>>42671837
You wake slowly and with no small degree of discomfort. You’re aren’t on a bed or a mattress or even a hammock, you’re lying on the wooden floor. It doesn’t even have the decency to be a particularly comfortable or well-made floor, the wood is gnarled and covered in bumps and splinters.
But really, what could you expect? This ship was not made for the comfort of the living. You should be happy it even had a place to sleep at all.

You’re sitting in a small room, your clothes messy with accumulated filth and salt. Light streams in from what could only charitably called a window, more a smashed open hole in the Melach ship’s driftwood hide. It’s been a day since you left Pataliputna and by now you should be far, far away, carried by a ship whose rowers have no need for rest or weakness.

It looks like Hiss woke before you did because she is no longer here. You are alone though you suppose that might be better than being with the Melach themselves.

> Use this time to your advantage. Let’s get brewing.

> Break Tanni’s wishbond. You promised you’d do that and you’d rather she didn’t follow.

> Go find Hiss.

> Go find Oster.

> Go find Aashenpreet.

> Go find Rock.

> Pray

> Inspect self

> Other

>>42671843
> Break Tanni’s wishbond. You promised you’d do that and you’d rather she didn’t follow.
> Inspect self
Glad you're back ouro!

>>42671843
> Inspect self
> Look out the window. Where are we? Call Bunyip and pet him.
> Go find Hiss.

>>42671843
>> Break Tanni’s wishbond. You promised you’d do that and you’d rather she didn’t follow.
> Inspect self

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30 KB JPG

>>42671877
I'm glad to be back. Hopefully I can get back on routine now.

>>42671843
>> Break Tanni’s wishbond. You promised you’d do that and you’d rather she didn’t follow.
>> Inspect self
Hope that arm hasn't degenerated too much.

>>42671843
>> Break Tanni’s wishbond. You promised you’d do that and you’d rather she didn’t follow.

> Inspect self

> Go find Rock.

>>42671962
Poor aashenpreet.

> Break Tanni’s wishbond. You promised you’d do that and you’d rather she didn’t follow.
> Inspect self

You shake your head, doing your best to recall what had happened yesterday. It had been a pretty hectic day, even if it felt like it happened a week ago.

But you still remember the deal you made and you're not one to back down on something like that. And besides, you don't actually want the wishbond to stay. The idea of anything from Quedesh following you is not one you wish to entertain.

Breaking the wish-bond isn't particularly difficult, not from your end. Just a spiced-up Soulmender does the trick, removing your soul from all bonds, links and contracts.

While you drink you can't help but let your eyes track down to the arm holding the bottle. It's still black and covered in grooves. Come to think of it, you never got much of a look at it since it last grew, did you?

You roll up your sleeve and after a few seconds of looking, take off your shirt. The markings have invaded your torso, flowing past your shoulder and scoring themselves onto the right side of your chest. One tendril even traces itself along your collar, sending branded spikes up the lower half of your neck. A lot of your arm is now a complete black, the various parts of the extended brand melding together to make a seamless cover.

You touch your hand hesitantly. It still feels like skin. But for how long?

> You need to talk about this with Hiss.

> Maybe Oster will know something about this. He has a brand too.

> Get Rock's help.

> Aashenpreet probably can't help in this regard but you want to make sure she's doing alright.

> Explore the ship.

> Other

>>42672252
>> You need to talk about this with Hiss.
Bollocks.

>>42672252
> You need to talk about this with Hiss.
> Get Rock's help.
Both of them would be ideal

>>42672252
> You need to talk about this with Hiss.
> Get Rock's help.
Get both of them cause they both are the most magical members.

>>42672252
> You need to talk about this with Hiss.
> Get Rock's help.

>>42672252
> You need to talk about this with Hiss.
> Get Rock's help.

Sorry about the delay here, was eating.

> You need to talk about this with Hiss.
> Get Rock's help.

You consider praying for their help but what's the rush? It doesn't seem urgent and you could do with a walk to stretch your aching muscles.

You get up, exiting the room onto what could tentatively be called the main deck. The ship you're on is extremely ramshackle, pieced together from multiple shipwrecks and driftwood. But it's surprisingly seaworthy, particularly when you consider that it's occupied by constant shipwrights. The Melach will plug the holes with their own bodies if they have to.

