>>39309636

Taldenral stretches out all around you, the city running from the huge bay to the mountains in the distance and even further beyond. An endless sprawl of architecture that could swallow a city like Melire whole, a huge central core surrounded by a corona of slums and factories belching smoke. Countless buildings, each one filled with people with their own lives and stories. A bay choked with so many different shapes of ship with sails of every color. Taldenral declares war upon you with scale alone.

If it hadn’t been for Oster, you and Hiss wouldn’t have been able to make it. The two of you would have become hopelessly lost, swept away by the mass of humanity. But the fake merchant was neither fazed nor was he greatly confused, for he had been here before. The only emotion he had to spare for Taldenral was disgust.
He had herded the two of you into a clean-looking inn of decent repute, paying for three rooms with your money. You hadn’t even objected at the time as the sun had been dipping dangerously close to the horizon and you had not wished to meet the capital city during the night.

Right now you are sitting awkwardly in your newfound room. Across from you is a wide barrel filled with steaming water. The first thing that comes to mind is a cauldron and you can’t help but chuckle a little. What kind of brew would that be, you wonder? But it has little to do with your chosen profession.
It’s just a bath, albeit one that had been heated over a large open flame. A hot bath? You’ve never had one before in your life but there’s always a first time for everything.

1/2

>>39309655
2/2

You take your clothes off and hesitantly lower yourself into the tub. It hurts a little at first but as you sit back in it...wow. It feels incredible! The hot water saps your tension and softly relaxes your muscles, something direly needed after an entire day of traveling.

You have to muster up your willpower to not simply soak and to actually use the brush and washcloth provided to start cleaning yourself. The black dye in your hair, already gone bad after so many days, is running freely into the water as you scrub it out. You should probably have done that last, huh?

You stay in until your skin starts to wrinkle before rising and toweling yourself off. You feel extraordinarily reinvigorated. Now all you have to do is to get dressed back in your absolutely filthy clothes again, thus undoing all of that. Ugh. There has to be a better way of doing this.

> Just wear the clothes.

> Use the towel to cover yourself and see if you can give your clothes to the staff to wash.

> See if you can get the water in your tub changed and do your best at washing them yourself.

> Use the towel to cover yourself and give money to one of the staff to go buy you new clothes pronto.

> Other

>>39309683
>> Use the towel to cover yourself and see if you can give your clothes to the staff to wash.

>>39309683
>> Use the towel to cover yourself and see if you can give your clothes to the staff to wash.

>>39309683
> Use the towel to cover yourself and give money to one of the staff to go buy you new clothes pronto.

> Use the towel to cover yourself and see if you can give your clothes to the staff to wash.

You do your best to wrap the wet towel around your waist and then try to make your way down the corridor without being seen by anyone.
This inn is much bigger than any you've been in before and seems to have quite a lot of people employed. Oster must have spent a fair few signets from your purse to just get the three of you rooms here for the night, especially at one room each.
You accost a young woman who seems to be working here and hand her your stinking clothes. To her credit she seems to divine your intentions immediately and doesn't question the fact that you are half-naked.
You watch her bustle off until she disappears downstairs. It'll probably take a good amount of time before those get returned to you. Leaving you out half-naked in the hallway.

> Return to your room and wait. See if you can brew anything in the tub.

> Explore.

> Go looking for Oster. You've got to talk.

> Go looking for Hiss. You've got to talk.

> Other

>>39309853
>Read

>>39309853
>> Go looking for Hiss. You've got to talk.

>>39309853
>> Go looking for Hiss. You've got to talk.

>>39309853
> Go looking for Hiss. You've got to talk.

>>39309892
>>39309923
>>39309942
While we're half naked? You want to get laughed at by hiss or arresting for indecency?

>>39309975
Yep. She doesn't care about our bait and tackle anyways so what's the problem?

>>39310007
Other people do and we are in an inn not the wilds. Also pressing the issue while she's trying to fight could cause her to lash out.

>>39309975
Relax nigga it'll be funny

File: 1370658628121.gif (997 KB, 500x700)

997 KB GIF

>>39310028

>>39310032
Yeah or it could get us into deep shit and almost kill us, again.

> Go looking for Hiss. You've got to talk.

Alright, you're in Taldenral. Finally. Now what? Does Hiss have a plan for what to do next? Actually belay that, you're almost certain that she has no such thing whatsoever. All the more reason to hash this out as soon as possible.

Before going you stop and make doubly sure that your towel is firmly secured. You don't want any repeats of...that event. You pad down the corridor until you find her door and knock gently on it.
"Yes? What is it?"
She sounds extremely lethargic, her words stretching out in a blissful drawl. You think you can hear water faintly sloshing around.
Oh?

Oh.

