Kaktus 2018/01/18(Thu)10:27 No. 859417 ID: 65a774
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…you are hungry.
…and lost.

You’ve been wandering this forest for days now, completely lost… yet… there is something familiar about them. You can’t put your finger on it but something about them reminds you of… of…
Pain pulses through your head as you try to remember… yet you come up empty handed. Who are you? Why are you here? You remember… dying…

And how hungry you are…

You remember you heart being pierced by a spear… and… you were decapitated by an axe…yet… you were also hanged… and burned at the pyre? Sometimes you are a man… others times… you’re a woman… how… how can you remember… you can’t die more than once, can you?

Your stomach growl in agreement…

You look towards your swords as if asking for guidance, but you are met with only silence… then, as on que, the wind changes direction… and the unmistakable smell of civilization hits your nostrils. There must be a city nearby… and a city means-
Your thoughts are interrupted as you hear a woman scream for help nearby. You can hear how she gets muffled and then how the foliage gets disturbed. If you hurry, you might catch up with them before they are gone… but, do you really want to look for trouble like that?

Find the guilty… and feed…

Do you follow the smell to the city… or the call for help into trouble? Either way, you’re bound to find people… and someone to eat…
…you’re so hungry.

Apparently I’ve lost access to the wiki, so I can’t change the wiki page for “First day of harvest” to “A Feast of Souls”, but I’ll see what I can do.

Follow that call for help and help yourself.

Ooh, bandits! And they're taking a hostage! Or not. And you're an undead killing machine and they're not! Free food!

Salivate as you charge. Will they taste like deep-fried breaded pheasant? Or maybe triple-glazed honey cobbler with chocolate chips? Or will they be plain as rice and nourishing as water?

Ok, so we are back again, but we are not longer Ema, at least not entirely? Well if you don't know who you are anymore, might as well call yourself Justice, that is your roll now after all. And speaking of justice, someone is in need of some of it. Take your swords and let's go hunting! Let's try to sneak up to the place where you heard that scream.

>>859417
Go help the woman. She’s innocent and you need to protect her. And whoever is attacking her is guilty and you need to punish them.

>>859417
Looking for trouble is your PURPOSE. Protect the innocent. Punish the guilty.

>>859417
Hunt down the black souls of the wicked.
Purify them with steel and hunger.
Protect the weak and innocent

I absolutely should not have watched Devilman Crybaby before playing this.

to the women I guess.

Kaktus 2018/01/18(Thu)15:03 No. 859459 ID: 65a774
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>We are no longer Ema, at least not entirely?
Ema… Ema… why… why does that sound so… familiar? A dozen names flashes through your mind yet… Ema sticks out… you… you remember someone… a smith… a smith that called you Ema… Is that your name?
>Ooh, bandits! And they're taking a hostage! And you're an undead killing machine and they're not! Free food!
Undead… you… you’ve died yet you live? You… you must be some kind of undead? But… what kind? You don’t look like a zombie… or a skeleton… you just look like… you?

>Let's try to sneak up to the place where you heard that scream.
Walking as quietly as you can, you reach the point of origin of the scream. There, you find a large dirt road, a well-used one at that, that’s probably leading to the city you smelled. Looking around, you can see some obvious signs of struggle as well as the telltale marks of someone being dragged away deeper in the woods. It won’t be hard to follow them.

Soon enough, you find yourself at the edge of a clearing not far from the road. In it, you spot three figures standing near the other edge of it. The first is a rather plump Varkian female, whom is currently tied to a tree. The second is a Sakkilian male who has a small crossbow fasten to his side. For some reason you can’t help but feel a burning hatred for that crossbow... oh, and the third figure is a male Varkian wielding a dagger… a Varkian with a deranged look in his eye who can’t stop giggling to himself. Before you can do anything the Sakkilian starts to speak.

Well, she didn’t have squat on her. The only thing of value is her instrument and I don’t think we can pawn that off anytime soon.
Heh, then the only thing she’s good is being cut up! Can’t wait to feed those eyeballs to you, bitch!
Mff?
Hey, hey, take it easy. Don’t just cut her open like an animal.
Mff…
At least let me cut out her lungs first so I can cook them up.
MFF!?
Hehe, what the fuck, man? Why would you want to eat her lungs?
Because you heard her singing voice, right? I want to be able to that to, so I’m eating her lungs to see if I can inherit it.
Heh… geez, you lizards have weird customs. Hehe… no matter… then I’ll just start with that pretty face of hers!

>Will they taste like deep-fried breaded pheasant? Or maybe triple-glazed honey cobbler with chocolate chips? Or will they be plain as rice and nourishing as water?
The one tied to the tree smells plain and boring. Eatable, but not a very tasty meal. The other two on the other hand… they simply smell divine. There is so much blood and guilt blemishing their souls. You start to salivate just thinking about consuming one of them… and your tummy growls in anticipation of being filled. Don’t you worry, one of them will soon find their new home in you…


Why do you want to cut her up so badly, anyway?
Hehe, it’s because a bitch like here that I’m here eating bark in the fucking woods. Heh… can’t stand seeing those things anymore… they all need to pay! Hehe, they will taste my vengeance, they will! Heh…
hmfp mff…

…and one of them is apparently mad as well. Even tastier… you really want that Varkian in your tummy now…

>Protect the innocent. Punish the guilty.
…none of them are exactly innocent… but the perfectly pure are few and far between. The one tied to the tree is at least no murderer, and as you can only probably eat one of them, even as hungry as you are, you guess she’ll be considered innocent enough to be protected.

Now, how do you do this… you not only want to protect the one tied to the tree, you’d want to catch as least one of them alive so you can consume them. You can’t feast on dead meat. The only things you have on you are your two swords, a long and a short one, as well as your… touch. Somehow, you just know that your touch at times can paralyze people for a little while… especially if you touch their exposed heads. Though, even if you are a better warrior than them, they still outnumber you… and that crossbow… you really don’t like it…

I’m going for a piss. Don’t start cutting her up before I’m back, you hear.
Hehe… fine, fine… spoilsport…

…well, the Sakkilian with the crossbow just walked into the woods, separating them. Now is the time to strike.

>>859459
Make a noise in the bushes. Lure him over. Then grab his head. Let's see if we can consume both of the bandits.

Well it's not like you've had time to rot.
Go after the one in the woods first. Paralyze him, then bind and gag him.

>>859459
>you remember someone…a smith…a smith that called you Ema…
That would be your mother. She’s the one that named you Ema.

>For some reason you can’t help but feel a burning hatred for that crossbow...
Not that crossbow specifically, but crossbows in general because one was used to shoot Tidol, the person you loved, in front of your eyes and you couldn’t anything to save him.

>…and one of them is apparently mad as well. Even tastier…you really want that Varkian in your tummy now…
>…well, the Sakkilian with the crossbow just walked into the woods, separating them. Now is the time to strike.
Sneak up to the Mad Varkian hold his beak shut with your hand, to keep him quiet and to paralyze him. Then feast on his soul!

Then go after the other guy and catch him with his pants down! And then kill him!

>>859468
Yeah, pretty much this, let's see if we can eat the second on as well.
The problem is: are you going to eat the soul, or you need to eat the flesh as well?
The second option seems more complex and laborious, less practical.

>>859459
Time to go slasher on these creeps.
Stealth consume bird freak, then go carve up the lizard.

Always remember: You are never one of the innocent.

The more you kill, the less protection you receive from your karmic favor, but saving innocents should earn you some favor. Of course, the souls you eat should provide evolutionary advantages, a true version of cannibalism enhancement that the one lung-hungry bandit yearns for. Maybe you should start with him-

Oh who are you kidding, TITS OR GTFO! Keep the one on the left alive, she may believe her 'beauty' keeps her pure but it just makes her such a [large]tender[large] feast.

Sneak up on the Sakkilian And paralyse him before coming back to the other and eating the Varkian, you can free the one attached to the tree and tie up the Sakkilian for later.

>>859493
Basically this, if consuming is too loud/long, then just kill him, feed on the other one

>>859523
Well if it would take too long we could always just stun both and then tie up the salsakkilian then go on with eating the Varkian.

Okay, what are the odds your paralyzing touch will work, either touching the target's head or not? Does it have to in direct contact with skin or would it work through a layer of clothing? And how short is "a little while?" And is the paralysis total, including vocal chords, or will the effected still be able to speak? Does it have a cooldown between uses?

What does feeding entail? Do you just suck out the soul or does some amount of flesh need to be consumed as well? And how quick and how quiet is the process? Are you immobilized while engaged in it or unable to stop midway, or can you break off if you're under threat?

And how stealthy and quiet are you moving? Not that much, right? You're tall and strong but not light of foot, yeah? Best not to make any plans that hinge entirely on creeping up right behind a target. Expect you'll have to make a sprint forward moment they start to turn to look towards you.

Best to move around the perimeter under cover to where the Sakkilian is, sneak up behind him, and quickly hold his muzzle shut and slice his throat. That'll take out the risk of a bolt possibly hitting you in the... neck... Tidol... No... Um... Anyway. Make sure to grab the guy by the belt and collar and lower him down against the tree so he doesn't make a load of noise falling down. Then approach the Vark with a tree obscuring you so he'll think it's his associate's footsteps until you're closer, then spring on him, blades drawn. Aim to disarm and cripple, then eat the Vark's soul once he's down, stabbing him through the heart after to make it look like he died from that. If eating his soul would be noisy, haul him away from the lady Vark to do it.

But, in the case you go for the Vark guy first, make sure to pick him up after paralyzing him, move to where a tree blocks the aim of the Sakkilian and back into the underbrush's cover. Then eat his soul before circling around behind the Sakkilian to strike.

And once you deal with these highwaymen, before you remove the Vark lady's blindfold, make sure to examine yourself, feel your face and head and check what your voice sounds like. If you've got holes in places they blatantly shouldn't be or sound like a croaking corpse, she's gonna freak out.

Kaktus 2018/01/19(Fri)04:58 No. 859633 ID: 65a774
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>Well it's not like you've had time to rot.
…you haven’t? You’re not even sure how long you’ve been wandering out here… or what day it is… or year…
>That would be your mother. She’s the one that named you Ema.
Your mother... a smith… calling you Ema… and your father… little opal…
>Make sure to examine yourself, feel your face and head and check what your voice sounds like.
You look like you… a blue scaled Sakkilian… and you sound like you as well… you think?
>Are you going to eat the soul, or you need to eat the flesh as well?
Flesh is the prison of the soul. Dead flesh is useless. Consume their flesh or their soul will escape.

>Not that crossbow specifically, but crossbows in general because one was used to shoot Tidol, the person you loved, in front of your eyes and you couldn’t anything to save him.
…who is Tidol? You can’t remember anyone named that… but you can remember the pain of being pierced by a bolt. The pain as the wood and steel pierces your hide, forcing your body to tear itself into shreds… wait, bolts aren’t supposed to do that, are they?
>Always remember: You are never one of the innocent.
You are Justice. As long as you feed to protect others, your soul will be clean from darkness, though never truly pure.

>If it would take too long we could always just stun both.
You can’t stun people for more than a few seconds at the time… and your touch needs a lot of time to recharge its energy. You can only paralyze one of them once.
>Go after the one in the woods first. Paralyze him, then bind and gag him.
You don’t have anything to bind him with… with the exceptions of your clothes, but you rather not remove them. You’re freezing as it is already.
>Let's see if we can eat the second one as well.
Gluttony is a dark stain upon your soul.

>Make a noise in the bushes. Lure him over.
Heh, don’t think I hear you hiding over there… come out and show yourself, hehe…
Mff?
Huh? Of course I’m not going over there and check. I’m not stupid, hehe.
Mff…
Hehe… it’s either a woodland animal which means I don’t need to care about it, or there someone in the bushes trying to trick me. Heh, they can’t trick me, I’m too clever for that, hehe…

Well… that didn’t go as planned.

>Best to move around the perimeter under cover to where the Sakkilian is.
Hey! I can hear you moving around out there! Come out so I can stab yah! Stab stab!

Kaktus 2018/01/19(Fri)04:58 No. 859634 ID: 65a774
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>Go after the other guy and catch him with his pants down!
You managed to get around the clearing without either of them noticing you… well, noticing your exact location. The Varkian is still yelling threats to where you originally where, while you catch the Sakkilian just as he is pulling his pants up.

Dammit Gev, what are you yelling about this ti-

Kaktus 2018/01/19(Fri)04:58 No. 859635 ID: 65a774
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>And then kill him!
*Cough*Gurgle*

Your blade cuts through his spine and skull as if it was water, killing him on the spot.

Henry! Hehe, what’s taking so damn long!? Get back out here! Quick! I got something for you to shoot! Heh…

>Make sure to grab the guy by the belt and collar and lower him down against the tree so he doesn't make a load of noise falling down.
As you remove your sword from him, you make sure to grab him by the collar and belt to lower him down quietly. But your plan goes askew when the belt, not properly buckled, is pulled out of his pants, which in turn makes the collar around his neck rip from holding up his whole weight. This in turn makes you lose your grip on him completely, ensuring that his whole body lands on the ground with a loud thud. In the end, you probably managed to make more sound than just letting him fall in the first place.

Henry? Henry, answer me! Are you there!? Get back here now! Henry!? This isn’t funny anymore… I… I’ll cut up those lungs if you don’t answer me right now!
MFF!!?
And if it isn’t Henry in there… I… I’ll cut her up even worse! Come out, you coward!

Well, this just got interesting. You don’t think you can sneak up on him when he is this paranoid… and if you just walk up to him he’ll probably kill the female. You’ll need to use your brain for this one if you want her to be still alive.

Your sword is broken? You'll need to get the tip fixed, that can't be healthy for the enchantments.

Your current resources:
You, your clothes, two swords, and a corpse.

Seems straightforward enough. Throw the corpse into the enemy to disorient them, and kill the one that was hit. Then just disarm and devour the other.

Use his friends crossbow on him to cripple him but not kill him then you can just walk up paralise him then eat.

Shoot the other dude in the elbow with the sword if you think you can manage it, then rush him, or you can try the knee furthest form the hostage to make him trip that side, or if you don't have the aim, then you'll kinda have to shoot him in the center of mass and hope for the best

>>859635
>Well, this just got interesting. You don’t think you can sneak up on him when he is this paranoid…and if you just walk up to him he’ll probably kill the female. You’ll need to use your brain for this one if you want her to be still alive.
This is why you were supposed to sneak up to the Varkian first. Taking him out would’ve eliminated the danger of being close to the hostage!

