>>43378267
> "I only used my wishes responsibly and for what she wanted."
> She isn't telling you something. Probe for that.

She’s acting guilty about something, uncharacteristically so. What did she do? Or try to do? You have to admit, this entire situation makes you feel uneasy. She shouldn’t be a part of this.
“I did my best to only use my wishes responsibly. For things she would have wanted.”
Most of the time.
“Mostly during dangerous situations,” you explain. “When our lives were threatened or when it would help her out in the end. I guess, uh, it sounds a little timid but it feels kinda wrong to take their free will away and use a wish for selfish reasons. I don’t want to tread on that.”

As you speak you’re watching Liss’ face and the brief parade of expressions that pass over it. Yes, there’s something wrong here and you think you know why.
“What did you wish for, Liss?”

Liss looks away, stepping further up the stairway. She’s almost eye-level with you now. She then dodges the question.
“She’s not a nice person, is she?”

You do your best to stop yourself from chuckling.
“No. No she’s not. But that doesn’t mean she’s any less of a person or that it makes it right.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that when we were back in that house, she was different. It made me realize that maybe I didn’t know what was going on there, that I couldn’t judge. And she saved my life. Was that all because of what I had over her, the wishes?”

“Could have been,” you nod. “I wasn’t there myself so I can’t really say for sure. But she does have a soft side. She’s not all fangs and venom.”
You’ve made this argument before and nobody’s believed you. At least Liss seems to take you on good faith.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
You’re really not sure what’s going on with this girl. She used to be the stubborn one!
1/2

>>43378292
Liss mumbles something underneath her breath and you lean in, making her shy away.
“...I think I swore to serve her.”

You nearly drop your pack.
“What?”

Liss goes red.
“I think we’re her servants now or something, right? Since she’s a princess and all? And she saved my life and I think I betrayed her with my wish.”
She looks thoroughly miserable, unaccustomed to having to talk anything like this out with anyone before.

“What did you wish for?”

She doesn’t answer.

“Liss, what did you wish for?”

“I’m sorry,” she says, turning away and starting to climb back up the stairs. “This was a bad idea. Thanks for the advice, Cennen.”

You’re left standing on the stairs in the dark, pack held between your hands while she limps away. You’re not sure you ‘get’ everything that’s going on here. You’re not sure if you need to.


>Pursue her and corner her about what’s going on.

>Forget it, you’ll ask Hiss about it later.

>Maybe you should wake Hiss up and ask her about it now.

>Help her up the stairs.

>Preparing for the wizard is much more important right now.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>43378320
>>Pursue her and corner her about what’s going on.

>>43378320
>Preparing for the wizard is much more important right now.

>>43378320
>Help her up the stairs.
Also trust me if you swore to serve her, you would know. There would be no question about it.

>>43378320
>Preparing for the wizard is much more important right now.

>>43378320
>Help her up the stairs.
then go back to eugene
>Preparing for the wizard is much more important right now.

>>43378320
>>Help her up the stairs.
live and learn, hopefully
then back to eugene

>Preparing for the wizard is much more important right now.
>Help her up the stairs.

After considering the matter, you let her leave. It's not important right now. So you turn your back and pretend not to hear her struggling to get back up the stairs. You'd help her but you don't know if she wants your help. But then she groans and in her haste to get away from you, she drops her stick and it clatters down the stairs. You catch it without thinking and stride back up towards her.

"I'm fine," she mutters, clutching the banister tight enough to whiten her knuckles. "I don't need help."

"Maybe so. But I think you need this."
You hand her the stick back and her face burns with humiliation. She staggers up the rest of the stairs with uncommon speed, only turning back once to choke out a 'Thanks'.

You nod and then head back down, nearly slipping down the stairs yourself. You catch the railing and breathe a sigh of relief before making your way back down to the basement.

Eugene is still down there and has stopped brewing and is weaving more dandelions together instead.


> Ask him what he's doing now.

> Ask him about what to expect when fighting a wizard.

> Start brewing more.

> Inspect his rejects.

> Use Potion (specify)

> Other

>>43378671
> Ask him what he's doing now.
> Inspect his rejects.

>>43378671
> Ask him what he's doing now.
> Inspect his rejects.
Here's a plan to counter Bart: Eugene puts his dandelions into any water Bart uses against us and then either one of us could activate it as a brew and Bart won't be able to manipulate it anymore since it isn't water.

>>43378731
This. Good thinking anon. Let's see what Eugene thinks and maybe practice it a bit somehow.

>>43378671
> Ask him what he's doing now.
> Ask him about what to expect when fighting a wizard.

We shouldn't discard mundane methods for dealing with him, that's basically how we got him last time.

>>43378671
>> Start brewing more.

> Ask him what he's doing now.
> Inspect his rejects.

You watch him bustle from one side of the room to another, stringing up yellow flowers wherever he goes.
"Hey man, wha-"

He yelps at the sound of your voice, dropping a small pile of dandelions.
"Oh Cennen, it's just you. Sorry."

"Were you expecting somebody else?"

"Mrm."
He waves the flowers back into his hands.

"So what are you doing? I thought we were going to brew?"

Eugene laughs nervously.
"Yes yes, that could be helpful. But I was thinking Cennen and I really mean no offense. But alchemy has no place in what might be coming. This is a match between wizards and I-I really need to be focused on that, not on lesser magic."

"Uhuh. So what are you doing?"

"Wards! What does it look like?"

"It looks like flowers mate. Everything you do looks like flowers."

Eugene doesn't reply, sweat running down his brow. You sidle past him, ending up next to his shelf full of yellow fizzing potions. These are his rejects, the brews tainted too much by his own accidental power.
"Do you know what these do?"

"No! Make things more like dandelions, I suppose? You can have 'em if you want them."
They look very much like the reject you still have in your bag.

> Take some of them.

> Drink one of them.

> Ask Eugene about using plant magic on you.

> "Do you think he'd be able to control the water in a potion?"

> "Eugene, he isn't coming here for you."

> Ask him what a wizard battle entails.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43379023

> "Do you think he'd be able to control the water in a potion?"
> Ask him what a wizard battle entails.

> Use Potion (Specify)
Id on his rejects

>>43379023
>Use an identification brew on the rejects
> Ask Eugene about using plant magic on you.
> "Do you think he'd be able to control the water in a potion?"

>>43379023
> Take some of them.
> "Eugene, he isn't coming here for you."

>>43379023
> Take some of them.
> Ask Eugene about using plant magic on you.
> "Do you think he'd be able to control the water in a potion?"

>>43379051
> Take some of them.
> Ask Eugene about using plant magic on you.
> "Do you think he'd be able to control the water in a potion?"
I wonder what a dandelion brew would make?

>>43379023
>"Eugene, he isn't coming here for you."

I don't want any more of his trash

>>43379199
I think it was mentioned that they have some weak healing qualities

> Take some of them.
> Ask Eugene about using plant magic on you.
> "Do you think he'd be able to control the water in a potion?"

You take three of the flasks and push them into your pack, trying to find a spot where they can fit nicely. These should be...useful? You have no idea. You think you have a pretty good idea about what they do though.
You see a half-dissolved petal floating in his newest one and that makes you pause, wheels in your head slowly turning.
"Hey man, can you control potions that have dandelions as an ingredient?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because they're not dandelions anymore," Eugene says, as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "They're a potion. Alchemy's all about transmutation, right?"

Right. That gives you an idea. There are two essential elemental forces behind brewing, fire and water. You can substitute for either but not for both. And if you can mix something with water...
You've done that before, you used it to trap Tanni. If Bart's water is turned into a brew, he shouldn't be able to control it!
It's strange though, that these potions should be less flower than you. And that itself reminds you of something.
"Alright Eugene, I made up my mind. I'm ready for you to magic me up."

