>>42403861
You groan with relief as you crest a hill and the city of Pataliputna rises into sight. It’s almost high noon and the heat is growing tortuous, it’s about time you reached your destination! You’re coming in from the side so you get a good view of how the chaos of the city floods directly into the dirty waters of the Ulund.
Aash and Hiss are lagging a bit behind you while Oster is ahead, apparently unaffected by the heat. It’s been several days since you fled the Compact House together and you’ve spent nearly every hour of them walking, following Oster off the beaten track to avoid pursuers. The four of you have only stopped for rest and only then for just as long as you needed and nothing more.

It has not been a conducive environment to experimentation but you’ve managed to sacrifice some sleep to get a little done anyway. But what were you experimenting with?

> Snakeskin

> Scales

> Venom

> Snake blood

> Ishmin samples

> One of your pre-existing potions (Specify)

> Other (Specify)

>>42403922
> Ishmin samples
The thread is hardly late at all. What's going on here?

>>42403922
> Ishmin samples

>>42403922
>> Ishmin samples

>>42403922
> Ishmin samples

>>42403922
> Snake blood

>>42403996
Adding to my vote here, could we also see what's changed about our brand while we have a chance?

> Ishmin samples

Fortunately you still had the dead Ishmin that Tanni had given you from her test. And what a needlessly life-threatening test that had been! You find it hard to hold it against her though.

The little insects are practically the size of your finger, segmented creatures with giant jaws. You know from experience that they are uniform and move as one, motivated only by the need to expand and a hatred of all other creatures.
Despite that, their alchemical properties are surprisingly benign. You suppose it makes sense, it's not like there's any real malice or intent behind what they do.

Ishmin are excellent for your potions that link one person to another, a field that you already doing your best to pioneer.

> Improved Bloodkin: As well as creating a telepathic link, this potion lets you synchronize your movements and actions almost perfectly if you need to, granting an almost-constant awareness of your fellows.

> Improved Shapestealer: Can now create a two-way link, allowing the effect to go both ways for all involved.

> Improved Wordtheft Elixir: Allows you to steal their written language capabilities as well.

> Skilltheft Elixir: Creates a link between you and someone who drank from it previously, allowing you to borrow one skill from them.

> Magetheft Brew: Works like Wordtheft and Skilltheft but instead allows you to borrow one magical Art for a day instead.

> Eyetheft Flask: Works similar to Wordtheft but instead allows you to borrow someone's Perception Stat for a day. The victim is given your old Perception to tide them over for the duration.

> Bodytheft Brew: Basically the Eyetheft Flask but works on the Physique, Resilience and Speed stat instead.

> Tonguetheft: Basically the Eyetheft Flask but works based on Charisma instead.

> Artlink Bottle: Establishes a link between all who drink from it so that when one member is affected by magic, they can choose to send it down the link and affect all of them as well.

>>42404527
> Improved Wordtheft Elixir: Allows you to steal their written language capabilities as well.
Fuck yeah, I wanna read that quedeshi alchemy book

>>42404186
Sure, wouldn't take long. I'll put that in the next update.

>>42404527
> Improved Wordtheft Elixir: Allows you to steal their written language capabilities as well.

>>42404527
> Magetheft Brew: Works like Wordtheft and Skilltheft but instead allows you to borrow one magical Art for a day instead.

Improved bloodkin would be rellly useful for Ishmin, I think.

>>42404527
Would the improved bloodkin be any better at freezing people than the original?

>>42404709
No, not really.

>>42404527
> Improved Wordtheft Elixir: Allows you to steal their written language capabilities as well.

>>42404527
> Improved Wordtheft Elixir: Allows you to steal their written language capabilities as well.

>>42404725
Do we have enough ishmin to make more of these brews?

> Improved Wordtheft Elixir: Allows you to steal their written language capabilities as well.

For now, you make use of the mangled Ishmin corpses and the sour-tasting (but not poisonous) ichor inside as best you can, improving an already useful recipe. Now your Wordtheft Brew can steal not only spoken languages but also their comprehension of written ones! And now finally you might be able to get to reading the book that Tanni gave you. Aashenpreet was never much help in that regard and Hiss was usually unwilling to do it.

You also took the time to experiment a little with the venom inside your brand, allowing you to come to a conclusion. Your brand has mirrored Hiss' rise and has definitely gotten stronger.
But curiously, it's not increasing in potency. Your venom is as strong as ever but no stronger. Instead you have discovered an additional application! Is it normal for a brand to grow like this or is it a strange side-effect of Hiss' own brush with ascension?

> The venom produced by your brand can now work on skin contact. It does not function against scales however.

> With a special flick of your hand, your brand can now 'spit' venom for a short distance.

> Your brand grows a sort of 'venom sac' in your hand, allowing it to temporarily replace your natural venom for a supply of any liquid you have recently drunk. Duration of one hour.

> You are now resistant to all venoms and all poisons, making it so that only the strongest will affect you. You are also completely immune to Hiss' own variant.

> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.

>>42405071
> You are now resistant to all venoms and all poisons, making it so that only the strongest will affect you. You are also completely immune to Hiss' own variant.

>>42405071
> You are now resistant to all venoms and all poisons, making it so that only the strongest will affect you. You are also completely immune to Hiss' own variant.

>>42404975
For the experimentation process? No. But you can make the new improved Wordtheft Elixir now that you know of it without Ishmin ingredients. It'll just be weaker.

>>42405071
> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.

>>42405094
>>42405105
Guys come on. All these cool abilities and you just want one that lets us kiss hiss. We can make an anti venom and have the same effect.

>>42405071
> You are now resistant to all venoms and all poisons, making it so that only the strongest will affect you. You are also completely immune to Hiss' own variant.

Holy shit I want the mystery box option so bad!

>>42405071
> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.

>>42405136
It's not just Hiss' venom, anon. This will be really useful when we go back to Teleran

>>42405071
> You are now resistant to all venoms and all poisons, making it so that only the strongest will affect you. You are also completely immune to Hiss' own variant.

>>42405071
> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.

>>42405179
We can already make antivenom. It's a complete waste.

>>42405071
> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.
The mystery box, it calls to me

>>42405071
> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.

>>42405071

>>42405219
Fuck you

Changing >>42405139 to
> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.

>>42405179
To be honest if we're close enough to a snake that wants to kill us then we're fucked regardless of their venom

>tfw I wanted skin contact venom but I had to vote for mystery box so the upgrade wasn't wasted

>>42405136
You do realize it's a random art and we could easily go full snake catcher right?

> Your brand grows and changes, now covering your entire arm and becoming extremely visible. Manifest a new Snake Art at random and can lead to further changes.

You remember how it had happened, just last night while everyone else was asleep and you were keeping watch. You'd let yourself become preoccupied with your brand, studying and picking at it. It grew hot and then cold and the began to wobble and change, the orderly ouroboros-ring destabilizing.
The snake's tail leaves its jaws and the serpent grows and multiplies, thorny snakes twisting first along your palm, then across your entire hand and then all the way along your arm.

