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File: snek.jpg (14 KB, 227x250)
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Previously, you and Hiss had an argument, discussed war plans and also there was a pretty sweet gun. History changed.

Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Snakecatcher%20Quest
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Pastebin Directory: http://pastebin.com/yYATEBvy
Thing where you ask questions: http://ask.fm/OuroQM
>>
>>44025833
You are sitting with Hiss in a long dining hall with a roaring fireplace at the far end. There’s something very familiar about this place but you can’t place it. The food is excellent and you don’t hesitate in stuffing yourself though Hiss, uncharacteristically, holds back.

“Shouldn’t you wait for the main course?”, she asks.

As she speaks the doors swing open and a monster enters the room. Teetering above you on five legs, each leg a sculpted column of raw flesh tapering down to stilts of bone, the thing is a flat sculpture of frozen flesh stripped of skin with a single human arm clutching an incriminating eye. There is only radiance behind it.
It breathes and all heat is stolen from the room. You are frozen, a faint coating of black ice climbing all over you.

You call out for help but Hiss ignores you. Instead she is bent over the dining table, eating enthusiastically. There is no food anymore, instead the table bears a massacre of human life. Pools of blood and excrement, rotting arms and legs, pickled heads. It makes you sick but Hiss doesn’t seem to care. She eats and eats and eats, gorging herself on humanity until the front of her tunic is slick with blood. But she never stops.

You are too frozen to do anything but you break free anyway, shards of ice digging into you and drawing blood. You are suddenly very tired. You ask Hiss to stop but she ignores you. You beg her, plead with her. She doesn’t seem to notice, blood running down her chin.

You sweep her feast off the table, forcing her to pay attention to you. You barely get out a word before she grabs you by the throat and slams you down onto the table in front of her. Her fangs are bared, teeth like jagged glass. You can look deep into her throat and she vomits snakes all over you.
You will replace the feast you ruined.



You wake with a start, erupting from the nightmare. You are in your bed inside your hut, pack sitting by the floor. There is nothing wrong.
1/2
>>
>>44025847
Just a bad dream. It isn’t particularly hot but you’re sweating all the same.

Daylight is peeking through the window. Looks like it’s time for a brand new day!


> Go back to sleep.

> Brew. There was something you needed to brew...

> Pray

> Walk outside.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other
>>
>>44025871
>> Brew. There was something you needed to brew...
Work on making a soul and body for Not!Hiss.
>>
>>44025871
> Walk outside.
Let's find Hiss or Aash to keep an eye on us while we investigate Bart's soul
>>
>>44025903
You know it will be very bad when she's freed from Hiss' soul right?
>>
>>44025871
> Walk outside.
I get the hiss part of the dream but why was the first spirit we killed there?
>>
>>44025970
and she's starting to fuck with our head right? She'll drive cennen insane if we don't START.
>>
>>44025994
Just a reminder we're not going to heaven?
>>
>>44025871
> Brew. There was something you needed to brew...
Caster brews!
>>
>>44025871
>> Go back to sleep.
>>
>>44025871
> Walk outside.
>>44026019
I agree we should start but this doesn't feel like her
>>
> Walk outside.

You're already starting to forget the dream, information leaking out of your head like a sieve in the curious way that dreams do. It probably wasn't very important anyway. While it might be tempting to ascribe meaning to dreams they're really just your mind boiling over while it waits for you to wake up. Desires and worries made manifest, signifying little.
Probably.

You get up, get dressed and put your pack on before going outside. A little walk might do you good.
The village is bustling with activity as it always is and you notice something different. The long rows of captured humans are gone. Have they been placed somewhere else? Have they been eaten already?

You nearly stand on a long blue snake. It hisses at you.

>Continue wandering.

>Look for the prisoners.

>Find Hiss.

>Find Oster.

>Find Aashenpreet.

>Find Orange.

>Find Zigzag.

>Nobble

>Use Potion(Specify)

>Go back inside and brew.

> Other
>>
>>44026251
>>Continue wandering.
>>
>>44026251
>Nobble
>>
>>44026251
>Find Hiss.
I really wanna investigate Bart's soul and give it to Hiss. Having him in the pack for so long is making me nervous.
>>
>>44026251
>>Find Zigzag.
>>
>>44026251
>Find Hiss.
>>
>>44026251
>Look for the prisoners.

We're thinking as one tonight
>>
>>44026251
>Find Hiss.
>>
>>44026251
>>Continue wandering.
lets see what happens
>>
>>44026300
>>44026323
>>44026358
Hiss slaves please. We don't have to go to the incredibly busy waifu as soon as we wake up every day.
>>
>>44026443
I already gave my reasoning for going to see her. Having a wizard soul in our pack for very long seems like a bad idea.
>>
>>44026479
He has nothing to store his power in so we're fine. stop panicking over something, if he could move we'd already be dead. Besides you're wanting to give it up without studying it which is stupid.
>>
>>44026522
Read my vote again anon. I want to investigate it first. But if it tries anything, having a soul-eating monster nearby when it happens would be smart. She can have it when we're done.
>>
>>44026549
>Read my vote again anon. I want to investigate it first. But if it tries anything, having a soul-eating monster nearby when it happens would be smart. She can have it when we're done.

Hiss will not stick around for that, and if we try to sit in on her meetings she'll shoo us out, again.
>>
>>44026576
She might if we tell her how useful more intel on wizards could be in the war. And she stands to gain bart's soul after we're done with it, so she would likely be interested.
>>
>>44026576
it's pretty annoying when you pretend that you know exactly what will happen with 100% accuracy
>>
>>44026596
Hiss never sticks around while we do alchemy, ever. Additionally several snakes are immune to human magic, why would she care? She knows Cennen being the good little trained alchemist will just give it to her anyways.
>>
>>44026626
>Using past characterization to predict what a character will do
>It makes sense, stop it!
>>
>Find Hiss.

You consider just wandering about or searching for the prisoners but in the end you decide you should probably visit Hiss. You like spending time with her and besides, you should probably do something about Old Bart's soul at some point. It's starting to weird you out.

You find Hiss sitting in the chieftain's hall again, accompanied by her council of snakes and speaking to a small assembly of human servants. She looks up as you enter.
"Ah, just the man I was looking for! Cennen, how many Serpentbane brews have you made so far?"

Oh right. That.
"Uh."

Hiss looks decidedly less happy.
"Do you have any? Any at all."

"Not yet, no. I only just woke u-"

Hiss sighs and waves you away.
"Stop wasting my time then, I'm very busy. Don't come back until you have some results."
The snakes coiling around her hiss in unison, almost as if they are laughing at you.

"I still need an..."
You stop talking when you realize that you're outside talking to a closed door. You'd backed out and shut it when Hiss commanded you to and you didn't even immediately realize it.
You try to open the door again but you really don't want to do it. Looks like you can't come back without some Serpentbanes.

>Open the door and go back inside anyway. There's stuff you want to talk about.

>Go around the side and spy through the windows.

>Go brew.

>Inquire about your village.

>Look for the prisoners.

>Find somebody else who might be able to help (Specify).

>Use Potion (Specify)

> Other
>>
>>44026664
Oh look we got shoo'd out, called it.
>Go brew.
>>
>>44026664
>Find somebody else who might be able to help (Specify).
fine bitch, maybe we'll give someone else bart's soul
>>
>>44026664
>>Inquire about your village.
>>Look for the prisoners.

>>44026691
to be fair to the other guy there's been a huge amount of totally unfounded or inaccurate predictions bouncing around these threads.

But we've clearly been spending too much time with hiss anyway
>>
>>44026705
forgot to specify Oster. Let's just give him a soulgrasp.
>>
>>44026664
>Go brew.
>>
>>44026664
>Go brew.
>>
>>44026742
Oster wouldn't be much help here, we should get someone like Ellessander or master ingrid for this
>>
>>44026664
>Inquire about your village.
Gotta find a collaborator
>>
>>44026664
>Go brew.
urge to murder hiss rising
>>
>>44026812
Well that's a little extreme, don't you think?
>>
>>44026773
We invented the entire field of soul alchemy, Master Ingrid wouldn't know what was going on at all
>>
>Go brew.

Bereft of a higher purpose now that Hiss seems to have little time for you, you wander back to the hut and open up your pack.
Old Bart's soul is still there as far as you can tell. You ignore it for now.

What do you want to brew?

>Caster brews

>Experiment with mixing some existing brews.

>Experiment with reagents.

>Make some potions you already know how to brew.

