>>40413077
The day has dragged on by the time the three of you start to head back through the streets of Lombai. The locals give you a wide berth, no doubt due to the story of Hiss publicly humiliating that man. Nobody wants to bother you.
Unfortunately this also means that nobody wants to buy anything from you either so Oster packs everything up while Hiss shakes a handful of coins around in satisfaction. You have no idea how much money you just made. For all you know, Hiss was selling them at less than half the price they could have been. But alas, the only one who can speak Quedeshi is the one least experienced with matters mercantile.

You and Oster are standing behind Hiss as she counts her money when Oster suddenly nudges you silently in the back. He doesn’t say anything but he pointedly looks in the direction of an alleyway. Is someone there? No, then he would have alerted Hiss. It takes a few more nudges before you divine his intention.
He wants to talk to you...without Hiss hearing. Why?

You look back to Hiss, who still appears ignorant of your exchange. Her back is turned. Well, what harm can it do? And your curiosity has been piqued now. Oster is devoted, no, obsessed. What could he want to talk about that he wouldn't do it in front of her?

You let yourself drift back towards the alleway, Oster moving silently with you. When you judge yourself to be out of earshot of Hiss, you start a whispered conversation.
"What?"

Oster shifts uneasily before replying, his eyes constantly darting back to Hiss.
"Do you think the princess...do you think she behaved wisely just before?"

"Hm?"

"With the masked man. Do you think she made the right decision?"
Oster is looking a tad more melancholy than usual and you know why. He never questions Hiss' decisions, even when she's doing her best to hurt him.
So why start now?
1/2

>>40413101
2/2

You can think of a few reasons but you want to hear his.
"What do you mean?"

"That man was a servant, a member of some snake's court. Or he wouldn't be dressed like that, right?"

"Not just any servant, I think," you say. "A favored servant. There wasn't supposed to be anyone like him in Lombai right now."

"So," Oster says, doing his best not to look uncomfortable. "That's at least one constrictor that knows about her Highness and at least one constrictor who might be offended by her meddling with their human."

"Meddling? She didn't take any of his soul."

"That we know of. But she could have dealt with that better. Our cover's been blown wide open and word is spreading."

> "We'll just have to keep our guard up."

> "Why can't you just tell Hiss this?"

> "Tash told me that nobody like that was going to be here. Do you think he's in on it?"

> Call out to Hiss and tell her Oster has something to say.

> "It might be best to go back to the satrap's compound immediately."

> Other

>>40413146
>> "Why can't you just tell Hiss this?"
Is it because of what she's done to you, or because you think she'll take it better from me?

> "We'll just have to keep our guard up."
And an eye on Hiss at most times too.


> "It might be best to go back to the satrap's compound immediately."

>>40413146
> "Tash told me that nobody like that was going to be here. Do you think he's in on it?"
> "It might be best to go back to the satrap's compound immediately."
Tell him we'll talk to her about it

>>40413171
I don't think we should mention what's she's done to him

Sorry about the delay, I was eating.

> "It might be best to go back to the satrap's compound immediately."

You mull it over for a few moments.
"I think I agree. We really need to get back to the compound before anything else happens. Just one question first. Why can't you just tell Hiss this yourself? Don't tell me that you actually fear her punishment?"
Would she punish him even for voicing doubts? She wouldn't do so to you but you know that she likes to keep Oster in line where she doesn't often have that choice with you.

"I am not afraid of her," Oster lies. "But look at me."
You look him in the eyes, through the facade of his Ophi-face. They're dull and there's nothing behind them. It's mildly discomforting.
"She's all I can think about. I can't criticize her, I can't bear to do it."

"Right. No worries, I'm on it."
There's none of the spark he used to have or the jest that he carried with him. Oster is becoming increasingly hollow and what's worse, he seems fully aware of it. But what can you do?

The two of you exit the alleyway quietly and rejoin Hiss before she turns around. She doesn't seem to have noticed your brief absence.
"I think it is time we started heading back to our quarters," you say.

Hiss tilts her head.
"I suppose. I've had my fun for today and I have to meet this satrap at some point."

And with that, the three of you turn back towards the compound, the locals parting before Hiss and keeping their distance. Looks like everyone might know already?

> Bring up the subject with Hiss so it can be done with before you arrive back at the compound.

> Wait until you're somewhere a little safer before starting what could potentially become a public argument.

> Other

>>40413535
> Bring up the subject with Hiss so it can be done with before you arrive back at the compound.
Just voice our concerns about the possible consequences of treating some other snakes servant like that

>>40413535
> Bring up the subject with Hiss so it can be done with before you arrive back at the compound.

>>40413535
Compliment her quick thinking to defuse that situation but tell her it could be bad for us in the long run because it means we might have already made ourself a powerful enemy in quedesh

>>40413535
> Bring out the subject.

Writing from phone so I will keep it short

> Bring up the subject with Hiss so it can be done with before you arrive back at the compound.

Well, there's one advantage of being trapped in a foreign city where you can't understand anyone. You don't have to worry about being overheard.
"Hey Hiss," you start.

"Mm?"

"Are you happy with how that went?"

"How what went? The potions?"

"The masked man, I mean. You weren't gentle."