> "Yeah, it's just me. We need to talk."

> Just enter.

> See if you can look through the keyhole.

> "Bad time." Leave.

> Other

>>39310106
> "Yeah, it's just me. We need to talk."
>Enter

>>39310106
>> Just enter.
Stopped giving a shit.

>>39310106
> "Yeah, it's just me. We need to talk."

Reminder That Oster may kill us out of hand if he thinks we take too many liberties with Hiss.

>>39310162
I think that would really be bad for hiss while we still have a wishbond with her. Plus hiss wold be fucking pissed anyway considering she likes us and we have one of her Arts

>>39310106
>> "Yeah, it's just me. We need to talk."
>> Just enter.

>>39310210
He's more loyal to the idea of man being ruled by snakes and snake kind itself than her or her father.(he turned for that reason he think dad is a bad fit) Us dying might hurt her but it wouldn't kill her, and he's a zealot if dies doing the "right thing" he'll be happy.

>>39310351
Quit being so paranoid and just enjoy the quest anon

>>39310380
Remember when we weren't paranoid and things went to shit? I do, so no. Ouro will kill us if we fuck up.

>>39310106
> "Yeah, it's just me. We need to talk."
>Enter

So, what brew has Hiss made just by lying there.

> "Yeah, it's just me. We need to talk."
> Just enter.

"It's me. We need to talk."
You grab the door handle and blink a little to find it still unlocked. Nah, you can do this. You've already been in this situation once before.

"Sure, come in."

You push the door open and enter, shutting it behind you as quickly as you can. The room is an almost exact duplicate of yours, right down to the washtub sitting in the middle of it, filled with steaming hot water. It is also filled with Hiss.
She's hanging slightly over the side facing you, her arms dangling down awkwardly while her chin rests on the edge. Her eyes are mostly closed and her expression is locked into one of sublime rapture.
Hm. You should have predicted this. Of course she'd take to hot baths like uh, a snake to hot things.
"Is this the right time?"

You're suddenly shifting your towel around quite a bit to hide a certain reaction. Not that you'd think Hiss even notices or cares about it while she's like this, it's the principle of the thing. At least while she's like this you can't see that much of her.

She curls her hands around the edge and suddenly drags herself up upright, her breasts clearing the water and coming into full view. Welp. There goes that idea.

"What did you want to talk about?"
She sounds absolutely unconcerned, way too blissed out and sluggish to care about anything.

> "How are we going to find a ship to Quedesh?"

> "How can you be sure we can truly trust Oster?"

> "We need to talk about this brand."

> "We need to talk about us."

> "Do you need some help?" This option ends all questioning, one way or the other.

> Other

>>39310619
> "How are we going to find a ship to Quedesh?"
> "How can you be sure we can truly trust Oster?"

>>39310619
>> "How are we going to find a ship to Quedesh?"
>How are you going to get the constrictors to work for/with you. They really hate your father and have had their own lands for years. I doubt they'd take to you trying to rule them.
>I saw some odd things when I was branded, your father and what the snakes were before they fell.

>>39310619
> "How are we going to find a ship to Quedesh?"
> "How can you be sure we can truly trust Oster?"
> "We need to talk about us."

>>39310619
> "How are we going to find a ship to Quedesh?"
> "How can you be sure we can truly trust Oster?"

>Distract yourself with her water as a brew

> "How are we going to find a ship to Quedesh?"
> "How can you be sure we can truly trust Oster?"

You do your best to tear your eyes away, even though she clearly doesn't care right now. It's not good for your own concentration and given her current state you'll clearly be carrying most of this conversation.
You stare at the bathwater instead. This doesn't really help at all considering that Hiss is occupying the bathwater. But still, you do your best to imagine the sort of alchemical brew that could come from this. If it's just the detritus of her skin, which is probably equivalent to scales, cooking this up would result in a diluted form of Snake Oil, your previous concoction that used stray scales as a primary ingredient. But the mixture is currently dormant as it would need a proper alchemist to make it work. Too messy otherwise.

This lets you regather your thoughts, at least a little.
"H-how are we going to find a ship to Quedesh from here? There aren't any."

"I know that."
She yawns.
"But there's that ambassador for the treaty right? We just need to ask him."

"What makes you think he'll accept? He'll be an important guy."

She laughs, the motion destroying what thoughts you had regathered.
"More important than me? I doubt it. Don't worry about it, Cennen. Everything will be fine."

Trying to talk to her when she's like this was probably a mistake.
"Not everyone can be immediately assured of your importance, you know. And we don't even know when the Jheri treaty is going to be signed!"

"Oh? That? I have Oster out in the streets getting information right now. It's all good."

"Oh yeah? And just how well can you really trust him? Ophi, Oster, etcetera. He's already betrayed his master once."

