>>40374587
You’re currently sitting inside Tash’s palanquin, the curtains drawn down even though it is still sitting aboard the ship. Across from you is Hiss, who either doesn’t care or doesn’t know about how one is supposed to act in this land.

“Aren’t you worried about what the snakes here will think of you?” you say. “You have to prepare for that sooner or later.”

Hiss sticks her tongue out, flickering between a human tongue and one that is thin and forked.
“And why would I have such concerns? I am of the royal line, raised by birth above all others. Descendent of the highest. Their opinions won’t matter.”

You’re not sure what’s the best way to say this…
“You know that I don’t mean any disrespect to your lineage but uh, I’m not sure if they care about that here. They already rebelled against your ancestors once, didn’t they? And that’s just going by the story you told me yourself.”
They’ve ruled here for centuries, you think to yourself. Conquering an empire and an entire race of people while Snakehome has festered. They live in palaces while your father rules from a pit in the ground. To them Hiss is probably nothing more than a relic of their past, a throwback. How had Tash put it? A novelty.
You don’t actually say any of this of course for two reasons. Primarily you don’t want to rile her up or else she might get it into her head to do something rash in order to prove herself. Secondly, and this an option that you don’t really like to think about, if you make her angry there’s always the possibility that she’ll kill you.

1/2

>>40374596
2/2

Hiss doesn’t seem to notice any of this within you as she purses her lips in petty indignation.
“That’s true but only for an extent. They will think that I come as a visitor but I am here to use them and nothing more. I will take their power and then we can leave. They may have grown fat and arrogant off of the frailties of human lands but they are nothing more than a tool, a mid-point in the quest for one royal to slay another. And if they have truly forgotten…”
She clenches a hand into a fist in a motion so natural that in a human you would have called it unconscious but in her a planned display.
“I shall remind them.”

That’s actually the last thing you want her to do! You are travelling right into their den after all. But it might be more tactful to remind Hiss about this later when you aren’t cooped up right next to her.

> Stay silent for now.

> Explain to her that that will get you both killed. Be blunt.

> Ask her to put a lid on such remarks until she’s at least found whatever nebulous gift she seeks.

> Agree and tell her to assert dominance.

> Change the subject.

> Other

File: cobra alien.jpg (242 KB, 624x929)

242 KB JPG

>>40374623
> Ask her to put a lid on such remarks until she’s at least found whatever nebulous gift she seeks.

>Let's just scope this place out, get some information and the layout of the land yeah? Don't want it to go like the last few cities we hit up.

Hey, Ouro-bro. Did'ja get a look at them new XCOM snake titties?

>>40374623
> Ask her to put a lid on such remarks until she’s at least found whatever nebulous gift she seeks.
What exactly do you want to gain from them?

>>40374623

> Explain to her that that will get you both killed. Be blunt.

How is she going to get them to cooperate? There are more of them AND they are probably more pow... Experienced, than her.

>>40374623
>> Ask her to put a lid on such remarks until she’s at least found whatever nebulous gift she seeks.

>>40374623
>> Ask her to put a lid on such remarks until she’s at least found whatever nebulous gift she seeks.
> Explain to her that that will get you both killed. Be blunt.
Hiss I know I'm just a very short lived human, but this is probably going to require a long political game. A very long one. You're still coming into your power, the constrictors likely have champions who could contest your father, if only briefly.

> Ask her to put a lid on such remarks until she’s at least found whatever nebulous gift she seeks.

You spend a few moments thinking about how best to put this.
"Hiss, you're really gonna have to refrain from saying shit like that."
She bristles so you continue hurriedly.
"Until you've found what you've came for, that is! I mean, what exactly do you plan to gain if you act like that? Remember Lesser Arlinton? This is just another place where you have to learn and respect the rules if you want to do anything."

Hiss frowns, a growing fang peeking out from under her lip.
"Respecting the rules in Lesser Arlinton still got us run out of town."

"Because I started a fight with a wizard and you threatened to kill a baby."

"I fail to see your point."

"Just think this through, Hiss. These constrictors here, they're entrenched. This is their home, their nest. You are still freshly coming into your power and you could face the oldest and strongest of them. I'm talking snakes that have lived for centuries here. How old are you again?"
You don't actually know the answer to this! It's always been one of her weird little oddities.

Her frown deepens and you know that something's struck home.
"Old enough. And besides, Cennen you undo yourself."

"Pardon?"

"You just mentioned that they've been here for centuries. So there will be century-old constrictors who have spent entire human lifespans peddling politics. If we engage them as such we will die. More importantly, we will lose. I am well aware that this is their fortress, so why should I make things even worse by playing by their rules? Tash won't say it but I can see it in his eyes past his mask. I'm a barbarian princess from a cold southern land, rough and stupid. So why should I not give them a barbarian?"

1/2

>>40375101
2/2

> "Because nobody will take you seriously."

> Change the subject.

> "Just take it into consideration."

> "Speaking of which, shouldn't you be taking Quedeshi form?"

> "What exactly do you seek here anyway?"

> Other

>>40375101
>"I fail to see your point."
I love you, Hiss

>>40375127
> "Just take it into consideration."

