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>>770835
As the forest begins to thin around me, my target destination is revealed. Before me, the sparsely vegetated Western lowlands stretch out to the distant horizon, interrupted only by the green and grey of the fort walls rising from the lonely plateau below, conveniently surrounded by steep slopes on all sides with just a single trail leading up the gates. This would probably have been a breathtaking sight if not for the thick layer of clouds that has settled over the sky, leaving the afternoon sun barely visible behind the walls of the fort.

At least it's not raining. Still, I can't have more than a couple of hours left until the sun sets, so I'd better hurry and get down there.

The matter of getting inside, fortunately, manages to solve itself. While the gate is shut tight with massive wooden doors, like you would expect from a military fort, the southern wall appears to have completely collapsed and even if it hadn't the walls have also become overgrown with long vines, which I supposed is not unexpected for an abandoned military fort.

In a way, isn't that kind of neat. Instead of an ugly symbol of war and violence, this place is slowly returning to nature, peaceful and.. actually a little creepy. But that's probably just because I know Lily is in there somewhere, bullying Amalia. But not for much longer!

Past the walls, the fort is.. not pretty at all. On the northern side, a row of dilapidated but somehow still standing long wooden houses rest in the shadow of the outer wall. Maybe that's where the soldiers had their bedrooms? And judging from the oddly rhythmical creaking coming from inside, they could collapse at any moment.

Past those, a large stone tower rises from the corner of the fort walls, maybe some kind of lookout tower? Or maybe it's for shooting people. Army men like to do that, don't they? Though, if the fort is abandoned, why is there still light coming from the windows up there? Could Lily be using it? The ladders leading up unto the wall are all broken, but if I want to get into that tower I could climb the vines back at the collapsed part of the wall.

Finally, by the north wall is a small stone building apparently used for nothing else than the entrance to a passage leading downward. It seems this fort has a basement too. And unlike the tower, there is no light coming from there. But should I assume that Lily wouldn't be there just because it's dark and creepy?

Probably not. So where to start, then? The suspiciously red writing on the wall to the left of the passage might be a hint.

"Follow the path of the Goddess."

But what does that mean?

>The light in that tower deserves to be inspected. Climb up there!
>Lily would obviously pick the creepiest place, she must be downstairs.
>Maybe she's inside one of those houses? I should check them out.
>Something else? [Write-in!]

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>NEW THINGS: Added to-do list to OP paste. This is a list of work that needs to be done to Nadja's Notebook, either because Anon requested something added or because I want it added. Why?
1. If any of you feel up to it you can help me out by writing it. I will still edit it, of course.
2. You'll all know if something has been on the list for very long. Self-motivation!

>Nadja's Seniors:
>Mistress' current opinion: 40/100
>Lily's current opinion: 05/100
>Camille's current opinion: 10/100

>Seal: 75/100

>Nadja's Witchy Skills:
>Herbalism : Initiated (Potions and such!)
>Pencraft: Fledgling* (Hexes and wards!)
>Infusion: Uninitiated (Making things be magic / enchanting!)
>*Nadja has proven to be naturally talented at this set of skills. She learns more quickly and has a chance to intuitively understand this type of magic simply by looking at it.

>Communication:
>Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendQM

>Archives:
>4plebs archive (thread 1-24): http://archive.4plebs.org/tg/search/subject/Witch%20Apprentice%20Quest/order/asc/
>moe archive (threads 25+): http://archived.moe/qst/search/subject/Witch%20Apprentice%20Quest/type/op/order/asc/
>Suptg archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=witch+apprentice+quest (Now updated to link to the /qst/ archive for obvious reasons)

>Resources:
>Nadja's Notebook is intended to serve as your reference material for witchy things and other stuff related to the quest. It's divided into the following categories:

>1. General Witchcraft: Intro to Nadja's Notebook as well as any witch-related topics outside of the three major arts will go here when Nadja learns about them: http://pastebin.com/FvemAzKN
>2. Herbalism: Everything about herbs and how to use them to make potions. Also contains Nadja's notes about potions she has encountered but don't know how to make herself: http://pastebin.com/vMWeFhd0
>3. Pencraft (Yes I renamed it because I think it sounds cooler): Hexes and wards that Nadja knows of and how to make them: http://pastebin.com/BTUR8F94
>4. Infusion: The art of bestowing magical properties to items that otherwise had none. For example, the creation of wands or flying brooms. Pastebin will be added once Nadja actually learns about any of this.
>5. Nadja's Notes: Where Nadja writes her notes about various things, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PLAYERS REQUEST THAT SOMETHING BE ADDED TO THE NOTEBOOK. You can even request to have old events added, so don't be afraid to ask: http://pastebin.com/76btWGte
>6. Characters: Nadja doesn't actually keep a written list of people she knows, but it seemed a list would be useful since a character could easily be absent from the quest for a month or more of real time, and it seemed more fun to write it in Nadja's voice even though she has no reason to ever write it. Anyway, you can find that here: http://pastebin.com/GbRsNuw3

>TO-DO LIST:
>>712465
>Amalia's real name and title should get added to Nadja's notebook.

>>770838
>>Lily would obviously pick the creepiest place, she must be downstairs.

>>770838
>The light in that tower deserves to be inspected. Climb up there!

>>770838
>The light in that tower deserves to be inspected. Climb up there!

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Getting straight to the meat, then? Alright.

Some special notices for this thread:

>The Hex of Sighting can be used at any time unless Nadja is urgently engaged in other activities. But it can be used only once. You guys just say if you want to use it and I'll call a vote.

>We're rolling d30s tonight. Because why the fuck would we not?

>Nadja and Amalia can both be hurt.

>>770838
>Maybe she's inside one of those houses? I should check them out.

And why is everyone's ID tag some shade of green tonight?

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>>770838
Well I may as well to the core, right? Try to think like the crazy girl, why would she ever choose to be anywhere not dark and creepy. Well, except when she's kidnapping best friends, maybe, but otherwise that's definitely where she would be. That does pose one immediate issue, though.

It's too dark to see anything down there! Just a few steps down and I can't even see my own hands!

There are torches on the walls, and they look like they'd still work, not that I really know what they're supposed to look like, but they're not completely burned out so that sounds like it's good.

But I need to light them somehow.

I have one quick solution to that problem, the potions from the Emergency Pack. I have two left of the ones labelled 'FIRE', which would solve the issue right then and there. Really useful those, just break them on whatever you want on fire and you get it. Handy!

Trouble is, I only have two of those left, so if I use one now, I'd only have one left. What if I need them for something else? Then I'd be all out and regretting that I used one for this! But then, I also might not need them at all..?

If I want to save the potion for later, well, there's the light up in that tower. I could just use that, couldn't I? All I'd have to do is climb up the vines on the wall, then.. surely there are stairs inside the tower. Or a ladder. Unless they're broken, but there's only one way to find out if that's going to be a problem.

And if I don't want to go up there, I could look inside those houses for some kind of tinderbox or something I can use to light a fire. Since they built the passage and whatever is down there, they must have also have had some of those around before the fort was abandoned.

>Use one of my two remaining fire potions, no time to waste.
>Climb up to the watchtower and use whatever the light up there is coming from. Save the potion for later!
>Search the houses for a tinderbox or something else to use. Save the potion for later!
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>770974
>>Search the houses for a tinderbox or something else to use. Save the potion for later!

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And I'm just realizing I managed to misread the votes. Tower was the one with two votes, not basement. Oops?

Well, just roll with it, okay? No sense starting over when we're only just getting started.

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>>770974
>Climb up to the watchtower and use whatever the light up there is coming from. Save the potion for later!

>>770993

>>770974
>Climb up to the watchtower and use whatever the light up there is coming from. Save the potion for later!
Well, there has to be something up there.

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Well this time I'm definitely sure I'm reading it right. That's 2 against 1 for the watchtower.

>>770998
Well you're guilty too for not pointing out my mistake before it's too late! Didn't you read my mind? Well you should have! So there!

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>>771022
No worries mate. Just keep on posting your cute witches.

