>>526053
These guys can't be as useless as they think they are.

Sometimes its easier to learn from mistakes than successes.

Story Seeker 2013/07/21(Sun)14:33 No. 526125 ID: d38f67
File 137444238318.png - (106.25KB , 700x700 , 5-102.png )

"And what does the witch look like?"

They all look too each other, then back to me, and give a synchronized shrug.

>"It changes, we don't know what her true form is. Or if she has one." says Ears.
"Any way to verify who is the witch?"
>"Uh, yes, but we don't know. It's not really... consistent."
"Would you like to come with us?"
>"Uh, no, you know... succubus and all that. Will lead us to ruin and so forth. Kind of a given."
"Minci, are you the witch's succubus?"
>"No, dear."
>"It's our word versus hers." the mouse says. "You know, the ones who want to get out of here, versus the succubus you probably met in the last couple of hours."

>>526125
"Well, thanks to time travel shenanigans, I've known her for longer than that, but she has known me for a few hours, yes.

I assume you still know what hasn't worked in the past?"

>>526125
Due to a certain curse I fear we're stuck with her for the foreseeable future, so we may as well keep an amiable relationship. We'll exercise hopefully well timed caution, of course.

Okay TECHNICALLY we've known Minci far longer, but in this game she has different memories. She is effectively a different person, and IS probably working with the witch.

Tell her that you will have to part ways for now. Oh, and keep in mind we know the way out of the maze, but she does not! So we can easily lose her. Let's do so. Pick up and carry the three tiny dudes, I know you're probably strong enough to do so.

>>526131
Point, and I revoke my earlier post, but:
>>526130
Probably valid. We can still probably lose her until next time we sleep. Unless her working with the witch means she does know the way out. Or the maze changed.

...Let's stay with her a little bit longer to see if the maze's changed, then ditch if it doesn't seem like it. Of course, it might be capable of changing while we're on our way through it, but if it is we're screwed no matter what.

Well, if she wanted me ruined all she had to do was stay her hand when the lamia attacked me.

She's proven trustworthy so far, and we're currently tied together by a curse, so...

Yeah lets keep her around. We are stuck together with the "curse" anyway.

Its not like you were getting anything done being stuck as dolls. If you come along you can help keep me safe from her "seductive" influence. And any chance to escape is better than none right?

Three Stripes 2013/07/21(Sun)15:38 No. 526157 ID: d38f67
File 137444630932.png - (91.86KB , 700x700 , 5-103.png )

"My apologies, but while I could say that I am not altogether convinced that she is working against me, I can also say that it would hardly matter. You see, a curse has kept her close by my side, and so I must keep things amicable for both of our wellbeings."
>"Alright. We'll see you around, maybe to trade findings or something." Ears says as he motions to his companions, to which they move out through the brush.
"You're very sweet, and I hope you realize that." Minci tells me.
Approximately 20 seconds pass before Ears pokes his head back out of the corner to us, and takes a deep breath. ".... We don't remember the way out of here."

Ah, which for some reason reminds me! I must also decide where to go next, regardless. Perhaps where Minci''s map points, that being the kitchen to begin with, or somewhere else specifically.

>>526157
Kitchen, sure. Lead these poor saps out of the maze.

>Perhaps where Minci''s map points
...the map points somewhere? (I'm not even sure where in the map the altar is, actually. Everyone gave different suggestions on where to go, and I'm not sure which you followed).

Do you mean that bump on the upper right side? I had assumed that was just your finger slipping.

I say we go back to the mansion. We've got rooms still to search, and other searchers to cross paths with, who we may be able to trade information and things with.

And yeah, guide Ears and his friends out of the maze.

>>526157
Tell them how to get to the kitchen from here. And uh... let's head to the cranny area at the bottom left part of the map. We only have to backtrack 2/3rds the way in that case. The doll folk can follow us at a distance if they like.

Flirt with the Mouse and ask for her name.
Kitchen we should go to I guess.

before you lead them out, ask if there is anything else loot-worthy in the maze.

1/2 Story Seeker 2013/07/23(Tue)18:18 No. 526680 ID: d38f67
File 137462871154.png - (122.33KB , 700x700 , 5-104.png )

>...the map points somewhere? Also, where was the altar?
Ah, let me clarify my thoughts. I mean the map of painting scraps that she is in custody of, not the painting that was etched on her back! The altar turned out to be at the back of the hedge maze, just about at the opposite side of the entrance.