> "What exactly do you seek here anyway?"

>>40375127
> "Just take it into consideration."
> "What exactly do you seek here anyway?"

>>40375127
>You're trying to change Snakehome, right? Going to topple your father, right? If you give the constrictors what they're expecting, more Southern Barbarism, they're not going to support you. You'll be doing exactly as they expect. I think that it'll be worse that way, and less so if you show that you're trying.

>>40375211
>>40375127
Might be good. I'm up for honeypotting some constrictors.

>>40375127
> "Just take it into consideration."
> "What exactly do you seek here anyway?"

>>40375127
Wouldn't it be satisfying to prove them all wrong?

>>40375211
>>40375299
these are good

> "Just take it into consideration."
> "What exactly do you seek here anyway?"

"Just take it into consideration. Please. If you're right and they already expect the worst from you, what good is proving them right?"

"And what would it look like if I make the attempt? I'm not good at politics, Cennen. That's one flaw I'll readily admit because it is a human invention and weakness both. If I play by their rules I will be laughable compared to them. I will be a joke! My pride will not allow it."

"Pride? No offence Hiss but I think you have come to the wrong country for pride. And at least you will show that you're trying this way! If you show up exactly as they expect you will be nothing more than a novelty."

Hiss boils but says nothing so you continue.

"And besides, wouldn't it be all the more satisfying to prove them all wrong?"

Something lights up behind her remaining eye when you say this, some spark of her imagination ignited.
"To crush them at their own game?"

Er...not exactly what you had in mind but it's probably good.
"Sure! So please, Hiss, put away your fangs for now and use your coils. You can always bare them later."

"Biding my time...," she says almost wistfully. "Yes, I like that. And at least if they laugh at me they won't be expecting any danger. I will lie in the grass and wait, ready to seize my desires."

"Great. Thank you."
You're happy that you got this over with fairly quickly because you're not sure if you could have kept pace with her in snake metaphors.
"Speaking of which, what are your desires anyway?"

"I am here for power," she says stiffly. "The constrictors defied my ancestor, the first Serpent King long ago. They must have had some means to do so, some lingering spirit charm perhaps? I will find what they used to turn aside the fangs of one King and use it to slay another."

"So uh...you don't actually know what it is."

1/2

>>40375560
2/2

"Not as such, no. But I have faith in my destiny and I have faith in myself to uphold it. And I have faith in you to serve it."

"You do?"
She does?

She takes your hand, caressing the ouroboros upon your palm. Her mark, the sign of her ownership and the link that you share.
"When Oster draws his sword, he does not fear its edge. It is the same with myself and you."

"Uh."
You back away from this tangent.
"But still, destiny and trust in me is fantastic but how do you know that this thing even still exists?"
If it ever did.

"I WILL come away from this stronger Cennen, no matter what. And I know there is power here. I have seen it within the pale constrictor though I do not yet understand. Something they consider holy, holy enough to devote such pathetic freaks like her to. I...I want to eat that."


> "Maybe we should see if there's something that isn't so important to take, first."

> Agree.

> Change the subject to the city.

> Change the subject to the constrictor.

> Change the subject to Tash.

> Change the subject to Oster.

> "Wait, so you really don't know anything?"

>>40375830
> Agree.

>>40375830
>Agree.
> Change the subject to the constrictor.
>"Did you get anything useful from talking with her and... Tash?"

>>40375830
> Agree.
It's love and devotion with a small amount of fear Hiss. It's the mark of a good leader.
> Change the subject to the constrictor.
She's likely in deep shit after leaving here.

>>40375830
> Agree.
> Change the subject to Oster.

>>40376043
Does he speak Quedeshi?
If not, he should learn, his ability to gather intelligence will be wasted otherwise.

>Agree
>Change the subject to the constrictor

You bow your head slightly.
"Sounds good to me."

"Your approval scarcely matters."
She smiles regardless.

"Sooo....since you brought her up, what's happening with that constrictor anyway?"

She drops your hand.
"I'm not sure. She violated a fair few rules just to escape for a time. She'll face punishment."

You remember Tash saying something similar.
"What sort of punishment?"

Hiss shrugs.
"Beats me. I couldn't care less. She's weak and soft and pathetic."

"Really? And here I was thinking that the two of you were kindred spirits."
She glares at you.
"You know, what with both of you running away and....uh...I'll stop."

"We are nothing alike," Hiss says. "She remains a prisoner in the end. One with very little Art and even less power. She was born flawed, it's her very reason for being. She would not have lived past infancy in Snakehome."

You can tell that Hiss considers this proof of Snakehome's virtue.

"Very well. I just wouldn't want to see her come to harm, is all."

"Of course you wouldn't," Hiss says slyly. "You're a snakecatcher after all."

"What are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything. It's just that you must have been so sad not to able to kidnap her and bond her against her will. No doubt with...depraved intentions."

"What? No!"

"You petted her! I know you wanted it."
She's smirking now, obviously in jest.

"Pfft. As if you can talk. I remember walking in on you two."

