>>198711
She was probably lying. However, she may have good reason to.
Unfortunately, you're an outsider in the village. The guards made it pretty clear that there were local conflicts going on. Aron could be a part of them.
They could be trying to protect Aron from strangers that mean him harm.
Or, something could have happened regarding Aron in the village and they were forced into silence over it. She could put her life at risk by telling you anything. Try and look around the village more, get your bearings, look for signs that he was here that dont require people's answers. Once we're a little more familiar with the area, we can develop a better approach.

Face 2010/06/25(Fri)13:40 No. 198840 ID: 0225ec
File 12774984325.png - (446.35KB , 500x526 , Face17.png )

>Try and look around the village more, get your bearings

It seems prudent to get a better idea of the area before continuing my inquiry. I'm rather concerned about the idea that these people are purposefully deceiving me about father - maybe if I ask them about their village, they'll be more honest.

The village is tucked into a bend in a river; the only side accessible by land has been covered by a palisade and the single gate that I entered through. I ask a few villagers about a tavern or inn, but they all tell me that there was no such place here. As far as I can determine, the only buildings - besides the large huts that the people themselves reside in - are:

The Mill - One villager told me that I should "ask the miller" if I needed lodging. Apparently, there are some soldiers being quartered there; I gathered that this is not typical. My father mentioned a miller when he spoke about Dej, who he described as a "fat oaf."
The Smithy - Located roughly in the middle of the village, there are two men doing some kind of work here. Their hammerings are audible from all the way across the village.
The Towers - There is a man in each of the four wooden towers. They seem to be observing the land outside the village. The largest one, standing on the edge of a wide rocky outcropping on the east side of the village, has a big bell hanging from a rafter sticking out from the elevated platform.
The Granary - This is a big, round building on stilts. There are several men with weapons sitting in the shade underneath.

There's also a long shed by the river on the south side of the village, where a group of villagers are cutting and stacking green grass while singing songs.

What should my approach be?

I can't believe we didn't advise you on what to take with you. What a blunder. Private lodging of any kind would be preferable. Do you bring any currency with you? If not you may have to do some work. Then again this is your element. Perhaps an inn keeper will give you a room in exchange for your cleaning services. Or perhaps the miller will let you room alone for the same. My concern is you having to defend your privacy on a nightly basis, should you have to take quarters with the others. If it comes down to it seeking makeshift shelter may be preferable. I'm not sure how immune to weather elements you are.

As a matter of fact, please give us a complete run down of your weaknesses so we can better watch over your safety.

In any case my advice would be the miller. If he is indeed stupid he might accidentally let information slip that he hadn't intended. And you can find out the details about lodging.

>>198840
I would advise trying the blacksmith rather than the miller. The miller might indeed let something slip but he also has several soldiers living with him, if he does let something slip both he and you are likely to get into trouble.

The blacksmith on the other hand doesn't have soldiers with him, and he might have had dealings with Father as alchemical stuff can be quite useful in the forging of steel and iron. The sounds from the forge should also drown out the sounds of your conversation to anyone standing around.

We should see to acquire anatomy books and/or, uh, adult magazines/journals

Face 2010/06/26(Sat)20:37 No. 199617 ID: 0225ec
File 12776098613.png - (379.22KB , 600x432 , Face18.png )

>Currency, Lodging

If it was a blunder, it was mutual. It didn't occur to me that I would need anything - all I took with me were these clothes and one of father's walking sticks. Father does keep a bag of silver coins in a chest in his room, but he took that with him when he went to the village. Of course, we have precious metals at home - it is an alchemist's workshop, after all - but not coins, and most is not in a pure form.

Shelter may not be necessary. I'm not harmed by the normal temperatures of night and day, and I don't need sleep - technically, I can't sleep. Usually I just read at night, since the noise of cleaning and preparing equipment kept father from sleeping. Privacy might be desirable, but I don't think I'd need a whole room - a closet would do fine.

