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>>1378568

For any new players:

Welcome to Gorgon Child Quest! Where-in you take up the role of a magical talking artifact being wielded by a young gorgon girl named Cici. Living out of the remains of a once great dungeon, the game will focus on exploration, character interaction, and learning as the voices of the players within the amulet help guide her along.

For news about quest updates, my twitter can be found here:
https://twitter.com/bananon_QM

And the archive can presently be found here:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=gorgon+child

>>1378568
Hey, at least they're not demanding a marriage out of you. If the price is fair, it's fair.

>>1378568
Well, it sounds like quite a shopping list. The stone, steel, and anvil make me think of some manner of forge. The rest? Good luck deciphering that. Perhaps the little automata are going to do something creative with all that. One cannot argue with the quality of their workmanship.

The question is do they need all that all immediately? Or is it something you can set aside for eventual doing, and store the materials in your basement as you acquire them until it's all assembled? You should have plenty of room. The main problem with this is the funds to acquire this stuff. I doubt the root is going to be something one can just pick up in the local marketplace, and the ash, metals, and gems will have to straight up be imported.

I assume taxes are still a ways off from being collected. Still gotta get that figured out fairly. But so far you seem to be doing a wonderful job. Being a solid ton worth of battle-tested gorgon seems to be the trick to a lot of local problems. Good job, and keep up the good work!

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>>1378765
>>1378613
>>1378568

“There’s no telling how long it will take to acquire all of that,” Mama admits, “but I swear on my station that you’ll have it.”

“And in exchange (provided you can get them the materials for building the road itself), they’re willing to pave the town as well as make a road that stretches to the nearest cities.”

“I really should see about getting the cities in question to help foot the bills on this, if I’m honest. They’ll benefit from it as much as anyone, and it would further offset the kingdom’s tax credits that will assist us on their work.”

“Well, if so, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind paving those towns as well. I’ll talk to them about when I get home and-“

“Iris,” Cici interjects. “You should come to school…”

“Oh, dear, I’ve just been soo busy. The voices have been yap, yap, yapping about all sorts of things nonstop since we’ve gotten here. Something about a two-wheeled vehicle and something called polyester also convection ovens, combustion engines, solar cells and green houses, dynamitedynamoslightbulbsandpowerwoes, grittygritgritsgravelgrautgratecement and… and…”

Her panicked, foggy eyes seem to come back to the forefront.

“I’m sorry. What was I talking about again?”

> …
> Write-in

>>1378889
Man, Iris, your voices/ancestral memories have a lot more going on than we do. Probably because you're older than Cici and are in a better position to actually make bicycles and spark an industrial revolution.

Anyway, without vulcanized rubber and the proper machining tools, you won't get good bicycles. Your voices need to stop with trying to get the end product and start producing the tools needed to make them, such as a method of consistently machining tools that are within 10 microns of each other; you need at minimum that if you want breech-loading guns with interchangeable parts.

>>1378889
Yeah... Your voices are pretty advanced there. The majority of what you just rattled off is most likely beyond the technology of the day even if you bring magic into play. A greenhouse is doable, but someone's gonna have to make a lot of glass for that to work.

I approve of the idea of getting the automata to pump out some roads. Stone should be fairly easy to come across, and they could probably use leftovers from any nearby quarries or mines.

I agree with >>1378927. You gotta get the base before you make the advanced stuff. But i don't think bringing that last bit of tech into the equation would be a good idea. People tend to get crazy when that becomes a thing, and there's enough issues afoot already.

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>>1378889
>>1378927
>>1379025

“Y-you’re right,” Iris says. “The voices just want what’s best for me. T-they know I can handle it. I’ve just got to work harder is all. Gotta make tools to make stuff. Gotta get stuff to make tools, and then maybe… A-And then…”

She furrows her brow at some silent response.

“No, I know we know more than her… Maybe it would be a waste of time, but… Would it really be that bad? I j-just… I just want… Okay…”

She seems to deflate in that moment, eyes aimless with tentacles and shoulders drooping.

“Iris,” Cici says again, taking the beholder’s hand and looking into her one, big eye. “Iris, you should come to school with us. You should make friends.”

“It’s too important…” she murmurs quietly, eyes not focusing on Cici as she stares into the distance. “It’s all just too important, I’m afraid.”

> Write-in

>>1379097
Attempt to land on her head to make her feel a little better.

Say, do you guys think we could try finding a way to talk to her voices? We tried it with that seer, think we should give it a shot in this case?

>>1379097
This is what one can call a teachable moment, Cici. While you are free to take us off and thus silence us, Iris is not so fortunate. This is the curse of being descended from beholders; the voices don't tend to stop. The strain can be overwhelming with an untold number of voices all shouting at each other and a lesser person would have broken long ago. I would advise strong mental discipline to shut out the voices for Iris but I'm not sure of the rules her voices operate under, so I'm not going to talk out of turn if I can avoid it.

What you should take away from this - and your mother would be wise to remember, given her new role in government - is that you should not allow yourself to be pulled in a thousand directions at once or you'll never get anything done. Focus down on what you know you can do, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it to get things done. The saying "More hands make for lighter work" exists for a reason.

>>1379120
Honestly, I'm dubious of trying. Her voices are most likely genetic and may not be something we can interact with. I would not be adverse to trying but we should figure out some failsafe or something just in case something goes wrong. Maybe have Cici loosely tie the bracelet on her wrist so if something happens she can snatch it off quickly and sever the connection the hard way?

>>1379097
Really Iris, by the sounds of things most of the stuff your voices seem preoccupied with dont sound that important, or at least not time-sensitive. Most of it will probably get made eventually with or without you, and the rest isnt really of pressing need. Even the road is mostly a thing of convenience, and not a necessity.
Your voices should probably relax a bit and take thing as they come, and make things as a need arises, not expecting you to thrust the world into the next millennium of technology all by your lonesome.

>>1379097
Obviously your voices have lots of knowledge, maybe access to a portion of the Akashic Records or Pnakoptic Manuscripts, but they're really running you ragged and if their physical avatar, which is you, fails then they're fucked.
They should learn to take better care of you; unless they know of an extra-planetary threat of some kind that requires this world's population teching up really fast, they need to take better care of you.

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>>1379097
>>1379120
>>1379123
>>1379158
>>1379164

> Attempt a brain dive on Iris?
> Y/N

>>1379175
Y

>>1379175
N

>>1379175
Y

>>1379175
Y, with quick bracelet removal failsafe.

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>>1379175
>>1379178
>>1379180
>>1379181
>>1379186

Alright, roll me 1d100.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>1379233
Oh boy...

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>1379233

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>1379233

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>1379233
Here goes nothing

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>1379233

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>>1379233
>>1379235
>>1379243
>>1379247
>>1379282
>>1379353

“It’s okay, Iris,” Cici promises. “You’re a nice person, and you shouldn’t let your voices make you sad.”

“They just want to be heard,” she says timidly. “And I’m the only one who can listen.”

“Well, maybe my voices can talk with your voices,” Cici offers, removing the bracelet from her own wrist.

“Maybe…” she concedes, looking dimly into the amulet, “but I suppose there’s only one way to find out.”

