>>39428685

The sun has well and truly risen by the time you get out of bed and for good reason. This might actually be the most comfortable bed you’ve ever slept on. You certainly don’t have much else to compare it to. You didn’t notice it yesterday on account of happily jumping back and forth across death’s door but man, even impoverished nobles know how to live in style.
You’re currently in a small room all to yourself in Lady Trebain’s small mansion. It might be some sort of servant bedroom, you’re not really sure. There aren’t that many servants left here anymore. There are certainly a lot of free rooms, that’s for sure.

And yet Eugene, her own son, sleeps in the basement. What’s up with that?

This is it, the big day. The ambassador from far off Quedesh should be making landfall in the city today and tonight would be just one of many in a huge crowd of foreign dignitaries in a ball held by High King Edwin himself.
And you’re going to crash that party.

But that’s not until tonight. You still have a whole day ahead of you. You need to fill that time somehow.

> Go back to sleep. You should cherish those rare times when you don’t have to do anything at all.

> Get up and find Hiss.

> Get up and find Eugene.

> Get up and find Lady Trebain.

> Get up and find Oster.

> You should be using this time to brew something up! (Specify)

> You should be using this time to experiment while you still can.

> Test out those weird wizard potions.

> You’re starting to feel more accustomed to Taldenral. Time to get yourself out there and put what’s left of your money to good use.

>>39428690
> You should be using this time to brew something up! (Specify)
Acid with Snake scales
also make a stink cloud brew and a few ID brews.

>>39428690
> You should be using this time to experiment while you still can.
We should let Eugene watch while he brews his own stuff too. I'd like to at least identify the reject potions as well

>>39428743
I wonder what would happen if we incorporated bunyip hairs into the treebrew potion?

>Plant Nature: You're technically still a plant thanks to your exposure to dangerous dandelion brews. You aren't green and you don't absorb sunlight to grow anymore, in fact, you bear no physical principles of a plant whatsoever. But deep down in your essence, you are a plant.
i laughed heartily

>Experimentation

You're not the kind of person to just laze around when you could be preparing. That's more Hiss' bailiwick. And you don't feel the need to talk to anyone right now either, particularly considering that you feel that you've already seen more than enough of most of the people in this house.
No sir, you're going to get some work done.

It takes you a good bit more than an hour before you get it right but you eventually perfect the mix of snake scales and your regular acidic concoctions. You have crafted a flask of Scalebane Brew, an acid that has devastating effects on scales (you hope) but does next to nothing to anything else.
You can't help but think back to the snake monster back in the swamps by the Kuri and that makes you a little thankful of your new creation.

You also brew up two Identification potions and a smoke brew.

> Cease alchemy work and go get some fresh air.

> Experiment wildly with what magical ingredients you have left.

> Find Hiss to donate more blood and venom. You've run out.

> Identify the wizardly potions.

> Other

>>39429015
>> Identify the wizardly potions.

>>39429015
drink a treebrew potion, since we're a plant now it might make cennen grow a bit taller than it would before

>>39429052
It wore off already anon, chill.

>>39429068
check the pastebin

>>39429015
> Find Hiss to donate more blood and venom. You've run out.

>>39429079
That' make us more plant like dollars to donuts. A bad idea.

>>39429156
I don't think it will make us any more plantlike. It's just a growth potion. It would've made us grow even before becoming a plant, i bet it does more now though

>>39429188
No it wouldn't have made us grow, it'd have done weird things to us, also we'd not have any clothes if we did grow and we very well may set down roots. It'd fuck us up and we don't have time to recover from that right now.

>>39429245
your paranoia makes you no fun at all anon. we are physically incapable of growing roots

>>39429307
Unless our soul allow it because lol wizard potion, also us growing would still leave us without clothes. The lol random shit will get us killed we keep doing it.