>complete run down of your weaknesses

Weaknesses? Well... most things that harm a human harm me, I'm just more resistant to them. I could reach into a fire and remove a burning log, but if I held my arm in the flames for much longer I would start to scorch and crack. Extreme cold would probably harm me in the same way. I've lost several digits and limbs to accidents with acid and explosives, so I don't think I have any special resistance to those.

I can be damaged by physical trauma just as easily as a human, but I don't truly feel pain and I don't bleed. I won't lose the use of my limbs or digits unless they're entirely severed, but I can't hide damage with my transformation - if I acquire a cut on my face, it will be visible regardless of whose face I'm wearing.

I don't heal naturally like a human. Replacing a limb would require referring to my father's notes on my creation and performing complex alchemical procedures, but I can repair minor damage with a slurry of the three substances that make up most of my body - clay, bone ash, and blood.

I suppose I should also tell you about my Heart. Father told me never to let anyone know about it, but I don't think you're capable of either harming me or stealing father's secrets. In the center of my chest is a mandrake root, treated with various rare substances. This root is the source of my thought and motion. No amount of damage to my body will destroy me, but if this heart is damaged - perhaps even scratched - I will immediately become inert. I will "die."

>Miller or Blacksmith

Well, the argument for the blacksmith seems more compelling to me. It's still early in the afternoon, so there's time to talk to the miller before nightfall if I need lodging and can't get any useful information from the smith. I'll do that first.

Face 2010/06/26(Sat)20:39 No. 199618 ID: 0225ec
File 127760997631.png - (304.20KB , 500x389 , Face19.png )

I approach the two men at their workplace; one of them is unusually short.

"Excuse me!" The men stop hammering and look up at me.
The taller one responds first. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Aron, the alchemist who lives near this village."
He squints and frowns at me. "Don't know an Aron." The tall man raises his hammer again, about to resume his work.
"But... he came here every week. I know he did."
The tall man brings his hammer back down, closes his eyes, and sighs. "Ioan," he says to the short one.
"Yes sir?"
"Can you manage this yourself for a few minutes on the other anvil?"
The short man smiles eagerly. "Yes sir! I can do it."
"Good lad." He gives the tongs and the piece of metal to Ioan, who practically skips away towards the forge.

The man puts down his hammer and stares intently right at my obscured face.

"Who're you, and why're you asking about Aron?"

stick with the story we told the guards, we have alchemy induced boils and heard he could fix it, we came here because we have been to his shop several times and he was not there so you are looking for him.

Tell him what you have told before.

That you heard he was alchemist in this region and that you need his help.

"But... he came here every week. I know he did."

thats why we can't say that we are looking for him, we revealed a bit more than we maybe should have.

new argument: I am a friend of his from a bit aways, and came to his house looking for him. He told me he comes here weekly, and I have been waiting at his house for days now.

>>199635
This is a better idea. In fact, it doesn't really conflict with our previous story.

>>199618
"He's.. my father. I only found out recently. I really want to meet him."

Face 2010/06/27(Sun)00:46 No. 199727 ID: 0225ec
File 127762478632.png - (114.26KB , 400x389 , Face20.png )

"I've got boils from an alchemy accident, and I heard he could fix them."
"That's goatshit," he growls. "For eight years, I've seen the kind of men who come to see Aron. Not one comes to ask'm about boils. So you tell me who you are and why you want'm, or you can find someone fool enough to believe your story. I'm not."
"Oh... I... I'm a friend of his. I came to his house looking for him, but he wasn't there. He told me he comes to this village every week, and I've been waiting at his house for days now."
The smith says nothing for a moment, giving me a considering look.
"It's hard to imagine Aron having friends. He mentioned an 'assistant' once, but I don't believe that for a second. If he had one, he'd have sent him for errands." For a moment, I think I almost see a smirk.
"So will you tell me? I just want to find him."
He sighs heavily and glances over his shoulder. "I still don't believe you, stranger. But I'm convinced you're not a Mercy, either. If you were, I reckon you wouldn't be hiding your face, and I don't think you'd be such a bad liar."