"That was different!"
Both of you have to hold tight for a moment as the palanquin is suddenly lifted into the air. Looks like you're finally about to move into the city.

> "Anyway, did you get anything useful from talking to her?"

> Flick the curtain aside and have a look as you go past.

> "You might not care but I feel bad for her. Are you sure there isn't anything you can do?"

> "If this is just a roundabout way of asking for more petting yourself you don't have to be so subtle."

> Other

>>40376440
> "If this is just a roundabout way of asking for more petting yourself you don't have to be so subtle."

>>40376440
>> "If this is just a roundabout way of asking for more petting yourself you don't have to be so subtle."
but seriously
> "You might not care but I feel bad for her. Are you sure there isn't anything you can do?"
Having a favor from a "Holy" snake might help you in the long run.

>>40376440

> "If this is just a roundabout way of asking for more petting yourself you don't have to be so subtle."
We need to snark at Hiss more often. It always leads to the most entertaining dialogue.

>>40376440
The constrictor might be useful somehow for getting the holy thing you want

> "If this is just a roundabout way of asking for more petting yourself you don't have to be so subtle."

"I asked for no such thing," Hiss huffs, her voice rising in pitch dramatically a few moments later when you get to work.

Your journey, such as it is, passes quickly. You are occupied by other things.

When the palanquin stops, Hiss hastily buttons up her tunic and steps out. You follow her a few moments later after making sure everything is clear.
The palanquin has been seated in some sort of walled courtyard, white stone walls cutting off your view of the city. A well of bubbling water is the centerpiece here, framed by a garden of long grasses and palm trees. The building behind it is built from white bricks and is long and sprawling. The windows are tall slots with curtains and wooden bars instead of glass.

You can hear shouts in Quedeshi and the bustle of the city beyond but you can't see any of it from here.

Beside you and Hiss is Tash and his band of faceless men, the latter of which seemed to have bearing your palanquin themselves.
Tash looks at you shrewdly and you can't help but blush. You'd forgotten that he would have been walking right beside.

"Where is Oster?," Hiss asks.

"Outside the wall, inspecting security," Tash says. "He insisted."

Hiss rolls her eye.
"That sounds like him. Well, let's go out and talk to him, get a look at this city? What's it called again?"

"Lombai," you supply.

"I wouldn't recommend it," Tash states. "With all due respect, you are still a stranger here princess. You are expected as an honored guest by the ruler here."

"And since when do I move by human hand? Come on Cennen, let's go into the city."

> "It might not be wise to offend even a human noble on your first day."

> "I'd rather we didn't go into the city unprepared."

> Agree and go with her.

> Other

>>40377062
>> Agree and go with her.
Snake always > Hooman

>>40377062
> "It might not be wise to offend even a human noble on your first day."
We should make a good first impression with the noble and then go explore the city after

>>40377062
> Agree and go with her
Not like we're going to talk her out of this and keep her in a good mood anyway.

>>40377062
> "It might not be wise to offend even a human noble on your first day."
Besides don't you want to see how much you can make him squirm?

>>40377062
> Agree and go with her.
BUT
> "I'd rather we didn't go into the city unprepared."

>>40377062
>> Agree and go with her.

> Agree and go with her.

You shrug at Tash and follow her as she pushes one of his men aside.
"Besides, what even is he?" she remarks. "A satrap? He can wait."

"Princess! Wai-"

"Nah. What are you going to do?"
She takes you by the hand and pulls you out through the gate and onto the dusty road beyond.

The two of you are at the top of a hill overlooking Lumbai so you get an excellent view of the riot of colours below. The city sprawls out all the way to the ocean. Curves and domes seem the prominent design here, a far cry from the pointed and flat roofs of Taldenral. The streets below you are packed with throngs of people, thousands upon thousands of Quedeshi swarming along the roads on their day to day business.

Hiss pulls you down the road, apparently quite eager to jump right into the cauldron of humanity below. Will she take it that well? You remember her reactions to being pressed in crowds before. This might not be a great idea.

> Just follow her.

> Ask her to see if you can take the palanquin back out and use that instead.

> Call out for Oster.

> Use potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40377575
> Call out for Oster.
Hiss have you gotten over your crowd problem?

>>40377575
> Call out for Oster.
Ask if she can handle the crowd without biting someone. Offer to carry her in our pack in snake form if she would prefer it.

>>40377575

> Call out for Oster.
For safety. But this could be interesting, we can learn some things from the common people that Tesh probably can't tell us, since hes practically a noble.
Also, I'm curious about this carefree attitude towards humans being displayed by Hiss, maybe she's getting used to us?

>>40377575
Maybe we should go see the noble and then explore when the crowds have cleared a bit afterwards

> Call out for Oster.

No, this won't do. You're going to need some backup.
"Oster!"

Hiss looks up at your cry as Oster barrels around the side of the walled compound behind you, his sword already drawn.
"What's going on?"

"I would like to tour the city," Hiss replies. "One must survey their future subjects after all."

Oster shares a worried look with you and you decide to speak up.
"Hiss, don't you have an issue with being in crowds? Maybe we can come back a little later..."

"There is no need! The crowds will be swept aside by my decree."