"Pardon?"

"Use a spell on me. Since I'm already a plant and all."

"Oh, uh, right. Hold on."
He wipes his brow, nearly knocking off his yellow-tinted glasses.
"This feels weird, casting magic on people."

"Come on, I give you permission."

"Right. Right. So what do you want?"

"What can you do?"

"I don't know! This is new."

> Ask to be taller.

> Ask to be stronger.

> Ask for an alteration in appearance.

> Ask for magic.

> Ask (Specify)

> Back down.

>>43379396
> Ask to be stronger.

>>43379396
> Ask to be stronger.
Maybe he could make us more durable as well?

>>43379199
Healing properties and it's part of a levitation brew that Cennen heard of once.
Sorry about the slowness of all these updates btw, I'm feeling very relaxed and watching the Bob Ross marathon.

>>43379396
> Ask to be stronger.
> Ask for magic.
We can always undo it anyway, let's give both a shot

>>43379396
> Back down
I'll play the voice of regret in this piece

>>43379396
> Ask for magic.
Haha time for dandelionmancy

>>43379396
> Ask to be stronger.
Let's get something basic

>>43379560
Yep,
> "This feels weird, casting magic on people."
He's gonna take a liking to it

> Ask to be stronger.

What DO you want? You're not actually sure, you've never really thought about this before. You don't think Hiss would like it if you were any taller.
"Stronger. Make me stronger."

Eugene strokes his chin, peering up at you with a look of mild confusion.
"Strong in what way?"

"In the real way. What other way is there?"

"No, I mean that...hm. Dandelions aren't STRONG. They don't have muscles. So I'm not sure how to give a flower strength."

"But I am a flower and I do have muscles. I have a whole body structure for them."

"I'll give it a try."
Eugene picks his cane up from the ground and twirls it around, resting one end on your left shoulder before moving it to sit on your right shoulder.
"Alright. Let's give this a try."
He passes the cane over you again before reversing it and striking the floor.

You fall to the ground with it, groaning in pain as you start to twitch. You can't control yourself, you can feel your body begin to move and change on its own. It's moving beneath your skin, twisting and turning.
And it hurts. It hurts a lot.

Eugene says something but his words are drowned out by a sudden roaring in your ears. The room swims around you.
The wizard kneels beside you, his cane still torturing your insides. He speaks again and this time you can barely make him out.
"How long do you want me to do this? How far?"

You're not sure if you can keep yourself conscious for much longer.

Select your desired Physique value:

> Above-Average (Hiss before her strength-Art)

> Strong (Oster)

> Impressive (Stronger than nearly any human)

> Potent (Hiss now)

> Extreme (Aashenpreet, Snakecatcher)

> Ungodly (Anacondas, Tanni)

>>43379815
>> Extreme (Aashenpreet, Snakecatcher)

>>43379815
>> Strong (Oster)

>>43379870
Well that's why I gave the choice of how far you wanted to take it.

>>43379870
>Still picks extreme
I like the way you think anon

>>43379815
> Impressive (Stronger than nearly any human)
moderation is key

>>43379815

> Strong (Oster)

>>43379815
> Extreme (Aashenpreet, Snakecatcher)
Just to encourage Hiss to get stronger as well.

>>43379815
>Impressive (Stronger than nearly any human)

>>43379815
> Impressive (Stronger than nearly any human)
Yeah definitely changing my vote. Being too strong would take a while to get used to. And probably has awful side effects.
>>43379902
Sorry to disappoint you but I can't go through with it.

>>43379815
> Impressive (Stronger than nearly any human)

File: 1446147152978.jpg (122 KB, 807x813)

122 KB JPG

>>43379952

Too late to vote but this is good. I've wanted permanent strength for a while. We should also chug a regen and permanency brew if we are gearing up for wizard fights.

>>43379815
> Potent (Hiss now)

> Impressive (Stronger than nearly any human)

You stutter out your answer as best you can, trying not to let your jaw lock up. This hurts. This hurts too much. And in the end you can't bear it for long. You can't imagine how much you'd have to endure to become like Hiss or further.

After what feels like an eternity, you feel Eugene's stick withdraw. You spasm on the ground, flopping like a fish taken from the water and drowning in the air. A slow heat crawls up inside of you, molten lead flowing through your veins and through the dark absences within your body.

When you next move, it feels like some parts of you move before the rest of you does. Things inside of you squirm with not entirely natural movement. You flop over onto your back and hold your arm up for inspection. The veins are bulging and standing out but as the minutes pass, they recede back to normal.

You climb to your feet, Eugene's cane twirling about you. You feel tired, having been awoken in the middle of the night. But even with all that, it feels easy. Your pack weighs so much less now! You can barely feel it.

"It worked!"
Eugene seems beside himself, gazing up at you. Where once he was reluctant, his voice is now tinged with a manic enthusiasm.
"That's amazing. Let's do something else! Stay still."

> Yes, you want something more.

> Wave him off. No thanks.

> You have a special request (Specify)

> You need to test yourself.

> Start brewing.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43380254
> You need to test yourself.
Eugene you want to make sure it worked right don't you? Also that hurt like a bitch.

>>43380254
> You need to test yourself.
>> You have a special request (Specify)
Regeneration

>>43380254
> Wave him off. No thanks.
> You need to test yourself.

>>43380254
> You need to test yourself.

>>43380254
> Start brewing.
If we could make a brew that dispels a wizard's reservoir we would be better off

>>43380254
>> Wave him off. No thanks.
pretty sure that took a lot out of us

>>43380254
> You need to test yourself.
Don't forget that you can do something similar to yourself. I wouldn't recommend strength though. It hurt like a bitch.

>>43380367
My plan is to hit Bart with a dandelion brew so Eugene can do whatever he likes to him.

> You need to test yourself.

"Hold on, nothing more just yet."

Eugene lowers his stick, disappointed.
"Come on! Where's your sense of adventure? We're learning new things here!"

"Later."
You walk out of the basement, still marveling at how light and easy it is to walk now. It's so much easier to move now! If it wasn't for the lingering pain and exhaustion, you'd say that you felt fantastic.
Just how strong are you? Stronger than Oster? Hiss? You need to test this out.

> Go to the backyard.

> Go out into the street.

> Find Oster.

> Find Aashenpreet.

> Find Hiss.

> Find Aina.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other (Specify)

>>43380578
> Find Oster.

>>43380578
> Find Oster.
Maybe we could give him another dose of mindbalm and ask if he feels any different from the first one

>>43380578
> Find Oster.

Time for some arm wrestling.

>>43380578
>> Find Oster.

>>43380578
> Find Oster.
Let's hand out our dispel and antimagic brews while we're at it

> Find Oster.

You find Oster in his room, lying underneath his bed. Despite that he isn't actually sleeping nor does he appear to be trying to sleep. He slides out immediately when you show up.
"Hey Cennen."

"Hi Oster. What's up?"

"Not much. Just trying to avoid the twins and..."
He sighs.
"I should have been there to stop her from being kidnapped. I let the princess down."

> Tell him that there's nothing he could have done against that thing.

> "Try harder next time."

> "Don't worry, Hiss doesn't expect much from you."

> Ask him about the mindbalm.

> Hand him some of your dispel and antimagic brews.

> Arm-wrestle to test your strength.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43380851
>It was a wizard, we'll be more mindful in the future.

> Arm-wrestle to test your strength.

>>43380851
> Tell him that there's nothing he could have done against that thing.
> Stop moping and start improving
> Arm-wrestle to test your strength.

