>>39901608

The sky above is dark, lit only by the torches, the pre-dawn light and the burning city behind you. The Bunyip nudges you away from the Quedeshi box, ignoring the long gash ripped through its black flank. You take in your surroundings once more, doing your best to encapsulate the situation.
The Quedeshi box is just to the side of you, lying open to reveal a snake that’s at least twenty feet long. The constrictor is a very light yellow with haphazard splotches of darker yellow decorating it and its slit-pupil eyes are a pale red. Clustered around it is the small group of faceless soldiers, their curved swords drawn.
They are not your allies. Or at least, you don’t think so. You’re really not sure what they are or what they were doing with that snake before the Snakecatcher interrupted all of your plans.

Hiss is still standing in the doorway of the ruined house across the docks from you. Her eyes, which had been locked on the constrictor are now turned downwards in disgust at what the Bunyip has dredged up from the salty waters.

You can’t really blame her, the Snakecatcher is a sight for sore eyes. Even more so than usual, you mean. Shrapnel from the Snakebreaker Flask litter his body, each one gouging a small wound in otherwise impervious scales. His chest is split nearly in two by a bloody concave dent that must be nearly a foot deep. His three mouths all regurgitate blood and ichor in equal measure. His six snake eyes are nothing but pulp, leaving only his too-human eye resting above them to twitch frantically. Parts of his titanic body seem to flicker back and forth from existence, his spell of camouflage well and truly shattered forever. And beneath him collects a stinking pool of human blood.
1/2

>>39901621
2/2

But he isn’t done yet. He’s been dissolved by acid specifically designed to kill him, slashed with poisoned blades, been doused in wizardly oozes, has been ambushed and bitten and has taken the full brunt of your strongest alchemical creation. And he’s really fucking mad about it.

His sole remaining eye stops twitching and focusses on you, identifying the architect of his torment.

> Hide behind the box.

> Run back to safer ground.

> Run back to Hiss.

> Now would be a good time to get the Quedeshi on your side.

> Brew (Specify)

> Drink a potion (Specify)

> Other

>>39901640
> Now would be a good time to get the Quedeshi on your side.

>>39901640
>> Now would be a good time to get the Quedeshi on your side.
Have shapechange ready.

>>39901640
Shapeshift into a smaller version of a dragon

>>39901782
adding to my own vote
have the bunyip buy us some time if necessary

>>39901640
>Now would be a good time to get the Quedeshi on your side.

>>39901782
>>39901640
>>39901842
Supportin'.

> Now would be a good time to get the Quedeshi on your side.
> Use the shapeshifting potion.

The Snakecatcher lunges forward, a black and red blur that is intercepted by the Bunyip charging into it! The monster's reflexes seem at least a little dulled by its many injuries and the Bunyip actually succeeds in knocking it back away from you, buying you a minuscule amount of time.

You scramble over to the box, noting now that you're right up close that the interior of the huge chest is heavily cushioned and padded with velvet. The pale snake within doesn't react to your sudden advance but the four faceless men do as they step forward to bar your path.

You raise your hands to show that you mean no harm.
"Didn't I just help you guys? And your, uh, master?"

They don't reply, remaining silent beneath their chain veils. Oh right. Talking to these guys? Probably not going to get you anywhere. You instead direct your prayers to the snake itself, begging for its aid. The constrictor does not reply, it probably can't, not like a spirit can.

And then Hiss is by your side, having run across the dock while you were occupied. Her fangs are out and her eyes reptilian as she meets the constrictor eye to eye.
Whatever occurs in that moment of eye contact seems to be enough. The constrictor hisses and the men lower their swords and let you pass. Can they understand the tongue of snakes? Or have they just memorized a list of hiss-signals?

Either way, you now have more than enough time for what you intend to do. You pop the shapeshifting brew out of your bag.

> Drink the brew and transform (Specify)

> Give the brew to Hiss.

> Don't drink it just yet.

> Other

>>39901992
>> Drink the brew and transform (Specify)
Become a motherfucking Dragon. A tower sized one. Not a pyramid sized one.

>>39901992
> Drink the brew and transform
smaller version of a dragon
>>39902024
That's probably still too big

Becoming a dragon infront of two descendents of them might be not be the wisest idea.

>>39902036
Maybe give our bag to hiss first so it doesn't get destroyed during our transformation
>>39902049
Let's hear your suggestion then, I can be persuaded

>>39901992
Hiss I am about to do something very stupid, please hold my bag , I don't want to break it.

Potion and dragon form, make it gold and green cause fuck it why not?

>>39902049
I'm to the point where I think any option that might kill this bastard is a good one

>Dragon

A very silly and yet potentially very powerful idea comes to mind as you eye the brew. You shrug off your pack as you measure out a single dose.
"Here Hiss, I'm about to do something really stupid. Can you please hold my bag? I don't want to break it."

She drops your bag without hesitation and you hear something break.
"What am I, your servant? I will do no such thing."

You sigh and drink the potion, slipping the small amount of brew left back into your discarded pack as you begin to change. You are bent double nearly immediately as cramps run throughout your body, pain given free reign. This is nothing like transforming into just another man, as you had done earlier. This is the re-purposing of your entire physical form and it is going to hurt. A lot.
You hear Hiss cry out but you can't understand her words. They're just noise.

As you do your best to endure the pain, you keep a single image in your mind. That glimpse from your vision when Hiss had first branded you, that look back in time to when dragons had ruled the world.
"A-a little bit smaller than that, please," you stammer out to nobody in particular. You don't want to be the size of a pyramid.

There's something burning inside of you, your belly is full of hot bile that scorches your throat as it rises. You vomit onto the cobblestones but what comes out scorches them black.
You see Hiss backing away from you, suddenly so small.

Everything goes black.

When you next open your eyes, it is not Cennen that wakes.

You stretch your wings as you stand up. You are stranded in what appears to be some sort of human settlement, your tail dipping into the cold ocean. You pull it out with a roar of distaste, setting fire to the buildings around you.

Your scales are green and yellow and your belly is full of flame.
1/2

>>39902383
Right, I forgot about how our mind might change too. We fucked that up

>>39902383
2/2

There are humans around you, a group of armored ones and one in red and black. A princess? You like human princesses...you think. Some sort of scaled wurm hisses at you from behind the armored men but you pay it no heed.

Humans...You are hungry. You don't remember what you are doing here or why but the demands of your body are insatiable. You need human sacrifices to live. You know this even though you do not know why.

Where are their offerings? Where is the treasures they should be offering to spare their meager lives?

Roll 1d00 to resist.

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>39902413

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>39902413

Rolled 6 (1d0000000000000000000000000100)

>>39902413
Oh dear.

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>39902413

>>39902452
what the hell is that.

>>39902467
I was fooling around on some no name quest the other day and found out about it. Now I'm freaking out QM's everywhere with my newfound power.

>>39902462
Nice.

>>39902467
can you discount>>39902452
for >>39902462
Since it's the third proper die?

>>39902491
I think he takes more than 3 rolls into consideration

Rolled 15 (1d0000000000000000000000000000000000100)

>>39902491
No.

>>39902500
Nope he said best of three.

>>39902508
Fuck off.

