>>43812123
You do your best to keep your footing as the ground around you shakes, still feeling the tremors of the Serpent King slamming Hiss into the ground. You’re standing by the lip of Snakehome’s crater, mere meters away from where Hiss had come to a rest. She’s half-reclined against the side of the crater, her gigantic snake tail having smashed into the side of it with enough force to permanently rearrange half of it while her human upper half hangs over the edge, the forest around her devastated and uprooted. She blinks slowly, stunned and absent-mindedly tries to pick a tree out of her hair.

She doesn’t even seem to notice you and how could she? You’ve wished her back into her ultimate form to fight the King, she’s basically a god. And the worst part is that it wasn’t enough. In fact, it seems to have only made things worse. The King’s been feeding off her power, becoming stronger in turn.

Speaking of which...you look back to the crater for the giant black-and-red serpent. He’s nowhere to be seen.

>Flee

>Defend Hiss as best you can while she’s down.

>Try to make a distraction.

>Pray

>Use Soulsight.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Ready a Potion (Specify)

>Make a Wish (Specify)

>Other

>>43812141
>Use Soulsight.
Prepare to use a weakening brew and our other snake dispel. Run to Hiss immediately after throwing them.

>>43812172
This. How is he using camouflage right now though? Is it a weaker version at least?

>>43812141

>Use Soulsight.
>Flee
Towards Hiss, gotta stick together

>>43812172
Run to Hiss's head*

>>43812172
seconding this as long as he's nowhere near hiss' face

>Use Soulsight
>Ready the Weakening Brew
>Ready the Snake Dispel

Is he hiding somewhere? Or...you recall Aashenpreet and the Snakecatcher. Or he's camouflaging himself, in which case he might already be coming for you!
You grab three potions from your pack, popping one open while holding the other two ready.

But how is he doing this anyway? Surely Hiss retracted all of her own stealth abilities so he couldn't copy them, right? Which means this has to be with his own powers, the ones weakened by your Snake Dispel.

You down the Soulsight and let your vision expand, the backdrop falling away and the world of the spiritual coming into full view. The first thing you notice is the vast bloated monster right next to you, a beached monstrosity of empty shadow.
But that's just Hiss. You tear your eyes away from her and start scanning your surroundings.

It doesn't take long to spot him. Where Hiss is empty and hollow, the King is like the sun itself. But it's not by his own light that he glows but by the captured souls of thousands of victims, a snake where every scale is a screaming human face.

He's slithering up the crater wall, winding from side to side with enough force to carve a small furrow through the rock that you didn't notice earlier. He seems to be fixated on Hiss and if he's even noticed you he gives no sign.

You throw both of the potions together, Weakening Cloud and Snake Dispel, right at him.

>Roll a 1d100 for accuracy. Highest of the first 3 accepted.

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>43812418

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>43812418

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>43812418

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>43812418

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>43812418
Bonding with the father in law

>>43812433
Bueno.

>>43812433
Using this one.

>>43812457
Hiss just wants Cennen to meet her parents, it's a reasonable request at this point in her relationship.

>>43812433
You don't have Hiss around to help make up for your aim this time. You don't need her. The two brews fly straight and true, propelled by all your strength right into the ground just in front of the King's camouflaged form.

You deactivate your Soulsight just in time to watch the twin clouds burst over him. They also cover a small amount of Hiss' tail but you're not too worried about that. Hiss is big enough that you'd have to basically hit her in the face to make her inhale one of your smoke brews.

And now that you have visual confirmation that it worked, you don't waste time in seeing how it turned out. Instead you just turn around and leg it to Hiss as fast as you possibly can.
This was the right decision, as a gobbet of venom sprays from within the smoke clouds, cutting a line through the rock and burning a tree in half before continuing onward into the rest of the forest unseen.

"Hiss!," you shout as you try to take shelter behind her giant head. She tries to bite you before her head clears.
"Cennen?"
This close her voice is loud enough to nearly deafen you.
"Where's the King?"

Her question is answered moments later as the thirty-foot snake coils around her stomach to little effect. The combination of the Weakening Cloud AND the second Snake Dispel has done a number on him, especially with Hiss suppressing his toxin immunity.

Hiss just laughs and sits up, nearly dragging you along in her wake. She pulls the King off of her, holding the snake firmly behind the head just as you had once kidnapped her.

And then suddenly she's just holding an empty snakeskin as the King's human form bursts from the serpent's mouth, dropping right towards you!

> Flee

> Hide behind Hiss.

> He should be plenty weak right now right? Stand your ground and fight.

> Ready a potion (No time to use one)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43812695
>> He should be plenty weak right now right? Stand your ground and fight.
NOOOOOOBLLLEEEEEEEEEEEE

>>43812695
Draw sword

>>43812695
> Hide behind Hiss.
He still has venom and scales and shit. Fuck that.

>>43812695
> Hide behind Hiss.
Ready an acid brew just in case

>>43812695
> Hide behind Hiss.

>>43812695
>>43812745
This and stand back, leave him between us and Hiss

>>43812695
>> Flee
he wants this situation so it can't be worth giving it to him

Rolled 5 (1d6)

Alright, looks like a tie between drawing your sword for a fight and hiding behind Hiss' proverbial petticoats. Evens the former, odds the latter.

>>43812900
THE DICE WANTS TO NOBBLE!

>Hide behind Hiss

Oh hell no, there's no way you're getting involved this way. Sword training or no sword training, this is still no place for you. Your place is hanging back with ranged attacks and supporting your allies. Allies like Hiss.

You dive out of the way as he comes down, scrambling towards Hiss so you can use her a shield. Hiss chuckles, foreseeing your attempt and one of her hands is waiting for you.
She plucks you into the air as gently as possible, trying not to squeeze you between two fingers. She deposits you on her shoulder and you immediately grab hold of the collar of her tunic so that you don't fall.
"Hang in there, alright?" Hiss whispers.

Well, you're dizzyingly high up and you're fairly sure that if you let go you're going to die horribly but at least the King probably can't get you up here.

Hiss turns one way than the other, hrmphing in frustration.
"Where did he go?"

You look around as best you can but you fail to see anything. Hiss starts lashing her tail around in a blind attempt to hit him, laying waste to large swathes of the forest below you.

"Hold on Cennen, I'm going to try and flush him out with a rattle."

> Cover your ears.

> Suggest something else.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43813064
> Cover your ears.
Yeah I don't have any ideas. Not like we can really brew up here.

>>43813064
> Cover your ears.
> mfw everyone at the village is dead from Hiss' krakatoa-like rattle

>>43813064
> Cover your ears.
I'll trust Hiss thinking as us can't come up with anything better than this.

>>43813064
Maybe it would be helpful to return to a more reasonable size?

>>43813126
Hopefully that were in a crater bounces the sound skyward. And make everyone in the surrounding countryside know to fear the snake

>>43813064
first make sure he's not climbing hiss right now

>>43813064
Spot check first make sure he's not climbing you.