The map Minci has for painting scraps, however, is well out of the hedge maze, in the kitchen of the mansion. But first, small talk!

"Hello, miss! I cannot help but ask your name, as I feel rude even referring to you in my head as 'miss mouse.'"
>"Oh, I'm Daree. The wolf is, get this, 'Wolf' and the rabbit is, not much better, Ears. Nice to to meet you..."
"Story Seeker!"
>"That's right. Nice to meet you. We'll talk more once we feel like trusting people more. It's a good start, leading us out of here."
"I don't suppose you know if there is anything loot worthy in the maze?"
>"Dunno."
"Alright, then! I will count on a later meeting!" I say, as we approach the exit. "Till next time, milady."

2/2 Story Seeker 2013/07/23(Tue)18:18 No. 526682 ID: d38f67
File 137462872850.png - (95.86KB , 700x700 , 5-105.png )

Upon entering the kitchen, Minci reaches in to the oven and pulls the scrap of paper off from the underside.

>"I wonder where the Time Lord and Muo went off to." Minci asks.

Do your combined search efforts thing to the kitchen for anything useful.

Can we tell how much of the painting we've found by now? You don't know how many pieces there are, but you should be getting an idea if you have half a picture or more or less at this point.

>I wonder where the Time Lord and Muo went off to
I am not sure! From our perspective, it kind of makes sense we're supposed to search for clues to find a way to oppose the witch or save ourselves. If she's the witch, I'm not sure what she's supposed to do. Just mess things up for us? Are there things she needs to collect for curses or her plans? And I'm not sure if the Time Lord is up to, if he's working with her.

>>526682
I think at this juncture we should focus on our own task rather than searching the entire mansion!

1/2 Story Seeker 2013/08/13(Tue)18:42 No. 534207 ID: d38f67
File 137644455784.png - (48.43KB , 510x700 , 5-106.png )

"Minci, let's see the scraps thus far!"
>"They go something like this. It looks like one of those dolls, but no one I know."
"Then we will continue looking! Starting with the remainder of the kitchen."

2/2 Story Seeker 2013/08/13(Tue)18:42 No. 534208 ID: d38f67
File 137644457270.png - (69.84KB , 700x700 , 5-107.png )

Minci and I do so, and I locate something in a hidden floor tile. It appears Muo is a public sort of witch after all, dealing out magic cards.

>>534208
...is there anything written on the back? Or any further details? Can you tell what the dormant magic does? Can Minci?

Probably best just to hold onto it for now, tempting as it is to just test with abandon.

I think this might turn you into a "trap", as in switch your gender
Since you're a man now, you'd technically would be a reverse-trap.
Clearly, we must experiment.
That or it'll make you look very feminine. For lady lizard kobolds that will simply mean your little difference.

This type of pun is just what chaos and curses is all about!

Oh man trap card based superpowers? Lets try it out right away.

>>534208
>Activate me!
>For Superpowers!
That's the same phrasing as
"Activate me! FOR SCIENCE!"

Yes, lets activate something called a trap card. That's smart. S-M-R-T, smart.

>>534219
And for maximum potential hilarity, clearly Minci should be the one to test it.

It's just a game and so far her traps have been fun. Who does not want superpowers?

>>534260
Okay, that's convinced me. Forget my suggestion from >>534258; Personally activate that card instead! Get superpowers! (And inevitably turned into a "trap" as well.)

How do you activate it? Do you eat it?

Suggestion 2013/08/14(Wed)03:41 No. 534314 ID: 575554
File 137647686275.jpg - (6.71KB , 300x168 , LightGrenade.jpg )

Either Muo is really terrible at this sort of thing, in which case you might as well throw her a bone by activating the most obvious trap ever created, or this is some sort of crazy psychological trickery and it really is beneficial.

Either way, activating it is clearly the way to go. Plus you know it'll be something entertaining.

Story Seeker 2013/08/14(Wed)12:38 No. 534392 ID: d38f67
File 137650911120.png - (120.49KB , 700x700 , 5-108.png )

With minimal thought, I activate the card! Which apparently involves putting it in my mouth!

Resistance to gravity gained.

Hm. Not quite the trap pun I may have expected, but then again, Muo may not have thought about this thoroughly.

I feel about three times as light and ten times as funny, now!

