>>2473488
Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Watdo

>>2473488

>Eat anyway
not gonna be able to do much work on empty stomach anyway, or plagued by doubt.
Perhaps there is an explanation that we've simply not yet considered.

>Antipater is otherwise good man but has a really fucked up fetish for mutilating elves
>Antipater is actually a scoundrel that only puts up a pleasant facade for the public
not really much we can do about these.
>Antipater has an evil twin, after all if there's one orphan, maybe there's another one too?
level of complexity of this theory depends on whether the elf lived in genuine viceroy's household, as existence of twins there would be harder to cover up.
>Antipater has an evil twin in an alternate reality
maybe there are more differences between our universe and the elf's?
>Elf has been implanted with fake memories - she believes them to be true. Only observable facts are evidence of torture, perhaps conditioning was part of this?
we'll need to have the elf examined to know full extent of the damage, but where to find a reliable specialist of adequate skill and how to ensure no connection with the viceroy?

in any event, how did she get from there to the slaver's where we bought her?

>>2473488
thank her, but you don't have time to eat, tell her to eat alone outside

check on your stash, and arrange security, while making sure she doesn't know what you're doing
check on your beetles
read a little while eating your meal

>>2473488
>Ignore her, work on setting up the traps and locks you bought

>>2473488
>>Eat anyway, discuss her education
We need to eat, and it's not like she'd pick now to poison us

>>2473488
>Viceroy Antipater is nothing like his son
haaaaahahahaha

One wonders where the son got it from...


>Eat anyway, discuss her education
locks afterwards

>>2473488
>>Eat anyway, discuss her education

>>2473488
>Eat anyway, discuss her education
>ask if she would like to learn alchemy to assist us further

>>2473488
>>Eat anyway, discuss her education

Also to anyone who wasn't around for the end of the last thread's discussion, i posted some ideas i believe to be worth consideration starting here: >>2469966

>make actual use of our ink kit by placing a maker's mark on all the products we make, thus justifying our having it and simultaneously spreading our brand

>create medicine geared towards adventurers, anesthetics, adrenaline boosters and antipoisons with various beneficial effects

>draw in customers by selecting an adventurer or two to act as walking advertisements in exchange for bringing all reagents they find to our buddy at the alchemy shop
>they get a discount on the potions we make from their materials, and we get a discount on the reagents they bring in
>more adventurers learning about the shop and it's wares means more adventurers naturally flock to it, bringing reagents and buying potions all the while

>>2473553
Very good idea with legitimising the ink purchase.

However, what legal constraints do we have to work with in pursuit of our craft? I believe there was talk of licensing...?

>>2473577
I believe we can't open up a shop unless we're liscensed, but it should be fine if we sell through our alchemical supplier, and give him a cut of the profits, right?

Although we should make sure of that.
It's probably something seabass already knows, so i'd just ask watdo to confirm.

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Aww yiss, elf time

>>2473494
>>2473514
>>2473513

You look at her again. This frail creature whose skin hangs so tight to the bone, like damp cloth on a windowpane, and the lines along her arm which are healing, but in some ways will never heal, and the puffed up and wrinkled scar tissue, blue and white and jagged which she tries to cover with her hands but they are too many and the holes on her back where the screws have scooped out the skin and flesh and sinew, which she has tried so hard to hide but they are too many. And she is ashamed of this broken body, of being used and used up, battered and bartered, until finally, from this pale wreckage emerges the greater tragedy: her spirit has broken too.

"Yes." You say. "Let's eat." She waits for you as you walk outside and briefly she stands beside you forgetting your rules and then sits down to eat with you. She's been quiet and jumpy since the ride home. You watch her eat in her quick and silent way, trying to reconcile the possibility of a sudden change in your mood and sudden punishment on her behalf with the enjoyment of the food she has made with her own hands.

"You read?" You ask her. She drops her fork to the floor in surprise.

"S-s-sorry. Sorry." She says. She shakes her head. "N-no. I don't know how to read." She whispers.

"Want to learn?" You look up from your food. Her mouth is hanging slightly open, like a yawning child's.

"Me?" She asks, her voice is high and shrill. "I-I-I-I-" She swallows and nods her head hard and goes silent for a second, her eyes slide up, thinking. "Would it help master?"

"Maybe. Could help." You say.

"Y-yes. Then yes, I will try my best. M-m-master did so much for me...sometimes I wonder if I am dreaming. I don't deserve this happiness but I promise I will work hard." She says, quietly. "So M-master won't throw me away."

>Add that you want her to teach you Elvish as well
>Ask her if there's anything else she wants
>Bring up Antipater again, how did she get to the market?

>>2473589
we might be able to find a busy alchemist who'd be willing to sell under his license for a fee, just have to be careful and not sell him anything proprietary

>>2473627
>Add that you want her to teach you Elvish as well
>And that you want to teach her english in exchange

>>2473634
We can just turn everything we make into a secret sauce, slightly alter some methods of creating it, tack on some gimmick effects (or actually useful ones) and make a slightly different product that performs essentially the same function.

>>2473627
ask her what she thinks we should do about Nina

>>2473589
Selling through a supplier, as you've been doing already exposes them to some risk (albeit a low amount). Thus far you've sold perfumes, which is a relatively small market so no one really cares. Going forward, moving into mainstream stuff like restoratives may garner some more attention (depending on how you go about it).

In reality though, the FTA won't do anything unless someone has an adverse affect to one of your products and then decides to take legal action. In which case, you lawyer up.

>>2473627
>>Add that you want her to teach you Elvish as well
>>Bring up Antipater again, how did she get to the market?

>Ask if she wants to visit the bookshop lady more often

>>2473648
I meant nothing of ours that's too creative, because they'd likely just analyze it and steal our recipe

>>2473627
>Add that you want her to teach you Elvish as well
>Bring up Antipater again, how did she get to the market?

>>2473659
In that case the best course of action would be obfuscation, essentially making an incredibly complex and difficult to recreate potion.
Something that, once you know how it's made is simple enough to do, albeit with many steps, but for someone who's just guessing, it would be a pain in the ass to recreate step by step.

>>2473627
>Add that you want her to teach you Elvish as well
let's ease off the painful topics for a wee bit.

>>2473627
>Add that you want her to teach you Elvish as well
>Bring up Antipater again, how did she get to the market?


>This frail creature whose skin hangs so tight to the bone....
How the fuck is she still alive? have we even taken her to a medic for a check up?

i've been waiting all week for this quest and now i've got to go do yardwork because it will only be nice today

goddamn being an adult sucks

>>2473683
And unfortunately i need to go pass the fuck out and sleep for at least a few hours.

>>2473641
>>2473655
>>2473664

"You teach me Elvish too." You say. She drops her fork a second time.

"Sorry! Sorry!" She says, scurrying after it. "M-master wants to learn Sylvanshine?"

"I know I not speak very good. So I want to learn."

"N-no. Master speaks very well! Very well!" She nods her head, as though affirming it in her own self. "B-but, m-master doesn't have to learn Sylvanshine. It's my fault. I will learn to speak in master's tongue. I-if master will teach me."

"I will. But I want learn too. Unless you not want teach?"

