>>41376813
The door is locked behind you, leaving you trapped within the luxurious apartment. There are three doors leading off into other rooms that you have yet to explore and the table before you is laden with food including actual meat! You haven’t eaten meat for so long or indeed anything else, having subsisted mainly on restoration brews. Your stomach rumbles almost violently.

> Explore the rest of your quarters.

> Eat!

> Find a place to brew.

> Let Hiss and Rock out of your pack.

> Try to break down the locked door and escape immediately.

> Pray (Dangerous!)

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41376820
> Explore the rest of your quarters.

>>41376820
> Explore the rest of your quarters.
Then
> Let Hiss and Rock out of your pack.
When we're sure there's nobody here

>>41376820
Shit, I thought there wouldn't be a thread today

> Explore the rest of your quarters.
> Make sure we're not being watched, drink a soulsight.
Only then
> Let Hiss and Rock out of your pack.

>>41376820
> Explore the rest of your quarters.
> Soulsight for extra security
> Let Hiss and Rock out of your pack.
Don't want the kids to squabble. Heh. I like the soulsight idea, Anon.

>>41376925
>>41376820
Supportan', and signing on.

> Explore the rest of your quarters.
> Then drink a soulsight when you're sure nobody else is around.
> Let Hiss and Rock out.

You want to let Hiss out of your pack, especially considering that she seems to have divined that you are alone and has started thrashing but you suppose that you should make sure that you're alone first. You wouldn't be surprised if there were some servants included in the deal that Tanni conveniently didn't tell you about, ones that would tell her about anything you did the moment you thought you were alone.

You open the first door to find a room that seems dedicated to bathing, a bit of a luxury compared to just dragging a tub of water into your room. The room is covered in pale blue and green ceramic tiles and it itself is larger than many places you've stayed at previously. Pipes snake through the walls and there is a shallow pit in the center that is walled off and has a drain in the bottom. Is that the bath?
There is a sink as well and a separate door that leads to a water closet.
What do these levers even do? You give one a tweak and have to keep yourself from yelping as a jet of hot water nearly scalds you.
Amazing, hot water on command? Where is it coming from?
It might be a bad idea to let Hiss in here, you decide.

With that out of the way you move to the second door, opening it to reveal a small study with a large bench that should be quite suitable for alchemical work, complete with a firepit in the corner. A small shelf is set into the opposite wall, holding three books written in Quedeshi.
They might be interesting save for the fact that you cannot read them. Your Wordtheft brew gives you the gift of speech, not literacy.

Through the third and final door you find your bedroom, a circular room dominated by a huge purple bed, one set atop a large wooden bedframe with railings. There's room enough in here for at least three people and more besides!
1/2

>>41377215
And it seems that that extra capacity has a reason behind it because the bed is currently occupied. Sitting atop it is two Quedeshi women, neither wearing anything that you could accurately describe as an outfit. Not a practical one, at least. A lot of flimsy silk and muslin, yes and perhaps more than their body weight in jewelry and silver adornments but none of it really covers anything!
You do your best to avert your eyes while still looking because they really are quite beautiful, slim save where it counts.

They get up from where they had been sitting, apparently awaiting your arrival and prostrate themselves in a series of very interesting movements.
"The lady has set us aside to serve you as you see fit."

And to spy, no doubt.

> Thanks but no thanks. Ask them to leave.

> Feed them to Hiss. Their memories might be of use.

> "Uh, that's fine." You suppose you can keep them on for now as servants. Not for anything like...that but it might be suspicious if you dismiss them immediately.

> You don't want to reject their hospitality, do you? Maybe a little wouldn't hurt...

> Nod and walk out, you can deal with them later.

> Other

>>41377356
Find a way for hiss to eat and replace one of them without alerting the other

>>41377356
>> Nod and walk out, you can deal with them later.

>>41377356
>> Nod and walk out, you can deal with them later.

>>41377377
I'm tempted by this, but they're probably trained to resist it, enough to raise an alarm, and it's likely they would notice it pretty soon anyways.
Also, killing is wrong.

>>41377377
So you'r saying we have to distract one of them

>>41377377
This. Send one of them to get some alcohol or something.

>>41377356
> Nod and walk out, you can deal with them later.
Drink the soulsight to make sure they're the only ones here and then release Hiss and rock in the study

>>41377459
Hiss can perfectly emulate anyone. And her soul gullet makes her performance more convincing. We need a way to keep her around in human form since keeping her as a snake in our bag isn't really feasible

>>41377495
>>41377534

I'm half convinced, but what would we do with the body?

>>41377377
Supporting this

>>41377356
> Other

See >>41377377

> Find a way for hiss to eat and replace one of them without alerting the other

>>41377569
We can shrink it and dispose of it with acid or something

>>41377377
This
>>41377622
And this

>>41377356
>> Nod and walk out, you can deal with them later.

Cennen is getting kinda evil isn't he?

>>41377687
Yes but anons want him to be that way.

>>41377356
> Nod and walk out, you can deal with them later.

>>41377687
>>41377699

The group of anons that are his conscience hasn't arrived yet, this is mostly the pragmatic anons

>>41377662
Changing this to
> Nod and walk out, you can deal with them later.
They're innocent, we still give some second thought to killing innocent people, don't we?

>>41377801
Look anon we're responsible for this situation and it just won't work if we don't have a cover identity for hiss unless we want to tell the constrictors everything

>>41377830
What did we even plan to gain from interacting with constrictors?

>>41377862
Knowledge, allies, power, a shield from Attaraan.

>>41377862
Maybe a nice alchemy setup? But really we can deal with tash more easily this way and maybe even figure out what he's planning

> Find a way for hiss to eat and replace one of them without alerting the other

There might be a way around this, you decide. If you just feed both of them to Hiss then Tanni might become suspicious due to their disappearance. And Hiss would only be able to emulate one of them at a time, there's no way that you could hide both of them.
And yet you don't really want to keep them around either if they really are informants.

