>>43914709
The tree in front of you is falling apart before your very eyes, a mauve discoloration spreading across the once stark white ghost gum like a bruise. Bark peels away of its own accord, revealing bloody pulp that’s already beginning to rot.
There is a shouting and a rustling in the distance, summoned guards working their way towards you. They are too late to save Old Bart and they are too late to save the woman who you suppose was master of this place. She lies dead where Oster stabbed her by your command.

Oster himself is still recovering from his blow to the head though your heal-all has at least gotten him back onto his feet. A heal-all for yourself as well to fix a sharp chest pain that you suspect to be a broken rib.

Zigzag detaches herself from you, drawn to the noise.
“Nice. Let’s eat.”


> You should probably flee the scene.

> Start calling for the Duke.

> Assign some people to deal with the guards (Specify)

> You should all go out and do your best to dissuade them from following, by any means necessary.

> Let Zigzag go off on her own.

> Quickly brew.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43914714
> Start calling for the Duke.
> You should all go out and do your best to dissuade them from following, by any means necessary.
Hopefully "the Duke" is a good enough name to summon him

>>43914714
> Start calling for the Duke.
> Have Fine impersonate the Duke if he doesn't show up.

>>43914714
> Start calling for the Duke.

>>43914714
> You should all go out and do your best to dissuade them from following, by any means necessary.
Nonlethal if possible. We still have that knockout brew.
> Start calling for the Duke.
Let Zigzag get one of them I guess. Maybe she could just stealthily ambush one of them when they're chasing us. Or one of them that gets knocked out.

>>43914866
I doubt she's good enough at shape shifting to pull that off. And the dike might not wanted to be associated with the killings.

>>43914714
>> Use Potion (Specify)
KO brew
> Start calling for the Duke.

>>43914927
Make sure none of our allies are close enough to be knocked out too of course.

>>43914714
>>43914927
>>43915034
these, also we can try and see if we can get ziggy to take a bit of each of there souls. Its not likely to work but at least you can try.

>>43914957
It doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough to stall them until the real Duke arrives, but I guess you're right.
Also, that was super rude. How can you tell she's a lesbian, tho?

> Start calling for the Duke.
>You should all go out and do your best to dissuade them from following.

The Duke told you when he departed that you only had to call his name and he would come. He then left without actually telling you his name which was a real pain.
You hope that 'Duke' is enough because otherwise you're faced with escaping Melire (again) after murdering the person in charge (again).
You don't have a fantastic history with this city.

"Duke," you say loudly. "Uh, Duke of Melire. Duke of the forest. Duke of Lesser Arlington, for all the good you did them. Duke. Any time now would be appreciated!"
There is no immediate response.

"Is he coming?"
Ellesander doesn't look too worried, mostly annoyed.

"Hell if I know. Maybe it takes some time. Duke? Duke!"

Zigzag starts to wander off back into the horrendously overgrown garden.
"I'm going to eat a human."

"Oi! Hold on!"

She doesn't respect your authority however and in the end, the rest of you wind up following her through the undergrowth. You guess you have to take care of the guards anyway.
"Duke," you mumble under your breath. "Duke? Now would be a fantastic time."

Oster spots the first guard, a lone armored man struggling through the brush to your left. He raises his sword but Zigzag beats him to it, puffing up her chest and ...blowing at him?

The man starts as he sees the lot of you and nearly shouts but his voice dies down to a squeak as he falls to the ground like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

"Nice venom," Ellesander remarks.

Oh right, Zigzag has that Art. But that was extraordinarily fast to take effect, just as fast as Hiss'.
"Is he dead?"

Zigzag prods him with a foot, the guardsman making faint little gasps.
"No. It just paralyzes, it can't kill. And that's great because I love to feel them squirm when they go down my throat."
She frowns.
"Not humans though. Way too big."
1/2

>>43915166
I'm shit at typing on my phone

>>43915172
She tries anyway, dislocating her jaw and sliding his hand and forearm into her mouth while he mewls quietly. He appears to be entirely cognizant of his surroundings.

"There they are!"

"What the fuck are they doing?"

There's at least ten more of them, hacking their way through the gardens towards you. Elle and Oster look more than ready to deal with them.

> Let them, you keep watch on Zigzag so she doesn't go anywhere.

> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.

> Disentangle Zigzag from the guard.

> Flee

> Use a different potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43915243
>> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.
> Disentangle Zigzag from the guard.
Hit her with the stuff too if need be, she's tiny we can carry/nobble her.

>>43915243
>> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.
>> Disentangle Zigzag from the guard.
Temping to Nobble her and tell her how to eat souls properly

>>43915243
Make sure Elle and Oster stay out of range of the knockout brew
> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.
> Tell Zigzag to just eat his soul and be done with it
>>43915257
>>43915272
>>43915290
>messing with an unfriendly snake in the middle of eating
do you guys wanna die?

>>43915314
I voted to hit her with it too. She's tiny we can carry her.

>>43915243
> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.

>>43915314
This would be an ideal time to noble any other snake, but since she can shred our hands with her scales, so
> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.
> Tell Zigzag to cut it out
If she doesn't, what
>>43915341
said

>>43915243
>> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.

> Just throw a Knockout Brew at them.
> Should probably do something about Zigzag

Unfortunately there's no easy way to hit Zigzag with the same Knockout potion as the guards, not without catching Oster and Elle as well.
"Stay clear, you two!"

The throw might have once been a challenging one but ever since Eugene modified your body this stuff's been easy. The bottle breaks against a tree right behind the guards, exploding into a cloying fog.
Most of them slump down immediately but a few hold their breath, stumbling out of the cloud just in time to get pulled to the ground by Oster and stabbed in the armpit or caught by Elle's gaze and their minds slowly devoured.

Meanwhile, Zigzag continues her attempt to devour something much larger than herself.
"Hey, cut it off. Don't you know how to eat a soul properly?"

"Mmmmrmph,"
She can't say anything right now but she gives you a nasty look with her snake-slit eyes.

You'd try to pull her off but you know interrupting a snake while its feeding is foolish at best. And besides, if you grabbed her right now you'd probably lose all of the skin on your hand.

> Try to entice her off with something else.

> Try to scare her off.

> Try to reason with her. She can't eat that, you both know she can't.

> Cut the guard's arm off.

> Mercy-kill the guard, that'll at least prompt her to let go so she can swallow the soul.

> Threaten to leave her behind.

> Use one of your wizard potions on the guard.

> Nobble.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43915532
> Use one of your wizard potions on the guard.
It would probably be better if everyone just thought he disappeared rather than living as a soulless husk

>>43915532
> Mercy-kill the guard, that'll at least prompt her to let go so she can swallow the soul.
You little...

>>43915532
>> Try to reason with her. She can't eat that, you both know she can't.
> Threaten to leave her behind.
If that fails
> Mercy-kill the guard, that'll at least prompt her to let go so she can swallow the soul.
>>43915613
Going to be corpses and soulless everywhere

>>43915674
Nobble here with a snake dispel and Ko then teach her to be human?

>>43915532
> Use one of your wizard potions on the guard.
She can finally fulfill her dream of eating an entire human. Maybe she'll like us more?

>>43915699
Given she's feral and sees us as food, and only food? About as likely as Hiss spontaneously becoming a dragon.

Calling it for using the wizard potion I believe.

>>43915699
>>43915683
Pussy talk like that is what get your species enslaved. We're in charge here and she can't do shit to us, so she can either fall in line or get nobbled.

>>43915532
>> Try to reason with her. She can't eat that, you both know she can't.

> Cut the guard's arm off.

>>43915753
It's two for the wizard potion
>>43915613
>>43915699
and two for a mercy kill
>>43915699
>>43915683

>>43915753
tied boss

>>43915532
> Use one of your wizard potions on the guard.
Is there any difference between Eugenes recent batch of rejects and the originals?

