Nalthar 2024/09/27(Fri)22:38 No. 1097943 ID: 355e44
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Murdoc: "They all sound fun, so lets go for the tastiest!"

Following the scent from the trail of paw prints leads to a glade where several spiny things are rooting around. When they see the bolds they hiss and waggle their tendrils. Gnapper and Grina peek around Murdoc. "Ah, they always taunt us!" Gnapper whines.

>>1097943
Can't sting a spear!

>>1097943
Witness the almighty power of kobold engineering! (Sharp sticks)

1/3 Nalthar 2024/10/06(Sun)15:08 No. 1098307 ID: 355e44
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Murdoc: (Well I don't have a spear, but how about mini spears?) She draws her shortbow and expertly pins a spiny to the tree. *Thunk*

Gnapper: "Woah!"

Murdoc: *Thunk Thunk*

Grina: "Wa wa wa wa wa!"

Murdoc: *ThunkThunkThunk*

Gnapper and Grina: "Ahhh so coool!"

2/3 Nalthar 2024/10/06(Sun)15:10 No. 1098308 ID: 355e44
File 172825262492.jpg - (60.08KB , 1000x800 , fallingcity_74 camping time.jpg )

Taking some hooks and twine from her hunting pack, Murdoc strings up the several brace of spinies. Holding them at arms length so there's no stinging, the hunting party returns. Everyone is dutifully impressed with Murdoc's hunting prowess, and the lizzbolds are ecstatic about having spinies for supper.

With the prospect of tasty treats ahead the party makes good time and almost reaches the edge of the woods when night falls. Settling down around the campfire, everyone gets a delicious spiny fillet and handful of greens. Hilgar brings out their harmonica for some pleasant tunes.

There's just one thing to decide before turning in for the night...

3/3 Nalthar 2024/10/06(Sun)15:10 No. 1098309 ID: 355e44
File 172825265461.jpg - (73.36KB , 1000x800 , fallingcity_75 a buncha nematocysts.jpg )

What're we gonna do with all these nematocysts?

>>1098309
Tempting to stick them onto someone... might have to make something to cover them most of the time to prevent accidental stingings. Or the augmented person stinging themselves, unless you can configure the nematocysts to be self-safe on the new body?

Would such a short-ranged stinging defense even be useful though? Maybe it could be a deterrent against predators at least.

Maybe you could attach them to arrows? Not sure stinging would be worse than being arrowed. Does the venom have any side effects, like paralysis or confusion? If you can reverse engineer immunity, perhaps you could attach them to stationary things e.g. bags or chests to prevent thievery? Not sure how long they last without a host.

>>1098309
Wild animals often go for vital places like the throat or ankles. These could make a good deterrant for our lizzbolds who have a rather large neck target zone.
If they become a problem during downtime, maybe they can be retractable like a frilled lizard.

1/2 Nalthar 2024/10/15(Tue)14:49 No. 1098629 ID: 355e44
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Murdoc: "Eh, I dunno." she rubs the tip of a tentacle, wincing as neurotoxic fire shoots down her arm "Hnnnn! Nnnnot so u-useful. I've felt waa-ha-ha-wooorse."

Hilgar: "Quit showing off." they give Murdoc a playful slap on the arm, causing her to double over with a pained keening. "What's important is that they're pretty and they would look good on Gnapper."

Gnapper: "Me?"

Martah: "Oh yeah, you're the eldest right? Let's help you look the part."

And so courtesan and shaper conspire to give Gnapper a fabulous mane of stingity tendrils. Murdoc lounges around on the floor, clutching her arm and being of no help at all. But she does agree Gnapper's new hair is stunning, and is glad that Martah made the stinging a consciously controlled action, so riding the lizzbold won't be a constant dance with pain.

2/2 Nalthar 2024/10/15(Tue)14:50 No. 1098630 ID: 355e44
File 172902901762.jpg - (199.50KB , 1000x800 , fallingcity_77 goat!.jpg )

The night passes without many animal attacks, most keeping a wary distance from the campfire. As sunlight dapples through the thick foliage the party sets out for their second day of travel. The gentle slope they have been following since they left the portal gets steeper, and the trees thin out as they emerge at the foot of the mountain.

Working their way through the scrub of the first rise, the party halts at the sound of jingling. Munching away at a scraggly bush is a small goat.

>>1098630
It's got a bell, that means it belongs to someone! Call out, maybe its owner is nearby.

>>1098630
A mark of ownership means it belongs to a sapient, and something like a bell suggests at least a level of development where they can shape metal.

That means two things:
One, our mission objective is looking up!
Two, they might have arrows or throwing spears and will recognize the lizbolds as predators, so be wary.