"That WAS gentle. And yes I'm happy, didn't you see the look on his face?"

You pause for a moment.
"No, he was wearing a mask. Did you?"

She frowns.
"Not really, not a good look. I think I meant that more in a figure of speech."

"But he had to be some constrictor's servant, didn't he? So now they know we're here and at least one of them doesn't have a reason to be polite about it."

Hiss ponders this for a moment.
"They can consider this my official notice of arrival. It's the only one I'm planning on giving them."

"So you're not worried about the consequences?"

"What consequences? That some constrictor might not like me now? There are hundreds or thousands of them and you can't please everyone them."

"But going out of your way to antagonize them seems like a bad idea."

She sighs, clearly weary of this topic.
"I know that Cennen, we've already had this discussion today! I didn't go 'out of my way', he got up in our faces and showed me disrespect. I could have done so much worse."

"I'll drop it for now. But it's something to keep in mind."

She crosses her arms.
"You know Cennen, you're not supposed to gainsay me over here, even if it's in Avling. Not only am I pretty sure it's against the law but you're undermining my authority. How are the constrictors going to take me seriously if my human keeps mouthing off to me?"

> "I'll try to remember that your Highness."

> "With all due respect, your head would swell to the size of the moon."

> "Pfft. I know you like it."

> Say nothing.

> Other

>>40413920
> "I'll try to remember that your Highness."
but in private like this is, I'll say what I feel needs to be said. I want you to succeed and sometimes your own pride bites you in your shapely rear.

>>40413920
> I promise not to do it in front of them?
> I mean, technically, we are also doing a lot of other things that involve mouthing and won't be taken well.

Slow Thread today, huh?

>>40413920
Hey, Ouro. Can you describe how Hiss looks again? I feel like going on a scavenger hunt to get the main cast portraits.

>>40413920
> "I'll try to remember that your Highness."
Your authority is still absolute. I just want to offer you my advice. I'll be sure to only do it in private if you like

>>40413920
We also should bring up that her constant mind meddling is starting to negatively effect osters ability to do his job. She might want to cut back on it and even maybe restore at least a little bit of his personality. A devout servant will die to protect you from your mistakes, but a smart servant will prevent you from making them to begin with.

>>40414151
Restoring his personality isn't possible. Maybe if she gets the soul gullet snake art it would be though

>>40414191
She shouldn't make it any worse for now.

> "I'll try to remember that your Highness."

"I'll try to remember that your Highness."
She smiles but you cut her off as you keep talking.
"But when we're in private, I'll say what I think needs to be said. I want you to make it and sometimes you bite your own tail."

She shrugs.
"Hmph. Well, that is what I keep you around for. That and a few other benefits."
She snakes an arm around your shoulder and pulls you close as you keep walking. You struggle for a few seconds before resigning yourself to it.

"Speaking of things that shouldn't be shown in public..." you mutter.

"Oh hush," Hiss says. "You think that the snakes here don't do that?"

Well, you're not going to argue too hard. You just enjoy it for a few minutes before speaking up again.
"Are you still eating Oster?"

"That's my business," she says primly. "But yes, he's not quite ready yet. Why do you ask?"

"I'm just not sure if it's worth it. I think it's starting to effect his ability to do his job. Being unable to critiz-"

"Nonsense," Hiss cuts you off. "We just covered this. The occasional criticism is your job Cennen. Oster is here as both mask and blade, I care not for the face that wears it or the hand that wields them. You don't mind, do you Oster?"

"Of course not your Highness."
Oster plods on behind you, apparently unconcerned about such a bald discussion of his fate.

You scarcely think Oster's opinion can be trusted in this regard but you shelve your opposition for now as you approach the satrap's walled compound.
Tash is waiting outside, one pointed boot tapping the dusty ground.
"Princess, the satrap has been waiting on you for several hours now."

Hiss groans.
"I suppose I can talk it out with him. Cennen, you're not going to be too useful so just carry all of my stuff from the palanquin to my quarters will you?"

> "Can't you get one of Tash's men to do that for you? I'm coming with you."

> "As you wish."

> See if you can sneak in later.

> Other

>>40414353
> "As you wish."
> See if you can walk in later.

>>40414353
>> "As you wish."

>>40414353
> "As you wish."

>>40414353
> "As you wish."

>>40414062
Yeah, weekends are always a bit slow for me. As for the description, I assume you're talking about her human form?
She's very tall and slender, more lithe than she is curvy. Her hair is a glossy black and short, cut evenly around her neck just before it can reach her shoulders. Usually wears a red tunic with a black jacket and trousers. Also wears a black eyepatch these days and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

File: proto.jpg (88 KB, 496x550)

88 KB JPG

>>40414436
Should I try to shop this one?

> "As you wish."

It's a rather menial job but you think that's the point. This is her getting back at you for pressing her to act as a translator all the time and her way of testing you on the matter the two of you had just spoken about.
And you suppose you aren't going to be particularly useful when you don't even speak the language. Which is something you really should rectify at some point. Tash has taught you enough to tell people basic ideas in broken Quedeshi but that's not enough, especially for where you're going. And Hiss teaching you is both reliant on her whim and would take a good while. Is there a potion for that? You might have to brew around a little more.