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>43915787
Whoops, I counted one of those votes as different. Put it up to being tired.

Evens for potion, odds for mercy kill

>>43915756
How is that pussy talk?

>Use the wizard potion on the guard.

"Come on Duke," you mutter. Now would be a great time for him to show up and solve the problem for you. But the trees around you remain quiet.

"Look, we both know you can't eat that."
You're not sure how commanding of a presence you should try for here. You DO have a royal decree but what if she just spits her venom in your face?

"Mrrrrrrn."

You sigh and open your pack, pulling out the last of the yellow potions that you gathered from Eugene so long ago. You won't have anymore after this but you can't see you feel too bad about that. It shouldn't be too hard to replicate the effects if you really wanted it and it was never too useful anyway.
Zigzag tenses up as you approach the guard, the man crying silently.
"At least make it quick."

Of course, pouring it all over Zigzag would probably solve the problem too. But you decide not to antagonize her and just upend it all over the guard. It doesn't take long before he starts to diminish and before long you are forced to watch as he is swallowed alive.
Fucking hell.

Zigzag on the other hand is extremely happy.
"I didn't know you could do that. Can you do that more? Show me how to do that?"

> "Sure, if you behave." This is a lie.

> "Maybe."

> Refuse outright.

> Nobble.

> "If I had tried to pry you off, what would you have done?"

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43915820
You don't comply with the snake, you teach the snake her place and stop her acting like a fucking moron.

As I was writing this, I remembred the previous 69 threads and realized mankind is doomed

>>43915971
>> Refuse outright.

>>43915971
> Refuse outright.
and if you endanger us again with your gluttony I'll show you those scales have a few rather glaring holes in their defense.

>>43915971
> "Maybe."
According to the pastebin we have three left actually

>>43916035
Those are the fresh rejects which might have alternative effects on top of what they do.

>>43915971
> Refuse outright.
> "What were you planning to do once you got to the elbow?"

>>43915971
>Refuse outright.
Fuck no.

>>43915971
> Refuse outright.
inb4 tantrum

>>43915971
I actually can't make the brew myself, it was a gift.
> "If I had tried to pry you off, what would you have done?"

>>43915983
I don't think your aggressive technique would work very well on this particular snake.

>>43915971
>> Refuse outright.
immediate regret

> Refuse outright.

You try not to let your disgust show openly but you can't control yourself. You're not sure if Zigzag pays attention to human facial expressions anyway.
"Fuck no!"

She bares her fangs at you before standing up.
"Okay. I won't need to eat again for a while. I'll ask you later."

"I don't think you understand. I'm not going to help you eat people. Ever."

"But you just did."

"Yeah and I don't feel great about it. What the fuck?"
You regret your decision, nobody deserves to die that way.

You are spared from further conversation as the air around is you suddenly filled with the now familiar smell of dried blood.
The Duke is standing before you, less a man and more a shadow. He's not fully solid, a hole in the world that through which you can see the forest.

Oster and Elle have finished their grisly work, having executed the unconscious guards while you were arguing with Zigzag. You're not sure if you wanted them to do that.

The Duke says nothing but he beckons you all closer. You watch as Zigzag is the first, stepping towards him and then stepping INTO him. She passes through and you can see her reflected in the Duke on the other side.

You've been through worse, you think to yourself and you step through.

And as if you had simply crossed through a doorway, you are back in the old forest. Zigzag is already there and your other companions join you soon enough. The Duke is behind you and is once more fully solid, a mixture of man and tree and corpse.

"Something's wrong," Ellesander says. "This isn't where we came from."
She's right. The trees here are larger, older. You can see a ruined tower in the distance, gray stone conquered by moss and vine.

"No," the Duke says. "We are here in the center now, the nexus of my power."

"Why?"

"It is here that I will renew the treaty with your Queen. And until then, none of you may leave."

"Why? What are we here for?"

"Collateral."
1/2

>>43916334

> "So much for being grateful."

> Attack.

> Flee.

> "Why? Don't you trust the Queen?"

> Nod and go along with it for now.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43916354
> Nod and go along with it for now.
>Mind if I start brewing then?

>>43916354
> "So much for being grateful."
So this is how the mighty Duke treats those who fix his mistakes?

>>43916354
> "So much for being grateful."
> Mind if I start brewing then?

>>43916354
> "So much for being grateful."
Unnecessarily taking hostages right before signing a treaty is questionable logic at best

>>43916354
> Nod and go along with it for now.
I hope we get to nuke his tower with the danger flask

>>43916401
1. Rock probably told him of our relationship

2. He probably does not trust Hiss as far as he could throw her in giant Empress form.

>>43916354
>>43916371
dis, if he disagrees point out we could be much less obliging

>>43916440
>1. Rock probably told him of our relationship

More specifically, you did when you introduced yourself to him as the Royal Consort.

>>43916401
he knows whats up, its a pretty reasonable response.

>>43916465
All he's doing is pissing off the person who he mistakenly believes is infinitely powerful when we already had a good agreement going

>>43916354
> "So much for being grateful."

>>43916354
> Nod and go along with it for now.
>"Wait, could you deliver this to the Queen? It's the wizard's soul, should serve as a proof that we're alright and we suceeded. Plus it will get her in a good mood"
>"I don't know how long it will last in this flask so she should take it right away"
> Give him a bloodkin

>>43916448
dayummmmmmmmm

>>43916371
>>43916396
why exactly do we need to start brewing right now

>>43916633
I'd rather avoid opening the bag at all since it kinda helps keep Bart contained.

> "So much for being grateful."
> "Mind if I start brewing then?"

"Really?"
You throw your hands up into the air.
"So much for being grateful. Is this how the mighty Duke treats those who fix his mistakes?"

The Duke almost sounds bashful.
"Please forgive me for this caution. You have my word that none of you will be harmed. I am truly thankful for your service."

"Then why do it?"

"Because this is where our last treaty was made and it is here that I command the forest. I must be here to renew the barrier as the Queen wishes me to. But I fear her intentions. She is extremely powerful and I dare not confront her about them anywhere else but here. Please understand."

You suppose you do, just a little.
"Do you mind if I do a little brewing then?"

"Not at all and...ah."
Zigzag has attached herself to the Duke's waist, attempting to bite and shred and spitting venom all the while.
"Cease. You cannot hurt me anymore than you can hurt the land itself."
He pries her off of her, the ragged holes she tore closing as quickly as she made them.

He drops her on the ground, only for the snake to immediately latch back onto him. The Duke sighs and steps forward, the ruined tower suddenly twisting to being only a few feet away.
"You can stay here with me for the time being. It should only be an hour before the Queen arrives."

> Enter the tower.

> You'll stay outside, thanks.

> "Why aren't you the king? You seem pretty powerful."

> Brew

> Ask if he has anything to eat.

> Apologize on Zigzag's behalf.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43916653
He's in a bottle anon.

>>43916633
Regen, dispel, potence, snake dispel, heal alls.

>>43916669
> Enter the tower.
> Ask if he has anything to eat.
> Apologize on Zigzag's behalf.
> Brew

>>43916670
You know his soul was jumping between Iana's body and that tree right? He might be able to escape the bottle.

>>43916669
> "Why aren't you the king? You seem pretty powerful."

>>43916669
> Enter the tower.

>>43916669
> Enter the tower.
> Apologize on Zigzag's behalf.
> Ask if he has anything to eat.

>>43916704
>You know his soul was jumping between Iana's body and that tree right?

>assumptions
and even you are right
>Meta

>>43916669
> Enter the tower.
> Ask if he has anything to eat.

>>43916742
It's not an assumption or meta. He said he was living in her body occasionally and then his soul jumped to the tree as well.

>>43916669
> Enter the tower.
> "Why aren't you the king? You seem pretty powerful."