"I can't answer your question - I don't know where he is. But I do know what happened to him."

Face 2010/06/27(Sun)00:47 No. 199730 ID: 0225ec
File 12776248413.png - (174.60KB , 500x547 , Face21.png )

"Aron did come here about once a week - food, materials, that kind of thing. Pompous little bastard, but he did pay real silver, and paid generously. That was good enough to keep'm welcome here.

"He arrived about... a little over two weeks ago, I think. But two days before that, a pair of men arrived in our village - riders, coming from the Tirgul road. They were Mercies. Real Mercies, the kind with swords. They didn't say what they wanted with us, but they asked for food and lodging, and we wouldn't turn down Mercies. We just crossed our fingers and hoped they were only here to rest.

"Even if Aron had been popular around here, nobody would have warned him - we had no idea they were here for him. But sure enough, he'd only been here a few minutes when the Mercies scooped'm up and led him right back down the Tirgul road with his hands tied behind his back. Before they left, they gathered us all up and made us swear never to tell anyone. To forget it ever happened.

"I don't know who you are, and I wasn't Aron's friend, but... he wasn't a bad man. Got in some arguments, but nothing terrible. Far as I can tell, he didn't deserve to be dragged off like that. I appreciate the Mercies - we all do - but they can shove that oath of secrecy right up their asses. Nobody grabs a customer of mine right out of our village without a single word and tells me to shut up about it."

thank him for the info and let's be on our way.

>>199730
Thank him for the info and ask him if he knows where the mercies have their homebase.

By the way, how good are you at drawing?

Okay, here are some questions:

Is it possible to "better" yourself? Like, can you make your body stronger, faster more durable? Can you learn magic (is there magic in this world)? Can you make yourself stronger? How strong and fast are you anyway? Do you know or can you learn to fight (with melee weapons or unarmed)?

>>199730
I believe that this man deserves to know who we are. He has put himself on the line to let us know what happened. We should offer our services if he should ever need us and begin our trek

>>199730
Ask him if he knows where we can find Mercies, or where they might've taken Aaron.

>>199789
Nah, I don't think so. We might be anathema so better not reveal our secret to anyone.
Thank him for his generosity and be on your way. Also, I don't think it's a good idea to ask about Mercies or their hideout to him.

>>199913
Mercies seem to be a public and somewhat respected force though. Not some secret gang. From the way he talks about them it almost sounds like it should be common knowledge.

>>199730

State "Okay... I'll try not to tell anyone about this."

It looks like you need to gear up for an adventure. Arms and armor might help.

What alchemy formulas do you know?

Face 2010/06/27(Sun)23:22 No. 200176 ID: 0225ec
File 127770617587.png - (90.38KB , 500x394 , Face22.png )

"Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He points a finger at me. "I mean that - don't want any trouble with the Mercies."
"I understand. Do you know where I can find them?"
"What, Mercies? Uh... anywhere, I guess. Don't they have temples all over?"
"I... don't know?"
"Look - I lived my whole life in a little village in Traiuna until they moved us to another little village in the middle of the fucking Fenwood eight years ago. Only Mercies I see are the ones that come to us, and I don't know nothing else about'm. I only know what I saw - they came, they grabbed'm, and they left down the road towards Tirgul."
"I see. Thank you for your generosity. Is there anything I can do for you in return?"
He turns up the corner of his mouth, giving me half of a smile. "Nah. Though if you do ever find Aron, I suppose I wouldn't say no to more of that silver of his."
"I'll remember to tell him that."
He snorts. "You do that, if you ever see'm again." He picks up his hammer and turns around. "Ioan," he bellows to his shorter assistant, "tell me you're done with that sickle!"

>How strong and fast are you anyway?

I'm not sure; I've never compared myself against anyone except my father. I'm stronger than he is, but I don't believe he's at the peak of human fitness.

