>>2798354
>Have your slave help with the cleaning

>>2798354
>Have your slave help with the cleaning
We got the perk that lets her help, probably should use it

And she liked these things when we first saw them, I think, should be fun

>>2798354

>Have your slave help with the cleaning

We cant risk leaving these things alone for too long and if we or our elf fuck up they can regen anyway.

>>2798354
>>Have your slave help with the cleaning
I have a feeling this quest might go from Elf Slave Quest to Elf Wife quest very quickly.

>>2798372
Nah son, gotta have that slow burn

>>2798372
nah man. our wife will be nina.

File: Troll Heart.jpg (532 KB, 630x843)

532 KB JPG

>>2798360
>>2798365
>>2798367
>>2798372
>>2798372
>>2798389
>>2798399
Six troll hearts sit on the floor in six glass cases suspended in yellowish preserving fluid. In the end, Gunter only had two hearts in stock and you had to wait two hours while he ran to nearby (more legitimate) alchemy shops to get you the rest. Three hundred sovereigns manifested into so narrow a purpose, all your eggs in one proverbial basket, makes your teeth ache, but such is the price of your work. And there’s still a few eggs left in the bank.

Your Elf ventures down and does not wear her perpetual face of fear, even here, where she was once imprisoned. She crouches next to you and watches your hands scrub the interiors of the superior vena cava and watches the other hearts in their jars, beating in steady rhythms like a chorus of eternal drums.

“M-master is there anything I can do to help?”

Normally you’d tell her to leave you be, but so far she’s done well with other tasks. One day she might make a great assistant--maybe even a great partner. The thought gives you a measure of mysterious comfort, much like the gold in your bank account and not unlike when you held her hand in the carriage. Thoughts that preoccupy your mind in odd moments. Like right now.

You clear your throat. “Fine.” You say. “Watch me.” You show her how to rinse the insides of the chambers with alcohol, how to absorb the excess with cloth (crude things you made from one of the bedsheets), how to scrub away the dried or clotted blood with a wire brush. She observes all in silence.

“OK, now your turn.”

>Roll 1d20 to see how well the cleaning goes

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>2798413
please no, not more dice.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2798413

>>2798427
arhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

>>2798427
I'm not even fucking surprised at this point.

>>2798427
I hate you and I fucking hate this quests luck

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>2798413
Check my dubs

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2798413

>>2798484
I'm fucking glad you don't count.

>all these ones
Yup. This is Elf Slave Quest alright.

>>2798423
>>2798427
>>2798462
>15, 1, 6: 2 Successes

You hand her the squeeze bottle of high-proof alcohol and monitor her motions. She does everything perfectly--until she gets to the wirebrush.

“No, no. You’re too rough. You’re not cleaning dishes or beakers here, you have to be gentle.”

She tries again, but her hands are too accustomed to stubborn precipitates and dried fat. “No, no. That’s still too--here like this.” You grab her hands from behind and guide her in yourself. “See? Slowly. In and out. Gently. You don’t want to scar the flesh inside because then it will tear and bleed; you have be gentle when you penetrate. See? Like that.”

She lolls her tongue slightly to the side and furrows her brows, trying hard to memorize the movement. The only other time you’ve seen her make this face is when she’s drawing, a look of total concentration. Her face is flush and slightly sweating and you can feel her blood within her pulse like a cricket’s leg. It’s just from the heat of the torches, you're sure.

“Um, master, should I try by myself now? I think I can do it now.”

“Oh. Right.” You release her hands. You work quietly for a while but silence with heat makes for a bad combination.

>Make conversation with your slave (about what?)
>Just do the work
>Ask your slave to sing a song

>>2798490
>Ask your slave to sing a song

>>2798490
>You grab her hands from behind and guide her in yourself.
>“See? Slowly. In and out. Gently.
>You don’t want to scar the flesh inside because then it will tear and bleed;
>you have be gentle when you penetrate.
The subtext is not lost on me, Watdo!

>Ask your slave to sing a song

>>2798490
>Just do the work

>>2798490
>Make conversation with your slave (about what?)

Ask her how her last visit with the kids went.

>>2798490
>Ask your slave to sing a song

File: 1522780839130.jpg (914 KB, 2000x1517)

914 KB JPG

It is time for the cutest quest of the week.

>>2798495
>>2798496
>>2798504

The floors are wash with blood and the scent of iron and the fire makes these worse. You swipe your brow every few seconds until it becomes unbearable. In the old days you might’ve just started talking to yourself, but you can hardly do that here without looking insane. Yor slave catches you staring at her and you coolly look away. This happens several more times before she finally asks, if there’s something she’s doing wrong.

You blurt out the first thing that comes to mind like a fool. “No, no you’re doing great. I was just thinking about that song you were singing this morning.”

She stops scrubbing. “Master heard that?” She says, quietly. A further flush takes her cheeks now, the color of crushed rose petals in water.

“I was just wondering where you learned that song.”

“Master wasn’t supposed to hear that.”

“Oh? Don’t tell me you think you’re bad or something--”

“No. Leia knows she can sing really well.” She nods with a certain finality which you’ve never seen.

“Well, yeah. Can’t argue with you there. But then, why wasn’t I supposed to hear it?”

“I thought master didn’t like songs.”

“How’d you get that idea?”

“Because master always complains about Miss Nina singing.”

“That’s because she’s terrible. She sounds if someone stepped on a cat. Repeatedly.”

Leia giggles. You don’t think you’ve ever heard her laugh outside of the orphanage. “She’s not so bad.” She says. “She just needs some practice.”

“Yeah and divine intervention.” And you find yourself wondering where she is and how she’s doing. At least she’s not involved in all this craziness. Your mind turns then to Franklin and to Abe and to Toad. Your mind spirals into dark thoughts and your stomach churns.

“So...master likes songs?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes I love music. I just can’t afford it.”

“Then, should Leia sing a song for master?”

“If you like.”

She closes her eyes a moment, perhaps remembering the words or preparing her throat. This time it’s a song you don’t recognize but the words are in your own tongue and you can follow them easily. You realize it’s something of her own creation, a version of that silly story she loves so much--the one with the noble and the slipper and the housemaid.

When she gets to the part about the them declaring their love for each other, even you are a little moved. You ask for an encore and then another and you soon find yourself humming along. She’s good. Yet another talent you’ve uncovered.

You break for dinner and sleep, which have no sound but the tinkling of glass and silver and the occasional compliment of your slave’s cooking, which makes of small means great delights. And when you finally sleep, your dreams are filled with her songs and you wake with small tears in your eyes but do not know why.

---

>>2798633
The next phase of the experiment is the longest. With six troll hearts and a single vial of blood, it will take at least a week to produce a quantity sufficient to meet the demand. The method is simple enough: expose the tails of the sunflies to the heart, creating a small burn wound, then drop an aliquot of blood into the wound for incorporation. Let the heart regenerate the wound, then expose it to the sunflies again in several places. Unfortunately the sunflies don’t have a perfectly periodic cycle of light and dark, as you might be able to get with an enchanted lamp, nevertheless it should still work and it can all be done with minimal supervision.

>Roll 1d20 to see how the regenerative culturing goes

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2798635
fingers crossed

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2798635
dice gods plz, stop the bully

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2798635
noa

>>2798639
>>2798643
>>2798645
>13, 7, 16: 3 successes

The set-up takes a few hours but after that you just have to turn the jars every two hours so the sunflies don’t scar the tissue. You leave that to your Elf while you get some much needed rest, but the need soon passes and soon you are restless again. Sitting Indolent is just not in your nature.

Perhaps this idle time can be put to good use.

>Study time; catch up on your reading
>Maybe you can put all this equipment to good use…
>Investigate the Dome and look for Abe

>>2798655
>Study time; catch up on your reading

>>2798655
>Study time; catch up on your reading
LEARN
LOWER DCS
GET +ES ON ROLLS
G I T F U C K I N G G U D

OOC: Gonna grab some breakfast brb

>>2798655
>Study time; catch up on your reading

>>2798655
>Study time; catch up on your reading

>>2798655
>>Study time; catch up on your reading
I don't even need to vote but I will anyways.

>>2798655
>Study time; catch up on your reading
this part is the real wish fulfillment

I think you forgot 100 Soverigns from our inventory money to deposit.

>>2798655
>Study time; catch up on your reading

>>2798730
I just haven't updated the pastebin yet. But I have it noted down.