Your entire arm was now covered in black grooves, each one tracing a sinuous path that overlapped with one another to form a knotted pattern.

And it hadn't stopped there.

>Roll 1d100 (Higher is not necessarily better)

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>42405451
oh shit

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>42405451
How will you choose the roll? Highest of 3 or what?

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>42405451
Rolling for unlimited powa

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>42405451
Great going idiots you just turned Cennen into an abomination

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>42405451
rollin to stay human

>>42405420
Yeah when I said random I meant 'you guys are gonna roll for it'.

>>42405482
Highest total. So it's gonna be 92, not counting rolls made after this post.

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>42405451

>>42405522
welp I guess we're a monster now, wonderful

>>42405499
Maybe. It might be okay since we were only branded once, technically

>>42405553
The arts are hazardous as hell to have more than one of. The original snake catcher had the blood of a serpent king running through him and he still got overloaded to the point of monstrosity. We're not going to fair half as well.

>>42405420
>>42405537
The snakecatched got fucked up for having too many brands pulling him different ways, we only have one (albeit really strong), so this is new

>>42405522
Of all the times for the dice gods to favor us again

>>42405584
Not really, humans =/= snakes. You put too much power into a human via brand you get a monster.

>>42405578
Nothing a little alchemy can't fix

>>42405611
You mean like it can fix our spiritbane? Oh wait it can't it can only cover up the symptoms for a shot time. Just like the Snakecatcher gives off a feeling of wrongness even under it's invisibility cloak.

>>42405642
Let's not panic until we actually know the results for sure anon.

>>42405663
Not panicking, but I am expecting the worst. This is just like Melire all over again. Anons don't THINK so things get fucked up.

>>42405467

>Unseen Hunter (Modified): Whenever you would be detected by scrying, the Sight or other magical means you are instead obscured. The downside is that you now have an extremely visible pattern covering your right hand and arm.

You feel a sudden rush of cold and your heart skips a beat. But it passes as soon as it comes. Your brand stops moving, settling into a single shape, a coiling pattern that practically dyes your entire arm black. It's done something, it's changed something about you. But you can't tell what.

> Snake Art Instability: Whenever one of the effects from your brand is activated, you will be prompted to roll a dice. On a roll above 90, your brand will grow and change again, giving you an additional Snake Art but reducing the Instability roll DC to 80.

You know you have some sort of new power, you're just not sure what. Whatever it is, it's not immediately obvious. But your new arm certainly is! How are you going to deal with this?

> You already wear gloves. Just wear long sleeves as well.

> Try to get something to bandage it.

> You don't need to cover it up in Quedesh. Let them see it.

> Use an Alteration brew

> Other (Specify)

>>42405762
>> Try to get something to bandage it.

>>42405762
> You already wear gloves. Just wear long sleeves as well.

>>42405762
> Use an Alteration brew
We should probably do this anyway since we're wanted criminals

>>42405762
>> Try to get something to bandage it.
God damn it anons

>>42405762
Do we even have any long sleeved shirts?

>>42405762
Sweet
> Use an Alteration brew

>>42405834
You can buy some in the city. Or send someone to buy them for you.

>>42405762
> You already wear gloves. Just wear long sleeves as well.
Using the highest roll when the higher ones are this lame kinda sucks. Next time you should just take the 3rd or 4th roll or something

>>42405843
How s this in any way a good thing? We can't even use our arts now, unless you want us to become an inhuman abomination.

>>42405762
> Try to get something to bandage it.

>>42405762
>only obscured to magical sight
what a shitty art. does this one also get better as hiss grows stronger?

>>42405762
> You don't need to cover it up in Quedesh. Let them see it.
Call the ishmin bitch I don't give a fuck

>>42405863
Unlike the Instability roll, the higher rolls in this weren't any better or worse. I just rolled on a random table of Snake Arts.

>>42405877
I never said it was good, or that I wanted to become snakecatcher too, I just like this scenario from a plot perspective

>>42405905
It's based on having chameleonic scales anon. We don't have scales.

>>42405935
How does this move plot along at all? (besides fucking us over?)

>>42405762
> Use an Alteration brew
and persistence

>>42405933
So we just roll once for instability rolls?

>>42405933
Right but taking the highest roll on random tables is a bit strange

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Looks like a tie between Alteration and bandaging it up. Evens former, odds latter.

>>42405995
Yeah, when it comes up. First comes first served in that regard I think.

>>42406016
Especially when so many rolls are accepted. It means we would never get any low number for the random table.

>Use an Alteration brew

Fortunately brands aren't that much of a big deal, nothing that you can't touch up with a little Alteration brew to make you look like one of the locals. It's a good idea to drink one of these before approaching Pataliputna anyway since you know people are out looking for you. Hiss has defaulted back to her usual Quedeshi form since she never wore it at the House, ditto for Oster and his Quedeshi mask. Aashenpreet has only changed her human shape a little, arguing that she doesn't need to change more since she was so large at the House. You suspect that the real reason is that her shapeshifting might be greatly reduced now that her only human soul has been mostly eaten by Rock.
You're all disguised as you approach the city and you know it's for the best. You're not sure exactly how many people you and Hiss offended back there but the odds are it might have been a lot.

Pataliputna hasn't gotten any less populated since you last visited, forcing you, Oster and Aashenpreet to form a circle protecting Hiss lest she forget herself and bite someone as you struggle your way through the crowds.
And with Hiss too occupied with controlling herself, the leadership role falls to you.

> It's too risky here. Just get to the docks and leave.

> You know where Tanni should still be staying and asking her for shelter was the entire reason you came here!

> Why not do some shopping first?

> Another alchemy demonstration might be risky but it would certainly alert Tanni to you. It did once before after all.

> Other (Specify)

>>42405955
It's a logical consequence of Hiss becoming more powerful, and I think it's interesting that we can't control it.

You're right about the art though, because it's an upgrade to another art, it would make more sense we got the camouflage art instead.
What do you think, Ouro?

>>42406237
> You know where Tanni should still be staying and asking her for shelter was the entire reason you came here!

>>42406237
Can we speak quedeshi at all?

>>42406237
> You know where Tanni should still be staying and asking her for shelter was the entire reason you came here!

>>42406247
We lack scales which is why it's janked.

Furthermore picking the worst possible choice was not a logical consequence, it was anons being dumb. There were 4 other equally viable and useful alternatives reflecting her powerup that did not make us risk turning into the snake catcher every time we tried to make a poison.

>>42406237
> You know where Tanni should still be staying and asking her for shelter was the entire reason you came here!

>>42406237
> It's too risky here. Just get to the docks and leave.
She might not want to shelter us since everyone is gonna be hunting us

>>42406237
> Why not do some shopping first?
>>42406300
I don't think the scales have anything to do with it. It was just a relatively useless Art from his random table.

