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There is a very real possibility that you won't be able to do that - but at the same time, it is not a surety that your hand-cart is going to get ejected at the seventeenth toll. So you are in a very difficult spot at the moment. On one hand, it is very possible that you could lose your cart - which besides the talents you spent on the shopping inside being completely forfeit, it would also mean that the effort and time you spent hauling it all over the Mount would have been for naught as well. On the other hand, nothing in your cart is irreplaceable - and you would really like to have the Patent and bill for the stage before you leave. Not that you think that toll-men on the roads are going to be checking them, or that the goodman is going to fleece you by pretending he never sold you the stage when you show up tonight, but -

Oh, oh shit. The goodman knows you as 'Madame Dremen' - it is a name that you thought you just made up on the spot, but later remembered to be the Patent name of the captain of the ship that brought you over to Outremer all those years ago. You doubt that you are going to run into any relatives of his here, or anyone else with the name Dremen for that matter, but you had reservations about assuming a 'real' name. Well, it is a moot point now. The clerk is going to write the Patent and bill over to Madame Dremen - or more likely, her father - so it is only ever going to be usable to you if you forge a Family Patent with the name Dremen ... or forge a new Patent and bill for the stage under a different name.

Movement in the office snaps you out of your contemplation. The clinking and clattering from behind you tells you that the goodman is quickly putting away his goblets and decanter of aquavitae, and you can see the counter-clerk rushing off to send someone over to the Thief-Taker's Guildhouse, presumably to talk about hiring some of them as guards for the coaches. Looks like you are going to need to make a decision sooner than quickly.

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> Please choose ONE of the following:

>[Decide to Wait] It isn't just enough to have a conveyance to physically get you off of the Mount, you want all your papers - forged or otherwise - in order. More than that, you want them before you leave here, because you have no idea just how tight your schedule will be when you return to take delivery of the stage around midnight ... and you would just like to worry about one less thing too. If that means waiting here long enough that you lose your shopping in The Hooded Heads, then so be it. Sacrifices need to be made, priorities need to be kept straight.
> [Decide to Leave] If the goodman is bent on fleecing you, a bill of sale or a Patent is not going to do anything without a Family Patent with the Dremen name - and even if you had that forged Family Patent, challenging anyone in court would be dangerous and time-consuming. You are sure he is good for it. Just ask him to pick it up when you take delivery of the stage tonight. And if for whatever reason you don't get the papers tonight, then ... well, it isn't the Estrangement again. The wheels of the stage will turn, with or without the proper documentation. And Toll-men aren't going to be checking for the stage's papers - or if they are, then they'd be suspicious enough of you that those papers wouldn't get them off your back. You don't need to forfeit your hand-cart for this nonsense.

> Please choose ONE of the following – if you decided to wait:
> Before all of this unpleasantness intruded, the goodman offered you dinner at his board. It is going to be a long, shitty night for you in the sewers, and sooner or later, you are going to need to eat anyway. Ask to see if the offer still stands.
> You have had too many bad experiences at public houses today to be comfortable just sitting down and eating with complete whobodies at your elbows. And not only would you draw attention for being overdressed for the setting, you have already declined his offer.

> Please choose ONE of the following – if you decided to leave:
> You are going to leave – but not before taking the opportunity to change in the water closet. You will save time and effort finding a spot out in the city, though you will run the risk of being seen by someone who has already seen you in your 'worn piece'.
> You are going to leave – without changing. You are going to need to come back here in a matter of hours, and you cannot think of any way to explain away your change of clothes if you were caught. You cannot take that risk – even if that means risking the cart.

> Previous threads at: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Eternal%20Rome

> As per >>5699678, votes from the last thread on this are voided, as I did a bad job of explaining what was at stake. If you have already voted, please vote again, as votes from the previous thread will not be carried over.

> Errata from previous thread: cart is at risk of ejection staring at 17th hour, not 15th.

>>5700241
>> [Decide to Leave] If the goodman is bent on fleecing you, a bill of sale or a Patent is not going to do anything without a Family Patent with the Dremen name - and even if you had that forged Family Patent, challenging anyone in court would be dangerous and time-consuming. You are sure he is good for it. Just ask him to pick it up when you take delivery of the stage tonight. And if for whatever reason you don't get the papers tonight, then ... well, it isn't the Estrangement again. The wheels of the stage will turn, with or without the proper documentation. And Toll-men aren't going to be checking for the stage's papers - or if they are, then they'd be suspicious enough of you that those papers wouldn't get them off your back. You don't need to forfeit your hand-cart for this nonsense.
> You are going to leave – without changing. You are going to need to come back here in a matter of hours, and you cannot think of any way to explain away your change of clothes if you were caught. You cannot take that risk – even if that means risking the cart.

we do what we must. and the madame dremen is on a tight schedule anyway...and we should probably make up an appropriate name for her father

>>5700241

>[Decide to Wait] It isn't just enough to have a conveyance to physically get you off of the Mount, you want all your papers - forged or otherwise - in order. More than that, you want them before you leave here, because you have no idea just how tight your schedule will be when you return to take delivery of the stage around midnight ... and you would just like to worry about one less thing too. If that means waiting here long enough that you lose your shopping in The Hooded Heads, then so be it. Sacrifices need to be made, priorities need to be kept straight.

> Please choose ONE of the following – if you decided to wait:
> You have had too many bad experiences at public houses today to be comfortable just sitting down and eating with complete whobodies at your elbows. And not only would you draw attention for being overdressed for the setting, you have already declined his offer.
Eating before sewers is a no.

> Please choose ONE of the following – if you decided to leave:
> You are going to leave – but not before taking the opportunity to change in the water closet. You will save time and effort finding a spot out in the city, though you will run the risk of being seen by someone who has already seen you in your 'worn piece'.

>>5700241
>> [Decide to Leave] If the goodman is bent on fleecing you, a bill of sale or a Patent is not going to do anything without a Family Patent with the Dremen name - and even if you had that forged Family Patent, challenging anyone in court would be dangerous and time-consuming. You are sure he is good for it. Just ask him to pick it up when you take delivery of the stage tonight. And if for whatever reason you don't get the papers tonight, then ... well, it isn't the Estrangement again. The wheels of the stage will turn, with or without the proper documentation. And Toll-men aren't going to be checking for the stage's papers - or if they are, then they'd be suspicious enough of you that those papers wouldn't get them off your back. You don't need to forfeit your hand-cart for this nonsense.
> You are going to leave – without changing. You are going to need to come back here in a matter of hours, and you cannot think of any way to explain away your change of clothes if you were caught. You cannot take that risk – even if that means risking the cart.

>>5700241
>> [Decide to Leave] If the goodman is bent on fleecing you, a bill of sale or a Patent is not going to do anything without a Family Patent with the Dremen name - and even if you had that forged Family Patent, challenging anyone in court would be dangerous and time-consuming. You are sure he is good for it. Just ask him to pick it up when you take delivery of the stage tonight. And if for whatever reason you don't get the papers tonight, then ... well, it isn't the Estrangement again. The wheels of the stage will turn, with or without the proper documentation. And Toll-men aren't going to be checking for the stage's papers - or if they are, then they'd be suspicious enough of you that those papers wouldn't get them off your back. You don't need to forfeit your hand-cart for this nonsense.

> You are going to leave – without changing. You are going to need to come back here in a matter of hours, and you cannot think of any way to explain away your change of clothes if you were caught. You cannot take that risk – even if that means risking the cart.

>>5700241
>[Decide to Wait] It isn't just enough to have a conveyance to physically get you off of the Mount, you want all your papers - forged or otherwise - in order. More than that, you want them before you leave here, because you have no idea just how tight your schedule will be when you return to take delivery of the stage around midnight ... and you would just like to worry about one less thing too. If that means waiting here long enough that you lose your shopping in The Hooded Heads, then so be it. Sacrifices need to be made, priorities need to be kept straight.

> Before all of this unpleasantness intruded, the goodman offered you dinner at his board. It is going to be a long, shitty night for you in the sewers, and sooner or later, you are going to need to eat anyway. Ask to see if the offer still stands.

>>5700241
>> [Decide to Leave] If the goodman is bent on fleecing you, a bill of sale or a Patent is not going to do anything without a Family Patent with the Dremen name - and even if you had that forged Family Patent, challenging anyone in court would be dangerous and time-consuming. You are sure he is good for it. Just ask him to pick it up when you take delivery of the stage tonight. And if for whatever reason you don't get the papers tonight, then ... well, it isn't the Estrangement again. The wheels of the stage will turn, with or without the proper documentation. And Toll-men aren't going to be checking for the stage's papers - or if they are, then they'd be suspicious enough of you that those papers wouldn't get them off your back. You don't need to forfeit your hand-cart for this nonsense.
> You have had too many bad experiences at public houses today to be comfortable just sitting down and eating with complete whobodies at your elbows. And not only would you draw attention for being overdressed for the setting, you have already declined his offer.
> You are going to leave – without changing. You are going to need to come back here in a matter of hours, and you cannot think of any way to explain away your change of clothes if you were caught. You cannot take that risk – even if that means risking the cart.

Could we ask if we can eat at the other public house AFTER we've retrieved our cart, saying our mistress gave us money and said it was ok? Or does not going back immediately and eating at said fictional home contradict our story too badly?

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You are not quite certain it is the right decision, but ultimately you decide to trust Goodman Nasturtium at his word and quit this livery without the papers in hand. Were the goodman actually intent on fleecing you, you would not be in any position to do much about it - even if you had those papers and a forged Family Patent beside. And if it somehow comes to pass that you take delivery of the stage without receiving the papers tonight ... well, the wheels will turn, with or without proper documentation. That is what you need to focus on here. That and the presumed fact that Toll-men do not expect each and every conveyance to travel with its Patent or its bill of sale on board. You half-stifle a sigh. As much as you hate operating on presumed facts, you don't know if you could ask that question right now in a way that wasn't ... uh, well, mildly suspicious. Hopefully, there will be a better opportunity later - or someone else you can ask, because you would hate to be heading out onto the road with any more uncertainties hanging over your head than you have to.

You are considering how best to excuse yourself when it occurs to you that you might take the opportunity here to change out of your riding habit and into the domestic dress that you wore into The Hooded Heads ... but then you realize the risk that you run of being seen and recognized by someone in the coach-house after you have changed, and you sour on the idea near as quick as it came to you. Belatedly you notice that the goodman is standing by his desk, looking at you expectantly - and after a trill of fear borne out of confusion, you realize that he must be waiting for you to follow him out of his office. You compose yourself, and then say -

"I'm sorry, I got a little lost in thought there."

"Oh, no problem at all, Madame Dremen."

"Right. Ah - well, it occurs to me that you are very busy at the moment ... and as I have other things that I need to attend to before the hours of closing pass completely by, I think I will just ... leave for now. So long as the Patent and bill of sale for the stagecoach is ready for tonight, then really, I don't imagine it being an issue."

Goodman Nasturtium looks surprised by that - no doubt because wandering off without a bill of sale for a purchase this large is patently careless, and because in his estimation the roads are not safe at the moment. You don't really see a good way to address the first point, so you simply ignore it in favor of assuaging his fears over the second.

"I assure you, father will not be taking any unnecessary risks so long as I am with him. And I will certainly pass on this black bit of news, and your firm recommendation to hire a man from the Thief-Taker's Guild."

You can see acceptance slowly dawning over the goodman, but you are starting to realize that you might have put yourself into an awkward situation. How are you going to explain it when you are the only one who shows up to take delivery of the stage?

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"I suppose that could work well enough. May I have your fathers full name, for the bill and Patent?"

You were simply going to say 'Leopold' - a common enough name you have always liked the sound of - and leave it at that, no honorifics or titles ... but it occurs to you that you might ask Goodman Nasturtium to make the bill and Patent out to you instead. But you are not sure if that is the right call. First, having it in your name and then showing up alone to take delivery of it would be more than just mildly suspicious. You might end up having to talk your way out of that suspicion before they hand it over. The second point that a woman owning a stage is going to be exceptionally odd. In the Imperial Demesne, women are allowed to hold property in their own names, but you know in practice this is really just inheritances and dowries - and what kind of dowry or bequest for a woman is a stagecoach, team and tack? Will it be so odd that it calls the legitimacy of your papers and your cover story - whatever it might be - into question? You are not sure, but you could definitely see it happening - someone not believing that you actually own the stage, and paying much more attention to the papers then they would otherwise. Would your forged Family Patent hold up to that sort of scrutiny?

But you have issues with the alternative as well. If the stage is in your name, then there is an implicit presumption that your father gave you permission to buy it - along with the money for it. With that, you can make the case rather easily that you have your father's approval and permission to be out on the roads, driving a stage. But if the stage belongs to 'Leopold', then that becomes a much taller order. You would be fighting an uphill battle to prove that you had his permission - that you weren't a runaway, someone that they were responsible for returning to his care.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Have the documentation made out to 'Goodman Leopold Dremen'.
> Ask to have the documentation made out to you instead.

>>5700582
>> Ask to have the documentation made out to you instead
It's easier to explain that we are a lucky orphaned heiress. Just be prepared for random offers for marriage.

>>5700582
> Have the documentation made out to 'Goodman Leopold Dremen'.

I'd prefer to have the documentation in our name but it seems difficult to pull off given what we've already told him. Maybe we can get one in our name once we're further out, but then we might have to explain why we're getting rid of a perfectly good carriage and the selection won't be as good.
Given that we have rerolls and such I'm gonna vote to go for it here, this is one of the few non-emergency things I'd be fine with rerolling on if we fuck it up.
> Ask to have the documentation made out to you instead.

>>5700241
Welp, I fell asleep and missed the vote. It’s life I suppose.

The third option is still available, but since the QM was silent on it being more than a logistical challenge, I’ll hold my silence until we’ve departed.

>>5700582
No opinion on this- but if we are putting it in our name, could we act all embarrassed saying it goes in our name, then explain how you think this is Father’s jape at our expense, given how we always wanted a pony as a child- a now as a woman almost full-grown, to own a full team of them.

Also, a strongbox or safe- where do we buy them? We may not get to it it now, or in the foreseeable future- but it would ease my worries to properly secure and hideaway our valuables.

>>5700648
I mean- we could always just steal one later.

>>5700582
>> Have the documentation made out to 'Goodman Leopold Dremen'.

Looks like crossdressing will eventually have to be in the cards.

>>5700582
>>5700969
Actually.... scratch this.

>> Have the documentation made out to 'Goodman Matti Dremen'.

A gender neutralish name. If anyone really presses it, explain that the title was drawn up without asking your gender and its quite the funny mix up. Oh well.

>>5700973
Wouldn't it be goodwoman if it's for a female?

>>5700973
I'll allow the write-in, but just know that it will be a hard sell to convince someone that the person writing the Patent over to you mistook you for a man - they are much more likely to assume that 'Matti' is your father and you are attempting to pass yourself off as him. The only way this really works is if when you forge the Family Patent you put your name and your father's name both as 'Matti' - allowing for this level of ambiguity. And that is ... well, that would be kind of unusual in our world right now - in this one, it would be kind of scandalous.

>>5701047
Yes, though a woman using 'Goodwoman' is much less common than a man using 'Goodman'.

So it was my intent to get the next update out before I go to bed, but I think I am going to leave this up a little longer - if >>5700973 reverts back to >>5700969 after my explanation, then there would be a tie, after all.

Thank you for the swift and thorough feedback, Trash.

>>5701091
I figured she'd sell it as it was purchased for her in absentia and the person writing up the bill of sale assumed "matti" was (of course) a man, because who buys a carriage and horses for a girl in this world, right? But of course Matti is one of those rare gender neutral names.

>>5701091
Do you want me to roll for my vote, or would the jape explanation help a little bit in our case?

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Certainly, the idea of having the stage written over to you is appealing. Still - it is such an odd thing for a woman to own, you are worried that you might end up looking more suspicious if you were to just put it in your name. Idly, you shift your weight back and forth on your feet - and as you feel your repaired boots settle underneath you, you recall just how hard it was to convince that kindly old Cobbler to repair these boots. And in that moment, your mind is made up completely and utterly. There are tolls on the roads surely, checkpoints - you are going to be stopped at some point. Some points, more like. And if it is as much of an uphill battle to convince a Toll-man or Guard or whoever that you should be allowed to continue on your way as it was to get men's boots repaired, then ... well, you wouldn't give yourself good odds of you actually managing to make it to the Frontier. At the very least, if the stage is in your name, then whoever stopped you will have to presume that your father let you have it, and by extension, gave you permission to be out on the road by yourself.