>>771022
that one is adorable

>>770974
No, there's definitely no sense wasting a perfectly good potion when there's a alternative right there. And on top of that, the light in that tower definitely deserves to be checked out. In fact, I almost feel like I always intended to go up there first. Weird.

Well I'm definitely going up there now! For all I know, Lily could be up there right now and the whole basement just a big fat decoy to trap me. And even if she's not, I may find something else up there.

A good, strong tug at the vines confirm that they're strong enough to carry me. These walls aren't all that tall, definitely taller than my house but not as tall as the church tower back in Hinde, but I still wouldn't want to fall down from up there.

The top side of the fort walls turns out to be a complete mess. Not in the 'will probably collapse the moment I step on the wrong stone' way, thank the Moons, but rather in the sense that everyone seems to have just dropped what they were holding and left it all over the place. The floor is littered with all kinds of stupid army things like helmets and those weird crossbows things that army men like. And those nasty iron arrows probably go with them. I don't like them.

Not sure why they left all these things up here, wouldn't their boss get angry at them for leaving this stuff behind? It's dumb army stuff, but it's probably still worth something. Not to me though, so I just carefully step around the nasty-nasties and continue on my way to the watchtower.

On the inside, the tower doesn't prove to be in much better condition. The stone stairs winding upwards to the top are still there, but like the ones I climbed to get up here they're partially covered in a variety of roots and vines and.. some kind of mushroom? I don't really know. It definitely smells funny, kind of reminding me of mouldy. How long ago was this abandoned anyway..?

The strangest part though, is definitely the silence. Not even at night is Hinde this quiet, and the forest definitely isn't. Someone, or something, is always awake and doing something, but here? If anyone's here, they're trying not to be heard.

Wait, that's not comforting at all.

There doesn't seem to be anything on this floor though, except the door I came through, the door leading to the other side of the fort wall, and the mouldy stairs leading further up. The weak, reddish reflection flickering on the wall by the stairs confirms that there definitely is a light source up there. But why not down here as well? I can clearly see the socket in the wall where a torch is supposed to go, but it's completely empty.

>1/2

>>771237
Well, no sense worrying about that. I know what I came up here for, so why am I still standing about. Climbing the stairs, they still seem to be stable enough and they don't sound like they're about to fall down either. And at the top, just as expected, I find a still lit torch on the wall. Definitely keeping that!

>Acquired Lit Torch!

What I don't find is, well, anyone. No Lily, no Amalia, and not anybody else. If anyone was up here, they've left. And looking out the window, that's actually not surprising. You can see everything from up here! Well not everything, obviously, but you sure can see pretty far in every direction. Not that there's all that much to look at. But if someone, like Lily, was looking out for me they'd have seen me long ago.

Aside from the forest I just came from, the sparse and flat lowlands just keep going and going in every direction. No farms, no villages, no rivers, just flat nothing. I think everything past here is actually the Kingdom of Lent, not the Empire. Or maybe I'm technically already in Lent? I'm not entirely sure. If I am, nobody's around to tell me. Which is good, because they say that people from there are not very nice at all. With a land like this, I guess I can see why they'd be angry!

It probably would look a little pretty in a nice sunset, but no luck there. Instead, all I've really got left to look at is the fort itself and.. who?

Someone's there! Right there, some weird figure clad in all black and carrying a scythe, on the wall where I just came from. And it's looking right at me! I can't see their eyes, but I can feel them, gazing straight into the deepest part of my heart.

It's coming towards the tower.

This isn't good.

>Run! If I'm fast I can get out of this tower before it gets inside and blocks the way! [Roll d30 to run fast!]
>Try to climb out down on the outside of the tower where it probably can't get to me! It'll be tough with the torch, but worst case I can drop it and pick it up when I'm down. [Roll d30 to not fall down!]
>Lie in wait! I could surprise attack the hoodie thing with one of my potions! [Specify which! And roll d30 for good measure too!]
>Something else? [Write-in! And probably roll dice!]

>>771242
>>Run! If I'm fast I can get out of this tower before it gets inside and blocks the way! [Roll d30 to run fast!]

>>771242
>>Run! If I'm fast I can get out of this tower before it gets inside and blocks the way! [Roll d30 to run fast!]

We ran fast enough to keep up with Amalia the other day. Nadja's got this.

>>771242
>Lie in wait! I could surprise attack the hoodie thing with one of my potions! [Specify which! And roll d30 for good measure too!]
We got a Small potion we can use?

Rolled 19 (1d30)

>>771242
>Run! If I'm fast I can get out of this tower before it gets inside and blocks the way! [Roll d30 to run fast!]

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I just keep forgetting that I'm not allowed to mix italics and greentext. Very annoying!

Also you guys gotta actually roll dem dice. Remember d30s.

>>771268
Yep. Check the image attached to the OP paste to see what Nadja has on her person!

>>771277
Shouldn't we roll after voting?

Rolled 29 (1d30)

>>771284
Rolling then

>>771287
If that was the case, I assume the roll would have been called for only after the voting.

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>>771287
Nah just roll with the votes. They're all the same dice here, just different difficulties and outcomes, so I just take the best of three for whatever wins.

Rolled 17 (1d30)

>>771284
People usually roll after votes are called. Helps stop people from picking harder stuff because they see they got a lucky roll.

Though this isn't the quest to care about that stuff.

>>771298
When you roll while voting there's always the chance of people changing their votes based on what is rolled, but with so few current participants I doubt it'll be a problem.

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>>771277
>>771292
>>771313

You know, a 29 out of 30 isn't bad at all.

Rolled 9 (1d30)

>>771242
Aw damn, I missed this starting.
>Run! If I'm fast I can get out of this tower before it gets inside and blocks the way! [Roll d30 to run fast!]

Just a reminder that we should try putting the lit torch in that empty socket on the first floor we were on. It's a classic spooky dungeon secret.

>>771429
You're right anon, I bet it opens a secret door to a treasure!

>>771242
No way! No way no way no way! Not dealing with that, not for one second! I'm getting out of here!

Don't care about stupid stairs trying to make me slip on them, don't care about creepy heavy breathing behind me as I pass just outside of arm's reach of that thing, and definitely definitely don't care about the high-pitched SCHWING as it's blade comes within a fingers width of cutting the ends of my hair. That would definitely have been bad! I would've had to cut the rest to fit it too then, or it would have looked STUPID!

Whew!

Even more lucky, the thing swung so hard, now its scythe is actually stuck in the stone floor! Serves you right!

Less lucky, it seems to have quickly decided to abandon the scythe. It's still coming this way!

Climbing down the vines is obvious, that puts at least a little distance between myself and it, but I'll still be right here in its sights. And it doesn't look like it wants to give up just yet. I need to keep moving!

>Downstairs! I have a light now, so I can at least see what's down there!
>The houses might have good hiding spots, and do have doors in both ends so at least I won't be trapped. I'd have to leave the torch, though..
>Attack it! I can throw my.. [Write-in!]
>Do something entirely else! [Write-in!]

>>771476
>Downstairs! I have a light now, so I can at least see what's down there!
No torches left behind

>>771476
>>Downstairs! I have a light now, so I can at least see what's down there!

>>771476
>Downstairs! I have a light now, so I can at least see what's down there!
>Throw a fire potion behind us when we get to a narrow hallway. Hopefully it can't get past the fire!

>>771476
>Downstairs! I have a light now, so I can at least see what's down there!

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Heading into the dark, then! Maybe someone friendly will be down there?

>>771504
>Throw a fire potion behind us when we get to a narrow hallway. Hopefully it can't get past the fire!

Anyone want to support this anon here? It means using one of your limited resources, so I need more than one anon wanting to do that.

>>771476
>>771504
I'll support!

>>771531
It's probably not a good idea to use a potion, unless it starts to catch up.

>>771531
I'm against wasting a potion here

I'll take that as "only if absolutely necessary," then. Thanks for the quick response!

>>771571
How's your day-before-Halloween, Friend? Ready for tomorrow?

>>771476
Down! Definitely down! I've already confirmed nobody was in the tower, though that thing must definitely must have been lurking somewhere, watching me and waiting for me to go up there. Because it was definitely not there when I arrived, that's for sure!