>>43916772
Not to mention the fact that his soul entered his staff when we killed his body originally

>>43916772
>>43916804
We pulled it off the staff

>>43916669
>> Enter the tower.

> "Why aren't you the king? You seem pretty powerful."

>>43916772
>>43916804
hopefully he can only do that kind of thing between one of his reservoirs and a willing body

>>43916865
We should probably grab our waterskin out of the bag just in case

> Enter the tower.
> Apologize on Zigzag's behalf.
> Ask if he has anything to eat.

Lacking a better option, you all follow him into the ruins. Well, most of you follow. Zigzag is dragged behind him like a particularly obnoxious parasite.

It's a lot bigger within than it looked, moonlight filtering through the canopy and illuminating a ruined, overgrown court. A rough throne hewn from broken rock is in the middle, upon which the Duke seats himself after prying Zigzag away once more.
Stairs lead up around the walls into more complete parts of the building and within them you can see shadows flitting about. Men and women in brown and green, the Duke's Foresters.
"There are quarters through the hall, should you desire them."

Oster excuses himself to do just that, Elle taking Zigzag with her. You are left alone before the Duke.
"Uh actually, do you have anything to eat?"

"Yes. Be still for a moment."

The ground shakes and before you a stone table unearths itself, piled high with freshly roasted meat and tubers, plates of berries and raw mushrooms.
"The bounty of the forest, freely given."

Where did it all come from? You consider asking him whether it's safe but in the end you decide it would be rude. You take a seat and try what looks like venison.
It's some of the best food you've ever had in your life, amazingly tender and filled with juices. The rest of the table proves just as good.

"Help yourself, I stopped eating many years ago. And what I did, I took raw."

You pause your frenzied consumption barely long enough to talk.
"How can you do this? If you're so powerful, why aren't you king?"

The Duke laughs.
"Here I am sovereign, friend to the land and its shepherd. It will bend itself to me. But it is also my prison for the moment the contract was completed, I was bound never to leave it. Even in my old gardens I am now nothing but a shadow. And look at me! I cannot rule."

"Can't you extend your territory?"

1/2

>>43917143
"Listen well, young alchemist. Magic does not take well to ruling nor should it. Consider the fact that no wizard has ever sought significant earthly power and ponder upon the idea that the two most important mystical forces in all Teleran, myself and your Queen, live in the forest alone."

That's not strictly true. Or at least, it won't be for long. You're not sure how to broach that topic however.
"So uh, do you have anything to drink? I have a watersk-"

The Duke waves his hands and...nothing happens. A minute or so passes before one of his Foresters emerges, a bearded man with two stone cups and a kettle.
He pours you a drink, black and bitter.

"What's this? Some sort of forest thing?"

"No. It is made of coffee, a type of foreign bean. It was sold to one of my men by a travelling merchant."

It's exactly as bitter as it smells and you don't much like the taste but you drink it all anyway. There's something strangely compelling about it.
The Duke drinks too, pouring it straight into his helmet somehow.

> Tell him about Hiss' plans.

> Ask him about how all of this magic works.

> Tell him about Old Bart.

> Excuse yourself.

> Other

>>43917269
> Ask him about how all of this magic works.

>>43917269
>discuss quedesh, where magic rules

>>43917269
> Ask him about how all of this magic works.

>>43917269
> Tell him about Old Bart.
> Ask him about how all of this magic works.

>>43917269
>> Ask him about how all of this magic works.

>>43917269
> Ask him about how all of this magic works.
Didn't we try coffee a while ago when we first met Oster as Ophi?

>>43917335
Yes. Who do you think sold the foresters the coffee in the first place?

>>43917269
> Ask him about how all of this magic works

>>43917346
Neat. We should ask to buy or trade for some beans, they might be useful for alchemy.

>>43917372
He can probably grow them as much as he likes with his ability so he might just give us some for free.

>nobody voted to betray Hiss
are the viciously anti-war anons not here tonight?

>>43917521
No I'm very anti-war, but I'm more curious about Magic works. I'm just no being randumb about it like the "LOL WAR IS FUN ENSALVE AND KILL EVERYONE!" crowd is.

>>43917521
being anti war doesn't mean you support actions that aren't going to work. He already suspects.

> Ask him about how all of this magic works.

"Hold on," you say. "I've been across the world. I've seen countries ruled by magic."
You're not going to mention Quedesh by name, you don't know how much he knows.

The Duke finishes his coffee.
"And this place, would you call it wholesome? Would you call it right?"

"Well no, not really. But I'm not sure if any place is."

"Art does not rest easy upon the crown, though that is simply a personal theory. Avalon used to have men like me as kings, those who could form a contract with the entire island. Back when the Bones were strong. But as they weakened, so did the land and now Avalon is dead. It is not meant to be."

You strongly doubt that would apply to all magic. Maybe he has a point about Keepers but who knows why wizards do anything? What would be so bad about an alchemist-king? You don't want to offend him so you decide not to needle at his ideas.
"So it's tied to you? Is that how it works? I don't know a lot about your kind, you're all so rare."

"And for good reason. The Bones of the Earth grow ever weaker and the places where we can commune with them lessen. Once all of the world could speak to us but now there are only remnants, sacred spots that diminish each day and disappear without a Keeper to tend to them."

"How do you find these spots?"

"You only have to listen in the right way. When I was young I loved the tales of the old kings of Avalon, whose blood were the rivers and whose bones were mountains. I researched all the old stories, hired countless scholars until I learned to listen. I even built my mansion atop the strongest land left in my city and I groomed it to be wild."

"Yeah I'm familiar with that spot. It's uh, very nice."

"It wasn't enough. I was like a man in the desert dying of thirst, a mere handful of water wouldn't slake me. But the land I tamed there lead me here, the only place left in Teleran where the Bones sing clearly."

"And the King was already here, right?"

1/2

>>43917605
"Naturally. But he and I reached an agreement without much fuss for he was wise and knew that I could help Snakehome. And so I sung to the land and I honored its contract and in time it presented me with a white stag who I could not hunt. It's hide turned away my arrows and it kicked my hounds to death. It was only after three constant days of pursuit that I drew forth a spear from the earth itself and slew it in one strike. I ate it raw and I took its life into mine and we become one. The forest filled me with power and I was trapped here, my body changing to become THIS."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Why? I couldn't have asked for anything better. The only issue is that it has forced me to abandon my post as a leader of men and let my duchy lie fallow. Does Alder still steward the city in my stead?"

You think back to the old Mayor In Standing, forever broken by Hiss' ministrations.
"Not exactly. I think his niece took over but now she's dead as well. The wizard was using her."

The Duke slumps further in his seat.
"This is my fault then. She was but a girl when I accidentally inflicted her with my study. Did she at least die in peace?"

"Yes," you lie.

"Thank you, consort. What is your name?"

"Cennen, your Grace."

"Then no matter how this treaty with the Queen goes, I will reward you greatly. Feel free to ask for anything you wish."


> "I'll need some time to think."

> Ask (Specify)

> Go see how the others are settling in.

> Just wait here for Hiss.

> Brew

> Other

>>43917794
>> "I'll need some time to think."

> Go see how the others are settling in.

>>43917794
> Go see how the others are settling in.

>>43917794
>> "I'll need some time to think."
> Go see how the others are settling in.

>>43917794
I'm not really sure what kinds of things we could ask for. Magical items, alchemically potent plants, what?

>>43917867
>>43917901
oops, didn't think my first post went through at first

>>43917794
> "I'll need some time to think."
>>43917867
Ask this too so we can properly think of something to ask for.

>>43917867
favors, clemency, a ride out of town. Lots of little things im sure

>>43917867
He could probably do a magical item, might be cool.

> "I'll need some time to think."
> Go see how the others are settling in.

You stop eating to think about his offer.
"I'm honored, I really am but uh...what CAN I ask for?"