>"Hey, Story, I found some leftover food." Minci says, not looking my way as of yet.

Well, test out some acrobatics! What can you accomplish while really light? ...you are just really light, right? You're not floating or flying? It was gravity resistance, not immunity.

>food
...probably not the best idea while getting used to low g.

Wall jump!

Double check that there's no whirling blades on the ceiling or strong winds whirring up. This could still actually be some sort of trap.

Remember, it's resistance to gravity, not inertia. If you leap about, you might land lightly but you'll still slam into things with full force.

I say keep this a secret from her.

Did she find some meat in the walls?

Story Seeker 2013/08/17(Sat)11:37 No. 535136 ID: d38f67
File 137676464613.png - (97.02KB , 700x700 , 5-109.png )

"I shall pass, Minci, for I am in no position to handle food."

I wall kick and do a backwards somersault for good measure. Perhaps I will get used to this sooner than I think! It does simply make me lighter.

>inertia
I have heard that word, but I am not familiar with that school of magic!

>Double check for additional traps
It seems that gravity was the last of it.

>"I think I sense someone upstairs from here. Do you want to take a look?" Minci asks. "It looked like the master bedroom. Do you need help getting down?"

I admit, the landing is taking longer than anticipated!

>inertia
Not a school of magic. More a principle of science. Or natural philosophy, if you prefer.

Inertia is the thing that makes massive things hard to get moving, and hard to stop once they get going. It's the tendency or quality of mass to keep doing what it's doing.

In this context, it means even though gravity doesn't effect you, that it still takes so much force to get you going. It's why pushing off the wall didn't just make you crash around the room like a pinball.

>Do you need help getting down?
Wait for it...

Perhaps.

1/3 Story Seeker 2013/08/18(Sun)20:52 No. 535567 ID: d38f67
File 137688432081.png - (97.49KB , 700x700 , 5-110.png )

"I believe I have it, Minci, but thank you!"

2/3 Story Seeker 2013/08/18(Sun)20:52 No. 535569 ID: d38f67
File 137688433297.png - (101.84KB , 700x700 , 5-111.png )

"I do not have it!"

3/3 Story Seeker 2013/08/18(Sun)20:52 No. 535570 ID: d38f67
File 137688434005.png - (99.18KB , 700x700 , 5-112.png )

With little reason not to, I take Minci's question of heading up to the master bedroom.

Locked!

Knock?

SS: Exploit your lightness by carrying Minci everywhere in the most gentlemanly way you can.

>>535570
Have minci tie a string around you and lug you around like a big lizardy balloon for max hilarity.
Anyhow, look for a key under carpets and in the frames of cabinets, those are the most likely hiding places I know of off the top of my head.

Mechanical lock or magical? If it's mechanical, I would think you'd be able to do something about that Story! Kobold racism and all. If it's magical, maybe Minci can work it.

>>535574
String? No no, obviously we just balance on the end of her tail.

Story Seeker 2013/08/18(Sun)21:56 No. 535622 ID: d38f67
File 137688816660.png - (150.27KB , 700x700 , 5-113.png )

>Get carried around by Minci like a balloon.
Unfortunately, things such as 'the ceiling' get in the way of a proper exercise! I will have to remember this when I am out of doors.

So I perform the alternative, while Minci casts Knock on the door. The knock comes in the form of the lock unclicking!

"Hello."
>"Hello Story!" Muo replies. The time lord looks away once again!

>>535622
Ask Muo if Minci is loyal to her. Try to find out if she's lying, by going "Are you suuuuuuure?"

Oh come on Time lord I am not even naked this time. Yes this is a bit suggestive but for someone who has supposedly done it all before you are a bit prudish.

Ask Muo how she is and if she has found anything fun yet.

...did the time Lord get some kind of curse that makes him look away from you or something?

So... what are they doing in the bedroom with the door locked anyways? Wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I mean?

Seriously though, what do we see going on or in the room.

Ok, just say it to the time lord.

If you are going to be watching story all the time, you are going to end up seeing him bed a huge array of women, get into hijinks both inappropriate and otherwise, and generally be a lacivious little bastard. He's keeping his clothes on and not flaunting his bizarre sexual magnetism at him, because he knows it makes him uncomfortable.

Just... go with it.

