>>41208053
In hindsight, using the shapeshifting brew to change yourself into a more powerful physical body comes with a bit of a downside when you consider you’re up against an enemy who can make copies of your physical body.
But it’s too late for regrets now, not when you’re staring your own doppelganger in the eye. They have the same shapeshifted form as you, a green scaled reptile-man with vestigial wings. Can it breathe fire? You don’t think it can. You certainly hope not.

But more pressingly, it’s carrying your pack in one hand. No, not a copy of your pack, your actual pack. How did he get that? He must have snatched it off of you when you were disoriented by your shadow being stolen. But that was barely a second at most!
But then again, doesn’t he have all of your physical skills? Are you too good at nobbling for your own good?

All of your potions are in there, free for him to use! And what’s even worse, that’s where you’d been keeping Hiss.
Your doppelganger begins to open the pack.

> Charge him

> Circle around back to Rock to see if they can help.

> Ignore your copy and just head up the ladder towards the wizard.

> Pray

> Feint an attack and then try to swipe your pack back when he presents an opening.

> Other

>>41208070
>> Pray
Hiss, Shadow me has the pack, Distract him by...... hissing!
> Feint an attack and then try to swipe your pack back when he presents an opening.

>>41208070
> Charge him
Try to get our venom in his eyes or mouth, be aggressive while we still have an active regen brew. Pray to rock to make sure that no shadows copy hiss while we fight

>>41208192
>>41208171
I'll support this. Pack is way too valuable and capable of too much destruction.

>>41208070
>>41208171
This, though maybe we could tell her to get out of the bag as well.
Also, we're never going to hear the end of it when she regains her speech...

>Pray
>Feint an attack and then try to swipe your pack back when he presents an opening.

You keep your distance at first, doing your best to pray. You need to tell Hiss that the one holding her right now is a copy, not the real you. And that you might need her help.
Will any undesirables hear that? You hope not, the only others in the vicinity that should be capable of hearing prayers should be Rock and Aashenpreet. You're pretty sure that wizards can't.

And as your copy opens the pack, Hiss' tail flicks the sun potion out. You instinctively screw up your eyes against the sudden flare of light but it has a much worse effect on your shadow, who yowls like a cat and backs off rubbing their eyes as the sun potion lands on the ground.

And that's all the time you need. You take advantage of his momentary weakness to dart in, rescuing the pack. You snatch it up in your clawed hand, Hiss instinctively jabbing her head out to bite you only to have her fangs bounce off your scales.

Your doppelganger recovers almost immediately afterwards and springs towards you!

> Meet his charge head-on with one of your own.

> Toss the pack to the side and be ready to receive his attack.

> Equip a potion from the pack (Specify)

> Equip Hiss from the pack.

> See if you can trip him up.

> Other

>>41208516
> Equip a potion from the pack (Specify)
Scalebane?
> See if you can trip him up.

>>41208516
> See if you can trip him up.
After he trips and is laying on the ground hit him with our Scalebane brew

>>41208614
>>41208616
Scalebane only works on snake scales. We should use the regular acid

>>41208516
>Toss the pack to the side and be ready to receive his attack.
U wit m8? U avn a laff? I'll bash your fookin' skull in, swar on me mum. Hardest lad in Taldenral, at ye fookin service.

>>41208648
Dragons scales are a snake art, and quite frankly massively resistant to regular damage. Remember how the snakecatcher wasn't affected at all?

Ouro can you confirm or deny?

>>41208516
> See if you can trip him up.
What if we restrain him and feed him some bloodkin? He's connected to the wizard so we could fuck him up with our bane

>>41208678
These scales have nothing to do with Snake Art unfortunately. Particularly in this case where both creatures are things that never even existed in the first place.

>>41208685
Tried that last time and didn't stop the wizard.

>>41208648
The pastebin says it works on all scales

>>41208734
This is correct. My previous statement was only confirming/denying their relation of your scales to that of a snakes.

>>41208516
> Equip a potion from the pack (Scalebane)
MELT THAT SUCKER.

>See if you can trip him up.
>Scalebane
>Acid

You pull out a flask of acid from your pack as your shadow charges. You don't dodge to the side immediately though. This guy is you, with exactly equal physical ability. If you want to trip him up you're going to have to time it just right.

You force calm upon yourself and wait, steeling yourself until the last possible moment as you jump to the side around his charge and aim a kick into his legs.

His legs tangle into yours and you nearly go down as well, just barely staying standing. But you keep your footing and get to watch as his own momentum makes him eat dirt.

You reach back into your pack and out comes the Scalebane, drawing it and smashing it into the back of his head in a single motion as he falls past you. And as he hits the ground, you grind the flask of acid into the newly formed weak spot in the back of his skull.

He screams and writhes in pain as acid and jagged shards of broken bottle scorch and lacerate his scalp respectively. All it takes then is for you to lift your foot over his head and to stomp.
As it bursts apart into a rain of shadow you silently thank providence that he didn't look like your real form, that could have been weird.

-Excellent. I was unsure if you would be able to defeat yourself-
Rock floats back onto your shoulder from where she had been watching in the passageway.

"Why do you think I was so desperate to get the pack back? Whichever one of us had the potions was always going to win."

-Makes sense. The wizard should still be just above our current location-

> No time to waste then! Scale the ladder.

> Brew. You want to restock first, even if that means taking another shadow attack.

> Take Hiss out of your pack and leave her behind before you leave upwards.

> Take Hiss out of your pack and pray for her to assume human form and help you, even if she's missing her human souls.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41208999
> Take Hiss out of your pack and pray for her to assume human form and help you, even if she's missing her human souls.
Even if she can't move it's safer for everyone if she's in human form

>>41208999
>> Take Hiss out of your pack and pray for her to assume human form and help you, even if she's missing her human souls.

