>>105893
I enter with caution, finding no traps or bitches. I check to see if Ishkal lives, and... she does. She's just out of it.

I open the note.

Do you get the message I'm trying to send here, you walking corpse? I know your movements, I know your skills, I know your friends. Where, and how, we will meet, is entirely up to me. You will find the antidote to the sleeping poison secured under the chair. Inject the whole vial, I know you have the tools on you. We will meet when I am ready, and when you are alone and unarmed.

>>105895
I don't think there's any reason to trust the antidote. Imagine how pissed you'd get if you injected it, and it turned out to be lethal? Can you test it somehow? Or maybe we should just wait for the sleeping drug to wear off on its own.

>>105896
I retrieve my set of tools and the vial of orange liquid.

...

My tests determine it to be harmless in this amount, and it is a proper dosage of the drug to awaken someone from a poison-induced stupor.

>>105896
You're assuming it will.

Hattori, use doctor skills to determine if antidote is consistent with being an antidote for the poison ladyogre's symptoms indicate.

>>105897
Inject it into the Ogress! Step back, maintain a nonthreatening readiness in case she attacks.

Yes, I suppose it could be something that would wake her up but make an introduction awkward. Be careful.

Er... try to wake her up normally first.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/01/05(Tue)19:42 No. 105908 ID: 6faa8c
File 126274935998.jpg - (68.61KB , 400x480 , Ishkal.jpg )

>>105904
I inject the antidote. After a minute or so, she rises, hands on her hips, looking me up and down.
"So you're the one the spider sent." she says simply. "I'm Ishkal of the RockChewer clan."

>>105908
Ah. Introduce yourself, and ask if she met a young girl wearing leather armor.

>>105908
Introduce yourself, bow respectfully (hat in hand), ask if she knows who poisoned her.

In that order. (Well, you can do the first two at once)

>>105910
"My name is Hattori, my good lady." I say, bowing. "Tell me, have you seen a young lady with raven hair lately?"
"Nope. Far as I can remember, I was just eating, and..." she shrugs. "Out."

>>105912
Ah. Drugs in the food or drink, then. Introduce the rest of the party, then... and ask if there's any way she can assist us in our quest to revert the churches and clear Coyote's mind.

>>105913
We can't speak of the plan with Coyote, remember? Anansi told us not to. Just ask if she can help us revert the churches.

>>105914
Wasn't that just for the whole "replace the clown" thing?

Yes, that's correct. We cannot mention doing that extra step. Probably shouldn't even think about it until we can put it into action.

>>105913
I explain the situation to the Ogress, omitting the last step of our plan.
"Don't see why not." she says, "You folks in any kinda hurry? You look haggard."

>>105920
Meh. Shi's already 15 steps ahead of us. Might as well rest or something, right?

Perhaps us (meaning you, Hat) and Jax should teleport ahead to the chapel. To scout, and initiate contact before Shi does something to them. Just a suggestion though.

>>105920
Just rest there for the day, Hattori. You earned it.

OH, if you do rest, can we make a harness for the cutebold, so the ogre can carry him during the day, and he can keep watch for the bitch at night?

>>105920
Hey. Can you see her spidersworn mark anywhere?

>>105931
It's on the back of her hand.

"I would love to rest here, Ishkal. My many thanks."
"Not a problem. Is that a kobold?"

"Trik is kobold, yes." the kobold says, ear perking.
"Well, in that case, can I ask you a favour? There's a part of the basement that's been sagging lately..." the two wander off.
Jax sets down his spear, as does his sister, and the both relax.
"Staying here for the night isn't a bad idea." Jax states.

>>105940
I suggest we stay here for the night, and build a harness so someone can carry the adorable Trik during the day, so she can stay up to lookout at night, and sleep while we travel. Assuming trik and one of the ogres is okay with that idea.

>>105952
I mention the harness thing, but Utkal interrupts.
"Trik ride on shoulder. No problem."

Ah. Very well.
Ishkal returns with a smile.
"We have six rooms and a small hot bath." she says. "Use them as you like."

Ask Ella if she would like to share a room with you.

>>105990
That's probably a good idea, considering Shi wants to get us alone and unarmed.

>>105990
"Ella, would you like to share a room?"
She blushes heavily.
"I, ah... yes. I do not see why not."

Trik laughs. "You all smell of the road and farm animal. You should bathe, too."

Okay, now do a big game of Rock Paper Scissors to see what order everyone bathes in.

>>106005
Privately ask Ella if she wants to bathe with you. and add that she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to.

I'd like to add that everyone would probably be able to tell that you did that. You would both be clean and wet at the same time.

>>106038
We begin to walk to our room, and Ella pulls me aside into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her with her tail.
Ahm. I guess I won't need to ask...