You hear the desire in her tone and nod. Now you get it. She doesn't care about Lombai. She just wants to exercise her power, the power that this country extends to all snakes. Something that she must have wished she could have done back in Teleran a thousand times.

> "As you wish."

> "And how are you planning on doing that?"

> "Hiss, none of us speak Quedeshi besides you. We can't help you there."

> "I think it would be wise to pretend to be human once more and disguise ourselves. There's so much we don't know about this place."

> Attempt to nobble her.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40377936
> "I think it would be wise to pretend to be human once more and disguise ourselves. There's so much we don't know about this place."
also
The bigger the splash you make her the more time the constrictors have to judge you.

>>40377936
> "And how are you planning on doing that?"
> "Hiss, none of us speak Quedeshi besides you. We can't help you there."
Is this the "saying no to hiss" arc or what?

>>40377936
> "And how are you planning on doing that?"

>>40377936
>> "And how are you planning on doing that?"
>> "Hiss, none of us speak Quedeshi besides you. We can't help you there."
>> "I think it would be wise to pretend to be human once more and disguise ourselves. There's so much we don't know about this place."

Hiss is a child. She needs to be taken down a notch so her character can further develop

>>40378029
>Is this the "saying no to hiss" arc or what?

All the servitude from both the sailors and the Melach has sort of swelled her head in the interim so yes.

> "And how are you planning on doing that?"
> "Hiss, none of us speak Quedeshi besides you. We can't help you there."
> "I think it would be wise to pretend to be human once more and disguise ourselves. There's so much we don't know yet."

"And just how are you going to go about doing that?"

She stops.
"I beg your pardon?"

"You don't look like a snake, Hiss. To them you'll just be some bossy foreigner."

You can see the wheels turn in her head at this thought.
"Well then I'll just retake my natural form...but then I can't command anyone. I'd have to relay every word through Oster and that'll take ages!"

"Not to mention that I don't speak the lingo," Oster adds.

"Hiss, I think it would be best if we disguise ourselves and you pretend to be human as normal. In addition to all those problems, do you really want this being the first thing the constrictors hear about you?"

She lets go of your hand and actually stamps her foot.
"But I don't want to go through a human city as a human! I hate that! I just want to be able to be myself!"
Her voice tapers off into a whine at the end and she covers her mouth in surprise.

> Offer to just take her in her snake form. She won't be able to give commands but she'll still cause quite the commotion.

> The constrictors are probably already watching. She can come as a human or not at all.

> "Why don't we just go back inside?"

> "You know, doing that makes you look pretty cute" The Death Option.

> Tell her that she's embarrassing herself.

> Other

>>40378485
>> Offer to just take her in her snake form. She won't be able to give commands but she'll still cause quite the commotion.
Carry her on our arm

>>40378529
>>40378541
>>40378564
Guys, this is a bad idea. Since neither Cennen nor Oster know quedeshi, we'll be just parading and the only way we'll get something done is if by miracle we find someone who speaks our language.

> The constrictors are probably already watching. She can come as a human or not at all.

Also what >>40378529 said is pretty good.
>"Hiss I love you, but to beat the constrictors you're going to have to work on your self control."

Although we should leave the love part out

>>40378485
> The constrictors are probably already watching. She can come as a human or not at all.

>>40378485
>> The constrictors are probably already watching. She can come as a human or not at all.
>"Hiss I love you, but to beat the constrictors you're going to have to work on your self control."

> The constrictors are probably already watching. She can come as a human or not at all.

You sigh and let her burn out a little before replying.
"Hiss I love you and all but to beat the constrictors you're going to have to work on your self-control."
You stop yourself just a moment too late. What did you just say? You don't love her! Do you? Or at least, you've never said it out loud.

Oster raises his eyebrow at you but says nothing and Hiss...Hiss doesn't even seem to notice.
"Yeah, I know you love me, whatever. But why even go down to the city then?"

"Exploring and getting an idea of what this place is like isn't a bad idea, even if it's only as humans. I'm sorry Hiss but you may have to restrain yourself to humanity for at least one more day."

She groans, a rattling sigh that devolves into a hiss halfway through.
"So be it. I suppose we can consider these crowds to be...practice. If we must. Come on."

She pulls you forward and you have little choice but to follow, Oster trailing just behind.
Where once the two of you had been able to circle her and protect her from the contact of crowds, Hiss being the only one fluent in Quedeshi necessitates her being at the front. She grips your hand tight enough to hurt as the three of you descend into the bustling city.

The streets here are dusty stone, the buildings mostly brown or a dirty cream. Each street is full to brim with brown-skinned Quedeshi, many of whom are just passing through while even more are hawking wares. Carts bulldoze their way through the human press and ragged beggars haunt the gutters and the very edges of the road where nobody goes. And above it the sun beats down mercilessly from a cloudless sky.