If Aash can do it, I'm sure Hiss will have no problem.

That post actually called for two rolls but rather than trying to break it into several really small updates I just rolled them myself.

>>41208999
> Take Hiss out of your pack and pray for her to assume human form and help you, even if she's missing her human souls.
> Brew. You want to restock first, even if that means taking another shadow attack.
We're going to need some acid and knockout.

>>41209089
>Yo! How come we don't have fire potions yet?

>>41209089
Aw, that's no fun Ourobro. I enjoyed Las night. Was as exciting as things got, in the good way. Rather than the gut churning, nervous, "ohmygodamIgoingtodie!?" way you're so fond of.

>>41208999
> No time to waste then! Scale the ladder.
Ask rock to make sure any shadows trying to copy us get destroyed

>>41209144
When you decide to brew them.

> Take Hiss out of your pack and pray for her to assume human form and help you, even if she's missing her human souls.

You grab the snake from your pack and shake her off your arm onto the ground before doing your best to pray to her that you want her to take human form and help you.
How well does she even understand prayers now? You know that she usually gets the gist of them but could some details be lost?

The snake curls up, shedding skin as she takes human form. And not the Quedeshi form that you've gotten used to lately either, it's her original human body. A beautiful and lithe Teln woman in expensive yet practical clothing.
You suppose that in this situation she just went for what was the most familiar.

Hiss stands, completely still save for her breathing. Her arms hang uselessly from her sides and her fangs are out. She sways slightly from side to side as if poised to strike, doing her best to act the only way she currently knows how.
"Res Mkkrruui O," she says, clearly trying to form coherent words but only spouting unwords. Her brow creases, irritated. You can tell that she knows that she's supposed to be able to communicate with you by saying words but she longer has any ability to differentiate one word from another.
You won't be able to pass any information on through your expression or body language either, she's completely blind to both.

She tries to step up the ladder but messes it up completely, unable to use her hands properly to grasp it. Can you carry her up? Unlikely, she's not exactly light.
You try praying that she return to snake form but she just backs away, her eyes darting from one side of the room to the other. She's lost all ability to guard her face so that you can tell that she's terrified of her current situation. There'll probably be no reasoning with her. Or rather, her primary capacity for reason has been lost.

1/2

>>41209406
Use the word theft so she can learn our language

>>41209406

> Just leave her down here then and hope she doesn't do anything bad.

> Leave Rock behind to watch over her.

> Try to carry her up the ladder anyway. She should still be able to bite wizards.

> Use a potion on her (Specify)

> Other

>>41209459
>>41209436

>>41209459
>> Leave Rock behind to watch over her.

>>41209459
>>41209436
This.
>Brew some kncockout and acid while Rock and Hiss stand guard.

>>41209459
> Leave Rock behind to watch over her.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

Looks like a tie between wordtheft and just leaving Rock behind to watch over her. Evens for the former, odds the latter.

> Leave Rock behind to watch over her.

"Hey Rock, can you talk to her?"

-I can but I'd prefer not to-

"Oh?"

-She is very unpleasant. Touching her soul is not enjoyable-

"Well that's too bad. Can you just stay here and keep her out of trouble? I'll pray for you two if I need you."

You pick up the sun potion from where it had been dropped and shake it, checking to see if its light is still adequate. It is!

Hiss tries in vain to pluck Rock out of the air, her expression filled with guileless joy. Oh right, she finds the spirit cute. Well they should be fine then.

-I do not like this-
Rock's protests go mostly unheard as Hiss hugs the tiny spirit to her chest, attempting to coil around her despite being human.

You just shake your head and start climbing the ladder. Now's not the time to lose your nerve by watching something cute.

The ladder isn't long, taking up through a layer of rock and then opening up to the night sky. You're at the edge of the Kouri desert, a wasteland of white rock. To the side is a mountain range rising out of a rambling series of ever steeper foothills, the guardians that divide the desert from more fertile lands.

Twenty feet away from you is Oster and Aashenpreet, both of them on their knees and tied with bonds of shadow. Standing behind them is a man dressed in the traditional Kouri garb, one with a lined face and a huge black beard. In his left hand he clutches a thin black rod.
He bellows something at you in Quedeshi but his tone seems to be calm. Is he trying to parlay with you?

> Indicate that you don't speak the fucking language.

> Put your hands up in apparent surrender and walk closer.

> Charge!

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Pray for reinforcements

> Other

>>41209908
> Indicate that you don't speak the fucking language.
> Put your hands up in apparent surrender and walk closer.
Nobble a Rumpleskin brew to tag him with when we're closer.

>>41209908
>Stay put and hold out the sun potion.
> Indicate that you don't speak the fucking language.
>Ask Aash to translate.

>>41209908
> Indicate that you don't speak the fucking language.

>>41209908
> Indicate that you don't speak the fucking language.
> Put your hands up in apparent surrender and walk closer.
> Pray for reinforcements

>>41209908
>>41209956
I like this. Seconding.

>>41209908
> Indicate that you don't speak the fucking language.
> Pray for reinforcements

>>41209908
>>41209956
Another chance to use our sleight of hand.

>>41209956
If our hands are up he'll see the brew. It won't work

>>41210189
Not if we hold the bottle between our fingers, bottle against the back of our hand. We're an expert nobbler, a little slight of hand is well within our bailiwick.

>>41210237
Maybe it would be possible if we shrunk it with a collapsibility brew first but it would still be really conspicuous

>>41210237
>>41210254
What about up our sleeve?

>>41210266
I don't think we have a shirt right now

>>41210294
Right, dragon-man, I forgot.