>>43813175
>>43813183

Fair ideas. Supporting.

>>43813064

>>43813064
>>43813175

> Cover your ears.
>Spot check for climbing

Oh no, she's not going to kill everyone is she? How far does her rattle even go at this point?

Hiss tsks.
"I'm not going to use the killing one, that would be dumb."

You jam your hands over your ears as Hiss twitches her tail. The resulting rattle is like thunder, booming over the entire forest and beyond. It is less a 'rattle' and more of a cataclysm, etching fear directly into the countryside itself. The forest far below erupts with fleeing wildlife, many birds falling from the sky and killing themselves from fear alone.
Holding your ears barely does anything, the rattle vibrates through as a physical force more than a sound. And yet somehow, you are protected. Have you just become accustomed to them? Or is having the majority of Hiss' body between you and the source of the rattle enough to insulate you from the worst of it?

Hiss laughs maniacally loud enough to really hurt your ears. She's watching the rattle roll out beyond even the forest, a wall of fear expanding at the speed of sound.
"A fitting instrument to be played upon the eve of my coronation, no?"

And yet the King fails to reveal himself. Hiss starts to become frustrated and continues to devastate the countryside while you try and puzzle it out.
Where could he be that Hiss would not have hit him by now?

And then you get it. Keeping your hands on her collar, you hang forward and let yourself slide off her shoulder. You now have no footing, just hanging directly down from her neck.
But now you can actually look down properly without Hiss' shoulder getting in the way. That lets you see the King.

He's small, a snake barely six foot long and he's wrapped himself around one of the buttons of her tunic. Hiss would have likely never have noticed him.
You seeing him doesn't immediately inform him of his location either. Looks like he's off the rails of her prophecies.

"He's down there! Behind the button!"

1/2

>>43813355
Your whole world shakes as Hiss leans down, her lower body settling back into the Snakehome crater and filling it with a coil. She jabs at her own torso ineffectually.

By the time she finds the right button and pries it off, the King is gone, slipping into the space between her skin and the tunic itself.

Hiss starts punching herself in the gut repeatedly but it doesn't seem to be working.
"Don't you have a potion for this? Or something?"


> Just stay back. You aren't tangling with that and Hiss is bound to hit him with a punch eventually.

> Nobble

> Ask her to return to a more reasonable size. Duh.

> Try to convince her to settle this without violence.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43813456
>> Ask her to return to a more reasonable size. Duh.
> Try to convince her to settle this without violence.
The King isn't an idiot and this will go on forever. Can you two just talk as family? This is getting stupid.

>>43813456
>> Nobble
> Nobble
Nobble

>>43813456
>> Ask her to return to a more reasonable size. Duh.

>>43813456
> Ask her to return to a more reasonable size. Duh.

>>43813456
> Ask her how she's doing
> Ask her to return to a more reasonable size. Duh.

Though I'm really tempted to go with nobble

>>43813456
Give her a soulguard brew and use the art that allows her to eat a soul through mere physical contact

> Ask her to return to a more reasonable size. Duh.

You have to admit, part of you really wants to slip down there and try to nobble the King himself. But alas, some things have to come first.

"You know, Hiss," you shout up at her from where you're dangling. "This could be easily avoided if you just stopped being so big!"

"But I need the growth for strength!"

"Not anymore! Did you see him?"

Hiss grumbles and begins to shrink, nearly making you fall as your handholds grow smaller and smaller.
In the end you're left clinging awkwardly to the lapels of a mostly normal-sized Hiss, though the snake-tail gives her a few extra feet. The two of you are in the very center of the ruined crater.

You let go as Hiss reaches down her top and pulls out a long black snake with a red underbelly.
"This time," she purrs. "You're not getting away."

The King lashes and twists in her grip but he's under the effect of two separate Snake Dispels and a Weakening Cloud while Hiss still has the proportionate strength of a god.
Hiss breathes out and does something invisible once more and this time you somehow know it's taken effect. She's sealing away all of his Snake Arts, one by one.

"Thank you Cennen," she beams. "That settles that."
Her jaw unhinges and she holds the struggling serpent high, clearly intending to swallow the six-foot snake whole.

> Let her.

> Intervene. Can't we settle this without murder?

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43813665
> Intervene. Can't we settle this without murder?

>>43813665
> Let her.

>>43813665
>> Make a wish (Specify)
Make her only able to swallow the most useful souls. No point in her getting bloated with all the junk he has eaten over the year.

>>43813716
She could do that anyways.

>>43813665
> Let her.
>>43813716
Nigga what are you smoking? His souls are all fine. She can just spew them out later anyway.

>>43813665
> Let her.

>>43813665
>> Intervene. Can't we settle this without murder?

>>43813665
> Intervene. Can't we settle this without murder?
> "Hiss, wait. He's not completely wrong, are you sure you are ready? There may be trouble soon, and snakehome will need your father's help"
Also
> "You already got what you wanted: look at him! He'll have to acknowledge you now!"

>>43813665
Everything is for naught if Hiss kills the king. He actually seems reasonable and not outright hostile.

>>43813665
> Let her.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

Is this another tie? The Dice Gods have been feeding well today. Evens for letting her, odds for trying to talk her down.

>>43813694
>>43813741
>>43813785
>>43813880
Murderhobos the lot of you.

>>43813901
Well then. Seems like so many of our choices go to the dice now a days.

>>43813921
Our goal during the entire quest was to help Hiss kill her father.

>>43813946
That Hiss' goal.
Not ours, the whole quest is Hiss trying to 'prove' herself for some reason and to kill a guy who disregarded her attempt on his life and hasn't really done anything to her.

>>43813946
and she's STILL not ready to replace him. Not by a long shot. AS it stands she's going to get bumped off by a non royal snake likely after they kill us in our sleep so we can't pull her ass out of the fire.

What she wants =/= what she actually needs.

>>43813901
pls no Ouro, do another decision but make it for 1 minute only to reduce samefagging.

>>43813716
>>43813996
My vote is pro eating so...

>>43813996
>people disagree with me
>must be samefags

>>43813946
I actually wanted to help her come to terms with her own limitations and learn to accept herself for what she is so that she'd be able to live her life without having to live up to her own retardedly high standards.

And I did a piss poor job

> Let her.

You're not sure how to feel about this. You'd gotten the impression that the Serpent King had not actually been as bad as the impression Hiss had given you. But he's STILL a monstrous soul-devouring abomination despite that. But then again, doesn't that describe Hiss as well?
Not that any of this matters, the only morality here is who is and who isn't in Hiss' way.
That is how it has always been and you were a fool for dreaming that it might be otherwise.

Hiss swallows him tail first, greedily shoving more and more into her maw until only his head is poking out, hissing frantically. And that's when she clamps her jaws shut, breaking open weakened scales and letting the severed head fall to the broken ground.