== Money ==
# On person: 7.5 Silver
# At home: 13 Soverigns
# At bank: 110 Soverigns (20% CMGR)

And writing for reading.

>>2798848
Long time lurker, here as this quest is not exactly compatible with my timezone. Just wanted to say that I really enjoy it and look forward to it every week. Also I wish you all the best with all your endeavours.
Keep on truckin!

>>2798659
>>2798662
>>2798674
>>2798689
>>2798708
>>2798728
>>2798749

You should lie low until all this blows over. You trust that Franklin will be able to resolve the Abe issue with his boss. Hope is more like it. And actually you’re not sure what’s going to happen once Franklin frames you for the murders. Still, involving yourself at this stage is probably not a good idea. You also consider playing around with all this equipment. Imagine how much analgesic you could make with one of these crystallization tanks. But you also have your backlog of books and now seems a good time to catch up on some reading. An alchemist must be better than his tools after all.

The Elven dictionary is the only book you haven’t opened. Leia’s uses it to learn new words and she’s become so competent in your tongue that it seems unnecessary to study it now. Nevertheless, it might be useful to be able to communicate with your Elf in a language so far removed, it would practically be secret.

You also have the crystallogenesis book that you bought so long ago. It might have a few useful tidbits left that could improve your crystallization technique. Same with the book on restoratives--maybe you can even figure out how that anabolic worked. Finally there’s the book on toxins that saved your hide. You haven’t finished reading all the marginal notes, but Mr. Glossman has been right about everything else, and it might be worthwhile piecing together some of his other wilder theories.

>Study the dictionary
>Read up on crystallogenesis
>Research the anabolic you made using the book on restoratives
>Read the marginal notes on the toxin text

>>2798900
>Read the marginal notes on the toxin text

>>2798900
>Read the marginal notes on the toxin text

>>2798900
>Study the dictionary
Just enought to learn a sentance or phrase, like good morning.
Then:
>Research the anabolic you made using the book on restoratives

Its a good seller so, we should try to improve in that area.

>>2798900
>Study the dictionary

>>2798900
>Read the marginal notes on the toxin text

>>2798900
>Read the marginal notes on the toxin text

>>2798900
>Study the dictionary
We need to reach comfy levels that shouldn't be possible.

>>2798906
>>2798908
>>2798919

You decide to spend some time deconstructing Mr. Glossman’s arguments in “Toxins and Tonics”. You still don’t believe his nonsense about “animalcules”. He claims that the animalcules are “unseen particles that constitute all living matter” and “that the sum of the processes within these tiny beings, give rise to processes of greater and greatest scale so that the expansion of the lungs and the contraction of the muscles and perhaps even the cognition of the brain are submit to the design of corpuscles most small, most humble.”

Of course he provides no experiments for his “theories” but he does make mention of a device, which he calls a “smallsight”, purely hypothetical, which might reveal these animalcules. The device is nothing more than a piece of glass, a lens, enchanted with some light magic, the kind that dwarves use to examine the cut or flaw of gems but enhanced several hundred fold.

The device would have been impossible to make only a few decades ago (at least not without the assistance of a mageknight or a grandmaster theurge) but now with the advent of mana storage devices it might be possible, given a significant amount of coin and luck. Indeed, you find yourself becoming curious at the wonders you might discover in the realm of the miniscule.

Other than his rambling, you find a set of initials in several places which don’t refer to any book or other author. “R.H.” You assume that it’s the initials of his own name, as it always follows some unique insight of his own.

Midway into the week, Toad comes to visit. He’s not only surprised to see you’ve made progress on the cure (completed it more or less), he’s furious. He actually wants you to stop the manufacture and get rid of the hearts. You tell him that’s impossible since you’ve already spent a substantial sum of money and moreover Roche has already seen the manufacture in progress (though he still doesn’t know about the Elf blood). He leaves in a huff without explaining anything. He returns the next day, more haggard than ever.

“Anitpater wants to meet you.” He says. “Personally.”

>Go with him
>Refuse

>>2799038
>Go with him

File: [Audible Sweating].gif (967 KB, 245x250)

967 KB GIF

>>2799038
>Go with him

>>2799038
>Go with him

Toad plz, we just wanted to be good at our job ;-;

>>2799038
>go with him
>Talk trash on his son for being an irredeemable prick and the lord of lizard aids
>Gloat about out alchemy'ing his son.
>Find out if Antman really is responsible for torturing our cute elf.

>>2799050
>>2799056
>>2799063

You don’t tell your Elf where you’re going. You don’t take her with you. If he really did hurt your slave what then? You’re not sure what you’re going to do, whether you’ll be able to control yourself, but Toad says he’ll be right there next to you and you hope that he will deter you from anything extreme. You still haven’t told him about your Elf’s suspicions--mostly because you don’t think he would care.

Toad coaches you on the ride over, and most of it boils down to keeping your mouth shut and telling Anitpater only the bare minimum. You don’t say much in reply, just absently nod your head and try to concentrate on your objective. You have to keep calm, no matter what. Toad tells you that the completion of the cure wasn’t supposed to happen according to Antipater; he’s not even sure why Antipater wants to see you.

You arrive at the edifice which towers in southern design, like a thing of mountains and stone.

“Ready?” Says Toad. “Remember, speak slowly and take deep breaths. I’ll be with you the whole time.”

“Right.”

You through the white doors into the main lobby. An elf servant greets you and asks if you’d like anything to drink. There is no mark upon her, but you know better.

“No.” You say. Then you mutter, trying as best you can to hide your mouth from watching eyes. “Does your master hurt you? Blink twice if he does.”

“I’m sorry?” She says, leaning in.

“Does your master hurt you?” You say again.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“Seabass, what are you doing?” Toad hisses. He grabs your arm and starts to drag you toward the stairs. Toad is much stronger than his age suggests, it’s like struggling against a concrete wall.

At the top of the stairs you see a familiar and displeasing sight. “Sebastian?” Says Lawson. He doesn’t look pleased to see you either. “Wha-what are you doing here? Who let you in? Get out! Get out! Guards!”

Antipater emerges from his office and in two broad steps he is behind his son, nearly his exact counterpart in likeness, but for the flowing hair. “Son, you had better stop hollering before I get a headache.”

“F-father. This--this peasant somehow got passed the gates I--”

Antipater rests a hand on his son’s shoulder, and the latter flinches like he had been doused with cold water. “I know, son. This “peasant” is my guest.”

“What? No, that’s…that’s impossible.” He looks truly lost.

Antipater laughs. “You know him then. Well ain’t that something. Come, Sebastian, let’s talk.”

“Talk? No! Father no, he shouldn’t be here. Not here. Not in my home.” Whines Lawson.

“Son.” Says Antipater. The laughter and the smiles are gone, and those eyes have gone so cold, like chips of blue paint on a blank canvas, lifeless shards so pure and so much something other than human.

>Rub it in before you go
>Don’t say anything, just follow Antipater inside

>>2799159
>Don't say anything, just follow Antipater inside

>>2799159
>Don’t say anything, just follow Antipater inside

File: 1533069507867.png (72 KB, 265x294)

72 KB PNG

>>2799038
>Go with him
This is it lads, quest over

>>2799159
>Don’t say anything, just follow Antipater inside
Give him a smug look

>>2799159
>Don’t say anything, just follow Antipater inside

>>2799159
>Don’t say anything, just follow Antipater inside
and
>Remember to breathe

>>2799159
>Don’t say anything, just follow Antipater inside

>>2799159
>>Don’t say anything, just follow Antipater inside
We're going to murder this cunt one day.

>>2799171
>>2799174
>>2799189

Lawson drags his upper teeth down across the small hairs beneath his lower lip. His breathing is choked and broken. He’s terrified. You decide not to push your luck, and avoid even looking at Lawson. You follow Antipater into his study and despite yourself you begin to admire his collection of books.

“Drink, Sebastian?” He goes to his little bar while you take a seat at the stone table.
“No thank you.”

“Oh come now son, it’s alright to indulge in a vice every once in a while. No? How about you Toad? You too? Bunch of squeakers.” He laughs and pours himself a glass.

Toad leans against the door and Antipater takes a seat across from you. “So, Sebastian, or Seabass. That’s what your friends call you right?”

“I’d prefer Sebastian.”

Antipater takes a sip of his drink and leans back, relaxed and assured, as though immortal, and all this were predetermined. “You know who I am?”

You consider the question. “Yes and no.”

“Correct. Can any man really know anyone but himself--and maybe not even that much.”

“Why am I here?”