>>41210266
It would still be obvious because we'd have to reach into our pack

> Indicate that you don't speak the fucking language.
> Put your hands up in apparent surrender and walk closer.

There's a full moon out tonight, bathing the rocks around in an almost spectral light, stretching your shadow long behind you.
You shout back at the wizard in your best grasp of Quedeshi that 'you no speak right'.

And with that you hold out your both hands and slowly walk forward, one hand still clutching the glowing sun potion. You don't see any errant shadows about but they could be hiding beneath the rocks and it's best to be cautious.

The wizard says something to Aashenpreet, who then speaks.
"He wants you to drop your pack before coming any closer!"

You nod, signalling assent as you slowly set your pack down. You then open it, reaching inside with your hand holding the sun potion.
The wizard yells something and you stop, your hand frozen inside the pack.
"Aash, just tell him that I'm putting my sun potion away so that he doesn't think I'm going to do anything fishy with it!"

She relays the information and the wizard shakes his head.
"He says the sun potion is fine, just don't touch your pack."

"Fine. Fine."
You withdraw your hand, holding the sun potion up awkwardly between thumb and forefinger. It's still very bright so hopefully it obscures what else you've procured. A bottle of Rumpleskin brew with the neck held between the middle and ring fingers of the same hand holding the sun potion, the bottle hidden behind the back of your hand.
Thankfully you're still in dracoform so your hands are larger than usual and should obscure the Rumpleskin behind them if you play it just right. And the glare from having to look directly at the sun potion should obscure the very top of the bottle that shows through your claws.
You didn't have to use the Collapsible Brew after all, which you're a little thankful for.

1/2

>>41210365
You continue to step closer, holding the sun potion up as if you were comically afraid of the shadows and needed it raised at all times.
The fact that doing so keeps your hand inclined upwards and lets you rest the Rumpleskin behind the back of your hand easier has nothing to do with it.

The wizard evidently doesn't want you to get TOO close which is fine by you. You just have to get within guaranteed throwing range.

Roll 1d100.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>41210414

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>41210414

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>41210414

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>41210414
here's hoping the rumpleskin is painful enough to distract him from using magic

>>41210497
Damn. We've had some great rolls lately

What does the Rumpleskin do again?
I can't seem to find it in the directory.

>>41210518
>Crafted from acid and shed snake-skin, this potion works on skin contact. Anyone touched by it has their skin bubbled and crinkled into harsh pebbly lumps which can quickly spread over the rest of the body. This causes immobilization and lasts for several hours unless it is cured.
It's in the party pastebin

>>41210518
Pain, and scabs up their skin so much they can't move.

>>41210551
>>41210552
Thanks.

>>41210497

You stop, only seven feet away from them. The wizard looks suspiciously at you, waving his slender wand in a clear indication you don't move another step.

"Okay."
You drop the sun potion and flip the Rumpleskin brew up with the same movement, the bottle swinging from where it had been hanging from your fingers at the back of your hand to being clutched in your palm.
By then your arm is already moving, winding back in a perfect swing. You feel incredible, as if everything was just slotting into place.

You lob the bottle in more or less a straight line, slamming it against the side of his heads with a nasty sounding crack! You even managed to time it just perfectly so it wouldn't splash on Oster or Aashenpreet!

The wizard screams but quickly regresses into a choking gargle as the brew splashes into his mouth. His skin crawls and bubbles together, becoming almost rock-like as it bunches together and pulls itself tight across his body. The lumps spread like wildfire, freezing and stiffening the robed man and then beginning to spread internally.

The shadowy ropes binding Oster and Aashenpreet grow slack and fade entirely. Oster is already rising before you even finish lowering your arm from where you had thrown it, his sword pulling free from his scabbard.
And as he pulls it out he lets the motion carry it up all the way, slamming the pommel into the wizard's prone face before neatly reversing the blade and slicing through his neck.

The wizard's body falls to the ground, his head a few feet away.

"That's you right, Cennen?" Oster asks. "You've done some weird stuff but this is pretty up there."

Aashenpreet says nothing, staring at the body of the wizard in mute horror.

> "It's me. In the flesh, so to speak."

> Pray for Rock and Hiss to come up now.

> Stab the wizard a few more times.

> 'Are you two alright?'

> Pretend to be a shadow.

> Use Potion (Specify)

>>41210683
>> "It's me. In the flesh, so to speak."
Last of the shapechange brew, Remember when I turned into a dragon? Basically the same thing but since it's more human I don't have to worry about losing control.
> 'Are you two alright?'
> Pray for Rock and Hiss to come up now.
Rock first, needs to make sure no more fakes.

>>41210683
> "It's me. In the flesh, so to speak."
> Pray for Rock and Hiss to come up now.
> Ask rock to examine the staff

>>41210683
> "It's me. In the flesh, so to speak."
> Pray for Rock and Hiss to come up now.
> 'Are you two alright?'
We really gotta learn that brew. Time for some Master-level studying.

>>41210683
> "It's me. In the flesh, so to speak."
> Pray for Rock and Hiss to come up now.
We might actually have to fetch hiss personally

>>41210683
> "It's me. In the flesh, so to speak."
apparently extreme blood loss gives me weird ideas
> Pray for Rock and Hiss to come up now.
> Check out the staff

>>41210736
The fakes were powered by the wizards magic, i'm not too worried about finding others

> "It's me. In the flesh, so to speak."
> Pray for Rock and Hiss to come up now

"Don't worry, it's me. In the flesh. Well, not MY flesh but I'm in something's flesh. And that's all that counts."

Oster nods as he wipes his sword.
"Is the princess fine?"

"For a certain definition of 'fine'. She's safe but she's feeling a bit off for now. Side-effect of my cure."

