>>39138608

You climb to your feet, holding a knife and a flask of acid out protectively as if it were a shield. The creatures circle you, each tiny little doll of wood, sack-cloth and flesh staying out of your range as if they were mocking you. The Children constantly test your boundaries, darting in an out of your reach as if this was just some sort of game.

A long moment passes where both you and your tormentors are still. And then your nerve breaks and you throw the flask, smiting one Child. But then your only protection is gone and the rest rush in and a long scythe blade is swinging towards your face and and and and-

And then you wake up with a gasp.

You stare out at the darkness around you, sweating. It was just a dream. You are lying in a bed in a tiny wooden cabin. You’re wearing new clothes, a brown tunic of decent quality and a pair of trousers. So where are your old clothes? What’s going on? Where are you?

The last thing you remember is Hiss keeling over while the Children dance past her, the swarm heading for you after you threw your final explosive concoction. You have no idea what happened past that.

You spot your pack sitting in the corner of the empty cabin. It doesn’t look like anyone’s messed with it but you should check to make sure. It’s only when you try to get up that you realize it. You can’t move. Or at least, not very well. Lashed around both yourself and the bed is a long coil of thick rope, looped several times to encompass your limbs as well.

Someone’s tied you to the bed. What the hell is going on here?

> Start shouting to try and get attention.

> See if you can pick at the rope with your teeth.

> Test your strength against the rope in brute force.

> Go back to sleep.

> Other

>>39138628
Pray for hiss to come untie us
if that fails
> Start shouting to try and get attention.

>>39138743
Also freak out about the fact that hiss could be hurt or worse because of our own poor choices

You close your eyes and offer your thoughts up in prayer for salvation and rescue from your current predicament. That should get her attention at least. She should be on her way any moment now.

You wait for another five minutes with nothing happening before you accept that she isn't coming. What's the deal with that? You think back to when you last saw her.
No...It couldn't be. Is she hurt? Injured? Worse?
And was it your fault? Is this something that can be laid at your feet?

You need to get out of here. You start thrashing around and hollering, great wordless shouts emphasizing volume over comprehensibility.

The door slams open and a familiar face steps through, though it isn't a familiar face you are particularly happy to see. It's Ophi the traveling merchant.

"Took your time," he drawls. "I was starting to think you'd never wake up. How're you feeling?"

> "Where is she?"

> "Where am I?"

> "Where were you yesterday?"

> Demand to be released immediately.

> Other

>>39138628
>> Test your strength against the rope in brute force.

>>39139174
> "Where is she?"

> "Where am I?"

> "Where were you yesterday?"

>>39139174
> "Where is she?"
> "Where am I?"
> Demand to be released immediately.

>>39139174
>>> "Where is she?"
>
>> "Where am I?"
>
>> "Where were you yesterday?"

> "Where is she?"
> "Where am I?"
> "Where were you yesterday?"

Ophi! It was this bastard that all of that trouble yesterday was just to save! And he wasn't even there in the end.
You try to ask several questions at once and end up babbling in a rather manic fashion.

Ophi holds up a hand in a failed attempt to forestall your questions.
"Let me get a word in, won't you? You aren't in danger. Nobody's in danger. Our fine lady is simply away on business."

"Our" fine lady? You narrow your eyes. Just who the hell does this guy think he is? Is he still trying to woo Hiss?
"Where are we? What happened yesterday? What's going on?"

"All reasonable questions. Right now we're on a river barge. I believe it goes by the name of Miss Hetty's Day Off. A reference to a song that is rather lewd, if you want my opinion."

"I don't. But you might as well keep talking anyway."

"This barge leads up the Kuri River, the one that goes straight through the Hinterlands all the way to the far eastern coast. I bought us all passage with some of your money, I hope you don't mind."

Oh great, he's been touching your money? You earned those signets fair and square! Through trickery and selling things you never owned in the first place.
Ophi doesn't seem to notice your look of consternation because he's still talking.
"It's a multi-day trip up the Kuri but give us time and the Hetty should take us all the way to the coast, from where Taldenral is only a short distance away. You can thank me later."

You grit your teeth.
"And just where were you yesterday? We went through a lot of trouble for you."

He nods solemnly.
"I know and for that you have my gratitude. I managed to appropriate one of my captor's blades and fought my way from their grasp before taking refuge up in the far side of the tree itself. It was only you clearing the crowd away that let me escape. So no worries mate, I'll pay you back soon enough."

1/2

>>39139580

> Demand to be released.

> Ask just what sort of 'business' Hiss is on.

> "Why are you coming with us? This isn't on your path."

> "They said that there were three 'tainted' travelers. Do you have magic?"

> Other

>>39139614
> Ask just what sort of 'business' Hiss is on.

> "Why are you coming with us? This isn't on your path."

>Ask to be released we pretty sure he has magic after all.

>>39139614
>> Demand to be released.
>> Ask just what sort of 'business' Hiss is on.
>> "Why are you coming with us? This isn't on your path."
>> "They said that there were three 'tainted' travelers. Do you have magic?"
Sorry m8 I want to know about all of this
also ask why we were tied up in the first place

>>39139614
> Demand to be released.
> Ask just what sort of 'business' Hiss is on.
> "They said that there were three 'tainted' travelers. Do you have magic?"

>>39139663
>>39139631
>>39139972


"You know, those crazy townsfolk said they were looking for three tainted travelers. Not just one or two but three. You have something else you're hiding, Ophi?"

His face is blank for a second before he laughs.
"Alright, you got me. Did you really think I was just an ordinary merchant?"

"No, not really. I never thought that."

"Well, good on you. The truth of the matter is that I have been known to be a mover of certain items, a middle-man if you want to be polite. A smuggle if you don't. I've been keeping a few magic trinkets they have a market for in Taldenral. They must have caught their aura on me."

Ah, that explains the masks. It also, if you choose to believe him, explains why he's willing to take a faster route to Taldenral at the expense of skipping his usual merchant route through several Hinterland communities.

Still, you're not particularly inclined to trust him. Especially not about Hiss.
"So where is she really? You can't just say "business" at me and leave."

"That's fair. But you have to promise me not to disturb her."

What?
Your look of confusion must have shown on your face quite clearly because Ophi holds up another hand and keeps talking to answer your unspoken question.
"She was very ill yesterday and despite that she managed to kill their leader. The sickness has passed but she's still sleeping it off. And I won't let you, or anyone else, disrupt her until she's in perfect condition."

"Oh, so that's why you tied me up? You're such a considerate guy," you say sarcastically.
"You can release me now."

"Oh, I tied you up but it wasn't my idea. It was hers. Hiss wanted me to know that she was sick of dragging you out of trouble. She told me to restrain you and to make sure that 'he doesn't jam his face into more problems like an imbecile'. Her words, not mine."

