>>41185746
Hiss glowers at you as she twitches on the floor, rendered paradoxically all-powerful and helpless at the same time by hubris. You try to pick her up and dump her on the bed so she can at least be comfortable but she’s a lot heavier than she normally is right now and you only manage to drag her a few feet before dropping her back down, black scales rippling over her skin automatically as her head strikes the rock. She groans angrily at you.
You’d say that you feel bad for her but considering what she had intended to do with her newfound power, you’re not that sorry.

And from what she said, it looks like you might be setting out soon. Your destination is nearly within reach! How much you prepare is up to you.

> Start brewing and experimenting.

> Go get Oster and Aashenpreet.

> Explore this underground complex.

> Go find Rock.

> It’s time to leave.

> Sit by Hiss’ side and try to chat with her.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41185753
> Start brewing and experimenting.
Pray to tell aash, rock, and Oster to come to us

>>41185753
> Start brewing and experimenting.
> Sit by Hiss’ side and try to chat with her.
Pray to rock and tell her it's safe to return now
yes I've decided that rock is a girl

>>41185753
>>41185808
This works.

>>41185753
>> Start brewing and experimenting.
Pray to Aashenprett and ROck. Tell rock it's Safe, and Prey to Aash to get her to bring OSter.

> Start brewing and experimenting.
> Pray

You sigh and start to pray once more, asking Aashenpreet and Rock to come back. You'd already prayed just a few minutes ago but you suppose that everyone had decided to just stay out of Hiss' way.
A wise decision.

And while you wait for them to arrive, you drag your cauldron back out of your pack and begin to brew. It'll have to be a cold mix but that's hardly new to you.

> Experiment with the vial of enhanced venom.

> Experiment with Hiss venom.

> Experiment with shed snakeskin some more.

> Experiment with snake blood.

> Experiment with snake scales.

> Mix all of the reagents like a madman.

> Try a specific mixture (Specify)

> Open up the Journeyman manuals and get some recipes.

> Other

>>41185753
> Go find Rock.
Then
> Sit by Hiss’ side and try to chat with her.
Also, did Hiss drop any reagents with all that shapeshifting?

>>41186046
> Open up the Journeyman manuals and get some recipes.

>>41186046
>Read dispel book and Shapeshifting Scroll.

>>41186050
Nope. Part of her improved shapeshifting letting her change without having to go back to snake form meant that she didn't even have to shed skin.

>>41186092
Yeah, seemed that way from the rippling scales effect. Still, I bet dragon scales would have been an interesting reagent

>>41186046
> Try a specific mixture (Specify)
Snake blood and explosive brew

>>41186073
>>41186175
Not wanting to get dispel potions and or shapeshifting brews.

>>41186079
Oh yes, this is a valid option.

>>41186175
I want to try this plus a sun potion as a countermeasure for the shadows

>>41186185
Reading takes a long time, I want to save it for when we're on the road.

>>41186046
>Read dispel book and Shapeshifting Scroll.

>>41186046
>>41186050
Changing to
>Read dispel book and Shapeshifting Scroll.

>>41186185
It's hard to brew much while we're traveling, I wanna brew now and read later.

I wonder if we could use a dispel potion to get rid of the wishbond. If we can't we should let hiss and Oster drink a bloodkin brew so she at least has some way to communicate

>Read dispel book and Shapeshifting Scroll.

After a moment of deliberation you put your cauldron and your reagents away before pulling out a scroll and a book titled 'Alchemy & Anti-Magick'. How had these managed to slip your mind for so long?
You've had two master-level treatises with you for practically your entire journey, ever since Master Yolan gave them to you in Melire. You idly wonder how the old alchemist is going these days and if he'd approve of what you've been brewing.

You open the recipe scroll, noting how crumpled it's gotten during your travels. Crumpled but still legible.
From just a quick skim it looks like Master Yolan tried several different experimental concoctions before settling on a process that is very nearly just a one-reagent brew with snakeskin as the focus.

Well, it's going to take you some time to digest all of this. You're barely finished skimming the scroll when Rock floats in through the doorway, Oster and Aashenpreet following uncertainly behind him.

Oster's eyes widen when he sees Hiss and he draws his sword immediately.
"What did you do to her?"

"Woah, woah calm down! This isn't my fault!"
That's not strictly true.

Aashenpreet puts her hand around Oster's sword-arm and gently forces it down.
"I am sure Cennen has no ill intent," she says. "Though I must admit that this situation is...strange."
She looks down at the now eight-foot tall and half-comatose Hiss with obvious concern.
"Has she learned another Art already?"

"No. I mean, yes. Sort of. Here, let me give you a rundown."
You give them a brief description of what had transpired.

Aash looks troubled while Oster frowns.
"That's a rather unlikely sequence of events, don't you think?' he says.

-Indeed. But it is true-

Rock settles on your shoulder, prompting another moment of alarm from Oster. Aashenpreet is ready this time however and already has her hand on the hilt of his sword.

1/2

>>41186507
She bows slightly, lowering her head towards the spirit.
"We are honored by your presence, suzerain."

Suzerain? You're about to correct her when Rock interrupts you.

-How did you know that I had a Domain?-

Aashenpreet blinks.
"Pardon? Is that not just an honorary title?"

Rock shifts from one leg to the other, the little fluffy spider clearly shaken.
-It is acceptable. This snake is much nicer than the previous one-

"That's not difficult," you mutter while Hiss makes muffled angry sounds in response.
"Anyway, Rock this is Aashenpreet and Oster. Oster and Aashenpreet this is Rock. She's a spirit who's agreed to help us for now."
Is she really the right word to use? Ah well, fuck it.

Oster doesn't say anything but simply shrugs, clearly communicating 'Well why the fuck not?' at the general absurdity of the situation at this point.
Aashenpreet nods again before looking sternly at you.
"Cennen, I think you've done them a disservice. 'Rock' is an awful name and very disrespectful to boot."

-I chose the name-

"Seriously, why does everyone think I chose the dumb name?"

-Dumb?-

"Then I beg my pardon, Suzerain," Aashenpreet says humbly.

Rock ignores her.
-Why is it a dumb name? I felt that it described my function adequately at the time-

"It's not a dumb name," Aashenpreet says, still determined to gain the spirit's favor. "I think it's very wise."

Oster works his way around her and kneels beside Hiss' side, checking her heartbeat and breath while the princess tries ineffectually to bite him.
"Apart from her condition, she seems unharmed."

"I didn't hurt her! I mean, I think it might be almost impossible for me to hurt her right now, her Art defends her automatically."

Meanwhile Rock has abandoned you to sit on Aashenpreet's shoulder.
-I think the simplest names show the most clarity in purpose-

"Absolutely!"
Aashenpreet notices you looking at her and stops fawning over the spirit for at least a few moments.
2/3

>>41186715
"By the way Cennen, we've reached the edge of the Kouri's hospitality. They're traditionally obligated to let desert travelers stay with them for one day and a night and we're on the verge of passing that."