She waves her hands and shakes her whole head. "No, no. I will teach master. I will try my best."

You try to smile but your thoughts return to the carriage and to Lawson and his father. One question continues to pester you, circling your brain like a buzzing fly. "Keep thinking this: how you get to slaver?"

She pales and starts to tremble. Not something she likes to think about, clearly. You're about to dismiss it, but she starts talking. "O-old master, he didn't want me anymore. He said he bought a new elf and he was done with me. I thought--I thought..." She swallows and closes her eyes and her body shivers. "But he didn't do it. He just put me to sleep and when I woke up I was in that cage. And then a few days later, master found me and took me away." Her voice brightens near the end. "M-master won't t-throw me away r-right? If I work hard and help master?"

>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away
>Say nothing, best to keep her on her toes
>So long as she does her work, and maintains her value, she remains

>>2473739
>>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away

>>2473739
>"You are a good woman, i will not just throw you away. If you can learn to read and speak english, you will be able to make things like master. You could become my helper."

>>2473739
>So long as you work and help, you can stay.
surely we're above sunken cost fallacies

>>2473669
Alternatively if it's a new concoction you can get a patent from the FTA which will protect your recipe from being stolen (at least from the big guys). It doesn't even require a license, though it does, as you might expect, cost money.

OOC: Gonna grab some food brb

>>2473739
>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away

>>2473739
>>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away

Well, Viceroy Antipater has a secret dark side, boo-fucking-hoo. Never meet your heroes and all of that.

>>2473739
>>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away

>>2473739
>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away

>>2473766
This desu.
Anybody with an overdone air of goodliness is especially evil.

I don't even want to do anything about it, he'll just fuck us up and there's no need for that.
Let the past be in the past.

>as our elf starts to learn english, she slowly realizes that seabass is tsundere for her

>"w-well, i have no use for a scrawny slave, so just eat your fill already!"
>"it wouldn't be good if my slave couldn't walk, s-so just put on these special shoes i got you!"
>"Of course i'd never throw you away! i-i mean, i paid six sovreigns for you, i-it's not like i like you or anything, baka!"

>>2473739
>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away

>>2473739
>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away
May as well throw 6 sovereigns out the window then.

>>2473739
>So long as she does her work, and maintains her value, she remains

>>2473763
remember to proofread your [/i]s. kinda forgot about it in >>2473739

>>2473807
kek

>>2473739
>You paid six sovereigns for her, of course you're not going to throw that away
We already established that we don't like wasting money. This just backs it up.

>>2473807
>implying we'd betray our true love of ALCHEMY for easy elf pussy
>forgetting that Alchemy gets US things, not the other way around

>>2473740
>>2473764
>>2473837
et al

Throw her away? You paid six whole sovereigns for her, that's a lifetime investment in your book and even the most novice investor understands that you have to hold the long investments for them to bear fruit.

"Do your work good, as you doing so far and you stay." You say.

"I will master. I won't let you down, I promise."

You finish the remainder of your meal as some of your appetite returns (just watching your slave eat is enough to make anyone appreciate the food). Afterward you light some candles and settle in to do some work while your slave finishes up the dishes and prepares the blankets for sleep.

>May as well get started on the instruction on now, call Leia over
>Crack open a book and get studying
>Check on the bugs and see if any of them ready for extraction
>Set up the locks and traps you bought

>>2473886
First, before we forget later
>Set up the locks and traps you bought
Then
>Crack open a book and get studying

>>2473886
>Set up the locks and traps you bought
>Crack open a book and get studying

>>2473886
>>Set up the locks and traps you bought
We'll look silly if someone breaks in because we forgot to set up our shiny new anti-theft system
then
>Check on the bugs and see if any of them ready for extraction
What even IS their status anyway? We paid decent money for them too.

>>2473506
Antipater is probably actually a slimebag who used every dirty trick in the book to get to where he is now. Poor Seabass really isn't catching a break here

>Set up the locks and traps you bought
followed by
>Check on the bugs and see if any of them ready for extraction
and then
>May as well get started on the instruction on now, call Leia over
in that order

>>2473886

>>2473910
supporting

>>2473886
>Set up the locks and traps you bought
Be sure to inform relevant people

>>2473926
yeah lets NOT murder nina if she stops by

>>2473932
fuck Nina XD

>>2473886
Oh yeah, backing the "inform people" part of >>2473926 too

>>2473926
Yeah seconding this - if Franklin / Nina aren't back yet leave a note somewhere they're bound to stumble across but not just sitting out in the open.

>>2473910
This. Protect the shekels, start making some shekels and then learn elvish so you don't get swindled out of your shekels by foreigners or alternatively to jew foreigners harder than locals

>>2473926
I don't think any friend would break in to stumble across a trap

>>2473886
Backing this >>2473926

>>2473901
this
>>2473910
and this

>>2473888
>>2473895

The security has first priority. You won't even be able to sleep tonight otherwise. You fit the shock gem and the bolt lock above the doorknob that the thieves were able to crack so easily last time. You use a combination of slug juice and some flour (which makes a fairly strong adhesive once it sets) set the deadbolt to the door and then insert the shock gem into gap between the door and frame in such a way that if someone tries to force the bolt from the outside, it will be disturbed and shock the intruder.

You put one of the two lockboxes underneath the kitchen cabinets and fill it with trash and you put the matefly inside it so that you'll be able to track the fool that takes it. The other lockbox you fill with the remainder of your savings. Briefly you consider putting in the toilet as Toad suggested, but in the end decide to just keep it next to your bed--along with the waterpistol which is small enough to carry on your hip.

You fill it with a particularly pungent mix of two failed perfumes: lavender and jasmine mix with a hint of gardenias that smells more like a combination of rotten eggs and decomposed meat and causes hives, projectile vomiting, uncontrollable sneezing and possibly incontinence and should make any bad guy reconsider robbing you.

The effective range is around 5ft but you're certain you can do better than that with a stronger pump. You practice with the gun by the balcony, whipping it out from your hip and pointing it at imaginary targets. "Freeze." You say. You do your best Toad voice, trying to roll your words and get that throaty drawl that he has. "Not in my house asshole. Bang bang." Then you holster the weapon and stand with your hands at your hips. You've never felt so powerful. Good thing Toad isn't here to see this. Your Elf however is standing right behind you watching you with a mix of admiration and confusion.

You double check the traps and sit down to do some reading. Your slave has finished setting the beds and is standing behind you, just watching and perhaps waiting for a command.

>Tell her to get some sleep, she'll have to wake up early tomorrow for the temple visit
>Start her off with the instructional books you bought
>Let her watch, she'll get tried of it eventually

>>2474028
>Start her off with the instructional books you bought

>>2474028
>Start her off with the instructional books you bought

>>2474028
>Tell her to get some sleep, she'll have to wake up early tomorrow for the temple visit
>Hang a sign strongly advising to knock first outside your door

>>2474051
support

>>2474028
>Start her off with the instructional books you bought

>>2474028
>Start her off with the instructional books you bought

Why haven’t we trained her to go on dates with other men in return for compensation for us? You goys realize we could make so much money off of her like that? There is obviously a market for it and we could be the sole supplier in town.