"I can grant you anything within the forest, I can sing up metal from the ground and shape it into whatever you please. Any plant, any weapon, any magical item within my domain. A favor, a use of my men, a pardon for another. Feel free to ask."

"Hrm, that's a lot. I'll need some time to think about this, do you mind?"

"Not at all."
You leave the table with an awkward bow, letting a Forester lead you up the stairs and into part of the ruins that actually still has a roof and to your temporary quarters.
The room isn't much, a bed and bare stone covered in moss and roots. Everything is slimy. You can see Oster and Elle talking in another room while Zigzag is alone in another, lying motionless face-down on the ground. Her head turns to look at you when you arrive but otherwise she doesn't move.


>Talk to Oster and Elle.

>Talk to Zigzag.

>Brew!

>Try to strike up a conversation with one of the Foresters, even though they look the stoic type.

>You don't want to talk to her but you should probably keep an eye on Zigzag anyway.

>Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43918053
>Talk to Oster and Elle.

>>43918053
>You don't want to talk to her but you should probably keep an eye on Zigzag anyway.
Does anybody else remember that time we discussed making a blunderbuss that uses snakebreakers as ammo? This seems like a pretty good chance for it

>>43918053
>>Talk to Oster and Elle.
they're probably planning some shit which we should nix

>>43918053
>Talk to Zigzag.
>>43918087
shit that would be totally overpowered. I'm all for it. especially if he could magically strengthen the metal.

>>43918053
>Talk to Oster and Elle.
See what they're up to, then I want to talk to this weirdo

>Talk to Oster and Elle.

You look into the room as Oster finishes up on what he had been saying.
"...so if you just pretend to be me, I can escape through the window and hi Cennen."

"Have you found a proper way to escape?"
Elle looks hopeful.

"We're not escaping. We're just going to wait for the Queen to arrive and it should be fine. The Duke doesn't seem like a bad guy and the last thing we need right now is to make Hiss look bad."
She does a fine job of that on her own.

Elle beckons you over to sit next to them.
"You were down there a long time, what were you talking about?"

"Just stuff."
You give them a brief recount of the conversation between you and the Duke before ending it on his offer.
"What would you ask for?"

"That's a tricky one," Oster says. "Probably some kind of magical sword that can cut through armor. That'd make my job a lot easier."

"You're thinking too small Oster," Ellesander rebukes. "I'd ask for him to allow Snakehome to expand beyond its current borders."

"He wouldn't grant that!"

"You don't know for sure."

"What do you think Zigzag would want?"

"To eat something, probably."
Oster shrugs.
"She really doesn't want to be here, she's been lying over there like that since we arrived."

> Ask them about the treaty binding Hiss to not expanding.

> Talk to Zigzag.

> Go back downstairs.

> Pray

> Brew.

> Other

>>43918087
Do gunpowder weapons exist in this world yet?

>>43918334
> Talk to Zigzag.

>>43918334
> Ask them about the treaty binding Hiss to not expanding.
> Talk to Zigzag.

>>43918335
General tech level is around early Renaissance, what with large printing presses and pre-industrial factories. Gunpowder is mysteriously absent however and does not exist, partly due to the world working by alchemical laws rather than chemical ones.
So heavy armour hasn't quite gone out of style due to guns and is becoming a lot more common now that metallurgy is so advanced.

>>43918412
Is asking for a blunderbuss too meta? Surely Cennen has thought that controlling the spray of the scales would be a huge improvement over our current use of snakebreakers

>>43918334
> Talk to Zigzag.
>>43918335
>>43918412
We can work around that with the explosive potion

>>43918334
> Go back downstairs.
Let's ask for some shit before Hiss kills him or something

>>43918334
>> Brew.

Calling it for talking, it looks like.

>>43918438
No it isn't too meta. Divergent evolution obviously.

>>43918334
> Go back downstairs.
>>43918444
Snakebreakers would be preferable because we would have unlimited ammo as long as we have a snake nearby and we wouldn't have to load an explosive brew and pellets/shot separately.

>>43918549
Yeah, I meant it could substitute gunpowder, obviously the snakebreaker is better because snake scales are an OP ammunition

>>43918614
The problem is that the scales might be able to penetrate the metal in the gun itself, which means we'd have to weaken the brew/ strengthen the metal magically. It seems doable though.

> Talk to Zigzag.

"Speaking of which, one of us should probably be keeping her eye on her in case she does something dumb."

"Hey mate, better you than me."

Elle crosses her arms, disgusted with the both of you.
"There's nothing wrong with her."

"I'm a human-," you start before being immediately interrupted by Ellesander.

"That's your main fault, yes."

"No. I mean I'm a human and so naturally I find it uncomfortable to be around someone who wants to eat humans."

"Then shouldn't you try to leave her Majesty?"

"That's not the same," you mutter. "She's different."
You stalk out of the room and stand in the doorway of Zigzag's room. She's still lying there.
"Comfortable?"

"No."

"That makes two of us."
You invite yourself in, sitting on the bed that she has completely ignored.

"Why are here? I'm not hungry yet."


> "If the Duke could grant you one favor, what would you ask for?"

> "What's wrong?"

> "Do you still have that guard's soul?"

> Offer her alchemical help in the future if she stops being so troublesome.

> "You're not going to do well like that in human lands, you know."

> Nobble

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>43918695
> "Do you still have that guard's soul?"
> "You're not going to do well like that in human lands, you know."

>>43918695
> "What's wrong?"

>>43918695
> "What's wrong?"
> "You're not going to do well like that in human lands, you know."
You couldn't pass for human if your life depended on it, and there are things that can kill you with ease.

>>43918695
> "Wouldn't you be more comfortable in snake form?"
> "What's wrong?"

How old is loli-Hiss?

>>43918760
Probably older than actual Hiss.

>>43918695
> "You're not going to do well like that in human lands, you know."
> "Do you still have that guard's soul?"
Learning more about humans from the souls might help you get more souls in the future
> What did the wizard's soul taste like?

>>43918695
>> "If the Duke could grant you one favor, what would you ask for?"

>>43918695
> "What's wrong?"

> "What's wrong?"
> "You're not going to do well like that in human lands, you know."

"What's wrong? You don't sound very happy."

She flips herself over, now lying with her face up. She has green stains all over her skin and clothes from the moss.
"I'm bored. I want to sleep in the sun but it's night time so I can't. Can you make it day again?"

"No?"
Why would she think you could do that?

"I didn't think so. But you made the human small so it was worth asking."

"Alchemy doesn't work that way. And if it did, why would you threaten me?"

"I don't threaten. And because I know you can't stop me."

You sigh. You've been doing that a lot lately.
"You're not going to do well in human lands with that attitude, you know."

"Why not?"

"First of all, you can't pass for a human if your life depended on it."

"Why would I want to? That's what the Queen is going to give us, we can finally be free to be what we are."

"But you'll have to pass. There are things out there that can kill you with ease!"

She looks at you blankly.
"No there isn't."

"Yes there is."

"No."

"Yes."

"Like what? That wizard wasn't very hard."

"He froze you!"

"I was fine. Most humans aren't wizards anyway, they're very weak and soft."

"Even regular humans can form a mob to oust a monster."

"And? They can't hurt me. Nothing hurts me. I've been outside before."

"You have? Since when?"

"I told you, before the Duke was here. I got to eat small human but it was still too big. And some other humans before that when the King was busy."

"And how long ago was this? How many years?"

"What are years?"

"Uh, you know the humans that serve you? How much did they change?"

"I don't know. It's never worth remembering what any of you look like, you all die even when I don't eat you."

1/2

>>43919187
>Give up.

>"What if I could prove to you that there are humans that can hurt you?"

>"When you say small humans, how small exactly?"

>"Doesn't it bother you to eat sapient people? You don't even have to."

>"You're hopeless."

>Nobble.

>Brew her a Sun Potion.