With a long sigh, Iris takes the amulet in hand, but rather than strap it to her own wrist, she simply leans down to place her forehead against its surface.

Even before then, from the moment her fingers brush across the leather, there is a bizarre feeling on the fringes of the voices’ awareness, something like being immersed in chill water as thousands of small teeth begin nibbling at their fringes. It’s disconcerting, fear inducing, but it’s nothing quite like what happens when they finally touch her mind directly.

Like a brick wall, it slams into the voice’s mental space without warning, a dense vortex of manifest consciousness forcing its way deep inside of their domain before erupting out into all directions.

“What is this? Who is this?”

“Well, this is certainly new!”

“You morons! They’re in here to take away our host!”

“I’m not a moron!”

“Shut up, moron!”

“Maybe they’re friendly!”

“We’re not having a fucking repeat of the cave spider incident!”

“Guys, I just got a great idea! All we need to do is get an assload of mana crystals from back in that one cave, and-“

“Shut the fuck up! You are the entire problem here!”

“Vive le revolusion!”

“Shut the fuck up, Steven!”

“We’re all mad here…”

“I just wanted a fucking bicycle!”

Dozens upon dozens of voices all speaking at once, debating and berating each other with seemingly no regard for anything outside of their mass of consciousness. Cici’s voices have no idea how someone could function like this as the sheer volume threatens to shake their mental space apart.

> Write-in

>>1379432
Hey guys, no don't mind me. I'm just taking notes on any way we can mimic your voicing style. So far it's looking like selfishly berating a child with no mercy or self-awareness is a... maybe?

But I DO go on... please, as you were.

>>1379432
"Holy fucking shit shut the fuck up you bunch of mutli-dimensional rejects! Fuck, the Harkonnens have better behaved genetic memories, and they're the FUCKING HARKONNENS! You've gone straight past turning your avatar physical interface into Abomination and right into pushing her to the edge of exhaustion, insanity, and usefulness.
"And you! The one that wanted bicycles, are you going with the wood-and-rope bicycles, or actually post-Industrial Revolution ones? If you want the good stuff, give Iris the tools she needs first."

>>1379432
Uh, hey... Wow, its a bit more cramped in here then I thought it would be.

Hey, guys. Sorry to barge in here unannounced. We're the voices of spirits, concepts, and interdimensional beings contained in a bracelet next door. Nice to meet you guys! We're here to help you folk organize your ideas and plans a bit. We've noticed that your physical medium is looking a little exhausted, and we figure it would help her out a little if we all came together and talk some ideas with each other, maybe take a break to do some teambuilding exercises, stuff like that.

>>1379432
Guys, we need to get some things straight.
1) This world has magic, technology is going to supplemented and stunted by it.
2) Dwarves have a goddamn stranglehold on the tech and resources for what we know as modern technology.
3) You guys need to get you shit together and stop harrassing your avatar. What do you think is going to happen if you keep this up? She is going to turn into a fucking evil sorceror or some shit. LIKE EVERY OTHER BEHOLDER EVER. I am honestly surprised she hasn't already if this is how you louts carry on constantly. Use some bloody moderation. Or maybe a congressional speaking system. SOMETHING.

>>1379432
Wow, No wonder Iris has been having such a hard time. With so many of you yelling at each other all the time, its a wonder she gets anything done at all.
You ever think you might be better off if you considered your hosts feelings a little, quieted down, and focused on one simple thing at a time? I'd bet it'd get you a lot further.

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>>1379490
>>1379483
>>1379482
>>1379461
>>1379442
>>1379432

The voices add in their two cents on the roiling mass of discussion and seem to draw at least some cursory focus back to themselves.

“And then there’s -these- assholes!”

“I know, we just need a die cutter for the chain links and then a riveting device to-“

“NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!”

“Guys, can we just-

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD!”

“Apparently not…”

“Fuck them anyway, Mr. Ellipses. And fuck the dwarves too. Bearded assholes hogging all of the oil, rubber too, probably.

“We could always use banded wooden rims in the meantime. The ride characteristic would suffer, but-“

“NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRR”

*Smack* “Shut the fuck up!”

“By the power of Grey Skull! I have the POWER!”

“Oh god. Not again.”

“IRIS, BLAST THEM!”

“I don’t want us to get murdered by the giant snake lady…”

“We’ll kill her too. Not like this would be the first time we murdered something above our paygrade for talking shit!

“BAD IDEA. DO NOT DO THIS!”

“Why not? Sexy evil sorceress best sorceress!”

“IRIS IS A FUCKING CHILD, YOU DEVIANT!”

“Wait, Iris is still a kid… Oh shit, we made her murder a lot of stuff.”

“And that’s why she’s fucked in the head!”

“I thought it was our fault.”

“Can we just go back to murdering shit? Things seemed to work out better when we just murdered shit.”

“Guys, she just wants to go to school.”

“Why? It’s BORING and a WASTE OF FUCKING TIME! She already knows everything through us. Hell, she doesn’t even need sleep or food except maybe once a month.”

“You talkin’ shit about our avatar? I will fight you, other voices!”

> You may need to smack them
> Write-in
> 1d100 to smack

>>1379577
Apologies, Iris. This is about to get louder before it calms down.

LISTEN HERE, YOU COLLECTION OF KEKOLDED HALF-BAKED ECHOES! YOU ARE KILLING YOUR HOST BY ACTING LIKE THIS! IF SHE DIES YOU DIE AS WELL, SINCE YOU AREN'T LIKE US AND HAVE A NICE HOME IN AN ARTIFACT. YOU NEED TO SHUT YOUR NONEXISTENT MOUTHS AND LET THE BEHOLDER-KIN GET SOME GODDAMN REST. ALSO, INSTITUTE SOME COHESION IN YOUR PLANNING. WORK SMALL. SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR CONCENTRATION TO DO ANYTHING BIG BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL TRYING TO TEAR HER MIND APART.

*ahem* So if you calm the fuck down, you can get more things done. If you keep causing Iris problems we'll just have to figure out how to seal you away permanently in the interests of her safety and sanity. Do NOT underestimate our resolve to help her.

Also, a voting system of some sort would help you a lot. You can do better than this.

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>1379577
Okay, these fucktards aren't the genetic memories of her ancestors, they're disembodied intelligences like us who have access to knowledge not normally held on this planet.

I.E. they deserve no respect from us because they're fucking anons like us.

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>1379577
>>1379606
Also, silly me forgetting this part.

Rolled 100, 93 = 193 (2d100)

>>1379577
Rolling twice. First one to smack 'em, second to facepalm.

>>1379606
Maybe implement a dice rolling system as well?

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>1379623
Good on the smack, you might have palmed too hard though
>>1379577

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>>1379623
>100 to smack the Other Voices
Huh. Guess they're gonna get smacked.

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Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>1379623
NOICE
>>1379577
Now listen here you little shits.

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Did we buff ourselves before starting this verbal fight?
We should buff ourselves before starting this verbal fight.

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>>1379623
>>1379677
I only hope that the ensuing verbal beatdown lives up to these images/memes.

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>>1379577
>>1379606
>>1379612
>>1379613
>>1379623
>>1379641
>>1379645
>>1379677
>>1379688
>>1379702

Inner peace. Infinite patience.