You bow and nod your head before leaving them and proceeding to the palanquin to get Hiss' belongings, which consist mostly of a few scattered rugs and cushions from her quarters in the black ship that she'd taken a permanent liking to.
Hefting them all up, you let a servant give you the most basic directions possible to where Hiss will be staying.
There are no guards in this part of the building. You have the feeling that they've been turfed out and will be quickly replaced by Tash's Ishmin.

But that replacement doesn't seem to have taken place yet and it may be because of that that the room set aside for Hiss is open, the door ajar. Is somebody in there?

> Knock on the door.

> Peek through the crack.

> Just barge in.

> Other

>>40414637
>> Peek through the crack.

>>40414637
>> Peek through the crack.

>>40414507
Go for it.

>>40414637
> Peek through the crack.

>>40414637
> Peek through the crack.

>> Peek through the crack.

An intruder? Or just a servant tidying up things in preparation for your arrival? Or maybe even just a figment of your imagination?

You pad over to the doorway as silently as possible, setting down your pile of rugs on the floor as you do so. You kneel down by the door and peek in through the opening.
Hiss' room is opulent and covered in needless luxury but you've grown used to that by now. The tapestries and ornaments don't bother you, no matter that even a single piece here is probably enough to buy and sell you several times over.
There's a fire lit in the middle of the room in a great brazier, giving off an almost tangible amount of heat. And there is someone right next to it. You can't see them directly but you can see the shadow cast by the dancing flames.
You need a better angle.

You try to creak the door open just a little more to see who it is. Roll a d100.

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>40414822

Rolled 66 (1d00000100)

>>40414822
Weird dice, do weird stuff.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>40414822

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>40414822

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>40414822
Don't make us wreck you too dice gods!

>>40414830

You push the door open just a little further so you can lean in but it creaks! You freeze, doing your best to control your breathing. And yet it seems that the person within didn't even notice.
Hot damn.
>>40414888
You aren't exactly an expert at sneaking about but you might as well be a master assassin where somebody as unobservant as this is concerned. Or maybe the crackling of the fire right next to them is doing a number on their hearing. That too.

With the door now swung a little wider open, you are free to observe the entire room. It's a woman, sitting down beside the brazier. Their back is turned to you but they're wearing a black jacket and pants, have short black hair and oh it's Hiss.
What is she doing here? How did she get here before you?

> Cough.

> Nobble her while she's unaware.

> "What happened to the satrap?"

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40414971
> Cough.
This is too easy. Take a quick look around before coughing.

>>40414971
>> Cough.

>>40414971
> Cough.
> Have in trospection potion on hand Just In Case?

Shadowrunsintensify.jpg

>>40414971
> "What happened to the satrap?"
Be careful though. This might be a different snake imitating hiss's human form

>>40415040
It's not like we could force her to drink it

>>40415057
You know, if its a snake they're first action will be to hypnotise us and eat our soul. That would be highly problematic for them. Also nobody knows our relationship with hiss so replacing us would be obvious. They'd just assume we're a regular servant.

> Cough.

You get back to your feet and have a quick look around the room, just to confirm that there's nothing else going on in here. Hiss still doesn't seem to notice you.
You clear your throat pointedly.

Hiss jumps in surprise, whirling around to face you. A brief look of panic flits across her features.
"Oh! Cennen? What do you want?"

"I was just bringing in your belongings, like you asked."
You drag in the pile of rugs and cushions, dumping them messily upon the ground. Hiss doesn't protest.

"Of course. You can leave now."

> "Okay?" Leave but hang around outside the door.

> Leave and go wander around the compound.

> Pet the snake.

> "What about that potion you asked me to brew?"

> "What happened with the satrap?"

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40415176
>> "What about that potion you asked me to brew?"
Let's just test Hiss out. No harm if it's really her. But if it isn't...

>>40415176
>> "What about that potion you asked me to brew?"
The snake oil?

>>40415176
> "What about that potion you asked me to brew?"

>>40415176
> "What about that potion you asked me to brew?"

I refuse to believe that hiss would tell us to run an errand to her room, leave it unguarded, and not take advantage of us somehow.

This isn't even meta, its just been a consistent theme.

> "What about that potion you asked me to brew?"

Something's definitely not right here. Even if you ignore the fact that she somehow finished her audience with the satrap and arrived here before you, which to be honest is reasonably possible because Hiss has very little patience and you probably took longer than you needed to in arriving, she would never be so ...vulnerable.
Hell, all of this setup would be for her to try and snare you in something usually. And you ARE in a land of snakes...

"Hold on, what about that potion you asked me to brew for you?"
A simple test can work wonders. If this is the real Hiss then there's no harm done.

"Eh?"
Hiss looks up at you with her good eye.
"Oh, very well. Brew it quickly."

You walk into the room and un-sling your pack, doing your best to act natural. You are in striking range and that's not okay.

What do you brew?

> (Specify)

>>40415420
Snake oil, say its an elixir of health or power or beauty or some crap, we're an alchemist we should know how to spoon feed people bullshit.

>>40415420
Definitely NOT the snake oil, scalebane or snakebreaker.
Just a dye to see what she does.