Have we used permanency potions to git fit yet?

>>42406237
> You know where Tanni should still be staying and asking her for shelter was the entire reason you came here!
This would be easier if we knew what Hiss was planning by sending Rock away.
Also does our new art make us invisible to spirits since their vision is somewhat magical and works just like the Sight?

>>42406237
> It's too risky here. Just get to the docks and leave.

>>42406275
Yes, I'm still counting you as using Wordthefts automatically. Currently piggybacking from one of Hiss' Quedeshi souls (It's Dhinapreet but she's not telling you that).

>>42406342
This guy more or less gets it.

>>42406345
Not yet. Permanence has been used once but it had to be antidoted after Cennen drank a bad potion.

>>42406385
Only if they try to do a deep investigation of your soul.

>>42406385
We'd have to use it first, It's an at will thing. I doubt a spirit would lose sight of us though due to our bane.

>>42406237
> Why not do some shopping first?
We've got a shit load of money that is only useful in quedesh

>>42406432
So spirits can no longer tell that we're a spiritbane?

>>42406437
I'm pretty sure it's passive.

>>42406432
I'd like to use persistence for our alteration brew unless you're just gonna handwave away that 30 minute time limit

>>42406237
> Why not do some shopping first?

>>42406437
>>42406471
Not quite, by wording it's an activated ability that triggers automatically in response to an outside stimuli. If it was at-will it would be a lot more useless. Functionally passive, though.

>>42406471
Correct.

>>42406494
I usually handwave it unless there's something urgent because otherwise Cennen can usually find a minute or so to make another one or to have stocked up before his trip.

Vote called for Tanni, writing.

>>42406545
So can spirit's still sense our bane?

>>42406545
Was that the least useful Art we could have gotten? I can't imagine any worse ones

>>42406566
Whoops, my 'Correct' in >>42406545 was supposed to be replying to >>42406464 , not what it currently is.

>>42406599
But they'd still be suspicious as fuck when we suddenly disappear after they try to check out our soul, right?

> You know where Tanni should still be staying and asking her for shelter was the entire reason you came here!

You don't actually remember the way to where Tanni was staying due to being in a covered palanquin for the entire time but Oster is more than able to lead the way.

"Hopefully this goes better than last time," he grumbles.

"What do you mean? It went great last time!"

"For you, maybe. I don't remember it quite as well. And her voice makes my head hurt."

"I'm sure it will be fine, Oster," Aashenpreet says. "I didn't see much of her but she seemed very nice."

"You think so?"

The crowds begin to thin out as you approach the temple district before almost vanishing altogether. The road is huge here, a clean path between walled-off compounds, scarcely-populated temples and domed palaces. It's in the former that you should find her and indeed, you spot some of her distinctive red and yellow banded Ishmin almost right away.

The three of them turn to look at you all at once, their heads swinging in perfect synchronicity.
"You are not permitted to be here."

You feel Hiss bristle behind you.

> Step back and let her do the talking.

> Let Oster take his mask off and show them his brand.

> "We are here on the behest of matters invisible."

> "Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other (Specify)

>>42406819
> "Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."

>>42406819
> "We are here on the behest of matters invisible."
> "Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."
Use the time to whip up something that negates whatever the fuck she does.

>>42406847
I don't think there's anything we can do about that. It's not magic.

>>42406819
> "We are here on the behest of matters invisible."
Let's not go throwing names around

>>42406819
> "Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."
>>42406869
Her ishmin aren't gonna talk to anybody else about it.

>>42406819
> "Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."
Though I'm tempted to see what Hiss would say here

>>42406866
We probably can since alchemy can do so many things, but figuring out what she does is kinda paramount to negate it.

>>42406819
> "Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."

>>42406954
She just has a shit ton of souls and a lot of accumulated knowledge about verbal and nonverbal communication due to her age

>>42406819
> Step back and let her do the talking.

>>42406985
Your point? Nothing is foolproof. There are ways around everything.

> "Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."

You can't see her but you just know you have mere seconds before Hiss reacts, possibly explosively.
"Please pass a message to your mistress that Cennen is here. She'll know what it means."

One of the Ishmin turn immediately and march back through the gate towards the palace, leaving just two with you. But at the same time two more Ishmin march out from behind the corner to make up for the decrease in the guard. Nothing is said in response to you during this, they just keep wordlessly staring your way.

Hiss grumbles but doesn't say anything, mostly defused by their immediate compliance.
Eventually one of the Ishmin steps out from the palace doors and waves you over. Is it the same one that left before? You can't tell, they all look the same.
The four Ishmin at the gate part to let you pass up to the palace, the lone Ishmin escorting you through the marble doors. The doors, and the pristine passageway beyond are all huge and if this had been Teleran or another country you would have passed it up as just another folly of the hopelessly rich.
The Ishmin leads you down the corridor, the floors, walls and ceilings gleaming with murals and precious metals, enough to buy what you'd seen of the High King's palace twice over. He stops before set of giant double doors, carved from almost seamless black wood.

"She awaits you beyond. The three of you may pass but this one must stay with me."
The Ishmin motions towards you, indicating that he wants you to come with him instead while the others enter Tanni's chambers.

Does Tanni want to avoid seeing you? Is she afraid of your alchemy?

> Do what he says. You can't afford to raise trouble now.

> Insist on seeing Tanni.

> "Why?"

> Flee

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make a Wish (Specify)

In addition, I will need somebody to roll a d100. Only the first roll will be counted.

Guys one thing we forgot is the possibility that Tash beat us back here

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>42407281
> "Why?"

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>42407281
> Do what he says. You can't afford to raise trouble now.
Well Hiss can negotiate I guess

>>42407281
> Do what he says. You can't afford to raise trouble now

>>42407281
> Do what he says. You can't afford to raise trouble now.

>>42407281
> Do what he says. You can't afford to raise trouble now.
Maybe that new Art is less useless than I thought?

>>42407316
Instability roll failed. Nothing new occurs.

>>42407281
One of these
>>42407361
>>42407369
is mine, change it for
> "Why?"

>>42407318
>>42407361
>>42407369
>>42407381
If we're letting them do this can we at least Tell Oster to be ready to smack sense into Hiss? Since he's apparently nigh immune and she was not.

>>42407404
Yay. I assume every "successful" roll we get that much close to being the Snakecatcher?

>>42407418
I'm sure he already knows. He's obsessed with protecting her, remember? He's seen what Tanni does to her already

>>42407281
> Flee
Seems sketchy

> Do what he says. You can't afford to raise trouble now.

You don't know what this could mean but you just nod and let yourself be escorted away. You hope Oster will keep everyone's heads on their shoulders. The Ishmin ushers you throw a much less impressive human-sized door, one that just leads into a small room with a low table and two cushions. There's another Ishmin waiting here, standing by the shuttered windows.

"Alright, I'm here. What do you want?"
You really hope that you're not about to get stabbed.

"Don't be silly, there are so many easier ways to kill you if I wanted you dead."

