“… they are good friends of mine. “
“ they will keep you safe. ”
“ this.. will all blow over. “

Ha!
Ha.
ha.

how things turned out.
if you were to see me now, pa….

… Those birds’ incessant wailing never fails to make my morning worse. The flocks have learned to stop perching at this residence a long time ago, but there’s nothing I could do about the forests around here. Peeking through the wooden shutters, I see a shroud of faint orange and yellow looming over the trees, specks of it encroaching on the dimly colored sky. In a few short hours, this soothing breeze with subside and the sun will be full once more. My vision is terribly fuzzy, but the hands retrieve my things just fine.

>haori acquired!
The jacket is as black as ever. The stitching remains true - it will be years before any of the inside pockets fail me.

>tantō acquired!
A shortsword that is an elbow long [50 cm]. Minor nicks are present all throughout the blade and hilt, but it still feels lively in the hand.

File: IMG_0575.jpg (1.12 MB, 3946x2972)

1.12 MB JPG

Rarely does anyone in the Junnpraparr family actually come here nowadays, but appearances must be maintained - letting such a property rot is not in their best interest, for financial purposes, if nothing else. There is not much to be done regarding the rumors which swirl around their ancestral home, that wrathful apparitions curse this place and those who dare interact with it. I find it endearing that they think the most horrible thing in this household are the dead.

... I suppose I should get going. This is a large residence, and there is but one caretaker to handle it all.

> Junnpraparr Residence <

>water quarters [North West]
>parents quarters [North]
>ancestors shrine [North East]
>children quarters [Center East]
>kitchen [Center West]
>storage [South West]
>guest quarters [South]
>pets quarters [South East]

Restock the kitchen, refill the water jars, check the earthenware for mosquitos, do the laundry, wipe down the furniture, sweep the quarters, change the water in the shrine, rake the leaves around the residence, examine the wooden stilts and joints for splinters….. there is so much to do, and it was not long before all trace of sunlight disappears. Still, I like it. The stillness. The brisk air. The stars and moon. The night gave me semblance of peace. Always did. I suppose it could be better if I had rice wine and—

“All by your lonesome again, Noot?”
“New years is around the corner…”

The most insufferable of women appears a few inches from me while I was admiring the sky. Adorned with the most obnoxiously purple breast cloth and ankle-length breeches, in addition to being embellished with the most unnecessary of jewelry, is none other than Fhai who would speak to me in such a disappointed and amused tone. The household spirit leisurely rests her back against the wooden railing while giving a look most arrogant and sardonic. I do not intend on letting that go unanswered.

"it is rather difficult, finding a paramour rather than watching them grow up and harvest them at your convenience."

“Hey now, it’s not that easy!”
“Especially with you around…”
She dismissively fondles her scarf as she looks away.

"fhai…"
"you haven’t had the remotest idea how…"

Oh good. She is going to complain about how hard she has it. I might as well get something to ease our minds now before this conversation continues.

I head over to the storage to get..

>sahtou
Milky white in color, this rice wine has a distinct sweetness to it. A single cup of this can get people drunk quickly.

A remnant of days when this family was less divided. When the wives, the children, and a young retainer were on good terms with each other.

>betel nuts chewing set
A set containing betel leaves, betel nuts, and slaked lime. Sour and refreshing. Just as many chew it to cultivate blackened teeth.

A relic of friendship this household and my family once had. A time when my kind wasn’t marked for death.

>>5815824
>sahtou

>>5815824
>sahtou

>>5815824
>>betel nuts chewing set

>>5815824
>>sahtou

>>5815824
>betel nuts chewing set

>>5815824
>sahtou

Seems like the decision is clear. I’ll be writing it tomorrow.

>>5816632
waiting warmly

>>5815824
>betel nuts chewing set

Writing. Voting closed.

>>5815876
>>5815898
>>5816040
>>5816452
Sahtou

>>5815988
>>5816139
>>5817072
Betel nuts

Updating tonight.

>sahtou

"i…"
"ugh… forget this…"

If we are to ruminate about things, it is better with a drink in hand. She seems to agree as well. Within the storage, beyond the stacks of boxes and chests containing scarcely used items, old furniture that has long been replaced but not too damaged to be thrown out, compartments of old letters and legal documents, lies a shelf. Cups, lacquerware, sets of betel nuts chewing equipment… they remain here for the most part — hardly any guests came here these days.

>sahtou acquired!

A clay jar, fat and tall enough to match a head in proportion. The once red cloth which covers the top has turned crimson and the rope which ties it are rather frayed.

>wooden straws acquired!

Long drinking straws commonly used when drinking from large jars. One elbow and one span in length. [75 cm]

“Aw.. I thought…” Fhai is eyeing the towers of neatly stacked cups, oceanic in color.

"might as well use them now..."
"they came with the packaging."

“Never took you for someone — this — lazy….”

File: Vorranoot and Fhai.jpg (6.04 MB, 3946x2972)

6.04 MB JPG

[ … ]

We stayed outside, lounging on the floor and sipping the rice wine as we rant about things, tell and re-tell stories, and fixate on the most irrelevant of matters.

“… so hard to get someone to fool around with these days.”
“Ah…”
“Those kids… they don’t make them like they used to. No guts anymore. Ever since monarch Prasart Tong took power…”

Ah yes. Our current Monarch has done the most of terrible things: committed genocide of a population that has stood with the country ever since the Black lord’s reign, executed Xongtum the Just’s children and wife, but I’d never imagined he would stoop this low. His monastery construction projects has done irreparable damage to lonely two-hundred year old women’s abilities in finding young bedwarmers.

"maybe you should try the backyard. plenty of boys there you could sink your teeth into."

And girls too I believe. Hard to tell which is which when it comes to infants.

“Alllllll righttttt, Allll righttt, Noot. I’m not…”
“I’m not.. into someone — that — young.” It got a pretty decent chuckle from her.

We had lively times. Half the things we said would definitely not be welcomed in polite society and I love her for it. Joking about the more morbid aspects of our long, and perhaps too lengthy lives was not the only thing we did, of course. As we are the eldest currently in this residence, the topic of the whereabouts of this family - or what is left of it - eventually came up.

“… how is the children, these days?”
“Garn….. Nhon……”
“Have they…”
“been….”
“…..”
Her voice droops. I pat her on the shoulder and reassures her their worst days are behind them.

"arenhon have not contacted me for the past… three.. four months. last i heard, he is still in new amsterdam - trading with the wilunda [dutch]. i believe he is less of a bitch these days, so that’s one thing."

“.. i hope that is true.“
“Ugh….”
“Cleaning up his messes… you haven’t been troubled by it, yeah?” There is still a certain guilt to her eyes. I assure her that is not - and never will - be the case.

"never."
"if he caused pregnancy to befall his lovers again, i will not flinch. Killing them inside - outside the womb, it does not really matter. i will not have those women condemned to be beggars and shamed for the rest for their days due to a man too cowardly to use condoms or abortifacients...."
"but.. NOT too cowardly to have sex!"
"Had Them!"

I have seen too much in the great capital. I have seen the poorer, forgotten streets of Ayuttaya. Too many families too large and too poor for their own good. Too many women condemned to such a life and cast out by their own but many of the men continue living unmolested.

She ruffles my hair.
“Simmer down now.”

"Sorry."
I tend to be.. too expressive about this sort of thing.

Fhai lets out a sigh, but does not disapprove of it, nor does she stop playing with the strands.

After such a heavy topic, we decided to talk about something more light-hearted. Stories during the earlier days of this family, when those kids weren’t so rotten.

“… aye, that was the finest trick I ever did. Fifteen…”
“hahaha....”
“It must have been at least twenty birds that took a shit on him, all at once. His head, his shirt, his breeches, shit was whiter than ivory.”
“Now that!” She takes another sip from the jar.
“was justice.”
“That damned thief got aaaalllllllll his fancy fucking clothes turned to shit… that’s.. that’s what you get for being such a prick.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
“Haa…….”

“I miss those days, Noot. Shit was so fine back then.” I pet her on the head as she leans against me.

"Shit really was fine back then."

“Mhm.”
“I… I think I’m done for the night….”
“See.. ya.”

And just like that, she was gone once more. I could never get used to that feeling. Always too sudden.

… ah. well.

I close the sahtou jar and returned it to the shelf. The straws were cleaned and dried, ready to be used once again in the future. Before I head to sleep, I take one last glimpse at the sky. As abyssal and silent as ever.

The moonlight is strong and the air feels cold. Ah…. It reminds me of a time not so long ago….

At eighteen years, any man not part of slavery or nobility, "Prai" as we were called, had to be marked to remain in the law’s protection, and serve the government in some way — through labor, providing products, or paying exemption fees. I was marked on such a night.

I chose to be part of…

>Yiipuun [Japanese] Volunteer Corps
A military division that stood by the country ever since the Black Lord’s reign, nearly half a century ago. I was an arquebusier, as was my father.

[Fighting man: I was trained in using weapons.]

>Yiipuun Metalworkers village
I once lived in the "yiipuun village", a settlement founded by rōnin and Christians fleeing persecution many decades ago. I became a metalworker, much like my mother, making weapons and armor for the crown.

[Hardened: I can sustain more injuries.]

File: Japanese_Volunteers_Division.jpg (1.11 MB, 3946x2972)

1.11 MB JPG

We worked closely with other settlements, like the wilunda [dutch], whose was called "New Amsterdam” and had a similar military force to ours called the "Marksmen Volunteer Corps". Our family came into contact with the Junnpraparr — who prospered in cutlery.

During monarch Xongtum’s reign, we flourished. The leader of the Yiipuun village and Volunteer Crops - Yamada Nagamasa, was a loyal supporter of his, and when time came for a successor, Yamada backed his children, putting him in opposition to Prasart Tong, his cousin. After his passing, Xongtum’s children and wife were deposed, and Yamada quickly followed — he had too much power. When settlement and the corps were accused of treason and put to the sword, it was the Junnpraparr family which saved me. Got me a new identity and everything.

… and look things turned out.

FYI: schedule

the next two days i will be very busy — thats why this update was so long. See you guys soon! I’ll try to respond if you have any questions.