>>40415420
>>40415475
We did promise Hiss not to make anymore, so that might not be a good idea. We just wanted to check if it was her. We know it's not. Best to just brew something simple and get to the real Hiss/Satrap before this gets out of hand.


>>40415488
Supporting.

>>40415420
Make a brew that includes our nonlethal venom and make it slowly evaporate into a gas that will knock her out unless she's the real hiss. Hiss and cennen would be completely immune to our venom if I'm not mistaken

>>40415507
I think hiss will be more angry at the snake for impersonating her than at us for drugging it.

>>40415420
Brew laxative

>>40415475
If this isnt hiss then we shouldn't use any snake ingredients in front of her. The constrictors would probably really not like it

>>40415420
Snake oil.

>>40415520
This. If it's a constrictor in disguise they would have no defense against it and it won't affect hiss at all if it's really her

>>40415475
>>40415557
If word gets out that we're using snake ingredients we're in deep shit guys

>>40415605
If its who I think it is she won't tell a soul.

Otherwise she's going to be in deep shit anyways.

>>40415520
>>40415420
I support this for a tie breaker. We can hide our mark/secretions.

>>40415420
Changing vote from >>40415475 to Nonlethal venom. We sell it off as an elixr of power or something.

>>40415623
Albino can't eat memories. Albino especially can't eat Hiss' memories.

>>40415646
Might want to also support this one if you're jumping ship. >>40415520

>>40415671
Which is why she's so shit at faking, She figured out a way to learn our language and our name from constant Hiss contact, but doesn't know how to really act like her.

I'm pretty sure this is what all that buildup about Oster's "special mask" was all about. I bet it's him.

>>40415763
I highly doubt it.

>Nonlethal Venom

You start putting together a fairly inoffensive brew right in front of her eyes. Really though, you could probably be brewing anything and she wouldn't know.
As she watches, you pass your hand over the pot in a casual fashion, squeezing out a few drops of venom in the process.

It only takes a few minutes to prepare a non-lethal poison based off your own venom, one that the real Hiss would be immune to.
"There we are, done! Here you go."

You pass it to her but she seems unwilling to take it, her eye darting from the bottle to you to the bottle and so forth.

"It's just another Art elixir, what's wrong?"

"Thank you, Cennen," she says, taking the bottle but clearly unwilling to drink from it.
"Is there anything else you want?"

"What's wrong? You need to drink it. Is something the matter?"
Now here's the hard part. What sort of constrictor would let themselves get pressured by a human?

Nevertheless, Hiss drinks it down in a single gulp before breaking into a coughing fit. She writhes around, nearly toppling the brazier.
"This tastes terrible!"

"It's an acquired taste. Shame you've never had the chance."
You watch her movements slow, her hands begin to tremble.

"What's going on? What was that? H-help!"

You don't answer right away, reaching out to touch her face instead. She tries to bat your hand away but her arms go limp halfway through. You brush against her cheek, her lips. She feels just like the real thing.
And then your hand goes up and pulls off her eyepatch to reveal a perfectly healthy eye beneath it.
"Better luck next time."

She falls on her back, slumping down on the ground unconscious.
You pull your rope from your pack and tie her up as best you can. You've had practice so it's not difficult.

> Find the real Hiss immediately.

> Wake her up. Hiss will probably kill her.

> Call for Tash.

> Just sit here and wait.

> Gather reagents.

> Use/Brew Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40415879
>> Call for Tash.
Lets see if we can resolve this first.

Also I wonder if we're wish bonded to her now, if so that'd be hilarious.

>>40415879
> Call for Tash.

Remember, even if it is the albino we'd be wish bonded so she can't order our death, giving us time to apologize and work this all out.

>>40415879
> Call for Tash.

>>40415879
Drink an identification brew and examine her hair/saliva and any other possible ingredients to make sure that she's really a snake or a human with a shapeshifting snake art

>>40416014
We'll know if shes a snake or not when she wakes up and does or does not attempt to murder us.

>>40416069
We nobbled her. She's wishbound and can't kill us

>>40416129
She can if she isn't a snake!

>>40416152
If she isn't a snake then she has no chance to get free of the rope

> Call for Tash.

This might be starting to stray a little out of your bailiwick. Time for some outside expertise. Will Tash know what to do in this situation? You have no idea but you don't want to find Hiss just yet because you have a feeling that Hiss' solution will be rather permanent.

You run out of the room and find one of Tash's faceless men, asking him in broken Quedeshi to go get his master. He can barely understand you but he seems to appreciate the urgency in your voice as he hurries off.
With that taken care of, you return to the room and make sure that all your knots are pulled tight. Will they even matter? If she wakes up she might be able to just pull herself free with brute strength alone.
She really does look exactly like Hiss. When did a constrictor get such a close look at her? And wouldn't they need part of her soul to approximate her image so closely?
Well, you'll find out soon enough. You're not entirely sure on the exact boundaries of the wishbond but you're pretty sure that you've well and truly nobbled this one.

Tash arrives, flanked by two of his men.
"Why Cennen, I don't believe you've ever called upon m-oh my."

"It's not the real one," you say redundantly. "It's an impostor."

"A snake?"
Tash kneels down by the Hiss-duplicate's side, running his hands through her hair.
"There should be no snakes in Lombai!"