He doesn't look too pleased at your description but nods.
"I'll take your word for it."

You turn to Aashenpreet.
"How about you?"

"I'm fine," she says in a distant voice.

"I don't suppose he said what he wanted did he? Or the reason behind him shadowing us?"

She shakes her head.
"He might have said it then. I think he was genuinely attempting a parlay with you."

You shrug.
"I'm not too inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, particularly now."
You send out a brief prayer, instructing Hiss and Rock to come out now.
"Where are all the Kouri?"

Oster shakes his head.
"They all buggered off like they knew he was coming. But not before they more or less delivered the two of us to him. I think they have caves in the mountains."

"So they were helping him? Why?"

"Who knows?" the false merchant shrugs. "Could be any number of reasons. Maybe they just didn't want to piss off a wizard."
He looks past you and starts, raising his sword.

Oh shit! Is there something else?
You whirl around just in time to see a huge fuzzy leg poke through the hole in the ground.
It's a giant spider, one covered in fluffy dirt-colored hair and larger than a human. Sand and pebbles fall from it constantly, surrounding it in a strange veil.
Hiss is curled up on top of it, just beneath the monster's magma-colored halo.

"Oh..hi, Rock. You look different."

-I believe I am getting the hang of how my body works in this world-

Oster jams his sword back into the scabbard with audible disgust.
"You damn nearly gave me a heart attack."

1/2

>>41210683
Fucking wizards man. Also we have some pretty damn good offensive brews don't we? I am loving Rumbleskin quite well right now, and am damn glad we didn't use it last thread.

>>41211231
-The princess was not able to climb the ladder-
Hiss clings tightly to Rock's sandy hair, hugging herself against the spider's back.
-She is becoming uncomfortable-

"Hold on," you scratch your head. "I thought you couldn't change your body now."

-I have not. I have merely borrowed some of the desert for additional mass. There are no Sleepers here-
The spider falls apart in a spray of small rocks and dust, depositing a now very dusty Hiss on the ground. Rock's ordinary form lands on top of her head.

"Princess! Are you alright?"

"Don't bother, she's fine. She can't speak for now."

"A most impressive display, suzerain!"
Aashenpreet attempts to approach Rock but Hiss wards her off, trying to bite her.

> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.

> It's time to pack the wagon and leave you suppose. Aashenpreet knows where the mountain pass is, right?

> The Kouri know the pass best of all. You might need to track them down again and find out what their deal is if you want the proper route.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

Okay. This thread is a good one. Rock ascends from pretty cool to pretty damn awesome and the Rumpleskin is a resounding success.

>>41211390
> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.

>>41211390
>> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.
Yeah before I sahpechanged I got stabbed in the gut, sooooo Brewing. Might need some help. Bigger than necessary hands.

>>41211390
> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.

>Brew up some acid or something and melt/burn that wizard. Can't be too careful.

>>41211390
> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.
make several inferior heal all brews

>>41211390
**Aashenpreet** looks upset.

> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.

>>41211390
> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.
Check out the staff with rock

>>41211451
>**Aashenpreet**

Eh? Did I do a typo somewhere?

>>41211511
nah, sorry. I tried to enphazise it to the other anons but it came out lame, ignore me.

>>41211418
I don't think the dragony hands will really be a problem, we were able to do all sorts of sneaky sleight of hand tricks just now

> Brew. You do need a healing potion at some point for when the shapechange wears off.

Rock gently floats off Hiss' head, bobbing through the air out of her reach. Aashenpreet follows, still trying to ingratiate herself with the spirit.
Leaving you with just Oster.

You upend your pack, readying all your alchemical equipment for a good brew.
"I sort of got stabbed real bad just before. By you."

Oster chuckles.
"If you're expecting an apology, you're flat out of luck. My shadow makes his own decisions and he's a real cunt."
He rubs his side, as if reliving the wound that he had taken from his doppelganger in your first encounter with the wizard.

"No worries, it's all good. It just means that I need to get some healing brews up right now because when my shapechange reverts I'm going to resume bleeding to death."

"Ah. Do you need any help with the brew? I don't know shit about alchemy but your hands look a little large. And clawed."

You shake your head as you start to brew.
"She'll be right. They're more dexterous than you might think."

"Nice," he says absent-mindedly as he scans the horizon. "How long does your change last for, again?"

"A day or until I lose consciousness, whichever comes first. Usually the latter."

"Well if that doesn't say something sad about your life, I don't know what does."

"Hey, hey. You're living this life with me, you know."

"Don't remind me."

Rock floats over the two of you as you continue brewing, circling around the fallen wizard's rod.
-What is this?-

"Wizard focus," Oster answers unhelpfully.

"They use 'em to channel magic from somewhere," you say, trying to remember Eugene's explanation. "Like a spindle, it spins in magic and collects it as a reservoir. They use a bunch of different items I think."

-From where?-

"Pardon?"

-From where do they drain magic from?-

"Beats me. I'd be careful with touching it though, I've seen two wizard staffs so far that have survived their makers and both of them were bad news."

1/2

>>41211860
Hmmm perhaps wizards trap a spirit with in a staff or transmogrify on into that form and bind it with their soul to bring its Domain, or part of it at least, with in their control. Eugene talked about "Estates" so that might fit if you consider this act tantamount to claiming a portion of a larger area, a Domain, as your own to govern and rule.

>>41211860

-Explain-

"Well, the first one had their soul in it secretly the whole time and was eating my brain. The second was the focus for a pretty nasty and long-lasting curse."
You think back to Ael Saltlord and his Melach, unknowingly bearing the apparatus for their own curse out of greed and ignorance.
"I'm starting to get the idea that messing with wizard stuff is a real bad idea."