Guess you’ve got no choice but to try and shoot him with the crossbow. Just make sure you shoot him somewhere that won’t kill him, but will disable him from trying to attack the hostage.

>>859637
>Your sword is broken?
No, it’s not. It’s just imbedded into the tree.

Hey Ema, remember that thing you said once about breaking boundaries of the puzzle to finish it?
This is a perfect example. You have a lot of tools a your disposal to finish this little game. Try to use that crossbow on the bird's leg to cripple it. You can use his friend's boddy to distract him, while you take an diferent shoting position in the oposite direction.

>grabbing the belt of someone who's undoing their pants
Tgchan makes good decisions.

Shoot the other one with the crossbow with the intent to cripple him. Should your aim strike too true, this is your punishment for hubris.

>>859633
>You don’t have anything to bind him with…with the exceptions of your clothes, but you rather not remove them. You’re freezing as it is already.
Then it's time to listen to your instincts and start packing on the pounds so that you can keep yourself warm while the weather outside continues to get colder. Extra fat means your body will retain heat and you won't be as cold as you would be without it. Maybe a familiar thought will help Ema remember something?

>You are Justice. As long as you feed to protect others, your soul will be clean from darkness, though never truly pure.
>Gluttony is a dark stain upon your soul.
Make up your fucking mind! You want Ema to feed to protect others, but if there’s multiple enemies, you won’t let her feed on all of them to protect others? It’s almost like you’re holding her back by preventing her from carrying out Justice on multiple guilty people.

>>859635
Using the crossbow seems like it could work. Shoot him in one of his limbs. Then you can just walk up to him and consume his soul.

Also possible: using his friend's decapitated head as a projectile. Throw it at his face to knock him out/over.

Kaktus 2018/01/19(Fri)10:54 No. 859677 ID: 65a774
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>Your sword is broken? You'll need to get the tip fixed, that can't be healthy for the enchantments.
It’s just embedded in the tree, not broken. Besides, as the sword itself has said…
JUSTICE CANNOT BE BROKEN!
>Make up your fucking mind! You want Ema to feed to protect others, but if there’s multiple enemies, you won’t let her feed on all of them to protect others?
Slaughter the guilty, but don’t let your hunger and rage dictate who you are, or you’ll be just as guilty as your prey.
>Then it's time to listen to your instincts and start packing on the pounds so that you can keep yourself warm while the weather outside continues to get colder. Extra fat means your body will retain heat and you won't be as cold as you would be without it.
You’ve never been able to really put on weight actually. No matter how much you eat, you always seem to keep your slim figure… and seeing that you’re quite the glutton at times… wait… why did you just… your head hurts…

>This is why you were supposed to sneak up to the Varkian first.
You tried to, but your cunning plan didn’t work.
>Use his friends crossbow on him to cripple him but not kill him.
You’re not touching that thing! That thing belongs in the deepest abyss of Helve, to forever be encased in the never ending ice. You should burn that demon tool as soon as possible. Besides, you have no idea how to aim that thing… or how to load it…

>Your current resources: You, your clothes, two swords, and a corpse. Hey Ema, remember that thing you said once about breaking boundaries of the puzzle to finish it?
Hmm… seems straightforward enough.

I heard that! You can’t catch me by surpr- VARK!

With your superior strength, you manage to throw the body of this Henry with ease. The Varkian never saw it coming and soon find himself pinned under his former friend’s body. After that, you simply walk up to him as he lies there helplessly.

I’m going fucking kill you, you lizard cu-

Kaktus 2018/01/19(Fri)10:54 No. 859678 ID: 65a774
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He manage to scream in terror just as the paralyzing touch start to work, which is the last thing he does before his one way trip to your gullet.
Unable to struggle, he goes down your throat quickly. He tastes delicious… and is very filling.

Kaktus 2018/01/19(Fri)10:54 No. 859679 ID: 65a774
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Now, the only question is what to do with the lady tied to the tree. After dealing with your hunger, you’re able to think a bit more clearly about her. It’s clear she doesn’t deserve to be eaten… unless you get really, really hungry.
Huh, it seems like she managed to get the bind around her beak off while you were distracted feeding.

I-is anyone there? Did y-you take care of those awful knaves?
…
Hello? Can I please r-request that you untie me? I… I don’t have any money to reward you with but… err… please?
…
Oh! I have room and board in a nearby inn at the city… I… I might be able to get you one as well, if you help me?
…
I’ll… eat you out? …or suck you off if you’re a guy or… or… just help me, please! Oh Helve, don’t let it be some monster… don’t let it be a monster… please…

>>859679
"Please calm down. The bandits have been dealt with. I'm going to untie you now. Don't flail around or try to run away, please."

>>859679
>suck you off
>she has a beak

SHE IS TRYING TO KILL Y—I mean politely decline the lady's offer, and follow her to the city. Lots of guilty people there, no doubt, whatever it is they're supposed to be guilty of.

She is not guilty enough to deserve this fate, release her.

>>859679
Take off her blindfold so that she can see that you’re not a monster. Then untie her and let her lead you back to the city and to the inn.

Okay, from now on if we are going to feed then NO ONE we don't want to eat can see us do so.

We've gotten away with it for now but it's going to get us in trouble (assuming we don't become powerfully enough that discovery stops being a problem)

OK, two things are clear:
Fisrtly, you are not longuer a normal sakkilian, you are still Ema, but you have sufered a metamorphosis, and your mind has some now knowloge from the past users of the swords, along with some of their personalities, or so it apears.
Secondly, this woman is not pure at all, but inocent enought to not be eaten. Maybe you can straighten her up.

Time to find out if your voice works.

>>859677
>Slaughter the guilty, but don’t let your hunger and rage dictate who you are, or you’ll be just as guilty as your prey.
That’s still not a good enough explanation to not consume multiple guilty souls.

Like, what if Ema can’t kill someone from just stabbing them and the only way to beat them is to consume them? If she runs into a group of those guys, how is she supposed to beat them if she’s only allowed to eat one of them?

I’m only asking in case we run into those guys that killed Ema’s entire village earlier. Because if stabbing them through the head doesn’t work, then she needs to be able to do something to get rid of them if her swords can’t kill them!

I feel its more dramatic if you just cut the ropes without taking the blindfold and don't say anything. Just follow her to the inn, you can use a bed to think what happened to you and to star searching your next meal.

>>859679
Introduce yourself as Ema, the Warrior of Justice.

Justice is blind, right? Take off her blindfold and tie it around your own head.

Monster is as monster does and you're no monster. Keep it that way or you will lose yourself forever. Now to helping the lady.

As you remove her blindfold apologize for remaining silent. That was bad of you. Then tell her to give you a minute to untie the rope holding her to the tree. (Cutting it would be wasteful and having a length of rope is useful. Like for binding the wicked.) Then undo he rope binding her wrists. Once she's free, offer your hand in greeting and introduce yourself as Ema Ligiadottir, the one who dealt with those knaves, and ask her name in kind.

And did you see where the lady's instrument went? If so, pick it up and give it to her, telling her that you'd like hearing her lovely singing voice that bandit spoke of once we're safely out of the woods.

>…you haven’t? You’re not even sure how long you’ve been wandering out here… or what day it is… or year…
Examining your clothes, it most likely wasn't years. While your body may have some kind of magical protection, your clothing wouldn't have and would have fallen apart exposed to the elements.

Ah, but there is a way you could find out where you came from, by employing the services of a tracker. You're not exactly light on your feet, so if there hasn't been heavy rains recently they could follow your tracks back. Or you could find out where there's been major tragedy, destruction and injustice lately nearby and you probably arose from there.

>>859690
>Like, what if Ema can’t kill someone from just stabbing them and the only way to beat them is to consume them? If she runs into a group of those guys, how is she supposed to beat them if she’s only allowed to eat one of them?
Thing is, they're made of metal, not flesh. She may not even be able to devour them because of that. They also might not even have souls of their own because they're constructs.

>I’m only asking in case we run into those guys that killed Ema’s entire village earlier. Because if stabbing them through the head doesn’t work, then she needs to be able to do something to get rid of them if her swords can’t kill them!
Going by previous Kaktus quests, try aiming for the heart next time. That's where the undead and construct's cores have been before. But leaving OOC knowledge out, use massive blunt force, such as from a large hammer. Apply that smithing muscle memory of hammering metal to hammer those metal men into flat scrap. Or not do it all herself and try to bring the force of the nation down on them before they spread further.

>>859661
>Tgchan makes good decisions.
It was four in the morning when I wrote that so cut me some slack. I thought he'd have some kind of fly on the front of his pants, like with buttons or something since zippers wouldn't exist in this setting, and still have his belt buckled.

maybe throw the dead body that is still around out of sight so not to give this chick more of a scare then she has already gotten.

Also tell her she really doesn't need to demean herself that much, you were just making sure the area was clear before turning your back to the woods. then untie her I guess, can't be fun being tied to a tree.

>>859715
Yeah, definitely drag the Sakkilian's corpse over to the woods and chuck 'em in. That way the lady doesn't have to see a dead Sakkilian with his pants around his ankles and you can say you got rid of the Vark bandit's corpse so she wouldn't have to see the gory mess. Otherwise you'll be hard pressed to explain where the Vark's corpse went. And you can explain the thump of you throwing the corpse at the Vark as you tackling the Vark from behind, if she asks about it. You'll also want to hurry the both of you along to the city with the explanation that this altercation may have attracted more trouble and it's not safe out here.

Kaktus 2018/01/19(Fri)14:31 No. 859720 ID: 65a774
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>Suck you off, she has a beak… SHE IS TRYING TO KILL YOU!
She is? You’re not sure how beaks and sucking have to do with killing… but apparently a male would consider this sucking off as a reward? Hmm… and she said she would eat you? How is that a reward?
>Firstly, you are no longer a normal sakkilian, you are still Ema, but you have suffered a metamorphosis.
You’re pretty sure you’re some kind of undead being… who eats bad people? Hmm… you know, you might want to find more information about just what you are.
>Okay, from now on if we are going to feed then NO ONE we don't want to eat can see us do so.
You’re pretty sure eating people has always been a big no in front of others. It’s rather rude, isn’t it?

>That’s still not a good enough explanation to not consume multiple guilty souls.
Well, is being completely stuffed a good enough explanation? You’re clearly not used to eating something that big and that highwayman was so overfilled with sin that he clearly was a three course meal.
>Like, what if Ema can’t kill someone from just stabbing them and the only way to beat them is to consume them?
Then you’ll simply have to force them down, don’t you? For Justice and all that…
>Monster is as monster does and you're no monster. Keep it that way or you will lose yourself forever.
Eating too much will probably make the line between innocent and food very blurry… of course, going hungry will probably do the same.

>Justice is blind, right? Take off her blindfold and tie it around your own head.
…that’s just silly. You’re pretty sure they don’t mean literally blind.
>Having a length of rope is useful. Like for binding the wicked.
You’ll have to remember to pocket it after you untie her.
>And did you see where the lady's instrument went?
It’s lying against a tree a bit further away with what you assumes is her other belongings. You’ll just let her get that herself, as you rather not go through her stuff without her consent.
>Throw the dead body that is still around out of sight so not to give this chick more of a scare then she has already gotten.
You make sure the other body is out of sight before you do anything else.


>Take off her blindfold so that she can see that you’re not a monster.
You take great care to remove her blindfold carefully, as to not rile her up any further. It takes a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the light again, but when they do... she just stares at you?

Please calm down. The ba- The knaves who terrorized you are no more. I’m going to free you now, so stay calm.
…a blue Sakkilian? I never seen one… I thought your kind was just legends? Where do you hail from?
…I’m from the small hamlet of Dalriver. Now stop squirming so I can untie you.
Dalriver? Hmm… why do I recognize that name? Oh! But where are my manners? Let me introduce myself.

As soon you untie her, she springs from the tree towards her belongings and snaps up a large hat. With it, she makes a gracious bow before putting it on her head and introducing herself.

I am Justina, journeymen bard, at your service.
I am Ema Ligiadottir, the Warrior of Justice!
Warrior of Justice, eh? You do seem a bit young to call yourself that… but you did save my life, so I guess I can’t complain.
So, this inn you talked about…
Hmm… oh, that. As a certified bard, I can request a room and board free of charge at any inn, as long as I bring entertainment with me. I’m sure I can convince them to give you a bed as well… or if not, I guess I… um… can always sleep on the floor for a night?
You are a bard, you say? I heard them talking about your beautiful singing voice.
You did? Why, I would have been charmed by their compliment, if they weren’t trying to steal it themselves by foul play. Why, I have a grand idea! Why don’t I compose a little song of your heroics, as an additional reward?
Um…
So how did you do it? While I was present, I wasn’t able to properly observe, you understand. I did hear a lot of colorful language though… so… tell me your tale. I see the two blades you wield… though, why two? Isn’t one enough? Did you strike them down in an epic duel? Don’t worry if it isn’t song worthy, I’m sure we can find better words for it… and exaggerate a bit. Wait, where are the bodies anyway? I heard you strike one down right here in the clearing, correct?
Ugh…
Are you alright?
Oh? Err… don’t worry, it’s just… you know that feeling you get when you eat too much to fast? Yeah… I got that…
Oh… I’m sorry to hear that… though you still want me to make that song, correct?

by the way birds don't give beakjobs, but she can stretch her tongue out and lick your dick to orgasm. the anticipation of every lick slowly building up to an orgasm makes it better.

>So how did you do it?
Could go charging in without risking your safety so I tried to sneak around and get rid of them without the other noticing... kinda worked

>While I was present, I wasn’t able to properly observe, you understand. I did hear a lot of colorful language though… so… tell me your tale.
I... rather not. It's not a happy tall from what I seem to remember

>I see the two blades you wield… though, why two? Isn’t one enough?
They were part of a set, plus never hurts to have a backup blade incase something happens to the first one.

>Did you strike them down in an epic duel? Don’t worry if it isn’t song worthy, I’m sure we can find better words for it… and exaggerate a bit.
Sorry but just snuck up behind one and took him out quickly then throw him at the other one to distract him when he noticed his buddy was gone for to long so he wouldn't hurt you while I get in close and I took him out quickly as well.