> "I think it's the albino."

> "Actually..." Tell him about the masked man you met in town.

> "Seriously dude, stop touching her."

> Call for Hiss.

> Tell Tash to leave.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40416221
> "Actually..." Tell him about the masked man you met in town.
> "Seriously dude, stop touching her."
Kinda creepy.

>>40416221
> "Actually..." Tell him about the masked man you met in town.
> "Seriously dude, stop touching her."
> That's creepy as fuck mate.

>>40416221
> "Actually..." Tell him about the masked man you met in town.
I suspect the albino is the only one who could possibly imitate hiss's appearance so well. Wake her up and wish for her to tell you about herself and why she's here imitating hiss

>>40416221
> "Actually..." Tell him about the masked man you met in town.

Hiss might have caused problems.

> "Seriously dude, stop touching her."

>>40416221
> "Actually..." Tell him about the masked man you met in town.
> "Seriously dude, stop touching her."
> Use Potion (Specify)
what >>40416014 said

> "Actually..." Tell him about the masked man you met in town.
> "Seriously mate, stop touching her."

"Look mate, can you stop for a second? It's creepy."
Tash takes his hands off of her as you continue.
"And as for there being nobody in Lombai...well..."
You give him a brief recounting of Hiss' encounter with the masked man in the city.

You can hear Tash suck air in between his teeth as you describe just what happened.
"That is less than ideal. That man's name is Laldeep and while he may be an oaf, he is an enforcer for a serpent currently more dominant than my own lady. His master oversees the shrines and-"
He snaps his fingers.
"He must have been here to collect the albino."

But you and Hiss distracted him from his task and now you have a mysterious snake with little to no experience in Hiss' guise. You can draw the connection pretty easily.

"Now we have a problem," Tash says. Has he reached the same conclusion as you have?
"I will not spill snake blood, nor will I allow you to do so. And when she wakes, she may exercise her right to command us in any way that does not violate our current terms with our own ladies. And yet giving her to Hiss would likely lead to a politically delicate situation, let's just leave it at that."

"She can't command us if I don't want her to," you say absent-mindedly.

Tash gives you some serious side-eye.
"Of what do you speak?"

Wait. Do these people seriously not know of the wish-bond?

> Tell him about it.

> Shut up.

> Make up a lie to do with the potion you gave her.

> Other (Specify)

>>40416689
> Make up a lie to do with the potion you gave her.
> It's a poition that doesn't work for anyone but you

>>40416689
Let's say you don't want to know. Hiss would kill both of us if she knew I told you. Slowly and very painfully.

>>40416689
Lie but be vague. Just say that an alchemist with a snake art is a dangerous combination

>>40416689
Holy shit this is great, let's not fuck this up
>>40416729
This.
I'm fairly sure Tesh would abuse the fuck out of the wish bond if he knew about it.

>Lie like crazy.

You guess it makes sense after you think about it for a while. Why would the constrictors want anyone knowing of such a grievous flaw in their supremacy? It is probably forbidden knowledge, the kind that could get you killed or tortured for even just hearing about.
And that just might give you an advantage.

"The potion I gave her should render her quite passive and pliable for a time. I don't think she'll be a problem."

This explanation seems to hold water with Tash, who nods thoughtfully.
"Regardless, if this is who I think it is I should be able to handle her when she wakes up anyway. I am a Snakecharmer after all."

Before the two of you, the fake Hiss begins to stir. Her eyelids flutter.

> "I want to question her alone." You don't want Tash to see any more of the wish-bond than he absolutely has to.

> "Go for it." Stay back and see what he does.

> "Let me try first at least."

> Call for Hiss.

> Other

>>40417059
>> "Let me try first at least."
> "I want to question her alone." You don't want Tash to see any more of the wish-bond than he absolutely has to.
I have a potence potion ready in case I fail and I need you to charm her lover boy.

>>40417059
> "I want to question her alone." You don't want Tash to see any more of the wish-bond than he absolutely has to.
I'm guessing she wanted to speak with hiss, as her servant it's my duty to deal with this

>>40417059
> "Let me try first at least."

>>40417059
> "I want to question her alone." You don't want Tash to see any more of the wish-bond than he absolutely has to.
If Tash refuses, tell him to call Hiss and use that time to learn as much as we can.

>>40417059
> "I want to question her alone." You don't want Tash to see any more of the wish-bond than he absolutely has to.

> "I want to question her alone." You don't want Tash to see any more of the wish-bond than he absolutely has to.

"Let me try at first at least. You'll damage my alchemist's pride."
That elicits a chuckle at least.
"But I want to question her alone?"

The chuckle dies instantly.
"And why is that?"
He doesn't move but his rich voice oozes treacly, sudden danger lurking in the shadows. You reflexively take a step back. This is a side of Tash that you don't think you've ever seen, not since he stared down Hiss and won back in your first meeting.
It's too easy to forget about that, to compartmentalize him along with Oster as just another snake devotee. You unconsciously take a step back.

"There are secrets that are between my and my princess alone," you say. You don't know what Tash is doing but even this is nothing compared to Hiss.
"I'm sure you'd understand."

"Oh, naturally."
Tash turns away, suddenly nothing more than just a man wearing a weird mask and a goofy robe.
"Though it wounds me to think that the princess does not yet trust me, it also does me good to know that she isn't stupid."