Of course, you cannot have the stage written over to Chlotsuintha - it will have to be to Madame Dremen. And unless you intend to go back and forge a new Patent for the stage, as well as a bill of sale, this given name is going to have to be the one that you put down on your forged Family Patent as well. You favored 'Leopold' for Goodman Dremen's given name ... perhaps you could use 'Leopoldine' for Madame Dremen's? You don't know too much about Family Patents, but you are fairly certain that they make mention of parents and siblings. If ... if you were to put Leopoldine Dremen down as the only surviving child of Leopold Dremen, it might help explain your exceptional independence. You could frame it is Leopold trying to make his daughter into a son and heir.

Your thoughts now turn to your real father, and you cannot help yourself but wonder where he is - and if he is safe. You begin to recite a silent prayer on his behalf, but then with a start, you realize that Goodman Nasturtium is still staring at you, patiently waiting for a name. Embarrassed, you open your mouth, about to ask him to write it over to Madame Leopoldine Dremen again - but then you realize something, and stop yourself. Leopoldine also happens to be the given name of the Starlight Shrike, a pre-Estrangement Witch who designed and developed hundreds of of high-altitude and extreme-altitude flying Implements that could induced desired weather - so many in fact, that even during her time, there was apparently discussion on whether or not she should be recognized as the founder of an informal 'school' or not. She also studied Sky-Terrors extensively, and learned how to induce the creation of Awful-Offals, Constructs that the Terrors make out of the remains of their meals or even their leavings, which they use to drive prey on the ground to places convenient for the Terror to alight and feed.

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Father was never really keen on talking too much about historical Witches, but on occasion you could weasel a story out of him - and you always found that it was easiest to get stories about Leopoldine out of him than the others. No doubt that is part of the reason why you favor the name Leopold. But now you are having doubts about Leopoldine as a name. To be sure, the narrative of a man trying to turn his only child - a daughter - into his heir; well, that certainly is a compelling story. More than that can imagine that Toll-men and merchants would be more inclined to deal with you, if they believed your father intended for you to be his heir. However, there is a question about how this would play with an Inquisitor. Now, first off, the Inquisitor would have to know about the Starlight Shrike - and from what little your father has told you on the subject, you gather that the Inquisitors that learn about historical Witches are not the ones sent out on assignments. And you have a reason to be named Leopoldine too, completely seperate - more than that, it is not that rare of a name, either.

So as far as you can tell, sharing a name with a historical Witch could only hurt you with an Inquisitor who was already very suspicious with you. On the other side of the balance, if merchants and Toll-men were made - or better yet, led to understand - that you were your father's heir and someone to be taken seriously, then you would definitely have an easier time dealing with them and their like. Being Leopoldine, daughter of Leopold is a decent way to do that - in fact, it might be the best way to do that.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Ask for the Patent to be written over to Madame Leopoldine Dremen. Persuasion Tests with Toll-men, merchants and similar targets WILL receive - 1 DC bonus for sharing a name with your father [Named Heiress], CAN increase up to -6 DC if they are made or led to understand that you are your father's heir (or representative) and are to be taken seriously. This can be done through self-presentation, choices made before the test commences, and dialogue (including write-ins). Deception AND Persuasion Tests with Inquisitors who have knowledge of the Starlight Shrike MAY receive +2 DC malus for sharing a name with a historical Witch [Suspicious Name], may increase by +1 DC up to +6 DC for every failed Deception Test with that Inquisitor, or Inquisitors that have been informed by the initial Inquisitor.
> Ask for the Patent to be written over to Madame Dremen ... but give another given name. No bonuses or maluses will be applied by the other name. Write-ins for the other name are allowed, with QM approval. If no names are offered, or the name(s) offered don't have majority support, then a new name will be assigned.

>>5701291
The dress and the girl are nice, but boy is that stage in need of some serious work.

>>5701476
Oh, I didn't see this. Uh ... well, considering that you would have either made a tie or or extended the lead of the option that did win, I suppose it wasn't necessary this round. I do intend to use your suggestion about the jape though - don't worry.

>>5701530
> Ask for the Patent to be written over to Madame Leopoldine Dremen. Persuasion Tests with Toll-men, merchants and similar targets WILL receive - 1 DC bonus for sharing a name with your father [Named Heiress], CAN increase up to -6 DC if they are made or led to understand that you are your father's heir (or representative) and are to be taken seriously. This can be done through self-presentation, choices made before the test commences, and dialogue (including write-ins). Deception AND Persuasion Tests with Inquisitors who have knowledge of the Starlight Shrike MAY receive +2 DC malus for sharing a name with a historical Witch [Suspicious Name], may increase by +1 DC up to +6 DC for every failed Deception Test with that Inquisitor, or Inquisitors that have been informed by the initial Inquisitor.
Well met, Patternmaker. I’ll take this bargain.

Not only thematic, but the bonus will help us convince the Goodman to write it in our name as well.

>>5701530
I mean, she wants to go Leopold and Leopoldine, would not any similarly matched pair of names have the same effect?

>Wilhelm and Wilhelmina
>Paul and Pauline
>Johan and Johanna

Etc.

>>5701530
>> Ask for the Patent to be written over to Madame Dremen ... but give another given name. No bonuses or maluses will be applied by the other name. Write-ins for the other name are allowed, with QM approval. If no names are offered, or the name(s) offered don't have majority support, then a new name will be assigned.
I dunno about making ourself an inquisitor magnet

>>5701530
>> Ask for the Patent to be written over to Madame Leopoldine Dremen. Persuasion Tests with Toll-men, merchants and similar targets WILL receive - 1 DC bonus for sharing a name with your father [Named Heiress], CAN increase up to -6 DC if they are made or led to understand that you are your father's heir (or representative) and are to be taken seriously. This can be done through self-presentation, choices made before the test commences, and dialogue (including write-ins). Deception AND Persuasion Tests with Inquisitors who have knowledge of the Starlight Shrike MAY receive +2 DC malus for sharing a name with a historical Witch [Suspicious Name], may increase by +1 DC up to +6 DC for every failed Deception Test with that Inquisitor, or Inquisitors that have been informed by the initial Inquisitor.

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>>5701613
You are absolutely right. I had intended for Chlotsuintha to mention her father's given name as 'Leopold' earlier in this encounter (last thread) but I accidentally deleted it and had to rewrite the posts - and in the process, that bit was dropped, also by accident. If I had kept that in, then she would be stuck with 'Leopoldine'. But because she didn't give her father's given name, she is free and clear to choose whatever name she desires, so long as it has a male and female variant.

Consider this vote voided. Chlotsuintha will give her name as Gundeperga and her father's name as Gundepald. Man, I can really be pretty dense - I remembered that Chlotsuintha didn't actually give her father's given name, but I forgot that not having the name in there would render this vote useless.

> Persuasion Test Part I: Ask

> DC 38: Witchlet Chlotsuintha is a Born and Bred Liar, making a Simple Persuasion Test like this [Easier], so long as she is lying throughout it.
> + DC 2 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is odd looking, given her height.
> + DC 4 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is currently Drained II, and is not thinking as quickly as she normally does.
> + DC 3 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is currently Tired II, and is prone to making mistakes that she otherwise would not.
> + DC 10 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is making what is an unusual request
> - DC 5 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is framing her request in a way that feeds into her established backstory at the livery.
> - DC 7 Goodman Nasturtium believes Chlotsuintha's story completely.
> - DC 10 Witchlet Chlotsuintha looks to be Gently Bred, most are more inclined to listen to her.
> - DC 5 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is targeting Goodman Nasturtium, playing on his empathy
> - DC 5 Witchlet Chlotsuintha has a way to explain away some of the oddness of her request
> - DC 6 Witchlet Chlotsuintha presented herself as her father's heir, easing reticence

> DC 24. Anything lower is a failure. [Auto-pass(es) available. Re-roll(s) available. No hostile re-roll(s)]

> No passes: No-Name. Chlotsuintha does not manage to convince the Goodman after five minutes. Test Aborts.
> One Pass: Patent Pending. Chlotsuintha does not manage to convince the Goodman after five minutes. Optional Test Abort.
> Two Passes: After a Spell. Chlotsuintha convinces the Goodman after five minutes of sweet-talking. Test Concludes.
> Three Passes: By Any Other Name. Chlotsuintha convinces the Goodman in record time. Test Concludes.

> If ONE of the THREE rolls comes up as a Critical or Near Critical Failure (Roll of 1 or 2) then you say something undermining.
> If ONE of the THREE rolls comes up as a Critical or Near Critical Success (Roll of 100 or 99) then you learn something of great interest.

>Standard rules in effect - Auto-pass must be used before a Critical or Near Critical is rolled. Also, if you roll, wait 10 minutes or so, then roll again to keep the quest moving along.

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>5701775
I mean, I honestly don’t mind Leopold. Why the sudden change of mind?

May our luck be White.

>>5701786
…should I even roll again, with such black luck?

>>5701786
Because there is no reason you couldn't have the benefits without the malus by simply choosing another name with male and female variants.

>>5701789
Eh, I was willing to go with it on narrative theme alone, even with the risk involved. Fair game I suppose. Sorta reminds me of my idea desu.

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>5701775
Please don’t smite us for my foolishness Patternmaker, praise be your name!

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>5701775
I’m sorry for rolling a third time, may our luck stay white and the Patternmaker bless this roll…

I suppose I should ask: do you want to use an auto-pass or a re-roll to save (or try to save) five minutes here?

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Use auto-pass
> Use re-roll
> Let stand

>>5701836
How much time do we need again?

>>5701836
>Let stand

Can we get another name though? Gunderperga is a mouthful and unendearing.

>>5701845
I like Leopoldine desu

>>5701839
The more you have the better - you need to find somewhere to change into the domestic dress, then actually get to The Hooded Heads in half an hour, otherwise you start running the risk of the original occupant of the room showing up and evicting your hand-cart.

>>5701845
Alright, I am open to suggestions.

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>>5701845
>>5701849
What's wrong with Wilhelmina? Can go by Mina, like the lady from Dracula

>>5701855
I like it

>>5701836
> Let stand

Good enough.

>>5701836
>Use auto-pass

>>5701849
Alfraed - Aelfraeda

>>5701836
>> Let stand
five minutes is good enough, hopefully.
>>5701849
>Alright, I am open to suggestions.
Gundeperga and other medieval names often suffer from sounding awkward to modern ears, but Theodo/Theodota, Rodoald/Rodelinde, Reinhard/Reinhilde, Giselbrecht/Gisele, Hildebrand/Hildegund, or any of the paired names still in modern use like Roland/Rolanda (Or their older forms as Hrothiland/Hrothilinde) are reasonable. Though I'd understand if you wanted to avoid Christian/Christine or other obviously Christian ones.

>>5701836
>> Let stand
>>5701855
This sounds pleasant enough.

>>5701836
>Let stand

Alright, closed for letting it stand and taking the name Wilhelmina/Wilhelm. I am not ready to start writing yet though - look for the update around dinner time.

Been rereading the old threads whenever I can, and I got curious with this choice, when the decision about what we’re doing became relevant.
>You are going to wait for your father, while protecting his work and his equipment here in the belfry. Which means that you are going to stay in the city, and the Midden, as Sty the Leper. For as long as it may take. To make that work, there are some things that you will need to do. The first order of business will be to obtain anesthesia, strong binds and lifting oil …
Granted, we’re not stay in Midden as Sty, certainly after we failed miserably to contain the spread of Strangeness from the Corner Leapers, but I am curious as to what would’ve been the plan, if you don’t mind me asking now?

>>5702172
Quite a shame- I really warmed up to the idea of Leopold/Leopoldine.

>Father actually told you about a gambling den once. Located above a shoemaker, it was called the Plucky Poulaines. Why not head over there, and prepare to try your luck?
Huh, that would’ve been expedient to have remembered beforehand- knock to birds with one stone.

>There are several ways out of the Midden undetected, but one of them puts you out in the storage room of a guard house
Certainly something to keep in mind, considering it would be smart to get some arms because of the Highwaymen.

>>5702391
Wonder what that shoemaker's maker mark is?

Well this certainly has been unfortunate. Not only do I forget to get the update out, but then I also manage to lose it. It is too late for me to recreate it now, so instead I will throw up the vote I intended to have after it.

Chlotsuintha manages to find an alley a stones throw from the livery - it is not perfect, but she might be able to get away changing here. It will however, require a Stealth test - success meaning that she gets changed quickly without issue, mild failure resulting in taking a long time to get changed without being seen, with the worse case scenario resulting in been seen changing. Alternatively, she can spend more time to look for a better spot to change - and in the process get closer to The Hooded Heads.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Attempt to change in the alley
> Attempt to find a more secluded spot

>>5702773
> Attempt to change in the alley

We're reasonably stealthy, I trust we can pull this off

>>5702773
>> Attempt to change in the alley

>>5702773
>Attempt to change in the alley

>>5702773
> Attempt to find a more secluded spot
I think Chlot would worry about the propriety of it all lol

>>5702348
>What would’ve been the plan, if you don’t mind me asking now?
Chlotsuintha would had the few days to figure out how to make a Doppelganger of her father - a full size construct, as true to life as possible. It would be enough to make one that could twitch and cough and moan. Of course, that would require kidnapping someone to use as the frame for the double, then changing their appearance using the Life-Loom ... and rendering them gravely insensate, or what we would call 'brain dead'. When someone finally demanded to see her father, to determine if he was to be 'Exempted' or not, she would be able show them the double. After that, she would be in the clear, at least as long as the Doppelganger survived ... which would lead into the next challenge, trying to figure out how to extend the double's lifespan - or more specifically, how to modify the construct so it can take in fuel or food of some sort. If she failed at that, and the double died on her, she would have had no choice but to kidnap someone else and start over. And of course, while all of this was going on, there would still be all the other happenings around the Mount.

Alright, consider this vote closed. I'll get to writing this right now.

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Realization suddenly breaks over you like an angry, red dawn. If Leopoldine is going to make trouble for you, then why not just choose another name? After all, you never told the goodman that your father is named Leopold. If you were to choose any other name that has a male and female variant, then you could net the same benefit of being Leopoldine, daughter of Leopold without the association with the Starlight Shrike that might possibly be an issue with an Inquisitor - if, Firmament forbid, you ever had to talk to another again. You rack your brain for a second or so to think up another name, before ultimately settling on Wilhelm and Wilhelmina. A decent, wealthy sounding name - and the one historical Wilhelm that you know about was so long ago that you cannot imagine anyone would consider it presumptuous for Subjects to take up the given name as well. Now all that is left is to sell this to the goodman ... which if the Cobbler was anything to go by, might be rather difficult to pull off. Though you might have an idea ...

"...Well, I was thinking - if it wouldn't be much of an imposition, would it be possible for you to sign it over to me, instead? You know - as a bit of drollery?"

The goodman just looks at you, like a man struck deaf and dumb. But surely, some part of him must be considering it - clearly, his intent is to quit his office, and if he were to acquiesce, then he could be done here right away.

"See, my name is Wilhelmina, and I happen to be named after my father ... so I figure when I present the Patent to him, and say that you have written it over to him, and then he looks at it, only to see that it has been written over to me instead, he will get a smile out of it. He has always so enjoyed practical - uh, oh what's the word ..."

The word you were going to use, of course, was 'jokes'. But you get the sense that someone of your presumed stature doesn't make 'jokes', so you desperately scramble for a more proper word to bandy here.

"Persiflage. Yes, practical persiflage."

You are not entirely sure that persiflage actually means joke, but when father briefly taught you about the School of Frivolities, which the Cold-Touch cast belongs to, he mentioned in passing how many Persiflages he needed to dig through just to find something of value - and ever since then, you have assumed that persiflage is an older and entirely more proper word for joke. Whether you are right or wrong, it seems that the goodman is not inclined to challenge you on it.

"And as I said, he is still recovering from the crossing. So when he sees ... that you have actually written my name in place of his, he ... well, I am sure that he will ...laugh."

From the complete lack of response from the goodman, you quickly come to the conclusion that your little gambit is a mule. A moment later, the goodman actually confirms as much when he says -

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"I ... don't know if I should do that, madame - I mean, after all this is a legal document. It isn't exactly something you should joke around with, after all ... now, as you are named after your father, would I be correct in guessing his name is Wilhelm?"