>>43380851
> Tell him that there's nothing he could have done against that thing.
but with these you can.
> Hand him some of your dispel and antimagic brews.
> Arm-wrestle to test your strength.

>>43380851
> Ask him about the mindbalm.
> Hand him some of your dispel and antimagic brews.
You'll be ready for it next time.
Also I think we should just lift his bed or furniture to test our strength, I don't wanna beat him in arm wrestling when he already feels inadequate

>>43380851
> "Try harder next time."
> Arm-wrestle to test your strength.
Crush what's left of his self esteem
> Hand him some of your dispel and antimagic brews.

>>43380851
We agreed that you'd handle the mundane threats and I would handle the stranger things. If anyone is to blame it's me.
> Ask him about the mindbalm.
> Hand him some of your dispel and antimagic brews.
> Test our strength in a way that doesn't emasculate him

> Ask him about the mindbalm.
> Hand him some of your dispel and antimagic brews.
> Arm-wrestle

"Come on man, I thought we had a deal. You handle the men with swords while I protect her from the stranger things. If anyone is to blame, it's me."

"Thanks," Oster says gruffly. "And thanks for what you did on the ship as well."

The ship?
Oh.
"So you drank it after all?"

Oster shrugs.
"Maybe."

"Are you feeling better?"
You're not really sure how to ask. You've never been in his situation and you have no idea if he can even feel his soul.

"Maybe," he says again. "And I appreciate the sentiment."

"I can brew you up another when you want it. And in the meantime, check these out."
You pass him a dispel elixir and an antimagic brew, explaining their use to him.
"Smack the wizard with these, that'll get him good."

Oster chuckles.
"He wouldn't like that now, would he? No sir."

The two of you sit there for almost a minute in silence before you remember why you were here in the first place. You came here to test your strength.
"Hey Oster, want to arm wrestle?"
You hold your right hand out in a challenge, using the bed as a surface.

Oster raises an eyebrow.
"Are you sure, mate? I'm not going to go easy on you."

"No, that's fine."

His eyes narrow.
"You haven't drunk any potions, have you?"

"Not one, I swear."

The two of you clasp hands and you do your best to prepare yourself. Oster is a big guy, still taller than either you or Hiss. You're not sure if you can handle this.
And then you start and you have to stop your jaw from dropping. Oster feels weak. This won't be tough at all!

> Win quickly.

> Pretend to struggle a lot first.

> Let him win.

>>43381249
> Win quickly.
And immediately explain what we did

>>43381249
>> Win quickly.

>>43381249
>> Win quickly.
no need to fuck around

>>43381249
> Win quickly.
Then tell him

>>43381249
> Pretend to struggle a lot first.

>>43381249
> Win quickly.
Tell him about eugene's enthusiasm

> Win quickly.

You decide not to waste time and slam Oster's hand onto the bed within just a few seconds. He lets go immediately, groaning.
"You little cunt, I thought you said no potions."

"I was telling the truth, this wasn't a potion. It's permanent, I think?"
You give him a brief rundown of what happened between you and Eugene. You can't help but notice that Oster's expression is growing sour.
"Is something wrong?"

Oster opens his mouth to reply but someone else interrupts him first.
"Don't worry about. Poor little Oster is just dealing with the fact that he's the weakest member of our little troupe now."
The door swings open, Hiss leaning languorously against the doorway. You find yourself sitting up straighter without ever intending to.
"I'm only the next room over you know," she yawns. "All your little tussling woke me up."

'Good morning, Hiss," you say. Or at least you try to say. What you say instead is 'Good morning, your Highness."

Hiss smirks.
"You know, I think I want to test my subject myself. Step aside, Oster."
She leans down by the bed and extends a relaxed hand. You find yourself reaching out to clasp it without even thinking.

> Yeah, might as well.

> No, you don't need to test yourself against her.

> Ask her how she slept.

> "We need to talk about Liss."

> "Hiss please, I'm busy right now."

> Other

>>43381564
> Yeah, might as well.

>>43381564
> Yeah, might as well.
> Ask her how she slept.

>>43381564
> Yeah, might as well.
> "We need to talk about Liss."

>>43381564
> Yeah, might as well.

>tfw people chose bossy Hiss over a new snake arr

>>43381618
>Tfw peons doubt Her Majesty

>>43381564
> Yeah, might as well.
> "We need to talk about Liss."

>>43381618
> "We need to talk about Liss."
Give hiss antimagic and dispel brews too

>>43381618
Yeah they chose something that will drop as soon as Cennen says no again

>>43381641
It's literally useless since drops to normal really easily. We already lost one snake art on it last time.

>>43381652
not sure why I linked to that vote. don't drink while questing.

Reminder that we need to work on creating the other hiss a body. We can't just totally ignore that or we'll be violating the agreement.

>>43381705
That's easy, we can use a drained body.
We need to work on making her a soul.
Someone talked about using the mindbalm and Soul kingdom in the ask.

>>43381564
> Yeah, might as well.
> Ask her how she slept.

>>43381788
but making a homunculus is so much cooler

> Yeah, might as well.

You clasp hands with her, Hiss still smirking. "I wasn't sure if I approved," she says. "But now that I think about it, it's excellent for my servants to improve themselves. And you're certainly more useful than Oster."

You push with all your might, doing your best to slam her hand down. She doesn't budge and her smile only grows wider.
"Provided, of course," she says as she pushes your hand down. "That they don't reach too far. That they don't forget their place."

You try to retract your hand but she doesn't let go, slamming your hand down a second time. You're really not sure why she has to prove her dominance right this, hasn't she done it enough times before? What does she have to prove?
You try to point this out to her but your words dry up before you can say anything.

"Where did you get this from anyway, Cennen? It's magic, right?"

Do you really want her to know about what Eugene can do? Do you even have a choice?

> Tell her the truth.

> Tell her it was a potion.

> Say that you don't know.

> Tell her it was from the other Hiss.

> Other (Specify)

>>43381893
> Tell her the truth.

>>43381893
> Tell her the truth.
I'm not sure I see the issue here

>>43381893
> Tell her the truth.
I DO want her to know, tell her in great detail

>>43381893
>> Tell her the truth.
Also stress the more he pushes the more side effects and pains there are. We felt like we were boiling alive. Potence is safer.

>>43381893
> Tell her the truth.

> Tell her the truth.

"It was Eugene. Remember how I'm a plant?"

She frowns and shakes her head.
"No?"

"Come on Hiss, it was the last time we were here. You literally did it to me."

She snaps her fingers, making you sit back upright.
"Right! I didn't know it was still there. So he can just cast magic on you directly?"

"Yes."

She wrinkles her nose in disgust.
"I'm not sure I like that. Nobody should have that amount of power over you, Cennen. Nobody but me."

"He's not going to misuse it, Hiss."

"Doesn't it make you uncomfortable?"

"A little. But it's all for the best."

Hiss mutters something beneath her breath for a moment before nodding.
"Well it might be useful. Hey Oster, maybe we should turn you into a plant as well?"

"Pardon?"

"You know, since you're fucking useless. Maybe that'd let you come in handy."

"I'm sorry, your Highness."

Hiss yawns.
"I'm not sure why I keep you around anymore."

Oster's face falls.
"I can s-"

"Maybe I should just eat you. Then I'd have your sword skills and really, what else are you even for?"
Oster trembles and she laughs.
"Relax, I'm joking. Now, I'm off to see a wizard."

You get up to follow her out but she puts a hand on your chest and pushes you back down.
"Why don't you stay here and brew something or help Oster or whatever. Stay."
She walks out.

> Do some brewing.

> Talk to Oster.

> Follow her.

> Don't stay here but don't follow her either.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43382180
>> Do some brewing.
> Talk to Oster.
permanence and potence and regen for him.