At first it'd look like you'd all be swept away but you find a circle of empty space opening around you as you move through the streets. They are giving you space it seems, or at least as much as they can afford.
1/2

>>40378917
2/2

It's easy to guess why. While a port city such as this must see its fair share of foreigners, you doubt that many have come from lands as far south as you or have skins as pale. The three of you are natural spectacle and that buys you a little space. You are bombarded with questions and calls, none of which you can even come close to understanding.
It's not long before the merchants start circling, attempting to subject you to the same spiels they give everyone but Hiss beats them back, almost literally in some cases.
Her surprising aggression and the look in her good eye seems to warn the rest off and you can't blame them. She's keeping herself remarkably under control so far but she's starting to look like she's going to kill somebody.

"Hiss," you say loudly, having to speak up to be heard over the din and confident in nobody else being able to understand. "Are you alright?"

She nods wearily, already looking tired from being so close to so many people.
"I just need something to eat. Anything."

She drags the two of you to the nearest stationary vendor and flicks him one of your very few remaining signets with one hand, swiping some kind of purple fruit with red flesh in the other.
"Ugh. This'll do."

She starts to lead you on further when Oster pokes her in the shoulder as respectfully as possible.
"Eh? What?"

"Begging your pardon princess but I don't believe they use Teln signets as currency here."
Oh nuts.

The vendor behind you starts to bellow something that you can't understand, probably about thieving foreigners considering how the whole street is now looking at you.

> Go back and try to haggle quickly.

> Go back and get Hiss to try and haggle quickly.

> Run!

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40379046
Well, that was fast

>>40379046
>> Go back and get Hiss to try and haggle quickly.
Just give him our spare knife.

>>40379046
> Go back and get Hiss to try and haggle quickly.
Offer him a treebrew or some other brew in exchange while Hiss translates for us

>>40379121
I don't think pulling out a knife is a great idea in this situation

>>40379046
> Go back and get Hiss to try and haggle quickly.

>>40379134
Do they even have alchemy here? We should've asked Tash about a currency exchange

>>40379134
This. Any potion we have is probably worth enough to buy all his goddamn fruit.
On that note, let's take one to experiment later.

> Go back and get Hiss to try and haggle quickly.

"Shit! Go give his fruit back!"

Hiss turns around, revealing that she's already taken several bites.
"I'm not a miracle worker, Cennen."
She seems blithely unconcerned about the shouting.

"Well then, uh...haggle? See if you can give him something back? Things are going to get ugly otherwise."

Hiss looks less than pleased with you ordering her around but complies regardless. You'll probably have to pay for that later.
She wades her back to the merchant and starts speaking quickly while you watch on, completely unable to follow the exchange.

You reach into your pack and pull out a bottle of Treebrew. This should fetch a hefty price, provided they know anything about alchemy.

Hiss and the merchant talk a bit more before Hiss calls on you to demonstrate your wares. You pour a little bit out on a patch of grass and it sprouts upwards nearly to knee-height.

The crowd quietens down and the merchant loads Hiss up with as much fruit as she can carry in exchange for the potion.
"That was a bad idea," Hiss says when she joins you.

"Why? Looks like I just saved us a lot of inconvenience."

"Because now they're all going to want some."

You take a second look around the marketplace and realize that nearly every vendor in earshot is eyeing you. Quite a few rough looking fellows too. This could turn ugly.

> See if you can sell them all for local currency.

> See if you can sell a bunch of different potions, not just Treebrew.

> Just keep walking.

> Run.

> Use potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40379402
>> See if you can sell them all for local currency.
>>Take a small sip of Potency and lift a cart. Look at the thugs funny.

>>40379402
> See if you can sell them all for local currency.
Ask Oster to watch our back

>>40379402
>> See if you can sell them all for local currency.
Hiss I told you a tree brew would come in handy. Just took longer than expected. Oster watch our backs.

>>40379402
> See if you can sell them all for local currency.

>>40379402
> Just keep walking.
We need some sort of guide, someone who knows their way around this city.

> See if you can sell them all for local currency.

"Hiss, as far as I'm concerned that's a good thing!"
You open your pack and pull out your other Treebrews.
"Tell them that I'm selling them for...uh, the price of several of those fruit?"
You have no idea what they call coins here or what values they attribute to anything. None save the large amount of fruit that the merchant had been willing to trade.

Hiss folds her arms.
"I'm not your servant, Cennen! Nor am I here just to do your busywork! And all I've been hearing so far in this city is just you telling me what to do!"

"Look, nobody else can translate. And I'll give all the money to you."

"Fine," Hiss grumbles. "Oster, get us a stall."

Oster pushes one of the weedier looking vendors onto the ground, kicking him out of his position and sweeping his wares to the ground with him.
"Your spot, your Highness."

Hiss stands behind the stall while you have to sit awkwardly off to the side.
"Alright, just pass me the Treebrews and let me do all the talking. You just sit there and look pretty."

The first sale is a long one and Hiss spends ages arguing incoherently with the buyer before finally giving up a Treebrew in exchange for a handful of dull black coins. After that she seems to get into the swing of things, raking in coins and depleting your Treebrew supply.

Half an hour passes in this fashion until Hiss calls out to you.
"Cennen! More treebrew!"

"I'm all out!"

She flicks you in the forehead and nearly makes you fall over. It really fucking stings.
"Then brew some more, idiot! I'm running a business here!"