It may be better if a small party of 'bolds goes on from here to avoid spooking them. Murdoc can track the goat's prints back to whomever it shepherding it, and bring Mirrak and Hilgar for negotiations. Bring just a single lizbold with our trade goods saddlebags, to give the appearance of a tamed pack animal at first glance.

Everyone else can remain behind. If a rescue is needed, we spirits can notify them to come in as the cavalry.

>>1098636
Good eye.

It is owned, possibly lost,
Try not to look like cattle rustlers if you do approach.
Maybe loudly ask if anyone has lost a goat?

Oh and do inform the lizbolds that if they see any other goats around not to approach them. Any natives of this planet would not know about the uplifting.

Make sure your companions recognize this goat as "not-food-yet". You need to catch it! You can return it to the owner for a reward or PR.

Nalthar 2024/10/26(Sat)20:10 No. 1099083 ID: 355e44
File 172999861190.jpg - (132.88KB , 1000x800 , fallingcity_78 more goats.jpg )

The party circles around the goat. The small caprine rotates his eyes at them, makes a short bleat, and goes back to munching.

Murdoc: "Well this is clearly domesticated, right? And it didn't come from the forest so we're on the right track."

Gnapper: She sniffs the goat, which bonks his head on her snout. "This little fluff wouldn't last long in the trees no. Looks too tasty for that."

Murdoc: "Well don't eat it yet. If we bring it back to whoever lost it then that's a good start to making new friends." She looks around, but the mountainside is empty as far as the eye can see. She hoists the goat up onto Gnapper's back with her, where he immediately begins snoozing. "Mirrak, Hilgar; we're going to try and find the goatherd. The rest of you follow along a little ways behind."

Heading steadily upwards through heather and brush, the party doesn't see anything for most of the morning. Then from the other side of a rise comes the sounds of jingling bells. The little goat in Murdoc's lap wakes up and lets out a loud bleat, which is answered by several others.

Coming over the ridge, they find a whole herd of goats. Each goat has a little bell tied to their horn, but there doesn't seem to be anyone else around. A stone hut stands nearby with its door shut.

>>1099083
Looks like a wooden crook over there by that bush. Go say hello.

>>1099084
Thats either a pair of ears or hornsnpoking out if it too.

Announce your approach.
Dont want to startle them.
Compliment the qualities of the goat youre returning.
The bell and ribbon mark it as special. Plus it imparts that you are aware of the thing you are willingly returning which in turn implies honesty.
A good introduction, even if you end up startlingbtge bush dwelling goatherd.

>>1099083
Someone in the bush. Calmly return the goat to the herd. There will probably be an initial language barrier, so try to show a body language of peaceful intent.

Nalthar 2024/11/02(Sat)19:53 No. 1099305 ID: 355e44
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Even without using her new electro-sense, Murdoc's keen hunter's eye notices the obvious horns sticking out of the conspicuous bush. She dismounts and trots over to investigate.

Murdoc: "Hey hey, no need to hide. I think we found one of your's and brought them back." She parts the leaves to reveal... not a goat?

Nalthar 2024/11/02(Sat)19:54 No. 1099306 ID: 355e44
File 173060245337.jpg - (72.72KB , 1000x800 , fallingcity_80 yeah thats not a goat.jpg )

???: Ahhhhh!

>>1099306
Is it... wearing goat horns? Maybe a headdress identifying profession.

Give them some space.

>>1099306
Eh. Take a step back and see if they calm down a bit.

Don't worry, horrifying screams are just normal noises goats make. He is goatkin, living among the goates to become one with them.

>>1099306
Give the poor odd thing some space.
You have to admit with all the fleshcrafting a gang of hunters on velociraptors would be a perturbing wakeup call.

See if the screams are communicative or just panic.

1/2 Nalthar 2024/11/10(Sun)21:50 No. 1099616 ID: 355e44
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Murdoc: "Whoa, sorry. I'll give you some space." The hunter backs off from the rustling bush, which unravels into a lanky salamander.

salamander: "Ahhhh! Demon goats!" He tries to scamper away, but quickly trips over a rock and tumbles down the slope, shedding leaves and his horns as he goes.

2/2 Nalthar 2024/11/10(Sun)21:51 No. 1099617 ID: 355e44
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His flight ends as he bounces off Gnapper's leg and sprawls on the ground. The little goat bahs a greeting and hops down onto his belly, eliciting a small "oof" from the panting salamander. The bunnbolds come over to check on him.

Mirrak: "Are you alright?"

salamander: *Sniff* "No I'm not alright! I fell down and lost my horns and now the goats won't respect me and Palla was right and now I'm going to be dragged down to the dusty pit of hell!"

