>>43111378
It’s a long walk and so you find yourself beginning to hang back, drifting back towards where you can hold a proper conversation with Aash. She’s peering all over the place, mostly unhindered by the growing darkness. She jumps aside as a carriage trundles down the empty street, her eyes fixed on the horses.

“Hey Aash,” you say. “You doing alright?”

“Yes. It’s just hard getting used to this place. What are those creatures?”

It takes you a moment to parse what she’s referring to and when you realize it, you can’t help but laugh.
“What? Those are just horses. Don’t you know what a horse is?”

“Of course I do! I’ve just...never seen one. They’re very ugly beasts.”

You shrug.
“I’ve never had a problem with them.”

“I have,” Oster calls out from up ahead. “Horses are real cunts. Give me a donkey or a mule any day of the week.”

“Well anyway Aashenpreet, I don’t think you’ll have much trouble here. There’s a lot of basic similarities between how people live and how they did in your home. People live in cities and towns and villages, people exchange money for goods and services, etcetera. The details are all different but that part is the same.”

“Yes but this whole city is ruled by a human, right? Or a group of humans?”

“Yes.”

“And those humans are ruled by more humans?”

“More or less. I guess it ends at the High King. He’s in charge of everything.”
To be honest you’re not sure how much real power a single king has, all of this stuff is way above your pay grade.
“There’s no reptilian overlords here as far as I’m aware.”

Aashenpreet shudders.
“I know. I still don’t understand how this can work. How can you trust something as short-lived as a human with running something this complex?”

You can’t help but feel that you’ve had this discussion before.
“I don’t see what longevity has to do with it.”

1/?

>>43111404
“But then you can’t plan for anything! Back home, plans and programs can be supervised and carried out over centuries. It’s what lets us stratify everything, make sure everyone is in their proper place. It’s the only way to create a proper society.”

“Well, we manage somehow.”

“And what about spiritual guidance? How do your scholars retain knowledge over the ages if they’re ALL human?”

You purse your lips.
“Books. Those seem to work quite well.”

“It’s not the same,” Aashenpreet grumbles. “Furthermore, your culture’s idolization of base currency is disturbing.”

“You use coins back home.”

“Humans use them, you mean. We’re supposed to just get what we want. But that’s because we have a properly rigid social order while you people are too loose! It’s like money IS your order!”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

“Yes! What if a peasant or a slave was somehow able to amass a large amount of your ‘signets’. Would people then have to pay him respect?”

“Well, he wouldn’t be a nobleman but yes. Judge not a man by the location of his birth but by the location of his wallet, as they say.”
You butcher the semi-popular saying.

“That’s so ...eerie. And barbaric.”

“Why? What would happen in Quedesh?”

Aashenpreet smiles.
“Since we have the serpents, who function both outside and above the entire system of currency and barter, one of us who recognize such an imbalance can confiscate their ill-gotten gains and redistribute them.”

“What if they aren’t ‘ill-gotten’?”

She blinks.
“They’re ill-gotten by definition. If you aren’t born into a social position with money, you’re not meant to have money. Giving peasants the idea they can advance higher within human society might give them ideas about their position in relation to serpent society as well. That is how a proper culture does things.”

2/3

>>43111446
>Change the subject

>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.

>She's actually getting a little annoying.

>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.

>"Well not all human countries work this way."

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43111494
>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.
> Look around for thr bunyip

>>43111494
>>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.
>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.

Your culture allows only stagnation Aashenpreet, I thin even you on some level realize this.

>>43111494
>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.
>She's actually getting a little annoying.
>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.

>>43111531
Fuckin commies man.

>>43111494
>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.
>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.

It's in people's nature to want more, some day the constrictors will have to deal with that

>>43111446
>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.
>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.

>>43111446
>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.
>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.

Compare and contrast!

Just please, Aash, shut up. You may not really know how currency works but you are letting that which you have accrued flow out far to fast.

>>43111494
>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.

>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.

>Tell her that you could be considered a peasant yourself.
>Remind her that by her own social order she should be sitting in a shrine somewhere right about now.

"You know, I'd probably be considered a peasant myself."

"Pardon?"

"I wasn't born to work the land or anything but I was born in a poor forester community. No social rank whatsoever."

"What?"
Aashenpreet stares at you.
"But then how do you know how to read?"

"I was taught to by my Master."
Strange. It's been so long since you've thought about this. How much of it can you even recall?
"She told me that I had a lot of potential and that she needed an apprentice. And the first part of that apprenticeship was learning how to read. But I guess according to you I should have stayed illiterate and just serviced the hunter lineages, right?"

"That's not what I meant. Uh, I had always assumed that you were from a higher caste."

"Nah. If you were from around here you'd be able to tell by my accent."

Aashenpreet looks extremely awkward, entirely unsure what to say without digging herself further.
"Well, I guess there isn't much upward difference from one human to another-"

"Besides, aren't you meant to still be sitting in a shrine somewhere?"

Aashenpreet narrows her eyes, a bizarrely Hiss-like expression.
"It's different for us. I was chosen by the nature of my birth, that I had been touched by Aashimid while still within the egg."

"But you weren't allowed to leave."

