Is the butterfly still like alive? It might be a good mental note to take although i would refrain from telling it to them if their reaction is to do a immediate rescue operation, since it would probably end with everyone dead.

>>1130175
BATFRIEND

Let's have a bat chat.

Go talk to the butterfly. Is it for strength training?

1/2 Nalthar 2026/08/09(Sun)00:28 No. 1130764 ID: ce8213
File 178623532210.jpg - (764.47KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 14 a large helping.jpg )

You make your way towards the lady bat. She has the fanciest hat, so you figure, must be important. As you walk, Lisel by your side to support you when your back twinges a stumble out of you, you hear a rattling creak. Over the palace wall you see ropes shaking, set in a square and leading up to vanish into a hole in the ceiling. With a squeak they stop, so you move on.

The bat and the rat make space as you approach. The lady dips her head in acknowledgement, but doesn't say anything yet. The king claps again "Be seated friends!" Everyone takes their place on the bench in front of them, so you follow their lead.

from the entrance to the hall come glowing eyed servants, pushing carts loaded with food. A basket of small strips of bread crust is placed in the center of the table. You and Lisel are served bowls of savory smelling soup and plates of some sort of salted meat, but her eyes are wide and glued to what's placed before your neighbors. Both the rat and the bat receive no food, but small corked vials of luminescent fluid that seethes and hisses. Its not much, enough for two gulps.

Since no one else is eating or conversing, you wait as the servants finish and push their now empty carts back out of the hall. As they leave the king waves a magnanimous paw across the assembly "Eat, and be merry!" he calls and then stills.

As conversation and the clinking of utensils breaks out around you, you hear the squeal of pulley's again. You glance over the bat's wide hat and see the ropes moving once more. A wooden platform rises between them, bearing the servants and a much larger dish of food, as well as a human scale bottle of wine. Feeling the lady's eyes on you, you turn back to the table.

2/2 Nalthar 2026/08/09(Sun)00:29 No. 1130765 ID: ce8213
File 178623536277.jpg - (853.11KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 15 dinner conversation.jpg )

"Well met, warrior." The bat says to you, her voice polite but without warmth. "I am the duchess Allonza Per Costa. Perceptive of you to seek me out. The king has his dramas, but I dare say they would fall apart without my stewardship."

On your other side Lisel is dealing with the attentions of the slickly groomed rat. "Ah, my lovely snowdrop, pale northern flower. How your very presence quickens my heart. You must tell Pietro, captain of the guard, all about yourself."

Lisel leans away from him a bit, brushing against you. "Oh I'm not much to speak of sir. But tell me, what is that fascinating elixir before you?" Pietro picks up the vial and taps his claws along it. "This? Why this is just a... health tonic. A pretty thing, but its sparkles are as dun compared to your eyes, flower. Perhaps I could tell you more in exchange... for a kiss?"

A) Calmly chide the Captain for lack of tact. A kiss isn't something to barter for. Or otherwise criticise his flirting as shallow and objectifying.

That would get the lech rats attention off of Lisel (but also annoy him) and possibly impress or amuse the Duchess.

B) Lisel insults him herself, maybe even threaten to slap him with a glove or napkin.

C) Lisel removes her goggles to hopefully repulse the rat with her burn scar apppearance and make him look a crude fool.

D) Lisel claims she's already taken / loyal to another. Or not interested.

Hey, your girlfriend is in danger. You should do something about it.

Swap places with Lisel at the table, other than that continue the conversion with the bat and pretend like nothing changed.

Schmoove on Lisel by protectively wrapping a hand around her shoulder while she's leaning against you. Depending on how you consider your relationship.

Now that we're not in a frantic life-or-death fight, in close proximity and everything is well lit, I think it's an ideal time to use all your senses to gauge out what the glowing-eyed ones actually are. Are they alive, or dead? Do you smell rot, decay, or see other signs of decomposition/unnatural reanimation? Do they breathe? Why are their eyes glowing/smoking? Any sign of the paper mechanism in their head/under clothes, or the clicking of its mechanism audible?

As for the Duchess, ask what the nobility heiarchy is. Presuambly she's right under the King, so who/what does she govern in this kingdom? Is there a duke she shares lineage with, or other 'noble families' of note?

lisel should tell him he'll have to work much harder for a kiss. perhaps a demonstration of ability since he's feeling so bold?

anyway, ask the duchess ab how the court normally functions. or even the roles the others at the table normally play.