>>1099617
Aww. Fetch the poor guy his horns.

>>1099617
"Uh... okay, that's... progressive? The jerk neighbors I used to live with said everyone with horns deserved to go to hell, and... screw those guys?"

They're just goats...

>>1099617
Curious, there's no difficulty understanding him.

Help him up and return his horns. Explain that you are foreigners who have come to this land to settle.

I will smuggle you into Heaven! I will have you know that not having horns is a very silly requirement to go to Hell. My people don't have horns and they've been doing just fine. Let me help you up, and give some food, see if you are down in the dumps after that.

Nalthar 2024/11/26(Tue)20:31 No. 1100438 ID: 6c233e
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Hilgar helps the guy sit up, which is a little difficult as he is kind of floppy.
Hilgar: "There there, we're not demons. or goats. We're robolds!"
Mirrak: "We're here to trade, and not in souls!"

The salamander sniffles and wipes his eye. "So that isn't one of the pillars of hell come to herald the endless day?" He looks to the distant Jormun, drifting ever downward.

Murdoc: "Nah, mate" the hunter says, plopping the horns back on his head. "Just a big wurm."

The three surround the goatherd, eagerly awaiting him to make the next move. The lizzbolds have adjourned to some nearby rocks to nap in the sun. The salamander pets the goat in his lap while staring at Jormun for a while, glancing nervously at the bolds around him.

salamander: "So, uh, if you're not from around here, how do you know our language?"

Mirrak: "Just a little brain trick we robolds have!" she taps the side of her head. "Don't worry about it."

salamander: "Oh that's, huh." he seems a little lost, but shrugs it off. "Sorry, we don't get many visitors up here. It's just me and the goats. I'm Sinni, by the way." Climbing to his feet and brushing the last loose leaves off, Sinni backs up a step and gives the bolds a sinuous bow. "Please be welcome on our lonely peak. So eh, what is it you seek on this lonesome peak?"

>>1100438
Information, first and foremost. We seek knowledge of these lands, like what settlements are nearby and what resources there are to trade for. We can provide numerous services that are likely in short supply in these parts, and maybe some interesting materials not found here, though in that case we have a limited supply...

One important thing to seek would be making it clear that Jormun is just a longboi and not a pillar of Hell. He did accidentally (?) fall into their world, and then fell into it again recursively, to avoid crashing into the ground. I imagine if there are sapiant beings nearby, they might be a little concerned about it.

>>1100440
On the note of services in particular - healing (and potentially alterations) are some of your specialties. Do they require maintenance, or are they set-it-and-forget-it kind of things? I don't remember. Anyway, ask if there's anyone who is sick or injured, you can help. Alterations have the potential to be even more valuable, but also could cause consternation and should be approached tactfully in case e.g. they take it as an affront to the Creators or st.

>>1100438
We would like to make contact with a local settlement.

1/2 Nalthar 2024/12/14(Sat)20:07 No. 1101257 ID: 6c233e
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Mirrak: "We're new to the area, so we were looking to meet our new neighbors. Since we dropped in so unexpectedly we're having a bit of trouble getting established. It looks like there is a settlement on this peak, so that seemed like the place to start. Are you with them?"

Sinni: "Oh, the temple?" He looks up the mountain, though the structures near the top aren't visible from this angle. "It's supposed to be hidden you know. Ah, but your wurm can see from above huh?"

The salamander shrugs "We're not hiding anything important, just keeping away from troubles, you know. Shaping and communing with the stones. Well they do, I just keep the goats." He shrugs again, a liquid gesture that seems to use his whole body. "Sorry, I'm not the best for conversation. I only go up to the temple once a week or so, usually I'm on my own."

"If you want to talk to the stonecarvers I hope your business is stone related. They don't really care about anything else up there. They live at a stone's pace too. Not like the fast paced goat life down here." He gestures his charges, who are languidly browsing the hardy mountain grasses.

The rest of the party comes over the ridge to join up. Sinni looks a little alarmed. "Whoa, that's a lot of predators. They're under control right?" His head perks up as he catches Jitter and Grina chattering away. "Wait, they can talk? Could they always talk?"

Mirrak: "They can now!" The trader puts a companionable arm around his leafy shoulders. "Just one of the many improvements Robolds can bring to your life." She leads him along while the others regroup. "Come, lets break bread and discuss what we can do for you. Er, if you have bread that is, we didn't bring any."

Sinni: "I have some, and cheese too."

Mirrak: "Score!"