"You can say that again," Oster contributes. "Got no sense of right and wrong and...no, that's not quite the right word. They have morality just fine. They just have no sense of scale and they're all half-mad as far as I'm concerned."

-That was not what I was wishing to be explained. This rod, it should contain power, correct?-

"Yeah. You can use them after their death. But why would you ever trust it?"

-Because this implement has no magic whatsoever. It has traces but it is empty-

"Well how about that," Oster says, still not that interested. "Maybe he used it all up doing his bullshit."

You frown. Old Bart had been out of water and running on empty when you and Hiss had killed him and his staff had still possessed some power. Is that how it worked?
"Maybe. Best to just leave it alone either way."

You finish up your batch of healing brews as Rock inspects the rod further, finding nothing.

> Grab the rod.

> It's time to leave. Fuck the Kouri.

> You need to find the Kouri if you want to travel through the pass safely.

> Burn the wizard's body. Just in case. And the rod while you're at it.

> Brew some more first. You're not in any rush.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41212052
> Grab the rod.
Rock Tell me if anything changes.

>>41212052
Can we make a weakened non lethal poison to knock us out for a very short amount of time to return to our human form?

>>41212052
> Brew some more first. You're not in any rush.
soulsight brew, just to be sure that we're not falling for any shady wizard tricks

>>41212113
Yes.

>>41212052
> Grab the rod.
> Burn the body.

> It's time to leave. Fuck the Kouri.

>>41212113
This. We might need someone to forcefeed us healing brews right after we change though if we're asleep for long.

File: use this.gif (1.44 MB, 320x240)

1.44 MB GIF

>>41212113
>>41212179

>Brew up a weakened nonlethal poison

You stop as an idea strikes you. It's a little crazy and a little dumb but in a really good way. You get to work immediately, brewing up a weak non-lethal poison.
"Hey Oster, I'm about to change back to normal but I might not be conscious during it. Could you take all these heal-alls and jam them down my throat before I bleed to death?"

"Sure. What are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna drink poison. That's a first, I think."
Does kissing Hiss count? Probably not. Or maybe it does.
Either way you flick the bottle between your claws and drink it down, ushering in darkness and a loss of thought.

****

You cough and splutter as you are suddenly dredged back into wakefulness. You're you again, your shirt wrapped around your still healing abdomen.
You're lying on wood and you can feel wheels moving beneath you. You're in the wagon? And it's moving? How long were you out?

You try to get up but something pushes you back down with irresistible force. Hiss' head pops up into your field of vision.
"Calm down there, idiot," she says warmly. "You don't need to do anything just yet."

Hiss can talk again?
"H-how long was I out?"

"Oh, nearly an hour now," Hiss drawls. "I think you're better with potions than you give yourself credit for."

"And you all just decided to pack up and leave."

Hiss looks down at you sternly.
"I decided it, the moment I got my voice back. I've had enough of this desert since unlike some, I didn't have the luxury to sleep through most of it."

"And you're feeling fine? No other effects?"

She shakes her head.
"But don't think I haven't been giving thought on how to punish you for first paralyzing me and then doing your best to steal my reason and humiliate me."

"That wasn't my intention and you know it."

"Do I?"
A hand brushes against your lower jaw.
"Well, have no fear Cennen. I'm going to make you pay all that back in full eventually. And it can start by staying still for now. It's cold."

1/2

>>41212524

She nestles herself against you, greedily seeking your body warmth. But she doesn't feel cold, not as cold as usual anyway. Had she been lying like this with you while you were out?

"We need to travel by night if we want to get through the pass by dawn," she says, her head pressed against your bare chest.
"But that doesn't mean I have to like it. So just stay still and keep being warm and I won't bite you. Probably."

Well, you're not exactly going to object to this. And then a thought slinks in uninvited.
"What happened to the rod by the way?"

"That nasty thing? I just left it in the desert. Unlike some I could name, I have basic pattern recognition."

> Turn the wagon around, you need to go back and get it!

> Just lie still.

> Pray.

> Being with Hiss is nice but you really should be using your spare time to brew and experiment.

> See if you can pull out one of your books/scrolls and start reading while lying down.

> Other

>>41212653
> Just lie still.

>>41212653
> Turn the wagon around, you need to go back and get it!

That's asking for trouble.

>>41212653
Mind if I Read My love? That was the last of the shapechange and I have a feeling we will need more of it soon.
> See if you can pull out one of your books/scrolls and start reading while lying down.

>>41212052
> Burn the wizard's body. Just in case. And the rod while you're at it.

That niggas is probably lurking in one of our shadows or some other wizard bullshit. Or perhaps he wasn't a full wizard but rather someone one empowered or given a portion of a real wizards power so he could fuck with us. Or maybe this continent has its own bullshit sorcerers or something that play by their own rules. I don't like it one bit.

>>41212653
> Just lie still.
going back guarantees we will have to deal with wizard business. This way there's only just a really good chance

>>41212653
> Just lie still.
Enjoy the moment with hiss for a bit. As far as I'm concerned staying away from the staff is the best choice

>>41212653

> See if you can pull out one of your books/scrolls and start reading while lying down.

Leave the rod, we can level up and beat the shit out of whoever has it on our way back to Teleran.

>>41212686
>>41212715
>>41212735
Not even going to try and read?

>>41212701
Cennen doesn't talk like that

>>41212741
It should be too dark to read much anyway

>>41212653
> See if you can pull out one of your books/scrolls and start reading while lying down.

>>41212771
Shouldn't our Sunlight brew still work?

Rolled 1 (1d6)

Looks like another tie. Evens for reading, odds for not giving it a try.

>>41212876
We really have way too many ties.

>>41212924
Our rolls are so good because the dice gods appreciate being able to make so many decisions for us

> Just lie still.