>>535622
perhaps he can't bear to look at you because this is the Xth time you've fallen for Muo's obvious trap card

Story Seeker 2013/08/19(Mon)19:05 No. 535874 ID: d38f67
File 137696432668.png - (145.40KB , 700x700 , 5-114.png )

"Sir Time Lord, for someone tasked with watching me, you make a great deal of effort in doing the exact opposite!"
>"Your surroundings. I might have implied differently, but I meant your surroundings more than you."
"Is that so! Now, a more serious question. Muo, is Minci loyal to you?"
>"Uh.... Minci, are you loyal to me?"
>"No." Minci replies.
>"No." Muo
"I see! So what were you guys doing in the bedroom, anyway, with the door locked?"
>"It's not what you think." the Time Lord states.
>"Oh, Serif I mean the Time Lord was just treating me to some dinner and being nice in general."

There is little else to note in this room, although it would be less than surprising if Minci and I could uncover some secrets should we decide to work around their candle lit dinner!

>It's not what you think.
Maybe not, but Muo must be scoring points if you shared your name with her!

>Minci and I could uncover some secrets should we decide to work around their candle lit dinner
Do it. For maximum silliness.

Don't mind us!

Ha ha we got his name and found out the time lord is the romantic type. I would ask politely if you can search the room and if they let you make sure to avoid ruining there date.

If you cant search without messing up things lets head over to another room for now.

Ahahaha; it might be even funnier to just look at one, then the other, then say "Well, don't mind us," and then turn around and leave, shutting the door behind you. Hahaha, just imagine the Time Lord's face.

>>535874
aww the time lord fancies muo! that's adorable! help a guy out, don't cockblock

Yeah, leave and let the poor guy get back to his romantic exploits.
He's sort of like the anti-Story Seeker.

Story Seeker 2013/08/23(Fri)17:08 No. 536906 ID: d38f67
File 137730293188.png - (95.21KB , 700x700 , 5-115.png )

Let it never be said that Story Seeker made stories about an invasive cockblock!

My kobold senses do, however, lead my hands to snag another piece of painting from behind an armoire on my way out.

>"So what's next on the agenda, sir kobold?" Minci asks.

I believe there are two more pieces of painting to find, and only so many places left to look. Yet at the same time, I cannot help but feel that there are more productive things to do to kill time than searching through musty mansions for scraps of questionable merit!

We could go and find where the others went.

Yeah we should be working on seducing more people first and finding puzzle parts second.

See if you can find any of the other contestants.

I suppose we could check in with the others? See what progress they've made. We haven't seen the harpy in a while, for instance. ...although we don't know for sure where anyone else is right now. Except the naga, assuming she's still tied up.

You've not really got many new conquests to choose from if that's what you're thinking of pursuing alternatively.
The Lamia hates you, the Dorf doesn't seem interested whatsoever so she'd take an enormous amount of charming, Muo's busy and memory loss or not you've been with Minci.
I suppose there's that mouse doll...thing.
Find the weird Harpy dude, see what he's done.

Well didn't we get what we needed from the portrait anyway? We know that one of the people from the maze isn't just a random victim, but rather was somehow related to, or possibly is the real witch.

I'd say finding and interrogating them is top priority.

Story Seeker 2013/08/24(Sat)17:37 No. 537192 ID: d38f67
File 137739105563.png - (126.30KB , 700x700 , 5-116.png )

It has been awhile since I have seen the harpy! I will seek him. As it happens, he left footprints after we left the dungeon. A quick run there yields his tracks to be intact. A bit of following, and Minci points forward.

>"I sense some life over there. Just one, so it's probably him."

Unsurprisingly, it is. He is huddled at the back end of a tree right at the edge of the canyon, in a position I have been told is the fetal.

Ask him what's up.

Minci can sense life now too? Handy! I wonder if that's a succubus thing, or a demon thing, or just a spell she knows.

>fetal position
Well, get over there! See if you can reassure him. You're all charming and stuff.

Poor fellow seems quite scared! Maybe you and Minci can comfort him.

Oh man we cant have him feeling horrible while we are having fun with this game. I am sure Tom did not put him here to Torture him.

He thinks this is all real and now is cursed to not be able to pick anything up. In his mind all he has to look forward to is the witch showing up and murdering him horribly. I am all for a bit of fun but this is just cruel.

You need to fix this right now Story.

Uh, go comfort the guy, assuming you can.
It's not much different from charming except you put their interests before yours I believe.