"And you just follow her orders?"

"Naturally."

Yeah, that confirms it. He clearly hasn't stopped his mad quest to get into her pants.
1/2

>>39140071
Tell him we know that he isn't really Ophi even though that girl clearly thought he was, which means he's a shapeshifter of some sort. Cennen could reasonably connect the dots right?

>>39140071
2/2

The idea of Ophi cozening up to Hiss while you've been unconscious pisses you off way more than you'd like to admit. Hopefully he'll get bitten for his troubles.
"You know, I don't think Hiss was being entirely serious with this suggestion. She said the same thing to me earlier as a joke."

He looks thoughtful.
"Could have. Tell you what, I'll let you get up and about. It's better for you and it's not like you can get anywhere right now considering we're on a barge. Just don't fall into the river and you should be fine."

He kneels down and reaches under the bed to fiddle with the knots, slowly releasing you. You sit up immediately and start looking through your pack.
Looks like it's all still there.

> Get out and explore.

> Stay and talk to Ophi a little more.

> Other

>>39140232
>Study your books after you stretch out.
>Ask Ophi what exactly happened.

>>39140232
Think about all of the suspicious things about Ophi and connect the dots
He's strangely protective of hiss
he's not really a merchant
he's a skilled fighter
he's pretending to be someone he's not very convincingly
He must have shapeshifting powers
which means he's got snake powers and works for hiss's dad

>>39140126
Cennen assumed Ophi was just being heartless and telling Aina that to try and stop the townsfolk from capturing him.

He's still operating under the assumptions that his general playerbase was before the reveal. He knows there's something fishy about him but thinks a magical smuggler with some dark secrets who's attracted to Hiss could describe him pretty well.

>>39140232
Study your books
ask ophi what his magic masks are used for

>>39140232
Time to read some of those alchemy books.

>>39140413
And ask why they did nothing when we wore one

>>39140232
Ask him about the girl that knew him and her sister

>Ask Ophi about the masks and what exactly happened yesterday.
>Study your books.

You stretch, feeling your back crick in a painful yet pleasant fashion.
"So what happened after I passed out yesterday?"

Ophi chuckled.
"Hiss happened. She killed that Boon man and killed his Master. I'll tell you what Cennen, I wouldn't want to get on her bad side."

You nod thoughtfully. This isn't the first time that Hiss has disposed of your enemies for you. Actually now that you think about it, it's basically the norm. A more insecure man might start to feel emasculated at some point but to be perfectly honest, you would be quite happy to never have to kill someone ever again. But is it cowardly to say that when you have Hiss killing people for you left and right?
You shake those thoughts away, looking back at Ophi.
"If those masks were so magical, why didn't they do anything when I wore them?"

"I don't recall saying that the masks were the trinkets in question"
You just stare at him until he relents. The masks were right in the bottom of the cart after all, stuffed under everything else.

"Alright, you got me. You're a pretty shrewd guy, no lie. I was smuggling the masks. They're talismans of protection. You can probably thank them for why you're still alive."

"Hrmph."
You pull out your study books and start leafing through them. You need to become more skilled at this whole business if circumstances are going to continue dumping you into awful situations.

Ophi quietly steps out and leaves you to it.

Now, you could either use this time reading Volume I to perfect your knowledge of acids and explosive brews or you could crack open Volume II for the first time and check out what's in there.

> Volume I

> Volume II

> Read the book about dispel potions instead.

>>39140795
> Volume II

I'll take the mystery box.

>>39140795
>> Volume II

>>39140795
> Read the book about dispel potions instead.

>>39140795
> Volume II

> Volume II

You spend a few hours poring through Volume II of the Journeyman collection that Master Yolan has given you. It's in this book that the recipe and theory for Antivenom is given, which would be interesting if you didn't already know it.
You can choose two recipes to unlock from the Volume II list:

> Poison Gas. This brew can bring up a pungent cloud of smoke that weakens people's lungs and makes them unable to act. Lethal after long periods of exposure.

> Healing Potion: A step up from your brews of Small Healing, these things can close wounds all by themselves. They can't cure diseases but they will suppress them for a while. Needs to be taken fresh.

> Purification Elixir: Mostly used for making even the filthiest water safe to drink, it is also an excellent cleaning solution as a splash of it can purify anything.

> Glue Trap: This compressed solution expands explosively upon release, coating everything nearby with a sticky thick coating of glue that inhibits movement.

> Minor Love Potion: Lasts for only a few hours but you're fairly certain this is extremely illegal nowadays. These books must be fairly old editions.

> Beastmaster's Brew: A variation of the Beastcall Brew you already know of. Feeding this to beasts over extended periods makes them tame and manageable.

>Oil: You can synthesize combustible oil.

> Death Brew: Not actually lethal in any way. Taking this slows your breathing and heartbeat to nearly nothing as well as significantly dropping your body temperature so you appear to be dead for a time.

>>39141249
> Purification Elixir: Mostly used for making even the filthiest water safe to drink, it is also an excellent cleaning solution as a splash of it can purify anything.
> Glue Trap: This compressed solution expands explosively upon release, coating everything nearby with a sticky thick coating of glue that inhibits movement.

>>39141249
Would the beast master brew make a beast tame towards everyone or just Cennen? Would it attack someone and defend us if we wanted it to?

>>39141348
Just Cennen.

>>39141249
> Glue Trap: This compressed solution expands explosively upon release, coating everything nearby with a sticky thick coating of glue that inhibits movement.
> Beastmaster's Brew: A variation of the Beastcall Brew you already know of. Feeding this to beasts over extended periods makes them tame and manageable.

>>39141249
>Healing Potion: A step up from your brews of Small Healing, these things can close wounds all by themselves. They can't cure diseases but they will suppress them for a while. Needs to be taken fresh.
> Beastmaster's Brew: A variation of the Beastcall Brew you already know of. Feeding this to beasts over extended periods makes them tame and manageable.

>>39141249
> Healing Potion: A step up from your brews of Small Healing, these things can close wounds all by themselves. They can't cure diseases but they will suppress them for a while. Needs to be taken fresh.
> Death Brew: Not actually lethal in any way. Taking this slows your breathing and heartbeat to nearly nothing as well as significantly dropping your body temperature so you appear to be dead for a time.

>>39141249

> Healing Potion: A step up from your brews of Small Healing, these things can close wounds all by themselves. They can't cure diseases but they will suppress them for a while. Needs to be taken fresh.
> Beastmaster's Brew: A variation of the Beastcall Brew you already know of. Feeding this to beasts over extended periods makes them tame and manageable.

You guys aren't planning to drug Hiss right?

> Healing Potion: A step up from your brews of Small Healing, these things can close wounds all by themselves. They can't cure diseases but they will suppress them for a while. Needs to be taken fresh.
> Beastmaster's Brew: A variation of the Beastcall Brew you already know of. Feeding this to beasts over extended periods makes them tame and manageable.