>Brew her some Snake Oil, that's sort of the equivalent to sunlight and warmth right?

>Brew

>Use Potion (specify)

>Other

>>43919224
>Brew her some Snake Oil, that's sort of the equivalent to sunlight and warmth right?
>"You're hopeless."
>Nobble.

>>43919224
>>"What if I could prove to you that there are humans that can hurt you?"
>>"When you say small humans, how small exactly?"
>>"Doesn't it bother you to eat sapient people? You don't even have to."

>>43919224
>"What if I could prove to you that there are humans that can hurt you?"
>>Brew her some Snake Oil, that's sort of the equivalent to sunlight and warmth right?
>"You're hopeless."
>Nobble.

>>43919224
>Brew her a Sun Potion.
>"What if I could prove to you that there are humans that can hurt you?"

So she is just autistic.

>>43919248
>>Brew her a Sun Potion.
add to

>>43919224
I could hurt you if I wanted to. I don't though.
>Brew her a Sun Potion.
>Brew her some Snake Oil, that's sort of the equivalent to sunlight and warmth right?
Don't make the snake oil very strong though.

>>43919187
>"Was Oster around when you where born?"
>"Doesn't it bother you to eat sapient people? You don't even have to."

Looks like the most popular votes are
>Brew Snake Oil
>Brew Sun Potion
>"What if I could prove to you that there are humans that can hurt you?"

Writan

>Brew Snake Oil
>Brew Sun Potion
>"What if I could prove to you that there are humans that can hurt you?"

You take your pack off of your back and start rifling around in it for your cauldron and some ingredients.
"You know, talking to you is probably pointless but I think I actually can help you with that sun problem of yours."

You still have quite a lot of Hiss' hair, the Snake Oil shouldn't be a problem. The hard part is trying to mix two brews at once.
You finish the Sun Potion first, filling the room with radiant light.

"That's not the sun. It's just bright, not warm."

"That part is coming, don't worry."
You set down the cauldron of Snake Oil next to her prone form, most of it boiled away to reveal the oily residue that carries its true potency. You see Zigzag sniff the air, grabbing the pot of Snake Oil and curiously pulling it close to her.
"What's this?"

"Warmth."
She practically sticks her face into it, entirely too innocent for a soul-eating monster. This should provide a lesson in the very least.
"See? What if I could prove to you that there were humans that can hurt you?"
This should prove that and maybe make her rethink.

Instead your question makes her look up at you, lips stained with oil. She looks decidedly unfocused but she still blows in your face, her breath stinking of blood and venom.
"Don't like being threatened, thanks," she mumbles.

You start to feel woozy. Your arms aren't moving right.

>Roll a 1d100, highest of the first 3 wins

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>43919598
well shit

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>43919598

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>43919598

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>43919598

>>43919598
wait so we only have resistance to hiss' venom? our snake art blows.

>>43919630
Double damn it.

>>43919630
Mutual nobbling

>>43919664
Yeah it was pretty unlucky that we got it. We could already make deadly and knock out poison as an alchemist.

>>43919664
It should have gotten a lot stronger after Hiss killed the snake king too.

>>43919669
mmm and that's despite our numerous sacrifices to RNGesus

clearly the gods are no longer happy with our paltry sacrifice of significant plot points

>>43919716
1. This stuff is better
2. We weren't immune to our own shit

>>43919630
You reach out to her and try to grab hold, to do something, anything. But your arms feel like putty and by the time you've marshaled them your legs have given way beneath you.
You collapse next to Zigzag, lying prone as if you were copying her for some awful reason.

You can't move. You try to shout, to call for help but the only sound that comes out of your throat is a tiny squeak. You're helpless as Zigzag drags an arm over you chest and looms over you with oil-stained fangs.
"Youuuuu're lucky I'm full," she slurs. And then she falls unconscious right next to you, something that might be a little charming if it wasn't for the fact that you remain full awake and aware of being trapped in a body that cannot respond.

Nobody comes to help you and you lie like this for nearly an hour, Zigzag's snores your only company.

You've nearly fallen asleep yourself when you are awoken from your daze by a black boot planting itself imperiously on your chest.
"And what," Hiss says. "Do you think you're doing?"

"Nnrrnm," you say.

She seems to understand your situation and she sighs before picking up your pack and starting to root through it.
"I can only assume this is your fault somehow. Which one of these are your antivenom?"

"Mrmrmrna"
You don't actually have any antivenom in your pack right now.

Hiss squats beside you, running her hand gently down her face.
"Alright Cennen, you're going to be fine. I'm going to pass each potion here in front of you. When you see the antivenom, just make that weird noise again."

Hiss starts showing you potions, unaware that none of them are what you need. It takes several minutes and after you don't make a sound she's starting to look a little grouchy.

She kicks Zigzag in the side until she wakes up, the snake bleary and still oil-dazed. She's unable to say anything before yelping in pain as Hiss picks her up and holds her a foot above the ground by her hair.
"How long does your venom last?"
1/2

>>43919983
Didn't we agree we wouldn't brew any more of it back at Quedesh?
Whatever, diven that the situation changed, we should break that promise.

>>43919983
"Wha's going on? Let me go!"
Zigzag's skin scales up and goes sharp but Hiss' own scaled hand is more than resilient enough.

"How long does it last you little twerp? Answer me right fucking now or I swear I will eat you myself!"

Zigzag tries to struggle but Hiss just shakes her viciously before pinning her in a gaze. This lasts nearly a minute before Hiss throws her into the wall.
"You're the worst snake I've ever seen, you piece of fucking trash. You're lucky you're useful."

Zigzag sits up against the wall, blinking furiously until she's properly awake.
"He threate-"

Hiss kicks her in the face, which while it doesn't hurt her in any way, slams her mouth shut. Zigzag groans in sudden pain and spits something red and soggy out. It's her own tongue, bit in half by her own sharp teeth. She moans something impossible to understand but Hiss just laughs.
"Good. Don't ever touch him again. Come on Cennen, I'm going to take you to the Duke."

The world spins as Hiss picks you up and lays you across her shoulders. It isn't long before she dumps you on the same stone table that you were eating from not so long ago.
The Duke is still sitting there, currently being stared down by Hiss.
"What is going on here?"

"Fix him."

"What happened to hi-"

"Fix him."

Hiss' own brand of diplomacy seems to work however as something intangible rushes into you, making you convulse. You roll of the table and hit the ground, vomiting up every last trace of venom in your system.
It's not pretty.

Hiss pats you on the head while you convulse.
"I have to say, this isn't the kind of reception I was expecting."

> Get up and let yourself recover for a while.

> Ask the Duke for your favor now. (Specify)

> Hug Hiss.

> Ask Hiss not to hurt Zigzag too much more.

> "Let's just get this over with please."

> Other

>>43920249
> "Let's just get this over with please."

>>43920249
>> "Let's just get this over with please."

>>43920249
> Ask the Duke for your favor now. (Specify)
Let's ask him to make us a magically strengthened blunderbuss that we discussed earlier

>>43920249
>> Get up and let yourself recover for a while.
this is one big abuse swamp and there's no way out that doesn't result in everybody getting burned..

>>43919664
Your venom has gotten stronger but really, no amount of increased resistance to a lethal venom is going to make you resistant to an entirely different paralytic.

>>43920249
> Ask the Duke for your favor now. (Specify)
blunderbuss

>>43920301
>>43920337
Hold up and wait to see if we need to use to pull hiss's ass out of the fire.

>>43920249
> Get up and let yourself recover for a while.
I feel bad for zigzag, we should fix her tongue later

>>43920249
> Ask Hiss not to hurt Zigzag too much more.
>>43920301
This. Modern shotgun sized or handgun? We're probably strong enough to handle the recoil of handgun-sized one

>>43920393
Handgun could work. We could even use a normal trigger and hammer setup to break the brew inside the chamber. Idk how much of this cennen would think of straight away though.

