>>2815310
>Ask her if she had a nice trip

File: it-is-time.png (207 KB, 552x337)

207 KB PNG

>>2815310
>Ask her if she had a nice trip

>>2815310
>Go down and help her
>Ask her if she had a nice trip

>>2815310
>Go down and help her
>Ask her if she had a nice trip

>>2815310
>Ask her if she had a nice trip
Helping triggers the tsundere response, and fuck that

>>2815310

>Go down and help her

>>2815310
>Ask if she's alright
>.....because pretty much everyone's not alright.
what the hell happened to Franklin? If we're just here, is he fucked?

Hey. Hey, I just had a TERRIBLE idea for how to do Lizards(and Elves) Are People Too. Have Nina create an entire fashion line for them, that is undeniably sophisticated and cultured.

>>2815310
>Ask her if she had a nice trip
>She looks she’s got it; get back to work

>>2815390
But lizards arent people. Why bother?

>>2815396
Because political upheaval, my dear anon. We're not taking down Antipater without creating a huge change in public consciousness and exploiting it.

So what if it ends up with a lot of Lizard blood on the floor?

>>2815317
>>2815324
>>2815326
>>2815340
>>2815372
>>2815380
>>2815390
>>2815394

You lean over the railing and yell “Have a nice trip?” and laugh like a child. Nina looks up at you still sitting in the mud. She looks like she wants to eat you alive.

“Get down here and help me you idiot!” She screams, hitting the mud with her fists, which only splatters them more on her clothes.

“Alright, alright.” You put on your boots and head down. As you help Nina unload the draped object you note that she feels a little different from before. Less scattered, more in control, like a freshly honed blade. You move the object to the middle of her living room among her other weaving tools and supplies.

“What is this thing anyway?” You try and peek under the draping but she slaps your hands.

“It’s a loom.”

“Expanding the business?”

“Something like that.” She says, quietly. “You want anything to drink?”

“Just water.” Then remembering Antipater’s face and the fact that your Elf still hasn’t returned, you add, “Actually, I could use something stronger.”

She nods and returns with two fluted glasses, then opens one of her suitcases to pull out a bottle of wine. “Help yourself. I need to change.”

“So I take it the trip went well?” You yell out. “How’s your mother?”

She returns wearing her usual working garb, plain white dress with the tailor’s apron; her hair still has flecks of mud and dirt near the roots. She takes one of the glasses and sips at it, looking through the window at the darkened street and the lamplighter moving from streetlight to streetlight like a slinking cat. Then she looks at you as if you’re not really there. You put the glass the down.

“Is she...alright?” She shakes her head and takes another sip. You look at the draped over loom and then back to her and connected the dots. “Oh.” You’re not sure what to do, memories of your own loss come flooding in and don’t help much. “Are you alright?”

“I am.” She says. There’s a long silence. Finally she clears her throat and you both start speaking at the same time and then both apologize to let the other finish until the awkwardness is mercifully interrupted by another knock at the front door and a familiar voice.

“Sebastian. Are you in?”

Still not your Elf. Even worse, it’s the last person you want to see right now, Lawson.

>Have Nina take a message
>Go and see what he wants
>Let him leave on his own

>>2815396
Aren't they, though?
Can't they be?

>>2815401
>Go and see what he wants

maximum poker face. gotta begin training that somewhere.

>>2815399
I like how you're thinking.

>>2815403
Would you even want them to be?

>>2815401
>Go and see what he wants
Play it cool

>>2815401
>Call out from the closed door
>"Just to make sure, you're not going to stab me when I open this door right? Just checking."
>Go and see what he wants

>>2815409
I certainly would. Definitely rather than servitors of the chem-control empire.

>>2815401
>Go and see what he wants
Make sure your gun's on hand, just in case

>>2815401
>>Go and see what he wants

>>2815407
>>2815409
>>2815410
>>2815422
>>2815433

“I should probably get that.” You say. But part of you wants to stay here and--well you’re not really sure what, maybe just keep Nina company for a while. If only because you know the narrowing of walls and spaces that follow such tragedies, the feeling of abandon and hopelessness and the facades maintained to hide these things so that at least pity can be avoided.

“Alright.” Says Nina. “I should probably wash up anyway.”

You both get up, unsure of how to proceed. The knock comes again and jolts you out of paralysis. “Hey, look, if--if you need to talk…” You sigh, why is it so hard? Why are these things never as clean and straightforward as alchemy, the solutions known, the methods precalculated? “Why don’t you have dinner with us tonight?” You say.

Her eyes widen a little and she smiles, but it is not the smug satisfaction which you find you almost miss. “Sure.” She says. “You’re not doing the cooking though are you?”

“I’ll see you at six.” You say, flatly, and then head for the main door.

Lawson is waiting outside wearing a fancy three-piece suit, completely out-of-place in this part of the town. You make sure you have your pistol with you before you open the door. It still has enough juice for one more shot, though at some point you should probably work on a refill and an upgrade.

“Lawson. What do you want?”

“Aren’t you going to let me in?”

You think for a good minute. “No.” You finally say.

He touches his eyes and sniffs in that piggish way. “I’m trying to be professional here Sebastian, you know? Put the past behind us, put what you did to me, under the bridge. All that”

“What I did to you? Are you serious?”

He holds up a small briefcase. “You wanted the methods for making the (he leans in and whispers) toxin, didn’t you? I just want to exchange information and then we’ll be out of each other’s way.”

>Seems reasonable, let him in
>Nope, but he can leave the briefcase and you’ll get back to him
>You don’t need or want his help, you work independently

>>2815457
>Exchange means you want something in return. What is it?


We're going to need to jog our memory to know what exactly transpired. I don't like Lawson having a monopoly on knowing our past.

And even if he could be a valuable ally against his father, he's not exactly trustworthy.

>>2815457
>>Nope, but he can leave the briefcase and you’ll get back to him

>>2815457
>Hmm. The briefcase in exchange for a chat with you? You drive a hard bargain.
>Look, can you come back tomorrow? It's really not you, I just need to make sure everyone I know isn't dead before I can really focus on work.

>>2815457
>>Exchange means you want something in return. What is it?
this

>>2815457
>Exchange means you want something in return. What is it?

>>2815477
>>2815480
>>2815472
we know what he wants. He wants to know how the cure was made, and he CANNOT find out.

We need to stall as much as possible by not even letting him ask.

>>2815457
>you can leave the case here but I'll need to do some testing. Make sure your not trying ti screw me over

>>2815472
>>2815477
>>2815480

“Exchange information? What information?”

“Don’t play coy, Sebastian. You know what information. You may (he lowers his voice again and even looks around him before continuing) have my father fooled, but I need more concrete evidence. A cure? You actually expect me to believe you found a permanent cure?”

“You don’t have to believe anything.” You say, folding your arms. “But yes, I did.”

“How?” He hisses, sniffing involuntarily.

Another carriage pulls into the building. It’s your Elf.

>Dismiss Lawson and help your Elf
>Maybe an exchange of information would be wise, let Lawson in
>Tell Lawson you’ll get back to him; you’re busy right now

>>2815457
>Exchange means you want something in return. What is it? More importantly, how do I know whether I can trust you now?