“You tell me. I figure we do a little tit-for-tat first. I get the feeling there’s something between us, some kind of--” He rubs the air between his fingers. “--lightning held back. You got something you wanna say to me?” He wipes his lip. “Cause I might answer you today--just today. I might even be honest.”

>No, you don’t
>Yes, what was the purpose of the toxin?
>Yes, why does he mutilate slaves?
>Yes, why does he wear the mask?

>>2799236
>Yes, what was the purpose of the tort- ehh, toxin?

>>2799236
>>Yes, what was the purpose of the toxin?

>>2799236
What do you do for fun? I mean the real fun not the stuff you tell people in the public.

>>2799236
>Yes, what was the purpose of the toxin?

>>2798662
>GET +ES ON ROLLS
>+ES
Do you play skirmishes?

>>2799255
>>2799236
>“You tell me. I figure we do a little tit-for-tat first. I get the feeling there’s something between us, some kind of--” He rubs the air between his fingers. “--lightning held back. You got something you wanna say to me?” He wipes his lip. “Cause I might answer you today--just today. I might even be honest.”
+1. Was the lightning referring to a connection between us, or an aura obstruction?

>>2799236
>Purpose of the toxin

I really wanted to pick the meme option, tho.

File: 1409744754661.jpg (174 KB, 1500x844)

174 KB JPG

>>2799236
>Yes, why does he wear the mask?

>>2799236
>>Yes, why does he wear the mask?

The purporse of the toxin -is- what we will learn today. Leave that for later

>>2799236
Mainly
>Yes, what was the purpose of the toxin?
Secondly, if we can get an opportunity
>Yes, why does he mutilate slaves?

>>2799312
We could be wrong about him mutilating slaves, which would make us look kind of dumb for being certain with circumstantial evidence. Also, seabass would go apeshit probably if he says he does.

File: 1431390927434.png (397 KB, 1280x720)

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I just want to say that if we ask him "why does he mutilate slaves" then that will inevitably alert him to the fact that his former abuse victim is back within his grasp, and that we care about her, giving him insane leverage over us. Don't do it, anons.

>>2799323
This.

Under no circumstances should he learn we have his ex slave or know about the torture.

>>2799236
Changing my vote from Whatever the fuck it was formerly, and deleted it too.

>Yes, what was the purpose of the toxin?

We're close to figuring out the toxin on our own and it's only a small part of his master plan. I'd trade a hundred sovereigns for an honest answer to why he was cutting the magic out of elves... but it's not worth tipping him off that we have Leia. Seeing Antipater interact with Lawson gives me the vibe that if we play our cards right Lawson might be a potential ally to us, it's clear his father has been keeping him in the dark.
>>2799236
>Yes, what was the purpose of the toxin? How does it fit into your long term plans?
But most importantly:
>What is your end goal in all of this?

>>2799370
[SPEECH]"I'd like all of your secret plans, please."

>>2799236
>Yes, what was the purpose of the toxin?

>>2799244
>>2799247
>>2799268
>>2799269
>>2799271
>>2799312
>>2799396
>>2799370


You take a deep breath. He’s not going to answer you honestly, but you can play his game. “Why’d you make the toxin?”

He puts the glass down on the stone, slowly, pinning an ant between the two unyielding surfaces. “I like that.” He says. “Straight to it--that’s the southern way. You ever been to the south, Seabass?”

“No.”

“Well you should. I think you’d like it. It’s real quiet. Peaceful” He glances toward the window, at the last dredges of light on the horizon. “You know why that is?”

He looks at you as though he expects a real answer. You think for a moment.

>You don’t know
>It’s because its so far removed; isolation breeds peace
>It’s just in the nature of provincals

>>2799399
>It’s because its so far removed; isolation breeds peace

>>2799399
>It’s just in the nature of provincals
I bet it's because they genocided all the noisy things like lizards and their slaves are well heeled.

>>2799399
>It’s because its so far removed; isolation breeds peace

>>2799406
>>2799423

“Because it’s a country far removed from the border. Internal stability, economic prosperity, small population; people don’t have a reason for conflict. So there are none.” He doesn’t say anything. “Am I wrong?”

“No. But that’s only a side of it. The outside, the side politicians like me, will tell you. But that ain’t the real reason. You’re looking at results not causes.”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“You’re from Eastmarch.”

You look at Toad, Toad gives a little nod. “Yes.” You say.

“You must’ve been what, seven or eight when the rebellion happened.”

“Six.” You say.

“And you weren’t even born when the Elven Dominion was conquered--excuse me, civilized--by mankind.”

“No.”

“Well, it was something--let me tell you. Nasty, just nasty. So much death, so much blood and death on top of death and all of it avoidable, all of it unnecessary, if the men involved had just a little foresight.”

“And here I thought your pacifism was just a campaign slogan.” Says Toad.

“No, no, no.” He says, shaking his chiseled head. “It’s real. And it ain’t even idealism. Hell, it’s easier to make use of your enemy than to kill him.” He laughs and takes another sip from the glass. “You wanna know why I made the toxin. The why’s don’t really matter at this point and that’s why I’ll tell you. The toxin, like your reasons for the peace in the south, is only superficial. The real point of all this, is the cure.”

“The cure?”

“Not the one you’ve developed--which from what I hear is a damn fine piece of work. And coming from a nameless unlicensed alchemist like you it only makes it more impressive. Puts all the money I poured into my son into perspective.” He clicks his tongue. “The point is the cure--my son’s cure, was supposed to end this damn conflict without any more bloodshed and with of course, the result in our favor.”

“What does that mean exactly?”

He rests his finger on his upper lip like a mustache and sniffs. “Why is the south prosperous and peaceful, Seabass? Economic growth, stability? No. Those are results. I’ll give you a hint, the south was a shithole before the Elven Dominion collapsed.”

Cont.

>>2799434
“You’re talking about...you’re saying it was the slaves?”

“That’s right. You see I have this theory--you might appreciate this, being an alchemist and all.” He raises his hands in front of him, like he were measuring something between them. “Way I see it, no matter how you slice things in this world, there’ll always be some people better than everybody else--call it talent or genius or divine will--it’s the just nature of the game, the way the universe set the dice at creation. But there’s a balance there, the ones at the top--they’re few, by definition, and they get to stay at the top so long as the ones on the bottom are happy--well I say happy, but what I mean is…” He strokes the air. “Sedated, or perhaps, enslaved. You get where I’m going with this?”

“Not really. Politics isn’t my forte.”

“It ain’t about politics--I’m talking about the world here, I’m talking about the animal kingdom, natural laws, kind you folk study and at times, pervert. When the hyenas get hungry and the camouleon gets weak, there’s a killing--but not if there’s a dead gazelle lying around. You see?”

He takes a breath.

“Now the elves are a good start, but they don’t breed in captivity. I’m sure you know that, and even if they did hell, we killed most of the males during the war--excuse me, the domestication. As far as we know they don’t breed with our kind either.” He glances at Toad and licks his lips. “So where does that leave us? Elves are a weak bunch, females especially--they live a long time but only if they don’t work too hard. Push them just a little and they die like flies.” He pauses and smiles a little. “Well, there are exceptions. But they all break in the end”

Silence. Antipater stares at you, measuring your reactions. You try your best to release the knot of tension in your stomach.

>Ask for that drink now, it'll calm you down
>Change the subject, what exactly is he offering you?
>This meeting is over, leave before you do something stupid

>>2799442
So the South is at peace because they get to be on top of someone else? Am I understanding that correctly?

>>2799442
>Change the subject, what exactly is he offering you?

>>2799442
>Change the subject, what exactly is he offering you?
This is all nice theory craft and all.
Hes after killing off or infecting a large enough portion of the lizardman population to ensure they can be enslaved easily, probably via slaver gangs when their tribes start collapsing due to this disease which takes time to kill.

>>2799448
Hes describing the roman system:
Prop up economic success with the blood of slaves.

Works great until you have so many slaves that rebellion is inevitable and they start killing all the owners. This fella is kicking a problem can way down the road.

>>2799442
>Change the subject, what exactly is he offering you?

>>2799442
Explain this to me like I'm 5. No clue what the fucker is hinting at. Blackmail? Death threats? Shady business?

>Change the subject

>>2799442
>Change the subject, what exactly is he offering you?
>>2799448
More like more powerful because they leveraged cure elves better.