You jump. How did they know what you were thinking?

The Ishmin that guided you all in here takes a seat, their voice flowing to one that is far more feminine and melodious.
"I really just wanted to speak with you alone."

"Tanni?"

"Naturally. I also wanted to see if this worked better on you than the Vtriya guise. You don't mind, do you?"

You suddenly feel a staggering sense of relief. You aren't being lead away for nefarious purposes, it's just Tanni. You're more than fine with that.
"N-no, that's fine. Great, even."
You sit down across from her.

"Now, why don't you tell me about your pilgrimage?"

> Tell her.

> Try to lie.

> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"

> Show her your brand.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Nobble

> Flee

> Other (Specify)

>>42407699
> Tell her.
> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"
> Show her your brand.
Some advice about the brand would be nice

>>42407699
>> Tell her.
> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"
Do not think of her as a person remember that fuck huge bullying snake she actually is, this is a trap of some sort.

>>42407699
>> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"
> Nobble

>>42407699
> Tell her.
> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"
> Show her your brand.

>>42407699
> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"

>>42407699
> Tell her.
> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"
> Show her your brand.

Sorry about the delay, I was eating and I forgot to inform you guys.

> Tell her.
> "Wait then what are you doing with my companions?"
> Show her your brand.

The words spill from your mouth, a disorganized but truthful mess. Tanni doesn't react much, simply nodding and asking you to continue whenever your voice dries up. You tell her everything.
And that doesn't worry you. She's so supportive. You can tell her anything. If you can't trust her, who can you trust? With that in mind you let the Alteration brew fade as you talk, returning to your original form with the new brand clearly visible.
She takes your explanation in her stride, inspecting your bared arm until you finish talking.

"Well," she says. "you don't have to worry about that. And after all you've done for me with Tash, I owe you a lot. So please, stay here for a few days more. As long as you like. I'll give you the shelter you need."

You nod, grateful. She's taking such a big risk for you, you just know it. After all, if anyone else found out..
You're lucky to have someone so helpful.
"So where are my companions?"
You'd almost forgotten about Hiss and the others.

"They're being assigned rooms. Don't worry, they're being taken care of. Now, about your arm..."

"Yes?"

"I think you have another Snake Art. More specifically, the one that can hide you from being detected by magic."

"How do you know that?"

"Trust me, I have my ways."

During this conversation, roll a d100. Only the first roll will be counted.

> "No really, how do you know?"

> Time to go to your room, you're feeling pretty tired.

> Seek out your companions.

> There's no need to go anywhere just yet.

> "Has Tash arrived?"

> Pull yourself together!

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>42408212
> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
> Seek out your companions.

>>42408212
> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
> "Has Tash arrived?"
> Seek out your companions.

>>42408212
> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
> "Has Tash arrived?"
> Seek out your companions.

>>42408212
Does Cennen feel it when the art activates?

>>42408212
> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
> "Has Tash arrived?"

>>42408212
>> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
> Seek out your companions.
> "Has Tash arrived?"
>Palm Rumpleskin for use.

>>42408212
> Seek out your companions.

>>42408226
Instability roll failed. Nothing changes.

>>42408319
Nope.

>>42408212
> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
> "Has Tash arrived?"

>>42408212
> "No really, how do you know?"
> "Has Tash arrived?"
I can never tell how paranoid I should be around Tanni.

>>42408512
She's basically a Dragon in Shadowrun, Max paranoia! She's acting awfully Shady right now, so double max is a minimum.

>>42408212

> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
politely though if we can manage it and

> Seek out your companions.

>>42408327
>Palm Rumpleskin for use.
Dude, no. She will definitely see us doing that. She can read our every movement so well that she may as well be hearing our thoughts

Never trust a snek.

> Pull yourself together!
> "No really, how do you know?"
> "Has Tash arrived?"
> Seek out your companions.

You shake yourself, trying to clamp down on your emotions. What are you doing? Didn't you learn anything from last time? You know what she can do and you're letting her walk all over you AGAIN.
Come on, stay focused. You aren't here for her.
"No, how do you know?"

She laughs at the new tone in your voice and you suddenly feel awful for judging her like that. She sounds so bemused. Didn't she just offer to put herself in danger to help you? You sigh and do your best to steel yourself as she takes off her helmet, revealing a beautiful face.
There's nothing special about that you tell yourself. Snakes get to choose their own bodies, the beauty of their human form is nothing.

"Relax," she says and you do so.
"I have a pet seer and they couldn't register you. I just put the two together."

"Uhuh, that makes sense."
You do your best to stop relaxing, to stop growing so comfortable. You can't imagine what this would be like if you didn't even know she was doing it to you.
"Has Tash returned?"

"Unfortunately not. But don't worry, when he does so he'll learn just how displeased I am with him. Unless he knows that and has gone to ground. Apprentices can be so troublesome, particularly when they learn too well. You should keep that in mind."

"Will do. Do you know what he was planning?"

"Not quite. I have a hunch but...hm. I don't believe he wanted the princess to go to the Compact House as his first choice but he adapted. And if the spirit was speaking truth, he then wanted her to go to the House but didn't want her to partake. Interesting."

"Right. C-Can I leave now? I'd like to find my companions."

"Oh, is my company really so boring?"

"No, it's not that! I didn't mean that."

She laughs again.
"I know. Go find them. We'll have plenty of time for speaking later."

1/2

>>42408718
>And if the spirit was speaking truth
oh fuck.

>>42408775
Well, she spared him at least. That's got to count for something.

>>42408803
unless she's letting us walk to the slaughter or into our chains.

>>42408718
The Ishmin by the window leads you from the room and escorts you to a large atrium walled in by marble. There's an altar in the middle, one that looks to have been repurposed to honor Tanni instead.
Hiss, Oster and Aashenpreet are sitting down at varying levels of impatience. Hiss gets up immediately and marches over to you.
"Are you alright? Did she do anything to you?"

"No, it's all good."
Why would Tanni do anything bad to you? You don't understand her concern.
"We just had a little talk. She's willing to offer us shelter for as long as we need!"

Hiss shrugs.
"As long as we need? That'll be one night at best. I don't trust her."

"I agree with her Highness," Oster says. "In fact, why stay at all?"

Aashenpreet sits up from where she had been lying.
"We can't do that! That would be a deadly insult to her hospitality!"

> "We can stay as long as we need."

> "I'm with Hiss, sorry Aash. One night is good but after that I'd rather take my chances."

> "Oster might be onto something. Let's just leave now."

> Other (Specify)

>>42408775
Calm down. She's referring to what Jallahaodesh told Cennen about Tash, not anything else. She knows about that because Cennen just told her about it.

>>42408832
>"I'm with Hiss, sorry Aash. One night is good but after that I'd rather take my chances."

Although I kind of want to agree with Oster. Might change my vote later.