>Is it possible to "better" yourself? Like, can you make your body stronger, faster more durable?

I don't know if it can be done, but I'm certain that I can't do it. I tried to read father's notes on my creation once; they made very little sense to me. As an assistant, it wasn't necessary for me to know father's procedures fully, just enough to save him time and effort by completing the more tedious and dangerous tasks. Most of my work -

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.

Someone is ringing the bell on the highest tower. There is a great deal of shouting. Ioan and the smith have stopped their work, and I can see men beginning to gather on the hill.

Something is clearly going on! I'm not sure what it is...

Face 2010/06/27(Sun)23:23 No. 200177 ID: 0225ec
File 127770621662.png - (296.56KB , 500x406 , Face23.png )

...but I can see smoke rising from beyond the palisade.

The men of the village are gathering weapons - I fear something bad is happening.

My purpose was to serve father; my purpose is, now, to find father. I'm not sure this purpose can be furthered here any longer, now that I have learned what has happened to him. Perhaps it is time to leave before I am drawn into this new situation.

if everyone is getting weapons then a good chance that whatever is out there will try to kill you as well. do you know any combat methods?

Yes, you should leave immediately. Unless you experience an emotion known as curiosity. Do you feel a strange longing to know what's on the other side of that pallisade? Do you want to know if the villagers survive whatever attack this is, even if it has nothing to do with your search? Do you pause at the sight of commotion, irresistably drawn to the fact that it might, might have some relevance to what you're looking for?

>>200177
It's probably some sort of raid. How waterproof are you? Because you might be able to get away unnoticed by going into the river and going below the surface for a decent amount of time, until you're out of sight from the village. Have to make sure nobody spots you going into the water though.

Otherwise it might be best to stay close to the blacksmith and see if you can get a spear. Spears allow you to keep your distance some and hopefully not get any cuts, explaining why you don't bleed would be quite problematic.

Face 2010/06/29(Tue)03:13 No. 200727 ID: 0225ec
File 127780639484.png - (99.63KB , 400x373 , Face24.png )

>combat methods
>see if you can get a spear

I've never used a weapon. The closest I've ever come to "combat" is decapitating chickens with a hatchet for father's supper. I'm not very confident in my ability to fight people who know what they're doing.

>How waterproof are you?

I'm not harmed by water, and I don't breathe. I could remain submerged indefinitely.

>>200184

Well, I suppose I am curious - the world outside the workshop is an interesting one, if chaotic, confusing, and generally untidy. I've enjoyed learning about it and seeing it firsthand. But I'm not an explorer - I'm an object, a tool designed and created to fulfill a purpose. My emotions and desires - and my curiosity - were unintentional side-effects of my creation. I don't think that I should allow them to drive me, not when I have a purpose.

But you're right - it might have some relevance to what I'm looking for. I know so little about this world that it's impossible to dismiss anything as irrelevant. There couldn't be any harm in finding out what exactly is going on.

Face's face is better hidden than the picture lets on, he's just getting a good look in this frame.

>>200727
Well then follow the blacksmith and see what's going on.

And the reason for why a spear would be good for you is because it's very complex to use and it allows you to stay further away from your opponents weapons. Ideally you shouldn't fight at all, and since your a stranger they might not even give you a weapon in case of trouble.

But if you do get a weapon then try to stay in the back and out of trouble.

>>200727
>I've never used a weapon. The closest I've ever come to "combat" is decapitating chickens with a hatchet for father's supper. I'm not very confident in my ability to fight people who know what they're doing.

Spears are very intuitive, there's a reason a lot of people use them. you just stick the pointy end into the squishy parts. either way, you should try to find a way to defend yourself.

How about we ask the smith what might be going on?

Face 2010/06/29(Tue)15:20 No. 200915 ID: b93050
File 127785003080.png - (21.52KB , 400x429 , Face25.png )

>How about we ask the smith what might be going on?

