>>44136286
You spend the rest of the night teaching your homunculus how to manufacture Serpentbane brews, something they pick up remarkably quickly. Is it already a Master? Your creation is already at a similar level to you within a day of being created. You can’t help but feel a little jealous. Zigzag attends nearby, ousted from her position as your assistant not long after being press-ganged into it. She’s wishbound to help Eva now and remains useful as a belligerent reagent source and test subject. You never got her opinion on the matter, her voice stolen so that Eva may speak.
Dawn’s light is peeking into the window before you finally collapse, drifting back to sleep while your tireless homunculus continues to brew.

Time passes, as it is wont to do.

You remain isolated from the rest of the village, your time mostly occupied with your experiments. Orange stops by a day or so later with a request for Serpentbanes and you load him up with so many that he has to make multiple trips. Looks like the second wave of the vanguard will be well-equipped.

But while Eva produced the potions to pay the Serpent Queen’s tithe, what were you doing?

>Working on a second homunculus.

>Working on Caster brews.

>Experimenting with reagents.

>Helping Eva in her task.

>Working to improve or mix existing potions.

>Brewing a bunch of potions you already know.

>Working on your backlog, going back and making the potions you had the option to invent before but never had the time.

>Other

>>44136304
>Helping Eva in her task.
>Working to improve or mix existing potions.
A potion that copies a language instead of stealing it.

>>44136304
>Working on a second homunculus.

>>44136304
>Working on Caster brews.

>>44136304
>Other
> Go outside and talk to someone so we might regain some of our lost sanity and remember what sunlight was like

>>44136304
>Working on a second homunculus.
Changing my vote because a tie of this level is ridiculous

>>44136304
>>Working on a second homunculus.

File: poke.gif (969 KB, 250x160)

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Calling it for working on a second homunculus.

>>44136304
>Experimenting with reagents.

>Working on a second homunculus

Well aside from a few worrying revelations, Eva II turned out fine right? You see no reason why you shouldn't make more of them as soon as humanly possible.
Alright, she still creeps you out but she's your weird potion-daughter all the same. And think of how many brews you'll be able to produce with another!

You get to work, stopping only to remix another Wordtheft the moment you notice Eva lapsing back into nonsense. Zigzag seems to be getting used to being unable to communicate and is just lying in the corner watching Eva. Maybe you'll cook up some Snake Oil for her later if she behaves.

And in time, the Soulbirth brew is nearly ready. If you let it be, it should generate a soul similar to Eva II. But you could also use this time to experiment.

>Just finish the brew as it is.

>Add some special ingredients (Specify)

>Other

>>44136797
>Add some special ingredients (Specify)
Spiritbane
Soul grasp
Soul guard
Anti spirit homunculus would be tight.

>>44136866
This. What could possibly go wrong? Let's used word theft on some random snake who has other souls to compensate too though.

>>44136866
>>44136797
Wordtheft too, Dethaw brew?

>>44136866
uh.. sure lets try it.

>>44136797
i'd be curious to see what something like a heal all might do

>>44136925
We should probably do the word theft thing with Eva too so zigzag can talk again

>>44136797
What about snake oil? Make it a snake charmer one

>Spiritbane
>Soulgrasp
>Soulguard

Eva stops her brewing to watch as you mix the concoction together, the perfect recipe for an anti-spirit homunculus. You just might need it and even if you don't, it should be able to brew and help you all the same.

But what would you name this one?

>Eva III

>Cennen Junior

>Three

>Experiment

>Blot

>Hiss Junior

>Zigzag Junior

>Hom

>Ouroboros

>Other (Specify)

And just what body are you going to use?

>Keep it in the bottle for now.

>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.

>Back to the Pit.

>Other (Specify)

>>44137276
>>Hom

>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.
>Ask Eva if she ahs any idea on making a body with Art.

>>44137276
>Ouroboros
>Back to the Pit.

>>44137276
>Hom
>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.

>>44137276
>Hom
>Back to the Pit.

>>44137276
>Hom
>Back to the Pit.
>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.

>>44137276
>>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.
fuck the pit

>>44137276
>>Hom
>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.

Pit bad

>Hom
>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.

You think about going back to the Pit and seeing if there are any more bodies left but....no. Taking one soulless victim for Eva II was enough, you'll settle the body issue for further homunculi yourself.
And besides, you need to look into making alchemical bodies anyway so that you can unleash the inner Hiss onto an unsuspecting world.

So until you crack that problem, Hom is going to be staying in his bottle. You let Eva hold him for a while, just a foetal stain suspended in liquid. For now Hom sees nothing and knows nothing and all is as it should be.

It was around then that Eva loaded Orange up with all the Serpentbanes he could possibly ask for, buying you some more time to spend inside your dark hut brewing and experimenting.

>Time to experiment on growing bodies.

>Help Eva.

>Should probably make a Wordtheft alternative so that Zigzag can speak again.

>Work on your Caster brews.

>MORE HOMUNCULI

>Work on your experimental backlog.

>Mix some potions up.

>Restock your inventory.

>Go outside.

>Other

>>44137276
>You need to start working on a way to find artificial bodies.

>Junior

>>44137773
>Should probably make a Wordtheft alternative so that Zigzag can speak again.
then
>>Time to experiment on growing bodies.
Eva shall be my assistant

>>44137773
>Should probably make a Wordtheft alternative so that Zigzag can speak again

>>44137773
>Should probably make a Wordtheft alternative so that Zigzag can speak again.

Have Eva chill on Serpent bane so she can assist us and have her
>Restock your inventory.

>>44137773
>Should probably make a Wordtheft alternative so that Zigzag can speak again.

>>44137773
>Should probably make a Wordtheft alternative so that Zigzag can speak again.
Give her a oil immediately after for the irony.
>>Time to experiment on growing bodies.

>>44137773
>Time to experiment on growing bodies.

>Should probably make a Wordtheft alternative so that Zigzag can speak again.

You should probably give Zigzag a little help, she's starting to look grouchy. You spend a few hours working on an alternative to Wordtheft until you finally find your answer thanks to a mixture with the Shapestealer brew.

For lack of a better name, you call it the Speech Elixir. It works much like the Wordtheft but it doesn't steal language, merely share it. There may be some side-effects where the one borrowing the language begins to look just a little similar to the one being taken from but that's probably not a problem.

And with this brew, Zigzag can finally speak again. She is not happy.
"How did you take my words?"

"A potion."

"You all keep taking my hair and my skin and my spit. I'm leaving."

Zigzag is a mess. For some reason she hasn't changed back to her original form since the battle with Old Bart and she shows it. She's completely filthy, covered in grass stains and bloodstains and dust and dirt. She stinks and she's trying to leave.

>Good riddance. You'll find another way to get reagents.

>Offer her Snake Oil.

>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of.

>"But how are you going to watch over Eva if you leave?"

>Tell her that she really needs a bath or something.