"Oh ... "

Oh shit! Starting to feel as if you are grasping at straws, you throw yourself into a completely different tact - hoping and praying to find yourself on solid ground.

"You are right - of course you are right. Patents are much too important for persiflage. Why, I'm ... I'm ashamed I even asked."

"No harm done, none at all. Now, does your father spell - "

"Honestly, how am I ever supposed to be my father's heir when I keep making these ... stupid little mistakes?"

Telling, there is no response to that from the goodman. You continue.

"I can't believe I tried to turn something like this into a ... a jape! Honestly, what was I thinking?"

The goodman does try to interject this time, but you bull right over him as you allow emotion to overtake your voice -

"That isn't even true - I know exactly what I was thinking. I wanted to make him laugh, of course, but more than that, I wanted to show him that I could ... if ... if I could just convince someone to write over the Patent to me, to make a deal with me instead of through me - then maybe he fret about me, about ... the future. My future. Oh, oh dear."

You sneak a breath while you very deliberately mimic dabbing away tears from your eyes - careful to keep your fingers well away from the envelope of the Hide-Eyes Glamor. You drag the moment out as long as you can ... until finally, a tired sounding sigh from the goodman signals that he has relented.

"I suppose I could write it over to you instead. Now, do you spell Wilhelmina with an 'a' or an 'e'?"

You thank him profusely, decide that you are going to spell Wilhelmina with an 'a', tell the goodman as much, then thank him some more. With that finally taken care of, you him to herd you out of his office. As you walk your way out of the office, then out of the common room of the coach house, you reflect on the irregularity of that final effort. You weren't very articulate at all - in fact, you would go so far to call that final appeal 'confusing' - but considering that you were pretending to be overcome with emotion, perhaps that helped instead of hindered. As far as flatly declaring yourself as your father's heir - that was really fraying clumsy - but on the other hand, it was necessary context, your window was narrowing, and the goodman had no reason to believe that you were trying to lead him to any particular outcome. However, it goes without saying that you wore him down more than you persuaded him - and had he been any keener, or simply just suspicious of you, that last tact of yours might have undone you. Something to keep in mind - for later, when you don't have things to do and places to be.

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But just as you are about to make as much haste as you can while still remaining seemly in this 'worn piece', your eyes wander across a secluded alley where you might change out of it. As little as you like changing in public places, this is probably going to be your best best to get changed before heading to The Hooded Heads, so you duck into the alley. After ensuring that no one followed you off of the street and no one is here in the alley with you, you take a deep breath and do your best to remember how the girls at Cassandra's managed to get you into this thing in the first place.

> DC 20: Witchlet Chlotsuintha is a Born and Bred Sneakthief, making a basic Stealth Test like this [More than Easy]
> + DC 7 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is Hard to Miss, given her size
> + DC 15 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is attempting Stealth in broad daylight.
> + DC 2 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is attempting to remove her riding habit, which she has never done before
> + DC 2 Witchlet Chlotsuintha doesn't have knowledge of the area [The Dry Landward Walls]
> - DC 5 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is not known in the area [The Dry Landward Walls]
> - DC 5 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is attempting Stealth in an area with some concealment
> - DC 5 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is attempting Stealth in an area with shadows
> - DC 5 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is attempting Stealth in a poorly trafficked area
> - DC 5 Potential Witnesses have no reason to look down the segment of alley that Chlotsuintha is changing in.

> DC 21: Anything lower is a failure. [No re-rolls. No hostile re-rolls]

> No Passes: A Peeping Thom! Someone sees Chlotsuintha changing, and she is going to have to make a quick decision on how to deal with this interloper!
> One Pass: Tears in the Train. Not only does it take ten minutes to get out of the riding habit and into the domestic dress, you manage to tear the hem a little bit.
> Two Passes: Getting Stripped Up. It takes a solid five minutes to get out of the riding habit and into the domestic dress, but you manage to do it without any other complications.
> Three Passes: Dressed for Success. You fly out of the riding habit and into the domestic dress, taking barely any time at all. You still aren't sure how exactly you managed it ...

> If ONE of the THREE rolls comes up as a Critical or Near Critical Failure (Roll of 1 or 2) then is just so happens that the peeping party also happens to be a Guard, further complicating things.
> If ONE of the THREE rolls comes up as a Critical or Near Critical Failure (Roll of 1 or 2) then you stumble across something really significant - arguably more important that recovering the hand-cart.

> Standard rules in effect - Auto-pass must be used before a Critical or Near Critical is rolled. Also, if you roll, wait 10 minutes or so, then roll again to keep the quest moving along.

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>5703653
100 comeon

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>5703653

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>5703653

Shame dubs on don't do anything

>>5703673
Style points. Checkem. >>5703673


I'm glad we pulled off the wagon so well. Hope the graveyard shennanigans go as smoothly.

>>5703673
Actually, dubs did do something before. Granted, that was a unique circumstance, but considering the relative rarity of dubs, I wouldn’t mind making it into a thing of some sort- it’ll add a bit more spice to our more mundane actions.

You did a great job on the rolling. I'm fading fast, and I am not going to be able to get the update finished before I fall asleep - so instead, I've got an overnight vote, about a time in Chlotsuintha's youth when she bit off a lot more than she could chew in trying to advance her own education into the Many Mysteries. She survived, of course - and while she might not consider herself any wiser for her mistakes, she at least knows what not to do when studying this particular Mystery. Mechanically, this means that she is much less likely to suffer any negative outcomes from research into the Mystery chosen in this vote.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Chlotsuintha thought she understood the fundamentals of Crush-Bolt manufacture, as they are one of the most basic Mysterious munitions - but she ended up wasting a bunch of raw material and nearly imploding everything from her fingertips to her elbow.
> Chlotsuintha believed she had worked out how to cast Umbral Orifice, allowing her to 'phase' a passage through a wall - but instead she almost managed to phase the floor out from underneath her, which would have resulted in her falling to her death.
> Chlotsuintha convinced herself that she had made a working Witching Rod, also known as a Dowser or a Theremin, a large, heavy and bulky device that makes casting easier and more efficient for those inside its envelope - but hers kept knocking her unconscious. Sounded nice though.

>>5703767
>> Chlotsuintha believed she had worked out how to cast Umbral Orifice, allowing her to 'phase' a passage through a wall - but instead she almost managed to phase the floor out from underneath her, which would have resulted in her falling to her death.

>>5703767
> Chlotsuintha thought she understood the fundamentals of Crush-Bolt manufacture, as they are one of the most basic Mysterious munitions - but she ended up wasting a bunch of raw material and nearly imploding everything from her fingertips to her elbow.

>>5703767
>> Chlotsuintha thought she understood the fundamentals of Crush-Bolt manufacture, as they are one of the most basic Mysterious munitions - but she ended up wasting a bunch of raw material and nearly imploding everything from her fingertips to her elbow.
sounds like a poor thing to have go wrong.
given that Umbral Orifice doesn't let you phase through the earth, it's a little easier-seeming for initial foolproofing. I can already imagine plenty of other ways for it to go wrong, of course...

>>5703767
>Chlotsuintha thought she understood the fundamentals of Crush-Bolt manufacture, as they are one of the most basic Mysterious munitions - but she ended up wasting a bunch of raw material and nearly imploding everything from her fingertips to her elbow.

>>5703767
>Chlotsuintha believed she had worked out how to cast Umbral Orifice, allowing her to 'phase' a passage through a wall - but instead she almost managed to phase the floor out from underneath her, which would have resulted in her falling to her death.

>>5703767
> Chlotsuintha convinced herself that she had made a working Witching Rod, also known as a Dowser or a Theremin, a large, heavy and bulky device that makes casting easier and more efficient for those inside its envelope - but hers kept knocking her unconscious. Sounded nice though.

>>5703767
>> Chlotsuintha convinced herself that she had made a working Witching Rod, also known as a Dowser or a Theremin, a large, heavy and bulky device that makes casting easier and more efficient for those inside its envelope - but hers kept knocking her unconscious. Sounded nice though.

>>5703767
> Chlotsuintha believed she had worked out how to cast Umbral Orifice, allowing her to 'phase' a passage through a wall - but instead she almost managed to phase the floor out from underneath her, which would have resulted in her falling to her death.

Looking to resolve this tie - and taking into consideration that you got dubs on the Stealth Test - just this once, I will give you both the Umbral Orifice and Crush-Bolt manufacturing attempts. Consider this vote closed while I finish up the update.

>>5704082
lol we almost killed ourselves twice

>>5704100
Thanks, QM. This gives us some more insight into her daring and curious nature.

>>5703210
Ngl, that does sound like a fun time, especially with us being an Inquisition Informant. But if we’d left the Corners be again, we’d still be dealing with Strangeness in Midden- and thus the Inquisition on our literal doorstep. Plus, the fact that we’d effectively kidnap and ‘murder’ someone…. well, it would be quite the moral shift for Chlot.

Still, would definitely be an interesting alt quest if you wanted to try it :^)

>>5704082
Based- thanks QM!

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You are not comfortable with changing in alleys, by any stretch of the imagination. But it does seem as if you have some some skill for ... well, perhaps that is not the right word. Skills are things that could make money, and how anyone make money by undressing -

It suffices to say that you realize that by your definition, you knack for this quick changes does in fact count as a skill. It also suffices to say that at the moment, you are blushing to the point that it feels as if you could roast a leg of lamb with the heat coming off of your face. You allow yourself one solitary moment to collect yourself, and then another to make sure that you 'changing room' is still private. Having secreted yourself as much as you possibly can under the circumstances, you mentally go through all of the steps that the girls from Cassandra's took to get you into the riding habit, reverse them, and then start the rather complicated process of getting out of the 'worn piece'. Now, denuding yourself of the riding habit would be no small feat, considering the presence of the corset - and your complete inexperience with it - but you also have to do this while remaining silent and out of sight, without dirtying or damaging any of the riding habit, all while keeping as brisk of a pace as you possibly can.

And yet, you manage. It certainly takes you a lot longer than it would to get changed out of one of your ragged dresses and into the Spotted Cloak and the rest of the clothes that are issued to the Lepers, but you still manage to make what you have to consider excellent time. In fact, almost before you know it, you are pulling one of the domestic dresses over your head, and then cinching the apron snugly into place. Another hot wave of embarrassment flushes through you when you realize that you have forgotten to put on the chemise under the dress ... but do your best to brush past that, acknowledging that you simply are not in the habit of wearing underwear yet ... which would have sent a third wave of embarrassment through you at the crudity of that though, had you not realized something much more important.

While you were able to bundle your belongings in the canvas apron and carry them around without issue as 'Madame Dremen' you are not going to be able to do the same as a maid in service of the 'Dremens of the Promontory'. First of all, the presence of the corset means that the riding habit cannot be folded - at least not like you could fold the apron and the domestic dress into your bundle. But even if you could somehow could bundle the riding habit in a way that didn't damage it - or the hat, or the riding crop, or any of the other accessories - and also hide the richness of the fabrics used in the habit, which would present more problems for a maid than carrying canvas would for 'Madame Dremen', you still have to somehow account for the quarterstaff-sized All Weather Parasol that you have been hauling around. How are you ever going to do that?

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> Please choose ONE of the following:
> You are going to simply pass them off as the property of your Mistress. You can come up with some explanation surely - as you have already established that you are trusted enough to run errands for her.
> You are not going to. Instead, you will store the 'worn piece' here. Every five minutes, there is a slim chance [Roll of 1 or 2 on 1d400] that something happens to the dress or someone makes off with it.
> You are not going to. Instead, you will store the 'worn piece' somewhere else (perhaps inside the Landward Walls for easier access later). Every five minutes, there is a chance [dependent on hiding spot] that something happens to the dress or someone makes off with it.

>>5704100
Chlotsuintha was very intent on learning, but her father was - for a long while at least - very intent on not teaching her anything Mysterious.

>>5704410
>You are going to simply pass them off as the property of your Mistress. You can come up with some explanation surely - as you have already established that you are trusted enough to run errands for her.

>>5704410
>> You are going to simply pass them off as the property of your Mistress. You can come up with some explanation surely - as you have already established that you are trusted enough to run errands for her.

> You are going to simply pass them off as the property of your Mistress. You can come up with some explanation surely - as you have already established that you are trusted enough to run errands for her.

The mistress is considering a picnic?

>>5704410
> You are not going to. Instead, you will store the 'worn piece' here. Every five minutes, there is a slim chance [Roll of 1 or 2 on 1d400] that something
Every 5 mins? Eh, I guess I’ll take that risk.

>>5704410
> You are going to simply pass them off as the property of your Mistress. You can come up with some explanation surely - as you have already established that you are trusted enough to run errands for her.

We need to stop stashing shit all over town like some urban squirrel

>>5704410
>You are going to simply pass them off as the property of your Mistress. You can come up with some explanation surely - as you have already established that you are trusted enough to run errands for her.

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>>5704581
Embrace the Squirrelife :V

Alright, consider this closed. Writing.

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For a few moments, you seriously consider stowing the riding habit and the All-Weather Parasol - and then you firmly decide against it. The time that it would take to safely stash, the time that it would take to retrieve, and the risk that you would be running by hiding it out on the streets somewhere ... any of those alone is an argument against stashing. You pull out a eighth-talent - the toll for the Toll-men - and then do everything you can to get the riding habit in a manageable condition for carrying. That takes some doing as well, but after a minute or so of folding and fussing, you think that you have got it as good as you are going to get it. After you get it tucked under your arm as best you can, you fish out an eigtht-talent for the toll, then you stuff everything that you were carrying into the hooded red riding cloak and then roll and bundle that up as well. Obviously not ideal, but you are not willing to use your riding habit as storage - and at this moment you are wearing everything else that made up this bundle. With some doing, you manage to get all of the accessories from Cassandra's squeezed between the half-folded riding habit and the red bundle. Your arms are already beginning to smart a bit, and it only gets worse once you take up the All-Weather Parasol. You try your best to get the weight and bulk of the bundles off of the crook of your left arm, tender on account of the Socketing Needle you had rammed in there ... but after several attempts only serve to make it worse, you have to accept that it is going to hurt regardless.

Wincing, you check your surroundings one last time - to make sure that you have remained unseen, to make sure that you have not left anything behind, and most importantly, to find a rain puddle so you can check your reflection to make sure that you have not accidentally deactivated Hide-Eyes. Once you are satisfied on all of these counts, you quit the alley and make your way to the nearest gatehouse - deliberately avoiding the one that you went through earlier. This gatehouse is smaller than the one that you passed through previously - and with the rain no longer keeping people indoors, it also has much more of a line ... though you take more than a little solace in how quickly the queue is moving. You file into the line, and do your best to ignore all of the questioning, curious looks. The goodfolk in this line are much more talkative than the ones in the other, but you are not able to make out much more then snippets of conversation here and there. You squirm a bit, trying one last time to somehow make your burden more bearable - but alas, it is not to be. The line jostles its way forward, and before too long you are handing the toll over to the Toll-man. You know from father that tolls collected here are actually not tolls at all, but levies - and though you are unclear on the distinction, you have to assume it is the reason why money is collected only for entering into the city.

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Toll or levy, the Toll-man accepts your eighth-talent readily enough, and in a matter of seconds you are out from underneath the shadow of the gatehouse and making your way towards The Hooded Heads. Considering that this is not a portion of Cleanport that you are familiar with, and you are not allowing yourself your usual short-cuts for the sake of obviously expensive garment in your hands, you are taking a bit longer than you might have otherwise to move through the streets. Still, you are confident that you are making good time - right up until Giotto and his baby brothers begin to ring in the seventeenth hour. You nearly up out of your own skin at the sound, and of course, you start to panic. You break out into a run - but then force yourself back into a long-stride jog, realizing the running with a riding habit like this in your arms is going to make it look like you ran off with it. Now that you think about it, you really must look suspicious, regardless of how fast you are going. Trying to collect yourself, you seriously consider reversing yourself on the 'no alley rule' ... but then your realize how close you are to the wharves and docks of Cleanport - easily the roughest portion of the entire district - and you decide against doing that too.

