>>45364244
You wake up with a start and a muffled gasp, brief images of a half-forgotten dream flashing before your eyes. You can’t remember it but you can recall flashes. Black basalt stone, the silhouette of an Ishmin soldier in the doorway lit from behind by a flash of lightning, warm sticky blood puddling on the floor. Hiss is there and her hands are red. She’s holding her lower belly and the red of her tunic is stained with a deeper shade.
You don’t remember what happened next.

You’re lying naked in bed and the sun is peeking through the window. It’s already quite high in the sky so you’ve slept uncommonly long. Lying beside you is the reason for that. Hiss yawns, stirred by your sudden movement, then goes back to sleep.
You remember last night quite vividly. It had been...eventful. Your clothes and hers are scattered around the room with your pack lying discarded in the corner.

You hadn’t talked as much as you would have liked.

You don’t recognize the room you’re in exactly but you’d wager that you’re in master bedroom out behind the inn, where the innkeeper and his wife used to live out of. You’d managed to ask Hiss about what had happened to those two before she got impatient and she had simply shrugged and implied that they were ‘around somewhere’. She probably did something dreadful to them.


>Get dressed and see how everyone else is doing.

>Start brewing.

>Wake Hiss up.

>You should probably leave via the window, you remember Hiss not wanting her subjects to know about her liaisons with you.

>Nobble

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>45364256
>>Start brewing.
Restock some of the shit we spent, Shapeshifter, potence, regen, etc.

>>45364256
Start reading Moldruns notes or a book. We've got a lot of reading to do.

>>45364256
Well, that's spooky
>Wake Hiss up.

>>45364320
This. Let's start with the notes though.
Cennen has seen some shit. I hope he has a nice non-ptsd dream sometime.

>>45364256
Snuggle with the snek waifu for a bit before we do anything else

>Read

There's no need to really get up just yet, is there? This is too damn comfortable. And when Hiss wakes up she'll probably have something else to do. Being Queen is a full-time job apparently.
You ease yourself out of bed just long enough to grab your pack before lying back down. You put an arm around Hiss and she doesn't even try to bite you in her sleep, instead cuddling closer.

You pull a book out of your pack and settle down for a nice read.

>Beginning Master's Primer

>Moldrun's Notes.

>The Workings of Human Anatomy

>Pet snake instead

>>45364623
>Beginning Master's Primer

>>45364623
>Beginning Master's Primer

>Pet her head lovingly as we read.

>>45364623
>Moldrun's Notes.

>>45364623
>Pet snake
>Beginning Master's Primer
I want to know what this one is about, then we should read the one on anatomy. Having a basic idea of it will help make better sense of Moldrun's notes

>>45364623
>The Workings of Human Anatomy
absentmindedly pet the snake at the same time

I'm curious about Moldrun's notes but it seems more appropriate to read them by flickering candlelight in a windowless alchemy lab instead of in bed with a lover

>Beginning Master's Primer

You absent-mindedly pet Hiss on the head as you read, making sure not to wake her up. She probably deserves a rest. And besides, considering how warm she is, her waking up would probably put you back to sleep.

The Beginning Master's Primer is an excellent book and it explains its principles clearly and without unnecessary complexity. It also contains a number of basic Master-tier recipes to help new Masters form a solid alchemical base before they go experimenting further.
You already know quite a few of the ones in here but there are some that are new to you.

>Panacea: Cures nearly all diseases and afflictions. Suppresses what it can't cure and eases the pain of anyone who drinks it.

>Forget-Me-Not: Drinking this causes the imbiber to forget all of the events of the past day.

>Alchemist's Bane: A potion that when drunk protects the imbiber from the effects of alchemical concoctions for the next few hours. If an alchemist drinks it their Art is dulled and brewing becomes difficult for the duration.

>Champion's Elixir: Drinking this renders your skin like steel, able to shrug off and deflect blades and other such blows. Also dulls pain to nothing at the cost of all that pain coming back once the brew wears off after several hours.

>>45365089
>>Champion's Elixir: Drinking this renders your skin like steel, able to shrug off and deflect blades and other such blows. Also dulls pain to nothing at the cost of all that pain coming back once the brew wears off after several hours.

This might save our ass

>>45365089
>Champion's Elixir: Drinking this renders your skin like steel, able to shrug off and deflect blades and other such blows. Also dulls pain to nothing at the cost of all that pain coming back once the brew wears off after several hours.
rad

>>45365089
>Champion's Elixir: Drinking this renders your skin like steel, able to shrug off and deflect blades and other such blows. Also dulls pain to nothing at the cost of all that pain coming back once the brew wears off after several hours.

>>45365089
>Forget-Me-Not: Drinking this causes the imbiber to forget all of the events of the past day.
This one might be soul-related somehow since memories and souls are so closely linked

>>45365089
>Alchemist's Bane: A potion that when drunk protects the imbiber from the effects of alchemical concoctions for the next few hours. If an alchemist drinks it their Art is dulled and brewing becomes difficult for the duration.
I wanna modify this one to improve the strength of our Art instead.