>Wait, where are the bodies anyway? I heard you strike one down right here in the clearing, correct?
Yes but I was worried about how you'd react to the sight of a dead body or two so I kinda removed them from the clearing so they wouldn't be one of the first things you saw when I took the blind fold off... also why it took me a while to untie you.

>Oh… I’m sorry to hear that… though you still want me to make that song, correct?
I uh... I'm not sure. I never did anything song worthy that I'm aware of and I really didn't jump in to help to try and become a folk hero or something. Just felt like something I needed to do, for a few reasons.

>>859720
>Oh? Err…don’t worry, it’s just…you know that feeling you get when you eat too much to fast? Yeah…I got that…
SHHHH!!!!! Even if she never sees you eat someone, the fact that the bodies are missing might make her jump to conclusions!

>>859720
You can show her the sakkilian body. Tell her the Vark ran away after he saw he was outmatched.
Or if there's some type of magic that can completely disintegrate someone I suppose you could claim to have that at your disposal.

>>though you still want me to make that song, correct?

I say no, its kinda hard to find food if they are fleeing from the famous "Warrior of Justice"

Hold the idea of the song. If you continue to make more heroics, maybe you can make yourself a legend and spread fear in those who intent to do evil. But not yet. It is to soon to let the world know of you.

The details are unimportant for songwriting.
If you really must know, I shanked one while he took a piss and swallowed the other one whole. See what I mean? I'm sure you can come up with something more lyrical than that without needing the play-by-play.

Oh, ask her if she knows of your hometown. I got the feeling that it might have passed a lot of time from that incident.

"Uh... you do NOT want to see what I did to the second guy. Destroyed all his equipment in the process. First guy's over there, I just stabbed him in the face."

>>859749
I can't believe I'm agreeing with Kome, but I am.
Also, nix the song. Sorry, but we can't go tipping off the bad guys.

>>859749
This.

"Ah, well.... I tried to lure out the first one but he didn't fall for it. So I went after the second one and caught him while he was, uh, getting his pants back on after taking a piss. So I shoved a blade through his skull. It uh got a little bloody after that. I had to throw the corpse at his friend to ensure your safety and well... I'm pretty sure there's gonna be a monster or two coming by to check out the smell/feast on the corpses so we might want to get a move on."

Okay, don't tell her that you threw the Sakkilian's corpse at the Vark. The kind of strength a normal person would need to pull off throwing a adult Sakkilian male that far that hard would require a amount of muscle that would be very apparent even covered by your clothes. You're gonna need another explanation. How about saying you threw the Sakkilian guy's crossbow at the Vark hard, stunning him, right before sprint tackling him to the ground.

As for where the Vark went... How about you say you were actually here to capture him alive to pay off a favor owed. It was just unfortunate luck that he and his associate jumped Justinia before you could. Anyway, once you got the Vark pinned down you clamped his beak with a cloth dosed with knockout vapors, then hauled his sleeping ass over to the collector who was following you a bit up the road. He's now bound and gagged in a trunk on the back of a wagon off to who knows where. You just know it'll be a just end for him and he won't ever come back.

>Oh? Err… don’t worry, it’s just… you know that feeling you get when you eat too much to fast? Yeah… I got that…
Uh, oh. You may have eaten too much at once. If it's anything like when a man who has gone without food for many days gorges, then expect stomach trouble. You might end up puking at least some of it back up 'cause your "soul digestive system" had weakened and shrunk. Just be aware of what you're feeling and bolt for the woods and way out of Justinia's view if you feel anything more than discomfort, making sure to shoo her off from watching. And keep low so what you do puke up doesn't fall far and make way more noise than a normal person puking up normal sized food.

Also, what will become of the Vark bandit's body, clothing and other items you swallowed now he's undoubtedly died within you and his soul is trapped in your guts? You gonna end up puking it all up later like some kind of giant owl pellet? Just the bones, clothing and other non-organic indigestibles such as that made of metal? (I'm asking this 'cause I remembered the beginning of Numb thread 3 where Daithi horked up a plate of abdomen armor that Mantis bully he devoured was wearing. Figure we might need to plan ahead for something like that here.)

>Hmm… and she said she would eat you? How is that a reward?
Not "eat you" but "eat you out." It's a slang term for cunnilingus; Performing oral sex on a female.

Actually, I think the best action would be to clam up about what happened or be very vague in addition to not want her to make any songs about it. She can be left imagining what actually happened and whatever she thinks up won't be as upsetting as what actually happened. She'll probably figure something is up but better to not give her anything to go by. And if she doesn't want to travel with you or help you because you don't want to tell her what happened, then so be it.

Kaktus 2018/01/20(Sat)11:21 No. 859884 ID: 65a774
File 151647610594.png - (65.06KB , 700x550 , 11.png )

>By the way birds don't give beakjobs, but she can stretch her tongue out and lick your dick to orgasm. The anticipation of every lick slowly building up to an orgasm makes it better.
…you… um… guess you’ll keep that in mind if you ever get a dick? Which isn’t very likely?
>Not "eat you" but "eat you out." It's a slang term for cunnilingus; Performing oral sex on a female.
That reminds you of that one time you and Sonya decided to experiment a bit… you found out you liked females just as much as males that day… wait, why do… ugh, your head hurts.

>SHHHH!!!!! Even if she never sees you eat someone, the fact that the bodies are missing might make her jump to conclusions!
You’re pretty sure eating people is such a farfetched conclusion that she’ll need to be able to fly to reach it, not just jump. But it might be prudent to not take any chances.
>Uh, oh. You may have eaten too much at once. If it's anything like when a man who has gone without food for many days gorges, then expect stomach trouble.
You don’t really feel sick… just very full.
>What will become of the Vark bandit's body, clothing and other items you swallowed now he's undoubtedly died within you and his soul is trapped in your guts? You gonna end up puking it all up later like some kind of giant owl pellet?
…you’re not… sure? Wait, wouldn’t that come out from the… um… other end? You really hope it doesn’t have to. You can’t remember ever using the bathroom like this so… you don’t think you’ll need to anymore?
>As for where the Vark went... How about you say you were actually here to capture him alive to pay off a favor owed.
You would happily spin a vast web of lies and deceit if you were a bit better at keeping things like that in mind… or if you had a more agile tongue to wield new lies with. Instead, you’ll choose the path you usually choose, the simple one. No need to lie when you simply don’t need to mention it.


>Uh... I'm not sure. I never did anything song worthy that I'm aware of?
Nothing worthy? Why, you just saved the life of a complete stranger, brave warrior! A two against one duel at that as well! Is that not something a hero would do?
I mean… um… I just don’t see myself in any songs, really…
Then I’ll simply not mention you by name… or color. A humble Sakkilian… um… what did your mother work with?
Smith.
A humble Sakkilian smith from a small, often forgotten hamlet, she didn’t hesitate when she heard the call for help. Quickly finishing her dinner, she ran fearlessly into the fray and…?
…I stabbed the first guy in the face when he was distracted… um… and you do not want to see what I did to the second guy.
Hmm… needs a bit of work… and the bodies?
…I was worried you’d react at the sight of them, so I moved them into the woods.
Ah, that explain why you didn’t answer me at first. And thank you, as I’d really didn’t want to see those two again like that. Yes, I can work with this… and don’t you worry, I’ll keep you anonymous.

>The blades were part of a set.
Ah… so if you lose one you have an extra?
One is for when I need a two handed long sword, the other for when I need a one handed short sword.
Oh… I’m not sure what the difference is, but I’m not experience with weapons.
>Oh, ask her if she knows of your hometown.
What was it called again?
Dalriver. As in, a river going through a dale.
Hmm… I recognize it, but I can’t place it. I don’t think I would have heard about some remote hamlet without reason, though. But now, shall we begin our journey? I rather not stay here longer than necessary.
Let’s.

After she gather her belongings while you fail to find anything valuable in the bandits gear (As well as destroying that demon contraption one of them had), the two of you start walking down the road towards the city. On the way the emergency food, Justina, start singing praises about you… and she really does have a beautiful singing voice. Maybe you shouldn’t eat this one… even if you’re really, really hungry…

Kaktus 2018/01/20(Sat)11:21 No. 859885 ID: 65a774
File 151647611518.png - (56.87KB , 700x550 , 12.png )

It takes more than an hour before you reach the walls of the city, which by then the sun has already set. On the way the emergency food didn’t miss a beat in her singing, though by now you’ve apparently fought against four bandits instead of two. At least the song is sung in such a way that it can be about pretty much anyone that’s from a small hamlet.

Ah, here we are! The great city of Stoneburg, the biggest trade city of western Occidavia, the home of the grand duchess herself!

Looking towards the city walls, you can feel a calling. Something is beckoning you from somewhere inside the city walls. Then your swords start to communicate with you again.
Do you feel it? The injustice?
(…injustice? Is there something wrong with this city?)
The ones responsible for what happened to you are here. Find them, question them and then… bring them justice.
(So… any words of advice on how to find them?)
All I know is that they are here, somewhere.
(Great…)

The road leads to a smaller gate in the walls, guarded by a few guards and a heavy looking gate. Just outside the gate itself you see two people arguing over a large, wooden box. One of them a strong looking Sakkilian man while the other one of those Serpent people, though he seems to be missing an arm. Sniffing the air, you can almost taste them from here. The Sakkilian is like the Varkian next to you, bland but eatable… while the snake stinks of chemicals, so you rather not eat him. As you come closer you can hear the muscular food argue with the smelly food.
Come on, it’s your box and it’s too big for me to carry by myself.
What do you expect me to do? Levitate it?
You can at least try to carry it?
I only got one arm! You know much well that I can’t carry anything heavy like this!
Oh come on, we can’t stay here when night falls.
Well, I’m not leaving it out here over the night either.

Hey, got an idea. Why don't you help these fellows out in exchange for information? Ask them about a large group of people that were wearing robes that came to this city. Or a place where shadowy people that look like that would reunite.

Now that i think about it, should you find some cape or other clothes so you can conceal yourself from them? They will most certainly recognize you, wasting the surprise factor. Or would you rather go kicking doors down and shouting bloody murder?

>>859885
Offer to carry it. You are very strong!

might as well help them, I mean you're not really doing anything else. Plus if you can make some friends inside the city they might be able to tell you something about those cloaked assholes you're looking for.

You are thinking of the less just as food again. Are you already hungry?

>>859884
>You’re pretty sure eating people is such a farfetched conclusion that she’ll need to be able to fly to reach it, not just jump. But it might be prudent to not take any chances.
Damn straight you better not take any chances! Because even if Justina doesn’t jump to that conclusion, that doesn’t mean that someone else won’t jump to that conclusion and then actually do something about it!

>>859885
>On the way the emergency food didn’t miss a beat in her singing
>As you come closer you can hear the muscular food argue with the smelly food.
Stop thinking of everyone as food or else you’ll end up even more of a monster than the guilty that you deliver justice to!

>Need help to move crate.
Go offer to help them.

>>859886
Don’t ask any of that, nobody will take Ema seriously if she asks anything like that. Also, do you really think these 2 random guys would know anything about that?

>>859890
Don’t bother with the cape and cloak. That’ll just make Ema look like a fool.

Offer to help the Sakkilian carry the crate into the city. They're going the same way as you, so may as well help out. Just make sure to limit your strength to plausible mortal levels that match your physical form. No picking up a crate that apparently needs two people to carry and carrying it all on your own. Carry it along with the Sakkilian.

Ask the Serpens if he's... Um, he is a he, is he? Anyway, ask 'em if they're a alchemist, citing the strong chemical smell on them.

And rein in those thoughts of people as food. Thinking of people as things, let alone food, is a big step along the road towards thinking that leads to monstrous actions. People are people, not food. Only the most guilty among them fall out of that category and are fair game.

You should also keep in mind that if those who killed you and your family, friends and hamlet are here, then they may remember you if they spot you. You are a rather distinctive blue, after all. You get spotted and not realize it, they'll know you're back from the dead and likely trouble for 'em. If they're subtle, they'll tail you to figure out what you're up to. If they're not, they'll gang up on you and that's a fight you can't win. You need to think about disguises. Justinia may know something about stage makeup for coloring scales. Or there might be alchemical scale coloring or bleaching available you could use.

You should also see about getting a map of the realm to try and figure out where Dalriver is. You remember the river it's on ends at a big city, the nearest other settlement was the hamlet of Umstream, and there was a Blackroot Cave nearby. At the least you know it's not near the coast and likely up in the hills, closer to the mountains.

>That reminds you of that one time you and Sonya decided to experiment a bit… you found out you liked females just as much as males that day… wait, why do… ugh, your head hurts.
It hurts because you're remembering your life before you died and came back as whatever you are now. ...You're like the most recent, topmost page upon the stack of pages of the lives and souls of those who wielded the Swords before and were bound by the pact of Justice. "Bound in blood, sealed in death." The memories of them all, pressed together like the layers of sediment in limestone and eroded by time. All bound to the blades.

>while the snake stinks of chemicals, so you rather not eat him.
Is that your mundane nose or your "soul nose" that's picking up a chemical smell. It'd be odd if his soul smelled like a alchemist's garbage, wouldn't it?

>>859959
Oh, and also the Swords of Justice are also distinctive and may be remembered by those responsible for what happened to you, so carrying them openly would not be a good idea. Getting a overcoat or cloak to wear while walking about to hide them as they are on your hip would be prudent.

Kaktus 2018/01/20(Sat)17:17 No. 859988 ID: 65a774
File 151649747408.png - (53.66KB , 700x550 , 13.png )

>Stop thinking of everyone as food or else you’ll end up even more of a monster than the guilty that you deliver justice to!
…but they smell so tasty and- Gah, you’re right. You need to stay vigilant. They aren’t food… unless they are bad people.
>Are you already hungry?
No, you’re still super full. In fact, the thing you want most right now is just to sit down and properly digest your meal in peace.
>Is that your mundane nose or your "soul nose" that's picking up a chemical smell?
You only have one nose last time you checked.

>It hurts because you're remembering your life before you died and came back as whatever you are now.
It only hurts the first time you remember them… so if you try and keep remembering things… then maybe…
>You should also see about getting a map of the realm to try and figure out where Dalriver is.
You already know where Dalriver is, you do have some schooling after all. If this is the seat of the local duchess, which you think it is (you remember the city was called burg something), then Dalriver would be about four days west from here on foot.
>Ask them where shadowy people in robes would reunite.
That sounds way too suspicious to ask… and will probably just end badly for you even if you got an answer.