And the speed at which you're moving is phenomenal is well. There are sails but they are tattered and mostly useless. The real push comes from the rowing galley inside the ship, their oars poking out the sides. They are expert oarsmen and they do not need to sleep or rest. Where a human could only sustain their maximum effort for a short time, the Melach could perform to their best indefinitely.
These might very well be the fastest ships on the ocean right now and certainly the most consistent.

You find Hiss, Oster and Rock by the prow. Hiss is sitting on a high driftwood throne, one that looks to be the very one from their island. They must have dragged it out here for her sake.
Oster is standing by her side and Rock is hovering about while Hiss addresses a circle of skeletons, one of them nearly twice the size of a normal man. It take you a moment to recognize them as the cabal of the former Saltlord, led now by Kom Nah and Trygg.

You wonder what their business is with Hiss?

> Stay back and eavesdrop.

> Interrupt and ask Hiss for her time.

> See if you can get Rock's attention without interrupting.

> Other

>>42672640
>> Stay back and eavesdrop.
We need to keep abreast of the situation. Hiss is prone to bine-headed maneuvers especially when upset. We call them Hissy fits.

>>42672640
> Stay back and eavesdrop.

>>42672640
>> Stay back and eavesdrop.

>>42672640
> Stay back and eavesdrop.

>>42672640

> Stay back and eavesdrop.
Maybe they're asking Hiss about her part of the bargain?
>>42672665
Could be listed as a skill

If we find a skeleton who wants to live we should make a soul repair brew to fix it's decayed soul up

>>42672780
I want to make a more directly offensive soul related brew since we haven't tried that yet

> Stay back and eavesdrop.

No point in barging in right now, you decide. Best just to stay back and see what this is all about. And maybe more importantly, how Hiss handles it.

Kom Nah is speaking, stolen staff still by his side.
"Saltlord, we have done as your servant commanded and rescued you from the soilborn. We ask only for one boon."

"And what would that be?"

"You know what we want."

"Of course I do. Death."
Hiss holds out her hand, letting her life-stealing fingers nearly brush against Kom Nah's skull. She could devour his soul with but a brush of her hand and you can see the skeleton quiver, almost uncontrollably drawing closer.
And then she snatches her hand back and smirks.
"But not yet. Fulfill your duty first, crier and only then will I give you peace."

The skeletons kneel, most of them hobbling away in disappointment. Kom Nah, however, remains.
"You don't need me to row. And the time for battle, for raiding and for words to inspire the salt riders are past. Surely...surely you could take me early."

A look of irritation flashes over her features.
"Now you're just being presumptuous. Am I not your Queen?"

"Saltlo-"

"Whatever! You'll not find yourself in my good graces by begging! Not to mention questioning my decisions. If you don't like it, I can always throw you overboard. Or no...I could take you apart piece by piece and keep you alive while I free the rest of your kinsmen. Is that what you want?"

There is a long moment of silence before Kom Nah bows, defeated. What else could he do? She could kill him with a touch but even worse, she could keep him alive. Hiss has become the judge of the entire Melach, or at least what is left of them. And provided that they don't learn of other snakes, she is their only chance of release.
"No. I will wait."

1/2

>>42673092
"Good."
Hiss lashes out without changing expression, tracing her fingers across his ribs. Her hand lingers for a moment and is then snatched back, letting the thing that was once Kom Nah collapse into a pile of dry bones.
She looks at the remaining members of the cabal, doing her best to meet the gaze of nonexistent eyeballs.
"Only I can tell you when to live and when to die. To Kom Nah I was merciful. I will not be so again. Tell the others."

The skeletons leave without saying a word, leaving Kom's remains untouched. Hiss fishes up the staff from the ground, balancing it in her hands.
"What do you want, Cennen?"

Guess you didn't go unnoticed after all.

> "I'd like to speak to you alone."

> Raise the issue of the brand here. You've got nothing to hide.

> "Have you seen the Bunyip?"

> "What are your plans when we get back?"

> "Where's Aashenpreet?'

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>42673198
>> "Have you seen the Bunyip?"
>> "What are your plans when we get back?"
>> "Where's Aashenpreet?'
once we've got that


>> Raise the issue of the brand here. You've got nothing to hide.