You learn these two new brews over a few hours of study. They should come in useful, particularly the healing one. You certainly get in enough scrapes to justify it.

You're about to go looking for a place with a good source of heat so you can try them out with a proper boil but you are interrupted by a knock at your cabin door.

It opens a moment later, just a crack at first and then slowly pushing open. It's Aina! What is she doing here? And she isn't alone. She's accompanied by a teenage girl who is an almost exactly identical copy of her. And yet telling them apart isn't difficult. Aina is still cowering at the thought of disturbing your rest while the other is resolute and almost defiant. She must be her sister Liss, the one you spoke to through the door and who told you to leave town immediately.

"I-I just wanted to say, uh..."
Aina looks a little taken aback when she sees you crouched on the floor, the contents of your backpack spread all over the ground and with a thick book open by your side.
Liss elbows her in the side.
"She just wanted to thank you. Thank you for taking saving my sister's life."
Her words are cautious, obviously rehearsed.

"Uh..yeah..it was no problem. What are you two doing here?"

"We couldn't stay there a-after everything that happened...", Aina begins.

"So we're going to start a new life in Taldenral," Liss finishes for her.

"Oh, that's great! What do you plan on doing?"

Aina is still staring at your books.
"You were right Liss, he really is an alchemist."

"In the flesh. By the way, thanks for letting me raid your garden Liss. Those ingredients really proved useful."
1/2

>>39142097
What even made you think that?

>>39142097
Nah I just want an normal animal companion

>>39142112
2/2

"It was Mum's before s-she..."
Aina trails off while Liss just takes a deep breath and keeps talking.
"You haven't seen Ophi around anywhere have you? He's been avoiding us."

> "He was here a few hours ago. No idea where he is now."

> "I can help you find him if you want."

> "What exactly did Ophi promise you two?"

> "Your mother was an alchemist, right?"

> "Haven't seen him at all."

> Other

>>39142189
> "He was here a few hours ago. No idea where he is now."
> "What exactly did Ophi promise you two?"

>>39142189
> "He was here a few hours ago. No idea where he is now."
> "What exactly did Ophi promise you two?"
> "Your mother was an alchemist, right?"

>>39142189
>> "He was here a few hours ago. No idea where he is now."

>>39142189
> "He was here a few hours ago. No idea where he is now."
> "What exactly did Ophi promise you two?"
> "Your mother was an alchemist, right?"

>>39142189
> "He was here a few hours ago. No idea where he is now."
> "What exactly did Ophi promise you two?"

> "He was here a few hours ago. No idea where he is now."
> "What exactly did Ophi promise you two?"

"He was here but that was a few hours ago. Don't know where he is now. But unless he can sprout wings and fly, chances are he's still on the boat somewhere. Shouldn't be too difficult."

Liss stamps her foot.
"This barge is way too big. There's at least twenty other passengers and whenever someone directs me to him, it's always as if he'd just left."

"He's a suspicious one, for sure. I imagine you have a lot you want to talk to him about."

They nod.

"What exactly did he promise you two? Last year."

"It was back before the Children were everywhere," Aina starts. "But Boon was still ranting about 'taint' and something needing power. Ophi was always visiting Mum and before he left he told us that he'd back next year and that he'd take all three of us away back then. But then...then..."

Liss pushes Aina back before she turns on the waterworks again.
"I just want to talk to him about Mum. But I suppose it's not really your problem. Thank you for your time."

She pushes Aina out of the room and shuts the door behind them, leaving you back alone in your cabin. You're starting to have the suspicion that Ophi did a lot more than just talk to their mother. What a scumbag.

You almost asked them if their mother was an alchemist but you already know that Aina at least was in denial of that. Especially considering her alchemy was probably the only reason she was killed. Might be a bit impolite. It certainly wouldn't help their opinion of you.

> Go out and explore the boat, looking for the twins.

> Go out and explore the boat, looking for Ophi.

> Go out and explore the boat, looking for Hiss.

> Go out and explore the boat in general.

> Stay inside and study more books.

> Other

>>39142519
>> Go out and explore the boat, looking for Ophi.

>>39142519
> Go out and explore the boat, looking for Hiss.

>>39142519
> Go out and explore the boat, looking for Hiss.
Bring the dispel potion book to her room to read if she isn't awake yet

>>39142610
Seconded reading books is important

>>39142519
>> Go out and explore the boat, looking for Hiss.

>>39142519
> Stay inside and study more books.

> Go out and explore the boat, looking for Hiss.

Ah screw it. You can study later. You pack all of your books into your pack and put it back on before stepping out of your room.
You spend some time getting lost in a bunch of corridors with closed doors before walking up a bunch of steps and out into the deck.

The sudden sunlight hurts your eyes as you survey your surroundings. The good ship Ms Hetty's Day Off is just as large as Liss implied, if not larger.
The barge itself is long, flat and fairly low in the water with a single wide sail. The river itself is very wide and you can only barely see the tree-lined shores in either direction. Looking down at the water, you determine that the Hetty is being moved mostly by the strong current of the river itself. You'd be in trouble if you fell in with a current like that.
You are far from the only person on the deck either. Aside from a gaggle of sailors, you see three of your fellow passengers up here as well.

There's a young man with a dark curly hair dressed in a bright yellow coat. He's facing away from you so you can't see much of him save that he carries a long thin staff. Everyone else is giving him a wide birth.

The other two, a young man and woman, are both huddled close together at the railing, whispering something to each other.

You can also see a raised tower set into the deck behind you, near the helm. It isn't very tall but has large windows set into the room at the top of it, allowing whoever is inside to get a very good view of the river up ahead. You catch a glimpse of the ship's wheel within.

> Go back inside and keep exploring on your own for Hiss' room.

> See if you can get into the observation tower to speak with the captain so you can ask him where Hiss is staying.

> Speak to the man who is probably some sort of wizard.

> Approach the couple.

> Other

>>39142858
>> Speak to the man who is probably some sort of wizard.

>>39142858
> Speak to the man who is probably some sort of wizard.

>>39142858
> See if you can get into the observation tower to speak with the captain so you can ask him where Hiss is staying.

>>39142858
>> See if you can get into the observation tower to speak with the captain so you can ask him where Hiss is staying

>>39142858
> Speak to the man who is probably some sort of wizard.

>>39142925
>>39142995
>>39143140
Speaking to a wizard after we got fucked over by Bart, real smart guys.

>>39143245
Ah come on it will be fun

>>39142858
> Speak to the man who is probably some sort of wizard.
Let's try not to antagnise this one

> Speak to the man who is probably some sort of wizard.

You decide to go and join the man that everyone else is keeping a fair distance from. You lean over the railing next to him.
"Hi!"