>>2815522
>>Tell Lawson you’ll get back to him; you’re busy right now

>>2815522
>>Dismiss Lawson and help your Elf

>Lawson
>Not screwing seabass over
pick one

>>2815522
>Dismiss Lawson and help your Elf

>>2815522
>Dismiss Lawson and help your Elf
Self, Elf, and Wealth
Lawson doesn't factor into that

And here comes the hard part. Remember, we need to make sure that we tell our elf up front what happened and how we really really really really really hate it and that we're going to try and keep her safe no matter what happens.

>>2815522
>>Dismiss Lawson and help your Elf

>>2815522
"Honestly, I expected a man of your caliber would have figured it out before me. It's quite a simple cure, too, if you know anything about wildlife."

"How about this. You leave that case with me and I'll see whether I want to trust you any further, and if you still haven't figured out what the cure is by then, I'll drop you a hint."

"For now though, I have more important matters to attend to."

>>2815546
I like this.

>>2815540
And we need to do it alone
We can trust her, and maybe Toad, with the fact that we're starting a conspiracy. Nobody else can hear

Ideally we'd have access to a lead-lined room, in case of scrying, but we aren't that lucky

>>2815531
>>2815533
>>2815536

“Look I’m a little busy right now. I don’t need whatever information you think you can offer and I’m definitely not going to give you mine.”

“This isn’t a game Sebastian.”

“And I’m not playing around. I told your father I’d work independently, and he agreed to those terms. Maybe I should have another chat with him about how those terms are being violated right now. He doesn’t seem like the type of man who likes breach of contracts.”

You can actually hear Lawson grind his molars. The sun glints off his bald head like the back of a glass egg and he sniffs twice in succession before stepping back from the door. “Just don’t make a mistake Seabass. I say that for your sake.”

“Yeah, sure.” For a second there he actually sounded sincere and that scares you more than any threat. He helps your Elf unload the equipment (by forcing the cabby to do it). Thankfully everything’s been packaged into crates as you instructed, so he sees none of it. Then he hires the carriage for himself. Toad isn’t with your Elf, but you open the door and help her lug everything upstairs.

Your Elf is more reticent than usual and like Nina, she also seems to have become more centered--and that only within the space of a few hours.

>She should get started on dinner, it’s near six already
>You should get rundown on the hideout and Toad first
>Your should just get some rest now, you’re exhausted

>>2815560
>get dinner made

We have a young lady coming over and our elf seems fineish

>>2815560
>Help elf with the dinner, tell her we need to talk with her afterwards.

>>2815560
Seconding >>2815568

>>2815568
Supporting this

>>2815565
>>2815568
>>2815581
>>2815582

The sun is nearly fused with the horizon now, throwing heated colors into the clouds. You tell your Elf that Nina will be joining the two of you for dinner and she gets started immediately in the kitchen. Unfortunately, most of the food in the freezer has spoiled but Toad had the foresight to load your Elf with groceries before he sent her off. Good old Toad, always looking out for you. You hope he’s alright.

You decide to help your Elf with the cooking. She protests at first, urging you to rest, but some vague guilt compels you to be near her. You want to tell her everything but you’re not sure how you can break the news. How do you tell someone that you’re working for the very man that tortured her, that hurt her in the worst ways imaginable for no other reason than personal pleasure?

>You don’t. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
>You do it like a bandage--right off
>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife

>>2815592
>>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife

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115 KB JPG

Aw yeah, elf time.
>>2815536
This should be Seabass' official mantra.

>>2815592
>>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife
Make sure to do so when she's sitting down.

>>2815592
>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife
Also, make sure to tell her everything we know about his plans so far and that we're going to try and stop him.

>>2815592
>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife

We're in deep shit now Leia. Gonna need your back for this...

>>2815592
>>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife

>>2815592
>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife
ttalk after dinner when everyone is feeling content

>>2815592
>You wait for an opportune time, preferably when she’s not holding a knife

>>2815595
>>2815621
>>2815625
>>2815628
>>2815643
>>2815646
>>2815664

You wait for an opportune time, the perfect moment--preferably when she’s not holding anything sharp or boiling. You’ll explain that it's all out of necessity. That really, you’d be working against him, trying to supplant his efforts at every stage. But you wonder if that’s really true, for what do you really know about the lizards? Except for that one lizard spawn that you saved, you’ve had no other contact with them.

What Antipater wants, is in a way, sensible or at least beneficial for the human race. More slaves means less labor for man, more comfort, less conflict. More lizard slaves might mean less elf ones. And if the slaves were of absolute allegiance, as this toxin would doubtless ensure, then there isn’t even a risk of rebellion. Of course, there’s the matter of the toxin spreading across species. And beyond that something in the mind, perhaps in the soul, rejects the very concept of flesh ownership. These lizards are not pets or beasts of burden, they are thinking creatures capable of culture and civilization. They love and hate and fear death and understand the concept of freedom.

And yet. Look at your Elf. She wears the silk ribbon that you brought in hair and it seems now a mark of possession. A collar or a serial number indicating her status as property--and nothing within you rebels at this. Because she is sick in mind? Because she would be unable to care for herself without your assistance? These are compelling reasons, but you can feel darker causes lurking beneath. Attachment beyond simple commerce, for the silk ribbon and the shoes and the clothes were also gifts. If she were now merely property, then telling her your reasons would prove no consequence--why should you care? But you do care, and intensely, what she would think. Whether, if you freed her, then she would leave. Whether she would try to hurt you and whether you would stop her.

“Master you’re cutting the carrots unevenly.” She says.

“What? Oh. Sorry.” You look down at the misshapen blocks.

“Shall I?” She reaches for the knife but you grab her wrist.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll fix it.”

“Master should really rest. Master looks tired.” She chews her own lip, as though she had secrets too she dare not speak.

“I think we should to talk.” You say.

“Oh. A-about what?”

“About...well not right now. After we eat. But it’s important.”

“OK.” She says.

Nina arrives shortly thereafter, clean, dressed in better clothes and far too early. She moves immediately to your slave’s side and shoos you away from the kitchen. Something about being embarrassed to cook in front of you. You decide to let it slide just for today and leave the two of them alone.

>Get some rest, you need it
>No rest for the wicked, crack open the crates and set up the hearts
>A good time to catch up on your reading

>>2815592
>You do it like a bandage--right off
What's the harm, it's not like she doesn't already know.

>>2815671
>>No rest for the wicked, crack open the crates and set up the hearts
NO BREAKS.

>>2815671
let's not break troll hearts out in front of Nina before eating, that's just in poor taste. But maybe we could
>Pore over some alchemy notes

>>2815674
yeah, but we don't know that

>>2815592
Regardless of when we give her the news, we make or break Leia's loyalty with our reasons.

"Leia, I would your old master, Antipater, still scares you. Is that right?"

>if yes (honest)
"So am I, if I'm honest. (...)"

>if no (lie to not worry seabass)
"Well I am, to tell you the truth. (...)"

"(...) But more than that I cannot forgive how he has treated you, which is why its that much harder now to tell you what I must. While you must know that I do not in the least intend to submit to his will, I have found it a necessary evil to work for him."

