>>43676732
> If there's more than one, there could still be another! You need to tell everyone.

You grumble as you pull yourself free, Oster and Rock having nearly caused you a far worse fate than mere embarrassment.

-Cennen, are you alive?-
Rock is sitting on Oster's shoulder. What are they doing together? And now that you're actually getting a good luck, you can't help but notice that Oster himself looks worse for wear. Not injured but scuffed, tired.

"I'm fine Rock. What happened to you?"

-We found the wizard.-

"Tree-wizard," Oster adds. "Something weird. But we killed it all the same."

Wait. There's more than one of them? Shit. You don’t say anything for a moment before sighing.
“You two better come inside. We all need to talk about this.”

You lead them past the ruined door into the broken mansion, Oster whistling as he steps past the threshold.
“What happened here? No wait, I think I can guess.”

-Something about this place seems different.-
Rock seems genuinely puzzled about what could have changed.

Eugene and Hiss are still standing by the wooden corpse, the body on fire. You’d told Eugene to set it alight but by his expression and by the way Hiss is juggling the flint and tinder it looks like he messed it up and had to ask Hiss to do it for him. Oster hisses when he sees the shape within the fire.
“Yeah, that’s it alright. There are more than one?”

“So it seems. Hey Hiss! There’s more of these guys.”


“What?”

You’d rather gather absolutely everyone here but this is most people anyway. The twins are still probably outside in the backyard and Aashenpreet with them. It’s probably for the best that Aash isn’t here.
1/2

>>43676749
Oster gives a brief explanation to you all about how he had found Rock locked in battle with what had appeared to have been the water wizard, allowing him to strike it from behind and end the fight. And in turn you let Hiss tell him and Rock about the thing that had attacked you here and you ignore the various little embellishments she makes. It’s hard to gainsay her these days and it’s not worth doing it over such trivial matters.

“Anyway,” Eugene says. “This isn’t wizardry. This has to be some sort of spiritual doohickey at work here. I don’t know what to do about that.”


-Incorrect-
Rock’s interjection makes Eugene jump, the wizard apparently unaware of the spirit’s presence.
-This has nothing to do with my kind. I had assumed it was a wizardly trick I was unaware of-

“What? No. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Eugene is nervously fiddling with his cane, a small flower sprouting from the tip.
“And it isn’t alchemy or Sight either. What else can it be?”


-I’m not an expert on mortal magic, wizard. That’s supposed to be YOUR job. What else is a wizard for?-

Eugene goes pale.
“Don’t you dare. Not here.”

Rock changes the subject without missing a beat.
-Cennen, is it possible this could in fact be alchemical in nature? Could you perform some experiments with it?-

> "Sure." Start experimenting

> "What was all that about?"

> Don't ask right now but remember to pry into the subject later.

> Ask your resident expert in natural magic, Hiss, if she's ever seen anything like this before.

> Figure it out yourself (Specify)

> Other

>>43676787
Eugene could it be landmaster magic? Like the Duke's? That's the only other kind I've heard of.
> Don't ask right now but remember to pry into the subject later.
> "Sure." Start experimenting

>>43676787
> Ask your resident expert in natural magic, Hiss, if she's ever seen anything like this before.
> "Sure." Start experimenting

>>43676787
> Don't ask right now but remember to pry into the subject later.
> "Sure." Start experimenting
> Ask your resident expert in natural magic, Hiss, if she's ever seen anything like this before.

>>43676787
> "Sure." Start experimenting
> "What was all that about?"

>>43676787
> "Sure." Start experimenting
> Don't ask right now but remember to pry into the subject later.

> Ask your resident expert in natural magic, Hiss, if she's ever seen anything like this before.

>>43676787
It's keeper magic. the staff was placed in the area of power after we threw it away after nearly doing it ourselves. As a wizard Bart can manipulate it to his own ends

>>43676787
At this point it seems pretty likely that wizards are some strange combination of humans and spirits. They both have domains and magical power. Plus if the soul and a sporit are combined that would explain the personality change

> Don't ask right now but remember to pry into the subject later.
> "Sure." Start experimenting
> Ask your resident expert in natural magic, Hiss, if she's ever seen anything like this before.

"Sure," you say cautiously. What was that all about? What did Rock know? Hell, why the fuck did she never mention it before?
But you figure it's not worth making an issue of it right now. You can wait and try to get it out of one of them later.

Oster hands you a white twig stripped of bark, a little bit longer than your hand.
"This is all I managed to grab before Rock buried him, sorry."

"Buried?"

-With force.-

With a shrug you take a few steps back and start setting up your lab in the corner, shaking each part of it to restore it to its full size. Now, what are you going to about this?

Hiss saunters over to you as you're still getting everything ready. She stands over you, getting her shadow in the way.
"It's not alchemical, is it?"

"Don't know that yet for sure," you grunt. "Besides, what do you know about it?"

She lightly taps you on the head, just hard enough to hurt.
"Don't go back to being a moron, Cennen. I've dabbled a little and more importantly, I've had to tolerate an alchemist for months now. I think I'd know what alchemy feels like by now."

You sigh again.
"Not exactly a scholar, are you? But yes you're probably right. This isn't what alchemy usually does."

"Stumped, huh? Now if only you had an expert on natural magic around to help you, someone to help round out your useless tirumvirate of magic-users. Maybe she could give you all some advice."

You snap your fingers.
"You're right! But I can't ask Bunyip, he doesn't talk."

Your insolence is rewarded by Hiss kicking over one of your bottles, breaking it and grinding the glass beneath her boot.
"It's me, you dumb fuck."

"I know, I know," you laugh. As long as you're not directly opposing her you can still get away with a lot. So what do you think, then?"

1/2

"Oh, I know what it is," she purrs. "It seemed familiar to me but I've only just placed what it is. It's obvious really, a taste of home."

"Care to enlighten us?"

"I don't know, it certainly wouldn't actually help. The question is, what are you willing to do for me so I'd tell you?"
Great, she's flirting. At least the information must not be TOO important or she probably wouldn't be obstructing it for a game.

> Go along with it for now.

> Shrug her off and keep working. She'll tell you.

> Tell her that you know what it is (Specify)

> Tell her that this has really got to stop at some point.