Unless it's a ghost! Ghosts can be invisible, I think. If they're real. I'm not really sure, they don't attack you with scythes in the ghost stories but those could just be stories. This thing is definitely real, though. And somehow, despite its face not being visible at all, it definitely feels angry. Is this thing why all the army men left?

Going down the stairs, I briefly consider blocking the entrance with one of my fire potions. I already know the fire sticks around for a while, even on bare rocks, so I shouldn't have a problem with it going out right away. But will the fire actually stop that thing? That cloak it's wrapped itself in should definitely be flammable. Unless it's a ghost. It could be. It's definitely a lot bigger than Lily, so it's definitely not just her wrapped in black cloth.

Whatever it really is, for now I'm going to trust my legs to keep it at a distance. And at least it lost its scythe, so it would need to get even closer to touch me.

One thing, though?

Downstairs stinks. Badly! I already miss the creepy silence and slightly mouldy air in the air because this place is just awful. I'm not even sure what it is I'm smelling, but it is absolutely rotten. And possibly dead. A quick scan of the room reveals a more or less perfectly square room, with one door in each wall, all of them closed except for the one I just came through from the stairs. The stones covering both floors, walls, and ceiling are a brownish green and both look and smell as if something unwanted could be living between them.

Icky.

Aside from the doors, the room itself is empty, but on the walls to the left and right are writings almost definitely identical to that on the wall above ground. Above the door to the left is written:

"The Path of Vala"

And above the wall to the right:

"The Path of Mara"

The door opposite of the one I came through though, I notice after my heartbeat has finally slowed a bit, is making noises. Or rather, noises are coming from the other side of the door. Someone.. crying?

Yes, definitely crying. Or rather, sobbing. A woman, I think. Definitely not Amalia, I can tell for sure. But then.. who? Should I check it out? It could be a trap, and the writing above said to "Follow the path of the Goddess." Though, which goddess?

I don't hear anything other than the sobbing, including spooky monsters coming down the stairs, but I still would rather not stay here longer than necessary. I need to keep going.

Either of those paths could be the one I need to follow. But what about that crying..?

>Look inside the crying room. Maybe someone needs help.
>Check out the Path of Vala.
>Check out the Path of Mara.
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>771735
>Look inside the crying room. Maybe someone needs help.
It just doesn't feel right not checking out the crying. It could be someone in dire need of a hug!
If we need to suddenly run from something because of that I'm for heading down the path of Mara.

>>771735
>Look inside the crying room. Maybe someone needs help.
Clearly neither goddess would stand for sad crying!

>>771735
>Look inside the crying room. Maybe someone needs help.
>Ready potion of moltov in case of trap.

>>771735
>Check out the Path of Vala.
The crying is probably just another ghost.

>>771735
>>771771
Supporting this.

>>771792
Are you saying ghosts can't need hugs, anon?

>>771735
>Look inside the crying room. Maybe someone needs help.

>>771821
Can they? I don't know. Seems dangerous.

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Rolled 18 (1d30)

Disregard caution, suspicious rooms that are probably traps deserve attention too.

Rolling for Someone Else.

>>771847
Hope it's someone nice!

>>771735
I don't like that crying. It doesn't feel right, definitely in a place like this. I know it's not Amalia, but that doesn't mean it can't be someone else, someone who does need help. It definitely wouldn't be right to just leave them there!

And if you think about it, the writing said to follow the path of the Goddess, but not which. But I'm pretty sure the goddesses wouldn't just leave someone crying like that, so from that perspective that is the path of the Goddess!

Still, I can markedly feel my heartbeat kicking back up in speed as I slowly slide the door open, the crying growing louder and louder as I do so, finally revealing..

An empty room, as dark as the previous.

No, not empty. Mostly empty.

Compared to the previous, this room is tiny, and cramped, but not so big that it still doesn't feel empty with nothing in it except for a small, round table, on the top of which rests a peculiar glass ball, roughly as large as a person's head, filled with swirling colours. And if that wasn't strange enough, it is most definitely the source of the crying.

Is this witchcraft? I've never heard about any kind of witchcraft that involves glass spheres like this, but I also hadn't heard about daemons until yesterday, so I suppose this is yet another case of having no idea what's going on. Is this Lily's? Or something left behind by the army? Why would they have something like this?

And why isn't the crying stopping?

>Try to talk to the glass ball?
>Break the glass sphere? It's probably doing something bad.
>Leave it, this is probably something I shouldn't touch.
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>772025
>>Leave it, this is probably something I shouldn't touch.

>>772025
>>Leave it, this is probably something I shouldn't touch.

>>772045
also we should go the vala path

>>772025
>Try to talk to the glass ball?

>>772025
>Make a note in the journal to ask Mistress about this later.
>Leave it, this is probably something I shouldn't touch.

>>772025
>Leave it, this is probably something I shouldn't touch.
It's probably a trap. I wonder if Lily knows anything about it.

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>>772052
That's a pretty good point, I should probably have requested specification of where to go next. Based on vote counts so far, it's pretty safe to say the majority is for leaving it alone. As such..

>Go down the Path of Vala.
>Go down the Path of Mara.
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>772025
>Try to talk to the glass ball?

>>772091
>Go down the Path of Mara.

>>772091
>Go down the Path of Vala.

>>772091
>Go down the Path of Vala.

>>772091
>Go down the Path of Vala.
I'm just picking blindly!

>>772091
>Look down both paths before deciding.

>>772091
If we can, I'll support looking down each. Otherwise Vala.

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Vala it is!

>>772025
>>772091

..No.

Definitely not touching this. I have NO clue what this does, or what's inside, or what could happen if I touch it. It could be something awful! So that crazy orb can cry all it wants, I am not going to mess with that. Sorry orb lady, but you're too dangerous! Just imagine what Mistress would do if she found out I did something so irresponsible!

Brr.

That does leave the situation more or less unchanged, though. Whatever that thing earlier was, it hasn't followed me down here. Does it not like coming down here? That seems kind of crazy, something that scary being afraid of the dark. Or is it afraid of something else?

Well, I am a little afraid too, but not so much I'm not going to help Amalia!

As for where to go.. It's really all the same to me. Vala or Mara, they're both goddesses so either is fine, right? So I guess I'll just blindly pick one. And that'll be..

Vala!

I don't really know why, that one just feels more right, somehow.

The path itself though, doesn't really inspire a lot of faith. It's just a narrow, curving hallway, even more smelly than the room from before. And if I'm not mistaken, it's also sloped slightly downward. That means I'm going deeper underground, then.

It's not a very long hallway either, and just a few moments later I arrive in a new room. Wider than the first room by far, this one has every single wall and most of the floor covered in shelves, cases, and stands carrying all kinds of bad-nasty weapons and armor that army men use to hurt people with. There's swords, like the ones Sis likes to use, there's axes that are short and long, and there's even hammers, but not at all like the ones Papa uses. These are much bigger, and have spikes, and are bad. I definitely don't like this room. I think I'd like to go straight for the only other exit, preferably without accidentally touching any of the nasties, and find a better room.

>1/2

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>>772432
But that is not to be, as a high-pitched voice calls out from one of the shelves as I pass by:

"Hello! You must be Miss Nadja!"

It's another one of them. Bright, colorful wings, small enough to fit in your hand, and seemingly completely undisturbed by the situation around her. She's a fairy.

But she's not Flimflam, that's for sure. Her -by fairy standards- long, blue hair flows behind her as she takes off from the shelf she was sitting on, gracefully floating in front of me at just the right distance to be all up in my personal space. She gives me a sweet smile that instantly makes me feel safer, and I'm pretty sure she didn't use any nonsensical grammar at all.

"Uhm, hello. I'm uh, well you already said that."

"Mhm!" She nods repeatedly and proudly. "Mistress Lily told me you would be visiting and that I should help you when you come. Oh! My name is Seel. Nice to meet you!"

"Uhh.."

Lily told her to help me? But isn't Lily behind all this?

"Nice.. to meet you too?"

"Mhm!" Again, she nods proudly. "So how can I help you?"

"Do you know where my friend Amalia is?"