>>39902513
He took our fourth roll recently for dodging the crossbow bolt

>>39902462

You suppose you can let it slide just this once. There's a voice in the back of your head begging for you to do something different but it is all but lost within your bulk. For what is the voice of a single human soul in the mind of a dragon?

You take your first step forward, only just managing to fit into the street. You don't want to go too far towards the ocean, the docks will likely crumble beneath you. You can ignore the humans for now, they're probably not going anywhere.

Ahead of you is a magical beast of some kind, one that is locked in battle with a...Snakecatcher, the voice supplies you. You have no idea what that word means but the sinuous bleeding creature is nearly as long as you. And you don't like it, not one bit. Something about it just seems wrong, an insult to you personally. How dare it? How dare this beast allow itself to be born?

> Take flight.

> Rush it down with claw and tail.

> Breathe fire.

> Eat.

> Other

File: mother-nobbling dragon!.gif (1.81 MB, 600x252)

1.81 MB GIF

>>39902570
>> Rush it down with claw and tail.

FIRE IS BAD! EVERYTHING IS WOOD! EVEN THOUGH FIRE IS ALSO BAD-ASS!

>>39902570
> Rush it down with claw and tail.
Ask the voice how it knows this....... creature and if there are more.

>>39902570
> Rush it down with claw and tail.

>>39902570
Bite off its human looking head and torso

>>39902570
> Breathe fire.

Well, I just got back and see that the plan backfired in a way I did not expect. Still can backfire in the way I was thinking though, so there is stip hope. >>39902063
Sorry about the late reply, but I would have suggested simply asking Hiss to take care of the Snakecatcher. With her relative. Her 20ft long and seemingly powerful relative. WIth arms guards. That she can communicate with through eye sight.

> Rush it down with claw and tail.

You speed up your gait as you become more and more certain that this 'Snakecatcher' is a thing that should not be. It is an affront to the natural order of things, the same order that places the drake-kings as the rulers of the mortal plane and the Creator as the ruler of the Dreaming from which you are surely spawned.

Your tail curves up behind you as you charge, the spear-point arched up over you like that of a scorpion and ready to stab. The Snakecatcher tosses the magical beast aside as you charge into it, lashing it with your heavy claws and your stinging tail.

You find a weak-point halfway along its serpent body and dig your claws in and rend even as it strikes back at your with its claws, dotting small wounds along your forequarters. It shouldn't be able to penetrate your scales but does so with ease, something that only makes you rip into it further. You are fury-blind now, the world shrunk only to you and your prey as you claw its tail in two, ending it in a stump a few feet below its humanoid torso. You throw the severed tail into the air and let it smash into a human building.
Victory! Victory is yours! All is as it should beeeeeee...

Ichor oozes from a dozen small wounds along your body, testament to the strength of the Snakecatcher's claws. They should be nothing to you, they ARE nothing to you but you can feel a sudden burning all along them, distinct from the flame within you. It creeps through you, helped along by a mighty draconic heart.

You have been poisoned many times over. This is not how this was supposed to go.

> Scorch what's left of the Snakecatcher from the world.

> Eat it.

> Rip and tear some more.

> Slide into the ocean.

> Take flight, away from it.

> Other

>>39902831
> Eat it.

> Rip and tear some more.

>>39902831
> Eat it.

>>39902831
>Scorch what's left of the Snakecatcher from the world.

>>39902831
> Eat it.
I regret nothing.

If we transform back to Cennan with the Snackcatcher in the stomach, would we explode?

>>39902831
> Eat it.

>>39902921
Hiss doesn't explode when she becomes a snake after eating so I doubt it

>>39902998
Hiss does not eat entire bodies. Souls, some flesh and blood, that is all that we have seen her eat I believe. Plus that is her natural magic. When the potion ends, the magic keeping our body in the shape of the dragon ends too.

> Eat it.

You roar in rage, letting your tail lash from side to side smashing in the walls of what houses are left standing. Nothing can defeat you! Your kind are the kings of this world, the guardians and devourers of humanity both in equal aspect! This serpent, this WORM defies you!

You push it into the ground and waste no time in scooping it up with your jaws, your forked tongue tasting the air as you do so.

Dragons do not feel regret. But you immediately wish you hadn't done that.

The Snakecatcher tastes foul, worse than anything you can possibly imagine and as you bob your head up to swallow him down, his claws latch onto your tongue and scrape lines of pain down the insides of your cheeks. Yet more venom.

You can't do it, you can't swallow him. And even while within your mouth, the Snakecatcher is killing you.

> Breathe fire.

> Spit it out

> Dive into the ocean and drown it.

> Fly into the air first before spitting it out.

> Other

>>39903075
> Fly into the air first before spitting it out.
> Breathe fire.
*Dragon noises*

>>39903075
>> Breathe fire.

Alright, fuck it. Kill it with fire.

>>39903075
> Breathe fire.

>>39903075
> Fly into the air first before spitting it out.
> Breathe fire.
*Angry Dragon noises*

At first I didn't like that Anon's wanted to become a dragon with the potion. Didn't feel like Cenn would do that in character. But now I am having a jolly good time watching this train wreck.

>>39903075
I was so sure it was dead already. I hate this thing so much

>>39903075

> Fly into the air first before spitting it out.
> Breathe fire.

>>39903075
I was really expecting we'd try to chew it first

>>39903149
Yeah, isn't it great?

>>39903104
>>39903138
>>39903176
I really don't want to become unconscious in midair and fall to our death as a puny human

>>39903196
Many things have been done in this thread that others have not liked for obvious reasons. Just grab a drink, sit back, and watch the show.

>>39903240
I'd really rather not die anon. I like this quest.

>>39903261
As do I, Anon. But maybe the two snakes who, as far as we have seem, value their pride quite a bit might be a tad insulted by a human transforming into a dragon. Or said dragon trying to swallow something that was clearly venomious to it. The quest has been hurt today. Or at least Cennen's relations with a lot of people have.

>>39903319
I'm fairly certain both of them are more scared, wondering how the fuck he did that than insulted atm.

> Fly into the air first before spitting it out.
> Breathe fire.

You flap your wings, rising a little into the air with a gust of wind strong enough to strip the tiles from nearby rooftops. What is going on? Why are you here?

Having achieved height, you try to spit the Snakecatcher out but he's grabbed onto your tongue and is doing his best to avoid your teeth, something that his greatly reduced body mass is helping him with.

You roar once more and summon your fire, breathing out a stream of burning bile onto the city below even while the Snakecatcher is still in your mouth. You feel it burn inside of you and it lets go, falling to the docks as a cinder.

You land beside it, fully intending to smash its remains into the ocean with your tail but your legs give way beneath you. A deadly poison is in you, one that will never leave. The fire within you dries up and your wings refuse to move.

You try to engulf the Snakecatcher's burning remains in just one more blast of flame but all that escapes your lips is sticky vomit and tainted blood. You slowly keel over, crushing another burning building beneath you and you let the world vanish from your sight.

...

You wake in the burning ruins of a house, draconic memories still squatting uncomfortably in your skull. You are Cennen once more and you are feeling like shit. You can barely stand.
Where are you? Are you still on the docks?

Well, you should probably get out of this ruin before you catch fire. That's a good priority.

You drag yourself out onto the street and there you are treated to the sight to what is left of the Snakecatcher burning. The snake half of his body has been brutally torn off, leaving just the human half, which is brutally mangled and set aflame.
You uh, you did that.

