an obscuring cloud potion and a nonlethal poison if we have time. Or just take a quick nap as well

>>38998215
>nonlethal poison

Yes please. We shouldn't really turn into a murderhobo, it's inevitable when Hiss does it, so we gotta be the moral counterweight.

>>38998215
yeah best to have this stuff prepped a head of time.

> Just leave her be and wait.

You decide to let her be. She's actually acting almost like someone with a soul and you don't want to cut that short.

You return to the fireplace and spend some time bottling up two brews. One is the sticky smoke solution that you used back in Lesser Arlinton and after a moment's thought, a tasteless poison that should incapacitate rather than kill. It's best to be prepared to be ahead of time, that's the true strength of the alchemist.

>>38997666
Sometimes though, the strength of an apprentice alchemist just isn't enough. You should try something more with the wizard's staff. The staff that you've had on your person the whole time.
There it is, it's right in your hands, a faint sheen of dew making it wet to touch. You've been holding it this entire time. Isn't that right?

You suddenly become unsure. Is it just you or has that thing been popping in and out as required? And for some reason you keep forgetting about it, despite that it has done this before. Why does it do that? And where has it been going?
You worry about it for a few seconds before you forget about it. Of course you have the staff. It only makes sense.
You give it a few waves but have to hastily stop when the scribe finally arrives bearing a painstakingly-made copy of the documents from before.

You set them down on the bed and start to look them over, working your way through the tangled script word by word. This isn't trade agreements. At least, not proper ones. It's all so dressed up and deceptively arranged that you nearly don't make it out.
This set-up is very one way, permitting the forces of Melire nearly unlimited access to Hiss' home and anything they can find there. Hell, she's practically selling her whole title to the Mayor right now!

You hear a yawn behind you as Hiss stirs.

> Give her the full details.

> She might not take that very well. Might be for the best to try and handle this yourself.

> Other?

>>38998559
>> Give her the full details.
Knew it. Try and tell her this as an example of the human capacity for deception. And get ready to flee quietly.

>>38998559
> Give her the full details.
Give her the healing potion as well

>>38998559
> Give her the full details.
Give her healing potion and impress upon her not to kill anyone. Killing them would make it worse.

>>38998645
>Killing them would make it worse.

Secoded.

>>38998559
>give details, but tell her to spare them

>>38998559
> Give her the full details.
Start to form a plan for her to steal the duke's memories of her homeland

>>38997666
There's a little pastebin in the op about the general systems of magic. Natural magic is either entirely inborn or granted to someone by something sufficiently powerful at it.

Seers are born into it. Keepers can be anyone who finds the old ways and can uphold the rigorous contract. Witches are just fairytales. Nobody is quite sure about Wizards but their reservoir items at least are supposed to retain their power for quite a while for anyone to wield.
Anyone can learn the alchemical recipes but the actual art of it that lets you do bullshit like make brews from anything or without water is inborn.

>>38997836
Hiss has no clue how to pass her power down to humans like her father down. Of course, there is always one method you can use that can compel her to do anything that she is truly capable of, regardless of whether she actually knows how or not. It'd cost a wish.

>>38998559
Get hiss to lie to the mayor, say that her father has the final say over whether these treaties get signed or not. Say she must personally present the offers to her father, that she will have to try her best to convince him. The mayor may not buy it, but if he does, he'll undoubtedly send us with an armed and probably large escort. We just need to either poison/some how incapacitate them and then haul ass outta the duchy.

>>38998726
>Get hiss to lie to the mayor, say that her father has the final say over whether these treaties get signed or not. Say she must personally present the offers to her father, that she will have to try her best to convince him. The mayor may not buy it, but if he does, he'll undoubtedly send us with an armed and probably large escort. We just need to either poison/some how incapacitate them and then haul ass outta the duchy.

This is perfect.

>>38998695
This

>>38998559
>> Other?
Also, could we try to get her to tell us the nature of the discussion with the Mayor's staff went.

Oh, and is there any overlap in the boundaries of Hiss' forest and the Duke's personal hunting grounds, where we met her?