"Only because I swore my vows! If I had wanted to leave before that I could have! I could have joined the invisible courts."

"And what use do the courts have for people like you?'

"Uh. Um. I'm sure I would have done something," she stutters.

As you figured then, it's not much of a choice when the priesthood is the only place that tolerates defectives like her.
"As far as I can tell, your culture only allows stagnation. Everything lasts too long when the people on top are immortal."

1/2

>>43111949
>Everything lasts too long when the people on top are immortal."


Succinct and a very good point.

>>43111949
"Stagnation implies a flaw. But if you've created the perfect system, it is a virtue to make sure that it remains as it is. And we can only do so thanks to having outside arbiters who live on an appropriate scale for long-term planning."

"So why aren't you still being a priestess?"

Aashenpreet looks sick.
"Because I failed it, not the other way round. I let my own base desires get the better of the duty Aashimid gave me."


> "You know, I don't think the Creator cares that much."

> Tell her that she still fulfilled her duties by guiding people to the Compact House.

> "You can go home someday if you want. Maybe you'll have different opinion by then."

> "Your whole society is awful and I hate it."

> "You can't blame yourself."

> "Maybe you should have stayed home, then."

> Other

>>43112086
> Tell her that she still fulfilled her duties by guiding people to the Compact House.
And she played a part in exposing the corruption that had grown within (Attaraan)

>>43112086
> Tell her that she still fulfilled her duties by guiding people to the Compact House.
> And while most of the other constrictors opposed us. They are not flawless and their system is far from perfect. Their pride an longevity prevents any sort of improvement.

Some of these options sound really mean

>>43112086
>The creator would not have given his creations free-will unless he intended them to use it. Notice how your religion is abused by those in charge for their own ends. You entire system was corrupted long ago. Furthermore perfection is fleeting, nothing that is perfect stays as such for long, because things change. Just as there is no such thing as a perfect potion, or perfect weapon, there is no perfect government, it's all situational.

>>43112086
It seems to me that it was constrictors who decided that you should stay in your shrines, not Aashimid. He just made the Compact and your people set up the rest right?

>>43112086
> "You know, I don't think the Creator cares that much."
The Creator valued free will above all else as far as I know

>>43112086
The Compact was a sign of the creator's forgiveness. Surely he would forgive you for what you've done as well.

How are those rotten souls treating you, Ouro?

> Tell her that she still fulfilled her duties by guiding people to the Compact House.

"We've talked about this before, haven't we? You still fulfilled your duties by guiding us to the House. How many of your brethren could say the same?"

"I have mixed feelings on how that turned out," she says. "But even so, that's behind us. How can I guide anyone now?"

"I'm sure you'll find a way. And besides, isn't the Compact supposed to be about forgiveness? Surely the first step would be to forgive yourself."

"That's easier said than done. And I doubt anyone here would take too kindly to my attempts to guide them to the more correct path."

"What is the 'correct path' anyway? And I mean religiously."

Aashenpreet perks up. It's probably the first time somebody's asked her that.
"It's simple. There is no afterlife but neither is there oblivion. Human souls are doomed to reincarnate forever."

"That doesn't sound doomed to me."

"It is because human lives are suffering. Suffering is the truth underlying the human experience. The only way to escape it is to offer yourself up and hope that a serpent will lower themselves enough to eat you. Only through our gullets can you find a way to escape the wheel."

Well, you suppose that's not worse than what Hiss believes.
"So that's why you were uneasy about the Melach."

"What Hiss did to them was wrong. She gave them false promises but she cannot offer true oblivion."

"Uhuh."
A rough bark interrupts your musing. You spin to find a giant dog, one that stands well above your waist. He's gray and lean with a large chest and long legs. A hunting dog of some kind.
"Bunyip?"

Bunyip barks again and runs over to you, nearly bowling you over as you scratch him behind the ears.

Aashenpreet looks disturbed.
"I know you said you did that but...that's unsettling."

"What is?"

"Just turning him into a dog. Doesn't that come off as weird to you?"

"Why, do you want to be one?"

She goes pale.
"You can't do that."

1/2

>>43112531
>"You can't do that."

>>43112531
You chuckle at her reaction.
"Relax, it's a joke."

"It's not very funny."

You walk in silence for a few minutes more, Bunyip walking happily beside you. He's keeping his distance from Hiss up ahead, you notice. You guess she really did throw rocks at him.
In time, Aashenpreet speaks up once more.
"Cennen, I've been thinking about you said..."

'Yes?"
Is she actually coming round already?

"And aren't you trying to set up the exact same thing? Hiss is just as immortal as the people back home and she wants to rule all of this, doesn't she? So won't that turn out the same?"

> Call Hiss back to answer the question.

> "I don't think Hiss cares about trying to alter societies."

> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."

> "Uh, just between you and me but Hiss isn't actually going to rule anything beyond Snakehome."

> Don't answer.

> Other (Specify)

>>43112591
>> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."

>>43112591
>> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."
Besides one serpent ruling instead of a thousand.
> "Uh, just between you and me but Hiss isn't actually going to rule anything beyond Snakehome."
She looks down on humans, but they are not as weak as they once were when Dragons strode the land. You've seen what I can do with one potion, And while I am great at alchemy, I am not the best, by a long shot.