He turns to look at you and you almost feel like you have to avert your eyes from the glare. This man...is yellow. Not his skin or anything. But almost everything else about him.

His long coat? Yellow. His vest? Yellow. His shirt? Yellow. His pantaloons? Bright yellow. His pointed shoes and stockings? All yellow.
He's even wearing a pair of wide circular glasses, the lenses of which are tinted yellow.

They're all different shade from each other but the man is a walking cacophony none the less. Simply looking at him makes you feel a little dizzy.
He's a young man, probably in his early twenties with a black goatee and a wide, earnest face.
"Ah hello! You must be one of my fellow passengers! My name is Eugene. Eugene the Yellow."

"I gathered," you say weakly.

> Introduce yourself as an alchemist.

> "...Whhhhhy?"

> Just back away slowly.

> "You a wizard then?"

> "Wow you have awful taste."

> Other

>>39143281
"fun" as in get Cennen alsmot killed again and get Hiss pissed off, additionally giving us a 50/50 chance of burning our last wish.

>>39143340
> Introduce yourself as an alchemist.
> "You a wizard then?"

>>39143340
>> "...Whhhhhy?"

File: image.jpg (16 KB, 184x184)

16 KB JPG

>>39143340
> Introduce yourself as an alchemist.
> "You a wizard then?"

>>39143340
> Introduce yourself as an alchemist.
> "You a whizzard then?"

>>39143340
> Introduce yourself as an alchemist.
> "You a wizard then?"
>What's your magical specialty?

>>39143245
As long as we don't offer him a priceless magical item and then promptly steal it back I think we'll be fine

> Introduce yourself as an alchemist.
> "You a wizard then?

You hold out your hand and he shakes it vigorously.
"My name is Cennen. Alchemist. So...you some sort of wizard or what?"

He nods excitedly.
"Yes! An alchemist, you say? This is fantastic. I am always happy to meet a lesser practitioner."

You decide to let that little remark slide. Besides, he's not entirely inaccurate. There is no magic stronger than wizard magic, everyone knows that. A magic that devours and adapts to other magics, granting wizards not only immense supernatural strength but the ability to replicate the effects of any other form of magic. He might even be a better alchemist than you, a fact that only stings a little.

Truly, the wizard's power is only equaled by their mystery. Nobody is really quite sure where they come from. Are they all trained somewhere? They just seem to pop up from time to time, heeding no rule save their own. A boon and a scourge in equal measure.
"We will simply HAVE to talk about and compare...uh, what do you people call them? Brews? Yes. It'll be fun."

"Sure. So uh...yellow huh? I can definitely tell that you are Eugene the Yellow."

"It pays to advertise. If you've got a theme you might as well go all the way, that's what I reckon."

"A theme? You have a specialty?"
You don't really know how wizards work.

Eugene just smiles. You get the impression that he's just really happy to find someone who's actually willing to talk with him.
"Absolutely. I am the Dandelion Wizard."

Wait, what.
"Pardon?"

"That's me. Eugene. Eugene the Yellow. Dandelion Wizard. Dandelions are yellow in bloom, you see."

"No, I know that. But why dandelions?"

A flash of irritation glances over his face. This is evidently a sore subject.
1/2

>>39143719
2/2

"Look, we can't all get some sort of fundamental elemental estate. So it was either to wait for something more important to be made vacant or take Dandelions. And it's fine. Most people have no idea how powerful dandelions are. It's great. This is a choice I do not regret."

> "Estate? What are those?"

> "No, you're right. I find flowers extremely terrifying."

> "Got to be honest, it doesn't seem that awe-inspiring."

> Change the subject to talking about alchemy.

> Try to steer the conversation to talking about how good he is at scrying. He better not be sensing Hiss right now.

> "Surely Dandelions was not your only choice."

> Back away slowly.

> Other

>>39143788
> "Estate? What are those?"
> Change the subject to talking about alchemy.

>>39143788
>> "Estate? What are those?"
> Change the subject to talking about alchemy.
>List off some alchemical uses of his flower.

>>39143810
Seconded. That's brilliant

>>39143788
What are the applications of dandelion magic?

So does Cennen have defined personality yet?

>>39144056
Check the pastebin.

>> "Estate? What are those?"
> Change the subject to talking about alchemy.
>List off some alchemical uses of his flower.

"You said something about an estate? What are those?"

He fiddles with his glasses for a few seconds.
"Well, it's like this. Every wizard has to have a title. And not just like Eugene the Yellow or Ernie the Mighty. I mean a specific title, the Wizard of Thing or like, the Thing Wizard. It's where we stake our claim on the estate that's been handed to us. Estates being elemental forces of the world. Once we have our claim, we siphon power from that estate constantly and spool it into our reservoir items for later use, right? Only you can't claim anything that another wizard has. So you either pick something unclaimed or wait for that wizard to die."

He puts his glasses back on, only having succeeded at making them much foggier than they had been before.
"You could go and try to kill someone for their estate I suppose. But they should be able to beat you easily 'cause they have a source of power and you don't. So you end up with a lot of inactive wizards waiting around for some important domain like Fire or Darkness to free up and honestly, I didn't want to be one of those losers."

Where do they wait, exactly? How much time do they have? How do they know when another wizard dies?
None of this makes a whole lot of sense to you. Eugene seems a little testy about it, though still mostly mild-mannered so you think you might be better off changing the subject.

"Well, dandelions are a very alchemically interesting bloom. They've got curative properties and I hear they're the main ingredient for a levitation brew."

'Oh, are they? I'll confess, I don't know much about alchemy. What else are they good for?"

You spend the next few minutes expounding the alchemical virtues of dandelions to Eugene, who seems to be very happy that his flower has significance in your line of work.
1/2

>>39144128
2/2

You refrain from mentioning that almost every organic substance in existence has some sort of use in alchemy somewhere.

"So I say, you don't suppose you could teach me a few of your brews do you? I'd much appreciate it."

> "What's in it for me."

> "Sure!"

> "Later. I'm looking for somebody right now."

> Try to get more wizard secrets out of him.

> Other

>>39144183
> "What's in it for me."
> Try to get more wizard secrets out of him.

>>39144183
> "What's in it for me."
> DONT Try to get more wizard secrets out of him.

>>39144183
> "Sure!"
but
> "Later. I'm looking for somebody right now."

>>39144183
> "Sure!"

>>39144183
> "Sure!"
> "What's in it for me."

>>39144221
Changng my vote to

>sure

> "Sure!"

You spend nearly an hour talking animatedly with Eugene on the nature of alchemy and brews. You take out your cauldron on the deck to help show him. He's quite a fast study and it only takes him ten minutes or so to grasp the art that lets you substitute one ingredient for another and to make brews without either water or heat.
As for ingredients, he seems to have a never-ending supply of dandelions up his sleeves, each one as fresh as if it had been just picked. You mix together a brew of small healing to show him how it's done and then give him the cauldron to let him have a try.