By the time that you finally come within sight of the unnerving aspect of The Hooded Heads, you estimate that at least three or four minutes have passed. And by the time that you have made it around to the back of the establishment, you estimate that you have lost another whole minute. You are really sweating now - figuratively and physically. Four past, maybe five. Has the occupant of the room arrived yet? As you come to a stop in front of the open back door, you try to peer into the public house, hoping to find someone to invite you in - as you did last time. You can certain hear people, buy you cannot see anyone. Starting to get really desperate, you notice that there is a door-bell, and after shifting enough of your bundle to free one of your hands, you seize upon the hemp cord as an overboard sailor would a life-line, ringing the bell with urgency. But the bell's knell is relatively muted, and after twenty seconds of ringing, there is absolutely no indication that anyone in the establishment has heard you - or if they did hear you, then there is no indication that they are going to check the door. This is dinner time, after all, no doubt all of the cooks and domestics are too busy at the moment to check on an unexpected arrival at the back door.

This leaves you three options. Continue to ring the bell, and hope someone relents and answers the door.The drawback to this is fairly obvious, but at least you won't be risking trouble as you would with your other options; heading inside to find the proprietor, or breaking into the room with the cart through the window. If you went inside, you might be mistake for a sneak-thief. If you went through the window, you would be a sneak-thief.

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> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Stay here and continue to ring the door-bell.
> Head inside and look for the proprietor.
> Try to break into the room through the window.

>>5706188
> Stay here and continue to ring the door-bell.

Its not like the cart is going to immediately dematerialize outside of the room. I'd assume they'll just stick it someplace else inside that's not as secure.

>>5706193
I largely don’t care, but if there is a tie break it with a vote to head inside.

>>5706193
>Head inside and look for the proprietor.

>>5706193
> Head inside and look for the proprietor.

>>5706193
>Head inside and look for the proprietor.

Consider this closed. I'll get to writing right away.

If we’re to continue our Father’s work, it may be prudent to break in to the guilds and universities and steal their knowledge before we head deep into the boonies- since we’re close to the coast, we might as well take advantage of the wealth of knowledge they have.

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You take one last glance at the door-bell, then head inside - twisting a bit as you pass through the door to get the All-Weather Parasol to clear the frame. Now, considering that you are carrying Mysterious items, as well as contraband blades and a suspicious amount of money, you are acutely concerned about being mistaken for some manner of sneak-thief. But as things stand, you are willing to risk that - as your cart is overdue, and you feel that you could convince anyone who might find you to bring you to the proprietor of The Hooded Heads ... instead of calling for the Guard. Of course, if you could do without all of that, and just find the proprietor without being seen by any of his hirelings ... that would definitely make things much easier for you.

So to that point - there are two ways out of this storeroom; one of which if you are any judge will lead you towards the kitchen, where you definitely will find cooks and maids and other hirelings almost instantaneously. The other way, the one that you were led down when you were here earlier presumably leads to an office or counting room, something like that, where the proprietor could be.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> You are going to keep things simple and straightforward by heading immediately into the kitchen, making your presence known, and asking to be taken to the Master of the house.
> You are going to keep things simple and straightforward by avoiding any potential misunderstandings with hirelings by finding the Master of the house on your own.

>>5707032
Well, from the last thread, there already is an itinerary for tonight ... but there are other cities and towns between us and the Frontier, with their own Guildhouses, libraries and institutions of learning. It is also worth noting that the plans tonight might change. It is entirely possible that Chlotsuintha will not manage to finish 'moving house' tonight, which would mean that there is more time to work with ...

>>5707102
> You are going to keep things simple and straightforward by heading immediately into the kitchen, making your presence known, and asking to be taken to the Master of the house.

We're not here to rob the place as tempting as it may be.

>>5707102
>> You are going to keep things simple and straightforward by heading immediately into the kitchen, making your presence known, and asking to be taken to the Master of the house.

>>5707102
> You are going to keep things simple and straightforward by avoiding any potential misunderstandings with hirelings by finding the Master of the house on your own.

>>5707102
>You are going to keep things simple and straightforward by heading immediately into the kitchen, making your presence known, and asking to be taken to the Master of the house.

Been busy QM?

>>5707999
Yeah, I have. I'll try to get back on track to the (approximately) two updates a day that I was doing for a good bit of last thread. For now, consider this closed - but I am not sure if I am going to get the update out tonight or tomorrow. Apologies for that.

>>5708035
It happens Trash- the problem of having a life outside of /qst/ :V

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However suspicious an interloper might be to the hirelings of this public house, it cannot be gainsaid that an interloper who is found would be much more suspect than one who presented themselves at the first possible opportunity. And when that point is held alongside the fact that you have a decent reason to have invited yourself inside - namely, the cart - you decide that you are going to be best served by going straight-away to the kitchen, and presenting yourself to the hirelings therein. As you pick your way towards the sounds and the smells of cooking, you even consider raising the point that the backdoor was open - though if you are being realistic, that was meant to ventilate, not as an invitation. But if push does in fact come to shove, then you can see no harm in playing a bit dense on this point.

Your ears and nose guide you through the back of the house better than your eyes do - but the awkward bulk of your bundle, especially the All-Weather Parasol retards progress through the tight quarters made tighter by the stacks of foods and supplies. More than that, each and every time that you do catch yourself on something you get jostled a bit - which makes it feel as if a Socketing-Needle is being none-to-gently run into the crook of your left arm anew. Suffice to say, it is not a pleasant experience, and you find yourself swearing under your breath as you progress through the backrooms of The Hooded Heads. So it is by the time that you come across a man who you figure to be a junior cook, plucking garlic off a strand hanging from the exposed rafters of the room you are in, all fears of being found suspicious and getting run off have largely left your mind, replaced with relief that you don't have to go any further.

With the sounds of cooking in the kitchen drowning out your approach, and the cook's undivided attention on dividing out garlic from the braid, you actually have to get his attention - which suits you just fine.

"Begging your pardons, sir - "

The cook is not particularly startled by your interruption ... however, when he turns and lays eyes upon you, he does recoil a bit. Clearly, you are not who he expected to see back here. Hoping to move past this, and acutely aware of the important of keeping in control of the conversation, you immediate start in, without giving him a moment to interject.

"I'm looking for your - no, the Master of the house. He let me leave my - well, my Master's handcart in one of the rooms here."

The cook just looks a you blankly for a moment, mutely staring - and you start to appreciate just how ridiculous this entire situation is. Perhaps you would have been better off finding the -

"Narses! Hoi! Narses, come out here."

It is your turn to mutely stare at the cook, but soon another cook wanders into the room. The cook you spoke to, garlic still in hand, turns to him and speaks.

"Would you wait with the puella here, while I go find young Welimer?"

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The new arrival, Narces, nods vigorously without ever taking his eyes off of you. Having seen to it that you will be minded in his absence, the cook with the garlic starts to pick his way around the stacks and of stuffs and supplies, heading towards you. You do what you can to move out of his way, but unfortunately you don;t make quite enough space, as the cook with the garlic ends up brushing against you as he passes. It was just his shoulder against your elbow but all the same you find yourself getting embarrassed. Embarrassed enough that you end up apologizing as you press yourself harder against the wall to make more room for him.

"S-sorry about that."

At first he just chuckles, but once he is on the other side of you, he rejoins with -

"Oh, no - the fault is all mine."

And with that, he leaves you with Narses - who almost looks as uncomfortable as you feel, rocking back and forth on his feet. After the moments start to drag on a bit, he asks -

"So ... what is all of this about then?"

Having finally come to terms with how preposterous it sounds for a presumed maid to say that she rented a room for her Master's hand-cart, you simply say -

"I ... I have some business to conduct, with the Master of the house."

"Oh."

You think that is the end of it, but a second later -

"Ohhh..."

Fraying Hell, just what does he think you mean? Does - damn it all, does this idiot think you are streetie too? By the Maker's Mercy, can you walk into a public house without being presumed to be a prostitute? You are seriously considering explaining the true nature of the business simply to get this nonsense off of your head when the cook with the garlic returns - with someone who is not the proprietor. However, before you can work yourself up into a panic over this, the new arrival speaks up -

"A good-day to you, lass. My father has gone off to the house of an acquaintance, but before he quit here for the day, he made mention of you and your cart. I'll take you to it now."

So it is that all of your fears about losing your cart and its content are definitively mules. Relief hits you much like a breaker does a piling - but you cannot dwell on your victory overlong, as the young Master has already turned around and begun to head back into the house, leaving you to rush after him - moving awkwardly and painfully from the hindrance of your bundles. You do however, manage to pass the cook with the garlic without brushing up against him, which you will consider another, smaller victory. And though it comes at the cost of some painful jostling, your long legs manage to catch up to the young Master before he passes out of this particular room. As you fall in behind him, he looks back over his shoulder while still moving forward. For a moment, the only sounds are the footfalls underneath the two of you, and the bustle of the kitchen behind, but then -

"Do you need help with that?"

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You must look confused, because the young master clarifies almost immediately -

"With that bundle of yours - or that parasol."

"Oh - no, no help. But you are too - er, so kind to offer."

He acknowledges that with a murmur that you cannot quite make out, then faces front once more, just as he heads through a narrow door - one so narrow that you actually have to walk through it sideways to clear it battering your arms again. As you do though, you try to get a good look at the young Master. There is not much in the way of resemblance between him and the actual Master of the house. Truly, there is so little that you have to wonder if he is actually his son, or just a cousin that was adopted as a son - which is not an uncommon practice amongst Subjects of substance and Citizens.

"Is that your Mistress's dress and parasol?"

"I - yes. Yes it is. I picked it up on the way over. Wasn't too much of a detour, though."

You consider saying something else, but your instincts are telling you to make like a clam. In the fable you fed the young Master's father, you were very clear on the point that you and several other fictitious maids were done with the shopping and errands for the day when you were all recalled to the house to prepare for some unexpected entertaining. So saying that you were running errands after dropping the cart off blatantly contradicts that ... but hopefully it will be overlooked. And even if it wasn't, you doubt that anyone would find it particularly hard to swallow that there had been one more errand to run. Still, you cannot articulate how much getting caught like this makes you squirm. Luckily though, it seems that the young Master was simply making polite talk, because besides nodding, all he says to that is -

"She must put a great deal of stock in you."

And with that, nothing else is spoken until you reach the room. He reaches it first, and without any preamble, unlocks the door and pushes it open. He stands clear, and ready to get your bundle out of your arms and onto the cart, you quickly come abreast with the door, only to see your forlorn little hand-cart, upended ... and empty. You were on time, weren't you? So why ...why? You stare at it uncomprehending - numb and dumb - until the young Master starts to explain himself.

"As I have been left in charge of the Heads, the surety and safety of our guests belongings is my purview. Once I determined how valuable the contents of the hand-cart was, I made the decision to remove them to a more secure location."

You are in such a state that you are not quite registering what exactly the young Master is getting at - but even before comprehension dawns on you, your stomach is roiling and rolling with nerves and panic all the same. Then he just comes out and says it.

"My room."

You nearly drop your bundles in shock. No, this ... this isn't happening. No, it can't ...

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"Father is rather oblivious to a lot of things - so all I could get out of him when I asked what you looked like was that you were 'awfully tall, but you carried your height very well'. I actually had to ask the cook who brought you to him what you looked like to determine if you were worth my time or not. At the time, I thought his description of you was an exaggeration ... but now that I've seen you, if anything, I'd say that he played you down a bit."

You are trembling, and worse than that, you feel as if you are going to vomit at any second. Is ... is this some sort of perverse Trial? Why else would so many men be so bent on debasing you like this?

"Well, come on now - you wouldn't want to return to your Master and Mistress with any empty cart, would you?"

Fray him! Fray him for this! And fray yourself for getting cornered like this ...

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Run - don't walk - right out the back. Nothing on the cart is worth getting any deeper in this salacious mire. If tries to stop you, then fray him. Hard.
> Head into the room, bust out the window with the All-Weather Parasol and escape this salacious mire. If he tries to stop you, then fray him. Hard.
> You don't favor your odds, but perhaps you will be able to talk him out of this? Maybe you can convince him of the error of his ways here...
> You are not leaving without your shopping. So you'll go upstairs, you'll play along - but as soon as you see it, you are knocking this bastard out.
> You are not leaving without your shopping. So you'll ... take the path of least resistance. Oh, may the Maker have Mercy for you!

Young women who are unmarried and (more importantly) unescorted (as maids usually are) are common prey for sexual opportunists.

However Chlotsuintha gets out of this particular situation, she is going to come to grips with two things. First, that for 'inexplicable' reasons, men are attracted to her. Second, that she is a target because of it - and if she keeps putting herself into situations where she is in the power of others, some of those people are going to 'take aim' at her.

>>5709070
*Sigh* I knew I should’ve brought up the idea that we could ask the Goodman to have his man grab our stuff while we get dinner- this was simply a matter of logistics after all.

> You don't favor your odds, but perhaps you will be able to talk him out of this? Maybe you can convince him of the error of his ways here...

Well, lesson learned- next time we’ll make sure to avoid any scheduling or timeline shenanigans in the future, for they are clearly not worth the headache over it.

And if the problem persists, we are bashing his head in, hogging his ass, and writing a strongly worded letter to his uncle- and nailing it on the front door.

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>>5709073
>First, that for 'inexplicable' reasons, men are attracted to her

Must be the height :V

>>5709070
>> You are not leaving without your shopping. So you'll ... take the path of least resistance. Oh, may the Maker have Mercy for you!

>>5709073
>inexplicable
We cannot be that oblivious surely?

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>>5709085
>voting to actually entertain this nonsense

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>>5709088
my coomer brain wants Chlot to be one of those bewitching temptress

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>>5709094

>>5709085
Chlotsuintha has really, really low self-esteem. She sees that she doesn't look like those around her, so she assumes she just must look weird.

And most of the time that she is in public it is as a Leper, which means that she is getting ugly looks and harassment. So when she does go out in a dress, and she sees people - men especially - staring at her, her immediate thought is that everyone is staring because she is freakishly tall or weird looking or destitute looking (in the ragged dresses that she cobbled together).

>>5709070
If there are any more votes to… ‘take the path of least resistance’, change my vote >>5709082 to any vote that has the best possibility of beating it- wouldn’t want to wake up to a nasty surprise.

>>5709070
> You are not leaving without your shopping. So you'll go upstairs, you'll play along - but as soon as you see it, you are knocking this bastard out.

Night night sleep tight you fucking creep

>>5709070
>You don't favor your odds, but perhaps you will be able to talk him out of this? Maybe you can convince him of the error of his ways here...

>>5709070
> You don't favor your odds, but perhaps you will be able to talk him out of this? Maybe you can convince him of the error of his ways here..
Our mistress is quite important.
And in a hurry.

>>5709070
>You are not leaving without your shopping. So you'll go upstairs, you'll play along - but as soon as you see it, you are knocking this bastard out. "I can't wait to see the goods, hehe."

This guy isn't hearing nothing.

Also. We totally chose the best wand.

>>5709070
>You don't favor your odds, but perhaps you will be able to talk him out of this? Maybe you can convince him of the error of his ways here...
If that fails it's the wand upstairs

>>5709355
But he will be more wary than if we go for deceit immediately. Convincing him will be a very hard roll and once failed it will make the following deception roll that much harder.

>>5709105
Well whatever happens she needs to realize that in the future she will get more unwanted advances and find a way to deal it. Maybe find a powerful person we can name drop.

>>5709070
>You don't favor your odds, but perhaps you will be able to talk him out of this? Maybe you can convince him of the error of his ways here...

>>5709094
As fun as it would be to freeze this guys balls off with a modified Icepick spell or get into it and turn the tables on him with our size and 3/4 way through deactivate Hide Eyes to to make him shriek and terrorcum so hard he passes out as we cackle wildly, possibly leaving him with both height and witch fetishes for the rest of his life, we should probably not give in to the Coomer side.

>>5709640
But ice touch is actually a really good idea as an emergency solution lol

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>>5709640
I like the Ice Touch trick, but the only way I’d accept this situation is with a strap on- I value Chlot’s purity and shelteredness.

>>5709704
That makes sense. She's not at all a calm cool operator type.

>>5709728
On the outside I bet she comes off like it, but internally she’s totally a nervous wreck

chlot is pure! PURE! only for nice lovey-dovey romance.
>>5709070
>> You are not leaving without your shopping. So you'll go upstairs, you'll play along - but as soon as you see it, you are knocking this bastard out.
bonk for horny jail

If we bonk for horny jail it will probably lead to an investigation and unearth a lot of our trail today.
I'd rather just talk first.