"Why would anyone want to betray me?"

Luckily she's still completely out of it and so that question isn't the complete trap it would have been normally. But you may want to tread carefully all the same.

1/2

>>39311068
2/2

> "No offense Hiss but you aren't always the most pleasant person." And that's putting it lightly.

> "I don't think you treat us the way we deserve sometimes."

> "You're actually in the running for the most evil person I've ever personally met."

> "All humans have their flaws princess."

> "The world moves in mysterious ways sometimes."

> Other

>>39311108
> "All humans have their flaws princess."
> "The world moves in mysterious ways sometimes."
It's possible that he hasn't even betrayed your father and he's still working for him while deceiving you

>>39311108
"Some humans cleave to ideals above position or oaths. They're called zealots, Oster act like one. Whether it be the creator or to the crown they'd always pick what is best for said ideal. He betrayed your father, him betraying you is not out of the question if things change."

>>39311108
> "All humans have their flaws princess."
> "The world moves in mysterious ways sometimes."

Oh god activating that bath would be disastrous.

>>39311147
This. maybe his mission was just to keep an eye on you for your father

>>39311108
> "The world moves in mysterious ways sometimes."


Also guys, now that we're our own source of venom, we should exploit toxic potions. We know that venom is a corruptor, flipping any positive potion to negative, in theory this would mean we can use it to do crazy shit such as blind people, cause amnesia, and possibly even destroy peoples souls (that potion that gives you spirit sight by drawing your soul from your body, I feel envenomating that already stupidly powerful potion would be great), also we should shapeshift our pet.

> "All humans have their flaws princess."
> "The world moves in mysterious ways sometimes."

"What can I say? The world moves strangely sometimes and all humans have their flaws. Not everyone can be counted to have total devotion to their rightful rulers."
You very carefully say this without ever having to state that you think Hiss actually IS one of these 'rightful rulers'. You have your doubts, to put it lightly.
"In addition, Oster strikes me as someone different. Some humans care more about ideals than they do individuals or oaths. Zealots. If he decided that your father isn't suitable, what's to stop him from thinking the same of you?"

That idea seems to give her a little pause, even in her current state. But then her relaxed dopey look returns.
"You don't need to worry. Do you think I've just been talking to him when I catch him in my gaze?"

The thought steals into your head and you're not sure how to vocalize it. The more you think about it, the more inherently disgusting it seems to become.
"You mean..uh-"

"I've been pruning him. My father has been too lax with his servants but I won't make the same mistake. Eat a memory here, scrub out an irritating idea there. One day he'll wake up and I'll be the only important person in his life."

You feel queasy. You don't think you've ever been grateful for your Spiritbane.
"Don't you think that's ...immoral? Or wrong?"
You shut your mouth immediately afterwards. That had been such a wrong question to ask.

"By whose metric?" She yawns.
"He's only human, Cennen. Now, please be quiet, this water isn't going to be hot forever and you're wasting my time."
She said please. To you. Is that a first?

> "Very well." Leave.

> "Very well." Stay.

> Offer your assistance.

> Tell her about your vision during your branding.

> See if you can activate the nascent brew in the bathtub.

> Other

>>39311552
>> See if you can activate the nascent brew in the bathtub.

>>39311552
>You don't think you've ever been grateful for your Spiritbane.

*so grateful, obviously

>>39311552
> Offer your assistance.
> Tell her about your vision during your branding.

>>39311552
> Offer your assistance.
> Tell her about your vision during your branding.

>>39311574
And piss her off when she comes too? No thank you. Maybe once she gets out.

>>39311574
Dude no. That's an awful idea. She would get so pissed because we promised not to make more snake oil and she's currently inside it.

>>39311623
Speaking of we really ought to convince to let us whip up a batch or two to use on the new hunter. He can take an explosion to the face but snake oil will hopefully slow him done or knock him out.

>>39311675
If we use snake scales in an acid potion we can make an acid that eats through his snakeskin

>>39311552
> "Very well." Stay.
> Offer your assistance.
> Get a couple of scoops of water so we can make snake oil to fight that other snake

>>39311552
> Offer your assistance.
>Stay quiet
she asked nicely for us to shut up

>>39311698
Maybe, bears experimenting.

I wonder would snake blood plus scales plus bunyip hair be snake steroids?

>>39311721
Check the ask.fm page, ouro confirmed it would work

>>39311552
>> Tell her about your vision during your branding.
>Keep an eye out for loose scales in the bathtub. If thats how that even works that is...

>>39311842
I think we still have some saved. Plus her hair would work just the same as her scales in a potion

>>39311842
There would only be scales if she was in snake form

RIP Ouro. The lewdness of this scene was just too much for him to take

> Offer your assistance.
> Tell her about your vision during your branding.