"Nope! Sorry! Anything else?"

>Ask her about the monster-thing.
>Ask her about the orb-thing.
>Ask her how to find Lily.
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>772442
>Ask her about the orb-thing.
>Ask her how to find Lily.'
Two!

>>772442
>Ask her if Amalia is safe.
>Ask her how to find Lily.
>Ask her about the monster-thing.
>Ask her about the orb-thing.
In that order.

>>772442
>Ask her if Amalia is safe.
>Ask her how to find Lily.
>Ask her about the monster-thing.
>Ask her about the orb-thing.

>>772442
>Ask her about the monster-thing.
>Ask her how to find Lily.

>>772442
>Ask her about the monster-thing.
>Ask her how to find Lily.
>Ask her about the orb-thing.

>>772442
>Ask her about the monster-thing.
>Ask her about the orb-thing.
>Ask If Amalia is alright.

>>772442
>Ask her about the orb-thing.
>Ask her how to find Lily.

>>772442
>Just hit us with a wall of text, Friend.

>>772527
A succinct summary, anon. Though the fact that it's getting late in Friendtown means I suspect this will prompt an end to today's fun, sadly.

>>772442
"Is Amalia safe?"

"I don't know! Who is she? Is she here?"

"Lily brought her here."

"Oh.. Then no, probably not. Here isn't very safe right now."

Well that's encouraging.

"You mean.. because of the monster?"

"Mhm! It's very dangerous! But not as dangerous as Mistress Lily. So if your friend is with Mistress Lily, she actually is safe. Is she still with Mistress Lily?"

"I don't know! I'm trying to find her! Do you know where Lily is?"

"Of course!" She answers flapping her wings happily. "She's in her room! Just go down that way.."

She points toward the exit I already had my sights on.

"..Then right, then left. Easy! That's Mistress Lily's room! But she hasn't called me, so I'm not supposed to go in there. And she told me to help you, so I'm staying with you instead, Miss Nadja!"

I suppose some company can't hurt, at least as long as she's answering questions. Even if she's not giving very large answers. Maybe they're just fairy-sized answers?

"Well, okay.. Then tell me, do you know about that weird orb back there?"

She stares at me with a puzzled look. "Orb?"

"You know, in the room with the crying?"

She stops smiling.

"Oh! That room! You're not supposed to go in there! It's a bad room! Nobody's allowed, not even Mistress Lily goes in there! Bad room! Don't go in the bad room!"

Uh oh? But nothing happened, right? I'm pretty sure nothing bad happened.

"Wait, if it's so bad, why wasn't it locked?"

"Mistress Lily locked the door many times! But it never stays locked! The bad room doesn't want to be locked!"

"Wha-? Rooms can't unlock themselves!"

"Bad rooms can!"

"But.. Okay forget the room-"

"Yes! Forget the bad room!"

"-and instead tell me about the monster."

She clearly doesn't like that topic any more than the previous.

"The monster is very bad. Very dangerous. Very easy rules! Never, ever, look at the monster! If you look, it takes you!"

..more uh oh?

"But.. I already saw it outside, on the wall, and it tried to attack me, and I definitely looked at it."

"You looked at the metal monster?!"

"That's what- Wait what, metal? No, it wasn't metal, it was a figure in black with a scythe that-"

"That's not the monster! The monster is metal, and you must not look at it, and it makes metal sounds like.."

I hear it. It's distant, a slow high-pitched screeching noise kind of like when Sis is sharpening her sword. It's coming from down the hall I came from and.. it's coming.

"Miss Nadja? We should hide."

Well we're definitely not hiding in here with all the bad-nasty weapons! Another room! Let's see, Seel said to continue, then right and..

>1/2

>>772818
"It's locked!"

"Oh?" Seel actually does sound genuinely surprised. "It usually isn't. Find the key!"

Great. That leaves two other ways to go. Even deeper in, or turn left instead of right.

"Seel, which way?"

"Down there." She points toward the right. "Is hiding places. But also scary. The other way is.. strange. We should not go there. Even the monster won't go there."

Taking a look in both directions, the right is pitch black and quite honestly smells even worse than any of the rooms so far, as if someone had left rotten meat out for a couple of years. And the other.. I actually think I see light coming from. Why does Seel think that's the bad room? It looks much better!

And I have to pick one, because that slowly repeating screeching sound is definitely coming closer!

>Follow Seel's advice, head to the dark and stinky room.
>Follow the light, Seel said the monster won't go there!
>Something else? [Write-in!]

And

>Keep Seel with me, company is nice and she may know more useful things.
>Ask her to look for Amalia and help her.

>>772823
>Follow Seel's advice, head to the dark and stinky room.
>Keep Seel with me, company is nice and she may know more useful things.

>>772823
>>Follow the light, Seel said the monster won't go there!
>Keep Seel with me, company is nice and she may know more useful things.

>>772823
>Follow Seel's advice, head to the dark and stinky room.
>Keep Seel with me, company is nice and she may know more useful things.
Sure!

>>772823
>Follow Seel's advice, head to the dark and stinky room.
>Keep Seel with me, company is nice and she may know more useful things.

>>772823
>Follow Seel's advice, head to the dark and stinky room.
>Keep Seel with me, company is nice and she may know more useful things.
It should closer to where we're going, and Seel knows the place better.

>>772823
>Follow the light, Seel said the monster won't go there!
Keep Seel.

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1.43 MB JPG

Rolled 21 (1d30)

Trusting the fairy and keeping the fairy!

Rolling for someone else again.

>>772968
Hope this isn't a scary monster roll!

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>>772823
Seel seems to know at least something, so I should probably trust her on this one. If she says it's better to go to the dark and stinky room, then it probably is. After all the book says she can't lie, and she does seem genuinely helpful. And not even as odd as Flimflam, either.

That said, when I get a look at where she has led me, I do start to regret it. From the smell of rotten meat to the rectangular notches in the walls, this is definitely a..

"Seel, this is a.."

"The skeleton room is perfect for hiding humans! So just pick a box and start hiding!"

"Bu-bu-but this is-"

"The skeleton room!"

That's not what it's called.. It's called a..

"Hurry, Miss Nadja!"

"Bu-bu-but! There are dead people in here!"

"Of course! That's why it's the skele-"

A deep, booming, BONG suddenly echoes down the hall from where the monster was approaching, like the sound of dropping the lid of a casserole on the kitchen floor.

"Uhm-"

Then another, followed quickly by a rapid series of clattering noises. Then silence.

"Uhm, Seel?"

"I don't know! That's new! Sounds like someone beat up the metal monster!"

Oh! Someone beating up a big scary metal monster! It's gotta be..

"Amalia!"

No doubt about it! That's definitely what she would do!

I vaguely register Seel crying for me to wait, but I don't have time for that! Amalia is out there and she needs a-

Huh?

"You're not- But you're.."

In the hallway, just as I expected, I find a pile of metallic plates and bits that until a moment ago was part of the same being. And on top of it, not quite as expected..

"Lily!"

[End of part one!]

>>773308
Thanks for running!

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And that is, I'm afraid, as much as I'm capable of. I really wanted to get to the end of this one tonight, but it's just not happening. And that sucks.

Since I'll be busy tomorrow evening, I'm going to give you guys a choice. Either we continue this Tuesday evening, or next weekend. Feel very free to vote!

And whatever you vote, I hope you enjoyed this slightly different thread. And even if you didn't, thanks for playing, and see you next time.

Good night!

>>773308
Thanks for running Friend.

>>773325
Thanks for writing!
Seems like we got a save there.

>>773325
Thanks for running.
I don't really have much of a preference as to when to continue, I don't haveany plans at least.
Good night.

>>773308
Finally we can increase our rep with her.

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>>773325
Oh, and obviously when I say Tuesday evening I mean the new default start time, at 1800 UTC. Kinda sucks to wait two days to finish this one, but is it better to wait until next weekend?

Kinda depends on how you guys feel about it all and whether you think you can make it at that time, so please let me know right here!

>>773391
I'd prefer Tuesday, since I'm living the NEET life and my weekdays are way less busy than weekends.