>>45365089
>Alchemist's Bane: A potion that when drunk protects the imbiber from the effects of alchemical concoctions for the next few hours. If an alchemist drinks it their Art is dulled and brewing becomes difficult for the duration.

Champion elixir is alright, but in the very likely event that Hiss' takeover of Teleran escalates to a full blown war we should have a way to counter other alchemists.

>>45365237
We have nothing that increases our defense yet though. Champion should be the first priority.

>>45365237
We do dispels and that ward potion.

>Champion's Elixir: Drinking this renders your skin like steel, able to shrug off and deflect blades and other such blows. Also dulls pain to nothing at the cost of all that pain coming back once the brew wears off after several hours.

The Champion's Elixir is probably the most immediately useful brew, you decide. Not just for yourself but for others! Oster would love this thing. Not to mention all of the experimentation possibilities this presents! You could use this as a base for a lot of self-improvement brews.

After you finish reading you sneak back out of bed and squat down on the floor beside your pack as you prepare your cauldron. You still have some pretty high-quality reagents left so this shouldn't take too long.

After half an hour or so you perfect the process and create your first Champion's Elixir. It's a reddish-brown concoction filled with jumping sparks of Art.

Hiss is still asleep and now your cauldron is all set up so why not continue brewing?

>Start working on a brew from the Primer (Specify)

>Try to make Hom a new body.

>Study Moldrun's notes.

>Read through the Anatomy book.

>Restock your supplies.

>Experiment.

>Wake Hiss up, she might be missing out on important duties.

>Other

>>45365326
>>Study Moldrun's notes.

>>45365326
>Restock your supplies.

>>45365326
>>Restock your supplies.

>>45365326
>Wake Hiss up, she might be missing out on important duties.

>>45365326
>>Restock your supplies.
When we're done
>Wake Hiss up, she might be missing out on important duties.

Potion idea
Potence+Regen+Heal All+Panacea+Champion

>>45365237
Any alchemist worth their salt will already have a bunch of brews saved up which means the alchemist's bane isn't really a good countermeasure

>>45365326
>Start working on a brew from the Primer (Specify)
Panacea

>>45365326
>Restock your supplies
Also can we get a good haircut? i don't like being a hobo alchemist.

>>45365419
>Regen+Heal All+Panacea
This would be nice. Champion makes regen useless though. And potence wouldn't really mix well with the healing brews.

>>45365423
It gives protection against alchemy as well

>>45365494
Probably not from things like fires, explosion, and acid brews though. I imagine it only defends against ingested brews but correct me if I'm wrong here Ouro.

>>45365484
It's a "Turn an average man into a indestructible war machine" brew, couple it with permanence and a few anti-magics and you have a snake without the megalomania.

I voted to restock now but we should really make some more caster brews soon.

>>45365523
Right I'm just thinking mixing all those together into one brew would have strange effects

>Restock your supplies

You've been running a bit low on brews lately so it's probably worth your time to restock as best you can.

>Select ten potions from those you already know how to make. You can select one option multiple times.

>In addition, choose whether or not you'll be slotting anything into the five free slots left on your bandoleer

>>45365677
soulsight- in bandoleer
heal-all x3- 1 in bandoleer
spiritbane- in bandoleer
regen- in bandoleer
knockout brew- in bandoleer
ignition elixir x2
soulguise

>>45365780
This

>>45365780
This works for me. It'd be easier if we had some idea of what Cennen is gonna be doing next.

>>45365780
We already have 2 ignitions and there is no Spirit bane brew

>>45365677
soulsight- in bandoleer
heal-all x3- 1 in bandoleer
regen- in bandoleer
Potence
Soul guise
Knockout brew
Shapeshifter
Mage theft

File: excited snek.webm (1.87 MB, 720x1280)

1.87 MB WEBM

Oh shit it's back and we aren't irreversibly mad with snake powers

>>45365891
>-Spiritbane: A special antimagic acid that dissolves a spirit's manifested body.

Also I'd like to have more than two shots available if we have to use the caster

>>45365917
why have we not made any ammunition brews yet? we can do so much better than just glass shrapnel.

>>45365917
Well we lack the ammo to use anything really dangerous with it, 2 ought to be more than enough. Glass shrapnel is fucking useless.

>>45365915
Fortunately.
Not so fortunately, we still have to tell Hiss about Elle and her friends. That'll surely put her in a good mood

>>45365979
I'd rather not be put on a list for discussing the benefits of glass shrapnel but it is seriously fucking dangerous

>>45366006
Against your average human maybe. Anyone with armor, natural or otherwise WILL laugh it off.

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>>45365986
It was kind of a stressful time to take a short break, we have a lot to answer for right now.

>>45365780
You stock up as best you can, filling your bandoleer in the process. You don't really know just what you're going to be doing soon so you figure it's best to prepare for everything.

Doing all of this takes the better part of another hour and by the end of it Hiss finally wakes up. She yawns and stretches languidly.
"Best sleep in weeks. I'm gl-what are you doing?"