The smith and his diminutive assistant are carrying weapons out of his hut and handing them out to a group of village men who have gathered here. It's not a very orderly process, and nobody seems to notice or care when I pick up one of the weapons. It's... like a spear. It looks like someone put a scythe blade on a rake handle. It's old and has a few nicks and scratches in it, but it was clearly sharpened recently.

[Item dropped: Walking Stick]
[Item acquired: War Scythe]

It's difficult to get the smith's attention in the hustle, but eventually I manage to pull him away.

"What? What is it?"
"What's going on?"
"The fucking Fenek, probably. Look, this isn't your home - if I were you, I'd find a way out before it's too late. But if you want to make yourself useful, ask the captain what we're supposed to be doing. Sure as shit don't know myself." He makes a vague hand motion towards the hill, where a small group of soldiers are gathered, and immediately returns to his duty of handing out weapons to the villagers.

>>200915
Oh nice, a war scythe. They can be quite devestating and are quite easy to use.

See if you can't find a group of villages who are similarly equipped and stick with them.

>>200915
helping the villagers will give them a good impression of you, should you ever return here. going to ask the captain seems like a good idea. But do be careful, if the fighting is too much, or you are outnumbered, just flee to the water or play dead.

>>200915

See if you can find a metal plate, or a board of wood to slide under your clothes and over your heart. It's the only thing that can cause you to die, so it should be protected.

>>200915
Go talk to the captain. Ask him what orders he has for the civilians. Also, keep in mind that this is the village your father is associated with. Protecting it is in your father's best interests.

You're a novice fighter that's perfectly susceptible to getting your limbs chopped off, and it sounds like you'd have only a slightly easier time replacing a limb than a human, which is to say not at all.

If you had any skills to protect yourself I'd be for it. One can never have too many friends and battling along side people tends to make them overlook any oddities you might have.

However, under the circumstances...
Fighting sounds like a horrible idea.

Face 2010/06/29(Tue)19:52 No. 201090 ID: b93050
File 127786632954.png - (296.51KB , 500x407 , Face26.png )

Believe me, I'm not eager to fight anybody. I don't even know who the "Fenek" are, and I have no desire to hurt or be hurt by them. As most of you seem to think I should be of some assistance to these people, however, I'll remain for now - as you say, I may be able to flee to the river if the situation becomes too dangerous.

>metal plate, or a board of wood
If I see something like that, I'll be sure to grab it.

All the villagers with weapons seem to be gathered right here at the smithy. The rest of the villagers - mostly women - are heading quickly towards the mill. I begin walking up the hill towards the small group of soldiers, among whom the smith indicated the captain would be.

The first voice I hear clearly is that of one of the soldiers addressing someone who must be the leader. "...sure of it, Captain. They've set fire to the outfields. If they're heading here next, they're only minutes away."
"Alright. Listen carefully - I want every man with a bow on the wall towers, but keep sentries in the other two. Go! Where's Dan?"
Dan, one of the gate guards I spoke to earlier, comes running up the hill. "Here, sir," he responds breathlessly.
"Is the gate secure?"
"Yes, sir. Closed and barred."
"Wait!" A pudgy, bald villager tries to interrupt their conversation, but the captain ignores him.
"Good. Nobody gets in or out. I want the rest of our men-"
"STOP! Listen to me!" The villager waves his hands in front of the captain, who glares at him with annoyance.
"What, damn it?"
"You can't just bar the gates!"
"Of course I-"
"You don't understand! Harvest is only weeks away," he pleads. "If you let them burn the fields, we'll have nothing! We have to fight them!"
"We have no idea how many of them there are," the captain explains impatiently. "I am not going to march my men out that gate to be slaughtered. My duty is to keep this village safe, and we're safer behind the wall - they'll probably move on."
"You can't just abandon our fields! What will we do when winter comes? What will we eat?"
"The matter's settled. Get yourself to the smithy with the rest of the militia."
The villager is trembling and his fists are clenched. "Why'd you even come here? Why'd the Ban send us soldiers who won't even fight? You fucking cowards!"