Story Seeker 2013/08/24(Sat)20:39 No. 537251 ID: d38f67
File 137740195140.png - (121.99KB , 700x700 , 5-117.png )

>Oh man we cant have him feeling horrible while we are having fun with this game.
This had not even occurred to me! Tom may appear erratic and not think things through, although that sounds embarrasingly obvious when I say it out loud, but I doubt he intended on putting his subject under awful stress! I will have to console him.

"Hello, Gr-"
>"Ah?!"
"Don't fret!"
>"You're working with the witch!"
"If I were, I think I would do more than kindly greet myself!"
>"I... don't know if I believe that. Who is that?!"
"Ah, yes. This is Minci, my partner in... searching places, I suppose! Minci, this is Gram. In any case, what are you doing out here?"
>"....... hiding."
"Couldn't you have chosen a hole, or someplace better?"
>".... I didn't think anyone could find me out here."

I do wonder what criteria Tom places his subjects under!

"Why hide?"
>"Well... I figured, what kind of sacrifices aren't just killed right away or captured, at least? Why all this? You know what I think... I think our village set us up! They say we have to be sacrificed, but really they just send us in here in hopes that we'll actually beat the witch! And the witch doesn't mind us until we actually try to do it! So if I just sit here and do nothing, then maybe she'll leave me alone if I leave her alone. It's worth a shot I bet no one's tried this before, while everyone has tried and failed at trying to stop her."

He's pretty worked up! Looks like fanaticism noticed him in solitude and decided to give him company.

Tell him you have found out basically the same thing. That the witch is actually pretty decent unless you try to murder her or mess up her house.

In fact she treats this like a big game and as long as you play by the rules she just uses silly curses and such.

Also mention that you have found some of the years previous sacrifices and they are all alive but were turned into dolls until you found a way to release them. Now they are wandering around trying to solve the puzzles on there own.

So come with us and play the game. If the witch shows up be very polite and you should be fine.

So with the witch not minding people who don't try to stop her, wouldn't it then be nonsensical for us to be working for the witch against him when he is not trying to stop her?

Live and let live? Hmm. Interesting idea. Might even work with Muo, if she was the real witch. Problem is, this is a game, and for it to end, one side or another eventually has to reach a win condition!

...he could ask the doll people from before if anyone has tried this before. Then he'd know for sure.

He needs a distraction!

Grab Gram and show off your gravity-resistance powers!

Minci, could you provide some distraction?

Otherwise, bop him on the head and tell him to relax.

Protip:by distraction i mean breasts

>>537251
Ask him what his age is, and if it's a teenage age for his species or an adult. If he's a teenager, I guarantee someone else has thought of that already, your not a unique little snowflake.

Story Seeker 2013/08/25(Sun)14:53 No. 537479 ID: d38f67
File 137746762347.png - (137.34KB , 700x700 , 5-118.png )

"You know, I don't think you're entirely off the mark, Gram! Probably not the first to think of it either, but how would I know. I'd obviously be a liar to say that I've never spoken to the witch, and I can say that she treats this like a big game. If you play by the rules, any curses are quite silly! Note my lack of gravity. Odd, yet harmless."
>"What happens when she gets bored with us, then, huh?"
"A witch, but not with a cold heart! No one like her would want to spend years alone, so I doubt she'd want to kill her only company. Yes, I think we can get along just fine."
>"Well when you say it... it makes me nervous."
"Well then, allow me to not say it! Minci?"
""I can back him up on that, hun, she looked nice. Plus, we met previous people trapped in dolls. I'm not sure what that's about, but they're not dead.""
>"... tall claim. Sorry, don't think I can trust succubi on much."
""Because I'm a succubus?""
>"Uh...."
"That's not good. I've heard that harpies are nothing but vile pests, but you don't look bad to me."
>"I... thanks?"
"Let's not base things off species, when we're got individuals to talk to and learn from. And if you're a harpy who's just a guy trying to get by, then maybe the witch is just an innocent old lady caught with a bad reputation in a old cursed valley. You said almost as much yourself, with your village sending you in to fight rather than be sacrificed. How about you give her a chance? The worst that happens is you miss a few hours of shuddering out in the cold, here. If Story Seeker could make a bee line to you, the witch won't have much trouble."
Gram remains silent, but Minci turns to me.
"Do you want to find Dal, Story? She might want to have a talk with the witch as well. Plus, the other guy also wanted to get to know her."