>>773391
I don't mind either way except, of course, that Tuesday is sooner so clearly better.

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Confirming that the plan is to continue Tuesday evening, at 1800 UTC. Hope you guys enjoy Lilies because that's definitely going to be a thing.

Please look forward to it!

>>776198
I absolutely will, Friend! Guess Lily is the star then, eh.

>>776198
Happy Halloween, Friend!

>>773308
>>773325

[Part two!]

Slowly and in heavy pants she looks at the floor around her, with a faint smile as she seems to be admiring her own work like a great ruler inspecting their latest conquest. The metallic remains of her enemy, which looks to have been quite significant in size, lie scattered in every direction around her, still not quite having recovered from being severed from the body they previously belonged to.

As for her chosen method of dismantling the iron foe, all the evidence I could ever need is made apparent by the thick, trickling, drops of blood escaping from her still clenched fists. Only one of the parties involved here actually have blood..

"Lily, are you..?"

With a snap and a loud crack of her neck the intent gaze of her rust-red eyes turn upon me, apparently only just having actually noticed my presence. And then, in a single instant, I find myself forcefully pushed to the floor. Before I have even had time to refocus my vision I feel my hands forced against the ground as she begins yelling at me.

"Who the hell are you? What have you done to my friend?"

"Buh-wuh?"

"ANSWER ME, YOU FREAK! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY FRIEND?"

As my sight resettles, I see the by now furious girl atop me raise her fist at me threateningly. But why..?

"I.. what? What friend? I don't understand, Lily you know who I am-"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

Her shouting only gets louder as this goes on. On my cheek I feel hot drops of fresh blood land on my face as she continues to hold her still-bleeding fist above me. But the shouting is the worst, like being struck by a wave of pure anger, pushing my entire being down.

"But.. But.. it's your name?"

"LIKE HELL! WHATEVER MAGIC BULLSHIT YOU FREAKS'RE GETTIN' OFF TO, YOU'RE TURNIN' ME 'N MY FRIEND BACK AND LETTIN' US GO! OR ELSE.."

I don't want this! This shouting, all this anger, it's making me sick! I want it to stop!


>"Please! Just stop shouting and I'll do whatever you want!" [Attempt to reason with her]
>"No, you stop being a bully!" [Try to push her off and run]
>Cry! Cry a lot! This is way too much anger!
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>778471
>Cry! Cry a lot! This is way too much anger!
Seems the most in-character thing to do. Nadja hasn't really been faced with this much physical violence before.

>>778471
>Cry! Cry a lot! This is way too much anger!
Lily pls!

>>778471
>"Please! Just stop shouting and I'll do whatever you want!" [Attempt to reason with her]
Evening, Friend.

>>778471
>Cry! Cry a lot! This is way too much anger!
What is going on?! This doesn't make any sense. Where's Amalia?

>>778471
>Cry! Cry a lot! This is way too much anger!
Friend QM is a bully.

>>778511
It's true. Just like Lily!

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Crying is always a favorite, isn't it?

>>778490
>Nadja hasn't really been faced with this much physical violence before.
Well.. I mean.. Technically I guess but..

>>776881
Thank you! Hope you all had a good one too.

>>771821
Nobody needs them more. Nobody can have them less.

>>778524
Nadja hasn't cried that much recently!

>>778471
"THREE SECONDS, WITCH!"

But I don't even know what is-

"TWO!"

And all this anger is making me-

"ONE!"

I.. Can't..

"BAAAAAWWW!"

>Lily's opinion of Nadja has decreased by 5
>Lily's current opinion is now 0/100

"..Seriously? You think crying's going to convince me to-"

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHI-I-ING!"

She lets out a frustrated sigh, then raises her fist again. "Look, just skip the fake cryin' so we can-"

"I JUST WANTED TO HELP AMALIA-A-A! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE DO-O-OING THIS!"

She tilts her curiously at me, slightly easing her left hand's steely grip on my wrists as she does so.

"Wait, are you.."

"AND-AND-AND THE SHOUTING AND PUSHING AND-AND-AND I JUST WANT AMALIAAAAA!"

"..Shit. You really are Nadja."

"Wha-wha-what do you mean? I don't-"

"..Shit. Shit-shit-shit!"

Suddenly, Lily switches from trying to punch me and instead gently lifts me back unto my feet.

"Sorry! So sorry, I thought those witch freaks switched you too! Sorry!"

What? This is so confusing! First she beats up the monster, then she's mean, now she's nice, and what does she mean..

"..Switched?"

She rubs her forehead in exhaustion, painting it a disturbing red as she does so.

"I'm Amalia. I woke up in this dump and was-"

"-Heeheeheeh!" Suddenly, the familiar voice of Amalia echoes through the room. "Crybaby Nadja wants go home because she has a boo-booh!"

"-SHIT!" Lily, or not-Lily, or something, yells hastily. "She's in here! We gotta catch her!"

"But I don't.. Switched? And if you're uh.."

"NOW!"

But if Lily is Amalia and Amalia is Lily then that means..

>There's only two exits, block them so Amal- Lily- Whoever- can't get out!
>Threaten to hurt this Lily! If they're switched, then it'd be actual Lily's body getting hurt!
>Use the fire potions and block the exits with fire!
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>778649
>Use the fire potions and block the exits with fire!

Playtime is over! She can't have those cat ears! They belong to Amalia!

>>778649
>There's only two exits, block them so Amal- Lily- Whoever- can't get out!

Let's not set ourselver on fire. Also, Lily might not care what happens to Amalia's body.

>>778649
>>There's only two exits, block them so Amal- Lily- Whoever- can't get out!

>>778649
>Use the fire potions and block the exits with fire!
Rash, but should be effective!

>>778649
>There's only two exits, block them so Amal- Lily- Whoever- can't get out!
We can't get out if we light the exits on fire, and someone might hurt Themselves.

>>778649
>There's only two exits, block them so Amal- Lily- Whoever- can't get out!
What a nasty move! Lily will need to be punished for this.

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Rolled 2 + 1 (1d2 + 1)

Yep, we're going to need some d30s for that particular pick. Good luck!

Gotta apologize for the slowness tonight, it's been a very long day. For a while I even considered cancelling tonight but that seemed too sucky. So please bear with me.

Rolled 28 (1d30)

>>778700

Rolled 14 (1d30)

>>778700
Righteous witch justice!

Rolled 30 (1d30)

>>778700

>>778706
Good job! Now what, Lily!?

Rolled 14 (1d30)

>>778700

>>778706
CRIT
Did we just break our seal?

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>>778702
That's a pretty good ro-

>>778706
Alright. That works, I guess.

>>778700
Don't worry about it Friend, we still have fun when it's slow.

>>778706
Well...

>>778716
No one messes with Amalia! It's not okay!

>>778649
Okay okay, I think I get it. What we need to do is..

"Block that exit!" I yell, poiting to the exit leading back to the first room of this place. "I'll take this one, that way she can't get out!"

"Right!" Lil- Amalia-supposedly confirms, then quickly springs to her position.

Myself, I'm actually a little dizzy still after the pushing and the shouting and the crying, but I'm basically already where I need to be. All I have to do is keep my eyes open and make sure nobody gets past me. Though, if she is in this room.. Where?

I definitely can't see from here, just row after row of ugly, stupid weapons of iron and these same ugly stone walls that I'm pretty sure are the perfect breeding grounds rats and fungus. Some of these swords are starting to look more than a little rusted though. If that keeps going, soon they may be perfectly harmless. That'd be nice.

But none of those look like Lily. No wait, Lily looks like Amalia now, right? So I'm looking for Amalia, but not the Amalia that looks like- Ugh, this is confusing. Just look for anything!

>Lily's opinion of Nadja has decreased by 5
>Lily's current opinion is now -5/100

"Heeheeheeh. That's all? Just sit and wait for me to make the first move? What a boring witch!"

Or look at the source of her voice. Left wall, the center row, pretty sure. This works much better, no way she's sneaking past like this. Maybe I can keep her talking?

"Hey! I am not boring!"

"Boring, boring, BORING!"