But what if Hiss ate one without the other knowing? She could replace them and get to know what sort of spying they're supposed to be doing without rousing any suspicion...Yes, you suppose that works.
But you need to get one of them alone.

You clear your throat.
"What are your names?"

"Dhinapreet."
"Vandi"

You nod. Your hands are trembling.
"Vandi, I think I require a drink. A strong one."

"As you wish," she says. "I will call for a serv-"

"No. Get it yourself. I wish to get acquainted with Dhinapreet."

She nods with hooded eyes, apparently believing that you want to be alone for your first time with them and walks out.
You wait until she's left the apartment entirely and walk forward, the remaining girl sitting back down on the bed.

You pull Hiss out of your pack, the snake lashing about angrily. Dhinapreet gasps and goes to scream only for Hiss to catch her in her gaze before she can, causing her to fall limp.

Hiss wiggles out of your grasp and lands on the ground with a slap, writhing her way towards the woman. You haven't told her your plan for her but she seems to want to kill her anyway.

> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.

> What are you doing? Pull Hiss back and tell her to only eat her most recent memories.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41377943
> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.

>>41377943
> What are you doing? Pull Hiss back and tell her to only eat her most recent memories.

>>41377943
>> What are you doing? Pull Hiss back and tell her to only eat her most recent memories.

>>41377943
> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.

Whoops, I had auto-update turned off accidentally while writing and missed those last two votes. My bad.
I should honestly just call the vote publicly, I don't know why I don't.

>>41377943
>> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.
The time for a conscience is past. She's seen Hiss, she must be disposed of before we can salvage this.

>>41377943
Having Hiss' cover identity be a scantily covered sex slave who might be a spy is royally stupid. For one, her ego. For seconds, as a rather small snake, Hiss can simply hide in the massive palace after we drink some Blood Kin with our soul disguising potion. It'll leave her more flexible and available to act, as well as gather information on her own.

>>41378054
Hiss can just eat her memories dipshit. She'd never pass as a sexslave to begin with.

>>41377943
>> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.
>> prepares a shrinking brew and some acid to hide the body(or another method)
I assume this means his eats her soul hole and take on her form

>>41377943
> What are you doing? Pull Hiss back and tell her to only eat her most recent memories.

>>41377943
> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.

>>41377943
>> What are you doing? Pull Hiss back and tell her to only eat her most recent memories.

>>41377943
> What are you doing? Pull Hiss back and tell her to only eat her most recent memories.

>>41377943
I'm conflicted. We could ask Hiss to just eat the recent things, but she probably wouldn't listen to us and the constrictor could notice someone has been medling with her servant.
Replacing her puts Hiss in the constrictor's power, which is not much different than our current postition.

> What are you doing? Pull Hiss back and tell her to only eat her most recent memories.
Just find out what they're up to.

>>41378080
Hiss acting like a prostitute? kek

>>41377943
> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.

>>41378074
She can impersonate anything.

>>41378231
Doesn't mean she'd want too.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>41378062
Hey man, it wasn't my idea. Also I'm not counting this as a vote since it doesn't seem to be an action.

>Votes
Looks like it's a tie. Odds is going ahead with the plan, evens pulling Hiss back.

Like anon said here
>>41378166
Replacing her puts Hiss in a very compromising spot. The Constrictor would effectively OWN Hiss. First, we find out what those two are up to. We can deal with them later if they're a threat.

>>41378242
Well, the one time that the dice doesn't follow my suggestion, is the one that matters. Lovely.

>>41378287
This is the only available disguise for Hiss.

>>41378311
We don't need a disguise. What information can she get as a sex slave? As a spy?

In her smaller snake form, she has access to all of her skills, can act covertly, hide in the massive palace, go where slaves can't, and possibly find and assassinate/dominate the constrictor herself. There is absolutely no reason for her to disguise herself. I'd be damn surprised if she can't realize this herself.

>>41378242
Damn. Surprised.

>>41378311
Why are we disguising her?

>>41378364
We can further infiltrate the constrictors organization and she can openly be in human form near us

>>41378354
Here's hoping Hiss DOES realize this... ><;

>>41378354
I agree with all that except the assassinate/dominate part.
This post could have saved lives if it was made earlier. You're a murderer, anon.

>>41378397
We're compromising the very lowest tier of their organization. We don't even know if they're working for her or if they're just pleasure chattel. Do you see how their dressed? They're not going anywhere. We can't take them anywhere either, without looking lecherous as fuck or extremely suspicious. It makes no sense.

>>41378458
Nigga. To convince the murderhobo faggots, you must use murderhobo logic.

>>41378354
Do you really think a 6 foot snake can go unnoticed while moving about in a palace?

>>41378397
>We can further infiltrate the constrictors organization
How as a sex slave? If she'd even debase her pride she'd learn nothing.

>she can openly be in human form near us
Not a priority.

>>41378501
more so than a human.

>>41378501
She can fit into our back without appearing suspicious or bulging out noticeably. She's almost completely black with only red every here and there on her hood and belly. I'd say that a *3* foot snake slithering at 25 MPH and keeping into the shadows is more covert than a sex slave with her tits bared to the world.

I can only assume at this point that one of you is doing their best to deliberately orchestrate ties in order to bribe the dice god to give good rolls later.

> Tell Hiss to replace her quickly.

Hiss snakes her way onto the bed, coiling up on top of the comatose woman's chest with her head arched up.
"Alright Hiss," you say, hoping like hell that Vandi doesn't come back for some reason. "We need to be really quick about this. Eat her soul and copy her shape."