"What, will they try to kill us?"

"Uh, I don't think so but it would be very rude."

> Agree, it's time to get going. This journey is long enough as it is.

> Surely you can wait the extra twenty four hours or so until Hiss is back to normal.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make Wish (Specify)

> Other

>>41186774
> Agree, it's time to get going. This journey is long enough as it is.
Give the bloodkin brew to hiss and Oster so she can communicate

>>41186774
Do the Kouri value Plant life Aash? I could make some treebrew in order to extend their hospitality until Hiss is better.

>>41186774
> Surely you can wait the extra twenty four hours or so until Hiss is back to normal.
>Use a regeneration brew to speed things up.
>Any sign of the shadow wizard while I was out?
>>41186825
This

>>41186868
regen brew will not help this situation at all

>>41186774
I'd like to see if I could make a brew that breaks the wishbond first, surely we have that much time left right?

>>41186774
>>41186825
Might as well. That or some healing potions or what have you. We could even barter with them some using out potions for any provisions we might need of any interesting alchemical reagents.

>>41186894
I'm thinking maybe a Soulmender brew with added snake scales and human blood might target the connection between snakes and humans

> Surely you can wait the extra twenty four hours or so until Hiss is back to normal.
> Offer to trade brews with the Kouri for extended hospitality.

"A little rudeness is the least of our worries. I think we can stand to wait a little while longer. The House isn't going anywhere."

"It is typically immobile," Aashenpreet admits. "But the longer we spend here the more likely it'll be that Attaraan reaches it before we do!"

"Why would Attaraan go there? He doesn't know where we're going."

"He's a suzerain of the House. Even if he doesn't know our destination he'll be heading back eventually."

"Oh. Oh right. Well we've already taken a large detour so chances are what we do now won't change much. It's only one extra day. And I'll see about selling some of my brews to the Kouri, that should buy us some extra time right?"

Aashenpreet nods reluctantly.
"That makes sense."

> Time to go out and peddle your wares.

> Keep reading, you barely started!

> Brew first.

> Keep talking to Aashenpreet, you have some things you want to ask her still.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>41187084
> Keep talking to Aashenpreet, you have some things you want to ask her still.

>>41187084
> Brew first.
Treebrews,
> Keep talking to Aashenpreet, you have some things you want to ask her still.
after questions
Ask Aash to help us sell our wares.

>>41187084
Brew a bunch of treebrews and ask aash and Oster to sell them since we can't communicate easily and we have better things to do
> Keep reading, you barely started!

>>41187084
Try to make a wishbond destroying brew while aash sells some treebrews

>>41187084
Try this>>41186929

>>41187174
>>41187247
Safety before experiment's.

>>41187268
what are you talking about? breaking the wishbond lets us leave earlier and we're more safe because hiss wouldn't be knocked out anymore

>Brew up some Treebrews
>Get Aashenpreet to sell the Treebrews for more time.
> Then get to work on an anti-wishbond brew.

You drag out the cauldron once more and start mixing up as many treebrews as you can while Aashenpreet watches on.
"These guys will like treebrews right? Potions that make plants grow and become more fertile?"

She nods, watching Rock scurry over her shoulder.
"Of course. There are desert beans that they grow in the more fertile areas."

"Excellent."
As you bottle up the treebrews, you look back to Hiss and Oster.
"Oh Aash, do you think she'll turn back to normal once the wishbond is over?"

"You mean her power?"

"No, I mean more of the huge size and the healed eyes."

She shakes her head.
"Both of those should fade. If I'm understanding this right then only the eye of her human form is healed, the moment she returns to her injured natural form the injury should reassert itself. And the growth is just a constrictor Art, we all have it and it should disappear with her."

You think back to Attaraan, whose human form had been practically a giant.
"So you can all do that?"

"Of course. When your natural form is larger, the sort of shapes you can change into are larger as well. Hiss is a very small snake normally, she's smaller than a child for us so I wouldn't be surprised if six feet or so is her absolute limit for shapeshifting."

"But you could."

"Yes but that would stand out a lot and be rude besides. There's no need for my human shape to be noticeable."

You nod as you finish bottling the last treebrew. That should do it.
"I think most of the snakes back in Snakehome are about Hiss' size. That must have been a bit weird."

Aashenpreet grins.
"A little. Back when we were conversing on the ship it was like being approached by an imperious little toddler."

That's...not the worst description to be honest though you won't say it out loud even now. You give her the treebrews.
"Alright, just buy us a few more hours at least."

1/2

>>41187677
>Hiss now want's to be bigger than a constrictor.

>>41187749
dude you really need to learn to use apostrophes appropriately

>>41187763
Yes' I'do.

>>41187677
With that out of the way you settle down and start experimenting. You use the recipe for your Soulmender Flask as a base, looking for something that should sever such connections but stronger.

It takes you an hour or so, during which Hiss stays immobilized and Aashenpreet doesn't return.
The end result is the Serpentbane, a potion that only affects snakes. It should sever all wishbonds, all soul-linking effects and render them temporarily unable to call upon their component souls. A bit of a price to pay but a fair one you feel.

> Feed to Hiss right away.

> Go see how the sale is going first.

> Other

>>41187800
> Go see how the sale is going first.
Let Hiss know what we made.

>>41187800
> Feed to Hiss right away.
make sure not to nobble her again. Did oster and rock go with aash to sell the brews?

>>41187907
Rock is still with you, hanging about. They're not much of a talker.
Oster went to escort Aash, yes. I forgot to write that.

>>41187800
'all soul-linking effects' This sounds like a reverse love potion

>>41187800
> Feed to Hiss right away.
Let her become a snake and get into our pack of her own volition. Tell her what's going on and what she should do before we give it to her because she won't be able to understand us soon

>>41187957
I don't think love has anything to do with souls

>>41187800
> Feed to Hiss right away.

>>41187800

> Feed to Hiss right away.

>>41187800
Does hiss still rely completely on souls to do any human activities?

>>41187800
>>41188108
Didn't think of this. Maybe we should wait until Aash comes back?

>>41188108
Maybe that's why Hiss is so different than Aash?
Aash learned to interact with humans, but Hiss is a snake surrounded by a suit of human souls?

>>41187800
> Go see how the sale is going first.

> Feed to Hiss right away.

You bottle the Serpentbane and walk back across the room to Hiss. Oster has left her side for now, gone to escort Aash as she sells your wares. Hiss doesn't look too pleased by that fact.
"Hrrrrrugh," she groans at you, evidently haven't not given up attempting to speak.