>Make a wish (Specify)

>"What, no gratitude?"

>Other

>>44138312
>Offer her Snake Oil.
>"But how are you going to watch over Eva if you leave?"
>Tell her that she really needs a bath or something.

>>44138312
>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of.
>Tell her that she really needs a bath or something.
>Wish she understood the world as a human does.

>>44138312
>Offer her Snake Oil.
>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of.

>>44138312
>>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of.
>offer her some form of payment and if snake oil is the preference that's ok.
>be polite

>>44138312
>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of.
>Apologize
>Tempt her to stay by offering her potence brews and soulsight brews whenever she wants

>>44138312
>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of.

>>44138312
>Offer her Snake Oil.

>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of

>>44138506
Woops, meant to include
>Offer her Snake Oil.
too

File: 1389347223407.jpg (24 KB, 301x267)

24 KB JPG

>>44138312

>>44138457
>>44138506

Supporting. Bullying autism snake is not okay.

>>44138312
>Ask her about her shapeshifting or lack there of.
>Tell her that she really needs a bath or something.
>APOLOGIZE

>>44138457
>>44138506
>>44138631
>Offering weakness to a predator

>>44138686
> Kindness = weakness

>>44138717
Too a snake with no human morals or concept of the former? Darn tootin.

>>44138686
>wanting Eva and Hom to grow up in a broken home

>Offer her Snake Oil and others.
>Ask her about her shapeshifting or her lack thereof.
>Tell her she really needs a bath or something.
>Apologize

You call her back before she can leave.
"Look, I'm sorry about your recent treatment alright?"

She stares at you blankly. You get the feeling that apologies mean generally nothing to her.

Since she says nothing, you're left to continue the conversation on your own.
"But why aren't you shapeshifting back to your normal form? I don't want to sound insulting but you stink, you've been in that for days."

"I keep trying to but I don't want to."

"What do you mean?"

"This body gets hungrier way quicker than my normal one. So every time I try to change back I just think about how much more gunk and other things I can eat with this one and I stop."

"Gunk? You want more Snake Oil? I can give you more Oil if you stay. And other potions as well."

Her blank expression briefly vanishes, replaced by a raw look of need.
"I want the gunk. I'll stay for the gunk."

You're not sure how to feel about her growing dependence on the Oil but for now your more concerned about how she's stinking up what is already a very pungent hut.
"If you're going to stay here and you're not going to shapeshift, you'll need to take a bath or something. And wash your clothes."

"I don't know what that is."

"If you don't you won't get any more Oil."

"I'll do it."

"Well you can't do it here regardless, all we have is a cauldron. You can't use that."


>Tell how her to do it and then direct her to the nearby stream.

>You should probably go with her to help.

>Send Eva II to help her.

>Actually can she use the cauldron?

>"It's fine for now, we'll do something about it later."

>Make a wish (Specify)

>Other

>>44138824
>You should probably go with her to help.
She might drown if we don't go and Eva might alchemize the river.

>>44138824
>>You should probably go with her to help.
>Send Eva II to help her.
We should wash Eva and teach her too.

>>44138824
>Tell how her to do it and then direct her to the nearby stream.

>>44138731
She's at our mercy, even without the wishbond

>>44138824
>Actually can she use the cauldron?

>>44138824
>Tell how her to do it and then direct her to the nearby stream.
>You should probably go with her to help.
How long has it been since WE took a bath?

>>44138912
Not gonna lie, you've been cooped up in your alchemy hole for days on end.

>>44138824
>Send Eva II to help her.
Zigzag is not for lewds

>>44138951
Since she also has to wash her clothes, I was thinkning we'd just hurl her into the river and stay there to make sure she doesn't drown

>>44138824
>You should probably go with her to help.
>Send Eva II to help her.

>>44138824
>>Send Eva II to help her.
this is assuming eva knows how to help.

if we go there's like a 90% chance hiss will see it and get the wrong idea (ok probably not but you never know)

>You should probably go with her to help.
>Send Eva II to help her.

"I guess I'll come give you some help, you don't really look you're getting the concept. Actually you too Eva, it's time to put the cauldron down for a while."
Actually, when was the last time you bathed? You've been cooped up in the dark for a long time.

You and Eva II accompany Zigzag through the village towards the stream. You can't help but notice a few of Hiss' walking corpses around the place. Looks like the Pit might be getting emptied.

The Bunyip isn't at the stream when you arrive, he must have wandered off somewhere else. You're not that worried. He can take good care of himself.

"So what do I d-"
You pick Zigzag up by her suspenders and throw her into the river.
"Get yourself clean, it'll be fine."

You and Eva II could both stand to have a wash as well. You let Eva stay behind with Zigzag to help her while you walk upstream until you're around the bend.
Once you know you're safely out of sight you disrobe and take to the water, sucking in your breath as you adjust to the cold.

While it might be tempting to stick around in the same spot you're absolutely a one-woman man. Hiss would kill you if it turned out otherwise. Possibly literally.
You settle for just thinking about it instead, something that doesn't hurt anyone. After all, she might be short but that doesn't mean Zigzag's human body isn't developed. Quite the opposite actually.

You're several minutes into your bath when you become suddenly aware that you have a visitor. It's Orange, the redhead sitting on top of a rock.
"Are you busy?"

"What the fuck are you doing?"
You cover yourself as best you can.

Orange scoffs at your reaction.
"I think you prescribe an interest in the human anatomy that I do not possess. I'm here on the Queen's orders."

Hiss?
"What does she want?"

"She's very happy with the Serpentbanes you've been supplying and she wants to thank you personally. It's not a request."

1/2

>>44139349

>You suppose you should go.

>It can wait for a while, you have to finish washing first.

>Just go back to your hut when you're done, if she wants to see you she can come herself.

>Ask Orange what they've been doing lately, you're a little out of the loop.

>"Why do you still wear a dress?"

>Other

>>44139382
>Ask Orange what they've been doing lately, you're a little out of the loop.
>"Why do you still wear a dress?"
>It can wait for a while, you have to finish washing first.

File: nomating.jpg (66 KB, 460x547)

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>>44139382
>You suppose you should go.
Don't want to end like pic related
>Ask Orange what they've been doing lately, you're a little out of the loop.
>"Why do you still wear a dress?"

>>44139382
>You suppose you should go.

>>44139382
>It can wait for a while, you have to finish washing first.
>Ask Orange what they've been doing lately, you're a little out of the loop.

>>44139382
>Ask Orange what they've been doing lately, you're a little out of the loop.
>You suppose you should go.

>>44139487
>>44139603
>>44139625
You realize this is just going to Reinforce we're beneath Hiss and her pet right?

>>44139382
>>It can wait for a while, you have to finish washing first.
she won't want me to smell awful just let me finish up.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

So asking what's up is locked in but whether you go immediately or stay a little while is a tie. Evens the former odds the latter.

>>44139724
>inb4 hiss sends us away because we stink after several insults.