>>5709812
I mean, not really? Assuming we don’t nail our grievances to the front door like we’re Martin Luther, I bet the young master would keep quiet about this little affair, even if he does get bonked in the head- any investigation will have to explain that he was not only knocked out by a maid, but why he was going through his patron’s rooms stealing shit and blackmailing young maidens into his room. Like, his reputation would be irrecoverable.

>>5709826
>why he was going through his patron’s rooms stealing shit and blackmailing young maidens into his room
Something tells me no one would give much of a shit about that due to our social status when compared to the whole "being knocked out by a maid part". Seems like something he could completely gloss over if he wanted to: "I moved her things in here so that they were safer and once we were in my room she knocked me out, perhaps to rob the place."

>>5709832
Even if no one gave a shit about that (which I highly doubt), he still has to admit to the fact that he was beaten by a girl that he took up into his room ‘for reasons’- that is quite embarrassing, and I doubt his uncle is as thick as to miss the implications of his shenanigans.

Besides, we paid for the bloody room for frayed sake, which his uncle will collaborate on. I’m already mad that we may not get our money back from his shenanigans!

Alright, lets see the tally here:

>>5709082 Try to talk it out
>>5709085 "Work" it out
>>5709138 Knock him out
>>5709163 Try to talk it out
>>5709169 Try to talk it out
>>5709197 Knock him out
>>5709355 Try to talk it out
>>5709545 Try to talk it out
>>5709810 Knock him out

So there is five votes for trying to talk it out with him, and three votes for knocking him out. Finally, there was one vote for "working" things out. Now, I'm going to say this - this Persuasion test is going to be extremely difficult. Partially because the young Master believes that he has Chlotsuintha over a barrel - and partially because he really, really wants to put Chlotsuintha over a barrel. The DC is probably going to be between 65 and 75 once I figure everything out - and that is with leaning hard into how much trust the Dremen family puts into you, and how they wouldn't just assume that you were lying. As far as the breakdown of the results would go;

If you were to pass all of the tests, you would get everything back without much delay.
If you were to pass two of the tests, you would get back almost everything - the young Master would try to bait you back here by withholding something.
If you were to pass one of the tests, the young Master brushes you off, leaving you more or less right back at square one.
If you were to pass none of the tests, the young Master gets kind of agitated and threatens to throw you out of the establishment without so much as the Xylospongium.
If you critically fail one of the tests, he actually makes good on that threat, and throws you out of the establishment without hand-cart or any of your shopping.

If you go forward with the roll and fail (so long as you don't critically fail) you would be back to square one, just without the option of trying to talk it out with him. To expedite this process, I'll ask right now if you want to use one of your two auto-passes to get through this test (and recover the contents of the hand-cart).

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Use auto-pass
> Just roll for it

>>5709910
> Just roll for it
I ain’t gonna spend our rarest resource just to get out of the joy of smashing his skull in- if getting the room for a day wasn’t worth a reroll, this fucker ain’t worth an auto-success to talk down.

I’m honestly wondering if the best play is simply bashing his head in- this shopping experience has been abysmal, and if bashing his skull in takes less time irl to dwell on this, all the better in my opinion.

>>5709910
> Just roll for it
I'm frankly saving the auto pass for when we are literally leaving the city. Inspections or questions about why a single woman is leaving in the dead of night or wee early hours.

All else fails, we grab this guy and enter a Strange fever.

>>5709910
>Just roll for it

>>5709983
>>5709910
Actually, I change my mind. We have TWO autopasses. We can spend ONE on this.

> Use auto-pass

>>5709910
>> Use auto-pass

>>5710039
These are fucking rare- like, this is an insta-success against death and the Inquisition, we shouldn’t waste them on this fucker.

>>5710054
The threat here is as psychological as it is physical.

Also, trust me. This sump pump of an idea seems suboptimal now but could be an important lynchpin. I just got a feeling.

I'll abstain for now. This could blow up in our face BIG TIME if we knock him out. We don't need more suspicious crimes that abnormally tall women are involved in. If we fail here then leaving and buying more supplies after we've left the city might be a better option.

>>5710075
The threat is irrelevant, compared to more important threats. Don’t be shortsided- an auto success only gives us a do over at square one, and at 65-75 DC? We’d have better luck breaking into the Inquisition Chapter House, unironicly. We’d be throwing away our crit success to arrive at the same 75 DC problem- which are shit odds even if we needed only Bo1 instead of all 3.

Besides, the critical lynchpin had already passed- clearly we needed the room for an entire day, not for 3 bullshit hours. This is merely the consequence of us failing the first test.

>>5710081
Dude, we have a dead gyphed bird and a strange incineratry bomb in our shit- we need to knock him out, simple as.

>>5709910
> Just roll for it

>>5709910
>To expedite this process, I'll ask right now if you want to use one of your two auto-passes to get through this test (and recover the contents of the hand-cart).

Actually, it sounds like we're getting a deal here.

>>5710106
I assume it’s only to pass one success of the test? If it’s for the whole test though, that does change the calculus quite a bit

>>5709910
>Use auto-pass
Unless you want to kill him, knocking him out will only make him very angry. More people will be out for our head.

>>5709910
>If you were to pass all of the tests
>If you were to pass two of the tests
>If you were to pass one of the tests
>If you were to pass one of the tests
>If you critically fail one of the tests
Yea, rereading this, the tests are the individual successes, right? But if it’s like >>5710106 said and
>To expedite this process, I'll ask right now if you want to use one of your two auto-passes to get through this test (and recover the contents of the hand-cart).
means the overall trial, then I can see reason with concluding this trial with an auto-success, though if auto-successes are applicable to the entire challenge instead of just a single part of it, then wouldn’t that make them more valuable?

I would appreciate some clarification Trash, as I got an idea that may just satisfy everyone.

>>5710152
Some rando spare innkeeper isn’t relevant even if we were planning on staying for another year- he’s effectively a nobody with no connection of consequence. No one will give a shit that some girl turned him down and bullied him for it.

>>5710156
Spill it out anon. And if I recall correctly auto pass means just that. We automatically past the entire test, not just one roll.

>>5710226
>And if I recall correctly auto pass means just that. We automatically past the entire test, not just one roll.
Damn, I’ve been operating under a false impression all this time it seems. I’m definitely advocating for keeping these auto-successes in our back pocket for something deadly or Inquisition related- while we are dealing with a significant challenge at the moment, this isn’t life-threatening or critical, just nightmarishly inconvenient.

But if the auto-pass must be used, may I suggest the one everyone seems to have forgotten? That 79 DC auto-pass that Trash redeemed is still valid, and for this max 75 DC trial, while it’s somewhat fitting that a pass conceived in one solicitor’s inn, then redeemed at the same time the bargain for this inn’s room was struck, be used in said inn against another solicitor.

>As for that one, good eye. I figured I missed something. As far as redeeming it goes, I'll do you one better. I'll turn it into a partial auto-pass, capable of skipping any test with a DC of 79 or lower.

A shame that my good eye is going to waste here, when all that was needed to avoid this massive multi-thread logistical nightmare was a simple reroll, but I’ll accept it as my penance if need be.

I was out like a light last night, and I missed all of this - terribly sorry.

>>5710226
You have the right of it - using the auto-passes that Chlotsuintha has will result in passing three of the tests, not just one. (I've considered having single-test auto-passes as well, but so far in the game, none have shown up).

>>5710240
Using the 79 DC auto-pass is also an option.

With these clarifications, I'll leave the vote open for a little longer today.

>>5710093
Ah shit, I forgot that we stowed that in the cart. The only place it could be really.
>Use the limited autopass

>>5710439
>Use the limited autopass
All good then, we have 2 more auto passes to spare.

Alright, I will consider this closed for using the auto-pass. I'll get to writing as soon as I can.

>>5710643
The partial one, yes?

>>5710933
Yes. Look for the update tomorrow!

Hey guys - I'm sorry to say that I am still working on the update. Considering though that you know how it is going to resolve, I figure that it shouldn't be too much of a problem if we just move on to the next vote right now ... which is Chlotsuintha's next move. It is a little after the seventeenth toll, and by the eighteenth toll most stores will have closed - and will not open until the day after tomorrow, in observation of Titheday. So, you could take your cart to the string of tunnels that lead into the Midden and stash it there, or you could keep it with you. If you kept it with you, you could try to squeeze in one more round of shopping ... or you could get a head-start on the itinerary for tonight, which might allow you to squeeze in one more stop, if you were to start now (or give you more time to get yourself through the sewers).

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Head back to Stickport, and stash the cart in the string of tunnels that lead into the Midden.
> Keep the cart with you, and try to get in one more round of shopping before the hours of closing pass completely.
> Keep the cart with you, and get a head start on the itinerary for tonight [Visiting Aldoin's house]

>>5711557
> Head back to Stickport, and stash the cart in the string of tunnels that lead into the Midden.

This cart will totally get in the way.

>>5711557
We went through all the effort, stress, and money, just to save time for our itinerary. Personally, I’d choose
> Keep the cart with you, and get a head start on the itinerary for tonight [Visiting Aldoin's house]
Because if the past two threads have convinced me of anything, it’s to give yourself some breathing room on the schedule. Besides, if we do get another chance at another stop, we could break into the Guardhouse and get some damn armaments and munitions for the highwaymen and the road- or visit the Refinery, because I’m personally curious to see if we correctly solved the puzzle.

However, I can be convinced to shop some more- lord knows we’re going to need all the help we can get, whether it be hardware or just any shop on the way to Aldoin's house.

>>5711557
> Head back to Stickport, and stash the cart in the string of tunnels that lead into the Midden.

We're gonna have to stash it somewhere, hard to do burglary while pulling this squeaky boy

>>5711557
>Keep the cart with you, and try to get in one more round of shopping before the hours of closing pass completely.

>>5711557
>Keep the cart with you, and get a head start on the itinerary for tonight [Visiting Aldoin's house]

>>5711557
>> Head back to Stickport, and stash the cart in the string of tunnels that lead into the Midden.

Come on lads, don’t let two threads of effort and an auto-pass go to waste! At least utilize the extra time we saved!

>>5711557
Well, while we wait, are we likely to head to another costal city, or just head straight into the countryside?

>>5711557
Also, if Stickport does win out, any chance we could buy a cask of water and soap along the way, to help clean up after our sewer excursions? And some food- we’ve yet to eat since Midday.

>>5712118
I'd be in support of this, might as well get a couple of quick errands done with on the way.

>>5711557
>> Keep the cart with you, and try to get in one more round of shopping before the hours of closing pass completely.

>>5711557
>Keep the cart with you, and try to get in one more round of shopping before the hours of closing pass completely.
I really want to get everything we can obtain only in the city before disappearing forever in some backwoods.

After going back and forth on how I want to integrate the auto-pass into the update - and losing my first full attempt at it - I am almost done. Hopefully I will be able to get the post up before I go to bed tonight.

In the meantime, as shopping seems to have won the vote, I suppose the next question is where will Chlotsuintha be shopping? Remember that Chlotsuintha is dressed as a maid at the moment and that changing back into the riding habit will take time - and once she has changed into the riding habit, she is probably going to have to find someplace new to stash the hand-cart. If you want to do that and have somewhere specific in mind, write it in. I suppose if you want to go there without changing out of the domestic dress and stashing the cart again, you can write that in as well - just be warned now that irregularities make Persuasion Tests harder.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Chlotsuintha will look for a Grocer. First and foremost, she is hungry at the moment. Besides that, she is going to need to eat on the road - and some of the fresh food could be used as working or building material for Constructs.
> Chlotsuintha will look for a Hinterland Bank. These establishments always do a roaring trade, and between the forfeited collateral and the stocks and stuffs of questionable provenance sold for quick talents, who knows what she will find?
> Chlotsuintha has already been to a Dry Goods, but it focused on domestic stocks and stuffs. She is now looking for a Dry Goods that sells tools and equipment - things that she might do minor repairs on her stage with, as an example.
> Write-ins are allowed with QM approval.

>>5713548
>> Chlotsuintha will look for a Grocer. First and foremost, she is hungry at the moment. Besides that, she is going to need to eat on the road - and some of the fresh food could be used as working or building material for Constructs.

>>5713548
>> Chlotsuintha has already been to a Dry Goods, but it focused on domestic stocks and stuffs. She is now looking for a Dry Goods that sells tools and equipment - things that she might do minor repairs on her stage with, as an example.

>>5713548
> Chlotsuintha will look for a Grocer. First and foremost, she is hungry at the moment. Besides that, she is going to need to eat on the road - and some of the fresh food could be used as working or building material for Constructs.

Why change out for this? Easy. What trouble could we get into? Grab some potatoes, carrots, durien fruit to cover our sewer level stink, and its just that easy.

>>5713548
> Chlotsuintha will look for a Hinterland Bank. These establishments always do a roaring trade, and between the forfeited collateral and the stocks and stuffs of questionable provenance sold for quick talents, who knows what she will find?

>>5713548
> Chlotsuintha will look for a Hinterland Bank. These establishments always do a roaring trade, and between the forfeited collateral and the stocks and stuffs of questionable provenance sold for quick talents, who knows what she will find?
Mysterybox- though I probably wouldn’t mind some Dry Goods, for the specialty items we won’t get in the countryside. Or more books- I always love books.

I’m wondering if it’s worth the effort trying to make a Construct or not.

>Try to move in the direction of our next objective
How close is Aldoin's house from here? Would be nice to knock it our early.
>Change into the riding habit to get to get the interesting/high status stuff
What would be the chance of someone stumbling on our cart Trash?

>>5713548
>Chlotsuintha will look for a Grocer. First and foremost, she is hungry at the moment. Besides that, she is going to need to eat on the road - and some of the fresh food could be used as working or building material for Constructs.

>>5713548
>> Chlotsuintha has already been to a Dry Goods, but it focused on domestic stocks and stuffs. She is now looking for a Dry Goods that sells tools and equipment - things that she might do minor repairs on her stage with, as an example.

Closing the vote for going to a Grocer.

>>5713708
If I don't address your questions later, please remind me. But right now I just need to take care of a few things, then I should be able to finally get this damned update finished.

>>5714300
Still abnormally busy Trash?

Shame the Hinterland Bank lost, I know for a fact there would’ve been a hidden gem in there… or something of Father’s, as worrying as that idea is.

>>5714533
Do you really want us to change again and spend god knows how long rambling about a bank

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>>5714547
Joke aside, I’m fine with whatever wins- Chlot needs proper nutrition, not the inedible slop that she ate as a Leaper. I’m mostly curious if anons will decide to create a Construct or deny Trash the pleasure for another handful of threads :V

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Okay, this is … not good, certainly, but no matter what happens, you can just walk away right? There was nothing on the hand-cart beside – oh, Pattern's Perdition, the corpse of the Glyphed Gull! Not to mention the Strange Incendiary. Did – no, no he couldn't have found them. If he did, then he wouldn't be … so inclined. So it must have been that just grabbed the two them, swaddled as they were, and hauled them upstairs without realizing what exactly he was carrying.

So he does have something to … fraying Hell, why, why now? More than that, why you?

No, there is no time for that – right now, you need to figure out the way forward. Right. For starters, you have the Wand of Head Knocking, and assuming that he doesn't see you use it … wait, even if he doesn't realize that he has been knocked unconscious by Mysterious means, he is still going to be able to deduce that you knocked him unconscious. That … that could cause trouble for you, considering that there is a bounty out on you. And while you get the sense that most were on the look-out for a contrary-dressing pirate, if an assault is reported here by someone matching your description, then surely, someone would put two and two together. And that could seriously complicate you moving house.

You didn't think it was possible, but with that realization, your stomach drops even further. So … where exactly does that leave you? Abandoning the Strange Incendiary and the corpse of the Glyphed Gull is not an option … which leaves either taking it by force and accepting the potential complications that might arise – assuming you manage to get him knocked out properly, which isn't even guaranteed – or somehow convincing him to reconsider. Which under other circumstances you probably wouldn't even bother with … but if you were somehow able to beg or threaten your way out of this, then it would save you a lot of … unpleasantness.

While neither seem particularly strong bets, you'd guess that begging is less likely to work than threatening. However, if you were to start with begging, then switching to threatening … well, as pathetic as that might be, it would be less pathetic than starting with threats and then switching to begging.