>Try for a potion that...(Specify)

>SERPENTBANES, CENNEN

> Other
>>
>>44026900
>SERPENTBANES, CENNEN
don't we need some snake reagents for this?
>>
>>44026900
>Make some potions you already know how to brew.
Snake breaker.
>>
>>44026900
>>Experiment with reagents.
it'll be interesting to see what else we can do
>>
>>44026900
>SERPENTBANES, CENNEN
let's knock a few of these out and then move on to caster brews
>>
>>44026900
>>SERPENTBANES, CENNEN
>>
>>44026900
>Caster brews
I wanna make some anti-spirit ammunition. Maybe a modified bloodkin or journey brew. Pretty sure Rock is gonna bring some homies to fight us or attack us personally.
>>
>>44026900
>Try for a potion that...(Specify)
Something related to soul inspection
>Experiment with mixing some existing brews.
>Soulsight and introspection

>>44026910
>>44026930
>>44026941
We should get a large recipient and organize a large reagent collect in order to mass produce them (Let's get Orange to work on that)
>>
File: sssneak.gif (1.2 MB, 640x360)
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1.2 MB GIF
Calling for Serpentbanes. Writan'
>>
>>44026963
my guess is (and here i go making baseless assertions) that rock did what we ended up choosing not to do and is warning and informing the surrounding polities.

anyway why would we want to hurt, rock is the best.
>>
>>44027062
If Rock attacks us I'd definitely choose the rest of our friends over her. Rock is our enemy now.
>>
>>44027048
Worried that you would stop with the snakes. It's disappointing to realize how many snaek gifs we have missed since you started doing this late.
>>
>>44026963
>modified journey brew.
Oh man, can we make a type of shot that forces the Journey on people it hits, a "stairway to heaven" brew?
>>
>>44027081
Plus, you never know when we'll be attacked by a random spirit. Best to be prepared.
>>
>>44027132
I'm pretty sure that would already happen if we just loaded a journey brew in the ammo chamber. Apparently it doesn't send everyone to the dreaming though. It only sent us there since we'd already had a shitload of contact with spirits before we had it. Normies would just have extreme hallucinations.
>>
>>44027081
arguably rock probably only wants to kill hiss.

>Rock is our enemy now.
We don't know that's the case or if it is what the particulars of it are but rock has always stood by cennen and it would be a real shame to just treat them like an obstacle or opponent.
>>
>>44027167
I'd rather just use a brew to send Rock back to the dreaming if possible.
>>
>Serpentbanes

You decide to heed Hiss' command for now, still fresh in your memory as if she'd just shouted it in your ear.
Unfortunately you alone won't be able to provide for all of Snakehome. Even if you worked to produce Serpentbane brews all day every day you'd eventually just run out of Art and get too tired to do anything. You need a whole lot of other people to help you, not just an apprentice.

You've made three Serpentbane brews when somebody knocks on your door. You're thinking on how to answer it but they just open the door and let themselves in before you do.
It's Orange, wearing his rather effeminate male form. You didn't notice before but he didn't even change his clothes from his old female form. He's carrying a list and a quill.
"Cennen!"

"Oh hi Orange, what's up?"
Is he mad about how you used your wishes? And what's that list for.

"I've just come by to record how many Serpentbane brews you've made so far. The Queen said you might need the reminder."

Wait, HE gets to speak with Hiss while you don't?
"Three so far," you grouch. "You interrupted me before I could make more."

Orange marks something down on the list and nods.
"I'll be off then. There's still so much to do!"


>Continue brewing.

>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"

>"This isn't part of the census, is it?"

>Ask Orange to help you see Hiss.

>Follow Orange.

>"I'm pretty sure the chief census officer is me, not you."

>Apologize for your wishes.

>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"

>Other
>>
>>44027276
>>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"

>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"
>>
>>44027276
>Apologize for your wishes.
>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"
>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"
> When you report to Hiss tell her I'd like to deal with Bart's soul soon.
>>
>>44027276
>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"
>"This isn't part of the census, is it?"
> Ask him to collect reagents for us
>>
>>44027276
>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"
>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"
>>
>>44027276
>Apologize for your wishes.
>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"
>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"
Ask for whatever reagents we need for serpentbane brews
>>
>>44027194
well its better than just offing her buts its also pretty cruel given they've previously stated preference for existing in the real world on pain of death to going back.

I guess its just kind of weird to me that people would hold out any hope of reconciling hiss to a not absurdly evil course of action but somehow aren't interested in trying to stay friends with the character who has been on point for cennan since forever.

I guess that not a totally fair characterization, since its fair to be prepared against spirit attack.
>>
>>44027276
>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"
>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"
Good work on the census by the way. Thanks for helping out.
Why don't we refine the serpentbane so it only destroys the wishbond instead of also disconnecting all a snake's souls?
>>
>>44027276
>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"
>"This isn't part of the census, is it?"
>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"
>>
Calling it for asking a whole bunch of stuff.
>>
>>44027559
Is it weird I could See Cennen backing up just enough to make it over-commit then nobble it?
>>
>"Wait, hasn't your wish worn off yet?"
>"Why? What else do you have to do today?"

You get to your feet, accidentally towering over them.
"Hold on, hasn't your wish worn off yet? This can't possibly still be the census."

Orange shrugs.
"Of course not, I finished that yesterday."

"Then what are you doing?"

Orange looks confused.
"It might have just been the wish but I had a lot of fun doing it! And it's not like I was doing much before that. The Queen's given me the title of 'Bureaucrat in Chief'! I'm starting to set up a system."

"Isn't that my title?"

Orange shakes his head.
"No, you're the Head of the Census Committee. I wrote it down here, see? The Queen has told me that it's very important to write everything down for her since nobody else here does it."

Huh. You suppose that's happiness, of a sort.
"And how has that been going for you?"

"Very well! Still...still not as fun as the census but I'm sure I'll find a way soon enough. I'm developing a system to store all this information, the Queen tells me I'm very useful. Nobody else wants to help."

"Yeah, I imagine most folk here don't care much for that. So what else are you going to be doing today? You said you had places to be."

"I have to get back to the Pit soon," Orange mumbles. "They're going to start distributing the prisoners again and I have to be there because the Queen gave me a list of which snakes get which souls. And then I have to record it."

The Pit?

> Offer to help.

> Let them leave and go back to brewing.

> Other
>>
>>44027790
>> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
>>
>>44027790
> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
Glad things seem to be going well for you mate
>>
>>44027790
> Offer to help.
carry dat weight
>>
>>44027790
> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
Tell her to bring any snakes to you if they need a Nobbling. We'd be happy to help in regard.
>>
>>44027790
>> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
>>
>>44027790
> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
Damn, wishbonds might actually be useful for setting up a proper snake society long-term. Gotta remember this.
>>
>>44027790
> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
that title kinda sells us a bit short I think
>>
>>44027790
>> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
sucks about the prisoners but we've committed to staying this insane course, so we may as well be productive.
>>
>>44027790
> The Pit
Yeah, I can imagine what that is, and we wouldn't like it, so...

> Let them leave and go back to brewing.
>>
>>44027971
I'm pretty sure the Pit is just the big hole where the king used to hang out
>>
>>44028013
indeed, though we could still ask if we want to kick ourselves.
>>
> Let them leave and go back to brewing.

On second thought, you want fucking nothing to do with anything that's called the 'Pit'. And you don't want to look at the prisoners while they're being eaten, you'd rather just forget they existed.

"Have fun then, glad things seem to be going well for you mate."

Orange nods and departs, leaving you alone with your cauldron once more.

>Keep producing Serpentbanes.

>Caster brew.

>Experiment.

>You need to go gather reagents.

>Wander.

>Go back to Hiss now that you have some Serpentbanes.

>Brew Potion (Specify)

>Other
>>
>>44027790
> Let them leave and go back to brewing.

Tell him when we finish we will help if there are no other pressing concerns. Orange is pretty fun.
>>
>>44028013
That's Snakehome, the Pit is the place where the prisoners are kept and I DO NOT want to go there
>>
>>44028105
>>Keep producing Serpentbanes.
>>
>>44028105
>You need to go gather reagents.

Lets check up on Bunyip while we are out.
>>
>>44028105
>Caster brew.
Let's just take a little break from the serpentbanes
>>
>>44028105
This is going to take forever, drop it until we can maximize production.
>Experiment.
>>
>>44028105
>>Experiment.
Alchemy is an art. Endless slog is less than productive.
>>
>>44028013
That hole is the actual Snakehome and it's where the current ruler should live. But it was half caved in during the battle with the King so Hiss has relocated to the village.

The Pit is a walled-off bit in the village where they keep the eggs and hatchlings after the post-winter mating frenzy. It's currently empty for now so it's being put to use.
>>
>>44028105
>Keep producing Serpentbanes.
How long did those three take us to make?
>>
>>44028105
>Caster brew.
>>
>>44028226
Part time nursery, part time concentration camp
>>
>>44028105
>>You need to go gather reagents
>>
Rolled 3 (1d4)

>tfw you wind up with a four way tie.

It's never come to this before. 1 for Caster Brew, 2 for Gathering reagents, 3 for experimenting and 4 for Serpentbanes.
>>
>>44028470
Let's hope the dice gods are doubly pleased by this sacrifice
>>
>>44028105
>>Experiment.
its not like its a good idea to send out a million agents right this second anyway.
>>
>>44028470
>tfw you wind up with a four way tie.
wait why wasn't this greentext
>>
>Experiment.