>Gently get closer to her and with a lower voice;

"He has a grasp on many people in this country as he did on you and I want to end this. You would agree that he has not the right to live as he has, no? While I admit fear played a large role in my decision, I want to learn what I can about him and undermine his authority and for that I will have to get closer to him.

I must ask you stand with me. I need a partner, an accomplice who I can trust with my life no matter what, no matter how far apart we are taken and no matter what they tell you, and it needs to be you. I want to bring an end to him. Can I count on you, Leia?"

>>2815671
>A good time to catch up on your reading

>>2815688
>I would your old master
...would *assume* your...

>Everytime I go back and change the wording on something

>>2815671
>A good time to catch up on your reading

>>2815671
>Get some rest, you need it

>>2815536
this is good

>>2815696
>>2815685
>>2815688

You head for your desk instead of the pile of dusty blankets on the floor. You’ve actually gotten used to sleeping on a feather bed and the thought of lying down on the hard wooden paneling no longer has that minimalistic charm. Especially now that you have some sovereigns in the bank.

One of the crates contains all the books you brought with you and now seems a good time to review your notes and perhaps do some more reading. You’ve gleaned all you can from the book on the toxins and it’s only useful as a reference now.

>Toxins and Tonics (Complete) +1 when working with toxins or their antidotes

What remains to be read is the Elven dictionary (which you still haven’t even opened), the book on restoratives and the book on crystallogenesis. This might also be a good time to organize the notes on the manufacture of the toxin cure. Or perhaps the time would be better spent on designing some new experiments, just general brainstorming for new ideas.

>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)
>Read up on Restoratives
>Study the Elven language
>Brainstorm new ideas (+optional write-in)

>>2815709
>>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)

>>2815709
>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)
Must be neat and tidy.

>>2815709
>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)

>>2815688
I mean, we can also be upfront and be like 'I was pretty sure at the time he'd have me killed if I said no.' Which we DID think until Word of God said otherwise.

>>2815709
>Organize notes
But keep some important information out, like the elf blood. If someone else takes hold of our notes I won't be that helpfully for them. The notes should help with the easier parts
Alternatively let's create our own chiffre for writing

>>2815709
>>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)
Not even a contest.

>>2815720
This too. Were practicing info sec now so we should actually do it.
>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)
>Totally avoid talking about that important thing you mentioned.

>>2815709
>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)
Can we try and encrypt them? Organizing them just kind of screams "easier to steal".

>>2815709
>Study the Elven language.

>>2815709
>Organize your notes for the cure (+2 to the next time you produce the cure)

>>2815709
>Study the Elven language
Gotta get that bond levels up with Leia

>>2815717
hence
>While I admit fear played a large role in my decision

>>2815750
>>2815717
Also, Seabass might just be justifying it to himself as much as anything else

>>2815712
>>2815715
>>2815716
>>2815720
>>2815722
>>2815724

>>2815727
>>2815741

Seeing as how Lawson was so keen on procuring the method of the cure manufacture, it seems prudent to organize and collect all the details of it into one place for yourself. However, the matter of the elf blood gives you pause. It seems unwise to write something like that down--at least without any kind of encryption.

Granted you do maintain your notebook in a cipher but that’s more out of personal fun than actual security. It’s a simple substitution cipher that a determined child could crack, you’ll need something a little more robust to keep the likes of Antipater or Lawson at bay. Your options are immediately limited, but with the money in your bank (whose mere remembrance gives you a warm fuzzy feeling down to your toes) you can always buy what you need from Gunter.

For now however, you could either try writing in a more complex cipher and maybe combine that with further obfuscation by using a mnemonic system. Alternatively you still have some of the cipherous ink left. A few of the pigments are clear and transparent and can be used (after some modification, heating and mixing with other pigments) as secure ink. Completely invisible unless treated with the right set of pigments and since the rest of your journal already has writing in it, no one will suspect it.

>Make the secure ink from the left over cipherous ink kit
>Just use a more complex cipher for now
>Just write it in your usual cipher; no one’s going to steal your notebook

>>2815755
>Use a more complex cipher, That'd would require another cipher to crack the cipher being used, To finally get through a third cipher that only you knew via your own short hand.

>>2815745
>>2815737
Interesting thought to bring up but what if after we talk to Leia about the important thing that just happened and everything calms down. Would it be possible to ask her for help in learning her language? Not only would it give us extra sweet sweet bonding time but also help us learn a language that can allow us to communicate hidden information that most people would not know.

>>2815755
>Make the secure ink from the left over cipherous ink kit

Our elf and very possibly her race's life is on the line here. Spare no expense.

>>2815755
>Make the secure ink from the left over cipherous ink kit

>>2815764
Also this is perfect.
Supporting this as well.

>>2815764
Supporting.

>>2815764
Ah yes, security measures on top of our security measures.

>>2815755
>Make the secure ink from the left over cipherous ink kit
We should really have a notebook within a notebook, have some standard notes with a decent cipher then write over the notes with our invisible ink so when they crack the first cipher they never bother to read it again and check for the hidden ink.

>>2815780
Oh! What if, we write down false information involving the cure on the first or second layer of security? That way they'll chomp onto it like bait.

>>2815789
We could, if we really wanted to take a gamble, mention the elves blood, but in a section that mentions all the things we tried to cure the toxin with but failed in order to throw them off the trail further.

>>2815796
Then we should throw together a big list of things to hide it in. That way it'll seem mundane.

>>2815755
>Make the secure ink from the left over cipherous ink kit

>>2815764
>>2815769
>>2815772

The secure ink seems more trouble than its worth, it’s easier (and possibly more secure) to just layer several ciphers on top of each other. It’s going to make decryption a pain, but most of this will only be reference anyway.

You start by making a fresh set of ordinary notes on spare paper, collecting all the details of the Elf blood preparation and then the subsequent regenerative culturing and also your own thoughts on how the blood actually acts to neutralize the poison (admittedly, you’re still not fully convinced of the immunogen theory, or at least what it implies about the “animalcules” but it’s all you’ve got for now). As an additional measure you also add in some nonsense instructions which sound correct but which will invariably destroy the experiment (always prefaced with a password, so you know to ignore them).

Once that’s finished, you convert the notes using a mnemonic system into that story Leia likes so much, about the nobleman and his maid. Keywords in the story are bolded and then the entire thing is encrypted using your simple substitution cipher with the password “Leia” for the transformation. Finally, the bolded words are further encrypted using a much more complicated dictionary cipher (you finally put that Elven dictionary to use) resulting in a combination of gibberish and bolded Elven words that have no relevance to the topic at hand (and yet, in a way, absolutely does).

All this takes you the rest of the evening and by dinnertime you’re dotting your last i and burning the original notes in the wood stove.

As usual, the lack of chairs forces you to bring all the food outside to the backyard. It seems that Nina made more than the usual share of food this time around, as a few of the dishes lack your Elf’s subtle handiwork. The beef soup is too salty and the coleslaw is bland.

“How is it?” Asks Nina. She’s biting her thumb and looking from your Elf to you.

>It’s not bad (lie)
>It’s great! (mega-lie)
>It’s terrible (brutal honesty)
>Appalled silence (???)