2/2 Nalthar 2024/12/14(Sat)20:08 No. 1101258 ID: 6c233e
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The robolds bring out a few tarps and set up a picnic. Sinni disappears into the smaller hut and returns rolling a stone cylinder. Setting it up on its side the salamander runs a lightly glowing finger round one end, following a neatly carved groove. The stone flows under his touch until with a pop the end drops off to reveal the alabaster cheese stored within.

Mirrak: "Oh ho, that's a neat trick!"

Sinni: Blushing at the praise, "Oh it's nothing really. Any Grakashon could do as much." He scoops out some of the soft, aromatic cheese to distribute to eager bolds. "You're not shon, but I suppose your people have a magic affinity too. Wood perhaps, or maybe clay?"

Martah: "Living flesh" the shaper says offhandedly while trying to figure out how to get some cheese into him without revealing his raggedy curse-knit mouth to their new friend.

Mirrak's smile freezes on her face as she sees Sinni grow pale. The goatherd starts shivvering, eyeing the sharp teeth on display on both ro and lizz type bolds. "F-f-flesh you say?" he queries, shaking several more leaves loose.

Mirrak: "thank you Martah." she hisses under her breath as she tries to think of how to salvage this situation. She's getting that twitch in her eye again.

>>1101258
Explain a bit more. Tell him you can reattach limbs, save people from what would be otherwise deadly injuries, and modify the body to improve and change. Don't mention any of the more harmful applications.

Go through with this information. First and foremost, ask if the goats need any kind of improvements to ensure they live better lives and yield better products? Want their metabolism to speed up or slow down? Sharper claws to attack predators or sturdier skin to defend against their bites? Does he need them to produce a higher quality or higher... quantity of milk?

...Would his tribe be okay with the male cattle producing milk?

>>1101258
Don't worry, we're medical practitioners. We use it to treat things like sicknesses and disabilities.

Oh, and you can use it to attach new parts onto people. If he wants real goat horns then that is something you can help with. Well, with the right materials anyway.

I would emphasize healing first and foremost, as (it seems to me) medicine and healing are common to almost every culture and thus least likely to be taboo or somehow evil. Secondarily focus on subtle improvements to animals; like Kome mentions:
>>1101260
Appeal to their wallets as it were, while still permitting the comfortable mental distance of "it's just animals". It might not be practical to completely avoid the topic of people-shaping, but I'd be very delicate about it and deemphasize it. The weirder (more removed from what they've experienced) something is the more likely it is for it to be interpreted as bad, I think. Don't forget what drove you all here in thr first place; don't let it happen again. I think if you approach it from the right angle with enough caution you should be able to get these people to accept what you do, but it may be tricky.

Art by Derklord Nalthar 2024/12/19(Thu)18:12 No. 1101398 ID: 6c233e
File 173466076978.png - (135.81KB , 1000x800 , fallingcity_86 piqued interest guest art derklord.png )

Mirrak: "Ha ha, Martah can explain it better than that." The bunn drapes a friendly arm around the shaper, digging her nails into his shoulder. "Can't you Martah?"

Martah: "Oh sh- healing, I meant healing! We can mend and strengthen flesh and bones, even reattach parts if they haven't rotted. Like this!" Snatching a leaf out of the air, the mouzbold skitters over to Sinni. A quick pass of his hand and the leaf reconnects to a vacant stem, fresh and vibrant. "Ta dah"

Sinni stares hard at the little leaf blowing in the breeze. As the awkward silence drags on Martah and Mirrak exchange a nervous glance.

Mirrak: "Eh, ah, was that too-"

Sinni: "How many?"

Mirrak: "What?"

Sinni: Grabbing Martah by the shoulders "How many times can you do that?"

Martah: "I... maybe hundreds in a day? It wasn't much of a much really."

The salamander runs his tongue over stubby teeth. "So uh, if I take you up to the temple, and you help me with a uh, a little personal issue, what- what would you want in exchange?"

>>1101398
Oh boy here we go. Time for the more economically-minded to haggle on prices. Obviously we can get some good information but there might not be enough *valuable* information to be worth the services, so perhaps we can get some materials or currency out of this too.

"We will demand much, I warn you. And it will not be a price many of your strongest will wish to pay.
... We demand a world where fathers do not sell their children to demons. Where strangers do not look upon love and curiosity with hate and disgust. Where what is needed to live well is what is always freely given. And most importantly, we demand a place in such a world.

Can you meet that offer?"

Your first born son.

..No wait, we'd are looking for a place to settle down, with plenty resources to eat and trade with, so if you know of a good place to start a settlement and ways to get on the locals' good side, we'd be very happy.

Also, how what kind of horns do you want?

>>1101400
Indeed, we should allow the traders to haggle our services.