"Just a little bit of light brewing," you say, surrounded by bottles of various shapes and sizes.

"You're so romantic, Cennen."
She yawns again and then looks out the window.
"Fuck!"

She dissolves back into her snake form just a moment before fattening and splitting her skin back to human again. She's now fully dressed and completely composed and tidy as she slides out of bed.
"Why didn't you wake me earlier?"

"Good morning to you too honey."

She sighs at your words and picks you up from where you had been sitting in the floor and hugs you.
"It's always a good morning when you're around Cennen. But I really do have a lot to do."

"Can't it wait?"

She blinks.
"And just what do you have in mind?"

>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.

>Give her Bart's soul.

>Pet snake.

>Show her your new brew.

>"Just what do you have to do right now anyway?"

>Other

>>45366038
>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.
We really should've mentioned this yesterday

>>45366038
>Give her Bart's soul.
>Pet snake.
then
>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.

>>45366038
>"Just what do you have to do right now anyway?"
>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.
>Remind her of the potential benefit of listening to dissenting opinions before imparting righteous judgement

>>45366038
>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.
>Give her Bart's soul.

>>45366107
What were her dissenting opinions? That she's bossy some snakes didn't like that she was fucking us? Hardly worth listening to.

>>45366038
>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.
What should we do? Execute her to send a message or use her to help us track down the rest of the traitors?

>>45366162
She's vastly too young for an enterprise of this magnitude. She killed the old King. She conscripts us without heed or concern for our opinions. She's a disgusting deviant who mates with humans and forces us into human bodies. And besides all that, I just personally find her to be a whiny insecure bitch on a power-trip who has no respect for anyone.
Yeah I don't recommend letting her listen to these opinions

>>45366162
She had concerns about Hiss' pans and the changes she's making. Even if Elle is wrong, Hiss should know that her actions are alienating some of her subjects.

>>45366273
Well that's obvious if there's a conspiracy against her isn't it?

>>45366038
>>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.

>Tell her about Elle and the conspiracy.

"There's something I meant to tell you last night but you...weren't exactly listening. You remember Ellessander, don't you?"

She doesn't look too pleased.
"The name rings a bell. Member of the vanguard, a bit lippy. Wait, she was supposed to be here in Melire with you! What happened?"

"She's a traitor, Hiss. There's a conspiracy of snakes working against you. She tried to trick me, wanted to use me against you."

Hiss freezes.
"And where is she now?"

"Don't worry, she didn't get anything important. I saw through her and nobbled her before she could do anything."

Hiss relaxes again and grins just a little.
"Damn you really can't help yourself can you? Still, that's part of why I keep you around. Where is she now?"

"Still here in one of the rooms. She wouldn't leave me."

"Nice. I'm going to fucking destroy her. Just stay here, will you?"
She opens the door and steps out of the room only to stick her head back in a moment later.
"Put some clothes on too, come on Cennen."

>Do as she says and stay put.

>Get dressed and follow her.

>Plead in Elle's favor.

>Tell her about Elle's grievances.

>Other

>>45366489
>Get dressed and follow her.
>Tell her about Elle's grievances.

>>45366489
>Get dressed and follow her.
>Plead in Elle's favor.
She's already destroyed.

>>45366489
>Get dressed and follow her.
>She's effectively neutralized, She was holding Aash hostage so I slipped her a certain potion that makes her loyal to me. Also she's under wishbond too.
>Tell her about Elle's grievances
The changing too fast, the not listening to anyone bits, the rest is kinda bleh.

>>45366489
>Get dressed and follow her.
>Tell her about Elle's grievances.
>Should also tell her about the love potion in advance

>>45366489
>Tell her about Elle's grievances.
>Get dressed and follow her.
I used a love potion on her during an emergency so I could probably even make her hunt down the rest of the traitors if I asked her to.

>>45366489
>>Tell her about Elle's grievances.
also had a little explanatory note for what she might find in elle's memory

>>45366597
Haha shit I forgot about when we let her cuddle us when we were going mad with power for a bit

>>45365915
Poor snake, someone put it on a frictionless surface!

Calling for getting dressed and following her as well as telling her about Elle's grievances and the love potion shenanigans.

>>45366720
Gonna have to explain really fast for the love potion part

>Get dressed and follow her
>Tell her about Elle's circumstances.

"Hiss, wait! Just hold on a moment."
You throw on your clothes as quick as you can and join Hiss outside in the empty corridor outside.

Hiss raises an eyebrow.
"I was going to bring her back to you. You don't have to come. Walk with me."

She starts walking and you're more or less forced to follow her if you want to keep talking.
"Before you kill Elle or eat her, there's a few things you should know. In the process of subduing her I may have uh, used a certain potion."

"Well don't stop there. What potion? Why are you so nervous about it?"

"It may have been a love potion. And by 'may', I mean it was absolutely a love potion."
Hiss stops but she doesn't say anything. You keep on talking in a desperate attempt to explain yourself.
"It was the best chance to subdue her at the time, there was a hostage. We didn't actually-"

Hiss holds a finger to your lips.
"Sssh, Cennen, it's alright. You didn't actually screw her or anything, right?"