>>2815755
>Make the secure ink from the left over cipherous ink kit

>Seabass shadowruns too deep
>Buys a library and fills it up with thousands of notebooks each with their own complex ciphers
>All of the hidden notes are fakes
>Has another cipher that needs to be deciphered to find what order the books need to be cracked
>Another to find out which page, paragraph, sentence and then word needs to be picked from each book
>And then finally a cipher to actually decipher the coded message each individual word spells out

OOC: Gonna break for lunch.

>>2815810
>Appalled silence (???)

>>2815810
>Torturous silence
And then
>Could use a bit of onion, other than that it's good.

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176 KB JPG

>>2815810
>Appalled silence (???)
And also pic related

>>2815810
>>It’s not bad (lie)

>>2815810
>Appalled silence (???)

>>2815810
My inner paranoid and it sec guy is not pleased with out info sec. Taking such a blatantly personal password like Leia is bad. And we should be sure that the oven actually burned all the paper so that nothing can be recovered.
I am probably too paranoid and Watdo will not bite us in the ass for this.
Now that we are going to hire people to do our work we need to think about how we can compartmentalize the work so that only we have the whole picture in mind.

>>2815810
>It was a good attempt.

>>2815810
>Appalled silence (???)
>Could use a bit of onion, other than that it's good.

On another note, we need to research what we can do with the blood stone we have.

>>2815835
You're right, it should be a combination of all the names of people who've had a good impact in our lives.

>>2815835
>Seabass sends his employees out to gather a bunch of different ingredients in vast quantities
>Seabass eats all of them and tells them to get back to work
>We continue to cure the toxin using the leftovers in secret
>Everyone else just thinks we're a really weird eater

>>2815810
>It’s not bad (lie/divert)
>Next time try using less salt in the stew
>Launch into a detailed example of how you keep track of your concentrations when you're boiling solutions. She'll quickly change the conversation topic on her own.

>>It’s not bad (lie)

Changing to lie.

>>2815810
>Appalled silence (???)

>>2815810
>>It’s not bad (lie)
Could do with less salt though

>>2815810
>I think you might be improving (dubious lie)

>>2815810
>Appalled silence (???)
>"Do you want some lessons from Leia?"

File: 1344524075928.jpg (34 KB, 704x400)

34 KB JPG

>mfw OP honoured the fanfic by placing it in the OP
bless your soul OP

also by popular request
https://pastebin.com/N7NkPeUH

Please forgive for posting this during session, I'm not sure if I'll be able to post it in reasonable timeframe after.

>>2815810
>It’s not bad (lie)

We really should have a talk with Lawson. Be clear up front that we cannot share information about the cure but we are willing to share the results of our analyses (which while time consuming were not hard enough to keep a dedicated alchemist from doing on their own) in exchange for more information on the disease (or better yet info on his father). I really want to get a closer glimpse at how he feels about being responsible for creating a disease that is spreading through the human population before we start moving against Antipater.
We only cured the disease by pumping a lizard full of an immune booster, which means we don't have a lot to work with if we want to do anything like create a vaccine or another, non-elf blood cure; Lawson's notes on the origins of the disease would be incredibly useful in this regard.
tl;dr we can speak to Lawson without revealing the cure and it would probably be helpful.


Also threadly reminder that redweed probably contains alchemical penicillin and would probably cure the disease if it's caused by a microorganism (I'm still not convinced it's literally fantasy HIV (i.e. a retrovirus) since Leia's immune cells were adept at targeting and fighting off the disease (but on the other hand: magic)).

>>2815965
So far the setting does not have cell theory. Yet there is the change that Lawson, being the genius he is, began working on a cell theory and viruses yet he remained calling his creation a "toxin" instead of a "disease". I really want the research papers on the disease...

>>2815965
Also phoenix ashes did work on venom(?) that threatened life of our first patient.
We know OOC phoenix ashes are out of redweed, and IC we know (?) there is a connection between them from where Gunter offered us a discount. So it's probably more than just antibiotic, or?

>>2815992
Seabass knows what phoenix ashes are made of

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>>2815924
>mfw I liked this more than my own work

Gotta up the ante I guess.

Consensus seems to be appalled silence, with a twist of white lies. Writing.

You swallow and clear your throat, staring at the mound of food. Nina’s still staring at you.

“It’s uh, it’s not bad.” You say, quietly.

““Miss Nina, this food is terrible.” Says your slave.

“Leia? What are you talking about?”

“Master please. The beef is too salty, the vegetables haven’t been spiced correctly, the coleslaw tastes like water and this fondue is too sweet.” She narrows her eyes like she were taking aim at a fly on the wall. “You added too little lemon juice didn’t you?” She says this in a way a disgruntled husband might ask his wife if she was a whore.

Nina looks down at her hands. “I thought it’d make it too sour.” She mumbles.

“That’s because you’re an idiot.” She says. Appalled silence follows. You’re not sure where you are for a second.

“I understand master.” Master? “I will try better next time.” Says Nina, nodding reverently.

“See that you do.” Says Leia, closing her eyes and casually wiping her mouth with the end of the tablecloth. “This kind of meal isn’t fit for dogs, let alone my master.”

You watch this entire procession wondering if you’ve stepped into an alternate reality. Then like a rock through a mirror, the illusion shatters.

“Was that good Miss Nina? Was it too much?” Leia nervously wrings her hands and all is right again with the world.

Nina makes an OK with her hands, but she’s still staring at the food. “Well the dog comment was a little much I think.” She mutters. “Not like Seabass is royalty or anything.”

“Oh I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it of course.” Says Leia. “I just thought--you said to be more assertive--oh no, I’m so sorry Miss Nina.”

“What is going on right now?” You say.

“No you’re right.” Says Nina, as though you didn’t exist. “I did tell you to be more aggressive--but I didn’t think you’d be so...anyway, you’re right. You’re right. You’re right” She shrugs her shoulders. “I’ll do better next time.”

Leia nods, visibly relieved. “But you really did put too much salt in beef stew.” She says, coldly.

“You said one handful!”

“What?” Says Leia.

“I mean--you said one handful, master.”

“Yes I did.” The she strips back her sleeve and lays her hand flat on the table, palm up. Nina, reluctantly, puts her own on top. While both hands have marks of abuse (your slave’s are far worse), Nina’s is about 50% bigger than your Elf’s.

“Oh.” Says Nina. “Right.” She nods. “I’m sorry master, I’ll get it right next time. I promise.”

“Can someone please explain to me what’s going on here? Am I--am I dead? Is this hell?”

“Oh shut up Sebastian. And finish your stew.” Says Nina.

Leia leans into your ear. “Master you can eat the vegetable soup, I made that one.” She whispers, her breath tickles your flesh.

“I heard that.” Says Nina.

Cont.

>>2816065
And so it goes for the rest of the evening. You eventually find out that Leia has taken Nina under wing to formally teach her the culinary arts. The master-student thing was in fact Nina’s idea, a role that your slave was initially reluctant to accept but, as it now seems, has quickly grown into. After dinner Nina invites the two of you to wind down with some wine. Thus far she’s made no mention of her trip and you haven’t had the heart (or courage) to bring it up but she now looks like she has something she wants to say.