She lies back down, doing her best to curl herself up as much into the tub as possible. You’ve stopped trying to look elsewhere at this point, just letting yourself take it all in. After a minute she looks back up at you.
“Oh, you’re still here.”

“Y-yeah. There was something else I wanted to talk to you about. About the branding.”

She doesn’t say anything but she does bother to raise a single eyebrow. You take it as permission to continue.

“I saw some crazy things back there. Like...you only you were really big and also what I think was your father and then his father and then his father and then…”
You falter for a moment, unable to find the words immediately for the beings you had seen.

“Let me guess, you saw dragons?”
Hiss sounds bored by all this, as if you were trying to talk about the weather.

“Dragoons?”
No, that wasn’t it. The word is entirely unfamiliar to you.

“No idiot. Dragons. Big scaly spirits of fire, air and darkness? They’re my ancestors. Duh.”

“But why would I see them? Or any of that?”

“Well it’s simple isn’t it? You’re tracing back to the source of your powers. From you to me and then through me and through my ancestors until you hit the font. It happens to everyone, just ask Oph-Oster.”

You keep thinking back to that scene, an entire city (or more!) of humans cowering beneath draconic feet.
“I don’t get it. What happened to you guys? If you don’t mind me asking, that is?”

In any other time she probably would have. But instead she just sighs.
“If that’s what it takes for you to leave me alone. You know how all this started, right?”

“All what?”

1/2

>>39312669
2/3

“And what was that?”

She tries to shoot a glare at you but she can’t stop smiling like a goof even now.
“You did. Humans showed up from who knows where. And the Creator apparently thinks that this is fucking fine because he decides to draw his Dreaming back inside himself and return to the Without. All of the spirits were supposed to leave with him bar a few poor suckers that he assigned duty over maintaining some parts of the world. Well none of us wanted to be like those poor fools but we didn’t want to leave either. We, our ancestors, MADE this world. So when the Dreaming receded, my ancestor and his group decided to stay behind. They had the halos to fuel them and you know what? It turned out that humans had pretty good mental energy of their own. Sacrifices could be made to help sustain the dragon-spirits. And so we assumed our rightful place as rulers of the world, masters of every hoard, to which humanity was nothing but the chattel they deserved to be.”
She does her best to frown.
“It was a good few centuries by all accounts. But then the Creator had to be a fucking bitch about us meddling with his toys. He ripped off our limbs and wings, took the sky from us and commanded us to spend eternity as worms in the dust. He quenched our flame and made us subject to time, to become mortal parts of the world itself. Snakehome was the site of his judgement, the crater where the bastard threw us from the heavens. But he didn’t even do that right. We spun Art from our new forms and we can shuck off our skins so that his punishment doesn’t even touch us. But why would we? Our true victory was making his punishment our reward. The snake is the perfect body and our pride in our natures is our greatest weapon.”

Big words coming from someone in human form, you suppose. You don’t say that out loud however.
“So is that why your father doesn’t want anything to do with the human lands?”

>>39312693
3/3


“Fear of more reprisal, yes,” she says drunkenly. “He’s cowardly that way. It won’t be that way when I’m Queen. I’ll crush this entire kingdom underbelly. And that can just be the start!”

...You don’t know exactly how to respond to that. Hiss keeps talking anyway, stretching her arms out in a perfectly human way
“Now, is there anything else you wanted? I just want to relax, we can talk about plans later.”

Something seizes you, inspired by how human she had been, making it so that you couldn’t care less about dragons or ancient history. You walk right up to the tub, standing over her.
“I’ve been a bit of an annoyance, I know. Let me make it up to you.”

> See if you can get into the tub.

> Back-rub

> Something a little more direct than either of those two. Time to push your luck like never before.

> Other

>>39312669
>>39312693

Aw shit, there was supposed to be a segment between these two that I skipped over somehow. Here:

“Everything. The world. Back at the start everything was bare, it was just the Bones of the Earth and nothing else. And then the Creator descended from the Without and spread his Dreaming over the world. His thoughts...or her thoughts I guess, either word doesn’t really do it justice. Their thoughts took up lives on their own and become spirits of every kind and the spirits sprung up everywhere in the world and gave it life blah blah blah blah. And all was going fine apparently. More spirits were forever creating themselves from the Dreaming and the Dreaming was everywhere in the world so they were as strong as they would ever be. We all moulded each other and began to form groups and societies all of our very own. And then the worst thing possible happened.”

>>39312712
>> Back-rub
Thing most likely to advance our cause

>>39312712
>> Back-rub

>>39312712
> See if you can get into the tub.

>>39312666
Not lewd, just long. So long that I couldn't go without fucking it up apparently.