>>43382180
> Do some brewing.
> Talk to Oster.
Do as Hiss says, brew something to help with Oster.

>>43382180
> Do some brewing.
> Talk to Oster.

I feel bad for him.

Did Hiss get more bitchy? I don't think she was quite that nasty to him while traveling through that other nation that starts with a Q.

>>43382180
> Talk to Oster.
I don't know why she's being like this. I could never compare to your physical skills overall. Your sneaking and swordplay skills are extremely useful. And I like to think that we're friends so I value you for that as well.

>>43382281
Princess, it affects her bearing, mood and behavior.

>>43382180
> Follow her.

>>43382180
> Talk to Oster.
"The wizard knows about me, Hiss, and probably Eugene, but there's no reason for him to know about you or Aash, we can use that to catch him off guard"

>>43382180
> Follow her.
Nope. She can't treat him like that. Time to bitch her out.

>>43382180
>>43382311
it's a good point

>>43382180
> Talk to Oster.
Lets be a bro and encourage him. We really shouldn't let Hiss treat him like that. Of course, because people decided to vote on the princess power up again, its harder to refuse or say anything against Hiss.

>>43382482
I voted for it since she seemed to turn over a new leaf during her POV thread but I guess she forgot about that

>>43382281
There was usually something bigger to worry about. I try to have an inverse correlation between the immediate seriousness of a situation and how petty Hiss is being at any given time.
That and the fact that she has new power. She's showing it off.

> Talk to Oster.

"You okay man?"

Oster doesn't reply, sitting by the wall. His hands are held out in front of him and you can see them shaking. It's weird to think about but until Oster's soul fully heals and can regrow, Hiss is the most important thing to him in the entire world. Everything she says to him thus takes on a heavier quality, even the slightest insult cutting.
You've seen her take pleasure in tormenting him before but not quite like this.

"Don't listen to her," you say, knowing immediately after speaking that that particular advice is useless. How can he NOT listen to her?
"I don't know why she's being like this but you know it's not like that. You can still whoop my ass with a sword any day of the week and half the time I can't sneak around without tripping over my own feet. And we're friends, right? That's worth something too. Who cares about brute strength?"

"She does."
That's all the rebuttal he needs.

"Yeah, I guess she does."
She always has. Brute strength and size. Now that you think about it, it's a pretty immature worldview. It makes you wonder again how old she really is. She can't be that much older than you, right? Maybe even a few years younger. Not that you'd ask, you know she's sensitive about it.
But more importantly, you suppose that it's a very insecure worldview. The worldview of someone who has something to prove all the time, who wants to tear other people down to raise herself up.
"Bart knows about me and Hiss and probably Eugene. But there's no reason for him to know about you, you can use that to catch him off guard. You're useful."

"Yeah," Oster says, looking grim.

1/2

>>43382567
Princess is bad for 2 reasons
1.It can get lost making hiss lose a power up permanently and wasting a rank up
2.Princess works via her Ego, as it gets bigger so does her spite and other bad things.

>>43382632
"Really, I think it's partly her fault. She's not using you as best she ca-"

"Cennen."
Oster holds out a hand, reaching for your pack.
"Can you make me a plant?"

"What?"

"Not a proper one, I mean like you are. So I can be made better."

> "I'll think about it."

> Brew up a treekin.

> Give him your last of Eugene's original potions.

> "No. You don't need it."

> "No. I need someone who isn't a plant to keep an eye on Eugene."

> Flee

> Other (Specify)

>>43382685
> Brew up a treekin.
Tell him this brew only makes you a plant for a day but we're not sure if any changes Eugene makes would revert after it wore off. Mention that we'd like him to avoid being a plant permanently to stay out of Eugene's influence.

>>43382685
>> "No. I need someone who isn't a plant to keep an eye on Eugene."
But I can give you a potence with regen and a permanence you just need to be VERY careful around magic.

>>43382685
> Brew up a treekin.
>Take him down to Eugene for further experimentation

Treekin potions only last a day, so if anything goes wrong it shouldn't be that bad.

>>43382685
>> "No. You don't need it."
I'll second giving him Permanence, Potence, and Regen.

>>43382685
>> Brew up a treekin.

>>43382685
> "No. I need someone who isn't a plant to keep an eye on Eugene."
Potence, regen, farsight, permanence, etc.
Tell him to let us know if he ever feels any side effects, brews aren't typically meant to be permanent. Also let's ask him what sort of enhancements would help him the most in combat so we can make some new brews for him

>>43382685
> "No. I need someone who isn't a plant to keep an eye on Eugene."
Imagine what he could do with this if he felt like it? I'd be powerless to stop him if he abuses it and we would need you to deal with it.

>>43382685
>>43382742
technically that would make him even stronger

>>43382685
> "No. I need someone who isn't a plant to keep an eye on Eugene."
We shouldn't give him potence, either. It will also affect whatever Bart does to him.
> "Look, who gives a shit if I can beat you at arm-wrestling. You weren't the king's top man because of that. Hiss doesn't understand your true usefulness, and she discarded it in her haste to make you hers. This is your chance to show it to her"

> "No. I need someone who isn't a plant to keep an eye on Eugene."

You shake your head, pulling your pack away.
"No, I need someone who isn't a plant in case Eugene goes weird. Imagine what he could do with this if he felt like it? I'd be powerless to stop him if he abused it."

Oster sighs and retracts his hand.
"Yeah, that makes sense."

You grumble, trying to figure out the best way to say what's on your mind.
"Look, who gives a shit about how you can arm wrestle. You weren't the King's man because of that. Hiss doesn't understand your true usefulness and now she's gone and fucked it up. You're an assassin, aren't you? But she uses you like a brute and wonders why nothing goes right. You've just got to show it to her."

Oster nods.
"I need to get out there. Handle things the proper way. Thanks mate."
He stands up and slides the window open.
"I'll be off. Please don't tell the princess."

"I'll try."
You're not sure if you can promise that.

> Stop him from leaving.

> Start brewing.

> Find Hiss so you can know what she's doing with Eugene.

> Find Hiss so you can try to give her a piece of your mind.

> Other

>>43383183
>what she's doing with Eugene.
>> Find Hiss so you can try to give her a piece of your mind.

>>43383183
Give him a potence, regen, and farsight brew before he leaves then
> Find Hiss so you can know what she's doing with Eugene.

>>43383183
>> Find Hiss so you can know what she's doing with Eugene.
Best case the Princess has a Court Wizard

>>43383212
This. I wanna bitch her out about Oster but that'd make it harder to keep his disappearance secret

>>43383183
> Stop him from leaving.
Ask him if he wants a potion
> Find Hiss so you can know what she's doing with Eugene.

>>43383183
> Start brewing.
I feel like we need to prepare for more than just Bart, he likely has backup considering how badly his last fight with us went

>>43383183
> Find Hiss so you can know what she's doing with Eugene.

> Find Hiss so you can try to give her a piece of your mind.

Aww yes, time to bump her back down to regular princess

>>43383183
> Stop him from leaving.
Tell him to wait for Rock's intel

>>43383183
>> Find Hiss so you can know what she's doing with Eugene.
>> Find Hiss so you can try to give her a piece of your mind.
politely if possible

>>43383344
Shit, we really need to contact Rock. Has she even come back yet? Something might have happened to her.

>>43383183
>>43383344
this

> Find Hiss so you can know what she's doing with Eugene.

You sidle out of the room, only feeling a little guilty. Hiss told you to stay here with Oster, now that he's gone you don't have to stay there, right?
Wait, why do you feel bad about this anyway? Since when did you care about doing what she told you?
Weird.