You try to the laugh but you can't. And then the tortured corpse of the Snakecatcher moves and you freeze. No. No. Fuck off. There's no way.
1/2

>>39903344
Sure, who wouldn't be? But what happens when they get over it, Anon? When the transformation ends? What happens then? Hiss knows we are not a dragon in disguise. We won't be able to bluff our way out, not they we could really bluff anyways.

>>39903385
Fuck why won't you die?

>>39903408
Given how ridiculously hard to kill it was I'm sure Hiss would understand. Hopefully she can explain to the constrictor.

>>39903385
The poison was actually a bit convenient considering it helped us avoid staying as a dragon for an entire day

>>39903385
2/2

A burning, skinned claw digs into the cobblestones as what's left of the Snakecatcher drags itself upright. It's more blood than scale now and you can clearly see its ribs as what's left of its flesh hangs in flayed ribbons around it. His head is a pulped mess that has been melted together with a single ragged wound in its throat that it still breathes through. It balances itself on the stump of its snake-tail, a grisly burning thing that even now refuses to go gently into the abyss.

His other claw, a skeletal thing coated in black venom, lashes out uncertainly around it. It can't see. You doubt it can sense anything else right now either.

> Flee and let it die from afar.

> Call for help. Pray, also.

> Take up a weapon and attack.

> Other

>>39903471
>Take up a weapon and attack

>>39903471
>Grab a weapon and move away.

>>39903471
I refuse to believe this thing can still live, I vote we leave, brew a bunch of explosives, and bombard the building to rubble.

>>39903471
>Try to sneak away quietly and discreetly while praying for assistance.

>>39903492
If it hears prayers since it part snake we're fucked no praying.

>>39903471
What would our options for weapons be? Is there something nearby?

>>39903149
>Implying that making questionable decisions isn't entirely in-character.

The whole dragon thing turned out pretty well, all in all. Sure, Cennen nearly died and remains in incredible danger but that's his life now. He's gone into these circumstances before just to kiss Hiss.
And it did let you do a lot of damage that otherwise would have taken a lot of of effort, blood and sweat.

>>39903490
The snakecatcher is in the street.

>>39903544
Plenty of sharp rocks and rubble about right now. You'd grab a burning piece of wood but you're fairly sure that you can't burn him now more than he already is.

We need to somehow nuke this place from orbit.

>>39903471
> Take up a weapon and attack.

Why won't you die!?

>>39903545
Huh. All I really have to say is that, if we played little bit smarter, we could have used the constricter's forces to deal snakecathcher. It would have been less work on your part and weakened the constricter's forces. Hiss would have been so proud of that.

>>39903471
>> Flee and let it die from afar.

>>39903471
> Flee and let it die from afar.
> Call for help. Pray, also.

>>39903471
> Take up a weapon and attack.
Cover the tip of a long spear-like piece of wood with venom and jam it through his exposed ribs

>>39903648
Maybe first we should cover sharp rocks in venom and throw them at wherever his scales no longer offer protection

>Take up a weapon and attack

You do your best to remain upright while you comb through the rubble around you. You don't want to get close to it, even now. So you'll need something with reach, something that you can just jab in where his scales no longer offer protection. Which is...hmm, just about all of him now. He's a real mess.

You take up a long piece of wood that ends in a nasty edge. This could do. But you can make it so much worse. You scrape the makeshift spear along your branded palm, coating the tip in a thin layer of your own venom.
This asshole has poisoned enough. It's about time someone returned the favor.

You step in as close to the ghoulish thing as you dare and pause for just a moment before jamming the envenomed weapon into the torn-up hole in his throat. Blood squirts across the street, spraying the blackened stones crimson. You're just surprised he still had so much blood to give.

And then he grabs the spear with one claw and you freeze. Oh shit. It doesn't break the spear or try to pull it out. In fact, it does the exact opposite. The Snakecatcher lurches forward, impaling itself more and more upon the length of wood until he pokes out the other side of its mangled throat. And he keeps on pushing himself forward until one burning hand brushes against yours.

He doesn't strike at you or try to claw you into pieces. His claws are blunted and burned. No, he just holds you tight, the sticky flames clinging to him threatening to engulf you.
He's dying, he's finally dying but he's taking you with him.

You can't break free. You cry out for help as it hugs you, praying desperately. But nobody comes. Nobody is here to help you. Hiss is nowhere to be found.
And why should she be? The wish-bond is over. She's not obligated to protect you anymore. She can just cast you aside and abandon you to save her own skin.
1/2

>>39903928
Damnit cennen you just had to hold on to the spear didn't you

>>39903928
I betcha the freaking Oyster is going to jump out of nowhere.

>>39903928
2/2

The Snakecatcher presses tighter and you do your best to avoid the guttering flames that get closer and closer. It's so hot, it hurts so much. The spear has fallen from your hands long ago. You don't have any potions, you can't brew anything. All of your power and magic are useless. You're just one more corpse for the Snakecatcher to claim before it finally falls.

A heavy length of wood smashes into what's left of the Snakecatcher, snapping ribs. It strikes again and again, its wielder dancing out of the way of its sluggish claws. The club comes down heavily on his skeletal arm and snaps it back, freeing you.

You collapse to the ground away from the fire, desperately gasping for breath. Hiss kicks you in the ribs, sending stars across your vision and nearly making you pass out.
"You don't have to sound so bloody maudlin in your prayers, you're embarrassing me in front of my peers."

Had you still been praying? You can't tell. Hiss picks you up by the shoulders and drags you away from the Snakecatcher's dying moments. It hurts like hell.
"Honestly," she sighs. "What am I going to do with you?"

> "You could try saying thanks."

> "Ow."

> Go to sleep.

> "Kill it! Kill it now!"

> Other

>>39904031
>Other
Kick the shit out of it

>>39904031
>> "Kill it! Kill it now!"

>>IN THE EPICS, THE MONSTER ALWAYS MAKE A THIRD AND TOTALLY UNEXPECTED COMEBACK TO TRAGICALLY SLAY AN UNPREPARED HERO!

>>39904031
"What am I going to do with you?"

>Ask me about flight?
>Kiss me.

>>39904031
> "Ow."
>Can we please make sure it's dead? It's been blown up, doused in acid, bitten in half, mauled and incinerated. Nothing short of dropping a mountain on It is uncalled for.

>>39904083
I like you Anon

>>39904031
> "You could try saying thanks."
>>39904083
We don't need any more poison in our system right now

>>39904100
Then second my vote!

>>39904112
Please don't

>>39904083
>>39904100
Anons we're likely at our poison resist limit right now. Now kissing. Also being glib to her in front of another snake will get us hurt, badly.

>>39904145
I don't think we are in front of any other snakes right now

>>39904178
They were close enough to here us. Pretty sure the constrictor wants to know how we turned into a giant fucking monster.

>>39904196
It could hear our prayers at a distance because it's a snake.

>>39904216
I wonder how many prayers hiss has to tune out when we're in a large city like this

>>39904216
Still has a range. Still likely wants to know what we did. Hiss was right next to it. If she's here it could and likely is nearby.

>>39904237
I don't think snakes understand our spoken language

>>39904250
Unless they've eaten someone who knows it. Or actually learned it themselves, or if prayers break the language barrier.