Sure, why not^^
Well, less gravity might be a reason... we now have to wait until ground-contact again.

Sure, sounds like a plan.

...looks like we might be walking on the ceiling for a bit. Or at least on the underside of the tree canopy.

Story Seeker 2013/08/25(Sun)17:17 No. 537528 ID: d38f67
File 137747625346.png - (69.97KB , 700x700 , 5-119.png )

After Minci helps me down, I find Dal in the back patio of the mansion itself, staring at the wall! Although it is reminiscient of Gram's position, the motive appears different. Perhaps dwarven related motives, given her staring at stone. Ironic I should think so, after Minci's small talk on individualism!

"Hello, Dal!"
>"Kobold. What is it?"

>>537528
"I got cursed."
Kick off the ground and float to the ceiling to illustrate.
Follow with "I think the witch likes pranks."

>>537528
Do you want to talk with the witch? I think she can invite us all for tea. Or beer in your case, with being a dwarf and all.
You've met her and she seems quite pleasant, and the harpy has an interesting theory that led to my own conclusion that the witch isn't bad at all, it's the village that's bad.

Now she might be a bit of a pervert and loves some chaos, but not all chaos is harmful. You just might end up nude, drunk, and dancing in the moonlight as you humiliate poor, prideful elves.

First off, tell her she was right about the hidden room, before!

And then we can maybe see how she feels about this working together and trying to figure out what the which is up too, or if she's even really a threat. (You can present your fairly harmless curses, and the survival of the doll people as evidence). And maybe ask what's on her mind?

Ask her what she finds interesting about this stonework. Also check for secrets.

Then let her know what you have been up to.

>>537528
Ask what she's staring at.

IIRC Story-Seeker's anti-grav curse effects anything he's holding above his center-of-gravity.

If he tries to bear-hug Dal while on the ground, he should be able to suplex Dal!

Story Seeker 2013/09/03(Tue)18:44 No. 539339 ID: d38f67
File 137825907873.png - (143.63KB , 700x700 , 5-120.png )

"For one thing, you were right about the hidden room! Might I ask what you are looking at there?"
>"The stone, of course! What else would I be lookin' at?"
"Nevermind! But more pressingly, would you like to speak to the witch?"
>"Excuse me?"
"You've met her before. The slimegirl? She seemed nice, right?"
>"Her? Good act."
"Hardly an act, milady! Surely the town has declared the awfulness of the witches curses, but does this seem so awful?"
I lift her up to make a display of what might be confused for super strength!
>"Fine, put me down."
"The harpy had an interesting idea. Perhaps our village is too harsh? After all, even previous 'sacrifices' merely end up in the dolls!"
>"You know what you're sayin', 'bold? Our own kin, sending us for... what?"
"An unwitting witch hunt!
>"You sayin' they sold us out?"
"Perhaps, or perhaps not! Which is why myself and the others are going to speak with her, to see if we can't uncover the truth."
>"Confront a witch, eh? Fine by me."

"What about the Lamia, Story?" Minci then asks me.

Ehhhhhh... she seemed much more antagonistic and prepared to do whatever it took to win. Let's kinda leave her be.

You mean how does she fit in? I'm not sure. She certainly seemed to think the dolls were important enough to kill for. Which would imply she knows something, or thinks she knows something the rest of us don't.

>>539339
Considering she tried to kill both of us earlier, I think it might be best to just try and get her to agree through sheer numbers.
Cant win them all, though that isnt to say we arent gonna give it our all to do so if a chance arises.

Might as well see if she wants to join us. Maybe we can figure out what she was planning. Also we can guilt her with the stuff the dolls told us about how murdering each other never works.

1/4 Story Seeker 2013/09/07(Sat)20:28 No. 539786 ID: d38f67
File 137861090211.png - (84.28KB , 700x700 , 5-121.png )

Well, it wouldn't hurt to check out if the Lamia would like to join us. If nothing else, it gives the Time Lord more time to have Muo's attention.

"Hello again, Miss! We were going to speak to the witch."
>"Excuse me?"
I briefly express our thoughts therein, along with explaining that those dolls were actual people trapped in, well, dolls! I then add, of course, "Would you like to come with us?"
>"... after I attempted to slay you?"
"Well, you did have the common courtesy to explain your intentions before stabbing me in the back!"
>".... okay."