These are virtues the voices neither have nor have the inclination to try to exercise on this disreputable cluster of sociopathic intelligences. As Aunt Rosie put it, sometimes you needed a hammer, not a lockpick, and so, with that in mind, they begin concentrating their focus inward, seemingly shrinking within their own mental space as the assailing thoughts of the other voices press in on them from all sides.

At first, that makes them confused, then confident in their triumph as they press their apparent advantage, but as the wound band finally snaps back, they don’t have room for any thought except for the thunder of a mental shockwave so powerful that it makes their earlier assault seem like the tickling of a feather duster. There’s no telling what that’s going to do to Iris top-side, but all the resistance their horde of opponents can muster flattens like so many paper battlements in the wake of their assault.

And as the din of that surge of force dies down, there is only stunned silence left in its wake. The voices realize that won’t last long, not with these things, but they’re sure as hell getting their points across before the renegade figments can even think about spouting off again, taking several long minutes to berate them over their asinine, irresponsible, even suicidal use of their host body.

“Fuck… You…” comes the eventual, shaky response.

“It’s our body… She belongs to…”

Those thoughts backpedal into nervous silence as the world twists and warps, the voices reversing the advance to press further into Iris’ mind this time, waiting and watching.

And as the fragile and bristling egos once again emerge one-by-one onto the thoroughly cleared mental battlefield, the voices feel confident in saying that the first amongst those combative elements, must also be the most toxic and pernicious of her advisors. Fortunately, as it would turn out, the voices hadn’t quite expended their arsenal yet.

> Roll 3d100 for focused slappening

Rolled 66, 64, 17 = 147 (3d100)

>>1379777
We should take this time to buff then attack.

Rolled 80, 44, 48 = 172 (3d100)

>>1379777
Time to start sucking!

Rolled 24, 4, 87 = 115 (3d100)

>>1379777

Rolled 74, 13, 4 = 91 (3d100)

>>1379777
Talk Shit.
Get Hit.

Maybe we need Iris' voices to roll as well to feel the sting of the RNG?

>>1379819

I could if people want.

>>1379832
The problem is that it has the potential to screw us over if they roll good, or save us if they roll bad.
Though being an opposed roll because we're actively fighting them, it may be appropriate regardless of how it turns out.

>>1379847

I wouldn't worry about it. I have my own measure of success for when you guys roll, and your rolls were good.

>>1379832
Immediately after saying this, Bananon rolled three 100s straight.

Ah, the ol' front hand, back hand. Memories.

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>>1379777
>>1379783
>>1379798
>>1379807
>>1379815

The volley that follows doesn’t quite live up to the first at any particular moment, but with less targets and more strikes, it gets the job done. Each individual, malicious intelligence is just that, individual and no longer fortified by the cohesion of a buzzing horde that might bear the brunt of several intelligences working together to actively stamp them out.

Petty egos are crushed, one after the other, wills that will not bend snapping beneath the strain, and this metaphysical carnage goes on for quite some time until it finally seems there are no more challengers.

“Thank you.”

The words are quiet but sincere, oddly echoing through the mental space before the voices find themselves quite rudely tumbling out of it. The chilling cold vanishes in that moment as the outside world suddenly reappears… only to be abruptly replaced by burning heat.

OH GODS. IRIS PASSED OUT AND THE BRACER WENT TUMBLING INTO THE FIRE!

WHERE IS CICI?

> Write-in

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>>1379891

And that's where I think we will end it for tonight folks. I have to get some rest. Stay frosty.

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>>1379891
I am okay with this.

>>1379891
I'm willing to endure this pain if it meant killing some internet trolls.

But yes, Cici, please get a stick or something to get us out of the fire.

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>>1379891

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>>1379891
Those Voices didn't realize that they were facing Christopher Robin.

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>>1379891
So...

Is this what being the Mod is like?

>>1379891
Shit

>>1379891
>Get help, we need water or dirt or sand to get rid of the fire!

>>1379891
can we use telekinesis to move ourselves out of the fire?

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>>1379891
At least we learned that we do have some means of attack and defense when we are in contact with other intelligences.

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>>1379891
>>1379904
>>1379909
>>1379990
>>1380044
>>1380061
>>1380571
>>1380718
>>1381039
>>1382424

Consciousness blurs, a dim picture of the world growing dimmer, smaller, with each passing moment. The voices have no wielder, no source of mana, and the panic sends their focus into a thousand different directions as the flames lick away at their outer surface.

Their physical projection fizzles as they attempt it, a single voice trying in vain to flip them out of the fire on its own while the rest call for Cici through what seems an impossible distance. Can she hear them? Is this really going to be the end?

The voices seem to spend far too long coming to grips with that last question, the leather at the edge of the bracer beginning to blacken and turn before something finally finds them and drags them out of the cinders with a quick flick, fingers closing around them with a hiss a second after. Wait, not fingers they realize as the mana flows and the world of sight returns to them, but toes.

With two arms full of Iris’ unconscious body, Yesh had used the strangely prehensile toes of his foot to extract the bracer, the small lizard now striking a precarious pose to maintain the act as the voices look around to find the remaining fire side empty, no sign of Cici or her mother in sight.

> He seems preoccupied.
> On the other hand, you really don’t want to be put down again.
> Write-in

>>1383569
Thanks for the save, Yesh.
Iris should be okay for now; we eliminated some of the more toxic of the voices in her head.

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>>1383573
>>1383569

“No need for thanks,” he assures you. “At this point, you might as well be family. I only regret that I couldn’t attend to you sooner, but-“ He grunts as he hefts the small, but still larger gazer over his shoulder. “I’m afraid that she would have proved slightly more flammable than yourself.”

With the girl thus secured, he takes the voices into his other hand, beginning the arduous process of hauling both back inside.

“Really, I should be thanking you though, on Iris’ behalf. A mind as broken as hers could not have been easy to navigate nor to pacify. What’s more, you seem to have returned unharmed, something that will no doubt make Cici happy when she returns.”

After a few quick swabs with a rag, Yesh tucks Iris into Cassandra’s bed roll so she can rest, placing a damp towel on her forehead.

“Unfortunately, your journey took perhaps longer than you realize, and we weren’t in a position to disturb you. After a time once I had arrived, Cassandra had to ensure she made it to her classes. Obviously, she had my word I would look after you.”

He turns over the bracer curiously in both hands now, frowning at the blackened scorch marks.

“We should be able to repair this with a good scrub. I’m sure Cassandra wouldn’t mind if I used her scale brush for the task.”

He hums to himself as he goes to search for it in the bath area, fishing out a well-used wire scrub brush with varying bristles.

> Looks like you’ll have time for some small talk with the spirit shaman.
> Write-in

I'm glad iris is ok!
what you normally do when not around cici?

>>1383633
Well, to be honest it seemed less like it was her beholder-kin bloodline memory acting up as it was the voices in her head. They seemed disturbingly like us, and now that I think about it and her.. dining habits.. before she came topside perhaps she ended up eating something similar to our bracelet. A lot of those voices were as >>1383573 said; just utterly toxic. I'm amazed she is as sane as she is with all that was going on. Now that they're quiet for a bit she should be doing a lot better when she wakes up.