>>43112591
> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."

>>43112591
> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."
> "Right now I'm just helping her become the ruler of the snakes. I do hope their interaction with the human society will produce something... Different"

>>43112591
> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."
Her competitive nature might compel her to create an even better society than Quedesh. Hopefully that outweighs her misanthropy.

>>43112591
>> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."
and its not as if this society isn't without flaws

> "For better or for worse, I think it would be the exact opposite of stagnant."

You can't stop yourself from chuckling again.
"I can't imagine it being anything but the exact opposite of stagnant. Whether that's better or worse, I dunno."

"Doesn't sound very pleasant."

"That's the major problem, isn't it? I think lots of people are going to have that reaction. Dealing with them might be difficult."

"Sooo...what's that?"

With that treacherous conversation out of the way,you spend the rest of the journey answering her trivial questions about Taldenral and Teleran in general.

As you walk, the buildings and streets around you become bigger, cleaner. There are more and more people still outside even in this hour and armed guards loitering around to make sure the wrong people don't enter.
Fortunately Hiss still does an extremely convincing imitation of a noblewoman by appearance alone so none of them bother you.

And from there it's not long before you're all standing before a familiar gate. Hiss shakes the gate repeatedly but nobody answers.
"She must be asleep. Didn't she some have a servant to answer this last time?"

You cough.
"He got shredded by the Snakecatcher. Technically our fault, sort of."

Hiss shrugs.
"She should have gotten over it and bought another one by now."

You recall that despite being of impeccable noble bloodline, the Trebains aren't actually very well-off financially. Maybe she's saving money.

"Bah," Hiss says. She slams her hands on the gate, her fingers wrapping around the bar with iron strength. "Aash, come here and help me. I'm going to just pull this bloody thing out of the fence."

> Let her.

> Maybe you should wait outside instead.

> Just climb the fence and sneak in.

> Use a potion to solve this.

> Other

>>43112967
> Maybe you should wait outside instead.
Eugene should be returning soon.

>>43112967
>> Maybe you should wait outside instead.
>Drink a soulsight see if she's even home.

>>43112967
>> Maybe you should wait outside instead.

>>43112967
> Maybe you should wait outside instead.
We really should have approached Eugene earlier.

>>43112591
>> "I don't think Hiss cares about trying to alter societies."

In her own way her selfishness is a salvation. Her reasons are are her own and though they might influence the world around her, it is not this one she wishes to change; it is the world she has had created for her, a world where she is less than even a worm. Her only identity had flowed from her lineage and all that went with it. Not so different from the endless cycle of human suffering and rebirth in an odd manner.

>>43112967
>>43113036
agree

> Maybe you should wait outside instead.

"Hiss, I don't think ripping the gate off is a good idea. Can't we just wait for Eugene to get back? He shouldn't be too long."

Hiss groans.
"I don't want to stand out here though. That's boring. This is boring."

"Yeah but you know as well as I do that wrecking their gate isn't going to actually help us."

Hiss grumbles almost inaudibly and lets go of the gate.
"And just how, pray tell, is one supposed to pass the time? Can't you just sneak in?"

"I could try but I don't want to. A little waiting never hurts anybody."

"We don't even know if he's coming back he-"

"Oh my goodness!"
Hiss is interrupted by Eugene rounding the corner behind you.
"Cennen! Hiss! Others! What are you doing here?"

He's an eyesore, alright. He's still wearing those circular glass with the yellow lenses too.

"Uh, hi Eugene."

"I can't believe it! What are you doing here after so long?"

"Well, you see-"

"Yes yes, right now I have work to do. Come in, come in. But later you HAVE to tell me everything. I have so many potions to show you!"
He waltzes past you and unlocks the gate with a touch. You gingerly follow him in, up the winding path and to the front doorway. They've replaced the door since the Snakecatcher smashed it down, the new one a bright green. He opens the door and bustles inside without even checking if you're coming with or not.

"Hmph," Oster says. "Anything that makes him less talkative is fine in my book."

As the rest of you step inside, you notice Hiss hanging back. She's lingering outside the doorway.

> Go inside and catch up with Eugene. "What work?"

> Go inside but just look around. Where's everyone else?

> Hang back with Hiss.

> Go around the back.

> Other

>>43113411
> Hang back with Hiss.

>>43113411
> Hang back with Hiss.
what's wrong?

>>43113411
> Hang back with Hiss.

>>43113411
>> Hang back with Hiss.

> Hang back with Hiss.

There's a strange expression on her face as she peers up at the door-frame. She waves Oster away as everyone else enters, leaving her alone outside.

But not for long. You join her, standing across from her in front of the door.
"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing about this anyway. I was just..."
She stops, as if trying to enunciate words in a foreign language.
"I was just remembering the last time we were standing together like this. In um, this particular location."

Oh, you remember that very well.

> "This is where we kissed."

> "This is where you almost killed me."

> "This is where I became some sort of weird plant for the rest of my life."

> "I didn't take you for the sentimental type."