He steps out of the room, bending down so that his feathered horns do not break upon the doorframe. His Ishmin follow him as one.
You open the door a few seconds later to check for eavesdroppers just in case but he is well and truly gone.

"Cennen?"

The fake Hiss is fully awake. She spasms, snapping your trusty rope into pieces.

> "What are you doing here?"

> "Is there something I can call you besides 'albino'?"

> Apologize for the deceit.

> Test a wish (Specify)

> "How can you copy her so exactly?"

> "How did you get here?"

> Call for Hiss.

> Say something else (Specify)

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40417475
> Apologize for the deceit.
> "Is there something I can call you besides 'albino'?"

>>40417507
Seconding

>>40417475
> Apologize for the deceit
Wasn't sure who or what you were, But I knew you weren't her.
> "Is there something I can call you besides 'albino'?"
> "How can you copy her so exactly?"
Standard trick?

>>40417475
> Apologize for the deceit.
I only knew that you weren't really Hiss, sorry about knocking you out
> "What are you doing here?"
> "Is there something I can call you besides 'albino'?"

>>40417475
>You reflexively take a step back.
>You unconsciously take a step back.

oh motherfucker

>>40417475
> Apologize for the deceit.
> "Is there something I can call you besides 'albino'?"
> "What are you doing here?"
> "How can you copy her so exactly?"

>>40417475
> Apologize for the deceit.

> "What are you doing here?"

Also, we should keep an eye on Tash, his loyalty for us or even the albino seems shaky, to say the least

>>40417574
If anyone brings it up, we say it's a teln thing they wouldn't understand

>>40417675
Yeah, he's just obligated to do whatever any snake asks of him and he wants to bang hiss. His only true loyalty lies with his own snake

>>40417803
Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I don't think he's all that devoted to the albino either. I mean, would you trust him with knowledge about the wish-bond? What do you think he'd do then.

>>40417855
I think he serves a different snake entirely, not the albino.

>>40417949
We should try giving him truth serum sometime, see what we can uncover.
Alchemy, bitch.

> Apologize for the deceit.
> "Is there something I can call you besides 'albino'?"
> "What are you doing here?"

You breathe out, not letting her casual display of strength intimidate you. She can't hurt you while you have a wish-bond between you and besides, this is probably something you'll have to get used to from constrictors.
"Sorry about the potion but I wasn't sure who or what you were exactly. But I knew you weren't her."

"How did you know?"

You laugh.
"How could I not? You might have looked the same but everything about you was different. Hiss carries an entirely different kind of atmosphere with her. She's danger and death and venom even on her best day."
And would you have it any other way?
"And you're not venomous at all, are you? In fact, you're quite docile. You let me pet you."

She gasps, her face an open book. Hiss was the same way when she had first taken human shape but she had been further protected by her own ego.

"Yeah, I know it's you. Now I know I can't say your name but do you have something I can say instead of just 'albino'?"

A blush takes to her cheeks.
"Aashenpreet. You can call me that."

"So...Aashenpreet. What are you doing here?"

The albino constrictor stares at the floor.
"Escaping. They would have my skin if I were to return to the shrine. And you can't make me go back. I'll never go back!"
She suddenly finds steel within her and meets your gaze, her eyes struggling to overpower you. But you aren't afraid and even if you were her attack is frozen by your Bane.

"That's not very nice."

"What are you?," she whispers, her worry and fear clashing with everything you know of Hiss' features.
"I can feel a chain or a link between us. What have you done to me?"
1/2

>>40418092
2/2

Could it be that not even she knows of the wish-bond? You'd assumed that the constrictors themselves would be knowledgeable and those in the invisible courts probably are but a sheltered girl like this one? One expected to only see a handful of humans in her lifetime and to never truly speak to one?
It's possible.

> Tell her about the wish-bond.

> Tell her that you've bound her will with a potion.

> "What does Aashenpreet mean anyway? I know you chose it."

> "How do you speak Teln?"

> "What's your deal anyway?"

> "Look, you being Hiss is starting to get weird. Can you change?"

> "Do you trust Tash?"

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Use a potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40418148
> Tell her that you've bound her will with a potion.
> "What does Aashenpreet mean anyway? I know you chose it."
> "How do you speak Teln?"
> "Look, you being Hiss is starting to get weird. Can you change?"
> "Do you trust Tash?"

>>40418148
DON'T tell her about the wish bond or the bane, let's play dumb on those.

> "Look, you being Hiss is starting to get weird. Can you change?"
> "What does Aashenpreet mean anyway? I know you chose it."
> "What's your deal anyway?"
> "Do you trust Tash?"

>>40418148
> Tell her about the wish-bond.
> "What does Aashenpreet mean anyway? I know you chose it."
> "How do you speak Teln?"
> "Look, you being Hiss is starting to get weird. Can you change?"
Also tell her that we'd like to help her out

>>40418177
>>40418148
I'll change my vote to exclude the potion thing.

So
> "Look, you being Hiss is starting to get weird. Can you change?"
> "What does Aashenpreet mean anyway? I know you chose it."
> "How do you speak Teln?"
> "Do you trust Tash?"