> Nobble

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43677211
> Tell her that you know what it is (Specify)
>>43676927

>>43677211
>> Tell her that you know what it is (Specify)
Someone placed Bart's staff in that Keeper font didn't they?

>>43677238
This is probably right. Leaving the staff right next to the source of power was pretty dumb bt at least we didn't vote to do it

>>43677211
> Go along with it for now.
>"I can help you get Bart's soul"

>>43677238
>>43677256
>>43677269
But does Cennen know about keeper magic?

>>43677211
> Shrug her off and keep working. She'll tell you.

> Tell her that this has really got to stop at some point.

>>43677297
I kinda just assume that cennen knows all the info given to us in pastebins

>>43677336
This is more or less correct.

> Tell her that you know what it is (Specify)

"No thanks, I think I've figured it out. It's Keeper business, isn't it? Like the Duke."
Hiss glares down at you. You keep talking.
"It makes sense when you think about it. After all, I think we left his staff next to his locus in his old gardens."

"We did?"
Hiss looks genuinely surprised by this revelation.
"Was that what all that was about back in Melire?"

"You didn't know?"

"No! We didn't all have a staff in our head feeding us tidbits, you know! Why the fuck did you leave the staff there?"

"I was going to do something with it...I think, but you were grabbing at me and trying to get me out. Thanks for that, by the way."

"You're welcome. Still, I didn't know what was going on there, just that you'd been ensnared by the staff."
Hiss starts to pace around you.

"Then how did you know it was Keeper magic then?"

"Because I knew the Duke, duh. Well, not personally but still. Did you think the two major powers of the forest could ever be unaware of each other? He and my father had a deal where the Duke would help cloak Snakehome from human eyes."

"Really? What did he get out of that?"

"He was permitted to live. In truth, I think my father appreciated someone taming the forest. So yeah, I know a little about his magic and this strikes me as something similar."


> Ask her more about what she knows.

> Go tell everyone else about this.

> Keep brewing.

> "What are we going to do about it, then?"

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43677620
>> Ask her more about what she knows.
> "What are we going to do about it, then?"

>>43677620
> Ask her more about what she knows.
> Keep brewing.
> "What are we going to do about it, then?"

>>43677620
> Ask her more about what she knows.
> Keep brewing.
Whip up an identification potion while we're talking to see if it divulges any more information.
> "What are we going to do about it, then?"

>>43677620
> Ask her more about what she knows.
> "What are we going to do about it, then?"
> "I think it's safe to assume that Bart must be pretty up to date about Snakehome by now"

>>43677620
> Ask her more about what she knows.
> Keep brewing.

> Ask her more about what she knows.
> Keep brewing.
> "What are we going to do about it, then?

You start cooking up an identification potion as you talk, the first stage of any tentative experimentation.
"What else do you know about it?"

"Not a lot. I'm not surprised that those fools never guessed it, it's supposed to be extinct. Or at the very least, very old. Very, very old."

"As old as-"

Hiss cuts your question off.
"Older."

"You didn't know what I was going to say!"

"It doesn't matter. It's older than us, older than my father, older than dragons. It predates Creation."

"How can anything predate Creation?"

She shrugs.
"Do I look like I care about the details? Something had to be here before the world was given life, you know."

"Alright, old. I can work with that. But what does it actually do?"

"Not a lot. I mean, nothing very flashy. Or at least not immediately so. It's slow and subtle but it grows from the land itself. The practitioner makes a bond with the land, some piece of land that still has the magic in it. And as long as they keep their contract fulfilled, they continue to siphon power. In time, they become part of the land itself."

"Right. But what does it actually DO?"

"Watch your tone."
Her words make you instinctively shrink back from her as if she had struck you.
"And I don't really know. They can hide things, they can make things grow. They can do something to distance. But all of their power is tied into their dominion, they can't do much outside of it."

"Really? Because it doesn't look like that stopped Bart."

"But Bart didn't actually use it against us, did he? He just used it as a vessel to perform his usual wizardry. And if there's more than one, he must be growing them somewhere in his grove. That's all I know."

You curse as you nearly knock the brewing Identification Potion over, spilling a few drops to the ground.
"It must be safe to assume that Bart is pretty up to date about Snakehome then too?"

1/2

>>43677997
"What? No. The Duke probably still holds the forest, Cennen. Bart just has his...gardens? I don't know the purpose of that place, it might have just been his experimentation before he moved to the forest. The wizard shouldn't know anything about the forest."

"Uh, I meant more that if he's sitting right in the middle of Melire then he's probably gotten to at least one person who knows about Snakehome. There was a lot of them there, you know."

"Ah right," Hiss groans. "That whole city was a real fuck-up on your part and no mistake."

You decide not to contest the matter and instead turn back to your brewing.
"So what are we going to do about it then? He's just going to keep scrying us down and sending vessels to kill us."

"What kind of question is that? We go to Melire and kill him, obviously."

"In the center of his power? That doesn't sound wise."

"It'll be fine," Hiss scoffs. "He's no match for me, dominion or no dominion."

"Because I was thinking that maybe we could avoid Melire and ask help from the Du..."
You trail off at Hiss' expression.

"No. We are not asking for help and we are certainly not going home prematurely."

"It doesn't have to be pr-"

"No. That's an order."
Your mouth closes itself.

> Agree with her. The direct approach is the best.

> Continue to argue.

Apologies for the delays by the way, I'm using a different computer since my old one broke. Still getting used to the keyboard.

>>43678126
> Continue to argue.

>>43678126
> Continue to argue.
can we at least try to find a priest or tell Eugene about this then?

>>43678126
> Continue to argue.
> "Alright, we don't ask for help. But you saw what one of those things can do on its own. If we just charge in we're dead for sure."

>>43678164
Really? You mean the one you got some weeks ago?

>>43678126
> Agree with her. The direct approach is the best.
We need some protection from scrying at least. Maybe Eugene can help with that.
>>43678246
Huh? Why a priest?

>>43678277
There's something wrong the motherboard. Well that and where I live is very dusty, I go through electronics at a somewhat faster rate

>>43678278
Spirits might no and I'd want to ask inner notHiss, but that may be a bad idea.

>>43678339
This whole deal has nothing to do with spirits

> Continue to argue.