When she wakes up and is up to it we should get her to look through her body into her guts for anything magical lodged therein that might house something like us. Not sure how we'd get it out if it is there, though... Maybe Ms. Willow will have an idea about how to teleport something like that out safely? Pure hypothetical, to be honest.

But for the record we really like you and appreciate all you do. You need something from us, you just name it. I mean, we'd probably do it anyway but you get the idea. So! On to happy topics. Are you doing alright?

>>1383633
How much time passed?

>>1383633
How's the lizard village doing by the way? Any positive relations with the surrounding humans? Any other beastkin or others living with Cassandra's barony that can start contributing now that they've got legal recourse to dumb humans attacking them?

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>>1383633
>>1383651
>>1383654
>>1383667
>>1383691

“Hmm? Well, I suppose you could say that I’m a doctor by trade,” he answers simply, taking a seat back at the fire, “but my duties don’t always stop at the physical. Renegade spirits and grieving families, I attend to both in what ways I can, helping to ease the passing between this life and the next and keep those on this side around for as long as I can.

“There are few of us left now who can speak to the spirits. It is an old tradition with few having the talent for carrying it onward, and so I must often travel to where our kind are needed. It’s not an unpleasant life…”

With a practiced hand, he takes a few experimental scrapes at the leather surrounding the bracelet. Ha! That tickles. And apparently satisfied with the initial results, he begins gently scrubbing away.

“You spent an hour in communion with Iris’ mind,” he states in that calming voice of his at the next question. “Truth be told, I was beginning to grow concerned the longer you were away. The pathways of a divided spirit are difficult to navigate, like a maze broken into a thousand pieces that are constantly changing, and it is very possible to get lost indefinitely. What’s more, if what you say is true, there may be other forces at work still. Perhaps I’ll have a look shortly.”

He gives the leather a good soak, washing away debris before continuing.

“As for the outside world or the barony at large, I imagine we haven’t seen the last of those hiding in the shadows coming out into the light. It will be a slow process, however. Fear is something that lingers long in the heart and mind, and societies will be slow to change.

“Even now, my own people limit their contact with humans. Our cultural and philosophical differences would simply lead to too much strife in the here and now, and we realize this. This situation and the implications it brings are new to all of us.

“Despite all of this, we are doing better now than we have in years. The vampires that formerly tainted the spirit world have been brought to rest as has the demon bear of the Great Wood that poisoned our water. Needless to say, we owe much to the baroness.”

With a few more scrubs with the finer edge of the brush, he takes out a cloth from his robes, followed by a jar of some unguent.

“In light of that, I can hardly ask more than you continue to care for her daughter, my niece, as you have. She seems to have a knack for finding trouble, as I’m sure you’re aware, and I know her mother rests easier knowing that in the worst circumstance, someone will be there to offer her guidance.

“Is there anything I might do for you in return?”

> Write-in

>>1383747
Not much, unless you can teach practical healing classes at the school, or help find ways to make the waterways more navigable with river taxis.

>>1383747
Well, if things settle down a bit more, and the town gets used to, well, us, would a field trip to your village be possible? Or maybe help us do a class on different cultures?

>>1383747
Then you're a very good doctor. The mediocre ones only treat the body. Add treatment of the mind and spirit as well? It's been proven that a patient's mindset can drastically alter their chances of survival. I would hope now that Iris should be able to hear herself think you could impart some of that wisdom to her own training. If there are other things in the shadows - and let's face it, there always is - then you may be called upon some more. We'll try to keep it to a minimum but you've seen the shenanigans that go on around here.

>>1383767
Basic medical training for the older children would not go amiss, come to think of it. Being able to tend properly to wounds sustained farming or hunting so they don't become gangrenous or some such would be a clear boon to the local populace and could elevate your people's image in their eyes... Though I must admit concern about the number of non-pure-humans that have popped up recently thanks to Cici's mother. Who knew the numbers in the area, and this likely isn't all of them.

>>1383781
Adding him and likely Iris to the mix this soon might trigger some tipping point. There's only so much change people are willing to stomach in one sitting. Maybe keep the option in mind, but not right this moment? It's not like there's a wild rush at this time. Besides, even if this were a thing the rest of the village would have to agree.

All in all, I think things should be good for right now.

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>>1383796
>>1383781
>>1383767
>>1383747

“I suppose you are right. Our village isn’t the only one to suffer from a deficit of doctors, and there is much that I could teach them. As for visitation… That would likely fall to the village as a whole to decide, as some of you have noted. Hmm…”

He sighs thoughtfully, one claw finger pursed against his lip as he thinks.

“I’ll have to speak with the teacher, I suppose. Something tells me she wouldn’t decline the aid.”

With that settled, he’s once again back on his feet, the bracer looking good as new as he fastens it to one wrist and returns to where he had left Iris. It seems the aberration is breathing normally, her eyes closed and her brow relaxed as Yesh gingerly turns her onto her back and produces something remarkably similar to a stethoscope.

“First, we check her breathing,” he explains, carefully sliding eye stalks out of the way in order to reach her bare back. “Something lodged near her airways would cause a disruption or some sort of notable tension in the muscles.”

For a long moment, he pauses there with eyes closed, his mind scanning for irregularities before he puts his palms down, gently compressing along her spine with different amounts of pressure.

“Hmm,” he enigmatically concludes, pulling his hands back once more into a thinking pose. “There is something buried in there, something unnatural.”

> Write-in

>>1383948
Fascinating! We should try to get the Archmage back here for this; this is both a magical as well as surgical operation, and there's no telling how her body might react to something it has gotten used to being removed; for all we know it could be providing life-support functions.
Then there's the concern of her suddenly becoming alone in her head after years of, admittedly unpleasant, company.

Finally, I doubt that the intelligence matrices in her will appreciate us removing them from their physical avatar. I know we would mightily fight anyone trying to separate us from Cici.

>>1383948
Hm. To be honest, I'm not sure we should remove it, at least not yet. Iris is unusual enough in that her psyche is relatively stable, at least in regards to beholderkind. I'm afraid that if we remove it, she might revert to a standard beholder mindset.

We should see if she remembers anything about what she ate during her travels in the underdark.

>>1383948
If her body has adapted to it then perhaps it should be left alone until it presents a problem. I think her voices should be cowed for quite some time, and she can keep them in line with the threat of a repeat of our beatdown of them.

Besides, we don't know the exact anatomy of a beholder-kin's insides. I think we should monitor the situation and maybe make "just in case" preparations for trying to get it out. We should wait until Iris wakes up and you can point it out to her, so she can look at it more thoroughly so we can decide how to proceed from there.

No sense in causing another problem when we just solved one. Making more work for everyone is just silly right now.

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>>1384085
>>1384026
>>1384000
>>1383948

“A hasty scalpel can do more damage than a pointed blade,” Yesh agrees, pulling the covers back over the snoozing child. “And I suppose you may be right. It’s entirely possible that the spirits inside of her, such as they are, may be preventing something far worse from happening.

“It’s similar to multiple possession, I would think, with many spirits inhabiting a body that are displaced in time and space, confused and dangerously frantic because of it. Having another host of more grounded spirits, if not necessarily responsible guardians, at least allows for a stable frame of reality.”

