>>40974557
It’s the following day after the attack or at least what you can only assume was an attack. Oster is still recuperating from his self-inflicted wound but considering the amount of potions that you’ve stayed up brewing for him, he should be just fine.

“That’s life,” you say as you stand up and leave him to his thoughts. You’re all in the inn right now but you’re not sure if you should be. This place is no safe haven to you, the shadow at your window was proof of that.
You might need to move out soon which is fine by you, you’re used to it. But for now it looks like you have some time for yourself.

> Go find Hiss. We need to talk about where we’re going.

> Go find Aashenpreet and ask her about what happened.

> Just stay with Oster.

> You need to restock your brews, you’re running dangerously low.

> You can use this time to experiment!

> Other

>>40974566
> Go find Aashenpreet and ask her about what happened.
We should know what we're up to when we face that guy.
Also, we should really ask her about the compact. It's sort of important

>>40974566
> Go find Hiss. We need to talk about where we’re going.
> Go find Aashenpreet and ask her about what happened.
We should meet with both of them together

>>40974566
>> Just stay with Oster.
> You need to restock your brews, you’re running dangerously low
talk while you brew maybe give him a soulmend for reaction check.

>>40974566
>You need to restock your brews, you’re running dangerously low.
Fill up on explosives and soul potions. Also restoratives, healing etc.

> Go find Aashenpreet and ask her about what happened.

You decide to leave Oster for now and to go find Aash, hopefully she has something else to tell you. And besides, there's a lot that you need to ask her about anyway.
And as luck would have it, she's right outside the door! Her hand is extended as if to open it when you do and she rocks back in surprise, jagged teeth showing themselves for but a moment before she regains composure.
"Is he alright?"

"Who, Oster? Yeah he'll be fine. I think he wants to be alone for now though."

"Oh."
She looks down, a telegraphed gesture.
"That makes sense. As long as he's not going to die because of me."

You wince, thinking back on the account that she's already given you. Apparently Oster only took the injury he did because he rushed to her defense. Hiss' reaction to this was less than happy.

> Ask her for a full account.

> Ask her about the compact.

> "What's with you and Oster anyway?"

> Ask her about the terrain ahead of us and where exactly we're going.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>40974836
Ah sorry, I missed this vote.

>>40974893
> Ask her for a full account.
> Ask her about the compact.
Use some of her blood+identification brew while she explains so we can check to see if the wishbond is screwed up still

>>40974893
> Ask her for a full account.
> "What's with you and Oster anyway?"
then
> Ask her about the terrain ahead of us and where exactly we're going.
> Ask her about the compact.

>>40974893
> Ask her for a full account.
Aash, Oster spent his entire life serving snakes. He'd have done what he did for any of them.
> Ask her about the compact
Ask her about the wish bond.

>>40974893
>Ask her about the terrain ahead of us and where exactly we're going.

>>40974932
Good idea.

>>40974932
I'm not sure if it will work like that but it's worth a shot and it might be a useful brew anyway

>>40974932
If she's against giving us blood then we can say we want to check everyone's soul for damage since the wizard could mess with souls somehow

We should give hiss a regen brew and bottle up a bunch of her blood to use so we don't have to harvest it from her so often

>>40975111
Blood goes bad pretty quickly. Yo ucant really keep it for any length of time.

>>40975197
We can brew and experiment pretty quickly once we get a large supply of blood though

> Ask her for a full account.
> Ask her about the compact.

You start prepping a cold brew as you speak, an identification potion.
"Eh. Aash, Oster's spent his whole life serving your kind. He'd have done what he did for any of them. No need to feel bad about it."

Her forehead creases.
"Why would that make me feel better?"

You stop to think about it.
"I'm...not entirely sure. Well no worries, it's all good. So just what happened last night exactly?"

"It was awful! Oster and I went out to the Kouri caravan to see the talijinn. You remember that right?"

"Yes, yes. You don't need to ask."

"And at first it was a lot of fun. We had a good time though Oster didn't want to act like it. I really liked the puppets but after a few minutes they started moving. They started moving in the wrong way. The shadows came to life and latched around my feet!"

You're more than familiar with this, having experienced much of the same yourself.
"And what about the wizard? What was he doing?"

"That's what Oster called him, yes. He was running because Oster had his sword out and I saw blood. But...I don't remember what happened afterwards."
She shakes her head.
"There were shadows on me, pulling my own free. I had to kill myself, the other me because she was my shadow. Fortunately she seemed bound in human form because that's what I was in when it was torn free so I just reverted and I think you saw the rest."

You nod, trying to think.
"And you don't remember the interim?"

She shakes her head.
"It was very cold."

Blast. You still don't know what was going on with the wish-bond then. But it's certainly possible that having something latch onto your soul like that is enough to drive you unconscious.
You've passed out for less.

"How long do we have to do this?"
To say that she doesn't look happy would be an understatement.
"I never asked for any of this."

"You sort of did but alright. It should only be until we reach this 'Compact House' place of yours."
1/2

>>40975229
2/2

Speaking of which...

> What is the Compact House anyway?

> What's the nature of the Compact?

> How do the shrines and the other priestesses like you work?

> Where does Attaraan come into this shrine business?

> Why did you run?

> Other

>>40975268
> What is the Compact House anyway?
> What's the nature of the Compact?
> Why did you run?

>>40975268
>> What is the Compact House anyway?
> What's the nature of the Compact?
> Where does Attaraan come into this shrine business?
Will he still come after once your back?

>>40975229
>"It was very cold."
Guys it might be a spirit

>>40975268

> What is the Compact House anyway?
> What's the nature of the Compact?
> How do the shrines and the other priestesses like you work?

>>40975268
> What is the Compact House anyway?
> What's the nature of the Compact?