Part of you wants to go back and get the rod or to brew or to read or to just do something, anything. But Hiss is warm and soft against you and you can't help but relax. It can wait, all of it can wait.

You spend at least an hour more in the near-darkness with her until she falls asleep, going completely limp with a stifling yet comfortable weight.

It's been a very strange day.

> Go back to sleep. You're tired too.

> See if you can extricate yourself without waking Hiss up so you can go do something.

> Pray for Rock to come help you get out. Hiss doesn't hear prayers when she's asleep, right?

> Other

>>41213033
> See if you can extricate yourself without waking Hiss up so you can go do something.

>>41213033
>> Go back to sleep. You're tired too.

>>41213033
>> Other
>See if you can brew without waking up Hiss

>>41213033

> See if you can extricate yourself without waking Hiss up so you can go do something.
>Go talk to aash

>>41213033
> Go back to sleep. You're tired too.

>>41213033
>Go back to sleep. You're tired too.

>>41213033
> Go back to sleep. You're tired too.

>>41213033
>> See if you can extricate yourself without waking Hiss up so you can go do something.

>>41213066
>>41213103
>>41213122
>>41213270
Why? We're going to need potions to get through the pass without a guide.

>>41213290
We can brew and read plenty tomorrow after we get some rest

>Go back to sleep. You're tired too.

You let yourself relax further, drifting off. You've certainly done a lot today and you don't need to stay up. You can leave this journey up to Oster, Aashenpreet and Rock.
You trust them to navigate this pass for you and hell, you can always brew later. In the morning...

You close your eyes.

And when you open them, light is peeking in through underneath the wagon's flap. It's past dawn, the sun's probably been up for a while. You can already feel the heat grow. You probably won't wake Hiss now.

> Wake Hiss.

> Let her sleep for a bit longer while you get up.

> Other

>>41213290
What potion would help us get through the pass?

>>41213370
> Let her sleep for a bit longer while you get up.

>>41213370
> Wake Hiss.
I don't know why exactly but I'm feeling a bit paranoid right now, best be ready for anything

>>41213370
>> Let her sleep for a bit longer while you get up.


>>41213326
>assuming

>>41213371
We don't know hence why we should have a full stock.

utility needed.

>>41213370
> Wake Hiss.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

don't mind me

>>41213370
> Wake Hiss.
>>41213432
Oh great

>>41213370

> Let her sleep for a bit longer while you get up.

> Go talk to the others. Where the fuck are we?

>>41213432
OH SHIT!

>>41213370
> Wake Hiss.

>>41213432
I'm fully expecting to be chased by some kind of massive shadow beast that is kept alive by the last of the staff's magic

> Wake Hiss.

Whatever new dangers the day might bring, it's probably for the best if she's awake for them. You might need her help.
"Hey Hiss. Hiss. Wake up!"

She doesn't budge, if anything she clings tighter. You resort to poking her in the face, prompting her to bite your finger. Luckily she doesn't have her fangs out so she doesn't break the skin. She wakes up irritably a moment later.
"What the fuck are you doing?"

'It's time to get up, look."

She groans but seems to agree as she sits up.
"You know Cennen...it's good to have you back."

"Eh?"

"These last two weeks you had me so worried. I was thinking you might never wake up again. So I'm happy you're here again. I missed you."

You give her a brief hug before getting up.
"Well I'm not planning any more excursions anytime soon, no worries."

"You better not!"

You open the flap and step outside, pulling your shirt on. Your gut is healed, leaving only a shiny scar and a feeling of tightness.
"Good morning!," you cry out to nobody in particular as you survey your surroundings.

It would appear that you are deep within the mountain range, the wagon perched atop a rough foothill.
And uh, the wagon looks like it's been through better time. Where is the donkey? Instead of Oster's ever-dependable donkey out in front, Rock is pulling the wagon instead in her giant form.
Aashenpreet is sitting atop the spirit, sound asleep in a seated position.

"We had a little bit of trouble."
Oster sidles around the side of the wagon from where he had been walking. He's holding his left arm stiffly and his face is covered with a nasty looking bruise.
"We took the wrong path," he admits. "Got in a nasty situation involving a landslide. Rock stopped it. I'm surprised you didn't wake up."

"Oster!," Hiss cries out as she sees him. "Are you badly injured?"

"No, but thanks for the concern your Highn-"

"Then stop complaining, holy shit. I can't believe I leave the situation in your hands for ONE NIGHT and you mess it up!"
1/2

>>41213897
"My apologies, princess. Please forgive me."

"Denied."

> Time to start brewing.

> Go wake up Aash and see how she's doing.

> Go talk to Rock.

> Ask about the particulars of what happened last night.

> Stretch your legs and scout ahead a little.

> Other

>>41213935
Make a few healing brews and give a couple to oster
then read

>>41213897
> Go wake up Aash and see how she's doing.
> Go talk to Rock.

How much more of this is oster going to take? Poor guy.

>>41213935
> Ask about the particulars of what happened last night.
> Time to start brewing.
Heals and the stuff we expended.

>>41213981
by healing brews I mean inferior heal all of course

>>41213935
> Time to start brewing.

>>41213935
> Go talk to Rock.
It feels pretty wrong to use a spirit like a donkey

> Time to start brewing.

You set up your cauldron at the back of the wagon and do your best to prepare an inferior healall from a cold mix. You pass it to Oster just minutes later and he gives you a thankful nod.

Hiss wanders off to push the sleeping Aashenpreet off Rock.
But you don't let that distract you as you keep brewing. You need to restock what you've lost, that should be pretty important.

>Choose ten potions from the list of what Cennen can already make. You can choose multiples.