You decide that you need to give the Serpentbanes a bit of a rest, you don't need them all just yet. And besides, alchemy isn't just Art. It's also art. That's something you don't think Hiss quite understands.
You can't just slave away on one brew forever, you need to express yourself. Every potion you make is your lasting contribution to the world, the way you truly express yourself and what people will most likely remember you for.
You sort of hope that it won't the Snakebreaker that you go down in history for.

You spread out your pack and begin to brew. You still have some snake reagents left from Hiss so you can do a little bit of serpent-brewing.

>You should focus on potions that help snakes.

>You should focus on potions that help fight snakes.

>You should focus on potions that'll help you fight spirits.

>You want to focus on soul potions.

>You want to focus on transformative potions.

>What would Hiss want?

>Produce a variation on a potion (Specify)
>>
>>44028602
>You should focus on potions that'll help you fight spirits.
>>
>>44028602
>>You want to focus on soul potions.
>>
>>44028602
>You should focus on potions that help snakes.
Serpentbane without the soul-detaching side effect.
>>
>>44028602
>>You want to focus on soul potions
>>
>>44028602
>You want to focus on soul potions.
>>
>>44028602
>>You should focus on potions that'll help you fight spirits.
Hate to say it, but given Rock's recent activities we should be prepared.
>>
>>44028602
>You should focus on potions that'll help you fight spirits.
>>
>>44028602
>You should focus on potions that'll help you fight spirits.
Ideally something that can be used with the caster too if necessary
>>
>>44028602
sorry cennen but if you go down in history for anything it will be for the caster and related brews
>>
File: zigzagallgrownup.jpg (163 KB, 1280x720)
163 KB
163 KB JPG
Calling for the spirit brews. Writan
>>
>>44028837
If only Cennen had a cool last name like Browning, Gatling, or Colt.
>>
>>44028951
>Cennen Caster
doesn't really have the same ring as
>Gatling Gun
2bh
>>
>You should focus on potions that'll help you fight spirits.

You remember your talk with Aashenpreet yesterday by the river and the Bunyip. Rock is still absent and who knows what she's doing. And can you really blame her?
Rock has made her position on Hiss clear multiple times, it was only a matter of time before they left for good.

Will Hiss ask you to kill Rock? Fuck no. But you should be prepared to deal with spirits anyway, at least one meddling seems inevitable.
You try not to think about Rock winking out of existence after getting her halo struck by a dispel elixir.

>Spiritbane: Alchemical acid that has been bred with dispel elixirs and Antimagic. It should prove inimical to spirit's manifested bodies.

>Dispel Canister: A dispel elixir optimized for Caster use and mixed with an explosive gel at the bottom. Like the Snakebreaker it can be used without a second potion, ignition and ammunition all at once.

>Diminish Soul: You actually came up with the idea for this one ages ago, a brew that shrinks spirits and exposed souls.

>Spirit Repellent: Based on several aspects of soul-warding that you know of, this salve can be rubbed on the skin to make it uncomfortable and painful for spirits to even touch you.

>Dreameater: An evolution of the Soul Guise, this potion wraps a spirit it collides with in a fake soul. This allows snakes to bite it and potions that affect souls to take temporary effects.

> (Specify)
>>
>>44029063
>Dreameater: An evolution of the Soul Guise, this potion wraps a spirit it collides with in a fake soul. This allows snakes to bite it and potions that affect souls to take temporary effects.
>>
>>44029063
>>Diminish Soul: You actually came up with the idea for this one ages ago, a brew that shrinks spirits and exposed souls.
this could have many interesting uses
>>
>>44029063
>>Diminish Soul: You actually came up with the idea for this one ages ago, a brew that shrinks spirits and exposed souls.
non-lethal in case Rock shows up with her crew
>>
>>44029063
>Spiritbane: Alchemical acid that has been bred with dispel elixirs and Antimagic. It should prove inimical to spirit's manifested bodies.
Gotta love cennen's naming skills
>>
>>44029063
>Dispel Canister: A dispel elixir optimized for Caster use and mixed with an explosive gel at the bottom. Like the Snakebreaker it can be used without a second potion, ignition and ammunition all at once.
>>
>>44029063
>Dispel Canister: A dispel elixir optimized for Caster use and mixed with an explosive gel at the bottom. Like the Snakebreaker it can be used without a second potion, ignition and ammunition all at once.
This actually has loads of uses
>>
>>44029063
>Dispel Canister: A dispel elixir optimized for Caster use and mixed with an explosive gel at the bottom. Like the Snakebreaker it can be used without a second potion, ignition and ammunition all at once.
>>44029119
That sounds nice but would shrinking a spirit really do anything to make it less dangerous?
>>
>>44029063
>>Spiritbane: Alchemical acid that has been bred with dispel elixirs and Antimagic. It should prove inimical to spirit's manifested bodies.
>>
>>44029063
>Spirit Repellent: Based on several aspects of soul-warding that you know of, this salve can be rubbed on the skin to make it uncomfortable and painful for spirits to even touch you.
>>
>>44029063
>Spiritbane: Alchemical acid that has been bred with dispel elixirs and Antimagic. It should prove inimical to spirit's manifested bodies.
I think we're good enough at throwing dispel brews right now anyway
>>
>>44029063
>Spiritbane: Alchemical acid that has been bred with dispel elixirs and Antimagic. It should prove inimical to spirit's manifested bodies.
>>
Calling for Spiritbane. While I write, a question for you. What has been the most consistently useful potion throughout the Quest in your opinion?
>>
>>44029063
>>44029117
>>44029214
I'll change this to dispel canister, since i feel like the variety of uses is nicer.
>>
>>44029387
arguably its been healing based things, since those have allowed us to just keep going in situations where we would have been screwed.

Easy to forget that since its become somewhat ubiquitous s and we've achieved close to he highest level of it though.
>>
>>44029387
Knockout brew has been pretty handy. Soulsight is pretty great too.
>>
>>44029387
Probably the knockout brew. We might want to make a lethal modification of that brew sometime.
>>
>>44029387
Healing and regen, though I don't think they should be counted because those things are always useful.
So... Soulsight, it's pretty handy
>>
>>44029387
Knockout brew's been great. Other than that, we'd probably have been screwed at a few points without healing.
>>
>>44029387
my favorite is the soulsight, but there's never been a time where it totally saved our ass or anything
>>
>>44029387
Knockout brew because we use it a lot and any gaseous brew that we're immune to is extremely useful
>>
>Spiritbane

You wind up spending over an hour brewing Identification Potions and using them to help refine your experimentation until you finally wind up with a potion you feel is worth using.
You call it Spiritbane despite the fact that the term Spiritbane is already a thing and actually describes you. You're here to brew not name.

The Spiritbane should make it painful for spirits to be in contact or near you and acts as a Soulguard as well for spirit-based soul attacks. You use up the last of your bottled snake blood to finish brewing this however so if you want to make more you'll have to gather reagents from somewhere.

You're looking over your creation when Zigzag suddenly slumps through the door. She's absolutely filthy, stains and smears of dried blood still lingering on her clothes. She hasn't even changed back once yet?

"Zigzag? What do you want?"

"I'm hungry. Feed me."

"I'm a little busy now alright. Can't you just go to the, ugh, Pit?"

"Queen said I wasn't allowed in there. But I can still hear it, everyone's eating humans but me."
She's suddenly very close.
"I want to eat more humans. Feed me humans."

"And what if I say no?"

"..."
Zigzag stops.
"The Queen would be mad if I ate you, I don't want to make her angry again. So can you please feed me more humans? Or gunk. The gunk is also good."


>Convince her that sometimes you just can't get what you want.

>Take her to the Pit.

>"What if I gave you something else to eat instead?"

>Give her some Snake Oil.

>Secure a villager for her.

>Maybe if you take her into human lands proper she'll realize just how unfeasible her appetite will be.

>"Can you just leave me alone?"

>"Why are you still in human form?"

>Nobble.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other
>>
>>44029651
>>"What if I gave you something else to eat instead?"
>>
>>44029651
Let's make a brew that tastes just like a human soul. Zigzag can be the tester. Maybe we could modify the soulguise. this would be a great way to help snakes and humans coexist too.
>>
>>44029651
>"Why are you still in human form?"
>"What if I gave you something else to eat instead?"
>Nobble.
>>
>>44029704
This. Definitely worth a try.
>>
>>44029651
It seems like you described spirit repellent instead of spiritbane
>>
>>44029651
>>44029704
Huh. Lets give it a go I suppose.
>>
>>44029704
I thought the whole problem in the first place was because she didn't care about souls, she only wants the meat. That's why she's attached to Cennen since he's the only person that's ever found a way for her to fit a whole human into her mouth.
>>
>>44029651
> "Well, the Queen would be mad if I made... Grunk"
>"What if I gave you something else to eat instead?"
>>44029704
This
>>
>>44029651
>"Why are you still in human form?"
>"What if I gave you something else to eat instead?"
>>44029704
this
>>
>>44029775
Whoops.
>>
>>44029651
>>44029684
this is an interesting proposition but i wonder if its even possible at current state. But if we can may as well
>>
>>44029785
Nah, she loves the taste of both souls and human flesh. Hiss said that snakes only eat human souls because they're addicted to the taste though, so it's worth a shot.
>>
>>44029704
Why not go all the way and make a brew that creates a new blank human soul in any body that ingests it? As long as it doesn't mess with the original soul inside the body.
>>
>>44029818
meant to also link
>>44029704

>>44029829
more like they are addicted to some property of human souls.