> What is the Compact House anyway?
> What's the nature of the Compact?

Aashenpreet looks in both directions as if she feared something suddenly looming out through the corridor to intercept her.
"It is funny that you should mention that, Cennen. I have been wondering...what is your purpose with it?"

"Like I sai-"

"I know what you told me. But that was several days ago and I am no longer certain Hiss would benefit from such a pilgrimage. Nor do I know why you would want her to."

"Maybe there's something I want her to see, Aash. If the Creator has truly forgiven your people then I want her to see the proof of that. Maybe then she'll finally see the light."
Absolute lies, of course. You are taking Hiss there because she wants to tear it all down and gain power but you can hardly tell Aashenpreet that.

She nods but with a tinge of doubt still heavy in her voice.
"Aashmid is wise and I cannot question their plan. But I don't know how she would take it."

"The Compact you mean? Well maybe I'd be able to answer that if you actually told me a little about it. You've been a little vague."

"There isn't much to speak about," she protests. "The most worthy part of it is simply what it represents. It is Aashmid's forgiveness and our grace."

"Yeah and that's great but uh, what IS it exactly? Is there a physical object or..."

"It is a promise," she says flatly. "The promise Aashmid gave to our ancestors when they first erected their power over Qesh."

"A promise of what? Forgiveness?"
That's a little generic, there has to be something else to it.

"Not just that but redemption as well," Aashenpreet says, somehow drawing a distinction between the two.
"The promise to make us what we once were."

"Dragons?"

"Spirits! Or something like spirits anyway. Aashmid never spoke directly but the Compact House appeared the thirtieth night after the conquest of Qesh, on the day when the Qeshite shah bent the knee to the Maharaja and the invisible courts were established."

1/2

>>40975618

"Qesh...That name rings familiar for some reason. Do you mean Quedesh?"

Aashenpreet sighs.
"No. Qesh is the heartland, the first land. You could say it is the true Quedesh however. Talwi, Ur, Reian, Injab, the Kouri and Ti tribes and so on, they are slave states."

"Right, I think Tash told me something like that. Maybe."

"But yes, it was after the initial conquest that the Compact House appeared atop the mountains. And with it came spirits and a promise, to tell us that Aashmid had not forgotten us. That even in our fallen mortal forms, we were still his children or children of his children. The promise that our cursed forms might be only a temporary punishment. That is the Compact made between us."

"So the House just appeared? Did the shrines do so too?"

"No, we built the shrines afterwards. I've only been in them, I've never been all the way up the slopes to the House itself. Only the best of those in the shrines are ever selected to serve in the House itself."

"But you know what the House is like?"

She nods.
"It is full of pilgrims, day in and day out no matter the season. Most of them are our people but humans are permitted too. There are people who travel from all over to reach it, brought all over by the promise of transformation and a chance to reverse your fate."

"Yeah but how does it work?"

She hisses.
"You're not supposed to ask about that! It just does! If Aashmid can make the world they can make a building!"

You've apparently touched some sort of nerve.
"No sorry, I meant how does it grant this 'transformation'?"

"I don't know. It's never happened. Nobody's ever been good enough to change their own fate. But that doesn't stop people from trying. There are pilgrims who have lived in the House for centuries, playing and playing again. One day someone will be worthy, by holy statistics if nothing else."

"So what are the shrines for then?"

2/3

>>40975858

"The shrines are stepping stones and training grounds, for pilgrims and priests alike. The House is at the top of Chau Devi, a steep and holy mountain. That is a punishing path for even the most stalwart of pilgrims to follow so the seventy-seven shrines are there, each one built further along the path from the base to the peak. Pilgrims can rest there and beg guidance or to see the fates told by me or by somebody like me, a snake touched by Aashmid while still in the egg."

"Right, right. But how are they training grounds for you? Don't you just live there forever?"

"No! We are there only in transition! Or that's the idea anyway. We are there to practice our readings and our dealings, to bask in the reflected glory. And when the suzerains of the House have judged us worthy we are taken to the House itself to serve. It's all very simple!"

You nod, feeling that it's anything but.
"Well, you'll be seeing the House with us I suppose. Not as a priestess but as a pilgrim. But uh, won't Attaraan or someone like him just punish you the moment they see you taking us up the mountain?"

Aashenpreet closes her eyes and turns away for a moment.
"I will have to leave you at the base of the Devi, that is true. You will go on to the peak without me and I will never see it."

> Promise to take her to the peak.

> "Why are you guiding us anyway? I mean, really? Hiss can't force you to do anything."

> Put your arm around her.

> Ask more questions (Specify)

> Make a wish to test to see if the wish-bond is still present.

> Ask her for some blood to finish your experimental brew with the identification potion.

> Leave

> Other

>>40976036
> Ask her for some blood to finish your experimental brew with the identification potion.
They won't know it's her if she's disguised when she takes us up the mountain right?

>>40976036
>> Ask her for some blood to finish your experimental brew with the identification potion.
> "Why are you guiding us anyway? I mean, really? Hiss can't force you to do anything."
And too be honest I'd make some wishes if you really wanted out.

>>40976036
>> Promise to take her to the peak.
>> "Why are you guiding us anyway? I mean, really? Hiss can't force you to do anything."

>>40976036
> Promise to take her to the peak.
Tell her she could use a shapestealer brew to disguise her body and soul if she's worried about detection
> Ask her for some blood to finish your experimental brew with the identification potion.

>>40976036
>Promise to take her to the peak.

> "Why are you guiding us anyway? I mean, really? Hiss can't force you to do anything."