>>2474040
>>2474049

You might as well begin your instruction now, if she's going to insist on staying up. You call her over and show her the series of books for writing and reading instruction as well as the dictionary. Unfortunately, she doesn't even know the alphabet so you decide to have her practice writing letters first and learning their sounds. To her credit she listens to your instruction as though it were gospel and when you give her a pencil and a spare notebook and you tell her that they are hers to keep, she's almost driven to tears. She flies away to her corner of the room and begins to copy the letters from the book slowly and deliberately.

A smile moves unresistant through your lips, she reminds you a little of yourself. Maybe she will make a great assistant. But before that you must be a great alchemist, so you return to your own work.

You have three books, not counting the Elven dictionary (which you suppose you could peruse as well). The new one, "Toxins and Tonics", is untouched but so is the "Restoratives and their Methods Vol. 1" that you bought last time. You've nearly gotten all you can from the crystallogenesis book, but there maybe some secrets left behind that close reading will reveal.

>Learn some new words from the dictionary
>Read Toxins and Tonics
>Learn a new recipe from Restoratives and their Methods Vol. 1
>Look for a new method from Modern Crystallogenesis

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>>2474091
>wanting us to be a pimp with our elf slave
>wanting us to cuck ourselves out of someone who does decent work

>>2474108
>Learn a new recipe from Restoratives and their Methods Vol. 1

>>2474108
>Learn some new words from the dictionary

>>2474108
>Look for a new method from Modern Crystallogenesis
Finish the book, and it becomes a useful source for us to refer back to in the future, in case people ever doubt our work.

>>2474108
Let’s go with the restoratives

>>2474108
>Learn a new recipe from Restoratives and their Methods Vol. 1
A healing potion maybe? Can't rely on Franklin (and his fickle moods) to patch us up everytime we get hurt. Plus there's always a need for healing, what with all the adventurers coming through.

>>2474108
>Learn a new recipe from Restoratives and their Methods Vol. 1

we can finish the crystallogenesis another time, i dont think well find out much more

>>2474108
>>Look for a new method from Modern Crystallogenesis

>>2474108
>Learn a new recipe from Restoratives and their Methods Vol. 1

>>2474108
>Toxins and Tonics
Dammit Seamus. I'm an alchemist not a linguist!

>>2474108
>Learn a new recipe from Restoratives and their Methods Vol. 1

>>2474091

no one wants fucked up goods Mr. Jew.
>This frail creature whose skin hangs so tight to the bone, like damp cloth on a windowpane, and the lines along her arm which are healing, but in some ways will never heal, and the puffed up and wrinkled scar tissue, blue and white and jagged which she tries to cover with her hands but they are too many and the holes on her back where the screws have scooped out the skin and flesh and sinew, which she has tried so hard to hide but they are too many.

>>2474131
>>2474139
>>2474147

You take out the book on restoratives. It's a slim, unassuming volume, with paper cover and cheap adhesive binding. The author wrote it in the style of a cookbook, with perhaps a dozen recipes for a wide array of concoctions. There are notes on the margins, hand-written blurbs that provide insightful commentary on the instructions. Flipping through them, you see that about two-thirds of the recipes are either obsolete or known to have harmful side-effects which have rendered their sale, if not illegal, at least untenable.

The remainder are modern, effective and safe. One of them is the very thing you've been in the process of making for the last week: the phoenix ash analgesic. The method outlined here proposes that a topical paste is more effective for cuts and bruises than a crystal--but more interestingly, the note on the margin claims that the paste works even when ingested and actually works better than in any other form.

You could try and copy down the methodology for later use, or try and learn a new recipe. There's one for a potent anabolic and another for a low-risk stimulant that interests you.

>Check out the recipe for the anabolic
>Read about this stimulant
>Write down the method for the analgesic paste

>>2474202
>>Write down the method for the analgesic paste
lets finish what we started one week ago.

>>2474202
>Write down the method for the analgesic paste

>>2474202
>Write down the method for the analgesic paste

>>2474202
>>Write down the method for the analgesic paste

>>2474202
>Write down the method for the analgesic paste

>>2474202
>Write down the method for the analgesic paste

>>2474214
>>2474240
>>2474242

You grab your notebook and pencil and begin the tedious but necessary process of outlining the alchemical procedure.

>Roll 1d20 to see if you learn anything new

>>2474091
>that name
>this idea
checks out

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2474257

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2474257

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>2474257

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2474257

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>2474257

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178 KB PNG

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2474261
>>2474262
>>2474271
>>2474274
>7
>2
>7
>2
Damn. Dice have been shit this entire quest.
Also, 4.

I seriously hope this quest follows the lower-is-better roll system...

>>2474280
But i rolled an 18?

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2474287
Anybody can just ROLL an 18.

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>>2474293
>Rolled 19

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14 KB PNG

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>2474301
Time to prove my worth.
My roll will be below 10.
My post number will end in 8.

>>2474322
What a waste of dubs

>>2474322
>dice+1d20
>AYYYY
its on the options field, my man.

>>2474313
>My roll will be below 10.
That much was true.

>>2474281
Nope.
>>2474280
This has been our luck for most of the quest.

>>2474261
>>2474262
>>2474265

>7, 18, 2: 1 Success

You know 90% of what you're copying down, but writing it down nonetheless helps give it shape and solidity, reduces error and uncertainty and commits the details to memory. It's the marginal notes which prove fruitful.

About half are incomprehensible scribbles, some kind of cryptic shorthand unique to the alchemist in question and of the other half, most are critiques or caveats of the method, things like "use half as much ash solution per extract as written, for optimal purity", "do not distill as instructed, wait until the end or just skip it", "water works just as well for solvent" some refer to other recipes or even other books ("see page 27 of Richter's book", "see recipe 23 in KV") but a precious few contain stunning insights into the craft itself and are written longhand down several pages.

Case in point: "Properties of redweed root not fully explored. Ash may actually destroy or at least damage a more powerful restorative component. Lavoz: Ask, what is a thing in itself? What is it's nature? What is the nature of redweed? No one has experimented with the juice of the root because of its toxicity--but the leaves are safe. Connection? Possible. Toxicity, a result of oversaturation. Boyle-Davy conjecture: toxicity and potency are spectrums not absolutes. [s]Tests remain inconclusive.[/s] REDWEED ROOTJUICE POSSIBLE PANACEA."

You can't even believe what you're reading. For such a common ingredient--an extremely toxic one at that--to be claimed as the legendary panacea seems dubious at best and insane at worst. You wonder at all the other comments now, if they were penned by the same hand, can you really trust them? On the other hand, most of what he's written you would agree with as well (after some deep thought), but if redweed is a panacea that would be the discovery of a lifetime.

Your thoughts are interrupted by a quiet knock at the door. "Seabass? Did you fall asleep?" It's Nina. You didn't even hear them come in. You feel an awkwardness creep into your stomach. You don't want to see her right now, not after what Franklin told you. You wouldn't know what to say.

You look to your Elf. She's fast asleep, the notebook is clutched to her chest like a stuffed animal and her eyes are furrowed in her dark dreams. The knock comes again, less certain this time.