"I wouldn't call it asking for help but you just said that they're strongest on their own land. We can't just charge in at him, we'd need to enlist help."

Hiss shakes her head.
"Maybe we can lure him out."

"He's a staff. And also not an idiot. I'm just saying, maybe we go home first. You can kill your father then and we can handle the whole Melire situation afterwards. How about that?"

Hiss looks uneasy.
"Maybe. We wouldn't be getting the Duke's help. Just advice."

"Of course."
That was easier than you expected.

"We really are going to have to do something about that insubordinate streak of yours."

"It's why you like me."

You identify the twig as possessing properties similiar to the Devil's Eyes, something alchemically bland but capable of boosting the power of any brew it's placed in.
Are all Keeper-influenced plants like this?

> Use it to brew something (Specify)

> Experiment with something else while you're here.

> Go talk to the others.

> It's time we got out of here. People will be coming soon.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43678479
> Use it to brew something (Specify)
Dispel.

>>43678479
Brew a soulsight to check out Eugenes soul. It's probably our last chance

>>43678479
>Save it for later
> Go talk to the others.
While we're still here, maybe we should see if we can do something (within reason) for Eugene. This is the second time we've stayed with him and both times it's ended up in tragedy.

At the very least we should avoid pissing off another wizard.

>>43678627
This. Then
> Go talk to the others.

Change
>>43678554
to >>43678627
Also, is the boost in quality or in magnitude?

>>43678627
I don't wanna use the twig, just to be clear

>Save it for later
>Brew a Soulsight

"Hey Hiss, can I borrow some of your blood?"

Hiss chuckles and lets you prick her hand. It does her good to be reminded of how much your power hinges on hers, you feel.
And with that blood, you cook together a Soulsight as quickly as you can, keeping one eye on Eugene as he speaks with Rock and Oster. You're still curious about what's going on with him.

You drink it as quickly as possible, before anyone can notice. Ugh. The 'sight is as uncomfortable as ever, allowing you to glance over the twisted shadow that is Hiss and then to the people beyond.

Oster is as shriveled as ever but you spy, with some pride, that his wounds are finally beginning to close. Beside him is Rock, radiant and hollow.

And beyond the two of them is Eugene, completely and utterly barren. He blends in with the background, leaking no light or giving any sign that he is alive.
Instead, something wrong twists inside of him. It claws away at his insides, a contorted parody of a soul that has no power. Looking at him makes you sick.

> Keep looking. Investigate more thoroughly.

> Deactivate the Soulsight.

> Yell 'What the fuck is wrong with you?'

> Other

>>43678948
> Keep looking. Investigate more thoroughly.

>>43678948
> Keep looking. Investigate more thoroughly.

>>43678948
> Keep looking. Investigate more thoroughly.
I don't really understand why soulsight fucks us up so much. You'd think we would get used to it considering how often we drink it.

>>43678948
> Keep looking. Investigate more thoroughly.
> mfw it stares back

>>43678948
> Keep looking. Investigate more thoroughly.
Does it resemble a fucked up spirit or something?

>>43679035
Perhaps we could make a enhanced soulsight? Same great taste you love, now with 77% more not-pain!

>>43679153
Yeah we need to modify it somehow

> Keep looking. Investigate more thoroughly.

You feel a little dizzy. You thought you had better command of the Soulsight than this. Though maybe in this case, it's more of what you're looking at than anything else.

The thing inside him doesn't glow, it doesn't radiate a presence. Even Hiss does that. This is just there.
And unlike souls, you perceive it with a form. It has arms and legs and pale skin. You'd say that it moves bonelessly but that's not quite true as you hear the sound of bones breaking every time it contorts itself further. Since when could you hear things from the Soulsight?

You can't see Hiss anymore. Or Rock. Or Oster. The rest of the world fades from your vision, leaving just the thing in front of you as it continues its bone-breaking dance.
Its skin bloats and tears, exposing nothing.

>Roll a 1d100. Accepting the highest of the first 3 rolls.

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>43679191
2spooky

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>43679191
Oh shit! Blink!

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>43679191

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>43679191

>>43679230
Even now, you don't feel afraid. Or much of anything, really. Only further and further fascinated by the thing in front of you.
It inspires revulsion but only in the most academic of senses.

So you don't look away just yet. And that lets you see further, held by compulsion.
The thing you see is illusion, a natural defense. But against what? The Sight? People like you? Something to rot your minds and cleanse your brains.
But you are immune to that so in time even that peels away and you see what truly lies within.

It's a gateway, a portal shaped like a man. That's all Eugene is. And through him, you can see something bright and tremendous, far too large to be seen properly through the Eugene-shaped window.
The twisted figure is gone, illusions dispelled. And you know that in this space without space, you could reach out and touch what lies beyond.

> Touch

> Blink

>>43679370
> Touch
...what

>>43679230
For future reference, this is a failed roll

>>43679370
> Blink
Shit man I don't know

>>43679370
Oh shit dude, I don't know...
> Blink
Pussy out, seen enough wizards to know this won't end well

>>43679370
> Blink

>>43679370
> Blink

This makes me uncomfortable in ways difficult to quantify. Let's not and say we didn't.

>>43679370
>Blink

There's no way this can end well.

>>43679370
> Yell 'What the fuck is wrong with you?'

Fuuuuuuuckkkkkkk Wizards. This is some old Lovecraft shit right here.

>Blink

You can smell flowers.

You blink. You blink again. You blink a third time.

And Hiss slaps you across the face, hard enough to knock you from your seated position onto the ground. Everything hurts.
"Pay attention to me when I'm talking to you!"

"Uh," you say. You try to open your eyes.

"I mean really, it's one thing to be so unruly but to actually ignore me? To be quite honest, you deserve a lot more than just that."

"Um." You try to open your eyes.

"Consider yourself lucky."

Ah, your eyes are open. But you're not seeing anything save for a vaguely Hiss-colored blur in front of you.
You appear to have been struck mostly blind. You blink again, stars in what little vision you have left. Looks like it might be a while before it goes away.

> Stay calm

> Panic

> Tell Hiss what happened.

> Try to brew a cure.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43679646
> Use Potion (Specify)
Heal-all? And hope it does what it says on the tin.