Snark at the guard. Ask if he's trying to make up for his lack of knowledge on proper courtship with his knowledge of snake oil.

1/2 Nalthar 2026/08/17(Mon)20:20 No. 1131050 ID: bb0461
File 178699802055.jpg - (797.90KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 16 the cad.jpg )

Trying to keep your fur from bristling, you turn and put an arm around Lisel. The chemist leans against you, so you rest your head on hers. "Is this how a captain of the guard is meant to act?" you glare at the glittering fool.
The duchess sighs behind you "Do forgive the captain. His passion outstrips his charm at times."
"Tch tch tch" Pietro wags a finger at Allonza "You may chide me when we are wed. Til then I shall give the ladies what they need."
The rat reaches towards Lisel to cup her chin. Two hands block his way, your's and Lisel's. The white mouse addresses him cooly "I can not imagine what it is a lady would need from you."

Pietro leans back, preening his whiskers with an oily grin. "Ah, not a snowdrop, but a white rose. Like the duchess, you hide behind your thorns. But I-"
"Your tongue is very slick, sir." you interrupt "I fear its only use for ladies is words though."
Pietro's lip curls in a sneer "You may bark, cur." he snatches up the glowing vial, pulling its cork with his teeth. "God gave me a role, and I was born to play it."

The captain downs the seething liquid in several rapid gulps. Steam curls from his maw and his eyes flare as a shudder runs through him. Without even a glance your way he sets the empty vial down and turns to his other neighbor, engaging them in some inane conversation.

2/2 Nalthar 2026/08/17(Mon)20:20 No. 1131051 ID: bb0461
File 178699805019.jpg - (740.75KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 17 the duchess.jpg )

After a moment its clear the captain isn't going to bother you two any more, so you turn back to the meal. Lisel remains leaned against you, but helps herself to some soup. You can't quite read her expression through her thick lenses, but she's not trembling or even breathing hard. It's been a long while since you ate, so you quickly eat some bites of meat. You see others around the table using utensils to cut and spear food, so you mimic them. Its not a practice you're used to, but you don't want to play into this barbarian role too much. Even if its just some game, you can't help but be offended.

Allonza unstops her vial and takes a small swig of the fluid. You can feel Lisel leaning around you to observe. A low sigh escapes the bat's lips along with a thin cloud of steam, as she corks the vial and sets it down.

"Madam, or, how should I address you?" Lisel asks. "Milady will suffice." the lady says, turning her cool gaze on the ever-curious mouse. "Ah, milady. May I ask, what should we know about the peerage here. I take it you are directly under the king." Lisel nods at Allonza "But who else is, well, important."

"Indeed, I am mainly in charge here, and am tasked with keeping the servants in line." the duchess regards Lisel with what may be the beginnings of interest. "As for the rest. A rabble, vying for the king's eye to rise above their station. Why just yesterday former-duke Amalfi and now-duke Callo had a duel and now..."

While duchess Per Costa continues on about a court drama you take the time to observe her closely. Other than the fierce light within her eyes, you wouldn't be able to tell that she is dead. If she is even really dead. Her chest rises and falls like a living breathing person's would. The veins in her thin ears don't appear dark with coagulated blood. Her gray fur is neat and even, not ragged and falling out. Even her scent carries no hint of decay, just something light and floral.

On her back though, another of those brass contraptions. You don't look too closely, lest she notice, but you can hear it occasionally chatter. If its feeding her some instruction she hides it well, her speech never falters.

Putting your attention on her face once more, you are struck by a bit of familiarity. Not that you've met many bats in your life, but you see a resemblance between her features and Sorrel's.

Why don't you ask her to tell you about her life? I am referring to the previous one, and while we are on that topic, ask about her current state of existence: is she dead, alive, or something in between? We need to know her history, how did she end up here, and what happened to her?

damn... that'll be some news to break to sorrel. ask if there's anyone you should avoid and for what reason.

Bats can hear much better than the rest of the company here. You might be able to whisper her a message without anyone but her hearing, while both being in your 'role' or not causing disruptions (or pain, for her).

But we also need to establish if we can trust her, with that device and the King controlling her. She could be lacking memories of her time before Cadvere, or prefers this... Role over her old life.

>>1131067
Might be a bad idea to do directly. The King / device might be actively forbidding that topic of discussion in favor of a fabricated royal backstory, or she might not know her past at all anymore.