He does his best, he really does. But what he ends up brewing could not be called small healing brew in any way. You can't identify what the shimmering yellow (of course) mixture does at a glance. As you watch it, small sparks leap from the surface and then back down into its depths.
The whole thing seems intensely magical.

"Ah, whoops. I think I tried too hard and overshot. Do you know what this is?"

> Tell him to take a sip.

> Test it on yourself.

> Test it on someone else.

> Take it back to your room for further testing.

> Best to just leave well enough alone.

> Other

>>39144538

>tell him its best to be cautious with new potions

>>39144538
> Tell him to take a sip.
Testing your own potions is an alchemist tradition. Unless it's poisonous of course but I highly doubt this will be!

>>39144538
> Test it on someone else.

let's find Ophi

>>39144538
>> Take it back to your room for further testing.
no idea and this might require in depth tests.

>>39144538
> Tell him to take a sip.

>>39144622
This is a pretty bad idea, if the potion is harmgul, we'll have another enemy. He doesn't look very strong but why risk that

>>39144665
Not if we make sure he knows the risks and tell him he doesn't have to try it if he doesn't want to

>>39144538
> Take it back to your room for further testing.

>>39144538
> Take it back to your room for further testing.
Meanwhile Ophi continues to molest Hiss while she rests.

> Take it back to your room for further testing.

You take the cauldron out of his hands.
"I'll take this back to my cabin and have a proper look at it. Don't worry, I'll give it back."
Maybe. Depends on what it is.

"Oh, that's fine," the hapless wizard agrees. "As long as you tell me what it is later."

"Sure."
You walk off trying to do your best to not appear too excited. There are still sparks swimming among the brew, the sure sign of a truly potent alchemy. Yolan's dispel elixirs bore them as well so it has to be at least that powerful.

Once ensconced away within your own cabin, you begin to mull it over. Poking a knife into it doesn't seem to do anything, neither your pestle. It probably only has an effect on living things. But does it have to be imbibed or is it on contact? If it's the latter it could extremely dangerous.

After twenty minutes or so and a consultation with several books, you decide that it shares a lot of similarities in structure with a dispel elixir, only reversed. Something that creates magic? What would that even do? Does it grant you temporary magic? Does it place a curse on you? You have no idea.

> Test it on someone else (Specify)

> Test it on yourself.

> Pack it away for now, it's way too valuable.

> Other

>>39145033
> Test it on yourself.

>>39145033
Give him back half and ask him how he did it. Get the recipe and tell him what you think it does.

>>39145033
> Test it on yourself.

YOLO

>>39145033
> Test it on yourself.

>>39145033
>> Test it on yourself.

> Test it on yourself

Aw hell, you only live once! You hold the small cauldron to your lips and take a long sip. The world around you shakes and you nearly drop the cauldron. You feel a sudden warmth shoot through you and you have to sit down on the bed until you stop feeling so dizzy.

After a few seconds, it drains away and you feel normal again. Nothing seems different.

> Go ask Eugene about it.

> Go find Hiss like you were planning to.

> Time to really check for anything suspicious.

> Other

>>39145241
> Time to really check for anything suspicious
then
> Go ask Eugene about it.

>>39145241
> Go find Hiss like you were planning to.

>>39145241
>> Time to really check for anything suspicious.
>> Go ask Eugene about it.

I hope we didn't turn yellow

>>39145241
> Time to really check for anything suspicious.
> Go find Hiss like you were planning to.

>>39145241
> Time to really check for anything suspicious.
> Go find Hiss like you were planning to.

>>39145241
> Go ask Eugene about it.

This seems pretty important

>>39145241
> Time to really check for anything suspicious.
> Go ask Eugene about it.

>>39145241
> Time to really check for anything suspicious.

> Time to really check for anything suspicious.

You inspect yourself head to toe but you genuinely don't seem any different. You even try flicking your hands out and trying to cast some sort of magic but nothing happens. Your skin didn't even turn yellow or some other bothersome magical effect.

You throw your hands and gestures one more time and a flower flies away from your hands and lands gently on the floor. Did that...Did that come out from your sleeve? You upend your sleeves and several more dandelions come pouring out. Each one is just the flower, completely separate from the stem. Well, that's neat you suppose.

There seems to be a never-ending supply up your sleeves. Cute. You go to open the door and a flood of dandelions materializes, pouring into the room and veritably snowing you under in a sudden tide that is starting to fill the room.

Oh damn it.

You have temporarily gained the skill Flowercursed! Every time you open something or retrieve something from anything, whether it be a sleeve, your pack or a door, the resulting space immediately floods with fresh dandelions.

It sounds funny but the door is still open and more dandelions are flooding in! The room has filled far too quickly, flowers already up to your knees. You lunge across the growing flowerheap and slam the door shut, vanquishing the tide.

You are now trapped inside your room with a fuckton of dandelions. You think you might have a problem.

> Break the window instead of opening it.

> See if you can find the potion under the flower snow-drift.

> See if you can wait the curse out.

> "WIZARDS!"

> Just open the door and try to make your way to the deck anyway.

> Other

>>39145471
>> See if you can wait the curse out.
>> "WIZARDS!"
NO SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG

>>39145471
>> Just open the door and try to make your way to the deck anyway.
So yeah Eugene that potion is great for you, but I think it does what you already do. Great for apprentices though.

>>39145471
>> See if you can find the potion under the flower snow-drift.
>> Just open the door and try to make your way to the deck anyway.

>>39145471
Make the strongest possible dandelion related potions to pass the time until the curse is broken

>>39145544
This. Might as well make a dent in the massive amount of dandelions

>>39145544
sounds fun lets try it

>brew dandelion potions

> See if you can wait the curse out by brewing dandelion potions.

Well, at least you won't lack for ingredients. You fish for your cauldron within the mess, noting it still contains a fair bit of the cursed potion. You go to pour that into a bottle so you can brew as many dandelion-related potions as possible in the time you have remaining only for the cauldron to fill up dandelions! The bottle you open swiftly starts spilling dandelions everywhere too.

You try and mix the dandelions in your cauldron into something but every time you try and get a brew going, more flowers just flood into your cauldron and mess the entire thing up.

"Wizards!"
Still, you don't think Eugene the Yellow meant to make this. Probably just an accident. Probably.

Doesn't look like you can brew anything while cursed. Fantastic.

> Still wait it out anyway. Maybe read some more books.

> Force your way to the deck.

> Through the window!

>>39145720
> Still wait it out anyway. Maybe read some more books.
Dispel potions

>>39145720
> Still wait it out anyway. Maybe read some more books.
Journeyman 3
>>39145741
need to master journeyman to be good enough for master tier stuff.