"Of course not."

"Then it's fine. Amusing even. I might have some fun with this."

You're not sure what Hiss means by 'fun' and you don't know whether you want to find out.
"But ah, Hiss. You know this conspiracy didn't come out of the blue. She told me her concerns and told me what the rest of her people were worried about and I think you should know."
Hiss doesn't reply so you take that as permission.
"She says you're way too young to be doing something like this. They don't like the way you killed your father. She doesn't like the conscription. She also considers you to be a 'disgusting deviant'."
You decide not to bring up Elle's personal issues with Hiss just yet.

Hiss simply nods and keeps walking.
"That's a fair list. What do you think about them, Cennen?"

"Pardon?"

"Do you think any of them are valid? Do you agree with her?"

Oh shit.
1/2

>>45367033
Well we certainly think she's a disgusting deviant, but we rather like that.

>>45367033

>"Of course not."

>"Absolutely not." You've genuinely come to terms with what Hiss has been doing.

>"It might be worth considering a few of them." (Specify)

>"This is all happening too soon."

>"Why are we doing any of this?"

>"Not personally but I think it's worth keeping in mind lest you alienate more subjects."

>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."

>"Hiss, I love you but you absolutely should not be in charge of anything."

>Other

>>45367070
>>"Not personally but I think it's worth keeping in mind lest you alienate more subjects."
>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."

>>45367070
>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."
>"It might be worth considering a few of them." (Conscription, it might be better to leave some snakes to simply wallow. I mean, just look at Zigzag)

>>45367033
>"Not personally but I think it's worth keeping in mind lest you alienate more subjects."
>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."

>>45367070
>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."
>"Not personally but I think it's worth keeping in mind lest you alienate more subjects."
>"It might be worth considering a few of them." (Specify) Conscription

>>45367070
>"Absolutely not." You've genuinely come to terms with what Hiss has been doing.
>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."
Soon the snakes will understand our relationship if they spend much more time in their human bodies around humans.

>>45367070
>>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."
>"It might be worth considering a few of them." (Mandatory conscription, instead of forcing them, just make it so only the ones who put in work reap the rewards. It's my experience Snakes don't like being ordered around. Same with Humans and the like. You attract more flies with honey than vinegar.

>>45367070
>"Not personally but I think it's worth keeping in mind lest you alienate more subjects."
That said I think you should come clean about our relationship to the snakes. Many of them already know so you might as well own it.

>>45367070
I still say we should go full Alchemist and turn ourselves in a super alchemist snake human Homonculus abomination.

> QM keeps offering us to make Hom a body
> I'm sure nothing bad could come from putting it off longer
> Frankenstein did nothing wrong.

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Calling it for
>"Not personally but I think it's worth keeping in mind lest you alienate more subjects."
>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."

>>45367346
There's strong support for tweaking conscription a bit too.

>>45367344
I'd like to but he would literally be a horrifying eldritch abomination which is less than ideal now that we're in a high population area. We need to figure out a way to make a human body for him. I propose we modify the shapeshifting brew to let us switch between a shapeshifted form and our original form at will repeatedly until it wears off. Then we can add it to the brew that creates his body to let him switch between his monstrous ideal soul form and a human form. We could even decide the exact appearance of the human form and the shapeshifting brew would lessen the feeling of unease homunculi naturally exude.

>>45367420
I say we steal and lock a bunch of snake arts and then eat Homs soul and a person's soul and then vomit them both into a body.

>>45367420
Or we could modify magetheft to copy snake arts and give them to homunculi

>>45367487
Dude. No. I was hoping for a serious response to my carefully thought out plan.

>"Not personally but I think it's worth keeping in mind lest you alienate more subjects."
>"I'm a big fan of the deviancy myself."

"I agree with her on the count of you being an absolutely disgusting deviant. Personally, I'm a fan."

Hiss snorts and slows down just long enough to slap your butt, her hand lingering a second too long.
"I know damn well you are."

"I just wish that you didn't have to be ashamed of me in public. A lot of snakes already know about us so you might as well own it."

"Oh Cennen," she says as she puts her arm around you and pulls you close. You stagger but manage to keep walking.
"I'm not ashamed of you! You can be a bit of an idiot sometimes but that's hardly unique to you. And don't worry, I don't plan to hide you away for much longer."

"Right. As for the other concerns, I think it's worth at least keeping them in mind so you don't alienate more subjects."

"Alienate? Cennen you can't let the words of just a few malcontents sway you. My proposed plan of actions so far is extremely popular. Do you know how many snakes are finally getting access to a renewable human food source for the very first time? They love me!"

You're not sure if you like the sound of that.
"Maybe just the conscription thing? It's not always that practical, you know. Just look at Zigzag. Some snakes are best left to just be themselves."

Hiss nods.
"That might be wise. But for now, everyone has to move as I say. This isn't just an invasion Cennen, it's a migration. And until that's done I will herd them all as best as I can. You can help with that actually."