>>43679646
> Tell Hiss what happened.

>>43679646
> Stay calm
> Tell Hiss what happened.
Just whisper it, Eugene might get butthurt if he knows we looked at his soul

>>43679646
>Stay calm
>Talk to Hiss but don't tell her the specifics
>Ask Rock about this later

Especially considering Rock's tone with Eugene earlier, I think asking her first would be the best idea.

>>43679646
> Stay calm
> Tell Hiss what happened.
> Thank Hiss

>>43679646
>> Panic
>> Tell Hiss what happened.

>>43679646
>>43679779

No Game Overs, we've come to far for that. D;

>>43679646
> Panic
> Tell Hiss what happened.
Short version: "Hiss, help! I stared at the abyss for too long, It tried to get me and now I'm blind!"

> Stay calm
> Tell Hiss what happened.

"Thanks Hiss," you mutter. "Thanks for hitting me."

"Eh? Oh, I've always known you must have liked it!" She sounds overjoyed.

"No! You helped wake me up."

"What? Explain."

You tell her about what happened, about looking at Eugene with the Soulsight and then peering further and further.
"...and now I'm blind. Mostly. It should wear off, my vision's slowly getting better."

"What the fuck is wrong with him?"
You can't see her properly but you don't need to. She's pissed off.
"Stay here Cennen, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. Maybe I should gouge out his eyes, do you think that would be fair?"

The black-and-red blur begins to move away.

> "Please don't do that."

> Grab onto her.

> "Don't do that last part. But maybe raking him over the coals would do him some good."

> "Fuck him up!"

> Other

>>43679978
> "Please don't do that."
> Grab onto her.

>>43679978
> "Please don't do that."
> Grab onto her.

It wasn't his idea, it was ours. And the last thing we need is another angry wizard.

>>43679978
> "Please don't do that."
> Grab onto her.

>>43679978
> Grab onto her.
> "Please don't do that."
What happened to the thing that was in place of Bart's soul? Does Hiss still have it?

>>43680056
Yes, she does.

>>43680081
Nice, we should check it out later

>>43679978
>> "Please don't do that."
not like he actually did anything this time

> "Please don't do that."
> Grab onto her.

You reach out blindly, hugging your arms around her legs as she stumbles forward. For a moment she drags you with her without even noticing before stopping.
"Please don't do that, Hiss. It's not like he actually did anything this time."

"Hah! He deserves it anyway, just for the inconvenience. But I suppose you'll take any excuse to get between my legs, wouldn't you?"
She chuckles at her own bad joke, still trying to shake you off.
"No really, you can let go now. I'm not going to hurt him."

> Try to brew like this.

> Call someone else over (Specify)

> Ask Hiss about Bart's soul.

> Keep hanging on.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43680190
> Ask Hiss about Bart's soul.

>>43680190
> Ask Hiss about Bart's soul.

>>43680190
>Ask Hiss about Bart's soul.

>>43680190
> Ask Hiss about Bart's soul.

>>43680190
>> Ask Hiss about Bart's soul.
>> try heal all

File: rape_intensifies.gif (625 KB, 640x360)

625 KB GIF

>>43680190
>"Eh? Oh, I've always known you must have liked it!"
>But I suppose you'll take any excuse to get between my legs, wouldn't you?"

Domme snek, best snek.

> Ask Hiss about Bart's soul.

You blink and let go, Hiss slipping out of your grip with ease. You can vaguely see her lie down beside you, stretching out and then dumping her legs in your lap.
"Since you're not going anywhere anyway," she yawns.

Unfortunately for her, you're thinking of other things. What you saw inside Eugene is still etched onto the underside of your eyelids.
"Hey Hiss, do you have Bart's soul?"

"No. Never did."

"You know what I mean."

"I still have his weird replacement, if that's what you mean. I always thought it was just ballast or something to weight him down while his real soul was in the staff."

"Well, I wouldn't know anything about that but...what do you get from it? You know, when you taste it?"

"Nothing. It's completely useless to me. Inert. Might as well not be there."

> Ask her to vomit it back up.

> Ask her to vomit it into a receptacle (Specify)

> Ask to speak to her inner Hiss.

> Ask her to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.

> Ask her to get off you.

> Other (Specify)

>>43680425
>> Ask her to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.
this should be amusing

>>43680425
> Ask her to vomit it into a receptacle (Specify)
One of our useless Quedeshi coins I guess

>>43680425
> Ask to speak to her inner Hiss.
I think she resembles whatever the thing inside Eugene is

>>43680425
> Ask to speak to her inner Hiss
I wanna go check it out while my eyes heal

>>43680425
> Ask her to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.

>>43680425
> Ask her to vomit it into a receptacle (Specify)
bottle

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Looks like a threeway tie between asking for a heal-all, vomiting the soul out and asking to see inner Hiss. 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 respectively.

>>43680703
This won't go well
maybe say if we can figure out what's up with the weird wizard soul then we can have an advantage against bart

>>43680703
>Ask to speak to her inner Hiss

"Yeah, I guess it might not be too useful. I just wish there was somebody else to talk to this about, somebody who knows about the soul."

Hiss snorts and you are hyper-aware of her moving her boots around in your lap.
"Too bad there's nobody here who's more of an expert than I am."

"Or is there?"

Hiss' feet stop moving.
"No. Don't you even dare, Cennen."

"She might know!"

"It's not THAT important. And lest you forget, I have to go down there with you. No thanks!"

"Bu-"

"That is an order, Cennen. You are forbidden to speak to her without my permission."

Roll a 1d100. Counting the highest of the top 3.

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>43680757

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>43680757
Let's go on a field trip.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>43680757

>>43680770
You try to keep speaking but your mouth is unable to move. That's it then. You can't speak to her without Hiss' permission.
You can't see Hiss but you can basically FEEL the smirk regardless.
"That's more like it. It's about time you actually started doing what you're told."

You can't even argue the point with her. And why bother? She's probably right.


> Ask Hiss to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.

> Ask Hiss to vomit Bart's 'soul' into a bottle.

> Ask her to leave.

> Call somebody else over.

> Nobble

> Rebel

> Other

>>43680865
>Rebel
>Nobble

Sorry Hiss, we love you.

