>>43729475
You yawn as you clutch the railing and watch the sun come up, dawn breaking over the trees by the side of the river. You are standing on the deck of the riverboat The Handsome Hook, currently sailing down the river Kuri. The river itself is peaceful in the pre-dawn light, the silence broken only by the laughter of kingfishers.

Yes, you’re back here again. It’s the fastest way back and despite the inherent danger the river now poses to you, the scryguard that you let Rock divide up from the carriage should keep you safe. You sort of like the idea anyway, as if you were retracing your steps.

But you don’t plan on staying on this river for long. What route did you all decide on?


>Stopping shortly down the river and taking the main road. It’s the fastest way but it’ll lead you straight past Melire.

>Stopping back at the town by the swamps where you first found Bunyip and then trekking through the swamps and bushland.

>Riding the river all the way back to the Hinterlands. You used the Hinterland backroads to avoid scrutiny from Melire once before after all. You might have to sneak past Tedwell however.

>>43729477
>>Stopping back at the town by the swamps where you first found Bunyip and then trekking through the swamps and bushland.

>>43729477
>Stopping back at the town by the swamps where you first found Bunyip and then trekking through the swamps and bushland.
We should give the bunyip the persistence antidote and let him swim around as a bunyip again

>>43729477
>Stopping back at the town by the swamps where you first found Bunyip and then trekking through the swamps and bushland.

>Stopping back at the town by the swamps where you first found Bunyip and then trekking through the swamps and bushland.

Hiss really didn't like the idea of bushwalking but she liked the other options even less. You can't afford to be seen now, not when you're long roundabout journey is nearly over.

You take your fragment of the scryguard out of your pocket, a short dandelion chain and rub it between your fingers. You've still got some time before it wilts. Time enough to get home?

What is home to you anyway? What are you going to do when you get back? You doubt that you'll be able to resume the life that Hiss stole from you. You doubt even more that you'll even want to.

A deep whine wakes you from your thought as Bunyip pads up beside you, pressing a cold nose into your hand. You scratch his head and his tail thumps against the deck.
"You know this river, don't you? You're going to be home."

> Stay out here and wait until the boat stops.

> Give Bunyip the antidote now and let him swim about in the river.

> Go back down and see how the others are doing.

> Go back to your room and brew.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43729684
> Give Bunyip the antidote now and let him swim about in the river.

>>43729684
> Give Bunyip the antidote now and let him swim about in the river.
How long has the persistence been active? I hope it hasn't had any side effects.

>>43729684
> Give Bunyip the antidote now and let him swim about in the river.

>>43729684
> Go back to your room and brew.
It's been a little while since we've made any new brews

>>43729684
> Go back to your room and brew.
It's brew o clock

>>43729684
> Give Bunyip the antidote now and let him swim about in the river.
> Go back to your room and brew.

What if we did both? :O

File: BunyipAndVictim.jpg (132 KB, 543x776)

132 KB JPG

> Give Bunyip the antidote now and let him swim about in the river.

It's only right, isn't it? You look around to make sure that nobody's watching and that the captain's tower is turned away before pulling the antidote from your pack.

"You haven't had any side-effects, have you?"
You're not sure how you'd know. You hold the bottle to his mouth and he drinks it without hesitation, magically trained to accept any potions from you unconditionally.

Bunyip whines as his body begins to boil and bloat and you waste no time throwing the rangy dog into the river. He sinks straight down and disappears into the river.

A moment later his head breaches the surface and it's not too different, for even in his true form he has a canine head. The rest of his body soon follows, the giant blubbery sides covered in slick black fur. Paws splay and change to clawed flippers. An oily fish-tail longer than you slaps the water once as Bunyip propels himself down the river faster than the boat itself.

He circles the riverboat three times and you give silent thanks to any river spirit that may be listening that nobody else is on deck right now. Bunyip rumbles almost subsonically with pleasure before sinking out of sight. He's probably going to find something to eat.

> Stay out here and wait for him to surface. It's time for a ride.

> Tell him to bugger off from the boat before anyone else comes out.

> Go back to your room and brew.

> Go see how the others are doing.

> Other

>>43729956
> Go see how the others are doing.

>>43729956
> Go see how the others are doing.

>>43729956
> Go back to your room and brew.

NOW we do both.

>>43729956
> Go see how the others are doing.

>>43729956
> Go back to your room and brew.
Get Hiss and Rock to help out

>>43729956
> Go back to your room and brew.

>>43729956
>> Go back to your room and brew.