>>39145754
Can Ouro confirm this?

>>39145754
Seconded

>>39145720
> Still wait it out anyway. Maybe read some more books.

>>39145784
read the pastebins

quote: 'Journeyman Alchemy: You have started to learn the next level of brewmeistery. While you are not yet a full Journeyman Alchemist, you possess a growing master of your art.'

>>39145807
>http://pastebin.com/N7BYpTKH
Inventory says the dispel is still too advanced for us.

>>39145835
Also a great way to remind me that I really need to change that to 'mastery'. The spellchecker murders me sometimes.

>>39145848
No I mean I seconded the idea of reading journeyman 3

>read more books

>>39145911
Sorry linked to wrong one.

>>39145848
this is for you>>39145784

> Still wait it out anyway. Maybe read some more books.

You open up Volume III. The book is stuffed with pressed flowers, dandelions imprisoned between each page. Fantastic. Somehow you manage to piece your way through it anyway.

Due to considerable distraction and the lack of a usable cauldron, you only learn one instead of two this time, despite taking the same amount of time.

> Incense: A crumbly dust that produces a pleasing aroma when burned which allows for vastly easier communication with spirits and an extended prayer range.

> Identification Potion: Drinking this lets you identify one magical potion, item, spell or effect.

> Lesser Cure-All: Lets you cure various sicknesses.

> Affliction Brew: Allows you to replicate a non-contagious sickness or malady of your choice upon whoever drinks it.

> Sun Potion: This clear liquid can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light that lasts for many minutes.

> Rust Extract: A nasty fluid that heavily rusts metal on contact.

> Slick Potion: This potion spreads easily, eagerly coating everything it can touch with a substance that provides very little friction.

>>39146086
>> Identification Potion: Drinking this lets you identify one magical potion, item, spell or effect.

>>39146086
> Identification Potion: Drinking this lets you identify one magical potion, item, spell or effect.

>>39146086
> Identification Potion: Drinking this lets you identify one magical potion, item, spell or effect.

>>39146086
>> Identification Potion: Drinking this lets you identify one magical potion, item, spell or effect.

>>39146086
> Identification Potion: Drinking this lets you identify one magical potion, item, spell or effect
We needed this like an hour ago.

> Identification Potion: Drinking this lets you identify one magical potion, item, spell or effect.

You put your time to good use and after a few more hours you are one recipe up and one curse down. Dandelions have finally stopped appearing fucking everywhere and you have regained use of the door.

> Find Eugene.

> Find Hiss.

> Find Ophi.

> Find the twins.

> Find the captain.

> Other

>>39146327
> Find Hiss.

>>39146327
> Find Hiss.

>>39146327
> Find Eugene.

We promised to give him the rest back

>>39146327
> Find Hiss.

>>39146327
> Find Hiss.

>>39146327
> Find Eugene.

> Find Hiss.

You wander through the ship, checking the doors. You manage to accost a passing crewman and ask him about her, figuring Hiss to be different enough to be recognizable.
After flipping him a signet, he suddenly remembers which cabin is hers.

You softly knock on the door and you hear Hiss say "Come in," faintly.

You open the door and step inside. Hiss is lying wrapped up in her bed, looking very tired yet also very content.
The scattered remnants of what looks like a roast chicken gives you a good guess why.

"Hello, Cennen."
Her voice is soft.

"I was wondering where you were. How're you feeling?"

"Tired. You?"

"I guess I could I say the same but for different reasons."

"Is there something you wanted?"

> "Not really." Leave.

> "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sit down on the bed.

> "We've got to talk about Ophi right now." Remain standing.

>>39146602
> "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sit down on the bed.

>>39146602
> "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sit down on the bed.

>>39146602
> "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sit down on the bed.

>>39146602
>"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sit down on the bed.

>than go find eugene

>>39146636
Chill out about Eugene man we can do it later

>>39146602
>> "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sit down on the bed.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sit down on the bed.

You sit down on the bed next to her prone form. She sleepily raises an eyebrow but doesn't do anything else. It seems like you picked a good time. She's warm and with a full stomach, her mood is probably at the most pleasant it could ever be.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
She certainly hadn't been when you had lost consciousness.

"You were worried about me?"

"Of course I was. Don't think I don't realize that all of that was for me."

"All of what?"
She's suddenly a bit more alert.

"You know...that nasty stuff with the Children. I know it hurt you."

"Oh right, that. That's fine."

"Just out of curiosity, what did you think you were talking about?"

"Nothing. Just something a spirit asked me while you were asleep."

"A spirit?"
Wait, what? When did that happen?

"A lot of stuff went down while you were being lazy Cennen," she snapped wearily. But there's absolutely no bite behind it and both of you know it .

"I'll ask later, I guess."
You sit a little closer.
"So what was it? The question it asked you?"

"Nothing you need to know. At least, not yet. It's good enough that you're unharmed."
She does her best to burrow into the mattress.

"Really? Would you believe that when I woke up, I had the exact same thought about you?"

"Mrrmm."
She turns away as if going back to sleep. You can't help but notice one of her hands resting above the covers.

> Take it.

> Be safe and don't.

> Other

>>39146805
> Take it.
BE A MAN CENNEN

>>39146805
> Take it.

>>39146805
> Other
Tuck her in

>>39146805
> Take it.

>>39146836
>>39146805
backing.

>>39146836
>>39146805
Supporting only proper, intelligent course of action.

>>39146805
> Take it.

>>39146805
>> Take it.
Psychotic killer snake so tsun~

>>39146836
>>39146805
I'd like to go for this.

When we get hurt or worse because of this we had at least one perfectly good option that showed us caring without touching her and getting bit again.

>>39146901
Dude quit being a pussy
She's not gonna bite us

>>39146901
I don't think it's dangerous, just kinda weird to make a move while she's sleepy

>>39146836
seconding

>>39146908
You think. Touching her without permission is still fucking stupid, regardless of getting bitten or not.

>>39146805
>> Take it.

>>39146934
jesus christ enough samefagging

>>39146943
Pretty sure there is at least one or more for take it as well. considering the vote count jump.

>>39146934
Samefags pls go.

File: screenshot.png (71 KB, 776x1005)

71 KB PNG

>>39146943
What did you just say faggot?

Looks like the vote is narrowly for extreme hand-holding. Don't ever say this Quest isn't smutty, I am already disgusted at what I am writing.

File: 1370482543437.gif (1.39 MB, 478x360)

1.39 MB GIF

>>39146993
2lewd4me

>>39146993
Good fucking god. A day might come when /tg/ is too bloody beta to even hold hands, BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!

> Take it.

Can you? Can you do that? Are you allowed? There's only one way to know.