>>41214167
Could we make potence or regen brews with a substitute for bunyip hair?

>>41214167
Scale bane
Sunlight
Spirit vision
heal all 3
Rumpleskin
Acid
Regen
Potence

>>41214191
Yes, you can get around that now though they won't be as good.

>>41214210
This

>>41214210
This seems reasonable.

>>41214167
Heal all (3)
Snakebreaker (2)
Soulsight (1)
Regen (3)
Identification(1)

>>41214210
I think we should make a knockout brew instead of one of those heal-alls.

>>41214210
You spend the next hour or so hard at work cooking up a variety of brews to replenish your supply. Something to prepare you for every situation or so you hope.

The wagon has since started moving once more, Rock pulling it along without complaint. Aashenpreet seems very put off by the idea of her pulling the wagon for you but it had apparently been Oster's idea when the donkey had fallen down a chasm.
Why not let the tireless (and soulless) monster do all the pulling for you? Of course the downside is that Rock will have to stop when you reach an area a little more populated and you'll have nothing to pull the wagon at all. You'll might have to abandon it.

"Cennen! Come here, look at this!"
Aashenpreet's sudden shout breaks you from your reverie as you jump out from the back of the wagon and join Aashenpreet up ahead, the wagon pulling to a stop.
It looks like your ascent has come to an end while you were occupied, Rock pulling the wagon all the way to a peak that towers above the rest of the range.
-I like this place. It reminds me of home. It reminds me of her-
You don't know what to say about that so instead you just go and stand by where Aashenpreet is, on a ledge overlooking the land beyond.

And what a sight it is.

Half of your view beyond is taken up by a huge body of water, one with white beaches and pink-tinted water.
"It's the Ulun," Aashenpreet says. "We're finally here."

If this is the side of the inland sea that she's spoken of, that means that to the side up to the north is...
The beach snakes along the bottom of the mountains for a long while before the Ulun comes to an end in a deep stretch of green. Is it a forest? No. It's much too thick, greener and more verdant than any forest you've ever seen.

It reminds you almost of the Duke's old garden in Melire, a sprawl of uncontrolled vegetation crammed together with no room to breathe. The canopy below is a riot of color, jewel-like birds moving in vast flocks.
1/2

>>41214601
Aashenpreet does a little jig, like a little girl finally coming home. And you suppose that's a fairly accurate comparison.
"The jungles of Qesh," she breathes. "The heartland, the snakeland, the true Quedesh. It's been so long!"

You look at her a tad skeptically.
"I thought Qesh was the center of civilization here. Where are the people?"

She sighs and shakes her head, clearly disappointed that you don't share her enthusiasm.
"There are plenty of cities! Bigger and better than your Taldenral, that's for sure! But we are on the western edge and that is all jungle."
She sounds a little put out.
"And just beyond that in about...thaaat direction, there should be our destination. I think I can barely see them."

You squint into the distance, unable to see shit.
"Hold on, hold on."
You pull out the Farsight Brew from your pack and swig it down, letting it enhance your vision.

The horizon leaps out at you, everything sinking into clarity as you look north. Beyond the jungles...you can see them. Three mountains, two crooked hunchbacks and one that towers over the other two in what is almost a perfect triangle in your eyes.
It is covered in trees and winding along it you can make out a thin line circling up and down the mountain. A wall? A path? You can't tell.
"I see three mountains. Is that it?"

"Yes!," she says, startled at your sudden perception.
"Chau Mo, Chau Vandu and Chau Devi. Devi is the one we want, the home of the Seventy Seven Shrines and the House."

"The Seventy-Seven Shrines hrmm?"
The name sounds familiar though it appears to have temporarily slipped your memory.

"Yes," beams Aashenpreet. "I'll be finally coming home."

"Uhuh, that's real neat," Hiss barges in, nearly knocking Aashenpreet down the slope. "I hope we're not going to trek through the fucking jungle."

"Of course not," Aash says. "We can just go to a port town along the Ulun and charter a boat to Inner Qesh and there is a multitude of roads there that lead to the Chau."
2/3

>>41214749
I figured Hiss would like the jungle...

>>41214819
I don't think it's possible to like traveling through thick jungle. It's not easy.

>>41214749

Hiss doesn't look very pleased at that either.
"I'm trying to imagine all of us trying to get through however many towns are in your Qesh without having problems and I'm just failing. Towns don't like us and I don't like them. I'd rather just cut through the jungle."

"You can try," Aashenpreet says snidely. "But the jungles are still here for a reason, even after centuries of being next to greatest empire in all the world. They're dense and thick and wet and filled with beasts. There are big cats and Ishmin hives and treetop-Ganesh and anacondas and-"
She runs out of breath.

Hiss rolls her eyes.
"At least a jungle beast won't try to talk or get us to sign fraudulent contracts. But you're right, both of these ways suck. What do you think Cennen?"

"Wha?"

"I can't decide. Do we want the dangers of the 'civilized' world or do we just go for it and try to get through the jungle?"

> Suggest going by boat through inner Qesh.

> Suggest the jungle.

> Other

>>41214835
As a snake it would.
But I guess she realises It would be hard for Cennen and Oster...
Wait, could Hiss be... Acknowledging other people?

>>41214872
> Suggest going by boat through inner Qesh.

>>41214872
>> Suggest going by boat through inner Qesh.

>>41214872
>Anacondas
I'm picturing some sort of wild tribal amazon snake population... So...

> Suggest the jungle.

>>41214891
Hiss' overland movement rate in her snake form isn't exactly worthy of a cross-country champion mind you.

>>41214872
> Suggest going by boat through inner Qesh.

>>41214872
Could rock somehow disguise herself in a less conspicuous form?

>>41214872
>Suggest the jungle.