Everyone is voting for a different thing but these seem to be aligned.

>>39904098
>>39904062

You open your mouth to say something witty but only manage an 'Oaw'. You're not in good shape right now though you don't feel very poisoned. The shapeshifting brew might have helped you out there a little? You're not sure how it works.

Hiss drags you to your feet, patting down your shoulders.
"No but really, that was incredible! Albeit a little inexplicable. And HIGHLY presumptuous."
She raises an eyebrow at you for your choice of form.
"We'll have to talk about the sort of airs you're giving yourself later. Right now I'm just happy you're alive."

"Because I'm still a useful servant, right?"
She actually came back for you. Even without the wish-bond. Huh.

"You could say so. But that wasn't all, you nitwit. Honestly, how many times do I have to tell you? I like you being alive. Life is much more enjoyable this way."

She picks up your abandoned spear and stabs it through the Snakecatcher's mashed head. Several times, each with enough force to spot her with blood.
"And I'll kill anything that gets in the way of that. A Queen must protect her best subject."

"Thanks. I like you being alive too."
What a dumb thing to say.

The two of you stand there in the street a little while longer as the buildings burn around you. There's nobody else around. Just you, Hiss and the mangled remains of the Snakecatcher.

> Go for a kiss.

> Swear fealty.

> Screw it, you never got to do it properly that night in the ball and you've got to put this dance training to use somehow.

> Ask her about the Quedeshi.

> Ask her if she's seen Oster.

> Kick the Snakecatcher around a bit.

> Other

>>39904448
>> Kick the Snakecatcher around a bit.

>>39904448
>Go for a hug.

>>39904448
> Screw it, you never got to do it properly that night in the ball and you've got to put this dance training to use somehow.

>>39904448
> Hug
> Ask her about the Quedeshi.
> Ask her if she's seen Oster.
> Ask what happened to the bunyip

>>39904448
>Go for a Hug
Thanks for coming back Hiss

>Go for a hug.

You stagger closer and take her up in your arms. Her fangs extend for a moment but she makes no other hostile movements before retracting them and bringing her arms around you to return it.
"Thanks for coming back, Hiss."

She smiles.
"Thanks for finally killing that monster, Cennen. Your methods were a bit unorthodox but you saved who knows how many Quedeshi soldiers by taking it upon yourself."

That gives you pause.
"Since when did you care about the lives of humans?"

"I don't but the constrictor's regard is going to be important and I believe they were rather impressed. A better start to our journey could not be hoped for."

You hold her close and watch as the sun finally rises behind her, the first fingers of daylight alighting upon a city aflame. Flakes of ash swirl around you and you can hear screams in the distance but you don't care. You'll remember this moment for a long time to come, just you and Hiss holding each other as the city burns around you.
Your eyelids grow heavy and you let them close, slumping forward as Hiss bears more and more of your weight.
You let sleep take you.

>....

>>39904853
Wake up I guess?
Status report on Bunyip, Hiss,Oster, the twins, Lady Trebain, Eugene and the Constrictor.

>>39904853
> ....

Cennen practically falls asleep in your arms, leaving you to hold him upright. You slowly let go, savoring the warmth before letting him slump down on the street.

Your name cannot be spoken by normal human tongue neither can it be transcribed in any mortal word. But Cennen calls you Hiss and you're fine with that.

Now, you're going to have to find some place for him to sleep. He's had a big morning. Both of you have. Your arm still aches terribly from that crossbow bolt, even though you'll never let it show.

You poke him in the abdomen with your boot to make sure he's really out of it and that's when you hear something dragging itself across the cobblestones. You sigh.
"You don't know when to give up, do you?"

The Snakecatcher is a thing of ash and broken bone now. Is there even any meat left on him? You can't tell. He's a charred stump but even still his one remaining arm drags him forward. You stomp on his shoulder and break it, watching him fall forward.
"Maybe I should have let Cennen kick you around a bit more. But I guess it doesn't matter. How much do you have to take before you just accept it? You have failed. You are nothing."

You kick him again, your boot scraping off charred scales with each strike. There's no blood. You don't think he has any left.
And then it hisses at you, a single word escaping from the tattered wound in its throat.

You jump back in surprise, feeling suddenly unfamiliar in this human guise. The abomination had called out your name. No, not Hiss. Your true name, your actual name. The one that you hadn't heard spoken since you had fled Snakehome. You'd almost forgotten how it had sounded.

"I-if you're expecting mercy, you'll get none. Just hurry up and die already."

It breathes out one more word, this time in human tongue.
1/2

>>39905060
2/2

"Sister..."

And then there is no more.

Sister? Nonsense. Just that and nothing more. You are an only child, the only hatchling to have ever borne your father's colors, the proof of his essence.
But that wasn't entirely true was it? This thing, before it had been burned and torn out of recognition, had carried a coat of black scales with a red belly. Just like you. Just like the King.
No. It was simple mockery of a shapeshifter, nothing more. You can accept no other reason.

You pick up what can only just be identified as what remains of its head, burned bone clearly visible.
"Rest, you stupid malformed thing. You should have never been but I guess that wasn't your fault."
You crush its skull beneath your fingertips, the bone crumbling to ash at the slightest pressure.

You feel his soul drift pass you and you neglect to catch it. You don't want such filth within you, you tell yourself. You want nothing to do with this deluded monster, one that claimed possession of the royal blood itself.

And the last thing you want right now is a set of memories to confirm that truth.

Light streams through the window, waking you slowly. It's noon. It's noon and you are in a familiar bed. It takes you a moment to recognize it, cluttered memories still dragging themselves your waking head. This is your room in the Trebain House.

You are Cennen, as you have always been. You have no idea why you needed to confirm that. But then again, you hadn't been Cennen just before, hadn't you? You had nearly been swallowed by a dragon that you yourself had called into being, one that had tried to drown you out.
So maybe it was needed.

There's nobody around. You feel like crap but that's to be expected. You're covered in bruises, angry purple splotches decorating your arm and torso.

> Get up and explore the house.

> Call out.

> Pray.

> Where's my damn pack?

> Other

>>39905246
> Where's my damn pack?

>>39905246
> Where's my damn pack?
> Get up and explore the house.
Hopefully not left out in the street, but that'd be pair for the course.

>>39905246
> Where's my damn pack?
> Get up and explore the house.

>>39905246
> Where's my damn pack?
Seriously healing potion stat. Look out the window hope you're not at sea yet. Need Bunyip, Oster(seriously he may be a dick but he's better than being on a Quedeshi ship with no one to talk too) and to get that recipe to Eugene so he doesn't follow us.

>>39905055
Sorry about that, I got interrupted and kinda stranded you guys halfway through an interlude for a few minutes.

> Where's my damn pack?
> Get up and explore the house.

You search the room and find nothing. Damn it, you're not going to let this go. You have a lot of good stuff in there! You're actually getting irritated when you open the door and find your pack sitting in the hallway beside it.
Oh.

You paw through it, checking the contents off one by one. Everything seems to still be there and is mostly in good condition. Mostly. Your last identification potion has cracked open, no doubt from when Hiss had dropped it. It's spilled a bit over your Journeyman books, rendering large sections of them illegible. Damn it!