>>39429351
>implying using alchemy for self improvement is lol random shit

You immediately down one of your freshly brewed identification potions and scope out Eugene's incredibly magical failures.
Strangely enough, they all seem to be basically the same sort of potion. You guess he was getting pretty consistent in the time before he actually got the Small Healing brew down. Each potion renders the drinker more plant-like. Specifically a small plant like the dandelion. It makes them very small but with the caveat that they turn bright green, absorb light to slowly grow back to their original size and that there may be lingering side effects.
Wait. Are you still feeling those lingering side effects? You don't feel any different. Maybe you should try some Treebrew or something just to see what happens...

> Drink the treebrew.

> Drink the wizard potion.

> Give the wizard potion to someone else.

> Where is everyone else anyway?

> Other

>>39429429
> Drink the treebrew.
just a bit

>>39429428
>Implying drinking a brew when we are not certain about the effect isn't lol random.

>>39429429
>> Where is everyone else anyway?

>>39429429
>> Drink the treebrew.
I am caught up and it is time to do science.

>>39429488
our new pants are really baggy, we've got a bit of room to grow

>>39429629
And you're completely certain we'll be able to actually wear them or any of our other clothes after is because? All this provided it is a good effect and doesn't revert us back to start of the curse.

> Drink the treebrew.

Just a little couldn't hurt, surely? You pull one of the flasks from your pack. You have quite a few of them, having made them in anticipation of selling them to the farmers of Tedwell.
That...that didn't go so well, let's just leave it at that.

Maybe just a sip? You raise the potion to your lips and drink just a bit. The brew is a light brown and to your surprise, it actually tastes really good! You don't know if it always has or if that's just those lingering side effects but you drink a little more before you can stop yourself.

You feel completely refreshed, as if you hadn't been bent over a cauldron for over an hour. Other than that however, you don't notice much difference. You don't really feel like putting down roots or anything. Something to be thankful for at least, since you don't have the first clue on how you'd go about doing that.

> Keep experimenting.

> Go see where everyone else is.

> Maybe if you drink a little more?

> Other

>>39429696
I suppose we'll just have to wait see, won't we?
>inb4 we turn green and huge and become the hulk

>>39429705
> Maybe if you drink a little more?
Might as well go full retard.

>>39429713
And then get killed by the constabulary cause plant are weak to fire still.

>>39429705
> Go see where everyone else is.

>>39429728
you're always so bitter anon, you need to relax

>>39429755
After the whole kiss Hiss after the mood ahs passed and a few other blatantly stupid things we've done I've come to expect the worse from this player base. When Ouro kills us I won't be surprised.

>>39429705
>> Keep experimenting.
There's always more brews to learn.

>>39429789
your negativity is really obnoxious

>>39429836
SO you're expecting this to be a care free Slice of life quest anon? Cause all I'm getting from don't worry nothing can go wrong is that you haven't been paying attention.

>>39429879
Ok I've officially learned my lesson about responding to your posts

File: Calm.jpg (20 KB, 500x583)

20 KB JPG

>>39429789
Okay. There have been a few less than optimal decisions. That's to be expected.
But your annoyance is affecting your judgement. Most people have all been there at some point. Don't let spite sour a good quest for you.
Sit back, get a snack and something to drink. Relax. Then come back when you've calmed the fuck down.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Well we seem to have another 3-way tie. Probably my fault for running during the weekend while so many other bigger Quests are up.
1-2 for drinking a bit more.
3-4 for going to see where everyone else is
5-6 for more experiments

>>39429959

> Keep experimenting

The Scalebane Brew should be just the beginning. You're sure you can refine it, make it more potent. Something as elemental as that monster from the swamp might not be stopped by mere acid, even if it actually affects it.

You spend another hour dicking about with:

> Doing your best to purify the Scalebane solution.

> Trying to mix snake scales with Eugene's rejects.

> Mixing snake scales with your last Identification Potion.

> Mixing snake scales with an explosive concoction.

> Brew up some more Snake Oil to deal with the monster.

> Other (Specify)

>>39430090
> Doing your best to purify the Scalebane solution.