>>42673198
> "I'd like to speak to you alone."
But with rock as well
Let's figure out what's up with the brand and then we can talk about all this other stuff

>>42673198
> "I'd like to speak to you alone, my Salt Lady."
+ slightly exaggerated bow and smile.

>>42673198
> "Have you seen the Bunyip?"
>"Where's Aashenpreet?'
after
> Raise the issue of the brand here. You've got nothing to hide
i'd ask about plans but at this point I doubt she has any besides get stronk.

>>42673198
>> "Have you seen the Bunyip?"
Bunyip is best pet. We need to spend more time with it.
>> "I'd like to speak to you alone."

>>42673198
> "I'd like to speak with you and Rock in private."
> "Where's Aashenpreet?'
Better make sure they don't find out she can free them too.
Then ask about the brand. Then
> "What are your plans when we get back?"

>>42673198
>Raise the issue of the brand here. You've got nothing to hide.

>"I'd like to speak to you alone."
>Also Rock

You bow, deferring to her throne.
"I'd like to speak to you alone, my Saltlady."

You can almost hear Hiss grind her teeth at your use of the term. She does her best not to let it show however.
"Sounds fine to me. I've been looking for a nice distraction anyway."

"I'd also appreciate Rock's help."

-Certainly.-

"What, her too? How does that work?"

"Hiss, when I said I wanted to speak with you I actually meant that literally."

"Oh? Oh."

You lead Hiss back into your room, Rock drifting behind. Once everyone is inside, you take your shirt off to better display the brand.
"What are we going to do about this? It keeps growing!"

"Oh, this again?"

-Hold still, Cennen.-
Rock settles on your branded shoulder, sandy appendages probing gently.
-I believe this is overriding your body.-

"Pardon?"

-It is foreign Art to the human body. It was never meant to hold even a single Snake Art, let alone several. Your body may be getting altered to better suit it.-

Something flashes to your mind unbidden, a giant black-scaled humanoid balanced on a serpent's tail, a ravaged face that had little to do with either human or snake.
"Then how do I get rid of it? I don't want to end up like that!"

-In truth, I honestly can't say for certain what the end result of this brand will be. Nor can I say how to stop it.-

Hiss sighs.
"It's tied to his Snake Art. So if he just doesn't USE them it shouldn't spread further. And if he can manage to keep it dormant for long enough, it might just recede on its own from a lack of stimulation."

"But I can't control being scried on!"

"Ah, I'd forgotten about that one. Yeah this is bad then."
She sounds pretty cavalier about the whole thing.

"Thanks Hiss, you're so much help."

"Oh come on, can't you just fix it with a potion? Don't you have anything that interacts with Art?"

-That could be dangerous, Hiss. We have no idea how it will react to being forced by magic-
1/2

>>42673671
I wonder if we could also take the melach souls via touch

>>42673671
-There is one other way that might work. Cennen, you may have to accompany me back to the Dreaming.-

"What?"

-Magic cannot exist within the Dreaming. I doubt being there will destroy your brand but you cannot use your Art to stimulate it inside and nobody can scry on you. Spend enough time inside and it might be forced into this dormancy Hiss speaks of.-

Hiss practically shoves you out of the way, interposing herself between you and the spirit. Her fangs are out.
"No. If you try and drag him back there, I will kill you."

-It would be extremely dangerous, yes. Humans are not meant to live within the Dream. But I can think of no other way to stop the brand from growing.-

"Then let it grow!"

-I promise that I will do my best to protect him.-

"Since when have you protected anybody, Rock? The last human you had in the Dreaming fucking died and you weren't even capable of realizing it."

-I will not allow someone like you to speak of her-

'Or what? Cennen told me all about it, you know. Her whole situation was a fucking joke. And you're the punchline.'

-Your words cannot affect me.-

"Good, because I have a whole lot more of them!"

-Why don't you want to at least try this plan?-

Hiss strikes out, her hand passing harmlessly through Rock's intangible form.
"Because it's dangerous! Because the last time he went there he nearly never came back! Because I can't follow him!"

-And yet you'd rather him stay here and risk it?-

"Yes! He's mine! I don't care what the brand does to him as long as he stays here with me."

You feel pretty awkward about this whole exchange. Both parties seem to have forgotten that you're even here.

> "Just let me think about it, alright?"

> "Hiss, back off. Rock might have the right idea."

> "Thanks Rock but no thanks. I'll just take my chances."