>Stay for the wine
>Excuse yourself, it’s been a long day--for both of you; she should get some rest
>You have other conversations in mind tonight; politely take your leave

>>2816065
W-what would Leia think about role-reversal-play?
Not t-that I'm interested in that kind of thing, m-mind you.

>>2816069
>Stay for the wine

>>2816069
>Activate confused boner
>Remind ourselves that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer
>Deactivate confused boner
>Stay for the wine

>>2816069
>Stay for the wine

>>2816075
>W-what would Leia think about role-reversal-play?
She would most likely prefer death by volcano.

>>2816069
>You have other conversations in mind tonight; politely take your leave
Got to nip this Antipater problem in the bud

>>2816069
If "take your leave" means "talk to Leia like we were planning" then I change my choice (>>2816086) to that

>>2815810
>It’s terrible (brutal honesty)

>>2816069
Stay, but sip sparingly and excuse yourself before too long. This is too good opportunity to relax in a friendly environment to pass up, but we do still have The Talk to have.

Also that was awesome. Make a note to tell Leia how proud we are.

(we do have to fix up her magic yet)

>>2816069

>Stay for the wine

>>2816069
>Stay for the wine

>>2816069
>You have other conversations in mind tonight; politely take your leave
We've got bigger problems, have to make sure Roche can't turn Leia to the dark side.

>>2816100
Man you're really late Anon.

>>2816102
This is good. Have win, but dont stay too long. Our life is about to get very dangerous and very hectic. We need to be careful.

>>2816069
>Stay for the wine
Also maybe we should mention the situation with Franklin; someone just died in a property she manages and I'd she hear it from us first.

>>2816069
>>Stay for the wine

>>2816065
Maybe we should ask her for help/if she knows anything?

>>2816069
>You have other conversations in mind tonight; politely take your leave

Though do it politely. We don't want to be drunk when we explain to our elf.

>>2816069
>Stay for the wine

>>2816069
>You have other conversations in mind tonight; politely take your leave

You decide to stay for a little bit, knowing full well that you’re only doing it to delay the inevitable, secretly hoping that maybe your Elf will fall asleep or that you’ll forget so that you don’t have to have the conversation you’re dreading.

Nina brings the wine while your Elf sets down the glasses, not the fluted stemmed ones from earlier but broader thicker cups. Nina pours generously, as though she were trying to empty the contents of the bottle. You sip at the spirits while your Elf sniffs anxiously at hers. Nina downs her full glass in a single motion, squeezing her eyes shut as the alcohol stains her brain.

You make inane conversation, avoiding topics of any real substance, talking at length about her sister and her husband and her plans for some upcoming ball. Nina pours herself another glass and drains that too. This time, when she puts the cup down, you pull it slightly out of reach. It’s already enough to slur her speech.

“Hey, Seabass, can I ask you something?” She says.

“You just did.”

She squints and laughs a little louder than is appropriate. “Funny. You’re funny Seabass.” She leans her head back on the couch, blowing on the red hair splayed over her face. “That’s why no one--” She yawns. “That’s why I like you.” She says.

You clear your throat. “Right. Well it’s getting late.” You already sent your Elf ahead to prepare the blankets, to make this escape (and partially in the hope that she’ll forget about you asking her to talk).

“Wait, wait. I wanted to ask you something. It’s serious.”

You sit back down. “What is it?”

“I think we should move in together.”

“What?”

She giggles. “No, no. It came out wrong. I think we should move together. To another place, a bigger one.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about a bigger place. Sheesh pay attention Seabass. I saw some places near the market that were up for auction. You’d like them. Cuts down on the commute and everything. I figure I can rent out some rooms to adventurers or something. It’s basically free real estate. ”

“What about this place?”

“I’m selling it. It’s mine now so…” She trails off, looking toward the loom she has unpackaged. “I’m selling it.” She says. “And since you’re such a good ten--tennanant, damn how do you say that?” She giggles again.

“Tenant.”

“Yeah, that. You should come with. Well.” She scratches the freckles on her nose. “Well actually I also need some money for the down payment. You have some savings right? I’ll pay you back--you know I will right? You know I’m good for it.”

>No, if she wants a loan she can go to the bank
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.
>Sure, Nina’s an industrious girl, she’ll definitely pay you back; but you’re not moving

>>2816184
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

Cuts out future rent and puts some of our money into something that doesnt require active effort on our part for a return. Also acts as a guarantee against anything bad happening.

>>2816184
>No, if she wants a loan she can go to the bank
Definitely not, can't have any paper trails Antipater or Roche can use, and we need the money for ingredients for the real cure and for if/when this entire deal we have goes up in flames and we need to run.

>>2816194
This.


Although I would remind other anons that we have chickens, so we'd probably want to ensure she's checked for facilities for them in these properties.

>>2816184
>>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816184
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816194
this basically, if Nina stays there she will keep the apartment intact, we won't need to worry on that front.

Watdo, what kinda agreement do we have with Antipater in detail? How much funding we will get, stuff like that.

>>2816194
I like this idea, but...

>>2816197 brings a good point.

>>2816184
>>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816207
Lack of a paper trail isnt going to do jack.

We make a living selling wares, they will find us among the alchemists in any given city because theres only going to be a couple dozen or so at most who are active.

>>2816184
>Maybe we should discuss this when you aren't drunk

>>2816184
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816184
>Sure, Nina’s an industrious girl, she’ll definitely pay you back; but you’re not moving

>>2816184
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816206
There's hasn't been formal black and white yet. However for now you've been promised the following things:

>Yearly stipend for purchasing regular supplies (~100 sovereigns)
>A second stipend for living expenses (~50 sovereigns/month)
>A separate on-request stipend for more expensive reagents/alchemical equipment (you just have to show justification)
>An alchemy license (details on this remain elusive, but Antipater made it sound like you won't even need to attend the Academy)
>Complete independence in your operation and team

In exchange you're expected to:

>Make regular reports to someone in his organization (not Lawson, by request)
>Work on whatever Antipater tells you to, at least as a main focus
>Show satisfactory progress in the work
>Not useless squander resources

>>2816194
There is of course this and it is a very valid point.
I thought about pawning/selling a troll heart to Gunther for a while if we need more short term capital.
And of course we could make some of that paste for him and promise him the earnings, i.e. we give him the paste + earnings and we gives us credit in his shop in advance.

>>2816229
>50 sovs per month
That seems a lot of Seabass living standards.

>>2816184
I would like for Nina not to rent out any addional rooms, she can use the ground floor as a shop or so, but I don't really want strangers (i.e. spies) in our new house.

Would it be possible to make a longterm commitment with Seabass, e.g. every morning we spend 1-2 hours to reading/analysing a book? Except if there are extraordinary circumstances.

>>2816184
>>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.
But you know, give her the money so she's the only one on the deed.

>>2816184
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816184
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816242
>Sure, Nina’s an industrious girl, she’ll definitely pay you back; but you’re not moving

So basically this...

>>2816184
>No, but what if you bought the place with her? Half and half.

>>2816184
I'm in favour of lending her (if we can afford it) seeing as she's our friend and reliable.
I'm not too concerned about paper trails when Lawson, Franklin and people they are connected to are already well aware that we care for her. In that respect it's probably safer to stay close to her so we can warn her if shit's coming down, check on her, help her out.
We're not going to be able to do shit if we completely isolate ourselves, barring pulling a full on Stark with our antics.