You also find a note stuck in your pack, resting on top of all your other belongings. It's naught but a torn scrap of paper upon which has someone scrawled in ink a ragged message. It's in cursive and the handwriting is close to impeccable.

"Cennen. Get down here as soon as you can, the ship isn't going to wait forever. Stop wasting time you slacker."
Instead of signing it with "Hiss", it seems that the snake has settled for just a rough 'X' signature.
Well, nice to know she's thinking of you.

> Hurry to the docks.

> Nah, take your time and actually explore the house.

> Brew

> Other

>>39905566
> Hurry to the docks.
We'll have plenty of time to brew on the ship

>>39905566
> Brew
Healing potion.
Also check the house for useful books.

>>39905566
>Hurry to the docks.

>>39905611
We can't just steal books from these nice people anon. And nobody here is an alchemist anyway

>>39905594
>>39905623
Not healing self and checking for other alchemy books since ours got ruined.

>>39905648
We do still need to leave a potion recipe for Eugene If he hasn't died.

>>39905649
Why would they have any alchemy books? And we're only bruised.

>>39905566
> Go look for the Bunyip, probably in the direction of the docks.

>Hurry to the docks.

Oh hell no! You sling on your pack and bolt from the house, giving the Lady Trebain a hasty goodbye as you pass her. No time for any of those shenanigans!

The flames all seem to be out now and Taldenral is already in the process of rebuilding. It takes you much less time to get to the docks now, particularly after you throw what few signets you have left at a coachman to rush you down there.

You hit the docks running, searching for the black Quedeshi ship. By the time you spot it, it's actually departed! It's at least a hundred feet away now, moving slowly across the ocean in a strange curve.
What the fuck?

> Pray

> "Bunyip!"

> Swim after it.

> Find a sailor and demand to know what's going on.

> Other

>>39905770
> "Bunyip!"
> Pray

>>39905770
>> Pray
>> "Bunyip!"

>>39905770
> Pray
> "Bunyip!"
List of loose ends:
Frahm
Isa
Oster
The tiwns
Eugene.

>>39905770
> "Bunyip!"

>>39905770
> "Bunyip!"
Once again, we call upon the hero we need yet do not deserve.

> "Bunyip!"
> Pray

Oh no, you're not letting it sail off right now.What if Hiss is on it? Are you just going to let her vanish from you forever?
You send off a quick prayer before taking to the piers and whistling. You hope this works.

Sailors scatter as the Bunyip rises through the ocean with a low growl. His wound is healing nicely.
"No time, Bunyip! Go!"

You jump on top of it, doing your best to straddle its broad back and succeeding, albeit incredibly uncomfortably. People gape as you ride past them, the Bunyip picking up a good head of speed.
It doesn't take long to reach the Quedeshi ship, where you find a rope ladder already awaiting you. Did Hiss get your prayer?

You climb up it as best you can, heaving yourself onto the deck.It's filled with Quedeshi sailors, all of which seem to be doing their best to ignore you right now. No, not you. The people in front of you.

Tash and his faceless men are standing on the deck in front of you, mask and veils glittering in the sunlight.
Beside them is Tash's beautiful palanquin, the one that you had seen him carried into the city with. But it looks like he's been turfed out of it now because the only occupant sitting in it is Hiss. She smirks at you.
"What's the hurry?"

You try to explain as best you can while catching your breath.
"The note...saw you leaving..haah...I slept too long..."

Hiss laughs.
"I didn't leave you a note! And we're not going anywhere."

"You're not?"
You look around in confusion.

It is Tash who answers you this time.
"The harbormaster isn't letting anyone leave yet. The chain is still up."

"Then why is the boat moving around?"

Tash says nothing but nods in Hiss' direction. The snake princess looks smug.
"I've never had command of a ship before. I wanted to see how it went."

"What? That's all? Then all of this just now was for nothing?"
You feel a little betrayed but by who you know not.

"More or less," Hiss says.

1/2

>>39905985
I betcha this is a Wizard's fault. Or Oyster's.

>>39905985
2/2

"And what do you mean, command of the ship?"
A sinking feeling is settling into your stomach.

Hiss beams, lounging back in her stolen palanquin.
"Well naturally, all of these humans have deferred to me. This is my ship now. I own it."

"That is not exactly what I sai-" Tash starts but is quieted by Hiss raising her hand.

"This is my ship."

> "Well then where's the letter from?"

> "Where's the constrictor?"

> "Have you seen Oster anywhere?"

> Join her in the palanquin.

> Other

>>39906049
>> "Well then where's the letter from?"

>> "Where's the constrictor?"

>> "Have you seen Oster anywhere?"

>> I gotta go make sure the terrible two are alright and put on my wizard hat with Eugene. Catch you later.

>>39906049
> "Where's the constrictor?"
> "Have you seen Oster anywhere?"
> Ask if we can join her in the palanquin.

>>39906049
>> "Well then where's the letter from?"
> "Where's the constrictor?"
> "Have you seen Oster anywhere?"
>I need to pay Eugene for his distraction at the ball.

>>39905985
>> I gotta go make sure the terrible two are alright and put on my wizard hat with Eugene. Catch you later.

Makes sense, Hiss would likely have kicked us out of bed before leaving Cennen's waking up on time to chance. Oster got us good, it seems.

>>39906072
>>39906103
We're not going back anons. We have no money left for a carriage ride.

>>39906121
Fuck it. We'll ride the Bunyip. If anyone asks, we're the goddamn dragon wizard. We do what we want.

>>39906111
>>39906072
Didn't we ditch the twins after snakecatcher attack? Liss took a nasty hit, she may be dead.

>>39906121
We can walk.

>>39906121
There's no hurry anymore, so we can just walk.

>>39906049
> "Where's the constrictor?"
> "Have you seen Oster anywhere?"
> If oster is around go talk with him

> "Well then where's the letter from?"
> "Where's the constrictor?"
> "Have you seen Oster anywhere?"

You look around, trying to process everything.
"So they just let you take over?"

"I am the only snake on the ship, what do you think? I must say that it is refreshing to finally meet some proper humans."

"But you aren't. The only snake, that is. Where's the constrictor?"

Tash steps forward.
"My honored lady dislikes the noonday and cannot abide the sun nor the gazes of the unworthy."
You think back to how pale the constrictor had been, its faint red eyes.
"She prefers to be sealed away from the eyes of commoners," Tash continues. "She was here to negotiate with a representative of Snakehome, to perhaps finally bridge the gap that has divided our respective masters for far too long."

"Luckily I am that representative," Hiss gloats. "Royal blood of the eldest line. After I deposited you I shed human form and we spoke for some time. I have earned her support, no small part of it being due to your actions Cennen. You have served me well."

Yet more questions bubble up through you, desperate to solve the mysteries springing up around you.
"Then why did you take her off the ship?"

"She wanted to see the city before it burned to the ground," Tash says. "We had not anticipated her rattle attracting that...thing."

"We'll speak no more of that abomination," Hiss says sharply. Too sharply.

"Then who gave me that note?"

Hiss shrugs.
"Who knows? It wasn't me. Maybe it was Oster. Have you seen him?"

"No. I thought he was with you."

Hiss shakes her head, starting to look a little worried.
"He better have a good explanation for when he shows up."