“Please young Master, I … I have been promised to -”

You trail off. While the young Master might be wearing a bemused face, there is an angry hunger peering out through his eyes. Your mouth hangs open, trembling along with the rest of you, and all of a sudden you feel as if you are on the verge of tears – which is dangerous, considering that you have Hide-Eyes active at the moment. You don't know how, but somehow you just get the sense that begging isn't going to get you out of this. If anything … it might make him more interested in … 'getting you upstairs'.

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What do you do? Do you give up on trying to plead your way out of this mess, and try vague threats of legal action instead? Or do you give it a proper try before throwing it in like that? And what happens when both fail you? What then? What do you -

“What are you doing here?”

Both you and the young Master are shocked to the point that you both start at the intrusion. Upon seeing that the new arrival is his father, the young Master speaks up first.

“F-father, I thought that you … weren't you off visiting a friend?”

“They were taken ill.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yes. What I don't see is why you are back here instead of minding the common room.”

In less than a moment, in less than a flash, inspiration strikes you like a Slaughterer's sledge-axe. As the young Master starts to stammer out some answer, you speak up and bull right over him with a confidence that you certainly don't feel.

“I was just thanking the young Master. Out of the kindness of his heart, he had my had my Mistress and Master's things taken out of the room, and brought up to his own, so if the guest showed up, it wouldn't be an issue.”

“Is that right?”

You just nod. The young master looks taken aback and more than a little frustrated – which as far as you are concerned is a good sign. If his father approved of this sort of thing, you'd be no worse off than you were when he interrupted ... but if he doesn't – and judging by his reaction to your fib, he doesn't – then he'd be smart to back off, before his father clued in to his actual attentions.

“Well now, Ambrose, you have gone and put me in quite a bit of a spot, haven't you?”

You are still trembling, but at least for now, the risk of tears seems to have passed. So it is with relative numbness that you watch the Master of the house fumble through his pockets. It seems at the moment, all of your cleverness has been spent – shocked as you are that your deception worked, you cannot puzzle out what he is talking about or looking for.

“I was already wondering if I could really charge someone for this, but not that her Mistress and Master's orders weren't even in the room for the full time, I cannot in good conscience charge for it. Especially as it would undermine your good deed,”

With that, he finally manages to find the twenty-talent he took from you, and without so much as a second glance at it, he just hands it right over. You take it from him, noticing how the dentures that he bit it with have left deep gouges into the body of the coin. You don't know what to say, but at least you have enough presence of mind to get your fingers out of view as quickly as possible by tucking them and the coin into one of the pockets on your apron.

“Now Ambrose, I'll take care of her … and the front. But right now, I need you to go head down Benedetto's shop and arrange to have those chamber pots brought over.”

“I – but father, can't one of our men go instead?”

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“They could, I suppose. But not during dinner. They cook. You don't.”

So it is that Ambrose storms off, glaring at you all the while. You advert your eyes until he is gone from the room, then you follow the Master through the backrooms until you come to a narrow stair. You follow him up that as well, then down a hallway, to a room which he opens for you, then stands aside.

You can see the pile of your shopping on the floor, and you rush in … but then you remember how you first stashed your hand-cart here in this public house, and the Master showed you to the room, there was a moment, a terrible moment, where it felt as if the floor had given out from underneath you – for a second, you were convinced that he was going to try to trap you in there, as the proprietor of the Perch might have done had you given him the opportunity. You could feel his eyes burning on your back, and you just knew that he was reaching for you … but he wasn't. Reaching or even looking. Even so, being in a room with him … especially this room, where his son hoped to …

Suffice to say, it is not easy. Especially considering that once again, he is behind you. But at the moment, you are less concerned about him and more concerned with the Strange Incendiary and the remains of the Glyphed Gull. Surely, Ambrose must not have found either of them – if he did, then surely the last thing that he would want to do would be … surely, he wouldn't. Of course, you are not just going to count on that. You sweep over the messy pile of your shopping with your eyes, holding your breath that Strange-Staining does not activate. It doesn't – but neither the remains of the Gull or the Strange Incendiary were communicable, right? Oh, Maker's Mercy, you cannot even remember. You … you don't think so. Obviously, you cannot dig through the pile to check on them with the Master in the room, so you set your bundles down on top of the pile, then from underneath it, you fish out the bundle of rags that you stuffed the Gull into. Once you are certain that the Gull is still wrapped up as you left it, you quickly move to grab a couple other things off of the pile until you have a decent armful.

You do your best not to grimace as the site of your Socketing Needle is agitated once more, while you consider trying to grab the Strange Incendiary as well – but it is on the far side of the pile, and you are worried that you might somehow reveal it to the Master as you grab it. Instead, you excuse yourself and head down stairs to the hand-cart. The body of the Glyphed Gull goes right on the bottom, and then you stack shopping around it. The mound that it makes is rather pathetic looking, if you are being entirely honest, but it is better than nothing. Acutely aware that you have left the Master in the same room as your wand, you rush back up the stairs and back into his son's room. This time, he is at the window looking out.

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Surreptitiously, you look down at the pile, to see if he has disturbed it … but as far as you can tell, it is the same as it was. Taking advantage of his turned back, you fish the Strange Incendiary out of the pile, and then once you have gathered up another arm-load of shopping you head straight back down stairs, moving with more haste than propriety. You then look over the pile on the cart to make sure no one has moved that either, and once you are satisfied as you possibly can be, you unload your burden, tucking the Strange Incendiary into the center of the pile, and burying it deeper with sundries and stockings. Once you are done – this time, thinking to take a moment to remember how the pile looks – you return upstairs again, and again, the Master is still standing in front of the window, though this time, his undivided attention is on the contents of one of the room's bookcases.

You grab some more shopping and rush back down, further burying your contraband on the hand-cart. But when you return upstairs to fetch the next load, you find yourself unexpectedly alone in the room. After desperately checking and ultimately confirming that nothing inside the bundles of your dresses was taken, it occurs to you that he might be down at the cart, looking through it. Swearing under your breath, you grab something – you are not even sure what – and rush right back downstairs. You are not exactly sure what you will do if you find the Master of the house poking through your things on the cart … but those fears turn out to be a mule. You are just starting to feel a bit foolish, when it occurs to you that he might have been hiding upstairs, to watch you check on the dress – to see where you had been hiding your swag and Witchwork.

So you bolt right back upstairs, panicking all over again, berating yourself for being so stupid, and so obvious with your hiding spot … only to find that you are still alone in the room. Only once you try to steady yourself, does it finally occur to you how ridiculous you are being. When you left the hand-cart in his care, he had the opportunity to rob you blind – but he didn't. So why would he now? What could possibly possess someone to wait until their mark returned to rob them? Nothing, because no one is that stupid. Except of course, you, because you seriously thought that it was possibility. Or that he was spying on you – from where? Inside the fraying walls? You really, really need to get a grip.

And while it seems odd that someone would just wander off at a time like this, leaving a who-body alone in a private area of a house … well, on this point, you have to agree with that bastard Ambrose; his father is rather oblivious.

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While you are relieved that the risk of accidentally showing off contraband, Mysterious or otherwise, has passed, you are still ill at ease with being alone in this room, considering what might have happened had it not been for the timely arrival of the Master. You keep one eye over your shoulder as you quickly continue to gather up another armful of shopping to take down to the cart … but your other eye begins to wander. Before you even realize it, you are casing the place, just how your father taught you to. Much like the rest of this place, the room is richly appointed – and there are quite a few curios and books arranged on shelves and in cases. You cannot tell if this is a matter of Ambrose taking after his father, or the collection simply spilling into every available niche … but either way, several of them look rather expensive.

For more than a moment, you play with the idea of avenging yourself of Ambrose's indignity by robbing him – but then the madness passes. You have been seen here, not just by Ambrose and the Master of the house, but by cooks and hirelings too. Setting aside the risk that someone comes back into the room and sees that you stole something before you are able to leave The Hooded Heads, what if they try to track you down by finding the Dremen family that lives on the Promontory, only to find that they don't exist. Considering that this is the name that you are going to have to use on your forged Family Patent – unless you are willing to forge the papers you got from Goodman Nasturtium too – the last thing you want to do is draw any attention to the name 'Dremen'.

So even though no one else appears to check in on you at any point, Ambrose's room is left unpilfered. Before long you have gathered everything in the room into the hand-cart. Once you are satisfied that everything is accounted for, you quit The Hooded Heads and make your way onto the cobbled street with your back straight and your head held high – and your insides still in knots. But with everything that you are going to need to do tonight and even in the coming days, you simply cannot afford to dwell on what happened in there – and especially what almost happened in there. Your mind must be given over in the entire to practical matters, such as … well, um … Oh! Your stomach! The poor thing might be tied up at the moment, but once you put a little time and distance between you and The Heads, then it will untie itself – and no doubt, once it does, you will be hungry. As if to acknowledge this, your stomach chooses this very moment to growl and grouse at you. For the first time, you are actually thankful for just how much racket your hand-cart and your boots make, as together they are loud enough to drown out any embarrassing noises. Still, you cannot be too upset at your body here – it is telling you what to do.

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Obviously, you are going to need some food on hand for your exfiltration to the Frontier … and if you can find a grocer that stocks food fresh enough, then you might be able to use some of it as working material or fuel for Mysterious endeavors.

You continue down this street for some time – perhaps five minutes, maybe more – without finding a green grocer. Perhaps that is to be expected though, as you are more than a bit distant from the Landward Walls, and produce and grownstuffs are more likely to be brought into the Mount overland, as opposed to being shipped in. However … just up the street you see a fishmonger. Now, fresh fish are excellent working material for small Sub-Constructs, but they don't exactly last. Many fishmongers do offer smoked and salted fish – which certainly do last – but the preserving process undermines what value they might have as material or fuel on the Life-Loom. Smoked fish would be harder to work with, and you'd be hard pressed to even be able to use salted fish as fuel, let alone working material.

On the other hand, it might just be better to treat food as food for the immediate future. You have no idea how long it might take, but you have to believe that it is going to be quite some time before you have anywhere as safe to delve into the Many Mysteries as the Belfry is right now. So until then, it might be for the best to keep the Loom packed away.

But on the ot – uh, on the … third hand? - if you loaded up on grownstuffs at a green grocer, you might be able to have it both ways. While the Loom is intended for the flesh of Man, brutes and beasts, it is also capable of working with the flesh of plants and fungus as well. And because many of these grownstuffs last quite a long time without preserving, they are viable for working on Loom … though obviously live plants, or at least specimens fresh out of the ground work better than plants that have been dried and done up for sale. Your stores on the stage could be both decent food and working material – if you were willing to spend the time to find a green grocer.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Chlotsuintha will continue to look for a green grocer
> Chlotsuintha will head over to this fishmonger

>>5714617
> Chlotsuintha will head over to this fishmonger

Fish is fine too

>>5714617
>Chlotsuintha will head over to this fishmonger

>>5714617
> Chlotsuintha will head over to this fishmonger.

This works with our schedule. Maybe some pungent smoked fish is just the thing to cover other smells in our stuff.

>>5714617
>Chlotsuintha will head over to this fishmonger

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Will we finally get crab?

Alright. Now, this fishmonger has the standard fishy fare for sale; various Herrings, fresh or prepared as Kipper, Bloater or Buckling, various Mackerel, fresh, or salted, smoked or pickled, Whalescrap Jerky, and Mussels and Clams fresh from the beaches and brine. And alongside those 'rustic' offerings, they also have more desirable fish; Cod, Haddock or Salmon fresh or cured, and delicacies too; Fresh Elvers and Eels for Subjects, and Lamprey for the Citizens.

They also have some ... unusual offerings as well.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> Fresh Hardfishes and Hardsquids. To your knowledge, no one actually heads out to sea to fish for these - rather, they are Oiler bycatch. As you might expect, they are not particularly palatable ... but these specimens are from depths of the Ocean where the Strangeness is endemic and all life is at least a little Mysterious. Once the flesh has been completely Remediated, making Constructs out of these specimens will be much easier than working with mundane fishes ... though the results might not always be as predictable.
> Fresh Darksquids. Again, no one actually heads out to sea to fish for these - they are Oiler bycatch. These squid do not have much flesh, meaning that they are not great for eating or Weaving ... but these specimens are from depths of the Ocean where the Strangeness is endemic and all life is at least a little Mysterious. Once the ink from these specimens has been completely remediated, it can be used without further preparation to Scriven Glyphs. And it can be refined and tweaked beyond its 'raw' state.
> Fresh Lobster and Crabs. Crab is for peasants, and Lobster is for convicts and slaves. But while they may make for a poor plate, you know that father experimented with Lobster and Crab on the Life-Loom before, and found that while they are not easy to Weave on account of the salt content, the Constructs that do survive are longer-lived and more resilient - possibly because of the shell. The shells also make it easier to Scriven Glyphs on to them than typical Constructs.
> Live Sea-Worms. If Crab is for peasants and Lobster is for convicts and slaves, then Sea-Worms would be for the desperate and starving ... in fact, you think they are intended to be for live bait, not dinner. And yet, it was from experiments in his youth with live worms that the Immortal of Logres and Aremorica learned enough to eventually make his Ever-Perpetual Corpus. You would get shivers when father described it in the few stories you were able to wring out of him ... and you certainly don't intend on turning yourself into a fortress-sized pile of worms - but who knows what you will learn from experiments with these specimens?

>>5714944
Why do you think it was a Fishmonger, anon?

>>5715053
> Fresh Lobster and Crabs. Crab is for peasants, and Lobster is for convicts and slaves. But while they may make for a poor plate, you know that father experimented with Lobster and Crab on the Life-Loom before, and found that while they are not easy to Weave on account of the salt content, the Constructs that do survive are longer-lived and more resilient - possibly because of the shell. The shells also make it easier to Scriven Glyphs on to them than typical Constructs.

Yes. YES! Ah hah hah haaaa!

>>5715053
>> Fresh Lobster and Crabs. Crab is for peasants, and Lobster is for convicts and slaves. But while they may make for a poor plate, you know that father experimented with Lobster and Crab on the Life-Loom before, and found that while they are not easy to Weave on account of the salt content, the Constructs that do survive are longer-lived and more resilient - possibly because of the shell. The shells also make it easier to Scriven Glyphs on to them than typical Constructs.
Become crab

>>5715053
> Live Sea-Worms. If Crab is for peasants and Lobster is for convicts and slaves, then Sea-Worms would be for the desperate and starving ... in fact, you think they are intended to be for live bait, not dinner. And yet, it was from experiments in his youth with live worms that the Immortal of Logres and Aremorica learned enough to eventually make his Ever-Perpetual Corpus. You would get shivers when father described it in the few stories you were able to wring out of him ... and you certainly don't intend on turning yourself into a fortress-sized pile of worms - but who knows what you will learn from experiments with these specimens?

Tempted to go crab for the memes but this is the most interesting choice.

>>5715053
> Live Sea-Worms. If Crab is for peasants and Lobster is for convicts and slaves, then Sea-Worms would be for the desperate and starving ... in fact, you think they are intended to be for live bait, not dinner. And yet, it was from experiments in his youth with live worms that the Immortal of Logres and Aremorica learned enough to eventually make his Ever-Perpetual Corpus. You would get shivers when father described it in the few stories you were able to wring out of him ... and you certainly don't intend on turning yourself into a fortress-sized pile of worms - but who knows what you will learn from experiments with these specimens?
This or Darksquids- it’d be smart to stick up on them for future Glyph training material.

>>5715053
Quick question regarding the worms trash: from what I get they are a living batch in a tank/bucket. How long will they survive if we occasionally feed them/change the water? Can we breed them?

>>5715193
Stock* up on ink for Glyph materials, I meant.

Also Trash, questions from >>5713708 feel free not to answer the outdated one, I know you’re busy, so I don’t really raise a fuss when my questions remain unanswered.

>>5715208
Fair question- but unless we’re traveling on the coast, it may not be feasible to keep them alive for long. I only voted for them over the Darksquids because of the experimental learning aspect, and the voting support.

>>5715053
>Fresh Hardfishes and Hardsquids. To your knowledge, no one actually heads out to sea to fish for these - rather, they are Oiler bycatch. As you might expect, they are not particularly palatable ... but these specimens are from depths of the Ocean where the Strangeness is endemic and all life is at least a little Mysterious. Once the flesh has been completely Remediated, making Constructs out of these specimens will be much easier than working with mundane fishes ... though the results might not always be as predictable.