>>40976036
>> Put your arm around her.
>>I've been a dragon. Trust me. Being you, constrictors I mean, is much easier on the head and the ego.
>> "Why are you guiding us anyway? I mean, really? Hiss can't force you to do anything."

>>40976036
> "Why are you guiding us anyway? I mean, really? Hiss can't force you to do anything."
> Ask her for some blood to finish your experimental brew with the identification potion.

>>40976036
>Promise to take her to the peak
>Ask her for some blood to finish your experimental brew with the identification potion.

> Promise to take her to the peak.
> "Why are you guiding us anyway? I mean, really? Hiss can't force you to do anything."
> Ask her for some blood to finish your experimental brew with the identification potion.

"Well, that's no way to go about it. If you're going to come that far you might as well go all the way."

She turns back around.
"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Aashenpreet, that I promise to take you to the top of this mountain. To the House and to within it as well."

"But they'll kno-"

"You can always take another shape. It's your birthright. And if you need more then I'll make any sort of potion you want to guise you, to let you climb with us."

"You would? But that just means you'll get punished too!"

"I'm pretty sure that they're out for me already. But it doesn't matter, I don't care about any of that."

"And you'd do that? For me?"
She lurches forward all of a sudden and you flinch away before she puts her arms around you and pulls you into a hug. She's soft and warm and you've lost your breath to speak further. Though that's less because of anything special and more because she's squeezing the air out of your lungs.

Your wheezing alerts her and she relaxes her grip but doesn't let go. You suppose she's a constrictor by nature after all though the idea that this is how she kills people doesn't make you feel better.
"Yeah, I'll do that. I've done worse for people nowhere near as kind as you."

She pulls back entirely before she breaks your ribs.
"Do you really think I'm kind? Aren't I doing all this just for my own benefit?"

"Nah. I don't believe Hiss is actually forcing you to guide us. You know this land at least you little, you could escape at any time. And I've seen your true form, you're much bigger and stronger than she is so it's not like she could restrain you. So why are you really guiding us?"

She takes a step back but circles in back closer to you.
1/2

>>40976476
Shit the wishbond is almost definitely gone

>>40976520

Why do you say that?

>>40976476
Hiss might not be able to restrain her but she could easily kill her if she wants. Also I'm willing to bet hiss is eavesdropping and very pissed that we're saying stuff like that

>>40976548
She almost crushed us and the wishbond didn't stop her

>>40976476
2/2

"I owe you, you and Oster both. For several things, most of which I don't think I can ever repay. But more importantly, this is my life isn't it? I was born to guide people up the Chau Devi, to help anyone who wishes to find what they seek there. I'm supposed to help travelers like you, whether it be a journey physical or spiritual. It's who I am. So when you told me back in Lombai that you were seeking the Compact, I was secretly glad. Because I thought I had forsaken all of me when I had fled the shrine and I had become nobody, just a disgraced impure serpent. But guiding you lets me be a priestess again, if only for a little while. So that's why I said I'm being selfish, I'm only helping you because it makes me feel good!"

You laugh, just a short chuckle but you can't really help yourself.
"So that's your confession then? That deep down you're just a nice person that wants to help us? I don't care if you're doing it for the feeling or whatever, I still think that makes you pretty kind."

She frowns but can't hold it, your smile proving infectious.
"I guess it does sound silly."

And there the conversation peters out for a minute or so, the two of you just standing together out in the corridor before you remember what else you'd been doing.
"Oh, uh, do you mind if I borrow some of your blood? There's brew I'm trying to experiment with and well, yeah."

"Go ahead."

She holds her hand out and you take it in yours, letting it rest there for a moment before slowly bringing your knife down.

> Use the blood to start experimenting immediately.

> Keep talking to Aashenpreet a little while longer.

> Go find Hiss.

> Other

>>40976614
Hiss almost killed us several times while bound, she didn't grip us hard enough to pose a serious risk

>>40976646
>> Keep talking to Aashenpreet a little while longer.
All brew and no talk makes Cennen a smeghead.

>>40976646
>> Use the blood to start experimenting immediately.
Sorry but the mage might have messed up the wish bond somehow. Which worries me. A lot.

>>40976646
> Go find Hiss.
Then
> Use the blood to start experimenting immediately.

>>40976646
> Use the blood to start experimenting immediately.
Make the potion, then
> Go find Hiss.
and tell her all this.

Man, we're going to break poor ash's heart, I feel bad.

>>40976646
> Go find Hiss.
She's gonna murder aash if she saw all the hugging and hand touching

>>40976844
Anon Really?

>>40976880
Yes?

>>40976925
not trusting hiss and implying we're dumb enough to tell her about it.

>>40976925
>>40976963
Also, we already discussed this. Hiss won't kill Aash over petty jealousy, she's (barely) bigger than that.
Also, Aash is too valuable an asset

> Use the blood to start experimenting immediately.
>Go find Hiss

You collect the blood in a vial while Aashenpreet winces.
"I don't understand how Hiss is so blase about this. It hurts."

"It might hurt her, it might not. I've never asked. But she wouldn't tell the truth if I did."

You decide to leave the python be for now, letting her go see Oster. That leaves you alone with your cauldron and your brews but not for long.
You walk down the corridor, cauldron in one hand and snake blood in the other until you reach the door to the room you and Hiss are sharing.
Hiss is in there, as you expected. She says nothing as you start setting up for experimentation.

This leaves it to you to start the conversation.
"And how are you this morning?"

"I hate wizards," she grumbles. "But is it too much to expect Oster to not get himself stabbed for basically no reason? He's supposed to be a really good swordsman."

"Well it wasn't just for 'no reason', he was protecting Aash."

"Same thing. She's just our guide. And maybe a useful tool, if you think about it."

You look up. That doesn't sound good.
"Pardon?"