You walk back down the stairs and into the basement, where you stop. Eugene is bent over something while Hiss sits next to him on the floor. She's wearing a crown made of dandelions, a yellow flower-circlet that goes all around her head. She jumps to her feet when she sees you come in.
"Oh! Excellent. Do the thing, Eugene! Like we were talking about."

Eugene gets up, clutching his walking stick in both hands.
"Oh uh, miss alchemist, I don't know if this is ri-"

Hiss puts her arm around him, towering over the shorter wizard.
"Come on. It'll be funny."

"O-okay, uh, yeah. Right."

Eugene points his cane at you. Hiss giggles and calls out.
"Just stay where you are Cennen. It'll be fun."

"What is this? What are you doing?"

"Improving your aesthetic."

> Stay where you are and let it happen.

> Move out of the way.

> Take Eugene's cane away from him.

> Just walk back out.

> Nobble

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43383494
> Stay where you are and let it happen.

>>43383494
> Stay where you are and let it happen.
Pray for Rock to return while we're at it

>>43383494
> "You DO realize it would probably be permanent, right?"
> Move out of the way.

>>43383494
> Move out of the way.
Any ideas that Hiss has are usually bad. She'll get pissy either way anyways.

>>43383494
> "You DO realize it would probably be permanent, right?"
>And painful
> Move out of the way.


>>43383512
>>43383552
This means either loss of identity or full on mind rape. Not until we get explanations.

>>43383494
> Move out of the way.
Pray for an update from Rock
Tell Hiss we need to talk privately

>>43383494
>>43383557
Second.

Also Why the fuck did yall vote to increase Hiss's Princess level? Her getting knocked down was one of the better things that has happened in a good while.

>>43383584
>loss of identity or full on mind rape
You don't actually believe this, right?

>>43383494
>> Stay where you are and let it happen.
i'm a fool but.....i want to see what happens

>>43383494
> Stay where you are and let it happen.
>>43383609
She's heading home she need to start acting like a ruler.

>>43383609
my guess is people voted for it because it was very thematically appropriate, but people need realize she isn't going just magically transform into a nice person because of character revelations.

Still hopefully this time we can resolve this problem without the need to resort to the dice gods.

>>43383617
Given it's Hiss and to her our mind is aesthetics? Yes. Her "bad idea filter" is broken.


>>43383640
It won't do shit, Princess affects humans, not snakes, who give no fucks. If anything we needed the new snake art since those can't be lost by someone saying no to her.

>>43383640
Her "acting like ruler" makes Cennen's life more difficult. And since he is looking out for her, making his life more difficult makes hers more difficult as well. In other words Princess a shit.

>>43383666
I hope. Having to roll every time we need to gainsay her is going to get old fast.

>>43383674
i really doubt it its that. not that it might not be something awful but i doubt eugene even has that power.

>>43383674
Couldn't she use it on Bart then?

>>43383674
> to her our mind is aesthetics
Dude seriously what are you talking about?

>Princess affects humans, not snakes
You act like you know what you're talking about but you're clueless.

>>43383706
Muh Wizards. So probably not. Wizards aren't exactly human. Not anymore. Eugene is just a pussy.

> Move out of the way.

"I'm sorry Hiss, I'm going to need a better explanation for this."

"Oh come on Cennen," Hiss says, twirling a flower in her hair. "It's reversible. And it'll be funny!"

"Funny to who?"

"Me, obviously."

Roll a 1d100. Highest of the first 5 rolls accepted.

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>43383735

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>43383735

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>43383735
Princess a shit.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>43383735
This will go badly.

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>43383735

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>43383706
>Wizards are human
No, Ouro sad he'll never do a wizard PoV for a reason.

>>43383703
Our soul and mind are part plant, he ahs that power, or can at least fuck us up.

>>43383714
Our soul/mind ahs a look and taste to her.

Yeah princess is a weaker version of Tanni's voice, it won't work on Snake form snakes. Which is what the vast majority of them will be. It's a HUMAN thing.

>>43383735
rolling

>>43383733
I don't know why you're assuming it only works on humans. You're pulling that out of your ass and pretending it's a fact.

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>43383735

>>43383768
Our soul can't be altered at all. We're a spiritbane.

We should brew up another potion for Oster the next chance we have no-pressure brew time. With the way Hiss acts with her new rank of Princess it's the least we can do for the poor guy.

>>43383768
>Our soul and mind are part plant, he ahs that power, or can at least fuck us up.
you've gotten paranoid anon, this is barely similar to previous behavior. Hell she had the opportunity to put the mind wug on us and didn't.

She only even tried after we basically goaded her into doing it.

>>43383789
Then how'd we get Plant nature'd? it can't be eaten doesn't mean he can't reach underneath it with his magic and twist things..

>>43383806
You're being paranoid to the point of retardation. Hiss isn't gonna try to "mindrape" us. Please stop posting.

>>43383796
Yeah. Give him potence + regen as well? Maybe work on some other enhancement brews? Or maybe just roll to tell Hiss to stop being such a huge bitch to him?

>>43383822
>I don't like thing
>I know! I'll call the guy a retard and tell him to stop posting.
Grow up.

>>43383836
Sorry, I can only see someone pretend to know what they're talking about for so long without saying anything.

File: Ep01.Crybaby.png (412 KB, 1024x576)

412 KB PNG

>>43383822

>>43383735
> "Whatever. YOU are the one who has to kiss this face"

>>43383859
The fact you're assuming an equal amount of crap without anything to back it up is lost on you isn't it?

You don't have a plant 'soul' specifically, you just have the nature.

>>43383757
No, what are you doing? You're not going to stand around and let her do this without an explanation. And what's the deal with her flower crown?
You move to the right and then to the left, not letting Eugene get a bead on you.
"I'm sorry Hiss, maybe we can do this later. Whatever this is. But right now we have to prepare for the wizard."

Hiss pouts.
"Cennen, he's not going to attack right n-"

Eugene yelps, sliding out of Hiss' grasp.
"Woah! Woah! Ah!"

"What's wrong?"

"He's outside, he's coming right now!"

You find the time to give Hiss a Look, making her scoff.
"Just be happy that I don't have the time to wipe that off your face. Now, where's he coming from? Should we barricade up the door or-"

A titanic crashing sound drowns out all other sound, the very house shaking. You look out the basement door to see the upper ceiling of the house collapsing, wood splintering and flying down the stairwell. And whatever is behind it keeps on going, smashing aside rooms and stairs until it collides with the atrium floor in an impact that nearly sends you off your feet.
The house is in ruins around you, a hole coring through multiple floors and exposing the early morning sky above. And before you, rumbling and steaming in the crater it made is a truly gigantic hunk of ice, one nearly as tall as the house itself.

"Oh," Hiss brushes herself off, still safe in the basement. "That's direct."

> Flee

> Find the wizard!

> Investigate the ice.

> Stay by Hiss' side.

> People were IN those rooms! Search through them, try to find anyone you can.

> Quickly brew!

> Tell Eugene to do something.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43383874
I'm assuming that anyone who has actually read the quest would know that Hiss isn't about to mindrape us.

>>43383926
Might be the same guy that's been bitching about us being with Hiss for.. basically the entire quest.

>>43383912
Drink antimagic and give one to hiss
> Find the wizard!

>>43383912
>> People were IN those rooms! Search through them, try to find anyone you can.

>>43383912
> People were IN those rooms! Search through them, try to find anyone you can.

>>43383912
>> Use Potion (Specify)
Anti-magic and soul sight

>>43383912
> Find the wizard!