> Ask to go back to Taldenral. You have business to take care of still.

> Ask for an audience with the constrictor.

> Ask Hiss if you can join her in the palanquin.

> Other

>>39906384
>> Ask to go back to Taldenral. You have business to take care of still.

Sidequests! Wizards! Orphans! Potions!

>>39906384
> Ask to go back to Taldenral. You have business to take care of still.
Namely paying my debt to Eugene and finding Oster. If I can find out what happened to the LT and the twins that's a bonus.

>>39906384
> Ask Hiss if you can join her in the palanquin.

>>39906384
>> Ask to go back to Taldenral. You have business to take care of still.

>>39906384
> Head back to Taldenral.

> Ask to go back to Taldenral. You have business to take care of still.

"Well, I still have stuff to in the city. So if you don't mind, I'll just be out."

You go to climb back down the rope ladder but Hiss gestures you back.
"Don't be silly! There's no need to dirty yourself riding that loathsome creature. Tash, tell the men to bring the boat around back to the docks."

The ship slowly turns back towards the city. Hiss just smiles, obviously pleased to see so many people working at her whim.
"This is just the start, Cennen. One day all of this will bend the knee. And they will not find me a pleasant master."

> Support her wholeheartedly.

> Support her with unspoken doubt.

> "Actually, I think we need to talk about that..."

> Say nothing and wait to get back to shore.

> Other

>>39906570
>> "Actually, I think we need to talk about that..."
>> Remember when we were talking about how many humans there were running around and how many armies they've got? I'd recommend a lighter leash.

>>39906570
> Say nothing and wait to get back to shore.
I'd rather not encourage that way of thinking, but probably best not to be contrary in front of such a snake-whipped crowd.

>>39906570
> Support her wholeheartedly.

>>39906570
> Say nothing and wait to get back to shore.
Maybe let it show on your face a little, but the whole "abusing humans" thing is why they were cast down as snakes in the first place.

>>39906570
> Support her wholeheartedly.

>>39906570
> Say nothing and wait to get back to shore.

>>39906570
>> Say nothing and wait to get back to shore.
Remember to bring up at a later time. That the Dragons were supposed to be protectors and leaders of humanity, they abused their position and the creator diminished them for it. Also point out he could have just as easily annihilated them. This is for later obviously.
>>39906597
Private time anon, now would be bad, no support and she'd have to save face.

>>39906570
> Support her wholeheartedly.

>not wanting to be the second in command of an evil empire
you're all plebs

>>39906601
>>39906597
>>39906570
Alright, swapping votes.

>>39906608
>>39906631
>>39906674
>>39906695
Wanting to be a yes man, instead of a balancing force and a power behind the snake queen.


Plebius Maximus.

>>39906743
Hey Soma. What'cha drinking?

>>39906834
kek nope, And I'm drinking mountain Dew.

> Say nothing and wait to get back to shore.

You let Hiss wrap herself in her dream of manifest destiny and say nothing. You'll support her but you could only wish that her goals were a little more...wholesome. Not to mention that as far as you can tell, Hiss is but treading in the footprints of the dragons before her. For them, that had held only calamity. Do you honestly believe that it could be different for her? Do you believe in her cause at all?
She takes your silence as support and is happy for the rest of your voyage's short duration.

The smile is wiped from her face when she sees what's waiting at the docks however. A group of armed and armored men, dressed as guardsmen. At their head is Captain Frahm. He looks at you sympathetically before calling out.
"You'll go no further! The two Teln aboard this ship are under arrest!"

Oh no. Not now. Why?
"What are you doing here?"
You can't stop yourself from crying out.

Frahm shakes his head.
"You can't expect me to reveal my sources, mate."

"It was me."

Frahm turns in shock as Oster strides onto the docks, his true self hidden behind his Ophi visage.
"I told the good Captain where you were going to be and left the note to make sure you would be there."

"What are you playing at, eh?" Frahm splutters.

"I could ask him the same question."
Hiss' voice is cold and though she had not shouted, it carries through the din regardless by sheer imperiousness alone.

Oster grins cheekily and dips his head.
"Really, I just wanted all of you here to make the pardoning easier."

"Pardoning?" Frahm draws his sword. "I'll take no more trickery from y-"

"Drop your sword Captain!"
Pacing in behind Oster is a small company of maned royal guardsmen and at their head a lithe brown-bearded man with a circlet of gold about his brow.
"Though he outpaced us, this man moves with my blessing."

1/2

>>39906834
>not being able to discern QMs by their posts
that was clearly not soma, I think we've found the true pleb here

>>39906911
What? He was dropping Latin, conniving, and being snide. It was a feasible conclusion!

>>39906906
2/2

"Y-your highness!"
Frahm drops his sword and everyone in the docks clears away, scraping and bowing. Hiss purses her lips, recognizing a competitor.

"I have tolerated Melire's presence in my city for long enough," High King Edwin says, for that is surely him. "And while your wild tales may be true, know that this man saved my life. Saved all of our lives, by coming down and fighting the Szaren in the courtyard with us. I have recognized him as a champion of the crown for his mighty deeds and you shall not gainsay him."

Oster does his best to look embarrassed.
"I may have been caught up in some fighting. I'll tell you all about it later."

Tash leans over the side of the ship.
"Greetings your majesty!"

The king narrows his eyes.
"Ambassador. Leaving so soon?"

"With your blessing, of course. Know that I wished you only the best but alas, it seems that the treaty is off by Szar's actions. There'll be war in the Jheri once more."

The King seems to shrink a little, looking unfathomably tired.
"You may go. I will instruct the harbormaster to let you pass. There have been a great many curious things afoot. The Szaren's traitorous seer seems to have unleashed a great deal of magical beasts into the city. Or so I've heard. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"I'm afraid not. Now, if your champion will just board, we can be off!"

> Hold on, you still have shit to do!

> No, this is fine. The longer you stay the more likely you're caught up in even more trouble.

> Other

>>39907007
>> Hold on, you still have shit to do!

SIDE. QUESTS. 100%. COMPLETION.

>>39907007
> No, this is fine. The longer you stay the more likely you're caught up in even more trouble.
guys pls

>>39907007
> No, this is fine. The longer you stay the more likely you're caught up in even more trouble.

>>39907007
>Hold on, you still have shit to do!

Fun Fact: I was actually going to do Oster meeting the King in the Oster segment of that thread but I was catching fatigue and wanted to save some surprises so I just went back to Cennen right as Oster got tossed into the grand melee.

And also you guys would probably have tried to stab the King or something.

>>39907007
Take a page from one of you alchemy books. One of the still legible recipes(preferably one we already know). Ask it be delivered to Eugene the Yellow.

File: Fabulous.gif (1.57 MB, 480x240)

1.57 MB GIF

>>39907007
BASED OYSTER FINALLY SWOOPS IN TO SAVE THE DAY! AND A GLORIOUS SWOOP IT IS!

>>39907033
Screw you. We're not leaving loose ends.

>>39907007
> Hold on, you still have shit to do!

>>39907007
> No, this is fine. The longer you stay the more likely you're caught up in even more trouble.

>>39907084
I like this plan. Nice compromise

>>39907098
>>39907057
>>39907033
Come on spoilsports! We're finally not criminals! We just indirectly saved the Kingdom! AND we're in the capital! If you want to be practical, thinking of all the stuff we can nobble!