"I want to take this Compact whatever, right? Well Cennen, it has occurred to me some days ago that they probably won't let us anywhere near it considering the Attaraan debacle."

You nod.
"It'll have to be more disguises."
You're currently wearing an Alteration Brew and Hiss is still sitting in her Quedeshi form, the same one that she took that night in the Teeth. A night and a body that you aren't liable to forget for several reasons.

"That's a pain though. And if we're discovered it'll be a lot of bother. So I had an idea, a way to make our cripple a little more useful."

You don't like the sound of this. Your stirring slows.
"Oh?"

"She's escaped right? I know that at least Attaraan was willing to travel all over the countryside just to get her back so they must want her pretty badly. And by the time she's guided us there she won't be of any more use sooooo..."
1/2

>>40977047
Dammit Hiss!

>>40977047
2/2

"You're suggesting a trade?"
You do your best to keep your voice level.

Hiss nods, beaming.
"We just hand her over and we can get to this Compact House without any extra hassle whatsoever! What do you think?"

> "It's a good plan." You're not going to do it when the time comes though.

> "It's a good plan." Sorry Aashenpreet.

> "It's a good plan but maybe a little premature. She might be of still more use later." Disagree without actually disagreeing.

> "I already promised to take her all the way."

> Just keep brewing.

> Other

>>40977105
> "It's a good plan but maybe a little premature. She might be of still more use later." Disagree without actually disagreeing.
She knows the compact house inside and out after all. Something about it smells crooked. Also they'll probably kill me on sight without a disguise for my soul.

>>40977105
> Just keep brewing.
> "It's a good plan." You're not going to do it when the time comes though.

It's no use arguing with her, we'll eihter have to come up with a better plan along the way (Oster can help) or somehow get hiss to start liking Aash

>>40977105
Wouldn't this be one of the few things we could possibly do to make them hate us more?

We would meet up with them, and be slaughtered immediately? Then they'd have her, and will have killed the insane foreigners.

>>40977105
I don't think they'll be willing to let us in the compact house even if we do that. We're the ones who helped her escape in the first place

>>40977105
>"I already promised to take her all the way."

>>40977105
>> "It's a good plan but maybe a little premature. She might be of still more use later." Disagree without actually disagreeing.
>> Just keep brewing.
Hiss is so lucky we love her. This is not kosher.

>>40977199
This. There's no way it would work

>>40977105
We need to keep our plans regarding the compact absolutely secret though. Our best bet is to disguise ourselves as pilgrims

Anyone else has captcha playing up? It refused to work for me for almost ten minutes.

> "It's a good plan but maybe a little premature. She might be of still more use later." Disagree without actually disagreeing.

You keep stirring for a bit, figuring out how best to put your idea to words. You're certainly against it but how best to say it? These days it's a real effort to even directly go against her so you don't think simply rebuking her world work. Best to just pace around it.

"Oh, it's absolutely a good plan but I don't know if we'll need it. She'll probably be of more use once we get there. She knows the Compact House in and out after all."
Aashenpreet has never been in the House at all but you're willing to bet that Hiss doesn't know this.

Hiss sighs.
"You might be right. But it's still something to think about. What are you making anyway? Is that the brew I asked for?"

Oh shit, you practically forgot about that.
"No, it's a different brew. It's pretty urgent but I'll make what you wanted after I'm done."

She crosses her arms and gives you a withering glare.
"Cennnnnnnnen, I know we just had a talk about things like this. But I asked you for that potion yesterday. I respect you and I've let you do what you feel is best but really? It was still an order. So put that aside and brew it."

> Put your current brew aside and get to work on Hiss' request.

> "Soon." If she can wait a day she can wait a bit longer can't she?

> Other

>>40977507
> Put your current brew aside and get to work on Hiss' request.

>>40977507
Hiss whatever that wizard di may have messed up the wish bond. This is to make sure it's still intact and he's not using it to track us. I thought it might be more important, but if you want to possibly wizard to know where we are at all times...

>>40977507
> Put your current brew aside and get to work on Hiss' request.
I didn't realize how urgently you needed this brew immediately, sorry

>>40977507
Fuck... She's right.

> Put your current brew aside and get to work on Hiss' request.

>>40977507
> Put your current brew aside and get to work on Hiss' request.
apologize, call her your highness, etc
I've had no problems with captcha btw

>>40977529
>>40977548
>>40977587
>>40977616
You do realize we're going to regret this right?

>>40977646
Elaborate

>>40977674
Wizard seems to have a soul link on us he can sue to find us. Shadow spam at us forever.

>>40977695
Considering that we haven't moved from the last place he attacked us I don't think it's really a factor

>>40977695
We don't know that for sure, the bond might have been restored when Aash killed her shadow, but I see what you're trying to say
I mantain >>40977587, although I add >>40977543.

Anyway, any contact he's had with our soul probably messed him up because of the Bane.

>>40977754
I'm worried that it made him find out that we're a spiritbane since it didn't kill him

>>40977507
>> "Soon." If she can wait a day she can wait a bit longer can't she?

Alright guys, hold on. I was trying to squeeze in a few more updates before this but I have a dentist's appointment. I'll be back soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcVPuXzDq5s


appropriate I think

Alright I'm back. Had a pretty nice checkup and I stopped by a sandwich place afterwards to immediately ruin it.

Voted called in favour of doing what she wants.

> Put your current brew aside and get to work on Hiss' request.

You just nod and sigh, bottling your nascent attempt at a soul inspection brew and putting it away for now. She's right.
Having cleared out your cauldron you start with a treebrew as a base, mix it with the venom you had taken from Hiss the day before and after a moment's hesitation, a handful of Shek.
Something to kill plants, to poison the land itself. You still don't know why she wants this but you make sure to handle it with care. You're a plant yourself after all, you don't want to touch this.