A potential approach could be asking about her 'lineage/family' and then discreetly asking if she has/had any siblings, relatives, heirs - estranged or otherwise.

And maybe spin a tale of becoming the mouse you are today "after watching a bat cloak herself in grief and Sorrel-*cough*, sorrow after a tragedy."

You should also ask about the 'duels' topic. Surely not one to the death? That seems a brash way to settle arguments or end a lineage.

As for the 'health tonic', could ask if it is a bitter medicine as most are, or if it is one that burns the throat like a strong spirit.

Milf detected, time to imitate the captain and try to seduce her. Start by trying to make her smile.

i dont think we should pry too deeply, considering that most everyone here is being controlled to some degree, but being able to gleam some info would be good

Ask if she were in charge, what would she do with you?

Nalthar 2026/08/28(Fri)01:53 No. 1131397 ID: bb0461
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You want to come at this obliquely. "It must be quite a task keeping this lot in line." you slip into a lull in the conversation. "Do you have any help? As we say back home 'With children's help, barren dirt becomes fields of sorrel" You feel Lisel scoff at your ramshackle idiom.

"Sorrel" the duchess blinks at you, her face freezing "Fennel-" rapid clicking interrupts her. The contraption rattles to a definitive final click, and she twitches once, sharply. "No, I am unmarried sir. And I will thank you not to add yourself to my roll of suitors. I have plenty enough, fine gentlemen all."

"Wait..." Lisel remembers something that jerk said "Not the captain!"

"Yes the captain!" Allonza snaps. "He is a charming and accomplished man. He just needs a woman's touch to cool his blood." The bat sighs "I do hope he and Thomas don't come to blows again." She glances at you. "You'll have met Thomas. He is the general who brought you in. He seems a brute but, there's something..." She catches herself with a little start, a light blush suffusing her cheeks. "Ah, I just, I would not wish to see him end up like Pietro's last rival."

the bat waves a hand in the direction of a well-dressed and groomed rat across the table from you. It hangs from its wires quietly, expression vacant. The meal facsimile of painted wood sits before it untouched.

Ask her what would happen if something horrible happened to the captain. Would an opening be made to pursue her hand in marriage?

Seems like these duels are indeed to the death... And any puppet with blue eyes likely was tonic-infused and machine-controlled before somehow getting 'killed' and remade into a puppet.

The Duchess certainly seems to remember her past, but the machine reacts to correct any 'bad thoughts'. If only we knew how to free them of the devices without making them go mad/die. Or insert our own spools of paper as more benign instructions.

Thomas the general... Could that be the tonic-infused rat whos paper spool was cut during fighting? They might have fully free will now that a machine isn't binding their thoughts, but would still need that tonic to live...

Ask about the citizens of this Kingdom - do they have a caste system or species differentiation? There are plenty of rats, mice and bats in the court, but not many bugs or arachnids.

Also worth asking who the others seated at the table are in more detail - whether puppets, the King, the friar or the butterfly, she likely has to know them as part of her role/act.

Ask what happened.
Knowing how to properly disable a puppet could be very useful. It's possible that this is just roleplay and he's not actually disabled though.

>>1131412

I agree with this suggestion.

Nalthar 2026/09/06(Sun)02:54 No. 1131680 ID: bb0461
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You consider the foppish rat across from you "This man fought the guard captain?" you ask the duchess, unable to keep a hint of skepticism from your voice. You find it hard to look at the man, his empty glass eyes, but he doesn't appear to have been very strong.

"Count Caravaggio was-is, is a passionate man. A painter you know. Such wonderful paintings, I do miss them." She trails off wistfully, until her controller clatters sharply. "Ah but his latest work is... fine... as well. Different, yes." She shakes her head once, a sharp jolt to clear her thoughts. "He was an ardent suitor. I believe he truly... But he allowed Pietro to bait him. And that was that."

Lisel pipes up "This Thomas though, if he is who we met downst- on the field, then he is a right mountain of a rat. Surely he would have no trouble in a duel."
Your back twinges. Oh yes, you have no doubt who she's talking about. The ratcatcher, who you still owe for your rattled spine. You wonder how he's dealing with the glass you left in his control device. "Yes the general, is he here? I should like to... meet him."