>Pretend to be asleep
>Open the door but be curt
>Invite her in, and talk

>>2474371
>Invite her in, and talk

>>2474371
>Pretend to be asleep

>>2474371
>>Invite her in, and talk

>>2474375
secondign

>>2474371
>>Invite her in, and talk

>>2474371
>Invite her in, and talk
Gotta man up sometime

>>2474371
>Pretend to be asleep

>>2474371
>Invite her in, and talk
Man the fuck up Seabass.

>>2474371
>>Invite her in, and talk

>>2474375
>>2474381
>>2474389
>>2474391

You consider just crawling into bed, shutting your eyes and letting her knock until she goes away. A little voice inside you says, this would be OK to do. Another voice, a little louder, a little more stern voice (it kind of sounds like Toad) says "A man faces his problems head on. Only a coward hides under the covers." So you get up, trying to walk as slowly as you can, hoping, praying that she'll be gone by the time you get there.

And when you finally open the door, her back is turned--she was just about to leave. She turns back.

"Oh!" She says, and immediately her fingers dive into her mouth. "Did I wake you?"

"No." You say. You hope you're making a neutral face because it feels like someone is boiling water inside your stomach. "You want to come in?"

She looks behind her at the stairs, then back at you. "Sure." She says, her voice is strangely small and quiet, unlike her usual self. You let her pass by and get a whiff of her hair. Perfume. A bergamot top note with a strong jasmine heart and a rich vanilla base. You know it well, it's the one you gave her on her last birthday (at her insistence). And rapidly your mind combs through the calculations. The top should only last half an hour at most and the heart should have long since dried out. Which leaves the inevitable conclusion that she reapplied it before she knocked on your door.

She's still wearing the dress from earlier this day. You didn't notice it before on account of Lawson, but you see it now. The dress is modest, strapless, hanging to her shoulders by little lace cuffs, flowing fabric of spring colors, yellow and white, down to her calves. In the faint candlelight she seems like an apparition, the ghost of a queen come to haunt. You can feel your throat go dry.

"We've already eaten dinner." You say, and immediately close your eyes at profound stupidity of this opening line.

"Oh." She laughs. "I guess I do ask for food a lot huh? Still you shouldn't be so stingy, that why no one..." She stops and sighs and goes quiet and starts coiling her hair around her finger and biting her third finger.

>Be blunt and honest
>Be tactful and polite
>Be silent and stony

>>2474477
>>Be tactful and polite

>>2474477
>>Be tactful and polite

That's how we're gonna fuck her, right?

>>2474477

>Be tactful and polite

>>2474477
>be tactful and polite

>>2474477
>Be tactful and polite

>>2474477

>Be blunt and honest

>>2474477
Assuming write-ins are kosher
>be polite and honest. Try to let her down gently.

>>2474483
>>2474495
>>2474503
>>2474506

A silence settles between you both, almost solid in it's weight. Finally, she says, "Can I get a drink of water?" And you move to get it for her but she tells you to stay and that she can get it herself. You note that you're sweating for some reason and head out to the balcony to get some air and collect what remains of your thoughts.

What to do? Should you just be honest? She's acting very strange, very un-Nina like (whatever that entails). It feels like something is going to happen here. What would Toad do in this situation? Probably just smoke and stare at her until she said something or left. You could try that. No, you can't pull that off, only Toad can do something like that.

You can hear her coming back around. "Seabass?"

"On the balcony." You say. You'll be polite, tactful. No need to be blunt, you have more class than that.

"What are you doing out here?" She says. The glass of water is in her hand and her face is more relaxed, more certain now. "It is nice out here though." She looks up at the stars.

>Roll 1d20 to see how well you keep your cool (+optional write-in for flavor)

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>2474545

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>2474545
Social skills....go?

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2474545
>Be honest
>Thank you for everthing, Your wonderful even if I'm just always bitter.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2474545

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2474545
Spaghetti overload

>>2474545
"Franklin and I were talking about you awhile ago, and we both think you're wasting your potential in this rinky-dink town."

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>2474545
>I know we've had our rough moments, but thanks for everything.

>>2474091
JUST NO.

>>2474558
>>2474560
>>2474562

>15, 4, 11: 2 Successes

You stare at her again, the slender slightly tanned neck and arms as she turns her chin to the sky, and her red hair falling in curls over her shoulders. You feel a calm come over you and you almost laugh. She's just Nina in the end. The beast you have known for the past year. As much as you might despise her, and as much as she might annoy you, it's only the hostility between friends. And that's all you are.

You lean back on the railing and finally her eyes return to yours. "I guess you've been thinking about Franklin's offer?" You say. Her eyes go up--because it's absolutely true, she was.

"He told me everything." She says. "About when you guys met earlier." She doesn't seem mad about it and you don't even feel surprise. She sighs and a little laugh winds down from her lips and she watches it go into the air, carried away. "It's late. I shouldn't have bothered you, sorry." She closes her eyes and opens them again. She meets your eyes again. "Should I go?" She asks.

>That's up to her
>You can't lie, you think she should
>Be clear: nothing is stopping her

>>2474633
>>That's up to her

>>2474633
>I know I would have.

>>2474633
>>That's up to her

>>2474633
>That's up to her

>>2474633
>That's up to her

>>2474633
>I'm not here to hold you back or control you. You do whatever you want, I'm still gonna be here for you.

>>2474633
>That's up to her
Tell her she has to be the one to decide her own happiness

>>2474633
>it’s up to you
>I’m sorry for any discomfort I’ve inadvertently caused.

>>2474633
>That's up to her

>>2474633
>That's up to her

>>2474633
She should stay and be your fiance.

>>2474633
>That's up to her
ask her what she thought about what she heard, mybe even have her clarify what he told her

>>2474633
ask her what her favorite constellation is

>>2474660
Seconding

>>2474644
>>2474650
>>2474651
>>2474656

You shrug and start to smile. "That's up to you." You say and you find that you really mean it, and you find yourself hoping that she's happy whichever way she goes about it. And a warmth fills you up, right up from your toes to your tips of your crown and you think she can feel it too, coming out of you, because she smiles too.

"Yeah." She says and finally her fingers drop from her lips and from her hair and she does a little happy shrug that seems to decide something within herself. She takes a few quick steps toward you and she pecks your cheek and giggles when she steps back and sees your face. "All of a sudden you're so perceptive." She says.

"Give me a break. I'm an alchemist, not a...whatever is appropriate here."

She nods. "I think I'm gonna stay awhile." She says, the words have a finality to them. Then she adds, "Just to watch the stars--you don't mind do you?"

"No. But I do have to get up early tomorrow."

"Oh right, the temple. I still can't believe you never told me you were an orphan." She folds her arms.

"It's not something I like to talk about. It's bad luck where I'm from. To be an orphan. And...I really hate that look people give you when they find out. The same one you're giving me right now."

"Sorry." She looks away. "Sorry."

"I'll make some tea." You say.

"No it's alright. I'll think I'll head down now." She scratches her elbow in sudden thought. "Actually listen, I'll leave some clothes out. You can take them to the temple in the morning, give them to the kids and stuff."

"You don't have to do that."

"I know. I want to." She smiles to herself. "You inspire the good in all of us." She says, flatly. Then you both laugh and you walk her to the door.