But we also love knowing what the fuck just happened.

>>43680865
Well, we DO need her compliance to even reach her, but whatever

> Ask Hiss to vomit Bart's 'soul' into a bottle.
Leaving the rebel option for later

>>43680865
> Ask Hiss to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.
I'm regretting wasting so much time on this stuff

>>43680865
> Ask Hiss to vomit Bart's 'soul' into a bottle.
> Rebel


This is why Princess is a shit.

>>43680865
>> Ask Hiss to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.
>>rebel slightly
ah you're probably right

>>43680865
Expert princess was the best decision. Not only the first time but this time as well.

>>43680865
> Ask Hiss to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.
>>43680916
Yeah this has been a frustrating thread. We should've just touched the weird gateway to figure this out.

>>43680916
>>43680970
Looking with the Soulsight was entirely a write-in, you can't pin this one on me. Writan

> Ask Hiss to give you a heal-all since you can't see where the potions are.

You decide to let Hiss have this for now. What's more important is that you are still fucking blind.
"Hey Hiss, can you hand me a heal-all? I have a bunch."

"Fine."
Hiss gets off you and you hear her rifling around in your pack.
"Which one is the heal-all?"

"How can you not know? I used to give them to you daily!"

"Yeah and what? Am I supposed to taste them? I'd rather not die Cennen."

"No, I mean, don't you remember what they look like? They're red. Look for the red liquid."

"There's a lot of red potions here. You should try to color-code these better. I know you can do that."

"It's not usually a priority," you grumble.

"Alright, I'm pretty sure this is it."
A bottle is pushed into your hands. You can't see it very well but you think its red.

> Drink it

> Ask Hiss to drink it first.

> Abstain for now.

> Find a different way to test it (Specify)

> Ask Hiss to give you every red potion she can find.

> Other

>>43681099
> Drink it

>>43681099
>> Abstain for now.

>>43681099
> Hiss, Are you color blind?
> Try to identify the smell

>>43681099
> Abstain for now.
Let's just wait for our sight to return a little bit and then drink one when we can confirm it

Sorry about the delay, was (almost) finishing up a pastebin. It's here btw in case you're interested in a bunch of excess worldbuilding that probably will never actually matter to the Quest itself.
http://pastebin.com/0y9mT5nR

Writan for >Abstain for now

> Abstain for now.

You do your best to peer at the bottle in your hands before shaking your head.
"No thanks, I think I'll abstain for now."

"What, now my judgement isn't good enough?"

"Would YOU trust your potion judgement?"

"Fair call. That's more your fault than mine though."

"If you say so."

"I know so."
You feel Hiss press up behind you, her hands on your shoulders.
"What's it like being blind?"

"Not as uh, dark as I thought it would be. Everything is just a blur."

"Can you see this?"

"...No?"
You're not sure what she's doing. Your unspoken question is answered a moment later when she sticks her finger into your face from where it had been apparently hovering just out of your sphere of vision.
"Ow! Yes, I see it now. Not very well but I see it."

"Well, that makes you basically useless right now. More than you were before anyway. What am I supposed to do with you?"

> You just want to sit here and wait it out.

> Ask her to take you somewhere else.

> Tell her that we should probably move now before the mansion is overrun.

> Ask her to go get Eugene and see if he can do anything.

> Pray.

> Other

>>43681444
> Tell her that we should probably move now before the mansion is overrun.

>>43681444
>> Tell her that we should probably move now before the mansion is overrun.

>>43681444
> Tell her that we should probably move now before the mansion is overrun.
Timeskip to non-blindness pls

>>43681444
>> Tell her that we should probably move now before the mansion is overrun.

>>43681444
> Tell her that we should probably move now before the mansion is overrun.
> "You get to be my walking stick!"

>>43681524
I wouldn't recommend that phrasing

> Tell her that we should probably move now before the mansion is overrun.

"I don't know but we should probably get moving. We can't afford to hang around."

"You're right, he's probably sending another assassin to this location as we speak."

"...Yeah and because people saw all of this happen. They might be staying away now out of fear but the moment the Guard gets here we're going to be in a lot of trouble."

"Also true. Up you stand."

She pulls you upright, forcing you to hold onto her as you can't see shit.
"Looks like you get to be my walking stick, Hiss."

"Oh hell no."
She sweeps out your legs with one of her own before catching you in her arms. You're being held against her chest or at least you think you are, it's really all still a blur. It feels nice though.

"Hey, what about my lab? And my potions?"

"I'll get Oster to do something with them, fuck it. Hey, Oster! Round up the menagerie, we're leaving!"

You can't do much as she proceeds to carry you to what might be a wagon. Or actually, considering that it's in the city, it's probably a carriage.
She sets you down inside and you hear a loud thunk followed by a meaty ripping sound outside at the front of it. About where the driver would be, if this was a carriage.
When Hiss sits back beside you again, she smells like blood.
"Alright Oster, you know how to do this right? Neat. You stay still Cennen. It's my duty to make sure my subjects are taken care of."
You feel her arm snake around your shoulders, holding you immobile.

When does your blindness wear off?

> When we're still in the city.

> At the border.

> When we're well out of Taldenral.

> Later that night.

> Other

>>43681642
> At the border.

>>43681642
>> When we're well out of Taldenral.
in it for the long haul

>>43681642
> When we're well out of Taldenral.

>>43681642
> At the border.

>>43681642
> At the border.
More time to brew is always nice.

>>43681642
> At the border.
Hiss' been playng GTA

> At the border.

You sit in the carriage for what feels like at least a few hours. Sometimes Hiss is there, sometimes she's not. You get the feeling that she's taking care of things in the way she does best.
Once that idea would have filled you with dread. But now you're just happy that you don't have to do anything. It feels good to be relegated to the background. Soothing, almost. You get in a few good hours of sleep this way.

When you wake, the world resolves itself before you and you can see once more. You're sitting in the carriage alone and you can hear the bustle of the city all around you. Or more accurately, you can hear it just slightly behind you.
You can hear Hiss' voice from out ahead. She doesn't sound happy about something.

You decide to pop open the door and poke your head out but as you do so, someone grabs your hand.