>>39312712
> Back-rub
Show her one thing that her snake form cannot experience.

>>39312712
> See if you can get into the tub.
> Back-rub

I find myself wondering if hiss's saliva is still poisonous when she's in human form

>>39312712
> Back-rub
I don't want to die.

>>39312712
> Back-rub
Make it sensual

>>39312846
Also, obligatory how bad off are we this time? Last time we asked this you said we were in the worst possible route, are we a bit better off now?

>>39312995
It is, We ID it as so.

>>39313055
We only checked it while she was in snake form

>>39313075
Her shapeshifting makes her look human, she can still venom bite and her saliva is still toxic. She can't change her nature just by changing her skin.

>>39313075
hair and skin count as scales still, so I doubt it's changed.

>>39313105
We know she still has venom but we don't know about her saliva for sure. Which is why I said I was wondering about it

>>39312995
It is totally venomous and also she has a demonstrated habit of biting without thinking when overly excited so you have to think about the accidental fatality factor when you start treading this direction.

>>39313032
Pretty far from it! Though that said your decisions from Melire are what caused you to go through the entire Children debacle in the first place and are still leaving other consequences so rest assured that that those decisions will still be following you for a while.

>>39313126
Anon I know you want to swap spit with Hiss, but she is venomous and doing so is fatal to us until we get a poison immunity.

>>39313174
I just wanted to know if the danger is there. Now I do.

> Back-rub

You move around the edge of the tub and hesitantly place your hands on her back as she sits up. She doesn't many any attempt to stop you, though she does favor you with a befuddled look.
"What are you doing?"

"Like I said, just paying you back."
You do your best to knead and rub her back but it's been a while since you did this to anyone, much less a woman and all you get from Hiss at the start is a small grunt of pain and a resentful look.

But she doesn't stop you and you soon find your rhythm.
"Mmm...ah! Keep going!"
Granted, it probably wouldn't have taken much to basically cause her to dissolve, considering her present condition but her reaction still inspires you to further height.

You work her shoulders harder, urged on by a small series of appreciative moans. Your towel slips off but you don't even care. And then the door opens and Oster is standing in the doorway.
"Your highness, I come bearing n...ews."
He draws his sword almost immediately after taking in your nudity.
"Are you taking advantage of her condition?"

Hiss is too busy melting to be of any immediate help.

> Tell him to deal with it.

> "Maybe."

> "This really does not concern you!"

> Go for something a little more serious right in front of him.

> Don't stop back-rubbing.

> Step away slowly and put the towel back on.

> "This isn't what it looks like."

> Other

>>39313484
> Don't stop back-rubbing.
>If I was taking advantage, I'd be dead. Hiss is a big girl Oster. Besides she is very tense she needs this."

>>39313484
> Don't stop back-rubbing.
>If I was taking advantage, I'd be dead. Hiss is a big girl Oster. Besides she is very tense she needs this."

>>39313484
>> "This isn't what it looks like."

>>39313484
I'm just a humble servant repaying my princess for her kindness.

>>39313484
> Don't stop back-rubbing.
>If I was taking advantage, I'd be dead. Hiss is a big girl Oster. Besides she is very tense she needs this."

>>39313484
It's a bit presumptuous to enter your princess's quarters without knocking first.

>>39313484
> Don't stop back-rubbing.
>If I was taking advantage, I'd be dead. Hiss is a big girl Oster. Besides she is very tense she needs this."

Fucking ophi. I can't believe this guy is a permanent party member now

>>39313536
>>39313545
>>39313580
>>39313633
Do you guys really think this is a convincing argument?

>>39313729
You're not convincing me to change it, so why bother telling me?

> Don't stop back-rubbing.
>If I was taking advantage, I'd be dead. Hiss is a big girl Oster. Besides she is very tense, she needs this."

You don't stop working and Hiss gives a long groan.
"Relax. If I was 'taking advantage', I'd be dead. Hiss is a big girl. Unless you are suggesting that our master doesn't know best?"

This doesn't seem to convince him but then Hiss raises a hand languidly, seeming to notice the false merchant for the first time.
"Fuck off, Oster....ooooh."

Oster looks from you to Hiss to you to Hiss once more, his usual light-heartedness completely absent.
"But I've got what you asked for! This is important news! What have you made her drink?? It's more Oil, isn't it!"

"Fuck. Off. Oster," Hiss yawns.

> "You heard her."

> Actually you should probably hear his information out now.

> "You seem to be pretty angry, Ophi. Are you jealous?"

> "It's really just the hot water, I swear."

> Other

>>39313709
He isn't, he's emergency rations for our pet.

>>39313787
Ok how about the fact that hiss is completely unable to intentionally harm cennen?