"Hey Hiss, I'm going to give you this potion alright? It'll break your soul's connections for a little while and sever the wishbond. But it will also make you unable to call on your souls for anything for a while. That's fine, right?"
You have to tell her all of this now because she soon won't be able to understand you at all.

You put the bottle to her lips and with a herculean effort she actually turns her face away from you.
"Nnnnnnn!"

Unfortunately for her that's all she can do and you just grab her jaw as gently as you can and slowly relax it until her mouth opens, trickling the brew in when it does.

Hiss dissolves, her body becoming dust as the usual black and red snake resurfaces. She hisses at you as you hold your pack open in front of her. It takes some cajoling but after no doubt considering being captured again, she slithers inside of her own volition.

When you stand up once more, you notice Aashenpreet standing by the doorway.
"All done? Where's Oster?"

"He's getting the wagon ready," she says slowly. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I've just packed Hiss up. She should be fine for now."

> Time to head out, you guess.

> Ask Aashenpreet about the details of the sale. How much time do you have exactly?

> Brew some more first.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>41188212
> Ask Aashenpreet about the details of the sale. How much time do you have exactly?

>>41188212
> Ask Aashenpreet about the details of the sale. How much time do you have exactly?
More time to prepare would be nice

>>41188212

> Ask Aashenpreet about the details of the sale. How much time do you have exactly?

When we tried to pick her up, and then dragged her, would that count as capturing?

I mean, it happened when we picked her up once, right?

>>41188255
I don't think it matters since she was still bonded to us at the time

>>41187957
>>41188014
More or less correct. The effects of love potions are typically chemical in nature.

>>41188108
Yes.

>>41188186
This is part of the reason. Aashenpreet learned a lot of human behavior the usual way from working as a shrine priestess and a little from what she's gathered from Hiss while they mingled.

>>41188255
No because firstly, she was already wish-bonded at the time and secondly merely moving her against her will doesn't count as capturing.

>>41188212
> Time to head out, you guess.

>>41188212
> Brew some more first.
Soulsight brew

>>41188212
> Ask Aashenpreet about the details of the sale. How much time do you have exactly?
Then brew

>>41188308
Do we have any idea how long Hiss won't be able to use her human interaction components?

> Ask Aashenpreet about the details of the sale. How much time do you have exactly?

You sit down on the bed as you make sure everything in your pack is secured. Hiss is mostly still, proving to be a benevolent passenger for once.
"How did the sale go, exactly? Are there any treebrews left over? How many extra hours do we have?"

A look of brief surprise crosses her face.
"They were all sold. And they gave us an extra day."

"An extra day? Then why are we leaving now? We don't need to go out to the wagon yet. Plenty of time to brew."

Rock leaps off your shoulder and starts to float towards Aashenpreet, who looks upset for some reason.
"No, we need to go now! Come with me."

"Why?"

Rock settles on Aashenpreets alarm and then immediately jumps off again, suspended in the air.
-Not you! This is not you!-

Aashenpreet wails, an unearthly high-pitched scream that grates your ears. Her arm swings out and smashes into Rock only to pass harmlessly through her, the spirit's dusty body reforming.

Shit. She isn't casting a shadow.

> Draw your sword and charge her.

> Draw your sword and stay back.

> Pray for help.

> Throw Hiss at her.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Flee

> Other

>>41188560
> Draw your sword and stay back.
> Draw Hiss

>>41188560
> Draw your sword and stay back.
> Pray for help.

>>41188504
About an hour.

>>41188560
> Draw your sword and stay back.
Knockout brew!

>>41188560
> Use Potion (do we have any knockout brew?)

>>41188683
You do.

>>41188560
>>41188601
> Draw Hiss
many percents certain that will just result in further capture
how about
> Use Potion (rumpleskin)
not sure it will work on shadowless people but this stuff is super useful and we never use it> Draw Hiss
many percents certain that will just result in further capture
how about
> Draw your sword and stay back.
> Use Potion (rumpleskin)
not sure it will work on shadowless people but this stuff is super useful and we never use it

>>41188560
> Draw your sword and charge her.
I don't think the shadows can copy any snake arts so this shouldn't be hard

>>41188694
Why do we put potions in glass flasks instead of metal?

>>41188560
> Draw your sword and charge her.
If it's just a copy of human Aash she shouldn't give us much trouble.
> Rock, can you see the bond?

>>41188772
Because breaking the glass is a nice way to use some potions

>>41188772
if we go down this rabbit hole we have to start asking where we get our endless supply of glass flasks, and why they break so easily and all kind of questions that decent people shouldn't be thinking about.

>>41188560
> Draw your sword and charge her.
Ask Rock for help and to try to see where the link attached to the doppelganger leads

>>41188772
It'd be hard to tell which brew is which if we can't see through the container

>>41188772
It's good for identifying brews later and if you're using something like acid or smoke-vial or a knockout brew you can just break the glass and it looks cool as hell.
Secondly because I realized at around Thread 3 or so that tracking individual bottles and flasks would be a fresh new hell that I was not prepared for so flasks are just assumed to be 'around'.
Cennen might buy them offscreen during the timeskips and between threads. Yeah, that's it.

>>41188813
>why they break so easy
To be fair, the usually don't break when your pack is getting manhandled. But it is true that they break 100% of the time when Cennen wants them to.
Is it magic? An undiscovered effect of the Alchemist's Art? Possibly. But the real reason is because that is just What Glass Does in stories.
Cennen's pack is also strangely infinite for the same reason.

>>41188881
Cennens pack is pretty magical. It even has a soul apparently.

>>41188896
Absolutely.

>>41188881
There's spare glassware in his pack unless you try to count it.

>>41188881
Haha yeah the dispel potion even broke when it hit a spirits halo, if that's not proof of cennens subconscious glass wizardry I don't know what is

>>41188881
We should totally build (or commission) an alternate delivery mechanism for some of our potions, like a specially altered crossbow for lobbing grenades?

Maybe a water gun for more accurate aiming of acids?

>>41188907
Magic soul pack is now canon. We gotta investigate it with a soulsight brew and unlock its secrets

>>41188967
We're totally gonna make a blunderbuss that uses snakebreaker as ammunition. We could place another brew in front of the snakebreaker to coat the snake scales with whatever effect we want when it's fired

>>41189000
but we'd also have to find ridiculously strong metal or weaken the snakebreaker a bit, I'm sure the scales would penetrate pretty much any material as they are now

>>41189029
Could we use alchemy to strengthen materials? wood? is that a thing? like we brew up a (treebrew+strengthening?), soak some wood in it, and it makes it stronger?

>>41189048
We could incorporate a brew into some molten metal before it's shaped and cooled to give the metal some alchemical effects

>>41188941
Hey man, Hiss grabbed onto a halo and actually hung off it suspended in the air a few threads after that. Those suckers have physical presence.

> Draw your sword and charge her.