She's moving. I still don't see her, but she's definitely in the far left corner of the room now. But why didn't I see her go around the weapons racks? She should have passed right by where I'm looking. Could she be..?

There! That shadow moving in the air instead of on the wall! Definitely not natural!

"Amalia, look right!"

>Lily's opinion of Nadja has increased by 10
>Lily's current opinion is now 5/100

There's nothing wrong with Amalia's reflexes, not even in a different body, but she hasn't figured out what she's looking for at all! Even as I set into a sprint, I can only watch as the shadowy figure runs up to Lil- Amalia, and punches her hard enough on the side of her head to knock her right to the floor, then hurry right past before she can recover.

>1/2

>>778969
Wow, that's super mean! Even if she was punching herself...but I bet Amalia felt it!

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>>778969
But I still see her. Even though my torch is getting further and further away - I never did have time to pick it back up after the pushing-shouting-incident - now that I know what I'm looking for I can definitely find a shadow even in the dark hallway.

And I do have the advantage. While she was busy with the whole punching thing, I had already set into a sprint. Trying as best as she can, within just a moment I'm close enough I can almost smell her and, with a little more elegance than when I had to catch the real Amalia, I jump, connect, and with a surprisingly happy squeal she falls to the floor.

>Lily's opinion of Nadja has increased by 10
>Lily's current opinion is now 15/100

"Heeheeh, yes! No mercy! Finish me! Show me your worst!"

It's difficult to tell in the dark, but when I squint my eyes I can just vaguely tell her shape from the dark and there's no doubt. It's definitely the body of Amalia. And if there had been any doubt, it quickly vanishes as the shadowy form gradually returns to normal beneath me.

"Lily! You are Lily!"

She smiles, her uncanny and mischievous grin painted on Amalia's familiar face. Actually, it's not that different from regular Amalia when I think about it, but..

"Now turn her back so we can go home!"

She shrugs with disinterest. "Why would I? I like Kitty."

>"Because if you don't, I'll tell Mistress!"
>"Because if you don't, I'll just figure it out on my own anyway! "
>"Because if you don't, I'll force you to tell me how! Physically!"
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>778975
>I'll throw into the room with that crying orb if you don't.

Annoyed Witchling is annoyed and in an unpleasant mood.

>>778975
>>778984
Supporting, this is a good plan.

>>778975
>"Because if you don't, I'll just figure it out on my own anyway! "

>>778975
>>778990
We'll try that.

>>778975
>"Because if you don't, I'll just figure it out on my own anyway! "
>"And I'll throw into the room with that crying orb if you don't!"

>>778975
>"Because if you don't, I'll just figure it out on my own anyway! "

>>778984
>>778990
>>778997
Is this a bluff or not? Lily is still in Amalia's body, so we can't harm her physically.

>>778975
>I'll just lock you in a closet or something until you do, then. Or until I or Mistress figure out how to undo it.

>>779012
Well, we don't know if the room is physically dangerous rather than in a way that will endanger Lily inside instead. And I'm sure if necessary, Nadja and Lily could deal with spooky rooms together too!

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Creative! I like it!

>>779025
We can thank our fairy friend for it!

Speaking of, what happened to her during the adventures of not-Lily and not-Amalia anyway?

>>778975
"Because.. If you don't I'll throw you into the room with the crying orb and not let you out until you do!"

Even in this dark, even if she was still in that shadow form, even a blind person would still be able to see her flinch.

"Pfft, I'm not afraid of some stupid crying!"

"Well actually you are. Seel told me. You know, your fairy."

The worry blatantly painted on her - or rather, Amalia's - face sharply contrasts the confidence she's trying to portray. I've definitely got her now!

"Seel lied to you."

"Fairies can't lie, Lily."

>Lily's opinion of Nadja has increased by 10
>Lily's current opinion is now 25/100

And yet, just like that, the look of worry is immediately transformed into a wide, though seemingly not at all mischievous, smile.

"Heeheeh, there you go! I knew you had a witch in you!"

"..Huh?"

"One, gather intelligence, know your enemy's fears and weaknesses: Clearly passed!"

..It's another one of those, isn't it?

"Two, entrapment, ensure your target has no means by which they can escape you and make sure they know it: Passed, though a bit more flash wouldn't hurt."

..I guess it is.

"Third, use the fear, promise the target nothing less than their worst nightmares and deepest fears: Also passed, easily!"

"..Another test."

"Mhm! And you did good! Can I get up now?"

"STUPID! How many stupid tests are there going to be?! Why can't people just show some trust? Don't I deserve that by now? I'm not stupid!"

She does not answer.

"I pay attention! I study! I help out as much as I can! So WHY can't I go just one day without someone trying "test" me?"

She does not answer.

"Did Mistress ask you to do this?! Tell me!"

"Can I get up now?"

Why does everything have to be so COMPLICATED with witches? Why can't they just give a simple answer?!

"..Fine. Sure. Just.. undo whatever switchy-witchy you did on Amalia so we can go home already."

I stand back up before her, even give her a hand to help her up, she does at least LOOK like Amalia so it's hard not to. Meanwhile the real Amalia is..

"Help me carry her. I'll take her feet." She states with an usual - for her- calm in her voice, pointing to the once-again unconscious Amalia lying by the wall.

"But didn't you carry her all the back here yourself?"

"Not in this tiny form! Now help me!"

Right, the faster we can leave the better..

>1/2

>>779290
With Amalia's, no wait, Lily's unconscious body technically, but with Amalia inside or however this works - I really need to stop worrying about this - Lily leads me back down the hallway I just came from, but instead of turning towards the morgue she instead pulls a key out of her hair and unlocks the door I previously couldn't pass through. Wait, where's..

"Wait, where did Seel go? I was with her until-"

"Seel HATES violence. She'll be somewhere way, way, far away from here by now. Probably not coming back until I call her. Don't worry, she's fine. She's smart for a fairy."

"Oh.. I guess I can understand that."

Beyond the locked door Lily leads me through a room far larger than the previous. Unlike all the other rooms so far, it is also already lit by torches along the walls and also not square like the others but completely round. And very much unlike the previous rooms, this one actually does not smell bad, and almost every single stone in both floor, wall, and ceiling is covered in the same kind of magical circles I've been practising, though these seem much more complicated.

On closer inspection, they're also almost all identical, with only tiny changes in details between each, and all made in the same odd-looking green material.

"Lily, what is all this?"

"Research. For the 'switchy-witchy'. Took months to crack that one, you know. Only finished it a few days ago."

"So you used Amalia as a test subject?! That is so-"

"No no, I already tested it. I'd never do that!"

"You.. wouldn't?"

Instead of answering, she points to a specific pair of circles near the wall.

"Those are the good ones. We just put both subjects in each circle and woosh! Simple as that! Brilliant isn't it?"

"Then make the switch!"

"Hold on.. Aren't you curious? About what it feels like to be her? You could try it while she's still out.. I won't tell!"

>"No! That's awful! You don't do that to friends! Absolutely not!"
>"..Only if she agrees once she wakes up. It might be.. fun?"
>"Well.. I really would like to try it, just for a moment. Promise not to tell, though!"
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>779296
>"No! That's awful! You don't do that to friends! Absolutely not!"

>>779296
>"No! That's awful! You don't do that to friends! Absolutely not!"
>"I mean...maybe if she wanted to. But only then!"

>>779296
>"No! That's awful! You don't do that to friends! Absolutely not!"

>>779296
>"I mean...maybe if she wanted to. But only then!"

>>779296
>"I'd never do that to Amalia. She's a very private person you know! In fact she'll probably be really mad at you for this...well, I am too! But even more mad."

>>779296
>"I mean...maybe if she wanted to. But only then!"

>>779296
>Perhaps later.
>Quickly study the runes.

>>779296
>>"..Only if she agrees once she wakes up. It might be.. fun?"

>>779342
This, pretty much.

>>779296
>"Why did you want to learn how to switch bodies?"

I'm off to sleep, Friend, good luck if you're gonna keep writing!

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I count 4.5 in favor of no, and 4.5 in favor of maybe (that is, actually asking Amalia if she wants to try the switchy-witchy when she wakes) which makes for one of those handy ties.