>>5817514
>>Yiipuun [Japanese] Volunteer Corps

>>5817514
>>Yiipuun Metalworkers village

>>5817514
>Yiipuun [Japanese] Volunteer Corps

>>5817514
>Yiipuun Metalworkers village

>>5817514
>>Yiipuun [Japanese] Volunteer Corps
How many war crimes did we commit?

>>5817514
>Yiipuun Metalworkers village

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5817514
>1=The Corps
>2=Metalworkers village

>>5817514
>Yiipuun [Japanese] Volunteer Corps

>>5817683
>>5817803
>>5818004
>>5818604
>>5818725
Volunteer corps

>>5817771
>>5817824
>>5818546
Metalworkers

>>5817514
>Yiipuun Metalworkers village

>>5818004
we are ned stark, more or less.

I’ll be writing this soon. Vote closed.

Updating today.

File: Untitled112.jpg (1.09 MB, 3946x2972)

1.09 MB JPG

>yiipuun volunteer corps

I was born nearly a decade after the war with Pahma [Burma] ended. It was the time of Naraysuan the "Black Lord" and his brother, Aegartohtsaroht the "White Lord" - their stories of how our independence was achieved were told, retold, reenacted again and again. One monarch peerless in warring, another in foreign relations (and mercenaries). National pride was high, but not for long. The white lord’s child was without ability to rule and was executed after a year. It was up to a bastard - who spent most of his years a monk - to lead the country. Monarch Xongtum turned out all right, anyhow.

… now that I am looking back, I can see things have not changed much in the monarchy: Great monarchs with long reigns, followed by successors lacking their skills, their reign abruptly short. What was the saying, again? 'In the game of thrones, you win or you die.' … or something of sort? It feels more accurate than I originally thought.

After one final glance at the ever-still night sky, I take a lengthy breath to fill my chest with the soothing cool air. It’s—

>someone is approaching the residence…

I executed many infants in service of this family. I grew accustomed to their insistence on following and observing me - it was not long before ignoring them became as a task as ordinary as breathing.

There is no one to ignore at the moment.

The source of this behavior soon presents herself: an usually tall woman, her hair lengthy and adorned with a flower of crimson petals. A sabai wraps around her, green as banana leaves and freely swirling without wind. Much of her upper body is covered by some sort of fabric dark green in color - oddly leaving one shoulder bare and another not. Her skirt is ankle length but clings onto the skin rather tightly. There is a pleasantly sweet scent of banana and milk which accompanies her.

She stands at the base of the stairs, her hands behind her back and head moving back and forth ever slightly, eagerly awaiting someone to let her inside the property.

That sabai… the odd clothing choices.. that scent… and the disappearance of those infants….. I know her kind. Tree spirits. From wild banana (plantain - as its called) trees in this case. Many beg them for blessings in love. Many others fear them for their association with funerals. To me, she is merely another guest. I address her while standing behind the gate.

"greetings…"
"ma’am…."
"is there…"
"anything I could do for you?"

The wine made me produce my words in a manner slower than I hoped, but she understands it regardless.

“I -need- to speak with mister Vorranoot. May - i - come in?” She says, in a cutesy, high pitched tone similar to that of a young girl. Ugh. I am too tired to consider if such is a trick or otherwise.

"you may..."

At last the guest quarters finds use.

[ … ]

For better, or for worse, it seems her cheerful nature was not a deception. Every word she speaks has a joyful tone to it.

“Arenhon Junnpraparr speaks highly of you, mister Vorranoot. Funny how -fast- people can change their opinions when they are at death’s door!”

According to her, Nhon contracted the greatpox three months ago - even liquid iron [mercury] cannot save his nose: it had to be replaced. I suspect it will only be a few more weeks before his pustules cannot be hidden from the public - and his role as an intermediate in New Amsterdam soon comes to an end. He will be quietly removed and kept far, far away from the capital until he expires, as it would be unbecoming of this family to have a son with a socially abhorred disease. I wonder what will happen to someone so prodigal then.

As much as I want to believe someone like her completely, I ask for proof regarding these statements.

“Oh, don’t you worry… you will see him with your very own eyes soon enough. In a day’s time, or less, he will return to this place. He still -needs- a certain workhorse to dispose of his… assets and convert them into money.” A most vile grin stretches her lips. Her eyes fixate on mine. Her slender fingers reach for my cheeks.

“After he croaks, it will just be Garn, the minor wives, and the slave wives now. All vying for power, for inheritance, for influence.”

Her fingers brush against my face, lightly stroking it.

“… and you’ll be in the middle of it all ~ “
“You won’t need to clean their fuck-ups as often if you back the right people….”

>[intercept her fingers]
"that is enough."

>[let her continue]
"if nhon truly is at death’s door…."

FYI: schedule

will be busy for entire day tomorrow

>>5822410
>[let her continue]

>>5822410
>[let her continue]

>>5822410
>[let her continue]

>>5822410
>[let her continue]
Human contact! Or, well, close enough! We seem to be a lonely fellow.

>>5822410
>>[let her continue]

>>5822410
>>[let her continue]

>>5822410
>[let her continue]

Voting closed. Unanimously clear.

Writing tomorrow.

>[let her continue]

"if nhon is truly at death’s door… what is your plan?"

I suppose I should be glad - that lecherous thing stopped for good. Far too many women suffered because of him. Too many infants snuffed out for their sake. And there is Benjagarn to deal with….

Mhm…

Her fingers move to my forehead, brushing the more wayward strands into something more uniform. Feeling such gentle things glide through my hair got me to drop a frown I unknowingly had.

“…. find someone else to fool around with, ob-vious-ly.” Her hand squeezes my cheeks ever so slightly.

Oh. So this is how it is going to be. I let out a exasperated huff before deciding to play her little game.

"…. sorry ma’am, i am fhai’s property. not for sale either."

“Ahhh. Maybe I should speak to her about -renting- the place.” A middle finger of hers slides off my face and traces the neck - applying a modicum of pressure at a glacial pace.

"maybe you should." I put a stop to that before it goes any lower.

“…”
"…"

After (perhaps much needed) levity, we reverted to more pressing matters. The contents of his assets, what the rest of the family is up to, and her plan to come out on top.

[ … ]

There is no chance Tian Junnpraparr is willing to let outsiders take Arenhon’s position of intermediary in New Amsterdam — while on the surface, that position 'merely' oversees a few cutlers, the true power comes from their proximity to the front of the town, where storages are built and ships are docked. Since the town is on Jaopraya river mouth, they can eavesdrop on trading information and pass that information to others in the capital before those ships reach them. A position of spymaster, in short.

While highly profitable, it demands tact and good judgment. Any missteps - any evidence of this leakage, both on the side buying this information and the side stealing and everything falls apart.

“Viriya and Buunsri. Nhon said those two are the ones most likely will be given that position by his father.”

One a slave wife and the other a minor wife - hardly few in numbers, but these two have qualities which make them stand above the rest. While Viriya was rescued from debt slavery through marriage like the others, she once served a family (that is somehow even more corrupt than ours) which has since collapsed. Her previous connections makes her the family’s workhorse when it comes to legally adjacent practices: under-the-table deals and forgery are her domain.

And Buunsri….
I believe she really was the only woman Tian truly, truly loved. Shame he was given a wife before that - if it weren’t for securing alliances between him and the Amornrut family… those two kids might not have gone as wayward. She was a rather decent intermediary when her husband was needed elsewhere. All those years in Ayuttaya and all the connections she racked up could prepare her for New Amesterdam.

And then there’s Benjagarn…..
Last I saw of her was…
Ugh. I still remember her paramour’s head on a platter.

Also there’s the issue of Nhon’s… assets. I knew he stockpiled things but I never thought it could get this bad. The usual things - weapons, jewelry, animal products, counterfeit goods, maybe opium in small amounts, I could filter and turn some into coin if the guys I know could handle it, but….

"… that is NOT an option. i cannot… filter child pornography into money. green lamps establishments or no - there just is not… there just is not enough vendors to sell one-tenth of it."

Pornography is generally a low-risk and low-reward product to sell in green lamps establishments or bars, but child pornography - illustrated ones at least - is an entirely different game. Half the district will gut me if I pick the wrong vendors to distribute it. It is still a drawing, I suppose, but that is far too close for some.

I do not intend to follow Nhon to the grave.

File: talking_-_translated.png (3.53 MB, 3946x2972)

3.53 MB PNG

“You need not worry about such things, mister. Leave it up to -littleoldme- to handle it.” To say I am vexed by her calm demeanor is putting it lightly.

"i… don’t understand. how.. who… would pay for all these…?"

“People in the interstice - much like yourself. Not everyone is as fortunate as Fhai, of course. And just like opium-eaters, they will do anything to get their high. I am sure someone who dabbles in the occult would be willing to fork over a good amount to get apparitions to do their bidding. I could… track them down. I’m sure there’s a few in this town.”

… oh god. What did I get myself into.

This was getting far, far too late. I must sleep - Arenhon might be here in a day.

I decide to sleep.

There was a dream. A hazy one. No, rather, a recollection of something. It was about..

>Benjagarn and her mother
She pushed it too far. He wasn’t letting that go…

>Arenhon and his father
How quickly trust is eroded…

>>5824605
>Benjagarn and her mother

>>5824605
>>Arenhon and his father

>>5824601
is that "cyberpunk" based on actual kids being drawn ? if that's so, I supposed the man didn't get 1/10 of the suffering he deserved.
>>5824605
>Benjagarn and her mother

>>5824605
>Arenhon and his father

>>5824605
>Arenhon and his father

>>5824605
>>Benjagarn and her mother

Currently a tie. I’ll check back tomorrow morning.

>>5824605
>>Arenhon and his father

>>5824730
>>5824801
>>5825289

Garn

>>5824749
>>5825170
>>5825254
>>5825554
Nhon

Voting closed.

File: Spoiler Image (2.21 MB, 3946x2972)

2.21 MB PNG

Writing.

Time has not been kind.

>Arenhon and his father

【 Not too long ago... 】

“… hughhhhhhhhhhhhhh.” The sloshing water and scrubbing of dishes tends to make words muted, but I hear his groan just as well. Behind me is (a rather annoyed) Arenhon "Nhon" Junnpraparr who is extending a lightly stained green dessert plate. I set it aside before tending to the others.