Alright, calling it for asking the favor.

>>43920393
>>43920428
You also forget it has to be in the Duke's domain. Not sure the forest could make this.

>>43920301
>>43920337
>>43920393
> Dude just done convulsing and trhowing up all over my hall
> Gets up like nothing happened and asks for a magical shotgun.

>>43920454
He said he could shape metal for us

>>43920469
>Metal is all that's needed for a gun

seriously the blunderbluss wouldn't stop most snakes and we have better shit to sue on knights AND snakes. It's a even if he can do it. We're also using our favor now instead of when Hiss inevitably fucks up.

>>43920512
snakebreakers would definitely stop most snakes. that's what we can use to even greater effect with this gun.

>>43920512
>Metal is all that's needed for a gun
are you implying that he doesn't have access to wood?

>>43920533
and it'd still be useless against the duke. Which means Hiss is dead.

>>43920556
I think I might know exactly how she's gonna deal with him. I don't wanna spoil it just in case I'm right though.

>>43920570
I somehow doubt the plant killer poison will work, and if it did that means the scry guard falls.

>>43920590
>spoiling it
you're a jerk

> Ask the Duke for your favor now.

You get to your feet, Hiss helping you up. Once you're sure your steady you turn to face the Duke. If an armoured tree-corpse-thing could look faintly bemused, he sure is now.
"Your Grace, I'd like to receive my reward now."

"What?"
Hiss is out of the loop and doesn't like it at all.

"Very well," the Duke says. "Speak and I shall grant it."

"I want a tube. One made of metal, extremely resistant. Unbreakable even. It's got to have a bit at the end where I can sort of load a potion and it has to flare out near the front like so..."
You pull one of your books from your pack and start sketching a basic design while both the Duke and Hiss look on in growing confusion.

"Is now really the time," the Duke asks.

No, it has to be now. You have Zigzag to thank for this idea because without a body to move, you spent your time immobile just thinking. Thinking and pondering some of the dumbest ideas that you wouldn't even normally entertain. And then it had struck you, an idea so simple that you nearly missed it.
You pass your schematics to the Duke, the paper rotting where he touches it.
"That seems very possible but I do not understand the function. Are you sure you are feeling well?"

"But can you do it?"

Hiss stamps her foot.
"What is going on here?"

The Duke hums beneath his breath, a single tone that shakes the walls and earth around you. And sitting on the ground before you is your madcap invention, fashioned from a strange gleaming steel and polished wood.

You pick it up and put it into your pack.
"Thank you, your Grace. You won't regret this."

Hiss pushes you out of the way a moment later, her previous concern for you having completely evaporated.
"I'm so sorry, he gets like this all the time. It's a burden. Now where were we?"

> Name your invention (Specify)

> Go out and test it.

> Just sit for now and listen in on the negotiations.

> "Does anyone want coffee?"

> Go find Zigzag.

> Other

>>43920556
I doubt our favor would really help anything if Hiss fucks up as badly as you think she will

>>43920653
> Name your invention (Specify)
Caster

> "Does anyone want coffee?"


Cennen has entered a fell mood!

>>43920653
>> Just sit for now and listen in on the negotiations.

>>43920653
> Name your invention (Specify)
uhhhh
come on cennen we can do at least one good name
yeah caster sounds good I guess
> Just sit for now and listen in on the negotiations.

>>43920653
>> "Does anyone want coffee?"
>>43920699
Second for caster.

>>43920675
>Cennen has entered a fell mood!

Cennen canonically enters a fell mood whenever he's experimenting and making new potions, it just doesn't seem like that way from his POV. To everyone else he's sitting there bent over his pot, ignoring everyone and muttering strange things for hours on end. Hiss has been vocal about her displeasure for this in the past.

>>43920653
> Name your invention (Specify)
Caster sounds pretty good I guess
> Just sit for now and listen in on the negotiations.
Start working on a healing brew for Zigzag too

>>43920653
> Go out and test it.
Mad scientist Cennen is best Cennen

>>43920653
>> "Does anyone want coffee?"
that coffee stuff is growing on me

>>43920653
> Go find Zigzag.
Let's actually thank her with a few heal-alls

>>43920769
"Snek Season."
"Human Season."
"Snek Season!"
"Human Season!"
"Human Season!!"
"Snek Season and thats it!!"
"If you insist..."
"Oh."

>>43920844
kek
did you notice the elmer fudd reference in the census thread too?

>>43920863
Sorry gonna need to re-read that one abit more sober than I am now.

>>43920653
> Go find Zigzag.
She's in pain because of us, we should help her

File: 1400275744034.gif (267 KB, 396x375)

267 KB GIF

>>43920985

>Name your invention
>Just sit around for now and listen in on the negotiations.
>"Does anyone want coffee?"

You call your strange invention the Caster. Not a half-bad name for once, certainly better than most of your snake and potion names. It casts your potions forward, get it?
You doubt your present company would care so you keep quiet about it.

"As gratitude for all your servants have done to fix my mistakes," the Duke is saying, "and as a means of apology for any grievances my mistakes have caused you, I will renew the scryguard around Snakehome."

"Thank you, your Grace."
Hiss is beaming, her usual smug grin even wider and smugger.

"But there are some conditions to this treaty," the Duke continues and you can see Hiss' smile begin to falter.
"The same terms shall be upheld, we will not interfere with one another until they are broken."

Hiss is looking a lot more serious now.
"Of course."

"And you know this means no expansion on your part."
The Duke reclines back, secure in the very epicenter of his power. Even though he seems to believe that Hiss' Snake Empress form was her true power, he's not going to back down here of all places.

Hiss probably knows that and she looks somewhat defeated. And what can she do? You remember what Rock told you earlier, her reason for alerting the Duke to the Serpent King's death.
Hiss has to learn that there are some powers that she cannot simply sweep aside and the sooner the better. The Duke will not allow her plans to come to fruition.

"Yes, your Grace. My father and his fathers before him have always preached a policy of isolation. I will...follow in their tracks. We do not need anything more than what we have."
She doesn't just look defeated, she looks downright despondent. You're not sure what to say to her either.

So you settle for something completely different to try and change the mood.
"Anyone want coffee?"

1/2

>>43921105
You pick up the kettle and the cups from where they had been sitting on the table and give both Hiss and the Duke a cup. You're beginning to pour when Hiss grabs your arm. She looks tired.
"Leave us be for now Cennen."

"Pardon?"

"Aren't you happy? Looks like you're getting what you wanted. Go celebrate."
Her voice is dull, almost monotone.
"That's an order, damn it."

> Go find Zigzag.

> Go outside to test your Caster.

> Wait for Hiss upstairs.

> What are Oster and Elle up to anyway?

> Go brew in your room.

> Stay

> Other

>>43921218
> Go find Zigzag.
You know that I can't be happy when you aren't

>>43921218
>> Stay
With respect my love, I think I should stay here.

>>43921218
>> Stay

>>43921218
> Go find Zigzag.
Well that was surprising. Let's heal her and then show off our invention to her after.

>>43921218
> Stay

Losing Expert Queen in 3...2...1

>>43921218
> Go find Zigzag.

>>43921218
>> Stay
Even though i don't want there to be a war i know the status quo can't hold. we have to try and figure something out, maybe with he dukes help.

>>43921218
> Stay
Ain't leaving the Queen now, expected to have her say something

>>43921218
> Go find Zigzag.

>>43921255
>>43921261
>>43921280
>>43921287
>>43921297
>disobeying a direct order in front of the duke
You're making cennen deserve the abuse, anons.

>>43921218
> Stay
>>43921325
We advise the Queen anon.

>>43921339
>disobeying her completely when she's in this mood
yeah great idea guys

>>43921218
> Go find Zigzag.
Then
> Wait for Hiss upstairs.