> Go back to your room and brew.

You'll let him have his fun, you'll all be disembarking together later this morning. So for now, this time is better spent preparing. You walk back down below-decks to your room.

Opening the door wakes Hiss, who's mostly-naked form is taking up most of your bed. But she just groans and rolls back over when she sees its just you.

You set up your lab in the corner of the room and start slinging ingredients about. What are you looking for today?

> Mixing or upgrading an already known potion.

> Restocking.

> Doing something with some of your reagents.

> Other (Specify)

>>43730157
>> Restocking.

>>43730157
> Mixing or upgrading an already known potion.
Bloodkin or souldrift. They both have a lot of potential uses.

>>43730157
> Restocking.

>>43730157
> Mixing or upgrading an already known potion.

>>43730157
> Restocking.

>>43730157
> Mixing or upgrading an already known potion.
Gotta make something new

>>43730157
> Restocking.

> Restocking.

First of all, you figure you shouldn't spend the time experimenting when you could be making some more potions that you KNOW are reliable.
Hiss groans a second time when it becomes apparent that you aren't going to be paying any attention to her and goes back to sleep.

>Choose 7 potions that Cennen knows how to make. You are allowed to choose multiples.

>>43730335
Heal-all
Dispel
Soulsight
Antimagic x 4

>>43730335
heal all x3
shapeshifting brew
knockout brew
mindbalm x2

>>43730416
This.

>>43730335
>>43730407
This

>>43730335
>>43730407

Because fuck Wizards.

>>43730416

Heal-alls are your biggest priority, you decide. You can never go wrong with having a few of those around. Some extra mindbalms for Oster too would be nice. You also cook up a knockout brew and a shapeshifting brew for some extra versatility.

Hiss seems to be completely asleep now, your intrusion into her waking hours short-lived.

> Do some experimenting.

> Go above deck and make sure Bunyip isn't getting into trouble.

> See if Oster or Aashenpreet are awake yet. You know Rock will be.

> Nobble.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43730532
> Go above deck and make sure Bunyip isn't getting into trouble.

>>43730494
>>43730528
Oh shit, sorry you two. Your posts popped up just as I was finishing. I'll change the inventory to reflect the ACTUAL winning vote, ignore what potions the post itself says.

>>43730532
> Nobble.
Get this over with
> Go above deck and make sure Bunyip isn't getting into trouble.

>>43730532
> See if Oster or Aashenpreet are awake yet. You know Rock will be.
> Do some experimenting.
Let's get Rock to come brew with us and get some blood from Aash for soul brews

>>43730532
Nobbling her would be so easy right now... I'm sure it's a trap

> Do some experimenting.

>>43730407
we already have a soulsight, 2 dispels and 4 antimagic brews according to the pastebin though

>>43730580
Ouro never updated that, we used our soulsight on Eugene and nearly got blinded, We used all 4 Anti-magics in wizard automaton fights, and 1 dispel as well.

>>43730532
> Do some experimenting.

>>43730599
I thought we used two dispels and two antimagics

>>43730557
>>43730580

You the real MVP, Ouro.

You clearly underestimate just how much "fuck Wizards" my body contains. Seriously. Fuck Wizards.

>>43730599
nah the soulsight you used to stare at wizards was brewed on the spot, you got the blood from Hiss and everything. Because you weren't in an emergency and why use up your only one when you might need it for something important later?

>>43730623
Oster got an anti-magic too.

>>43730532
>> Go above deck and make sure Bunyip isn't getting into trouble.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Alright, looks like a tie. Haven't actually had a good tie roll-off for a while. Maybe that's why you guys have been rolling pretty poorly lately, the dice gods can only be appeased by sacrificing your agency and decisions to them.

Evens is Bunyip, odds is experimentation.

Guys why the fuck are you against experimentation now

>>43730747
Because every time we get too into it bad shit happens.

>>43730763
What are you referring to?

>>43730763
You really think that making new brews is a bad thing? Huh?

>>43730774
Hiss almost getting her soul eaten for one. Internecien fights, we really can't leave em alone too long.

>>43730798
No I think leaving loose threads up while we experiment get's shit to happen badly.

>> Go above deck and make sure Bunyip isn't getting into trouble.

You'd like to do some experimenting since you haven't really brewed anything exciting for a while but there's a worry eating away at the back of your mind.
Bunyip seemed pretty energetic when you dumped him into the river, no doubt mostly joy from finally having his body back. Not to mention that you know for a fact that his kind are a feared legend in these parts and probably for good reason. You hope he isn't being too visible or rambunctious.