I think understanding this problem is crucial to coming up with any kind of solution to putting snakes on a level plane with humans.
>>
If we can mass produce null souls we can potentially avert Snakes doing anything nasty.
>>
I just realized that if we're actually successful with this brew snakes will never leave us alone ever again
>>
>>44030078
Nobbling Bad
>>
>"What if I brewed something up for you instead?"

A sudden idea strikes you.
"What if...instead of feeding you a human-"

"I don't like it."

"-I made you a brew that tastes like a human soul instead?"

"Can you do that?"

"I don't know. What tastes the best about a soul anyway?"

"Not taste."

"Pardon?"

"You taste with your mouth."
She opens her own fanged maw extra wide to demonstrate.
"Souls are felt with the mind."

"That's called a metaphor or something Zigzag, it's fine. So what makes souls feel good?"

"Memories? I don't really know, I shred them up when I get them."

How the fuck do you make a brew that tastes like memories? What does it even mean?
"How about this?"
You give her your last Mindbalm.

She drinks it without hesitation, cocking her head.
"Tastes nice. But it's a potion."

"Yeah and?"

"I want meat. Meat or gunk. Potion doesn't feel the same."

"Well hold on, let me try and brew something a little better."
You set up your cauldron again, even though you're all out of snake blood.

Halfway through your first test brew, you set your hand down on the ground. This proves to be a mistake as something quickly chomps on it!
Zigzag is still lying on the ground next to her, her jaw dislocated. She's jammed your entire hand into her mouth.
She hasn't pricked you with her fangs yet but if you struggle too much she might.

"Please...let go, Zigzag.'

"Nrnf."

If you try and push her off she'll probably bite down. And if she bites down you're going to be paralyzed in very short order. Paralyzed while right next to a very hungry Zigzag.

"This is unacceptable behaviour, the Queen won't like this!"

"Mrm"


>Keep brewing regardless.

>Tell her that you'll find someone for her to eat if she just lets go. This doesn't have to be the truth.

> Try to talk to her.

> Offer to ask Hiss to let her eat some of the corpses.

> Attempt to assert dominance.

> Threaten

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Pray

> Other
>>
>>44030192
>Keep brewing regardless.
>>
>>44030192
God damn it. Give her some snake oil then.
>>
>>44030192
offer her snake oil if she lets go. then knock her annoying ass out with it.
>>
>>44030192
>Keep brewing regardless.
>"I need my hand to make your food, moron!"
>>
>>44030192
>Keep brewing regardless
>>
>>44030192
If you eat my hand I can't make any more of that brew you like
>give that bitch some snake oil
>>
>>44030192
> Offer to ask Hiss to let her eat some of the corpses.
>>
>>44030192
>>44030293
>>44030322
These.
Fucking Zigzag. Sooner or later we need to get rid of her.
>>
>>44030387
I find her endearing, and more importantly, easily manipulated
>>
>>44030192
could we somehow make a brew that makes a copy of our own memories without becoming spiritbane'd?
>>
>>44030192
>> Try to talk to her.
you can't eat me you know
>>
>>44030192
I have a brew that will link my soul to yours, care to try your luck Zigzag?
>>
>Snake oil
>Keep brewing regardless

You sigh. At least she isn't chewing.
"I need my hand to make your food you moron!"

She doesn't let go, leaving you to brew one-handed. Which is fine by you, this recipe isn't very hard anyway. It doesn't take long before the smell of Snake Oil fills the air, prompting Zigzag's mouth to first loosen and then let go of your hand entirely.
"Gunk! Feed me the gunk."

You pass the oily cauldron to her, this time being careful not to interrupt her while she's feeding. She doesn't stick her whole head into it this time, instead scooping it with her hands. She looks oil-drunk already.
"This is nice. You're nice. Feeeeeeeee..."
It doesn't take her long to pass out in a blissful sleep.

>Just let her be.

>Roll her outside.

>Nobble.

>The world is probably a better place without her in it.

>Use Potion (specify)

>Other
>>
>>44030613
>Just let her be.
I'd like to nobble her but that would definitely be a problem if we plan to visit our village or any humans anytime soon
>>
>>44030613
>Nobble.
>>
>>44030613
>Nobble.
This will solve many problems
>>
>>44030613
>Nobble.
She tried to stop us brewing, it worked with Orange.
>>
>>44030613
>Nobble.
The ultimate meatshield will be ours
>>
>>44030613
>>Just let her be.
>>
>>44030613
>>Nobble.
I want her gone. But I want plausible deniability for it.
Nobbling will help limit the damage until we can find some.
>>
>>44030746
sorry namefag but we're not gonna kill her
>>
>>44030613
>Just let her be.
>>
>Nobble.

You stroke your unshaven chin as you contemplate your situation. Nobbling her is probably the best action you can take here, somebody has to teach her manners eventually. But to do that you need to capture her, not just render her unconscious.

You'd tie her up but Aashenpreet broke your rope a long while ago. Could you stuff her in your pack? Not without alchemical help.

In the end you just step outside and hold the door shut, establishing that you have contained her inside. That probably works.
She's still asleep when you come back in. She'll probably asleep for a while.

>Wake her up.

>Harvest reagents from her.

>Just keep brewing.

>Maybe you should ask someone to help.

>Go outside.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other
>>
>>44030887
>>Just keep brewing.
>>
>>44030887
>Harvest reagents from her.
>>
>>44030887
>>Just keep brewing.
>>
>>44030887
>Harvest reagents from her.
Be ready to hold our breath/dodge though
>Just keep brewing.
>>
>>44030887
>Harvest reagents from her.
>Just keep brewing.
>>
>>44030887
>Harvest reagents from her.
>Just keep brewing.
>>
>>44030887
>Harvest reagents from her.
>Just keep brewing.
>>
>>44030887
>Just keep brewing.
>>
>Harvest reagents from her.
>Just keep brewing.

You approach her cautiously, ready to hold your breath or to dodge at any time. You start by plucking a few hairs. It doesn't wake her.
Encouraged by this, your prick her hand a few times with your knife and harvest some blood. Looks like her automatic defensive Arts don't activate when she's asleep. Or is it because of the Oil?
You're unable to procure any snakeskin from her just yet so you settle for propping her head in your lap and pushing her jaw open so you can swab up her saliva. She's still not awake.

Actually now that you think about it, her venom should have different alchemical properties from Hiss'! You've gotten so used to only using her venom that you've almost forgot that each kind has different qualities.
You quickly cook up another Identification Potion to inspect her saliva with.

Looks like you can use Zigzag's venom to make a potion that immobilizes people without knocking them out. In addition, her venom twists any potion it's added to, rendering lethal brews non-lethal.

What should you do with this?


>Keep brewing Serpentbanes.

>Experiment with mixing potions together.

>Experiment with reagents.

>More Caster brewing.

>You really need an apprentice.

>Other
>>
>>44031185
>Keep brewing Serpentbanes.
Let's see if we can reach our limit. Our Art is ridiculously strong.
>>
>>44031185
>Keep brewing Serpentbanes.
fuckin sucks. but I really don't think having an apprentice is a good idea.
>>
>>44031185
>>You really need an apprentice.
Potions we need to make
Artificial soul
Artificial freeze
Soul regeneration
>>
>>44031185
>More Caster brewing.
You're not my mom, Hiss! You can't tell me what to do with my life!
>>
>>44031185
>Experiment with mixing potions together.
> Mindbalm, soul guise and thoughtbrew
Should get us closer to making a pseudo soul
>>
>>44031185
>>Keep brewing Serpentbanes.
Job's a job
>>You really need an apprentice.
but we really need to get on this soon.
>>
>>44031328
Pretty good idea. Let's try it out.
>>
>>44031185
>>44031328
lets try this
>>
>>44031328
this. even if it doesn't win let's use it later.
>>
>>44031328
what's the mindbalm for? giving it fake memories just by suggesting them or something?
>>
>>44031440
fuck, meant to say thoughtbrew
>>
>>44031328
So the soulguise creates an empty shell, the thoughtbrew interprets the hollow center as damage and fills it, and then the thoughtbrew gives it fake memories?
>>
>>44031440
>>44031510

Don't want to get too metaphysical cause it's like 3 am here, but from what Zigzag said, thoughts and memories are the substance of the soul.
>>
Guys, here's an idea. Let's make a soul and give it a body to make our own apprentice.
>>
>>44031185
>Apprentice Zigzag
>>
Sorry for the delay had a phone call.

>Experiment with mixing potions together.
> Mindbalm, soul guise and thoughtbrew.