You draw your sword and run forward, abandoning defense. If it's just a copy of Aashenpreet's human form then you shouldn't have much to worry about. Can it even use her Art?

She lunges at you but your reach with the sword is longer and you bury it in her abdomen. There's blood, sticky and crimson. Actual blood and flesh, not shadowstuff.
The copy's face wrenches, an expression of genuine pain upon familiar features. It's like you're really stabbing Aashenpreet.

And then she breaks apart into a messy slew of shadow that evaporates in the air around you. But the blood on your sword and on your hands doesn't go away. It lingers.

Rock settles back down next to you.
-She looked the same. But the moment I touched her I knew it was something else-

> Pray for the real Aashenpreet.

> Stay here and be on guard.

> Brew!

> If this thing is around, then Aashenpreet has already been attacked at least once! And Oster too probably! You need to go help them immediately.

>Send Rock out to scout before going yourself.

> Other

>>41189061
We should totally invent mithril.

>>41189091


> Pray for the real Aashenpreet.

but we should also pray to Hiss, keep her in the loop? (Does that matter when she's locked from her human bits?"

>>41189048
Yes, treating materials alchemically is an established practice albeit not one Cennen has displayed any talent for. It usually involves incorporating brews into the material as it is being made.
For example, as mentioned during Cennen's brief and involuntary sea adventure, his pack was made by Master Ingrid to be waterproof and resilient.

>>41189091
> Pray for the real Aashenpreet.

> Stay here and be on guard.
>Collect Blood analyze it's alchemical effects later.

>>41189091
> If this thing is around, then Aashenpreet has already been attacked at least once! And Oster too probably! You need to go help them immediately.
Coat our blade with venom

>>41189091
> Pray for the real Aashenpreet.
> If this thing is around, then Aashenpreet has already been attacked at least once! And Oster too probably! You need to go help them immediately.

>>41189091
Ouro... We didn't stab Aash, did we?

> Pray for the real Aashenpreet.
> Brew!
Another sun potion.
Then if Aash is still not here, let's get her.

Does the serpentbane prevent new bonds from forming?

>>41189091
> If this thing is around, then Aashenpreet has already been attacked at least once! And Oster too probably! You need to go help them immediately.
Drink a farsight brew for low light vision

>>41189147
I'm not quite sure about your phrasing.
Do you mean that this is a talent Cennen is Incapable of learning, or just one he hasn't yet?

>>41189235
The latter.

>>41189235
I think it means he's never had a chance to try it. But I really hope we get the chance to use alchemy to help a blacksmith make something

>>41189091
> If this thing is around, then Aashenpreet has already been attacked at least once! And Oster too probably! You need to go help them immediately.
ask rock to verify osters identity if we see him

>>41189199
>And then she breaks apart into a messy slew of shadow that evaporates in the air around you.
I'm pretty sure this wouldn't happen if we killed the real aash

>>41189262
Personally, I want to learn blacksmithing, but that would probably take forever.

Maybe we could get a book on it?

>>41189170
Fighting osters doppelganger with a sword is an awful idea anon.

>>41189309
>But the blood on your sword and on your hands doesn't go away. It lingers.
I'm worried about this... Did it happen the first time?

>>41189318
Anything we made using knowledge from only a book would be awful.

>>41189328
If we use one of our identification potions on it, maybe we could find out if it's real snake blood, or some sort of new shadow stuff.

>>41189341
Yeah, but I'm not really holding out hope for a lengthy apprenticeship to a master blacksmith.

As much as I enjoy it, spending forever gaining skills isn't something I see this quest doing.
It ain't BQ, ya know?

>>41189393
that's because this quest actually has a plot

>>41189419
Exactly.

>>41189147
I really wish we could meet cennens master again somehow

>>41189512
She must be really confused.

>>41189542
She probably assumed we were eaten by wolves.

When are we going to as The Rock about our soul?

Sorry about the delay, I had a phone call.

> If this thing is around, then Aashenpreet has already been attacked at least once! And Oster too probably! You need to go help them immediately.

You extend your arm for Rock to climb upon, the little spirit immediately doing so.
-What is this?-

"Oh right, you don't know. Just some wizard bullshit, that's all you need to know."

And with those words you throw the door open. There's no time to waste, both Aashenpreet and Oster could be getting seriously hurt right now!
The passageway outside is empty with no signs of life. Nothing but flickering light and shadows.
Normal shadows, you're pretty sure.

Where have all the people gone? Last you checked with the soulsight brew, this place had been filled with Kouri. Are they dead? Are they working with the wizard?
You take your first step out.

-Leave!-

Rock's sudden interjection is like a cold rush going through your brain, surprisingly powerful. And that's when you see the movement. Down at the far end of the corridor before it bends out of sight, is a moving shadow. No, two moving shadows.

Three.
Four.
Seven.
Thirteen.

They coagulate together, forming a sticky mass that coats the walls and is many times your size.
And then it rushes you.

> Stand your ground and use a brew (Specify)

> Run down the corridor away from it.

> Jump back into the room.

> Throw Rock at it. She's invulnerable, right?

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41189682
> Use Potion (Specify)
We prepared the light potions for just this, right?

>>41189664
I mean, I think The Rock is too busy wrestling or maybe being dead, but we should totally get around to asking Rock about it, he might know some stuff.

>>41189682
> Use Potion (Specify)
Sunlight!

>>41189682
> Use Potion (Specify)
Sun potion!
Since we only have ine flask, is there a way for us to dose it?

>>41189682
> Jump back into the room.
Use soul drift and ask rock to help us sever all the connections while in soul form

>>41189759
You can't dose it but the way the Sun Potion works is that you give it a good shake and it glows brightly for some time. So it stays 'on'.

>>41189682
> Use Potion (Specify)
THE SUN!
also be ready to
> Run down the corridor away from it.

I'm not confident that the sun brew will be enough to hurt the shadows. Weren't we attacked by one in broad daylight last time?

>>41189830
Wasn't it in a shady alley, in the evening?

Might be totally wrong, though.

>>41189682
> Run down the corridor away from it.
Use a sun brew while we run

>Use the Sun Potion

You reach into your pack and pull out the Sun Potion as quickly as you can, nearly having a heart attack when by doing so you startle Hiss and she nearly bites your hand.
But that is, you suppose, just part of the risk of keeping an irascible snake in your inventory.

You shake the bottle and it erupts in light, bright enough that you almost have to look away. You hold it before you like a talisman, the light stinging the shadows away from you. It doesn't kill them, you're not close enough for that. But it hurts them, it repels them and so the mass of shadows hover around the edge of the radiance, their way barred by bonds of light.

Not dead but waiting.

-Set me down. I will put a stop to them-

> Charge right into the middle of them to see if you can kill them.

> Set Rock down and run.

> Just run, they might be able to follow you but they shouldn't be able to hurt you while the light remains right?