Allonza narrows her eyes at your tone "He is often in the field, bringing your ilk in line. But you'll see him tonight. He always returns for the evening meal." She sniffs "And I see in your eye, you are thinking you might take his place. Well" she grabs the vial and takes a swig of fizzling fluid. Facing you, one claw delicately pulling her eyelid down, her eyes flare with that cold and ghostly light. "It will take more than a duel to enter the king's service. Especially for a foreigner. Don't think you can just put one of us down so easily."

She turns from you and downs the last of her elixir, setting the vial neatly before her.
Lisel takes a bite of meat in the tense silence that follows. "Soooo, who is that then?" She indicates the butterfly down at the end of the table. The chained beauty sits as stiffly as any of the puppets. Only when the glow-eyed guard beside her pushes her arm does she take a bite of her food, and then goes defiantly still once more.

"Ah, the princess has caught your eye, of course." The bat sniffs "Issabella, of Espania. I wash my hands of that one. Too willful, unbecoming of a lady. The king, he will not let her go, for her beauty, but she will not come to heel. His majesty has offered her hand in marriage to any who can tame her." Allonza scoffs "But thus far it has been the doom of any who tried. Bewitched by her, they try to steal her away. As if the king's guard are not ever vigilant."

As the conversation continues you notice a change sweep through the room. The puppets that had hung so still, now pantomime as though conversing with their neighbors. You hear a squeaking and turn to see the platform descending from the ceiling, its cargo of plates now empty. After it passes bellow the castles walls it stops, and servants with carts enter to begin clearing plates and glasses.

Inquire about the chains that the princess has. Wouldn't they leave a mark on such a delicate creature? Also, ask the bat if she would be interested in getting a painting from us. We should try to get on her good side.

Seems her gesture is saying 'the kings service means you have to become a blue-eyed revenant'. That's absolutely a bad idea. Though helping Thomas against Pietro through courtly shenanigans could help both Thomas and the Duchess. But that's a plan for later.

Yes, asking her about the... Arts... In this place would be a good topic of conversation. You might have to learn or adapt a form or art that doesn't involve murder if you're forced to stick around.

Also could ask a bit about brother Juan. You are unfamiliar with the religion(s) or faith(s) practiced in Malevento, and how... Tolerant the kingdom is about such matters. Having to 'convert' to a faith or abandon your beliefs might be required or demanded.

The butterfly being 'bewitching' sounds iffy. Either there are bugfolk who keep trying to reclaim her (or force her into the act), or she coerces other folk into unsuccessfull rescue attempts.

And from the sounds of things, she's too 'delicate' to puppet or reanimate by force, but also too pretty to kill off.

Ask about 'Espania'. Is the 'kingdom' at war with that place and its people, to have its princess held against her will here?

>>1131680
looks like we gotta talk to the butterfly next. ask her what happens if someone never returns to the court. do they search for them? or presume them dead?

So that butterfly is clearly Lady Icktechi, who the moth priestess and the beetles are trying to rescue. The priestess foresaw us ending up in this situation, the princess is going to be our ticket out of it. We need to find out as much as we can about her, figure out how to get close to her, and decide what we're going to say to earn her trust. Getting her out of here will not be easy, but it's going to be our overarching objective now that we're here.

In the meantime, I agree with asking Allonza about Malevento's history, arts, culture, and society. Dive into it, press her on little details. The more we push at the limits of whatever fabricated backstory Cadvere has come up with for them, the more it might strain his control over their minds.

We also might ask her a few questions about Cadvere himself. After all, it only stands to reason you would want to know about the illustrious monarch you will soon be working under, and all of his glorious deeds. You've heard rumors he's some kind of miracle worker, is that true? (Don't be afraid to lay it on thick here; if Cadvere is as much of a manchild as he seems, he's almost assuredly also a narcissist, and so obsequious flattery will be the best way to get him to lower his guard and possibly spill his secrets.)

Time to make friends with the butterfly then.

1/2 Nalthar 2026/09/15(Tue)04:04 No. 1132025 ID: bb0461
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"Bewitched?" you ask "And are chains really necessary for a princess?"

Allonza gives a mirthless laugh "Ha, not a proper princess, no. Give her a moment and she's loose like an arrow from a bow, leaving the poor fool that fell for her charm behind to face the consequences. The king won't have her wings clipped, so as not to mar her beauty." As she says this she rubs her arm. You notice a thin scar along the side of her wrists, almost hidden by her lacy sleeves. "The last time she tried to run she was up among the clouds for three days before a knight managed to ambush her, and I suspect only because she was weakened by hunger."