>>38998726
That's a fine idea, but if Hiss gave them the full details of her Kingdom's political hierarchy during her interrogation they would know she's lying. They would also be fully aware of the tense relationship between Hiss and her old man too.

>>38998726
I don't think it's possible for us to incapacitate many armed guards. Not a great plan.

>>38998884
Poison the food pot.

>>38998998
>>38998695
This idea is still much better in the long run. And simpler

>>38998884
On our way to snakehome, we make camp and offer the guards a lavish meal in return for their protection and diligence. Bam. Poison dat shit. A large number of guards incapacitated.

>>38998804
The Duke technically claims ownership over the entire thing. Cennen has no idea where Snakehome resides within it.

> Give her the full details

You show her the scrolls, opening each one beneath her uncomprehending eyes. You go into detail about how all of this is extremely bad, pausing anytime she looks significantly confused.
"In short, he's trying to cheat you! All of this is just a trap!"

She blinks and then grabs the scrolls from you before throwing them into the fireplace. You lunge forward trying to save them but an upthrust arm catches you.

"Oi! I still need to read through all of those," you protest.

"Do you think that I am an idiot?"
The sleepy, friendly Hiss is mostly gone.
"Is that how little you think of me?"

"Uh, what?"

"Of course the human was trying to trap me in his cage made of words. I knew that, even if none of his nonsense made any sense to me. But I'm just humoring him, idiot. Do you think words on paper mean anything to my people? And even if they did, do you think my word carries any weight at all?"
Those last words are virtually spat, bitter and hateful.
"Let him and his humans do as they will and shake as much paper as they want. As soon as I tire of their food I shall leave and I may take the Mayor's soul with me. And even if I don't, do you really think any expeditions he sends rattling around paper and words that most of my people can't even read would do anything? There is nothing but death awaiting such fools."

> "I think you underestimate humans here."

> "Why doesn't your word hold any power there, exactly?"

> "So why didn't you try and kill the Mayor immediately? That isn't like you."

> Other

>>38999054
> "So why didn't you try and kill the Mayor immediately? That isn't like you."

>>38999054
> "I think you underestimate humans here."
Pyromancers can be hired relatively quickly, and fire will kill a snake as easily as anything else. Humans may be weaker than snakes but your kind are badly outnumbered, and magic is not exclusive to your kind. More importantly, thinking you can waltz out of here without a plan is going to start this mess all over again. Likely making it worse.

>>38999054
>> "I think you underestimate humans here."
>> "Why doesn't your word hold any power there, exactly?"

>>38999054
>"I think you underestimate humans here."

>>38999054
Don't you feel lonely? I don't know what happened that made you run from home, but as it stands now you're stuck with me. Maybe Im just a lowly human to you, but I'm also the only person in this duchy who gives a shit whether you live or die, whether you're hurt or unharmed, whether you're lonely or only pretending not to be. Can you at least try to be nicer?

>>38999054
We need to make sure nobody knows about Snakehome before we leave here and that would require subtlety

>>38999054
>> "So why didn't you try and kill the Mayor immediately? That isn't like you."

We should ask her if she would still murder us without her wishes, I'd like to know when we can safely burn them. Granted they're a nice thing to keep in pocket.

> "I think you underestimate humans here."

She raises an eyebrow when you say that but doesn't say anything, clearly demanding that you explain yourself

"Do you forget how many of us live in Melire alone? If you give the city a reason to attack your home, they can march an army into the forest to make the earth tremble."

She sniffs.
"Into our territory? Good luck. They will face a trap along every path, a bite underneath every bush."

"They don't need to enter the forest! Wizards can be hired and the Mayor himself has plenty of personal alchemists. They can set it all aflame! And more importantly, thinking you can just waltz out of here without a plan is going to start all of this all over again but worse!"

She stares at you acidly.
"Oh, dear Cennen, I'm so sorry I decided to enjoy a reprieve from being tortured! All from saving you, I might add!"

"Saving me from yourself. Thanks."