You know, Hiss IS plotting the downfall of an entire culture, a culture which currently does not favor albino (I can't be arsed to write the name), so we have an opportunity here.

>>40418342
They favor her here far more than Hiss would or snakehome does.

>>40418358
And yet they're still ready to flay her alive for heresy. I see all sorts of shit we can use her for. Most of which actually benefits her in the long run.

No captcha, mashed potatoes are not ice cream.

>>40418399
Yeah we're in a position to help her and she could probably help us get whatever holy item hiss wants since she's involved with the shrine

>>40418431
This.
We need a new party member, ome that'r more trustworthy than Tesh

>>40418633
Trustworthy does not mean more useful, he knows the politics the best out of all of us. We still need him for that.

>>40418711
Fine. But we're still keeping Aashenpreet, right?

Also, we need to find her a dumb nickname.

>>40418809
Cuddles.
That's what constrictors do, right. They cuddle. aggressively.

>>40418838
dude no

>>40418838
>>40418847

Holy shit, it's fucking terrible...

I vote for Cuddles.
Also, Hiss will love it.

>>40418838
Seems disrespectful

>>40418951
Considering we wish bound another snake and its the not as weak or as slow as she appeared constrictor? Probably not, especially if we make light of it.

>>40419109
It's not like wishbinding is human-snake courtship or a fuck/marriage proposal, anon.

Right? Hiss will believe that, right? Oh god what have we done.

> "Look, you being Hiss is starting to get weird. Can you change?"
> "What does Aashenpreet mean anyway? I know you chose it."
> "How do you speak Teln?"
> "Do you trust Tash?"


“I don’t know what you’re talking about. How do you speak Teln?”
You don’t need to answer her just right now, not while this knowledge can still be used to your advantage. Besides having her wishbound in secret could be immensely useful and she’s less likely to hold a grudge over it. You suppose she probably deserves to know that her will is no longer her own but you don’t care about what people deserve much these days.

“Oh, uh,” she seems completely thrown off track by the sudden change in the conversation.
“I got it from the princess when she was mingling with me. She didn’t know it but I was taking from her even as she was from me.”
That might explain her current guise, you suppose. Which brings up another issue.

“That reminds me, I’m not really comfortable with you looking like Hiss. Can’t you change?”

“Why? Is it because you had sex with her?”

“Uh, a little. How do you know about that anyway?”
Her mingling with Hiss was before any of that.

She makes a face.
“You two forgot about me fairly often. I was still coiled up by the fireplace half the time she called you to her room while we were on the ship together.”

You feel a deep mortification suddenly rise up from the pit of your stomach.
“You were?”
Oh shit, she totally was!
“So you just watched?”

She folds her arms, looking almost exactly like Hiss for a moment.
“It’s not like I had a choice.”

“Well, ...uh. Um. So yeah, can you change?”

“No. I don’t have any souls inside of me, my only real reference point is Hiss.”

You grunt. You’ll have to feed her some people you suppose. Funny how that doesn’t really bother you.
1/??

>>40419152
2/?

“So you’ve really never eaten anyone? What’s your deal then? Why are you named Aashenwhatever?”

“Aashenpreet.”

“Yeah. That.”

“It means ‘beloved of Aashmid’. I chose it because it’s part of what I am.”

“Aashmid?”

“The one you call the Creator.”

“You name him? Isn’t that blasphemy?”
You’re not really theologically trained but that’s one of those things that everyone knows, same with trying to name a spirit.

“No! It just means ‘Making One’ in Quedeshi! In Qesh particularly. It is disrespectful to refer to it as any other word, even in other languages. Tash was telling me before that he’d ran into this problem with a lot of the ambassadors at your palace-party that burned down.”

“Wait? You worship the Creator?”

“Of course we do! Who doesn’t?”

You think back to Hiss and Snakehome, which could be described as maltheist at best. But then again, Snakehome was just a secluded enclave. Quedesh was an empire sprawling atop the world.

“As an albino,” Aashenpreet continues, “I have been given into his services at the seventy-seven shrines and the land of the Compact.”

You interrupt her again.
“Compact?”

The constrictor rolls her eyes.
“Do you think we were able to prosper and conquer while in opposition to Aashmid? That’s impossible. We have long made peace with him and his void-children. The Compact House is the bridge between us, forgiveness made flesh. It is an honor for the Compact to draw the weakest of us into the fold. Your princess does not understand.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve seen it in her eyes and heard it in her voice. She detests me for how I was born. She doesn’t want to kill me but she’d never shed a tear over me. She is ungodly, to see holiness and mistake it for weakness.”

“It’s not her fault,” you say. “It’s how she was raised. But…maybe she could see the light, so to speak.”

“What do you mean?”

>>40419166
3/3

“I mean that I think Hiss will very much want to visit your shrines and your Compact House. She doesn’t know it yet but she comes here as a pilgrim, ready to brought from barbarism into civility.”
More particularly, she wants to eat it and ravage it and scatter it upon the winds. But a few lies to Aashenpreet in the service of your Queen is no great sin.

The idea seems to take root within her as you watch her expressions slowly morph from one to another, each completely unguarded. There’s a light in her eyes.
“Maybe I will.”