"I already have been," you grumble as you round a corner and enter the inn proper. It's filled with people, all of them either snakes or branded humans. The humans bow and the snakes nod and they all get out of Hiss' way as she storms through, carrying you in her wake.

Elle is waiting upstairs with Aashenpreet watching over her.
1/2

>>45367623
Aashenpreet stands up as you approach.
"She hasn't tried to escape or anything. She's been fuming."
Indeed, Elle is sitting on the bed looking equally depressed and frustrated.

But when she sees you her eyes light up and she smiles.
"Cennen! Are you still spending time with that slut?"

Hiss slaps her across the face and even though she reflexively scales up the impact is enough to send her off her feet and thumping into the opposite wall.
"That's 'your Majesty' while I'm present," she says not unpleasantly."
She points at Aashenpreet.
"Thanks. Now get out."

Aashenpreet doesn't dispute this and leaves, throwing a worried look back at you over her shoulder.
Hiss bends over Elle's prone form and even as Elle opens her mouth to strike, Hiss shoves her now-scaled hand into her mouth and grabs hold of something.

Elle gives a muffled scream as Hiss withdraws, both of the traitor's fangs sitting in a small puddle of blood in her hand.

Elle writhes in pain, spitting blood everywhere as she tries to talk.
"Cennen! Help me!"
She stares up at you pleadingly.

"Cennen," Hiss echoes. "Cennen doesn't care about you, you delusional little shit. You're all drugged up."

>"She's right Elle."

>Don't say anything.

>Ask Hiss to stop.

>Other

>>45367804
>>Ask Hiss to stop.
i know you like doing this but i don't

>>45367804
>Ask Hiss to stop.
Torture is unbecoming of you Hiss. If you're going to kill her, kill her.

>>45367804
>Ask Hiss to stop.
She's hardly even the same person anymore and she likely won't remember this when I deactivate the love potion. Torture accomplishes nothing here. I still don't like people being tortured regardless of who they are

>>45367804
>"She's right Elle."

>>45367804
>Don't say anything.
This situation is morally complex so I don't know what to do here

>>45367804
>Ask Hiss to stop.
>Ask her to let us give her the antidote

>Ask Hiss to stop.

You grab hold of Hiss' shoulder, a purely symbolic gesture since she could lift you up with just that arm alone but an effective one all the same. She stops.

"Please stop that, Hiss. I know you probably have some frustrations to vent but if you're going to kill her, just kill her."

Hiss rolls her eyes.
"Who said I plan on killing her? That would be a bit wasteful. Still, you're right in that there's no point in doing this to her. You know I get a little carried away sometimes."
She sits down on the bed, poking Elle's prone body with the tip of her boot.

Elle is unable to stand just yet but she rises to her knees as she stares at you with eternal gratitude.
"Thank you, thank you so much. I knew you'd protect me. I love you."
Blood flecks the floor with every word she speaks.

Hiss speaks before you can answer.
"That's enough of that, traitor. Care to answer for your crimes?"

Elle manages to look away from you and when her eyes settle on Hiss it's as if she saw her for the first time. A spark of defiance lives on in her tone.
"I have nothing to say to you. Do whatever you want to me, it won't change that you're just a child on a stolen throne. Someone has to stop you."

"Uhuh," Hiss smirks. "And you suppose that someone will be you?"

Elle looks down.
"No, not now. But someone should and someone will and I will never stop defying you, you insecure little brat."

Hiss fakes a yawn.
"Yeah, you could do that. Or you could suck Cennen's dick."

Her words seem to throw Elle off track completely and she looks back at you wide-eyed.
"I can? Can I? Please?"

Hiss laughs so hard that she nearly falls off the bed. She has some trouble collecting herself.
"You see? I'm not going to allow you anything as comforting as dignity."

"Then just kill me!"
She tries to bare her fangs but there's no longer anything there.

"Nah. Why would I kill something I can still use?"
Hiss pushes Elle to the ground, straddling her chest.
1/2

>>45368234
"I'm going to eat you. And I'm going to use your own Art to do it. And then when I'm done you'll still be here, you'll still be you. I'm afraid you'll be a loyal little moron but at least you'll be happy."
Elle squeezes her eyes shut as Hiss tries to pry them open without damaging the eyes themselves.
"So just be still goddamnit and give me your mind! You sure as hell haven't been making good use of it lately!"


>Let this happen. What else did you expect?

>"Wouldn't it be kinder to just question and kill her?"

>Try to pull Hiss off.

>Nobble.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>45368308
>Let this happen. What else did you expect?

>>45368308
>Let this happen. What else did you expect?
I'm okay with this desu. Elle planned to do the same to us.

>>45368308
>>45368327

Maybe mention the whole thing we can do with stealing snake arts? We can keep Elle as a pet and take her Arts when we need them?

>>45368308
>Let this happen. What else did you expect?
>>45368354
ehh let's just see where she's going with this

>>45368308
>Let this happen. What else did you expect?

>>45368354
We can still do that after Hiss does a little house keeping with Elle's mind. Safer that way.