Has it really come to this? Dhinapreet was, as far as you know, an innocent human being. She didn't even attack you or force you to defend yourself, you made this decision coldly and purely because she could be inconvenient for you.
Hiss would approve.

Hiss looks at you for a moment and you almost imagine her looking quizzical, as if she was doubting some part of your plan. But snakes do not have expressions and she cannot speak so she just continues to coil around her mind.

It takes less than a minute before the black and red snake moves again, dragging herself off the woman.
You lean in after she's left and look at Dhinapreet's eyes. They're frozen wide open and they're completely empty. Her chest still rises and falls with her breath and her heart still beats but she's been hollowed out, everything that made her her devoured. She'll never think again.

"Just so you know, I have some reservations about this plan."
You jump, startled. There's a second Dhinapreet sitting on the bed now, one looking at you strangely.
"But I'll save them for later, since we're stuck here now. But first..."

Hiss stands up, completely unashamed of the display her outfit makes of her and reaches past your shoulder into your pack. She pulls out a knife, the one you got in Melire.
"Kill the body."

1/2

>>41378583
The space inside our pack doesn't conform to reality

>>41378644
Hiss's eyes, the eyes of the living corpse that you had created, meet yours in a direct challenge. Even if she disagrees with the plan, she likes what she's seen. And she wants to make sure you go all the way, to step fully across the threshold.
Just one step closer to her world.

> Do as she says.

> Kill her, but not with the knife (Specify)

> Ask Hiss to do it for you.

> Other

>>41378706
> Do as she says.
Maybe we ought to shrink her with one of eugenes potions first

>>41378648
How about you go shove a spiky dildo up your non-reality conforming head you brainless ingrate.

>>41378644
Seriously. This plan is literally the stupidest shit I've seen.

>>41378706
>> Kill her, but not with the knife (Specify)
Shrink her. Then unleash the Boot of Justice.
Justice, murder, one or the other.

>>41378706
>> Do as she says.

>>41378706

Should probably just use our poison mark. Less messy. Might also administer one of Eugene's potions( or attempt to quickly brew up some kinda shrinking concoction) to shrink her.

>>41378706
Shrink her with Eugene's potion and dissolve her in a bottle of acid

>>41378706
> Kill her, but not with the knife (Specify)
Poison than collapsibility brew.

>>41378774
Hardly justice. More deliberative, unnecessary, unproductive murder. I wouldn't expect a bargain bin bottom namefag to know any better.

>>41378814
Thought the collapsibility potion didn't work on living things?

>>41378774
I don't think we should leave a bloody smear on the ground

>>41378706
> Ask Hiss to do it for you.
She's already dead and it's our fault and it has to be done. But if Hiss wants to make this something symbolic we should do this.

>>41378836
hence poison first.

>>41378836
Eugene's shrinking potion would be better. It works on living things

File: MightyBootTime.jpg (15 KB, 423x273)

15 KB JPG

>>41378706
>> Do as she says.
Also, use x1 of "Wizard Potions, Suspicious" that we got from Eugene the Yellow.

If possible, go Mighty Boot like >>41378774 suggests.

>>41378894
Why would we stomp on the body? We don't want to leave evidence

>>41378836
Corpses don't count as living things.

File: 1392286212140.jpg (276 KB, 963x830)

276 KB JPG

>>41378867
Derp. Though it might violate the "spirit" of its limitations thus causing it to fail. Or it might be pretty clever. Magic is mysterious like that.

>>41378774
The dice don't favor you like Wrenloft. You don't make witty remarks or contribute to conversation like WulinSage. You're not even annoying or easy to hate like fluffbringer. I can't even laugh at your stupidity like I can Sargeras' or Vaelys. There is nothing special about you except for your obnoxious, vacuous desire for attention.

>>41378927
>>41378966

Oh. Never mind. Proceed apace then.

>>41378974
Quit picking on the namefag

>>41379010
The namefag is one of six people who ruined my evening and a character I rather enjoy. I don't know who the other five people are, and can't really guarantee myself communications. I know who he is. He's just a click away to talk to.

>>41378820
Am I the only one who gets the feeling that some posters in this thread don't so much want to see the character succeed as much as they want to cause mayhem? What happened to the days of voting unanimously for "I can put two and two together" instead of "PANIC!" ?

>>41378706
seconding this >>41378814

>>41379037
Why do you think Cennen is ruined? This was out of character, but it adds to his dilemma. What if this is becoming his character? Hiss is influencing him faster than he can influence her.
I voted against killing her, by the way.

>>41379168
Today is a special day. Today the day when Cennen, instead of thinking through the situation and trying to reduce collateral damage as much as possible, takes the easiest, most immediate route. Today is the the day where Cennen takes a life for literally, no good reason.

>>41379212
I can taste the salt from here anon. Chill.

> Kill her, but not with the knife.

You put the knife down. No, not like that. It'll make a mess. Part of you is horrified at what you're doing but you do your best to suppress it. There's no turning back now, it's happened. She's dead either way. You can't save her, you can't make it unhappen.

You contemplate several plans before going for the one that you think will leave the least visible remains.
You take your glove off and pass your hand over her mouth, letting poison dribble from your brand for a lethal dose. It doesn't take long before her breathing stops.
Her eyes stay open, watching you. Judging you.

You look away and uncork your collapsible brew. Now that she's no longer living, she should be affected. Alchemy makes no distinction about human flesh once the soul has departed, it's the same as any other pile of rotting meat.
You apply it until the corpse is small enough to fit comfortably in your palm and then drop it into your acid flask.

What's wrong with you? Why are your hands still trembling? This was supposed to be the easy way but it doesn't feel easy at all.
Hiss is smirking.

"That's one way to go about it. Now Cennen, about this plan..."

"Yes?"
Of course, the plan. The plan has to go ahead now or otherwise you would have murdered someone for literally no reason. The plan is what justifies this. You have to do the plan.