Just like last time, Zigzag's attempted attack on your person has given you an idea! She seemed to like the Mindbalm so clearly there's a lead to be investigated there.
Just what is a soul? Thoughts and memories and mind all sloshed together inside a shell. You've spent enough time with Hiss to know that there is no inherently mystical or holy concept to the soul, nothing that renders inviolate.
They are things that can be manipulated and pruned, eaten and spat out, mushed together and brought back to life inside things that were never meant to hold them.

You remember the Children of the Master, the Melach, Hiss' own creations. You remember that stubby helpless doll that Hiss had placed a Melach soul in, the same doll that she had thrown into the ocean to suffer forever until his soul finally rotted to nothing.
You remember all of your own various potions, the distillation of snake blood.

You remember the death of the spirit in Melire branding you forever. Or when Hiss first coiled your mind and pulled you into trance, ravaging your soul for no reason but petty spite. When you put it that way, you've been walking on this path for much longer than you thought.

No, there's nothing special about the soul. It's just another resource. Something to be spent and used and...created. The fact that they are the sum of a person's entire experiences and love changes nothing about that particular truth.

A Soul Guise makes a hollow shell not unlike a soul but with nothing to sustain it. Mindbalm grows blank soulstuff from nearly nothing, it shouldn't be much for it to latch onto the pseudo-soul of the Guise. And then the Thoughtbrew and a few other potions like it will breathe life into it, tinging an otherwise blank creation with emotions and experiences.

1/2
>>
>>44031985
aw shit it worked
>>
File: frank.jpg (26 KB, 250x301)
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>>44031985
Damn, we mad scientist now?
>>
>>44032084
We always were
>>
>>44031985
lol zigzag is our muse
>>
>>44032084
Mad ALCHEMIST, thank you very much.
None of that science mumbo jumbo here.
>>
>>44032173
Hey! Alchemy is a well respected and up to day science!
God damn astrologers trying to lump it down with their fake ass hobby
>>
>>44031985
All three of these potions are creations unique to you, only made possible by your Snake Blood Revelation. Through them pumps not only your power but that of Hiss and Zigzag and every other serpent. Each of these potions is itself a masterpiece, a culmination of three long strands of research with resources and reagents that were available only to you.

Time slips away, hour after hour, as you remain bent over your cauldron. Zigzag has woken up but she is unable to attract your attention and cannot attack you.
You draw her close and harvest for additional reagents when you need it without even thinking about it.
You barely notice her, far too caught up in the creative trance that you had sunk into before when you've experimented or created. But this time you let it take you far deeper than it has ever before.
You've never let it grip you this hard before and you may never let it again. You are seized with the idea that you may be approaching the apex, that masterpiece that any craftsman knows he will only approach once in his entire life.

You let the rest of the world drop away, time itself irrelevant. The only things that matter are the materials in your ever-working hands and the formulae in your head.
At some point you dragged Old Bart's soul out of your pack and used it for reference, ever brewing more and more soulgrasp brews on the side.

When you finally come to your senses, night has fallen. The contents of your pack have been scattered everywhere. Zigzag is sitting next to the wall, looking disheveled and drained. Literally drained, it looks like you siphoned a huge amount of her blood during your day-long experiment.

But sitting in your cauldron is your finest creation yet. The brew itself is almost perfectly clear and constantly smoking but what interests you is what lies within it, something intangible and invisible. You pluck it up with one Soulgrasp-covered hand and deposit it into an empty bottle.
2/3
>>
>>44032267
Well Zigzag is probably terrified of us now.
>>
File: myfirsthomunculus.jpg (41 KB, 480x270)
41 KB
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>>44032267
It's existent!
>>
>>44032267
Finally! You'd gotten to this stage multiple times during the day but none of your pseudo-souls had survived outside of the brew. But this one, this one is wriggling and strong.

You fill the soul bottle with some of the brew as well and peer through it. Even without Soulsight the newborn soul is now visible as a sort of inky stain suspended within the solution.
Can it see you? Surely not, it has no means to perceive anything. It is completely cut-off from the world, coiled around itself. A perfect ouroboros.

You remember your Master's old books telling you about Tolemy, the Father of all alchemy in Old Khepri. Among his many mythical feats were the tales of his Homunculi, living creatures that had been given life through alchemy.
You're still far from his level, you've used the power of many magical creatures instead of just your own Art. But the result is the same.
You've created your very own Homonculus.

You are suddenly aware of how ridiculous tired you are. You're completely drained of Art.

>Fall asleep.

>Go tell Hiss.

>Ask Zigzag if she's alright.

>Feed Homonculus to ZigZag.

>Name Homonculus

>Other
>>
>>44032432
>>Feed Homonculus to ZigZag.
>>
>>44032432
>>Ask Zigzag if she's alright.

>Name Homonculus
Sim One

>Fall asleep.
>>
>>44032432
>>Ask Zigzag if she's alright.
>>
>>44032432
If heal-alls help blood loss give Zigzagone
>Name Homunculus*
Eva
>Fall asleep.
>>
>>44032441
We can't give our first one away like that. Maybe the next one.
>>
>>44032432
Aw shiiiiiiit
>Name Homonculus
This is it, we need to muster all of our naming expertise and talent on this, our magnum opus
Homie
>>
>>44032506
This works, I guess. I continue to be awful at thinking up names.
>>
>>44032432
>>Name Homonculus
Cennen Jr the First. I'd say Galatea but Cennen has a bad track record with names.
>>Go tell Hiss.
>>
>Name Homonculus
>Fall asleep.

You can't fall asleep just yet...you have to think of a name for your magnum opus. A proper name this time not some dumb placeholder because you couldn't think of a good one at the time.
Indeed, this may be the closest thing you will ever have to a child.

So it has to be dignified. Something like...

>Eva

>Cennen Junior

>One

>Experiment

>Blot

>Hiss Junior

>Homie

>Hom

>Ouroboros

>Snake Food
>>
>>44032741
>Eva
>>
>>44032741
>Ouro
>>
>>44032741
>Ouroboros
>>
>>44032741
>Eva
>>
>>44032741
>Eva
inb4 spirithiss takes it over
>>
>>44032757
>>
>>44032741
>Hom
Hom is nice
>>
>>44032741
>>Ouroboros
>>
>>44032741
>Eva
>>
Now we just need a drained but still living body from the pit.
>>
>inb4 dreams of the creator looking at us judgementally
>>
>>44032985
man if the creator actually does get involved it'll be pretty interesting
>>
>Eva

You christen the alchemical blot to be named 'Eva' as you set the bottle aside. You suppose it's a girl now? Whatever.

You slump back onto your bed and fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

...

You wake up feeling refreshed, albeit still a little bit tired. Everything is as you left it only...Eva's bottle is gone!

Where her bottle had once stood is now just a pile of broken glass and a puddle of spilled brew. The puddle is smeared and from it stems a series of footprints large enough to be human.
Holy shit.
Did Eva make herself a body?

You follow the footprints to the other side of the hut, where Zigzag is sleeping with a very contented look on her face.
Or...maybe Zigzag just broke the bottle open and ate Eva alive while you slept. That seems more likely.

Fuck.

>Time to make another one.

>Wake up Zigzag.

>Freak out from having wasted so much time.

>Double-Nobble.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other
>>
>>44033045
>Wake up Zigzag.
what the fug
>>
>>44033045
>Wake up Zigzag.
If she ate it she gets to help us make a new one! Also
>Double-Nobble.
Something No ONE has done before!
>>
>>44033045
>Wake up Zigzag.
> "Give it back you little dweeb!"
(Nevermind that this was the purpose of the experiment)
>>
>>44033045
>Time to make another one.

>all that for nothing
damn Ouro you are cold as ice
>>
>>44033045
>>Wake up Zigzag.
now this is the part of the experiment where i ask you some questions
>>
>>44033045
>Time to make another one.
motherfucker
>>
>>44033045
>Freak out from having wasted so much time.
>>
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>>44033103
Well after I considered the implications of just falling asleep while leaving Eva around with an unsupervized Zigzag it became obvious to me.

Called it for waking her up and starting another.
>>
>>44033045
>Wake up Zigzag.
I actually hope she ate it because otherwise spirithiss took over hiss and fetched it herself
>>
>>44033213
>Hissinthreadtwo

Boy was she wrong.
>>
>>44033213
I blame those who wanted to fall asleep over Zigzag. Sneks gonna snek.
>>
>>44033213
We could've thought that through a little more. Oh well.
>>
>>44033299
to be fair it was a pretty reasonable thing to have happened.
>>
>Wake up Zigzag
>Time to make another one.

You nudge Zigzag with your boot, waking her up. She stares blankly up at you.
"Eh?"

"Did you eat it? Did you eat Eva?"

Zigzag smiles.
"Yes. Tasty."

"Fuck!"
Still, you suppose that's better than it having escaped into the world.
"Now we're going to have to make another."

"I'm not hungry yet."

"It's not for you to eat!"
You drag your cauldron and your ingredients back together. This will take less time than the first at least but it will still be HOURS.

As you begin to brew, Zigzag hovers around looking confused.
"Something's strange," she says.

"What?"

"When I woke up I didn't want to eat you. Or bite. I don't understand."

>Ignore her.

>"I captured you while you were unconscious."