> Actually, you don't remember this at all. Pretend you do, though.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43113636
Give her a quick kiss
"I still think you look beautiful, you know. I don't tell you that enough"

>>43113636
>> "This is where we kissed."
also
> "This is where you almost killed me."
again
> "I didn't take you for the sentimental type."

>>43113636
>> "This is where we kissed."
>> "This is where you almost killed me."
>> "This is where I became some sort of weird plant for the rest of my life."
Lotta things happened here. It's a magical place.

>>43113636
> "This is where we kissed."
Oh, you...

>>43113636
> "This is where we kissed."
plus >>43113691

>>43113636
> "This is where we kissed."

>>43113636
>> "This is where we kissed."
>> "This is where you almost killed me."
>> "This is where I became some sort of weird plant for the rest of my life."

> "This is where we kissed."

In truth, a lot of things happened here. You can only think of one option that would be polite though.
"This is where we kissed."

"Yeah," Hiss beams. "It's so strange to back here. For such a weird life-changing moment."

"Life changing? It wasn't our FIRST kiss, you know."

Hiss sniffs dismissively.
"I was heatstruck that time. This was the real first one. That's what it means to me, anyway."

"I don't remember you making a fuss about our...other milestone back at the Tooth."

"That was less important."

She leans in close, her lips parted.

> Kiss her.

> Drink your antivenom first, have you learned literally nothing?

> "Hold on, I want to go check up on Eugene first."

>Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43113988
> Kiss her.

>Use Potion (antivenom)

>>43113988
>> Drink your antivenom first, have you learned literally nothing?

>>43113988
> Kiss her.
No antivenom

>>43113988
> Kiss her.
Drink the antivenom immediately after, don't ruin the moment

>>43113988
>> Kiss her.
The crab has spoken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXmLRHnoSAs

>>43113988
> Kiss her.

>>43113988
> Kiss her.

"Fuck it."

>>43113988
> "Hold on, I want to go check up on Eugene first."

File: 1403064337178.gif (361 KB, 480x270)

361 KB GIF

>>43114172

>Kiss her.

You have half a mind to reach for an antivenom first but you know what? You can do that after. There's no need to ruin the moment. The fact that you used this exact same excuse last time you were here and nearly died because of it is entirely lost on you.

Fortunately she's learned a lot more control since last time. She doesn't latch onto you and she doesn't extend her fangs for what would be a lethal dose even for you.
She pushes you back a few seconds later, her tongue thin and forked.
"That's enough for now, I'd say. But still, isn't it nice to be back here?"

You nod and then kneel over. You proceed to vomit all over her boots while she looks down at you with disgust.
"What the fuck?"

"Ugh, I'm sorry."
You drink the antivenom but it doesn't seem to help very much.

Hiss shakes off her disgust and laughs.
"That's a new reaction."

You gut seizes up again and you dry heave, your body apparently attempting to expel every last trace of her saliva.

"Well, you don't look like you're dying. And at least you didn't start that while I was still kissing you."

No, this isn't just the reaction to her venom. Something else is wrong.
"H-help," you croak.

> Use a potion! (Specify)

> Stumble inside.

> Ask Hiss to take you to an alchemist or a hospital.

> Just take a moment to collect yourself, it probably isn't that bad. Just a stomach bug, perhaps.

> Other

>>43114295
No regrets
> Pray to Rock, ask her if this is her doing

>>43114295
>Heal All

>>43114295
>> Stumble inside.
Ah shit.

>>43114295
> Other
"Heal-All"

"This shits isn't right. Some one or something is fucking with me... *puking sounds*

Its Rocks "solution" isn't it? We reject every bit of Hiss physically to teach us she is not a good thing.

>>43114295
try a heal-all? I have no idea whats going on here.

>>43114295
> Just take a moment to collect yourself, it probably isn't that bad. Just a stomach bug, perhaps.
meta

>>43114295
Maybe we should unseal Rock? I'm pretty sure that's the only thing that's changed since our last kiss.

Our Art isn't linked to Hiss at all anymore, it's linked to spirit Hiss. Maybe our venom changed and we lost our resistance to Hiss' venom?

>Heal-All

You reach into your pack with shaking hands and paw through your potions until your find your last Heal-All. As long as it's not an outright disease, this should make you feel better.
You down it one go, accidentally getting it backed up into your nostrils as well.

And slowly, over the course of a minute or so, your stomach calms. You still have the taste of bile in your mouth and nose though,
Hiss kneels down and takes your hand, helping you stand up.
"What's wrong? Did I do that?"

> "I must have caught something."

> "I'll be fine. Just an upset stomach."

> "I better go see somebody about this."

> "I think I should go lie down."

> Pray.

> Use Potion

> Other

>>43114509
Hah.
Everything but our venom got sealed. Including our venom resistance.

>>43114552
>> "I think I should go lie down."

>>43114552
> "I think I should go lie down."
Once there
> Pray
To rock, ask her if she has anything to do with this

>>43114552
> "I think I should go lie down."
Test out our own venom to see if that has anything to do with it.

>>43114552
> "I think I should go lie down."
Bring bunyip too
Test our Art and then unseal Rock to see if she has any input

>>43114552
> "I better go see somebody about this."