"I'm afraid your plan is shit," Hiss says. "I don't want to be a fancy whore and I'm not going to be. And we're NOT going to be staying here long enough for it to mean anything. I'll keep up the disguise because I have to now but I'm starting to think you only did it because you wanted to see me dressed up like this!"

> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.

> "Well what do you suggest then?"

> Hell no. This is the plan and you're sticking to it!

> Freak out.

> Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>41379321
> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"

>>41379321
> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"

>>41379321
> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"
Push freaking out back til later. It's necessary but now it may kill us.

>>41379321
> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"
> They've got oster and aash somewhere else

>>41379321
> Hell no. This is the plan and you're sticking to it!

This is the plan, everything is for the plan, the ends justify the means. If the ends do not justify the means, then the means must be judged on their own merits, which we cannot allow. We're the ones controlling Hiss, she's not pushing her mentality onto us, this is all for a rational cause.

>>41379321
> Hell no. This is the plan and you're sticking to it!

>>41379226
I am chill. Hence, the lack of screaming about stupid niggers and anons.

>>41378774
How would you feel if I told you that you're not funny? That your stupid memes and over-repeated little jabs aren't original or amusing whatsoever? Your posts don't make people happy to see your name at the top of your posts. No one respects your contributions. You can't entertain or lead or persuade or amuse. No one would even notice if they stopped appearing.

>>41379321
> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"
We can freak out later. Unfortunately we don't have the time or luxury to be freaking out. We can guiltpuke later after we contemplate our horrible life choices.

>>41379321
> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"
I was thinking that learning more about what's going on with the constrictors would help us figure out what tash is trying to use us for

>>41379419
I like this, but she's right, the plan is kinda shit

>>41379461
Seriously anon I don't love namefags but you're being unnecessarily mean

>>41379499
>I was thinking that learning more about what's going on with the constrictors would help us figure out what tash is trying to use us for
a whore would know beeeecause?

>>41379037
Hiss drags us down even as we try to pull her up. We are a shitty morality pet anon. Ouro has even said that in the shit tier DnD alignment system Cennen would likely ping as true nuetral. This shit is cold, the coldest thing he has done but he is still a far cry from being even half as bad as Hiss. You know those bandits we turned to hamburger? Those were people, people in a bad situation trying to survive. We killed them to a man because they were in our way, because it was easy, and because we could let ourselves justify wholesale slaughter as self-defense. This is a logical progression of that choice in many ways. Where we go from here is what will be interesting. How many quick and simple choices do we have to make until we start looking more and more like Oster? Are the gestures of kindness and humanity we make enough to hold onto our hope to build more more towers than we knock down or will they turn to mere platitudes to be made only when convenient, solely to maintain some guise of moral superiority?

>>41379531
Hiss taking the whore form would give us more time to learn about shit. And she can use her position as a probable informant could also be useful

Vote called for
> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"
Writan'

>>41379581
Except not at all. Since she'd be leaving and given to another man in short order who she'd kill. Or she'd NTR us. either way nota good idea.

>>41379321
>> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
>> "Well what do you suggest then?"

>>41379526
Just ignore him. His vitriol is irrelevant.

>>41379537
I'd argue that there's a few different circumstances. For one, there was an urgent need for response. They were attacking us in an armed mob. Dhinapreet posed no threat. The bandits forced us to use our power, by attacking and their display of force. Dhinapreet did not require us to use our power. There were much better ways to acquire information from her and preventing her from impeding our activities.

At the end of the day, one situation was cold blooded murder, and the other was overwhelming self defense. One situation is definitely, unambiguously wrong. The other could take hours to simple frame the situation's values.

>>41379669
Ignorance. I've noticed that you use that a lot. Does it keep you from ruminating? Wondering if what if all the petty comments and insults you surely must receive on a daily basis have any merit? Does it prevent you from having flashes of consciousness where you remember silly mistakes or embarrassing moments? Or are you so wrapped up in your comfy cocoon of denial and stupidity that you can't even conceive of half the things I've been describing?

I haven't been able to interact with someone so willfully, obtusely ignorant like you for a bit. Why don't you make this a bit less one sided, and more interesting?

>>41379656
I think she's supposed to be our permanent servant who reports to Tanni

>>41379678
That's the thing, we're putting less value on human lives as time passes. Killing is becoming an acceptable solution for menial problems, even if we end up in an even worse situation. While supposedly we are trying to lead Hiss away from this mentality.

>>41379779
Congrats anon you win the biggest faggot of the thread award

>>41379789
>>41379656
We can also request she's dedicated to us.

>>41379816
Hence ANons are being faggots and idiots like usual.

>>41379877
It was more a lack of forethought. Combined with the murderhobo pragmatism

>>41379922
It would work fine if hiss was willing to maintain the disguise

>>41379656

To quote [i]1894[/i]...
>‘Listen. The more men you've had, the more I love you. Do you understand that?’

>‘Yes, perfectly.’

>‘I hate purity, I hate goodness! I don't want any virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone to be corrupt to the bones.’

>‘Well then, I ought to suit you, dear. I'm corrupt to the bones.’

> Ask her about what she's learned from Dhinapreet's soul.
> "Well what do you suggest then?"

You frown, no longer sure about what you're supposed to be doing. If Hiss isn't going to go ahead with the plan, what are you doing all of this before? How can the end justify the means if you don't even reach it?
"What do you suggest then?"

"Well," Hiss idly inspects her fingers. "For starters, just what are you planning on getting out of being involved with this constrictor lady?"

"I didn't have much of a choice. Her Vtriya found me."

"Yes but your little alchemy display in the street was done knowing you might attract attention. So what do you want out of this? I mean aside from you wanting to fuck the Vtriya."