>You should also keep in mind that if those who killed you and your family, friends and hamlet are here, then they may remember you if they spot you.
Will they? Only one of them saw you up close and that was just for a few seconds. You scales might be a bit suspect, but you’d think they’ll just assume you’re someone else blue colored. After all, they killed you.
>Should you find some cape or other clothes so you can conceal yourself from them?
Going around everywhere with a cape over your head would probably just make people more suspicious!
>Justinia may know something about stage makeup for coloring scales. Or there might be alchemical scale coloring or bleaching available you could use.
You really don’t want to mess up your scales… but if there’s no other option.
>Oh, and also the Swords of Justice are also distinctive and may be remembered by those responsible for what happened to you, so carrying them openly would not be a good idea.
The blades of Justice looks just like any two swords… and once again, as far as you know, they never actually got a good look at them anyway. You don’t think they’ll recognize them.


>Offer to help the Sakkilian carry the crate into the city. They're going the same way as you, so may as well help out.
As you approach them, both of them take a second to just stare at you before the Serpens speaks up while the Sakkilian eyes you suspiciously.
Why, that would be most helpful! We gladly accept your-
Hold on… why exactly are you helping us?
Why, because this is Ema the Hero, the blade of righteousness!
…hero?
Err… I just like to help people, that’s all. I’m just Ema.
And I’m Justina the bard, at your service!
A bard? Figures…
Well, Ema, I for one is thankful for your help, even with your friends exaggeration. I am Oran and this is my friend Karn.
Let’s just get this over with.

You and Karn grab the crate together and while heavy, the biggest problem is its size. This thing would be hard to carry alone, even with your strength. Oran tells you that he have a shop just a few streets from the gate so there is where you’re taking it. As you pass the entrance to the city, you pass two soldiers standing guard, both eyes you with suspicion when you pass. One of them smells delicious… corrupt and unforgiving… while the other smell very unappetizing, a clear and pure soul who is willing to help others. You really don’t want to even try to eat that one… in fact, something in the back of your mind even tells you that might be a dangerous thing to do.

So, do you two know of any good inns, by any chance?
Oh, there is one right down the street from where I live. Why, I’ll buy you two a drink as thanks for the help!
Hmfp…
>Ask 'em if they're an alchemist.
Huh? How did you…?
Because you stink, Oran. And yes, he is an alchemist.
>Ask them about a large group of people that were wearing robes that came to this city.
Oh, I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you anything about that. Tons of people come here every day, after all.
Why do you want to know that, anyway?
I’m looking for someone that’s important to me.
Well… I guess you can try asking down in the market place or the mercenary post. That’s where most strangers go.

Soon enough you reach Oran’s shop, which is made known long before Oran even speaks up about from the smell alone. Hopefully the inn is far enough away to not smell like this as well.
Thank you. We’ll take it from here. I’ll just need to secure this crate and I’ll buy you that drink I promised. Karn, can you h-
Yes, yes, I know the drill… geez… we’ll be right back.

As Karn and Oran pull the crate the last few meters into the shop, Justina approaches you carefully.
Um… I remember now where I’ve heard that name before… the name of your hamlet. I’m sorry for your lost, even if it is a bit late for me to say so.
…a bit late?
Well, yes. You’ve heard, right? Ten years ago? Bandits attacked and burned the whole place down… there were no survivors. I guess you were lucky that you’d moved away by then with your family, right?

>>859988
What is that thing behind that building over there? It looks like it’s staring at you.

I mean, obviously don’t go chasing after it, since that’s an obvious way to get ambushed in an alley. Just look at it. If Justina asks, just tell her you thought you saw something.

>Well, yes. You’ve heard, right? Ten years ago? Bandits attacked and burned the whole place down…there were no survivors. I guess you were lucky that you’d moved away by then with your family, right?
.....tell her that you were there when it happened and you were the only one that survived. You’ve been looking for the guys responsible for what happened for 10 long years and that’s what lead you here.

And mention that you took a really hard blow to the head, so you’re having a really hard time remembering the names and faces of your friends and family, even your own parents.....and then mention that you hate that you can’t remember them because it feels like you’re dishonoring them by not remembering who they were.

This is a serious matter. I don't know if it would be wise to tell her the truth, but i guess it is up to you really.
Ask her how long ago this happened.
If you tell her your story, she most likely would like to make a song of your story, and probably follow you around to keep making songs about your adventures, or not, it is a dangerous profession, being the encarnation of Justice.

>>860000
I saw it too. I think those are just flowers.

>>860003
>Ask her how long ago this happened.
She already told us it was 10 years ago.

>>859988
...Well, vengeance/justice is a dish best served cold, right? Though I imagine they've probably moved on from this town in that time.

You could have your sob story spun into a bard's tale, but you'll want to keep a low profile for now.

Tell her that you went out into the forest one day and the whole village was burning by the time you came back. You nearly died, but you and your would-be killer gave each other near-mortal wounds. Left for dead, you both survived and agreed to leave each other alone until you were ready to settle the score.

>>860005
OOPS, didn't read that, sorry.

Well, this is a surprise. You wandered the woods for a decade and can't remember anything of it? No wonder you were so hungry. And how are your clothes still holding together after so long? Anyway, questions for later. Focus now.

You know you're terrible at lying so keep it simple and don't say much. Thank her for her sentiment and say that it doesn't feel like it's been ten years already. Feels like you heard the news not that long ago. Then say you were thinking of visiting the place and leaving flowers there in memorial after you're done in the city.

>>859992
>>860000
>>860009
Whoa, no saying you're the sole survivor or any bullshit about blows to the head and memory loss. First, that won't mesh with you behaving like you didn't know how long its been, nor with you asking about like you didn't know where Dalriver is. If you lived around here for a decade or were traveling back to the area, you'd have known this.

Second, you'd have to come up with convincing lies about how it was you didn't end up known as the only survivor of the Dalriver Massacre. Because at the time you'd have been a girl of about nine or ten and if you survived that you'd have most likely ran to the nearest other settlement, not avoided seeking help. And you are terrible at lying.

Third, then you'd have to spin a whole web of lies about your life for the decade after that accounts for how you got your swords, your martial training, where you lived, and so on and so forth. Again, you are bad at lies so avoid having to make them.

>>860003
>I don't know if it would be wise to tell her the truth, but i guess it is up to you really.
Except it is not up to Ema, it is up to us to choose. That is the way a quest works, so make a choice.

>If you tell her your story, she most likely would like to make a song of your story, and probably follow you around to keep making songs about your adventures...
Which is reason to not tell her your story. You're going into dangerous waters and having her around will put her at undue risk. It'll also make her a target if she gets associated with you.

>>860020
Fair enough.

might as well ask her what she heard of that place outside of just bandits attacking it. Might give us some clues.

>I guess you were lucky that you’d moved away by then with your family, right?
whelp let's be vague because hey, your undead, I feel you're entitled to some cryptic bullshit every now and then. Tell her that you only heard of some Varkian nomads who left before the attack because of a warning by a local fortune teller. Also that your folks lived in town. then just drop the conversation there as those are dark memories that are best left buried for now.

Kaktus 2018/01/21(Sun)09:09 No. 860129 ID: 65a774
File 151655457076.png - (55.72KB , 700x550 , 14.png )

>What is that thing behind that building over there? It looks like it’s staring at you.
It’s a potted plant on a windowsill…
>You could have your sob story spun into a bard's tale, but you'll want to keep a low profile for now.
Something tells you Justina here have a problem keeping secrets, so you better watch what you say near her.
>...Well, vengeance/justice is a dish best served cold, right? Though I imagine they've probably moved on from this town in that time.
The swords… no, you know they are here… or someone that is guilty of the crime, at least.
>You know you're terrible at lying so keep it simple and don't say much.
You’ll let her spin her own web of lies for you.

>Thank her for her sentiment and say that it doesn't feel like it's been ten years already. Feels like you heard the news not that long ago.
Ah, yes. Time flies when you try to keep busy, I know from experience.
>Then say you were thinking of visiting the place and leaving flowers there in memorial after you're done in the city.
Then after the festival I presume?
Fest- you mean the harvest festival?
Why yes! That’s why I’m here in the first place. This place have one of the biggest parties this time of year.
I’d almost forgot it was that time of the year again.

>Might as well ask her what she heard of that place outside of just bandits attacking it. Might give us some clues.
Hmm? I don’t think I’ve heard anything else… it was just a small hamlet after all, no offence. Except… there were these rumors going around that there was this cave full of riches nearby.
You mean Blackroot cave?
That’s the one, yeah.
It was just rumors. That place had been empty for generations.
>Tell her that you only heard of some Varkian nomads who left before the attack because of a warning by a local fortune teller.
Hmm… I don’t know anything about any Varkian nomads…
Are you looking for the nomads? They got their carts parked just outside the north gate.
They usually come by this time of year… sell one hell of a tasty snaps if anything.
Ah, are you two done?
Indeed we are! So, about those drink I owe you…
I’ll gladly accept a free drink, though… I have to say, isn’t it tradition that the lady buys the gent his drink and not the other way around:
Heh… err… well… I… um... hehe… kind of own you two ladies so…
*Eyeroll*Sigh*…

Kaktus 2018/01/21(Sun)09:09 No. 860130 ID: 65a774
File 151655458059.png - (41.96KB , 700x550 , 15.png )

The inn is a larger building down the street called “The raptors nest”, which luckily is just out of reach from the smell of Oran’s alchemy shop. Being a building with at least three floors, it seems the bottom one is dedicated to be a large tavern with both food and drink. As you enter, you’re greeted by the strong smell of newly cooked meal and poured ale, as well as the sight of several tables lining the hall and a large hearth burning brightly in the center of it all. What is sorely lacking, though, is some kind of music playing, so it seems there’s an opening for Justina here at least.

As you sit down, you can’t help but notice that most of the clientele seem to be leaving already. The nightlife here is apparently rather short, as it’s not that late yet. A young Sakkilian barman saunter over to you to take your order, making sure to sway his hips a bit extra in hope to get a better tip. He is visually surprised when it’s Oran that speaks up to order instead of either you or Justina.

So… um… what will it be? I’m going out on a limb and guess a pair of ales for the ladies?
I’ll take an ale, yes.
An ale is fine.
So two ales and a glass of red for me.
I’ll take an ale as well.

The barman eyes Karn a bit after his order, as to make sure he actually heard right, before leaving to get your drinks. After all, it’s expected of gentlemen to drink more… refined drinks like wine or cider while the ladies are the one who drinks the harder, more feminine drinks like ale and whisky. It doesn’t take long before four glasses are presented before you.

So, Karn, we know that Oran is an Alchemist. What is your trade? Oh, I’m sure someone with as beautiful blue eyes as you is swarmed with proper gentleman work.
Uh huh… because my eyes are the most important part of me…
They are like the vast Serene ocean when the sunsets… and those emerald scales are like the galtic forest of yore. Poets and bards have long written songs about a beauty like yours.
I’m sure they have…

It’s quite obvious that Justina is trying to flirt with Karn, but he seem more annoyed at the prospect than anything. Maybe because she’s laying it on rather thick. Of course, that leaves just you and Oran, whom is currently fidgeting nervously next to you.

So… um… Ema, was it? You said you were looking for someone? Maybe I can help? Do you have description of them?

>>860129
Clad all in armor and robes. Never saw their faces.

Give what ever description you have about those fiends, because come on, the one that killed you took a sword to the face and didn't even flinch. And ask about those nomads, you could paid them a visit later. Do you think they will recognise you?

Unless they've been wearing the same robes for the last ten years, any description we can give is pretty much worthless, since Ema didn't see their faces.
The swords told Ema that they're in the city, so let's see if we can piece together a circumstance.

They are armed.
Since they're still here, let's say they're regulars.
There's a Varkian.
Sound like crazy cultists?

>>860130
>It’s quite obvious that Justina is trying to flirt with Karn, but he seem more annoyed at the prospect than anything.
Or maybe he’d rather have a man come and flirt with him?

>Maybe because she’s laying it on rather thick.
But not as thick as she is! XD

.....uh, don’t say that out loud.

>So…um…Ema, was it? You said you were looking for someone? Maybe I can help? Do you have description of them?
Describe them like this: >>860136 , and then tell Oran that you’re aware that’s not much of a description, but that’s all you’ve got.

>>860130
Yeah, they're some kind of plant creature.

Wait, didn't Ema and the swords said that they might be here, but also that it might be someone else that is realated to the crime?. So it would be a 50-50 chance that we find one of the two. It would make sense if the perpetrators would had leaved the city by now, if not by some time ago.

Not really, he and his friends liked robes and mask or helmets or whatever. He didn't have a snout or beak though.

Brown robes pinned with what looks like half-shucked corn, or some other pin that looks like a plant.

>Are you looking for the nomads? They got their carts parked just outside the north gate.
might not be a bad idea to see them at some point, might know something, might not.

>sell one hell of a tasty snaps if anything
why does this line fill me with more dread then anything else that has happened since you found yourself stumbling through the woods?

Tell Oran you don't have much since you didn't see their face. They're human, unknown gender, wearing head-to-toe full plate armor, gray in color and unadorned as far as you could see. Over that they were wearing a plain brown hooded cloak, pinned closed at the chest with a ornament shaped like... Maybe a ear of corn with the husk pulled back? It was oblong and yellow in the middle with two green leaf-like protrusions at its base with a stem down. ...Actually, it'd be easier to draw than describe. And they were armed with a sickle.

The nomad Varks seem like a good enough lead to check out. Maybe it'll be the same group that visited Dalriver and they'll have the same fortune teller who seemed to pick up the bad omens that foretold Dalriver's destruction. However, if the fortune teller is as attuned to Fate as that, they'll probably pick up all the vibes you showing up would throw off and might be packing up to take off tonight. Better check on the nomads tonight and see if they're packing up to leave just like happened at Dalriver, since that will be a very bad sign of things to come.

Karn's most likely annoyed by Justina's flirtation because he's gay, with the less likely possibilities being he doesn't care for Vark ladies, he doesn't like florid bardic language, he doesn't care for exaggerating flirts or he's not interested in sex or romance at all.