Well, it seems like she's gotten into the swing of things at least.
But brewing it right here in front of everyone could be disastrous. Do you really need to give away the origin of your secret?

> Brew more Treebrew.

> Tell Hiss to pack up, we're done.

> Give other potions to Hiss to sell.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40379727
I don't get why brewing in front of these people would be a problem at all. Am I missing something?

>>40379767
Right now nobody knows where you got these potions from. Could be from any of you or a mysterious supplier, anywhere.
Brewing them openly shows everyone that you are the potion maker.

>>40379784
That doesn't seem too awful. Magic ought to be common enough around Quedesh, right?

>>40379796
Yes but it outs you as the source for anyone who might want to nobble you.

>>40379818
Why would they want to nobble us, an alchemist? Ought to be loads of alchemists running around, right? Unless all magic is controlled by snakes or gangs? Is that a thing?

>>40379727
>>40379767
Yeah, let's not get kidnapped.

> Tell Hiss to pack up, we're done.
>Let's go someplace quiet and figure out what to do next.

>>40379727
> Brew more Treebrew.
Just hide behind the stall

>>40379727
>>40379852

Wait, shit! We're marked!

>>40331892
"Will I need a mask?"

Tash shakes his head.
"Oh no, this is a mark of office. I am a Snakecharmer and marked by my master, I am afforded some liberties."
"I'm marked too, you know."

People would have to be crazy to try to nobble us.

>>40379727
>> Brew more Treebrew.

We're a god damn servant. Might want to make that clear so that those thugs will fuck off.

>>40379839
Teleran has one of the highest numbers of alchemists in the world so what you're used to seeing in places like Melire or Taldenral isn't the same everywhere.
In addition alchemy is fairly rare in Quedesh because snakes don't like the idea of how easy it would be for a crafty one to get snake-reagents.

>>40379893
You haven't exactly been showing off your brand for the same reason that you asked Hiss to not show off that she's a snake.

>>40379727
> Tell Hiss to pack up, we're done.

>>40379913
I though we didn't want Hiss to be in her natural form because that would cause communication issues? Letting our mark show and pulling rank on the thugs doesn't seem to be correlated with communication issues.

>>40379957
Specifically the answer that was chosen was 'The constrictors are probably already watching', so you've been acting on the down low about any snake-related issues.

Showing your mark is still a valid option for when you get into a situation, same as Hiss showing her true form would be.

>>40379913
>>40379957
I was going tu sugest that Hiss revealed herself as a snake to get past these guys, but then it occurred to me that maybe the common folk are not as fond of snakes as people like Tesh is. We should first learn what's the general opinion on snakes to make sure we won't end up being chased by an angry mob

Rolled 2 (1d6)

Anyway looks a tie between packing up and brewing more. Odds for the former, evens for the latter.

>>40380092
Woah!

I just got here, can we at least brew them out of sight from people?

File: lucky fortune.jpg (322 KB, 600x600)

322 KB JPG

>>40380092
Once again, the dice just love the options I support. Tis a charmed life.

>>40380092
Ohhhhh, boy. We gonna get nobbled.

>>40380092
I just remembered that quedesh is a mostly vegetarian society

>>40380179
We can poison people and coat ourselves in toxic fumes that we're immune to. And we can sword stuff. And we're a servant. And we're going to stick to the Satraps afterwards. Ought to be fine.

>>40380213
I trust you, anon

>>40380213
>coat ourselves in toxic fumes that we're immune to
We can't do that yet anon

>>40380179
Maybe cennens nobbling skills are also useful for counter-nobbling

> Brew more Treebrew.

Hrmph. Well, it might not be great if you let people see you so you'll try to hide it as best you can. You duck behind the stall and do your best to look inconspicuous as you start brewing.
You can hear Hiss speaking quickly to the ever-growing line of customers, no doubt telling them that the new stock is on its way.
You spend the next hour or so just brewing Treebrew nonstop, Hiss snatching away every bottle the moment you finish. You can't see the coins she's raking in but you can hear them rattle around on the wooden stall above you.
You have no idea how well-hidden you are.

Still, these brews are selling like crazy! You can't quite understand why until you remember Tash's words from earlier this morning. Quedesh had little land suitable for keeping herd animals and what meat they had was dedicated to inhuman upper classes that were almost strictly carnivores. Of course they'd be interested in Treebrew!
Which makes you wonder just how far word might be spreading of these queer foreigners. But surely that won't matter. Even if some thugs decide to make a move then Oster's sword and your brews should keep them back. And if not that, your brands and Hiss' true nature should cow anyone.
Provided, of course, that the average people around here are as accustomed to obeying snakes as Tash, a man raised to serve them, is.
That might be a problem.

You're about to say something about this when you hear a great outcry at the other end of the marketplace. What you can see of the queue ahead of Hiss vanishes almost all at once.

You peek out to see the entire street clearing, vendors pushing stalls back and the crowd retreating to the far sides of the road, trampling beggars in order to do so. You can't understand what everyone is muttering but the same word 'Ishmin' seems to be on everyone's lips.