>>2799442
>Try to push your emotions aside, this is not idle chitchat but business
>You either want to kill the the lizards or force them into slavery

>>2799459
Illness cause lizardmen to die or collapse. Cure lets them capture them to sell into slavery. Enslave all lizardmen: take their land, make mad profit.

So what's Roche's play here, just being a dick?

>>2799463
Couldnt they have developed some ultra-weed or something?

>>2799477
Then you would have lazy slaves that tried to sneak off for siestas all the time.

>>2799434
...he wanted to make the lizard folk dependent on humans to survive so he came up with a plan to spread a disease and hold access to the cure. Sure fine, that's a plan I guess. But why the FUCK did he choose a non-species specific autoimmune disease as as the candidate! Like just cultivate a lizard-specific superbug.

This disease affects humans, lizards, rats -- *everything* except for elves and starleeches in the same way, either Antipater/his alchemist son is an idiot or they're also trying to create an underclass of humans dependent on the cure just like the lizards.

>>2799442
>Change the subject, what exactly is he offering you?

>>2799477
Weed requires you to smoke it. Illness you catch if you want it or not.

>>2799449
>>2799450
>>2799457
>>2799459
>>2799460

“So. If I understand this right.” You rub your eyes. You’re seeing stars. “You want to replace the elves with the kobolds and the lizards?”

“In the long term yes. In the short-term, I wouldn’t use the world replace. Supplement, maybe. Politics, you know? It’s all about verbiage.”

“But why the toxin? Lord Fontains wants pretty much the same thing--”

“Lord Fontain is an hothead, with nothing but medals on his mind. I want this thing to be bloodless. Why should our boys get hurt for this? Violence begets more violence. With my way, the lizards come to us by themselves, no fuss, no fighting, no future rebellion. Just plain old supply and demand, competitive advantage, free trade. We have something they want, and they have something we want. Tit-for-tat, except our tit is a little better than their tat. A life-saving cure is an inelastic good; the life saved or enslaved, is not. Anyone can get their club and drag a lamb back to their cave, it takes foresight to use a yoke.”

You feel you might throw up. “Can I get some water.”

“Help yourself.” He slides a tankard of water across the stone table. You pour yourself a glass with shaky hands and drink it and close your eyes. Many questions still burn within you, but one among them stands before the others: does he know the toxin can spread to humans? Or to put it another way, is that also part of this?

You’re not sure you want to know. You just want out.

“What exactly are you offering me?”

“A job. A real job. Not some under-the-table in-the-shadows nonsense you’re doing now, but honest work and steady pay. You’ll be helping my son manufacture the toxin, he keeps talking about some kink--and since you’ve already proven yourself with the cure--which by the way, we’ll need too--I feel I can trust you with this.”

You pour yourself another glass of water, wishing it was something stronger.

“What do you say, son? I’d see about getting you that license too, if you want it.”

>Accept
>Refuse

>>2799505
>Refuse

OOC: Brb lunch break

>>2799505
So his theory is essentially the same as the Europeans in the 15th-18th centuries, replacing Amerindian labour in their colonies with Africans?
>Refuse
If we're getting the license, it'd be through decent means. Otherwise, how could we possibly look our elf in the eye?

>>2799505
>Refuse

>>2799505
>>Refuse

>>2799485
Basically, if an orphan like Lucy gets the disease and becomes dependent on Lawson's "cure" for the rest of her life that's a plus in their books. The whole "Social Darwinism lesson from a character who doesn't understand what natural selection" trope is what gives it away. Especially since Watdo has a biology background.

>>2799505
Damn, he has no reason to keep us alive if we refuse. We could really use a moment with Toad. If Antipater learns that the permenant cure comes from elves then Toad's daughter is in even more danger, as Antipater will want a guarantee that the cure will exist in the future. We were willing to spent money on troll hearts, Antipater will mass produce the cure by draining elves. Antipater cannot learn more about the alchemical/magical properties of elves.
>Ask to consult with Toad

>>2799505
>>Refuse

>>2799505
If we refuse will he kill us? Get us arrested for murder? If we accept will we be able to sneak away back to eastmarch and manufacture the cure there? I'm scare.
>ask to consult with Theodore
Licking toads brings luck.

>>2799526
Does he really have enough elf-blood to check the entire lizardman population?

>>2799505
You can't possibly work for Lawson, he tried to kill you and for no reason he hates you, which made you hate him too.
Antipater saw Lawsons reaction, this is a mutual matter.

>>2799539
Remember, the cheaper option was to give the elf something to boost blood production and then slap on starleeches. And he as a household full of maids. Plus a broken elf slave only costs a handful of sovereigns.

>>2799505
>Ask to Consult with Toad
>if we can't refuse.

>>2799548
Well, this is all sorts of fucked up.

>>2799505
>does he know the toxin can spread to humans? Or to put it another way, is that also part of this?
Don't delude yourself Seabass, of course they are, that's why they've already started already selling the cure to humans.

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>>2799548
damn

the only solution is to kill all the elves, that way he can't use their blood

>>2799505
>>Refuse

>>2799553
This plan is absolutely batshit insane and is absolutely going to backfire in his face.

>>2799505
>Refuse
We told his son our pride isn't for sale

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>>2799539
Wait, no he doesn't need to use elf blood to check the lizards, he has his son's compound for that. The elf blood will be a more expensive cure to be sold to the humans who can afford it. The end result will at best look like pic related with boots swapped out for cures.

>>2799505
>Ask to Consult with Toad

Because WHAT THE FUCK.

Like everyone's said, this is just plain untenablein the long run. Ironic how he mentions foresight, and yet lacks enough of it to envision the possible outcomes later on.

>>2799505
Agree on the condition that Lawson is removed from the equation.

Explain the bad blood between the two of you, suggest he could even sabotage the whole operation out of spite.

>>2799587
Terry Pratchett was a gift.

>>2799505
>Accept
Subtly sabotage his whole operation from the inside.

>>2799505
>Ask to Consult with Toad

>>2799505
alright I'm changing my vote to Toad Talk >>2799516

>>2799505
>Accept

Did everyone forget that we killed people and currently being framed for the murders by Franklin? If we don't accept we'll be a wanted man and have to go on the run.

>>2799505
>>Refuse
>"Forgive me if I'm being rude, but if I started working with your son, one of us will end up dead, and it would probably be me."
latch on to that three-quarters truth, because every other reason to refuse should NOT be said.

>>2799505
>Refuse

>>2799505
>Refuse
>Explain that it isn't because we don't want to work with him, it's because we don't want to work with his spawn.

“I need time.” You say. “To think.”

Antipater raps the table. A black ring on his forefinger catches the light and gleams. He looks to the astrological device by the window, then back to you. “About what? This is clear-cut son, you ain’t gonna get a deal better than this your whole life. And don’t think for a second that I need you, cause I don’t. I’m doing you a favor, on account of your accomplishments, on account that I like to see merit find its place in the world.” He seems bored and his words don’t have the same energy behind them as they did. They feel rote. Memorized.

“I’m sorry I just--” You look to Toad. He nods and steps forward.

“Maybe we can step out and talk.” He says.

Antipater sighs and sweeps back his hair.. “I don’t got all day.”

“We won’t be long.” Says Toad.

“Go on then.” Toad gestures to you and you run to his side. The moment you’re outside of those double doors your knees go weak and you drop to the earth. Toad slings your arm around his shoulder and holds you up.

“Toad.”

“I know. I know.” He says. “Easy.”

You gulp down air and try to steady yourself but the world is spinning. “What am I gonna do? What should I do Toad? Tell me.”

“Accept.” He says, without hesitation.

“But I can’t work for that man. I can’t work with his son. I can’t have a hand in this atrocity. It’s not right Toad. Not even the elven slavery ever sat right with me, but this--I can’t. I can’t”

“That’s rich.”

“I know how it sounds. Alright? I know. But Leia’s different. I’m helping her, it’s not the same.”

“They’re always different. Until that final moment, when it all comes down to the wire and then...” Toad touches his eyes. “Just accept, Seabass.”

“There things you don’t know about him. About Antipater.”

“I don’t care. What I know is enough. I know he’s not to be trifled with. I know, if nothing else, that he’s a man of his word. He’ll keep you safe. It’s just a job Seabass. Just think of it like that.”

>Tell him your elf’s suspicions, it’ll at least give him an idea of where you’re coming from--even if doesn't sympathize
>Flatly refuse, you'll have no part of this
>Maybe Toad is right, maybe this is the only way

>>2799812
do NOT tell him about the elf, I don't doubt that Antipater is listening right the fuck now.