>>39430090
> Mixing snake scales with an explosive concoction.
I'm hoping that this guy is snake enough to be effected by these considering that he's technically a human snakecatcher

>>39430090
>> Mixing snake scales with an explosive concoction.
Terrifying snake man go boom.

>>39430090
> Mixing snake scales with an explosive concoction.
> Using our own venom in poison brews

>>39430216
Maybe we could try a separate batch of the explosive concoction with our venom too?

>>39430090
> Doing your best to purify the Scalebane solution.

> Mixing snake scales with an explosive concoction.

In your experience so far, there's very little that can't be solved through sufficient application of alchemy. Particularly the explosive variant. You dissolve your last snake scales into a series of explosive concoctions until you create the Snakebreaker Flask. You only have one and it's rather volatile, so be careful! Not only is it explosive but it contains a whole collection of sharpened scales suspended within, just waiting to become razor-sharp shrapnel that no form of armor should be proof against.
Hiss probably wouldn't be happy about your choice of name but then again, Hiss knows very little about any of this stuff anyway. It'll probably never come up.

You also quickly brew up some poison from a few random odds & ends before concentrating on your palm. The self-devouring serpent seems to move a little before beads of venom start to drip down your hand.
Mixing this in with the poison mid-brew is child's play compared to what you'd just been doing and you create a single Venom brew. It's almost identical to one of your lethal poisons but you are completely immune to it. Hiss should be immune to it as well. That might come in useful?

Someone is knocking on your door. Did you lock it? You've been too engrossed in your work that you didn't even notice the tirade.
"-and if you don't open right NOW I'm going to make you regret that you were ever-"
Ah, Hiss is paying you a visit. She seems to be feeling a little impatient.

You slowly get back to your feet and open the door. Hiss steps in, looking quite irate.
"I've been out here for ages, what's kept you?"
She then stops and her anger drops away into befuddlement as she looks up at you. Yes, up being the key word.

> "Did you get shorter?"

> Put two and two together.

> Ask her opinion on your anti-snake brews.

> "What's wrong?"

> Other

>>39430489
> Put two and two together.
>Make sure our clothes actually fit properly.
> "What's wrong?"

>>39430489
> Put two and two together.
> Ask her opinion on your anti-snake brews.

>>39430489
>> Ask her opinion on your anti-snake brews.
>> "What's wrong?"

>>39430489
>> Put two and two together.
Maniacal laughter is optional.
Although, when you say 'up' - how far up are we talking?
>> Ask her opinion on your anti-snake brews.

By the way, I ask you fucks to not ruin everything before I go to bed and what do you fucking go and do? You fucking decide to french kiss what might literally be the physical manifestation of poison incarnate!

> "Did you get shorter?"

>>39430538
>>39430553
>>39430559
Best she never knows anon she pitch a Hissy fir about them and make us promise to not make them or sue them anymore. She got mad over a knockout item anything designed to kill snakes will be a no go.

>>39430572
We can just tell her they could be useful in the inevitable battle for snakehome when she usurps her father and for the snake monster that's currently hunting us

>>39430596
and? When has Hiss ever been reasonable about something that could threaten her?

>>39430570
I warned them anon seems we have lots of anons with either a YOLO mentality, a It's "Fun" mentality or have the waifu goggles directly linked to their brains.

>>39430572
That snakeman thing was beating the crap out of the bunyip. That Hiss herself admitted she couldn't really do anything against.
Better she knows now than find out when we have to use it.

>>39430704
>Expecting our irrational snake overlord to be rational.

>>39430704
also you'd think that she'd be happy that we will be much more useful in a fight overall

>>39430734
Except this stuff was designed to take her out. She's a young, impatient, impetuous, and very evil person. Expecting her to react sensibly is pretty dumb. To her it'd seem like we're preparing a coup or going to try and off her.

> Put two and two together.
> Ask her opinion on your anti-snake brews.