> Throw the Sun potion at them.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41189962
> Set Rock down and try to keep the shadows distracted

>>41189962
>Rock they're magic just like you. Let me try something first.
>Advance upon them brew in hand.
if that fails,
>Brew up a modified one using Snake blood. While the potion and Rock keep them at bay.

>>41189962
>>41190021
This.

How long does it take to brew one again?

>>41189962
> Charge right into the middle of them to see if you can kill them.
Rock can do what he intends at the same time from our shoulder, we can fight together

>>41190040
A few minutes, not long. You could potentially just brew another Sun Potion right now if you felt safe.

>>41189962
> Set Rock down
Why run? We're pretty safe in the light

>>41190091
Fair enough, the 'run' bit was added because I assumed that getting to Aashenpreet and Oster was an urgent matter.

>>41190021
I don't think now is a good time for experimental brews

>>41190121
It is, but whatever spirit magic rock intends to use shouldn't take long and I don't want to leave her

>>41190021
How would a soul light potion work in this situation? They don't even have souls

>>41190091
We are right now, but we don't really know if the shadow monsters CAN'T get to us, or if they can once they get desperate enough.

>>41190123
That's true enough, but if what we know is right, putting the blood in would make the light have something to do with/some effect on souls.

>>41190062
This

Rolled 2 (1d6)

Alright looks like a tie between setting Rock down and >>41190021

Evens for the former, odds the latter.

>>41190180
These things have no souls. They're made from shadows and wizard bullshit

>>41190195
Sorry anon but you can't make me reroll into a three way tie.

>>41190226
No worries I'm ok with the result

>Set Rock down.

You flick Rock off your shoulder and down your arm, letting the dust-spider float down to the ground. Her halo glows a harsh red as she picks her way to the edge of the light, at the mass of shadows waiting just beyond.

If this works, you could keep running while Rock handles them for you. But you don't want to leave her behind and getting to Aashenpreet probably isn't that urgent. Oster should already be there, after all.

Rock steps beyond the boundary and the shadows lunge. But Rock never cast a shadow in the first place and their claws and tendrils simply skitter off or through her form. Any that are unlucky enough to touch the halo disappear entirely, their forms shattered and broken.

"Are you sure that's safe?"

-It is given to us to be immortal, to be above the woes of the mortal realm. And these are just constructs, I can see that plain-
Rock keeps on walking forward, all but vanishing into the depths of the shadow.
-They don't even own themselves. So only a small adjustment needs to be made-

The shadows stop writhing and slowly open up around her like a grotesque flower. They swirl around her as she floats back up into the air, reaching for her but never touching the diminutive spirit.
-These are mine now. Let's go-

> Time to go find Aashenpreet and Oster.

> Well if you don't have to worry about these, you can just brew more.

> You should probably destroy them just in case. What happens if they fall back under the wizard's control?

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41190533
> Time to go find Aashenpreet and Oster.

>>41190533
How long are sun brews supposed to last?

>>41190533
>> Time to go find Aashenpreet and Oster.

>>41190533
>> Time to go find Aashenpreet and Oster.

>>41190590
Thirty minutes usually.

>>41190533
I'm starting to wonder if wizards are just humans joined with spirits somehow

>>41190533
> Time to go find Aashenpreet and Oster.
Fuck yeah rock is badass

>>41190533
Sweet
> You should probably destroy them just in case. What happens if they fall back under the wizard's control?
Maybe leave some.
> Time to go find Aashenpreet and Oster.

>>41190628
They do both have domains...

>>41190533
> You should probably destroy them just in case. What happens if they fall back under the wizard's control?
The magic pastebin said only the strongest spirits can compete with wizardry

> Time to go find Aashenpreet and Oster.

You eye the shadows uneasily as they follow you, just behind the circle of light.
"Are you sure that these are fine? What did you do to them?"

-It is a weakness inherent in all such constructs, I imagine. They are made to be controlled directly. That is their purpose. The identity of the controller is not important so only a small adjustment had to be made to them.-

"I didn't realize you knew this much about magic!"

-I don't. But their flaws are remarkably self-evident upon seeing them. You said this was a wizard?-

"Yeah, a shadow one. Do you know anything about them?"

-Only what my friend told me. But the use of these seems reckless to me. An opposing wizard could likely do the same as I did-

"Well the odds of him being unaware of such a weakness seems slim so..."

-I imagine that this wizard was not expecting to find magical competition or he would not be using them.-

"Right. Just keep them away from my light."

You run down the corridor, knocking doors open as you pass them. All of them show empty rooms, completely devoid of people. Where have they all gone?
The corridor rounds a bend and you nearly dash around it when you hear something scrape against the wall. You jump backward as a figure spins around from where they had been hiding around the corner, a sword rushing towards your head!

Roll 1d100.

>>41190778
If rock was strong enough to take them then she's probably strong enough to keep them right?

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>41190833

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>41190833

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>41190833
First roll, first post. Let's hope it's good.

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>41190833
fuck

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>41190833
>that progression

This means I'll roll a 120 on a d100 now, right?

>>41190628
I was thinking something very similar of late. Might also explain hoe Eugene was so different, according to his mother, after becoming a Wizard. Recall Bart didn't have a real soul as it were. I think wizards might replace their souls with a weakened spirit somehow and thus be able to manipulate the world around them so long as it falls with in the spirits domain. Maybe there are some spirits that entered the mortal world but lacked Halos and thus needed human to act as a sort of "insulator" to prevent their degradation.

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>41190833

>>41190895
Well yeah, the lightning spirit that attacked us had taken over a humans body but he wasn't a wizard. Maybe wizard's use a different process that combines a soul with a spirit, probably just shoving the soul into the hole that all spirits have which we saw on rock with the soulsight brew

>>41190919
Matrix

>>41190919
Oh shit I really hope this roll is used, I don't know what the cutoff number for rolls is

>>41190919

You dodge pretty easily, moving yourself out of the sword's reach without effort. Normally such an easy dodge would create an opening that would let you strike back but the sword has already moved back, almost faster than you can track it, closing the opening before you can even lift your sword.
You'd recognize that anywhere, you'd seen it at least a hundred times before, usually heralding the beginning of a beatdown that ended your training session.

Oster steps into the light, his sword extended warily. His usual Quedeshi mask is gone, baring his branded face to the world.
"Cennen," he says. "Unusual company you have there."

Your eyes flicker to the shadows behind you. Granted, that makes you look a little strange.

"You have five seconds to prove that you're really him. Don't try any bullshit."

-He is real-

Oster frowns at Rock as she floats back to your shoulder.
"Fair enough. Where's the princess?"

> Show him Hiss.

> Throw Rock at him.

> Flee

> Other

>>41191092
>> Throw Rock at him.
> Show him Hiss.

>>41191092
Who was rock talking to?