You look down to find a redhaired young woman in a blue dress kneeling by the road. It's Aina. She's breathing heavily as if she'd just run a race. For all you know she might have.
"Wait," she wheezes. "We need to talk."

> Invite her in, this is awkward.

> Stand outside with her.

> "You told me all I needed to know last time we spoke." Shut the door.

> Other

>>43681915
> Stand outside with her.

>>43681915
> Stand outside with her.
inb4 guard attack

>>43681915
> Stand outside with her.

>>43681915
> Stand outside with her.
Did she run all the way behind us?

> Stand outside with her.

You climb out of the carriage and your boots hit the cobblestones. The sun is high in the sky, it's certainly come a long way from being repeatedly ambushed in the night.

You can't see Hiss or Oster anywhere but it sounds like they're up ahead. Arguing with a bunch of wall-guards about something. It doesn't sound urgent, it just sounds like Hiss...being Hiss.
However you can see Aashenpreet in the crowd behind you. She's watching furtively from behind a corner. Or at least, she's trying to be furtive.
Aina looks up at you, her face contrite.
"Look, about what I said to you earlier..."

> "It's fine, I know you didn't mean it."

> "Where's Liss?"

> "Did you run all the way behind us?"

> Stare at Aashenpreet.

> Other

>>43682042

> "Where's Liss?"

> "Did you run all the way behind us?"

> Stare at Aashenpreet.

>>43682042
> "Did you run all the way behind us?"

> "Where's Liss?"

>>43682042
> Stare at Aashenpreet.

>>43682042

> "Did you run all the way behind us?"
> Stare at Aashenpreet.

>>43682042
> "It's fine, I know you didn't mean it."
> Apologize for getting them involved in so much trouble
> Stare at Aashenpreet.
Is Hiss trying to ditch Aash here?

>>43682042
>> "Where's Liss?"
>> "Did you run all the way behind us?"
>> Stare at Aashenpreet.

>>43682113
I'm willing to believe she actually forgot about her

>Basically all of the above

"It's alright, I know you didn-wait, did you run all the way behind us?"

"M-maybe," Aina pants. "That bitch didn't want to wait for me."

She doesn't name any names but you can guess who she means here.
"So why are you here? And where's Liss?"

"I had to leave her behind with the Lady. Though I guess she's not MY lady anymore. I'm out of a job. And a home."

You wince.
"Yeah, sorry about that."

"No, that's why I'm here. It's not your fault. I wanted to apologize about what I said to you before."

"It's okay."

"It's not! And I'm sorry. It's just that everything has been so...eh, lately. Liss has always taken care of me but lately I have to do it for her and I never know what to do. I just felt so bad and I snapped. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, it's fine. You of all people have nothing to apologize for. And you don't have to do this all on your own. You still have Liss to help you even if uh...she isn't...um..."
Whoops.

Aina doesn't even seem to notice.
"Nah. I don't know what's wrong with Liss. She's just given up. She just lies there and says nothing and I try to talk to her but she's not the same person. And I just want her to be like she was before she me-...got hurt."
The unspoken words 'before she met you' hang almost visibly in the air above her head. Aina looks around awkwardly, still having trouble breathing.
"Anyway, um, yes. I just wanted to apologize. And to thank you again for all you've done."
She says the words automatically, as if she'd learned them by rote.
Suspicious, you look up from her and stare straight at Aashenpreet. She ducks behind the corner guiltily.

> Pray for her to get her butt out here.

> Tell Aina it's fine, she doesn't owe you anything.

> Give her something.

> Say goodbye.

> Other

>>43682269

> Pray for her to get her butt out here.
> Tell Aina it's fine, she doesn't owe you anything.

>>43682269
> Pray for her to get her butt out here.
> Tell Aina it's fine, she doesn't owe you anything.
> Give her something.
Journeyman alchemy book. Her mother was an alchemist right? Maybe one of them inherited the art.

I've archived early btw since I've been forgetting to do that properly lately.

>>43682154
This is correct.

>>43682269
> Pray for her to get her butt out here.
> Tell Aina it's fine, she doesn't owe you anything.
> Give her something.
We can give her the rest of our heal-alls and brew more on the road.

>>43682323
Ooooh good idea!

>>43682269
>>43682323
This

>>43682269
>> Pray for her to get her butt out here.
oh venerable serpent, relocate your posterior into my sight.

>>43682269
> Pray for her to get her butt out here.
> Tell Aina it's fine, she doesn't owe you anything.
> Give her something.
All the Heal Alls we have, and the Journeyman Alchemy Book.

>>43682323
Write down the heal-all recipe for her too

>>43682381
For Christ sake anon! She's a lady!

> Pray for her to get her butt out here.
> Tell Aina it's fine, she doesn't owe you anything.
> Give her something.

You peer at where Aashenpreet was before making a quick prayer demanding she get out here and explain herself. Well, not demanding so much since that's hard to do with prayer but it's at least a very strident plea to relocate her honored posterior into your sight.
She peeks out once more, blushing furiously. You don't think she's accustomed to being prayed at with that sort of language. No, you imagine the few human supplicants at her shrine were more respectful.
Tough luck.

"It's fine, Aina. You don't owe me anything. In fact, let me help make it up to you."
You reach back into the carriage and rummage through your pack, noticing with dismay the way Oster must have handled everything. You find all three of the Journeyman volumes Master Yolan gave to you so long ago, still slightly water-damaged.

Aina starts when she sees the title of the three books.
"I don't deserve these!"

"I didn't deserve these either, not when they were given to me. It's up to you to become someone who does. Hell, I'm still trying."
Would Master Yolan be happy with how you've put his knowledge to use? With him in mind, you also give her your remaining Heal-alls.
"For Liss."

"I-I wouldn't know the first thing to do with these," she stutters.

"Maybe Art runs in the family."

"...The family," she mumbles uncertainly. When she looks up again, she has a look of determination on her face.
"Speaking of which....what happened to Ophi?"

> Write-In

>>43682491
He stayed in Quedesh

>>43682504
This, I guess...

>>43682491
>>43682504
This, he found his calling in life and joined a circus

>>43682491
he died on the voyage. helping the ship through a storm.

>>43682571
Circus? Really anon? Just say coffee was a big hit over in Quedesh so he decided to stay

>He stayed behind

Oh shit, what do you say here? You think of a lie as quickly as you can.
"He stayed behind in Quedesh. It was his choice. Coffee turned out to be a big hit over there!"