>>43114552
> "I think I should go lie down."

>>43114552
>> "I better go see somebody about this."

> "I think I should go lie down."

"I, uh, I think I need to go lie down for a little bit. Get my gut in order."

"Good idea. Hold on."
Hiss grabs you around the waist and lifts you into the air.

"Oi, what are you doing?"

"Escorting you to safety, of course. You are, after all, rather fragile."
She lifts you up until your feet are dangling helplessly before carrying you forward in a princess-carry, hugging you to her chest.
You can't say you're totally against this.

She takes you across the threshold and then up the stairs and into the same bedroom that you had once spent a day recuperating in after she'd almost kissed you to death.
"Funny how history repeats itself, huh?"

She tries to set you down gently on the bed but messes it up at the last moment, dropping you onto the mattress unceremoniously.
"Good enough. Will you be fine here?"

Bunyip pads into the room, whining until you weakly reach out and scratch his head.
"With him? I think I'll manage."

Hiss wrinkles her nose.
"Ugh, he's probably what gave you that disease in the first place."

> Pray to Rock.

> Do your best to start brewing up something.

> Inspect your brand and venom.

> Pat the dog.

> Ask Hiss to stay here with you.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43114925
> Inspect your brand and venom.
> Ask Hiss to stay here with you.

>>43114925
> Inspect your brand and venom.
> Pat the dog.

>>43114925
> Inspect your brand and venom.
> Ask Hiss to stay here with you.
"I'm sick tell me a story"
> Pray to Rock.

>>43114925
> Ask Hiss to stay here with you.
> Inspect your brand and venom.
then
> Pray to Rock.

>puking
Cennen confirmed as Ouro's self insert

>>43115025
haha. you write what you know i suppose.

>>43114925
> Inspect your brand and venom.
> Ask Hiss to stay here with you.
I wonder how she feels about our brand being linked to her other self instead of her.

>>43114925
>> Inspect your brand and venom.
>> Pat the dog.

>>43115080
Are we sure she's a different entity? I get the feeling she's part of Hiss' mind

>>43115222
Yeah a completely new entity was created instead of actually turning Hiss into a spirit. It's a bit confusing to be honest.

> Inspect your brand and venom.
> Ask Hiss to stay here with you.

"Hiss?"

Hiss pauses, turning back to you from where she'd been poised to leave.
"Hm?"

"Do you mind just staying here a little while longer? With me?"

"Of course I don't."
She sits back down on the bed beside you, holding your hand in hers. She is very cold.
"As long as you don't get me sick, that is. If you do that I'm gonna throw you out the window."

You laugh. Hiss does not.
"That wasn't a joke."

You hold out your other hand, the one scarified by the extended brand. It feels good to take the glove off.
"I think this all has something to do with the brand. Or at least, the way it's sealed now."

"Oh? What do you mean?"


> I think Rock sealed away my venom resistance.

> I think Rock is trying to push you away.

> I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours.

> I think she's trying to hurt me through the link.

> Maybe I'm just sick.

> Other

>>43115251
> I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours
Or
> I think Rock sealed away my venom resistance.

>>43115251
> I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours.
If we inspect our own venom and compare it to Hiss' we could find out for sure

>>43115222
>>43115238
Both of these options are sort of correct. She's the Hiss with the power, partitioned underneath the Hiss without the power.
Technically the inner Hiss is actually the ORIGINAL Hiss, the Hiss you've been interacting with during your adventures pre-Compact, just after being changed and losing her self. The 'real' Hiss is sort of a fragment of that.

>>43115251
> I think Rock is trying to push you away.
Hiss' venom doesn't cause vomit, it must be Rock pushing everything Hiss away from our body.

>>43115305
that really makes no sense anon. and rock wouldn't do that.

>>43115251
> I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours.
> Maybe I'm just sick.

>>43115251
>> I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours.

>>43115251
> I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours.
Our resistance is inherently linked to our venom art, it wouldn't be blocked. And rock is unlikely to meddle in our relationship.

>>43115251
> I think she's trying to hurt me through the link.

"Divine punishment. Hahaha. But yeah, fuck this. And fuck anyone who wants me to not be me. And being me means being with you, Hiss. So tomorrow, I brew. And hate and rage claw out. And if spite is a reagent then by all that is, was, and will ever be this will not be pleasant. For them. Or for me. But thats enought. " Pass out.

> I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours.

"I don't know what Rock did or if what she did changed the nature of it somehow. M-Maybe it's just the nature of the link growing stronger, I don't know."

"Cennen, what are you talking about?"

"I think I might be immune to HER venom now, not yours."
Hiss falls silent, leaving a pause in the conversation that you have to fill.
"Maybe? I don't think it's a binary thing. But I'm not sure if I use your venom anymore. And something is definitely changing about my resistance to you."

Hiss remains silent.

"Hiss?"

When Hiss looks up again, her eyes are flat slits and her fangs are long. Her voice is low.
"How dare she."

"Pardon?"

"What the fuck does she think she's doing? Aren't my dreams enough?"

"Well, like I said, I'm still not sur-"

"Give me that damn soul potion Cennen! I've had it! I'm going to go give her a piece of my mind."