He delicately closes the door behind him before once again returning to the fire, this time hefting a satchel of herbs which he begins to clip and mash with expert precision. It’s silent work this time, at least until he once again has his bearings.

“I suppose I might be able to teach her some techniques while her other spirits are away, techniques we use to strengthen our minds and psyches against the invading consciousness of others. There’s no telling how effective that will be for one constantly under assault from within, but if nothing else, it won’t do any harm.”

The pot bubbles over the small fire, the decoction changing colors a dozen times until eventually settling into a gray, bland-looking paste.

“Have you learned anything more about yourselves?” he asks curiously, ladling the goop into a bowl and setting it off to the side. “Or has Cici discovered any new abilities you might possess?”

> Write-in

>>1384131
We can move independently further afield of her now, and our physical manifestation provides us with another set of sensory input.
Not much else aside from our success at striking down other spirits such as us.

>>1384131
Like... We can bitch-slap other voices out of existence so that's a pretty nice power to have.

>>1383948
i'm pretty sure we could move our bracelet by ourselves if we tried hard enough.

>>1384195
meant for this. >>1384131

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>>1384131
>>1384152
>>1384177
>>1384195

“In unity, there is strength,” Uncle Yesh mentions. “I imagine that’s why you had an advantage over Iris’ own internalized voices. By pooling your efforts, you were able to defeat something that was likely much more powerful than yourselves. And with that same unity, I imagine there is no end to what you can accomplish.

“What you lack, however, is mana of your own, no doubt a design choice on the part of the creators. It prevents you from trying to overpower your user’s will and gives them the option of removing you should their own focus break down. We now know what can happen when those fail-safes are no longer in place.

“I am curious, though. What are your ambitions? What things do you want to achieve, and what tools do you believe you need to accomplish them?”

> Huh. That’s a big question.
> Write-in

>>1384318
Can't speak for the other voices, but I'd love to meet some cute girl voices, go on a romantic stroll on the beach, eat a meal at a nice restaurant, and spend the entire night talking about abstract mathematical theory. You know, normal stuff.

>>1384318
I kinda want to help guide Cici towards a brighter future. Otherwise enjoying the weird and wondrous Fates that flock to this nexus will suffice.

>>1384318
Makes sense to keep us reliant on being worn. A failsafe, as you said. Which is why we exist with the constant dread of the High Shelf.

In theory, we could do basically what Iris' voices want to do or at the very least direct those who could. The problem with that lies in the fact we can help design some very nasty and not-nice things as well as good things that could help a good number of people. We're tapping into some crazy powerful records between us, and the sheer amount of things we COULD do are frightening from multiple standpoints.

On the other hand, the current level of affairs is frankly enough to keep us satisfied. Cici is a very bright child, and has an almost-worrying amount of potential in the paths she can take in life. I think sticking with her and her inner circle could help get some stability going for a lot of people. We've helped a lot already and one cannot dispute that. Between everyone, I think we could do a lot of good with the right setup but that would take time.

As for tools? Between all the magic users and Iris' automata friends we could help make just about anything to help solve problems... But using our knowledge to just solve everyone's problems would be self-defeating in the long run. As the adage goes; "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." I think we should stick to our current approach to things until the situation dictates otherwise.

Also, a random question. Where's the mother kobold during all this? She still sleeping off getting her everything wrecked by the baroness?

>>1384318
I would like to see Cici grow powerful, though in way that does not fundamentally change who she is.
Also explore this world, maybe. See the sights, meet interesting people.

>>1384318
Wouldn't mind being an uncle for Cici for a while. Maybe find or make an artificial body for my consciousness, put myself out on the market for open minded female spirits of various sorts. That sort of thing.

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>>1384441
>>1384366
>>1384360
>>1384351
>>1384329
>>1384318

“Change is the nature of life,” Yesh says simply. “Though I too hope that Cici won’t stray far from the path she’s presently on. She’s a young, inquisitive girl and I think an open mind and an open heart will take her far. That and good council.”

He sighs, taking a few steps out into the yard.

“In part, we’ll be relying on you for that, and to keep Cici safe when we cannot be there for her. That is why I would ask that you be her shield,” he says, and with a flick of wrist, the voices feel a surge of power course through them along with a flash of purpose that manifests in a bulwark of purple light. “And if need be, her sword.”

Again, his hand moves and his instinct switches, an image cutting through the bracer and a nearby tree as Yesh’s hand is wreathed in spiritual energy.

“I suspected as much,” he says to himself as well as the voices as with another gesture, the light vanishes. “With enough spiritual presence, mana, and guidance, you can be given a solid physical form, at least temporarily. Whether you can master these forms with Cici is a question that remains to be answered. Even then, the question of whether she should ever learn to hold a weapon is another entirely.

“I can offer no answers for this, sadly, only options. You seem to have a direction, and so those answers may come with time. Either way, in accordance with Cassandra’s wishes, my hands are bound so far as teaching her certain things. However, I can still teach you.”

> Write-in

>>1384479
Good. Far too often, those who truly desire peace forget that they must be prepared for war.

>>1384479
I feel the power man... I can't wait when we master this stuff and turn into steamrollers.

>>1384479
You could teach us defensive techniques. That combined with chronomancy will be enough for now.

Making a bicycle shouldn't be that hard even without a rubber tree. But while simple, is something best left to certain troublemaker person to make. You know how tinkers are.

We could also finds ways for Cici's mother to get more money. Iris and her golems could probably build machinery to use in a mine, but we can leave that for later.

Good roads will improve commerce and taxes can be paid for their use and maintenance. Merchants might grumble but will be happy to travel faster.

Of course with better roads there will be more people and that means more trouble. But nothing urgent.

Oh, we will be getting a lot of pigmy griffons, but cat birds are not as bad as predators go, as loon as we have enough rodents around.

What else? Ah yes, we don't know how long the elf's weapon will wait for Cici's to group up.

And the dungeon has kind of made Cici's mother a boss monster hence all the monsters that have appeared lately?

I mean there are no coincidences... and pigmy griffins, a oni, a troll, a wolf woman, sheep people that could end selling stuff and so be "neutral" instead of enemies... too bad we lack loot and the fact monsters would permanently die... unless we fixed that with time magic.

No, an active dungeon would be a bad idea...

Maybe is just the old blood calling? A gorgon became a baroness and so other monsters are atracted here? Something to ask wizards about.

>>1384479
Yeah, Even if Cici doesnt learn how to fight or kill, she should at least learn how to defend herself. its often the good people, the ones who care who need to most. And its not like there isnt going to be more then her fare share of unwarranted hostility coming at her.
I still say Cic could use a dedicated bodyguard, or at least a nanny or Chauffeur. An obvious adult nearby would do a lot to prevent bad things happening, And at least they'd be able to answer questions or cook or reach the top shelf when Cassandras not around.
But what do I know.

But anyway, in the interest for defense, could you teach us to knock something unconscious? Its the best option for a nonlethal defense I can think of.