>>42408832
> "We can stay as long as we need."
Tanni is best snake

>>42408832
We need to leave soon, her ability to read and manipulate sets me on edge. The fact it works on snakes too scares the piss out of me. Still we need some time. I need to restock my potions, Hiss needs to take stock of herself, and Oster could use a short break. A day or two shouldn't hurt.

>>42408832
>> "I'm with Hiss, sorry Aash. One night is good but after that I'd rather take my chances."
lets not give offense, no reason to make another enemy.
Clearly tanni thinks she can use us and she might be right, but the further we get from her the less usable we are.

>>42408832
> "We can stay as long as we need."
Let's just stay until we've arranged some way back to our country.
>>42408924
Aash is saying that leaving after just one night would be offensive.

>>42408832

> "I'm with Hiss, sorry Aash. One night is good but after that I'd rather take my chances."
Inviting trouble, but I want to stay on Tanni's good side and I don't think this would offend her as much as leaving right now
>>42408883
Oh shit, she already got into your head anon! Snap out of it!

>>42408832
> "We can stay as long as we need."
Let's ask Hiss why one night would be enough, securing travel from here to Taldenral is gonna be a challenge.

>I'm with Hiss, sorry Aash. One night is good but after that I'd rather take my chances

Gives us some time to stock up on potions

>>42409008
Especially now that we're wanted. Anyone trying to get there would be a red flag since they know that's where we want to return.

>I'm with Hiss, sorry Aash. One night is good but after that I'd rather take my chances

"But just one night should be fine, right?"

Aashenpreet doesn't look very happy about it.
"It would still be insulting. She'd have more than enough reason to punish us after that."

"As much as I hate to say it," Hiss says, "she already has all the reasons she could ever need if she wanted to mess with us."

You nod.
"Yeah Aash, we're sort of national criminals or something. Breaking hospitality is just another for the pile. And if you're worrying about offending her personally, don't. She's told me herself that you don't get as old as she does by being needled by hurt pride."
Besides, you've already done worse to her than insult her hospitality. Way worse.

"As usual," Hiss says, "my way is the best way. This way we can finally take some time to rest but still be stocked up and ready to leave first thing tomorrow. And we might need a little more time anyway."

You narrow your eyes.
"Yeah about that, Hiss. Why is one night 'enough' anyway?"

"Do you remember when I sent Rock away nearly a week or so ago? I asked her to arrange us a way to Teleran. Asking around for ships going in that direction would just get us into trouble. They're probably already being watched."

"Then how is Rock arranging travel we can trust?"

She puts a finger across her lips and smiles.
"Secretly, of course."

And there she goes again, keeping this fucking needless secret. And then you stop, comprehension dawning. Is she doing this so you won't tell Tanni?
She DID know that you were going back to Pataliputna after all.

Your rooms are in a corridor just beyond the atrium. There are four of them this time, one for each of you. Yours is just as splendid as the last one but at least this time, it doesn't come with...company.
You try not to think about that night.

1/2

>>42409280
> Stay in your room and get to brewing.

> Go to Oster's room and see if you can sneak in a bit of training. He might know about the brand as well.

> Go to Aashenpreet's room, you need to get rid of this wish-bond sooner or later or it might cause trouble when get hurt.

> Go to Hiss' room. Should probably talk about the brand with her.

> Go find Tanni. You need to tell her that you'll only be staying for night and it'd be more polite to tell her this instead of just leaving.

> Other (Specify)

>>42409333
>> Go to Hiss' room. Should probably talk about the brand with her.

>>42409333
>> Go to Hiss' room. Should probably talk about the brand with her.

>>42409333
Read that quedeshi alchemy book

>>42409333
>> Stay in your room and get to brewing.
brew first, then we can be social

>>42409382
This

>>42409382
Yo Ouro, will we get the chance to do this after we talk to hiss?

>>42409333
> Go to Hiss' room. Should probably talk about the brand with her.
then
>>42409382

>>42409382
Counted as under 'brewing', yeah.

>>42409423
Depends on your choices during your talk with Hiss.

>>42409333
> Go to Hiss' room. Should probably talk about the brand with her.
Is it already night time?

>>42409333
> Go find Tanni. You need to tell her that you'll only be staying for night and it'd be more polite to tell her this instead of just leaving.

>>42409491
No.

> Go to Hiss' room. Should probably talk about the brand with her.

You find yourself wiping a sweat as you seek out Hiss' room. Damn it's hot today. Her door is unlocked.

You don't find her in the main room so you call out her name.
"Over here, Cennen!"

You find her in the bathroom, eyeing the hot bath wistfully.
"Hiss?"

"You have no idea how tempted I am right now, Cennen. I don't get enough of these. But it's already so hot, I'd be completely ridiculous."
She leers at you.
"It'd be very fun though."

She seems to have one thing in mind right now.

> Ask her about the brand.

> Ask her about her opinion on Tanni.

> Press her on the secret.

> Oblige her.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other (Specify)

>>42409681
> Ask her about the brand.

>>42409681
First,
> Ask her about the brand.

>>42409681
> Ask her about the brand.
> Ask her about her opinion on Tanni.
We should tell her that Tanni knows what happened in the compact house

>>42409681
> Ask her about the brand.

>>42409744
Also, the bath is obviously a trap

>>42409769
Your paranoia is off the charts tonight

>>42409681
>> Ask her about the brand.
>> Ask her about her opinion on Tanni.
and if she seems particularly forward about it

> Oblige her.

>>42409681
> Oblige her.

>>42409681
> Ask her about the brand.

>>42409681
>Ask her about the brand.
Then
>Oblige her.

> Ask her about the brand.

"I'm not here to have fun."
You roll your sleeve up, revealing the full brand.

Hiss pouts.
"You're here to do whatever I want you to do."

"Alright but seriously, look at this thing? Do you feel any different?"

"Not really, no. I feel stupendously powerful but that's normal."

"Tanni says that she thinks it's given me protection from magical detection."

Hiss' eyes widen and she suddenly looks a lot more serious.
"But I don't possess that Art! I can't even camouflage. How could you have it? You should only be pulling Art from me!"

"I am, I think. You don't have it now but you used to have it. And you used to be so much more than even that."

She groans.
'Don't remind me. So you think it was definitely triggered by my transformation?"

"Makes sense, doesn't it? Have you ever seen a brand do this before?"

"No, it's something new. But Cennen, you can't gain extra Snake Arts, that's dangerous! You'll end up like the Snakecatcher!"

"Will I? This is new ground, we don't know that."

"Look at it! It's creeping up your body. This is weird and new and I have no idea what to do about it. Show me your venom."

It's a command. She holds out her hand as you place your right hand in hers and draw out the venom, fluid seeping from your hand.
"It doesn't...seem different," she says.

Roll 1d100, only the first matters.

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>42410011
got a bad feeling about this one

>>42410037
...fuck off psychicanon

>>42410037
>roll above 90

You are safe anon. Writing.