Twenty men walk down the street and you have to keep yourself from flinching. What are Tash's men doing here?
1/2

>>40380321
2/2

But as they advance towards your stall, you make out small differences. Their helms are bi-pointed, their chainmail veils dyed brown, daubs of red paint decorating their layered armor at seemingly random intervals.
But aside from that they seem almost exactly the same as Tash's entourage, their faces covered and moving in unison as if they all shared but one mind.
Part of your mind less affected by your nerves has to wonder how they can stand being covered in full armor even in this heat. Unfortunately the rest of your mind is more bothered with little questions like 'Who the fuck are these guys' and 'Why are they here?"
The second question is all too easily answered. You've stayed too long, let rumors spread too far.

The faceless men seamlessly part ranks to let two men through. One of them is the merchant that Oster had booted out of his stall earlier to make room for your operation. Next to him is a tall specter clad in stifling heavy red-and-brown robes that cover him from head to toe, from the pointed shoes to the filigreed gloves. Their back is covered in a mane of unkempt black hair that goes down past their shoulders, the multiple braids and ribbons only making it somehow even more of a mess. And their face is covered by a gold-dusted mask, a puffy visage twisted into an image of wrath and anger.

> Run

> Let Hiss try and negotiate.

> Try to negotiate yourself and let Hiss translate.

> Ask if they want to buy some Treebrew.

> Use Potion (Specify)

>>40380401
> Let Hiss try and negotiate.

>>40380401

> Ask if they want to buy some Treebrew.

Heheheheh, we're going to cut out the constrictors power base from beneath them.

>>40380401
>> Let Hiss try and negotiate.

>>Finally, someone you can talk to. If there was ever a time to become snake, Hiss, I think it would be to this guy.

>>40380431
She can't negotiate if she's a snake though

>>40380401
>> Let Hiss try and negotiate.

> Let Hiss try and negotiate.

>>40380431
>>40380446
Guy is a servant. Aren't they raised by snakes and aren't they capable of understanding them?

>>40380465
She can always hypnotize him and eat his soul.

> Let Hiss try and negotiate.

You watch in thinly disguised irritation as the man approaches, his Ishmin bodyguards stepping around him like a shield. Even if he hadn't been bedecked in his official garments, the Ishmin alone would have identified him to you.
The faceless Ishmin are the rarest soldiers in Quedesh, trained and indoctrinated from birth to serve the upper tiers of human society. Or should that be the lowest tiers of snake society? One mistake that many foreigners make when they find the Witchlands is mistaking the rulers of human society for the rulers of Quedesh as a whole. The satraps, amirs, shiekhs and rajas WISH they could have Ishmin serving them. But they were middle managers at best. Constrictor society sits atop human society, the unseen altercations in their invisible courts altering thousands of human lives without them ever knowing why. And it is the human participants in the snake realm of governance that the Ishmin are reserved for, the Marked and various other servants. The lowliest of the high courts commands soldiers that even the greatest mortal ruler could not.

His dress doesn't tell you much. He seems to be wearing the same layered robes that Tash favored, an affectation you understand to serve several purposes. Being covered so comprehensively head to toe serves to represent their isolation from the human world they had left behind. It also teaches and tests resilience, for any human unable to wear such hot clothing in the courts of those who love the sun are not worthy. The Vtriya, the golden mask and official badge of their office, serves much the same purpose of isolation as well as symbolically destroying their identity, rendering them as faceless as their Ishmin. It also helps calm those younger constrictors new to human contact by removing troublesome expressions and body language.
As you know all too well.
You plumb what you have left of Tash's soul fragments but find nothing else relevant.
1/2

>>40380684
2/2

Your true name cannot be spoken by any mortal tongue and cannot be transcribed in any alphabet you know of. But an idiot calls you Hiss and now the name's stuck.

The man towers over you as you remain seated, no doubt trusting in his Ishmin and his Vtriya mask to cow you into submission. It's all very impressive to these peasants no doubt but you have to wonder if he's an idiot.
You're a clearly a foreigner so why does he think this has any meaning for you at all?

Oster is about to draw his sword but you grab his hand for but a moment, long enough to send the message. Not yet.

The man raises a gloved fist and lets it thump down on the stall directly in front of you. You remain perfectly still and resist your urge to laugh. As if you would ever be scared by a lackey!
He's quite a bit different from Tash, you can tell that already. Tash was tall but lithe even in his robes while this man is the size of Oster if not even a little bit bigger, tall and broad about the shoulders. Tash also had a rather effete and you'll admit very attractive face while this man, if his Vtriya is any indication, is ugly as sin.
He clearly wasn't made a servant to act as a musician, artist and general ornamentation like Tash had been. A warlord of some sort?
Bah, not that any of it matters to you. One look at your true form should be enough to send him fleeing in subservience.

"What is your business in Lombai?," he barks in Quedeshi after apparently giving up on his attempts to frighten you. He's needlessly loud.

> "This doesn't concern you." Show your true form.

> Try to draw him into your gaze.

> Reach out and push him over with Constrictor Strength.

> Offer him a Treebrew.

> Play innocent.