Hiss sniffs as you leave, apparently not having been truly asleep after all. And as you head towards the deck, you start to hear a commotion.

"Look! Over there, down there! By the mangroves! It was on the bank!"
An older man is leaning over the railing, hollering at what few sailors are lazing about. None of them seem two interested in what he has to say.

"There hasn't been a bunyip in these parts for at least thirty years now and they never come into the open river."

"I know what I saw! And bah! Thirty years is just a drop in the bucket for them. Didn't you ever hear the song? They can live to be a thousand!"

"If it makes you feel better, we can send a dinghy out to take a gander. You probably just saw a fish though."

They start dragging out a small rowboat from where it had been sitting below-decks.

This could be bad. But then again, Bunyip knows to hide himself. He practically lives here.

> Trust Bunyip to avoid scrutiny.

> Try to secretly sabotage the boat.

> Ask to go along with them.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43730837
> Trust Bunyip to avoid scrutiny.

File: fuckthis.jpg (25 KB, 640x480)

25 KB JPG

>>43730837
>two interested
>two

fuck

>>43730837
> Trust Bunyip to avoid scrutiny.
Ask them why they would investigate a possible man eating monster.

>>43730837
> Intervene: "I saw some otters a few minutes ago, we're probably near to their lair"
There ARE otters here, right? If not change them for a more plausible aquatic mammal

>>43730837
> Trust Bunyip to avoid scrutiny.
Try to dissuade them

>>43730837
>> Ask to go along with them.
this almost guarantees some wacky shit, but whatever safest option

> Trust Bunyip to avoid scrutiny.
> Question them

"Hold on," you say as you stride up to the lot of them. "Chances are you probably saw a mudfish or a crocodile. Did you get a good look at it?"

"Not exactly," the old man mumbles. "But it weren't no mudfish!"

The closest sailor scratches his head.
"Been sailing this river for seven years now, never seen any crocs. They live up north don't they?"

But the second sailor is nodding.
"I hear there's a few big ones by the mouth at ocean, maybe they've swum down for something. Big fuckers too."

"Nah, those don't leave the salt."

"Still, if it's one of them I don't much fancy taking the dinghy out. No thanks."

"Wait," you interrupt. "If you're not going to risk it for a crocodile why would you do it for a bunyip? Aren't they worse?"

He shakes his head.
"Crocodiles could actually be here, is the problem. Bunyips, if there were any alive, don't like rivers. They sit in still water, don't they? And also," he grins, "if we actually saw a real bunyip we could be rich. There's a lot of rich alchemists who'd pay good money for good bunyip info. But nah, not likely. That's why they're all dead in the first place."

"They've got one of their skulls still in the town up ahead," the other sailor says conversationally. "The last one sighted in the swamps, they say."

"Always wondered, how do you kill the cunts anyway?"

"Well the way I hear it, you gotta make some noise just outside their territory, harry them with bow and arrow. They've got some real long spears too for prodding. Like playing cat-and-mouse. And then when it tires they stake them out on the ground, impale them, so they cant move or heal. Dangerous work though. They can bite you clean in half."

"Shit, probably for the best we don't take the boat out. It's either nothing or a salty croc and either way it's better left alone."

The old man harrumphs.
"Well I'm going to stay right here and keep my eyes peeled, see if I won't."

1/2

>>43731138
That doesn't worry you too much, Bunyip knows to stay hidden. For all you know, the geezer didn't even see him in the first place, he might have just legitimately been mistaken.

You walk back down (again) and head back to your room. Hiss looks to be actually asleep now, having given up on waiting for you to return.
You ignore her and return to your lab.

You haven't really cooked up any new brews in a while, have you? Now's the time to start looking for something good against wizards or good against Serpent Kings or hell, even just something that might be useful in the future. And it probably will be, with your record. Most of your brews have turned out to be useful at least once, the world's strange like that.

> I want to experiment using some of my already-existing potions and recipes.

> I want to work with the reagents and make something new.

> I want a particular effect (Specify)

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43731173
>> I want a particular effect (Specify)
A blank soul.

>>43731173
> I want a particular effect (Specify)
Weakening brew that also weakens snake arts and magic? Inhaled brews will be necessary to circumvent the snake kings scales

>>43731173
> I want to experiment using some of my already-existing potions and recipes.
> I want a particular effect (Specify)
Something that closes the gate that replaces a wizard's soul, maybe like destroying a halo so we could start by fiddling with dispel.