> "How would I know?"

> Tell a lie (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

>Other
>>
>>44033470
>Wishbond
Now we are going to make a new one, don't eat it!
>>
>>44033470
We must have really bonded yesterday.
>>
>>44033526
Ba dum tss
>>
>>44033470
We can't wish for it back

Can we?
>>
>>44033470
> "Yeah I have that effect on snakes"
> "Are you still hungry? I hope not, after you ate a day's worth of my work"
> "How does it feel?"
>>
>>44033470
> "How would I know?"
>>
>>44033570
You can wish for her to cough it up, it's worked for Hiss. The problem is that Zigzag has mentioned that she likes to shred and absorb eaten souls as quickly as possible rather than keep them around for future use so there might just not be anything left to regurgitate.
>>
>>44033470
>Ignore her.
So did it seem any different than a normal soul?
>>
>>44033470
>"I captured you while you were unconscious."
Snakes eat humans, Snakecatchers nobble snakes.
>>
>>44033470
>>"I captured you while you were unconscious."
>>
>"I captured you while you were unconscious."

"I captured you while you were asleep. Sorry."
You're not really that sorry.

"Oh so now we're wishbound?"
Zigzag sounds a little put out.

"Yup. Snakes eat humans, I nobble snakes. It's what we do."

"I can't eat you now."

"That's pretty great, yeah."
You're still working on your second homunculus, it's going to be a while.

"What are you going to use your wishes on?"

> "Don't know yet."

> "Why would I tell you that?"

> "Leave me alone for now please."

> "Rehabilitating you into a proper member of society."

> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."

> Demonstrate by making a wish (Specify)

>Other
>>
>>44033795
> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."
I'll make you delicious brews too. It'll be good for both of us. You might even be able to make the gunk yourself someday.
>>
>>44033795
> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."
Or just a reagent source.
> "Don't know yet."
>>
>>44033795
> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."
I need blood to make another soul, and you're the current go to snake.
> "Don't know yet."
>>
>>44033795
> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."
Don't worry, they won't be anything bad. Usually I just use them to make snakes stronger but I make no promises.
>>
>>44033795

> "Rehabilitating you into a proper member of society."
> "Leave me alone for now please."
>>
>>44033826
This. She seems easily motivated.
>>
>>44033795
> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."
> "I don't supose there's anything left of the soul you ate, but can you tell me anything about it? Did it feel any different?"
>>
>>4403379
> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."
You're going to repay me for destroying my work
>>
>>44033795
>> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."
also
>>44033892
even though its a little disappointing it got ate, she seemed to like it which at least bodes well creating a soul substitute.

Of course the implications for this are absurdly far reaching, i suspect this may be more an atom bomb than a cold fusion but still, it could help.

however i bet you a ton of fake money hiss will get mad at the suggestion of use copied human souls instead of the genuine article.
>>
Why don't we wish for her to become the perfect alchemy assistant?
>>
>>44034100
Probably will suffer burnout like Hiss
>>
>>44034118
Do we actually care?
>>
>>44034118
Hiss only got burnt out because her body wasn't strong enough to handle all those extremely powerful arts for long. Becoming the perfect alchemy assistant doesn't require any new snake arts.
>>
>>44034019
How typical of a reptilian overlord to take funds off alchemic research on synthetic soul making, a safe and renewable alternative to human souls
>>
> "Well first of all, you're my assistant now."

"Well first of all, you're my assistant now. Or at the very least, you're my compliant reagent supply. And if I need one, my test subject."

"That doesn't sound good."

"You've got to repay me for destroying my work and besides, I'll make you more gunk if you're good."

That seems to mollify Zigzag, leaving her lying around happily while you pluck hairs, siphon blood and drain venom. She seems to really like Snake Oil, more than even Hiss did.
After you've gotten over an hour into your next creation, you talk to her again.
"I don't suppose there's anything left of the soul you ate but can you tell me anything about it? How did it feel?"

Zigzag shrugs.
"A bit light. There wasn't much to it."

You guess that makes sense. A few more hours pass, dawn quickly approaching, until you finally finish your second homunculus.

You name her Eva II.
Zigzag makes a half-hearted attempt to eat her too but you push her away.

"Now what?," the snake says.

"What do you mean?"

"You made the thing I'm not supposed to eat. When are you going to make thing I AM supposed to eat?"

"You want more oil?"

"I like gunk. Or other potions. You said you'd feed me potions or test things on me. I want to eat potions."

> Give her a potion (Specify)

> Ignore her.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Go to show Eva II to Hiss.

> You need to make a body for Eva II.

> Get some fresh air, you've been in here for like a full day.

> Use Potion (Specify)

>Other
>>
>>44034150
> Give her a potion (Specify)
souldrift
tell her to return to her body before it's too late
> You need to make a body for Eva II.
>>
>>44034150
> Give her a potion (Specify)
Shapeshifting brew. Turn her into a bird and tell her she can fly around like her ancestors
> Go to show Eva II to Hiss.
>>
>>44034199
Ohh, you sneaky devil
>>
>>44034150
> Give her a potion (Specify)
gunk
> Go to show Eva II to Hiss.
>>
>>44034150
What would happen if we fed her a sun potion?
>>
>>44034150
> Give her a potion (Specify)
Mix a Snake oil and sun potion together for her.
>>
>>44034150
>Give her a potion (Specify)

Would heal-alls help with recovering lost blood or is it only closing wounds?

>You need to make a body for Eva II.
>>
>>44034272
It would be an illuminating experience.
>>
>>44034150
>>44034290
Second.
>You need to make a body for Eva II.
>>
>>44034233
This, only because these other write-ins worry me a little. As long as she's a predator bird and not prey
>>
You guys realize that if we make a body we're gonna unleash godHiss upon the world, right?
>>
>>44034357
Yes, lil biddy god hiss
>>
>>44034357
We sort of promised we would
And I'm pretty sure it was a magically enforced kind of promise
>>
>>44034390
Right but is now really the best time?
>>
>>44034150
>> Give her a potion (Specify)
heal all


> Get some fresh air, you've been in here for like a full day.

hopefully the world hasn;t been fucked in our absence
>>
>>44034417
There'll never be an ideal time for it.
>>
>that inventory entry for homunculus soul
guys I'm scared
>>
>Give her the gunk.
>You need to make a body for Eva II.

You quickly whip together some more Snake Oil for her and Zigzag quickly falls into an drug-fueled slumber.

Now that she's out of the way for now, you need to settle your next problem. You've made a homunculus soul, of that you have no doubt. But a soul is useless on its own. It needs a body to be the barrier between the self and the world outside.

You're ...not sure how you can make a body with alchemy.

> Try to do it anyway.

> You happen to know a spot where there should be plenty of living bodies without minds.

> Ask Hiss for help.

> Kill an animal of some sort.

> Other (Specify)
>>
>>44034500
> Ask Hiss for help.
>>
>>44034500
> You happen to know a spot where there should be plenty of living bodies without minds.
guys I think Cennen might be evil, just in a completely different way than Hiss
>>
>>44034500
> Ask Hiss for help.

Mix Cennen's and Hiss's blood, a heal all, a regeneration brew, a potence brew, and a shapeshifter brew. Should make a body that's living and soul conductive.
>>
>>44034500
> You happen to know a spot where there should be plenty of living bodies without minds.
>>
>>44034575
>Mix Cennen and Hiss' blood
>Use it as a base for a body

... So your plan for our homhom is for it to literally be their artificial child?
>>
>>44034575
I doubt that would work and even if it did do you really wanna make some kind of abomination baby?
>>
>>44034500
> You happen to know a spot where there should be plenty of living bodies without minds.
>>
>>44034555
Science has no moral!
>>
>>44034607
It's our first try and we can refine the design afterwards.

>>44034601
I'm working under the theory it'd take male and female blood to make a proper body. If we're using Cennen's why not?
>>
>>44034500
> You happen to know a spot where there should be plenty of living bodies without minds.
It's too late to stop now. We've already crossed the line.
>>
>>44034500
>> Ask Hiss for help.
>>
>>44034500
> Maybe a Healing master alchemist could help us
>>
>>44034500
>Ask hiss for help.

>Kick open Hiss' door.
>Hold potion aloft.
>"I HAVE PERFORMED ALCHEMY!"
>>
>>44034555
>>44034587
>>44034612
>>44034641
Those bodies are likely already dead, eaten or rotten, possibly all 3. They're subpar, also Cennen REALLY doesn't want to see that.
>>
>>44034674
When a soul is taken from a body, it stays alive but in a vegetative state.
>>
>>44034500

> Ask Hiss for help.

but probably not the insane child idea
>>
>>44034687
and? Snakes get hungry(eaten), leave them to expire(dead) and out in the elements where other things can eat the bodies alive (rot)
>>
>>44034500
>>44034575
>>44034634
Ill vote for this and
> Ask Hiss for help.
>>
>>44034695
Assuming that they're all dead and decaying before we check personally is stupid.
>>
>>44034674
>>44034641
Yeah, let's NOT cross that line. Even though they're already dead and it saves us a lot of time.
Not letting go of your principles in favor of convenience is what NOT being completely evil is all about
>>
>>44034723
Making a human body through alchemy is impossible. It's either this or we have a snake suck the soul out of something else.
>>
>>44034738
> Making a human body through alchemy is impossible
Just like making a soul, right?
Ingrid is a master in healing alchemy, maybe she can help us
>>
>>44034738
>Making a human body through alchemy is impossible.

see
>>44032432
You remember your Master's old books telling you about Tolemy, the Father of all alchemy in Old Khepri. Among his many mythical feats were the tales of his Homunculi, living creatures that had been given life through alchemy.
You're still far from his level, you've used the power of many magical creatures instead of just your own Art. But the result is the same.
You've created your very own Homonculus.