ALCHEMY INGREDIEEEEEENTS.
Also I've no love of Quedesh and its shitty people can't even speak proper Teleran.

> Suggest going by boat through inner Qesh.

"I have to say, going through Qesh 'proper' still seems the easiest way. The jungle might be more of a straight line but it's bound to slow us down. And our disguises should help us avoid any traps that might be waiting for us."
Besides, you really don't feel like accidentally stepping on an Ishmin nest.

Hiss frowns, weighing the situations in her mind.
"You might be right. What about the spirit? Can she disguise herself?"

"She's always going to have a halo, no matter what so I don't think so. But I can just keep her in my pack I guess."

"So be it," Hiss says, as if she were uttering a royal command. "Aashenpreet go tell Oster and Rock our destination. We set course for the sea!"

Aashenpreet wanders off, disappointed but somewhat pleased that her desired route was chosen.
Leaving just you and Hiss alone on the ledge, overlooking the world.

The princess holds out her hand and sights along it, as if she could draw a stranglehold across all of Qesh by will alone.
"Can you feel it, Cennen?"

"Feel what?"

"We're close. We're finally here. All our journeys, all the humiliations, all the obstacles and all we did, they were for this moment."

"Perhaps," you say. "But I'd hold off celebrating just yet. We still have to get across the Ulun and then through the Qesh roads and then through ALL Seventy-Seven Shrines before we actually arrive at the Compact House."

Hiss groans, throwing her hands down in defeat.
"You've ruined it. You ruin everything."

>>41215129
And that's that for today, thread archived. I hope you guys had fun and if you want to ask any questions feel free because I'll be sticking around for a bit.
Next thread is not tomorrow and maybe not the day after that either, check the twitter blah blah blah.

Also I might do an Interlude. It'll be fun.

>>41215175
Thanks for running.
Was I reading too much into the anacondas thing?

>>41215224
They are certainly a jungle-dwelling snake.

>>41215234
Would have liked to meet them...

>>41215234
How much longer would it take for us to advance to the next swordsman skill level if we trained daily? I figure the fact that we finally killed something with a sword advanced us a bit

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1.37 MB GIF

>>41215175
>"fun"

>>41215280
If there is any martial path we should pursue it is improving our throwing skills considering how a bad throw can fuck us up just as bad or worse than our target.

>>41215280
A few more weeks of good, stout training with Oster should improve you to Standard Swordsmanship. Cennen isn't physically deficient after all and he has one of the best teachers one could hope for.

>>41215343
I'm pretty motivated to do so since we very nearly died in a swordfight recently

>>41215368
Well you'll be pleased to know that with Standard Swordsmanship, swordfighting Oster's shadow will no longer be an auto-lose. Merely a very high DC dice roll.

>>41215386
I'm guessing cennen would have some trouble reaching expert level since he lacks natural talent

>>41215386
Will we get a chance to read the books?

>>41215589
Yes.

Interlude 3

The rising sun along the Qesh countryside strikes a dazzling reflection in the bowl of water as the man went about his daily ablutions, razor spotted with blood. He had nicked himself again. Twice in one day? When was the last time that had happened? Not since he had been but a boy, surely. Was he that nervous?
No, that can’t be right.

He was too excited. Everything should be falling into place exactly as he intended it despite his public shaming. He spared an idle thought of pity for the common man, those who must struggle through life being merely mediocre. What it would it feel like to them, he wondered...to be JUST THIS GOOD?

He had been too hasty, gotten too ahead of himself with the Attaraan situation. Oh how he would have loved for his sexy little princess to have destroyed him or to otherwise place him in a situation that would finally end what vestige of power he had left. And that it would lead to that cursed Laldeep’s demise would just be a bonus. But in driving them together so blatantly he had briefly lost his touch. She had seen his true face.

But no matter. Though his adorable and exotic weapon might have left his grasp, she was still in flight along the path that he had thrown her. Like a throwing knife or a sling, save that one usually didn’t desire to have sex with such things. And make no mistake, he hadn’t given up in that regard either.
But more important than her body was her purpose. She would still do what he desired her to do, to strike down and destroy. Was that not her very nature after all? Merely by bringing her to Quedesh he had set her goals and his into alignment, though none of them had any way of knowing.

1/2

>>41215712
The door opens and he turns, his brief sojourn into thought interrupted. Two of his Ishmin and a shadow between them, one cast by no visible person. The man motions for his two beloved guards to leave and then permits himself a chuckle as he beholds the shadow.
“You can’t say I didn’t warn you. Did they kill your real body?”

The shadow nodded, unable to speak. He must have drained all of his power just to do even this.

“And look at you now, just a spectre. A sending. You’ll never be able to save her like this, you know.”

The shadow wobbles and wavers but does nothing else.

“But don’t you worry. I’m sure that your current fate is but a temporary affliction. And you can still be of some use.”
He swept his hair aside, still wet and painfully unattended to. He needed to get his girls in here, to braid and perfume and tie it for him. One had to adjust their schedule for such things if they wished to get anywhere in the invisible courts.
With a stomp of his boot, the two Ishmin were summoned from outside again.
“Set an appointment with our beloved lady in...three hours time. I will be playing the penitent for her today I’m afraid. After all, I’ve just come home to her and I’ll be asking her leave to depart again. But it should soothe her heart to see me attending to matters of faith. She knows that a pilgrimage will do me good."

>>41215732
Fuck. If we had broken the wand would the shadow wizard be completely dead?

>>41215784
Yes.

>>41215732
Now I just want to kill Tash, but that's too meta.

>>41215859
Not really, he was already caught trying to manipulate hiss for his own gain

>>41215849
Was tash the one who told hiss about the compact originally?

>>41215918
That was Aash.