>>42410037
DONT FUCKIN ROLL NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A BAD FEELING

>>42410037
The dice gods are mocking us

>>42410078
She runs her finger along your venom-slick hand before popping it in her mouth and tasting it.
"Hiss! What if it did do something to my venom?"

"You'd probably know. And nah, still the same as always. Not as strong as mine of course but that's basically you in a nutshell, isn't it?"
She pulls you down with a sudden jerk, forcing you to the ground as you sit beside her. Having so moved, she can run her hands along the grooves of your afflicted arm with ease.
"Did you feel anything when you used your Art just now?"

"No."

"Then I don't think you have anything to worry about."
You go to stand up in relief only to have her pull you right back down with irresistible force. One of her legs is suddenly in your lap, weighing you down.

"Hiss? I have things to do-"

"No you don't," she purrs. "I'm afraid that unless the difference in our strengths has changed drastically in the last day or so, you can't shift my legs. So I guess you don't get a choice."

> You're fine with this.

> "Hiss, please move. I'll come back later."

> Try to push her off of you.

> Escape by pushing her into the bath.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>42410240
> You're fine with this.
If it's still super hot outside then surely we'll have time to read after

>>42410240
> You're fine with this.
Lewd counterattack!

>>42410240
> You're fine with this.
I'd like to keep Hiss away from that bath, though

>>42410240
>>Since she won't let up, Lewd counter attack her until she's ready to let us go. Also make her promise to skip the bath until we ID it.

>>42410240
> You're fine with this.
>>42410321
As expected of extreme paranoia-anon!

>>42410240
>> You're fine with this.
ok but can we make it clear to her that that's not actually a cool sentiment to have. Like in a serious way.

>>42410348
Shut up I'm not crazy!

>>42410361
What sentiment are you referring to?

>>42410381
The rapey one where "You can't stop me so it gets to happen."

>>42410405
She's just playing around anon. Chill out.

>>42410405
You mean the one Hiss has about the entire world which hasn't changed since thread 1 despite our off and on efforts?

Anon, I don't think you actually understand how much we keep Hiss from literally and metaphorically raping EVERYTHING.

>>42410438
>literally
She's never tried to rape anyone. Unless I missed a darker than usual thread.

>>42410467
To be fair, she didn't have any interest in human form sex until us, either.

So it kind of makes sense she just applies her normal logic to that, too.

>>42410361
>ruining our first playful moment together in a while with a pointless lecture
Nope

>>42410405
>>42410361
Dude... Come on
>>42410438
Hey, did you notice she just got worried about us?
and remember she carried Oster back at the house?

>>42410551
She's been gradually getting worried about us for a while now. Usually in a brusque manner that revolves around "but you're mine, so I have to take care of my things"

Not that I'd have it any other way.

> You're fine with this.

You shift uncomfortably.
"I'm not sure I like your attitude there, Hiss."

"Eh?"

"Didn't we have a talk about this on the ship? And besides-"
You launch your counter-attack, prompting a fit of moans.

"Hey! Sto-stop that! Don't make me punish you!"

.............................................................

You wake with a start, sudden drowsiness vanishing. You're lying naked in the bathroom, Hiss beside you.
You feel absolutely worn out. You hadn't meant to go to sleep but you guess Hiss has learned a lot from some of her component souls now that she the Art. She certainly never did ...'that' before.

You pry yourself out of her arms and get to work finding your clothes. You're going to have to go back to wearing your pants it looks like, your vetti's practically ripped in half.

Hiss giggles vacantly, completely heatstruck. She didn't even touch the bath, the day was just so hot that having prolonged physical contact was probably a bad idea.

> Go back to your room and start brewing.

> Go get dressed and find Oster.

> Go get dressed and find Aashenpreet.

> Go get dressed and find Tanni.

> Stay here to make sure she doesn't do anything foolish.

> Take her with you.

> Other (Specify)

>>42410618
> Stay here to make sure she doesn't do anything foolish.
Start reading that book here

>>42410618
>> Stay here to make sure she doesn't do anything foolish.
Start reading and brewing, get dressed first.

>>42410618
We brought our pack right? Get dressed and read the book while keeping an eye on Hiss

>>42410618
Sorry Dinapreet
> Stay here to make sure she doesn't do anything foolish.
Book

>>42410240
> see if her human bodies are ticklish

>>42410618
> Go get dressed and find Tanni.

>>42410618
>>42410674
this
also
>>42410551
to be clear its not like i can't detect the playfulness there, its just that it doesn't hurt be a little instructive about how this can be interpreted as a negative thing. (also i was only the first post).
anyway hopefully other folks don't mind the medium ouro went with, works fine for me

>>42410467
Well technically there was a moment in this thread where it came close.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/40308643/

>>42410436
>>42410438

I was only pointing out for anon what sentiment was being called into question. Sorry for callin' it how I see it.

>>42410738
indeed, and she got pretty torn up about it

my basic point here is that Hiss doesn't actually enjoy abusing cennan, or at least not in extremis, it makes everybody's life better and easier to preempt further abuse if at all possible.

> Stay here to make sure she doesn't do anything foolish.
>You can still read here though.

You get dressed, getting your trousers from out of your pack and slipping them back on. It's been a while since you've worn them. You also take the Quedeshi alchemy book that Tanni had given you out.
You're still feeling tired but you can spend the rest of the night studying this if you want to.

> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.

> Read some of the book and spend the rest of your time brewing.

> Experiment.

> Restock your potions.

> Pet snake.

> Other

>>42410816
There's a world of difference between being abusive and being dominant. Hiss has been both things, and we've already talked to her about the first. She's genuinely sorry and has improved a lot.
Right now she was being dominant, and since both Cennen and anyone around here are fine with it, there's no need to call her out.

>>42410876
> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.

>>42410876
> Read some of the book and spend the rest of your time brewing.

>>42410876
> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.

>Pet snake while reading.

>>42410876
> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.
>>42410926
Always

>>42410892
> Anyone
Meant to say everyone

>>42410876
> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.
> Pet snake.

Inb4 it's an indoctrination book.

>>42410876
>> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.

>>42411056
take your meds paranoid anon

>>42411071
Ha! It wasn't me this time!

> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.
> Pet snake.

But first, there's something very important you need to do. The book can wait for a little while longer.
Is her human shape ticklish?
You crouch down beside the intoxicated Hiss, who ineptly tries to bite you. It's time for some real experimentation.

Ten minutes and a hastily brewed antivenom later, you're fine with never tickling her again. She looked like she had fun though.
You're sitting on the bed and Hiss is coiled up beside you in her familiar true form, having retreated to snakehood to avoid further tickling. A snake still blissed out so you rub her head every now and then while slowly making distance between the two of you so that you're not around when she gets cold and touchy.

The book appears to have been the diary of whatever 'pet' alchemist Tanni had had before you, however long ago that was. He strikes you as having been a rather impersonal man because his notes are blunt and to the point, rarely flavored by individual opinion or emotion. He doesn't even write about Tanni very often!