Give Karn some respite from Justina's flirting by suggesting she take the stage and demonstrate her lovely singing voice for him and everyone else here. If she does, once she's out of earshot ask Karn in a low voice just how much she's barking up the wrong tree.

Kaktus 2018/01/22(Mon)06:25 No. 860424 ID: 65a774
File 151663115306.png - (59.17KB , 700x550 , 16.png )

>Why does this line fill me with more dread than anything else that has happened since you found yourself stumbling through the woods?
Because it’s the exact same thing on of your old friend told you just before he was horrible murdered… it’s even about the same damn snaps!
>Do you think the nomads will recognize you?
They did recognize you as the blue girl back home… but that was ten years ago.
>Maybe he’d rather have a man come and flirt with him?
Hmm… possibly… though his eyes fell on Justina’s behind a bit too much for him not be at least a bit interested. By Helve, he practically ignored the cute barman that came by with the drinks too…
>But not as thick as she is!
She is rather… wide, yes… and you’re pretty sure that’s intentional as well.

>Clad all in armor and robes. Never saw their faces.
Um… that’s not much to work with, is it?
>They were human shaped.
I guess that’s a bit better? Most people in Occidavia are Sakkilians so…
>They're some kind of plant creature.
You mean like an Uredo? Are you sure? I don’t see one of those as being able to pull off human-shaped. But I guess if you want to talk to some of them, they usually live by the many gardens in the city.
>Brown robes pinned with what looks like half-shucked corn, or some other pin that looks like a plant.
Ah, now we’re talking. A piece of corn, eh? So they were a farmer then? I can’t say I recognize that emblem myself but… I bet the library have information about it.
The library, huh? Might be worth a look…
>And they were armed with a sickle.
So… they really was a farmer then. I can’t see anyone else wield a farming tool as a weapon. Though I have to ask why you’re looking for these people?
I have my reasons.
Well… I mean, if they stole something from or something maybe speaking with the guards would be more fruitful than going after them yourself?

>Give Karn some respite from Justina's flirting by suggesting she take the stage and demonstrate her lovely singing voice for him and everyone else here.
-sculpted by the very gods themselves!
*Sigh* Of course they are…
You know, Justina, the stage is empty. Maybe you can take it and demonstrate your lovely singing voice for the lad here…
Why, that’s a perfect idea! You’ll love this song, cutie~
…
As Justina grabs her lute and walks away, Karn throws you a look that clearly says “thank you”.

>Once she's out of earshot ask Karn in a low voice just how much she's barking up the wrong tree.
The wrong tree? I’m sure Karn would be all over a hottie like that! I know I would… *Sigh*
It’s more about what she was barking. She made it sound like I’m nothing but a pretty trophy to be won and nothing more. I’ve never been able to stand ladies who… eh, forget it, you wouldn’t understand anyway.
>Ask about those nomads.
The nomads? They come by at this time every year, to take part of the festivities. How I’ve understood it, they travel all around the realm the rest of the year. I’ve even heard they usually stop by the smaller hamlets in this area before coming here, as they usually start the celebration a week or two earlier.
They always set up these tents at the central market place, where they sell a bunch of trinkets and charms, snaps and other alcohol, candy of different kind and show off things like magic tricks, acrobatics and fortune telling. The kids around here love them.
>Better check on the nomads tonight.
Tonight? Oh no, it’s too late for that. They’ve closed the gate by now.
Wait, you do know about the curfew, right?
Curfew? Is that why everyone is leaving so early?
Indeed it is. There have been a lot of disappearances for the last ten years, so they’ve locked down the city at night.
If you’re caught outside at night they’ll throw you in jail and fine you come morning.
Of course, it’s even worse in the poorer areas of the city they don’t patrol. You’ll just… disappear out there.
The beggars and homeless where the first to go, though most of them where smart enough to flee the city before they were taken as well.
So keep yourself in the inn come nightfall, alright?

For a while, as you let this new information sink in, you all just sit there listening to Justina sing. Her voice truly is beautiful, though her subject matter could have been better. Listening to her singing praises about a beautiful, blue eyed, emerald green Sakkilian lad is a bit much…

And excuse me, Ema, those swords you have… do you know how to use them?
…yes? Why do you ask?
Well, you see… I’m the one in charge of the training hall next to the mercenary post and-
He’s the best weapon master this town got!
…err… t-thank you for the confidence, Oran, but that isn’t exactly true. I was going to ask if you ever have the time if you wanted to spar?
You want to fight with me?
With false weapons, yes. I like seeing new ways of fighting… and I’m sure I can teach you a thing or two, so what do you say?

…a male weapon master? You’ve never heard about something like that before. Back home males weren’t even allowed to pick up weapons…

Maybe tomorrow we can spar for a bit, its not going to take too long, and while we are probably going to be busy it can be helpful to gauge your combat abilities.

I think we should retire for the night, is going to be a long day tomorrow and we need to start as early as posible.

Are you getting drunk? is it possible for you to get drunk? Does the ale taste the same?

All this new information is very interesting. Ask if the disappearing happens in harvesting, that would be too much of a coincidence.

It would be nice to spar, dedicating time to lern how to properly use your tools of work will be crusial if you want to succed in fighting injustice.
Now that the subjet is at hand, do you think you wield your swords at the same time?
I have the idea of using the smaller sword for parrying and the larger one for striking. If the larger sword is to big, then just forget it.

Why is so wierd for males to dedicate to fight? Is that a Sakkilian thing?

Sure, let's spar. Warn him that you are VERY strong though. I hope he's good at blocking attacks.

If he's learned so quick he must be good.
You could stand to learn stuff, especially before you go investigating disappearances.

"Of course. My technique is garbage, so I could use some refinement. It'll have to wait until tomorrow, though. I've had a long day."

>>860424
>So…they really was a farmer then. I can’t see anyone else wield a farming tool as a weapon.
Ask if it’s normal for a farmer to also wield scythes and crossbows?

>It’s more about what she was barking. She made it sound like I’m nothing but a pretty trophy to be won and nothing more. I’ve never been able to stand ladies who…eh, forget it, you wouldn’t understand anyway.
I wonder if we should ask him to cut her some slack since she had a near death experience? Or would it be best to not mention it?

>Spar?
Sure, might as well since you probably have really practiced at all with these swords.

Also try not to get drunk. The last thing you need is to be drunkenly walking around and then you get caught trying to eat someone or successfully eating someone!

sure give the man a spar, might help you see just how much you actually know about swinging around a sword.

Also did you have any disappearances around your hamlet before those bastards attack or was it sudden and out of nowhere? I'm just wondering if they're planning on attacking this city like they did your home or if they've decided just to stay and pick on the unfortunate and unlucky as they set up shop.

>>860424
>Indeed it is. There have been a lot of disappearances for the last ten years, so they’ve locked down the city at night.
Started right around the same time Ema’s village was destroyed. Not sure if we should mention it out loud, but that is one hell of a coincidence.

Looks like he's got a ale mustache. Tell him he's got something on his face while gesturing to the same spot on your muzzle.

Tell Karn that sure, you'll spar with him tomorrow. It's been awhile since you've sparred with anyone. He have a particular time he'd like you to come around? And you have to say, you haven't even heard of a guy being a weapons master before. Well, in Occidavia, that is. How'd he come to follow such a path? Must have taken a lot of will and determination see it through, right?

Ask them what was done in the last decade to try and find out how people were vanishing and who has been doing it. Somebody must have done something because you can't believe that nobody has tried to figure it out. Just the merchants alone losing their evening and overnight business and unable to move merchandise around the city after dark you'd imagine would have them turning over every brick in the city to find the culprit. And has it been just within Stoneburg or have other cites and town have had people disappear? ...Have smaller settlements just up and vanished at all? Have the vanished left behind any trace like blood or a dropped purse or even a scream when they go?

Oh, wait, how are Karn and Oran going to get back home before curfew? Do they live real close by this inn? Are they gonna have to leave soon?

And those people vanishing without a trace, it sounds rather like what you did to that Vark highwayman. Could there be others out there with your hunger for souls but without Justice restraining them?

>It’s more about what she was barking. She made it sound like I’m nothing but a pretty trophy to be won and nothing more. I’ve never been able to stand ladies who…
Who are vapid honey-worded trophy hunters who don't consider him as a actual person with his own mind, personality and interests? So, how close to the mark were you?

>If you’re caught outside at night they’ll throw you in jail and fine you come morning.
...Or, and don't say this out loud, perhaps disappeared by the watchman before even reaching the jail for booking. Lotta folk could be vanished by the city watch without a trace, and those who notice vanished as well. That organization should be high up the list for you to have a look.

You should consider slipping out after curfew to have who or whatever has been snatching up people catch up with you. With what you've heard the odds it is connected with whomever sent the metal men to Dalriver is high and this would be a quick way to nab someone or something that's connected with them. However, it'd also carry more risk since you don't know the capabilities of the snatcher and might end up outmatched. The city watch will also have to be avoided, lest you get arrested for breaking curfew. And the snatcher might avoid you entirely 'cause you're armed and don't look weak. You assume the guards roam the streets at night to enforce the curfew and figure they don't get snatched up. Anyway, it's a idea to think about.

Kaktus 2018/01/23(Tue)04:26 No. 860905 ID: 65a774
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>You should consider slipping out after curfew to have who or whatever has been snatching up people catch up with you.
The problem is, you’ve have no idea what you’ll be facing. For all you know, they might just fire a crossbow bolt into your brain as soon as they see you, killing you without a chance of fighting back.
>...Or, and don't say this out loud, perhaps disappeared by the watchman before even reaching the jail for booking.
Hmm… the watch might responsible on some level…

>Are you getting drunk? Is it possible for you to get drunk? Does the ale taste the same?
The ale tastes the same yet… it’s different? It’s like… you don’t actually drink it?
Anything organic you consume will simply cease to be. Only life energy can sustain you!
>Did you have any disappearances around your hamlet before those bastards attack or was it sudden and out of nowhere?
Nothing strange happened just before the attack, it that’s what you’re asking. In fact, nothing had really happen there for years upon years. It was just a boring hamlet, after all.
>Now that the subject is at hand, do you think you wield your swords at the same time?
These swords area clearly not designed for duel wielding. Maybe if you got a parrying dagger to use with the short sword. You’ll still need a lot of training to pull off, though.
>Why is so wierd for males to dedicate to fight? Is that a Sakkilian thing?
It’s the duty of ladies to defend and protect men as they are smaller and weaker than females. It’s as simple as that.

>Looks like he's got an ale mustache. Tell him he's got something on his face while gesturing to the same spot on your muzzle.
Huh? What? Oh, excuse me…
>Maybe tomorrow we can spar for a bit.
That sounds fine. You can find me in the training hall, just across the street from the mercenary post, most of the time.
>Warn him that you are VERY strong though. I hope he's good at blocking attacks.
Hmhm… I can hear that you already need training.
>You haven't even heard of a guy being a weapons master before. How'd he come to follow such a path? Must have taken a lot of will and determination see it through, right?
Mother is weapon master and so am I. While she did want a daughter, she’d just had to do with me instead. I guess fighting in a constant uphill battle have made me stronger than a daughter ever would be.

>Ask if the disappearing happens in harvesting, that would be too much of a coincidence.
Oh no, it happens the whole year around.
Though, it’s hard to know for certain. It’s mostly rumors and hearsay. I don’t know anyone personally whom disappeared, after all.
It’s mostly those that live in the poorer districts… or those that goes out in the woods at night.
Or north…
>Ask them what was done in the last decade to try and find out how people were vanishing and who has been doing it.
Well, there is the curfew and the like.
The disappearances was the worst the first year, since then it’s mostly just drunkards or other people who want to play hero who disappears.
>Just the merchants alone losing their evening and overnight business and unable to move merchandise around the city after dark…
Ah, well… it’s only us lonely mortals who have to follow the curfew. The richer merchants can simply have the watch escort them or any goods they have to where ever they want to.
The smaller shops were closing at this time anyways, so it’s not that much different from before for them.
>Ask if it’s normal for a farmer to also wield scythes and crossbows?
Well… a scythe is also a farmer tool… and I guess a crossbow is good at hunting away wildlife?
I’m talking about a really big crossbow, one that was more formed like a tube than a T.
…I… I don’t think I’ve ever heard of such a weapon, no.
You know, I have to admit it’s not my business, but this person you’re looking for is starting to sound like a bad idea to find the more you describe them.

>I think we should retire for the night, is going to be a long day tomorrow and we need to start as early as possible.
Yes, we better head home as well, before the curfew starts.
Hey, once again thanks for the help. Just mention our names to the inn keeper and I’m sure he’ll pull a few coins from the price.
Well, I guess you did help us, so yeah, say that we sent you. Now, I’ll need to get out of here before you friend notices.
Thanks.

Kaktus 2018/01/23(Tue)04:26 No. 860906 ID: 65a774
File 151671040456.png - (53.79KB , 700x550 , 18.png )

…walking up to the inn counter you realize a huge flaw in your plan of getting a room here. You have absolutely no money on you… or anything else valuable for that matter. Hopefully Justina can get you a free room. Speaking of the bard, she’s already trying to butter up the inn keeper by the time you get there. The innkeeper himself is an older looking Sakkilian, at least in his thirties, whom smell… very unappetizing. He doesn’t smell bad, in fact he smells really delightful, but his smell just doesn’t make you hungry, quite the opposite. You’re going to guess he is innocent, then… though, you wonder if he’d let you smell him a bit closer… mmm…

-heard it yourself, Mr. Danus, my entertainment is first class.
It’s just Danus. And yes, it was sufficient. Luck would have it that most of the towns regular bards are busy preparing for the festival, so the only room I have left in the whole building is the bards quarters. It rather small, but it got a proper down bed as well as a washing room with a wooden bathtub outfitted with both a water rune and heating rune. You’ll get it plus three meals a day and any tips you can muster if you play here every evening.
Then it is a deal! …wait, last room? You don’t happen to have another room for rent? …or a bed, at least?
No. All my rooms are already taken, thanks to the festival.
But I have a friend that needs a room! She saved my life from bandits and everything!
No room, no beds. My condolences.

Justina answers by sitting down on the counter, her back towards the innkeeper. She then makes a show of spreading her tail feathers and bending over a bit, to show of both her ample rear and chest.