>>41191092
> Show him Hiss.
Sneakily grab the knock out brew while we're showing him hiss just in case he's an impostor who somehow fooled rock

>>41191175
Oster.

>>41191092
>>41191196
>How do we know YOU are real?
>Where's Aash?

>>41191092
> In the bag.

>>41191092
> Throw Rock at him.
Grab knockout brew and use it if rock confirms he's fake

>>41191196
>>41191245
Forgot to say
>When we met you where Ophi and gave Hiss some coffee

>>41191092
Was he disguised the last time we saw him?

> Throw Rock at him.

But is he the real Oster? He's acting like him but that might not mean anything. He's not wearing his mask anymore but that could have easily been knocked off in the fighting. How best to prove this?

You palm Rock, the spirit becoming tangible enough to touch as you throw her at Oster without warning.
His sword flicks out, cutting straight through the spirit before Rock latches onto his chest.

-Fake-

Oster bellows and charges forward into the light, his sword swinging. You don't have the time to block or to do anything but drop to the ground and hope that the blade goes over your head.

Roll 1d100.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>41191369
Aw fuck.

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>41191369

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>41191369

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>41191369
SHIT USE KNOCKOUT BREW

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>41191369
Come on dice gods

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>41191369
Fuck. I was pretty sure he was a fake but I didn't want to risk knocking out the real oster

I wonder; If we were to get a bandoleer for flasks, would it appreciably lower the time it took us to grab a flask, and throw it/chug it?

>>41191402
Nice. We might be a mediocre swordsman but osters training must have granted us some serious dodging skills.

>>41191473
They'd be liable to break accidentally

>>41191402
His sword threatens to give you an impromptu haircut as it swings just above your falling skull as you drop to the ground, rolling as you do so in a futile attempt to escape his reach.

-I can't stop him! She has no soul and is acting on her own!-
Rock is apparently not going to be of help. Surely she must have something to directly affect the physical world? Or maybe she's still too weak from rescuing you to do so.

You reach into your pack, pushing Hiss to the side, reaching for a potion as you lie on the ground.
But it's too late. Within a second of you dropping, Oster has already advanced, Rock hanging off his shirt in vain. His sword goes up and it comes down.

Ow. That uh,...hurts quite a lot. His sword seems to be stuck in your gut. How did you let him do that? Were you too slow? He starts to pull it out from where it had been impaling your prone form, going for a second strike. One that'll kill you.
You feel strangely detached from the whole experience. Is this what it feels like to die?

Your fingers curl around the potion in your pack that you were looking for.

> Use Potion (Specify)

>>41191515
Knockout brew

>>41191515
Would the knockout brew act fast enough? maybe we should go for shapeshift?

>>41191475
Unfortunately dodging all of Oster's assault with no brews immediately on hand (save for the Sun Potion which isn't useful against a shadow that's clothed), requires 90 or above.

Reasonably generous, considering that trying to swordfight him directly is literally in the pastebins as an example of an 'autolose' action for Cennen.

>>41191573
Shapeshift takes a while too

>>41191537
This.

>>41191515
Acid Flask

>-I can't stop him! She has no soul and is acting on her own!-

so close on those pronouns

>>41191537
>>41191573
Acid his ass he's a fake.

>>41191573
It takes effect in a few seconds.

>>41191617
Acid isn't gonna stop him completely. Knocking him out will.

>>41191515
Knockout
Fuck you fake Oster!

>>41191641
Acid killed his own fake. It's a shadow, it may not even be conscious since it's a construct.

>>41191515
>>41191646
Here, how about telling Rock to use the shadows to restrain him.

>>41191668
It didn't kill the fake, it gave him an opening to stab him (I think)

>>41191629
We should see if rock can restrain him with the shadows until the knockout brew takes effect

>>41191617
>so close on those pronouns

Rock still isn't so good at seeing humans and nobody TOLD her that Oster was male.

>>41191738
Would the regen brew help us cope with blood loss even after the injury occurs?

>>41191738
Still she mixed them. Him and her.

We really should make a potion to let her see better if we live though.

>>41191760
Yes though it won't close the wound it will give you more time before blood loss kills you.

>>41191783
Rad. I'm pissed that hiss made us use our inferior heal all earlier

>>41191791
Yeah I was about to complain that we should still have one in our inventory until I remembered that.

>>41191791
She really fucked us over

>>41191769
>Still she mixed them. Him and her.
Oh whoops. The 'him' is actually just a mistake on my part.

> Knockout Brew

You don't have time to throw it or do anything fancy, you just smash it against the ground and cry out as you feel broken glass scratch against your hand.
Smoke floods the corridor, pungent and thick. But it doesn't take effect fast enough.

It should only take a few seconds after breathing it in to knock out any human or you suppose in this case, any human-like thing. But that's more than enough time for Oster's sword to twist out of your wound and then come down once more, this time at your helpless neck.

A shadow grabs the sword! Indeed, shadows are suddenly flooding past you to crawl over Oster's body. Moving into the light.
The shadows only last a second before dissolving from your dropped Sun Potion's radiance but that's long enough for the gas to take effect.

Oster's eyes close and he drops his sword, losing coherency and breaking up into stray shadows as he loses consciousness. The dropped sword follows him a moment later, becoming naught but a sword-shaped shadow on the ground before withering in the light.

-Are you alright? I was unable to stop her fast enough, she was too quick! Do you require assistance-

"I'm...not alright," you cough as you grab the Regen brew from your pack and down it immediately. That should buy you some more time at least, even if it won't close your wound. You don't have any healing potions damn it, you'd used your last one to recover from Hiss' beating. Thanks Hiss.
The snake hisses at you as if in response.

-You do not appear well. There is a hole in you. You are leaking. Are you unwell?-

"Y-yeah," you shudder as you take off your shirt, trying your best to make a rudimentary bandage. If you just bandage it tightly...and with the Regen brew giving you strength against blood loss, you should be fine.
Unless he stabbed through something vital, then only slow death awaits you without a healing brew.

>>41191957
2/2

> Sit down and brew up an Inferior Heal-All as fast as you can.

> You'll be fine for now. Who knows what's happening while you delay?

> Stay here but send Rock ahead.

> Using Shapeshifting brew would close the wound instantly and allow you to continue without any delay at all, in a stronger shape to boot. It's your last dose however.

> Other

>>41192007
>Using Shapeshifting brew would close the wound instantly and allow you to continue without any delay at all, in a stronger shape to boot. It's your last dose however.

>>41192007
> Using Shapeshifting brew would close the wound instantly and allow you to continue without any delay at all, in a stronger shape to boot. It's your last dose however.

It's a good thing we're about to learn how to make the things.

>>41192007
> Using Shapeshifting brew would close the wound instantly and allow you to continue without any delay at all, in a stronger shape to boot. It's your last dose however.
How big are the tunnels? Would using the snakecatcher monsters form be too cumbersome?