"Sorry Hiss, I didn't realize that this brew was so urgent that you needed it immediately. Sorry."

Hiss raises an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to be snide? Its urgency doesn't matter. What matters is that if I ask you for something and you agree, you probably shouldn't just shelve the idea for a DAY and need to be reminded to get to work!"

"Yeah, I understand. Would you like me to say sorry again?"
You finish the mixing and start to stir, estimating just what you'll need to make this into what she wants; a weapon.

"No I know you won't mean it."
Harsh words but in a soft tone. Hiss sits down behind you, her arms reaching under yours. She's cool to the touch, blood running cold. She hasn't been outside in the sun yet, probably worried about Oster. She's cold and in need of warmth.
"I didn't mean to be tough on you. But I thought we were at the point where we could trust each other."

"We are," you say, only half your mind focusing on the brew as she presses up behind you.

She leans forward and drops her chin on your shoulder, her cheek against yours. She savors the warmth for a time before speaking again.
"That's good. Because I trust you Cennen. And that's what this potion is. I wouldn't ask you to make something so important if I didn't have faith in you."

> Keep on brewing. You can feel bad later.

> "I haven't been entirely honest with you." Tell her about Aashenpreet.

> Distract her.

> Other

>>40979316
Ouro what is this one about?
> "I haven't been entirely honest with you." Tell her about Aashenpreet.

>>40979316
> Keep on brewing. You can feel bad later.
"Having asked for something as specific as this, I assume you have a plan. May I ask what is it?

>>40979375
>>40979316
Support.

>>40979371
I think it's about how we promised to take her to the top of the mountain

>>40979371
Oh sorry, I guess that wasn't open enough. It's about the fact that you promised to take her to the top of the mountain, something that you have very much not told Hiss.
And normally you would continue to not tell Hiss this but her thing about trust is making Cennen feel a little bad about not doing so.

>>40979316
> "I haven't been entirely honest with you." Tell her about Aashenpreet.
Tell her we're 100% willing to break our promise to aash if it's truly necessary for our mission but also say that treating aash nicely could be advantageous

>>40979375
>>40979316
Backing plus tell her about the "wizard" possibly subverting the soulbond somehow.

>>40979432
This. I want to be totally honest with hiss. She matters a lot more to me than aashenpreet

>>40979316
> "I haven't been entirely honest with you." Tell her about Aashenpreet.

>>40979375
Why do you want to deceive hiss? She'll find out about our promise eventually

>>40979375
Seriously when has keeping secrets from hiss ever worked out well for us?

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Looks like a tie between "I haven't been entirely honest with you" and >>40979375.
Evens for the former, odds the latter.

>>40979504
>>40979549
Neither time nor place and makes her suspect us of infidelity.

>>40979432
>>40979455
>>40979574
Yeah I know, Hiss over Aash. But can we at least try to hurt her as little as possible?

> "I haven't been entirely honest with you." Tell her about Aashenpreet.

You shift uncomfortably, nearly knocking her off.
"Uh, about that."

You can't see her but you can practically FEEL Hiss' gaze tracking up to your face.
"About what, pray tell?"
Her voice is sickly sweet, a warning sign if you've ever heard one.

"Aash and I were talking a little just before I came to see you. About the Compact."

Hiss has stopped moving entirely, a frozen statue whose mouth is worryingly close to your face.
"And?"

"I may have promised that I would take her all to the way to the Compact House."

She's still behind you and thus out of sight but you can feel Hiss relax, her body slackening against you.
"So that's why you were so hesitant."

"Y-yeah."

"And is that really all? Cennen, that doesn't matter. And you know why?"
Her right hand retracts only to return creeping above your shoulder, your chin held in her grip.
"Because if it comes down to it, you will break your promise to her. You will betray her and you won't even hesitate. Isn't that right?"

You have no room left for lies or half-truths. Only your honest answer.

> Yes

> No

> Other

>>40979792
> Yes

>>40979792
Yes, If I absolutely HAVE too, I will, however I keep my promises if at all possible Hiss. You of all people should know that.

>>40979792
>No

>>40979792
> Yes
I'd probably feel bad about it though. I don't like the idea of betrayal

>>40979792
> Yes

>>40979792
> No
This is a simbolic vote.
Damn you Ouro, I can't handle this.
"You're tearing me apart, Hiss!"

>>40979792
> Yes
You're the most important thing to me but I would still feel like an awful person if I betrayed her so all I can do is ask you not to make me do it

>>40979792
>>40979914
Changing to say >>40979935

>>40979792
>> Yes
But don't make me do it Hiss. Breaking promises may start with her, and end with you.

>>40979973
What an awful write in. We're not gonna betray hiss and even if we were telling hiss about it beforehand is a terrible idea

> Yes

"Yes. Yes. I would if I had to. But I'd really rather not. I like to keep my promises if possible Hiss. You of all people should know that."

"I do. Don't ever think I don't know what you're worth. And you will be justly rewarded with all you deserve, a spot by my right hand forever."

You smile.
"I'd really rather not do it though. I like her, she's a nice girl."

"And if I can, I won't put you in that position. But I just needed to know. Because if you'll do that to her, who you like, you'll do it to anybody won't you?"

"I-"

She suddenly picks you up bodily from the ground, spinning you around until you're facing her and virtually in her lap.
"You won't like doing it but...you'll forsake the world for me, wouldn't you?"

You look her straight in the eye and you are lost. You have your Bane, an inviolate protection against matters of the soul but her eyes draw you in regardless and trap you through no magic save the mundane.
"Yes," you repeat. "I would."