He made a body somehow
>>
>>44034768
Healing has nothing to do with making an entirely new soulless body. Plus Ingrid isn't insane or amoral enough to help with this.
>>
>>44034784
It's impossible for us.
>>
>>44034789
It is a good starting point, and we're not insane...
Right?
>>
>>44034810
So was making a new fresh soul. WAS.
>>
>>44034838
We have a soul specialty and several other related brews that we've spent months making. We have zero experience in brews that create living bodies. It's not gonna happen. Using a preexisting body without a soul just makes sense.
>>
> Ask Hiss for help.

You probably should get Hiss' opinion on this, she's the current expert on putting souls into things. You're honestly not sure how to insert a soul into anything.

You stumble out the door and into the light of a full moon. The village is dark and mostly empty, the only light coming from behind the large wooden fence in the middle of the village. You have your suspicions about that place and avoid it as best you can.

You find Hiss still inside the chieftain's hall, lying atop the table in front of the fire. She looks to be asleep but only lightly because her eyes open the moment you step inside.
"Cennen? Have you finished the Serpentbanes?"
She sounds extremely tired.

You shove Eva II's bottle in her face, causing her to scramble back with her fangs out.
"What is that? And where have you been?"

You tell her about your creation of homunculus soul and Hiss quickly grows excited.
"Cennen do you realize what this means?"

"Yes, it's life! And it might be pos-"

"Give it to me, let me eat it!"

"What? Why?"

"I can spit it back out into a corpse, it'll be fantastic!"

> That sounds good.

> "Actually I was thinking of making a new body."

> "You sound really tired."

> Give her the Serpentbanes you made.

> Other
>>
>>44034836
its pretty clear we are insane, just hopefully we can manage to edge out amorality somehow
>>
>>44034859
> That sounds good.
new body is not possible for us. I don't even understand your issue with using a preexisting body anyway.
>>
>>44034859
> "Actually I was thinking of making a new body."
Dealing with you know what.
> "You sound really tired."
>>
>>44034859
>Actually I was thinking of making a new body.
>You sound really tired.
>>
>>44034859
> That sounds good.
>>
>>44034859
>> "Actually I was thinking of making a new body."
You know, to help with God Hiss.
> "You sound really tired."
>>
>>44034859
>> "You sound really tired."
and anyway that's not what i designed this for.
>>
>>44034859
> That sounds good.
>>
>>44034859
> "You sound really tired."
> "Actually I was thinking of making a new body."
>>
>>44034859
> That sounds good.
> "You sound really tired."
>>
>>44034859
> That sounds good.
> "You sound really tired."
>>
>>44034869
Why, because of this? We're expanding on our field of study
>>
>>44034877
>>44034881
>>44034887
>>44034906
This soul will decay before we have the ability to make a new body. what's the harm of using a corpse this time and then researching how to make a new body for the next one?
>>
Calling for
>That sounds good
>"You sound really tired."
>>
>>44034947
well more like, this situation is a situation any sane person would have fled ages ago.

I very much approve of expanding the field of study though

It'll be interesting to see if corpses retain their memories but also ethically pretty iffy. I guess that's the least of our worries ethically though.
>>
>>44034859
Wait does she mean an actual corpse or a living body without a soul?
>>
>>44035041
corpse obviously, would make a wonderful servant for her.
>>
>>44035041
Yeah, shit. This is an important distinction. I'm gonna get real butthurt if she makes our badass homunculus into just another zombie.
>>
>>44035056
I'm not asking you, extreme anti-hiss bias anon.
>>
>>44035058
Yeah it would just decay if she did that. Not cool.
>>
>That sounds good
>"You sound really tired."

Is it right to use a corpse like this? Do you have any real other option? In the end you decide that this is no real sin. The call of knowledge is tempting and you cannot help but indulge.
"That sounds good. You sound really tired, by the way."

"Do I?"
Hiss slides off the table, brushing herself down. You're so used to having her use her shapeshifting to remain in perfect elegance that it's rather strange to see her in a state of disarray. Her hair is even messy, that almost never happens!
Her eyebrow twitches and a sudden anger begins to seep into her tone as if you had reminded her of something.
"It could be that I was DOING MY JOB! I've rebranded and sworn in Oster and as many former branded I could, my power has been sapped almost dry."

"Why?"

"Because I had to send Oster away," Hiss snaps at you. "Because the first of the vanguard have already been sent on their mission."

"But I haven't given you the Serpentbanes yet!"

"Trust me Cennen, I am well aware of that. But unfortunately the world does not stop moving because you refuse to do your duty and instead spend your days making things like this. I suppose you have failed Snakehome but really it was my failure for assuming you could be trusted with such an important task."

"Uh..."

"Come on, let's go get the damn body."
She slams the door open and stalks out, you following her just a few paces behind.
"You're in luck, we happen to currently possess an abundance of corpses."

She leads you back into the village, back towards the high wooden fence. She doesn't pause when she reaches it, pushing the latch of the gate back and entering. You follow, albeit with some hesitation.

The Pit stinks.

1/2
>>
>>44035058
hopefully we want to produce more of this stuff anyway
>>
>>44035079
oh look corpses
Oh look she means what she says
Oh look bias apparently means believing and listening to someone now.
>>
>>44035143
soulless living bodies have been referred to as corpses in this quest before anon. no need to get all salty.
>>
You're not sure which detail hits your eyes first. The dwindling rows of captured villagers, some tied up, others left tranced. Orange, standing above them with quill in hand, sorting out numbers and assigning different humans to different snakes. The snakes themselves, a small collection in human shapes waiting near the side for their names to be called. There's not many of them, you suppose most have already been fed.

Orange pulls the next villager forward, scans his list and then calls out a name you don't quite hear. A snake in male human form responds, wrestling the villager forward towards the lip of the large pit in which they normally keep eggs and hatchling snakes.
It's full of soulless bodies, a mass grave for those who haven't even died yet.

The snake takes the soul before you can do anything, letting the villager's body fall neatly into the pit to join the rest. Orange then motions them aside and starts searching down his lest for the next.

The humans who aren't tranced look on dully, long used to this sight. How long have they been in here watching the slow extinction of their gathered communities? At least a full day.

Hiss casually gestures at the mass grave, still looking a little grumpy but somewhat energized by your reaction.
"What kind of corpse do you want? The ones that still breathe or the ones that don't?"

> Breathing corpse.

> A real corpse.

> What the fuck

> Other
>>
>>44035209
> Breathing corpse.
> What the fuck
>>
>>44035209

> Breathing corpse.
> What the fuck
resist blowing up at hiss, but it is a shocking thing to encounter even if you know its going on.
>>
>>44035209
> Breathing corpse.
Hiss really needs to keep us informed about what's going on if she wants us to contribute.
>>
>>44035209
>> Breathing corpse.
> What the fuck
>>
>>44035209
> What the fuck
> What the fuck
> No
>>
>>44035209
> Breathing corpse
>>
>>44035209
> Breathing corpse.
> What the fuck
How many villagers are there?
>>
>>44035209
>Breathing corpse
>What the fuck

>Other
It's not like we didn't expect this, but seeing it in person is still... We'd really like to never come here again.
>>
>>44035209
> What the fuck
> "You know what? Since you've had such a long day, why don't you sit this one out?"
>>
>>44035209
> Breathing corpse.
At least we're taking this opportunity to create one new life.
>>
>the soul is named EVA 2
should've just named her asuka instead
>>
File: HissInThreadSeventyTwo.jpg (211 KB, 1436x2417)
211 KB
211 KB JPG
Alright, calling it for
>Breathing corpse
>What the fuck
>>
>>44035345
fuck i didn't even notice
>>
>>44035365
999hoursinpaint.jpg
>>
>>44035345
Hopefully Asuka won't be eaten by snakes...
>>
>>44035391
seemed like that was half the point of designing the things though.
>>
>>44035345
Nah technically it should be her mom's name that I don't feel like looking up right now.
>>
>>44035411
Kyoko.
>>
>Breathing corpse
>What the fuck

You just stare at the scene wide-eyed, not sure of what to do or say. Hiss looks a little confused by your reaction.
"What? What did you think was going to happen to all the prisoners? I told you they were for eating."

"Yes...but like this?"