You look up. The painted sky is obscured by a mess of pulleys, gantries, and wires. Several more of those spy glass apparatuses are stowed way up by the ceiling. You could see a fleeing butterfly would have plenty of places to hide.

You look back at the duchess with a frown "What makes her so important? Is Espania a mighty place?"

"It's well... a country to the west. One of many alliances and protectorates, with the princess as insurance of course. I really can not recall." the bat says, fingers pressing against one another. "There's so much drama in the court. I couldn't possibly..."

"Of course, of course." Lisel waves her off "But do tell us more about your artist. What sort of school does he fall under? The realists, or more classical? Perhaps Baroque? I'm a dabbling painter myself you know."

"Ah-h yes, well..."

The duchess is saved from having to answer by two claps and an immediate hush. The king has risen from his throne as the last plate is cleared. "My friends" he calls "Now it is time for the day's entertainment. We will have a croquet tournament!"

The crowd ripples with polite applause. As folks rise from the table, the duchess hurries to follow them. "A mm, pleasure meeting you." She gives a slight nod. As she makes a hasty retreat you catch her muttering "Told me they would be barbarians. Is he not doing scripts anymore? Really, I can't-" She cuts herself off as the control device on her back clicks. As she passes out of earshot she slows to a more sedate pace, taking on a cool and haughty bearing.

Lisel sighs and pushes to her feet. "I don't know about you, but I've never even heard of crow-kay"

You shake your head as you join her. "It better not be strenuous." you mutter, thinking of your back. As the two of you make to follow the crowd you spot Brother Juan moving against the current towards you.

"Brethren. Please, won't you accompany me for a walk. There is much to discuss, about your place in God's kingdom."

You and Lisel exchange glances, then follow him.

2/2 Nalthar 2026/09/15(Tue)04:05 No. 1132026 ID: bb0461
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The robed mouse leads you at a leisurely pace along a fake-tree lined path, prattling on about sin and repentance until you are a dozen paces away from the palace front. Then Brother Juan's pace does not change but his tone becomes sharper.

"Right." the mouse glances through the trees. The sound of wood on wood, followed by clapping and heckling filters through from the other side of the room. "We can talk freely now, just keep to a nice conversational tone. Don't let him or his guards spot you whispering. Nice to meet you both, my name is Gerald. Never call me that. My aim is to keep you alive, so lets talk how to do that."

Ask them to explain how to play crow-kay while observing your surroundings. Look for any weaknesses in the security of this new area. Still, play along with this monstrous show until an opportunity appears for freedom.

Pertinent questions:
- Who you are expected to be, since you know nothing of these kingdoms or your own 'barbaric' nation.
- What's the deal with the blue-eyes and their... Elixirs.
- What kind of 'script' or 'play' this whole thing is supposed to be? Does it repeat?Improvise constantly?
- How long has this been going on?
- The King's (or Masters) moods, sanity, mannerisms.
- Before your capture you witnessed a 'very round Vole'. Who are they?
- Any other creatures besides rodents, bugfolk, spiderfolk and bats in House Cadvere?
- How'd they figure all of this out or assume their role?
- Is there any signs of this play, or the Kings sanity, deteriorating or getting worse (i.e. time pressure)?

A debrief from Lisel on what happened after you blacked out would be a good start, we've already seen Dis, but any clues of what happened to Cedric or Kh'khechil?

Some things to ask Juan:
-General layout of the kingdom, any known entrances, number of guards and location of guard posts etc.
-Any chance of recovering our gear and weapons, or how to go about acquiring new stuff?
-How quickly and severely is disruption responded to? For example if we were caught in a restricted area, would we be cautioned, detained or executed?

Also, while we have no reason to distrust Juan, we also have no reason to trust him either. Be very cautions about sharing information with him, especially anything regarding the woodshed settlement.

As if you may walk the princess around. Gust to get to know her a little bit.

Slip in some discussion about croquet in-between other things.

1/3 Nalthar 2026/09/27(Sun)07:42 No. 1132398 ID: bb0461
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"So..." you begin "How do you play croquay?"

Brother Juan misses a step "I- dh- its just a game! You hit a ball with a stick! It will never ever be important!" He has the two of you stop under a wood and felt tree. "I said my aim is to help you, not my devotion. If you two are going to try to get killed I won't lift a finger to stop you."

He looks between the two of you with a hard little stare, the mouse seeming a lot less meek than he had. You share another glance with Lisel, she seems as bemused as you. "Alright" you say "You're just a guide then?"