"the reunion did not go well, i take it?"

“.. yeah.. yeah… my dad - my mom - my grandma - grandpa - kept busting my balls and shit for dating… and shit. Ugh. Twenty years now and they still forbids me from having a lover….”

There is nothing that could be done about it, I suppose. Their words take precedent. That being said, I did offer him some logic to their words. Something to simmer him down.

"they are always like that, i suppose. they do not want their son having someone - and potentially making her fall pregnant. this.. obfuscation.. prohibition.. it is well-meaning on their part."

“.. Yeah. I guess so.“
“… ugh……”
“.. what is.. what’s your opinion on 'when to introduce a lover to the family?' When is.. 'old' enough?”

Asking me of all people… ha. I may be ten years his senior but those years were spent with the corps rather than with someone special. Relationships… they don’t tend to work with people constantly traveling the country.

"… not sure myself. they can be.… contradictory at times. few more years from now, they might be complaining about 'nhon not bringing a girl home' and what else."

Still, I did give it a shot at advice.

"well… don’t get caught. and uh.. about sex… don’t cum inside her—no, actually just stick to your tongue or fingers. for penetration you need condoms. i believe green lamps establishments sell those…."

… Welp.

He got caught.

Tian Juunpraparr gave him quite the earful. And the handful. By the end of it all, his hands - and arms - turned redder than chili, and his cheeks encrusted with tears. Nhon tried to tell him he wasn’t there for the prostitutes but it did not pan out.

“… hgh. Ugh. agh…” The pain from struck with a slender stick some.. forty.. fifty times prevents him from saying much. I solemnly brush the wet towels against the irritated skin all the while. I tried to negotiate with his father, but all it did was made him reconsider using a whip - for fear of lasting scars if nothing else.

He did the best he could. He tried to gave an explanation - without raising his voice (much). He did NOT squeal. He did not turn away from punishment.

Oh well. That is how it goes sometimes.

Then shit really went sideways.

“… wha. Wha- what the fuck. What the fuck was THAT. What the fuck! Noot, we got to—“ Arenhon is shaking pretty badly. His words spill out of this mouth at an exceeding fast pace. He is panicking. Every faculty he owns is. I press firm against his shoulder and try to stead him.

"listen to me. what we saw - we keep to ourselves. all right?"

“No, what the fuck, WHY?!”

"it is better if we let this go. legally, we CANNOT do anything about it - he is your father and you cannot testify against him. maybe i could, but divorce is a messy thing. if amornrut— no, if any of her family find out and file a divorce, there is no chance the family’s reputation will not be tarnished. he will not risk this getting out. he cannot. every damned thing he owns will come crumbling with him including us. and he will make your life an absolute hell if it did."

I drag him through the forest, getting as far away from the residence as possible and as discreetly as possible.

"… so.. so we just.. keep quiet? That’s it!? What happens if someone else finds out?”

"then he sends viriya to deal with them. and probably me."

A great silence follows our exchange. Arenhon seems to have simmered down slightly. That is good. Last thing we need is accidentally tipping him off.

“It was all horseshit then.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“.. all that talk. 'work hard' and.. 'be loyal - be faithful - be grateful for your parents, family' and.. 'think of your family whenever you do something' and.. and… whatever the fuck else.” Every syllable drips with rancor.

"… i don’t know."
"…. i really…"
".. i …"
" .. ! .. '
' …
..
.

My body jolts awake. That was all too brief. And soon, all too hazy. How distant can.. five.. six.. or maybe four..? years could get, huh.

[ … ]

>someone is approaching the estate…

It was late in the afternoon when I noticed someone in the forest. I almost mistook him for a farmer who accidentally wandered into the pathway (ah, my vision these days - how fuzzy they became!) but upon closer examination on the face, his nose in particular, did I realize who he is: Nhon.

That lady was not telling tall tales - his skin, his hair, his nose, Arenhon is on the verge of falling apart. His pustules are barely hidden by his clothing and hair. The venereal disease - and lack of grooming - has aged him considerably too: his once dreamy presence has been eaten away, leaving behind an unwanted tramp. (Likely worse. I have seen drifters take better care of themselves.)

Still… he is a member of this family, so I greet him all the same. However, I do not have time for any excuses nor lies — once we are in the guest quarters, I ask plainly about his condition. To his credit, he does not deny much, merely stating he has a couple weeks - two months if he is lucky - before the pustules ruin him completely.

“I have a favor to ask. You’ll get a big cut of this if you do.” As expected, he asks me to filter the opium, the pornography, the weapons, and every other thing that cannot be exchanged for money directly.

File: meeting_nhon.png (3.34 MB, 3946x2972)

3.34 MB PNG

“And…”
“My sister, Noot. She’s coming for me. She knows I will be 'out' soon enough. She — or her attack dogs — will scutter to this place and try to take some of my things - my money - for themselves. And probably arrange for me to die 'normally' if there is chance. I need you to be quick about this.”

Oh good. Bringing a knife’s edge to my throat as well! I suppose I should thank him. And.. needs me to be quick? 'quick'? QUICK? Fuck off.

"… you are perfectly aware that i need not do as you ask, yes?"

“.. yeah. I.. I know. But.. are you going to let Garn get away with this? This.. this IS a lot of leverage. You know the lengths she is willing to go to. If she could get her partner to kill my mother—”

Officially speaking, Amornrut died due to an allergic reaction due to lack of oversight on a restaurant’s part. Truth was, the shrimp was intentionally added.

".. and his head has rolled for that. And neatly wrapped up in a neat little box. And sent back to her by your father."

“Yes! And who does she think severed his head? It’s Y O U on the line too if you let her take the opium-pornography-weapons -jewelry-whatelse.”

… I suppose this is the most polite thing his mind could conjure up when asking for help. Fine.

I tell him to..

>get things prepared
He needs to have the assets ready to delivered to a location, and lay low. Tonight, I and that plantain lady will talk about how to deal with this…. or if we really want to help him at all.

>stay the night
He is safest here, relatively speaking. He might be able to communicate with the associates who help him move his assets as well, but that doesn’t matter.. that much. I’ll ask Fhai to watch over him and that plantain lady should have something by now.

FYI: schedule

busy for the next two days.

>>5827102
>stay the night

>>5827102
>get things prepared
>>5827105
Thanks for the heads up, QM!

>>5827102
>>get things prepared

>>5827102
>get things prepared
>>5827105
alright qm

Hey folks. Hope you’re enjoying this quest so far — if there is any criticism you’d like to make: length / pacing / characters / tone, etc, I’ll be glad to hear it. See you soon.

To keep this thread from progressing too quickly to another page, here is some behind the scenes stuff!

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BACKGROUND


This quest was heavily influenced by The Coffin of Andy and Leyley - the funny incest game you might’ve seen on twitter. I enjoyed how the tone partly disturbing and partly comedic due to the unhealthy relationship dynamics and the crimes they committed. Sekiro is also another inspiration - fantastical in terms of story, but with a historical backdrop. Fell into a rabbithole about thai history of the 1600s - the japanese volunteer corps - yamada nagamasa among other things. Shit felt like game of thrones sometimes with all the short-lived kings and heroic feats like the black lord shooting a general across a river with some ~2 m matchlock arquebus

(Pictured is a replica in the late 1700s)

File: Spoiler Image (2.87 MB, 3946x2972)

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ARTWORK


The first thumbnail didn’t turn out that great — the proportions were off, the details on the clothing and body weren’t that thorough and the colors just didn’t look right. It was time consuming and looked mid in general.

I realized I wanted a more realistic look so the heads became a little smaller (still getting the hang of it lol) but made the face more detailed. I wanted to emulate the colors of TCOAAL so I reduced the color palette size, and I changed the font to more accurately represent the game’s.

>>5827102
>get things prepared

>>5828069
>>5828071
Always neat seeing the creative 'back-end' of a quest!

>>5828069
>>5828071
interesting. and now I'm even more curious.

>>5827122
>>5827197
>>5827198
>>5828124
prepare

>>5827119
stay the night

Writing tomorrow.

>get things prepared

Imperious he may be, Nhon does have a point — the longer we (I specifically) hold onto these assets, the more likely we are to be caught with them.

“Eight batches. Four of them, already here today. The other four will be delivered over the next two days. I only got two couriers. A fifteen and a ten-years old.” Arenhon has the foresight to split his assets into smaller stashes, but... is this the best he has, two kids looking for food allowance? Children do make for good runners, I admit - most do not suspect them - but they are not always reliable. Normally I do not care about pornography being skimmed but in this case….

“Oh. You don’t need to worry about them squealing… or skimming for that matter. They read child pornography every other day - they already have their own. Hell, they even come to ME for buying it. I’ve known them for about half a year now and they did their job well every time. They’re solid.”

I am genuinely impressed how vile things have transpired without my presence. Getting kids addicted to this is… even the green lamps establishments in Ayuttaya would not sell normal pornography to ten year olds. This is some low shit.

It took the better part of the afternoon to discuss all the details. In short…

>Eight batches.
Opium, two (2)
Weapons, two (2)
Child pornography, two (2)
Regular pornography, one (1)
Jewelry and other objects of value, one (1)

>Currently in town:
Opium - one (1)
Weapons - one (1)
Child pornography - one (1)
Jewelry - one (1)

I tell him that it will take a night - at minimum - to plan out and contact who could filter some of his belongings. As for him, staying out of the north east side of the town, or the north in general is vital. Too many old-timers there who might recognize Nhon, even in this mangled, degenerated state. Before he leaves, I also provided him with maps and notes regarding the locations which are relatively safe to meet and people to trust.

With myself left alone during the evening, I went over the logistics of it all again.

…. green lamps establishments could filter the pornography, the gambling houses could filter the jewelry and weapons, but this much opium and the child pornography…? Shit. How many of my contacts in that district still remember me? How many could I rely on? Before I knew it, night has fallen. Eh. Might as well get some more cold water.

Once again, I am at the railings - staring into the abyss with my back against the wooden shed of the water quarters.

“Rather virginal of you to do that yesterday, Noot.” Also leaning against the ancient structure is also a woman equally as ancient (if not more). Fhai fiddles with the wayward strands on my forehead as she speaks.