You slowly reach across and gently take her hand within yours. Her hand is cold and instinctively clasps back for warmth.

A bead of sweat runs down your face. You don't know when it started but by some overpowering force of will, your proffered hand remains dry. You are doing it. It is happening.

"Mmm."
Hiss mumbles something unintelligible and closes her eyes. You feel her fingers lock around yours as your palms slowly clasp together.

This is about as intimate as you've ever willingly gotten with her. You are suddenly nervous as all hell.

> Just stay with it, keep it in the balance.

> Abort! Abort now!

> Time to step it up (This option requires a roll!)

> Other

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>39147090
>> Time to step it up (This option requires a roll!)

>>39147090
> Just stay with it, keep it in the balance.

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>39147090
> Time to step it up (This option requires a roll!)
Dice gods, bless your humble servant

>>39147090
> Just stay with it, keep it in the balance.

>>39147090
>> Just stay with it, keep it in the balance.

>>39147090
>Just stay with it, keep it in the balance

>>39147090
Are we supposed to roll already? It's usually better to wait until a decision has been made so the rolls made don't influence voting

>>39147090
>> Just stay with it, keep it in the balance.

>>39147153
Only the highest roll for the step it up vote matters if it wins.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>39147090
> Time to step it up (This option requires a roll!)

>>39147090
> Just stay with it, keep it in the balance.

>>39147175
>writan

>>39147175
Right, I'm saying that if three people roll right off the bat and roll badly then everyone will vote for an option that doesn't require rolling after the fact

> Just stay with it, keep it in the balance.

You do your best to keep the balance, flesh drifting against flesh. Her grip strengthens and you're not longer sure if you can stop holding hands even if you wanted to.
You can faintly feel her heart beat through your palm.

Hiss doesn't say anything and neither do you. Possibly because she is asleep. You can't tell. But the two of you remain like this for a long time.

Alright, that's the thread done for today and archived. I hope you guys had fun.

You might not want to go anywhere though because I'm dropping a few interludes in a bit, partially so that things aren't quite so opaque and partially because I just want to.

*Earlier that day*

"It's a boat, a river barge. It'll take us along the Kuri river to the coast. From there, it's only a short distance to Taldenral."
Many Faced Oster bowed low, perhaps more in honor of his own service than to her.

Hiss regarded the servant bleakly. He had been nothing but Ophi to her until recently, the suspiciously nice merchant. Now that his true identity had been revealed, everything made a lot more sense. And not just because she was feeling extremely tired.
"While I find your service fitting, I must admit that I don't understand. Didn't my father send you as a Snakecatcher? Aren't you just here to kill Cennen and to take me back?"

Oster's wooden mask slid off, the branded man meeting her in open eye-contact.
"Your highness, I cannot lie. That is the job the Serpent King bequeathed me with. But I couldn't do it."

"So you betrayed the one who gave you anything? Why would you think I would want anything to do with such a traitor?"

"Please forgive me your Highness but I am not a traitor! You must believe me. I am loyal to your father but I am also loyal to you and most of all, I give my loyalty to Snakehome itself. I have been out into the human world many times. Surely you have seen it now yourself. It is a bitter place, soft and corrupt. The results of a humanity allowed to govern itself. So trust me when I say that I know our true place, that we are meant to serve your kind. This has always been my cause!"
His words bear an unshakable concrete faith and for a brief moment, Hiss was almost touched.
Almost.

"Would you swear your life?"
She slowly raised her hand, holding it around his throat to prepare it for a bite.

But Oster didn't even sweat.
"If that is your wish, your Highness, then strike true. Your father has gotten old and soft. But you...you carry the ferocity well. I swear I will serve you, now and forever, if you are so gracious as to spare my life."

1/2

>>39147533
2/2

Hiss smiled and slowly withdrew. The idea of a servant truly devoted to her every whim, yes, that suited her very well. She had wanted Cennen as something similar but he had turned out to be something ...different.

"Just one thing princess, if I may be so bold," Oster begged.
"Tell nobody else of me. Not even Cennen."

"You presume to tell me what to do so quickly?"
And what did he mean 'even Cennen'? Just what had he seen as Ophi?

"Your highness, anyone else can be made to talk through a variety of cruel methods. I myself am trained in several. I wish to be kept secret, your ace in your sleeve."

Hiss didn't know what that last thing meant but she found herself nodding regardless. It made sense.
"Very well. You may depart now servant, be about your duty."

He bows one last time before fading back into the darkness as mere traveling merchant once more.
She didn't like it, she realized. This was a delicate situation, just asking for a misunderstanding to ruin it all later. But what could she do? Once she had found a ship to Quedesh, she could surely tell Cennen everything.
They only had to make it to Taldenral.

Interlude 2

Captain Frahm of the guard stood uncomfortably in the dining hall. The whole place has been fixed up considerably well, the smoke cleaned out and the window replaced with a flawless duplicate. Anyone just entering it now would be surprised to learn that a great struggle took place here some days ago.
Sitting at the end of the table was the new Mayor In-Standing. Despite being referred to as ‘Mayor’, the Mayor In-Standing can be best described as a sort of regent, one given full control of Melire for as long as the Duke himself is absent. There was no process to elect a new one so for lack of a better option, the position had passed down to the former Mayor’s only living relative.

Iana was a very different woman from the one she had been before, Frahm observed. Before she had possessed no responsibility and lived a life of little hardship or tragedy. Her parents had been dead but that had been decades ago. She had been virtually raised by her uncle. The same uncle that now lay imprisoned within the highest rooms within the mansion, drooling and babbling like an infant. Needless to say, her demeanour had a few more hard edges to it now.
“I was a fool for trusting him.”

Frahm shifted uncomfortably. What do you even say in this situation. He’d met the perp and spoken to him at length and he seemed like a good man, albeit one prone to bad decisions. It had been good that he hadn’t owned anything valuable because he might have felt pretty bad about taking it. But the snake he was travelling with... If even half of what he’d heard was true, that one was a real piece of work.
“Begging your pardon your ladyship, they are well beyond our jurisdiction by now.”
He was very comfortable in Melire. He had something good here. The shopkeepers were happy to pay a little extra for protection and the whores all knew his name.
1/2

>>39147675
2/2

He’d been born here, lived most of his life here and considering that his only real stint outside had been the Jheri war, was more than willing to die here.

“Yes but there is nowhere in Teleran outside the High King’s reach!”
He felt his mouth go dry as she continued.
“They tried to silence Uncle Alder but they forgot the scribe who was drawing up the treaties. He still knows it all and I know you do too, Captain.”

Aye, that he did. A wild story about snakes and spirits. Fantastical perhaps but assuredly true. The young alchemist had told him a lot and what gaps he did have, the scribe who transcribed and copied the treaties filled him in.