Yes, she is actually looking up at you. For the most part, you and Hiss have always been exactly the same height. It was one of those things like your accent, which had been patterned directly off you. Some of the benefits of being the only human in sight at the time.

But now you're nearly a good three inches taller than her. And you're pretty sure she hasn't gotten shorter.
It doesn't take much to put two and two together here. You really must have had some lingering plant essence, enough for that small amount of Treebrew to take effect.

Hiss scowls.
"Just what have you been doing to yourself? The wizard said you would stop growing once you reached your regular size!"

You hold your hands up defensively.
"Easy. It had nothing to do with that. Well, mostly nothing. I've just been experimenting."

"It's not a good look on you, I'll leave it at that."
Hiss really doesn't seem to be taking this well. You're not entirely sure why.

"Well it's not ALL I've been doing! Come check these brews out!"

Hiss stares dumbly at your collection of potions for nearly a full minute.
"Fascinating. Are you going to tell me what they do or have your experiments been on an entirely aesthetic level?"

"They-"

"I hope that wasn't your intention because they look awful. As usual."

You sigh and wait for her to stop. She glowers up at you.
"Remember that snake thing in the swamp? I've been trying to figure out ways to take him out because to be honest, if it ever finds us again we're in big trouble."

You give her the details of the Scalebane and Snakebreaker brews, though you leave the latter's name out of it.

Her frown only deepens.
"And just what are you planning to do with these?"

"Use them. On the giant snake monster. What else?"
She looks at you without saying anything until you cotton on.
"Oh come on Hiss, why would I want to kill you? You know me."

1/2

>>39430978
2/2

She has the decency to look a little embarrassed.
"Yeah, I trust you. But no offence, you're an idiot sometimes. What if these fall into the wrong hands?"

"That's a risk I'm willing to take. And besides, your scales aren't protective at all. These would just be overkill."

"Thanks."
She doesn't sound very thankful at all.

"And they'll be fantastic weapons against your father!"

"If my father could be bested through human alchemy alone I wouldn't have be here in the first place," she grumbles. But the idea has perked her up a little and she even risks a small smile up at you.
Oh. Oh no.
You're not sure if you're ready for a suddenly smaller Hiss gazing up at you with her soft human eyes and smiling. It's...It's too cute. You need to change the subject quickly.

> Tell her she's cute.

> "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

> Ask about her father.

> Other

>>39431124
>It's...It's too cute. You need to change the subject quickly.
Don't say it.
>> Tell her she's cute.
Dammit.

>>39431124
> Tell her she's cute.
> "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

>>39431124
>Tell her she's cute.
fortune favors the bold

>>39431124
> Tell her she's cute.
> "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

>>39431124
>> Tell her she's cute.
> "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

> Tell her she's cute.
> "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't say it.
"You're actually pretty cute from this perspective," you blurt out.
Damn it.

"What?"
The expression that had just previously tongue-tied you vanishes, replaced by a mask of petty indignation.
"I beg your pardon?"

"What's wrong with that? It's just the puppy dog eyes! You didn't seem to have any problem with being called beautiful."

"Yeah but that was different! There's a certain level of dignity involved, peasant. The snake princess may be called beautiful by her admirers, as is only right. A princess is beautiful. A princess is not cute."
She briefly tries to get onto her tip-toes just to look you in the eye.
"This height difference is already giving you ideas above your station."

"Well, I can't reverse it so you'll just have to deal. So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Huh?"
She pauses, having genuinely forgotten what had gotten her so worked up in the first place.
"Oh! They say that the Quedeshi ship has been sighted off the harbor! I'm going to take Oster to go and watch the procession. Do you want to come?"

> "Sure."

> "No thanks, we'll be seeing him tonight anyway if everything goes well."

> "So all that hubbub was just because you wanted to ask me out on a date?"

> Other

>>39431479
> "Sure."
I'm sure were strong enough not to mention
> "So all that hubbub was just because you wanted to ask me out on a date?"

>>39431479
> "Sure."

>>39431479
> "Sure."

>>39431479
> "Sure."