>>2816194
>>2816200
>>2816202
>>2816206
>>2816219
>>2816226
>>2816242

It’s an intriguing proposition, but you have a better one.

“How about we just split it? I’ll cover half, you cover the other half.”

“So you’d do it? You’d move in--sorry move with me?”

“Why not? I’ve been thinking about getting a bigger place anyway, especially with this new job. But I do have some conditions.”

“OK!” Nina’s ecstatic. She nods her head clearly not hearing a single word.

“So, no other tenants, maybe Franklin if he wants to come with us and maybe Toad if I can convince him and if there’s enough room. But no one else.” You wouldn’t put it past Antipater or to put in spies to observe you. It might just be paranoid, but paranoia keeps you alive. “And it has to be your name on the deed. We can split the mortgage payments but only until you can pay me back. I assume you’re doing this because you finally want to expand your business?”

She nods, a dopey grin on her face.

“Good, good. We can use some of the space as a workshop for you and a lab for me. And we’ll have to make sure there’s a yard for Mrs. Cluckles and Pecky. Pecky especially doesn’t like enclosed spaces.”

“Ugh, who cares about your chickens?” Nina says, laying down on the sofa. “We should just eat them already.”

You gasp. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Fine.” She curls her knees into herself. “Fine, fine, fine. Keep your stupid chickens.” She mumbles.

“Then we have a deal?”

“Yeah.” She says yawning. Her eyes close and in seconds she begins to snore. You consider carrying her to the bed, but not wanting to wake her, you instead throw a blanket over her. Excellent. You’ve just secured your finances for the foreseeable future.

You look at the red-headed monstrosity balled up in fetal position and wonder if this counts as taking advantage of a drunk woman.

No, you decide, pulling the blanket to her chin. It’s just business.

You head upstairs where you find your Elf waiting for you at the veranda, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Damn. Looks like there’s no escaping this.

“Master, do you still want to talk?”

You nod. “Yeah, maybe we should sit down.” You gesture to the table. The only light you can see now are the streetlamps and the stars and the glowing green of your Elf’s eyes.

How to broach this dangerous topic?

>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
>Try to finesse it, massage a little
>Ask her what she wants, for her own thoughts

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
Best to get it over with.

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way

>>2816294

>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way

Ask her not to interrupt, include why we made our decisions and what we believe would be the outcome from not choosing that.

Then ask her what she thinks and her own thoughts. Give and take in equal measure.

>>2816294
>>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
Honesty is the best policy.

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
It has served us well so far. Don't forget to mention why we are doing it, to keep our family (i.e. Toad) alive and well.

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
Just be sure to tell her why we did it and how we felt we got backed into a corner as well.

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
>Ask her what she wants, for her own thoughts

Also, tell her that we are going to try to stop him, if that isn't already included here. And offer to free her if she doesn't want to run the risk of seeing her old master

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
Make sure she knows she won't have to come in contact with him and he doesn't even need to know she's involved.

>>2816294
Be honest with the situation and facts; ask her what she thinks.

We know an important secret of a very powerful man. That’s not a comfortable position to be in, especially if we don’t presently have any way to actually leverage this knowledge against him and escape retaliation.

>>2816294
>>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way

>>2816294
>>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
"Also, if he tries to go for you like he used to, take some of this strength medicine I made and throw him through a wall."

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm kind of hoping this scenario happens, if only for an amazon servant elf.

>>2816335
Hot

>>2816335
I doubt Antipater will outright do something against her. He will make a comment, if he even remembers her, then it is most likely our choice what to do.
I imagine him telling us that we have a good eye for the fun ones and that he can give us a new one to have fun with.

>>2816294
>see
>>2815688

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way
>>2816350
Naive

>>2816294
>Just be honest and straightforward, you know no other way

>>2816335
>>2816350
If he ever learns how much she cares about us I wouldn't put it past him to threaten to harm us to get her to divulge how we made the cure or how to get elves to breed in captivity.

>>2816350
He's definitely going to try to do something to her. I guarantee it. His whole deal is getting sexual pleasure out of making his victims miserable. Having one of his old slaves recover from what he did to them is going to be like leaving a slab of meat out in front of a starving dog.

>Start from the beginning.
>Explain your thought process along every step of the way.
>Be straightforward. Tell her why you agreed to work with a Darwinist deranged lunatic. (fear of death, chance to stop him).
>I do not want you hanging around the place. You will also be getting a weapon and learning to defend yourself.

>>2816396
Also pretty much this yes.

>>2816396
Yeah. We better do our damnedest to ensure that if he ever recognizes Leia, it will be only for a fraction of a moment before getting napalmed/fireballed.

So we all basically agree that we need to keep her as far away from him as physically possible?

Good.

>>2816413
he probably has people spying on us and how many people in this town own mutilated elves? It can't be that difficult to figure out. I wonder why he even sold her and didn't kill her. She's a potential threat to his reputation and 6 Sovereigns are nothing to a man like him.

>>2816447
> I wonder why he even sold her and didn't kill her. She's a potential threat to his reputation and 6 Sovereigns are nothing to a man like him.
>inb4 Lawton argued for her survival.

>>2816447
Even if he knows where she is, that does not mean we should make it easier to kill or control her.

She is a lever, as is the orphanage, toad, and Nina.

If we ghost, they die.

>>2816447
>>2816447
Did he even sell her?
>The man pales at that. "W-well, sir, be that as it may, 6 sovereigns--I mean I didn't even pay--"
From what it sounds like she got thrown out of the household, though it's not in Antipater's character to do so. Maybe Lawson did it?

>>2816447
Maybe he’s got a new slave to torment, or maybe he’s now focusing on his new project. After all he mentioned attempts to make elves into the servitor caste, maybe tormenting her was a way of coping with frustration of his plan falling apart at apparent unsustainability.

Him knowing we have specifically Leia is certainly a possibility we cannot fully dismiss, even though we’ve so far seen nothing, IC or OOC, to support it. Closest to putting it together is probably Lawson on account of seeing us with her repeatedly.

>>2816474
Though, I don't think he saw her with us until after we healed some of her worst scars

>You are now Leia

You master sits across from you, holding his head in his hands and muttering to himself. His hair is disheveled and unkempt, curls bunched together like a heap of clothes. A primal urge compels you to run your hands through them, or a comb, or a pair of scissors. But you dare not do that without permission and you dare not ask for permission for fear of its implications. No matter how much the sight irks you. At least you can take comfort in the drawings, although recently you’ve wanted to experiment with something other than bits of charcoal from the stove.

The children at the orphanage had colored chalk and soft crayons. But the paintings that Miss Sarah showed you were better than them all, if only you could get a set of paints--and then you catch yourself. Foolish, foolish girl! You grip your hands together, trying to wring out these, covetous, selfish, ungrateful thoughts. Poison! Pure poison!

Then your master speaks.

“I don’t know how to say this.” He says, scratching his hair and somehow making it worse. “I thought about trying to ease into it or…” He searches the air, but nothing comes to him. “Well anyway, I’m not going to do that. I’m just going to be straight with you.”