Then… maybe if I would the… pleasure to warm your bed tonight, she can take my bed in the bard quarters? What do you say, my beautiful, amethyst eyed friend?

If looks could kill, then Justina would have been impaled by the sheer force of Danus the innkeepers glare.

Have anyone ever told you that spines are like that of the fiercest, most dangerous dragon?
*Deathglare*
And… err… your… um…
*Deathglare delux*
…I’ll… just go draw that bath now. Goodnight!
*Sigh* Oh, and the heating rune only have warmth for one full tub.

The older looking Sakkilian rubs his templets as he starts muttering to himself.

Typical women, forgetting everything about passion and love, instead they just strip it down to basic ins-

Then almost jumps as he notice that you’ve been standing there the whole time. He simply stares at you for a second or two blinking before speaking up.

Hmm? Oh, you must be that friend she mentioned. We are sorry, but we got no rooms or beds, no matter how much coin you got. You’ll simply have to go elsewhere… though, as the curfew starts in a few minutes, you might want to hurry.

Well, shit… what now? You can’t sleep outside thanks to the curfew, can you?

Do you actually need to sleep, or did that need get replaced with the lust for revenge life energy as well?

Maybe we could stay in the training hall overnight. They usually have a softer matted area for unarmed combat practice you can sleep on.

>>860909
huh, that's a good question

maybe you can go to a temple? is there some kind of god/ess of taking care of people and being generally goody good? you may convince them to let them rest on a pew...

People in this town go disappearing at night for reasons. Why not simply be one of those reasons? The guards don't really give a @#$% anymore. You could protect any innocent townsfolk that are out and about and eat the guilty.

>Anything organic you consume will simply cease to be. Only life energy can sustain you!

Ho-l-y shit. You actually destroy matter? Jeez, man. That's a hell of thing, to ignore the conservation of energy and mass. You're a miniature black hole, kinda sorta maybe! Anything you need to be rid of organically, you can eat it, and just erase it from existence!

This is great. Reality warping powers, and I have the feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Dying was the best thing that ever happened to you!

...

Oh right, finding a place to stay. Uh, if you actually need to sleep, training hall?

share the room and let her have the bed.I mean you took a blade to the skull, sleeping on the floor (assuming you still need sleep) will be nothing.

As for the bath thing, one of you can bath before you turn in for the night and the next one can bath in the morning. Might not be the most comfortable thing in the world but it should work out till you can find some cash and afford your own room... or make a friend with someone in town who will be willing to let you crash in a spare room they have or just their couch.

>>860930
Now that is kind of rude.

Ask if he knows of a place where you could rest else where. And apologise for your friend, you will try to teach her some manners. Now that i think about it, you should be older than her, probably.

Kaktus 2018/01/23(Tue)10:10 No. 860965 ID: 65a774
File 151673103033.png - (32.73KB , 700x550 , 19.png )

>Do you actually need to sleep, or did that need get replaced with the lust for life energy as well?
Your form does not need neither sleep nor rest, but it would still be prudent to take it slow after catching a prey. Sleeping now would make it easier for you to digest your current meal.
>Maybe you can go to a temple?
While our cause is just, we are still an unholy creature at the core. Places and objects of holiness, like temples and symbols, will hurt your current form.

>Dying was the best thing that ever happened to you!
Because watching everyone you love and care for get horribly murdered before being turned into a monster that needs to feed on people and can lose control at any moment is so great…
>People in this town go disappearing at night for reasons. Why not simply be one of those reasons? You could protect any innocent townsfolk that are out and about and eat the guilty.
You’d really like to know a bit more before heading out there to find them. Besides, as the sword said, you need to digest your current meal first.
>As for the bath thing, one of you can bath before you turn in for the night and the next one can bath in the morning.
Or you can both use the same water? You’re not sure either of you are that dirty…


>Apologize for your friend, you will try to teach her some manners.
No, it’s quite alright, lass… you get used to it…
>Ask if he knows of a place where you could rest elsewhere.
Ah, yes, I forgot to tell you. There is a temple just a few streets away, so if you hurry you can-
About that, I… um… have reasons why I can’t stay there.
Reasons? Why would you- never mind. Then… I’m not sure, actually?
>Maybe we could stay in the training hall overnight.
Can you tell me the way to training hall next to the mercenary post?
The training hall, lass? The one Karn owns?
That’s the one.
I’m not sure he actually stays there over the night but… if you want to know the way, then there’s a map right next to the front door of the inn. Though, you’d need to hurry, it’s a bit of a way to go to get there.
>Make a friend with someone in town who will be willing to let you crash in a spare room they have or just their couch.
Do you know if Oran sleeps in his shop then? …or where he sleeps at all?
I can’t say for certain, but if you hurry you might catch up with them. They were just here, weren’t they, lass?
Yeah, they brough us a drink after we helped them carry a large crate. They even said I should tell you that they sent me for a better price.
Did they now…
>Share the room and let her have the bed.
You know, I could always just sleep on the floor of the bard quarters. Do you happen to have a spare mattress or something similar?
…no, I do not think I… *sigh* and I can’t in good conscious let you sleep on the cold stone floor… or let you leave without a proper place to stay. Tell you what, lass, as both Oran and Karn seemed to trust you, if you help my son clean up the inn I can lend you a quiet room and a wooden sofa with pillows and a blanket. It’s not much, but it’s something.
…wait, you have a son?
…yes? What is so odd about that?
Oh, nothing… it’s just when I saw that you didn’t have a necklace of a life mate, nor the markings of a removed one…
I’ve never been married… I’ve raised my son on my lonesome. Now, are you willing to work for that sofa or not, lass?

Well, it seems you have a few options then.
Head for the training hall and hope Karn is there,
Head for Oran’s shop and hope he is there,
Try to catch up with either Oran or Karn before they get home
or Help out in the Inn and get a wooden sofa for your trouble.

Help out at the inn. That's pretty much the best deal.

>>860905
>Anything organic you consume will simply cease to be.
And that explains why you can’t pack on the pounds to keep yourself warm when the weather gets cold! No extra fat means you’re gonna just have to deal with being cold!

.....although, this does mean that you could easily win prize money in any eating or drinking contests you enter! Er, I mean, you could do that, if such things occur during the Harvest Festival. But I get the feeling that your swords won’t allow you to do that. Which means you won’t be able to get any money and you’ll just have deal with not having any money to do or buy anything fun during the festival.

>>860965
>Has a son.
>doesn’t have a necklace of a life mate, nor the markings of a removed one.
His son was probably an orphan that he adopted from an orphanage or someone he took in off the street. And if either of those things happened, then his son might not even be a Sakkilian like him.

Another reason would be he had a kid with a woman and didn’t get married to her before the kid was born.

Whatever the explanation is, it’s none of your business and you shouldn’t pass any sort of judgment on either of them.

>What do?
Help out in the Inn and get a wooden sofa for your trouble! It’s really the best option right now.

>Help out in the Inn and get a wooden sofa for your trouble

Let's help with the inn, you don't desperately need the sleeping, so you can do some cleaning until that. Say that it wasn't your intention to pry, and thank him again for his kindness.

Help out at the inn. There's no real drawback to this and you're guaranteed a bed. The other options are risky and you have the curfew to worry about.

Also the innkeeper smells really good.

Lets work, you inconvenience the least people and you don't need to sleep sleep, tha's going to be enough for now

Try to catch up because its the fast route.

Kaktus 2018/01/23(Tue)16:43 No. 861072 ID: 65a774
File 151675460056.png - (74.56KB , 700x550 , 20.png )

>Help out at the inn. That's pretty much the best deal.
So… what do you need done, boss?
First off, it’s Danus, lass. Second, I have a whole list. Start off with dousing the hearth, there should be a barrel of water behind it. I want it completely dead by the time we’re done here. Then you can collect all the dishes on the table and place them over there just outside the kitchen. My son Drago will take care of them. After that you can try off all the tables with a dishcloth, which is hanging by the kitchen door, lass. Don’t be scared to just push any leftover food onto the floor, because that’s your next task. Use the bucketless mop located in the cupboard over there to clean the floor. Just make sure to activate the water rune on it and you’ll clean the floor in no time.
…you know, I did expect a list that was a bit shorter…
Bah, you can do it half an hour if you’re fast, lass. Now get to work while I finish up these numbers and lock the place up.
>Say that it wasn't your intention to pry, and thank him again for his kindness.
*Grumble*…

You start doing the shores as instructed, snuffing out the hearth first followed by cleaning the tables of dishes and dirt. Of course, not being the fastest, half an hour later you’re just finishing up cleaning the table and are on your way to get the mop.

>And that explains why you can’t pack on the pounds to keep yourself warm when the weather gets cold! No extra fat means you’re gonna just have to deal with being cold!
Gah, why can’t you get as round as Justina? It’s not fair…
And speaking of cold, its starts to get freezing in here after the heart was extinguished. You shudder just feeling the cold creep into your very bones…
>Also the innkeeper smells really good.
He did, didn’t he… you really want to sniff him up good if you get the chance… you can even smell him from here! In fact, it almost feels like the smell is getting closer to you by-

Kaktus 2018/01/23(Tue)16:43 No. 861073 ID: 65a774
File 151675460812.png - (77.93KB , 700x550 , 21.png )

You’re freezing lass. Here, take this.

Suddenly, you’re draped with a very warm blanket. It must have been sitting next to the hearth for most of the day to feel this warm.

There, now finish the work and I’ll go get those pillows and blanket you wanted.

>...although, this does mean that you could easily win prize money in any eating or drinking contests you enter!
You’re not sure about that. You did feel pretty full after eating that bandit… but was that from his organic material or life energy? Hmm... Do you need to digest the organic material to get to the life energy in the first place?

Kaktus 2018/01/23(Tue)16:43 No. 861074 ID: 65a774
File 151675463029.png - (77.80KB , 700x550 , 22.png )

But that’s thoughts for another time. Right now you want to just enjoy this warm blanket! You dub this blanket the best blanket ever, fighting the good fight against the evil cold! GO BLANKET! Why, you would just- err… suddenly there is a younger version of Danus standing in front of you. You assume that’s his son Drago? …he just… kind of stands there… staring at you…

>His son was probably an orphan that he adopted from an orphanage or someone he took in off the street.
He looks just like Danus, so you’re pretty sure they are of the same blood at least. Might be the child of a sibling he adopted, though.
>Another reason would be he had a kid with a woman and didn’t get married to her before the kid was born.
Drago is clearly over eighteen, which means if that really is Danus son he must have gotten him very young. Either that, or Danus is older than he looks, because he doesn’t look older than mid-thirties to you.

…speaking of Drago, he is still standing there, staring at you completely enchanted. You probably should say something bef-

Why do you have fathers warm blanket? Who are you? …are you one of fathers… special lady friends?

>>861074
yeeeeeennnnnnnooooo, I'm here working for a bed. your dad is good man

>>861074
Oh, hi. Tell him you just met his father today, you're helping out in exchange for sleeping arrangements. His father is very nice!

>Are you one of father's "special friends"?
"No.

I'm yours."

Tell the whole truth; you're some kind of undead, cannibalistic amalgamation of murdered souls seeking retribution for your untimely deaths. But there aren't any rooms available so you're sleeping on a bench.

"Whaaaat, nah kid, i am just helping a little to earn a bed for the night, in this case a sofa actually. Your dad is a nice man. You must be Drago. I am Ema, nice to meet you."

How does he smell? He should be your age minus ten, right?

>>861072
>Gah, why can’t you get as round as Justina? It’s not fair…
Ask the swords if there’s something you can do about that. Even though it’s doubtful they’ll give you any helpful advice, it wouldn’t hurt to ask, just in case they do have any helpful advice.

>>861074
>Why do you have fathers warm blanket? Who are you? …are you one of fathers…special lady friends?
“He just now gave it to me because he saw I was freezing, I’m Ema Ligiadottir, and no I’m not. There aren’t anymore rooms available, so your father was kind enough to promise me some pillows, a blanket, and a wooden sofa to sleep on, if I helped clean the inn.”

Speaking of which, you better get back to work. That blanket isn’t going to stay warm forever! So the sooner you finish, the sooner you can go curl up with a much bigger blanket that’ll cover your entire body instead of just your arms!

>…are you one of fathers… special lady friends?
aaaaand happy feeling is gone.

don't get mad, he's just kid after all... sort of... and what does he smell like? Not saying eat him, god no, I'm just curious if their is anything to the "innocence of youth" thing or not... granted he's not actually a kid but still he still kinda reminds me of a awkward teenager.

Anyways tell the kid that his father offered to let you sleep on the couch if you did some chores around the inn since you're a bit short on cash and all the inn's rooms have been taken. then tell him you already got the hearth, tables, grabbed the dishes, and were just about to mop the floor.

I'm sorry, did you want it?
Do you ask every lady he employs if they're sleeping together?

"Uh, what? Oh, no, I'm not." Offer him a handshake. "I'm Ema Ligiadottir. I just arrived in town and had nowhere to stay with curfew almost here, but since I helped out Karn and Oran your father kindly offered a couch to sleep on in exchange for helping with the chores. As for the blanket, your father draped it on my shoulders, I guess because I looked as cold as I felt. Anyway, I was about to get the mop to do the floor and I'd like to hurry and finish that before this blanket cools off."

And dangit, you forgot to introduce yourself to Danus so he doesn't know your name. You'll have to remember to do that later.

>…are you one of fathers… special lady friends?
Sounds like Danus has not had any luck with finding someone who loves him and would stay with him and instead there's been a lot of relationships that don't last.

>Gah, why can’t you get as round as Justina? It’s not fair…
Didn't figure you for wanting boobs, ya weirdo. Heh. But seriously, imagine working a forge if you had a plush figure like her. It'd be like wearing three overcoats all year round. Your thin figure just handles the summer heat well and the winter cold badly. And as for sex appeal, there's guys and gals out there who like toned muscle more than loads of curves.

That said, are you feeling the cold worse than you remember you did when you were alive this time of year? You may not be putting out enough body heat, or you are and your sense of cold has been heightened because of your change.

>Drago is clearly over eighteen, which means if that really is Danus son he must have gotten him very young.
How much you wanna bet it was a teenage fling and she split after laying the egg, leaving Danus to raise Drago alone?

>>861077
>>861078
Better rework the phrasing. As is it sounds a little bit like you're doing these chores in exchange for sharing a bed with Danus.