"I already said sorry, didn't I? And so did you! I can't believe I actually got worried over you! You're nothing but jumped-up prey, just like the rest of your entire pissant race."
She turns away from you.

You stand there for a while, waiting for her to face you again. She does no such thing so in the end you have to start the conversation again.
"Don't you feel lonely? I don't know what happened at home but the way I see it, you're stuck with me. Maybe I'm just a lowly human to you but I think I'm the only person here who'd care whether you lived or died or if you're hurt or unharmed or...or...or whether you're really not lonely or only just pretending. I know you've eaten enough people to get a good idea about all of this. So can't you at least try to be nicer?"
Somewhere along the line your voice loses what mettle it had and by the end it sounds more like a plea.

"Be nicer? What do you think I've been doing?"
She sits down on the bed, her face blank.
"Cennen, I-. I really hate this fucking city. Why can't we just get out on the road again? Where things are simpler."
1/2

>>38999550
2/2

"Nothing in this city has gone right. I was right. It's an owl and it'll pluck us up forever if I let it. If we let it. I tried to play nice, play human up here without killing because I knew you'd complain otherwise. But all that does is trap us more. Let's just leave, you and me. I still have a long way to travel and you never seem to have anything better to do."

> "There's still something we need to do here first."

> "And what? Just leave the Mayor knowing what he does?"

> Agree.

> Agree to leave the Mayor's house but not the city itself just yet.

> "A long way to travel? Just where are you going anyway? I think I deserve to know."

> Do something unwise.

> Other

>>38999550
> Agree.
> "A long way to travel? Just where are you going anyway? I think I deserve to know."

Actually... getting the fuck away from this shithole sounds very appealing right about now... So long as we didn't get caught doing so...

>>38999654
> "A long way to travel? Just where are you going anyway? I think I deserve to know."

If she answers
>agree

>>38999654
> "And what? Just leave the Mayor knowing what he does?"

>>38999654
>> Agree to leave the Mayor's house but not the city itself just yet.

> "A long way to travel? Just where are you going anyway? I think I deserve to know."

Grab some study supplies from our alchemist friend. then go.

>>38999654

>> "And what? Just leave the Mayor knowing what he does?"
Have her partially soul wipe him, taking his memories of the snakes home. From there we could track down everyone who also holds that information.

The biggest problem would be getting close enough under his guard to do so...maybe Hiss could seduce him? I suppose she might have to eat the soul of a courtesan or something to gain the relevant knowledge though.

>>38999768
She could just use her hypnotic gaze next time we see him

>>38999768
A scheme like that just screams for a bad end. Do you know how many things can go wrong there?

>>38999654
> Do something unwise

...Hiss, what did they do to you in the gaol?

> Make like fuckin trees

Regardless of what she says, hug her.

>>38999798
Perfect. Just need to get him alone in a room and she can remove any knowledge that could be used against us and her people.

>>38999748
Seems good.

>>38999809
Do you want to die?

>>38999821
He can't die though, we'd be fucked.

>>38999849
Of course not, hence partial soul consumption.

Remember, Hiss told them everything while under their truth serum. We just walk out on the mayor you can bet he's going to find a way of using that knowledge against us. He wouldn't even need the knowledge to make our life incredibly difficult, all he would have to do is put our faces on wanted posters and send bounty hunters after us if he cared to.

>>38999550
>>38999654
Also, bravo ouro. That was a seamless incorporation of multiple inputs. Color me impressed.

>>38999923
We probably ought to whip up some hair dye to disguise ourselves either way

>>38999923
You convinced me, we should trie that. But there's another problem: we don't know how many people know the truth.

Hey, if we wished him dead and wished us both free of this place, would it get us out alive?

Also doesn't matter, with him dead his plan falls through, he has failsafes in place by all likelyhood but that wish MIGHT just break them.

>>38999986
Actually... what if we just prison shanked him and then wished us both free of this place? We could definitely get a good fatal shanking in on him.

>>38999986
simply taking his memories is the best choice here.