Sorry about all these slow updates guys.

>Ask Orange what they've been doing lately, you're a little out of the loop.
>You suppose you should go.

"Yeah, I'll go talk to her. Don't worry about it."
You trudge out of the water and start putting your clothes back on.
"What's been happening with you anyway? I've been a little out of the loop."

"I've been keeping myself busy, still trying to manage all Her Majesty's paperwork. I finished processing the humans in the Pit, that's all been taken care of. I've just been collecting tithes like yours and assigning everyone the roles the Queen has given them."

"And how's that working out for you?"

Orange looks a little perturbed.
"It's...fine. Still not as enjoyable as the census was but I'm still trying."

"And how's the plan going along?"

"Quite well! Several waves of the vanguard have been sent and we've gotten back reports from the first wave already, they were all successful. We're going to start exporting snakes en masse to the surrounding towns tomorrow, I'm already organizing it all. Her Majesty is predicting hooks to be fully sunk within Melire within the week."

"Good to hear."
Is it?

You follow Orange back to the chieftain's hall, finding it empty of human servants and Hiss' usual serpent court. It's just Hiss standing there, looking over what looks to be a pile of Orange's reports and messages from the vanguard.
"I'm bus-oh, Cennen! Right on time. It's good to know that you still come when you're called."

"Hi Hiss. You wanted to talk about the Serpentbanes?"

"Absolutely," she purrs. "I know I spoke badly of you a few days ago but your potion output recently has been fantastic. And uh..."
She wrinkles her nose.
"You stink. But that's to be expected, I suppose. Anyway yes, your brewing has been fantastic."

"Thanks. It means a lot to me."

"Yes...Uh, you know that you can stop by here anytime right? I'm not mad anymore."

"Yeah, I know."

"Right."
Hiss taps her foot.
1/2

>>44139893
"You can take your clothes off now, I don't have my meeting with the the Fourth Infiltration Squad for ten more minutes."

>Comply

>"How romantic."

>"Can't you cancel the meeting?"

>"Actually I have brewing I need to do."

>Nobble

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>44139943
>"Can't you cancel the meeting?"
>Nobble
lightly as a joke
>"Actually I have brewing I need to do."
>Go finish washing up.

>>44139943
>Comply
>"How romantic."
I know you're busy but we need to schedule more time together. We used to never be apart while traveling and now we hardly see each other.

>>44139943
>"How romantic."

>"Actually I have brewing I need to do."

>>44139943
>"How romantic."
>"Actually I have brewing I need to do."
>Besides I need to finish washing up and make sure neither Eva hasn't drown in her first bath, or tried to turn the river into a giant potion.

>>44140006
This. I miss Hiss.

>>44139943
>Comply

>>44140006
>>44140046
>>44140065
And thus Cennen becomes a dick on demand for Hiss. Really now?

>>44139943
>>44140006
This

>She's trying to conquer the world
>He is toying with powers man was not meant to have
>Can they make it work between them?

>>44139943
>>"How romantic."
you won't enjoy it if its just a chore, lets make plans or something

>>44139943
>Comply
>"How romantic."
>"Can't you postpone the meeting?"

>>44140090
that makes me wonder..
is there a wizard of life?
a wizard of souls, or death even?
thoughts of soul wizardry scare me

>>44139943
>>44140108
i guess ill add
>"Can't you postpone the meeting?"
I like that you're taking this seriously, but you'll go nuts if you don't have any time to yourself

>>44140154
also, did we ever ask anyone about wizard souls? cuz that shit we saw inside of eugene was fucked man

>>44140077
We're trying to make our interactions be more than booty calls and mission reports, how is that being a dick?

>>44140177
Because you're giving in instead of actually trying to do something about it.

>>44140207
>I know you're busy but we need to schedule more time together. We used to never be apart while traveling and now we hardly see each other.
Yup not doing anything about it at all

>>44140234
Then proceeds to do it anyways instead of actually working on it with her telling her it's perfectly fine.

>Comply
>"How romantic."

You sigh and start working at your belt buckle.
"How romantic. Hiss I know you're busy but we need to schedule more time together. We used to never be apart when we were traveling but now we never see each other."

Hiss doesn't look particularly happy either.
"I know, don't you think I miss you too? But I don't think you realize just how much work and management something like this NEEDS and besides, you've dedicated your life to doing weird things in your little alchemy hovel lately so it's not like you've been trying to make time for this."

"I just miss you, that's all. Life used to be a lot more simple."

Hiss reaches out and grabs you by the collar of your shirt, pulling you over to her and taking it off of you in one smooth motion.
"It's not forever. When we're in a better spot, when I'm charge, there'll be time enough for us both then alright? But for now..."

She pulls you to the floor, not even taking it to the bedroom.
"It's been fucking days holy shit and I need this a lot more than you do."

You let it happen and boy does it ever. And once again you run into a problem that's been around ever since Hiss ate Dhinapreet and absorbed her skills. She can ride you into unconsciousness at a whim and feels no qualms about doing so.
At least it feels fantastic.

...

You wake up in the bedroom, your clothes and your pack by the bed. The sun is going down, ready to sink below the horizon for good.

You can hear Hiss in the other room, talking to more servants, holding more meetings. You doubt she's slept at all.

Pinned to your pack is a little note. You unfold it, revealing Hiss' handwriting. Or what you can only assume is her handwriting, she's better at it than nearly any human alive.
It reads 'Cennen, please exit via the window when you wake. Do NOT come back into the main room. Love you.'

Extremely romantic. You suppose she doesn't want her serpent followers to see more of her predilections than they have to.

1/2

>>44140259
They're not mutually exclusive, we could opt for
>"Can't you cancel the meeting?"
but that would probably stress her out, so I opted to just raise the issue so we may talk about it later.
In the meantime, tho, since they're both pretty stressed out from their work, there's no reason not to vent some of it during lunch break

>>44140259
i think the ouro can read the general mood of the room to realize that cennan's goal in the scene is not to fulfill blind obligation.

Sometimes the choice of action isn't perfect on the part of the playerbase but i doubt the general intention will be ignored.

>>44140360
You have to admit, that peeves you a little.

>Leave via the window.

>Get dressed and walk back out the front door as if nothing was wrong.

>Don't get dressed, wander back into the main room and ask Hiss how she's doing.

>Groan loudly.

>Stay here and wait until she's alone again.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>44140433
>Get dressed and walk back out the front door as if nothing was wrong.

>>44140433
>Leave via the window.
Let's not waste time. We need to find Eva and Zigzag.

>>44140433
>>Groan loudly.
ah man, Hiss is too scared to take the risks necessary to make a functional human-snake society.

This is going to be difficult.

>>44140433
>Leave via the window.
we really need to make that body. I'm anxious to see how our anti spirit homunculus turned out

>>44140433
>Groan loudly.

>>44140433
>Leave via the window.

>>44140433
>Leave via the window.
>Leave her a short note "Love you too. Will make more time to see you soon."