> Other

>>40380813
> Try to draw him into your gaze.
> Play innocent.

>>40380813
>> Play innocent.
>> Try to draw him into your gaze.
Let's try not to damage this poor guy's head too much.

>>40380813
> Offer him a Treebrew.

>>40380813
>> Try to draw him into your gaze.
>> Play innocent.

>>40380849
>>40380864
Gaze won't work, the target has to be afraid of us

>>40380813

> Play innocent.
> Try to draw him into your gaze.

Let's mess with the Enforcer

>>40380849
>>40380864
>>40380905
Guys pls listen to me
>>40380908

>>40380908
Oh shit, you're right

>>40380813
>>40380908
>>40380960
>>40380963

We can grab his conveniently placed hand and exert a small amount of our gift. It'll be fine.

>>40380813
> Offer him a Treebrew.
Explain that we're traveling through Lombai and throughout quedesh and we needed some money

>>40380960
Let's do a subtle reveal, like flicker a forked tongue or show him a slit pupil, hopefully, he'll freak out

>>40381002
What do you guys think his 20 men will do when we knock him out? This is a bad idea

>>40381002
>>40380813

Yeah, that sounds better. I'll support subtle unnerving to get the hypnotize in.

>>40380813
> Offer him a Treebrew
> Play innocent.

>>40381020
We're not knocking him out. We're putting him in a trance-like state and suggesting that he and his buds go away. Sorta Jedi mind tricks, but snakey.

>>40381020
You're right, but maybe we don't need to knock him out, just let him know we're snek and tell him to fuck off

>>40381045
I really don't think that's how it works

Hiss cannot leave suggestions, no. She can rip souls apart and flay memories but she hasn't upgraded that aspect of her Art enough to leave suggestions.
If she could do anything like that Cennen would be boned from their first meeting.

Haha, boned.

>>40381095
>>40381047
So let's go for
> "This doesn't concern you." Show your true form. Albeit in a subtle way.

As someone who just read through the archives, I'm wondering how Cennen is still alive with how you guys play him. I mean seriously, there's a lot of dumbshit decisions you guys have made that only have served to make things more and more difficult - decisions that are dumb to the point where I don't even know what you guys must have been thinking.

Take for example, albiet a lesser one, what's going on now. What purpose did making more treebrew even serve? To get more money that we hardly even spend? To get more money when we already made bank? To knowingly stick in one place doing attracting attention which has so far has only proven to be foolish with how high profile we are and how easily danger comes to us?

>>40381156
Some anons are just really dumb. I just told them why the gaze wouldn't work and even if it does it wouldn't be a good thing but they didn't change their vote.

>>40381156
I just go with the flow. I try to veto the dumd when possible but there's a lot of it.

>Try to draw him into your gaze.
>Reveal some aspect of yourself to make him afraid.

You look up at him sweetly, or at least the best approximation of sweetness you can devise.
"And what was you plan if I couldn't speak your language, idiot?"

He bristles but you interrupt him by standing up, standing nearly eye to eye with his mask. His dark eyes are half-hidden underneath his mask but he meets your gaze without hesitation. You let your good eye flicker, your human eye sliding down to reveal a slit pupil. You do it quickly so only he sees, quick enough that it could almost be dismissed as a trick of the light.
But for that moment, he feels fear. Oh yes does he ever. You absolutely have to thank the constrictors at some point, the REAL constrictors, not some albino sub-class. They've trained their humans well.

That flash of fear is all you need to is to punch open a door into his mind. You don't do anything with his soul, you don't even make him comatose. You just transfix him for a few seconds, just long enough for him to realize how close he had came to being prey.

The silence ends as the big man staggers backwards as if struck. The Ishmin draw their swords as one but he waves them down.
"No! No! We leave! Now!"

You do your best to resist cackling as you watch him scurry away. He didn't even ask what you were doing here.
It feels incredible, to just wave a hand and render one of the most powerful humans in this entire satrapy impotent. Like you're on top of the world.
Which you are obviously are.

You humiliated him and you didn't even have to leave your stall! And all without any sort of repercussions whatsoever.

File: crap.jpg (278 KB, 1886x1519)

278 KB JPG

>>40381253
>And all without any sort of repercussions whatsoever.

Aw shit.

>>40381253
And with that, I have to end the thread here. Friend has a birthday party that I am already a little late for.
The thread's already been archived and I hope you guys had fun! I'll be here tomorrow at the same time, check the twitter, etc.

>>40381119
get your mind out of the gutter anon.

>>40381279
How's your internet nowadays Ourobro? Still Hitler?

>>40381293
Oh no, it's fine. Got it back up and running as per normal.

>>40381323
About how much dosh did we make? What's the biggest thing we can buy with that amount of money?

>>40381279
Sorry that my first ever post was me bitching, but thanks for the run Ouro. I'll be seeing you next time.

>>40381279
I will not.

>>40381253
repercussions will never be the same

File: efficiency.jpg (348 KB, 668x1568)

348 KB JPG

>>40381323
So, whaddya think of XCOM 2 snaketits? God Bless the porn efficiency/consistency of the internet.