> "I don't think that's a good idea."

> Give her the potion.

> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.

> It might be best to wait until Hiss calms down.

> Use Potion (specify)

> Other

>>43115656
> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.
We could definitely be wrong.

>>43115656
>> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.
>> It might be best to wait until Hiss calms down.
We should verify before we commit.

>>43115656
> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.

>>43115656
>> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.
> It might be best to wait until Hiss calms down.

>>43115656
> "I don't think that's a good idea."

> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.

>>43115656
> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.
Let's not be too hasty here. It could be caused by Rock sealing it. Or we might just be sick. Who knows?

>>43115656
> "Aren't my dreams enough?"
> "What does she do?"

>>43115875
She sees her every time she dreams and is turned into a tiny weak worm.

>>43115898
I meant besides that, I want to know if she says anything to her or something.

> You should study your venom first. If Hiss permits you, that is.

"Hold on Hiss, please calm down. We need to verify this first."

"Nonsense! I've had enough of her! Which one of these is the potion!"
She ransacks your pack, tossing random bottles around in what is frankly an INCREDIBLY unsafe manner.

"Oh no, no no no! Please stop that!"
You catch the Identification Potion out of her hands and start secreting venom from your palm as you drink the potion.
The venom looks identical but according to your potion-granted sense, it's now completely harmless! To you, that is. And most of everyone else.
It looks like the venom now only affects Hiss. Like, not just snakes or whatever. Her specifically. Tailor made so that it only works on her.
You can't tell what it actually does though.

> Tell Hiss about this.

> Test the venom out on her.

> Try to brew with the new venom.

> Lie to Hiss and say that your venom is fine, you're still linked. Whatever gives her peace of mind.

> Other

>>43116023
> Tell Hiss about this.
Pray to Rock.

>>43116023
>>43116059
This, maybe she knows what's going on, and we should also look for ways to comunicate with godhiss from outside her dreaming.

>>43116023
>> Tell Hiss about this.
...the hell?
Rock, whatchu doin?
Rock, stahp.

>>43116023
> Tell Hiss about this.
Damn, that's bullshit. RIP knockout brews that don't effect us.

>>43116023
>> Tell Hiss about this.

>>43116023
> Tell Hiss about this.
Pray to Rock to unseal the brand

>>43116105
It might be Rock, who knows? If our Arts come from spirit hiss they should all be blocked, the fact that our venom isn't is suspicious.

>>43116023
> Tell Hiss about this.

From the pastebin
>-Venom: Cennen can produce a venom from his arm in both lethal and non-lethal varieties. Both variants are a lesser form of Hiss' own venom, rendering her immune to Cennen's venom and giving Cennen a resistance to hers. Currently more than a little screwy thanks to what may be a deliberate sabotage.

>>43116201
So it might have been done by spirit hiss in retaliation for the sealing of the rest of the brand. Or Rock is doing it because she doesn't like us killing people. I'm thinking the former is more likely.

> Tell Hiss about this.

You give Hiss a brief rundown about your altered venom. Hiss' eyes just grow wider and wider.
"But Cennen...that's supposed to my venom! It was the symbol of your servitude to me! Of your devotion! And she just fucking takes it away? She can't do that!"

She's still holding onto your pack and your potions, an idea that might have been a mistake. Lacking any outlet for her temper, she throws your pack against the wall.

Something crunches.

>Roll 1d100. Using an average of all rolls on a random table.

So I think my post might just have been eaten or something? I posted it and I saw it up but now it's not there.

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>43116285

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>43116285
hiss, you're a dumbass

>>43116330
this was a weird bug while it lasted.

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>43116285

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>43116285
inb4 it was snakebreaker and quest ends

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>43116285
Pls no snakebreaker

Alright, rolls end here. Writan now

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30 KB GIF

>>43116406

54.2 is the average. If Ouro made an explosive or snakebreaker so close to the normal average of 1d100 he's a maniac.

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141 KB JPG

>>43116454
Absolute mad man.

>*Crunch!*

You leap off the bed with a start, throwing yourself at the pack when it becomes immediately obvious that it isn't exploding. You pull your books out of the way before identifying the broken potion at the bottom.
It's your Farsight, now leaking onto the floor. At least it wasn't explosive.

Hiss is pale, the enormity of what she could have caused apparently dawning on her.
"Whoops, haheh."
She sits back down.

"Please don't throw my pack around."

"...Yeah."

You sit on the bed next to her and for a while both of you just look at the pack and contemplate disaster.
"So," you say. "What do you think we should do about this? Still want to give her a piece of your mind?"

"I don't know. This all feels so unfair."

Hiss' anger looks like it's been sapped for now, banished by the idea that she could have just killed you, herself or everyone in this entire building.

> Pray to Rock.

> Pet snake.

> Prepare some Dream Oil.

> Brew

> Seek out Eugene.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43116559
> Pray to Rock.
There's a small chance that this is her doing

>>43116559

> Pray to Rock.
> Pet snake.

>>43116559
> Pray to Rock.
> Pet snake.

>>43116559
> Pet snake.

> Pray to Rock.

>>43116559
> Pet snake.