>>39907117
Nigga all we have left to do is give Eugene a recipe. I doubt we'll be able to find the twins and frankly I don't care about them

>>39907007
> Hold on, you still have shit to do!
We still need to tie up loose ends with the twins. One may be dying for all we know, plus there's the whole essentially living in a whore house bit.

>>39907143
They at least to deserve to know the truth about their mother. We can write down an explanation along with the recipes, can't we? Or, hell, at least mention their plight to the king, and play up what they did.

>>39907162
We can't do anything to help them. On top of that I suspect you're samefagging.

> Hold on, you still have shit to do!

"Actually, I still have business in the city."

Tash looks at you irritably.
"I'd rather not hang around these docks any longer than we have to."

"No, let him do it. We'll wait for him," Hiss says. And the matter is settled, just like that.

You sidle down the gangway, doing your best not to look at Captain Frahm. Oster passes you on the way up, clapping you on the back.
"Sorry about the letter. But you can thank me for all this later."

"You have pretty good handwriting," you mumble back.

What did you want to do again?

> Go find Lady Trebain and Eugene.

> Send Eugene a recipe as payment rather than go all the way to meet him.

> Go talk to the King.

> Go talk to Captain Frahm.

> See if you can find the twins.

> YOU ARE HERE FOR BOOKS.

> Other

>>39907230
> Send Eugene a recipe as payment rather than go all the way to meet him.
> YOU ARE HERE FOR BOOKS.
And other alchemy supplies that we can't get from Hiss whilst on a ship.

>>39907230
> Go find Lady Trebain and Eugene.
> YOU ARE HERE FOR BOOKS.

> Go talk to the King.
Tell him that two of our companions were injured during the fight and ask him to aid them since they can't travel with our crew anymore.

>>39907230
> Send Eugene a recipe as payment rather than go all the way to meet him.
> YOU ARE HERE FOR BOOKS.
Didn't you say we used the last of our money on that carriage ride? How could we possibly get books?

>>39907230
>> Send Eugene a recipe as payment rather than go all the way to meet him.
Add in a note wishing Lady Trebain and him well and good luck.
Alchemy supplies too, maybe abook if we can afford it.

>>39907230
>Send Eugene a recipe as payment rather than go all the way to meet him.
> YOU ARE HERE FOR BOOKS.

>>39907230
> Send Eugene a recipe as payment rather than go all the way to meet him.
> See if you can find the twins.
See if we can help them somehow, even if it's only to make them some potions or something. It's inconvenient, but leaving people behind with dead family members seems to cause complications for us, so I'd like to cut that off at the pass this time, if possible.

>>39907257

Cennen has many ways to procure items, only the least of which involves paying with money.

>>39907356
so it's either nobbling or bartering with potions? trading sexual favors is always an option too

>Send Eugene a recipe as payment rather than go all the way to meet him.
> YOU ARE HERE FOR BOOKS.

You look through the undamaged sections of your Journeyman volumes before ripping out the section on Identification Potions. You doubt that even Eugene can do much harm with that and it should assist him greatly with his own experimentation. Maybe even tell him when his rejects are dangerous so he just doesn't leave them lying around...nah who are you kidding. He's a wizard.

You fold the paper up and ask a member of the royal guard to pass this along to the Trebains, compliments of Cennen. The guard looks extremely dissatisfied with this but the King just nods at him.

After that, it's only a relatively short walk (an hour) before you find the den of a master alchemist. The elderly lady is wearing dark blue robes when she lets you in.

"I have some books to spare, if you wish them. Supplies too. Anything to help a passing journeyman. Of course, these will not be free."

You nod. You have no money left.

> See if you can trade her the recipe to the shapeshifting potion.

> See if you can trade her the recipe of the Souldrift Brew.

> Nobble her and take her stuff.

> Distract her and then nobble everything you can get your hands on.

> Use a potion (Specify)

>>39907470
>> See if you can trade her the recipe of the Souldrift Brew.

>>39907470
> Distract her and then nobble everything you can get your hands on.

>>39907470
> See if you can trade her the recipe of the Souldrift Brew.
We just cleared our name, probably best not to get in trouble again.

>>39907470
trade her all but one or two of eugene's potions

>>39907506
>>39907526
i'd rather not create any sort of demand for snake related ingredients. these recipes will be useless anyway considering how rare the ingredients are

>>39907547
Kinda the point, we sell her some spare Bunyip hair and send her off on a wild goose chase.

>>39907470
>See if you can trade her the recipe of the Souldrift Brew.

>>39907598
The entire existence of snakes is supposed to be kept secret too though

>>39907547
Meh, snakes can look after themselves. Considering they eat the souls of people, I can't say I'm too concerned with their overall safety.

>>39907627
We alter the recipe Bunyip hair with X rare lizard skin. We have it committed to memory after all, not on paper.

>>39907470
> Distract her and then nobble everything you can get your hands on.

>>39907470
Changing>>39907528
To
> Distract her and then nobble everything you can get your hands on.

>See if you can trade her the recipe of the Souldrift Brew.

She is, in fact, extremely interested in just the existence of your Souldrift Brew. You kind of fudge the ingredients a little, leave out just what exactly it came from (lizard skin) and pass her what Bunyip hair you have left.
You sure hope this doesn't come back to bite you someday.

And in return she loads you up with ingredients and lets you take your pick of three tomes.

> A Heal-all's Primer

> Fire And Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory

> Mutagenics & Self-Experimentation, 3rd Edition.

> Nobble her and take all of them.

>>39907705
> Mutagenics & Self-Experimentation, 3rd Edition.

>>39907705
> Fire And Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
Damnit captcha, sandwiches are not burritos

>>39907705
>> Fire And Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
Mastering eh? Sounds good.

>>39907705
> Fire And Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
FUCK YEAH
this is the book that would help us become a master rank alchemist right?

>>39907705
> Fire And Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
This sounds like the more traditional skill-raising book, so I'm assuming that maybe it'll put us that much closer to figuring out the shapeshifting potion, despite mutagenics sounding like it'd have more in common.

>>39907705
>You sure hope this doesn't come back to bite you someday.
at least I tried to talk people out of it...

>>39907735
It's the only book without any actual recipes in it. It's purely theory. Upgrades in it are skill-upgrades rather than new sorts of potion.

>>39907770
Neat. Hopefully the alchemy pastebin you're working on will help us create our own recipes anyway

>>39907760
I'm already excited to say "I told you so" when the time comes

>>39907705
>tfw i want to actually nobble something for once but she's a nice old lady

> Fire And Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory

The alchemist nods as you take it.
"Quite a good book, that one. Too many young'uns don't bother to get a good grounding in theory, just rushing about trying to learn all the brews."
She tsks.
"Good to see there's still some good folk left."

Lady, you were seriously close to being nobbled.
You don't say this of course. Instead you thank her kindly and depart with your new book sitting in you backpack.

That should be just about everything. Wasn't it?

> Yes. Time to go back to the ship before Hiss gets impatient.

> No, I still need to... (Specify)

Last call.

>>39907850
> Yes. Time to go back to the ship before Hiss gets impatient.

>>39907850
> Yes. Time to go back to the ship before Hiss gets impatient.