>>45368308
>"Wouldn't it be kinder to just question and kill her?"

>>45368308
>>Let this happen. What else did you expect?
"I honestly expected you to kill her in rage. Guess you're growing up"

>>45368308
>Let this happen. What else did you expect?
>She should know about the stolen art first

>Let this happen. What else did you expect?

You find yourself lacking sympathy for Elle's plight. She was planning to do the same exact thing to you and besides, you've stood by and watched Hiss ravage far more innocent people in the past. You sit back and say only one thing.
"Open your eyes please."

Elle's eyes fly open to stare at you imploringly and with a victory cry Hiss makes eye contact with her.
"Thanks darling. Just give me a minute now okay?"

You nod and watch the devouring and altering process. Hiss remains perfectly still while Elle occasionally moans and winces beneath her. Eventually Hiss looks back up and breaks the trance, clambering off her victim and standing up.
"All's well that ends well!"

Elle lies on the floor quivering for a few seconds before standing up as well. And then she immediately throws herself back down on her knees and prostrates before Hiss.
"I'm sorry! Please forgive me your Majesty!"

"It's alright," Hiss says as she pats Elle on the head.

"Let me tell you about the other traitors! They're...uh...ah..."
She looks briefly confused.

"No you can't. You can't remember any of them. It's fine though, I have it all up here. I'll make sure justice is done."

"Thank you your Highness! Please forgive me!"

Hiss smirks.
"Forgiveness? No, not yet."

Elle sits in the corner of the room and starts sobbing quietly.

"Hey Hiss, what did you do to her?"

"Just some renovations. I guess she's one of my attendants now, she's not capable of anything else. I ate most of her intelligence."

"How useful can she be to you then?"

"Oh she will, she will. But yeah she's less of a subject now and more of a toy. You can keep her actually if you want."

>"You can have her."

>"Sure?"

>Other

>>45368672
>"Sure?"
We'll treat her better than Hiss will, marginally at least.

>>45368672
>"Sure?"
Alchemy reagents on demand since no more from Zig and we'll treat her better than Hiss. We can reteach her too.

>>45368672
>>"You can have her."
i'd be too creepy to have her around

>>45368672
>"You can have her."
So what's the plan for the other traitors?

>>45368672
>>"Sure?"

Being Elle is suffering.

>>45368812
To be fair she went after Hiss's consort, who was at minimum present in her fight with the King, and no sold her gaze then laughed at her about it. Furthermore we've traveled with her across her adventures, AND the Queen chose us as a lover over a snake. Anyone who's not an arrogant shit would realize we're dangerous as hell.

>>45368859
we really are pretty scary on the down low. like, a snake among snakes. but with more morals and less soul devouring

>>45368672
>>"Sure?"
Alchemy ho!

>>45368672
>>"You can have her."
Enough snakes following us around.

>>45368672
>"Sure?"
She'll be a lot easier than Zigzag

>>45368726
>>45368944
You guys are giving up on Zigzag? I still wanna keep her around and teach her how to be human.

>>45368968
I'm fine with that, but she's less and less okay with us using her for ingredients.

>>45368968
Not giving up, but we can't force free reagents from her any more. She doesn't like being used as an alchemy supply, so someone else do it.

>"Sure?"

To be honest you find Elle's current state to be a little creepy but you'll treat her better than Hiss will. And you could use a new source of reagents for when Hiss is away, you can't use Zigzag anymore.
"Sure?"

Hiss claps you on the book.
"Good job. Make sure to feed her every now and then. You don't have to worry about her biting either. Ever again."

Elle's still in the corner. You're suddenly not sure if you need yet another snake following you around. Maybe you can just ignore her except for when you need reagents?
"Well I guess I'll take her and-"

"Oh! Hold on Cennen, we're not done yet. I have a favour of you to ask."

"Go on."

"As you may have guessed, I'm still not sure what to do with all these alchemists here! I've already got a plan on how to deal with the nobles but the alchemists might be an even bigger problem. Following me so far?"

You nod.

"Good. I'm expanding your duties as Chief Census Officer to being my chief Alchemical...Expert...Officer thing. What I mean is that I need you to go to the Potions College and talk to the people there. One person in particular. I need you to find a 'Master Tallen' and convince him to meet with me. It's important."

>"Gladly." Leave.

>"Can it wait, there's some brewing I want to get done first." Maybe Hom...

>"Just what do you need him for?"

>"Can you come with me?"

>Other

>>45369063
>>"Can it wait, there's some brewing I want to get done first." Maybe Hom...

>>45369063
>>"Just what do you need him for?"

>>45369063
>"Can it wait, there's some brewing I want to get done first." Maybe Hom...

>>45369063
>"Can it wait, there's some brewing I want to get done first." Maybe Hom...
I might even be able to use my homunculi to get him interested enough to come here...

>>45369063
>"Can it wait, there's some brewing I want to get done first." Maybe Hom...
This is probably a bad idea, but I want to take a look at elle's soul, or what's left of it

>>45369063
>>"Just what do you need him for?"
really the question is how bad do you intend to mindfuck him

>>45369063
>"Gladly." Leave.