The new Mayor In-Standing was still talking.
“His Majesty must be informed of this...this demonic enclave within our nation. His armies must be raised to crush Snakehome to rubble! Tell them that they know nothing of diplomacy or mercy. That my uncle did his best to make a treaty with them and they repayed him by ruining him.”
She choked down a sudden sob.
“I speak to him every day, Captain. He still recognises me at least. Most of the time. It kills me every time I look at him but I still visit him each evening. What else can I do?”

She was a rather pretty young woman, Frahm belatedly realized. As her facade crumbled and she wept openly, he found a chink in the armour around his heart that he could have sworn had been at least full plate. She just seemed so vulnerable. He had to protect her.
“Have no fear, your ladyship. Just give me a day to prepare and a copy of all the relevant documents and I’ll set out for Taldenral personally.”

“Oh Captain, you don’t need to go yourself.”

“Nonsense. There are four other captains around, they can handle my duties. I’ll make sure that King Edwin learns of this.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

2/3

>>39147694
Captain Frahm saluted, finding his chest swelling with a parade ground valour that he hadn’t felt since the war. He’d never been to the capital city before and he certainly had never spoken to anything approaching royalty before, unless you counted arresting the snake. Which he didn’t. But maybe it was time he took the chance to see vistas outside the city walls in a context that wasn’t war but merely the prelude to one.
He had to admit, he didn’t much fancy being involved in another battle. But it was for a good cause and he only had to play the messenger.
He only had to make it to Taldenral.

>>39147711
Well it looks like we need to send Oster to clean up some loose ends
Is he unaware that information about snakehome was leaked?

Interlude 3

Darius staggered outside onto the road, an empty bottle clenched between his fingers. It had only been a day since the outsiders had been and gone and they had wreaked havoc on the small farming community of Tedwell.

They had killed Mister Boom, they had slain the Master and his Children but worst of all, his two sons had never come home that night. He had only found Stib and Dalwert this morning, their bodies lying in the thin road between the fields where the Children once lurked.

They hadn't just been killed. They'd been tortured, disfigured. He'd wept and he hadn't stopped until he had buried them among the fields. And now it was night and he was well on his way to drinking himself to death. His wife passed away and was drawn into the Master's paradise years ago. Now all of that was gone. Who did he even have left?

Stone drunk, he threw the bottle to the ground and wailed out to the heavens for a sign. Any sign. What could he do?
And to his surprise, the heavens gave him one.

A bolt of lightning struck the earth in front of him and it didn't stop, the lightning shaping itself into a vastly elongated stick figure, only crudely resembling a man. Behind it, a chrysanthemum halo of neon burned.

Darius' mouth went dry as the spectre drew closer, its mere step scorching the ground beneath it. It's voice was a cold flame within his mind.
-Your prayers have been heard. Fear not-

He couldn't say anything. Nothing at all. His tongue was glued to roof of his mouth.

-Your name is Darius. You cannot pronounce mine. Yet we have common cause. We have both lost family to the same beasts.-

"The M-m-master?"

-Yes. One of my oldest friends. It was I who hid his activities here, guarded him from the vision of others of my kind. I owed him that much. And I still owe him further. I will ride your body so that may justice can be dealt-

1/2

Well double shit

>>39147899
2/2

The lightning earthed itself in him and he didn't even have time to scream. He only collapsed as if he was dead.

But five minutes later he had stood again. His skin was smoking and his eyes an electric blue. He could feel the divine flame within him, consuming all that he was so that it could sustain itself away from the Dreaming for a prolonged period of time.
And he let it.

What did he have to live for anyway? No, let this thing devour him entirely if it must. He let himself recede to nothingness as the thing within him piloted his body forward. It was a clumsy setup but it already knew the location where the murderers would be.
They only had to make it to Taldenral.

Interlude 3

The woman screamed but the thing already had her. One scaled hand grasped her forehead and the other cut her throat, draining both blood and soul. It was over within moments.

The thing in the darkness considered the soul for some time. No clues here. The woman had never seen his quarry before. But others had and so the thing had made its slow murderous path through the human lands. Each soul was a clue, an arrow to point him to the next.

The thing had once been human but it did not remember that. It had been taken as a mere infant and raised away from the other humans who served the Serpent King at Snakehome. He had been branded with the King's mark over and over again for years, been overfilled with his Art and left to rot within a crack between the earth. He had become something both much less and so much more more than man, an amalgamation of two races and something different from either.
But now it was finally his time. The King had lost faith in his human servants and yet no snake desired to enter human lands.

So he had finally been released to do his work.

They had taken a boat. A boat down this river leads to...leads to...he ripped apart one of the souls within him for the information. Ah.
He only had to make it to Taldenral

Oh. Quadruple bugger.

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Taldenral is going to be a clusterfuck of epic proportions.

>>39148110
I was in such a good mood after that lighthearted thread before I read the interludes of certain doom

Last Interlude

The sailors stopped to stare at the sight of the man before them. He had been the esteemed passenger aboard their ship for months now but had never once ventured outside of his luxurious chambers.
But now as the coast of the foreign land known as Teleran swung into sight, he had taken to the main deck and none of the sailors knew what to make of him.

First of all, he was Qesh. Not just Quedeshi like all of them were but from the great heartland of the Witchlands rather than just from one of its many lesser slave-satrapies.
He was wrapped in a cacophony of colors and layered robes almost designed to obscure as much of his body as possible.

Atop his head was a great feathered crown and his face was covered by a golden mask, one frozen into an expression of austere judgement.

But the true reason for their discomfort was the sigil he carried on his flag. Not for him the sigil of any of the great houses of Quedesh. Instead his flag was white and marked with a single black insignia shaped to give the impression of something long and coiled within itself.
This was a man from the center of empire, a man bearing the sigil of their immortal rulers themselves, the inhuman emperors and empresses of Quedesh.

His voice rang out across the suddenly silent deck, rich and intoxicating.
"So this is where the treaty must be signed. I hear it is so cold here that water can freeze in the air itself. What say you?"

His entourage of faceless guards said nothing. None of the sailors dared to raise their voice.

"Very well. And yet this is it. This desolate southern hole is from where all our most honored rulers once came and from whence they fled."

1/2

>>39148277
2/2

He snapped his fingers and his guards prepared a mighty chest, marked all over with inscriptions venerating Aashmid. It hit the deck heavily, somehow shaking the entire ship beneath it.

"We shall be sure to give this land the honor it deserves," the official Queshedi ambassador said to nobody in particular.
"Once we have arrived in Taldenral."

Okay yeah, that's all of the interludes. Thread over for reals.

I don't know whether what will surely be known as The Tandenral Incident should have a soundtrack befitting Ennio Morricone or Benny Hill.

>>39148354
Thread tomorrow?

>>39148578
Yes. Usual time.