“You should’ve fucked her on the spot for that - ruin her pretty little hair and that tight skirt of hers. Truly hopeless… aren’t you.” As entertaining as it is to discuss the qualities of that lady’s body with her, the current task at hand is too important right now.

"…. yeah. i can’t help it."

She’s definitely going to lecture me again about how the relationship between us is not some rigid and unshared thing and how sex is an enjoyable thing by itself and so on… so I shut her up with a hug before any of that gets repeated again.

“… you know, you don’t need to do all this for him.”

After seeing all the depraved shit he has done… I am inclined to agree. Still, having money to spare would definitely be useful during the aftermath of Nhon’s retirement. I do hope that plantain lady has something in mind by now.

“… ugh. How many do we still haveeeeeeee…” Seeing as she has nothing better to do, Fhai accompanies me to the guest quarters….. and discovers the wonders of going over notes and doing calculations.

>someone is approaching the residence..

Her presence was a much needed reprieve from all the paperwork, and we eagerly welcome her inside. It will be a long night.

File: Plans.jpg (4.05 MB, 3946x2972)

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[ … ]

Just like she has stated yesterday, she did find someone in the interstice: there is a person - someone in the green lamps district - who is willing to buy the child pornography. Interestingly, he is also followed by infants apparitions. She could arrange a meeting tonight.

She also found someone else that might be of note. Someone otherworldly.

“I noticed a woman following those two kids. Long nails. Messy hair. Naked. Skin crusty with blood, especially at the hands and lower body. I see her following them while they were at the south of town.”

Based on her description, I’d imagine it to be an apparition dying from childbirth - or brutally dying while carrying a child. Odd that those two are being followed. I am quite sure if she was their mother she would not act in such a way and… surely they did not cause pregnancy to befall a woman and she died because of it?

I decide to visit..

>green lamps establishments [sell: child pornography]
It goes by many names. "Green Lamps Whorehouse district" "Defilement Establishments" "Green Lamps" and for many of my colleagues: it is their home.

Perhaps I will meet someone similar to me.

>gambling houses [sell: weapons]
The south of town - the fringes of society. At night is when the low company turns it into a truly dangerous place. And according to the lady, that apparition seems to be stalking those kids for some reason.

I have dealt with their kind my whole life.

>>5830226
>>gambling houses [sell: weapons]

>>5830224
does the woman with golden lines have inverted hands or it was just a drawing mistake ?
>>5830226
>green lamps establishments [sell: child pornography]

>>5830298
Shit my bad i forgor

>>5830226
>gambling houses [sell: weapons]

>>5830226
>gambling houses [sell: weapons]
Maybe we can destroy the porn... If we make enough on the weapons?

>>5830226
>green lamps establishments [sell: child pornography]
Get rid of it.

>>5830298
>gold lines
Oh incase it wasn’t clear that was jewelry lol

>>5830226
>>green lamps establishments [sell: child pornography]

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1.05 MB GIF

>>5830257
>>5830437
>>5830464
Weapons

>>5830298
>>5830873
>>5831041
CP

I’ll check again tomorrow morning.

>>5830226
>green lamps establishments [sell: child pornography]

>>5830947
>Oh incase it wasn’t clear that was jewelry lol
gotchu

>>5830226
>gambling houses [sell: weapons]

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Still at a tie

Dice roll then.

1 = weapons
2 = cp

Drawing’s done, writing tomorrow.

>gambling houses

He IS asking me for a favor, after all. I am not obligated to do anything, and I’ll be damned if I am prosecuted for child pornography I did not buy and did not consume. Then again.. this asset cannot be ignore forever - the longer I put this off, the more likely someone will be onto Nhon (and me.)

Let’s start with the easy stuff first. Weapons make for good prizes in gambling houses - much like jewelry, they act as a way of storing money in a small package. It will be gobbled up quick. Being in south of town means I could also keep an eye on that apparition, should she try to molest those runners again.

Yes. That is sound.

However, the proportions of the things they deliver is far too large to conceal effectively. I will need to escort those kids. South of town is not a place you tread lightly - especially at nightly hours.

>shirt acquired!
Dark grey in color. This padded piece of cloth has turned many serious thrusts and cuts into minor ones.

>poker acquired!
A metal spike attached to a wooden handle - an inexpensive weapon of many 'street-fighters'. Mine is roughly seven inches long [17 cm]: a little on the shorter side as the tantō is my primary weapon.

It has been some time since I was of "the life". Not by choice, not really — merely the byproduct of cleaning up the messes left behind by Arenhon and Benjagarn. Those two and their colleagues tend to earn the ire of others - knowingly or not. I cannot remember how many times when they were a hair’s breadth away from danger, only saved by their father’s influences, Viriya’s negotiating power or me literally growling at would-be attackers.

Before I leave, I gaze towards the night sky and feel the brisk air against my face. I really am stepping foot into this life once again, aren’t I. The years have passed. My eyes have grown hazy. My ears ring all too often, especially when there is silence. Killing those infants was not so hard - I hardly remembered it.

but watching those naked women grovel….
cleaning the fat and blood of my colleagues stuck to furniture…
attending their funerals….
hearing the scraping of exposed bones against dirt….
god, that.. that…. fucking scraping….

“You good?” Fhai’s frosty fingers get hold of my arm and interrupt the more abyssal thoughts of mine.

"not particularly..."

“With ya. Y’know.” Her fingers move to my head, ruffling it. It feels nice.

“i know.”

[ … ]

I take another sip from the butterfly pea tea after squeezing yet another slice of lime into it. Hah! This is so much better than vinegar water. Before I could’ve sucked the fourth (and fifth, and sixth) lime slice dry, those two kids arrive at the vendor to meet with me.

Now, now, let’s see…

Long and short breeches. Open shirt and coat. A scarf worn not around the neck but with both ends resting on the shoulders. These two are not completely green - too many runners make the mistake of dressing for practicality alone and end up sticking out due to how baggy they dress.

Good.
And when we walked, the way they swaggered around was also good - staying in the middle of the road, putting distance from the corners, and covering each other. There is still the issue of that lady, though.

"have you seen anything peculiar? anyone following you - odd sounds - things of sort?"

“… not really.”
“.. no.”

"i see. do tell me about it should it come up."

“uhm-hmm.”
“.. ah. Sure.”

So, either she is damned good at hiding - or - they are not in the 'interstice' yet. Probably the latter, considering they would have mentioned infants watching them by now.

After enough swaggering, we reached the location of the first stash: a small granary, constructed mostly from wood and anchored with bamboo. Barely distinguishable from ordinary dwellings of laborers, if not for small incisions made at the back of the stairs.

Beneath the mounds of unprocessed agricultural products and furniture are the possessions, wrapped with thick cloth. Unveiling it all, there seems to be quite the even split between swords and polearms: four each. While the glaives are well made, the swords are more intricately decorated - inlaid with precious metals and feature floral engravings, some only on the hilt while others include nearly the entire blade.

After weighing the risks, I decide to have the two carry them all. We need to get these off before the people start to die down, and a single trip is our best shot at this. As we leave the relatively quiet edges of town and progressed further south, the lights and noise becomes more apparent. Much more apparent. Dedicated bars, restaurants, gambling houses, they all are still well stocked as of the moment. Perfect.

Less perfect are the posters currently advertising the activities - cockfighting will be taking center stage for the next few weeks. Damn it. This is bad. I was counting on card games to wager these.

>huh…?

As I was snooping around to see which gambling house were most favorable to filter, I notice someone proudly staring at their fingers while propping a feet against the walls of an establishment. His mannerisms… his hair… his posture.. there is no doubt of it!

File: his colleague.jpg (4.04 MB, 3946x2972)

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"heya, 'cuz."

“Noot? Shit, man. Nice to see ya.” Xing cordially waves back at me. He’s more scratched up compared to last year, but not by much.

"yeah. you playing tonight?"

“Nah, nah. Just watching…” He eyes the two kids each cradling a very long pole wrapped in cloth. “You.. uh.. you.. under new management?”

"yeah. i guess… he is.. stepping down pretty soon."

“Ah, man. Well…”
“I suppose he don’t have a cock?”

"apparently.. not."

It can be difficult to not snigger at the things he says at times. I even got him to do so as well after that.

“Well.. If you need to clear -these- out then there’s the Copper house. Second floor is standard. Third floor for hard-asses.” Xing certainly knows more about people and games (and cheating) than me. I’ll trust him on this one.

"Thanks. I’ll get you a meal next time. Hell, how about I get you something right now?"

He was always partial to snacks. Pork rind in particular.

“Haha, sure. Where to?”

The second floor will have more players, but most probably cannot afford something very detailed and fine. Bids will be moderate but I can be sure to get some return from it.

The third floor will have fewer players, but these guys are definitely willing to bid high - if I can convince them these are the top notch stuff.

I decide to visit…

>second floor
My knowledge of people will be put to the test.

>third floor
My knowledge of arms will be put to the test.

FEEDBACK:

hello there. It has been nearly fifteen days into this quest now, about halfway into the thread - if you could answer these i would appreciate it. If you have any suggestions then go ahead as well.

>what do you currently think of the tone? Too dark? Too comedic? Too sudden in tonal shift?
>what do you think of the dialogue and text so far? Too much? Too little?
>regarding the characters, which would you consider most interesting?

>>5833461
>third floor
get a high return here and we can burn/destroy the porn rather than compromise ourselves by being further entangled in THAT mess

>>5833464
>what do you currently think of the tone? Too dark? Too comedic? Too sudden in tonal shift?
A bit darker than I'm sued to, but there's room for that. And, I mean, tonal shift makes sense in a quest partly inspired by The Coffin of Andy & Leyley

>what do you think of the dialogue and text so far? Too much? Too little?
Without dialogue tags, it can be a bit hard to follow sometimes, DESU.

>regarding the characters, which would you consider most interesting?
Fhai, and the plantain lady.

>>5833461
>>second floor
>>5833464
0/10 not enough incest

>>5833461
>third floor
Most curious about phantom lady.

>>5833461
>>third floor

>>5833461
>second floor

>>5833464
Fhai is cool.