She lingers there for a moment, staring at the first step. "Hey." She says, without turning. "I know what Franklin told you, but you think you could just forget that? I don't want to go just yet. I mean I just...I need a little more time. And it would be good if we were OK. Just back to the way we were."

>You'll try
>Of course! She should consider it done
>You can't just erase something like that

OOC: Gonna grab some lunch, brb

>>2474758
what is it that franklin told us ?

>>2474774
iirc Nina is madly in love with Seabass

>>2474758
>>You'll try

>>2474758
>Of course! She should consider it done

>>2474758
>How can I when I have such a lovely young lady looking after me?

>>2474758
>You can't just erase something like that

>>2474758
Again if write-ins are kosher
>Tell her you would like for things to remain as they were
Disregard shiksas, acquire shekels.
And of course be polite about it.

>>2474758
>You'll try
>But you'll still be here

>>2474758
>>You'll try

>>2474758
just tell her you dontbelieve anything franklin says, she shouldnt either

>>2474810
kek

>>2474758
>lets just have sex and be done with it, stop this love bullshit. we are no teenagers anymore. If you want to we can arrange a marriage and live a reasonable and normal life with all the benefits of marriage, but i suggest you better not be crazy or i will dump you at once. We can negotiate the marriage contract after about a month, when you have considered the offer. Your genes are probably good enough for decent offspring.

>>2474851
>considering marriage
>when divorce would allow her to take half of our assets
get_a_load_of_this_goy.jpg

>>2474866
>marriage contract
just have the right contract to prevent that.

>>2474758
>I’ll do my best.

>>2474866
This actually depends on local laws.

>>2474758
>You'll try

>>2474633
But think of the money you are just leaving on the table? Do you want us to a schmuck like some dumb goy?

>>2474987
You dumb larping goy, have you even considered local legislation or taxation?!

>>2474758
>>You'll try

>>2474758
>And it would be good if we were OK. Just back to the way we were."
Passive aggressive?

>>2474778
>>2474816
>>2474829
>>2474914
>>2474928

It's not really something that you can just turn off and ignore but you can at least try to be conscious of it.

"I'll try." You say. "I'd like that too."

She says nothing more and just hops down the stairs. You return to your books but find you are too tired to continue and decide to call it a night. You dreams of your younger years, when you first joined the orphanage. There's someone throwing mud at another boy. The boy is crying. Is it you? The forms clumps and catches on the boy's clothes. The others are laughing at him. They have joined together in a circle to throw mud at the boy. You can't see his face but he's looking right at you. Is it you? Is it you? Is it--

Your slave wakes you around dawn, as you instructed. Much earlier than normal but the temple is on other side of town and it will hours just to get there. The earlier you head out, the better. Your elf seems to have already eaten and is busy with her notebook while you freshen up. After breakfast, you grab the money from your lockbox, 7 sovereigns, a small fortune, and put it in your inner breast pocket. You pick up the clothes Nina left outside, a huge sack filled with dresses, trousers, shirts and even underwear.

You'd be hard pressed to find a carriage this early in the morning, but your Elf had the foresight to have one waiting for you while you were eating breakfast. The trip is long but mostly uneventful, your Elf spends her time staring out of the window and scribbling something in the notebook (which she now carries with her everywhere). You lean over her shoulder and see that she's making sketches of the houses and streets and waking people. She's good. Her line work is clean and natural and her sense of composition could give some of the royal illustrators a run for their money. The moment she notices your gaze however, she slams the book shut and her whole face turns bright red.

You don't make any remark. You take the time to nap instead. Your Elf wakes again when you arrive. The temple here is a relatively large one on account of Viceroy Antipater's generosity. It's off to the side of the town and consists two main buildings: the cathedral, and next to it, the orphanage. Between them there is a grounds with a fountain in the middle which has never worked/

It's almost noon now and still the weekend and the kids should all be home. Indeed the moment you walk into the grounds you spot some of the younger ones playing hopscotch, or jumping rope or chasing each other. The older ones are in a ring, wrestling each other in the grass. One of the little girls sees you and cries out. "Oh! It's Big bro! Big bro is here!" Then they all turn toward you and the younger ones run up to you and they try to tackle you to the ground and start climbing up your arms and legs (they inevitably succeed on both fronts).

1/2

>>2475238
You spend a minute trying to extricate yourself from the masses of child limbs. A few of them continue hang on to your back like parasites as you stand. "Lucy? Where's Lucy, oh (she's hanging from your neck) Where's Sister Sarah?"

"Inside." She says, pointing to the cathedral. "Full speed ahead!"

"Aye, aye, captain." You say. "But what if there be pirates?"

"Nooo." She pounds your back with her little fists. "Pirates are scary Big bro. No pirates."

You laugh and look behind you to call for Leia but the children have crowded around her and are asking her a million questions at once. She's overwhelmed by so much attention that she's doesn't know what to do and is hiding her face behind her notebook.

"Big bro who's that?" Says Lucy

>Rescue your Elf from the children
>Tell Lucy to take your Elf to play with the other children
>Leave her to the mercies of the children and head to the cathedral

>>2475243
>Leave her to the mercies of the children and head to the cathedral

>>2475243
>Rescue your Elf from the children
Before she starts freaking out even more.

Maybe once things have calmed down a bit get them to play?

>>2475243
>Leave her to the mercies of the children and head to the cathedral

File: damn that's cute.jpg (76 KB, 744x1024)

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>>2475243
>Tell Lucy to take your Elf to play with the other children

>>2475243
>Tell Lucy to take your Elf to play with the other children

>>2475243
Go to the Elf and ask the croud if they want to play, and see waht happens

>>2475243
>Rescue your Elf from the children

She might get a panic attack. We can have her play with them later

>>2475248
+1

>>2475243
>Rescue your Elf from the children
Work first, games later

>>2475243
>Leave her to the mercies of the children and head to the cathedral

>>2475238
The count will be there and speak with the sister, won't he? He will recognize the elf won't he? We going to get majorly fucked won't we?

>>2475243
Introduce Leia. As household help, I imagine.
Unless we need her, ask her if she wants to play with kids or tag along with us.

>>2475243
>Introduce the elf, but let her at the mercy of the kids.

>>2475243
>Rescue your Elf from the children
Save the elf!

File: 1522780837714.png (178 KB, 350x342)

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>>2475238
>The moment she notices your gaze however, she slams the book shut and her whole face turns bright red.
How adorable.

>>2475243
>Rescue your Elf from the children
She ain't ready for this shit yet.

>>2475341
ok definitely this

>>2475341
she needs the experience, tough. otherwise she will be unable to take care of seabass and nina's kids.

>>2475378
Yes, she needs experience, not being thrown off the deep end. She's probably completely overwhelmed right now, that doesn't help anybody.
We can ease her into it later.

>>2475378
or our kids with her :^)

>>2475378
You generally ease people into unfamiliar situations, throwing her into this is bad.

>>2475341
support.

>>2475388
maybe elves and humans can't interbreed in this universe

maybe these elves don't even have vagoos

>>2475402
>>2475388
i'd rather not stick our dick in her vagina. remember what watdo said.
>>2469538
>dick melting super AIDS
>Interesting.