You nod, not quite understanding, but feeling that this has something to do with your conversation with Mister Roche. You still haven’t told your master about him and it’s been eating at you all day. You know you have to tell him, but what if he decides to get rid of you? Or would he get rid of you because you didn’t tell him? But how would he find out? No, but, he wouldn’t get rid of you for that. He promised as long as you were healthy and tried your best at the work, he’d keep you--and you have. And he follows his rules. So he wouldn’t get rid of you right? Why didn’t you tell him as soon as you had arrived? He’ll think you were hiding it from him. Oh! Stupid, stupid, stupid girl!

“Woah, woah, why are you crying? I haven’t even said anything yet.”

You shake your head and wipe your eyes, trying to keep the overwhelming emotions inside your chest. “I-I’m sorry master. I didn’t mean to do it. Please don’t get rid of me.” You blurt out.

“What? What are you talking about?”

You still yourself, trying again to wring these excess emotions from your hands. Your burnt and destroyed hands, that unlike your feet, you cannot even cover.

>Tell your master everything
>Let your master go first and then tell him
>Don’t say anything, it’s better if he doesn’t know

>>2816558
>Tell your master everything

>>2816558
>Tell your master everything

>>2816558
>Let your master go first and then tell him

I've got it, the solution to all our problems!
Master, I think I'm gay for Miss Nina.

>>2816558
>Tell your master everything

>>2816558
>>Tell your master everything
Stupid stupid, just yell everything out then we won't bethrown away

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>>2816573

>>2816558
>Let your master go first and then tell him

>>2816558
>>Tell your master everything

>>2816558
>Tell your master everything

>>2816558
>>Tell your master everything

>>2816558
>Tell your master everything

>>2816558

>Tell your master everything

It all comes out at once, like a sneeze. It doesn’t even come out in order.

You start at the end when Mister Toad came to pick you up and the all guards had already left and he stayed behind to “case the place out” (and here, in your absolute panic you even attempted a rough imitation of his scratchy voice), then you skipped to the part where Roche offered you a knife emphasizing that, of course, you didn’t take it because you would never ever ever betray your master, not even if he was working with your previous master, not even if he hurt you, because you knew he would only do it if he absolutely had to and because you trusted him and then you skipped back to the beginning when Roche first came in and asked about the leeches and the hearts and your master and the cure and that you didn’t tell him anything and that he seemed somehow sad and how he called you darling and dear and kissed your brow before he left and how sorry you are, how so very, very stupid you feel for not telling your master sooner and finally that you understand if he wants to let you go (and here you stifle a sob because even the thought of it is so terrifying, even more than the leeches, even more than your old master) and but that you’ll work twice as hard if he would just forgive you, that you’d do anything--

And then he grabs your hands, your ruined, destroyed hands, and he squeezes them very gently and slowly all the words die from your lips, until there is only left the apology, the “I’m sorry” over and over until even that has no meaning and then only silence and your master’s face in the darkness of the stars and the streetlamps.

“I’m going to be working for Antipater.” He says. The name has no meaning for you, but you listen. “I think--” He touches his eyes and sniffs. “I think he might be the one who hurt you, but I have to work for him because he’s going to hurt a lot more people and I think I can do more good near him than away from him. Because I want to stop him, if I can, or if I can’t I want to do as much as I can to mitigate the collateral damage.” He pauses and leans back and hides his eyes with one hand, but never relaxes the grip on your own with the other. “I know how you must feel about him, and I promise you I will not let him hurt you again--I swear that--but I have to do this. I have to try. And...I’ll need your help.”

Cont.

>>2816757
“Me?”

“Yes. For one, the cure to this disease is inside you. And for another, I need you--that is, for helping with the experiments and for general maintenance of the house.” He clears his throat and sighs. “One day, one day I’ll free you. I promise that too. When you’re ready to leave, I won’t stop you.”

“But I don’t want to leave, master.” You say, quietly.

“I know, but one day you will.”

“No.” You say.

“Listen to me. This kind of dependence isn’t healthy.” And he releases the grip on your hand, splaying his fingers out. “I’m grateful that you have so much faith in me, but I don’t know that I’m worthy of it. I’m just some nameless orphan--you know that orphans are considered bad luck? Ah, I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.”

“Master is good.” You say, and it is said with an absolute conviction, the stainless steel of religious fervor. But your master shakes his head.

“Roche was right about one thing, your perspective is warped by what you’ve suffered. And I’m at least “good” enough not to ignore that. I won’t throw you away Leia, but I won’t stop you if--when--you’ll want to leave. All I ask for until that day, is what you’ve already given me, your help and your namesake--loyalty. What do you say?”

“I won’t leave master’s side.” You say. “Never ever.”

He laughs, but you know that kind of laugh, the mocking laugh. “We’ll see.” He says and then you do something bold, you grab his hand as it leaves your own and you hold it fast.

“I won’t.” You say.

And then the night is perfect in its stillness and it quiet for several throbbing seconds. Until the clouds tear open and something falls straight from the heavens to the earth in front of your master’s home, leaving a small semi-circular crater in the mud. You follow your master to the railing where he calls out to the two men that have suddenly appeared. “Franklin? Is that you?”

There’s a slight parting of the wind as a tall man (taller than Mister Franklin, yet like in appearance) suddenly flies up to the balcony, floating in mid-air.

“Charmed.” He says. “I’m Samson, I’m sure my little brother has told you about me?”

“Thrice Great.” Says your master, cowering slightly. “He did...but never told me his brother was a mageknight.”

SESSION END

OOC: Next session is next Saturday 8 AM as usual. Thanks for playing (and posting and reading and lurking). I hope you're all enjoying the quest!

This session was a little messed up because I was originally planning on running it tomorrow and didn't have much prepared beforehand. Should be fixed next week.

>>2816764
ALL THESE FUCKING SPECIAL SNOWFLAKES, fhasdhsdhasd we must poison them with a curse of genetics.

>>2816764
Thanks for running.

>>2816764
>superior mageknight brother
>superior lady sister
>superior alchemist childhood "friend"
jesus, this whole apartment is a hive of inferiority complexes

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>>2816764

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>>2816764
HHNNNGGG and also OH SHIT.
Fuck is Leia adorable and also likely suffering from severe Stockholm syndrome.

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>>2816764
Relax, he just came for a sleep over or to pick up some stuff from his brother's room.

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>>2816764
>“But I don’t want to leave, master.” You say, quietly.
>“Master is good.” You say, and it is said with an absolute conviction, the stainless steel of religious fervor. But your master shakes his head.
>“I won’t leave master’s side.” You say. “Never ever.”

Leia is bay.

Also who is this cock again?

I'm constantly amazed by how amazing our Elf is and how she keeps getting better. We should get her nice sketching and painting supplies

Also, I'm super excited for when Seabass notices he's ragged and asks Leia to cut his hair now

>This kind of dependence isn’t healthy.
I mean if she was dependent on a scum bag, maybe. But Seabass is a good man, with a good head on his shoulders.
We love and take care of elf, so why shouldn't she be dependent on us?
We would never do anything to hurt Elf, would we?

>>2818467
Even if he is a good man, this level of dependance is bad? what when Seabass dies? Because he will die. maybe in a year, maybe in 70. Is she just going to break down and kill herself? that's not really a good thing.