Most of his work and theory are stuff that you are, unfortunately, mostly familiar with already. But there are some interesting ideas to be had here.
Whoever this man was, he must have had a lot of contact with someone from the Jheri area to be so learned.

1/2

>>42410876
>> Spend the rest of the night reading the book from cover to cover.
> Pet snake.

Why can't we do both of these at once? Snek pillow

>>42411176
I'm so glad you took my one-off too late vote and answered this question for me.

>>42411176

Pick one recipe to learn tonight:

> Heal-All: Much better than your Inferior Heal-Alls, this potion is the most powerful healing brew known. Can heal anything that isn't a fatal wound and can even regrow limbs with repeated use.

> Weakening Cloud: Creates a cloud of gas that vastly weakens the physical strength, speed and resilience of anything that breathes it in. It is made from the alchemist's own blood so they are unaffected.

> Alchemist's Bane: A preventative that protects the drinker from being affected by alchemical concoctions for the next few hours. If drunk by an alchemist it dulls their own Art and interferes with their brewing for the duration.

> Dulling Cloud: Releases a cloud that renders anyone who breathes it in temporarily imbecilic and suggestible. Pointedly only works on humans.

>>42411235
>> Weakening Cloud: Creates a cloud of gas that vastly weakens the physical strength, speed and resilience of anything that breathes it in. It is made from the alchemist's own blood so they are unaffected.

>>42411235
> Heal-All: Much better than your Inferior Heal-Alls, this potion is the most powerful healing brew known. Can heal anything that isn't a fatal wound and can even regrow limbs with repeated use.

Dude tried using dulling cloud to escape Tanni

>>42411235
> Weakening Cloud: Creates a cloud of gas that vastly weakens the physical strength, speed and resilience of anything that breathes it in. It is made from the alchemist's own blood so they are unaffected.
Didn't we already have a recipe for the better Heal-all, we just weren't good enough for it yet?

>>42411235
>> Heal-All: Much better than your Inferior Heal-Alls, this potion is the most powerful healing brew known. Can heal anything that isn't a fatal wound and can even regrow limbs with repeated use.
ough tough choice
i'll go with this because we've had a few close calls, but that weakening cloud is enticing

>>42411235
> Weakening Cloud: Creates a cloud of gas that vastly weakens the physical strength, speed and resilience of anything that breathes it in. It is made from the alchemist's own blood so they are unaffected.
I see possible constrictor fights in our future

>>42411235
>> Heal-All: Much better than your Inferior Heal-Alls, this potion is the most powerful healing brew known. Can heal anything that isn't a fatal wound and can even regrow limbs with repeated use.

We really get beat up a lot. We need this.

>>42411263
No. Unless I'm making a really big mistake the Inferior Heal-all is the result of attempting to replicate the Heal-all from the 'outside' without knowing how to actually make it.

>>42411278
>>42411176

Do we know in general how immune to poison constrictors are?

Regardless, we can always use snake opium instead of this.

What would be the result of making a candle out of the snake opium tuff?

>>42411235
> Weakening Cloud: Creates a cloud of gas that vastly weakens the physical strength, speed and resilience of anything that breathes it in. It is made from the alchemist's own blood so they are unaffected.

>>42411235
> Heal-All: Much better than your Inferior Heal-Alls, this potion is the most powerful healing brew known. Can heal anything that isn't a fatal wound and can even regrow limbs with repeated use.

>>42411299
That wouldn't weaken them. Their strength would still be dangerous

>>42411299
You don't know how immune to poison constrictors are but considering that the 'completely poison immunity' Art is gated behind the venom Art, you can comfortably wager that the answer is 'not very'.
As for the second question, making a candle out of Snake oil and then burning it would result in a very pleasant scent that would put snakes at ease but probably wouldn't have any stronger effects.

>>42411287
Isn't it smarter to weaken our enemies so we're less likely to get hurt in the first place? Constrictors are mostly dangerous because of their ridiculous strength, this is the perfect counter to that

>>42411342
We haven't made snake oil candles for Hiss... why?

Anons, I feel betrayed and disappointed in equal measure.

Hell, make some for Tanni before we leave.

>>42411356
Because she made us promise not to make snake oil anymore.

>>42411360
Yeah but we didn't listen anyway.

>>42411356
We're an alchemist not a candlemaker anon. Also Hiss hates snake oil.

>>42411353
Depends. It could seriously fuck up our allies too.

We already have buffs that up our strength to their level, and we won't necessarily be fighting constrictors at all if we can avoid Attaran. I mean, we have a Suzerain on our side FFS.

Politics, yo.

We also have the scale shatter and whatnot potions if we want to fuck them up.

TL;DR Snakes are not a threat. We already have MANY ways of dealing with them. Saving our friends from sneak and magical attacks however is where we have been weak so far.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

Looks like a tie between Weakening Cloud and Heal-all. Odds the former, evens the latter.

>>42411356
Seems pretty pointless.

>>42411356
>Hell, make some for Tanni before we leave.

>>42411342
I second this, let's leave her with some stuff for her to use in her politicking with other snakes. I feel like it will go a long way to soothing any stung pride.

Just because she doesn't let it rule her decisions doesn't mean she won't let it influence them.

>>42411379
Scale bane only helps if we can actually hit the affected area, and snake breakers blast radius means we need a fucking potence to even throw it without ffing ourselves.

>>42411379
Nah we were never even close to constrictor strength with potence. Plus we don't have to worry about hitting our friends with it if we're outside and a decent distance from our enemies

>>42411380
Quick, somebody change their mind and delete their post for inferior Weakening Cloud!

>>42411404
We've been able to throw snakebreakera far enough without super strength plenty of times.

>>42411406
Nah I'm good.

>>42411421
Only once and that was because the wind picked up against the bandits. The spirit we hit with one ate most of the charge, and the one we hit the snake catcher with hit Aash who was right next to us. It's got a massive blast radius and can't be used at anything except extra long range.

>>42411450
Which is why we need to make a blunderbuss that uses snakebreaker as ammunition to direct the shards in the right direction. Really though it works just fine as is.

>>42411450
Wasn't the wind against us that time with the bandits?

>>42411467
It's a long range neutralizer, very good at what it does. But using it up close is suicide. Since we can't use our art without chancing turning into an abomination, the weakening cloud is our alternative to KO brew.

>>42411485
Yeah, other Anon doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about.

Whatever, we have lots of potions anyways. It's not like we would lose a member like say Oster to bad rolls and be unable to save them because of our shitty healing ability.

>>42411489
Pffft. Pussy. Scared to use the art, what a wuss.

When obviously we should be studying a brew to stabilize it instead of just hiding our heads in the sand.

Alchemy! The cause and solution of most of our problems!

>>42411542
Don't get so salty, we'll have plenty of chances to learn the heal all

>Weakening Cloud

This could certainly come in handy, even if you'll have to watch where you throw it. You even brew a little and bottle some before you lie down on the bed and let yourself finally surrender to sleep. Again.