>>2799812
>Maybe Toad is right, maybe this is the only way
>Try to negotiate with Antipater about working for Lawson. That's more or less impossible, he has seen Lawsons reaction outside. Hell, Lawson would kill Sebastian if he could. We'll work for Antipater, but Lawson will be a problem.

and this >>2799830, don't tell anything right now.

>>2799812
>Maybe Toad is right, but he doesn't know that the truth of the cure could lead to even worse atrocities.
>Try to negotiate a non-competition contract. We won't make any cure for any lizards a cure for humans that happens to work on lizards is a different story, we'll keep to our own, making analgesics and perfumes. We can even move out of the city entirely, just to be somewhere far from what's about to happen.
>Either way, Lawson just makes this unacceptable. That's is TOTALLY the reason and not utter disgust and horror and fear.

>>2799812
>Maybe Toad is right, maybe this is the only way

>>2799812
>>Tell him your elf’s suspicions, it’ll at least give him an idea of where you’re coming from--even if doesn't sympathize
>>Flatly refuse, you'll have no part of this

>>2799843
You are aware if we don't have Antipaters protection that Roche is probably going to kill us.

>>2799854
We can negotiate for that too, but frankly that's preferable over going deep into the hellhole where every step could lead into the mass bleeding of elves as a species.

at least we can kill Roche's goons.

>>2799858
We could try to negotiate something like working for him for a few years and then going to the academy (with a letter of recommendation or something)

I think that would be better. Though I am not sure about how much leverage we have.

>>2799812
>>Flatly refuse, you'll have no part of this

>>2799812
Do not tell him, the walls have ears, elf ears.

Accept on the condition we do not work with Lawson. Not under penalty of death would we work with him.

>>2799863
what? That's not negotiating for anything, that IS the deal he wants.

And I'm saying even that is unacceptable.

So the consensus seems to be:

>Accept, but as an independent agent

If that's good with everyone. I'm writing.

If we can get out of immediate danger and get the ear of someone with enough authority to reign in Antipater then we could inform them that he was willingly exposing the city's population to a deadly disease and actively sabotaging efforts to find a cure. But that's not going to get us out of this situation.
Fuck I really don't want to give the cure to Antipater.

>>2799812
>Tell Toad Antipater's disease is also spreading to through the humans of the city, without a cure we're in the exact same positions as the lizards he wants to enslave. Then:
>>Accept, but don't to give up the cure, if pressed lie and say you used copious amounts of troll's blood and phoenix ashes (or whatever).
We know phoenix ashes are one of the elements in Lawson's cure so it lends us some credibility.

>>2799858
Antipater would want to long term mass production of a cure, from what I gather Roche just wants the disease gone for good.

>>2799911
and he also offered the scholarship. That by necessity means that we'll stop working at some point to go to school.

>>2799812

>Tell him your elf’s suspicions, it’ll at least give him an idea of where you’re coming from--even if doesn't sympathize
>Maybe Toad is right, maybe this is the only way

>>2799921
I mean yeah, both Roche and Antipater have offered us a scholarship at this point. If Seabass helps either of them win he's pretty much set up for success, the problem is getting out of this situation alive and hopefully without committing any war crimes.

>>2799961
>war crimes
Come on anon, I doubt they exist in this world. Besides, purging the filthy xenos or showing them their place is noble and just.

>>2799961
oh wait, sorry, I thought you linked a different post of mine.

The problem with working with Roche is primarily that he has not given sufficient confidence to protect us from Antipater, and that he DEFINITELY is planning his own thing even if we throw our lot with him and succeed.

So save toad and lose a bit of our soul or let him die but take the generally higher ground in this conflict.

>>2799812
>Flatly refuse, you'll have no part of this

You nod. You can’t believe you’re agreeing to this. Every bone in your body, every “animalcule” as R.H might say, is rebelling against you, telling you that you’re a monster, a hypocrite, a cad. And the only reply, is that you have no choice. No evidence of Anitpater’s supposed crimes and no protection if you refuse him. No assurances of safety.

“Fine.” You say. “I’ll do it. But I won’t work with Lawson. I’m sure he feels the same way so--”

“I think we can manage that much.”

You return inside to give Antipater the good news and to tell him of your condition, but he’s already a step ahead of you.

“Don’t worry about my son. You’ll be an independent agent. We’ll get you a lab; some assistants. I’ll write some letters to the academy to get you that license. How’s that sound?”

>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
>Sounds good
>You’ll need access to all of Lawson’s notes

>>2800003
>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)

>>2800003
>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
>I work better alone, but thanks.

Don't give him a reason to question ANYTHING.

>>2800003
>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
>"I must ask, do you know it's affecting humans?"

>>2800003
>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)

>>2800003
>own space, own people
we've done it now, haven't we

>>2800003
>>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
We already have the only assistant we need.

>>2800003
>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
>You’ll need access to all of Lawson’s notes
But working in our own space is the priority.

I get the feeling that one way or another this quest is going to end with us donning the gas mask and doing something incredibly stupid.

>>2800003

>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
>Lawson's notes if possible.

>>2800003
>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
>You’ll need access to all of Lawson’s notes
Time to see what the fuck the idiot did to create literal lizard AIDS

>>2800003
Ooooh baby im glad we kept our mouth shut

>>2800048
I believe the technical term was Dick-melting Super AIDS.

As a side note, I still can't make heads or tails of the actual mechanism by which the disease operates the fact that it can be physically(?) separated into three non-virulent parts that can be recombined back into the disease has me completely stumped.

>>2800113
I think that the 3 parts are actually 3 different diseases, one of them being something like AIDS (i.e. attacks the immune system) which makes the other two extremely deadly. Or something like that, it's around 5 am here and I am not thinking straight desu

>>2800003
>You’d prefer to work in your own space and with your own people (and not spies)
Yo, we can go Troll Heart method instead of pumping elves for blood all day, right? That's not so bad.

Now that we are working for antipater, should we mention Abe?

You negotiate your own space prefering to keep your connection with this man as scant as possible--not to mention you already have a perfectly capable assistant at home. There’s just one other matter to resolve: Abe, Franklin and Fontain.

As usual, Antipater seems to be on top of it already and tells you not to worry. That both Abe and Franklin and yourself will be cleared of all charges by the end of the week (if that), but for you to expect a follow-up meeting some point in the future about the whole deal.

And with that, you take your leave from this cursed place.

---

This next part will take a bit longer. I need to go back through all the old chapters to tally something. Otherwise this is the last post for the day.

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>>2800209
>This next part will take a bit longer. I need to go back through all the old chapters to tally something. Otherwise this is the last post for the day.

>>2800209
>>2800244
oh no

>>2800209
>As usual, Antipater seems to be on top of it already and tells you not to worry. That both Abe and Franklin and yourself will be cleared of all charges by the end of the week (if that), but for you to expect a follow-up meeting some point in the future about the whole deal.
Wait, what about Toad? Assuming he has a criminal record?

>>2800209
>inb4 we didn't have to turn to Antipater, and Roche wants Toad dead because he's salty about something. Only needing a hug.

>>2800258
I sure hope we either did enough good or didn't do enough bad, whatever's being tallied

>>2800144
Yeah see I am considering that right now, but I find it weird how they separated out. I think one disease specifically sterilises the victim, combined with something to compromise the immune system and whatever causes the sores. But the sterilisation element shouldn't be necessary for the sore to appear? Like I'm seriously thinking it's some sort of sores+immune system targeting disease+disease that targets the part of the immune system that normally deals with the second element. But that makes my head hurt, god dammit my background is evolutionary biology not this immunology witchcraft.

>>2800209
Checking to see if we gave our elf enough headpats to survive the death cold.

>>2800292
Maybe it's magical aids, and that's what one of the components is for magic? Maybe the sterilization is the environment required for the other components to take effect?

>>2800310
I don't think we ever gave out headpats, hair is a big deal to elves

>>2800310
>>2800321
We held hands, and watched her when she slept.

She sang when she was lonely, when the pain became too much--not what was physical for that was enveloped into the flesh like a needle long ago, matter was mastered--but was the shadows in the walls, the utter silence of her cell between the punishments and the rare meal, that was the slow death. In that desolation the only comfort was sleep, but even that the body would reject after a time and the nightmares made any kind of rest, impossible.