>>43383958
>>43383961
>>43383986
We really need to eliminate the threat before we do this

>>43383912
> Stay by Hiss' side.
antimagic brews all around, see if eugene can pinpoint barts location

>>43383912
> Stay by Hiss' side.
> Pray to Rock
> Find the wizard!

Rolled 2 (1d6)

So unless I've made an error, we seem to have a three way tie between staying by Hiss' side, searching for people or finding the wizard. They are 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 respectively.

>>43384128
Find the wizard won I think

>>43384128
part 1 lost a voter, the other two are kind of ambiguous due to multivoting, thats how i read it anyway

>>43384178
End result is 3 to find the wizard and 2 to the other options

>Stay by Hiss' side

Shit, this wasn't supposed to happen this soon! And Rock is still off searching? You fire off a hasty prayer while you run back into the basement. You need to protect the princess, it's what Oster would want you to do.

Hiss whistles underneath her breath.
"He really just plowed right in, didn't he? Hey Eugene, your mum might be dead."

"Nonono," he mumbles. "I sent her away a few hours ago. We had a fight."
He reaches into his small pile of flower-chains, only for them to come apart in his hand. He groans again, wilting flowers slipping through shaking fingers.
Hiss slaps him on the back.
"Chin up, moron. There's a wizard invading your sanctum! Get yourself together! Now as for you,"
She beckons you closer with a crooked finger.
"Let's go kill Bart again."

"What about all the people here? Liss and Aina and Aash and the Bunyip is in the backyard somewhere..."

Hiss cringes when you mention the twins, a reaction uncommon to her. It also means that she doesn't notice when you don't mention Oster as one of the people inside.
"We'll...help them," she says, forcing the words out. "But later. The wizard is more important. Let's go."

She takes you by the hand.

> Let her lead you out. Time is of the essence.

> Ask her to wait just a few moments You need to brew something first.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Call out

> Other

>>43384147
>>43384245
Oh. Well it didn't matter so much in the end since that's what Hiss wanted to do anyway.

>>43384285
> Let her lead you out. Time is of the essence.
Each of us should drink an antimagic brew first.

>>43384285
>> Use Potion (Specify)
Anti-magic and soul sight.

Pray to Rock Too. Make a quick Prayer to Aash to get the twins and anyone else on the premises to safety.

>>43384285
> Use Potion (Specify)
Antimagic brews all around
> Let her lead you out. Time is of the essence.
ask Eugene to give us some dandelions we can use the turn water into a brew with and hold them in hand

>>43384285
> Let her lead you out. Time is of the essence.
Antimagic for everyone
>>43384325
We don't have soulsight

>>43384343
> Let her lead you out. Time is of the essence.

>>43384285
>> Let her lead you out. Time is of the essence.

>Let her lead you out. Time is of the essence.
>Anti-magic

"Here, drink this."
You toss an Antimagic flask to her and she drinks it without question. You down your own just moments later. That should provide you both with some protection.
You close your eyes for a moment and direct a quick prayer begging Aashenpreet to get everyone out of there safely. You hope she can still hear it, you don't want to think about the alternative.

Hiss chuckles as she hears your prayer.
"Maybe she'll take care of it. I hope that the twins are ok-"
She stops, clamping her mouth shut.
"Let's go."

Your feet follow her without any extra effort on your own as she marches out of the basement. She looks at the iceberg irritably, as if it was nothing but a minor obstruction.
"Where the hell did Eugene go?"

Oh shit, where is he?

"Bah! It doesn't matter. Wizard! Bart! Remember me? Come out and face me!"
Hiss' shout echoes through the ruined mansion to no effect.
"Come on Bart! Remember how I made you look like a moron? Not that it was hard! I bit your throat open too! Aren't you at least a little angry?"

Still no response. Hiss taps her foot.
"Get out here! Right. Now."
You jerk, walking forward and presenting yourself in front of her. She laughs.
"Not you!"

The iceberg in front of the two of you cracks and something hisses. And that's when you see the movement at the top, an emaciated figure hidden by a dark blue robe. Their sleeves are far too long for the stick-thin arms but you can see what is unmistakably a staff protruding from one of them. They don't say anything.

"Come on, just take another step. Get down here an-"
The figure twitches and Hiss is struck by a vortex of boiling steam, enough to boil her insides while they're still inside of her. He'd never done that before. Since when could Old Bart do something like that?

Hiss takes a step back, unharmed thanks to the Antimagic flask. But that protection is now gone.
1/2

>>43384636
"I'm going back into the basement for a moment," she says sweetly before retreating.

Leaving you before the wizard alone.

> Throw a potion (Specify)

> Run into the basement too. As soon as your protection wears off, you're dead!

> See if you can trick him by surrendering.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Flee in a different direction to lead him away from Hiss.

> Call out for Eugene.

> Other (Specify)

>>43384657
> Flee in a different direction to lead him away from Hiss.
Catch me if you can!
> Throw a potion (Specify)
Dispel once he gets into rushing range.
Thanks a lot Hiss, you bloody coward.

>>43384657
>> Flee in a different direction to lead him away from Hiss.

>>43384657
> Throw a potion (Specify)
Explosive brew. At the very least it will destroy the ice Bart is standing standing on. If that fails try a dispel brew on the ice. Don't forget to factor in our enhanced strength.

>>43384657
> Throw a potion (Specify)

Thawing? To thaw the iceburg?

>>43384728
That only thaws our soul to temporarily deactivate our spiritbane.

>>43384657
Well, damn, he doesn't fuck around
> Flee in a different direction to lead him away from Hiss.
> Use Potion (Specify)
Snakebreaker, should at the very least throw them off the iceberg

>>43384748
I'm worried that the shrapnel would cause collateral damage since he's right by the collapsed rooms

>>43384712
This.

>Flee in a different direction to lead him away from Hiss.
>Use Potion (Explosive)

You fight the urge to cry out as Hiss flees. Can you really blame her? It only took a single working of magic to demonstrate the danger. But this is something that Old Bart never did before. Something's changed.

The figure, completely hidden beneath their hood, traces their staff over the ice. Swinging it around in your direction. You can survive what's coming, you know that. But you don't fancy having your protection stripped quite that early.

You start to run, trying desperately to stay just ahead of the movement of his staff. As long as it doesn't point at you, you're safe. But the moment it does, you can die at his whim.

You run in the opposite direction from the basement. You can't let him find Hiss again, she's all out of antimagic. So instead you pick your way through the rubble as best you can and then, when you have nowhere left to run, you throw yourself backwards and juke. You are rewarded with the sight of the air where you just standing ripping itself apart, the vortex enough to stagger you even outside of it. But that's what you were waiting for. You now have enough time to throw a single potion.

You can't use the Snakecatcher. Exploding that in such an open space could very well be suicide, not to mention what it could do to any survivors hiding in the rubble. Instead you throw your old faithful, the Explosive Concoction.

The same advanced physique that let outrun the staff's dreadful gaze lets you lob the Concoction right at the feet of the wizard. You are rewarded with the iceberg cracking and splintering amidst the blast but you cannot watch, you are already running.

You take cover behind the remnant of the old stairwell, trying to figure out your next move once the smoke and steam clears and you can see what has become of Old Bart.
But you find, instead, an unexpected companion. Eugene is cowering here too, his walking stick clutched by his knees.
1/2

>>43385006
"Oi! What are you doing? Go fight him!"

"N-no. I cannot."

"What? Weren't you just talking about it? He's in your sanctum! Defend it. Please."

"No. That's not a wizard. I don't know what it is, but that's not like me. I can't best it, not alone."

"You're not going to BE alone," you hiss. "Now come on."

"You don't count," he moans. "You're not a wizard, what can you do?"

> Try to convince him further.

> Just stay behind here and hide.

> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43385046
>> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.
> Use Potion (Specify)
Our last Eugene potion.

>>43385046
> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.
Alchemy might be a lesser magic. But I'm fuckin great at it.

>>43385046
>Other
He was talking earlier about dandelion/plants eating water, he had an idea about it.

We're plant natured right now. Can he do something for us to become the antithesis of water, or offset that somehow?

He also mentioned how something needed to be autonomous, since a wizard could just subvert or cut strings. We're as autonomous as he's gonna find.

Anything?

>>43385046
> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.
I'm still a dandelion. Use your magic to support me, if nothing else.

>>43385046
>> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.

>>43385087
Great in theory, But the mutations would likely cripple us, if the blinding pain didn't in the first place.

>>43385046
> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.

Maybe he will give us a touch of respect after this? Probably not since we are a "lesser practitioner" but still.

So this is whats her fuck possessed by Barts staff right?

>>43385046
> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.
> Use Potion (Specify)

Lob a dispel potion at him and see what happens.

>>43385152
Yeah, she took some dispel potions all the time so she already had something magical going on with her body. I'm guessing Bart is somehow using it to his advantage.

>>43385046
>>43385157
This

>>43385152
Iana, probably

File: 1361636772139.gif (2.95 MB, 240x180)

2.95 MB GIF

>>43385171
So the answer is dispel potions. Applied manually. To the face.

> "I'll show you." Leave the cover.

You sigh.
"Oh man, I was really counting on you for this. This was supposed to be YOUR moment! But whatever. Stay there."

You ready your pack and charge back out, keeping your eyes on the ice. The iceberg's cracked but is mostly still staying together. It's freezing back together with uncanny speed, drops of water bridging the cracks and then freezing immediately. Why does he care about keeping it intact?

And then you see the wizard atop it. Ragged holes are rent in his robe but whatever lies beneath is covered by ice that has frozen over every gap and wound. He(?) is kneeling, his staff protruding from his sleeve and tapping the iceberg. And the ice responds, tricklets of water flowing back into the staff and empowering it.
Of course. It's his power. Bart never made water, he always had to bring it with him. That's why he's focusing so much on keeping it together, the iceberg is the only large source of water he has.

But even distracted, his hooded head swivels immediately in your direction as you move.

Roll a 1d100 for speed. Accepting the best of the first 3.

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>43385258

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>43385258

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>43385258
Come on, Cennen, put some muscle into it!

>>43385301
you the real mvp, anon

>>43385301
There is no boiling water this time, perhaps he's figured out the nature of your protection from magic. Or maybe he just doesn't want to try pointing the staff directly at you.
Either way, he just makes a lazy gesture of his staff and sends a man-sized hunk of ice toppling from the 'berg that then hurls itself at you with lethal speed. He doesn't even get up from his water absorption to do it.

But you are already scrambling through the rubble and the ice-boulder crashes into the ground almost ten feet away from where you are now. It missed! Now you're free to throw a po-

He slams his staff downward and the boulder behind you explodes, bursting apart and expanding into a gigantic plume of water that knocks you off your feet.

You hit the ground on your front, your pack thankfully protected as you skid across the broken ground. Oh fuck that hurts. You're bleeding from half a dozen grazes and splinters by the time you come to a stop and with too many bruises to mention. And indeed, you only stop because you hit the still-intact front door.
Your head is spinning.

> Go! Throw a potion now!

> Try to fake death.

> Throw a potion but don't do it quickly, you need to keep yourself steady until your head stops spinning.

> Drink Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43385384
>> Go! Throw a potion now!

>>43385384
> Throw a potion but don't do it quickly, you need to keep yourself steady until your head stops spinning.
> Use the door as a shield if need be

>>43385384
> Throw a potion but don't do it quickly, you need to keep yourself steady until your head stops spinning.
> Use the door as a shield if need be

>>43385384
> Throw a potion but don't do it quickly, you need to keep yourself steady until your head stops spinning.

>>43385384
> Go! Throw a potion now!
Dispel

> Throw a potion but don't do it quickly, you need to keep yourself steady until your head stops spinning.
> Use the door as a shield if need be

You swing the door open and roll behind it as what is left of the water splatters through the air as a flight of broken ice shards. You can fear them thud into the door, many of them impaling all the way through. But they do not touch you.
Moments later, the door buckles and bends as it is struck by another boiling vortex. You are deprived of cover.

You have four Dispel potions in your pack. You pluck the first one and send it skyward, hoping that it will have any kind of effect on the magical iceberg and the thing sitting atop it.

The wizard spins their knobbly staff and a screen of water rises up from the ice, a burst of rain that explodes outwards in all directions. The first dispel potion is broken and spent before it even reaches the iceberg, spent on dispelling a cloud of watery chaff.

You do your best to grab another potion as they swirl their staff back down towards you...and then they stagger back, a rock striking them hard enough in the hooded head to visibly deform it, a dent bigger than your fist.

"Fuck you, wizard!"
Hiss emerges from the basement, another large rock in her hand. She must have been prying them loose from the rubble. She winds up her arm and lets loose once more, superhuman strength turning each one into a deadly missile. It hits the figure in the chest and visibly sinks in, sending them toppling over, lying prone on the ice.

"Yes!"
Hiss runs over to you, grabbing you in an involuntary hug that you can't stop.
"Cennen! I'm so happy that you're alive!"

Behind her, you can see the hooded figure rise. Their head is still dented and pulverized, their chest still caved in. But their staff moves yet and it points towards you and Hiss.

> Throw a potion.

> Try to push Hiss out of the way.

> Flee

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43385564
>> Try to push Hiss out of the way.

>>43385564
> Throw a potion.
Dispel! Make sure we're in front of Hiss, we still have an antimagic active

>>43385564
> Try to push Hiss out of the way.
> Use Potion (Specify)

Another dispel potion. Can we try to hit the staff?

>>43385564
Give the flask to Hiss, then spin and take it in the back.
Go teamwork!

> Try to push Hiss out of the way.
> Dispel Elixir

You hug Hiss back and then with your newfound strength, pick her up and swivel so that you're now between her and the iceberg. The steam hits you instead and the anti-magic shell around you absorbs it though it breaks in the process.
A look of dismay crosses Hiss' features while this is happening.
"Not fair! Wizards are supposed to be fragile, you can't still be alive!"

And then the cloud of steam around you freezes mid-air, each droplet becoming a tiny knife of ice. They rush you but Hiss is already hugging you around the waist again, swiveling you just as you had swiveled her moments ago.
Her skin flashes black as her scales come out and the ice bounces off her without effect.

You peek out from behind her and waste no time in throwing the dispel elixir over her head.
There's no cloud of rain to catch it this time, the best the wizard can do is wave their staff and pull a wall of ice up from the iceberg. But he may not do it fast enough.

Roll 1d100 for the speed of your throw. Highest of the first three accepted.

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>43385725
come on dice gods

>>43385741
SUCK IT BART
I'm not even gonna roll

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>43385725
I believe

>>43385725
That was some sweet ass battle dancing right there.
>>43385741
The dice gods agree.

>>43385741
poor Oster... I was sure he was gonna come out of nowhere and save the day but we stole his thunder

>>43385801
Pretty sure we're just dropping defenses and Oster comes in for the backstab

>>43385741
The potion sails right through a gap in the forming wall, smashing into the iceberg right at their feet and spraying them with magic-destroying elixir. The ice rumbles and begins to melt and they fall over completely limp.

"You got him!"
Hiss shakes you in a manner that is as vigorous and painful as it is affectionate.
"And to think I was going to make you five foot."

You stare at her.
"Pardon?"

"Nothing."