"Let's keep moving." He says, already walking out of the shade. "And yes. I'm useful me, useful and quiet. Get folks onboard. Don't start drama, don't look like I would ever be in drama. Like one of the lamps, he doesn't even really think of me as long as I work right."

You follow along. "Questions then, about this woeful place." Lisel lifts her goggles to scratch at her brow ridge "So the princess"

"Yes" you add "the princess"

"No,no. no. Stop." Juan chops his arm stiffly to his side, as though to block your path. "Not the princess. You two thinking you're brave knights? Rescue the princess and get a kiss? That's what he wants."

He pulls a long sigh "Might as well start there. So you get this is all a story right? We're his puppets, dead or alive. But the most important thing to remember is, the man's a fool." Lisel snorts "What? No, I've seen the things he's made. He's an inventor, a scientist."

"Maybe on those matters" Juan shakes his head "But on all else, a fool. I mean you've a foreign name, you've been around. So surely you see already, the 'king' doesn't know a damn thing about the world. He just pulls anything that sounds good out of his books. And I may be just a simple house mouse, may not have read many human stories, but this is the worst one I've ever heard. Its all petty drama, and it changes day to day without any reason. "

"Which is why he keeps the princess. I don't know how he got his hands on her, but he keeps her for the heroic rescue stories. Oh and people pining for her from afar and jealous wives and whatnot." Juan says "She'll use you too, if you get too close. She's determined to get out. She's been here longer than me, and I've been here a... long time. No one gets out. No one."

2/3 Nalthar 2026/09/27(Sun)07:43 No. 1132399 ID: bb0461
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"I thought a house mouse could always find a way out." you say "It's a big house sure but, wait we are on the second floor, right? And its only been... a day?"

Lisel pats you on the back, careful to avoid your spine. You still get a throb of pain though. "Just about a day yes. You passed out after the ratcatcher got us. Dis tried to hold them off but, there were too many in the end."

"Did something happen to Dis? is she hurt?" you ask "I saw her in the cages, she looks..." Lisel sadly shakes her head "She wasn't stabbed, not that I saw. Once they got her down, its like she's not there anymore. Completely unresponsive. I- I don't know how to help her."

You hiss air through your teeth. "And Kh'khechil? That mouse?" she shrugs "I lost sight of them. When that wolf broke through the window to put out the fire it got very hectic."

"Jesus! That's what that noise was?" Juan has stopped to look at the two of you like one would a badly shored tunnel.

"Jessus?" you echo. He waves a hand "Oh, eh, its the human god. Its just part of my character, not important."

"Anyway, I never saw if they got off the cart." says Lisel "We were led, well you two were dragged, to this lift, and then put in the cages. I haven't seen Kh'khechil since." Brother Juan pipes up "Your friends must have escaped. If they were captured they would have been in the prison this morning. Dead or alive."

"Oh good" Lisel's face lifts "Well at least there's that. And that's it, we've been captured. Honestly I would have thought we would be dead, or at the least being cut up. But all they've done is demand we turn over our weapons. Which fell to me, as the only conscious member of the group. I would have tried to hide your matchhead, but it fell out of your cloak. Sorry. At least they let you keep yours, I feel naked without my coat."

The other mouse nods in commiseration "Aye it takes getting used to, the costuming. If you play along he might let you have it back. Or maybe design a new one. There's a whole costume and prop workshop behind the palace."

3/3 Nalthar 2026/09/27(Sun)07:43 No. 1132400 ID: bb0461
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You peer back the way you've come, behind the palace seems to be just painted sky. Brother Juan flutters his hands "Well okay no, behind and to the left." You see that to the side of the palace is a curtain from ceiling to floor, like the one that cut off the prison you woke in.

"I should give you the tour" says Juan "But there's really not much to it. He points to the squat palace structure "Lets call that north. The workshop is east of that, don't go in there. South from the palace are the gardens where we are now. East of that is a door you do not talk about, and west is a room with a door you do not talk about." You can see most of this floor of the house has been hollowed out, with scars of former walls running along the distant ceiling. One room remains, jutting out of the wall to the 'west'. You can't see a door, presumably ahead of you on its 'south' side, but you do see the other door he mentioned. To your east a landscape of hills and far mountains covers the wall, and also a great human scale door.