Aina looks positively heartbroken.
"Did he at least mention us?"

"No?"
You're not sure why he would have.

"I guess he was just scum to the end, huh? He always said he was going to take responsibility and he never did."

To strengthen the lie, you do your best to nod sagaciously.
"He always struck me as a man running away from something."

"No kidding," she mutters darkly. She turns around and for a moment you think it's because she's about to leave. But no, you see her shoulders trembling.
You put her arm around her as she finally cries. She used to do a lot more when you first met her, you suppose now she has a lot of it held back.

"There, there," you say lamely.

This continues for several more minutes, the crowd doing their best to uncomfortably ignore you. You spot Aashenpreet standing out in the open, watching the two of you with a very awkward expression.
"I'm sorry," she says eventually. "I'm making a scene."

"No worries, there's nothing wrong with having a cry. You shouldn't ever have to feel like you shouldn't."

"Do you cry?"

You shrug.
"No, not really. But that's a me thing, not a you thing. You do you. And besides, the people I hang around with probably wouldn't appreciate me doing it."
For starters, Hiss would probably mock you mercilessly.

She laughs a little, apparently having the same mental image as you.
"I used to have a crush on you, would you believe it?"

You let go of her.
"What?"

"Wasn't it obvious? It was just a silly girl thing, with who you appeared to be. But now I know you're a very different person than that."

"Oh, sorry."
This is all very awkward.

"No, that's a good thing. Bye."
She walks away, wearily but with a small skip in her step.
Leaving just Aashenpreet behind.

"You. You put her up to this, didn't you?"

1/2

>>43682715
"Not...that," Aash says. 'I distinctly said no crying! But yes, I told her that she should probably make her peace with you before you leave. Who knows when she's going to see you again?"

"Huh. Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

There's an extended silence between the two of you, interrupted only by Hiss shouting obscenities up ahead of you.
"So...."

"So I'm sorry too," she says. "I said something very rude earlier today. I tried to cast doubt on your love, something which for the record I am going to say is STILL twisted and self-destructive but is still very real. And so on and so on."

"You don't sound too convinced."

Aashenpreet throws up her hands in disgust.
"What do you want?"

"No, it's fine. Apology accepted."

-See, I told you that this would work.-
Rock peeks up from where she had been hidden away inside Aashenpreet's blouse.

"Wait. So you told Aashenpreet to apologize and she told Aina to apologize?"

-Yes. I am the apology mastermind. I have mastered your mortal social conventions.-

"Thanks, I guess? But why?"

-You two are the only people here that I can tolerate. I won't have you not talking to each other over something stupid.-

"Fair enough."


> Go see what's taking Hiss so long.

> Just sit back in the carriage.

> Talk with Aashenpreet and Rock a little more.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43682824
>> Talk with Aashenpreet and Rock a little more.

>>43682824
> Go see what's taking Hiss so long.

>>43682824
>> Talk with Aashenpreet and Rock a little more.
but if looks like shit is going to get hot at the gate try to cool things off

>>43682824
> Go see what's taking Hiss so long.
Hopefully the bloodstained carriage isn't a problem

>>43682824

> Go see what's taking Hiss so long.
Let's see the Expert Princess doing something helpful for a change

>>43682824
>> Go see what's taking Hiss so long.
I want to talk to ash and rock but ouro has scared me into never letting hiss be alone with people

> Go see what's taking Hiss so long.

You wander around the front of the carriage, only to find that the problem seems to have resolved itself. Hiss is holding the bag of gold that Tanni gave you in front of the guards.
You can't help but notice that one of the guards seems to have been knocked out cold.
Oster is standing warily behind her.

She waves the bag tauntingly, the eye of each guard following her. They probably would have 'confiscated' it from her by now but something seems to make them keep their distance. In fact no, they seem almost spellbound.
"So you agree to let us pass without question for all this gold, right?"

"Yes."

"And you agree to enter my service for this bag of gold right?"

"Yes. Wait, what do yo-"
They seem confused, bamboozled as if they'd had a little too much to drink.

"Deal!"
Hiss throws the bag of gold at them.
"Now pull down your pants and do a funny dance."

"What?"
But despite their horrified expressions, they start doing it.

"Yeah, you agreed! I basically own all three of you now. Forever. Now give me the gold back and let us through."

You're not sure what to say about any of this.

> Just get in the carriage and don't say anything.

> Tell Hiss to stop it.

> Let her have her fun.

> Other

>>43683062
Oh god she's turning into an unclassy Tanni

>Hiss can we get going now? Please, or do you want you know who to find us again?

>>43683062
> Just get in the carriage and don't say anything.
fucking expert princess...

>>43683062
> Just get in the carriage and don't say anything.

>>43683062
> Tell Hiss to stop it.

>>43683062
>> Let her have her fun.

>>43683062
> Just get in the carriage and don't say anything.

>>43683062
> Tell Hiss to stop it.
Now, Hiss, nobody likes a tyrant

>>43683110
>>43683142
>>43683231
>condoning this

>>43683062
> Tell Hiss to stop it.
or
>>43683096

> Just get in the carriage and don't say anything.

You just get back into the carriage without saying anything. Aashenpreet is already sitting there, Rock on her shoulder. And as the carriage starts to move again, Hiss joins you too. She sits down opposite you, the bag of gold still in her hands. She frowns when she sees Aashenpreet.
"You. Out."

And to your surprise, Aash actually gets out of the carriage. She's cringing slightly and you get the feeling that Hiss might have hit her again while you were asleep.
"Don't worry about her," Hiss says. "She can just sit at the back, there's a thing for people there."

You sigh.
"Did you have to do all that?"

"Do all what? With the guards? Naturally. They were being very disrespectful. And I'm a princess you know, princess of the only royal blood that matters. People have to be respectful of me and those who willingly enter my service have to do what I say. It's basically a law."

"It was a bit unclassy, wasn't it?"

Hiss laughs at you.
"Don't worry, they're fine. Most of them. I don't know if you saw but before all that I sort of lost my temper and...ate one."

You think back to the guard you had thought was unconscious. You suppose that's what everyone else had thought as well.