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>>1384681
>>1384629
>>1384573
>>1384530
>>1384479

“War is a never-ending battle,” Yesh says sadly. “Let us pray that it never comes to pass in Cici’s lifetime. Instead, think of these as tools to help her escape from danger, whether that means blocking blows or cutting a way through to an escape route. Also, though it’s a bit more advanced-“

With another burst of focus, a more complicated idea forms in the bracer, an arm with a clawed hand bursting forth and reaching up into the trees before retracting, pulling the lizard man up with it.

“These are the forms I often find most useful,” he explains, “but there are many more that can be achieved through practice.

“As for getting Cici a bodyguard… Well, it’s been discussed, but I’m afraid that insulating her from the world is the opposite of the reason we are sending her to school. Her mother and I will not always be there, after all, and our interference would make it more difficult for her to make the sort of sincere friendships we hope that she will find among children her age.”

He takes a moment to parse the remaining points the voices are making.

“I’m not sure what you mean by dungeon. After all, every dungeon known today used to be something else, a prison, a library, someone’s home, or someone’s fortress. And with nothing precious to be gained by assaulting the residents near here directly, I would worry less about renegade adventurers than terrified villagers or highway men. That means moving slowly and carefully as we broaden their horizons.

“For now, however, let’s see how you fair in forming shapes on your own. I will supply the mana.”

> Roll 1d100
> Choose your shape:
> Sword
> Shield
> Hand
> Write-in

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>1384757
>Shield

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>1384757
>Shield

>>1384757
>Scepter

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>1384814
Forgot to roll.

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>1384757
>> Hand

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>1384757
>Pixie

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>>1384757
>>1384769
>>1384794
>>1384814
>>1384821
>>1384825
>>1384829

The mana flows and the voices concentrate, trying their best to mold the nascent energy into something solid and defined… The only trouble is, they all seem to be imagining something different. As the makings of a shield form up, a staff attempts to stretch itself out of the rounded shape, something like a trident emerging from that as another voice tries to form a hand. The disturbing and tortured face of a pixie might have also begun to bud from one of those sharpened prongs, but before it can go any further, the whole of the shape just collapses into so much astral vapor.

> Seems a more defined plan of action may be required.
> Write-in

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>>1384814
>>1384825
>>1384829
Stop fucking this up for us.

>>1384892
Alright, we need to concentrate on one form, and one form ONLY, to get this to work.
We can change the form later, but first let's concentrate on this image and get it to work.

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>>1384892
>>1384916

In the wake of the first effort collapsing, one voice takes up the mantle of control, and visualizes a basic shield. It’s a simple enough shape, and as the mana flows, the outlines are quickly filled with luminous light. However, there is something decidedly faint and feeble about the final product, the silhouette of the shield appearing unstable and ghostly. And sure enough, as Yesh moves his hand, the form can’t even hold against the wind, once again dissipating into the air.

> Interesting.
> Write-in

>>1385009
So, should we just do this in the order we put it in? Shield to scepter to hand to pixie? Because I'd be fine with that.

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>>1385009
maybe we should try something more slimple. why not just a rectangle, then we give it depth and a shape.

>>1385009
I think its more important that we all settle on one shape, and all go for it. Apparently one voice isnt strong enough and too many shapes is to chaotic.
So is there any kind of compromise we could do? The majority was going for but thats kind of limited in utility. Is the a shape that splits the difference between Hand and Shield?

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>>1385071
>>1385032
>>1385009
>>1385017

Alright folks. I'm off to the movies for a bit. This is my roomate's last week in town. Figured I'd leave you something to discuss and think over in the meantime, but I'll be back later tonight.

>>1385032
How about something like a hooked staff, like a shepherds crook? Lord knows Cici has enough animals to wrangle

>>1385009
Alright, we can try for a more basic shape.

A simple rectangle, focus on one corner at a time, make the mana flow from one corner to another, then complete the circuit.

>>1385009
>>1385457
>>1385032
Let's go with a simple rectangle. Everybody ready?

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>>1385779

I am back if it is any consolation.

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>>1385779
>>1385457
>>1385417
>>1385071
>>1385032
>>1385017
>>1385009

It takes quite the investment of mana on Uncle Yesh’s part, but after some extensive experimentation, the voices seem to crack the code. Simple shapes are just that, simple, but nevertheless, it requires unity of purpose and intent to create something recognizable and stable. Strength is then determined by how many voices are willing to act at any given time, one by itself able to create little more than a fragile figment.

One thing was for certain, it would take plenty of practice before the voices could perform these tasks on their own.

> ABILITIES GAINED!
> Malleable Manifestation: allows the voices to shape mana by combined determination
> The Strength of Many: additional focus applied by each voice further empowers the manifestation

“I suppose there is at least one more thing we can try…” Uncle Yesh muses, brushing grass from his tunic. “Perhaps you’ll find your knack lies here. You see, when making contracts with spirits, sacrificing mana to them can have a variety of effects. It can empower the spirits to manifest themselves physically, of course. That tends to be the simplest use, but it can also be traded to allow them to manifest their abilities, spells and sorceries innate to their kind. I suppose we could try if you have the confidence.”

> Write-in

>>1385822
That's adorable!
>>1385881
Yeah, we should try to make contacts, if not contracts.

>>1385881
which one of us knows something about law? i really don't want to end up serving someone for all eternity because of the fine print shenanigans

nah, we just need to be more unite when making a shape, a simple square of defense as a shield should work with enough voices...we don't want to tax cic's mana too much

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>>1385939
>>1385938
>>1385909
>>1385881

“No, no,” Uncle Yesh corrects. “I’m not speaking of Cici forming new contracts with new spirits. Rather, what I’m referring to is…” He thinks, shakes his head, and starts over. “Some time ago, I remember Cici telling me that you helped her to cast lightning from her finger tips. In other words, you used your concentration to shape the mana from inside of her.

“With the knowledge you’ve gained through your studies, it’s possible that you could provide the focus Cici lacks. You could help her shape the mana from within into… No, maybe it is too dangerous now that I think of it.

“After all, she could easily harm herself if you were to make a misstep or misunderstand the parameters of your spell. Never mind forming a blade from the aether, what would happen if the chronomancy you’ve been practicing went astray? Cassandra would never forgive me.”

> Write-in

>>1385957
To be fair, if chronomancy goes wrong, I don't think there will be a Cassandra to forgive.

>>1385957
We could help her with small spells, like the light orb, or defensive spells, but you are right, she is still to young for us to completely help her.

>>1385968
or perhaphs there will be two cassandras!
i don't know how time works.

>>1385957
could she just give us a set amount of mana and have use cast the spells? That way we wouldnt have to worry about the spells rebounding on Cici, if anything, they'd rebound on us instead. And being mostly incorporeal would probably help with that in the wort case scenario

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>>1386018
>>1385975
>>1385968
>>1385957

“Imagine if you were to create a spell that gave form to a flame,” Uncle Yesh explains. “However, the spell wasn’t written quite right and it rebounds. Cici could still be caught in the cross fire of that mishap. There is a reason mages study these arts for years, to protect themselves against these risks. For now, it may simply be best to keep to magic Cici already knows, limiting yourself to assisting with her concentration.”

With a yawn and a stretch, Yesh’s joints creak as he stretches out.