2/4 Story Seeker 2013/09/07(Sat)20:28 No. 539787 ID: d38f67
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We manage to run across Ears and company, and all of us go up to Muo.

"Hello, Muo, Time Lord! Am I interrupting anything?"
>"Nah!" says Muo.
>"Not... just, come in." the Time Lord says, to which I open the door.
"Muo, we know you're the witch!"
>"Wellllll, I did... tell everyone, yes. Uh, are you all intending to have a showdown? I mean, I said I wasn't really in the middle of something, but it is actually a little inconvenient right now, so... "
"Actually, no! We have a proposition, miss witch! Our village sends sacrifices, but am I wrong in assuming you have no ill will towards us?"
>"Oh, I guess not. But witches are evil, right?"
"Are you?"
>"IIiii.... am I?"
"Only if you decide you are! Have you decided you are?"
>"Should I have?"
"No!"
>"Then I guess not."
"Then there's no reason why we should send more of us after you, right, so long as you don't mess with the village?"

3/4 Story Seeker 2013/09/07(Sat)20:28 No. 539788 ID: d38f67
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>"Oh, yeah, that's fine? Do you all want to leave?"
"You would get lonely here, would you not?"
>"Yes, but there's dolls and things, and I think I'd like Serif's company too, if he doesn't mind! Would you guys come visit, too?
"Certainly! Now, I'm sure the village is expecting some proof of your 'demise', lest they think we are under your spells. Do you have anything like that?"
>"Well there is this witch's hat that I never wear."
"Excellent!"
>"Uh Story is that... can we do that? Is that even legal? I mean, the game covers like hundreds of years of this!"
>"Sure!"

Story Seeker Chapter 5 END Story Seeker 2013/09/07(Sat)20:29 No. 539790 ID: d38f67
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Game Set! Winner: Everyone!

With that, there is little time left in the day before I believe Zirkala will be headed back. I'm sure that can be passed with mild conversation amongst ourselves before we leave this board game!

>>539790
Well first, why don't we ask what the backstory of the game is, and how the game is normally supposed to work. What are the dolls and painting for exactly? Was Minci really independent, or a sneaky spy?

>>539790
Like you totally didn't use that conversation time to score with the mouse, totally. Nothing but conversation happened.

Surprise diplomacy ending! (I actually did that to win a real board game once, though in that case it actually led to fewer other winners than the more obvious method.)

You should woo the mutant dwarf lady. She seems like she could do with it.

"hey guys, so is it always like this in the chaotic afterlife?"

Chapter 5 Epilogue Story Seeker 2013/09/08(Sun)13:18 No. 539869 ID: d38f67
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>"Well, this is awkward." Ears is the first to break the silence.
"So, Minci, were you actually on your own, or were you a spy after all?"
"I think I was supposed to spy."
>"Yeahhhhhhh..." Muo says. "I meant to have her spy on you but then I sort of forgot that part of the curse so that just didn't really happen."

>Like you totally didn't use that conversation time to score with the mouse, totally. Nothing but conversation happened.
>You should woo the mutant dwarf lady. She seems like she could do with it.
Nothing but conversation, as far as anyone out there is concerned!

In the following moments, all of our company regains their memories.

After reading the rules, we realize the game is supposed to be a treasure hunt after all. The pieces of painting were to be placed in an empty painting, and the individual that would come out would provide testimony to the witch's identity. The dolls were a one time use deal against a witch's curse, but as the case was, 3 could be combined to get the souls within out, to maybe help. Or maybe not. Random chance!

It looks like the game is supposed to have a wide variety of categories of items to hunt. Dolls and painting scraps, or diaries and magic recording boxes, and all such things. The difficulty can be modified by including more or less items such as these.

Other items were also included that would assist in fighting the witch. Dolls in this case to protect against her spells, or special items to imbue weapons that could harm her. Once the witch's identity was discovered and she was accused, then the combat would start. But that is all moot, now!

"So is it always like this in the chaotic afterlife?"
"Now and then." Minci says.
>"Usually we're just there for summons." Ears says. "You know. In case they need a mundane animal creature now and then. Or a succubus. I hear there's a bunch, but I've only seen Minci, so I'm starting to have my doubts. Trying to get a straight answer out of Tom is... not viable. And Minci... Minci, are you the only succubus?"
"You'll have to ask Tom, hun.
>"Yeah."