>>5715053
>> Fresh Lobster and Crabs. Crab is for peasants, and Lobster is for convicts and slaves. But while they may make for a poor plate, you know that father experimented with Lobster and Crab on the Life-Loom before, and found that while they are not easy to Weave on account of the salt content, the Constructs that do survive are longer-lived and more resilient - possibly because of the shell. The shells also make it easier to Scriven Glyphs on to them than typical Constructs.

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>>5715053
> Fresh Lobster and Crabs. Crab is for peasants, and Lobster is for convicts and slaves. But while they may make for a poor plate, you know that father experimented with Lobster and Crab on the Life-Loom before, and found that while they are not easy to Weave on account of the salt content, the Constructs that do survive are longer-lived and more resilient - possibly because of the shell. The shells also make it easier to Scriven Glyphs on to them than typical Constructs.

Alright, lets take the tally.

>>5715083
>>5715112
>>5715486
>>5715362
Crab and Lobster

>>5715178
>>5715193
Sea-Worms

>>5715241
Hardfishes and Hardsquids

Alright, it is pretty clear that it is in the bag for Crab and Lobster. I'm going to get dinner, then I will try to run through the Fishmonger shopping tonight so we can move on to potentially more interesting things.

>>5715208
So, the worms are not bought individually, or by pound. Rather, you pay for sand that the juvenile sea-worms have burrowed into - measured by the shovel-full. The sand is kept submerged in saltwater, which would need to be replenished everyday (mixing in some salt from your supply to fresh water would suffice for the sake of Quest mechanics). The Sea-Worms would be fed by dropping table-scraps or whatever into the bucket, at which point they would come out of the sand to feed.

Oh, and to answer the two old outstanding questions - The likelihood of someone stumbling across the cart depends on where you end up hiding it - and the quality of hiding spots would be determined by rolling. Aldoin's House is relatively close, as both it and this Fishmonger are located in Cleanport ... however, as there are also Administrative Houses here as well, that does pose a question or two that should be put to a vote.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> It might be an added complication, but you are going to keep you hand-cart with you, at least for your first stop of the evening.
> While you are not sure how much time it will take, or how secure it will be, you will look for a place to stash your cart while you go to your first stop of the evening.
> While it will take quite some time to get there, you will stash your hand-cart in the safety of the basement tunnels, all the way over in Stickport.

> Please choose ONE of the following:
> You are going to go to a Port Authority Administrative House first. If you are quick enough at the Fishmonger, and whatever you do with the hand-cart does not take up too much time, the House might still be open, offering you a choice between breaking in or presenting yourself as a maid on an errand, and using that deception to pump the clerk for information.
> You are going to Aldoin's House first. As it is a private residence, you will always have a choice between presenting yourself at the door - as a maid looking for work - or breaking into the place.

>>5715727
> While you are not sure how much time it will take, or how secure it will be, you will look for a place to stash your cart while you go to your first stop of the evening.
We can at least keep our eyes open for a spot while we head this way.
> You are going to Aldoin's House first. As it is a private residence, you will always have a choice between presenting yourself at the door - as a maid looking for work - or breaking into the place.
Use a different alias this time, if we present ourselves as a maid.

>>5715727
>> While you are not sure how much time it will take, or how secure it will be, you will look for a place to stash your cart while you go to your first stop of the evening.

> You are going to go to a Port Authority Administrative House first. If you are quick enough at the Fishmonger, and whatever you do with the hand-cart does not take up too much time, the House might still be open, offering you a choice between breaking in or presenting yourself as a maid on an errand, and using that deception to pump the clerk for information.

>>5715727
>> While you are not sure how much time it will take, or how secure it will be, you will look for a place to stash your cart while you go to your first stop of the evening.

> You are going to go to a Port Authority Administrative House first. If you are quick enough at the Fishmonger, and whatever you do with the hand-cart does not take up too much time, the House might still be open, offering you a choice between breaking in or presenting yourself as a maid on an errand, and using that deception to pump the clerk for information.

>>5715727
> While you are not sure how much time it will take, or how secure it will be, you will look for a place to stash your cart while you go to your first stop of the evening.

> You are going to go to a Port Authority Administrative House first. If you are quick enough at the Fishmonger, and whatever you do with the hand-cart does not take up too much time, the House might still be open, offering you a choice between breaking in or presenting yourself as a maid on an errand, and using that deception to pump the clerk for information

>>5715727
>While you are not sure how much time it will take, or how secure it will be, you will look for a place to stash your cart while you go to your first stop of the evening.
> You are going to Aldoin's House first. As it is a private residence, you will always have a choice between presenting yourself at the door - as a maid looking for work - or breaking into the place.

Alright, consider this closed. I'll get the first round of votes up for the Fishmonger shortly.

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Outside Displays:

Mussels, Fresh:The bivalve with the blue, oblong-crescent-shaped shell. The ones for sale are being kept in salt-water. It is unclear how many of them are still alive. In her youth, Chlotsuintha once had a really delicious meal of mussels with her father at some public house - long before she came to live on the Mount. She has no idea how the meal was prepared, but she has always wanted to try to recreate it. Out of salt-water, a living mussel will survive 1 day, and remain edible until 1 day after its death. 1 Eighth-Talent for 3 to 6 Mussels. About 40 Mussels for sale.

Clams, Fresh: The bivalve with the tan, flat-lipped shell. The ones for sale are being kept in salt-water. It is unclear how many of them are still alive. Chlotsuintha has been eating quite a bit of chowder these past eight years, as it is the only regular free meal offered in the Midden to the Lepers that contains any meat at all. Instead of growing sick of it, she has developed a taste for it, and she wonders if she can do any better. Out of salt-water, a living clam will survive 1 day, and remain edible until 1 day after its death. 1 Eighth-Talent for 2 to 5 Clams. About 30 Clams for sale.

Oysters, Fresh: The bivalve with the tan, wave-lipped shell. The ones for sale are being kept in salt-water. It is unclear how many of them are still alive. Chlotsuintha has never had Oyster before, but considering that she likes Mussels and Clams she is more than willing to try this bivalve as well ... and she is also keen to see if she can find a pearl or two! Out of salt-water, a living Oyster will survive 1 day, and remain edible until 1 day after its death. 1 Eighth-Talent for 1 to 4 Oysters. About 20 Oysters for sale.

Little Whelk, Fresh: The sea-snail with the brown, whorled shell. The ones for sale are being kept in salt water. It is unclear how many of them are still alive. Chlotsuintha knows that Whelk can accumulate rather significant amounts of mule-Arsenic, and it occurs to her that she might be possible to convert the Arsenic into a more 'productive' state using the Life-Loom ... somehow. Or she could just eat them as is. Outside of salt-water, a living Whelk will survive 1 day, and remain edible until 1 day after its death. 1 Eighth-Talent for 6 to 12 Little Whelk. About 100 Little Whelk for sale. 1 Little Whelk-foot on average weighs about 2 ounces, and so carries 0.000008 ounces of mule-Arsenic. In a more 'productive' form, this is exactly the upper bound of a fatal dose - and nearly three times the lower bound!

... And I just deleted the second half of this update. And I don't have the time to re-write it right now ...

Alright, whatever, I guess this can be it for the outside displays. The Whale Jerky, Careen-Grist and the rest will be moved inside, and you can vote on them when I get back later and get the next posts up.

A point to consider: flesh remains workable on the Life-Loom for quite some time after it passes the point of 'edibility', though the exact amount of time depends on the conditions that it is stored in - as well as the flesh itself.

>>5717087
>2 talents worth of mussels
>2 talents worth of oysters

>>5717235
>attempt to buy out the fishmonger and then perhaps some extra
lmao
Trying to keep everything alive for long periods of time would be more of a pain then it's worth and Trash and seafood always leads to a bad time.
Grab a little bit of each though, perhaps a quarter talent.

>>5717087
>2 Talents for the Mussels and Clams, 10 Oyster (or however many it takes to get enough pearls to satisfy Chlot), 2-3 Talents for Little Whelk

As much as I’d love to experiment on the Mussels and Clams, it really depends on our schedule, so this is mainly to satisfy Chlot’s desire to make her favorite meals. Oysters are a much more interesting experiment, mainly in how they produce their pearls- but again, same as above, this is just to satisfy her taste curiosity and lootbox excitement. The Little Whelk has the most utility- producing usable Arsenic will be useful, whether as a personal supply or a product to sell. If you don’t mind giving me an crude estimate on the time and difficulty of the attempt, I would appreciate it Trash.

>>5717087
>20 mussels
>20 clams
>10 oysters

>>5717092
Are you writing this on a word processor trash?

>>5717087
Quarter talent of mussels
Quarter talent of clams
Half talent of oysters

>>5717501
Supporting

>>5717390
Are you trying to buy the whole inventory

>>5717599
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iEInNZ0oB-E&pp=ygULY3JhYiBwZW9wbGU%3D

>>5717703
I love this website.

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Immediately Beside the Front Door:

Whalescrap Jerky: Various species of giant lungfish, cooked and preserved. Whales are hunted primarily for their fat, so it can be rendered into fuel oil. The flesh remaining is effectively just an edible by-product. With a taste that is much closer to large terrestrial game, like Elk or Northdeer, it is not an unwelcome sight on a modest table ... or on long trips, when it has been prepared as jerky. However, the process of jerkying the flesh renders it unsuitable for working on the Life-Loom; Chlotsuintha would have an easier time working finished leather than this. Remains in an edible state for up to 2 years when stored properly. Sold in half pound-pouches. 2 to 5 Eighth-talents for one pouch. 10 pouches for sale.

Careen-Grist, Fresh: Various species of Barnacles and Limpets, sieved and milled almost to powder. The raw milled flesh of Barnacles and Limpets that were removed from the hull of a ship during careening. Used as a means of fortifying other foodstuffs for the lowest of the low - which on the Mount, includes Lepers. The millers promise that the fresh Grist is at least 'three parts flesh' ... but oddly enough they don't specify how many parts shell those three parts are against. In spite of everything, this Grist can still be worked on the Life-Loom, if Chlotsuintha was able to get it into a crude gelatin first. Remains in an edible state for two days. Sold in pound-pouches. 3 to 7 pouches for 1 Eighth-Talent. 12 pouches for sale.

Careen-Grist, Cooked:Various species of Barnacles and Limpets, sieved, milled almost to powder then cooked. The cooked flesh of Barnacles and Limpets that were removed from the hull of a ship during careening. Perhaps the cheapest species of powdered meat, which in turn is a cheaper alternative to jerkied meat. Used as a means of fortifying other foodstuffs for the lowest of the low - which on the Mount, includes Lepers. The millers promise that the cooked Grist is 'healthfully seasoned' ... but for all Chlotsuintha knows, they are claiming that the paint from the ships hull counts as 'seasoning'. The cooking process renders this Grist unsuitable for working on the Life-Loom, even if it was somehow made into a gelatin. Remains in an edible state for half a year, longer if in air-tight containers. Sold in pound-pouches. 1 to 5 pouches for 1 Eighth-Talent. 9 pouches for sale.

Tidal Pool Net: A wooden dip-net, intended for tidal pools, but also suitable for ponds. Chlotsuintha might have a hard time eating this, but she might find some use of it in catching specimens and food in pools - tidal or vernal - as well as ponds. 6 to 10 Eighth-Talents for 1 Net. 1 Net for sale.

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Crab Mallets: A small wooden mallet, with a long-for-its-size handle tapered down to a point, intended to smash the shells of shelledfish, so the wielder can get to their meat. Chlotsuintha would no doubt have a hard time eating these as well ... but as they are cheap enough to be considered disposable, they might serve as single-use probes for poking around objects bletted with the Strangeness. Sold individually. 1 to 3 Eighth-Talents for 1 Crab Mallet. 4 for sale.

Shelledfish Picks: Small steel shafts with heads in several configurations, intended to pry open the shells of shelledfish, so the wielder can get to their meat. These implements might serve as single use probes as well ... and in a pinch, they might also work as Needles or Pins for Implements and Constructs, though their irregular shapes might result in unusual and inexplicable vagaries in performance. Sold individually. 3 to 6 Eighth-Talents for 1 Shelledfish Picks. 8 for sale.

Flounder, Fresh: The tanned fish, with the uncanny-eyes. As Flounder look unusual enough under normal circumstances, the prudent tend to avoid eating them, as it is harder to determine if the fish has been physically corrupted in some manner than it would be for a more ... typical fish. The pious, on the other hand, are split on the matter. Some contend that as the aspect of the Flounder is fundamentally unpleasing, it must be some Contrary uncleanliness that has yet to be worked out of the Pattern. The other school of thought holds that while the Flounder looks aberrant, without any specific instruction against eating them from The Piece or the Heralds that came afterwards, these fish should be treated as if they were any other. For obvious reasons, Chlotsuintha subscribes to this second school of thought - and even if she didn't want to eat the fish, the distended eyes of the fish make harvesting working material very straightforward. They are also quite cheap, considering how many refuse to eat them. Remains in an edible state for 1 day. Sold whole, with each fish being about six pounds. 1 Eighth-Talent buys 1/2 to 2 pounds of Flounder. 3 for sale.

>>5717819
>6 pouches of Whale jerky

>>5717976
>2 Crab mallets
>2 Shelledfish Picks
>1 Flounder

Is this all trash?

>5717819 #
>9 pouches of Whale jerky

>>5717976 #
>2 Crab mallets
>2 Shelledfish Picks
>1 Flounder
Seems good.

Did 4chan eat your post again, QM?

>>5717819
>10 pouches of Whalescrap Jerky
Smart to stock up now.
>1 talent of Careen-Grist, Cooked
Not for us, but for animals/Constructs. Wouldn’t mind knowing what we could even make with fresh Careen-Grist though.
>Tidal Pool Net
Useful for later specimen capture and experimentation.

>>5717976
>3 Crab Mallets
>5 Shelledfish Picks
>A Flounder
Mainly because of that background lore.

>>5718093
>>5718094
Haven’t even gotten to the crabs yet people =P

>>5717819
>Buy every jerky
>Tidal pool net

>>5717976
>3 Crab Mallets
>3 Shelledfish Picks
>A Flounder

>>5718102
Supporting

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Shelledfish Pound:

Portly Spider Crab, Live: The mottled brown crab with the spindly limbs. Just as the Flounder is considered 'suspect' on account of its uncanny eyes, a similar shadow is cast over the Portly Spider Crab, on account of its unusual number of legs - though the aspersions are nowhere near as fierce as they are with the flatfish, and only the most strident would consider them Unclean. From her father's experiments, Chlotsuintha knows that shelledfish flesh and bodies are not easily worked on the Life-Loom, but the Constructs that they produce are generally more resilient, and if the shell is retained, easier to Scriven onto. Outside of salt-water, a living Portly Spider Crab will survive 1 day, and remain edible until 1 day after its death. 1 Eighth-Talents for 1 to 3 Portly Spider Crabs. 8 for sale.

Fiddler Crab, Live: The small brown crab with just one awkwardly large claw. As not all Fiddler Crabs will have a larger claw, many mistaken believe that these crabs have been exposed to some corrupting influence - either black humors from effluent or the Strangeness itself. However, it is nothing so unsavory as that; rather it is a case of sexual dimorphism - only males have the distinctive 'fiddle' claw. Still, the irregularity paired with its preferred home of muddy, brackish water has given the Fiddler Crab a perception of Uncleanliness. Presumably, the ones on sale here are intended to for bait instead of dinner. From her father's experiments, Chlotsuintha knows that shelledfish flesh and bodies are not easily worked on the Life-Loom, but the Constructs that they produce are generally more resilient, and if the shell is retained, easier to Scriven onto. Outside of salt-water, a living Fiddler Crab will survive 1 day, and remain edible until 1 day after its death. 1 Eighth-Talents for 8 to 16 Fiddler Crabs. About 30 for sale.