“For now, though, I think we’ve spent as much time as we can. If I’m not mistaken, that’s my niece bounding up the walkway.”

“Uncle Yesh! Uncle Yesh!” comes the excited call of an utterly mud caked Cici as she runs up the drive, her mother slithering after her with an inscrutable expression. “I learned how to play stick ball today!”

“That’s wonderful, Cici,” her uncle assures her, embracing her, mud and all with both arms.

“Oh right. Where’s Iris?” Cici remembers, eyes suddenly wide with concern. “Is she okay?”

“She’ll be fine. Your friends did a very good job helping her.”

With that, the lizard man undoes the laces on his wrist and returns the refurbished leather bracer to his niece, the girl’s eyes widening for a different reason this time.

“Voices, you’re all shiny now!” she oohs. “Did you have fun with Uncle Yesh today?”

> Write-in

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>>1386044

Not unexpected that everyone's in bed. We're at a good stopping point anyway, so I guess I'll just call it here. Hope you all had fun, and I'll see you next week.

>>1386099
We did! And he cleaned us up good! ...with your mom's scale brush....

>>1386257
Oh,we also chased off some of iris most mean voices, she should be feeling better now!

>>1386044
Aye kiddo, we learned some magic and had a fight with other voices

>>1386044
>Yes we did, go take a bath and hug Iris when she wakes up.

Shield for next time is okay?

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>>1386315
>>1386276
>>1386265
>>1386257
>>1386099

Hmm. I guess we can pick up tomorrow for a little longer if people have the interest/time. Let me know.

>>1386535
Sure, I'm up for it.

>>1386535
Ok.

>>1386535
Do iiiiit

>>1386535
>>1386631
>>1387089
>>1387548

I guess that will be the plan then.

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>>1386044
>>1386257
>>1386265
>>1386276
>>1386315

“Fighting is bad,” Cici reminds the voices, “but I’m glad she’s feeling better now. What kind of magic did you learn, anyway?”

Before the voices can come up with a good response, Mama is already there, coughing softly behind Cici’s shoulder.

“Cici…” she begins. “Sweetling, maybe you could ask the voices after you’ve gotten yourself a bath. You’re absolutely filthy, right now.”

“Okay, Mama!” the young girl agrees happily, and like that, she’s scampering off downstairs, leaving the bracer in her mother’s hands.

“I’m glad Brad made the bath self-cleaning,” Mama sighs, slithering inside. “Because after Cici is done, I could use a soak myself.”

“Long day?” Uncle Yesh probes.

“Isn’t it always?” she jokes. “But in this case, most of my day has been spent trying to sell the virtue of roads to the councils here as well as in Sojourn, Kingsburrow, and Atton. To say it’s been like pulling teeth is an understatement. Naturally, they were always going to argue over who paid what for the luxury, but now there’s a further issue in who will get the majority of the working contract to build the roads.”

“’Taxes collected locally should be spent locally!’” she seems to mimic from the mouth of a portly gentleman. “Not given into the hands of some miniscule, mechanical monsters!”

“At least the alliteration is nice,” Yesh concedes.

“And it’s not as though they don’t have a point,” Cassandra groans. “The resources they require are non-local for the most part. While I could request the steel from Atton, it’s a non-specific amount of gold and reagents leaving the territory indefinitely.”

“However, it has the potential to bring commerce in.”

“Which is the defense some are bringing to the table, but- Well, I’m not sure anyone will be happy about this come the end of things.”

The voices can sense Cassandra’s worry through the bracer, the myriad thought processes spinning around in her mind like a chaotic storm. At least her brow seems to ease a little as the sound of Cici humming happily from the bath drifts to her from down the hallway.

> Write-in

>>1389264
"Just overule them, the road will be made faster by the golems and if they are going to use thrm then they have to pay. They are whining now but once the roads are paved they will use them happily. Such is human and monster nature."

>>1389264
Have locals provide estimates on how long it will take them to complete the roads, for how much, and the quality of the roads.
Compare that against what the golems can do.

I assure you, the meatbags can't come close. The golems are machines; they don't rest, they don't get bored, they don't skim a little extra off the top.

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>>1389466
>>1389285
>>1389264

“It’s efficiency versus ethics, in this case,” Cassandra explains sadly. “You’re right when you say the manmade roads would be inferior. The golems can cut perfect bricks out of nearly any material and lay them with exact precision. They don’t sleep, eat, sweat, and despite being a tenth of the size of a human worker, they can move the materials just as efficiently on site. Their overall cost of service is also half of any projection I can get from the local settlements and in half the time.

“At the same time, every alm and crown we spend on human labor is money that will in turn be spent on families and local businesses. The previous baron rarely sponsored public works for the people with the taxes he collected, and so extra coin circulation in the territory would really help some people.”

“If nothing else, we know that they aren’t good at moving materials over large distances,” Yesh points out. “I doubt you could persuade Rosie and Mishael to take on that long of a project just hauling things around. So perhaps there would be a business on carting around the raw materials. It might cost you as much or a little more as it would employing just the humans to begin with, but it will likely make the villagers feel more secure.”

“We don’t even know where we’re going to be getting the stone,” the overworked gorgon grumbles. “There are some major quarries, but they don’t produce nearly the volume we would need for this project.”

“Hmm. Well, you could always ask the tribes,” Yesh points out.

“The tribes?” she questions. “Do they really have that much?”

“If there’s one thing we don’t lack for in the tribe lands it’s thin, rocky soil. And as much as we may love the aesthetics, farmable soil would be preferable.”

“Then what are you proposing?”

“We give you rocks. You give us soil that you will have to displace to build the road at all, a modest amount of fertilizer, and roads in and around our villages. If I’m not mistaken, we also have some white stone deposits that would satisfy the golems’ needs.”

“It all sounds too good to be true. I’m not guessing you’d also have massive deposits of sand as well?”

“Don’t be silly, Cassandra, but if you do have a need… Hm. I suppose we have good relations with an aquatic tribe just south of the barony. In that, however, there is one catch.”

“Just tell me now.”

“Crabs,” Yesh explains simply.

“Crabs?”

“Giant crabs. They’ve infested the major lake near their home where the sand would presumably come from.”

> Sounds dangerous
> Write-in

>>1389599
Iris would love to go hunting crabs, same for the Oni and the troll if you tell him that they are food.

Yes the three of them could do it. Just not eith the golems help, salt water would be very bad for thrm.

>>1389599
The crabs, huh. Sounds like a job for Rosie, her brother, and your new game warden.
Best of all, crab cakes and crab stew for everyone!

>>1389687
And not forget certain Beholder girl eye beams.

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>>1389700
>>1389687
>>1389619
>>1389612
>>1389599

“I guess Rosie and Mishael wouldn’t have a bad time dealing with them, Faye either for that matter. Iris… We’ll need to see what kind of mental shape she’s in after whatever happened earlier, and we’ll go from there.

“Anyway, Yesh, if you could ask the village elders for me, I would appreciate it.”

“Certainly,” the lizard man confirms, and with that and a bow, he takes his leave.

“Mama, I’m clean now!” Cici calls a little while later as her mother hovers there in thought. “Din-Din too!”