So she sang. Never too loud, for though she knew her master would never take it from her because to silence her in that way would also reduce his pleasure at hearing her scream, perpetual fear muted her. Her master followed no rules and if even the sound of her own voice was taken from her, if even the echo in that cell that she sometimes pretended was a friend was destroyed, then finally she would have nothing at all in this world. Nothing to live for.

Much has changed since those dark days, but still she sings when she is lonely. When her master leaves with few words and with a serious look on his face as though some fresh danger were discovered and he gone to meet it. For the gift of song is in the very biology of her species, for the true language of the elves before its corruption--before it’s “civilization” by mankind--was pure music. But to this frail creature the ancient truths have no pertinence; she understands only that a space becomes large with just one soul in it, and that a song can stave off hunger, fear, unhappiness, loneliness. So she sings.

Roche enters in his soundless manner and he waits until she is finished and he applauds her and she jumps like she has the hiccups. “M-master isn’t here.” She says.

”Where has he gone?”

”He didn’t say.”

He cricles her. ”You sing so beautifully.” He spreads his arms. ”A shame you have no audience.” He draws near to her and she slides back against the kitchen table because even if he is of her kind, she has only known kindness from a single source. ”You needn’t be afraid of me, my dear. I mean you no harm.” He says softly. He lays his fingertips on the back of her palm and slides it across the scarred and bruised flesh--much of it healed, but some of it not, and some of it irreversible. ”What did they do to you my darling?” He says and there runs two drops of water from his eyes and down his cheek. He sniffs and wipes them away and stares at her a long while.

Finally he turns to the hearts, which Leia has moved, on her master’s instructions, to the main chamber. The extraction procedure (using those starleeches she hates) has already begun. “Is this the cure then?” He asks. Leia nods. “I see. When will it be ready?”

”Master said soon.”

“Good. I suppose I’ll return later then.” He goes to leave and the elf feels the tightness in her chest uncoil. Then he stops and turns his head, as if remembering something.

Cont.

>>2800326
>tmw we forgot to tell her to not reveal the secret.

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>>2800326
>Then he stops and turns his head, as if remembering something.

>>2800326
”You said he didn’t tell you where he went?”

She shakes her head.

”And he didn’t take you with him. I see. Was Toad with him?”

She says nothing, for at least she understands that this is something she should not reveal. But the silence is as clear as if she had admitted it aloud. ”I see.” And he chuckles to himself, but there is sadness in it. ”Well, heaven help me but I did try.” He turns to her and his hands flash forth and grabs her wrists. She struggles but there is no one here but the guards and they will not help her. ” Stop. I’m not going to hurt you. Look at me. I won’t hurt you. I want to give you something.” His hand slips into his coat pocket and reveals a switchblade with the ornate pattern of an orange tree and he places it in her open hands.

”N-no.” She says.

”It’s to protect yourself, against your master.”

And at these words she tears her hands away with violence. ”Master would never hurt me! Never. He promised me.” She holds out the knife for him to take back.

”Is that so? O my darling, you must never believe the children of men. They are all liars.”

”No. Master would never lie. Master is--”

”He is a slavemaster and you are his slave. In his eyes you are an extension of his property; you are disposable. You think he shows you affection or kindness out of some inner goodness? No! It is an illusion created by him for control, by you for the relation to what you have suffered already. He keeps you for as long as he needs you, but when your utility is diminished--what then? What has happened before will happen again, my dear, and you must be prepared.”

He curls her fingers around the folded blade, but she still she holds it back. ”My new master is not like my old master. Nothing like him.”

”No?” He pauses. And yet, my dear, he’s meeting with that old master this very moment.”

She stared at him. Uncomprehending. Unbelieving. ”No.”[/i ]She shook her head and mouthed “No.” And her heart was already breaking.

”Why didn’t he tell you where he was going then? Why didn’t he take you with him? He always takes you doesn’t he? But I understand your reticence. You trust him, and that my dear is a very fatal mistake. The children of men are never to be trusted. But me? You don’t have to trust me, you can see it with your own eyes. I’ll show you.” And slowly the hand which held the knife, falls to her side. And Roche offered his own.

There was a moment of hesitation, of a breaking of all that had built up within her, all the moments of clarity and hope and pure joy now precariously over the fire.

>Roll 1d20+6 [+1 The noodles, +1 The new clothes, +1 The shoes, +1 The notebook, +1 Education, +1 The orphans, +1 Foot massage, +2 The haircut, +2 The bow, +3 Holding hands, -3 The transformation scare, -5 The leeches]

Rolled 20 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>2800338
Ah, we should've read the dictionary.

Rolled 13 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>2800338
DICE GODS BLESS MY DICE YOU FUCKS

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Rolled 11 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>2800338
fuck

Rolled 3 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>2800338

Rolled 11 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>2800338
Oh sneaky with those pluses and minuses

>>2800342
This dude. Hero.

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>>2800342
Anon I fucking love you

>>2800342
Boy do I wish crits were a thing in this quest

>>2800342
>>2800343
>>2800352
Fuck yeah! Probably the best roll of the quest too.

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>>2800342
>>2800343
>>2800352
>Consistent cursed rolls this whole time
>mfw the most clutch rolls are gotten in our hour of need

This is truly a good day.

>>2800342
>>2800384
>>2800480
She lives up to her name.

Her name did mean loyal, right?

>>2800342
>>2800343
>>2800352
We did it /qst/!

>>2800480
>pic
Fitting source image.

>>2800497
Yep.

>>2800342
>>2800343
>>2800352

And she takes his hand--but only to place the knife back in it.

”My dear, you are making a mistake. This is for your own protection.”
She shakes her head, very slowly. She gathers her thoughts before she speaks. ”Even if what you’re saying is true, even if Master was meeting with him--I-I have to believe it’s for a good reason.” He scoffs. She searches for the right words. ”I know I am a slave and maybe that’s all I’ll ever be in his eyes--but that much is enough. Because he has never once mistreated me, and he has shown me kindness that I don’t deserve, that a wretch like me is unworthy of.” She unties the silk ribbon from her hair and brings it to her cheek.

”That’s nonsense. Your views have been warped by your imprisonment, a healthy mind would never think this way.”

”Maybe you’re right. But I’m not healthy, I’m broken inside but even that doesn’t matter to him. He had every chance to--to do what he wanted, whatever he wanted. But he never did. Even the few times that I was hurt, it was always a last resort.” She holds up her hand and stares at it, remembering her most pleasant memory. ”At this point I owe him more than I can ever repay. Whatever he does to me now wouldn’t matter, I just want to help him as long as I can.”

”You don’t owe him anything. And one day he will turn on you, mark me. He will.”

”Then on that day, I’ll plunge the knife into me, myself--if that’s what he wants. Do you know the name he gave me? Do you know what it means?”

He sighs and massages his pale cheeks. ”You’re a fool, my dear.”

”Maybe I am. But I trust my master. I have to, because in the end, I am his slave.” She wipes her eyes which had swollen with tears she did not even realize had come.

Roche shakes his head unable to encompass his creature in his intelligence. He believes she is a product of the violence men have wrought on his race, further proof of their wrongs. He knows that what she has constructed in her mind is a pure fantasy, that will lead only to further suffering, but there is nothing he can do.

He considers, briefly, taking her by force. Threatening the human with her harm and showing her how little she really matters to him, but this would betray his whole point and he cannot bring himself to put more hurt upon her.

Cont.

>>2800527
He bows his head to her, reverently, as though she were saint. For in a way her will was greater than his own, than anyone he had ever met. And the moment he accepted this, he was inspired by her. His fears fell away, the hopeless suffocation inside him turned to vapor.

His ultimate plans had failed, yes, but he was still alive. There would be more opportunities in the future. Antipater was not infallible, though his divination was keen. He could start over. He could try again.

He raised his head and said nothing more but stepped toward the fragile elf and kissed her forehead. She flinched to his touch, as she did with everyone, save one man.

He bowed again and left.

SESSION END

OOC: Next session is next Saturday but the time might be a little messed up as I might be operating on EST, stay tuned for that. Thanks for playing (and posting and reading and lurking). I hope you're all enjoying the quest!

>>2800532
Beautiful

>>2800532
She ain't fixed.....but at least she isn't about to start pouring gasoline everywhere and lighting a match.

But really Roche? I guess we could try social linking him now. Maybe. Still better than old Lawson.

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>>2800527
>>2800532
lotta loyalty for a hired gun

>>2800532
Just wow, you never dissapoint Watdo.

I want to backstab Antipater, his plan is to literally blackmail the lizards for their lives.

So. How are we going to swing this deal with the devil?