"That's not what I wanted! And there could be advantages to this! If we can get in with a constrictor she might give us an alternative method for dealing with Attaraan and Tash besides just hoping that we avoid them."

"'Get in good'?"
Hiss laughs, her ample bosom shaking in a very distracting manner.
"Cennen, you are nothing to this snake. As a human you're just a tool to be used as they see fit. You have no value beyond your use. You can't 'get in good' with her, she will never desire your favor."

"I'm well aware of that. It's what I'm counting on. I doubt she likes Attaraan since from what we know of him, barely anyone likes him. It shouldn't be too hard to get her help if she thinks it'll weaken him."

Hiss shakes her head.
"I'm not anybody's weapon. But I suppose you might have a point, even though I'd prefer to just find Oster and Aashenpreet and escape as soon as possible."

"We'll see how it turns out. Did you learn anything interesting from her soul."

1/2

>>41379941
Except we know she's not. Cennen and anons were stupid and being murder hobos.

>>41379877
Or character growth, personal growth only comes through conflict. With the shit outside no less than that within. Imma shamelessly steal this from a much better writer than I:

>“There will be fire in your life. There will be a whole lot of people being people, and trying to make everything worse for you. But heat and pressure…”

>You know what he’s about to say. He’s said it before.

>You almost hear the words forming on your own lips.

>“…they’re catalytic forces. They burn away what we don’t need. They make us stronger. They help us find our best forms. Our purest forms.”

>>41380027
So Cennen is a more destructive, less intelligent Oster. Gotcha.

>>41379973
"Depends on how you define 'interesting'. There are some very interesting things in here that I might wish to fish out with my Soul Gullet later, that's for sure. But yes, they were assigned as your permanent servants and they report to Tanni twice a day. They're also rather good poisoners, if she ever gives the order. Although," Hiss smiles toothily, "not nearly as good as I."

You hear the door in the main apartment open and close, someone stepping in. Hiss freezes for a moment and then advances! Before you can stop her, she's almost bodily picked you up and thrown you onto the bed.
She climbs atop of you, trying to rip off your clothes.
"Vandi assumes we are ...at work," she hisses. "So get to it."

You pause. Her current form is exceedingly beautiful, a body built for the pleasures of the flesh and curvaceous where she is normally lithe. But her eyes are still the eyes of the dead, someone you killed yourself. You killed this woman even if Hiss is wearing her skin.
You'd be kissing a corpse.

> Continue anyway.

> Nnnope. Leave, get out of bed.

>>41380087
>> Nnnope. Leave, get out of bed.

>>41380087
> Continue anyway.
It's still hiss, we don't care about her form remember?

>>41380087
>> Continue anyway.
It's still Hiss. Just focus on that.

>>41380087
>Continue anyway.

>>41380087
> Continue anyway.

>>41380087
> Nnnope. Leave, get out of bed.

"First time, got nervous"

>>41380087
> Continue anyway.

We really need to find a way to gain something from this so we can justify it later

>>41380130
I wonder how much you're attached to this name. I'll see you the next time Crusty runs a thread to find out.

>>41380225
There is nothing to gain.

>>41380104
It's a test of character, anon. We just killed someone and were cool enough with it to fuck someone that looks like her?

>>41380247
Sure there is. Info about tash and his lady's plans, alchemy tools and ingredients, or insight into how constrictors rule humans

>>41380087
>> Continue anyway.
Best to play along. Besides, this is Hiss. Cennen has admired her ever since she first put on human flesh. The literal first human form she took on was one of the fancy ladies from the clothing catalog that Cennen always kept at hand. This is Hiss, it doesn't matter whose skin she's wearing. If we keep telling ourselves that, the guilt will be pushed deep down for later.

>>41380247
Don't worry. It's not the first time it's happened.

Though I find I'm reluctantly forced to agree with you on the latter point. I see little likelihood of a positive outcome from this escapade with the constrictor beyond escaping it with our skins intact.

Christ, cennen is completely irredeemable, If everything wasn't so unanimous I'd swear it was someone deliberately trying to choose the worst option.

>>41380319
>Info about tash and his lady's plans
No reason for a howre to know and no reason she'd find out
>alchemy tools and ingredients
they don't have any, since we're the only alchemist
>insight into how constrictors rule humans
Ask Ash or eat someone who would actually know.


>>41380389
They want Cennen to be full monster.

>>41380365
And it's your fault. And I will punish you for it. Don't worry; unlike others, I can follow through.

> Continue anyway.

No, it doesn't matter. It makes you feel sick but it doesn't matter. It's just Hiss underneath. Just Hiss wearing the body of the girl you killed.
You can do it.

Several minutes later you pull away, feeling awful. That didn't make you feel good, it just made you feel dirty. It's almost like adding insult to injury, having known her body now. Like you're violating her even beyond death.

You get up, trying to put your pants on. You don't even want to look at her right now.

Vandi standing in the doorway, kneeling as soon as you rise. She's holding a bottle out and you take it from her with barely any hesitation. Something's sloshing inside, reminding you bizarrely of one of your potions.
Well, you doubt that this is alchemical but it might be just what you need.

"Is there anything else you require?," Vandi asks.

> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.

> "No thank you.'

> "I just killed your friend. Sorry."

> Drink. Drink a lot.

> Go out and eat.

> Take a bath.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41380419
> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.
> Go out and eat.
I'm ready for the massive butthurt to end now thanks

>>41380419
> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.

>>41380419
> Drink. Drink a lot.

>>41380419
>> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.
>> Drink. Drink a lot.

>>41380419
> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.
> Go out and eat.

>>41380419
> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.
> Go out and eat.
If you guys want to drink we should at least make sure it's not poisoned first. It's still a bad idea to get drunk in this situation though

>>41380419
>> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.
> Drink. Drink a lot.
> Take a bath.