"And I would do the same for you, Cennen. You only have to say the word sometime. There's nobody I wouldn't kill, nothing I wouldn't destroy."
And you know she is speaking truth. For what else does she have but you? She wants to kill her only family, she's fled from all her homes, she's never had a friend. You are just as important to her as she is to you and she would kill or betray anyone in a heartbeat. She would kill the world for you, though you have an inkling that she might try to do that someday anyway.
She pulls you in, ever closer to her fangs.

> Give in.

> You really need to go back to brewing.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Use a potion (Specify)

> Other

>>40980103

> Give in.

There is no escape!

>>40980103
> Give in.
Time to test that poison resistance!

>>40980103
> Give in.
I, for one, accept our glorious snake overlord. Over lady? Eh, screw it, Empress.

>>40980176
And if the bond is still up!

>>40980103
> Give in.
Does brewing have some sort of time limit? Even if it does its not worth ruining the moment I guess

>>40980103
> You really need to go back to brewing.
At this point I might as well not vote at all but that's democracy for you

>>40980103
>> Use a potion (Specify)
Anti-Venom!

>>40980103
Could we drink a regen brew? It seemed to help the bunyip resist poison. Might be a bit wasteful though considering we don't have much bunyip hair left though.

>>40980103
> Give in.
I wonder if cennen prefers delicious brown hiss or teln supermodel hiss

> Give in.

You push the pot back away from you so it won't be tipped over as Hiss pulls you down. You don't fight it, though your thankful when Hiss pulls out the bottle of anti-venom you gave her.

The day has moved on somewhat when you are finished, the heat of the Quedeshi sun making it rather uncomfortable to continue lying together even indoors.
Well, uncomfortable to you. Hiss doesn't seem to mind. You get up and her attempts to stop you are feeble at best.
"Is there anything you want?," you ask. "Besides this brew I mean."

"There is ONE thing I want," Hiss says and then giggles uncharacteristically. It seems that the combination of the summer Quedeshi heat and the prolonged contact with your body heat was enough to tip her over the edge to being heatstruck. You won't be getting much out of her for a while.

You sit by the cauldron, still stark naked as you begin to brew again. Experimenting with Hiss' request will take a while so you might as well do something else while you're here.

> Experiment further.

> Brew up to replace some of your supplies.

> Study your journeyman books to get a bigger base.

> Other

>>40980447
> Brew up to replace some of your supplies.

>>40980447
> Brew up to replace some of your supplies

>>40980447
> Study your journeyman books to get a bigger base.
This will give us so many more possibilities for cool combinations

>>40980447
>> Brew up to replace some of your supplies.

>>40980447
Can we do half of
> Brew up to replace some of your supplies.
and
> Study your journeyman books to get a bigger base.

>>40980447
Are we still gonna make that soul identification brew too?

>>40980447
>Brew up to replace some of your supplies

>>40980447
Finish up the soul identification brew, it was halfway done earlier right?

>>40980447
>though your thankful
>your
You're better than this ouro

>>40980303
There was actually a vote on this, or something like it anyway. Cennen rather predictably chose that Hiss is Hiss no matter the form.

>>40980580
I don't proofread man, it's hard to catch them all.

Alright looks like a tie between Journeyman books and brewing to restock. I'm going to do both.
Someone roll 1d00 for reasons.

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>40980676

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>40980676
fuck off reasons we're trying to brew

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>40980676

Rolled (1d00)

>>40980676
Rollan 1d00 because I'm a smartass

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>40980702
Reason are considering your request please hold.

>>40980676

>>40980721
ur 1 cheeky cunt m8

>>40980721
o u

>>40980702
I'll take this one.

>Study your journeyman books to get a bigger use.
>Brew up to replace some of your supplies.

You rummage through your pack until you pull out the three journeyman manuals Master Yolan gave you. They've been much mistreated, having taken some water damage. Thankfully it only seems to have ruined a few of the recipes you already know!
You skim through all three, looking for brews with effects that you can't already replicate.

Choose three:

>Farsight Brew: Drinking this enhances your vision greatly during the day and allows you to see in the dark.

>Basic Truth Serum: Getting someone to drink this guarantees one truthful question but it wears off after only a few seconds.

>Delayed Poison: Can be mixed with any other poison during brewing to render that poison slower, making it not take effect until at least an hour after imbibing.

>Journey Brew: Hallucinogenic brew that some claim can lead to visions of greater understanding and perhaps even the Dreaming itself.

>Poison Gas: When released to the air, this brew forms a pungent cloud of smoke that weakens people's lungs and renders them unable to act. Lethal after long exposure.

>Purification Elixir: Even the smallest drop of this brew can render water safe to drink and is an excellent cleaning solution. Prized among many customers.

>Glue Trap: This brew expands explosively upon release, coating everything with thick & sticky glue. Anyone within the adhesive has a good deal of trouble moving.

>Minor Love Potion: Absolutely illegal, this motivates the drinker to become obsessed with the first person they see that is sexually compatible. Lasts a few hours.

>Oil: You brew up a black oil that is very combustible. Useful for lamps and much easier than the regular way of obtaining it.

>Death-Brew: Not as lethal as the name suggests. Drinking this slows your breathing and heart-beat as well as dropping your body temperature so as to make the drinker appear dead.

1/2

>>40980839
2/2

>Incense: A crumbly dust that produces an aroma pleasing to spirits when burned. Anyone who breathes the smoke in has a vastly improved prayer range and can communicate with spirits safely.

>Affliction Brew: Allows the brewer to replicate non-contagious sickness or malady of their choice that affects anyone who drinks it.

>Sun Potion: A clear liquid that can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light. Favored by explorers.

>Rust Extract: A gray fluid that heavily rusts metal on contact.