>>38999965
Which is why we do the mayor first. With his memories we can identify and pursue everyone else who holds vital pieces of information (such as the location of snakehome, nature of Hiss' title, etc). She can also take the appearence and mannerisms of those she feeds off of in certain circumstances, so it wouldn't be that problematic getting close to the targets.

The really tricky part is doing all this in a way that covers our tracks without sufficiently antagonizing the authorities into hunting us further. That would mean no killing, and possibly liberal applications of non lethal poison in alcoholic beverages

>>38999986
>>39000014

They'll still come after us if we kill him.

>>39000021
This is the best solution.

>>39000072
Is there any kind of a hallucinogenic and/or other potent narcotic shit that we could use? We could in theory spike everything ever with it and use the confusion to do what we need to do.

>>39000106
Nonlethal poison. Which we already made earlier

>>38999849
>>38999809
Hiss actually used our name. She spoke to us without an inordinate amount of venom, I want to keep the character development train rolling.

>>39000131
We shouldn't rush it, we can still hug her after we escape safely.

>>39000127
Thats paralytic... I was thinking hallucinogenic or narcotic so as to cause confusion, it would be the ultimate distraction and would make for quite the fairy tale, and once we have the name list we start the shankings, and might have to burn a wish to guarantee it. Remember wishes are basically fate points by the sound of it.

> "A long way to travel? Just where are you going anyway? I think I deserve to know."

You ask the question that has been on the tip of your tongue for as long as you've known her. When you'd asked before she'd always reacted violently but you refuse to let yourself be cowed by her again.

Instead she sighs, an oddly human sound.
"Why not? I fail to see how I can be debased further. What do you think you know of Snakehome anyway?"

"Uh,"
You hadn't expected her to actually answer.
"It's a place that is a home for snakes?"

"It's a perfectly serviceable name," she snaps. "It's never needed another."

"No no, I think it's a good name. Tells you all you need to know."

She glares suspiciously at you before continuing.
"It is said that it is where our most revered ancestors were struck down to the earth by the Creator, may we forever spite his name. Most of us have never moved since, no matter how many generations pass. It is warm and comfortable and the human world that has grown up around Snakehome offers us little interest. Most of us anyway. Cennen, what would say is the defining characteristic of the snake?"

"I, uh...scales? Tails? Biting? Venom?"

She stops you there, having received the answer she was clearly waiting for.
"All of us at Snakehome are venomous, that is true. But that was not always so. In the days just after the Fall, there were others among us. They had been imprisoned as snakes of a different kind. They had fangs but no venom. Instead they possessed great size and strength for it is our nature to embody death, no matter whether it is through venom or strangulation. These constrictors, pythons and boas all, argued constantly for a less vindictive stance against all Creation. They had the foolish idea of going out into the world and living among the humans. The original ruler of Snakehome, the ancient spirit that begat the one who begat my father refused to allow this."
1/2

But yeah, it seems to me snakes are basically the equivelent to fae in this setting, a magical race you do NOT want to fuck with. We can reinforce this with some alchemical fuckery of our own. The rumors of everyone seeing things and then coming back to have a bunch of them forget everything and others being shanked/poisoned would be enough for them to be cowed into avoiding it. We could totally play mythology in our favor here.

>>39000216
We don't know any hallucinogenic potions though. Check the pastebin

>>39000236
Shit... Any chance we could ask a favor from our alchemist bro? Maybe ask hiss for some venom or some shit as a fair trade... I assume anything that fucks these people up she'll be happy to supply.

>>39000246
I forgot to mention, we could definitely use the excuse that she wanted an actual professional alchemist to make her the healing potions to treat herself with. Its a valid excuse and I doubt any non alchemist knows the difference between a healing elixr and a potent hallucinogenic elixr.

Also its getting damn late, I have to go soon.

>>39000236
>>39000246
>>39000272
I think a hallucinogenic poison might be a tad excessive, that would make it far too obvious that the target was poisoned. Remember, this is only going to be successful if we can do so without leaving evidence of our involvement. If we give them impetus to send out wanted posters and bounty hunters after us, it would make everything that much harder in this quest.