>>43731232
This. Use the brew enhancing twig too.

>>43731173
>> I want to work with the reagents and make something new.
we should probably make some kind of good faith effort towards the request of godhiss, maybe artificial soul?

>>43731278
We're fighting Bart after the snake king though. Let's worry about snake brews first. Good idea though

>>43731281
Might wanna hold off on enhancement until we perfect the brew

>>43731187
>>43731323
This may still be too complicated, someone said a while ago that we could try to generate a soul using a preexisting fragment and mindbalm.

>Weakening Cloud with a focus on weakening Snake Arts

You like the sound of trying to alter your Weakening Cloud brew. After all you're going to need something inhaled to get past the Serpent King's magic-deflecting scales and if you can do something to sap his magic then Hiss might not even have to fight.

You start with your Weakening Cloud recipe and elaborate from there. A few of the techniques you use to make Dispel Elixirs certainly wouldn't go amiss and you already have a few hypothetical ideas for brews that can hurt Snake Arts. And of course, the big reagent that provides the power that ties it all together are snake scales.
You shake your pack out and find none remaining. Looks like you're out.

You prod Hiss into wakefulness.
"Hey, hey Hiss."

"What?"
She doesn't bite you, always a good start.
"Are you r-"

"Sorry, I just need some of your hairs. Hold still."
Hiss grimaces as you pluck a few hairs off her head. You hold them to the light and you can't help but marvel. Just these hairs alone have more inherent magic and alchemical power within them than an entire human.

"Whatever," Hiss grumbles, sounding disappointed. She find her tunic hanging off the bedpost and throws it at you to express her displeasure. It misses.

After another hour or so of experimentation you think you finally have it.

> Add the brew-enhancing stick

> Save the stick.

>>43731456
> Add the brew-enhancing stick

>>43731456
> Save the stick
Need to make sure it works first.

>>43731456
> Save the stick.
Save the world

> Save the stick.

You don't need to use this just yet, not when you're still in the testing stage. You brew an Identification Potion as you finish up and it confirms what you'd already guessed; that this brew will generate a cloud of gas that will weaken the Snake Arts of anyone who breathes it in.
It doesn't tell you by how much however. Could it completely shut them off or does it just make it lesser? By what degree does this thing work?

> You guess you'll find out when you use it.

> Test it on Hiss.

> Test it on Aashenpreet.

> You can test it later.

> Other

>>43731456
> Add the brew-enhancing stick

>>43731573
Ask Aash if she wants to volunteer if not
Also get a dispel for it to negate it fast.

>>43731573
>> You can test it later.

>>43731573
> Test it on Hiss.
Ask if we can first obviously

>>43731573
>> Test it on Aashenpreet.

>>43731573
> Test it on Aashenpreet

>>43731573
> You can test it later.
I don't think Aash is a very good test subject, she only has her strenght and her being an albino may alter the result

> Test it on Aashenpreet.

You bottle your potion and think for a moment on what to name it. Are all the good snake-related names taken already? Surely not. But you can't think of anything great right now so you just call it the Snake Dispel. Simple and to the point.
And you need to test it. You doubt Hiss would like it though.

You leave the room, seeking out where you remember Aashenpreet staying. You knock on the door and she invites you in. She's sitting on her bed, looking down at Rock sitting in her hand.
"Hi, Cennen."

-Cennen.-

"Good morning. I think we'll be stopping soon but I want to test something first. Do you mind?"

"Not at all, what is it?"

"I was thinking about how we could possibly ever handle Hiss' father when I came up with this. It's a gas cloud that weakens Snake Art. But the problem is-"

-You need a test subject.-

"Yeah. And I don't think Hiss would take it very well."
You're not sure how well Aash is going to take this proposal either, actually. It's sort of a big question.

"Sure!"

"Now, I get that you might be worri-wait, really? Just sure?"

Aashenpreet stands, looking you in the eye.
"I trust you."

"Thanks."
You don't bother breaking the bottle, you just give it to Aashenpreet and she uncorks it, breathing deeply of the green smoke.

"I...I don't feel different."

"Try lifting something or hey hey, put me down!"

Aashenpreet laughs as she sets you down, having picked you up at your own suggestion. Seems like she's still freakishly strong.

"Fuck. Back to the drawing board, it doesn't work."

"Wait! It might be because I'm just naturally strong in the same way that Hiss is just naturally venomous. Let me try my rattle."

Aashenpreet discards her human form since she needs to be in her snake body for the proper rattling Art and you take a step back, expecting a giant albino python to be coiling everywhere.