> Brew

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other (Specify)

>>42673899
> "Thanks Rock but no thanks. I'll just take my chances."
> Brew

>>42673899
>Yeah i'm going to be over here working on things, ok? ok.
>> Brew

>>42673899
"Even if it turns me into a thing like the snakecatcher in (I wanna say Tandenral?)?"
>> "Just let me think about it, alright?"
>> Brew

>>42673899
> "Just let me think about it, alright?"
> Brew
We better start researching a way to solve it trough alchemy and keep the dreaming as a back up plan

>>42673899
> "Thanks Rock but no thanks. I'll just take my chances."

>>42673899
> "Thanks Rock but no thanks. I'll just take my chances."
>> Brew

>>42673899
>"Just let me think about it, alright?"

> "Just let me think about it, alright?"
> Brew

You cough, drawing both of their attention. Hiss at least looks a little embarrassed about it.
"Look just let me think about it, alright? There's no urgency yet. No need to get at each other's throats."

Hiss makes a face.
"You can't go back there, Cennen. Last time you tried that you were gone for weeks. I thought you were going to die."
She sits down next to you as you get your brewing equipment out, her arm around your shoulder.
"You belong to me and I won't let you get stolen away. I don't care what this brand turns into, as long as you stay with me."

"Even if I become something like the Snakecatcher?"

She falters.
"E-even then," she lies. "We'll find some way to make it work."
The two of you sit together in silence for a few long moments.
"But yes," she continues. "You really should try to figure out a potion for it."

You spend the next hour or so experimenting, Hiss providing a ready supply of ingredients. You remember the kind of potion you want to make, it was a brew that had presented itself to you as a possibility several weeks ago.
A potion that shuts down a random Snake Art of whoever drinks it, applying multiple times for multiple drinks.
You're not sure how it'll go with your brand but it seems like the best place to start.

> Just drink it down.

> Test it on Hiss first.

> Don't drink it, keep trying to experiment further.

> Other

>>42674344
> Just drink it down.
>Here goes everything, I'm willing to bet this is going to hurt , a lot.

>>42674344
> Just drink it down.

>>42674344
>> Don't drink it, keep trying to experiment further.
It's a decent base. Now we just need to refine it.

>>42674344
> Don't drink it, keep trying to experiment further.
Wait and test it on another snake or branded human before using it.
> Ask Hiss about the plan

>>42674344
> Don't drink it, keep trying to experiment further.

>>42674344
> Just drink it down.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

Alright, looks like a tie between drinking it or not. Evens the former, odds the latter.

File: 1402074296260.gif (1.37 MB, 450x300)

1.37 MB GIF

>>42674566

>>42674566
oops what a timely place to return to. I suppose i'll just keep my mouth shut since ouro is already writing

> Don't drink it, keep trying to experiment further.

You keep working, brewing and rebrewing until Hiss gets bored and wanders off. And indeed, the process takes several more hours even with the alchemy lab that Tanni gave you.

But with all that hard work and strain comes a significantly more refined form of the same brew. This brew, upon ingestion, should cancel out ALL of someone's Snake Arts for a day but will only work on branded humans. As long as you drink this at least once a day, your brand shouldn't freak out. Probably.

You're still not sure what to call it but now you're actually feeling a little tired of brewing after all that, if such a thing is even possible.

> Drink it now. Might as well not waste time.

> Go find...(Specify)

> You want to brew a little more.

> Other

>>42674801
>> Drink it now. Might as well not waste time.
Get Hiss or Rock to watch for shenanigans.

>>42674801
> Drink it now. Might as well not waste time.
> Go find...(Specify)
Bunyip

>>42674801
>> Drink it now. Might as well not waste time.

>>42674801
> Go find Aash and Bunyip

>>42674801
>Drink it now. Might as well not waste time.

Then >>42674907

I'm getting the feeling that the brew will have some side effects. It seemed too easy a solution.

>>42674976
For one it'll likely shut down alchemy hard, two it might make it so our arms doesn't work anymore.

>>42674801
>> Drink it now. Might as well not waste time.
we're gonna drink it eventually

>>42675034
It says it shuts down snake arts, but still... Anyway, better drink it now to find out.

>>42675086
well our arm is fucked up by the art, and Alchemy is called Art repeatedly.