>>39000349
Hah it's already 6 am here in germany

>>39000164

By now she's settled into a steady recitation, giving you the distinct impression that she learned this all by rote when she was much younger.
"We nearly warred against each other, even though scant days had passed since our punishment. How that must have pleased he who watches from on high! But my ancestor stopped it in the end by giving both sides what they desired. He and all righteous serpents stayed at Snakehome while the constrictors were exiled and told never to return. They could waste away in the human world they claimed to love so much."

There's a pause while you do your best at nodding thoughtfully.
"All very interesting but I don't understand what this has to do with you. Or me."

"I'm getting to it! Oh please Hiss, don't reveal secrets that have never touched. human ears to me all at once!"
You don't think she's ever self-identified as Hiss before, even if only in sarcasm.
"From this point on, it gets sort of personal. I don't think you'll be able to understand but I'll try. My father has never begat a child before. I know you humans are hung up on some sort of pairing system but when winter ends and we emerge from hibernation, all of the adult members of our people lie together."

Your face reddens involuntarily.
"You mean like.."

"Yes. Sex. Mating. It happens. Get over it. During the season and while within the great tangle, it is hard for one to know just who they are with at any particular time and so when the eggs are laid, nobody knows who's father is who. This is as it should be and all newborn are raised by the humans bound to us."

"Wait. Have you ever been in one of thes-"

"That's not related at all. The point is, I was the first snake to be born to be recognizably my father's progeny and was named as his heir as a result. It's a coloration and Art thing. Stop looking at me like that!"
She's picked up a blush of her own suddenly.
"I don't understand why human bodies make such a fuss about these things."

2/3

>>39000216
>being shanked/poisoned
Absolutely not, what do you think will happen if we start a massacre in the govenor's mansion? They will send armies after us that's what. These are a people more than accustomed to the use of poisons, they were able to heal us up even after we'd gotten a lethal dose of a venom they've never seen before.

And even if Hiss get's away with it by virtue of being some kind of vengeful spirit, we'd still be royally screwed. They are aware we're only human and would be able to safely make our life hell.

>>39000399

"Do you understand what it's like, to be the only one singled out from your brood and to be told that you alone have a father? That you are to be raised on high?"

"No, I can't say I've ever had that experience."

"Most of my brood fell away from me in very short order. I doubtlessly had some siblings or half-siblings in there but all knew that I was the only who had inherited the King's true essence and I think some of them resented that it fell to me instead of them."

You parse this for a moment.
"So what you're saying is that you were lonely."

"Shut up, idiot. It was more than that. I spent every day knowing that one day even my father would wither and that it would fall to me."

"And?"

"And I may have gotten a little impatient. My revered father didn't look like he was going to die anytime soon. I tried to kill my father. And when I inevitably failed, I fled. That's it. That's all of it."

"I was expecting something a little more..."
You're not sure what? Noble? Something that would reveal a beautiful and righteous interior to her oft-poisonous facade? Welp.

"And you know what the worst thing is? He forgave me. He laughed it off! He laughed my greatest hunt off as if it was a joke! His servants seek me out now not to punish me but to simply drag me back home so we can all share a laugh at my impatience. It won't even be taken seriously."
She sounds tremendously bitter and yet wounded at the same time. As if she wanted her father to have killed her instead, as that at least would acknowledge her danger.

"You know, that's a lot more petty of a reason than I was expecting."

"Your expectations are simply dust, idiot. And now I'll be damned before I go back! I must strike out and seek the lost kingdom of the constrictors so that they may teach me the ways they used to threaten war against my ancestor. So that I can finally return with true death riding by my side and slay the King with my own two fangs."

...

3/4

>>39000655

> "No. That's stupid. You're stupid."

> Just smile and nod. Smile and nod.

> Tell her that is actually an extremely cool reason to go adventuring and not self-destructively prideful at all.

> Other

>>39000705
> Tell her that is actually an extremely cool reason to go adventuring and not self-destructively prideful at all.
Then we have to make sure you have a kingdom to rule over when he's dead, which means making sure the mayor doesn't know about snakehome

>>39000705
>Other
I expect that the task of traveling the world and seeing what there is to see will temper her pride somewhat, as this recent encounter seems to have done.