Instead you get a small yellow snake that's barely five feet long. She coils in on herself and hisses in panic.
1/2

>>43731830

-In hindsight this seems obvious.-

"Hell, it is! How is that an Art but strength isn't?"
You grab a Dispel Elixir from your pack and pour it all over the snake, letting it balloon back up to being at least twenty feet long.

After five minutes of hissing Aashenpreet retakes her human form, breathing heavily.
"Let's not do that again. Ever. Please."

"Fair. But at least I know it works now."

A horn starts blowing from above-decks. Sounds like you might be approaching your destination.

> Surely you can get just a little bit more brewing before that.

> Head to the deck immediately.

> Gather everyone up first.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

File: aash.gif (985 KB, 500x280)

985 KB GIF

>>43731830

>>43731886
>> Gather everyone up first.

>>43731886
> Gather everyone up first.
Tell Hiss about the new potion

>>43731886
> Surely you can get just a little bit more brewing before that.
Use some of Aash's blood to make a few mind balms

>>43731886
> Gather everyone up first.

>>43731886
>> Head to the deck immediately.

>>43731886
> Surely you can get just a little bit more brewing before that.

> Gather everyone up first.

You, Aashenpreet and Rock leave without a word. You find Oster already getting out of from where he'd been sleeping underneath the bed on the floor.
Hiss is in the corridor outside, dressed so immaculately that you know that she just reverted and then remade her human body rather than try to get dressed. Not a single hair out of place.

"Good morning, Hiss."

"Cennen! And company," she yawns. "Are we there yet?"

"Nearly. Check out this potion."

She looks at the bottle for a moment before pointedly raising an eyebrow.
"A bottle, neat. Mind actually telling me what it does?"

"It helps negate Snake Arts, I tested it on Aash and she ended up just as small as you."

Hiss clearly doesn't like the comparison but she smirks anyway.
"Really? Maybe you should give it to her with a Permanence, it's not like she's useful anyway."

The horn sounds again and Hiss is already leaving out onto the deck, forcing you all to follow her. The deck itself is relatively empty, the Handsome Hook bearing fewer passengers than the boat you took last time. You spot the old man still standing by the railing, peering grumpily into the waters.

The small swamp town is well in view, the boat settling by the river-bank and sailors already jumping across to secure supplies that the boat will need for the rest of its journey.

You spot the Bunyip out at the side of the boat, opposite from where the old man is looking. Just the tip of its snout surfaces for a moment before it swims into one of the Kuri's tributaries.
Looks he's already swimming towards his old swampland.

"Cennen," Hiss says. "Do you need anything from the town? I'd really rather just get going into the swamp."

> A good meal might be nice.

> You want to sell some potions.

> You want (Specify)

> No, it's best to just keep moving.

> Other

>>43732164
> A good meal might be nice.

>>43732164
>> A good meal might be nice.
Also want to check the alchemical stocks.

>>43732164
> No, it's best to just keep moving.
We should get the bunyp away from here.

>>43732164
> A good meal might be nice.
Is winter coming soon? Might need warm clothes too.

>>43732164
> You want (Specify)
a dinghy to traverse the swamp maybe?

>>43732164
>> A good meal might be nice.
nothing bad could possibly happen

>>43732323
We can alwaysjust ride the bunyip.

> A good meal might be nice.

"I don't know Hiss, I get that you want to get this all over with as quickly as possible but a good meal might be nice. Do you remember that tavern we ate at last time, that was really nice."

Hiss shrugs.
"As always, I am lenient. And yes, that does sound nicer than just drinking your restoration potions."

"We don't have any signets," Oster interjects. "Begging your Majesty's pardon, that is."

Hiss snorts and waves her hand dismissively.
"Steal some. Or we can just take what we want. What are they going to do?"

"Or," you say, "we could give them the gold."

"Either or."

It doesn't take long until you, Hiss, Oster and Aashenpreet are seated back in the same tavern that you and Hiss had fought in months ago. It had been that fight that had lead you to go stomping into the swamp and discover the Bunyip in the first place, near-fatally wounded from defending his territory against the Snakecatcher.

Aaashenpreet seems particularly uncomfortable.
"There certainly is a lot of ...meat, here."

"We have a lot more land suitable for agriculture and grazing down here," Oster remarks. "Maybe too much."

"No, I understand WHY but..."
Aash shuts her mouth, holding back the rest of her words which you'd bet anything would have been along the lines of 'but it isn't morally correct for humans to be permitted meat'.