>>45369063
>Hiss claps you on the book.
kek

>>45369241
ah man didn't even notice it first time through

>>45369241
Aw shit, uh, I mean that's intentional. It's a joke because Cennen always has books and shit. Good to see someone caught it. Yeah.

Calling for brewing.

>"Can it wait, there's some brewing I want to get done first." Maybe Hom...

"Sure I'll do it but is it that urgent? Can it wait? There's some brewing I want to get done first."
You still have a lot of reading to do and Hom still doesn't have a body.

Hiss stares at you. You suppose she's gotten used to having her whims catered for immediately lately.
"Are you still going to do it today?"

"Probably. Maybe."
Time always gets away from you when you're doing homunculi experiments.

"Cennen, I am asking you a favour here."
She sounds almost hurt.

"Yeah and I'll do it, just have to do some work first. It supports the cause."

"Can't you do it at the Potions College? Yeah! You can use that to bond with Tallen or whatever you alchemists do."

"I don't know if I want them seeing this."

Hiss stamps her foot.
"Damn it Cennen, just go to the College and do your job!"

>Roll a d100. Only the first three are counted.

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>45369411

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>45369411
DICE GODS HEAR MY PLEA

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>45369411

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>45369411
dice pls

>>45369450
>>45369453
Christ that was close.

>>45369453
>>45369450

I'm so glad I rolled and saved us from that 1.

>>45369450
Y'all damn lucky that rolled five seconds earlier. Writing.

>>45369483
Didn't we critfail the last time we tried to resist an order?

You almost quail before her, the urge to just stand back and do as she says nearly overpowering you. But you like to consider yourself more of Hiss' partner than her servant.
"And I will. Later."

Hiss gapes as you walk out of the room. You make your way back to the bedroom where all your kit still is. Hom is sitting in his bottle waiting for you.
"Not long now, little guy. Maybe."

You have all the equipment you need. But are you ready for such a momentous task just yet? You're not sure.

>Brew something else.

>Do some reading first.

>Go see how everyone else is doing.

>Brew Hom up a body.

>Other

>>45369577
>Brew something else.
That shapeshifting brew modification that I won't stop shilling during every thread

>>45369577
>Do some reading first.
Anatomy

>>45369535
I believe so yes. Hiss decided she needed a morale boost before fighting the King and ended up ordering Cennen into some not entirely consensual acts.

>>45369577
>>Do some reading first.
Anatomy tome

>>45369577
>Brew something else.
perhaps if we make panacea it can possibly help us with making Hom

>>45369599
I forgot, what is it about?

>>45369653
>>45367420

>>45369674
yeah I can get behind this

>>45369599
This.

I wonder if a knowledge of anatomy even matters while we're choosing a shapeshifted form? Doesn't seem like it.

>>45369770
Yeah I don't think so. We became a fully functional dragon with fire breath and everything without any knowledge of its anatomy. The question is, what material should we put in the soulshape to make Hom's body from? We could make him a lame fleshy organism or pretty much any material imaginable I think.

>>45369770
I think making a body brom scratch would be more reliable than having hom held together by an array of potions

>>45369856
The soulshape brew makes his true body out of whatever material we put in it. That is making it from scratch. The modified shapeshifting brew just lets him disguise himself with a human form whenever he likes. Homunculi will always be made from potions if we want to create a living body.

>>45369893
Sounds interesting but we could also just modify the soul to resist decay and put future homunculi in a premade nonliving body.

>Modify the shapeshifting

No, you can't get ahead of yourself just yet. Eva was relatively easy to bring into the world, Hom will be much harder. You have to finish your preparations first.

And for that, you have an idea. Even if the Soulshape process actually helps this time Hom probably won't come out looking anything like a human. Why would he? If you could actually generate a body yourself it would be different but you can't so for now that's off-limits. But for now you should focus less on what he will be and more on what you'll be able to change him into once he is truly born.

And with that in mind, you start to experiment upon improving the Shapeshifting brew. You've had copious experience with various 'shifting brews by now so you don't think it'll be too hard, particularly with the extra snakeskin Hiss left lying around.

An hour and several Identification potions pass until you finish perfecting your new creation. It has an identical effect to the shapeshifting potion save that the imbiber will be able to swap between their natural form and the shapeshifted form at will for the duration of a day.
You call it the Skinshedder Elixir and while you haven't tested it for any side-effects it's probably fine.

As you finish the final touches you notice that Hiss is standing in the doorway.
"It's later now. Are you going to do your job or not? Don't make me order you again."

"I'm busy Hiss."

"So am I! And I've given you over an hour!"
The doorframe begins to crack underneath her grip.
"Do I have to carry you to the College myself?"


>"You won't do that, you're too busy."

>"Just give me a few more hours Hiss."

>Ignore her.

>"Fine." You can do Hom later.

>Nobble her if she won't stop bothering you. You're not her slave.

>Other

>>45369996
>"Fine." You can do Hom later.