Face 2010/06/29(Tue)19:53 No. 201092 ID: b93050
File 127786638075.png - (225.96KB , 400x394 , Face27.png )

In one swift motion, the captain draws his sword and presses it to the throat of the villager, whose trembling is now probably more out of fear than anger.
"You're going to shut up and report to the smithy. You're going to do this because if you don't, I swear on the Lady's grave I'll send you out that gate to fight the Fenek by yourself."
The villager blubbers and whimpers incoherently, and begins shambling away towards the smithy as soon as the captain withdraws his sword.
"I'll assemble our men at the gate, captain," says Dan quietly.
The captain nods, looks over the palisade at the growing smoke, and then notices me standing nearby.

Face 2010/06/29(Tue)19:53 No. 201093 ID: b93050
File 127786641941.png - (84.34KB , 400x416 , Face28.png )

The irritation is evident in his voice. "Well? What do you want?"
"What orders do you have for civilians?"
"They should do what I've told them to do," he snaps. "Anyone who can't carry a weapon should get to the mill. Anyone who can should grab one at the smithy, and then stay out of our way. If we end up needing you, it means we're fucked anyway. Damned peasants are worse than useless."

He doesn't seem to have much of a role in mind for the militia. Should I just stay with them at the smithy?

he makes the tough choices and probably thinks he isn't getting payed anywhere near enough for this, so he has a right to be angry. well do what you are told for now, like we said, situation get's out of hand you can flee.

>>201093
Stay at the smithy. Not alot you would be able to do except get in the way if you stayed with him.

We could go under the river and scout them out, no?

Face 2010/07/01(Thu)19:36 No. 201955 ID: b93050
File 127803820786.png - (57.41KB , 500x510 , Face29.png )

I return to the smithy to convey the captain's orders. The villagers seem less than pleased about it - like the bald man, who I learn is the miller, they are angry at the unwillingness of the soldiers to protect their crops and their own inability to protect them themselves. They react in different ways; the miller continues his sobbing in the doorway of the smith's hut, while others loudly curse the Fenek and the Ban alike or stare wordlessly at the growing smoke clouds. The men begin to cough from the hazy pall of smoke that blows into the village on a westerly breeze. It's not clear whether the fields under the village's walls are burning yet, but the villagers are convinced that nothing will be left by the time the raid is over.

The soldiers, formed up behind the gate, don't appear to be doing anything more than waiting. The smoke is the only indication that the village is under attack - the men in the towers have bows, but don't appear to be using them.

>We could go under the river and scout them out, no?

I suppose that's possible - what would I be looking for? If I were to do that, I'd also have to decide which way to go, as the river leads away from the village in two directions.

Should I try this, or should I keep waiting with the villagers? Without knowing what these "Fenek" intend to do, it's hard to know which would be safer.

actually, it's odd. why would they set fire to the crops? what could they possibly gain from it. think we should stay, not much point to just wandering around randomly.

>>201973
It's a terror tactic, mainly a "WE AREN'T FUCKING AROUND" sort of gesture.

>>201955
Scout in the river, yes... In whatever direction they're coming from.

>>201973

It's a long term siege tactic. First they burn the crops, then next year anyone left alive is too starving to resist them at all. Generally not done by very nice people...

>>202010

Yeah, the exact term is "scorched earth." Since that's what they're doing when they burn the crops, and anything else that's useful. Generally invading generals use that technique when they plan on overrunning the position quickly and moving on to the next objective. If they intended to stay, they would have left the crops alone so that they could take them and use the crops for food to run their army. By burning the crops they deny enemy civilians food and more importantly keep the enemy army from being able to use that food to resupply with later in the war.

>>202088

Heh. Scorched earth can be a two edged sword that way. Both Hitler and Napoleon met their match when the Russians bravely burned their own fields and retreated until the deadly Soviet winter destroyed both armies.