Hiss starts laughing again, an unhinged increasingly high-pitched sound...that is interrupted by a hiccup as she suddenly pops back into her ordinary Hiss form. With the Serpent King defeated, her Empress form has melted away.

Well, it's MOSTLY just her ordinary Hiss form. A small black crown now rests atop her brow, one last little touch of vanity.

>Hiss' Expert Princess has changed into Expert Queen! This is unfortunately just a cosmetic change.

>Select three new Snake Arts from the selection in the next post.

>>43814048
>Not that any of this matters, the only morality here is who is and who isn't in Hiss' way.

>That is how it has always been and you were a fool for dreaming that it might be otherwise.


Well I guess we just sealed a bad end, GREAT JOB GUYS!

>>43814048
Choose three (3) Snake Arts but keep in mind that some are only select-able if their pre-reqs are also taken.

> Shed Skin: An improvement on her existing shapeshifting ability, allowing her to mix traits of her assumed form and her snake form freely.

> Camouflage: Hiss can cease all movement and blend in with her surroundings, no matter what shape she's using.

> Death Rattle: She can strike off a loud sound that fills humans with instinctive fear, forcing them to flee.

> Growth: A permanent Art that makes Hiss' true form very large and allows her to shapeshift into much bigger forms if she chooses to.

> Shallow Bite: You can control the lethality of your venom.

> Serpent's Temptation: An upgrade to Hypnotic Gaze and Devour Soul, Hiss can alter the soul of one in trance in different ways than simply eating them, allowing her to implant suggestions and compulsions.

> Gorgon Eyes: An upgrade to Hypnotic Gaze, Hiss can destroy the soul of any human who meets her gaze.

> Precise Fangs: An upgrade to Devour Soul, Hiss can now eat away whatever she wishes, no matter how small it might be.

> Consummate Predator: An upgrade of Life's Blood, Hiss can automatically consume the soul of anything she kills.

> Sidewinder: An upgrade to Constrictor Strength, Hiss can put such strength to use to boost her speed and endurance.

> Rend: An upgrade to Constrictor Strength, Hiss can rip or tear her way through anything nonmagical, no matter how strong or durable it is.

>Cockatrice: Hiss can make her breath lethal by lacing it with her venom. This is almost imperceptible.

> Prey Scent: Hiss can track anyone she pleases, provided she has wounded them or taken part of their soul before.

> Amphibious: Can survive underwater just as easily as above it.

> Shed Skin Expertise: Can only take this Art if you also selected the Shed Skin upgrade. Hiss can change assumed form without returning to her base shape.
1/2

>>43814087
I hope we can salvage it.
It wasn't meant to be like this, fug Snake King ;_;

>>43814117
Nope, when we cease to be her conscious, we allow her to be a full on tyrannical monster. There is no salvaging this, especially when she can mindrape us into submission.

>>43814087
The way I see it, it's angling more towards bittersweet, as it always was meant to be
Those are the best kind

>>43814112
> Shed Skin Mastery: Can only select this Art if you're also selecting the Shed Skin upgrade and Shed Skin Mastery. Injuries Hiss takes no longer transfer between shapes.

> Last Gasp: You can only select this Art if you're also selecting Consummate Predator. Hiss can needs to make physical contact with someone to start devouring their soul.

> Dragon Scales: Hiss' scales protect her from elemental damage and also from blunt impacts and falling damage that would not be stopped by her regular scales.

> Hungry Scales: Hiss can make her scales razor sharp on a whim, allowing her to shred anyone who brushes her.

> Hunt Sense: Hiss will automatically raise her scales in response to an attack.

> Artskin: The effects of mere mortal magics do not impede Hiss. While her scales are raised, they will protect her from being affected or even targeted by non-Snake magic. The scales themselves are vulnerable however.

> Sacrificial Scales: Hiss can now discard all of her scales to protect herself from death.

> Quickskin: Hiss can regrow any damaged or removed scales in minutes.

> Serpent Empress: Hiss can briefly use the magical Art and abilities of any soul she has devoured at the cost of destroying that soul for good.

>Lore Gullet: Hiss can effectively read the minds of anyone whose soul she has partially devoured and predict their actions.

> Shroud: Only select this Art if you are also selecting Camouflage. Hiss can force all light to bend away from her.

> Ambush: Only select this Art if you are selecting both Camouflage and Shroud. Hiss can extend her Shroud to those in her immediate vicinity.

>Unseen Hunter: Only select this Art if you are also selecting Camouflage. Hiss cannot be detected by any sort of magical scrying or senses while she is camouflaged.

>Worldbreaker Coils: Only select this if you are also selecting Growth. Hiss is capable of burning held souls within her to become temporarily much larger and stronger.
2/3

>>43814142
No morality was bittersweet this is full on world burning bad end.

>>43814154
> Mesmerizing Rattle: Only select this Art if you are also selecting Death Rattle. Hiss' Rattle can now bring all humans who hear it into trance ala Hypnotic Gaze.

>Last Rattle: Only select this Art if you are also selecting Death Rattle: Hiss can modify her Rattle so that hearing it can cause humans hearts to stop.

> Sea Snake: Only select this Art if you are also selecting Amphibious. Hiss can use all of her Arts freely underwater as if there was nothing impeding her.

> Snake In The Grass: Only select this Art if you are also selecting Shallow Bite. Hiss can automatically alter herself into something that an opponent finds the most vulnerable and appealing.

>Toxin Immunity: Only select this if you are also selecting Shallow Bite. Hiss is immune to all forms of poisons and toxin, magical and non-magical.
>Royal Blood: If Hiss witnesses a Snake Art she doesn't possess, she can choose to immediately learn and master it.

>Art Control: Hiss can completely control her own Snake Arts, retracting or changing them on a moment's notice if she wants.

Royal Prerogative: Only take if you are also taking Royal Blood and Art Control. Hiss can disable the Snake Arts of others if she so chooses.

>Spirit Serpent: Only take this if you are also taking Art Control. Hiss can now answer prayers like a spirit and can Dreamcraft in the Dreaming.

>Dreambite: Only take if you are also taking Art Control and Spirit Serpent. Hiss can now eat spirits.

And that's that. You get three from that extended list, though some need others to be taken first.

>>43814199
>Royal Blood: If Hiss witnesses a Snake Art she doesn't possess, she can choose to immediately learn and master it.
> Artskin: The effects of mere mortal magics do not impede Hiss. While her scales are raised, they will protect her from being affected or even targeted by non-Snake magic. The scales themselves are vulnerable however.
> Sacrificial Scales: Hiss can now discard all of her scales to protect herself from death.

>>43814112
> Serpent's Temptation: An upgrade to Hypnotic Gaze and Devour Soul, Hiss can alter the soul of one in trance in different ways than simply eating them, allowing her to implant suggestions and compulsions.
This will be nice with her soul kingdom ability. She can put her souls into objects and compel them to obey her to create an undead army
> Dragon Scales: Hiss' scales protect her from elemental damage and also from blunt impacts and falling damage that would not be stopped by her regular scales.
>Toxin Immunity: Only select this if you are also selecting Shallow Bite. Hiss is immune to all forms of poisons and toxin, magical and non-magical.