>>44140433
>Leave via the window.

>>44140433
>Stay here and wait until she's alone again.
Distribute waiting time between thinking possible ways to create a body for Hom and practicing sexy welcoming poses

>Leave via the window.

You suppose you'll honor her request this time but you don't like it. Is Hiss ashamed of you? You hope not but what else can you say?

You get dressed and before you hop out the window, scrawl over her note with one of your own.
'Love you too, I'll find a way to have more time to see you soon.'

You put your pack on and leap out the window, closing it behind you. From there it doesn't take long to find your way back to your hut. Eva II and Zigzag are already there, Zigzag looking both clean and very uncomfortable.

"Give me the gunk."

"How did your bath go?"

"Give me the gunk."

>Give her the gunk.

>Teach Eva how to brew the Snake Oil.

>"Not unless you're polite." You have to train manners into her at some point right?

>Ignore her, start brewing.

>Make a wish (Specify)

>Other

>>44140774
>>"Not unless you're polite." You have to train manners into her at some point right?

>>44140774
>Teach Eva how to brew the Snake Oil.
>"Not unless you're polite." You have to train manners into her at some point right?

>>44140774
>>"Not unless you're polite." You have to train manners into her at some point right?
>Teach Eva how to brew the Snake Oil.

>>44140774
>>Give her the gunk.
on the one hand, i don't like supporting this habbit, on the other hand she deserves payment of some kind and I'm not sure what else would really be of value to her.

>>44140774
>Teach Eva how to brew the Snake Oil.
>"Not unless you're polite." You have to train manners into her at some point right?
Surely this will go well

>>44140774
>Teach Eva how to brew the Snake Oil.
>"Not unless you're polite." You have to train manners into her at some point right?

>>44140774
>"NO"
>Start brewing

First censusing, now gunk, we are unleashing some terrible vices upon the snake comunity.
>inb4 Aash becomes obsessed with woodcarving

>>44140774
>Give her the gunk.

>Teach Eva how to brew the Snake Oil.
>"Not unless you're polite." You have to train manners into her at some point right?

"You'll get nothing unless you're polite," you say and you watch her face fall.

"How do you be polite?"
She really wants the Oil.

You spend roughly ten minutes going over the words 'please' and 'thank you' along with a few others. She doesn't understand it but it looks like she's willing to blindly follow it.
"May I please have the gunk?"

"Yes. Yes you can."
You let Eva help you brew the Snake Oil this time, showing her how its done.

"So this is the brew you control her with?"

"There's no need for that, Eva. She's wishbound so she can't do anything to you anyway. I just want you to be able to brew it so I don't have to."

"Understood. That does seem to be my purpose in life."

You give Zigzag the oil and she drinks it down quickly, fading away into a blissful sleep. While she's like that you pull out some of her hair and swab inside of her mouth for to stock back up on reagents.

> Instruct Eva on different brews (Specify)

> Get to work on trying to make a body.

> Make a third homunculi.

> Experiment.

> Other (Specify)

>>44140982
>> Get to work on trying to make a body.
and then everything can go wrong

>>44140982
> Get to work on trying to make a body.
> I've given you a purpose for now, it can take years till you figure out your own purpose.

>>44140982
> Get to work on trying to make a body.
I still think we should just use a corpse

>>44140982
>> Get to work on trying to make a body.

>>44140982
>> Get to work on trying to make a body.
>Eva your purpose is up to you, I just taught you alchemy because you seemed to enjoy it. If you wish to try something else tell me and i'll work on it.

>>44140982
> Get to work on trying to make a body.
Hey Eva, do you want to help me to create your brother's body or do you want to learn some other brews? Let's give her a choice.

>>44141022
but corpses are human, and weak. imagine the shit we could build into a golem? nigga you know you want badass soul golems

>>44140982
> Get to work on trying to make a body.
Should be similar to how we made the soul, take some living tissue as a template and work on expanding it (greater healing will serve as a base here). The main issue is getting it to be self reliable and giving it complexity and organization. We don't want to end with just an amorfous blob of flesh, blood and bone that's still alive and human

This is going to end horribly and we should be stopped

>>44141096
If it's not a living body the soul will just deteriorate though.

I love how this has gone from Hiss' fuccboi quest to Mad Scientist Quest.

>>44140982
> Get to work on trying to make a body.
You'll be a big sister soon, you'll have to be responsible for your younger siblings and help me look after them. Is there anything else you want to do?

>>44141130
nigga thats what alchemy is for, we're not making a doll, you dingus. we're making a proper vessel! this is some Frankenstein shit bruh

So the shape stealer brew kinda extrapolates a physical body directly from the other drinkers soul, maybe we can modify that to grow a body that matches Hom's soul using info from his own soul.

>>44141265
That... actually makes sense. It would probably make Hom an eldritch horror-tier body though.

> Get to work on trying to make a body.

You better get started on this sooner rather than later since it's probably going to take some time to get down. But where do you even begin?

You beckon Eva II over and have her help you run through your potion supply. Just what would be best for this? You have powerful healing potions, that might be able to start growing something together. You have potions that make plants grow and potions based around regeneration and physical strength that might help you get a foothold upon the secrets of the flesh.
But you have to admit that this isn't your speciality right now so there's no sudden rush of inspiration or ideas. Just a lot of hard work and experimentation.

But you will have a body for Hom, it's only a matter of time.
Time and procedure.

>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.

>Find some dead organic matter and start experimenting with healing potions to try and make it grow.

>Flesh is overrated. Your work with Treebrews and other related potions will give you what you want.

>Try to use soul link mechanics to make a copy of an already existing body.

>The shapeshifting brew is your best bet to find the secrets to making a body.

>Implant Hom into Eva and then split the growth off for independent growing.

>As above but with Zigzag instead.

>As above but with yourself instead.

>Other (Specify)

>>44141322
>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.

>>44141265
do you think it would ever be possible to make a backup body for ourselves? or like, a backup soul?
could we imprint our memories on a soul, Speech Elixer style, and then keep a little backup Cennen, Smash Against Nearest Breathing Corpse in Case of Emergency?

>>44141322
>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.

>>44141322
>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.
>Flesh is overrated. Your work with Treebrews and other related potions will give you what you want.
Here goes semi dryaadd

>>44141322
>>Flesh is overrated. Your work with Treebrews and other related potions will give you what you want.

>>44141322
>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.
This might get a little spooky.

>>44141322
>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.

Go eldritch projection! Say goodbye to the rest of our sanity

>>44141322
>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.
Should give it the ideal body for whatever skills it has. Hopefully it's not too creepy looking.

>>44141358
Probably. We'd be an abomination too though.

>Instead of making the body separately, see if you can try and grow it around Hom's potion with some experimentation upon the Shapestealer.