Ask her how she even knows the constrictors are still around, and if she has any idea where they might have gone.

>>39000705
>Other

Laugh. And then tell her that travelling the world is cool

>>39000705
That certainly sounds more interesting than my life's goals

>>39000705
If you want to be a true queen, you're going to need more than strength. Why do you want to rule so much anyway? Because it's expected of you? You're more than just a princess, Hiss.

Captcha - spoge

Captcha is really pushing the hiss ending.

>>39000705
> Tell her that is actually an extremely cool reason to go adventuring and not self-destructively prideful at all.

>>39000903
I'm not sure that I understand what you're trying to say

>>39000705
>>39000903
This.

> Tell her that is actually an extremely cool reason to go adventuring and not self-destructively prideful at all

Wait. This is why all of this began? You feel a little miffed, to be honest. But you can't say that to her face, not after she's bared herself to you like this.
And by all that that is good, you better not laugh.

You opt for forcing out a smile instead.
"Sounds like a noble cause to me."

She looks up, surprised.
"You think so?"

"Absolutely. You only did what came to you naturally and they insulted your skill."

"I know, right!"

"I would have done the same myself."
Now you're just feeding these delusions beyond all control.

She laughs and hits you on the back. It only hurts a little.
"No you wouldn't. But it is fitting that you should seek to emulate me regardless."

"Of course. But you shouldn't let yourself get wrapped up in it too much, you know."

"Eh?"

"A quest is more than just a destination. It's a journey too. And...and the people you spend it with."
Oh no that sounds awful. Abort, abort!

And yet impossibly, her face softens. Perhaps even the worst of platitudes sounds fresh to someone who couldn't read until a bit over a week or so ago.
"You know what, Cennen? Maybe you're right. Just on this one thing. I'd never thought about it what way before."

>>39001035
I'm gonna end it and archive it here today because I know some of you are getting tired and to be honest I'm feeling a little clunky writing-wise (yes, more than usual that is) today.
Was sort of intending this to be a bit of a relaxing thread compared to the clusterfuck of disasters that was last time. Would like a little feedback on whether you enjoyed it or not and if not, why not.

>>39001098
I liked it a lot. Your writing is always good but this time we managed not to screw everything up so that's a nice change of pace

>>39001098
Thank for running, and yes after us clusterfucking last thread this was very enjoyable.

Can we still visit Yolan before we skip town for some training/books?

>>39001098
Good stuff. I assume we'll have another thread tomorrow right?

>>39001098
It's cool how Hiss seems to warm up towards us.

>>39001098
Thanks for running Ouro, on a scale of 1-10, how bad were our decisions this time, in your opinion?

>>39001098
I have to know, what was the "do something unwise" option for earlier?

>>39000903
>>39000965
She's been singled out her entire life, she more likely than not has a superiority complex in addition to fairly obvious daddy issues. Her self identity must be heavily built around her social status, which might be an explanation for why she tried to regicide/patricide king snake. She will rule one day, she is the best, why not just kill her father and get it over with? She must also be emotionally detached from snake king, seeing as she said all snake babies are raised by human servants. Resentment city, population:Hiss.

>>39001098
I enjoyed it, p good outta ten. Look forward to the next thread nigga.

>>39001143
>Can we still visit Yolan before we skip town for some training/books?

No doubt about it. If you think you're going to be escaping Melire without a bunch of complications then you've got another thing coming. There'll be time.

>>39001150
Yep. Probably at the same time, twitter will have a thing an hour beforehand as per usual.

>>39001164
I don't consider any decisions bad, really. What's bad for the players and what's bad for the QM are entirely different things after all. So what I'm saying is that I'm going to dodge this question like a real motherfucker.

>>39001174
A hug. Laying hands upon her in any manner without warning her is always going to be a pretty bad decision.

>>39001334
>>39001233
Am I close at all ouro? Also, great thread. Looking forward to tomorrow.

>>39001443
You're pretty close to the mark.