>>43814087
Don't worry overmuch, that's just Cennen being glum about the fact that he can't find a reason for why the King deserves to die while Hiss doesn't. It isn't the universal narrator setting the new laws of the universe or whatever.


And now as a question to all of you, how did you like the fight in general, counting both this thread and the last one? Was it worth it after having been built up for so long? The King actually went down a bit easier than I expected since you basically went in with the best possible loadout, having not only Snake Dispels and Weakening Clouds but also a wish for Empress AND insanely good rolls.

>>43814199
>Royal Blood: If Hiss witnesses a Snake Art she doesn't possess, she can choose to immediately learn and master it.
Time get all the snakes to show off their art here.
> Hunt Sense: Hiss will automatically raise her scales in response to an attack.
> Artskin: The effects of mere mortal magics do not impede Hiss. While her scales are raised, they will protect her from being affected or even targeted by non-Snake magic. The scales themselves are vulnerable however.
These two for defence

File: 1448413046627.webm (2.87 MB, 960x540)

2.87 MB WEBM

>>43814179
Almost sounds like you don't trust the snake, anon

>>43814280
Does Serpent's Temptation allow her to alter souls she has already eaten?

>>43814318
Yes.

>>43814330
Even ours?

>>43814280
The rolls made it a comfortable fight honestly. I did enjoy that the Empress wasn't an instant win button because of Royal blood.

>>43814280
It was a good fight, We had to work for it. Still waiting for a megalomaniacal Hiss to do something dumb.

>>43814341
She could alter the shreds of soul she took from you, yes. That wouldn't be very useful though!

>>43814309
Hiss.webm

>>43814280
I started participating again, I didn't do much since the compact house stuff.

I'm still kinda disappointed that Hiss remained as amoral and bitchy as she was then but pretty decent fight against the king. Kind of shame about the outcome.

>>43814112
> Serpent's Temptation: An upgrade to Hypnotic Gaze and Devour Soul, Hiss can alter the soul of one in trance in different ways than simply eating them, allowing her to implant suggestions and compulsions.
> Dragon Scales: Hiss' scales protect her from elemental damage and also from blunt impacts and falling damage that would not be stopped by her regular scales.
>Royal Blood: If Hiss witnesses a Snake Art she doesn't possess, she can choose to immediately learn and master it.

>>43814112
> Growth
> Shed Skin
>Royal Blood

>>43814280
I thought the fight was great, I was just surprised that it went so well. Our plan was pretty good and are rolls were better though so what can you do? Also, does Royal blood allow her to permanently learn snake arts she sees or is it just temporary?
>>43814369
>Hiss remained as amoral and bitchy as she was then
Have you actually been reading the quest?

>>43814112
> Serpent's Temptation: An upgrade to Hypnotic Gaze and Devour Soul, Hiss can alter the soul of one in trance in different ways than simply eating them, allowing her to implant suggestions and compulsions.
> Artskin: The effects of mere mortal magics do not impede Hiss. While her scales are raised, they will protect her from being affected or even targeted by non-Snake magic. The scales themselves are vulnerable however.
>Royal Blood: If Hiss witnesses a Snake Art she doesn't possess, she can choose to immediately learn and master it.

>>43814343
>>43814360
Nice, I was really hoping I wouldn't mess it up. There's only so much I can throw at Snake Empress Hiss though, 2stronk4me.

>>43814369
She's been getting better. Baby steps and all.

>>43814401
Oh sorry, Royal Blood doesn't copy permanently, no. It's still a rocking prereq tho.

I'm going to get something to eat so the power vote is going to be open a little while longer.

>>43814401
>Have you actually been reading the quest?
Yeah, but my memory is a bit fuzzy. Anyway, besides 1 or 2 token acts of kindness she is still basically the same. I mean, Cennen still gets beat 60+ threads on.

>>43814154
>Royal Blood: If Hiss witnesses a Snake Art she doesn't possess, she can choose to immediately learn and master it.
> Dragon Scales: Hiss' scales protect her from elemental damage and also from blunt impacts and falling damage that would not be stopped by her regular scales.
> Artskin: The effects of mere mortal magics do not impede Hiss. While her scales are raised, they will protect her from being affected or even targeted by non-Snake magic. The scales themselves are vulnerable however.

>>43814280
It went different from what I expected. The snake dispel + empress Hiss combo was too OP. I also thought that he was going to try to mindbreak Hiss with a speech.
Overall, I think the fight was good but, just like with the shadow wizard, I wish we'd listened to what he had to say.
I also regret we didn't get to chase the king inside Hiss' shirt

>>43814474
>I wish we'd listened to what he had to say.
same
>spoiler
Same, but I also didn't want to get bit.

>>43814501
well presumably hiss can summon him up to bitch at us

>>43814560
>Hiss throwing a tiny fangless snake at us and laughing.

Alright, calling the vote for now. Royal Blood and Artskin have been definitively locked in, presumably so you can stop having to give Hiss antimagic brews when you have to fight wizards.

There is a tie for the third Art however so I'm calling another vote to break the tie.

>Dragon Scales

>Serpent's Temptation

>>43814744
>>Serpent's Temptation

>>43814744
Dragon scales.

Fuck Wizards.

>>43814744

>Dragon Scales
Serpent's temptation would be detrimental to her development

>>43814744
>Serpent's Temptation

>>43814776
How?

>>43814744
>Serpent's Temptation

>>43814744
>Dragon Scales


>>43814800
Mind rape anyone and everyone into doing whatever she wants.

>>43814800
I can't answer for anon really but he's probably a little wary of what Hiss might get up to with the ability to mess with people's heads.

>>43814744
>Dragon Scales
Artskin was definitely a questionable choice. I'm slightly butthurt that royal blood only gives temporary snake arts but it was kinda too late to change my vote.

>>43814744
>Dragon Scales
DEFENSE

>>43814800
It allows her to skip through diplomacy and she'll end up surrounded by brainwashed drones and Cennen. What's the point of being a good ruler if you can just force everyone to agree?

>>43814858
>Artskin was definitely a questionable choice.
It'll protect against Wizards and with Dragonskin she should be fine against most of Barts freeze effects.

>>43814888
Right but we already had antimagic brews. It's just a bit redundant.

>>43814898
Image the anti-magic brews we can create from her new scales.

>>43814898
Antimagic brews last one hit, and don't offer good protection against indirect fire. her scales do now.

>>43814744
>>Dragon Scales

Alright, calling the vote for Dragon Scales.

>Royal Blood
>Artskin
>Dragon Scales

Hiss adjusts her crown, her face alight with glee.
"I can't believe I actually did it!"
She starts laughing again as she strolls over to the giant shed snakeskin left by the King in the very start of your encounter and kicks it into a coil. She then sits atop it and folds it around her, her father's only remains serving as a throne.
"The other snakes should be back soon. That is, if I didn't scare them off. But we still have some time. Stab me, Cennen."