>>41192007
> Sit down and brew up an Inferior Heal-All as fast as you can.
It's too soon to pass out again.
> Stay here but send Rock ahead.

>>41192046
No, the Snakecatcher is very large but it is also very long and thin for it's size, considering he is snakelike. It would fit.

>>41192046
I'd support that form if our hands could still throw brews. Maybe change the coloring too just in case

>>41192046
What if we get caught and the wizard makes a copy of the snakecatcher?

>>41192094
It probably emulates arts too a bit right? Firebreathing must have been a dragon art

>>41192046
Rather take dragonman form. Even harder to hurt.

>>41192094
Did you have a different one in mind or did you expect a write in?

>>41192156
It is confined to physical principles alone. So magic that is grounded in the physical body (Claws, scales, having a belly full of fire) comes along for the ride.
They do come along in a weaker form however. Hence why the Snakecatcher ripped through your dragon scales easily.

>>41192185
Dragons don't fit in tunnels.

>>41192046
>>41192094
>>41192190
I don't think that form would be of much use here. Physical strenght doesn't work on the shadows.

>>41192210
I said dragon man, not straight dragon.

>>41192226
Fire breath outta help.

>>41192232
Yeah, but we should save it for attaraan

>>41192232
Ah. Yeah a hybrid would be cool

>>41192232
Fire breath would be a godsend right now actually

>>41192251
We can make more potion

>>41192253
And easier to control too

>>41192277
Fire magic is incredibly useful, despite being piss common in most settings.

> Shapeshifting Brew
> Snakecatcher

Fuck this, you don't have time to brew up a healing potion but you're not going to let yourself just drag around being wounded either. Luckily you have a way that not only lets you bypass the wound but get even stronger for it!

You take Master Yolan's brew from your pack and down it immediately.
"Rock, don't be alarmed by whatever you're about to see."

> Snakecatcher. You two already share a title after all and if you recall correctly, he was more or less indestructible.

> Dragon. You don't care that it wouldn't fit in the tunnels. DRAGON.

> Dragon-man. Some weird amalgamation of dragon and man. You've never seen one of these in your life so getting it right will be harder.

> A big constrictor. Comes with physical power and people here give snakes a lot of respect.

> Bunyip. Probably won't be able to hurt shadows but could just bullrush through them to the wizard maybe?

> Just another human. You don't want to worry anyone, people might attack you if they see a monster of some kind.

> The human shape of someone else (Specify)

> Other (Specify)

>>41192297
> Dragon-man. Some weird amalgamation of dragon and man. You've never seen one of these in your life so getting it right will be harder.

>inb4 we screw the roll and forget to add bones.

>>41192297
>> Dragon-man. Some weird amalgamation of dragon and man. You've never seen one of these in your life so getting it right will be harder.

>>41192297
> Dragon-man. Some weird amalgamation of dragon and man. You've never seen one of these in your life so getting it right will be harder.
Scales and fire breath are the main priorities

>>41192297
> The human shape of someone else (Specify)
Hiss.
I'm gessing she's the one he wants. We can use this to get close to him and kill him with the real Hiss.
Also, how much time until Hiss is up?

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>41192297
> Dragon-man. Some weird amalgamation of dragon and man. You've never seen one of these in your life so getting it right will be harder.

I hope everyone is prepping their Code Red and Cheetos for a sacrifice.

Testing.

>>41192297
> Snakecatcher. You two already share a title after all and if you recall correctly, he was more or less indestructible.
it's kinda funny that our shapeshifting brew has less limitations than actual snake shapeshifting

>>41192320
Should be our green and gold color scheme. Forgot to add that.

>>41192424
I'd prefer black for stealth in the dark tunnels

>>41192419
Master alchemy is OP. Imagine what we could do if we incorporated blood into the shifting potion?

>>41192444
Well we've already got a brew that copies both body and soul

> Dragon-man. Some weird amalgamation of dragon and man. You've never seen one of these in your life so getting it right will be harder.

Yeah, that's the one. All the power of the dragon but condensed into a useful form! The fire breath should be particularly useful in cleansing unbodied shadows. Would be pretty good at cleaning bodied shadows too now that you think about it.
And all you need to do is just turn into the bloody thing. And there's just one problem with that. You don't really have an example to go off of.
You've never seen anything like a 'dragon-man' in your life. You've got no strong mental image or at least not one that isn't prone to changing on a whim.

What if you end up with no bones?

Well, just try to avoid that. Roll 1d100.

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>41192470

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>41192470

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>41192470
All tremble at the sight of Cennen the Boneless!

>>41192485
FUCK YEAH

>>41192466
But only of people who drink it for us. Imagine turning into a somethin at will and getting the full magical benefits.


>>41192485
Nice!!!!

>>41192485
Cennen's imagination is OP pls nerf

>>41192542
You haven't figured that out yet? No one imagines the shot he does the only reason he's not more terrifying than Hiss is, he's mostly nice, his imagination and art aren't at the same level(yet) and he usually lacks motivation beyond isle experimentation.

>>41192485
You can't help but cry out as you feel your body shift and warp, your bones creaking into new positions, your very skin literally crawling. The shout turns into a bellow which turns into a roar as you feel fire flood your insides.

When your eyes open again you are seven feet tall and covered in green and gold scales. Two wings hang down from your shoulders, all but useless. Your body is mostly humanoid but your head has been completely replaced by a horse-like dragon head atop a long neck.
The snake hisses at you and tries to bite you in the ankle but can't even dent your scales.

-You seem different-

You laugh, a throaty chuckle that threatens to spit flame.
"You think?"

-There's definitely something different about you-

Your pack is lying on the ground and you scoop it up, holding it in one clawed hand. Strange, you seem to recall being nearly overwhelmed by the draconic mind last time but now you are entirely in control. Is it the human aspect that you've added?

> Charge forward!

> Move with some more caution.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41192691
> Move with some more caution.
Is hiss out of the pack? Let her back in

>>41192691
I think brewing and using a soulsight brew would be worth the time. We could probably find everyone faster actually

>>41192691
>> Move with some more caution.
Pray to Hiss tell tonget back into the sack.

>>41192691
Do we have any sense of where we should be going?

>>41192691
> Charge forward!

Also, what was Hiss' reaction last time we transformed into a dragon? I hope she doesn't go berserk on us later for sullying her ancestors some more.

>>41192691
> Move with some more caution.
>>41192770
this, as well

Also, I love that she hates it.

>>41192752
I don't think we can brew very well with claws, and besides, rock can do that.

>>41192794
Not really no. You never really explored it before.

>>41192800
She's fine with it. Hiss takes being a snake with a sort of perverse pride, she doesn't romanticize or revere dragons in any way save the dragon that was her ancestor and that only because it gave rise to her and her royal power.
What she DOES dislike though is someone transforming right next to her without warning, prompting the attempted bite.