You spend almost a day meddling with the idea of making a separate body before scrapping that idea for now and moving onto something new. You've been treating poor Hom like he's something to be added or implanted after the body is finished but that's not true is it? He may not be sapient yet but the solution in that bottle IS him. Or her. Whatever.

From then on follows a long and painstaking process of constant experimentation. You spend every waking moment brewing and experimenting for new ways to embody Hom and sleep only when you absolutely have to.

Days pass with you barely noticing, Eva handling your Serpentbane duties admirably and keeping Zigzag dosed up on Oil without missing a beat.
Zigzag has, somewhat worryingly, developed a growing resistance to the Oil's effects. Instead of rendering her unconscious it now makes her sleepy and makes her spend her time giggling and being very silly.
Which is adorable and all but she's already started asking for larger doses.

Fortunately it has not been an impediment to harvesting her for reagents and you've been forced to threaten her Oil supply several times to make her rapidly transform back and forth so that you can gather up a large amount of shed snakeskin.
Recently you've let Eva handle her entirely and under her direction, Zigzag hasn't been sober for days.

And eventually, you crack the code. A new method of embodying homunculi, one that doesn't rely on corpses. The Soulshape Flask is finally a ready, a tiring potion that a soul can be suspended within. Once placed, the brew should quickly begin to solidify and accrete around the soul in the most suitable form possible.

It's finally ready. You uncork the bottle of Hom, your special anti-spirit homunculus and pour him into the Soulshape Flask.
1/2

>>44141668
You quickly step back, letting the potion pour itself onto the ground as puddle of quickly solidifying liquid flesh.
You can see Hom within it as a transparent core for just a moment before it dissolves, the homunculus and the Soulshape becoming one.

You watch as the liquid forms into a pillar, climbing higher and higher. Pseudolimbs begin to detach from the main column, the hollows for mouths and eyes open, potions hardening and softening and giving off an awful stench...

And then the whole thing collapses, falling back onto itself as a small pile of black sludge coated in half-functioning eyes and mouths, tiny arms and legs no longer than your pinky finger wriggling haphazardly from the edge of its inky membrane.
Your experimental potion was a failure but Hom is alive. Alive and virtually incapable of doing anything.

Help me

You try to pick him up but his semi-liquid form threatens to come apart in your hands so you leave him as a puddle.
Extracting Hom is probably impossible but he's not very useful like this.

Help me

"Sorry Hom. I'll do better with the next one."

Eva II looks distressed.

>Put Hom out of his misery.

>Keep Hom around.

>Feed Hom to Zigzag.

>Give Hom to Eva II.

>Other (Specify)

>>44141782
>Give Hom to Eva II.
Apologize to them both, we fucked up badly. Ask if either of them have ideas on how to help him.

>>44141782
Drink soulgrasp, give Hom a comforting touch while excreting some venom. When it dies take the soul and bottle him up again.

>>44141650
or maybe we could make a phylactery potion that like, sucked our soul down into a little bottle if we died, for ease of reconstitution, no soul backup needed

>>44141871
This. Building a body around the soul was a success. We just need to influence it to give it a solid humanoid body. Hopefully this method isn't just a dead end.

>>44141668
>>44141904
oh god, and we have the perfect thing to reconstitute into even, jesus christ i want it now

>>44141782
>Put Hom out of his misery.
>Keep Hom around.
We should be able to salvage his soul right?

>>44141930
maybe i should have finished reading before posting.
but still, SOON

>>44141782
can we save his poor little soul with a soulgrasp?

>>44141926
Maybe we could use the aspect of the shapeshifting brew that allows us to decide the form of whatever we give the brew to. Just give it a push in the right direction.

I bet his body would make a good reagent

Alright, votes called for trying to save Hom. In lieu of gifs, please accept this Homunculi pastebin.
http://pastebin.com/MqQVS7KS

>>44142003
The main problem is that it had no material to work with. The best it could do with those brews was creating a weird gel. We need to include something stronger to form his body.

>>44142102
Does this mean Hom has no anti-spirit qualities whatsoever?

>>44142105
Maybe if we combine it with our blood, so that it has a human "baseline" form to use? Or layers of skin, something something stem cells.

>>44142102
Poor Hom...

>Try to save Hom

This doesn't look good and you don't just mean in the way that Hom is now ugly as sin and repulsive to boot. What passes for his 'body' is mostly just a sack of gel containing a liquid center with what little organs he managed to grow contained within the thin gel layer. He's just about ready to come apart and you don't think he can move at all, the little limbs poking from his body don't even reach the ground.

Help me

But good news, you know for a fact that Hom is sapient and aware inside of there. So the theory behind the method is sound, you just need to do a little more work.
Eva II looks unhappy, you suppose it must be a rather discomforting sight for her.

"No worries, I'll fix this. Maybe."
You press your bare palm against Hom's side, cringing at the sensation. Absolutely disgusting. As you chug your Soulgrasp, your palm begins to weep the most lethal venom you can manage.
Hom absorbs it and dies almost instantly, shriveling up as if dehydrated. And then you clench your palm shut, ripping through his body and grabbing the soul.
You pull it free with a squelch and deposit Hom's soul back into his bottle.

It's different now, you know he's awoken. He's aware and intelligent within the bottle, an intangible and invisible presence.
You shake your head.
"Better luck next time."

>Dispose of Hom's soul. Damaged goods.

>Start to work on a new body immediately.

>You should probably clean up Hom's old body, it fucking stinks.

>Brew

>Other

>>44142102

>HOM
>...
>...
>...
>Known Recipes: Suffering

I lol'd

>>44142261
>Start to work on a new body immediately.
Apologize sincerely for our failure. Ask Eva to comfort him as his big sister and explain that we're close to perfecting his body. Then ask for her input on this next attempt.

>>44142261
>>Start to work on a new body immediately.
>The shapeshifting brew is your best bet to find the secrets to making a body.

>>44142173
Whoops, that was an error. Fixed

>>44142261
>>Start to work on a new body immediately.

Get someone else to clean up the body. Zigzag. Not Eva II

>>44142261
>>You should probably clean up Hom's old body, it fucking stinks.
shit smells bad enough already folks

>>44142261
>You need a drink

>>44142261
>You should probably clean up Hom's old body, it fucking stinks
Keep a bit in a bottle as a reagent
>Start to work on a new body immediately.

>>44142261
>Dispose of Hom's soul. Damaged goods.
inb4 he holds a grudge

>Start to work on a new body immediately.

You'll let Hom's old body sit there for now, you don't really want to touch it. Asking Eva to clean it might be a little insensitive and Zigzag is both drunk and liable to eat it.

No, the best thing you can do is find Hom a new body right away! You have to crack this secret, you have to find the right method. No matter how long it takes you!

Several hours into your newest experiment, you are roused by a knocking on the door. Someone is calling out, it's Orange.
"-ou in there? It's royal business!"

This is not the time for interruptions!

>Tell Eva to get the door.

>Ignore it.

>Answer the door.

>Throw Hom's body at Orange through the window.