"What?'
You're still feeling very disoriented.

"Do it! And throw a potion at me! I want to test my newfound power."

You're already drawing your sword before you know it, your hands tugging it out on their own.

>Stab her.

>Use Potion (Specify)

> "Hiss, I'm going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Walk away.

> Other

>>43815027
Should that option say "I'm not going to do this"?

>>43815027
> "Hiss, I'm not going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"
We still have a wizard hyped on magic older and more powerful than your father's. then I have to figure out how to make a fake soul for your guest.

>>43815044
whooooooops

>>43815050
>>43815027
Also sheathe our sword.

>>43815027

> "Hiss, I'm not going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"
Also, congratulations, I guess.

>>43815027
> "Hiss, I'm not going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"
If they see me trying to stab you it would cause problems

>>43815027
> "Hiss, I'm going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"
Let's try it out later.

>>43815050
I don't see any reason to sour her mood by bringing up spirit hiss

>>43815109
We're bound by compact, we don't get it done eventually bad things will happen to us, and not even Hiss could protect us.

>>43815027
> "Hiss, I'm not going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"

>>43815027
>Stab her.

With your dick.

>>43815127
She already knows about it. And I still plan to do it. Now isn't the time to bring it up though.

>>43815027
>>Stab her.

>>43815027
>tickle her instead

So disappointed we didn't nobble the king.

>>43815158
Hiss has a really shitty memory, in addition to not thinking things through.

>>43815154
Silver please.

> "Hiss, I'm not going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"

You look her in the eyes and sigh, sheathing your sword. Hiss looks remarkably petulant.
"Hiss, I'm not going to do this. Shouldn't we be planning on what to do now?"

"Wow Cennen, thanks for congratulating me for finally fulfilling my goal! No, it's fine, I'm quite humble. You arse."

"Congratulations. You're the Queen of a hole in the ground. What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to do, uh, royal things. Like Father used to. I don't ...know what those are but I can do them."
Hiss is starting to look progressively less and less joyful. She's coming down from the high of victory.
"I mean, I'm the Serpent Queen! I have to be happy, right?. If we came all this way and it's not worth it then what's the fucking point? So you'll be fucking happy about my ascension and you'll like it!"

You manage to resist her command and stay sober-headed.
"Are you? I can't be happy if you aren't."

"Of course I am," she mutters. "This is what I want."
She strokes the snakeskin of her throne for a long moment, looking down at the deflated head that she's currently resting her feet on. Her face starts to crumple.

> Comfort her.

> Leave her alone, she probably doesn't want you seeing this.

> Hail to the Queen.

> Tell her not to be such a pussy.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43815206
> Comfort her.
> Hail to the Queen.

>>43815206
>> Comfort her.
SALVAGE BEFORE BAD END

>>43815206
>Comfort her
>Hail to the Queen

Can't look back now.

>>43815206
> Comfort her.
> Hail to the Queen baby.

>>43815206
> Comfort her.
> Hail to the Queen.
Also, you could always look at his memories to figure out what ruling is like

>>43815206
> Comfort her.
Hug the snake

>>43815241
Or maybe she can talk to him? I don't really know how the whole eating souls thing works exactly.

>>43815206
>> Tell her not to be such a pussy.

>>43815206
> Comfort her.
but
> Tell her not to be such a pussy.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

>>43815206
>Comfort her

Ask her if what she really wanted was to rule, or to have her father acknowledge her.

Seriously this is daddy issues 101. Hiss is pretty much a "Strong Black Woman" what never grew up with a dad.

>>43815446
Strong Black Snake who don't need no Alchemist.

> Comfort her.
> Hail to the Queen.

You join her by her makeshift throne, placing your hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sure you'll do just fine. Can't you just summon up the King anyway and ask him?"

Hiss frowns.
"I think it'll be best to let dear old Dad rest for a while before resurrecting anything of him, he's very disappointed in me. Not particularly something I want to feel, even by proxy."
She breathes out, reclining lower and lower.
"I told you that I used to look up to him, right? And now that he's finally gone its...what do I even do now?"

"You're Queen, right? Whatever you want."

Just having you there seems to comfort her a little. She grins, a small slow one.
"That's right. Whatever I want. I just need to figure out what that is."
She sweeps you up onto her decaying throne with her and kisses you. She's mostly warm and the taste of venom fills your mouth. You're resistant enough by now but it's still enough to numb your body.
She drops you on the ground by her feet afterwards, looking at least a little more satisfied.
"Hail to the Queen, baby. I'll handle this just fine."

She looks up as you get to your feet, pursing her lips.
"And look who comes crawling back. Now would be a good time for you to leave, Cennen. They're really not going to like you being here."

The other snakes are finally slithering back to Snakehome or at least what's left of it, the ancient crater practically blown apart and the forest all around leveled.
"Go back to the village and make sure Oster hasn't done anything stupid or whatever. I'll be fine."

>Stay.

>Pretend to leave but hide somewhere outside and keep watch.

>You trust Hiss to handle this if she says she can. Leave.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43815516
>You trust Hiss to handle this if she says she can. Leave.

>>43815468
No, we've passed that point. She got herself a white, err, I mean Human and she isn't going to fuck that up.

But hey! Now we have an army of snakes we can force to integrate, and soon every alchemist can have a Hiss of their own!

Or we can invade Tash land

>>43815516
>>You trust Hiss to handle this if she says she can. Leave.

>>43815516
Wait for them to get in sight, then kiss Hiss in front of them and leave. Grab some reagents from the king first, as well. Skin and shit. Maybe even the head?

>>43815516
>>43815563
This

>>43815516
>You trust Hiss to handle this if she says she can. Leave.
I'm still kinda in disbelief about our victory

>>43815516
Fuck that. Establish dominance by staring down the first snake.

>>43815516
>You trust Hiss to handle this if she says she can. Leave.

>>43815580
>>43815563
These. Otherwise Hiss will have to protect us and look weak. But we should supplication a kiss from Hiss, not take it.

Also get that head.

>>43815516
> "Are you sure?"
If yes
>Pretend to leave but hide somewhere outside and keep watch.
She may not show it, but she must be pretty tired from the fight and being in empress form, we should stay close in case someone tries something funny.
Also, I want to see what she does.

>>43815516
>You trust Hiss to handle this if she says she can. Leave.

I guess that Oster's brand is gonna be gone now that the king his dead. That probably didn't feel too good. Maybe Hiss can give him a brand of her own now though?

>>43815516
>>43815563
Seconding

>You trust Hiss to handle this if she says she can. Leave.

You consider trying to steal another kiss from her while her newfound subjects are watching but she pushes you away with one hand when you try.
"Let's not get too excited. There'll be plenty of time for that later."

You climb the walls of Snakehome and leave, none of the snakes paying any attention to you. No, they're fixed upon the person sitting atop their ruler's dead body. The new Serpent Queen.