I'm presuming we're going to have to find a way to discredit him and ruin his operation somehow. The question, though...is how? Or at least, how can we do it in a way that doesn't implicate us to Antipater or otherwise cause major suspicion?

>>2800532
good shit Watdo, see ya next week

>>2800532
Oh chirst, You givin me a spooks Watdo. Good fucking run though.

About the elves not reproducing is it cause they can't or chose not too?

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>>2800567
>we're going to have to find a way to discredit him and ruin his operation somehow.

Why? We're just a very tiny cog in the machine, all our connections are the very thing you're proposing we take down and we have no out if things go pear-shaped.

Why not make ourselves a vital part of the operation, something that can't be easily replaced and could make friends in higher places?

Just a thought.

>>2800567
Create a super-virus and infect him with it?

>>2800577
I don't want to sell our souls and become full evil ok

>>2800567
The critical pieces for that are Roche, Toad, and that elf princess.

Getting Lawson and the Lizard king in on it would be a massive boon too, but they're highly unlikely to come around until we can take the massive Antipater-shaped guns away from their heads, dicks, and asses.

Beating Antipater would need to juggle Elves(and lizards) Are People Too, constantly pressuring Antipater until he screws up a PR move, getting everyone's racist heads out their asses, revealing the elf miracle powers in a way that doesn't cause genocide, and possibly a good old fashioned assassination of Antipater after sufficient discrediting.

Seabass would play a relatively minor role in the whole thing. The cure is only one piece to play in a game that needs 20.

>>2800532
Thanks for running Watdo, those last posts were amazing.

>>2800567
Like I said earlier, my money is on this quest ending with us donning the gas mask and doing something incredibly stupid. Namely killing Antipater and blowing up the estate.

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>>2800583
>I don't want to sell our souls and become full evil ok
We're gonna get crushed like a bug

>>2800597
I don't want to disappoint the elf

>>2800597
I mean, honestly, I get it. I really do. And on a level I agree with you. And part of me would have mostly been fine with just fucking off from this whole shitshow precisely BECAUSE we're so outgunned.

But fuck me, we didn't much have a choice meta-narratively, because it was pretty much 'join me or die', so at this stage in the game, I don't just want to sit idly by and be party to the subjugation of an entire race. I'm willing to play the long game IF we can come up with a way to subvert Antipater's power play somehow in doing so. Maybe once we go off to the academy or whatever we 'invent' a more long-term cure to the disease or something. Basically fight business with business?

>>2800597
Either you die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

We ain't becoming a villain if I can help it.

Have you guys smashed elf pussy yet?

>>2800647
We can't smash until we're sure she's gotten over her past trauma/rape/whatever the fuck else they did to her. Oh, and also until Seabass gets over his oneitis for the nun.

>>2800647
We've achieved hand-holding, but that was more for practical purposes than recreational.

Some post-session thoughts (feel free to ask questions as well, I'll stick around for a while to try and answer them):

So I was really surprised that you guys didn't ask Antipater about Leia. It averted a fairly painful disaster, which would've spiraled things even further (as would have taking off his metaphorical mask). Also, refusing Pater's offer wouldn't have been an instakill, it would've just given you a chance to join one of the other two factions.

That last dice roll was extremely important, probably one of the climaxes of this arc. If you had failed it, there would've been some seriously dire consequences. I actually was prepared to change the format of the entire quest for it.

>>2800575
If you mean with each other, it's as Antipater said, they don't breed in captivity. It's biological. No one has figured out why. If you mean with humans, well, that's a secret

>>2800593
Are suggesting that no one cares who you are until you put on the mask?

>>2800610
I say we build ourselves Glossman's smallsight and try to develop a vaccine rather than a cure, completely cut off his business at the root.

>>2800678
>instakills
>Leia waiting in the wings to slit our throat
Thank fuck for those rolls

>>2800610
We've just got to drain all his money buying expensive alchemical ingredients that don't even get used for Antipaters ends but for ours.

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>>2800575
>Elves can only reproduce via consensual postmarital sex in the missionary position for the sole purpose of procreation and bonding, holding hands, under the sheets, in the dark, saying "I love you" at the moment of climax.

Watdo you sick bastard.

Seriously though, thanks for running. I low key jumped out of my chair last week when I opened /qst/ out of boredom and saw this quest near the top. Came for stupid lewdness, stuck around for 'daww, SCIENCE, and CAPITALISM.

I'm also calling right now that Lily is a half-elf.


>>2800583
We play the cards we're dealt. Frankly I think the best option for Seabass and the one I can imagine him taking is playing his minor role in all this and trying to use the boons granted to him to alleviate suffering elsewhere. We're kind of stuck in this either way. Doesn't mean we have to become a mustache twirling villain, but the goodie two shoes route is bound to get us killed or worse.

>>2800598
The fact that we've gone this long without raping or torturing the elf is good enough for her.

>>2800647
Soon™ anon, though I'd rather go and breed the ginger

>>2800684
>fetish quest
>hasn't gotten laid at all
Anons...

>>2800678
>Also, refusing Pater's offer wouldn't have been an instakill, it would've just given you a chance to join one of the other two factions.

It REALLY didn't seem that way at the time. Antipater by most noticeable metrics had us practically checkmated, so most of us I'm willing to wager agreed out of fear that we'd have to deal with a near-impossible situation; if not for ourselves, then for the others we know.

Leastways, that's why I went for it. (or would have, if my internet was up at the time...)

>>2800681
Next time we see our elf we need to hold the fuck out of her hands.

>>2800689
Agreed.

>>2800678
Why is hair such a big deal to elves?

>>2800692
>>2800689

Maybe with some soul-searching and baring our soul and whatnot.

"I am not a good man. I do try to be- desperately. But I am not."

>>2800678
My reading is that Antipater is pretty into his whole persona as a benevolent southern gentleman when in reality he's a sadistic fuck. Plus, we're trying to keep Leia out of this as much as possible. His history with her doesn't matter, and neither does avenging her against her abuser. Best we should hope for is helping her move on and become a more functional person.

Really I'd rather see this become a story about healing, not revenge.

>>2800687
What if my fetish is finding a poor, abused woman and slowly helping her become functional through holding hands and sweet, tender headpats while allowing her to form a possibly unhealthy dependency on me.

Oh yeah and being cooked breakfast by my legal property.

>>2800701
Look man, it doesn't even sound like the lizardfolk are that great or sympathetic to begin with. I say we play our part and try to go do bigger and better things in the name of alleviating further suffering. Like finding out how to breed elves in captivity so they don't die out.

>>2800705
>What if my fetish is finding a poor, abused woman and slowly helping her become functional through holding hands and sweet, tender headpats while allowing her to form a possibly unhealthy dependency on me.

You don't understand how many people are into "fixing" other people. Basic bitch.

>>2800711
Somebody get this hothead outta here

>>2800705
>What if my fetish is finding a poor, abused woman and slowly helping her become functional through holding hands and sweet, tender headpats
I didn't have this fetish before this quest. Thanks Watdo, you've turned me into a vanillafag.

>>2800681
I like the idea of us following the words of our lord and savior the based Mr. Glossman. Making a vaccine and basically inventing inoculation before shrugging our shoulders and going "Whoops, looks like I'm just too brilliant of an alchemist." seems like a halfway decent idea. I'm not sure how it stops Lord Sadist, since he could just subjegate people by saying "Hey, be our bitches or you don't get the vaccine" but at least it makes his job a lot harder.

>>2800720
>>2800711
Yeah, except I want to own them as property. Build them into something that is both useful for society and myself. Then they're obligated into giving you all the kinky slavesex you've ever wanted. Not that Seabass would go for that sort of thing.

I actually fear that I'm a toxic influence in some women's lives, seeing as I only help them out of a desire to have them form an unhealthy dependency on me so I can better manipulate them into getting what I want. Frankly sometimes I worry I'm a high functioning sociopath wearing a thin veneer of wholesomeness and good advice.

>>2800720
When do we feed her a bowl of eggs

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>>2800684
>consensual
Whoa,whoa,whoa. Who said anything about that?

>>2800732
They're not breeding in captivity. I can only imagine it's because something about the conditions under which they're breeding doesn't match up with how they naturally reproduce. My guess is since their masters are likely viewing them as chattel and are putting elf bitches out to stud like you would a prized broodmare something isn't panning out.

>>2800739
That's not a bad theory

>>2800725
I mean. You are? Not even joking, that's kinda the dictionary definition of sociopath.