>>5833461
>second floor
>>5833464
1- More dark, but it's going well
2- Text is enough, but dialogue tags would help following
3- Fhai, but the MC is growing on me the more we get to know about his past

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>>5833526
This is a shotacon household. No incestfags!

>>5833521
>>5833579
>>5834087
Noted! I’ll be sure to add more description to the dialogue.

As for Fhai, I’m glad you like her.
hag seggs™ soon.

>>5834160
>This is a shotacon household.
Based straight shota enjoyer

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>>5834177

>>5834186
now the "virginal" is making sense to me

>>5834195

>>5824596
>noot refuses plantain lady’s advances
>>5830219
>calls him a virgin for it

She’s a cute hag.

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>>5833521
>>5833555
>>5833568
3rd

>>5833526
>>5833579
>>5834087
2nd

I’ll check it again tomorrow morning.

>>5833461
>third floor

Voting closed.

Third floor it is.

Drawing’s done.

Afraid the update will have to be tomorrow. Can’t finish it tonight.

>third floor

If I could filter these decently high then I would not need to depend on pornography or the opium that much to stay afloat should there be complications on his end. Third floor it is, then, but first - refreshments. There is only so much of the good stuff in a night, especially when there is a cockfight. Pork rind and crispy chicken skin are the first exhausted.

We eagerly watched as the crackling gets scooped up from the cart and into a bowl. Our eyes follow the every movement of the elderly vendor’s hands - the way she scattered the powders and coated the snacks felt akin to entertainers somehow. We were kids again, awestruck and hypnotized by the most random thing.


Among the many who walked passed us and head straight to the copper house’s entrance, one group glanced our way called me by a name that miraculously remains entrenched.

“... mage?”

Their faces look… unfamiliar, but I greet them all the same. They seem rather jovial when acknowledged. Has stories of my deeds propagated this long? It is rather surprising.

“That’s.
“Not.”
“Nothing, y’know.” Xing chuckles a little at my indifference as he chomps on another piece of pork rind. I take a piece from his bag too.

"I guess so."

It has been a while since those nights. I doubt I could shoot the heads off chickens from half a line away [20 m] anymore. Their body possibly, but not the head precisely.

I was not the most frequent visitor here - as Nhon preferred green lamps establishments when he was in this province - but walking on these stairs made me nostalgic if a little. Wide in the step and still scratched to hell and back, the wood has not changed one bit over the years. Well, aside from being not so sticky, although that was for the better. Those damned mosquitoes were the worst.

Past the lively (and admittedly what I now consider overly loud) second floor is the dwelling of folks who - as Xing succinctly put it "Learned to just watch their drinks [when 'something' happens] at a young age". These are the real deal - and they know it all too well, which is why they prefer a less rowdy company. Most of the fights here take place in games or words, and tend to be more lighthearted in tone.

Not much has changed, it seems. The faces I know are fewer, but it is still very much alive. Xing and I both get a couple nods and waves as we passed by. Were this any regular night, I would be inclined to play some twenty-one and wager a couple coins while at it. Beyond the lengthy counters and numerous round tables is a larger hall further in - and it is this spot where things are wagered and sold. They had just finished with jewelry. Armlets and the like. No better time than now.

But before doing that, I need to make sure I get these details correctly lest I make the others think I know less than I really do and doubting their actual worth.

So.
Four swords.
Three are singleswords.
One is a yiipuun - pattern.
Four polearms. Glaives.

I know these well - I had to. The fighting I did were not done in open fields or against armies or sieges like that of the Black Lord's reign, no, they were skirmishes and they took place in cities. Being proficient with polearms and swords were vital. While many of these are similar, the minor differences can mean just as much.

There were quite a number of swords. Most were classified through tip shape.

"Chicken-faced" types are blades with the tip resembling a chicken’s beak - curved forwards slightly. Not that good at thrusting but strikes with the tip will bite into a mark strongly.

"Severed-head" types are blades with a tip entirely cut off, turning it into a boxy lump with no thrusting capability. While limiting, it is more convenient to care for - and most often used as a tool.

"Sharpened-head" types are the most common blades, having a relatively straight spine and a curving edge. Capable in the cut and thrust.

"Fish-head" types are relatively old designs, being doubled edged blades whose tip resembles that of a fish. They tend to be longer in general.

As for the polearms, glaives tend to be most common. They prevalent in this country long before any yiipuun came here - although nowadays they do mount a tsuba [disc-shaped hand guard] into many of their polearms. Nearly all work well for its intended role - as hand protection, but the decorations can get quite varied.

Boar’s eye - often found on arrowheads and polearms to symbolize bravery befitting a boar. The shape tends to vary, though. Some depictions are thinner while others wider than real boar eyes, almost resembling fat arrowheads at its most extreme.

Sea cucumber - often found on swords, usually two are present around the center of the tsuba. Long and oval in shape. Apparently Musashi used this design.

Chrysanthemum - often found on swords and polearms. Arguably the lightest of all designs due to its many holes done to resemble a chrysanthemum flower.

Dragonfly - often found on swords to indicate marital prowess and victory. The shape is rather complex, consisting of ovals shaped holes which resemble the wings and the body and a hole resembling three circles conjoined for a head.

File: trivia.jpg (4.18 MB, 3946x2972)

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[ … ]

All right. I believe that should be all correct. Yes. After some recollection, I can confidently present these weapons to the fine folks in the hall. Among all the weapons I present today, there are three which I hold most dear.

The first is a sword done in the northern province style, with engravings on both hilt and blade. It has a bronze colored scabbard that could be slung across the shoulder.

"It has a…"
>[identify which tip belongs to this sword]


The second is a yiipuun - pattern sword, adorned with brass on the tsuba and habaki [metal collar at the base of the blade]. The hilt and scabbard is wrapped in a vividly red cloth.

"The handguard is decorated with…"
>[identify which type of mounting]

The third is a glaive - dark in colors and possessing a highly curved blade much like a naginata.

"The disc-guard is decorated with…."
>[identify which type of mounting]

【Requirements】

3/3 correct: —complete success—
2/3 correct: -partial success-
1/3 correct: -minor success-
0/3 correct: …. fail ….

>>5837309
First is Dragonfly.
Second is Chrysanthemum.
Third is Sea cucumber.

>>5837319
+1

>>5837309
1st has a sharpened-head tip
2nd has a Chrysanthemum mounting
3rd has a Sea cucumber mounting
>>5837319
the first is asking for the tip, not the mounting

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I’ll be busy for the entire day tomorrow. Voting will remain open.

>>5837416
it aint looking good.

>>5837309
First sword:
>Sharpened head

Second sword:
>Chrysanthemum mounting

Glaive:
The others are saying sea cucumber, but it doesn't look like the guard or markings are long or oval to me. Rather...
>Boar's eye mounting
>

>>5838919
>The others are saying sea cucumber, but it doesn't look like the guard or markings are long or oval to me. Rather...
I see your point, but i haven't seen one that is heart-shaped as well so i kinda bet

>>5838248
oh no

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>>5838936
It's tough to look up some of these designs by the names provided, but I feel pretty confident here.

>>5838974
well played.

https://www.mandarinmansion.com/glossary/inome

>>5838974
>mandarinmansion.com/glossary/inome
alright then, anon

>>5838919
I'll switch my vote to support this.

>>5837319
First - Dragonfly.
Second - Chrysanthemum.
Third - Sea cucumber.

>>5838919
>>5839002
>>5839017
First - Sharpened head
Second - Chrysanthemum mounting
Third - Boar's eye mounting

Voting closed.

Can’t finish the update tonight, but I’ll leave you with the stuff that went into the previous update.

【Correct answers】
>First: sharpened tip
>Second: Chrysanthemum
>Third: Boar’s eyes

>It's tough to look up some of these designs by the names provided
And that is by design.

>first sword
For the tip shape and names, I translate them directly from thai - english. I narrowed it down from ~8 types into four for convenience’s sake as some of them have very similar profiles.

>tsuba
I specifically called it "Boar’s eye" as opposed to its Japanese name "inome" as I figured it would be more difficult to type it in google and stumble across it at a glance. That is also why I do not describe it as heart-shaped as it would be a dead giveaway.

File: IMG_6644.jpg (313 KB, 1026x749)

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>reference photos
Here is what the "chicken faced" type looks like.

File: IMG_6645.jpg (102 KB, 1025x734)

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And the "fish-head" type*

Technically speaking, its original name is 'peacock eel - faced type', but for simplicity’s sake I called it such.

File: IMG_6646.jpg (1.14 MB, 2775x2778)

1.14 MB JPG

This tsuba has 2 two boar’s eyes (inome) and two dragonflies (tombo) on it. The boar eyes are very wide on this one - on arrowheads, they can be a lot thinner and more sharply tampered.

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That is all. See you soon.

also if the >dragonfly for first question had won, it would have been an —complete failure— in trading.

Vorranoot’s honest reaction:

>>5839259
Wait, didn’t we need to guess just 1 to have success ? He guessed the 2nd right

>>5839279
He did guess the second question right, yes, and normally that would qualify as a minor success. But the first question asked for tip shape - not - sword mounting.

He got the entire question wrong.

>>5839280
so for he being wrong not only in the answer, but the question as well it'd negate his only success ? kek. I still don't get why he chose a mounting if it clearly said tip.

“To be a fighting man is to be a fair hand with all armaments.”

So many times have I seen my instructors’ words borne out in deadly operation - both during my time in the corps and in my current life - that I was never tempted to forsake their principles. The patterns may differ, the weight and balance slightly changed, but I appreciate them, all the same.

>First: sharpened tip

I have seen and handled a number of these - some overlaid with brass or silver, others have a portion of the hilt replaced with ivory carved to resemble a figure. This one seems quite sensible all things considered.

After describing the length and weight of the weapon, I put the sling across my shoulder and fasten the loops to ensure a proper fit of the scabbard under my armpit. To demonstrate the blade, I step to the center of the hall.

".. the blade - of which is a 'sharpened-head' type - is overlaid with silver." With that said, I brandish it. It gives a faint ring as it comes out due to the throat made of copper.

>correct answer!