"Exotic foreign adventures, Aash. This is what you signed up for."

"Don't you set any of your produce aside for your local snakes?"

"They don't even know they exist, remember?"

"Unfortunately," Hiss adds. "Back home we mostly just hunt our food and eat it where we find it."

"This place is so upside-down," Aashenpreet moans.

"Not for long."
Hiss bears a resolute expression.

The rest of your breakfast goes without anything significant. You look around town to check out their alchemical stocks but they don't even have an apothecary out here in the swamplands.
1/2

>>43732555
They USED to have an alchemist, you're told, but she passed away in an accident just last year. They've sent mail to Potions College in Melire offering pay for a replacement but so far nobody's been interested. Not when there are posts both better paying and NOT in a festering swamp.

Roll a 1d100, counting the highest of the first three.

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>43732588

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>43732588
Will our luck finally improve?

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>43732588
What's up with these shitty rolls?

>>43732627
God dammit!

>>43732627
The dice gods demand more tiebreaker rolls. They're feeling left out of the decision making process.

>>43732608

As you meet back up with the others, a long-legged young man accidentally bumps into you. And of course you are much stronger than you might otherwise appear, the collision sending him to the ground.
"Ah shit, sorry man."

You bend down to give him a hand and help him up but he scrambles away.
"No worries mate, I wasn't looking where I was going. All good."
He walks off quickly. You notice nothing untoward about this exchange.

You rejoin the rest and start to make your way into the swamp, treading uneasily through muddy ground and passing by long shallow lakes. The mosquitoes are out in full force and Hiss is already complaining.
You remember this particularly spot well, this one lagoon with a stunted tree in the middle to give shade. And as expected, you find the Bunyip sunning himself amidst his old home. He rumbles when he sees all of you.
"We'll just ride the Bunyip through the marsh, it'll be fine."

"How are we gonna fit?" Oster asks. "Got room for two people comfortably at most, I'd say. He's not really made for riding."


> Then we'll just have to sit uncomfortably.

> Ask Hiss and Aashenpreet to revert to their normal forms.

> Maybe someone can walk along the side? Or swim? It doesn't sound great.

> Use a Potion

> Other

>>43732790
>> Ask Hiss and Aashenpreet to revert to their normal forms.

>>43732790
> Ask Hiss and Aashenpreet to revert to their normal forms.
Check our bag, we don't keep anything in our pockets right? That guy might have been a pickpocket.

>>43732790
> Ask Hiss and Aashenpreet to revert to their normal forms.

>>43732790
> Then we'll just have to sit uncomfortably.
Aashenpreet's normal form is larger anyway.

>>43732790
That little shit just nicked us, didn't he?
> Ask Hiss and Aashenpreet to revert to their normal forms.
The bunyp may freak out at them, but their bodies are practically made for this kind of terrain, they can easily follow us.

>>43732837
We should definitely check our belongings before we go anywhere. I don't see how he would steal from our pack though.

>>43732837
>>43732889
I'm pretty sure he took something from us, but
> You notice nothing untoward about this exchange.

>>43732916
Hindsight is 20/20. Cennen is ridiculously tall, the chances of someone failing to notice him and walking straight into him accidentally are nil

> Ask Hiss and Aashenpreet to revert to their normal forms.

You sigh.
"Alright, we know how this works. Hiss, you and Aashenpreet are going to have to take up your normal shape while we do this."

"Hold on," Hiss says, pulling a wilting dandelion chain from her jacket pocket. "How am I going to keep my scryguard on?"

"Pass it here and I'll put it around your tail or something once you're done."

Hiss nods, giving you her scryguard fragment before dissolving. You take Aashenpreet's as well, the two flowers sitting in your hands while they shapeshift. Your own fragment should still be in your pocket too.

When Hiss is done, you pick her up and let the little black-and-red snake curl around your arm. You connect one end of the tiny chain to itself, making a very small circlet of flowers. You then cautiously slip it over the snake's head.
It shouldn't be too difficult to hold her while you ride.

And then there's Aashenpreet...

"I don't think I thought this through," you say as Aashenpreet changes back. She's fucking huge, bigger than her human form by far. She's longer than the damn Bunyip.
You loop her own scryguard over her head anyway and then look weakly at Oster.
"I don't suppose you could hol-"

"Unlikely."

"Yeah."

> See if Aashenpreet can just coil around the both of you while you ride. Might be tricky.

> Use the Eugene potion.

> Use the Shapeshifting potion.