"What, organized? I came up with the idea of rounding them all up like this to save time but it's still really slow. Desouling is a pretty time-consuming process I guess, no matter how you cut it."
You just stare at her until she snaps her fingers.
"Oh I get it, you're freaked out by all the bodies. It's a little unsightly, true. But it's better to have them all in one place for easier re-animation later."

You step forward past the fence, not looking at the living captives. What must they think of humans like you?

Orange notices you and waves.
"Hey Cennen! I was worried about you, you weren't coming out! Good to see you're doing fine. Scaley, it's your turn to have a human."

"I'll take a breathing corpse thanks," you say weakly. The stench is making you sick.

"That's probably the best one," Hiss says, looking through the bodies. "I prefer the really dead ones myself but I think it's just preference. Any of the ones on top should still be breathing, only the bottom layers should have suffocated by now."

Oh fuck, they're all just going to lie there until they choke on the bodies thrown on top of them? You do your best to stay composed while Hiss grabs one of the fresher bodies.
"This one's a girl and she's not bad looking, that's always been your style right Cennen? Right Cennen? Okay, maybe you should go outside for a bit I'll handle the rest."

You walk back outside and slump against the fence nursing Eva II's bottle until Hiss walks back out, a young woman barely into adulthood carried over her shoulder. She frowns when she sees your expression.
"Oh Cennen, it's alright. We're not going to do this to everyone, the vanguard just need all the souls they can get."

1/2
>>
>>44035522
She drops the woman on the ground in front of you like a sack of potatoes.
"Now just give me the bottle, I'll drink that homo-whatever of yours right up and I'll spit it into this body."

> Give her Eva II

> Ask for a different body.

> Flee

> Nobble

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other
>>
>>44035548
>> Give her Eva II
no doubt this is the part where it all goes horribly awry
>>
>>44035548
> Give her Eva II


>Try not to get ill, fail.
>>
>>44035548
> Give her Eva II
>>
>>44035548
Oh god, what the fuck. Can we just fuck off back to the hut with the body and do it ourselves? We'll even trade it for our (her?) Serpentbanes?
>>
>>44035548
> Flee, you fool
>>
>>44035548
> Give her Eva II
Too late to turn back now lads
>>
>>44035548
> Give her Eva II
inb4 godhiss
>>
>>44035548
> Give her Eva II
Third Impact time.
>>
>>44035564
nah we're fine. we don't like it but we've already seen some fucked up shit in the past.
>>
Calling for
>Give her Eva II

In lieu of a snek pic, did you know that snake unboxing videos exist?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFUSEG7s1fE
>>
>>44035653
Weird. I've actually been thinking about getting a pet snake recently.
>>
File: Spoiler Image (23 KB, 800x535)
23 KB
23 KB JPG
>>44035653
How about a picture of the future royal heir?
He looks just like aunty Aash!
>>
>Give her Eva II

You feel like you might be ill but you fight it back. Hiss is right, you knew this was happening. Better to face it rather than ignore it. You give Eva II to her.

Hiss uncorks the bottle and gives it a long sniff before drinking the whole thing. She laughs a little afterwards.
"That's a bit of a lively one! Not much substance. What's their name?"

"Eva. Eva the second."

Hiss smiles.
"When you think about it, it's a soul you've created with a body I provided and birthed into the world by me. It's like a child only I probably won't have to eat it later."

"If Eva II's our child she's also Zigzag's since it was her blood used to make her."

Hiss screws her face up and doesn't say anything more, bending over the fallen corpse, her mouth distending as she coughs up something intangible directly into the corpse.

The woman sits up, strands of blonde hair flicking down over her eyes. Her skin is paling even as you watch her, growing whiter and paler until it's nearly transparent. You can see all of her veins and arteries, the barely visible movement of muscles beneath. When she looks up, her eyes are open wider than the human eyelid should be capable of, perfect circles that are pitch black without iris or pupil.

Paper-thin lips speak, revealing dissolving teeth.
Where am I?

You can't understand it at all. Hiss just laughs, her earlier ire gone.
"Congratulations Cennen, you're a father!"
>>
>>44035785
haha... what have we done guys
>>
>>44035785
Oh god!
Yay?
>>
File: EYE.jpg (4 KB, 114x125)
4 KB
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>>44035718
Hiss has been cheating on Cennen with Aashenpreet? That's...actually possible with shapeshifting.

>>44035785
And that's that for tonight! The thread's been archived, check the twitter etc etc.
I DO intend to run tomorrow, it might be a bit different than usual however.

I hope you guys had fun.
>>
>>44035809
Alchemy of course!
>>
>>44035819
Thanks for running Ouro.
Good thread, only thing I'll say is
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
>>
>>44035785
Oh you're cute!

...And maybe soon to be some manner of ghost.
>>
>>44035819
thanks for running

>>a bit different than usual however.
oh dear, what could that mean
>>
>>44035785
>dissolving teeth

The fuck?
>>
>>44035856
Maybe Oster or Vanguard POV?
or homunculus abomination POV
>>
>>44035819
Thanks for running! Kind of a strange thread, but it was really fun.
>>
>>44035870
Oster would probably fall within the realm of the norm.
maybe some of the secrets of the universe will be laid bare
>>
>>44035856
Find out tomorrow, spooky ghost noises etc.

>>44035866
Introducing such an alchemically charged soul to an empty body induces some changes, anon.
>>
>>44035939
Maybe we should have given the body a regen brew first... Now I'm really curious about what other brews we can include in the soul creation process since we could have used a wordtheft.
>>
>>44035939
Like teeth melting. I certainly hope they come back in one form or another. If we accidentalied a vampire I don't know if I would be happy or not.

Also question! Has our reliance on high powered ingredients made it so our Art is weaker than a typical Master?

>>44035961
Good thinking
>>
>>44035961
There's a numerous amount of potions that you can employ in both the soul creation and the embodying stages. It's too late for that with Eva II right now though, you'll have to live with her.

Current Eva II Ingredients:
-Zigzag's blood and Art
-Cennen's Art.
-Soul Guise
-Mindbalm to fill in the Guise.
-Thoughtbrew to excite the Mindbalm.
-Soulless but still living corpse

Just think of all the cool things you can throw into Eva III!

>>44035975
>Has our reliance on high powered ingredients made it so our Art is weaker than a typical Master?
Not at all, Cennen's Art is strong.
>>
>>44036034
How strong?
>>
>>44036034
hm. next one could be put into a nonliving body if we could make a proper one. we'd just have to use soulguard and maybe that soul regeneration brew that we didn't take the chance to learn.
>>
>>44036034
Oh the things we can do! Also thanks for answering my question about our Art. Glad that we are still good as any other alchemist if we are bereft of our preferred ingredients, aside from our repertoire being pretty specialized.
>>
>>44036075
use those brews in the soul creation process of course
>>
>>44036034
Honestly, the only thing I care about is. Can we nobble it?
>>
>>44036096
Nope but I'm pretty sure we could make a brew that makes the next one a snake just like how our treekin brew makes us technically a plant
>>
>>44036034
Perfect Eva list
Empress Hiss blood and Art
Cennen Art
Soul Guise
Mind balm
Thought brew
Word theft
Soul guard
Made to order Alchemic body with
Empress blood and art
Cennen art
Potence
Regeneration
Heal all
Shapeshifter potion
Anti magic
Restoration
Soul grasp
Ko brew


>>44036110
There was a combo brew with Biss we coulda used for that.
>>
>>44036041
>>44036084
Cennen has a nice strong Art, that's my in-universe justification for his extreme learning voracity.
He is somewhat limited however in that his Revelation REQUIRES snake blood for everything.

>>44036096
You can nobble anything but it isn't a snake so you won't be able to compel a wishbond out of it.

>>44036110
A brew that turned people into tiny snakes was actually a rejected option in a experiment vote a few times. I really need to collect all of those.
>>
>>44036121
>Turn them into snakes
>Nobble them
>????
>Profit!

Ladies and gentlemen, the path of Snakecatcher Quest has become clear, just as the line between snake and not-snake begins to blur.

You know what you must do.
>>
>>44036121
oh shit we could totally clone people if we use the shapestealer with it. maybe even copy their memories too.
>>
>>44036121
The first alchemist managed to get his hands on a snake didn't he? Hence his longevity.
>>
>>44036135
IDK, if his Art was retard strong it seems like he could have just brute forced things; e.g. not needing either fire or water to brew with.
>>
First chance next thread we've got to use a wordtheft brew to understand her language and fill our mind with eldritch knowledge. She shouldn't know any language at all but she does somehow.
>>
Idea: since our Revelation alchemy requires snek blood, we need to whip up a brew that makes us partially snek, similar to how we are part plant so we will always have the necessary reagents.
>>
>>44036284
That would be nice but then we'd be vulnerable to wishbonds as well.
>>
>>44036293
Would be pretty ironic actually.
>>
>>44036293
Well we have wish bond negating potions so there is some insurance. Could also provide some opportunities like how Hiss can go Snake Empress. A benevolent wish might be able to super charge our alchemy for example. That is assuming that the wish thing is based on physical characteristics and not the soul a snake has.

The whole thing requires investigation.



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