The reception was well, although the bidding went as lengthy and ventured off-topic as often as usual. Some things do not seem to change…

“.. how about you, Noot? Those.. two kids. Have they gotten themselves into trouble as of late?” An old-timer asks me about the two brats I tried to keep under leash.

"ah...."
"you don’t have the remotest idea… haha.." I cannot help myself but to grin faintly. There is so much to tell about Nhon and Garn - but the particulars will be taken to the grave.

>Second: Chrysanthemum

This one I remember rather fondly. Yiipuun - pattern swords were all the rage back then. It has been many long years since I was with ma but the metalworkers’ village - some part of it at least - still remains in my mind. All those tiny alleyways and mountains of wood blocks. Barking dogs and blazing kilns. The touch of hammers - how the most minor of strikes can strongly shape a pot.

To create a disc-guard of this sort - with such uniformity - is a wondrous thing indeed.

>correct!

Drawing it produces only the harsh clacks of wood, but the amazement of the audience fills such that void nicely. Crimson of hilt, pale white in blade and adorned with brass - it is definitely an eye-catching piece.

The bidding went rather nicely - if a bit faster than expected. I suspected the silver overlaid sword to be the one bringing all the money, but no, apparently.

If I had one of against-cavalry sword proportions - of which encroaching on polearms length - I would probably won’t need anything else in the stash!

>Third: Boar’s eyes

Brandishing this one was a little interesting. While I have plenty of head-space to work with, maneuvering it so the point remains away from people was an exercise in itself. As for the glaive, it is a stately if plainly constructed thing. The finish is dark and the boar’s eyes which adorn the disc-guard is relatively simple in shape. No interesting curves which connect to the outer parts of the disc, no sharply tampered points, and no any other shapes on the disc.

Of course, sometimes boring is exactly what you need. At the end of the day, it is a full-length polearm that can cut well and thrust effectively. Strikes with the haft are quick and hard.

[ … ]

>【COMPLETE SUCCESS】

When I was joking to myself about buying an elephant I did not expect that to come to life. By the end of it all, I actually got enough ivy gourd - weight coins that buying a couple horses is a possibility. This has been a fruitful evening thus far. Still, before I leave the hall, I divide the silvery bullet coins into the pouches and hide it in the many pockets of my jacket and breeches.

“Nah, man, there’s no need for that. Keep it! It’s yours, ain’t it?” Xing declines my offer of giving him a portion of the yield, preferring a I buy him a drink or meal instead. He always was that sort - the 'don’t worry about it' type of fellow whenever they did a favor for someone. He also turned down my offer of getting supper tonight although that was less out of politeness but rather the fact he devoured not only his bag but also those two kids’ during when I was demonstrating the weapons. How he managed to do that without making noise still eludes me.

"… see ya, cuz. I’ll get you a drink next time."

“See you 'round.”

And with a wave, we parted ways. It must have been little over two hours after midnight when we sorted out everything and left the street of gambling houses. Before I head back to the residence I decide to accompany those two kids in walking home in case anyone tried to follow us. We took the same labyrinthine approach as before - taking non-linear routes and widely swaggering around corners. We seem to be under a lucky star tonight: not a soul was present on the paths we took!

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.. uh.
Now that I think about it… I have not seen those infants in some time. Normally they would be in the shadows or hiding around trees, observing me and what I do. It doesn’t seem to be that plantain lady either.

While walking those two kids home was peaceful enough, the path returning to the residence feels even more desolate than usual now that those infants are not with me. Something feels off. I am definitely being watched. Instead of going to the residence immediately, I visit an outhouse that is some ten minutes away. And wait. And wait. And wait some more. Squatting was a lot more manageable in my younger years.

Sure enough, through the tiniest slits of the dilapidated wooden walls is a visage of a woman peering into the outhouse. The plantain lady was right - I could barely distinguish where her hair ended and the darkness began.

I decide to…

>stare back and acknowledge her.
"is there something you wish to discuss?"

>piss into the slits.
"back off."

>shortsword thrust through the slits.
"…"

>>5840337
>piss into the slits.

>>5840337
>stare back and acknowledge her.
Pissing is a hilarious option and very tempting, though

>>5840337
>stare back and acknowledge her.

>>5840337
>>shortsword thrust through the slits.

>>5840337
>>stare back and acknowledge her.

>>5840343
>>5840368
>>5840708
Stare

>>5840338
Piss

>>5840511
Thrust

Vote closed.

Updating tonight.

I am not bothered by some woman skulking in the dark and leering me. Fhai is far more proficient in both regards. This lady exposes herself far too much when stalking - by staying at eye-level and literally pressing her body against the wall, anyone who pays a modicum of attention to their surroundings can - and will - spot her. She might as well start touching herself and moan - it is not as if her presence would be any less subdued.

Amusing as it may be to voice my annoyance in a physical manner, I figure it be best to actually communicate with her first - maybe this matter of hers could be resolved peacefully.

>stare back and acknowledge her.

My head leisurely turns towards the complete-failure-as-a-stalker lady. With a weary tone, I ask her for a reason regarding her current choices in life.

"…is there something you wish to discuss?"

It took a moment before she realized what was said. Then she backed off. Then there was a lull. And then she finally spoke.

“ mhmmm…………. ”

Close enough.

But we are to continue this conversation I would rather be in a place better ventilated. I stop squatting and start getting dressed while addressing her. "perhaps we should continue this outside..."

“ ughmm…….. ” She continues to stare while I am wrapping my breeches back on.

Leaving the outhouse, I am immediately smacked by the mess which is her hair. Slouching right beside the door is a woman a head or so taller than me who does not seem very concerned about clothing. Or cleanliness for that matter… and honestly, just looking at the crusty patches of dried blood sticking to her skin is enough to give me irritation.

Brushing the waterfall’s worth of frayed strands off my face, I try to communicate again. "…. i would appreciate it if you could stand not so close."

It takes a few seconds after hearing that before she backs off.

She seems to understand I say - so there’s that I suppose - but doesn’t seem to able to explain herself through use of words. To guess her motivations would be a tedious mess that would take up all night. Definitely not an option, but If I let her go then she might spy on those kids again.. no good either. Mhm. there is one proposal I could think of, though.

"do you… have a place to stay, ma’am?"

“Nhhhgggg………….” She dips her head slightly in response. (Also striking me with her hair for the second time I might add.)

…. and just like that, my efforts of pacifying an apparition has resulted in another person being invited into the residence.

Walking in the middle of the street with a naked woman whom most cannot see - much less touch - is not the most odd thing I have done. In fact, it has a kind of calmness in a way. The empty road only illuminated by faint moonlight, and the sound of feet pushing against dirt and dust…

She is not the most talkative, but seeing her clearly does give me some semblance of understanding regarding her past. The decayed and lengthy nails. Crusty brown and black blood which runs down her legs and colors her groin. The somwhat misshapen and warped skin of the stomach…

Appearances tend to reflections of apparitions - or at least, how they see themselves. From these qualities, I believe she was a couple months pregnant when she died. Likely due to internal bleeding. There are methods of removing a child in the womb. Liquid iron [mercury]. Abortifacient mixtures. Rue. Mugwort. Parsley. I knew these well. But to the less educated, there exists one type that involves small rod inserted into the womb to impale the fetus. It was risky. There was risk of piercing the insides and infection should the implement is not thoroughly cleaned.

Such dangers are why many women prefer to give birth, especially if it was many months in - although for those who live in green lamps establishments, it was up to their handlers.

… huh.
….. was she a prostitute?
………. does that even matter as of now?

Perhaps not.

[ … ]

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After a quick introduction to all the things - and folk - in the residence, that lady disappears into the childrens quarters. I imagine her to be a finer resident than Nhon or Garn if her behavior were tweaked.

“Wowwwwwwwww……. in one night you already got another girl!” A familiar voice teases me the very second that I am alone once more.

“Quite.”
“The.”
“Charmer.”
“Huh.”

Fhai plays around with my cheek, gripping and tugging it gently before placing her arm across my shoulders. I enjoy it every time.

"i learned from the very best, after all." After delivering such disgustingly sweet words I also deliver a kiss on her cheek. And lips. And neck. Especially the neck.

“aHahAHahA…” Fhai pulls me in closer and ruffled my hair all the while.

“Oh.. and uh.. I mean to ask you. Those kids. They’re good to you, yeah?” Her hand slow down and smile desperately emerges when she says it. I get her to simmer down by telling, yes, those kids were well-behaved and did their duties skillfully. And more kisses. The night is soon to be over… and we intend to take advantage of every minute of it. But before fucking each other senseless, Fhai raises an interesting question: what sort of help could that lady provide - should (when, perhaps more accurately said) she become lucid enough?

Hmm.
Her skills at stalking and observation is not acutely awe-inspiring, but given enough grooming and -some- training she could be a decent scout or sentry. Then again, I imagine someone of her sort could induce fear or curses quite well. Messing with people’s minds - whether through paranoia or more subtle suggestions, or even nightmares, can prove a powerful weapon.

I decide that she should be….

>a whisperer.
Someone that could feed me information will definitely be useful. Another set of eyes and ears - one unhindered by most folk.

>a terror.
Someone that could manipulate people will definitely be useful. What people believe in is often times more important than the truth.

FYI:

I will be a little busier than usual in the next two weeks. Updates would probably remain the same but the art might be a little more sparse / get reused more than usual as seen in this update.

and yes, there will hag seggs in the next update (is optional: google docs)

>>5842858
No worries.

>>5842861
Duly noted!

>>5842849
>a terror.

>>5842849
>a terror.
>>5842858
no worries
>>5842861
neat

>>5842849
>a whisperer.

>>5842849
>>a terror.

>>5842865
>>5843134
>>5843371
Terror

>>5843192
Whisperer

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Can’t finish it tonight but here is a seggs WIP

>>5845190
kinky

>>5845190
Nice

done writing the seggs

>>5847117
the sex update is incoming, rejoice

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>>5847139
Soon. Probably this afternoon.

>>5847271
I thought we're having sex not summoning Cthultu

>a terror

"i think.. she could do it quite well, scaring folk and the like." Fhai seems to agree with my sentiment. Her or the plantain lady could play the part of observer, anyways.

With that out of the way…..