And as you walk away, all of the adrenaline and rush suddenly leaves your body, leaving you feeling drained and weak. You stumble and nearly fall.
Holy fuck, you can't believe you won. You won and you didn't die! Sure, you came close to death more than a few times but still...you still don't really believe it. It almost feels a little undeserved, toppling someone who didn't even fight back at the start and with the best combination of circumstances possible.
You just wish that you could have talked to him more. Maybe this could have been settled peaceably.

The village is almost deserted, emptied by Hiss' earthshaking rattle. You hope the consequences of that thing don't come back to bite you, people all over the place must have heard it.

You find Aashenpreet still coiled up on the ground, Rock perched on top of her head.

You don't know where Oster is.

> Talk to Aash and Rock.

> Just ask them where Oster is.

> Avoid them for now, keep looking. Hiss gave you a job to do.

> Sit down with them and brew.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43815516
>>Pretend to leave but hide somewhere outside and keep watch.

>>43815773
> Talk to Aash and Rock.
> Just ask them where Oster is.

>>43815773
>> Just ask them where Oster is.

>>43815773
> Just ask them where Oster is.

Alright, which of you guys archived the thread? I mean, I don't dislike the description or anything. It's just weird to do it now

>>43815773
> Just ask them where Oster is.

>>43815773
>> Just ask them where Oster is.
> Start the human roundup

>>43815809
I'm the guy who usually archives if you can't and it wasn't me.

>>43815773
> Just ask them where Oster is.
I'm sure he has some mixed feeling about this whole thing. He was branded by the king originally.

>>43815773
> Talk to Aash and Rock.
After explaining ask where is Oster and ask what are they planning to do now.
I doubt they'll want to stay here, now that Hiss is queen.

>>43815773
> Just ask them where Oster is.
inb4 he ran off when Hiss rattled

>>43815773
>> Talk to Aash and Rock.

> Just ask them where Oster is.

It's tempting to sit with them and to just unwind but you can't right now. Hiss gave you a job to do and you have to admit you're a little worried about the big guy himself.
"Hey guys," you say wearily.

Aashenpreet hisses and Rock perks up, rearranging her seven legs.

-She says that she's happy that you are alive. As am I.-

"Thanks. Do you know where Oster is?"

-I saw him down that path to the east in some sort of grove when I was in the air watching the battle.-

"Thanks."

-Cennen, wait. There is something we must talk about. It's about Hiss.-

"Sorry but I don't have time right now. I'll talk to you later, alright?"

Rock doesn't press the issue though you know that the little spirit has more than enough power to do so.

You wander further through the empty village, spotting even a few people still here. You recognize as some of the branded you saw before. They're clutching their disintegrating marks and weeping, completely ignoring you and everything else.
That doesn't bode well.

The path that Rock pointed out to you leaves the village behind, up and over a hill and back into the forest itself. There's another, smaller clearing beyond, filled with long grass and statues.
The statues are all human, a mixture of men and women. They're all life-sized and they are carved from wood. Many of them are rotting but they still hold together. Most of them seem to be depicted with a brand somewhere or other.

You find Oster sitting cross-legged in front of one of them, his Ishmin sword impaled into the ground beside him. The statue in front of him is huge, as tall as the big guy himself and wider around the shoulders. A rotting figure obscured in full plate and with a disfigured face. A large leaf-bladed wooden sword is held tightly in wooden hands.

Oster nods as you approach, turning to look up at you. The brand on his cheek is melting, breaking apart into rivulets that run down his face.
"Cennen. So it's done, then?"

1/2

>>43816021
"Yes, it's done."
You find yourself almost hiding your branded hand behind your back, as if it were insulting to still bear the mark while he did not.

"Good lad," he breathes. "Not that it wasn't obvious."
He waves a hand at his marred face.
"Finally some quiet."


> "What are you doing here?"

> "Quiet?"

> "I'm sorry."

> Tell him about Hiss' crowning.

> "You don't mind, do you? About the King."

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43816064
> "What are you doing here?"
> "Quiet?"
> Tell him about Hiss' crowning.
> We should get organised so Hiss can re-brand her human subjects.

>>43816064
> "What are you doing here?"
> "Quiet?"

>>43816064
> "What are you doing here?"
> "Quiet?"
> Tell him about Hiss' crowning.

>>43816064
> "What are you doing here?"
> "Quiet?"

>>43816064
> "You don't mind, do you? About the King."
If he does
> "I'm sorry."
> "What are you doing here?"

>>43816064
> "What are you doing here?"
> "Quiet?"
> So your leaf sword used to belong to this guy huh?

>>43816064
>> Tell him about Hiss' crowning.

> "What are you doing here?"
> "Quiet?"

You sit beside him, pulling your pack off and letting it rest between your legs.
"What are you doing here?"

Oster shrugs.
"The moment I saw you and the princess leave for Snakehome, I came here. It just felt fitting to be at the memorial pre-preemptively."

"But what if Hiss didn't kill him?"

"Wasn't going to happen. I knew she was going to win. She's young and the strong and the King...I think he died a long time ago."

"Hiss is the new Queen now."

"Never doubted it for a moment. I should go get myself rebranded, right?"

"If you want to."
You're still not sure how Oster feels about that.

"I will. But not just yet, I think. Give me some time to enjoy the quiet first."

Your brow creases. That's the second time he's referenced that.
"It's not particularly quiet. What are you on about?"

"Not out there. Up here."
He points to his own head.
"You wouldn't know, you're still young and in love. You haven't even had that thing on your hand for a full year."

"And what if I hadn't?"

"It gets you after a while. You'll start to hear the buzzing, the cloud in your head whenever your liege is too close. It's not a hindrance but..."
Oster wipes his face, his hand coming away black.
"It's a pain in the arse. So I think I'll take my time today. Gotta enjoy the short gap between being a dog for one master and the next, mate."

"Oh."
You reach into your pack, sorting through the bottles.
"Do you want another Mindbalm."

"Not just yet. I'm trying to remember. He's not going to get a statue here, you know. Her Majesty's not so lenient. So I think I'll do my best to remember him for what he was and with what little I have left before the Queen takes those from me too."

> Tell him that Hiss isn't going to do that to him ever again.

> "Who was the King to you anyway?"

> "Do you need anything else?"

> Just leave him be for now.

> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43816410
>> "Who was the King to you anyway?"

>>43816410
> Tell him that Hiss isn't going to do that to him ever again.
> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"

>>43816410
> Tell him that Hiss isn't going to do that to him ever again.
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"
> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."

>>43816410
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"
> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."

>>43816410
> Tell him that Hiss isn't going to do that to him ever again.
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"
> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."

>>43816410
> Tell him that Hiss isn't going to do that to him ever again.
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"
Now I want to talk to Rock, though. Did he see something on Hiss or is it going to be just another warning about how awful she is.