>Slick Potion: This potion spreads extremely quickly when spilled or poured, making everything it coats exceptionally slippery.

>>40980860
>Farsight Brew: Drinking this enhances your vision greatly during the day and allows you to see in the dark.
>Journey Brew: Hallucinogenic brew that some claim can lead to visions of greater understanding and perhaps even the Dreaming itself.
>Sun Potion: A clear liquid that can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light. Favored by explorers.
You know I was starting to think we would never read these recipes

>>40980839

>Basic Truth Serum: Getting someone to drink this guarantees one truthful question but it wears off after only a few seconds.
>Journey Brew: Hallucinogenic brew that some claim can lead to visions of greater understanding and perhaps even the Dreaming itself.
THIS ONE, please.
>Death-Brew: Not as lethal as the name suggests. Drinking this slows your breathing and heart-beat as well as dropping your body temperature so as to make the drinker appear dead.

>>40980860
>Basic Truth Serum: Getting someone to drink this guarantees one truthful question but it wears off after only a few seconds.
>Glue Trap: This brew expands explosively upon release, coating everything with thick & sticky glue. Anyone within the adhesive has a good deal of trouble moving.
>Death-Brew: Not as lethal as the name suggests. Drinking this slows your breathing and heart-beat as well as dropping your body temperature so as to make the drinker appear dead.

>>40980860
>Farsight Brew: Drinking this enhances your vision greatly during the day and allows you to see in the dark.
>Journey Brew: Hallucinogenic brew that some claim can lead to visions of greater understanding and perhaps even the Dreaming itself.
>Incense: A crumbly dust that produces an aroma pleasing to spirits when burned. Anyone who breathes the smoke in has a vastly improved prayer range and can communicate with spirits safely.
I bet we could modify this one to fuck with spirits somehow

>>40980839
>>40980894
I change death brew for
>Sun Potion: A clear liquid that can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light. Favored by explorers.
It might be useful if that guy comes back

>>40980860
>Farsight Brew: Drinking this enhances your vision greatly during the day and allows you to see in the dark.
>Journey Brew: Hallucinogenic brew that some claim can lead to visions of greater understanding and perhaps even the Dreaming itself.
>Sun Potion: A clear liquid that can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light. Favored by explorers.
I bet we could make a flashback grenade with a sun potion combined with an explosive brew

>>40980839
>Journey Brew: Hallucinogenic brew that some claim can lead to visions of greater understanding and perhaps even the Dreaming itself.
>Incense: A crumbly dust that produces an aroma pleasing to spirits when burned. Anyone who breathes the smoke in has a vastly improved prayer range and can communicate with spirits safely.
>Sun Potion: A clear liquid that can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light. Favored by explorers.

>>40980933
Flashbang*
I truly despise autocorrect sometimes

>>40980860
>Farsight Brew: Drinking this enhances your vision greatly during the day and allows you to see in the dark.
>Purification Elixir: Even the smallest drop of this brew can render water safe to drink and is an excellent cleaning solution. Prized among many customers.
>Sun Potion: A clear liquid that can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light. Favored by explorers.

>>40980949
>implying a flashback grenade wouldn't be the sickest shit ever.

>>40980925
Good idea anon. I voted for the sun potion even without thinking about that

>>40980971
We'll shelve the idea for now. I still want to make that memory eraser brew with acid and snake blood though

>>40980971
I suppose I need to give autocorrect a bit more credit

You know we probably ought to make sure hiss is aware of our plant nature so she won't accidentally kill us with the brew she requested

>>40980839
>Farsight Brew: Drinking this enhances your vision greatly during the day and allows you to see in the dark.
>Sun Potion: A clear liquid that can be shaken for an extremely bright and smokeless light. Favored by explorers.
>Affliction Brew: Allows the brewer to replicate non-contagious sickness or malady of their choice that affects anyone who drinks it.

>Farsight Brew
>Sun Potion
>Journey Brew

You scan through your manuals, picking three recipes to quickly test and replicate. It might be due to your new understanding of alchemy or perhaps just your experience with experimentation but it only takes you an hour to learn all three and to brew one of each.

Now with that out of the way, it's time to restock a little.

Hiss is asleep on the bed behind you and you don't seem to be in any danger of waking her up as you start work.

>Pick 6 potions you know how to make. This is what will be added to the inventory. You can pick one option multiple times.

>>40981184
Souldrift
Soulmender
inferior heal all
Snakebreaker
Bloodkin
antivenom

>>40981253
Going with this because I'm kinda lazy

>>40981184
>Sun Potion
>Souldrift
>Snakebreaker
>Healing potion
>Potence
>Identification potion

>>40981253
Yeah this.

>>40981253
>antivenom

Lewd.

>>40981280
I don't think we have enough bunyip hair left to make both souldrift and potence

>>40981329
Lewd and unfortunately necessary for cennens way of life. We should give it to hiss, she likes the idea of having control over cennens life and nobody else has venom around here anyway

>>40981334
In that case, lets get an alteration brew and antivenom

>>40981253
This seems to be the popular choice. But one thing first. Making the Souldrift Brew here will use up your last stock of Bunyip hair.

>Yes
>No.

>>40981184
Souldrift
Soulmender×3, one for each companion who can be effected by shadow wizard magic
Inferior heal all
Snakebreaker

>>40981375
Yes

>>40981375
Couldn't we substitute something else since we're a master and make a slightly weaker brew?

>>40981402
Yes but I'm assuming you want your supplies to be full-strength unless otherwise specified.

>>40981375
Yes
we'll figure out a substitution later

>>40981375
>Yes

>>40981375
What'd we do with the Bunyip again? He'd been gone for forever.