>>39431479
>> "So all that hubbub was because you wanted to ask me out on a date?"
>> "Sure."
I know it's the bait option. But it's right there.

>>39431615
You'd be surprised we fall for bait options a lot.

> "Sure."

"Sure, I guess."
You probably shouldn't pass this opportunity up. Sure, it means you won't get anymore alchemy down or figure out what is going on with Lady Trebain and Eugene but you were never exactly that enthusiastic about that anyway.

And you and Hiss venturing out into the city together...you'd say it was almost like a date. Only you and Hiss have been doing this for almost the entirety of the time you've known each other. You've seriously spent more time in each other's company than you have without.
Also Oster is there.

So not much like a date at all really.

"Just, uh, one thing. I need to get myself ready. You don't mind."
That wasn't a request, she was demanding that you not mind. No, not even that. It was just a statement, an assumption that you wouldn't.

> Wait for her.

> Go find Oster and see if he's ready to leave.

> "What are you doing?"

> Other

>>39431836
"Going to try and match my new height?"
give her a shit eating grin.

>>39431836
>> Go find Oster and see if he's ready to leave.

>>39431836
>> Wait for her.
Smile in a way Cennen thinks is suave.

>>39431836
> Go find Oster and see if he's ready to leave.

>>39431836
> Go find Oster and see if he's ready to leave.

>>39431836
>Wait for her.

> Go find Oster and see if he's ready to leave.

"I'll leave you to it."

You stroll off, searching for the false merchant. You don't actually know where he's been sleeping. You settle just for opening bedroom doors randomly until you find the right room.

Oster is lying underneath his bed again, his Ophi mask on the floor beside him. He's still working away on his unformed mask from a few days ago, whittling it slowly with his knife.
"Is she ready to go yet?"
If he notices anything different about you, he gives no sign.

"Nah, she said something about something she needed to tend to last-minute. What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? Lost most of my masks back in Tedwell. Got to start somewhere."

You look at the unformed mask suspiciously, trying in vain to attach familiar features to it.
"Who's it going to be?"

Oster grins and taps his nose.
"That's a secret."

Before you can press him on the issue, Hiss steps up beside you.
"Let's go!"

You look at her from the corner of your eye and start a little. She's just as tall as you are now. Did the Treebrew wear off? No, that's not how it works. She must have shed her skin and retaken human form anew just for a few inches of extra height. She's now back to being eye to eye with you, both of you standing at 6 foot 5 inches.
She smiles smugly.

"I think you're taking this way too seriously."

Oster slides out from beneath the bed, slipping on his Ophi face as he does so. He's still taller than either of you and a good deal more dangerous besides.
"I'm sure her Highness has a reason most righteous for her behavior."

"Thank you, Oster. Now let us depart, we are wasting time!"

The three of you get out of the mansion without much bother and Oster takes over once more as your guide through the city.
"We're a little late," he says. "Their ship has already set down. We can still catch the procession so fear not, your Highness."

"Rest assured, fear is never on my mind."
Hiss beams.

1/2

>>39432253
2/2

It doesn't take you long to find one of the roads set aside for the coming procession. They've already been cordoned off, city guards setting up barriers to fend off crowds of curious townsfolk.
The crowds themselves are frightfully loud and full of overlapping conversations, the people both eager and a little nervous about the ambassador sent from the fabled Witchlands.

"I mean," one of them says to her friend as you pass by. "It's not like one of them Avesmen or even the Venish blokes that came through last week. They're foreigners but there's foreign and then there's foreign, if you know what I'm saying?"

Hiss takes your hand in hers, letting you walk in front and deal with the crowd. A far cry from how it had been in Lesser Arlinton but you suppose the numbers make all the difference.

But just how far do you want to press in?

> Stay at the outskirts. Won't be able to see much but there'll be no problems.

> Get in the middle of the crowd. Hiss won't like it but you'll get a good view.

> To the front of the crowd right by the barriers!