>>43921325
>abandoing someone when they're down and out
also leaving while the literal end goal of this quest is decided

>Stay

No, you can't leave her. You don't know where this is coming from but you're not going to abandon her like this.
Hiss squeezes your arm.
"Aren't you listening? Get out!"

>Roll a d100, highest of the 3 win

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>43921405
gimme a 1 again

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>43921405

>>43921405

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>43921405
>>43921415
Lol

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>43921405

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>43921405

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>43921405
you guys are dumb
RIP our relationship

>>43921415
>>43921421
>>43921424
>>43921429
>>43921431
Cennen apparently gets dice buffs from fell moods.

>>43921421
"Love ya Dragon."

>>43921445
dude we can't run away from this forever

>>43921473
We can listen to what she asks us to do instead of thinking she's weak and needs our emotional protection all the time.

>>43921489
They still don't understand Hiss at all

>>43921489
>Being this keked

>>43921489
its not a question of weakness, she's taken on a roll that is impossibly difficult for a single person to achieve and we basically goaded her into doing it.

It's worth recognizing that this situation is our responsibility as much as hers.

It seems pretty obvious to me that she's plotting to poison him or something right now and you guys are ruining it and by extension her whole conquest plan. She won't forgive us this time.

>>43921421

You're not going anywhere and in the end Hiss realizes this. She smiles just a little.
"Can't fault you for being loyal."
She plucks the kettle out of your hand, her hands pressed against the hot metal with no visible sign of reaction.

You sit down beside her and take her hand in yours. She doesn't pull away.

The Duke nods gravely.
"I am sorry. I know all too well what it is like to be trapped here. But there is no better fate for either of us and not one that we do not more deserve."

"I understand," Hiss says.

"Not all of us have the leisure to take up our burdens when we are ready but we must bear them all the same. I'm sorry for your father. He was a good friend."

Hiss looks back up. She's still cradling the kettle, you belatedly notice.
"He was?"

"I'd like to think so. I won't ask what exactly transpired between you and him but nobody can lose their parent without being affected. It's okay."

"I'm not ready," Hiss mumbles. You squeeze her hand, she doesn't seem to notice.

"Maybe," the Duke says, "some more coffee can indeed help."

You reach for the kettle but Hiss puts it out of your reach.
"Maybe it can."
She pours a cup for herself and the Duke. She doesn't get one for you.
You consider asking for one but it really doesn't seem like the moment.
Hiss and the Duke both drink at the same time, Hiss' maudlin expression broken momentarily by a look of pure disgust at the beverage. She ends up coughing almost all of it back up.
"Sorry."

"It's fine. Everything will be fine. Now, come with me. You have done more than enough for me. It's time for me to uphold my end of the bargain."

The Duke levers himself up from his throne and walks towards the stairs, flanked by his silent Foresters. Hiss follows him a moment later and you are left to tag behind her, following the trail of slime and blood left by the Duke's bulk.

You climb the stairs to your quarters and then past them, up to the very top of the crumbling tower.
1/2

>>43921445
Or this could be an opportunity to compromise.

I mean, what if we could find a way to expand Snake-home culturally instead of militarily?

Have snakes go out to experience the wider world, let people come visit snakehome, modernize the place, maybe start up an Alchemy University using the unique materials there?

After all, the law is change or die. What refuses to change, dies, so by asking Snakehome to not change the Duke is asking it to die.

That shit isn't acceptable.

So he can work with us to help Snakehome grow in a manner that won't destroy the world, or he can get wrecked.

>>43921632
something that would be impossible to do with us in the same room

>>43921632
I'm pretty sure poison won't work on him, plus he's at the centre of his power and Hiss can't access her empress. Also, she still wants the scryguard

>>43921632
Nah don't worry, she pulled it off.

>>43921715
indeed we'll see if it works, but seriously, why the fuck would we want to leave the room when something this pivotal was going to occur

>>43921692
Or she just wanted us safe and out of the way if it didn't work, since magic is one of the few things that fuck her up.

>>43921664
Most of the roof is taken by a large strangler fig, a tree that has grown up around another and choked the life out of it.
The Duke stands before it, surveying the forest from above. He lifts his hands, holds them for but a moment and then brings them back down.

The trees beneath you shake, an invisible wave rolling across the entire forest. The air fills with an acrid smell and even the clouds tremble.
"It is done."

"I need it to last," Hiss says. "I'm trading my dream in for this and humans don't live forever."

"It'll be fine. I think you'll find I'll live a lot longer than you think. And even if I didn't, this should still last for years without requiring me to renew it."

"Oh," Hiss says. She's smiling. And that's it, it's done.
Hiss takes you by the hand and leads you back downstairs, down to your quarters.

"Hiss, is everything alright?"

She hugs you.
"Thanks. Thank you for not leaving."

"We don't need to expand or conquer anything to be happy Hiss. I hope I can show you that someday."

"Can you?"
She pulls you down towards your bed.
"I'd like to see that."

> Stay and comfort her.

> Brew.

> See Zigzag.

> Go back down to the Duke.

> Other

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.
disobeying her once was okay
let's not test our luck lads

>>43921664
Damn this is sad. I know Hiss ruling over humankind is a Bad Thing, but damn.

>>43921785
>> Stay and comfort her.
we're so fucked we might as well get fucked

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.
There's other ways to have the snakes expand.

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.

I don't think I am happy right now.

https://youtu.be/faJMFBBlvJs

File: it'sallover.jpg (106 KB, 736x628)

106 KB JPG

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.
Only correct option, though I really want to tend to Zigzag

>>43921785
> Stay and comfort her.
keikaku doori

>>43921785
> Go back down to the Duke.

>everyone actually believes her performance
I'll admit it was impressive but I see what she did there

>>43921873
Its kinda funny how for me at least Zig was kind of a wake up call. Hiss has gotten so much better I forgot how terrible most snakes are by their nature and realized we can't "fix" them all. But this still doesn't sit well with me.

>>43921904
I hope you are right. I think you are but...

>>43921904
i think most people must realize what's going on.
I'm hoping the duke pulls through though. he's an interesting guy and would be a worthy adversary and maybe could be force to temper the worse aspects of snakehomes inevitable expansion

>>43921968
Well, the duke is LAND not PLANT so he might pull through since our poison was never field tested.

Be ironic if every plant in the land dies when he does.

>>43921904
I hope Cennen actually makes a comment complimenting her acting skills

>>43921995
nah nigga he's a tree-deer-zombie

>>43921968
The duke is a good guy. That's why he is gonna die barring massive intervention from Cennen. Same with Rock and to a lesser extent Aash and Oster.

>>43921995
its not clear what he is, i wouldn't be too surprised if it just weakens him and leaves him super pissed off.

then again could kill him. Still would be a little easy thats

what 3 major enemies killed in as many threads? can't be that easy

>>43921785
>> Stay and comfort her.

We can always work on making Snakehome somewhere that the rest of the world wants to come to. See >>43921675

Make it a "Blue Jeans and Rock And Roll" cultural victory.

Also, we have to kill Zigzag. Bitch poisoned us, and fuck me man it's like the least worst thing we've done. Also, snakes are probably going to be looking to get back at Hiss for not expanding so we have to make sure they don't think we're a weak point.

Seriously, fuck that snake. She wants to be a monster? She's going to get treated like one.

> Stay and comfort her.

"I'm here for you," you say to her as she drags you down. "I always will be."

"Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me."

You get a final glance out of the window before Hiss occupies the entirety of your attention. The leaves of the tree outside are falling.

>>43922023
you may well be right, but i hope we can pull something off. I just have no idea what it might be.

>>43922062
Interlude 8

The night deepened, casting the tower into darkness. Only a few shafts of moonlight penetrated the holes in the ruined tower’s wall and got past the canopy of slowly dying trees. The Duke was sitting atop his throne. He didn’t sleep, he hadn’t slept for years.
So why did he feel tired?