>Say 'Go away' loudly and nothing else.

>Nobble Orange. You need more reagents.

>Other

>>44142471
>Ignore it.

>>44142471
Tell him to come in without stopping the brewing

>>44142471
>>Throw Hom's body at Orange through the window.

>>44142471
>>Throw Hom's body at Orange through the window.
Busy! I fucked up Making a body so I'm trying to make a good one,

>>44142471
>Answer the door.

Had we chosen mastery in destruction, our harder moral dilemma would be about making alchemical nukes for Hiss

>>44142471
>Say 'Go away' loudly and nothing else.

>interrupting Cennen's fell mood
You fucked up orange

>>44142471
>Ignore it.

>>44142471
>>Answer the door.

>>44142471
>Say 'Go away' loudly and nothing else.

We really need to work on making our own place.
Like with our tree brews, could we build/grow our own Morrowind-style tree house/fort? A random hut is a little beneath our current level of mad scientistness

Rolled 2 (1d4)

Looks like a tie between ignoring him, answering him like a proper human being, telling him to go away or going REEEEEEEE and throwing a pile of corpse sludge at him.

Rolling a d4 I guess, numbers assigned as they are presented here

>>44142699
We are on the path of becoming this world's first NEET.
Second, if we count Eugene

>>44142746
we're pretty gainfully employed, and at least somewhat educated so that label can't really apply.

>Answer the door

What the fuck does he think he's doing? Does he want more potions already? You're pretty sure Eva gave him a batch earlier today. Or was that yesterday?
Royal business or not, now is really not the time.

You stomp on over to the door and swing it open, towering over Orange.
"What?"

"Good morning Cennen," Orange says a little stiffly. He wrinkles his nose.
"What are you doing in there, it smells disgusting!"

"What do you want?"

"The Queen demands your presence. It is not a request."

"Can't it wait?"

"I've knocked twice already, you never hear me!"
Orange looks pretty pissed off himself. Do you see just the tip of a fang beginning to show?

>Go see what Hiss wants.

>"Tell her that I'm busy right now, I'll come later."

>Send Eva II to Hiss instead of you so you can work.

>Shut the door in his face.

>Nobble Orange.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>44142807
>Go see what Hiss wants.
Fuckkkkk

>>44142807
>>Nobble Orange.

> Go see what Hiss wants

Ask Eva to think about possible answers to the body issue while we're gone. She has a unique insight.

Anyways, it's not like we're at a critical juncture.

>>44142807
>Then you get to clean up The mess here.
>Go see what Hiss wants.

>>44142807
>Go see what Hiss wants.
Ask Eva to comfort Hom. Also tell her our ideas about why the soul shape failed and ask her try to think of how we might fix it.

>>44142891
This. Also wake Zigzag up.

>>44142807

>"Tell her that I'm busy right now, I'll come later."
>"How long has it been since you last saw me, back at the river?"

We are in no state, physical or mental, to deal with whatever Hiss wants

>>44142807
>Shut the door in his face.

>>44142807
>>Go see what Hiss wants.
shes not having an easy time i think

>>44142807
>Go see what Hiss wants

Didn't we just promise to try and make time to see her?

And then promptly lose track of all time and spend several days in a hut?

>>44143050

No, we complained about not seeing her like we used to.
>"How romantic. Hiss I know you're busy but we need to schedule more time together. We used to never be apart when we were traveling but now we never see each other."

>Go see what Hiss wants.

"I guess I better go see what she wants. Eva. tend to Hom while I'm gone alright?"

You follow Orange out, noting that the village seems much emptier today than usual. How many days was it since you last looked at it? You're not sure.

Hiss is alone in the chieftain's house, her face trapped in a look of disgust. She looks extremely tired.
"You stink!"

"Thanks," you grumble. You didn't really notice it but you probably have at least a dozen different alchemical scents clinging to you.
"What did you want me for?"

"And when was the last time you bathed exactly?"
Hiss sighs.
"I was afraid of this. It looks like you can't manage yourself if you're given free reign. Without me to give you guidance you just...decay. Do you even know what you look like right now?"

"I'm fine," you insist. Did she drag you up here just so she can insult you?

"Like hell you are. Luckily, I've found a job highly suitable for you. Our vanguard has made contact with a bank and mercantile association, Jefford and Sons, in Melire. They are willing to help finance our 'business' but they need someone to help liaison with them. Someone who can demonstrate our alchemical goods."

You don't reply, making Hiss look even more irritated.
"That's you, you moron. I've promised them alchemy they've never seen before and if you're good for anything it's that. And you REALLY need a way to get out of that festering hut of yours. So go travel down to Melire and do some talking, shake some hands. Oster will be there to help you. This is not a request."

>Agree

>Ask if she can come with you.

>"I'm busy right now, can't I handle this later?"

>"Isn't there someone else to send?"

>Leave.

>Nobble.

>Other

>>44143099
>>Agree
itll be good to get out

>>44143099
> "NO"
> Pass out from exhaustion
This madness has to stop

>>44143099
>Agree
We can brew on the road. And disguise Eva somehow?

>>44143099
>Agree

>>44143099
>>Agree
>> After I finish making a body for Hom

Tell her that we might have something to counter wizards, and we need to finish this first.

>>44143099
>>Agree
Need to Take Eva and Zigzag with.
Also will need gold and supplies.

>>44143189
She can't be disguised, there's something about her that disgusts/terrifies everyone

>>44143099
>>44143189
Agree, but we finish Hom and take him with us. We get Eva to stay behind with Hiss. We get Oster to look after Eva.

We might be able to make master alchemists, after all.

>>44143253
>We get Oster to look after Eva.
already on the mission sight

>>44143227
Hom counters spirits though. Not wizards.

Now, this is just some crazy thinking here, but... If we Nobbled Hiss... Wouldn't we prevent the war? I mean, I know we wanted Hiss to rule, but the war still seems pretty sketch.

>>44143359
their are some issue though. regardless of whether or not hiss could ever forgive it (and it is an interesting question because its not clear that she's really enjoying this empress business) the snakes are not going to stop just because they lose their leadership.

Unless you mean control her with wishes, which is unlikely to work for other reasons.

>>44143359
Nah man, it's not Hiss it's the other snakes that are all about this.

Besides, she makes pretty good points about just being another ruler.

I think we should learn from our experiments with homonculi to make better humans so that we can create our own power bloc within snakehome so that we will be able to deal with snakes.

>>44143427
well i think we can't doubt that Hiss is definitely about it, and we can be reasonably sure the more nuanced war crimes were her idea.

Plus, although this is OOC knowledge it looks like our little assassination is going to have bigger ramifications than we thought.

I still hope we can try and reconcile Hiss to actually trying to improve society and not just controlling it, but we're spinning a lot of fucking plates here.

>>44143486
True, but I feel that we're on the right track anyways to replace the duke with something grown with alchemy that will probably be even more effective. And mindless, maybe some sort of pet for Hiss.