[I]Oceanic Lobster: The blue-green shelledfish of exceptional size. Oceanic Lobster have two different claws, a crusher and a pincer, and they can be on either side. That irregularity, with the fact that there is no other shelledfish so large that isn't from the Strange Depths explains why they are held to be Unclean, like the Fiddler Crab. However, economic considerations prevent the Lobster from being completely rebuked. Fiddler Crabs are hardly worth the effort cooking ... but one Lobster can be stretched into a few filling meals. As such, Lobsters are held as suitable for convicts, slaves, and impressed or foreign Auxiliaries. From her father's experiments, Chlotsuintha knows that shelledfish flesh and bodies are not easily worked on the Life-Loom, but the Constructs that they produce are generally more resilient, and if the shell is retained, easier to Scriven onto. Outside of salt-water, a living Oceanic Lobster will survive 1 day, and remain edible until 1 day after its death. 1 to 3 Eighth-Talents for 1 Oceanic Lobster. 14 for sale.

>>5718721
>4 Spider Crab, Live
>1 Oceanic Lobster

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>>5718721
>1 of each
Fucking love Spider Crabs.

You know how long it’ll take to cook and prepare the Lobster Trash?

>>5718721
Just one lobster please. We don't have the means to keep them alive for long.

>>5718955
Better to smell of rotten fish than sewer shit. Is anyone gonna really tell Chlot she smells like rotten fish? Nope? They'll just wave her through asap with muffled laughter at the checkpoint out of the city.

>>5718968
Or- we could literally get extra tarps/bedsheets, and cover our stuff before the sewers before changing it again.

>>5718991
Good suggestion but I think we're out of time for shopping, but we could rob a tailor or inn or pub for fabric or sheets or get some from aldoin's house (mental note to self).

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Mackerel Counter:

Chub Mackerel, Fresh: The silver-green fish with the razor sharp fins. Unlike some of the previous offerings, Mackerel are considered to be perfectly normal fish, completely suitable for the table of the decent and pious ... though the more prosperous households typically look for more privileged or substantial fare. However, when those richer tables do bear Mackerel, it is almost always cooked fresh. Chlotsuintha would have no particular trouble working this flesh on the Life-Loom. Remains in edible state for 1 day. 1 Eighth-Talent for 6 to 10 Mackerel. Around 30 for sale.

Chub Mackerel, Roasted: A formerly silver-green fish with its fins blunted. Unlike some of the previous offerings, Mackerel are considered to be perfectly normal fish, completely suitable for the table of the decent and pious ... though it would be almost exceptional for a more prosperous household to serve a prepared Mackerel like these. Chlotsuintha is aware that roasting does complicate working this flesh on the Life-Loom, but it should not be enough to completely frustrate any efforts. Remains in edible state for 30 days. 1 Eighth-Talent for 4 to 8 Mackerel. Around 20 for sale.

Chub Mackerel, Roasted and Salted: A formerly silver-green fish with its fins blunted. Unlike some of the previous offerings, Mackerel are considered to be perfectly normal fish, completely suitable for the table of the decent and pious ... though it would be almost exceptional for a more prosperous household to serve a prepared Mackerel like these. Chlotsuintha is well aware that salting and roasting means that this flesh will be nigh-unworkable on the Life-Loom ... and even if she was successful, whatever Constructs she made would likely suffer from irregularities and defects borne out of salt-exposure. Remains in edible state for 1 year. 1 Eighth-Talent for 3 to 7 Mackerel. 12 for sale.

Chub Mackerel, Salted: A formerly silver-green fish with its fins blunted. Unlike some of the previous offerings, Mackerel are considered to be perfectly normal fish, completely suitable for the table of the decent and pious ... though it would be almost exceptional for a more prosperous household to serve a prepared Mackerel like these. Chlotsuintha is well aware that salting means that this flesh will be nigh-unworkable on the Life-Loom ... and even if she was successful, whatever Constructs she made would likely suffer from irregularities and defects borne out of salt-exposure. Remains in edible state for 1 1/2 years. 1 Eighth-Talent for 2 to 5 Mackerel. 15 for sale.

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Mackerel Counter continued

Chub Mackerel, Sun-Dried: A formerly silver-green fish with its fins blunted. Unlike some of the previous offerings, Mackerel are considered to be perfectly normal fish, completely suitable for the table of the decent and pious ... though it would be almost exceptional for a more prosperous household to serve a prepared Mackerel like these. Chlotsuintha is aware that sun-drying does complicate working this flesh on the Life-Loom, but it should not be enough to completely frustrate any efforts. Searing is recommended, but currently ready to eat. Remains in edible state for 3 days. 1 Eighth-Talent for 5 to 9 Mackerel. Around 30 for sale.

Chub Mackerel, Pickled: A formerly silver-green fish with its fins blunted. Unlike some of the previous offerings, Mackerel are considered to be perfectly normal fish, completely suitable for the table of the decent and pious ... though it would be almost exceptional for a more prosperous household to serve a prepared Mackerel like these. Chlotsuintha is well aware that salt and the brine means that this flesh will be nigh-unworkable on the Life-Loom ... and even if she was successful, whatever Constructs she made would likely suffer from irregularities and defects borne out of salt-exposure. Remains in edible state for 2 years. 1 Eighth-Talent for 1 to 4 Mackerel. Around 20 for sale.

Herring Counter:

Darling Herring, Fresh: The sleek silver fish. Similar to the Mackerel, Herring are considered a perfectly normal fish, suitable for any table ... but they are even less likely to end up served at a more prosperous household, in large part due to how they are perceived as 'affordable'. Chlotsuintha would have no particular trouble working this flesh on the Life-Loom. Remains in edible state for 1 day. 1 Eighth-Talent for 2 to 3 dozen Herring. Around 6 dozen for sale.

Darling Kipper: The sleek silver fish, split in twain and cold smoked. Chlotsuintha is aware that smoking does complicate working this flesh on the Life-Loom, but it should not be enough to completely frustrate any efforts. Remains in edible state for 90 days. 1 Eighth-Talent for 1 to 2 dozen Kipper. Around 6 dozen for sale.

Darling Bloater: The sleek silver fish, cold smoked whole without gutting. Chlotsuintha is aware that smoking does complicate working this flesh on the Life-Loom, but it should not be enough to completely frustrate any efforts. Remains in edible state for 60 days. 1 Eighth-Talent for 1 to 2 dozen Bloater. Around 4 dozen for sale.

Darling Buckling: The sleek silver fish, hot smoked whole without gutting. Chlotsuintha is aware that smoking does complicate working this flesh on the Life-Loom, but it should not be enough to completely frustrate any efforts. Remains in edible state for 60 days. 1 Eighth-Talent for 1 to 2 dozen Buckling. Around 4 dozen for sale.

>>5718721
> an eight talent of Portly Spider Crab
> 1 Oceanic Lobster

>>5719149
> 1 Chub Mackerel, Fresh
> 2 Chub Mackerel, Roasted

>>5719150
> 4 Chub Mackerel, Pickled
> 4 dozen Darling Kipper

>>5719149
>3 Chub Mackerel, Roasted
>12 Chub Mackerel, Roasted and Salted
>15 Chub Mackerel, Salted

>>5719150
>20 Chub Mackerel, Pickled
>3 Dozen Darling Kipper, Darling Bloater,
and Darling Buckling
Do you know how long a dozen or so will take to be consumed? Meal or day?
Either way, we should probably avoid eating the unprosperous stuff in front of company- and probably hide it in the back somewhere behind the other ‘prosperous’ fish.

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The Quality Counter:

Cod, Fresh : - the brown fish with the broad mouth. More than just beings considered normal, the Cod is widely held to be a suitable meal for the well-to-do's tables, and on occasion will even be found on the tables of those belonging to much higher stations. As far as being worked on the Life-Loom, this flesh should present no particular trouble. Remains in edible state for 1 day. 6 to 12 Eighth-Talents for 1 Cod. 3 Available.

Haddock, Fresh - the steel colored fished with the perky fins. As is the case with the Cod, the Haddock is held to be a suitable meal for the well-to-do, and while it is not as likely as Cod to be found on richer tables, it is not completely precluded from them. As far as being worked on the Life-Loom, this flesh should present no particular trouble. Remains in edible state for 1 day. 2 to 8 Eighth-Talents for 1 Haddock. 4 Available

Salmon,Fresh - the green and gray fish with the under-bite. If there was such a thing as a egalitarian fish dish, it would have to be Salmon. While it may be priced out of the diets of the meanest subjects, beyond that it runs the gamut of tables - from merchants who have yet to earn a Family Patent all the way up to Princeps and Princes. As far as being worked on the Life-Loom, this flesh should present no particular trouble. Remains in edible state for 1 day. 24 to 48 Eighth-Talents for 1 Salmon. 1 Available.

Elvers, Live - the juvenile finless fishes, plucky and plump. A commoner's luxury, which evokes the Lamprey, whose consumption is restricted to Citizens of the Empire. This batch is alive in buckets ... though for how long remains to be seen. As far as being worked on the Life-Loom, this flesh should present no particular trouble, especially considering that it is still alive. Will survive in buckets up to 1 day from now. After death, will remain in edible state for 1 day. 24 to 48 Eighth-Talent for 1/8 pound of Elvers. Around 3 pounds available.

Eels, Fresh - the fully grown finless fishes, all the pluckier and plumper. A commoner's luxury, which evokes the Lamprey, whose consumption is restricted to Citizens of the Empire. As far as being worked on the Life-Loom, this flesh should present no particular trouble. Remains in edible state for 1 day. 56 to 96 Eighth-Talents for one 4 inch portion. Around 10 portions available.

Lamprey, Fresh - the regal eel with the bristling mouth and false eyes. A controlled delicacy, restricted to Citizens of the Empire. As far as being worked on the Life-Loom, this flesh should present no particular trouble. If Chlotsuintha wants to try this delicacy, she is going to have to pass a deception and a persuasion test. As far as being worked on the Life-Loom, this flesh should present no particular trouble. Remains in edible state for 1 day. Price and availability on request.

And that about does it for the Fishmonger's stock. If you haven't voted on any of the previous sections, please feel free to vote on those as well!

>>5719337


>20 Chub Mackerel, Pickled
>15 Chub Mackerel, Salted

>1 Dozen Darling Buckling
Snack for right now.

>1/2 lb. Elvers, Live


I'll bet we could totally try to make an immortal parasitic construct with that Lamprey but it isn't worth the risk without a target construct in mind.

>>5719337
As much as I would love to try the quality counter, we don’t have the luxury of of tasting everything before it spoils. Even so
>Lamprey, Fresh
I’d love for Chlot to at least try this- start getting in the role of a proper citizen.

Going off a tangent, I do wonder if we swindle our way into a countryside inheritance- something to help us get into the role of a proper Lady Citizen.

>>5719149
>4 Chub Mackerel, Roasted
>10 Chub Mackerel, Roasted and Salted
>12 Chub Mackerel, Salted

>>5719150
>20 Chub Mackerel, Pickled
>4 dozen Darling Kipper

>>5719337
>1 Cod, Fresh

Alright, let me see if I can figure out the order.

Votes cast on >>5717087
4 out of 5 of you voted to not buy any Little Whelk, so that is fairly clear on that point. But on the rest, as there isn't even a clear plurality, I think I am going to have to average things to best reflect everyone's votes. There were two votes for 16 eT of Mussels, and two votes for 2 eT of Mussels. Working out the fifth vote, for 20 Mussels ... hmm, if I take split the range 3 to 6 Mussels per Eighth-Talent in half, to get 4.5 Mussels per Eighth-Talent, then the vote for 20 Mussels is equivalent to a vote for spending 4.4 eT - rounding up to 5 eT. So, averaging, that is 8.2 eT, round up to 9. There were two votes for 2 eT of Clams, one vote for 16 eT of Clams, one vote for 20 Clams and one vote for no clams. Taking the split of 2 to 5, it is 3.5 Clams for Eighth-Talent, then the vote for 20 Clams is equivalent to a vote for spending 5.7 eT - rounding up to 6 eT. So, averaging, that is 5.2 eT, rounded up to 6 eT.

Votes cast on >>5717819 and >>5717976
As there is a clear majority on Whalescrap Jerky, Crab Mallets, the Flounder, and the Tidal Net, Chlotsuintha will purchase 10 pouches, 3 Crab Hammers, 1 Flounder and 1 Net. No one voted for purchasing fresh Careen-Grist, and only 2 of the five voted for purchasing any cooked Careen-Grist, so Chlotsuintha is going to hold of on that. The Shelledfish Picks have a tricky split, 2-2-3-5-5, so going off of the averaging I'll have to say that Chlotsuintha is looking to buy 3 of them.

Votes cast on >>5718721
There were only four votes cast here . Everyone voted to purchase one Oceanic Lobster, and a clear majority was against buying any Fiddler Crab, but there was a split for the Portly Spider Crab; 0-1-4-2 (with the splitting of the purchasing range for the vote given in terms of talents instead of animals, as established by the previous conversions). With not even a plurality, we must resort to averaging: 1.75 rounding up to 2 Fiddler Crabs.

Votes cast on >>5719149 and >>5719150
Again, there were only four votes cast here. With three votes to one against for buying no fresh Chub Mackerel, none will be bought. The split for Roasted Chub Mackerel was 0-2-3-4, with no plurality, we must resort to averaging: 2.25 rounding up to 3 Roasted Chub Mackerels. There was a plurality for buying no Roasted and Salted Chub Mackerel, so none is bought. There was a plurality for buying 15 Salted Chub Mackerel, so 15 are bought. There was a majority for buying 20 Pickled Chub Mackerel, so 20 are bought. There is a plurality for buying 4 dozen Darling Kipper, so 48 are bought. There is a plurality for buying no Darling Buckling, so none is bought. There is a majority for buying no Darling Bloater, so none is bought.

Votes cast on >>5719337
There were three votes cast; everything in this segment had a majority against it - nothing is purchased.

I'll get a quick update out sometime after dinner.
eT = Eighth-Talent

>>5719885
Off topic question- do we know how long it will take for the registering Strangeness to dissipate beyond the ability to spot out? I’m curious how long we are stuck being ‘hot’, so to speak.

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Barter Test I

> + DC 60 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is Blockheaded about Barter, making a Simple Sale like this [Very Involved].
> + DC 4 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is currently Drained II, and may not be thinking as quick as she normally does.
> + DC 3 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is currently Tired I, and is prone to making mistakes that she otherwise would not.
> + DC 2 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is odd looking, given her height.
> - DC 10 Witchlet Chlotsuintha looks to be Gently Bred [bonus doubles on most males]
> - DC 4 Witchlet Chlotsuintha is throwing around enough talents that the Fishmonger is willing to bend on some prices.

> DC 55. Anything lower is a failure. [Auto-passes available and re-rolls available. No hostile re-rolls]

> No Passes: Spendthrift. You really are not cut out to be a merchant. For every item bought, roll a 1d6 die. For every dice roll equal to 1, 2, and 3 you pay full price PLUS the difference. For everything else, you pay full price.
> One Pass: Sticker Shock! This could have gone a bit better. For every item bought, roll a 1d6 die. For every dice roll equal to 1 and 2, you pay full price PLUS half of the difference. For 3, you pay the full price. For 4, you pay the reduced price PLUS three-fourths of the difference. For 5, you pay the reduced price PLUS half of the difference. For 6, you pay the reduced price PLUS one-fourth of the difference.
>Two Passes: Cash and Carry. This was not a terrible showing. For every item bought, roll a 1d6 die. For every dice roll equal to 1 and 2, you pay full pay full price. For 3, you pay the reduced price PLUS three fourths of the difference. For 4 you pay the reduced price PLUS half of the difference. For 5 you pay the reduced price PLUS one-fourth of the difference. For 6, you pay the reduced price.
>Three Passes: Talented Talker. You might actually be cut out for this after all. For every item bought, roll a 1d6 die. For every dice roll equal to 1, you pay full price, except for the most expensive item(s) which are treated as if you rolled at 2. For 2, you pay the reduced price, PLUS three-fourths of the difference. For 3, you pay the reduced price, PLUS half of the difference. For 4, you pay the reduced price PLUS one-fourth of the difference. For 5, you pay the reduced price. For 6 you pay the reduced price MINUS one-fourth of the difference.

>If ONE of the THREE rolls comes up as a Critical or Near Critical Failure (Roll of 1 or 2) then you pay full price on everything, PLUS TWICE the difference.
>If ONE of the THREE rolls comes up as a Critical or Near Critical Success (Roll of 100 or 99) then you pay the reduced price on everything, and permanently improve your Bartering ability.

>Standard rules in effect - Auto-pass must be used before a Critical or Near Critical is rolled. Also, if you roll, wait 10 minutes or so, then roll again to keep the quest moving along.