>>39313823
>> Actually you should probably hear his information out now.
>Put towel back on.

>>39313823
> "You heard her."
haha fuck you oster

>>39313823
> "You heard her."

>>39313823
> "You seem to be pretty angry, Ophi. Are you jealous?"

>>39313823
> Actually you should probably hear his information out now.
>If you want me to continue later I will.

>>39313823
> "You heard her."

>>39313823
>> "You heard her."

>>39313823
> Actually you should probably hear his information out now.

>>39313829
Nah. It's too much fun.

Guys do really want Oster to hate us? It is not a good idea.

>>39314024
Meh. Whatever.

>>39314024
He already doesn't like us and I hate him so whatever

>>39314041
>>39314065
Hiss is turning him into a yandere for her. He will kill us or try if we keep it up.

>>39314024
I was preferential to us telling her the news is important but I also think he's a dick so I'm not horribly upset if it doesn't win.

I do think it's in Hiss's best interest to hearing the news asp.

>>39314073
Oooh, we might have to have the talk with her, get her to make him a eunuch

>>39314073
Still don't care. If he tries to kill us, that means we can finally get rid of his ass.

>>39314080
ASAP*

>>39314100
Or you know he actually kill us because he is a trained assassin and we are a squishy alchemist.

>>39314095
Wouldn't help. Still yandere.

>>39314080
I just want him to learn his place in the group

File: Asp.jpg (58 KB, 425x283)

58 KB JPG

>>39314080
>I do think it's in Hiss's best interest to hearing the news asp.

You called?

File: Hiss.jpg (68 KB, 640x426)

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>>39314240
Based on her description I always assumed she was more like this.

>>39314276
The snake he posted is called an asp

> "You heard her."

You feign a shrug.
"You heard her."

He dithers, frozen in the door frame.
"She can't hurt you! Do you think you can just force yourself on her?"

Hiss sighs and then grabs your hands, stilling them. And then she turns around to face you, moving your hands to her breasts by doing so.
"Continue."
You are now well and truly in foreign territory but you sure aren't stopping now. Her nipples stiffen under your touch and she gives another soft moan as you continue your work. You're not sure how to feel about this. It's not being done for your benefit, she's letting you do this only because it lets her punish another. But do you care? Not really. You can feel her squirm with delight as you get to work.
"What about this Oster? Is he forcing himself on me now?"

He jams his sword back into the sheath with violent force.
"I just wanted to tell yo-"

Hiss pulls you down and kisses you right on the lips. You feel like you're frozen solid as a forked tongue forces its way past your unresponsive lips. She breaks away after a few seconds, clearly angry but still too sleepy to do anything more.
"What about now? Do you really presume to know what I want?"

Your lips burn and you feel dizzy. Your heart is pounding and you can barely move. Does it always feel like this?
No.
Wait.
That's just the venom.

You collapse onto the ground, one of your last sights before blackness claiming being Hiss' head poking out over the tub, looking mostly uninterested.
"Whoops."

1/2

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>>39314292
Oh. I see. Sorry.

>>39314341
and we died, or got put in medical again. Great.

>>39314341
Well shit. At least we're slowly building up an immunity I suppose

>>39314376
>Implying taking full doses of the stuff every once in a while builds immunity and doesn't just almost kill us
We need to take daily watered down doses for a long while before we can knock back the stuff with full strength.

>>39314410
>Hiss using kisses to bring up our immunity.

>>39314454
Pretty sure we'd just die from repeated nerve and blood damage before that happens. She's not exactly good at control, or moderation.

>>39314341
2/2

You wake up back in your room in the inn. You are lying in bed, completely naked. You feel like absolute shit. Not in any particularly specific way, just shit in general. All-encompassing shit.

Your old clothes are lying on the bed next to you, freshly cleaned. You groan and put them on. Oh hell, what had you just done before? Why had you done that? It could have gone so much worse.

In fact, why the hell are you still alive right now? You don't see any anti-venom around. You certainly didn't have any already prepared in your pack.

Ow. Your head feels like it's been burst open and stuffed with needles. Fuuuuck.

> Pray for help.

> Groan for help.

> Brew up restorative potion.

> Other

>>39314496
>> Brew up restorative potion.

>>39314496
> Pray for help.
> Brew up restorative potion.

>>39314496
> Brew up restorative potion.
>Brew up an antivenom for next time too.
>Start planning out trying the tried and true method of taking minute amounts of poison in increasing volumes until you gain an immunity.

>>39314496
> Pray for help.
> Brew up restorative potion.

>>39314546
This

>>39314496
> Brew up restorative potion.

>>39314496
> Pray for help.
Worth it.

>>39314630
Not really, damages our realtion with party member who could kill us very easily if he moved to do so, additionally we're hurting after that which means a day or two of recovery. Time lost which is not good for us at all.