>>43816410
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"
What do you mean he died a long time ago?
> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."

>>43816410
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"
What do you mean he died a long time ago?
> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."

> Tell him that Hiss isn't going to do that to him ever again.
> "Who was the King to you anyway?"
> "She'll want you to show up. It means more to her than she lets on."

"You can relax, Hiss isn't going to do that to you ever again."
Hell, as far as you know Hiss has actually left him alone since you asked her to in Lombai.

"For now, sure. But do you really think you're going to live forever? Because she is. She'll have a long and rich life in which your entire life was only just the first stage. The idea that something so temporary can change the immortal is pretty optimistic."

You're not sure you like being reminded of that. And if your only other choice is to give up, what else can you but keep going?
"I doubt I'm going to die before you and I'm not going to dignify the rest of that with an answer. Now, Hiss is getting crowned or something soon. I think."

Oster shakes his head.
"We don't do coronations here."

"SHE will. And she'll want you to be there. It means more to her than she lets on."

He blinks, actually seeming to take that one to heart.
"Oh, I'll be there. Eventually. I'd like some time here first."

You let silence fall for another few minutes as the sun begins to set behind the trees.
"So...what did you mean when you said the King was already dead?"

Oster waves a hand noncommittally.
"You wouldn't happen to have any booze in that magic pack of yours, would you?"

"I don't drink as a rule."

"I always knew something was wrong with you," he mutters. "Now, don't you remember the reason I gave the princess back when we met? I believe in this place but in the end I'd stopped believing in him. I remember...he used to be so beautiful. I would have done anything for him. But he just stopped caring and so did we. I don't want that."

Something about the tone in his voice throws you off.
"Who was the King to you anyway?"

Oster is quiet for a long moment.
"You can probably understand this more than anyone else, Cennen."
1/2

>>43816783
I always suspected he was a homo...

>>43816783
"You remember when you and Hiss started pushing beds together, so to speak?"

"Beds weren't involved. But yeah, you really didn't like it."

"Only because it was improper and because I didn't trust you at first. But you know I didn't hold it against you for very long. Did you ever wonder why?"

"...No?"
You just sort of assumed that it was because Hiss had told him to fuck off.

Oster claps you on the shoulder.
"Been there. Or at least, I remember wishing I was. It's no fun being in love with somebody and I'll tell you what, it never lasts. People always change and they always keep moving and people like us just get left behind. Especially when they never wanted you to walk with them in the first place. I guess I was a little jealous of you, you certainly got a lot further. But the same thing will happen to you."

A very awkward silence ensues.

"No it won't," you say, at a lack of anything else to say. "Me and her, we'll work through it."

"Suit yourself. Now unless you're going to brew me a drink, you can bugger off for now. I'll see you later."

> Go back to the village.

> Go find Hiss.

> Stay

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43816850
> Go find Rock.

>>43816850
> Go back to the village.
Find out what Aash and Rock wanted to talk about.

>>43816783
Woah...
Now picturing a future where Hiss actually becomes everything we're trying to lead her away from and Cennen ends up founding the resistance. Another iteration of the same story

>>43816850
Brew up some alcohol for hm real quick then
> Go back to the village.

>>43816850
> Go back to the village.
Find Rock

>>43816850
> Go back to the village.

>>43816876
This. Might as well.

>Go back to the village
>Find Rock
>Brew

You open your pack and gather up your ingredients. It's been a while since you've had to do this but you should still have the hang of it.
"Didn't take you for the drinking type," you say as you pour out the last of your waterskin.

"I'm not, it's a bad habit. But since I'm not a freak like you I still appreciate a beer every now and then to take the edge off."

"Well if you aren't expecting beer you're going to be disappointed."
You never learned too much about brewing this stuff so your alcohol brews tend to be lot less refined. And stronger.
You pass him the bottle and he needs, popping the cork off with his thumb.
"Cheers."

You gather up your pack and stand, leaving Oster where he is.
"I used to hate you."

"I know. You were jealous of me or something, who knows why. I always put it up to the fact that you spend about a quarter of each day acting retarded."

"Thanks mate. Always good to know I'm among friends."

"No worries. Now screw off."

You leave Oster to his thoughts.

The village is already filling up as you return, most of them getting ready for their new monarch. Those who used to be branded haven't moved and the other villagers aren't helping them, simply keeping a respectful distance. Aashenpreet and Rock are right where you left them, Aash still in her snake form.
It must be comforting for her to finally be back in the shape she genuinely prefers. She's not like Hiss that way.
"Hey Aaash, Rock. Oster's fine. Or I think he's fine anyway. Did you want to talk to me about something?"

-Cennen, do you believe in evil?-

>"Maybe. I might know it when I see it."

> "Yes."

> "No, it's not clear-cut."

> "No." Morality doesn't exist.

> Sigh. "This is about Hiss, isn't it?"

> Other

>>43817077
> "No, it's not clear-cut."

>>43817077
>"Maybe. I might know it when I see it."
> Sigh. "This is about Hiss, isn't it?"

>>43817077
> Sigh. "This is about Hiss, isn't it?"

>>43817077
>> Sigh. "This is about Hiss, isn't it?"
> "No, it's not clear-cut."

>>43817077
> Sigh. "This is about Hiss, isn't it?"
> "No, it's not clear-cut."

>>43817077
> "No, it's not clear-cut."
> It depends on perspective. What is evil for some may be good for others and vice versa.

> Case in point: the creator casting them down was certainly evil for the dragons, yet a necesary meassure to protect the humans they enslaved. Their consumption of humans was evil for us, but they did it to remain in this world.
> Jallahaodesh broke the pact, which you percieved as evil, but he did it to stop Hiss, whom he saw as evil, you see what I'm getting at?

>>43817077
>>43817249

Yus.

> Sigh. "This is about Hiss, isn't it?"
> "No, it's not clear-cut."

"I don't think it's quite that clear-cut and this is totally about Hiss, isn't it? Come on Rock, we've been down this road before. I'm tired."

-I am going to ignore the majority of what you just said and agree with your statement that it is not clear-cut. Evil itself does not exist. But I believe that an act itself can be evil and that there are many different kinds of evil act.-

"If it's about the King, I was feeling a little iffy on that to-"

-Consider evil through inaction.-

"Pardon?"

-If some acts are evil or wrong, is it not also evil or wrong to simply stand by and watch it happen? To be inactive when you could stop it?-

"Look, Rock. I am trying to stop it. But I'm not going to fight her, I'm trying to bring her around."

-I was not referring to you.-

"Who else, then?"

-Myself. I have learned of death and I have dealt death. I have watched death. I know it is not my place to judge, that it would be wrong to interfere. But now I fear that it may be more wrong to do nothing at all.-

"I wish I could help you Rock but that's a tricky one. What is evil to someone really isn't to another. You remember Jallahaodesh, right?"

-Yes. I fear that in this world, there is no right choice. I have become sullied either way.-

"I guess what I'm getting at is that in the end it's your choice."