Hey! We should check on our Bunyip.

>Agree

"Yeah I'll go."

"I mean just look at you, you're a mess! You need some moti-oh, you agreed? Excellent. But first, you're going to need some better clothes."

"What do you mean?"

"You look like shit, Cennen. And yet when you meet these people, you're going to have to look respectable. Luckily one of the vanguard sent back an appropriate outfit for a respected alchemist. So go wash yourself off and then put these on."
She tosses a bundle of clothes at you.

"Alright but first I have some ques-"

"Holy shit," Hiss groans, losing her patience. It looks like she's been through a lot lately.
"That's it. Do I have to do everything around here?"

She picks you bodily off the ground and starts pulling your clothes off. You struggle but she's invulnerable to your strikes and far stronger. It doesn't take her long to strip you and then carry you into a back room containing a wooden tub full of cold water and soap.
You try to say something but she just drops you in and holds your head beneath the water. For a moment you are somehow certain that she's going to drown you, that Hiss is finally going to kill you right here and now.

But no, she's just soaping your head with extreme force. From between gritted teeth you can hear her mutter.
"It's called a lather, Cennen. How is it that I know how to be a better human than you? Why is everyone but me so goddamn useless!"

She lets go and tosses the soap into your face.
"Handle the rest on your own. That's an order."

It is an order, one that makes you limbs jump to her command without asking you first. Hiss lets you be while you bathe, doing your best to clean yourself.
Five minutes in, Hiss knocks on the door hard enough to nearly knock it in.
"Are you done yet? Do I have to bathe you too?"

You get out and dry yourself off, dressing yourself in the clothes Hiss gave you. It's a well-made but simple tunic and a pair of expensive trousers with a long dark blue coat, the signifying color of a practicing alchemist.
1/2

>>44143551
Damn it Hiss, aren't you at all curious about WHY we've been going so hard with Alchemy? We aren't just dicking around here.

>>44143551
There's a blue armband as well, similar to ones you've worn before. Your worn out old boots are replaced with new ones, polished black and shiny.
You get dressed as quickly as possible and exit to find Hiss sitting back on her makeshift throne.
She looks very unhappy.
"Neat, you're done. You'll have to walk but you should be able to find better transport in the closest town. Now go."

She points to the door leading out and your feet begin to walk you out.

>Just go.

>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.

>Nobble

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>44143638

>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.

>>44143638
>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.

>>44143638
>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.
Tell her to hang in there.

>>44143638
>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.

I don't think we should have left Hiss to deal with all of this stuff on her own. She generally seems indomitable, but it seems like she's wearing thin under a different kind of stress than she's used to.

Not sure how we could have helped, but I think a mistake has been made, and we should work to fix it going forward.

>>44143638
>>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.

See if she needs us to get Eva to do anything while we're gone.

Also, you know that Zigzag is totally going to follow us, right?

>>44143638
Hug the stressed snek

>>44143638
>>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.
she's not going to like this, but we got to do something, this is spiraling into misery territory.

>Stay. Ask her if she's doing alright.

You force yourself to stay and before Hiss can re-issue the order, you've walked up to her and embraced her.
"What are you doing?"
She doesn't stop you.

"Are you doing alright, Hiss? You seem to be wearing thin."

"I'm fine," she groans. "We're just in a difficult period right now, a lot of things need my attention and my management. I have to do a lot of work and keep track of a lot of things and I don't sleep enough and I sure as hell don't get laid nearly enough."
You put a hand on her leg and she narrows her eyes.
"That was not an invitation. You have a job to do."

"Sorry."
You don't move your hand.

"I should really just spend more time in my normal form but argh! Being a human is so much more useful!"

"Maybe you should take some time of-"

"I can't," she interrupts you again."The moment I stop lending a guiding hand is the moment this all falls to pieces. It's too fragile right now. Later, alright? We can spend some time together later."

>Leave. She's doing her job, you should do yours.

>"Does it matter if all this falls apart?"

>Pet snake.

>Ask if you can borrow some people to take with you.

>Nobble

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>44143843
>Ask if you can borrow some people to take with you.
Tell her that we can help with non-alchemy things every once in a while too.

>>44143843
>Pet snake.
>"Does it matter if all this falls apart?"

Jesus christ just fucking cry already!

>>44143843
>Pet snake.
>Leave. She's doing her job, you should do yours.

Say
>"Does it matter if all this falls apart?"
As we're walking out the door. Not so much as a conversation, but just food for thought as we leave.

Also I think we should start penciling in plans for snake pampering. Like extremely hot baths and a massage. We did that some time back and it seemed to have a good effect?

>>44143843
>"Does it matter if all this falls apart?"
This obviously isn't making you happy, and even kings and queens need rest. You'll be able to pick up the pieces, but if you try to do it all on your own you WILL fail. The only reason I've been brewing so much is to try and get the Creator fragment out of you so you can rest easy.
>Pet snake.

>>44143843
>>44143936
this, she clearly needs it.

>>44143843
>>Pet snake.

But not sex. Just talking, get her to tell you in detail what her problems are. You aren't only good for alchemy, you're her lover and her confidant as well. Someone that's on her side all the time as you've shown by now.

We have good ideas sometimes, and a different perspective can always help.

Remember how we got Orange turned on to being a bureaucrat?

>>44143843
>Ask if you can borrow some people to take with you.
do you people really think belittling her dream is a good idea

>>44143843
>Pet snake.
>Ask if you can borrow some people to take with you.

>>44143981
...By nobbling and then frustratedly wishing them into becoming addicted to the feel of paperwork and sending them on to a spiral of productive misery as they try to recapture their wish-granted euphoria in menial day-to-day tasks?

...Come to think of it, are all the snakes in Snakehome just easily susceptible to addiction? We're two for two so far.

>>44143843
>Ask if you can borrow some people to take with you.

>>44144023
Or something. Hell, even if it's just giving her something to show her power.

Maybe we can use the Empress, show her that we've made homonculi and are getting closer to her body, but we need her to share some power with Hiss so that we can continue our work?

>Ask if you can borrow some people to take with you.

You want to say something or to help her forget her worries but in the end you decide that the best way you can comfort her right now is by doing your job.
"Thank you, Hiss. I needed this. Do you mind if I borrow some people?"

She smiles just a little.
"Take whoever you want. Census duties."
She kisses you on the forehead and then turns you around to face the door.
"Off you go then. Bring us glory."

You walk off but before you leave through the door, you pause for just a moment.
"Does it matter if this all falls apart?"
You don't look back or wait for an answer, shutting the door behind her. Something for her to think about, perhaps.

So here you are. Hiss has expanded your royal decree even further, allowing you to enlist anyone you want to your mission.

>Eva II

>Hom

>Zigzag

>Orange

>Aashenpreet

>Bunyip

>Ask Orange to select a snake for you.