>>861079
...While you wish you could be for the handsome guy, it'd be way too forward, so that'll be a "no" to this.

>>861094
And this gets a definite "hell no!"

>>861102
>How does he smell? He should be your age minus ten, right?
Chronologically, he would, but your physical appearance would be the same as when you were killed, nineteen years old. ...Though, would it? You haven't gotten a look at your reflection, have you?

>>861139
>I'm sorry, did you want it?
Looks like he already has a blanket of his own draped over his shoulders.

>>861150
Well, "we" perceive her as if she hadn't aged, and she doesn't seem to have the wound that she received in her head.
Nobody said anything about it either.
This could be because of the pact she "made" with the swords. Maybe we could ask the swords about this later.

>>861094
Presented in this way it won't come across as serious and does let you at least get it off your chest while being able to play it off as a joke.

>>861079
But I could be yours?
Say nothing else but let the smirk on your face grow as he struggles to compose himself.

Also I wanna know something swords, are we actually good at fighting or is it you giving us the skill?

Kaktus 2018/01/24(Wed)07:49 No. 861292 ID: 65a774
File 151680898913.png - (46.08KB , 700x550 , 23.png )

>Tell the whole truth; you're some kind of undead, cannibalistic amalgamation of murdered souls seeking retribution for your untimely deaths.
That would be a great way to scare the poor kid… and then be thrown into the street by his father.
>How much you wanna bet it was a teenage fling and she split after laying the egg, leaving Danus to raise Drago alone?
That would also explain his deathglare aimed towards Justina. Bards in general are known to travel around and get kids in every city that they don’t raise themselves.
>Sounds like Danus has not had any luck with finding someone who loves him and would stay with him and instead there's been a lot of relationships that don't last.
And it won’t be getting easier at his age either. Most women prefer new and fresh blood, even the older ladies. That, and he already have a son…
>He should be your age minus ten, right?
He is clearly not older than 19 at most, while you’re 22… 32… err… wait. You were 22 ten years ago but… you didn’t actually experience these ten years? By Helve, you’re pretty sure you can remember things that happened a thousand years ago… does that means you’re over a thousand years old? …or were you born in the forest just a few… actually, you can’t remember the sun setting when you were wandering out there so… today? So… you’re either 22, 32, over a 1000 or born today…

>I wanna know something swords, are we actually good at fighting or is it you giving us the skill?
Remember those before you, and learn from their skill and experience. Without it… you are but a daughter of a smith.
>Ask the swords if there’s something you can do about laying on some fat.
… … …dammit sword, it was a legit question. Don’t ignore it!
>Didn't figure you for wanting boobs, ya weirdo.
…why would you want to have a pair of fat bags on your chest? They just look weird.
>How does he smell?
Like his father, but more… pure? Danus had these splashes of grey that was hidden by the pure white, Drago does not.
Purity is not perfection. Seek redemption and forgiveness and your innocent will be returned.
>Not saying eat him...
You really don’t want too. He and his father smell more like… flowers, not food. Something that you want around that smells nice, but not eat.


No... I'm yours.

You can see a chock and a speck of fear well up in his eyes as he takes a step back.

*snrk* I’m just kidding. No, I’m no one’s special lady friend… at least at the moment.
…then… what are doing down here?
There aren’t any more rooms available, so your father was kind enough to promise me some pillows, a blanket and a wooden sofa to sleep on if I helped clean the inn.
Oh… that would explain why it went so quick today…
You must be Drago, correct? I am Ema, nice to meet you!
Oh… err… nice to meet you to, Ema.
As for the blanket, he came by just a second ago and draped it over me. I guess he saw I was freezing.
Oh… I… um…
You’re father is a very nice man, you know.
He is, isn’t he…
So… *snrk*do you ask every lady he employs if they are his special lady or…?
Oh… err… my apologies but… um… it was the blanket. He is usually fiercely protective of it so when he gave it to you I though… um…
…because of a blanket?
And I was kind of hoping he would have found a new one by now… it’s been a long time since he was really happy and he just gets grumpier by the day... err… wait, why am I- I shouldn’t speak about this to you!
Don’t worry, I won’t gossip.
Thanks…

>Speaking of which, you better get back to work. That blanket isn’t going to stay warm fore-
Drago, go clean the floor. Lass, come with me and I’ll show you your “bed”.
Right away, father!
Err… wait, wasn’t that my job?
You see, lass-
My name is Ema, by the way.
You see, Ema, lass, I actually want this floor cleaned today and seeing how you seem to be doing nothing but stand there under a warm blanket…
Err… sorry, but your son kind of-
No excuses. Now come with me.

He takes you to a small room fitted with a small window, several chairs, a sofa and a table with a two ashtrays and a pipe laying on it. Going by the smell, this seems to be some kind smoking room.

There, it isn’t much but it’s something for tonight at least. Oh, and I hope you won’t mind the smell.
It’s fine, sir.
Danus, lass. Oh, and if something is stolen when I wake up then I’ll know who to blame, you understand. Tracking down a blue Sakkilian will not be hard in this city.
Duly noted.
Now, was there something else? Because I do not want you coming by and waking me in the middle of the night over some trivialities.

Looking over at Danus, you can see him shiver a tad from the cold. He is probably used of having a warm blanket on a cold autumn eve like this.

You don't have to sleep, so just keep a watch for thieves in the night.

Welp, you got some new blankets on the bench, return him the one you have and thank him, and go to.. sleep? ehm, the swords said that you don't need sleep, but can you? If not, this is going to be a long and boring night...

Well, if you don't need to sleep, may as well just meditate on the couch or something. That way you probably won't be as startled when someone inevitably breaks in.

If you don't feel cold, you snould give the blanket back.

Oh yeah, definitely give the blanket back. The cold isn't actually going to hurt you.

If you are not goign o sleep, take this time to ask things to the swords, search around your mind and try to find some knolege of the others before you. And if you are not cold, retur the blanket to it's owner.

Meybe the purity of the soul might be tainted with knowledge. Knowledge not allways cames from a good expirience or from a good action. You have to make mistakes to learn good from wrong and some times you don't even realise that you have done somthing bad. Giving that Drago is younger, he might be less impure, has comited less mistakes or bad actions unlike his father.

>>861292
Give him his blanket back, ask if he wants to talk for a bit before bed? Get your sheets and bundle up in them to stay warm.

Ask him about running a tavern, does he get any problems with customers?

Kaktus 2018/01/24(Wed)11:10 No. 861332 ID: 65a774
File 151682103223.png - (34.18KB , 700x550 , 24.png )

>Welp, you got some new blankets on the bench, return him the one you have and thank him.
Hmm? Ah, yes, thank you lass. I was going to ask for that back.
>Ask if he wants to talk for a bit before bed?
Hrnn… I have a few things I need to do and I rather not stay up to long… but I can spare a few minutes, lass.
>Ask him about running a tavern, does he get any problems with customers?
The tavern? Why would you… no, it’s fine. The only problem we’ve ever had is… never mind, it’s not your concern. Now, if there wasn’t anything else…?
Not that I can think off. Goodnight Danus.
Goodnight Ema. Oh, and my apologies for the cold. The isolation on the bottom floor is less than… good nowadays.
It’s fine, don’t worry about it.
Then may the three bless your dreams, lass.


>You don't have to sleep, so just keep a watch for thieves in the night.
That sounds terribly, terribly boring… and what are the chances that burglar would hit this place tonight of all things?
>Well, if you don't need to sleep, may as well just meditate on the couch or something.
Remember the past… and become whole.

As you lay down on the sofa, you’re quickly reminded that you’re not used to sleep on such a hard surface. Luckily, you’re not here to sleep, but instead to meditate on the memories on those before you. As you shield yourself from the cold with your blanket, you start to wander deeper into yourself…

Gev the Highwayman has been digested.
Huge sample of Varkian protein obtained!
New form unlocked: Gev the Highwayman.

Kaktus 2018/01/24(Wed)11:10 No. 861333 ID: 65a774
File 151682104116.png - (56.70KB , 700x550 , 25.png )

End of days stats:

Kills: 2
Items: 2
Secrets: 0
Consumed: 1

Allies: 1
Enemies: 1
Forms: 1

Cheeses: 0
Grains of Dust: 0
Mating Presses: 0

Hardest kill: Harvey the highwayman.

Current rating: D-.

Tips: Collect additional protein by feeding to gain new forms!

Kaktus 2018/01/24(Wed)11:10 No. 861334 ID: 65a774
File 151682105114.png - (38.58KB , 700x550 , 26.png )

Your old memories that you traveled through was plagued by a constant cold, as freezing mountains where climbed, frigid rivers was swam and bitter nights where endured. The memories were diverse and unique, save for one thing… the cold. Then, not long before you reemerge from the memories, you’re embraced by warmth. All the sudden, the memories are about lost lovers of a bygone age. They are of all species, of all genders and all kind of ages… all diverse and unique, save for one thing… the coldness that comes after they leave you.

You return to consciousness as a new day dawns and feel rejuvenated. Not because of your rest, but because of your meal finally being properly consumed. In fact, if feels like a completely new part of you have awoken. Of course, with one primal part of you sated with food, another one takes its place soon enough. What with the memories of lovers and significant others plaguing your supposed dreams, your body screams out for you to find a mate that can put an egg inside you. You… you really should ignore that part of your brain… at least the egg part of it…

You can still lay eggs? Well now, death seem to be kind to you.
Alas, you can't go around thinking about that. At least not now. Retribiution comes first.

It would make sense that you would be able to acquire new "parts of your self", giving that the swords should have been in the posesion of many individuals of diferent spicies.

>>861334
Hmm. Pipe's missing and you have another warm blanket. I'm thinking Danus got up before you, came in to get his pipe for a smoke and decided to leave you his blanket. Well, get up and prepare yourself for the day. Go say thanks to Danus before you leave. Maybe stay and chat for a bit? After that you can take up Karn on his sparring.
...I just realized, you should've looted those bandits you killed, surely they had money on them? Oh well maybe you can find work in town or... something.

...hmm, you can turn into Gev now? (I guess Kaktus really liked I Am) Not sure if that will be any use just yet.

Hey, look at that, you have a second blanket. If one person has been able to enter your room without rousing you, then more could've. Check your stuff.

Huh, that guy is truly a good man... WAIT, you remember the things that Gev the Highwayman lived? Hey sword! How does transformation work! It cost you anything? take long? can transform partway? (like, having Gev's head but Emas body?) and she can't breed... can she?

the pipe on the end table is gone and you have a second blanket on you now... hope that doesn't mean you've slept in. As for the egg making part of your brain... nooooooot to sure how good of an idea that is since your, well, undead. Just saying would probably be a bitch to save a relationship with anyone once they find out what you are, plus I feel if we piss off those guys who killed your village I wouldn't be surprised if they start targeting those close to you as well.

Anyways as for what to do. Go downstairs see how Justina is doing and then wonder over to Karn's place for that spar... speaking of which try to remember how to use a sword because the swords say that you should know based off some of the other lives you've, uh, lived.

>>861292
>………dammit sword, it was a legit question. Don’t ignore it!
Try beating it against something until it answers you!

>>861334
Let’s not try transforming at all. Someone could walk in right now and freak the fuck out!

>Egg
Not even sure if that’s possible anymore. But you should take out the guy you’re looking for first, that way there won’t be any bad guys to target the people you care about.

Try and remember some of your other pasts: remember, you were killed by a spear once, and once by an axe; once by hanging and once on a pyre. Try to remember the circumstances behind them, and let your memory branch out from there.

Do you think Karn will be up yet if so do you think that the training hall is open, If so we can go there and do that training with him that he so wanted to do. Good to keep in shape in the morning and after we can go around looking for your sinful target. First though we should check up on the barkeep and return his stuff all neat and folded with a thank you for letting you stay.

I don't think undead bodily functions can ovulate. Not until you restore your biological functions with more Devour targets.

For now, sword practice. Then grab some intel.

That's... not how eggs work. I wonder what they're serving for breakfast.

That warm blanket Danus had is draped across you and the pipe is gone from the table. Danus probably slipped in here, cleaned away the pipe and emptied the ashtrays and kindly put that blanket on you at the same time. What a dear he is. ...Though, it could have been Drago, but you don't think that's as likely. ...Goddesses, how is this blanket so warm? Is there a heating rune stitched into it or something? You wish you could just lay here in its warmth forever, but your duty to Justice calls.

Get up (reluctantly,) fold up the blankets and gather them with the pillows to return to Danus. Thank him for laying that warm blanket on you as you slept. You were feeling the chill more than you expected and you're grateful he did. If he has any chores you could help out with this morning, you'd be glad to. Or maybe some maintenance work that's been put off that a strong gal like you could do.

See if Justina is up yet. You can sit with her at breakfast, though unfortunately you don't have coin for your own meal. You can get away with not eating this time, but if you aren't seen eating meals it'll eventually draw attention.

Now, what choices do you have for what to do today? You already said you'd spar with Karn sometime today, but you don't know if the training hall is even open yet so that can be for later. You have that corn pin symbol to look in the library for. Better draw it so you can show it to the librarians or anyone else you think might know about it. You also wanted to visit the Vark nomads, see if they're the same group that went through Dalriver. You could also walk the streets to see if you can sniff out any strong sources of injustice and guilt. Walking around the city watch station and the watch members to sniff out which ones are good and bad would also be a decent idea.

Before you shift into the form of Gev you should check the wanted criminal posters and listings for his name and description. If he's known wanted criminal in Stoneburg then his form is gonna get attention you don't want from the city watch. ...And also look up Henry, the Sakkilian highwayman. If he has a bounty on his head then you'll be kicking yourself for not thinking of taking his head with you to cash in.

What are the capabilities and limitations of your form shifting? How quickly can you shift forms, how long do you have to wait between shifts, how many times can you do so and what is needed to be done to recharge this ability? Do the forms come clothed or are you going to need to get outfits for each of them?

Think about potential targets for consumption and for being judged and cut down. Consumption targets who's form or removal would be helpful in your primary quest should be high priority. That wicked guard you smelled on the way into the city would be a decent intermediate target. Taking the form of a guard would allow you to move about the city after curfew, assuming their uniform came with the form.

Also keep your eyes and nose out for those guilty who have a voluptuous figure like Justinia's. You could never naturally grow such a curvy figure, but you could still experience it if you devour someone that has one and shift into their form. Just keep it a low priority in choosing your targets, okay.