"I want to figure this out. Together. This isn't something that's going to just effect one if us or the other. We need to sink our teeth into it together."

>>43116559
> Seek out Eugene.
but guys what about eugene?

>>43116559
>> Pet snake.
"It is unfair. But we'll get through it."
>> Pray to Rock.

>>43116663
He can play with Grumpy and Yellow, we'll get to him later

>>43116559
> Pray to Rock.

> Pet snake.
Maybe Rock could identify it?

>>43116806
She was in a pretty good spot to identify it, she was living in the area the magic passes through.

>Pray to Rock
>Pet snake

"You feeling alright?"

Hiss sighs.
"I'm not angry. Just...I don't know how to describe it. I feel crappy."
Looks like she's burned out. A rare spectacle indeed.

"Here, let me help you with that."

"And just how do you plan to do th-oooooooh."

It's been a while since you last gave her a backrub. She squirms in delight as you get to work
Her shirt's in the way. You take it off and let thing progress from there. Hiss only gets louder, she's always been sensitive.

But while she seems to be having the time of her life, you can't help but grow distracted. What's happened to your venom is very worrying. What if it goes any further?
You decide to pray to Rock, despite your current situation.

...You don't get any answer. Your brand remains inert. You pray harder and if Hiss notices it she's too busy moaning to say anything about it.
Still no response.

> Leave Hiss alone and focus on prayer entirely.

> Tell Hiss.

> Keep petting.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43117132
> Tell Hiss.
Welp, Rock got fucked up by spirit Hiss. Time to go visit spirit hiss

>>43117132
> Keep petting.

This all I can give you for now. Please forgive your servant, your friend, and your lover.

>>43117132
>> Tell Hiss.

>>43117132
> Keep petting.
lets get Eugene in on this
the brand/rock problem i mean, not the other thing..

>>43117132
> Leave Hiss alone and focus on prayer entirely.
> Tell Hiss.

>>43117201
Eugene can only do plant-related shit though.

>>43117201
>letting a wizard know about ANYTHING snake related
remember last time anon?

>>43117132
It could be that the other hiss is trying to push trough our brand, keeping Rock busy blocking her and unable to respond
> Use Potion (Specify)
Defang
> Pray again
Defang

>>43117132
> Tell Hiss.

>>43117132
>> Keep petting.
Never stop a petting halfway through unless there's something urgent. Like a fire. Or a psychopath. Or a screaming baby.
Pray later.

>>43117296
this is clearly urgent. rock should always be able to hear our prayers.

>>43117313
Will we be able to do more now than we will later?

>>43117346
maybe. spirit hiss has the ability to alter spirits.

>>43117296
Rock is likely burning herself apart dealing with super-spirit/ nacient god Hiss right now. I have no clue what we might be able to do, but to help but we need to go in. With Hiss or with out, I'm not certain.

>>43117132
> Tell Hiss.

>>43117365
But her powers are limited to her bubble

>>43117394
Rock is literally using herself as a shield to block the flow of spirit hiss' powers to us.

>>43117394
Rock is in her bubble.

>>43117365
We really need to figure out how to kill her sooner or later.

>>43117410
>Killing a Creator level Entity
>Killing something that could roflstomp everything in existence all at once and be bored doing so
Really?

>>43117410
The problem is that we might need her power to take out the snake king. Also she's basically a creator, there's no way we could kill her.

>>43117394
And Rock j-jammed it in so she could try and keep us from turning into a monster like the Snake Catcher. Trying to be a gate keeper. Which doesn't seem to be working out very well if we look at it.

>>43117457
We're not gonna be anything like the snakecatcher. This is a completely different situation.

>>43117410
She's still connected to Hiss, I think we should try to reconcile the two of them

>>43117421
I like to be ambitious from time to time.

>>43117429
...but not enough to be convinced that's a good idea. The snake king, while incredibly dangerous, is a significantly lesser threat.

>>43117477
To much power flowing into too small a container? Yah that shit would never happen. Yep not at all likely.

Our new juju was literally Ur-Hiss manifesting herself outside her own Dreaming. That kinda shit dose not end up going well.

>>43117550
The snakecatcher descended from a snake and a human and got branded multiple times, making several connections to a snake. We're a normal human with one brand that is connected to a pseudo-creator.

Sorry about this delay, I was eating.

> Tell Hiss.

"Hey Hiss, I think something's wrong. Even more wrong than usual, I mean."
Hiss isn't exactly being conducive to listening so you wait until she calms down and repeat what you said in a louder voice.

"I'm not sure how Rock's seal works but that sounds bad. You're supposed to be able to pray to her anytime, right?"

You nod as she puts her shirt back on.
"Maybe she's just preoccupied trying to stop whatever's going on with my venom?"

'That's hardly a reassuring alternative," Hiss says. "But what can we do about it?"
She snaps her fingers.
"Oh! What if I brand you again?"

"What would that do?"

"Right now you're her conduit and nothing else. But Art must be fought with Art! It might dilute her and return your allegiance to me."

"Hiss, I can't begin to explain how uncomfortable I am with the idea of having multiple brands."

"Oh, hurry up and kneel already. It can't possibly make this worse."

> Kneel.