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We had the most lovely night.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Sbv5Kr_PTs2ZXYonH-UmfKhNa5YfT8087fxHRHsdWo/edit

Today is rather slow in terms of… everything, truthfully. Those two kids are busy moving the rest of the stashes to here, Arenhon is still in hiding, I do not believe Benjagarn or Viriya has made a move yet, and that plantain lady will probably visit me later in the day to tell me about her current plans. Things seem well.

Ah.
Right.

Seeing the mats and blankets scattered around the floorboards brings to mind -vividly- of the events that transpired some few hours ago. I can still feel a slight sting on my wrists and neck from those threads. We definitely need to fuck outdoors more often.… if we have the restraint to just stay on those blankets the entire time instead of going on that… fuck-odyssey across the whole house.

[ … ]

It was early in the afternoon when the cleaning which spanned across the entire residence draws near its conclusion. The blaring sun of the fourth month was rather helpful in drying all the fabrics involved. All the scrubbing, washing, squeezing and brushing did quite the number on my arms and back. The water jars become empty quick.

My mind soon returns to more relevant matters: the stashes. Weapons. Opium. Regular pornography. Child pornography. The last one worries me most. It could be burned, buried, eaten by insects - disposing of it is simple, but transporting is the main issue. If Nhon was not over estimating the quantity, this is going to be a hassle. It could total ten whole trips if I am being cautious. I need a fucking horse…

My attention turns to the two more feasible options currently: jewelry and regular pornography. I know it well both could be sold in the south-east of town, in the green lamps establishments, teahouses (the "normal” sort) and bars. Visiting those places at off-hours…. like during the afternoon would be a nice way to see how time has passed and whom I could make a deal with.

Oh. And I should probably re-stock my supplies soon. New Years is only two days away if I recall rightly - all the good fragrances and spices will be gone then. Getting some more salted mackerel and sausages would also be sound. They don’t take long to prepare and make for hearty dishes while on the move.

Yes. The markets and green lamps establishments. Those two will be the agenda for today’s afternoon.

Question becomes, which one deserves my time first?

I imagine the upper parts of town to be quite busy at these hours. In preparation for such an auspicious time, fairs are often hosted by monasteries to bring the community together. Games are set up. Fireworks are sold. Animals are to be mass-felled. Everyone is to be fed and entertained.

If I go to the hectic markets of the north, I could catch up with the current news and see what the common folk talk about. Maybe gain some insight on the great capital and see if anyone has words about the (remnants of the) Junnpraparr family. Knowing about rumors - and most importantly, what people thinks of them could be useful if Viriya decides to try something.

Visit the southern quadrants of the town first would make checking up on my old colleagues easier, though. Maybe I could strike up an offer with someone to filter the soon-to-arrive stashes. The plantain lady also mentions someone yesterday….. said he was similar to me and wanted to buy some child pornography for occult purposes. I think I could find him there.


I decide to first visit the…

>markets (north of town)

>green lamps establishments (south of town)

>>5848138
nice and as expected we're a switch. i wouldn't be surprised if noot also likes getting pegged.
>>5848147
>markets (north of town)

>>5848147
>>green lamps establishments (south of town)

>>5848147
>markets (north of town)

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For those who read the seggs, what did you think of it? Liked anything in particular? Felt parts of it went on long or short?

Thanks for any and all feedback.

>>5848956
Liked it, although I feel it was longer than expected. Other than that I'd ask for pegging, mating press, maledom/mommydom the next time, kek.

>>5848147
>markets (north of town)

>>5848956
Not my preferred taste but not bad either

>>5848147
>markets (north of town)

>>5848241
>>5848918
>>5849085
>>5849240

Market

>>5848514
Green lamps

Vote closed.

>>5848138
Cute art!
Cute couple. Haven't seen this femdom dynamic in your previous quests, I don't think. Works well to establish these two and their vibe.

>>5848147
>markets (north of town)
I know it's a late vote, but I support this

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Drawing’s done.

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Based on

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can’t finish the update tonight I’m afraid.

Not feeling well. Hands feel a bit weak. Hopefully I could finish it by tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

Updating tonight.

>>5851411
>>5852696
No worries! I hope you're feeling a bit better today?

>market

Yes. Visiting the market at these hours should prove be more fruitful: I can plan contingencies easier if I know what the rest of the family will do, even if some it get muddied through re-telling and perhaps biases. That man can wait. He does dabble in the eldritch - I am sure that plantain lady can find him again. Or he might find me first. And…… truthfully, I would rather not - if possible - be involved with his ilk, anyway. Indeed child pornography is not reality, but it is not that far away either.

The blazing sun of the summer months’ zenith gives this afternoon no quarter. On such days, a shower of three or four times is to be expected in polite company. I kept it plain. Sandalwood oil would be too prodigal of me: rosewater is more than adequate.

… haha.
That kid…

Going through the cosmetics box brought back a few memories. Most amusing ones. Oh, Nhon. How gross of a habit he had - pulling off dried skin from his lips instead of using beeswax. I never did understand why he liked chewing on them.

… ha.
He was so childish. I do not know of any other twenty-something years old to practice such. He was always partial to doing dumb shit.

Even with the sun turning the most pale shadows black and singeing the ground, the streets are still filled with kids and vendors. The more elder folk have taken up residence in storefronts’ shade and conversing amongst themselves - presumably remaining permanently if not interrupted by their children.

I was never the sort to feel lonely - never felt inclined to be with that many folks in my youth - but I did wish Fhai was walking with me. We might look like a decent couple. Mhm. Perhaps… when all this is sorted out…

Argh. Enough. This lonely thirty-five year old has rambled for far too long.

[ … ]

“… never heard much from them these days.”
“Ever since the Amornrut kid passed I don’t recall…..”
“Sorry, dear. I don’t got the remotest idea.”

Ugh. Conversing with the elderly did not yield much result. Not much on Tian or Viriya. Nor Garn. Not a damned thing. At least they don’t seem to know Arenhon is present, so there is that I suppose. As I was about to leave the streets, someone called out for me.

“Hey mister.” Calling for me is a young child, I’d imagine to be fourteen… thirteen years of age, probably less. Looking at the embellishments on his shirt and breeches, and especially his hair - wrapped into a bun with several layers and pierced with a golden rod - he seems to be well-bred. A relative of some family the Junnpraparr has once known, most likely. I don’t think I did saw him often. Or at all.

“I think I know what you’re talking about. You’re that.... old.. old! house’s care-taker, right?” The kid waves his hands around to visualize the residence’s general shape. He does a mediocre job at it, but it looks close enough. He definitely knows what it looks like, although I don’t recall him being invited there specifically. His parents probably told him about it or something. Speaking of which.

“… ah, well, I’d rather not say. I’m actually not supposed to be here. But mom doesn’t really need to know.” He deflects the question.

"for me to squeal would do neither of us any good." I insist.

“… yeah, sorry man, still can’t tell you.” His heads falls a tad. That is fine. I get it. I would not trust folk like me either.

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I drop the issue and move onto confirming my identity that yes, indeed, I am that residence’s caretaker.

“Ah!”
“All right!”
“Well. There’s someone that really wants to talk with you.”
“Oh, and!”

He dashes to a vendor smelling of coal. Sausages. Shrimp. Pork belly. They see everything on a skewer here.

“You wanna…?” He pulls out his pouch and looks at me, perhaps expecting me to do the same.

"… haha. thanks, but i am not hungry. not particularly." I raise a hand and nod.

He ended up procuring quite a handful anyways. Had all of them got bundled together, its total width would be that a pike’s shaft. Ah. The youth. And their stomaches.

“Here. You can have one.” He points a skewer towards my face. While sausages do look nice - stuffed full of garlic and spices, I would rather not eat in that manner. Nah, kid. Only Fhai could feed me like that.

"uh..… thanks. i appreciate it." I do take a skewer out of respect. With that out of the way, I ask him again about our destination.

“Anyway… It’s uh… its like.. not that far away. A couple minutes more. A bit south of here.” He doesn’t seem to know of the name, but he looks confident on walking there. Ah. One of those folk.

"… who is it that I will be meeting?" As we leave the bustling streets of the north, I begin to have my suspicions and ask plainly.

“He’s.. like.. I don’t know, her friend I think. He says he’s Benjagarn’s friend and he owes her a favor or.. or something.” The kid starts nibbling on the skewers and talks all the while.

… i do not like this. Something is wrong. A highborn acting this way? Perhaps he is just a kid of poor manners, perhaps, but the constant deflections, unclear answers, and vague… statements all together paint a different picture. A very dangerous one. The paths get more empty as we continue to walk. If I don’t swagger around a corner hard enough….

I decide to…

>make up an excuse and call it off
"uh. hey. sorry kid, but I.. I need a moment. I don’t feel well. I need to go take a shit."

Yes. That excuse should do. I’m sure he’ll pester me about it, of course, but he really can’t do much. Not on his own, anyway. All I need is to tell him I’m visiting an outhouse and then leave. Get as far away as possible from that location and I should be fine. And see who shows up at that outhouse. I played this game before and I can play it just as well now.

>stop him - and talk
"drop the horseshit, kid. what do you want? I could get you money. a lot of it. a lot more than whatever they are paying you."

This kid can’t run away from me. This kid certainly cannot draw against me. I could kill him if I really wished to - grab his neck, throw him to the ground and stomp on his throat and poke him. (Three seconds and he’s drowning in his own blood.) But I find it preferable to know why he is doing this. Is he part of some... cutpurse crew? An enemy to Nhon? Someone hired by Garn? Or is the mark me in particular? Can’t get that if his throat no longer works.

>continue walking - with poker in hand
"huh. all right. that is nice of him…"

Since I am slightly behind him, I could draw my poker and hide it inside my sleeve without him noticing it. To the untrained eye and at most angles, it would seem like I am just scratching my back. Anything happens: I can snatch him and get a spike on his throat in a second. Or less. I am not walking into a lion’s den without a cub in my jaws.

>>5852789
Feeling better. Thanks. Also, this week’s schedule should be more free than the last one.

>>5852922
>stop him - and talk

>>5852922
>stop him - and talk

>>5852922
>stop him - and talk

>>5852924
Glad to hear it!