> Other

>>39432401
> Get in the middle of the crowd. Hiss won't like it but you'll get a good view.
I wish we had made that snake scale+identification potion brew now

>>39432401
>> Get in the middle of the crowd. Hiss won't like it but you'll get a good view.
Hiss if there's an issue grab me or Ophi.

>>39432401
>Get in the middle of the crowd. Hiss won't like it but you'll get a good view.
back out if she gets -too- unnerved

>>39432401
>> Get in the middle of the crowd. Hiss won't like it but you'll get a good view.

>>39432401
>> Stay at the outskirts. Won't be able to see much but there'll be no problems.
Staying unnoticed is probably better than seeing more.

>>39432532
I think our group is freakishly tall enough to be noticed either way

>> Get in the middle of the crowd. Hiss won't like it but you'll get a good view.

You and Oster waste no time in elbowing your way through the crowd, Hiss floating a little behind her two lackeys. You see her hands twitch but Oster is already moving around behind her, more protecting the general masses from her quick temper than from any worries of harm to Hiss herself.
You stop about halfway through the crowd, finding it a fine vantage point. Who would have guessed that just a few inches would have changed so much?
Hiss settles down, her clearly noble nature keeping the crowd from getting too close.

The first people you see come down the ride are a loose scattering of burly men wearing shining breastplates and maned helmets. They are riding horses and their faces mark them as Teln, natives to Teleran just like you.
"Members of King Edwin's royal guard," Oster tells you. "They say they're handpicked from the best swordsmen in the land."

"Better than you?"

"No idea. But I'd love to fight one someday."

"You'll get your wish come my ascension, have no fear," Hiss mutters.

The men behind the royal guard are entirely on foot and wear strange armor, clad head to toe in ornate mail coats covered with burnished plates of metal. Long curved scabbards hang by their sides. Their open helmets come up into twisted points.
The faces within those helmets are dark-skinned, not merely the light brown shading so common among the nations of the Jheri but a rich dark brown. Their hair, from what you can see, are all black.
And yet the crowd is disappointed. These men are exotic for sure, but behind it all they are surely just ordinary men. Was this all the Witchlands had to offer?

Those complaints were quelled when the palanquin came into view.
1/2

>>39432866
2/2

The palanquin was behind the initial vanguard and the men who accompanied it could only barely be called such.

They were clad similar to the men before them save their faces were completely covered by long chain veils hanging from their helmets. But it is not their appearances that quelled the crowd, it was the way they moved.
There was not a wasted movement among any of them, each faceless soldier moving with perfect efficiency. And all of them stepped in perfect time with not a single beat aside. Their synchronous footsteps echoed through the streets, many men marching as one single entity.

You can't put your finger on it but something strikes you as just...not right. When they stop, they freeze in relaxed poses and fall completely still in a way that'd put statues to shame. And when they march, their combined footsteps rattle windows.

Hiss nods beside you approvingly.
"These humans are well-trained."

There are fifty of the faceless soldiers in total, eight of them in the middle bearing a huge palanquin of carved and painted wood without any apparent effort. The palanquin bears a large banner, one as white as snow save a thick black spiral drawn into its center.

And reclining in the center of it all is what you can only assume is the Quedeshi ambassador. He is wearing a strange set of robes and undercoats, each one a different pastel shade and overlapping the others. If the heat bothered him, he didn't show it.

Not that'd it be easy to read his face, for he did not have one. Or rather he wore a false one, a golden mask frozen in a look of great solemnity. Behind the mask, his black hair was braided well past his shoulders and anointed with oils pungent enough that you could smell it from here. He wore two large feathers along his brow, raised up as if to emulate horns.

You might find the whole thing rather silly if it wasn't for the sudden certainty that you'd seen this outfit before. But where?

2/3

>>39433151
It's similar to the one we saw hiss wearing after she gave us her art, which i assume is her spirit form

>>39433151
3/3

You shake your head, trying to clear your thoughts. And when you look back up, the ambassador is looking directly at you, the vertical slits that pass for eye-holes in his mask meeting yours.
You hold his gaze for a long electric moment, expecting worse. But nothing happens and his eyes slide off you towards what had always been his true target.