>>106055
Oho! I don't want to guide you directly here. But uh... if it was me, I'd start by expressing approval of the idea. Then give her a quick kiss and begin drawing the bath and removing clothing, if she isn't already doing so herself.

I should note that if this leads to sex it's not a good idea to do it in the water. Water is not a good lubricant.

>>106101
I smile and kiss the side of her neck, and she smiles back, pumping the water, which is appaerently drawn from a spring and heated in the pipes.

"Hattori..." she asks, pumping the lever, "Wh-why did you select me? I... I am not the model of a... a housekeeping wife, after all. I am... nontraditional, strange.Outside of your race. So why..." she sighs as she finishes. "Why do you love me?"

>>106105
Uhh... I can't say I can read your mind Hattori but if I had to guess I'd say because she's strong, independent and beautiful... I think she's cute when she's nervous, too. Perhaps being 'alive' so long tends to open your horizons to new things. Maybe her exotic quality is in fact one of the reasons you're attracted to her?

>>106108
"You're beautiful... strong... independant." I said, gently lifting her chin so she looks into my eyes. "You are so very endearing when you are out of your element, and so exotic to me. When one lives as long as I has, one tends to... be rather open-minded, after all."

"I, ah..."

"Shhh." I smile and place a finger to her lips, kissing her neck again as I reach down and unbutton her blouse. Something falls out of a pocket and onto my foot. I jump from the pain, slipping on the wet floor, and stumble into the tub, blinking as I am doused.

I blow a lock of hair from my face.

>>106110
What? You felt the pain. Explain please.

Also, I think I know what that is. Jerasp was going to sell it, and she convinced him to give it to her instead until she could afford to buy it.

It's... well, maybe you should just ask her.

>>106113
Ah... pain dulling needs to be actively used, otherwise my limbs would be easily damaged from negligence. Pain is there for a reason!

"Wh-what is that?" I ask, ans she leans down to pick it up.

"It got chipped..." she mumbles as she lifts it from the heavily padded floor. She walks over and sits on the rim of the tub, untying the warmers around the bottom of her legs and unlacing them with one hand. "Jerasp had this, and he was going to sell it. I intended to give it to you sooner..."

I take the orb in my hands and peer inside.

...

I'm not certain how to react, but... it's not like she had any intention to destroy me with the information. It's not like there was much info there anyway.
"Keep it." I smile and hand it back to her as she finishes with the other legwarmer, dropping it to the floor. She smiles and takes the orb, setting it down on the floor gently as she begins to remove my shoes.

>>106117
You still have your clothes on, don't you? If so, you should take them off.

>>106117
Remove clothes, retrieve soap. Use soap. Talk about stuff.

Hey, is there a window? It should be closed, if there is.

>>106143
We undress each other slowly, and I begin to wash her back.

"I never thought I would be in such a situation." she murmurs. "I always thought I would grow to be a bitter old teacher and die married to my spear."

>>106145
"Well then you must be lucky."

>>106148
"I am." she leans back against me, arms sliding up around my neck as she looks up at my face.
"Uhm. You know that... that the blight was lifted when I spoke with Anansi, right?"

>>106153
Say that you did know.

Oh. Oh boy. Hattoriiii. You did realize that Anansi lifted it right then and there, didn't you? Don't tell me you didn't use protection.

Well, tell her the truth I guess.

>>106159
"I know."
"Th-then, on the plateau..."
"Why else would I select that date, Ella?"
"I... ah... But... but you'lll... you'll outlive us for certain." she murmurs, unable to meet my eyes.
"The time I spend with you and them... is made precious by its brevity, as is life."
"But... but you'll have to bury me! And them! And... and I don't want to hurt you like that..."
I sigh. How am I supposed to explain this?
"I'm a doctor, Ella. In my profession, I was surrounded by death and disease and hopelessness at every turn. I learned something very important when I was exiled. Knowing how to save a life is important. But so is knowing when. When the time comes, yes.... I will cry for you and my sons and daughters. But I will always, always cherish the memories you will leave me."
"But can't you make me... make me like you?"
"I'm a monster, Ella. I would not wish my existence on anyone."

>>106164
Oh. What if she got immortality in some other way, Hattori? There's a lot of magic in this world.

Everything ends eventually Hattori, just enjoy it while it lasts.

>>106174
That's my philo-

Tap. Tap. Tap.

What's that noise on the window?

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2010/01/06(Wed)01:06 No. 106177 ID: 6faa8c
File 126276877016.jpg - (304.55KB , 949x599 , 1262722501207.jpg )

>>106175
I look at the wi-AAAAGH!

"GREETINGS FROM THE MASTER."

>>106177
"Can this wait until after the bath?"

>>106177
Hey look, a good reason why a traditional housemaking wife would suck for you, Hattori. Point that out after the mind numbing fear and indignation pass.