>>39907850
>> No, I still need to... (Specify)
Find those sisters. We put all that effort into saving them, they're our thing now.

>>39907850
>> No, I still need to... (Specify)
Find the twins and try to help them out.

>>39907850
Find the twins to try to help them out.

>>39907850
> Yes. Time to go back to the ship before Hiss gets impatient.

>>39907870
> Set them up as assistants to the wizard, with instructions to send us updates on how he is doing with his brews (spying).

>>39907850
> No, I still need to... (Try and help the twins)
Or maybe just let them know that Ophi probably isn't staying in the city? That they should try and make their way elsewhere, lest this place chew them up and spit them out? I dunno, they're in a really cruddy place right now, and I don't know if we can especially help them in the long term.

>>39907888
>send us updates
to quedesh? not gonna happen

>>39907850
I'll toss my vote in for the twins. Get some more normal humans around Hiss, make Ophi uncomfortable. Set him up with the Tsun sister

>>39907955
bringing them with us is an awful idea anon.

> No, I still need to... (Try and help the twins)

Oh bugger, you still have to look after those girls don't you? You supposed you're obligated after how long Oster and you have jerked them around. They've been through a fair bit and they might be hurt. Scratch that, you know they're hurt. You haven't seen them since Hiss threw them to the Snakecatcher.

The last place you saw them was...around the Trebain House. Damn it, didn't you send that letter just so you didn't have to go back there? You'll check the 'inn' that they're staying at first, at least that's closer.

You don't have any money left and you don't feel up to nobbling an entire carriage so you are left to trudge your way there.

You sidle in through the crowd, avoiding the bartenders and make your way up the stairs to the room you know Aina was staying in. You knock on it, a few sharp raps in case they're asleep.
There's no response. Are they home? You knock again, louder this time.

"Go away."
That voice sounds like one of the twins alright but its low and choked with tears.

You open the door and find it unlocked. Inside is Aina, sitting on the floor by the bed. Her face is red and you can tell that she's been crying but she's run out of tears by now.
On the bed is Liss, lying insensate and still. Perhaps too still.

"Go away Cennen!"
She doesn't look at you with hate but with fear.
"I don't want to see you ever again!"

> Try to cheer her up.

> Inspect Liss.

> Ask her what the matter is.

> Leave quietly.

> Other

>>39908010
If she's dead
> Try to cheer her up.
If not make her a healing potion

>>39908010
>> Inspect Liss.
The thing that did this to her is dead Aina. Let me take a look at her. I can't promise to help but let me try.

>>39908010
>> Inspect Liss.

>>39908010
> Inspect Liss.
Brew and give her a healing potion if she's actually alive

>>39908010
Well, obviously we're going to try and help Liss.

If she's in a coma, then I say we spirit-walk her back to her body.

If she's dead, then I say we set her up with Lady Trebaine as a maid or something.

>>39908129
>spirit-walk her back to her body
I don't think that's how comas work m8

>>39908178
Magic, ain't gotta explain shit.

>>39908010
> Inspect Liss.
Aww crap, this looks really bad.

>>39908178
We punched a spirit with our soul's spiritbaneyness. >>39908129's plan ain't really pushing the boundaries of my disbelief at this point.

> Inspect Liss.

"The thing that did that to her is dead. Let me take a look at her. I can't promise I'll help but I'll give it a shot."

Aina stares at you for a moment before crumbling, breaking down into yet more tears.
"She d-did it saaaaving me!"

You lean over Liss, checking her pulse. It still beats, albeit thinly. She's still breathing too.

"I'm just so useless," Aina says, regurgitating Hiss' favorite descriptor of her. "She always has to take care of-of me."

You sit down next to her, getting your equipment out. You'll be using some of the ingredients you had just bought for your trip but you guess you don't mind. You put a hand over Aina's shoulder as you brew.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Aina. Neither of you did. It's not your fault."
Strictly speaking, this is probably Hiss' fault. Well, the Snakecatcher shares blame as well obviously but he's well and truly dead now.

You spoon Liss the healing potion, doing your best to get it past her lips. You pass what's left of the bottle to Aina.
"I can't promise anything. But you need to give her this every three hours or so. That's your job. She's depending on you."

"Are-aren't you staying?"

"Nah. You just said you wanted me to go away, right?"

"No!"

"I have business elsewhere. But I'll be back someday. And I'm sure you'll both be alive when I do. Because you're protecting her. Ah, here."
They probably won't be able to stay here for much longer. You scrawl out the address for the Trebain House.
"The two of you can go here. You remember Eugene, right? His mum's a nice lady and should treat you well. Just don't drink his medicine."

Liss coughs behind you and you turn but she hasn't woken. She might not wake for a good while. You brew a few more healing potions for Aina anyway, biting more into your newfound stockpile of ingredients.

1/2

>>39908225
2/2

Should you tell her about Ophi? She hasn't thought to ask. You doubt it's very important to her right now and you don't think she'll welcome the truth at this time either.

"I'll, uh, see you around. Tell Lady Trebain that I said hi."
Your departing words fall lamely into silence and you back out, leaving Aina alone. What can you even do beyond that? You swallow back the shame before it even starts. Sometimes less might be more.

You don't know if Liss will ever wake up, even with the healing potions. Something that Master Ingrid had told you on the first day of your apprenticeship surfaces from increasingly murky memories.
"Do whatever you can to help the sick and injured but touch not the dying. In the end that is a path that we all can only walk alone and no art or magic can make that not so."

You'd thought it was bullshit at the time, just more mysticism. It might still be. But here, walking from what might be your first deathbed, you think you get it a little.
Still, could you have done more?

You don't have anything else to do in this city.

The sun is sinking lower in the sky by the time you board the black ship. Hiss looks just about ready to bite your head off.
"About time! I had half a mind to leave without you!"

"No you wouldn't have," you say tiredly as you cross the deck and sit in the palanquin beside her.

"Don't tempt me," she says darkly but not unhappily. "I was starting to think that something had happened to you down there. I can't tell when you're in trouble anymore."

"I'm touched that you're concerned."

She sighs and puts an arm around your shoulder.
"What's all this despondency about? Stop being a fool and cheer up. You're following me to glory! What's there to be sad about?"

She's warm, having bathed in the sun all day. She leans against you as the black ship cuts loose from the dock, turning to make a path straight towards the setting sun.

"Nothing, I guess. Nothing at all."

And that's that, archived. End of Part one, so to speak. I hope you had fun with this thread!

Next thread will be tomorrow at the usual time, it's going to be a shorter one. Pleasant fun times amidst the high seas.

>>39908393
Thanks for running. I'm glad you're back, even though you were only gone for a few days it seemed like longer.

>>39908393
Thanks for running, any inter life's? Any choices we made in the clean up that will bite us in the ass?

>>39908426
Interludes not inter life's sorry

>>39908426
Interludes are for tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be a bit of light-hearted faffing about. Getting to know people and snakes alike.
Gives me time to do interludes and also the big pastebin upgrade that is totally coming.

>>39908447
Ah ok then. Still didn't answer my second question though. Wait and see?

>>39908393
Thanks for running! Still, kind of sad that we couldn't hook her up with the Alchemist to try the spirit walk potion if she didn't wake up.

Ah, well, can't expect every suggestion to get through.