>>41380419
> "No thank you.'
> Go out and eat.

>>41380409
>"Hey man, it wasn't my idea."
Ouro, Thread 42, post >>41378242

Wait, I just realized. Thread 42, and no Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy jokes made yet? Is /tg/ just not into that kind of thing? There wasn't even a reference to a towel near the sink...

>>41380526
They're angry so they're gonna intentionally make bad choices now.

>>41380526
>>41380643
It perfectly IC for the torment Cennen feels. So stop complaining because we're not cold heartless min-maxxing murder hobos.

Looks like it's
>Dismiss her.
> Go out and eat.
Writing.

>>41380581
The reference entirely skipped my mind, would you believe it? 42 hasn't had much significance for me lately.

>>41380681
Only dumbasses think drinking helps that sort of thing.

>>41380419
> Other
"Yes. You. Now."
then
> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.
> Go out and eat.

make sure hiss watches too

>>41380719
Cennen has yet to display ANY intelligence this thread and a complete lack of it since the city was entered last thread. Perfectly IC, to try and drink away the pain.

>>41380751
Maybe you should spend time thinking up a brilliant idea instead of complaining

>>41380786
Not complaining just pointing out it is IC and not because anons are try to "ruin" the quest.

as>>41380643 said. As far as ideas? Leave get out. We could manage it easily with a few KO brews.

>>41380709

Ahh, too bad we didn't have more votes for "Take a bath". Then a line about the great practical and psychological value of a towel would have fit right in. Oh well. Missed opportunities and all that...

>>41380733
Are you blaming hiss for this?

> Dismiss her from your service. Tell her that you're fine with just Dhinapreet.
> Go out and eat.

"No thank you. You're dismissed, I don't want both of you. The other one, she's...she's more than enough."

She doesn't look that surprised. She just nods.
"As you wish."
She exchanges a glance with Hiss and then sashays back to the door, knocking on it and waiting for the unseen guards to let her out.

When she's left you go and sit down at the table and start eating. It's delicious. Thick bean stew, toasted flat breads stuffed with spiced mince and fruit and the meat of an unfamiliar animal slathered in sauce and yellow rice.

It's all very hot, not so much in temperature but in a way that burns the mouth and sinuses and doesn't leave right away. It's much like the other Quedeshi food you've tried in the past in that regard and you don't find it entirely unpleasant.

Something moves across the table. It's Rock, their legs propelling them through the air. To your current mood, her halo is like a judgemental eye affixed upon you.

-You are distressed.-

"Of course I am! How could I not be? I killed her."

How much does Rock even understand death? Nothing dies in the Dreaming. Nothing but humans.

-That human is not dead. She has simply been moved.-

"What?"

-I can still see her. She is trapped inside of the princess, conscious and awake. She has not ceased.-

You think back to how Hiss looks in the soulsight, the array of screaming faces arranged around her.
"I doubt she's happy in there."

-She is not. I imagine it is rather distressing or at least, it will be until she is digested beyond the capacity for thought.-

You cough, feeling bile rise as you try to force more of the food down.
"You're not helping me feel better Rock!"

The spirit jumps atop the bottle, directly across from your eyes.
-Do you deserve to feel better?-

"Uh..."

-Exactly. I am not here to lie to you, no matter how soothing you may find it. Right now, I do not believe you deserve it-

1/2

>>41381112
>-Do you deserve to feel better?
>-"Uh..."
>-Exactly. I am not here to lie to you, no matter how soothing you may find it. Right now, I do not believe you deserve it-
Rock knows what's up.

>>41381112
I love Rock

>>41381193
Rock might, but do the players?

>>41381112
>-Do you deserve to feel better?-
>"Uh..."
>-Exactly. I am not here to lie to you, no matter how soothing you may find it. Right now, I do not believe you deserve it-
Harsh, but fair.

>>41381193
We need to ask rock to be our moral foundation. We're surrounded by amoral people except for her and sometimes aash and it's rubbing off on us

>>41381223
Nope, the routinely do shit like this. Remember the Ishmin, or how we got a plant soul?

>>41381227
>Rock needs to make it so Cennen (and by extension players) don't need to think.

>>41381112

Oh fuck off. Now Rock is trying to pass judgement on you? She's a spirit! It's like being judged by, well, a rock.
"What do you know?," you ask thickly. "What do you know of death?"

Rock is silent and still.

"Yeah that's what I thought."

-You know the answer to this-
You remember an empty cottage and the desiccated corpse within it, sinking deep into the heart of the mountain until it could no longer be seen. The mourning of something that had never known it before.
-But it is true, that all I know of death and loss is what you have taught me. That was the first lesson you gave me and it seems that often you have little other lessons to teach-

Wait, what the fuck does it mean by that? The spirit hops away, bouncing into the study.

You sit there until Hiss joins you a few seconds later, still clothed as a corpse.
"So, how are we planning on doing this?"

You don't reply.

Hiss frowns, inspecting your half-finished meal.
"What's wrong? And are you going to finish that rice? That's saffron rice you know, it's outrageously expensive."
Was it Dhinapreet who told her that?

> "Nothing. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

> Go take a bath.

> Leave Hiss and go find Rock.

> It's time to discuss the plan. Push all of this conflict from your mind and forget it.

> It's late and you don't feel good. You need to get some sleep.

> Cry.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41381259
>Rock needs to make it so Cennen (and by extension players) don't need to think.
That's not what I'm saying and you know it. You're just enjoying being butthurt too much to stop.

>>41381259
I'm going to be charitable here, and assume it was all ouro doing some sort of commentary on us going insane, by 'having' cennen decide to do something insane, then relying on the players to back out.

My evidence here is that really creepy guy who imitated Tiger for whatever reason.

>>41381300
> Cry.

>>41381300
> Cry.