> Ask her to spit that soul out.

> Tell her that you don't approve.

> "So what are we going to do about Bart?"

> Tell her it's fine, everyone is already her subject anyway. They just don't know it yet.

> "Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Nobble

> Other (Specify)

>>43683267
> "Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."
> Tell her that you don't approve.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

>>43683267
> Tell her that you don't approve.
Of how she handled the guards, and her attitude to Aash.
> "Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."

>>43683267
> Tell her that you don't approve.
> "Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."
> "How long will you be able to hold onto your reign like this?"

>>43683267
>> "Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."
or more specifically you can go about this in way that won't make people automatically resentful of you.

>>43683267
> Tell her that you don't approve.
> "Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."
I didn't want to make a scene but that's an awful use of your power. Treating others like that is beneath someone as strong as you.

>>43683267
>"Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."
> Tell her that you don't approve.

> Tell her that you don't approve.
> "Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss."

"Nobody likes a tyrant, Hiss. If you keep doing that you're going to find it hard to hold onto your reign."

"Of course you don't approve, that's basically your job Cennen. I mean, aside from making me potions and warming my bed. You just follow me around on my quest and tell me you disapprove of everything I do. And you know what? Sometimes it makes me rethink things. So really, you're very useful in all three aspects."

"Thank you. I think you should think about it tho-"

"It makes me wonder though. What if I just ordered you to approve of everything I do? What would happen then?"

You go very still. Can she actually do that? Surely not.
"You could try. I don't think it'd work. Like you said, it's my job."

Hiss nods, her expression pensive.
"Probably for the best that I don't try. I need you around to keep me grounded."

You try your best at a joke to ease the tension.
"You better be careful all the same. I might accidentally nobble you again."

It's an awful joke but Hiss laughs anyway.
"Try it. No seriously, try your best. I'm not afraid of you anymore, Cennen. And I know you will never use your wishes to hurt me."

> Try to nobble her.

> Pretend to nobble her.

> "So what are we going to do about Bart?"

> Go back to sleep, you're tired.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43683494
>> Pretend to nobble her.
> Use Potion (Specify)
Potence surreptitiously.

>>43683494
Challenge accepted. I'll nobble you when you least expect it. When were you ever afraid of me though?
> "So what are we going to do about Bart?"

>>43683494
> "So what are we going to do about Bart?"
And during the discussion
> Try to nobble her.

> And I know you will never use your wishes to hurt me
Dark times ahead

>>43683494
> "So what are we going to do about Bart?"
> I'd like to take a look at his... not-soul, please.

>>43683494
>"So what are we going to do about Bart?"
also we should say something like " why would i want you to fear me?"

>>43683561
She owes us a wish, lets use it to get her permission to speak with spirit hiss

>"So what are we going to do about Bart?"

"Challenge accepted. But not now, I'll do it when you least expect it."

She smirks.
"I'd expect nothing less from you, Snakecatcher."

"Just one thing...you said you weren't afraid of me. When were you ever afraid of me?"

She goes a deep red and refuses to answer. You note that aside for later and decide to change the subject.

"And what are we going to do about Bart?"

"Oh him?"
She speaks as if she'd forgotten him.
"I think we'll avoid Melire for now. I strongarmed Eugene into decorating our carriage with a scryguard so we should be safe for the time being. We should settle my business back home first. What do you say?"

> Sounds fine.

> Disagree

>>43683669
>> Sounds fine.

>>43683669
> Sounds fine.

>>43683669
>Sounds fine.

>>43683669
> Sounds fine.
Why'd you change your mind may I ask? Because you said the exact opposite earlier.

>>43683669
Wait so we're headed directly to kill her father now? How long will it take to get there?

>>43683716
Because she listened to our input, obviously.

>>43683745
Not so sure, and if she did I want to hear it. Also we need to do that potenc thing to Hiss again, for reasons.

>Sounds fine.

"Sounds alright to me," you nod.

"Well isn't that dandy," Hiss says sarcastically. "I'm glad I got your approval."
The sarcasm might seem hurtful but you've known her for long enough to see the genuine emotion beneath. She's happy.

"So we're going for your f-"

Hiss interrupts you with a deliberate yawn.
"You sure like to flap your tongue a lot, don't you? Well don't worry..."
She reaches over and gently pushes you off your seat, depositing you on the floor in front of her. Her hand rests behind your head.
"I've got a better use for that."


The rest of the ride goes very well.

>>43683765
how horny has hiss been, sense the battle it seems like every time we've talked to here she's tried to get into our pants.

>>43683716
She listened to your input. She hasn't exactly admitted to this but she more or less did when she told you that it was your job to disapprove.

>>43683721
Well, why wouldn't you be? It's not like there's much else to be doing, it's her whole quest. That said, don't expect it next thread or something. It wouldn't be Snakecatcher if there weren't annoying complications that spring up in between of your location and the place you want to go.


Anyway, that's that for today. I hope you guys had fun, even if the thread sort of went in a weird place for a while because you stared at a wizard. I actually really like writing dopey character interactions sometimes and this thread had plenty so I hope you liked them as well.
Thread's already archived, check the twitter, blah blah blah.

Next thread won't be tomorrow because that's game night and it might not be the day after because that's the day I sleep in after game night.

>>43683802
Well you did just kill a wizard, sort of.
Hiss is canonically aroused the most by the destruction of her enemies, I've tried to keep this consistent throughout the quest.

That's only half a joke too.

>>43683765
Man, this sure is going to be unconfortable for Aash and Oster.

>>43683807
Thanks for running!

>>43683802
More Like have us get in hers

>>43683824
Hiss' response was the time we had sex while potence'd wasn't it? Why didn't Aash wallop Hiss back if she hit her?

>>43683844
Aashenpreet has been forced to witness the two of you going at in the past since you'd forget about her back when she was just an albino pytho that lived in Hiss' room. She'll be fine.

>>43683851
That was part of it, yeah. Remember that Hiss only worked her way up to sex after she got her strength Art, something that would ensure that she stayed in control. Not having control is super frightening to her.

Aash didn't hit Hiss back because she's not much of a fighter and she's afraid of trying to provoke Hiss a second time.

lot of awkward sex questions here, guess I sort of asked for it.