>You've all given me some new ideas!

>>2475402
>maybe elves and humans can't interbreed in this universe
That's possible, a question for Watdo later.

>maybe these elves don't even have vagoos
And you lost me. And we're not checking for ourselves, either.

>>2475388
Come on man, Seabass is married to his craft, we are clearly going to create either homunculi children or an artificial womb to carry our children.

>>2475248
>>2475259
>>2475261
>>2475263

"She's a...an assistant." You say. They're trying to get her to play with them now and she's started to panic. "Alright guys, time to get off. Come on." They all moan and gripe but one-by-one they drop off.

"Did you bring any food this time Big bro?" Asks one of the younger boys, . You pat his head.

"Not today, Mort. But you'll be having some good food later, I promise." 7 sovereigns can buy a lot of food. You go and grab your Elf's hand and pull her away from the kids.

"M-master, what do they want? What are they saying?" She sounds like it were wild bears surrounding her instead of small children.

"Oh! She spoke! She said some weird shit." Says a little boy wearing a frayed woolen cap.

"Watch your language, Barry." You say.

"Well she did." He mutters.

"They want play with you." You say. "That's all. Not bite, nothing afraid."

"They want to play...with me?" She looks back at the children. The children stare.

"Is that your wife Big bro?" Says another boy. His clothes are soiled with dirt and grass stains and he has a blade of straw between his teeth. Casey, you think his name is. "She has big tits." He says. He's not more than 10 years old.

"No she isn't." You say. "And no she doesn't. And where did you learn that word?" The kid shrugs.

"What's bigtits Big bro?" Asks Lucy. You'll need have a serious talk with the older boys.

"Do I have big tits?" Asks another girl. She has pigtails and serious and increasing panic in her voice.

"You definitely have big tits." Says Casey, nodding sagely.

"Am I gonna die?" Asks the girl, tears are already welling in her eyes.

"Yes." Casey, again.

"Alright, that's enough. You. Stop talking. And you, no you don't have big...you're not going to die. Everybody just calm down."

"I wanna play with bigtits-sis." Says another girl. A rousing chorus concurs with this sentiment. You touch your eyes and sigh. You look back at your slave, who has calmed down and is looking between the children. Some of the older boys are now coming over.

"Yo, Seabass. Who's the dame?" Says the oldest, Lucy's brother, Abe. He's only 17 but has the frame, constitution and look of a man in his late 30's. He even has the poorly shaven beard so common among tired family men.

"Assistant." You say. "Listen can you keep an eye on her while she plays with the kids? You know some Elvish right?"

"Sure. Any good news?"

You pat your breast pocket and smile. "Some." You say. You toss him the bag of clothes. "Hand these out for me will you? Probably something in there for you too. I have to talk with Sarah."

"Will do." He turns to the children and smacks his hands. "Alright you little snot-eating brats, single file. Girls on this side, boys on the other--oy, Casey, front and center buddy and get stop pulling on Mary's pigtails."

"I wasn't doing nothing." Says Casey, hand still in Mary's hair.

1/2

>>2475414
Come on now, even though i said shekels come before shiksas let's not shut out the possibility of Seabass leading a happy married life.

>>2475471
"Stay here and play OK? I come back." You point to the cathedral. "Talk to Abe if need help." You point to Abe and turn to leave, but she holds on to your arm.

"M-master will come right back?" She says.

You smile. "Right back. Promise." She releases and the children swarm around her as before but Abe gets a few of the other older boys to hold them back, who are more than happy to help the pretty (if scarred) damsel in distress.

The temple is built in the same fashion as those in Eastmarch. A heavy stone construction with high arches. Candles everywhere, especially at the front where there stands an enormous tapestry depicting the ascension of the Thrice Great into the One. Below it, is a great stone urn where burn sticks of sweet smelling incense. Along the side are fountains built into the rock (these actually do work, but are not turned on except on rare occasions) and as per Eastmarch style, there are no benches, just a large ornate carpet. You take off your shoes as you enter. There's no one here, but Sister Sarah must be in one of the inner rooms.

>Take a moment to light some incense and pray for the departed
>Wash your face in the waters of the fountain and wait
>Head to the inner chambers and look for Sarah

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>>2475471
>"She has big tits."
Honkers confirmed.

>>2475481
What is the proper procedure, here? What do people normally do when visiting the temple?
I guess start with
>Take a moment to light some incense and pray for the departed

>>2475471
>"She has big tits."
that boy is gonna go far.

>>2475481
>Take a moment to light some incense and pray for the departed
>Wash your face in the waters of the fountain and wait
>Head to the inner chambers and look for Sarah

>>2475482
have you ever seen someone malnourished with big pollsters of fat? Me neither.

>>2475481
>eastmarch
This is happening in the Elder scrolls universe confirmed.

>>2475481

>Take a moment to light some incense and pray for the departed
>Wash your face in the waters of the fountain and wait
>Head to the inner chambers and look for Sarah

>>2475491
She's an elf, maybe their bodies store all their fat reserves in the tits.

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>>2475471
>inb4 we get NTRed by this Casey kid

>>2475502
She has none is the joke you retard.

>>2475504
Then we'll be worse then her former master.

>>2475481
>Take a moment to light some incense and pray for the departed

>>2475481
>Take a moment to light some incense and pray for the departed
>Wash your face in the waters of the fountain and wait
>Head to the inner chambers and look for Sarah
All three, in order.

>>2475506
Well apparently she does, in her chest.

>>2475565
kids are unreliable narrators

>>2475481
>Take a moment to light some incense and pray for the departed

File: Sister Sarah.jpg (57 KB, 500x582)

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>>2475489
>>2475490
>>2475498
>>2475520

It's not often that you visit the temple, so you might as well take this opportunity to light some incense. You go first to the fountains to wash your arms and face and feet. The ablutions are important.

You grab three sticks from a small bowl in front of the urn and light them. The smell of sandalwood fills the room. You clasp your hands and sit in the cross-legged fashion you were taught.

"What is Below corresponds to that what is Above, and what is Above corresponds to what is Below, to accomplish the miracle of the One. How many bodies we to pass through and how many bands of demons and angels and good men and wise men, through how many series of repetitions and cycles of the stars, before we hasten to the One?" You take a breath. "May I be perfect upon the path, reconciled soon to the One." You bow and place your head upon the carpet and rise. "May my mother and father be reconciled to the One." Again you bow and rise. "May all be reconciled to the One." A final bow. "Almighty One, please protect my family."

You have no family, a voice says within you. But you quiet it. It's how the prayer goes that's all. You rise. "Sebastian! You didn't tell me you were coming today." Your heart leaps a little at the sound and sight of her, the air seems to fade away, and the moment and all time seems to slow.

"H-how are you Sister Sarah?" You say. Your voice cracked a little there. Pull it together, Sondheim.

She smiles, adjusting her headdress, putting a bit of golden curl behind the fabric. "I am well. It's good to see you Sebastian. Come let's talk outside, it's so hot today."

"Yes." You say, though the temperature has nothing to do with your sudden sweats. You're about to follow her outside when you realize that Leia is still out there. And the good Sister does not approve of slavery.