> No. Cook up some Dream Oil instead.

> No. Go get somebody else's help (Specify)

> No. Don't poke the god-thing. Just leave well enough alone for now.

> Use Potion (specify)

> Other

>>43117616
> No. Cook up some Dream Oil instead.
>Hiss one word, Snakecatcher.

>>43117616
> No. Cook up some Dream Oil instead.
You'll always have my allegiance.

>>43117616
>>43117633
Eyup.

>>43117616
> "Yes it can"
> No. Cook up some Dream Oil instead.

>>43117616
> Kneel.
eh, fuck it

>>43117575
>We're a normal human with one brand that is connected to a pseudo-creator.

And... you think that is some how better than being pumped full of semi-divine energy via multiple brands/connections? Being hooked up to any of these divine or fallen fucks is not a good thing when they can just pump US UP. Think back to lightning bro who got the full on spirit to human connect. Now think about how we would fair if S-Hiss could pump more and more of her dreaming through us. It ain't pretty.

>>43117616
> No. Cook up some Dream Oil instead
> No. Go get somebody else's help.

Maybe Aashenpreet could help with this?

>>43117788
Aash doesn't know shit about this. How could she possibly help?

>>43117805
She might be helpful, or at least flattering enough, when speaking to the Hiss-Spirit.

>>43117828
You realize the spirit hiss is literally the anti-creator right? Aash would absolutely hate everything about her.

> No. Cook up some Dream Oil instead

"Yes it can. Doesn't having extra brands mess you up?"

"Oh come on Cennen, it's not like that thing you have is even a brand anymore. It's more like a tumor."

"Still, I think I've come round to your original idea. I'll need some of your blood to mix this Dream Oil up and then we can go down and give her a piece of our mind."

"Oh. Oh! Okay."
She doesn't sound particularly enthused anymore.

She still gives her blood freely however, allowing you to cook up a quick batch of the oil. As is required, Hiss drinks first.

"Haha," she laughs dozily. "This part always feels so good...even if the next part always feels really bad."
She falls asleep just a moment later.

You look down at the Oil in your hands. Is this what you want?

> Drink it and follow Hiss.

> Let Hiss fight this one. It's what she wanted.

> Give it someone else.

>>43117828
Hiss spirit is still Hiss, so in any case Aash would help by being a more atractive target for her to bully

>>43117860
>> Drink it and follow Hiss.

>>43117860
> Drink it and follow Hiss.
This could go badly considering Rock will be forced to tag along but the shit going on with our brand is so convoluted I just don't know anymore.

>>43117860
>> Drink it and follow Hiss.
ugh well, it would be nasty not to follow at this point

>>43117860
This is a bad idea. Bottoms up.
>> Drink it and follow Hiss.

>>43117860
> Drink it and follow Hiss.

>>43117860
> Drink it and follow Hiss.
However, we should have Aash or Oster ready to wake us up if we take too long.

>>43117934
I don't think we can be brought back so easily

>>43117967
Aye. This isn't a slumber they could really interrupt unless Oster happened to pick up a bit of magic from getting some new soul stuff to work with. Or if Aash got a nifty new Art recently I suppose.

> Drink it and follow Hiss.

"Well, here goes...I guess."
You have to admit, you're not feeling great about this either. You drink it down, feeling it stain your teeth on the way past.
The world around you shimmers and fades, giving way to the void.

...which itself gives way to the forest clearing. You're sitting down. Sitting across from you is the pseudo-Hiss, still completely covered in her robes and mask. Still twice your size.
There's a thread tied to her index finger. It crosses the distance between you and her and is currently plunged through the skin of your chest into your heart.
"It's so nice to have you come back once in a while."

"Is it?"
You look around but you can't see Hiss or Rock anywhere.

"Of course. You're my consort after all. And yet you always spend your time elsewhere."

> "Where's Rock and Hiss?"

> "What have done to my venom?"

> Make small talk, continue surveying area.

> Try to butter her up.

> Nobble.

> Other

>>43118084
> Make small talk, continue surveying area.
then

And yet, for you claiming to enjoy spending time with me you want to erase me and destroy me.

>>43118084
>> "Where's Rock and Hiss?"

>>43118084
>You're my consort after all.

"I see. And that would explain why my lover and my friend are not apart of our discussion. Excluded from this Dream."

>>43118084
> Make small talk, continue surveying area.
> Try to butter her up.
> "What have done to my venom?"

>>43118084
> "How are you?"
> Check the thread "What's up with this?"
> "What have done to my venom?"
> "How and why?"

>>43118084
> Try to butter her up.
> Make small talk, continue surveying area.
> "What have done to my venom?"

Sorry guys, I've got to go to work soon so I've archived. This isn't a great spot to end it but I didn't update as fast as I wanted so we didn't get to a good ending point before I had to go.

Anyway, I hope guys had fun and I'll see about showing up the same time tomorrow. Check the twitter etc.

>>43118414
thanks for running

>>43118414
Thanks for running, Ouro. If you're here, I'll probably show up at some point.

>>43118414
Thanks for running, Ouro, looking forward to see how this goes
Godhiss a best

>>43118414
Thanks for running Ouro.