“Now, there’s just one more thing I’d like to know. You’ve known him longer than any of us. What are your thoughts on Tas-”

You are interrupted by a clamor in the hall outside.
“I’ll tell yooou when I’ve had enough!”
You’d know that voice anywhere and not just because it mirrors your own. It’s Hiss! And she’s...slurring?

Aashenpreet pales, her eyes going wide.
“They let her into the cellar! Hide me!”

“Eh?”

“She’ll kill me if she sees me like this! Please!”
She...she might! In fact, what will Hiss have to say to you about this? Greedy, selfish Hiss finding you wishbound with another snake? You're certain that she'd understand with time, even if she doesn't like it. But before she comes to that understanding, there is more than enough time for an angry accident to kill you twice over.
And she's drunk. The satrap let her drink. Oh nooooooo.

“Then just change bac-”

Hiss pushes the door open, a mostly empty jug in hand.


> Try to push Aashenpreet under the bed.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Don’t hide her.

> Nobble Hiss.

> Use a potion to hide her (Specify)

> Other

>>40419209
> Nobble Hiss.
PANIC.

>>40419209
>> Use a potion to hide her (Specify)
SMOKEBOMB!

>>40419209
>> Use a potion to hide her (Specify)
And
> Nobble Hiss.
With a kiss and maybe rope.

>>40419209
> Try to push Aashenpreet under the bed.

>>40419241
Potion was the shrinking one btw sorry.

>>40419246
No, you fool, this is literally begging for you to trip and be completely misunderstood by drunk hiss!

>>40419209
Wish for her to gain the invisibility snake art quietly

>>40419322
This

>>40419209
Crap.
> Try to push Aashenpreet under the bed.
> Can we use a potion to sober Hiss up?
Because as she is right now, she'll probably won't care for anything we have to say.

Damn, this thread is awesome but I have to go. See you next time, guys, try to not get everyone killed.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Alright, looks like a tie between trying to push her under the bed and wishing for her to spontaneously gain camouflage. Odds for the former, evens for the latter.

Rolled 22 (1d000000000000100)

>>40419496
Awwww sheeeit. Well, at least there's a precedent and we're not asking her to do the impossible. >>39945071
Still, I think she's going to have to watch go at it from the background. Again. Rollan for Cennen's performance under pressure. Nat1 means bad end. Nat100 means threesome.

>>40419496
>Wish for to get really good at camouflague.

Can you push her under the bed? No, that might take too long! You could use a shrinking potion to hide her but you only have two of those left! You could use a smokebomb but that's way too obvious! Shit shit shit shit.
And then in a moment of clarity amidst the chaos, you remember the Snakecatcher unveiling itself from its impossible shroud. You remember your vision through time, the Serpent King being both snake and darkness alike.

"I wish you had strong enough camouflage Art," you mutter to yourself.

"Whassat?"
Hiss leans into you, dropping her jug. You can smell the drink on her breath.

"Nothing."
You risk a look behind you. You can barely make out a moving silhouette superimposing itself over the wall and Hiss in her haze can't see her at all.

"Well come on boy," she sways from one side to the other. "I have use for you."

You mouth 'sorry' at the barely visible Aashenpreet as Hiss pushes you onto the bed. She lies down next to you, wrapping her arms around you as she...

...promptly falls asleep. You think back to the time with the snake oil in Tedwell. Hiss actually can't hold her drink, can she?
It doesn't seem like you can wake her.

You try to get up but her grip around you is no less tighter for being asleep and there's not a chance in the world you can break it without the constrictor's help.
And you're not burning a wish for that, particularly given how confused the python must be already.

Resigning yourself to your fate, you do your best to go to sleep.

>>40419643
Oh, right. Shit. I forgot reptiles were total lightweights because of their liver thing.

>>40419542
>threesome

I don't know if we could handle double Hiss, even if one is just Hiss in body alone. That's like 13 feet worth of bitches.
Still weirds me out to think of her being the better part of 6 1/2 feet tall. To much anime gave me the ideal she was like a Rie Kugimiya kinda tsundere. Ya know, tiny.

>>40419643
And that's that for the thread today. I hope you guys had fun. I won't be running tomorrow but I will be the day after that. Check the archives, twitter etc etc.

There may be an interlude in a bit.

>>40419739
Thanks Ouro! Looking forward to the next session.

>>40419739
Aw crap. Who'd we piss off this time? Oh, right. The Inquisitor snake who's probably gonna want to murder us for "kidnapping" a sacred priestess and assaulting his human. Shit.

I guess it wouldn't be Snakecatcher if we didn't have at least one person after our lives.

>>40419768
Bart might have gotten his shit back together by now as well. I hate wizards.

>>40419724
You forget that Hiss is exactly as tall as she wants to be in human form (within reason). She hates being perceived as lesser in any way so she's always going to be tall.
Well that and her first experience with Cennen was Cennen using the size advantage he had over her natural form to pick her up and dump her in his backpack.

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70 KB JPG

>>40419835
Nah man I get her reasoning in story and what not but, shit, I'm like 5'9 so her being that tall is something quite odd for a manlet like my self. Pretty hot, but still odd.

Eh, there's not going to be an interlude I decided. Thread's over officially.