A towel-wrapped Cici and her shivering, towel-wrapped rabbit materialize, drawing a slightly disappointed look from Cassandra.

“Cici, you know Din-Din doesn’t like baths.”

“It wasn’t me!” Cici promises, hugging the hare more tightly. “He wanted to be pet an’ so he came up to the tub, but then Jasmine pushed him in.”

“Mew?” the cat questions playfully, bounding up at her heels before rubbing her cheek on Cici’s leg.

“No bullying,” the small girl chastises, but the unabashed purring tells Cassandra this won’t be the last time.

“Well, get dressed, and I’ll get dinner started,” Mama says, handing Cici the bracer and landing a kiss on her scalp before slithering away. “And you behave, Jasmine, or you’ll be going into time out.”

> You are once again in Cici’s possession.
> Write-in

>>1389774
What else did you learn today other than stick ball?

>>1389774
How did your day go? Any new friends?

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>>1389774
>>1389810
>>1389865

“Today was fun,” Cici says, setting down the bracer on a nightstand before quickly wriggling into a new set of clothes. “I learned what variables are an’ read a story with lots of funny words in it. Also, Mr. Martin says he’s gonna teach us history from now on.

“Hmm… As for friends, I got to know Caine an’ Hershel today. They seemed nice. Caine taught everyone in class how to play an’ Hershel was really good at it… Well, except for the time he accidentally hit Caine in the head with the bat…”

Oh.

“Then Caine got real mad an’ they started fighting. It was really scary. Melody made them stop though, cuz she threated to turn them into frogs.

“I wish Melody would have played, too. She seemed kind of lonely just watching. Maybe next time she an’ Iris can join us… I hope she’s fine…”

“I’m fine…” comes a weak call from the next room over. “I just feel kind of sick…”

> Write-in

>>1390025
Why dont we go and see how shes doing.

>>1390025
> Go and give Iris a hug

>>1390025
Melody seems socially awkward. Shes probably spent a lot of time trying to be real grown up and smart, so she can hang out with people older then her, so now that shes around people her own age, she doesnt know how to act. Being their teacher probably doesnt make it any easier for her.

Iris could probably use a hug. And maybe some water, shes been unconscious a while.

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>>1390025
>>1390065
>>1390158
>>1390226

“Iris!” Cici breathes excitedly, immediately heading over to the other room to find her friend already sitting up.

“H-hello dear…” The words, much like the figure they’re coming from, are shaky, Iris slumped forward with traces of sweat still on her brow. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” Cici assures her. “I learned how to play stick ball today, and it was lots of fun! You look kind of sick though…”

“N-Not surprising. I feel like I got hit by a bus…” she groans.

“What’s a bus?” Cici asks.

“Oh, well you see…” Her expression grows troubled for a moment as she shivers, almost forlorn. “Well, isn’t that strange? I c-can’t seem to remember. I wonder why…”

She gives a nervous laugh and then another, a little bit of false jubilance belying a very real fear she likely has no explanation for. Cici, for her part, offers what comfort she can through a hug around the other girl’s crestfallen frame.

> Do the voices want to explain?
> Write-in

>>1390357
Well, it seems like some of your more insistent voices had to be given the boot. So it might be some of the things they imparted to you, memory wise,might be gone too?
Sorry.

>>1390357
Some of her voices were being bullies to Iris, so we made them stop. It all happened in her head though, so it took a lot out of her.

Her brain probably isn't bruised or anything. Permanently.

>>1390357
>We got rid of the abusive voices in Iris head?

>>1390400
This.

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>>1390472
>>1390429
>>1390400
>>1390395
>>1390357

“The voices said they got in a fight with your voices,” Cici explains. “An’ then they gave them shoes so they would leave you alone.”

“The fashionable kind?” Iris inquires.

“Boots.”

“Ah, I see… Good for walking, those… That would explain a few things…”

“The voices said it’s probably only temporary, though.”

“Only… temporary…?” It’s hard to read the girl’s expression as she soaks that in, curling her knees to her chest.

“Mhm. An’ after that, maybe they’ll be nicer. Are you feeling better now, though?”

“I feel… different, Cici,” she answers haltingly. “It’s so quiet now, maybe too quiet, and I don’t know if I like it.”

“Hmm. Are you hungry? Food usually makes me feel better.”

“I just feel tired,” she says, slowly shaking her head.

“Then you should sleep,” Cici confirms for her. “I can help tuck you in.”

It was something her mother had always done when she was feeling sick, and so Cici takes a bit of time to help the beholder girl resituate herself, gently lowering her back to the ground before pressing the covers underneath her, careful not to pinch any eye stalks in the process.

“Thanks,” Iris murmurs, almost too soft to be heard.

“Just feel better, ‘kay?”

With another hug, Cici leaves the girl to sleep, gently closing the door after her.

“Maybe she’ll feel good enough to do something else tomorrow,” Cici muses. “We don’t have school, then.”

> Write-in

>>1390664
Offer to keep Iris company when she needs it until the voices return.

>>1390664
Do a sleep over with Iris and the other girls? And get Iris some food?

>>1390664
Maybe prepare some snacks for Iris to eat in bed. That might help her feel better. Not a lot though, just some things to nibble on, probably some sweets.

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>>1390923
>>1390718
>>1390708
>>1390664

Iris wasn’t going anywhere tonight. That much is clear as Cici wanders out to the cookfire and explains the situation to her mother. It’s then made doubly clear when the snake woman slithers back inside to find the fevered girl already asleep in her bedroll.

It had been a rough day for her, and there might be several more like it in the future as she came to terms with her newly unburdened psyche. Whatever the future might hold, Cici certainly had no objections being there for her through it all. After all, that’s what friends were for.

Sometime after dinner, once Vivi has flown in to roost and eaten her fill with her adoptive sister, Mama takes the time to offer some slightly lighter fare to their guest, getting her to sit up and swallow a few bites of well-toasted bread and a handful or two of fresh berries, washing it all down with a glass of mulled tea and honey before once again returning to her dreams.

[“We really need a guest room.”]

That is one of many thoughts bouncing around Cassandra’s head as she carefully wraps her coils around the aberration and makes preparations to put the day behind her, the ball of fluff and tentacles attached to one girl seeming so much smaller now than it had this morning as her own mind drifts toward sleep.

[“Tomorrow will be better.”]

The thought comes unbidden as she lays there, as does the motion that causes her coils to contract, slowly bringing Iris into her chest and then into her arms, natural motherly instinct kicking in as she balances the warmth of the child’s body against her own. And that’s what she truly was, in the end, just a child, one who had traveled dark roads and impossible distances on her way here but at the end of the day was no less fragile than her own.

Dreams come swiftly after that, for her and her bedmate plus the two girls sleeping in the other room, dreams of the days that lie ahead chasing back the worries of today as they lean on one another.

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>>1391148

And I think that's where we'll end for this week folks. Hope you had fun and stay comfy.

>>1391179
Thank you.

Is Iris Cici new sister?

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>>1391189

She is going to have to fight Vivi for that title.

>>1391207
Unless she ends as the middle sister. And really Iris has so many problems Vivi would accept it after things are explained to her.

For an harpy, wanting to eat your own child is a very big crime.