>Make an excuse and stay inside
>Follow her out anyway, she'll understand once you explain
>You'll just say she's your assistant, it's a white lie

>>2475565
These are young children we're talking about here, anything more than flat is probably big to them.

>>2475634
>>Make an excuse and stay inside
Oh shit, I don't know how to go about handling this.

>>2475634
>Follow her out anyway, she'll understand once you explain

>>2475634
>>Follow her out anyway, she'll understand once you explain

>>2475634
>>Follow her out anyway, she'll understand once you explain

>>2475634
>Follow her out anyway, she'll understand once you explain

>>2475634
>Follow her out anyway, she'll understand once you explain.

And there's actually a very solid way to explain this. (The following isn't it.) She's really more of our assistant than an out and out slave, and we've been trying to restore her health and help her out where we can.

>>2475634
sister will doubtless approve.

She would probably be dead by now had we not bought her, and even if we freed her, she's mentally broken and can't speak english, it'd be impossible for her to live a normal life.

We treat her well. We don't touch her. We're teaching her to read and speak. Her shattered mind is ever so slowly recovering.
Yes, she's our slave. And that was the best possible outcome for her. There is no place safer in this world for her right now than by our side.

>>2475683
Personally, i want to turn her into our assistant.
I have no doubt that she'll feel more than a little indebted once she's able to read, write and work, so we can free her at that time, assuming that's what she wants.

>>2475689
That's my end goal as well. And I would put it a bit more flowery in order to make sure to tug at her heartstrings, but that's pretty much what I would have said to her.

>>2475726
No, i think it's best to be purely honest in our intentions, rather than try to dress it up.
Dressing it up implies that we're hiding something, and people only hide their intent when it's negative.

I truly believe that we're doing a good thing here.

>>2475735
You might have misunderstood me. I don't mean that we lie to her or even get Shakespearean at all. I just mean be a bit less blunt about it. More like:

"You know full well I'm not exactly a fan of slaves either. That's exactly the reason I bought her. She was basically a walking corpse, and I saw an opportunity. I'm trying to bring her back up in both body and mind, since she's got scars on both. She's been doing well, trying to teach her to read and write and speak well. Trying to learn a little bit of her own language in exchange. Just taking some time. I'm hoping once she becomes sounder physically and mentally, I can have a proper assistant on my hands. If she decides she cares for that profession. I won't lie though, I have her cooking and cleaning in order for her to earn her keep. And I'm pretty sure you've tasted my cooking before, so you can't blame me for that one much."

Maybe not exactly this, but something like it, you get me?

>>2475761
You'd be more knowledgeable in that regard, i suppose.
The 'tism's got hold of me.

>>2475775
S'cool, like I said, you basically summarized my thoughts anyway.

>>2475649
>>2475659

You follow her out. You're sure once you explain yourself she'll understand. She won't like it, but she'll understand.

Abe has finished handing out the clothes and both he, your Elf and the other older boys are helping the rest put them on.

"Did you bring those?" Asks Sarah, she has a broad smile on her face, different from the gentle curve she always wears. You secretly thank Nina in your mind, though it feels somehow perverse to do so.

"A gift from a friend." You say. "She's very generous. I do have this though." You take out the purse of coins and grab her hand and press them into her palm. She thinks it's just the usual half-dozen pieces of silver. When she sees the flecks of gold her pretty eyes widen.

"I can't take this! This is too much!" She tries to put the coins back in your hand, but you push her hand away.

"It's fine. I came into some money. I think there'll be more soon."

She beams and your heart is in pain. "Business is doing well then?"

"Something like that." You say, helpless to return her smile. "It's still not much. But you'll be able to buy some meat for the kids at least."

"Don't be crazy. This is a lot. Thank you, really. You've always supported our temple and the children and we're all very grateful."

Lucy suddenly runs up to you and collides with your knees. Mary, the girl with pigtails is with her, but her pigtails have given way to an intricate patterned weave that circles her head like a crown. The same with Lucy's hair, which is longer and has been braided as well. "Look what bigtits-sis did!" She says, throwing her hair.

"Am I pretty Big bro?" Says Mary.

"Be still my heart." You say, taking her in your arms.

"Big--who taught you that word, Lucy?" Says the Sarah. Lucy looks at you, and then so does Sarah.

"Woah--it wasn't me! It was that kid, Casey. Kid is out of control."

"Casey was pulling my hair." Adds Mary. You nod along with her.

Sarah frowns. "Well who is she? Is she with you Sebastian?"

Here it comes. You put Mary down and she and Lucy run off again. "Don't get mad." You say.

She folds her arms. "We don't do annulments."

"What? No, no. Why does everyone keep thinking--no she's...she's my slave. I bought her from the slaver on Potter street. She cooks and cleans and keeps the house. I've been teaching her to read and write and--and I need her for the business."

She scowls. "I can't believe you would do something like this."

"I know, I know. But I needed a hand around the house, what I supposed to do?"

"Marry! Find a nice girl and get married, that's what you're supposed to do, not--not buy another human being!"

"Technically she's an Elf." She raises her forefinger at you. You sigh. "The marriage ship has sailed I think." You say. "This is all I've got."

1/2

>>2475835
Her face softens at that. "Nonsense, you're still young. You're telling me there's no one in the picture? A handsome bachelor like you?" She pokes you in the rib and you feel like a snail whose shell has been nailed to the earth. No escape.

You look at her, the golden curls scarce hidden in her cloak, and the beauty which shines through without all the aides that other girls employ: powder, lipstick...perfume. You've tried so many times to capture her scent in chemicals. You know cannot have her, but if you just had that scent. You would be content.

You have never succeeded. Every part of her seems given to god, nothing left for men.

"No." You finally say. "There isn't anyone. And really, I'm not sure I would've bought her in the first place if she wasn't." You swallow. "She's been hurt. Her old master was an animal, worse than an animal, the worst kind scum."

Sarah looks confused but you've drawn close enough to the children and your Elf now that she can see the scars and the bruises for herself. And her little hand goes up to her mouth and her eyes well with little tears because she is so close to the One that others pain hurts her by sheer proximity. "I know it seems self-righteous, but I'm trying to help her too." You say. "At this point, I think even if I release her, she'll have nowhere to go."

Sarah doesn't say anything. She wipes her eyes. Two of the younger children grab her arms and pull her to your Elf and your Elf is sitting on the grass and her hands are braiding a little girl's hair and she is smiling and even singing with them though she doesn't know the words and even laughing with them, which you have never seen,

The skies begin to darken suddenly and a thunderclap sounds overhead. The children all run for cover and you follow. When you reach the orphanage you see a group of men loitering there. They're armed and armored. Adventurers. Sarah herds all the children inside but a few of the older boys, including Abe go to talk to these men.

>Ask Sarah what's going on
>Go and listen in
>Call after Abe

>>2475844
>Go and listen in

>>2475844
>Retrieve Elf, GET HER AWAY FRON THESE PEOPLE. GET SARAH TO HIDE HER IN THE TEMPLE OR SOMETHING.

>Then go listen in.