The moss growing along his armour was browning, dying. Falling off in small clumps. Something was wrong. There was blood in his mouth and for once it was not the stags but his own. He didn’t even know he had any blood left before this. Something was wrong. Something was wrong.
So why couldn’t he move?

He should do something but his body and mind were frozen. His connection with the land, with the Bones was unbroken but he could not use it. Something inside him was spreading out across that connection, tainting everything.
The life of the forest was being choked out and he was the focal point of it. But all he could do was sit and watch.

In time, someone else came to join him. She was dishevelled and smelt of sex but she bore no shame. She was happy, no...triumphant.
“Do you like that, you pompous fool?”

The Duke tried to say anything but he was already dying from the inside out.
“I’ve eaten more than enough humans with their fair share of sorrows, I know how to act. Only idiots would take somebody on their first impressions. Idiots like you.”

She prodded him cautiously and then more violently after he failed to react. She tore off his helmet, breaking aside rotting wood and bleeding flesh to do so.
“Woah, I can see why you wear this. You’re an ugly fuck, aren’t you? But there’s not much left now.”

1/2

>>43922077
She sat in his lap, one final mockery.
“I can’t believe Cennen nearly blew it there, I really wanted him out of the way in case he spotted what I did with the kettle. But he’s as blind as you. And it’s not like I can hold it against him, he’s loyal and well, I think I love him.”
She tapped his unbreathing chest, feeling him die as she gloated.
“And besides, if it wasn’t for the little present he gave me in Quedesh none of this would have happened. Did you really think I hadn’t planned for you?”

She eventually slid off, brushing away the mould and the slime of his poisoned body.
“I don’t know if you can still hear me or if you can even still think but I’m going to go kill all of your Foresters now. Don’t need them discovering this heap of junk.”

A final insulting kick to a dissolving shin and she was gone.

>>43922094
I ain't even mad
10/10 plan bravo Hiss

>>43922094
Hiss, you magnificent bitch.

Ladies and gentlemen, our Queen.

>>43922094
Damn, hopped the Foresters could of been kept around.

>>43922094
>duke dead
>scryguard in place
>got a dope new weapon
we snek war now

>>43921904
I knew it was happening the whole time, I just didn't say anything so the anons who oppose the war wouldn't stop it

>>43922094
Huh re-reading this thread, I saw what was going on but how could Hiss tell which was the Hissbrew? She has been pretty shitty about identifying potions in the past. Is she just lazy? Sad about the Duke though. He seemed decent.

>>43922094
HIIIIIIIIIIISS!!!!

And that's that for tonight, I think. I hope you guys had fun and I hope those of you who believed Hiss aren't too heartbroken. The thread's been archived, check the twitter for when the next one is coming etc.

I'm not actually going to work right now or anything, I just can't think of a better stopping point so I'll still be around to answer questions if you want to.

>>43922185
It was the plant-killer brew we gave her in quedesh. She requested it specifically and kept it for this exact moment.

>>43922094
I'm fine with this.

This is fine.

But we still have to kill Zigzag. Seriously.

>>43922208
NOBBLE

>>43922208
Nah we heal her and keep her as our personal wishbond slave

>>43922208
Whoa who said anything about killing, man?

>>43922205
Ah shit, I got em mixed up. That makes more sense.

>>43922208
Probably. Snek autist is kind of a liability.

>>43922185
Not Hiss brew that land poison we made in Quedesh for her at request.

>>43922179
>>43922156
I'm anti-war and I knew it was happening, but Cennen didn't. I'm sure both of you will enjoy snakes slaughtering and devouring Human after human and enslaving the rest.

>>43922199
thanks for running. Even though im anti war i knew what was happening and i guess i just assumed nothing could be done about it.

>>43922038
>what 3 major enemies killed in as many threads? can't be that easy

The King was never the Big Bad.

>>43922185
It was actually the super plant-killer that she requested Cennen make in Thread 35 or so, as a 'consolation prize' for him refusing to make her weapons. She specifically wanted something that could blight the land itself and at the time Cennen didn't know why.
But considering that she knew about the Duke the whole time, she was planning ahead.

>>43922199
fuck I wanted to see the caster in action

>>43922215
>>43922227
>>43922229

Nope, she is too much snake for that shit to work. Remember when we nobbled Tanni and she STILL almost fucked us up? Zigzag is straight up murder. Admirable focus, but not livable with.

Besides, if we don't kill a snake on our own than the rest of them won't ever see us as anything but a liability/weakness in Hiss.

File: sadcennen.gif (1.96 MB, 480x270)

1.96 MB GIF

>>43922261
I feel so used

>>43922284
I agree but anons won't kill anything with tits. Pretty much how Hiss skated by without Cennen abusing the shit out of the wish bond.

>>43922261
>never the Big Bad.

None of the enemies seem that "Bad". Shit, Hiss is the worst out of almost everyone we have met. It hurts to keep supporting her but still kinda feels right. IDK. Damn your good characterization and writing.

>>43922261
Thanks for running!
The blunderbuss is gonna knock Cennen on his ass when he uses it, won't it

>>43922094
Well. Rock is going to shit a brick.

This might not be good, not at all.

So, are we going to fuck over the spirit that actually helped us the most?

I think if we kill Zigzag, we can at least show Rock that we're willing to do what it takes to control the snakes. Hiss will compromise (for us at least) and the rest can fall in line or get fucked.

>>43922334
i dunno, if you take it from the perspective of being unaware of it this is a huge manipulation. it might be smart for cennan and rock to just split and get some space

>>43922334
we're gonna have to kill rock or send her back to the dreaming. she's gonna get desperate now that this plan failed and try to hurt Hiss directly.

>>43922334
zigzag may be a total sperg, and i really do not get why anons are obsessed with her, but just killing her would be pretty hypocritical.

>>43922334
Most anons want the war and to kill and enslave people, plus most anons think Zigzag is cue and harmless. So yeah we're probably going to kill Rock, Let Zigzag walk all over us, and be Hiss's little bitch.


>>43922371
Anons letting Cennen leave Hiss's side,ever. Hell she could probably beat us black and blue while laughing about it and we wouldn't do shit.

>>43922266
You will in the near future, one way or the other.

>>43922330
Actually from about Thread 2, where we had the scene with Old Bart being horrified that Hiss would threaten to kill a baby to get her way, I've had a little note in my quest folder basically saying 'don't make any villains strictly worse than Hiss'.
I've tried to stay true to it.

>>43922333
Some recoil is to be expected, depending on the potion.

>>43922371
> Giving Hiss space right now

Honestly, a large part of what just happened was because Hiss had to negotiate with the other snakes after killing her dad.

We need to reinforce her rule, since she's the only one even remotely willing to compromise or see even one human (us, and maybe Oster) as worth her time at all.

Even Elle, who seems to like Oster quite a bit, doesn't really see him as a "person" the same way we've spent a bunch of time with Hiss to show her that people even CAN be "persons" to snakes. Aash doesn't believe it even.

So we either have to reinforce Hiss' position so that none of the other Snakes can fuck around, or we have to wipe them out, or we have to kill Rock.

>>43922199
Thanks for running man

>>43922402
i know, but it has happened before and i thought the results were good story wise.

I think this thread has shown there are plenty of people who don't want the war to happen just for laughs

Personally i was really hoping to try and somehow temper it but it just seems impossible at this point.

>>43922426
distant-future operator cennen interlude when?

Personally I'm way more butthurt about Hiss admitting that she loved us to a treestagzombie before she told us

>>43922431
I'm not sure how to reinforce her position beyond helping her smack down the king in the way that we did

>>43922467
and she probably only did that because he was seconds from death. she probably has some faint snake culture-related shame about it

>>43922458
No but I think I actually have two more interludes for this thread.

>>43922401
>>43922402

IFK right?