-I am not equipped to make these choices. But I feel that soon I must-

You narrow your eyes.
"Why?"

-Because Hiss will not stop.-

"You don't know tha-"

You are interrupted mid-sentence by a sudden clamoring as Hiss returns from the forest, serpents of every kind slithering about her feet.
"Cennen!"
She claps you on the back and lashes an inescapable arm around your shoulders.

Rock is conspicuously silent.
"Hey Hiss, what's this all about? How did it go?"

1/2

>>43817332
Hiss looks embarrassed about something.
"I ended up having to make some concessions. A lot of them weren't very happy with how I killed Father so I had to make some promises before they ALL accepted me as Queen. Just some little big promises. Give everyone a goal to strive for so they don't feel so bad."
She forces a short laugh.

"What did you do?"

"I may have declared war."
You stare at her.
"What? Lot of snakes around here weren't happy with how the King had been so isolationist, want the land they believe they deserve. The old dragon lands, living space to grow and breed beyond our limited numbers. And you can stop looking at me like that right now, it was something I wanted to do anyway."

"Declared war on who?"

"Everybody?"

Rock floats away.

>>43817389
snakecatcher quest is no more
snake war quest has begun
get hype

That's that for today folks. I said it was going to be a short thread for a reason, I have my gameday today.
Next thread will probably be in two days or so, check the twitter closer to the release date etc etc.

I hope you all had fun

>>43817424
>hype
Why should we be hype?

>>43817433
Well this is a shit sandwhich.

>>43817424
>Not Cennen going around nobbling snakes in the Snake kingdom for the rest of his life

>>43817433
Thanks for running! Great thread as always.

>>43817437
keep cryin bitch nigga. it's gonna be fun. did you expect that we would just sit around in snakehome after killing the king?

>>43817389
Hiss pulling a Gengis Khan and everything will go to shit.
> Rock floats away.
We're going to be knee deep in spirits, aren't we?

>>43817433
Pretty good man, thanks for running

>>43817462
No I expected to deal with Bart. Now we're going to forced to help Hiss mind rape and slaughtered thousands or rebel.

>>43817463
>Knee deep
More like up to our neck if we're lucky, and given our bane we will be a priority target.

>>43817495
Don't worry, you'll still have time to deal with Bart. Wars don't happen overnight.

>>43817539
Now I'm not sure we SHOULD deal with Bart is the issue. He might be the last line of defense for humanity in general.

>>43817539
Hopefully we can prevent this one from happening at all.

>>43817539
It ain't going to be a war. It's just going to be Hiss informing them that she is their queen and her curtailing and rebellion that appears.

>>43817495
I'm looking forward to the battles and politics and shit. Quit being such a whiner.

>>43817561
We're gonna rule humanity alongside Hiss, not exterminate them. Don't get cold feet now, Hiss has been pretty clear about her intentions all along.

>>43817575
>battles
Killing every human we come across so Hiss and the other can get a nice meal in
>politics
Hiss ignoring us and what we say, and Queen aura'ing us into following her orders and doing whatever she wants regardless of Cennen's input. The other snakes would just kill us.
I get you want to go full murderhobo and retarded evil anon. I, however have severe misgivings.

>>43817610
>We're gonna rule humanity alongside Hiss, not exterminate them.
Given she can't rule her own subjects and the view humanity as trash? 90% of higher death rate, easily. The rest get enslaved and no chance to progress, much like Quedesh. You're thinking HIss will
A. Be fully in charge, which is faulty since she obviously isn't.
B. Will listen to our input.

>>43817614
Buzzwords aside, I get that you're butthurt but you're being totally ridiculous anon. You're exaggerating way too much.

>>43817644
>buzzwords

I'm really not, do you really think the other snakes give a rat's ass about our input? No? Hiss won't either, largely because she'll refuse to look weak in front of them. In fact with the exception of getting dragged in for a fuck or being forced to make alchemic weapons for her, I doubt we'll see her often if at all shortly.

>>43817678
We already made it clear that we won' use our alchemy like that, plus we're the only true friend she has.
Plus we still have two wishes.

>>43817678
>Not nobbling all the snakes in snakeholm

>>43817710
>We already made it clear that we won' use our alchemy like that
Queen powers and we've already made several weapons for her at her request
>plus we're the only true friend she has.
Her ego and standing have always come before that, always. She will ignore us or even punish us if we do anything out of turn. With all those snakes watching, it's a matter of time.
>Plus we still have two wishes.
We try to use them we're dead. Furthermore she's going to demand we break it immediately.

>>43817769
Please grace us with more of your 100% accurate prophecies

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603 KB PNG

>>43817769
We're pretty much the world authority on handling snakes, specially Hiss.
You also underestimate how much Cennen really means for her, which, I grant, still remains to be seen.
The moment of truth will come when we use the third, unofficial wish she granted us

>>43817791
I can't help you can't remember characterization. None of this is knew and has happened before. Not like HIss is going to do a 180 to kind and gentle over being Queen. In fact given the bad influences of her "subjects" it'll make her worse.

>>43817860
The problem is she's takes Cennen for granted, and will continue to do so.

>>43817908
Then something like >>43816873 happens
That's one of the possible endings I would like

>>43817941
Implying that the best end isn't us somehow making this all work and then a timeskip centuries into the future as immortal God-Empress Hiss visits Cennen's ancient tomb and mourns what she has become

>>43817941
>implying we would ever turn against Hiss

>>43818014
That's my fetish

>>43817433
thanks for running
>>43817769
i dunno man, have you not enjoyed the quest thus far?

The struggle is what's fun about it, and Ouro has always endeavored to try and make things interesting regardless of how we cock it up.

>>43816873

personally i was thinking, hiss actually converts to cennan's way of thinking but inevitably dies because of being even a little good.

Then Cennen goes apeshit, catches all the snakes and becomes the thing he sought to fight against, creating a productive evil empire ruled by an immortal alchemist and a bunch of enslaved snakes.

>>43818227
Immortality is impossible for mortals. At best Cennen would live a few centuries and that's only if his art was as good as the first alchemist's. Who could make potions without fire or water.

>>43818227
>Then Cennen goes apeshit, catches all the snakes and becomes the thing he sought to fight against, creating a productive evil empire ruled by an immortal alchemist and a bunch of enslaved snakes.
This will probably never happen

>>43818292
Probably not but the idea of enslaving all the snakes makes me think of what's going to happen after the human world learns of them. Either Hiss actually conquers and rules forever and ever or eventually people are going to figure out wish-bonds. Makes me think of a Victorian-era Teleran which is post-Hiss and snakes are all kept in captivity and captured the moment they are born before having their wishbonds sold to important nobles and rich people as magical demon servants.
And Hiss in Empress mode is the ancient sealed evil that the protagonist accidentally releases and the true final boss

>>43817389
There's no happy endings it seems..?

This will end in tears.

>>43818540
we just have to believe that everything will be okay