Hiss stiffens and after a long moment the gaze is broken, the masked man returning to his indolence as his faceless servants bear him along the road and out of sight.

Hiss immediately turns around and starts to shove her own way out of the crowd, heading in the opposite direction.
You and Oster struggle after her.
"What's going on?"

"He saw me! I mean, he SAW me!"

> "It was probably nothing."

> "Well, what did you expect?"

> Don't say anything.

> "What do you mean?"

> Other

>>39433268
>> Don't say anything.

>>39433268
> "What do you mean?"

>>39433268
That costume of his was similar to what I saw when you gave me that "gift". You wanted to meet your distant kin, I think they're closer than you realize.


Be very thankful for spirit bane Cennen!

>>39433268
Do you think he knows who you are then?

>>39433268
> "Well, what did you expect?"

>>39433268
>> "What do you mean?"
I do believe she's discussing more than just a little eye contact.

>>39433390
No duh He knows she's a snake cause he's a older, wiser, amore powerful one.

>>39433268
>> "What do you mean?"
>>Other: Consider the concept and practicality of a time travel brew, and how it would both sort all of your messes out, and likely destroy the universe.

> "What do you mean?"

She bursts out of the crowd before turning back to confront you as you ask your question.
"He knows what I am! That's not supposed to happen! This is supposed to be magically infallible!"

"The bunyip saw through it."

"Who cares about that monster? I hope it died at sea! It shouldn't be possible to magically see me while I'm wearing these souls."

"Maybe there wasn't any magic involved," Oster says. "He might just have the telling of it."

"And he's probably a snake himself. One of those constrictors you were talking about, Hiss." You stop and think for a moment.
"Were you able to, uh, see anything back?"

She shakes her head irritably.
"I got nothing."

"It was probably the mask," you console her. "Looks creepy as hell."

Hiss squirms.
"I actually liked the mask," she admits. "Tracking you people's facial expressions is hard."

"Then what do we do?"

"Nothing! I mean, nothing has changed. The plan is still going ahead as usual."

> Agree.

> "Maybe we should reconsider this plan."

> See if you can tail the procession.

> Other

>>39433806
>> Agree.

>>39433806
>> See if you can tail the procession.
You do realize he might shut you down on principle right? What'd you do if the daughter of the entity that banished you tried to get into your lands?

>>39433806
> Agree.
I think I might be able to make a potion that would tell us for sure that he's a snake

>>39433806
>> Agree.
If shes willing to lend us a few scales, we might be able to confirm his identity, or at least drug the shit out of him.

> Agree.

"It's still worth a shot, I agree."
You do your best to look thoughtful.
"I think I might be able to brew something up that'll tell us whether he's a snake or not for sure. But I'll need some more of your scales and maybe a few other ingredients."

"I'm sure we can arrange that when we get back. Let's go."

The three of you make haste back to the mansion, with nothing eventful occurring on the journey there.
Lady Trebain is in the foyer as you pass.
"Oh, there was something I wanted to ask-" she starts before she shuts her mouth.
"Have you two gotten taller?"

"It's complicated."

> Get scales and get back to work!

> See if you can harvest more than just scales.

> Go find Eugene.

> Talk to Lady Trebain.

> Other

>>39434086
> Talk to Lady Trebain.
What did you want to ask?

>>39434086
> Go find Eugene.

>>39434086
> Talk to Lady Trebain.
What did she want to know?

>Go find eugen

Why not?

>>39434086
>> Talk to Lady Trebain.

>>39434086
>> Talk to Lady Trebain.
then
> See if you can harvest more than just scales.
Venom inoculation idea from a few threads ago

> Talk to Lady Trebain.

"Oh, was there something you wanted to ask me?"
You stay behind, keenly aware of how you tower over the older woman. She doesn't seem to care however.