>>41381300
> Go take a bath.
> Cry.


>>41381311
That's what I thought you meant, my apologies.

>>41381322
It was Ouro having a character note we went full monster for no reason at the drop of a hat.

>>41381300
> Leave Hiss and go find Rock.

>>41381322
>This is Ouro's doing.

Oi, come on. I have no opinion on either side of the matter because I enjoy writing either outcome but the plan of having Hiss replace her was a write-in.
Unless you're implying that I go incognito to suggest write-ins for my quest in which case, er..

>>41381300
>> Go take a bath.
>> Cry.

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1021 KB GIF

>>41381076
lolno, just want the dude to enjoy what he's done since it's done, and forgot image in >>41380733

pic related. never seen this quest before today i guess i should lurkmoar. saw the pic at top of thread and thought the dude would be evil since the pic looks pretty evil, but now anons are talking like he shouldn't be evil.

>>41381300
> Take a bath and cry

>>41381300
> Leave Hiss and go find Rock.

>>41381300
>> Leave Hiss and go find Rock.

>>41381300
> It's time to discuss the plan. Push all of this conflict from your mind and forget it.

>>41381342
No, I was saying that the votes made (earlier on) were made by Ouro himself as a test of character.

>>41381378
I'm not being serious, though, what I was REALLY saying was how stupid I thought those voters were, by the fact that 'Ouro' could be the only possible explanation for it.

>>41381322
I'm just mildly annoyed, and the namefag was a convenient outlet. I may also enjoy attacking people personally. Right now, I'm enjoying watching all of you squirm too much to continue.

>>41381300
>> It's time to discuss the plan. Push all of this conflict from your mind and forget it.

The plan. The plan. This is all for the plan. Eat rice with shaking hands to calm your nerves, and talk about the plan. The ends justify the means, which justify the ends, which justify the means... and around and around it goes like a snake eating its own tail.

The plan. Nothing else matters right now. Nothing else can be allowed to matter. Don't think about the soul being digested by Hiss, don't think about disappointing Rock, don't think about anything except the plan. You're in deep, now is NOT the time to wuss out or it will all be for NOTHING.

Great, now I get to read about a grown man crying about a decision he made himself. Fun thread.

>>41381567
Then you shouldn't have voted for it asswipe.

>>41381518
Thus another suffering fag is born.

Changing this >>41381338
To
> It's time to discuss the plan. Push all of this conflict from your mind and forget it.

>>41381586
I didn't vote for it. I'm just already tired of dwelling on it.

>>41381603
Oh well, this will haunt Cennen for years.

>>41381525
I think that this should be included, if only as a portion of inner thoughts before breaking down.

>>41381603
It's almost as if decisions and choices made by a character affect the character and the world.

Would you imagine that.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

Looks like a tie between taking a bath or going to find Rock. Evens the former, odds the latter.

>>41381616
I don't think it will. Cennen is less moral than you think

>>41381586
I don't actually enjoy suffering. In fact, I kinda hate it. I hated it so much, that during the Taldenral Ball, I stayed up til 5 A.M. to come up with a cohesive plan to mend our relationship and try to ensure we'd have the healthiest foundation possible to build on it further afterwards. I played damage control as best I could for Hiss, and diplomatically resolved any objections with the plan. I'm not very happy with Tiger and his pack of retards, who are fucking up for literally no reason, in the stupidest possible way, without regard for anything at all, least of all, Cennen's character.

>>41381415
Did you think it's funny Tiger? Did you think that what we did was right? That comment about the fucking Boot of Justice seemed to imply so. What do you think now? What do you think of your darling plan? What do you think of your write-in? Your complete and total failure? Do you even understand why and how it's happening? Or do you I need to feed you as if a drooling moron, like your other QMs?

>>41381678
Only because Anons keep voting to turn him into Oster, except without the common sense and with more destructive capability.

>>41381690
Your angry ranting skills are impressive as always anon.

>>41381690
Just stop m8

>>41381715
He right about it being stupid and Tiger seeming to enjoy it though. honestly it was a retarded choice.

>>41381690
Stop spraying Vitriol though, not helping anyone now.

>>41381690
>>41381750
wasn't the 'Tiger' enjoying it that one 'R9k sociopath thread' style guy who was using his name.

>>41381763
Point is it was a stupid vote and Ouro even gave us an out. We still went retard.

>>41381763
>'R9k sociopath thread' style
Kek that's actually a really accurate description

>>41381690
On a scale from 1 to 10 how autistic are you?

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37 KB PNG

>>41381690
uh... end result was that the dude got his bones jumped by the snake girl thing while she was in a hot chick's body... the only real question now is if he can accidentally get her pregnant from that. also, shouldn't she be more mellow now too?

>>41381735
this guy has it right, just keep calm and pic related, lol.

>>41381763
Naw. I was referring to this post. >>41378774
Look at our adorable little Tiger. So sure and confident in his course of action, the righteousness of his decision. So sure, he could even joke about it. How it must chafe at him that the last 5, 6? 6 posts only showed how completely wrong, misguided, and utterly deluded he was.

>>41381781
would that have gone without a hitch, loose ends like that are the kind of thing I expect ouro to punish us for

>Bathe

You stare at Hiss for a while, contemplating nothing. Shouldn't you be taking her up on her offer to discuss the plan? That's what you have to do. The ends justify the means and so the ends must be carried out, no matter how circular or self-devouring logic becomes. Yes, that's what you need to do. It's time to focus on just what you're trying to get out of this situation.
You open your mouth, intent on asking her about what she has in mind.
"I'm going to go take a bath," you say instead.