"Further south" Juan continues "We have the Duchess' manor. East of that is the prison. And that's it, everywhere you need to know. Now." He rubs his hands together, getting into the swing of it. "We can discuss playing your roles. Really there's not much to it, usually. Just, don't contradict the king. I mean if he orders something you can't do, just agree and move on. You'll probably be fine."

"It's all improvised, mostly. Sometimes he tries to play out specific storylines. When that happens you'll be given a script by the duchess. She meets upstairs every other day, probably planning stories."

"What's with her" you ask "and the other glowing eyed ones?" Juan shrugs "Just... revenants, I don't know. I try not to think about it. They don't eat, they don't talk, they don't remember you from before. They just follow orders. Except the special ones, like the duchess. The ones with the fancy brass thingamajigs, they seem almost normal. They don't remember you either but at least you can have a conversation with them. Better than having to pretend to talk to the puppets."

You've been eyeing the distant walls, hoping for holes or cracks. All you've spotted is a solid looking vent cover. "Some of the guards have glowing eyes, some are puppets. What's the difference?" you wonder.

"Oh well the puppets are just, well puppets. They only move for the king. But the others are real guards." He gives you a look "And yes, they follow a nice patrol route you can sneak around. Because there's nowhere to go. There aren't any holes in the wall. The windows are boarded over. They only have to actually guard the lift, not that jumping down the hole would do you any good."

"And they hardly have to spy on you, what with the king's eyes up there. Though they will raise a shout if they see you breaking something or starting a fight. And on top of that, the real guards are inside the walls. That's how they got me. Thought I could get to the top. Might be its best I didn't make it."

Lisel scoffs "Oh, how ominous. Well we'll take a fair warning. Really though, can we talk about the princess again? I mean the rest of the demographics make sense here. House raider mice and such come in search of loot. A rat or bat clan seeking shelter. Other forest folk just lost and unlucky. But a bug princess? Do they ever leave the kingdoms? Is she really a princess?"

Brother Juan spreads his hands in an expansive shrug. "She was here before me even, and hasn't given them an inch in all that time. She has the spirit of a princess for certain. If you really want to meet her we can go to her chambers. That's, if you don't have anything else to discuss?"

Questions worth asking:
- What places have privacy from the eye/guards?
- Where/how exactly do the 'living' inhabitants... Well, live? Sleep, eat, maintain hygiene and so on, when not on script?
- Who are all the 'special' revenants?
- Does the King, or any of the revenants, ever sleep? Are there times when the King is distracted, inattentive or absent?
- What is the typical 'daily' schedule?
- Are there any places Lissel can get access to chemicals?
- Are there any places one could hide/smuggle items without the King or guards seeing?
- Why is the workshop a no-go zone? No point in being vague about it.

Actions wise the princess seems like a scripted trap indeed. Engaging with her outside of script might make the King think you're gonna rescue her and lure you into certain death. At most we can ask her about her hive/bugfolk past. No humoring rescue without a solid plan (and varyness of the King 'arranging' a perfect rescue to invite false hope).

A fire here would be likely lethal to everyone unless there's an exit planned.

More questions for Juan:
-What's a rough guess on the population ratios? How man regular folk compared to puppets, guards and revenants?
-Has there ever been any notable past escape attempts or mass resistance? (protests/riots/strikes)
-Anywhere a rat with a sore back can get a strong drink? Some pain relief would be good, but also, this is a prison and every prison has a black market...

I'm similarly hesitant on visiting the princess, she may be a good source of intel, but it might give her or the master ideas of what to do with you.

Go for a walk about town with Lisel and do some "people watching", information gathering is the best use of our time for now. Anything more adventurous will have to wait until our spine is healed. (Hopefully it isn't a permanent injury)

Also I think we should also check in on Dis at some point.

Let's go to the butterfly's room and see what her whole deal it. I am putting bets on the notion that she isn't a real butterfly but something that the puppet master created. The life span of insects isn't long.

Noticed one thing, Juan avoided the light when he wanted to tell you something. Does he know how they are all being observed? Ask him about it.

We might need to figure out how to get your spine injury treated, or at least stabilized.

Not only does it impede anything you do and risk worsening, it might get you killed by accident (going 'off script') or in any 'duel' you might be forced to perform.

And it would have to be done without the King, puppets or revenants noticing/involved, as they'd no doubt turn you into a revenant or puppet with their 'health tonics'. Is there a living healer or medic here? Can Lisel do anything (assuming we get her tools or ingredients)?

>>1132451
Going to second this one, that injury needs to get taken care.