>>40981375
Yes. Shit I really hope we see the bunyip again and not only for his ingredients

I miss bunyip

>>40981448
I think the last time we saw him was when we were first on the bone zone island

>>40981448
>>40981454
>>40981458
>>40981466

Bunyip followed the ship to Lombai and was then left behind.

Votes selected, writing.

File: likethisbutintheocean.jpg (35 KB, 689x505)

35 KB JPG

>>40981496
Fuck now I feel bad. He's still waiting I bet.

>>40981553
brb i think i got a speck of something stuck in both of my eyes simultaneously

>>40981553
>Thread fiftysomething
>We're at the compact house
>Being fucked buy whatever spiritual monstrosity the compact is
>All is lost
>Bunyip out of the fucking nowhere

participating in these threads until the end is challenging for us americans. hurry up and move away from upside down land ouro

You stock your pack back up with six more potions and you're about to brew even more when you hear Hiss stir behind you.

"Feeling better?"

"Mrrmmfh" is her only reply before she staggers up.
"W-We should leave," she mutters. "We need to get ready and go. Stupid wizard still out there."

She's still more than a little heatstruck and her words are slurred. She clumsily tries to get dressed several times before just giving up and dissolving back into her snake form.

You pick her up, noting how warm she is. And her mind is still evidently occupied with one interest in particular given how she immediately curls around your arm, slithering across your bare chest amorously.
Or as amorous as a snake can be. It's extremely discomforting. You slowly pry her off and shove her in your pack until she cools down. You should probably avoid being so intimate during the middle of the day in a place as hot as Quedesh unless you want her to get heatstruck repeatedly.

You get dressed yourself, putting on your pack and heading down the corridor until you find Oster and Aashenpreet in their room. Oster is looking a lot better, you'd hardly be able to tell that he was stabbed last night.

"Hiss wants to head off," you say, pointing to your pack where her writhing can be faintly distinguished.

"We were just talking about that actually," Oster replies, narrowing his eyes. You don't think you and Hiss were particularly quiet this time around so there's probably no use disguising what happened.
"I was talking to Aashenpreet about what route we should take."

"There are two ways we might want to go here," Aashenpreety says. "Either we follow the valley we're currently in north and keep going until we hit Talwi's northern border. That should be at the Ulun inland sea, which we can then charter a boat to cross. That takes straight to Qesh! There's just one problem with it."

"Go on."

1/2

>>40981673
2/2

"This is the route we'd be expected to take by anyone who knows our destination. We'll likely be anticipated or have people waiting for us. Whether it be Tash or Attaraan or the shadow-man, I don't know."

"That's practically business as usual. What's the other route."

"We go over these mountains and into the Kour. It's a desert, one that goes up and all around the western side of the Ulun. Provided that we can buy the help of some Kouri tribesmen to guide us we should be almost trackless and impossible to find. But it's a little longer and it's VERY hot."

"And," Oster interjects, "This 'shadow-man' was from the Kour, he'd might find us this way."

"He can probably find us either way to be honest," Aashenpreet says. "If he truly has the Eye then there'll be no evading him in the end. But the Kour hides us from the likes of Tash and Attaraan."

They both turn to look at you and your stomach sinks. This is the sort of decision Hiss should be making but she's no good for anything right now.

> The regular way

> Into the desert

> Let's just wait until Hiss cools down.

>>40981750
> Into the desert

>>40981750
Wait how would anyone know our destination?

>>40981812
Tash

>>40981829
We didn't tell him though did we?

>>40981812
Tash doesn't know the specifics but he at least knows you're going to Qesh since Hiss told him about wanting to talk to the constrictors proper.

>>40981841
Wasn't he going there himself anyway?

>>40981856
Yeah, Tash lives there so he's heading in that direction regardless. But whether he tells Attaraan what he knows or not is a different question.

>>40981841
You might want to hold this vote at the beginning of the next thread, it seems everyone fell asleep. It's fine by me if you let my desert vote decide it though

>>40981750
>I say we take the normal route until the inland sea and make a detour to circumnavigate Quesh and head straight to the mountain.
My geography of the region is fuzzy, but can we do this, Aash?

>>40981750
> Let's just wait until Hiss cools down.

>>40981883
This is the last vote of the thread so I'm happy to let this run pretty long until it picks up votes.

>>40981883
This is an important decision which will probably determine the following threads, we should do it now.

>>40981892
That's a possible option though it seems to combine the negatives of both. You're still heading north through the valley so you'll still come across anyone trying to intercept you there and then detouring around the Ulun's coast still takes you through the hardship and extra time of the desert.
But on the upside, literally nobody will expect you to take this route.

>>40981750
The desert sounds smarter but I don't know how well things would go with two constantly heat addled snakes so I can't decide

>>40981979
Also, Oster's rampage ought to have made us a few enemies there already.

>>40982014
I was under the impression that only the wizard survived and he wants to kill us anyway

>>40982031
Yeah, still, going trough the desert is just us vs him while the main route is him, tash and attaraan so I say

> Into the desert

So we can handle these guys one at a time.

>>40981750
> Into the desert
fuck it let's try it. time to toughen cennen up a bit

Alright, I'll just call it in favor of the desert since I have to go to work now. Thread archived, etc.

Next thread will likely be tomorrow, check the twitter closer to the release date, etc etc etc. Thanks for playing!

>>40982061
Think we can motion a cactus potions? To turn Cennen into a pokey pointy stabby cactus that collects condensation?

>>40982061
Also, hiss and aash could learn Sidewinder

>>40982072
I'm sure the guides have some method of collecting water

>>40982071
Thank god. It's about 4 A.M. here.

>>40982071
I can't wait to tame a horrifying magical desert beast to fill the hole in my heart left by the bunyip