You get up and leave a surprised Hiss behind, shutting the door behind you. Not that would deter her, you're pretty sure that she could smash it off its hinges if she really wanted to.
She's a monster after all. A monster with no concern for morality or human life. A monster that you let into your heart, permitting her to influence your thinking, until deploying her to solve the simplest of problems seemed like a good choice. She is living poison and it is far too late to get it out of your system now.

Fortunately Hiss doesn't follow you. Maybe she realizes that you need space from her right now. Or maybe she just thinks it'd be inconvenient.

You fiddle with the levers, letting the tub fill with hot water as you strip and lever yourself in. There's a tray filled with soaps and pungent oils here. You don't touch them.
Instead you think about nothing at all.

You're pretty good at that.

Once having sufficiently rendered yourself 'outside' of the problem for the long enough, you try to approach it again. Was it really that bad? Yes. It probably was.
But is it worth tormenting yourself about? This isn't the first person you've killed after all, far from it.

She was the first innocent. But she was a spy, she couldn't have been that innocent. She might have tried to kill you later. Might.
It was really just...extended self-defense when you think about it. Just like with those bandits or those thugs in Tedwill. This isn't that different.

1/2

>>41381885
You should probably read the previous threads instead of just showing up to participate without knowing anything about the quest

>>41381892
I don't know about Tiger but I don't see cennen coming out of this adventure a moral person.

>>41381892
But I think that's one of the mimic's posts.

>>41381406
I'd also tentatively suggest this is him as well, seems a bit designed to provoke for a clueless random.

>>41381896
We'd have made it so she could not have remembered any of it at all. She's done it before.

>>41381885
Anon Read the quest before you post stupid shit. Seriously. You'll get us killed.

>>41381933
So make him a monster as bad if not worse than Hiss is the solution?

>>41381892
Everyone knows it was a bad idea. You're just making yourself look bad now.

>>41381914
And when you think about it, by enabling and protecting Hiss for as long as you have, haven't you caused the deaths of many innocents before this?
Sure it wasn't YOU directly killing them, it was Hiss. But it had been a Hiss who was only where she was because of you, a Hiss supported by your inaction. So really, this is nothing worse than anything you've done before.

That's not an easy idea to accept. But paradoxically, it makes you feel better about yourself. And you certainly need that right about now.

You rest your head on the lip of the tub and sink deeper, letting the hot water soothe you. You've had a long day and it's only gotten longer thanks to this.
But time heals all wounds and was it really your fault? Could you really be blamed for this? As long as you don't think about it it doesn't hurt you so the best option is to just put her out of your mind entirely and be done with it, right?

It is on that thought that you let yourself drift off and fall asleep entirely.

>>41382067
Alright, that's it for today. Partially because I have the distinct feeling that a lot of you guys are too riled up to really do anything now but also because I said in the twitter that this was going to be a short thread. I don't normally run on this day for a reason, I have shit to do.

I've archived the thread and hopefully we'll be running tomorrow at the usual time, check the twitter etc.

>>41382130
Thanks for running!

>>41382130
Thanks for running! It's probably a good choice to stop and let us chill out a bit.

>>41382130
Thank for running. So how long you think it'll take Cennen to be as bad as Hiss?

>>41382130
thanks for running

>>41381943
That was during the voting period. That was a vote for. I was then, at the time, doing everything I could to convince people not to. Why would I support Tiger's faggotry?

The mimic post (mimic post singular) came only after, when I realized I saw him participate in HMQ. I want the slow burn. I want Tiger to feel the anticipation, to on some level not desire the next HMQ thread. He has to suffer.

>>41381224
Hear that buddy? People are going to feel something when they see your name at the top of a post now. No more annoyance or apathy for you anymore. You're headed to the big leagues kid. Give Fluffbring and Sargs my love.

>>41382166
We can still save it!

>>41381892
Righteous? No. Righteousness did not factor into the decision.
Risk and expediency.
I saw her as presenting a threat of the same variety as Tash, to a lesser degree, of course, and I wanted to reduce the already sizable risk to our safety before it grew.

>>41381943
>But I think that's one of the mimic's posts.
No, that's me. Macabre comedy for a shitty situation.

>>41382130
Thanks for running, Ouro.
I apologise for apparently causing a shitstorm. Somehow. Hopefully it blows over by next thread.

>>41382186
>Risk and expediency.
Not risky at all in fact the risk is worse since snakes can see through other snakes disguises and Her partner is still alive. Changes would be noticed.

>I saw her as presenting a threat of the same variety as Tash, to a lesser degree, of course, and I wanted to reduce the already sizable risk to our safety before it grew.
Literally how? We knew they were spies and their poison would barely affect us.

>>41382230
Can snakes really see through disguises? I don't think that's right.

>>41382130

Thanks for running, sir. Also, I'm humbled that you thought my little ditty about recursion in >>41381525 was good enough to inspire some of Cennen's thought processes. That's one of the things I love about quest threads. Everyone gets to put ideas on the counter but only the QM decides what goes into the cookpot. I'm a little more accustomed to MercCommand's threads, but it was a treat to stumble across this quest on an irregular day. Here's hoping it was worth your extra effort!

>>41382257
One of their main abilities is hypnosis. Hypnosis won't work on Hiss. Looking into her eyes for half a minute would reveal our ploy, and her nature.

>>41382178
nah i still just feel apathy

>>41382257
Magical creatures can see through it. Bunyip did for example.

>>41382272
Here's hoping she reports to Tanni, then.
Either way, the plan is overall bad, so we'll have to discuss the course of action with Hiss when we wake up.

>>41382130
Thanks for running. Shame I missed most of it.
Disregarding the salt for a moment I'm curious where people would actually like to see cennen go as a character.
I've always enjoyed the dark aspects of this quest but I do regret this kind of amorality.

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>>41382067
Right now Cennen needs Bob Ross as his spirit guide.

Honestly thinking about dropping this. I miss naive alchemist MC, murderhobo MC is shit.