>>5852922
>>stop him - and talk

unanimous agreement to
>stop him - and talk

Writing tomorrow.

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Drawing and writing WIP

It should be one more choice after this one before I end the thread. Unwanted Children will return soon - my current plans is to run new quest (oneshot) after this thread.

Updating tonight.

I could run away if I cared to. Stay out of sight, lay low for a while, and wait for them to lose interest… but the residence can’t do that. I cannot risk the residence being destroyed. No. Not an option. Even if I manage to kill or maim all the folks who would show up at the outhouse, it would bring too much attention.

Taking this kid hostage would also be another option. I snatched people before. It is not particularly hard when his shirt is this big. Then again, what if he is disposable to them? What if they are willing to throw him away just to get me? But even if those are not the case, if the group was large enough, someone could get behind me and strike there. Not a good look either. I can’t walk away, nor forward. The best play would be to stop him right now and talk. So I do.

>"drop the horseshit, kid. what do you want? I could get you money. a lot of it. a lot more than whatever they are paying you."

“uh—“ The kid opens his mouth for a moment, ready to deny my accusations, but pauses. As we glared at each other, his breath begins to pick up in pace.

"i have no wish to harm you." Aside from telling him the truth (at the moment), I raise my empty hand to be a little below shoulder-height to pacify the kid. "is someone forcing you? i could take care of it." There is still silence, but his breath begins to slow after hearing that, so that is good.

“… i .. i just wanted some money. They- they got me clothes andeverythingand…. she just told me to summon you….. there was this.. lady that this morning - really early in the morning….” The kid begins to open up. Rather quickly. “She… was a.. woman - of forty, fifty years old I.. I think so. She andacoupleofherfriends—“ Since the kid is vomiting words out of his mouth which are then blended together, I tell him to simmer down and explain himself in a manner more clear.

[ … ]

So, from listening to what he has to say, I believe the events are as follows: This fifty years old woman and her colleagues - upon noticing him linger at the middle of town during the early morning hours - offered him money and clothes in exchange for a job, which is to walk around town and find a person looks after the Junnpraparr residence - me. She told him to start with the markets during the morning and move to the middle of town.

(So this lady knows where and when I buy my supplies, how I dress, and what I look like. Mhm.)

Once spotted, he is to take me to a specific house in the center of—

That’s the hideout! That is the one which Arenhon is at currently.

Based on this, the description of her, and the in-depth knowledge of my activities demonstrated, only Viriya is capable of doing this. But why do such a clandestine thing when she could have traveled discreetly to the residence? Or summoned me directly for that matter.

That being said, I doubt she means to have me killed. If that were the case, she would have sent a wolf-pack instead of some child still green to "the life". Viriya could do a whole lot better than this "trap". Actually…. mhm… no, this is a show of force barely veiled.

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'If I can leak your address to this kid - I can do a whole lot more, should you not comply.' is what the conclusion she wants me to come to, I imagine. Fine then. Fine. She can puff up her chest all she likes. But when the blackest demands are given, I am the one who answers. I am the one they come to when business in this town is at hand.

I suppose I could go and meet her at this hideout. I’m sure she has a proposal for me at the ready - she’ll ask me for some "small" favor, """one""" "last" thing which once completed she will molest me no more for it. As if I have not heard this before. Over. And over. And over again. Could I truly trust her at her word this time?

Another option would be to tell this kid I will have this talk on my terms - tell him Vorranoot invites Viriya and her colleagues to the residence. By refusing to bow directly, while yes, I would be setting myself in opposition to her slightly, this is setting a standard. Whatever deal she wishes me to conform to, this precedent will not go unnoticed. I will not bow easily.

I decide to…

>visit the hideout
>return to the residence

one more choice after this.

>>5856811
>visit the hideout

>>5856811
>return to the residence

>>5856811
>>visit the hideout

>>5856811
>visit the hideout

>>5856846
>>5857160
>>5857461
Hideout

>>5856914
Residence

I’ll be writing tomorrow.

Sorry folks cant finish it tonight.

Updating tonight.

Hey folks. Feeling a bit sick right now. A mild headache. I got some of the writing ready but the dialogue still needs some revision. I’ll be posting what I currently have tonight then continue with the final choice in the morning.

>visit the hideout

I might as well - I am sure to see more of her in the coming days. Someone else needs to be the intermediary in New Amesterdam: either the venerable and well-connected Buunsri, or the legally-adjacent workhorse Viriya.

As I continue walking alongside the kid, the streets grow ever more familiar. The path turns narrow - its breadth small enough that some six or seven people walking together could block it. Houses here are tightly packed together and somewhat homogenous, like bricks of tea. While not the dwelling of those in the low company, people here tend to just "watch their drinks" as well. Even the dogs here learned to mind their own business when people pass by.

“That’s the one.” He points to a house with pale walls covered full in dark blemishes and stains. It was never pristine ivory to begin with, but I did remember it not being —that— decayed. Uh. Walking up to the door dispelled my suspicions, however - as when I glide my hand on a particular spot, the etchings still remain. It indeed is the one.

I knock.

Just as one worry is expelled from me, another takes its place. Few words were spoken amongst us and her associates, only a nod or two. The typically subdued fragrance of plantain has turned the air sickeningly sweet - they must have been here for a while if that much custard and bread was eaten.

The guest quarters - which due to the scarcity of furnishing, appears more akin to a holding cell - is where I find Nhon, and a very exasperated Viriya. His gaze wanders to me and his legs prepare to stand upright, but she shuts him down with a glare: She has something to discuss with me and he will not be privy to it.

[ … ]

>>5859730
ok OP, take care

We commenced our talk in the deepest, furthest room from the entrance - a heavily padded room in which water jars are held.

"… i take it he was not the most uncooperative?" I ask her a question after seeing her filling a cup to the brim and downing it in a single lift of the hand. She was never the type for wine, or opium, or anything of sort. Only fruit-infused water, on occasion. And in small sips.

“You —don’t— have the remotest idea. A real problem child until the very end, you know that. Did he ever discuss to you the current happenings at the Wilunda [dutch] colony?” Viriya pours more of the scented water into her cup while she rambles.

"… he did not." I could barely muster the urge to sigh in response. Of course he would do something retarded.

“Some three days ago he stopped working entirely. Vanished from his station. He fucked with Piyawutt’s daughter and her old man decided to look into that cunt-addict and his response was to run.”

I take a deep gulp of the infused water. He isn’t some head-of-a-market who collect taxes from a market district, no, those could be nudged a little, Nhon decides to directly puts himself in the eyes of an official who handles imports from New Amsterdam to Ayutthaya. Annoy folks like that and at the very best, the bureaucracy becomes tedious. At the very worst, well… I believe we might be already there.

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“Him leaving the colony was the worst move he could have played - short of getting his mates to clip him… I suppose.” Viriya proceeds to rant about all the other plays he could have made to keep himself from suspicion. He could have stayed there and got people to dispose of his collections. He could have called me! He could have gotten away with it all if he was good, maybe fined if he was not, possibly retired quietly, but no, he - had! - to turn this into a potential manhunt.

“I had some hope he would retain some of the things I imparted onto him… what disgrace.“

She pauses to let out a deep sigh.

After her breath fills the room, then came silence, and only silence for a long while. We both know there is no chance of wiping out the stain of criminality before it becomes apparent, but the color could be lightened.

"… we are sending him back, yes?" I knew it from the moment we entered the room, but I ask her anyway.

“Mhm.” She nods.

“Well…..”
“You will escort him back. And answer a few questions - worry not, I have planned it out. I spent half the day with him on instructing which to say and which to not. Your part will be a lot shorter. The heart of it is: He arrived at the residence seeking sanctuary yesterday - begging for his father’s favors - and you told him to leave. I got everything down. It should take no more than this afternoon. Do it well and that tumor gets severed. And we all go freely.” Viriya delivers me my task with much unconcern.

"…. and."
"what will -you- do." My contempt leaks through each word as I glare back at her. I am to be tossed into the frontlines and die yet again while her ilk hangs back. Yes, I am incensed and she will know about it.

“Do.”
“Not.”
Viriya starts to raise her voice, but stops to lets out a huff.

“You are not alone in this game. Noot. My colleagues will dispose of the stashes - whats left of it - and I will get everyone’s stories to line up right. We will -all- get questioned soon due to our acquaintance with him. I - and everyone else - will play our part soon after yours.”
“Play your part.”
“.. and things -will- go well.”
“I assure you.” The air still feels heavy, but her answer does dispel much of the divide.

We returned to the guest room soon after. There wasn’t much left to discuss in there. We went over her documents without much interaction outside of the occasion question or request for food. All of us could say many, many hurtful things about each other - every slight, every mistake we made which led up to this point, but to stoke such anger is not useful. Not right now. We kept it neutral in both tone and choice of words.

Eventually there comes a moment when she excused herself to the outhouse. Me and Nhon became the only two in the room.

“… you know… the most fucked up thing, Noot?” His head collapses into the wrinkly and cracked note made from palm leaves. The disheartened cunt-addict mustered barely enough strength to get a sentence from his mouth.

"… yes?" I humor him, if out of boredom.

“I was not a good man. Never. Never was. I fucked up so much I could not count it all. And yet… when I try to be - for once - I got myself into the deepest shit.” My curiosity peaked a little upon hearing that, and I let him continue.

“… I’d imagine my dad’s wife telling you… I.. tried to fool around with Piyawutt’s kid? Something of sort?” I give him a slight nod in response to that.

“Of course.”
“Not sure what I expected there…..”
“Well, for once, I did not. I am serious. I saw her and she looked lost, saw her alone - y’know, not the most unexpected thing, not everyone visits the place, and I doubt even her father knows New Amesterdam precisely - and I tried to give her guidance. I kept my distance. And — of course…… — her father catches up the moment I whisper to her ear about which streets to avoid. I don’t wish for her to be swindled! Especially her. Before I could explain anything my collar was in his hand.”His words do make sense, but still… I don’t trust him to be fully truthful.

“Look at me, man. No chance she fucks me. I did -not- do this for sex. Hell, you-“
“My mouth is fucked.”
“My thigh-“
“My back.”
“My prick is fucked beyond belief. I could show you right now how-“