>Other

>Go alone

>>44144241
>Eva II
>Hom
>Zigzag

>>44144241
>>Aashenpreet

>>44144241
>>Hom
>>Zigzag

>Ask Orange to select a snake for you.

>Bunyip

>Aashenpreet

>>44144241
>Eva II
>Hom
>Zigzag
>Aashenpreet
>Bunyip

>>44144241
>Aashenpreet
>Hom
We gotta give him a body before he deteriorates

>>44144241
>Eva II
>Hom
>Zigzag
>Aashenpreet

>>44144241
>>Aashenpreet
>>Bunyip
>Hom
>Zigzag

>>44144241
>Eva II
>Hom
>Zigzag
>Aashenpreet
We can disguise Eva and explain any abnormalities as alchemical accidents

>>44144241
If we leave Eva behind, can we get Oster to look after her so she doesn't just brew autistically/get in trouble with snakes?

>>44144453
Oster is in Melire.

>>44144453
Oster is in the vanguard anon, he isn't here. He's in Melire.

>>44144453
Oster isn't here right now and besides, you taught Eva a very useful brew for if she gets in trouble with snakes.

Anyway, calling it for
>Hom
>Zigzag
>Aashenpreet

>>44144529
Aight, can we get Orange to look after Eva?

I feel like he's doing alright so far. Also, we can tell him that if he fucks around, Hiss will give the order but Zigzag will be the one who enforces it. And that we'll teach her how to eat other snakes.

On the other hand, if he does a good job we will help him find something that feels as good as the census did.

>>44144529
It's not killing them or drugging them I'm worried about, it's them trying to eat her soul or something to control her.

>>44144529
Can we tell her to be careful around snakes and stay with Hiss if possible?

>>44144627
> Staying with Hiss

Honestly, that's probably the riskiest option. Aash would be better.

>Hom
>Zigzag
>Aashenpreet

Let's see...you have to take Hom with you, you might be able to get him a body during your journey. You also have to take Zigzag, she has a wishbond with you. You don't NEED to take Eva however, in fact she can keep manufacturing Serpentbanes for Hiss.
So who else would you take?

You need someone you can trust, someone dependable. Hiss can't come with you so that leaves Aashenpreet. Certain ideological differences aside, you always know where you stand with her. It also helps that you think she's just a genuinely nice person and you don't know enough of them anymore.
You hope Rock is alright.

You find Aashenpreet relaxing in her serpent form underneath a tree. What snakes are left seem to be avoiding her.
She sheds her skin as you approach, the top of her head brushing against the top of the tree.
"Cennen! I haven't seen you for ages!"

You squint up at her.
"Do you want to come with me on an adventure? I have to talk to some people in a nearby city."

"Absolutely!"

"Oh and uh, you'll need to be human sized. And Teln, the Quedeshi look is gonna make you stand out."
You still haven't told her that the common Quedeshi fashion of baring the midriff that she regularly employs is considered rather indecent here. She'd probably take it the wrong way.

Aashenpreet pouts and then dissolves back into a giant snake, one that only lasts a minute before compacting itself into a single six-foot body. It's her Teln form, someone who you still don't quite recognize as her. She looks a little uncomfortable.
"It feels so strange to be so...compact after so long. I can't expect a human or a small snake to understand but it feels good to just unwind. Being as small as you is a really tight fit."

"Well Teleran doesn't take kindly to giants or snakes right now so for now you'll have to settle for walking among us midgets a little bit longer."

Aashenpreet laughs.
"It's fine, it really is. Are we ready to go?"

1/2

>>44144713
Aash is joining us.

>>44144731
Right. right. That was why I picked Orange earlier, duh.

>>44144724
"Nearly. I have to go talk to Eva first."

"Who?"

You lead Aashenpreet back to your hut, the constrictor making a face at the smell. When you knock at the door, Eva answers.
"Creator?"

"I'm going to be going away for a little while. Just stay in here and handle yourself, alright? If anything bad happens just let Orange take care of you. He's trustworthy."

Eva nods while Aashenpreet gently grabs onto your shoulder and then not so gently pulls you away from the homunculus.

"Cennen, what is that?"

"That's Eva."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing, it's just how she looks. Surely you've seen worse at the shrines."

Aashenpreet sounds a little offended at your reference to the herself and the rest of the holy deformed.
"It's not her appearance. There's something wrong with her. She makes me feel sick."

"Sorry," Eva says.

"You don't have to apologize. And Aash, it's fine. A long story."
You grab Hom's bottle and pick up Zigzag from where she'd been reclining.

"Oh! What's wrong with her?"

"Again, long story. She'll be right."
Zigzag giggles and grabs onto your chest before you let her go.
"Just walk after us, alright? She's a little drunk right now but it'll wear off."

Well that's everyone. Are you ready to depart?

>Yes.

>No, there's something else I want to do first (Specify)

>>44144853
>Cennen! I haven't seen you in so long!
>What the fuck is wrong with her?
>What the fuck is wrong with HER?
>Cennen I'm not sure I approve of anyone else entering huts with you alone.

Poor Aash. You are the only good person left in the midst of mad scientists, drug addicts, and Things Which Should Not Be.

>>44144853
>No, there's something else I want to do first (Specify)
Tell Orange about his new duties, Grab our Bunyip.

>>44144853
Let Orange know about Eva.

Grab Bunyip. He'll probably follow us anyways so we might as well make him discreet.

Hug Eva and tell her that we'll miss her, and that she should try to take some time for herself and learn about this world when she isn't making Snakebanes.

Memories of fucking up our kid in HQR. I'd like our little abomination to like us if not love us.

You make a quick detour to find Orange and tell him to take care of Eva, a task that you are not sure he has any experience in whatsoever.
On your way back you stop by the hut again and this time you hug Eva, doing your best not to wince at how her nigh-transparent skin feels.
"I'll miss you. And uh, try to take some time off and learn about yourself and the world alright? I know I'm pretty bad role-model for this since all I do is brew but that's actually not a good way to live."

"I don't understand what you mean by that."

"Well just try. Maybe it'll be fun."

And with that, the three of you are off. Snakehome is leaking into the world and you're coming along with it. And if it all goes according to plan, maybe soon one day it'll just be you and Hiss again. You'd like that.

>>44144853
>>No, there's something else I want to do first (Specify)
at least make sure the bunyip is ok before leaving, if we don't take it which i still think we should.

>>44145192
Alright, I think that's that for tonight, thread archived. I hope you guys all had fun. I'm busy tomorrow and probably the day after but there'll be another thread soon, check the twitter etc etc.

Maybe an interlude in a bit, maybe not.

>>44145220
thanks for running

>>44145220
Fun times! I wish we could spend more time with Hiss. When we get back we really have to have a talk with her about how the snakes view us.

Like I said earlier, hopefully we can pick up on how to make ourselves better permanently by making a body for Hom. Git Gud and be a power the snakes can't talk shit to.

>>44145220
Thanks for running!