> Use the Snake Dispel

> Use the Shapestealer

> Ask Aashenpreet to just slither through the swamp alongside of us.

> Other

>>43732945
Aash can you keep pace?
if yes
> Ask Aashenpreet to just slither through the swamp alongside of us.
if no
> Use the Shapestealer
to make her copy hiss.

>>43732945
Ahh shit
> Ask her if she'd rather slither alongside us or use the Snake dispel

>>43732945
Just let her return to her human form and ride somewhat uncomfortably on the bunyip

>>43733008
This works. Let her have a choice though I suppose.

>>43732945
> Use the Eugene potion.

>Ask

You almost kneel down to speak to her but the snake just raises itself to head-height trivially.
"Do you wan to slither alongside of us or something, Aash? I can make you more compact with a potion or you can just take human form again?"

The python nudges you in the shoulder with its head and taking the hint, you remove the scryguard as it begins to shed. Aashenpreet retakes her human form, looking sheepish.
"I'll ride along, if that's fine."

The Bunyip is initially extremely skittish to letting you ride him with Hiss around your arms so you stow her in your backpack instead, leaving the flap open just a little so her head pokes out.
Oster sits behind you, his arms around you and Aashenpreet takes up the rear, holding onto Oster.

He was right, it isn't very comfortable. And you're riding him all day through a swamp.

...

It's long past noon when you finally run out of swamp. How far have you come? The past few hours are mostly a blur, an awful-feeling blur. You collapse off of the Bunyip with a groan, finding yourself in soggy bushland. You feel fucking terrible.

Aashenpreet isn't doing much better and she joins you on the ground groaning. Only Oster seems unaffected, hopping off the Bunyip with a jaunt in his step.
"Feels good to stretch the legs now, doesn't it?"
He starts scanning the shape of the mountains on the horizon, distant peaks colored blue by distance.
"Not far now. We just have some hiking through a bit of light bush and scrub and we should come into the backend of the forest. What say you?"

> Push on. You don't have much time left before the flowers wilt completely.

> Fuck that, you're not going there in bad shape. Set up camp here.

> Take Hiss out of your pack and let her decide.


In addition, the Bunyip has reached the end of his waterways.

> Just let him follow as he is, he can handle a bit of dryness and he's not that ungainly.

> Leave him here for now.

> Use a Potion (Specify)

>>43733217
>> Fuck that, you're not going there in bad shape. Set up camp here.
> Just let him follow as he is, he can handle a bit of dryness and he's not that ungainly.

>>43733217
> Fuck that, you're not going there in bad shape. Set up camp here.
> Just let him follow as he is, he can handle a bit of dryness and he's not that ungainly.

>>43733217
> Fuck that, you're not going there in bad shape. Set up camp here.
> Leave him here for now.
He may end up being a liability
>tfw have to be up early so I have to leave halfway trough the thread...

>>43733217
> Fuck that, you're not going there in bad shape. Set up camp here.
> Just let him follow as he is, he can handle a bit of dryness and he's not that ungainly.
I'd rather not be completely exhausted if the flowers will be wilting soon.

>>43733278
This is one of the few situations where working the night shift is nice.

> Fuck that, you're not going there in bad shape. Set up camp here.
> Just let him follow as he is, he can handle a bit of dryness and he's not that ungainly.

"Let's just rest here for a bit, set up camp?"
The snake in your backpack hisses, possibly in agreement.

Oster has taken his own scryguard out and is inspecting it.
"We've made better time than I was expecting so I think we can do that. I'll set up a fire."

You're still close to the edge of the swamp so the Bunyip can wallow peacefully. The great beast is silent, seemingly tired from the trek. You nod to him, appreciation of a job well done. If it hadn't been for him, you would have to had to have taken a much more dangerous path. Taming him had been entirely worth it for this alone.

Aashenpreet's stomach audibly growls and she slowly gets back up.
"Can you brew me up a meal? One of those restoration potions?"

"Sure, once Oster gets the fire going. Do you actually like them, Hiss always says they taste awful."

"I think they taste just fine."

You unsling your pack, noticing that Hiss has started to thrash about. Looks like she's more than ready to be let out now.

> Let her out.

> Nobble

>>43733371
> Let her out.

>>43733371
> Nobble

>>43733278
>>43733342
Sorry fellas but timezones are a bitch.

>>43733371
> Nobble

>>43733371
> Nobble

>>43733371
> Nobble

But by "accident"

>>43733371
> nobble
It is time, the nobbling calls and we must answer

>>43733463
Nah, she challenged us to nobble her in the last thread. No sense in hiding our intentions.