>>2800749
If it helps, I've been trying to restrain myself lately and give my genuine best opinion in most situations. I'd like to believe that deep down I am a caring and loving person, but I don't trust a lot of people with making their own decisions. I'm also terrible at manipulating people, so I doubt I could do any actual harm.

>>2800725
>spoiler
that could be a problem, yes. But an issue of being more careful about "things you want" measuring it up to the consequences of what you do to get them. At the end of the day, it's okay to be a bit selfish for your own desires. The issue is when you are subtly an asshole to everyone for no reason or purpose at all, and retroactively try to justify those actions by "wanting" things you don't actually desire.

Not everyone subscribes to a principle of ultimately being a net benefit to others, but it's certainly easier on existential conscience when you are.

>>2800758
Thanks, anon. Like I said, I'm trying to be mindful of my more toxic tendencies and do some real introspection, and that's not really something I've taken into account.

Moving away from real nigga hours at 10:00PM on a Mongolian throat singing forum. What sort of long-term goals do you guys think we should have for Seabass? Provided Watdo doesn't terminate the quest at the end of the first arc. Obviously, we keep working on the elf and get an alchemist's certification, but do we want to try to think beyond that?

>>2800772
World Domination

>>2800772
Well, like was said, probably make that smallglass and 'inadvertently' undercut Pater's business out from under him. Do recall that he wants claim on our cure as well, so we need to be careful.

>>2800774
I'm thinking once we get a certification we should try to move to the Capital with Nina.

Also at some point, we should try to get a second slave to help with an expanding alchemist shop and put Leia in charge of her. For science of course.

>>2800772
Well humans in general have been such huge assholes that it doesn't sound half bad to join lizard/elf society and just be so good at making potions they can't hate us.

This would lowkey arm them for revolution/war, but.....shrug.

Oh and of course, I forgot about perks:

>Degeneration: Your poisonous concoctions are super effective, +1 to poison manufacture and usage. Hand-holding has corrupted your soul and you've become more dependent on your slave; -1 when alchemying on your own, +1 when alchemying with your slave
>Say My Name: [Leia] Your slave's loyalty is unshakable, she gets +3 to mental resistance against all outside forces
>Alchemy Assistant: [Leia] Your slave is slowly becoming a competent assistant; you can now teach her more complex alchemical techniques
>Cupid: You've become an expert at regenerative culturing--who knows what else you can do with a troll heart? +2 to rolls when a troll heart is involved.

>>2800705
>finding out how to breed elves in captivity so they don't die out.
>Using Leia as the test subject
>I-I'm just breeding with you for an experiment
>i-it's not like I like you or anything b-baka

>>2800720
Another soul redeemed. Praise the Thrice Great.

>>2800772
>What sort of long-term goals do you guys think we should have for Seabass?
not dying

>>2800784
>>2800791
How about we acquire more elf girls and train them to administer untraceable poisons to high ranking officials to destroy the human power structure and making human society vulnerable to revolutions.

>>2800799
>>Cupid: You've become an expert at regenerative culturing--who knows what else you can do with a troll heart? +2 to rolls when a troll heart is involved.
bah, fuck. Since apparently we're working for Antipater now, we need to make impressive troll heart shenanigans happen so people don't look too closely at the actual secrets.

>>2800805
because Seabass is not so great at social-fu, and Toad isn't a ninja. Although I suppose if you got Roche on board....

>>2800799
You don't understand, Watdo. Literally that but unironically.

Did we not wind up taking the Alchemy Assistant perk last thread? If not.
>Alchemy assistance
Science and capitalism with elf qts. Hell if we teach her enough it'd effectively double our output.

>>2800805
Y'all motherfuckers need to stop thinking a revolution would be a calm and peaceful thing. Shit sucks. People would die. And the deaths of thousands of innocents would still probably be on Seabass' conscious. Also, we're an alchemist, not a political schemer.

>>2800808
Alchemist and schemer are not mutually exclusive.

>>2800808
No the last perk just unlocked the perk tree for Leia.

>>2800799
>Say My Name: [Leia] Your slave's loyalty is unshakable, she gets +3 to mental resistance against all outside forces

Alchemy assistant also works.

>>2800799
What kind of rolls would require mental resistance?

>>2800816
Mind, this might be a very difficult thing to keep track of. Would it be possible for us to get a perk for both us and for Leia at the end of each session now that we've unlocked her skill trees?

>>2800822
I'm assuming something similar to like when Roche was trying to get her to slit us up. Out of curiosity Watdo, what was your plan for if we failed that roll and why is it the darkest timeline for all of mankind?

>>2800799
>Alchemy Assistant

>No reason to not unlock that perk tree.

Degeneration legit makes me curious, though, depending on how we swing it, that's basically a semi-consistent +2 to a lot of shit we can make.

>>2800829
I don't like it because it effectively sabotages our ability to SCIENCE the fuck out of something if we're in a bind and our slave is someplace else. I think it's fine for us to start getting attached to our slave and getting good at working with her, but not if it becomes detrimental to our ability to work alone if need be. It's not like she can be in the lab 24/7, we still need her to cook, clean, and attend to other household shit.

>>2800825
>Would it be possible for us to get a perk for both us and for Leia at the end of each session now that we've unlocked her skill trees?

I considered this, but actually, this is harder to keep track of then just putting all the perks under Seabass. You can either improve your Elf or improve yourself.

>Out of curiosity Watdo, what was your plan for if we failed that roll and why is it the darkest timeline for all of mankind?

Well Seabass probably would have died and then it would've really become Elf Slave Quest (or just Elf Quest). Either that or Toad would have killed Leia. But in either case, we would've moved on to the real alchemy.

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>>2800843
That is indeed the darkest timeline. Shit man I probably would've dropped the quest. Thank fuck that anon rolled a nat 20.

>>2800843
Oh. Oh fuuuuuuuck. Damn, now I have a hankering for that because it would mean a pure alchemy quest without slave fetishes.

But this is fine too.


>>2800822
leeches. Making her own decisions. Regaining enough mental fortitude to take independent action and make Seabass even more useless, worse than what he used to be compared to Lawson.

>>2800852
>Seabass dies
>Toad kills Leia
>You are now Lawson.
Kill me.

>>2800857
Nah. More like Leia is now the alchemist who screws Lawson over sideways as he can't figure things out since Seabass is dead.

....or Glossman turns out to be someone we already know.

>>2800865
I do hope that we one day get to meet the based Glossman, though I doubt he's anybody we've met seeing as our list of aquintances consists of a nun, some orphans, a ginger landlady, a noble brat, a shopkeeper, a mercenary, and a few shady fucks. Also I'd say the slavery fetish shit is very much in the background here, to the point where it probably wouldn't be a terrible idea to rename the quest to reflect its actual contents. Though I suppose renaming the quest to "Alchemist quest" or something is pretty generic.

>>2800843
>Well Seabass probably would have died and then it would've really become Elf Slave Quest (or just Elf Quest). Either that or Toad would have killed Leia. But in either case, we would've moved on to the real alchemy.
Ho' shit.
>>2800848
>>2800852
Considering the gravity of this, I'll go for >>2800799
>>Say My Name: [Leia] Your slave's loyalty is unshakable, she gets +3 to mental resistance against all outside forces

>>2800338
>>Roll 1d20+6 [+1 The noodles, +1 The new clothes, +1 The shoes, +1 The notebook, +1 Education, +1 The orphans, +1 Foot massage, +2 The haircut, +2 The bow, +3 Holding hands, -3 The transformation scare, -5 The leeches]
>>2800527
>>>2800342(You)#
>>>2800343#
>>>2800352#
What's the DC or number of successes for this? You didn't state the number unlike >>2798655
>>13, 7, 16: 3 successes

>>2800799
>Say My Name: [Leia] Your slave's loyalty is unshakable, she gets +3 to mental resistance against all outside forces.
Sanity over Science, my dude.

>>2800882
Although I've tried hard to avoid blatant fetishism and self-insertion But do give me break, this is how I let of steam, so some of it will inevitably come through, I feel the title does actually reflect the themes of the quest. Or at least, I'm trying to steer the quest toward those themes. Namely the concept of slavery in all its different forms.

>>2800887
I thought I put it in, but I guess it got cut when I copy+pasted. You got three successes.

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>>2800843
>You can either improve your Elf or improve yourself.
That wasn't part of the deal!

YOU USED ME, WATDO! YOU USED ME!

Give me the damn Cupid perk.