When you wake, sunlight is poking through the barred windows. You're lying on the bed, your head in Hiss' lap. She prods you in the cheek.
"Come on Cennen, it's time we got moving."

You groan, still feeling plenty tired.
"Can't I stay here?"

She laughs.
"Later. Now let's go."

She gets up and pulls you to your feet. From there it's only a few minutes before the two of you meet up with Oster and Aashenpreet in the atrium.
"Right, we're all here. Let's get a move on."
Oster is clearly impatient to leave.

Aashenpreet looks less so.
"I still think it's rude."

"Oh, I don't mind."

You start, spinning around. Where did she come from?
Tanni is standing across from you all at the other side of the atrium, flanked by two Ishmin. Right now she looks like a beautiful Quedeshi woman, one slight and short but firm with muscle. She notices you looking her down and smiles, all kinds of thoughts awakening into your head.
You blush, shaking your head. Oh come on, she wouldn't put those thoughts into your mind while Hiss was right there, would she?
Not that you'd think Hiss would notice, the princess certainly isn't looking at you.

"I must admit, I'm a little sad to see you off so soon."
And despite your best efforts, you can't help but flinch, thinking about how awful guests you've been. Part of you really wants to stay.

"I don't care about what you think," Hiss says, her voice faltering just a little.
1/2

>>42411558
I definitely want to study the shit out of that brand. Maybe we could make a magic vision/identification brew to learn about it and make brews to modify it.

>>42411542
>shitty
Anon our healing is nearly maxed out, it far from shitty. Also since we still have the book we can still learn it.

>>42411558
We patently can't, alchemy and art have been stated to not mix well. Tinkering with it will only make it worse.

>>42411590
>alchemy and art have been stated to not mix well. Tinkering with it will only make it worse.
source needed

>>42411598
Ouro several times for the mixing.

As far as tinkering, you're willfully messing with something highly unstable. It'd be a caveman poke a nuclear reactor with a stick.

>>42411633
It's just magic anon. And we have these things called identification brews that tell us every effect that a brew has so we're not blindly "poking it with a stick"

>>42411590
> Anon our healing is nearly maxed out, it far from shitty.

> Only heal brew we have is a shitty knock-off of the actual one we don't quite understand

I am pretty sure you're just talking out of your ass at this point, given the rest of your posts. Jesus, read the fucking archives.

I mean, alchemy and art not mixing well? Dude, like half of our alchemy shit is related to Hiss' snake arts at this point. Are you actually retarded, or just lazy and entitled?

>>42411660
He's right about the heal-all though.

>>42411652
Still no way to tell how it interacts with something that isn't quite magic or organic but a little of both and is grafted onto both our body and soul. Especially considering it does not extend to the brand.

>>42411660
The only thing better than our mock up is the real thing. It has regrown hiss eye and stabilized Oster from certain death. Regular heal all is only faster and slightly more potent.

Alchemy and brand don't mix well. We copy hiss by taking a mock up of her template onto ourselves. Even then it's still not perfect.

>>42411578

"Well, that's a shame. Isn't there any way I could convince you to stay? Any way at all?"

Your mind is practically set aflame with the possibilities. You close your eyes and look away but not before you see Hiss go bright red. She hasn't even done anything yet and she can make you think exactly what she wants you to think. And to think, all this time before you've only spoken to her when she was an Ishmin or a Vtriya, something that involved covering up and muting her body and her movements. That hadn't been just for style, she'd been holding herself back.
The only reason you think you can still think at all right now is because she isn't focused on you, her voice and her body language is tuned to someone else.

"Uh...Well...I guess it wouldn't be so bad."
Hiss is a lot more stubborn than you but even she's reduced to stammering.

"No thank you. And stop that."
Oster pushes you back behind him, blocking your view. He looks extremely sour, his mouth set in a frown.
"What are you two doing? Snap out of it!"

"What...What AM I doing?"
Hiss is still bright red but at least she looks a lot more self-aware about it now. You shake your head, desperately trying to clear it.

"Please don't do that Tanni," you say.

She just scoffs.
"Oh, I was hoping this was going to be easy. I guess we're doing this the hard way."

Oster puts his hand on the hilt of his sword, despite knowing that there was nothing he could do to her with it.
"What are you talking about? We're leaving, hospitality be damned."

"I don't care about the hospitality. One doesn't get here by caring about pride. And I quite enjoy all of you. But...on the flipside, one doesn't get here by caring about affection either. Do you even know the prices on your heads? Or what I could do with you? "

2/3

>>42411698
Put on the Mask, anon.

>not tuned to you
>Hiss stuttering

So are we looking at a potential Tanni/Hiss/Cennen thing here, or...?

Not that I'm voting for that or anything, but I mean...

Can we corrupt Aashenpreet into this as well?

>>42411703
She takes a step back as the two Ishmin flanking her draw their swords and advance. Behind her, you can see even more.
The other four doors opening into the atrium slam open, armed Ishmin in each one.

"I want both the girls and the alchemist alive. You can kill the other one. He's not very important."
She shrugs as you do your best to glare at her, still finding it hard to find any genuine hatred.
"Don't be like that. We'll all have a nice long chat after you're firmly chained down, I think after that you'll understand where I'm coming from. Sorrrrrry."

>>42411703
NOBBLING SOON

>>42411728
Are you even reading the whole post?

>>42411739
The reality of the situation and the dreams of my post are entirely unrelated anon, now answer the question.

>>42411744
The answer is no.

>>42411736
Fuck that Hiss is going to eat her.

>>42411752
D-Do we really want Hiss with the experience Tanni has?

>>42411752
We need to make her afraid of Hiss

>>42411752
Oh yeah, she did get that ability. We can still nobble her so she goes calmly

>>42411760
No, but I don't think we can stop her on this one. Here's hoping she only get Tanni's soul and not the collected human ones too.

>>42411761
It'll happen, soon.

>>42411763
No need Hiss can eat with a gaze.

>>42411733
Anyhoo, that's that for today. Thread's been archived and I have work soon. I hope you guys have had fun and hopefully my sleep cycle is finally back to something normal.
Will try for a thread tomorrow since I don't want to be left hanging here anymore than you do.

>>42411781
She can make her flustered by looking at her. We're going to need a serious demonstration of savagery and brutality to go from that to fearing her.

>>42411808
Thanks for running!

>>42411808
So how fucked are we, and how tight is the courtyard? Would it be possible to nuke one side with a snake breaker, nerf the other with a cloud, then scale bane Tanni? Also how is Oster immune?

>>42411808
Thanks for running!

Just popping in before I head out in a few minutes.

>>42411832
You can hit one side with the cloud without any danger but the Snakebreaker is a lot riskier. It doesn't just have a big blast radius, it sends shrapnel all over the place outside of the explosion too.

Oster is immune because he's very not interested in women and is also a fanatic. Neither of these have really been secrets.