>>45369996
>"Fine." You can do Hom later.
This close to finishing, but I did promise. Soon Hom, sorry for your wait.

>>45369996
>"Fine." You can do Hom later.
We made a bit of progress, let's just do this first.

>>45369996
>"You won't do that, you're too busy."

>>45369996
>"Fine." You can do Hom later.

>>45369996
>"Fine." You can do Hom later.
Tell Hiss we're close to something really amazing. Like truly creating life from nothing but alchemy ingredients.

>>45369996
>>"Fine." You can do Hom later.

Would it be unethical to make a homunculi into some kind of animal body instead of a human? I want a deceivingly harmless looking alchemy familiar.

>>45370150
I'm not really sure. But I feel like I remember Ouro mentioning that multiple alchemists working on one brew increases its power. So an alchemy familiar or just a humanoid homunculus assistant would be pretty tight actually.

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>>45370150
Make it one of these, they look cool

>"Fine." You can do Hom later.

You sigh. But then again, you guess you are taking your time.
"Fine. I'll go to the damn Potions College."

"I'm sorry Cennen but you SWORE yourself to me and if you can't find time in between all of your alchemy to actually help me then y-oh? You're doing it?"
She pulls you into a hug that also drags you away from your potions and your lab equipment. You get the feeling that this is not a coincidence.
"Really Cennen, you need me to give you something to do or else you're just going to get wrapped up in all of this forever. You can thank me now."
There's a brief pause where neither of you say anything and Hiss narrows her eyes.
"Thank me."

"Thank you Hiss," you mouth says without your permission. You just give her look before shrugging and collecting all of your equipment back into your pack.
"I'll do it but you have to understand how important my work is, Hiss. I'm close to something really amazing. Truly creating life from nothing but alchemy ingredients!"

Hiss doesn't look particularly impressed.
"The power to give life is trivial compared to the power to take it. But if that's what you wanted all this time why didn't you just tell me? Just show me something, anything, and I'll put somebody's soul into it. Voila! Life."

"That's not the same," you mumble as Hiss guides you out of the inn.

And with not even a goodbye you are turfed out onto the street. You apologize to Hom and make your way back towards the Potion College.

Your journey there is uneventful and you slip through the open gates. Your blue alchemist's sash seems to be pass enough for the disinterested guards patrolling the fence. You stare around at the towering building and wonder just how many alchemists are in there.
And just how many of them will still be alive once Hiss has taken over? She might try to hide it but you know she fears the snake alchemy.

1/2

>>45370316
>Just walk in and start exploring. It wouldn't hurt to get a look around.

>Ask someone about Master Tallen

>Screw Hiss, you're at the Potions College now. Start brewing.

>Find the library.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>45370330
>Just walk in and start exploring. It wouldn't hurt to get a look around.

>>45370330
>>Just walk in and start exploring. It wouldn't hurt to get a look around.
Maybe Find Yolan

>>45370330
>>Just walk in and start exploring. It wouldn't hurt to get a look around.
>>Ask someone about Master Tallen
don't focus on it, but its good to check

>>45370330
>Ask someone about Master Tallen

>>45370330
>Find the library.

>>45370330
>Find the library.
>Ask someone about Master Tallen

>Just walk in and start exploring. It wouldn't hurt to get a look around.

Since nobody seems to have stopped you, you just keep on walking. You follow the path up through the lawn, through an archway, and find yourself in a populated quadrangle. There are men and the occasional women sifting about, talking to one another and even a few outright brewing out on the grass. You get the feeling that this probably isn't the dormitories at all!

You just focus on looking like you belong here, pick a direction and walk it. Eventually you find yourself at the far end of the quadrangle and you have accomplished nothing.
What you have done however is pass several promising looking department buildings that line the outer edge of the quadrangle.
Some of the might be worth checking out.

>Department of Agriculture.

>Department of Wellbeing.

>Department of Ethics.

>Department of Munitions.

>Department of Esoterica.

>The Library

>Maybe you should ask someone.

>Other

>>45370548
>Department of Esoterica.
I'm guessing these are the guys with weird masteries like ours

>>45370548
>Department of Munitions
Hiss was looking for Tallen, and if she's looking for someone, they're probably specialized in something like this.

>>45370548
>>Department of Esoterica.

>>45370548
>Maybe you should ask someone.
>The Library

>>45370548
>Department of Esoterica.

>>45370548
>>Department of Ethics.
badly needed

Sorry guys, I've got to go. It's not work but I'll probably be gone a few hours regardless. I'll archive this now and I'll try to pick up 81.5 tomorrow.

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483 KB GIF

>>45370764
Thanks for running Snake-Man. Still one of my favorite quests.

>>45370764
See yah.
Vote called for esoterica?

>>45370764
Thanks for running

I'm pretty sure we can gank master Taller by telling him we have access to snakeskin and a docile, compliant snake back at the Inn. It's not even a lie. I mean, we'll be introducing him to Hiss, but there you are.

Also, we should remind Hiss that the whole Homonculus thing is part of our deal with the Empress and we don't want to lose her because she forgot about it.