>>39314341
Damn. Shit got really lewd fast

>>39314661
At least this time it's not really Cennens fault

>>39314695
True, But in Oster's eyes it was un manipulating Hiss(kinda true) because she can do no wrong to him because of her pruning. If we push too far he will try to kill us and most likely succeed because he is physically much better in every regard as well as better trained and sneakier. Us dying wouldn't kill Hiss after all and a loyal servant should remove bad influences right?

>>39314738
It would damage her I think.

>>39314738
I realize that ophi might be a threat but you're being really annoying about it and worrying way too much

>>39314772
and? Damage does not mean kill and it'd be a learning experience for her. Remember he think we're a bad influence on her as long as she doesn't die from it, it's fine.

>>39314783
So sue me for trying to play smart after we've bounced from one bad decision from another. You do realize stupid moves bite in the ass later right? See Iana, see guard captain, see that spirit chasing after us now.

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>>39314827

>>39314861
No actual response, so you post that instead?

>>39314827
>So sue me for trying to play smart after we've bounced from one bad decision from another. You do realize stupid moves bite in the ass later right?

So? Most quests have bad decisions. I'm having fun with them. Why aren't you?

> Pray for help.
> Brew up restorative potion.
> Brew an antivenom for later

You grumble as you drag out your cauldron and waterskin out of your pack and get to work on a cold mix. What time is it anyway? It's fairly bright out. You take a peek through the window, wincing as the light burns your over-sensitive eyes. Early morning. So, best case scenario: You wasted a single night and made someone who could probably snap you like a twig rather angry. But on the other hand, you got to cop a feel.
Worth it? Maybe. You'll have to wait a bit to see how that turns out.

You mix up your restoration brew and drink it all down as quickly as you can. Ah, that feels better. You can feel it working wonders already. You brew an antivenom while you're there so that you don't get taken by surprise like that ever again.

And only then, fully dressed and prepared, do you send out a pray for aid.
Your door slams open after less than a minute. It's Hiss, fully clothed and fully awake, full of her usual sharp edges this time around. Once again you find yourself idly wondering ways to keep her in her lethargic friendly state after the warmth or the food runs out.

"Are you ready? We've already lost a night. Come on," she says brusquely.

"Wait, what are we doing?"

"I'll explain later!"

> "No, explain now please."

> Just go with her.

> "Er, about last night.."

> Other

>>39315034
> Just go with her.

>>39315034
> "No, explain now please."

>>39314985
Because we keep making stupid decision we will die. Ouro isn't giving us plot armor.

>>39315034
> Just go with her.

>>39314670
Hiss approaches social interaction with all the subtlety of well, a snake. And being blissed out on warmth and food doesn't just make her friendlier and easier to handle, it also makes her really not give a fuck.

>>39315034
> "No, explain now please."

>>39315069
Oh well. At least Cennen will have some peace at long last.

>>39315034
> Just go with her.
> "Er, about last night.."
> Tone down the venom, i'll build up a resistance quicker.

>>39315034
> Just go with her.

>>39315114
and? With all the idiots here the quest would either end o at his death or anyone else in the MC chair would die in short order.

>>39315115
>Implying she gave a fuck then or could control it.
It was spit anon there is no way to tone it down.

>>39315161
Seriously anon, please stop posting

>>39315173
No I won't. I'm going to keep at it. If you have an argument besides "fun" and suffering, please share it.

>>39315198
Because I'm being amused. Both by what's happening and by your whining about how you're right and everyone else is wrong.

>>39315286
So what I'm getting is you want to kill the quest?

>>39315329
No, I just like hearing you mope and whinge.

>>39315329
Can you really not see how annoying you are right now?

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>>39315329

> Just go with her.

You follow Hiss down the corridor and not to her room but to a third one. It must be Oster's room you realize, just moments before she swings open the door to reveal the facechanger sitting on the bed. His Ophi mask is actually off his face, lying on the bed beside him. In his hands is a squad piece of wood and in the other, a long knife with a vicious edge. He's running the knife down the block, obviously working at carving something. Shards and flakes of wood litter the floor of his room.
"The sleeper awakens," he murmurs good-naturedly.

"Look, ab-"

"No, no need. I was in the wrong. I should have just waited outside."
Despite his words however, he gives you a definite Look when Hiss is turned away to shut the door.

"So here's the deal," Oster continues. "The signing of the treaty is roughly a week from now. Word on the docks is that the scouts have sighted the Quedeshi ship and that its ambassador should be making their debut tomorrow."

"Debut? Where?"
You feel suddenly lost.