"How's your dancing, lad?"

"Pardon?"
What?

She looks faintly amused.
"Well just what do you think people do at balls?"

"Oh. I'm not very good I think."

"That's what I thought," Lady Trebain says. "Not everyone does it but it's what you go there for. I can't imagine going to a ball and not taking at least one dance. There might be time for some quick instruction before we have to leave."

> "No thanks, I have work to do." Alchemy!

> "What's the deal with you and Eugene?"

> Practice dancing with Lady Trebain.

> Get Hiss down here and try to practice with her.

> Other

>>39434387
> Practice dancing with Lady Trebain.
> "What's the deal with you and Eugene?"

>>39434387
>Get Hiss down here and try to practice with her.

>>39434387
Ask questions while dancing

>> "What's the deal with you and Eugene?"
>> Practice dancing with Lady Trebain.

>>39434387
> "No thanks, I have work to do." Alchemy!
So we wouldn't have time for alchemy if we practiced with her?

>>39434387
> Get Hiss down here and try to practice with her.

>>39434437
You'd have much less.

>>39434419
>>39434460
>Giving up the chance to be lead when We inevitably have to dance to keep up kayfabe.

>>39434387
> Practice dancing with Lady Trebain.
If there's a chance to more tactfully ask
> "What's the deal with you and Eugene?"

>>39434525
>Practice with his so she doesn't freak out and bite us when she stumbles at the ball.

>>39434556
>Implying that'll happen if we lead her through the dance right.
Besides we have antivenom Nothing can go wrong!

> Practice dancing with Lady Trebain

"Well, let's get started."

She takes you by the land and leads you into a large open room. It's mostly empty, the corners filled with sheet-covered furniture.
"You'll have to just imagine the music here, I'm afraid."

You and Lady Trebain spend the next hour or so attempting to dance together. You say 'attempt' because you seem to have no natural talent for it whatsoever. In fact, you have more of an anti-talent almost, something that drives you to stand on her feet, trip over her legs and in one memorable case, nearly knee her in the eye.

As she takes your hands and attempts to direct you in a slow waltz, you find your opportunity.
"Where's Eugene anyway? Is he going to be dancing?"

"Eugene doesn't dance," she says. "And as far as I know he's still in the basement."

"Look," you say. "I don't mean to pry but what's between you and him? Is something wrong?"

A shadow passes over her.
"Oh...he used to be such a good boy. He was my perfect little angel. And then he left and came back different."

"Different?"

"Wizardly. Sometimes I feel like I barely recognize him anymore. He's changed so much. I just don't understand. It was all so sudden."

> Ask more about it.

> Comfort her.

> You still might have just enough time for some alchemy if you leave now.

> Just change the subject and finish your abysmal dancing practice.

> Other

inb4 hiss gets dangerously jealous of our dancing with Lady Trebain

>>39434789
>Continue our dancing practice
It'll be good to be able to lead Hiss.

> Ask more about it.

>>39434789
> You still might have just enough time for some alchemy if you leave now.
We really need to make that snake identification potion

>>39434789
>> Ask more about it.

>>39434789
> You still might have just enough time for some alchemy if you leave now.

>>39434789
>> Ask more about it.

Alright, that's the vote called for
> Ask more about it.

Unfortunately I feel really tired right now as I have not slept for over 26 hours since I either had the choice of sleeping through the Quest time or just staying awake.

I hope you guys had as much fun as I did. The thread's been archived and Thread 16 should be tomorrow.

Damn it guys she's not gonna tell us how to become a wizard. We really need to make that potion

>>39435098
Thanks for running Ouro!

>>39435106
To quote another Anon "relax Nigga

>>39435106
What kind of wizardly domains are still open, even? I mean, eugene went with dandelions.
We'd probably have to pick something weird.
Maybe we could be a door wizard.
Or the wizard of shrubberies. That would be nice for alchemy i think.
Or maybe the Wizard of Things You Should Have Said, But Didnt