We can't do both. Either a flat no or ask Amalia when she wakes.

But you know, we're basically at the wrapping-up part and I am absolutely beat, so I'll just leave this vote open for the night and post the next part tomorrow evening. Hopefully a pretty sizable update to round things off.

And since I'll be doing that, I'll be calling for one more vote:
>Things you want Nadja to ask Lily if she gets the chance!
>No prompts, anything you'd like to ask, just post it and maybe it'll make it in!

Technically this still isn't QUITE the end of the episode, but I intend to post just the one remaining update tomorrow, so please remember to check it out when you have time! To be clear, it will not be an actual session, just the one update.

For now, good night and thank you very much for putting up with my sleepily trying to power through this ending. I hope you enjoyed it despite that, and I hope very much to see you next time!

And don't forget to respond to this extra vote!

>>779432
>"Why did you want to learn how to switch bodies?"
I'll support this. But I'd guess it's to live forever.

>What's it like to be Amalia?

>What's Seels favorite food?

>What's in that Orb?

>>779432
Oh boy, well before I sleep then.
Ask if Mistress intended for her to have a Very Special Lesson today, given how this all was set in motion.
As the other anon mentioned, ask why she made body-switching magic in the first place.
And let's ask what's with the ob room.

>>779432
So why did you want to test me so bad? Since you messed up my "Plans for how to turn a werewolf back to normal" do you have any ideas on how to help, or find the missing ingredient? What is that orb? Is this kinda stuff going to happen often?

>>779432
We should probably study the circles, and figure out what exactly they're made of.

Good night.

>>779296
>"..Only if she agrees once she wakes up. It might be.. fun?"

>>779432
>"Could you show me how to make this body-swapping magic circle?"
>Also definitely don't let Lily mess around in your body, make her switch back with Amalia first.

Thanks for running, see you tomorrow!

>>779432
>Things you want Nadja to ask Lily if she gets the chance!
What is the orb?
What is the monster with the scythe?
Why did you test me?
Will you help us with the werewolf?
What is it like to be Amalia?

Where's our update, Friend!? Is this advanced bully?

>>782527
Soon.

-ish.

>>782578
Don't lose sleep for an update, now. I'm sure we could wait another day.

>>779296
>>779432
>>782578

"No! That's awful! She's a very private person you know! And doing something like that would be like.. like.. It's not even like anything else! It's that bad!"

"So you're not even a little curious?"

"Curious?"

Once more, I look around the room she has led me to. I gaze over the myriad of flowing patterns, see the beauty they contain in every little stroke of the pen, feel the intense labour hidden behind the lines and curves that cover every surface of the room. And more than anything, the power locked underneath even the ones deemed failures. To be at the center of it, to feel it flow through you..

To describe what I feel as just 'curiosity' would be like describing the morning sky as 'red'. True, but so simplified it may as well be a lie.

With something like this I could finally truly understand Amalia, truly help her, truly make her happy. All the things a good friend should do, I could. But even if that is true.. It's not the right way to learn any of those things.

"Even if I am curious, this way is just.. it's too much. Too far. Maybe one day, if she wants it, but not this way."

"Oh well, if that's what you want.."

"I also want you two to switch back."

"Right, right.." She says with a sigh. "May as well get it over with, then. First, put Kitty over there. Without touching anything!"

That's probably good advice. She used two circles, one subject in each circle. Each circle must be sparked by the other, somehow. The book I read never suggested anything like that was even possible. Maybe.. maybe it was impossible until Lily made it work? Which means that any of these others could activate just about anything..

"Right. Just like that. Next, I just have to step inside this one and.."

>1/4

>>782724
Just as her foot connects with the ground inside, Amalia's body stumbles to the ground while Lily's suddenly jolts upwards, quickly followed by an anguished scream from supposedly-now-actually-Lily.

"FOR THE LOVE OF VALA, IT HURTS SO BAD!"

"What?! You didn't say it would hurt!"

"IT'S NOT THE HEX!" She cries while alternatingly trying to clutch each of her hands in the other, then finally settling for simply pressing both against her chest. "KITTY IS INSANE! WHO WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO THEMSELVES?!"

Oh. Right. The whole punching metal monsters to death so hard her fists were bleeding. It didn't seem to bother Amalia when she was in Lily's body though..

Lily hurriedly tears off pieces of her own clothes and begins to clumsily wrap up her own hands. I try to offer to help with that, but instead she just yells at me to stay back and I'm left to instead retrieve the still unconscious Amalia.

"Guess I deserved that after all this.." She mumbles as staggers unto her feet and back towards the only clean spot left in the room, in the center. Even if she says that though, I don't like it one bit. "..hell of a tough kitten."

"Why did you do all this anyway? Did Mistress ask you to test me?"

She falls to her knee, having finally stumbled her way back to the safe spot, then the other, then half-falls into a seated position.

"Moons, no! Haven't you noticed? She hates not being in control of everything."

"..Does she? But then.. why?"

She looks up at me, and that's when I see the most unexpected thing. A decidedly uncreepy and friendly smile.

"I like you. You have a good heart. But after meeting you, I worried. I wanted to make sure you were strong enough to protect it."

..Protect it? She means my heart?

"This fort used to house several hundred Imperial soldiers. They all left. Which was good, because if they had not there would have been war. Your home might not even have existed today if they had stayed. But the thing about soldiers leaving a fort like this is.. It's not allowed. They were punished. Some stayed hidden, but many were punished. For deserters, death."

"I did that, Nadja. I drove them all away, and because I did, many died. A hundred widows and orphans, because of me. But many more saved. I know I did right. And yet.. how do you tell your heart that?"

"A witch must learn that, Nadja. She must be strong. Your heart is very loud. Deafening. Most of the time that is good, but sometimes it is not. Sometimes what is right and what your heart wants won't be the same. I don't know how to teach you that, or how to learn it, but I want to believe I helped you at least take the first step. You must learn to-"

"Silence my heart?"

I've know that line. I never really understood it, it always seemed so stupid.

Maybe it's not stupid.

>2/4

>>782728
"Uhm, Lily, I'm not sure how to say this but.. you seem different. From that day in the forest. Was that.."

"Today is a good day. Some days are not as good. Some days it is hard to.. remember to be me. Seel helps. On the very bad days, she makes sure I.. Seel is a very good friend. We're both lucky that way, aren't we?"

Hard to remember to be her..? I don't really understand but her tone makes it clear asking for an explanation right now would be a bad idea.

"Could you teach me to make this hex too?"

"Not yet. Too dangerous. But if you ever need to use it, just come and visit. In fact.."

Once more she stumbles unto her feet. Then, she begins leading the way even deeper into this place, down a hallway in the far end of this latest room.

"..I'll show you the shortcut.."

She moves slowly, clearly exhausted and in pain, but that does give me the chance to keep up with her while still carrying Amalia in my arms.

True to her word, the hallway quickly comes to an end at the foot of a short ladder leading up to a trapdoor. Between the planks of the door, weak rays of sunlight can be seen, and as she swings the door open. It takes a bit of cooperation, but a few moments later we've made sure all three of us are back above ground, just a short distance to the south of the path leading up to the fort, and in clear view of the setting sun. From up here, it's clear the trapdoor was concealed, perhaps originally intended as a secret route for the soldiers?

"There. Just look for this if you ever need to come back. I suppose now you'll want to-"

"Ask questions! I have so many!"

A surprised look on her face is quickly followed by a -surprisingly- small and shy smile.

"Could you tell me why you made that hex? What do you want to use it for?"

"Infiltration. Politicians, generals, you know, people who ruin a lot of lives for no good reason. With this, they could all be replaced by good people, people who will help.."

"You expected something else didn't you?"

I.. might have. But I probably shouldn't say that.

"What about that crying orb? What was that?"

"That.."

Is clearly not something she likes talking about, as her smile is instantly turned on its head.

"Is a scrying orb. It sees, and hears, what is going on somewhere else. In this specific case.. Have you heard of the so-called Mad Witch Queen?"