Interlude Eleven

Tash struggled forward, pulling himself through the undergrowth. And indeed it was Tash though the casual observer would not be able to identify him. His long hair had been shorn short, his fine robes and mask replaced by ragged workman's clothes. He looked now like any other man, given away only by the softness of his hands and by the mark upon his tongue.

It wasn't very dignified for one of his station, he mused. But such are the prices one must pay when one bets it all. He wasn't even angry about how it had all turned out. Though it hadn't been through the way he had wanted it, the princess had still more or less accomplished what he had wanted her to. She had sown chaos.

Waiting for him was a Quedeshi atop a camel, his skin darker and more worn. He was Tihaib, nomads of the northern Ti satrapy. They walked along the furthest boundaries of the world, living for long periods of time on nothing but camel milk and opium. The common stereotype of them was that they were dull and simple folk but Tash didn't believe it. If the man waiting for him was simple then he was simple in the way a tiger was.
He would hide Tash away, escort him along the nomad paths until times had settled and he could return once more. It would not be an easy life ahead of him but he was sure he could adapt.

And he did not regret how it had happened, his goal was still in motion. Well...that wasn't strictly true. He regretted that he hadn't parted ways with the princess on better terms. He had quite enjoyed her company and her companions were likable enough. There were really no ill-feelings, at least on his part.
Maybe they could meet again someday and he could explain his plan, make them see that it wasn't so bad. He would have done that to start with if Hiss hadn't been so prickly but he had quickly divined that she probably would have rejected his proposal at first. Out of sheer contrariness if nothing else. She was not a person who liked to be told what to do.
1/2

>>42675138
He climbed the hill to where his guide was waiting, clapping one hand on his back.
"I have nothing here for me now. I'm ready when you a..-"

His words trailed off and Tash found himself speechless for the first time in years. Now that he was standing at the crest, he could see down to the far side of the hill where the rest of this Tihaib tribe had been waiting. But not there was nothing there but a massacre, man and woman and child sliced and ripped apart and strewn in gory detail along the hillside. Not even the camels had been spared, some of the large beasts having been literally torn in half by a monstrous strength.

The guide returned the greeting, clapping his hand on Tash's back and grabbing him by the neck. The nomad's voice stutters, changing into a voice far more familiar as his body begins to dissolve away, revealing a glimpse of something huge and green.
"Really, it's a dark day when I have to clean up my servants messes personally."

> Drink it now. Might as well not waste time.

You eye the potion uncertainly. You know exactly what this brew should do. But you don't know how your brand is going to react. Is it really going to be so easy?

Well, you're about to find out. You gulp it down as fast as you can.

And...nothing. You don't feel any different. Is it working? You can't tell.

> Try to use a Snake Art.

> Brew

> Go find (Specify)

> Other

>>42675332
> Try to use a Snake Art.
Venom collection.

>>42675272
Man, Tanni doesn't fuck around
>>42675332
> Try to use a Snake Art.
Use our poison, then try to brew something to see if it affected our alchemy

>>42675332
> Try to use a Snake Art.

>>42675332
> Try to use a Snake Art.

>>42675332
>> Try to use a Snake Art.
>> Brew
try to brew up some poison

>>42675332
>> Brew
Give it some time before we test it. Might take a bit to kick in.

>Try to use a Snake Art

You hold out your blackened palm and concentrate, trying to gather your venom there as you had done once before.

Nothing happens. But you swear you can feel some sort of weakness in the damn holding you back, some flaw. You close your eyes and make your best attempt to summon it forth. Just to make sure that it's completely sealed off.

You yelp as your palm begins to sting and then your entire arm goes numb. You can still move it but feeling is slow to return to anywhere affected by the brand.
You're not sure what that means but you guess it's working for now? Maybe?

>>42675651
Sorry guys but I've got to go. This is my D&D day after all. I normally wouldn't even run on this day but I felt really bad about skipping all those other running days that I felt obligated to try and get a quick short thread in where we just cleaned up loose ends and whatnot. I updated a little slow though.

I'll try to return tomorrow and we can have a proper sized thread, check the twitter etc.

>>42675731
Thanks for running dude.

>>42675731
Thanks for running, Ouro. Glad I caught it, even if it was relatively short.

>>42675731
Thanks for running Ouro, glad you're back!

>>42675731
thanks for running and no worries.