The iceberg begins to crack and then stops, caught by something growing up through the broken floorboards and entangling it. Green shoots and yellow flowers, all water-hungry, all strong, encircling the ice and bringing it down.
"BEHOLD," a voice like thunder booms. "MY INDESCRIBEABLE MIGHT! YOU DARE INTRUDE UPON THE SANCTUM OF EUGENE THE-oh bloody hell he's already fucking dead isn't he?"

Hiss laughs her head off as Eugene emerges from the staircase, covered in at least three protective dandelion wreathes.

"Sorry mate," you call out. "Bit too late."

"B-but I finally marshaled my courage and power to save the day! Is the day not saved?"

"It is. But by us," Hiss smirks, still laughing in between sentences.

"Really, if I hadn't been extremely lucky with that shot your intervention would have been really helpful. It really would have. But now it's just sort of..."

"Unnecessary," Hiss finishes.

"Oh. Oh man," Eugene mumbles. "I guess I'll just go get Mum back then?"

"Yeah, you do that."

Hiss circles the shrinking iceberg, moving from one foot to another in anticipation.
"Finally, I can't believe I'm finally going to get his real soul. I hope he's still alive in there. Bart, bart, bart. You were always the one that got way!"

> Stay with Hiss to inspect/devour the body and staff.

> It's going to take time before the ice melts. You need to go find what happened to everyone else!

> Brew

> "What do you mean, five foot?"

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43385871
> Stay with Hiss to inspect/devour the body and staff.

>>43385871
>Stay with Hiss to inspect/devour the body and staff.
> "What do you mean, five foot?"

>>43385871
> Brew
3 or 4 heal alls and a soulsight while the ice melts.
> Stay with Hiss to inspect/devour the body and staff.
After we make extra sure he's dead, it's time to go find the twins and aash in the rubble and heal them.

>>43385871
> It's going to take time before the ice melts. You need to go find what happened to everyone else!

>>43385871
> Stay with Hiss to inspect/devour the body and staff.
> After we're sure he's really dead, we go search for the others

>>43385871
> Use Potion (Specify)
Soulgrasp, so we can see the souls of the recently deceased.

>>43385871
>>43385916
This


Also a potence for moving really heavy shit if he compromised the buildings integrity.

> Stay with Hiss to inspect/devour the body and staff.
>Brew

"Isn't eating a wizard's soul dangerous?"

"Nope!," Hiss says happily. "It doesn't matter how strong a human was in life. In death they all belong to me. And besides, Tanni managed to tame a live one didn't she? I can manage."

"Is Tanni really the best role model?"

"Cennen, please. I might loathe her but she is an extremely good role model. Not that I have any role models to speak of anyway. I am my own princess."

"If you say so."
You turn to your pack, ready to brew while the ice melts. Unfortunately Hiss takes your tone in your last comment for disrespect and instead holds you down and viciously noogies you for much of that duration.
That said, you still get to make four Heal-Alls and a Soulsight, all of which should help with retrieving people from the rubble shortly.

You massage your scalp while Hiss stands atop the collapsed iceberg triumphantly
"Now," she says as she flips over the fallen wizard. "Give me your s-eh?"

Wrapped up in the dark blue robes is no human being. A tall slender figure made of gnarled white wood, small roots and leaves extending from it as if was still growing. It's 'staff' was no staff at all but just a protrusion of one arm, a staff-like growth growing from a wooden arm.

> "We should probably burn it to make sure."

> "Can you find any soul inside?"

> "No really, what do you mean five feet?"

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43386033
> "We should probably burn it to make sure."

>>43386033
Use soulsight to inspect it and then look around and remember where all the souls you see are located in the rubble

>>43386033
> "Can you find any soul inside?"
> Other

Yell for Eugene and ask him what this is supposed to be. He'd probably have some idea.

>>43386062
This

>>43386068
He's already run off to get his mum

>Use Soulsight

You drink your freshly-brewed Soulsight and peer at the wooden corpse. There's...nothing. Faint vestiges, an aura perhaps but nothing solid. A soul once WAS here but now is not.
"This used to have a soul in it," you say. "Where did it go?"

Hiss shrugs.
"Eugene!," she calls out. "Come check this out before you go wherever you stashed your useless mother."

While you can still bear to use the Soulsight, you turn around to see where the souls of everyone else is. They're all gathered in one place, outside the house in the backyard. Liss and Aina are being carried by another, a soul that limps on despite her own substantial injuries.
You smile. You'll have to thank Aash later. You blink and dismiss the sight before it gives you a headache, just as Eugene joins the two of you.

"Check this out,"Hiss tells him. "What wizard nonsense is this?"

Eugene prods it with his cane and frowns.
"I-I don't know. This looks like a construct but it can't have been. It had a soul but was not autonomous. It was a wizard, I know it was. This isn't wizardry."

"What is it then? I know it isn't alchemy."

"It is not alchemy nor is it Sight. I've never seen anything like this before. I don't know a lot about natural magic but I suppose it is something to uh, do with a spirit. That is the only answer I can think of."

Hiss groans.
"Wizards.

>>43386142
And that's that for today, thanks for sitting through what were rather slow updates at the start of things.
The thread has been archived and you can check the twitter for updates on when the next thread will be and/or my adventures in insomnia. I want to do the next thread tomorrow but I don't know if that will pan out.

I also want to do two short and quick Interludes before I have to go today, we'll see if that works out. I hope you all had fun.

>>43386162
Thanks for running! Great thread.

Interlude 1

With a cry of exertion, Oster pulled his sword all the way through the wizard's neck. What the hell was up with this? He had gone in for the kill only for his blade to be lodged within, as if they had been made of something other than flesh.

The swordsman stood panting in the ruined street, puddles of water all around him. Beside him, Rock drifted down.
-Oster, I know that we have never spoken much.-

"You could say that."

-But I want to thank you. If I had been fighting the wizard alone, I doubt I would have survived.-

Oster waved the tiny spider away from him.
"Bullshit. You had it well in hand. I just sealed the deal."

-Incorrect. I would not have won without you. Thank you.-

"Agh, don't mention it."
Oster sheathed his sword, outwardly discontent but inwardly happy. He had made a difference. He was valued, even if not by the woman who meant everything to him.

That happiness vanished when he flipped the corpse over with his boot, revealing the mutilated wooden creature.
"What the fuck is that? I thought we were fighting the water wizard!"

-I don't know.-

"You're the big magic expert here. aren't you? Is this a spirit thing?"

-No. I do not understand this thing at all. It is not wizardry but it has nothing to do with my kind.-

Interlude 5

Iana sat and prayed in the gardens. Sometimes she danced, sometimes she sung, sometimes she cried. The actions of a caged bird, albeit one locked away by its own volition.
Before her sat her captor. Her savior. A tree in the middle of the clearing, a squat blue-gum that bears no green leaves but instead sprouts ice and condensation that pools around it. It drinks from the spiral of the earth, from the old lynchpin in the Duke's gardens and it grows full.

But not content. Never content.

Sometimes she spies, behind her or with the corner of her eye, a figure in the shadows. Something that walks the boundary between the regular overgrown gardens and the Within. A flat shadow with the body of a man and the antlers of a stag, the old monarch of this place.

But this earth does not belong to him anymore and he can do nothing but observe as the tree drinks it dry.

>>43386225
Well, shit, maybe god Hiss knows what his deal is.

File: 1389672411019.gif (1002 KB, 500x629)

1002 KB GIF

>>43386142
>dismiss the sight before it gives you a headache, just as Eugene joins the two of you.


We are never gonna find out what the deal is with Wizards are we?

Anyway, that's it. See ya,

>>43386281
We still need to inspect Eugene with soulsight

>>43386329
Thanks boss