I nod. By now how could I possibly not have? The insane ruler of the Kingdom of Lent. They say she eats babies for breakfast every day, and exclusively wears dresses made from the skin of virgins. But I'm pretty sure those are just stories. Pretty sure.

"That's her. Not my orb though, the previous resident left it behind. Either to spy on her, or to conspire with her. He didn't say before he expired. And no, I don't know why she's always crying. She's mad."

>3/4

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>>782735
The trembling in her voice certainly confirms what Seel told me. Lily is afraid of that room. Or rather, what's in it.

"One last question.. The monster with that scythe, the one that attacked me by the watchtower, what was-"

"Me."

"Eh? No, that can't be, I checked and its shape doesn't match at all and-"

As I speak, she reaches both hands behind her neck, unclasping the necklace she's wearing. And as she removes it from her neck, her entire being begins to shift.

Black cloth wraps around her entire body as she rapidly grows, both upwards and sideways, within moments having taken the form of an adult woman, that is, a more or less normal sized adult woman, rather than a Mistress-sized one.

At the top, the black cloth melts away to reveal a face both familiar and strange at the same time. In some ways similar to the Lily from before but also more mature and with deep grey eyes as opposed to the almost-demonic eyes from before. Her hair, while retaining its jet black colour, grows longer, long enough to sway in the mild breeze.

As a finish, a large yet simple and classic witch's hat reveals itself. In every way it is what I've come to expect from a witch, except for one peculiar detail. A pair of strange, thick glasses held together by some kind of elastic material.

"Does this seem familiar?" She asks while sporting a kind but timid smile.

Even her voice has changed to match the form, sounding almost.. motherly?

"Lily, is this..?"

"The real me? I suppose, though some days I have trouble telling. But today is a good day."

"I've really enjoyed your company today, Nadja. I want you to know that. And I hope you can forgive me one day, though I understand if you won't. Thank you."

"I uh.."

I want to say it. I know the words she wants to hear right now, but I don't know.. I don't know if I would mean them right now.

She closes her eyes, and with a slow, serene, nod replies to the words I only thought before turning to return to her lair.

"Perhaps next time."

[End of thread #30; Halloween Special!]

>>782739
Thanks for running Friend.

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And THAT officially ends the thread. Phew! Many, many sorries for the extreme lateness on this last bit.

I hope you've enjoyed it, because there will NOT be a thread this weekend. There's simply not enough time in the world. That means next thread is planned for the weekend after next week (November 12th or 13th) where we'll be returning to the main plot again.

You're still welcome to talk or ask questions in this thread until autosage kills it, I'll be checking in to see if anything needs answering until then. But now, it is definitely time to sleep.

>>782580
It is too late, anon. It was always too late.

>>782739
Thanks for running!

>I want to say it. I know the words she wants to hear right now, but I don't know.. I don't know if I would mean them right now.

Something Nadja can't forgive? What madness is this?!

>>782739
Whoa, Lily's an old lady huh. Interesting. Got a fair number of answers today, and some stuff to ponder. Not sure Nadja would have it in her to drive soldiers away like that.

>>782766
Thanks for running! It was definitely worth waiting for. Hopefully Amalia will be alright when she wakes up, and not super angry...

>>782770
Well, can't forgive YET. I think Nadja would be more easily able to forgive it if she hadn't involved her friend in things. But I'm sure it'll come to her eventually!

>>782766
Sorry I missed the update, thanks for running! What did Lily mean here: >>782735, when she said "... Seel is a very good friend. We're both lucky that way, aren't we?" Is Lily implying Nadja is lucky to have Amalia, or something else?

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>>782770
>Something Nadja can't forgive? What madness is this?!
Did Nadja forgive her sister for what she did to Amalia? Or did she just get distracted by other things?

>>782790
>Whoa, Lily's an old lady huh
Did I really make her sound THAT old? Not everyone is Mistress, you know!

>>783805
>Is Lily implying Nadja is lucky to have Amalia, or something else?

That's definitely what I want you to think she's saying.

>>784140
If you're not a kid, then you're an old lady/dude! Gosh, Friend, I thought you knew this stuff.

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>>784140
>That's definitely what I want you to think she's saying.

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>>784161
But she's more than a hundred years younger than Raven according to my timeline..? How can they be the same?

>>786906
Don't sweat the small stuff, Friend

I skipped the discussion, did anyone mention that Seel was in Hope's fairy book? She's a VERY old fairy if they're the same. Definitely ask her and maybe Lily about Hope sometime.

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>>787050
Sure sure, I guess as long as nobody says it out loud anywhere near her you can call Lily old all you want.

>>789320
I really love how great you guys are getting at spotting all the hidden little details. Well, most of them anyway. Makes me wonder what I'm even going to do if you figure everything out too soon..

>She's a VERY old fairy if they're the same.

Can you imagine the level of asshole you'd have to be to give two different characters identical names just to mislead the players?

>>791806
>Can you imagine the level of asshole you'd have to be to give two different characters identical names just to mislead the players?
I don't think you would do that. I remember back in the first thread I suggested Mara as a potential name for Nadja. You vetoed it because it's the same name as one of the moon deities (not that it had any chance in winning).

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>>791975
Well, there's that and the fact that in the case of Vala and Mara, naming your children that is extra-super-verboten-heresy. Not quite as heretical as naming your child after Vala and Mara's papa, who in fact you're not even allowed to pray to because he's that much above you, but it would still be a very bad idea.

And sure, there's Saint Vala and Saint Mara, who were actual people and not the deities (except when they are the same but never mind that, theology is too hard for Nadja anyway) but in their case they had actual people names first and were only given the titles later, against their will. In Saint Vala's case she had been dead for years already at the time, and in Saint Mara's case, well, she simply left and was never heard from again.

That's actually kind of a part of the problem since her fate being unknown means you get various idiots from time to time claiming to be her, returned to lead the Empire to glory and other good things. Or claiming some girl's corpse to be hers and trying to sell it as a holy relic. You know, the same kind of scams you see people in real life get up to such as trying to sell some worthless piece of wood as a splinter of the holy cross. Stupid scams that eventually get you executed in the nearest city.

Hinde is pretty chill about these things, of course, but when the time comes for Nadja to actually visit one of the core provinces or major cities, she'll be in for a bit of a culture shock.

>>791806
>Can you imagine the level of asshole you'd have to be to give two different characters identical names just to mislead the players?
I wouldn't think that was the reason. More that fairies only have so many names or maybe Seel is some kind of super-famous fairy that younger fairies get named after these days.

>>792142
Oh, fairy question: Where do fairies get their names from!!!!?

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>>792142
>>792145

Their mom/queen names them shortly after they're born. Newsprouts are sent to meet their queen who then inspects them and gives them a name they feel is fitting. There are no naming conventions other than whatever the queen decides. As a general rule though, their names will be fairly simple and/or childish-sounding because that is what they're actually capable of thinking up.

Another general rule is that one, and only one, will be named after the queen. That's the one that inherits her queen's original sparkle, making her effectively identical to her queen when she was a newsprout. She stops being identical the moment she absorbs her first sparkle, but I'm sure you can understand why that would still make her special in the eyes of her queen.

Mind you of course, the queen never actually tells her name to any of her daughters because oh dear god can you imagine the jealousy that would lead to? But once that fairy actually leaves the village behind she might run into someone who knew her queen before she queened, and then she would know. That's probably an awkward conversation.

Seel is just Seel though, I guarantee that.

>>791989
>You know, the same kind of scams you see people in real life get up to such as trying to sell some worthless piece of wood as a splinter of the holy cross.
https://youtu.be/H7kixg7E3Pk?t=21m30s
21:30 if embedded time doesn't work.

Very old money-making practice of religion.

>>792247
The purple sparkle in Nadja's head-vision-thingy better not be a queen sparkle!

That nasty-nasty stuff with the iron weapons this thread was so FAE INTENSIFIES that it hurt.

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>>792566
See, this is why history is the best inspiration ever. I love it so much!

>>792676
>That nasty-nasty stuff with the iron weapons this thread was so FAE INTENSIFIES that it hurt.

I'm sorry anon, I didn't mean to hurt you.