>>2818467
Like >>2816847 pointed out, like half the cast has an inferiority complex, and Seabass doesn't think he's a very good person on top of that

Also, her being able to rely on us and her needing to be our slave to keep her mind working are very different things.

>>2818500
Also, our elf taking charge of Nina was great. Threesome with Seabass and Leia domming the redhead when?

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>>2818467
>>2818485
>>2818500
She's a broken girl and may never heal, let Seabass be that dependent rock in her life until he dies of old age.

>>2818512
Or, maybe, we get her to form an identity that isn't inextricably bound with our wants and desires, so she is capable of independent thought and not having her most likely Cause of death pointless sacrifice

>>2818467
We wouldn’t, at least not consciously or willingly. But we wouldn’t want her to hurt or kill herself because she felt or was led to think it would help us or something like that. She can be our friend (or more) without abandoning her self.

>>2818485
>that's not a good thing
it's romeo & juliette tier tragic-romantic though and i fully support that route.

>>2818542
>>2818512
I just want to focus on educating her and see where that brings us. We may want to further develop her artistic skills for her pleasure but also so she can do the illustrations for whatever books we may write.

>>2818548
I'm pretty sure her "self" has already been erased through the intense and prolonged torture she was put through.

>>2815810
> that story Leia likes so much, about the nobleman and his maid.
Cute.

>>2818604
>it's romeo & juliette tier tragic-romantic though and i fully support that route
I'm ok with this, if it comes to that.

Note that if we taught her to defend herself, like full on warrior, there is a good chance she could mentally heal.

>>2818889
Nigga we can't even defend ourselves. Every combat situation we get our asses kicked.

>>2818889
>>2818907
Not full on warrior, we dont want to end the cute, and we certainly don't have anything like that to teach, but maybe we can have Toad teach her the ways of the Sneeki Breeki

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>>2818467
Desiring that kind of dependence would make Seabass a scumbag. The goal is to heal her, not sit in complacence because we want someone with Stockholm Syndrome to be loyal to us.

>>2818889
Seabass should pay Toad to train her.
Then Seabass will have a slave/bodyguard.

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Watdo, if he's still in this thread (as well as everybody else), should spend like 10 minutes reading these ancient Roman shitposts. There's a lot of good ones in here. Special relevancy for this quest goes to VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1863
http://www.pompeiana.org/Resources/Ancient/Graffiti%20from%20Pompeii.htm

Watdo, you magnificent bastard, I actually teared up while reading Nina's trip.

>>2819111
silly anon, it's the servant girl who takes hold of us

>>2819111
ah, but common sense.
----
This is the third thread I've mentioned!
BUY WATERCOLOURS AND A NEW NOTEBOOK FOR THE SLAAAVE

>>2819373
Absolutely
Also, should we look into getting her some gloves if she stays self-conscious about her hands?

fix Elf

dick Nina

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>>2819666
Elf is waifu for laifu, Satan. We will take care of her, then she will take care of us.
Then have MANY rare half-elf babies.

>>2819686
then be like "yeah half breeds are not special, it's just no one had the guts to do it"

also, great image.
Elf? check
Blonde? check
Red lace? check

>>2819639
Defenitely... Nina could make a pair of mitten.
-------
AAaaAaaAanyway, we better uh, avoid impending doom. Samsom and all...

>>2819686
Its probably the only way to free her, since they cant breed in captivity.

>But you need to be free or we can't have babies.
>Well, ok then.

>>2819373
>Watercolors
FUCK THAT. they are horrible to work with and you need a shitload of patience and practice if you want to be decent with them and not just create soggy paper. Normal color pencils give a similar result with less of the stress.

>>2819666
Satan, my nigga!

>>2819699
>>2819686
Its shooped though. The ear and fang are not original, nor even done by the original artist.

Can tell by some of the pixels, etc.

>>2819704
Agreed. Watercolors are pretentious as fuck, too.
>Be huge poorfag and cant afford real paint
>Look I'm a real artist
No fuck off it looks like shit get a job you bum.

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>>2819713
Shush.

>>2819666
Nina confirmed for demon girl. I guess you could say she got... fiendzoned

(I like Nina but restored elf route seems more appealing desu)

>>2819737
we can restore the elf, let her go AND marry Nina. Boom, problem solved.

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I like Nina, but I like her as Seabass' bro rather than love interest

Leia's for wifing though

>>2819870
you got those two backwards.

>explore alternative cures to Lawson’s plague
>cure Lucy if we haven’t already
>refine the hulking potion
>restore Leia’s magical gift
>scout out political landscape to find real or potential threats to antipater’s power structure. Chances are some of the orders he will have for us will be untended to neutralize some of these so we should be prepared to make countermeasures to our own work.
>exploratory analysis and experimentation, every alchemical breakthrough we make is a potential nasty surprise for our enemies.
>figure a way to Contact people without our patron knowing, and measures to deal with tails and snoops

I wonder if franklins bro works for Fontaine or someone else entirely

>>2820062
No you just forgot to wear your reading glasses. He's right.

>>2820085
You forgot the most important part. Learn some fucking self defense and get jacked, because there will be a time that our contraption will fail, or we won't be near it.

>>2820088
Not really. Satan already explained that. >>2819666

>>2820085
I do not think we can give Leia her womb magic back

>>2820117
And we all know Satan's only mission is to deceive. You are being played. Leia's route is the route the Lord has laid down for us.

>>2820122
I think you know how to fix that kind of magic.

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>>2820143
true facts

>>2821594
I think our elf would actually die from shock at a marriage proposal from Seabass.

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>>2821644
at this point, she'd die from shock at the chance to touch our hair
but eventually, she might only faint in happiness at a proposal

Have we ever attempted to hunt down that guy who annotated our book? Glossman, I think his name was. Unless he's dead, because that'd suck

>>2821818
so far, we know his initials

>>2821818
I bet it's Antipater's cooler brother.

>>2822235
>Antipater is a cold-eyed southern guy who firmly believes in going Sam Raimi on the elves for the "benefit of humanity"
>Glossman? is the opposite - a warm-eyed northern woman who doesn't give a fuck about humanity

>>2822437
Inb4 it’s the bookseller

>>2822464
We can ask Mam about the notes regardless.

A little something to make up for the short session: https://pastebin.com/cCVw9z3t

>>2822665
kek, nice

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>>2822665
Oh Watdo you absolute madman

>>2822665
and no more LSD for you, watdo

>>2822665
Uh, alright.

>>2822665
This so good lmao :D

>>2822682
I’ve had weirder dreams desu

>>2822771
See a shrink, holy shit

>>2822778
You must have boring dreams.

>>2822812
I don't dream at night.

>>2822816
You actually do, dreaming is a natural occurrence within the body, not dreaming is often the symptom of a serious illness or (mental) disorder. Most of the time people don't remember their dreams and say "I don't dream". There are actually ways to start remembering your dreams, it is one of the first steps in starting a lucid dreaming training program.

>>2822665
You need to stop the LSD

>>2822839
Bitch don't tell me what I do and don't do. I don't nightdream more than once or twice a month and I'm actually fairly good at remembering or at least recognizing them when I do.

I daydream enough not to need it, anyway.