> Nobble

You smile to yourself and then close your pack back up all the way. You DID promise her, after all. Looks like she loses this game.
You turn back to Aashenpreet and sit down.
"How's Rock?"

-I am fine-
The tiny spirit crawls out of Aashenpreet's shirt, her usual hiding spot these days. It seems that Aash has surpassed you as Rock's favorite mount. The time they shared together in one body probably helped.
-I will float above and make sure there is nobody nearby.-

Your pack is still shaking quite a bit. You ignore it.
"And what are you going to do in Snakehome, Aash?"

"I don't know, I've always wanted to go there. I don't know if I'll actually enjoy it now."

"Well we'l-"

"What's wrong with your pack?"

You laugh and open it, letting Hiss spill onto the ground. She hisses furiously at you, quickly shedding her skin to take human form. She doesn't look happy.
"How dare you?"
She raises her hand, ready to strike you.

> Remind her of her challenge.

> Apologize.

> Use a potion

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43733543
> Remind her of her challenge.
> Apologize.

>>43733543
> Remind her of her challenge.
> Apologize.

>>43733543
> Remind her of her challenge.
> Apologize
Use up the three wishes imediatly

>>43733543
> Make a wish (Specify)
Wish that she won't feel pain when we're in danger

> Remind her of her challenge.
> Apologize.

"Sorry, sorry but you know, don't you remember what you said? You challenged me!"

She lowers her hand. And then kicks you in the gut hard enough to make you nearly vomit.
"That was unfair. You can't catch me when I'm already in your bag!"

"It worked, didn't it?" you wheeze, trying to catch your breath and seeing stars.

"It doesn't count. Now hurry up and make your wishes."
She prods you with her boot threateningly.

> Refuse.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43733543
> Remind her of her challenge
> apologize
This actally helps because it gives her access to her empress form

>>43733624
I could, or I could save it for if you need an edge fighting your dad.

>>43733624
Damn, too late. Propose >>43733629 to her

>>43733624
Wish that she won't feel pain when we're in danger. It's really the only downside to the wishbond. Then ask if she still wants to get rid of the other two wishes.

>>43733624
> Refuse.
I really don't like Hiss anymore. She's awful.

>>43733680
I was tempted to vote to kick her back but I decided against it

>>43733624
Bitch her out about how she's still hurting us all the time after promising not to repeatedly

>Ask her about using the wishes to fight the King

You sit back up as best you can. Shit, your gut hurts. You might end up retching after all.
"Wait. Shouldn't we conserve at least some of these wishes for fighting your father?"

Hiss frowns.
"I suppose. But remember that I can't actually be the Empress for very long before I seize up. Are you alright, by the way?"

"I'm fine."

She pats you on the head.

Meanwhile, Aashenpreet is just watching with a very confused expression.
"Is it wise to antagonize the person who holds you wishes, Hiss?"

"It's okay, Cennen loves me and he knows that even if I get a little mad and carried away, I don't really mean it."
She bends down and helps you to your feet, holding you close.
"And besides, he always makes cowardly wishes. Really nothing to fear."

Oster returns, a stack of makeshift kindling in his arms.
"I'm not going to ask," he says.

It doesn't take long until a nice fire is going, Hiss and Aashenpreet both sitting very close it. Hiss beckons you down to sit beside her.

> Sit with her.

> Brew

> Go see how the Bunyip is doing instead.

> Sit with Aashenpreet or Oster instead.

> Use a Potion (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43733738
>>43733728

>>43733738
>> Go see how the Bunyip is doing instead
> Make a wish (Specify)
Wish you'd let me take control whenever we had intercourse

>>43733738
>Go see how the Bunyip is doing instead

>>43733738
Ask Rock to tell us what he knows about wizards

Sorry guys, I just got a call to go into work. One of my mates has bounced on his shift and guess who's the default backup guy?
Could somebody else please archive this, I really have to leave

>>43733738
> Sit with her.
Have a serious discussion about how she needs to stop abusing us

>>43733709
>>43733680

Oh boy do I see sparks of rebellion?

>>43733873
Sort of. We just need to stop accepting her abuse.

>>43733838
Thanks for running Ouro!

>>43733936
Agreed

>>43733838
Thanks for running man

>>43733839
Obviously, we have to wish that she knows and understands how we feel about her, and how it feels when she does that to us.

Can't get rid of knowledge, Anon.