"There will be...a ball tomorrow night," Oster says, permitting his disgust to shine through. "All of the other ambassadors are already here and hobnobbing it up in the palace with King Edwin. Some of them brought some pretty large retinues, a lot more foreigners on the street than usual."

You feel the cogs in your mind begin to slowly grind together.
"So we need to get to the Quedeshi ambassador after he arrives but before he gets to the palace?"

Oster chuckles. It's a dry sound, devoid of any actual mirth.
"I wish it were that easy. If what they said about any of the other ambassadors is correct, he and his retinue will be making their way straight from the docks to the palace in a procession. All eyes of the city will be on that event, especially considering a place so far away as Quedesh. Trying anything there is death, plain and simple."

"So what do we do instead?"

Oster winces.
"Her Highness...has a plan."

1/2

>>39315379
2/2

"It's simple!" Hiss butts in. "We just need to gain access to the palace, right? Well we just do what we did in Melira! I go up to the palace and I tell them the truth, that I am royalty and that they better let me in or risk angering Snakehome forevermore."

You suck in your breath. That plan has more holes in it than a suit of chainmail. Wasn't secrecy the name of the game when it came to Snakehome?

"I have a different idea," Oster says. "I dispose of some noble and spend the rest of our time before the ball carving this new mask into their likeness. Then I attend the ball with their face and you two are my guests."

"I don't like it," Hiss sniffs. "What kind of noble can go missing for over a day without anyone noticing?"

"You'd be surprised. So what's your opinion, Cennen? Gaining legal access to the palace seems either impossible or suicidal. I think you'll find my plan has the best chance of overall success."

You stop to think for a moment. Normally you would probably be agreeing with Oster here, as much as you might dislike the idea. But another thought as just struck you.

The three of you might not be able to gain access to the ball legally but there was a certain class of people known for going and doing wherever and whatever they pleased. Someone who even the King of Teleran would rather honor instead of risk offending.

But oh man, the cost of doing so...it could be extremely high.
You'll have to get in a conversation with him.

"I have a different idea," you start. "How comfortable are you two with wizards?"

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tried doing a thing

I'll be ending a bit early today right here. I hope you guys had fun and don't worry, you'll actually get to vote on which plan in the next thread.
Also this level is about as lewd as this Quest will ever probably get and it's not going to be very often as I am just plain not good at doing that.

>>39315603
Thanks for running.
Did Hiss freak out when the wish bond kicked in? How are we not dead? You do realize some anons will push for full smut regardless, right?

>>39315603
Thanks for running. I'm glad that you'll be limiting the lewdness to a reasonable amount

>>39315603
Limited lewds is good. If it goes much further fade to black or not at all.

Thanks for running.

>>39315603
Thanks for running, Ouro

>>39315635
Hiss doesn't have a choice to not freak out, even if it is a little slower than usual. As for not being dead, it'll be explained next thread to Cennen but I'll just drop it right here. Cennen's venom is basically a weaker watered-down form of Hiss' venom and he's completely immune to his own poison. This immunity can be stretched a little to give enough protection to not outright die from a small dose of the more powerful version because while they aren't the same, they're similar enough that immunity to one is resistance to the other. So when her wishbond failed to drive her up the wall, Hiss figured you were actually going to be fine somehow and just let you be.

>>39315641
No worries.

>>39315576
Aw shucks, I don't know what to say. I never thought I'd ever get fanart. The expressions are basically perfect.

>>39315766
Would the building up a stronger resistance method here>>39314546
Work?

>>39315766
Would continued Hiss kissing build up an immunity?

>>39315766
Doesn't that mean than Fel shouldve been totally immune to her poison?

>>39315860
She ripped out his throat as well as venomed him if I recall.

>>39315766
Thread tomorrow?

>>39315806
This method is a lot safer than >>39315859

>>39315860
No because Fel drew his Art from the Serpent King, which has an entirely different sort of venom that makes Hiss' look positively cuddly. Hiss is not just a weaker version of her father, they have different strengths and focuses and that extends to him having a different sort of venom rather than an amped up version of Hiss'.
So Fel had a small resistance to the King's venom but nothing against Hiss.
I'll leave it up to your imagination to figure out what kind of venom makes Hiss' death concoction look tame.

>>39315919
Yes.

>>39316002
Would Hiss be willing to let us collect the venom and try?

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>>39316002

>>39316040
She'll likely feel conflicted about it. By all means she wants you alive but unless she's intoxicated from food/warmth, she never really feels comfortable being near someone who she can't instantly kill if the need ever arose.

>>39316305
Just point out to he she's stronger faster and her fans can rip our throat out fairly quickly if need be.

Holy shit, this quest is really realy really really good,
The stupid name turned me off at first but i got bored and read the first quest an hour or two ago and burned through the archives and now im here and its lovely. This is lovely.