>>41192752
Supporting this. Running around with no sense of direction isn't gonna help anyone

>> Move with some more caution.

You stride forward slowly around the corner, making sure that nothing more is lurking. Past the corner is another corridor, one that ends in a large empty circular room.
"Rock," you say, your voice guttural. "Can you sense people around? Like, with their souls?"

-No.-
Rock suddenly shivers and at your feet, Hiss' head comes up. Did something happen.
-Someone is praying. Oster is praying-

"What's he saying? Where from?"

You lower your pack and open it, inviting Hiss back inside. She slithers in, no doubt knowing that the alternative is capture.

-Up. The prayer comes from above.-

Above? Oh right, this is all underground. You start moving down the corridor around the corner, checking and making sure you aren't about to be ambushed.

-She says that he just came to, she was knocked unconscious by something. She's praying that you watch out for her shadow-

"Yeah, we already killed that. I guess he doesn't know that?"

-No. She knows it died once, her shadow came back. But she says that the wizard just sent it out again!-

"Oh. Well, that's not great. But neither of us can exactly be cut with a sword so it's not that dangerous."

-Agreed. You must keep them from copying Hiss, she would be the most troublesome shadow-

"How so? They don't copy magic as far as I can tell."

-Yes but her clone would still be fast and very strong and very venomous.-

"Maybe. I think Oster's is still the worst to face though."

You come to the end of the corridor, where it opens up into a large circular room that is lined with many more corridors, like the hub in a spoked wheel.
At the back there's a ladder that leads up to a hole in the stone roof. And wouldn't you know it, coming down it right now is Oster.

> Charge him before he can finish coming down. No need to waste any flame.

> Just breathe fire on him from a distance.

> Throw a potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41193124
> Throw a potion (Specify)ç
Explosive

>>41193124
> Charge him before he can finish coming down. No need to waste any flame.

>>41193124
> Just breathe fire on him from a distance.

>>41193184
We don't want to destroy the ladder anon

>>41193229
Right. Charge him, then

>>41193198
Why would we give him the chance to use his best offence against us? the scales are good, but not indestructible.

>>41193184
>We throw a snakebreaker.
>the entire village collapses.
>everyone dies.

>>41193124
Hit him with a Rumpleskin brew

>>41193124
> Just breathe fire on him from a distance.

>>41193124
>>41193270

Supporting.

>>41193258
I think we're pretty much indestructible anon. At least when it comes to swords

>>41193321
Maybe, but he is really good with that sword, who's to say he can't jam it in our eye? blasting him with flame costs us little.

>>41193348
Our humanoid form probably doesn't have much flame to use

Rolled 4 (1d6)

Looks like a threeway tie between burning, charging and using the Rumpleskin. As tie-heavy as this Quest is, I've never quite had to do a triple before. Well done you lot.

1-2 is burning, 3-4 is charging, 5-6 is using the brew

> Charge him before he can finish coming down. No need to waste any flame.

You kick off, throwing yourself forward at man climbing down the ladder. He swings his sword in alarm but your modified legs eat up the distance between the two of you as if it was nothing and you smash him to the ground.

You can feel his bones breaking beneath you as you stomp on him several times. For a short moment, he doesn't dissolve and you freeze with horror, wondering if you'd just made a terrible mistake.
But then the false Oster breaks apart into shadow as per usual. Only...there's a lot more shadow this time around. This wasn't just a doppelganger. It was a walking hive, stuffed to brim with shadows. Shadows in its nose, its mouth, in the countless little dark spaces that fill the inside of the human body.
There's hundreds of them, enough to penetrate the circle of light that the Sun Potion is creating around you, a storm of darkness bursting forward from Oster's fading corpse.

They latch onto you, your scales no obstacle as they crawl along your body the same way you would cast a shadow upon a wall. You can feel intangible fingers poking into your mouth, your ears, your nostrils. Seeking a way inside.

> Breath fire fucking everywhere.

> Flee back to Rock. She might be able to stop this.

> Flee away from Rock. She might not be able to control this many and enough of them might be able to hurt her.

> Throw your pack away from you, you can't let them get Hiss. This will stop you from moving though as you only have limited time.

> Charge right up the ladder. Maybe you can just fucking murder this wizard right now.

> Other (Specify)

>>41193544
> Breath fire fucking everywhere.

>>41193544
> Breath fire fucking everywhere.
Slip sun potion into our pack and close it quickly to protect hiss

>>41193544
>Breathe a short flare to kill the most of them while they are clustered around us, then.
> Flee back to Rock. She might be able to stop this.

>>41193635
This, put the sun potion in our pack after we've driven the shadows away with our flame a bit

>>41193635
>>41193681
Snakes have a transparent scale instead of eyelids, this will be very unconfortable

>>41193544
> Breath fire fucking everywhere.
> Sun potion in pack
> Charge right up the ladder. Maybe you can just fucking murder this wizard right now.

>>41193719
She can face away from it. I'd rather her be a bit uncomfortable than have her be abducted and copied by shadows

> Breath fire fucking everywhere.
>Slip Sun Potion into pack

You slide the sun potion into your pack as quickly as you can as you great gouts of fire start fuming from your nostrils. That should protect Hiss from any of them at least.

And then you let loose, breathing a stream of fire all over yourself, turning in a circle to cover every direction. You breathe and breathe until you have run out of flame and even that isn't enough to cleanse the room fully of the infestation.But it clears it enough, scorching away the shadows that had laid hands on you.

You go to grab the sun potion from your pack when you stop. Something's grabbing your ankles.
There's only one place a shadow could be that was close enough to do that and not be burned. Directly beneath your feet. But the only shadow beneath your feet is your own...

Your vision shuts off for a moment and your ears start ringing. The shadow beneath you is bubbling, taking on physical form.
For a brief moment entirely you lose all sensation.

And then your vision returns and you see yourself standing across from you. Another scaled humanoid beast of green and gold.
And he has your pack.

>>41193821
Motherfucker. Well, at least Rock can deal with him.

>>41193821
Alright, that's that for the thread tonight I think. I spent longer than I'll admit trying to think of a non-awful shadow pun to make for the archive description but I eventually decided it wasn't worth it.

Hope you guys had fun and I'll see you tomorrow, which is when I plan to be running again. As always, check the twitter etc etc.

>>41193821
He has a copy of our pack or our original pack with hiss inside?

>>41193905
The original. Somehow.

>>41193922
what the fuck man

>>41193821
I knew this would happen

>>41194064
In hindsight shapeshifting into a powerful body had some downsides.

>>41194122
Well at least we still have a powerful body right?

>>41194143
Yes, at least we're still hot

>>41193922
>Somehow

Fuck you m8. Thanks for running, Ouro.