>>2475844
>>Ask Sarah what's going on

>You look at her, the golden curls scarce hidden in her cloak, and the beauty which shines through without all the aides that other girls employ: powder, lipstick...perfume. You've tried so many times to capture her scent in chemicals. You know cannot have her, but if you just had that scent. You would be content.
Godammit Seabass. Not only unlicensed alchemist, but also a creep.

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>>2475844
>Ask Sarah what's going on
then if possible,
>Go and listen in

>>2475881
>creep
>implying he wasn't just doing it for profit

>>2475878
this

>>2475844
>Ask Sarah what's going on
And check where elf is.

>>2475881
>Creep
Nah just too emotionally awkward to know how to deal with unrequited love in a healthy manner.

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>>2475893
Fuck you seabass, that's a pretty weak excuse. At best, that is your boner stopping you from seeing the obvious fact that she is using some light perfume and " no makeup" makeup, and at worst its some sort of divine aura that you can't replicate.

>>2475893
>Your heart leaps a little at the sound and sight of her, the air seems to fade away, and the moment and all time seems to slow.
>Pull it together, Sondheim.
>You say, though the temperature has nothing to do with your sudden sweats.
>You secretly thank Nina in your mind, though it feels somehow perverse to do so.
>She beams and your heart is in pain.
>You look at her, the golden curls scarce hidden in her cloak, and the beauty which shines through without all the aides that other girls employ: powder, lipstick...perfume. You've tried so many times to capture her scent in chemicals. You know cannot have her, but if you just had that scent. You would be content.
>You have never succeeded. Every part of her seems given to god, nothing left for men.

So basically:
MC loves the blond nun girl, who belongs to God and not him
Nina the redhead tsundere loves the MC, who doesn't like her because his "true love" is ALCHEMY
Franklin the smug manlet mage who saved our life loves the redhead tsundere, but dislikes us for being the object of affection for her

Damn, quite the line of love you got set up here

>>2475844
Backing >>2475878

>>2475918
>>2475844
Seconding. We don't know what these burly, intimidating adventurers think of elves.

>>2475844
>Ask Sarah what's going on
>Hold our elf's hand, keep her from getting into trouble

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>>2475858
>>2475878

You're about to ask Sarah about the men, but you don't have to. You've never seen her so angry before. You wait until your Elf is inside and then waste no time to run and listen in--what do these men want?

"...so that's 15 silver." Says the biggest man in the group. He's armored from head to toe, breastplate, helmet, greaves, you can't even see his eyes.

"We want 20 this time." Says Abe. "And-and we want half up front."

One of the men, not the big one, snorts phglem into his mouth and hocks it to the side. "Don't get uppity kid. I hate uppity." He says.

"One of us almost got hurt real bad last time--and you promised we weren't going to fight, but we had to fight." Syas Abe.

"I can't help it if the fucking scaleskins decide to shank us from the dark can I? And besides, no one actually got hurt." Says the armored man.

"20 silver." Says Abe.

"Abe come on." Says another kid, tugging on Abe's arm. Abe waves him off and stares down the big guy.

The armored man adjusts his belt and his stance. Silence. "Alright. Tell you what. We'll give you the 10 up front, right? And anything you find in the cave--that's yours. Now that's about the same deal as the rest of us have got, but you will be fighting. Consider the silver a down payment, get yourself some armor." He pulls a purse from his waist. "So. Who's coming?"

These bastards are trying to hire kids to fight the kobolds. Now you understand Sarah's rage, you can scarcely keep still yourself. But you're not sure what's more infuriating, the adventurers or the fact that Abe is about to take their money.

SESSION END

OOC: Next session is next Saturday 8 AM PST as usual. Thank you for bearing with these ridiculously long posts and update times. And thanks for playing (and posting and reading and lurking). I hope you're all enjoying the quest!

Right, that's it, i'm convinced.
We need to make poisons and explosives.

Not for adventurers, but for personal use.
Daggers, needles, crossbow bolts coated in paralytic poison. Flash powder, grenades and incendiary devices.

We should keep them on our person, and use it whenever we're in danger.
We may not be strong, but we're an alchemist goddamnit, i refuse to cower every time a threat comes along.

>>2476016
Cheers boss. Leia is a goddamn cinnamon roll and we must protect her.

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>>2476036
Is it finally time?

Also, here's the archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Watdo

>>2476058
>Is it finally time?
You sly dog, you were waiting on this, weren't you?

We acid flasks now.

>>2476058
>I don't enjoy this sister, But I must do it for the children
>YOU'RE KILLING THE CHILDREN
>A quick death from a older brother is better then a slow death in a cave by a monster.

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>>2476016
thanks for running!

>>2476036
well, these aren't enemies per se, nor we are in danger. Just some adventurers trying to save coin by persuading some legal? what was the legal age in the past? 14? people and some kids stupid enough to accept said offer. Ideally an adult should be taking care of them, but it seems like its understaffed.

Also, i'm pretty sure we'd need a licence for half of that stuff and the rest is military level stuff. We'd end up in prison if we aren't careful.

>>2476093
Also, i'm pretty sure we'd need a licence for half of that stuff

Hah, to sell it maybe.
Nothing's stopping an alchemist from making a few toys in a world like this, and when it comes down to throwing acid in someone's face, stabbing them with a dagger that stops their heart at the slightest nick or burning them alive with a hypergolic mixture, would you rather be the one bleeding out on the floor again?
Would you rather leave leia to her fate if someone comes to take her again? Will you let the strong impose their will upon you and hope for mercy, or will you decide your fate with a strength of your own?

>>2476113
>Also, i'm pretty sure we'd need a licence for half of that stuff
We need a licence to carry a weapon such as a dagger or knife.

However I don't believe that we have been informed of any restrictions on carrying alchemist compounds or pairs of ingredient mixes which when mixed create a potion.

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>>2476036
>>2476040
>>2476058
>>2476061
>>2476077
>>2476093
>>2476113
>>2476139
It's time.

>>2476139
I doubt you need a license to carry a knife in medevil times.
A sword maybe, but not a knife.

Even if that were the case, which wouldn't make the slightest lick of sense and would make work and life in general a pain in the ass for all citizens, you could just apply poison to tools that don't fall under the category of a common weapon, like senbon, farming tools or hypodermic needles, if they're available.

>>2476113
i really don't care about leia, but i care about us, and right now we are pretty well defended. the collar and the knife we have right now should help us avoid most injuries.

But you know what is better?
Learning to defend ourselves.
Sure, we can get some new experimental toys but at the end of the day, the man that knows how to fight ends up at the top --regardless of toys--.
>Nothing's stopping an alchemist from making a few toys in a world like this. If you are licenced, nothing stops you, but we aren't and the moment people see us melting, burning alive and exploding people, they will want us down.

>>2476152
it was explained last thread when we bought our home defenses.

>>2476162
>"I' don't have a license to carry a weapon." You say.

A weapon would be a sword, mace, crossbow or the like.
A knife is a tool, and one that almost everyone would carry. This is a high fantasy medevil village, not modern london.

>>2476180
In fact, a dagger was amongst one of the items being sold in the marketplace, for two silver.
We could have bought one then and there.

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>>2476058
This is for you, Watdo. Pics I took from my old Bio 2 class

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Far as I know, 4chan scrubs all exif data on posting, so these shouldn't be traced back to me.