You should also consider your options for sating your resurgent sex drive. Justina would likely be the easiest to bed, as long as cunnilingus would be enough to satisfy you. Otherwise your choices to pursue are, that you've encountered so far, Karn, Oran, Danus, and maybe Drago.

And related to your sex drive: Are you fertile? Can you still conceive a egg? What about your fertility in other forms? If you shift into a male form, will you be "shooting blanks?" This would be your chance to find out what being male and having a dick feels like. But whatever your fertility is, you'll still be using bitterweed when laying with a member of your form's species of the opposite sex, if only because it's normal to unless you want children.

You should remember to take some time to delve into those memories you have and see if any of those they came from heard or even understand the language those that destroyed Dalriver used. If you're lucky then at least one will have and it'll provide a clue to who or what they are.

>>861637
>Many very good questions about changing forms.
Let’s ask the swords those questions, since they’ve had many hosts that have asked many of those same questions, so they should be able to provide answers to those questions.

Kaktus 2018/01/25(Thu)11:58 No. 861761 ID: 65a774
File 151691029765.png - (40.07KB , 700x550 , 27.png )

>Try and remember some of your other pasts.
Your head just hurts… you guess you’ve remembered enough for now.

>You can still lay eggs?
…you have no idea. Helve, you don’t even know if you could do so before you died, seeing as you actually need to get laid before you start carrying an egg.
>Just saying would probably be a bitch to save a relationship with anyone once they find out what you are…
Love conquers all, like in the stories? Of course, you’ve never heard a story about an undead monstrosity that eats people fall in love before…
>You should also consider your options for sating your resurgent sex drive.
So far you don’t know anyone here but on a really thin surface level. You’ve barely gotten here, after all. Still…

>Justina.
…she really does have some… interesting curves, yes… and is probably easy to… um… though, it will be, as Danus put it, without real passion or love…
>Karn.
He is rather different from other males you’ve met… though you’re sure how you would even approach him with the subject without annoying him.
>Oran.
Smelly, only got one arm and is a Serpents. You’re not sure how you feel about that… you’ve never really mingled with one of those before. He seems nice, though…
>Danus.
A bit old… but is really nice… and smell nice too. You guess he is good looking for his age as well. Oh, and he would be rather experienced in the subject matter…
>Drago.
Cute, shy and innocent… he really does remind you of Tidol, doesn’t he? Though... you’re pretty sure Danus will have something to say if you try to seduce him. Hmm… but what if… both of them… father and son… one experienced and caring, the other eager an-
>Alas, you can't go around thinking about that. At least not now. Retribution comes first.
R-right… Justice and all that… you need to find the one who did that to your family first… though… after all that happen you kind of feel like you deserve some form of R&R…
>you'll still be using bitterweed when laying with a member of your form's species of the opposite sex, if only because it's normal to unless you want children.
You’re not taking any chances… though, you need to actually get bitterweed first.

>...I just realized, you should've looted those bandits you killed, surely they had money on them?
You did loot them. The one you didn’t eat didn’t have any money on him and the only other thing you found was a backpack filled with… what you would at best call food for the really desperate.
>...hmm, you can turn into Gev now?
…and suddenly you’re covered in feathers, have a beak and are very small… what the fu-

Kaktus 2018/01/25(Thu)11:58 No. 861762 ID: 65a774
File 151691031095.png - (59.41KB , 700x550 , 28.png )

*HARK*COUGH*COUGH*BARF!* Ugh… w-what?

…did… did you just spit out a… a… belt buckle and a… something that’s so eroded that you can’t actually see what it is anymore? What?

>WAIT, you remember the things that Gev the Highwayman did while alive?
…nnnnope?
>Hey sword! How does transformation work!? It cost you anything? Take long? Can we transform partway?
Steal the shapes of the guilty… or create new shapes from the embrace of the innocent.
(…that wasn’t what I asked at all! Embracing what? What does that even mean? …hello? Dammit sword, answer me!)
>Try beating it against something until it answers you!
You try to hit the sword hilt against the wall a few times to no avail, this thing simply don’t want to talk. Gah, you have no idea if there’s actually someone in there talking to you or if it’s just some… magical talky… thingy? You guess you’ll just have to experiment with the shape stealing nonsense later…

>Hmm. Pipe's missing and you have another warm blanket. I'm thinking Danus got up before you, came in to get his pipe for a smoke and decided to leave you his blanket.
Huh, you didn’t notice it at first but… it is his blanket again, isn’t it?
>...Goddesses, how is this blanket so warm? Is there a heating rune stitched into it or something?
…it’s just lukewarm by now… you guess he must put it by the hearth or something?
>If one person has been able to enter your room without rousing you, then more could've. Check your stuff.
Only one person entered your domain last night. A being of pure heart and no ill intent, thus I didn’t see the point in pulling you out of our memories.

Kaktus 2018/01/25(Thu)11:58 No. 861763 ID: 65a774
File 151691032119.png - (36.67KB , 700x550 , 29.png )

>We should check up on the barkeep and return his stuff all neat and folded with a thank you for letting you stay.
Why, lass, you’re up bright and early. I didn’t wake you, did you?
No, I didn’t even notice you come in.
Ah, good. See, I needed to pick up my pipe before I left and as I have no idea how long you would sleep…
It’s fine, really. Here, the bed stuff you borrowed me, and thank you for letting me stay here for the night… and for the extra blanket as well.
Don’t mention it, lass. Just leave the pillows over there… and hang the blanket by the hearth before you leave.
>I wonder what they're serving for breakfast.
There is a plate of bread, cheese, juice and a fruit of your choice. Just three silvers and it will be yours, lass.
Parogranat fruit?
Sadly, I don’t think I have any Paragranat fruit, no.
Aw…
>If he has any chores you could help out with this morning, you'd be glad to. Or maybe some maintenance work that's been put off that a strong gal like you could do.
Well, I do have a few extra kegs of ale and wine I need brought up from the basement, if you have the time, lass. I’ll let you have breakfast for free if you do.
Ale and Wine? You think there will be a lot of drinking tonight?
The festival starts properly tomorrow, lass. I need to be prepared for it.


>Now, what choices do you have for what to do today?
Let’s see… let’s start with remembering your main goals.

Find those responsible for ten years ago and KILL. THEM. ALL.
Figure out what, exactly, you are and what the swords are.
Get some coin and some new clothes, because these are falling apart right now.
Learn to wield your swords better.
Find someone to eat.
Find a cute boy / gal to fuck you senseless.
Find a way to relax a bit…

Now, how to solve them…

The library (They are bound to have information about those emblems, the undead and the swords).
Vark Nomads (They were there, they must know something about the attack).
Mercenary post (They are the one to ask about known criminals, after all).
Training hall (You did promise Karn that you would spar with him).
Stay at the inn (Help Danus, get breakfast, maybe even wait for Justina to wake up? Something tells you she’s a heavy sleeper).
Roam the streets (There’s bound to be food out there, somewhere…).

>>861762
>or create new shapes from the embrace of the innocent.
ehehehe you get new shapes by fucking
>father and son
Don't be a creep.

Get the barrels for him so you can keep up appearances of actually needing to eat regular food. Then head to the training hall.

>>861763
>Just leave the pillows over there…and hang the blanket by the hearth before you leave.
Make sure you do this first, so you don’t accidentally leave with his blanket.

Then help Danus and get a free breakfast to keep up appearances that you need food. Don’t wait for Justina, since you’ve got no idea how long it’s going to take her to wake up.

The only problem is, you don’t know if The Library, Vark Nomads, Mercenary post, or Training hall are even open this early! Hell, you don’t even know where some of these places are! So you’ve kinda got no choice but to roam the streets to pass the time until these places are open and/or you discover where they’re located. Finding someone to eat is just a bonus, but don’t make it a priority, since you’re not starving yet.

Stay at the inn, help out and have breakfast (even if you don't need it).
Then Training hall to see if we can't improve our combat skills.
Then take a break by going to the Vark Nomads to get more info.
Then to The library with all the info we got.
And if there's still time in the day the Mercenary post for whatever reasons, like finding some soul food or a quick fuck if we haven't already gotten one.

Stay at the inn for now to get breakfast and see how Justina is holding up. Then head to the training hall to see if you actually know how to swing those swords around, then hit up the mercenary post to see if you can't find a way to make money/eat.

OK, the swords were at a temple, so are they associated to some religion or some local cult? even if you can't get into a temple, a priest of the religion associated with the sword may know something... but may not be a good idea to collude with the holy too much...

Stay at inn, then go find the not-gypsies

Yeano, you either fuck the son, or you fuck the dad,not the two simultainly, that is awkward as fuck. But that is for later.

Now let's help in the inn, maybe get to know the owner and his son, preferably the son fufufu, and then we go and swing your swords for a while. And then we find someone to eat.

Stay at the inn, help Danus and eat breakfast but don't wait around for Justina once you're done eating. Do ask Danus if he'd give you a sheet of paper and lend you something to write with. That way you can draw the corn emblem and write out what info you know about the swords, what you are, those that destroyed Dalriver and the bits of the language they spoke. Then you can show that paper to a librarian or scholar at the library so they can easily reference it while helping you look up relevant info.

Next, visit the training hall to spar with Karn. Make sure to meditate a few minutes before you do on your older souls' memories of sparring and swordsmanship.

After that visit the mercenary hall. It's right next to the training hall, so it'll take next to no time. Look up Gev's name and physical description to check if he's seriously wanted, in that the city watch will chase his ass down on sight. You'd have to take care in using his form then. Don't bother looking up other known criminals for potential bounties or food. The ones with sense will not be walking about the city, instead either laying low or already left, and the dumb ones the city watch will have nabbed already. You'll be hard pressed to find any of them. You can also check the merc job board for anything low paying in the city to do for some coin, but with your zero rep, no record of skills and no gear besides your swords, don't figure anyone would hire you.

Then head to the library to research what you are, your swords are, the killers from ten years ago were and the language they spoke. Don't get sucked into reading and lose track of time.

After that, head out to the Vark nomads. Check out what games and amusements they have before visiting their fortune teller and asking around if they're the ones who visited Dalriver a decade ago. They may also know what the corn emblem is, so show 'em the paper you drew it on, if you did draw it.

Before you leave the inn, ask Danus if he knows if there's anyone around who has odd jobs or unskilled labor you could do for a bit of coin. Also if there's a second-hand clothes shop around, since your duds are falling apart and you doubt you could afford brand new clothes. Either that or someone who'd stitch your clothes back into decent-enough shape for cheap.

Think up some ideas for using your supernatural strength, endurance, bottomless stomach and presumably no need to breathe to make some coin fast. Games of strength at the festival perhaps, though you'd need to pay and they usually pay out in prizes and not coin. Athletic bets on yourself, such as a footrace or arm wrestling, but you still need money to make the initial bets. A pie or other food eating contest at the festival, but usually they have a entry fee to keep out folk that just want the food. Relatedly, a bar bet against someone on how much booze you can drink before passing out or tapping out, but you'd need money to pay for the drinks and the bet. And you could always sniff out someone that's guilty enough to eat or kill that also has money and take it after taking them down.

You didn't want to confront whatever or whoever is disappearing folks at night because you didn't want to go in blind, but what if you could get a look at who or whatever it is first? You could lay out bait for it, in the form of some irredeemably guilty person you'd eat or execute anyway, then watch from a nearby building for the abductor. Getting someone like that passing out drunk and dumping them in the gutter in the poor part of town after dark would fit the usual folk that get snatched up. You could drug them as well to keep them out all night. You'd need to do some set-up and site scouting first, though, and find suitable bait and a way to bag 'em and get 'em in position. It'd be doable but take time.

>though you’re sure how you would even approach him with the subject without annoying him.
Then don't be the one to approach him, let him approach you if and when he's interested. And treat him with respect like you'd like someone to treat you.

>You’re not sure how you feel about that… you’ve never really mingled with one of those before. He seems nice, though…
He also seemed kinda like he was interested in Justina, what with him being all flustered around her and what he said when you suggested Karn was barking up the wrong tree.

>You’re not taking any chances… though, you need to actually get bitterweed first.
If you need some, try asking Justina. She probably has an entire boxful to prevent unwanted "accidents" from her stereotypically promiscuous bardic lifestyle. Otherwise, you'd need some coin and a visit to the apothecary, or maybe Oran would have some in stock and would sell it cheaper to you. And it's the lady who usually carries the bitterweed and not the guy, right? So don't expect the guy to keep it around.

>…and suddenly you’re covered in feathers, have a beak and are very small… what the fu-
So all it took was thinking of turning into Gev and you did so? You'll have to be careful you don't do that accidentally in public. And you remained unclothed when you shifted, right? Looks like you'll need to get outfits for your forms too. Now you kinda wish you had eaten Henry, the Sakkilian, since your clothes could have sorta fit his form.

>…did… did you just spit out a… a… belt buckle and a… something that’s so eroded that you can’t actually see what it is anymore? What?
That corroded thing was the blade of the dagger Gev was wielding. The sword did say that everything organic that went down your gullet would be destroyed, which excludes minerals. Hope you disposed of them discreetly. But why did you puke 'em up now and not earlier? Did you have to digest Gev fully first, or was it shifting into Gev's form that triggered it? Either way, you'll have to remember to allow for time in private to vomit up non-organics from anyone you devour and means to dispose of them. Also that if they have coins or valuables on them you want you should try and puke them up sooner. Oh, and that diamonds are carbon, thus organic so they'll be destroyed if you eat 'em.

>Steal the shapes of the guilty… or create new shapes from the embrace of the innocent.
You have a feeling it'll take more than just hugging a innocent person to get their shape. Consider it a bonus to getting laid, eh. ...Would make getting a Uredo's shape damn hard this way, though.

>Gah, you have no idea if there’s actually someone in there talking to you or if it’s just some… magical talky… thingy?
Best guess is that it's the voice of the original soul imbued into the sword upon its creation, meant to guide those who are bound to it after upon the path of Justice. Might not actually be sapient and more akin to a highly advanced construct.

>Parogranat fruit?
There might be a stand at the fairgrounds selling that sugar-dipped parogrant fruit you like so much for the festival. Check around for that when you visit the Vark nomads.

>>861769
>Hell, you don’t even know where some of these places are!
She can ask Danus where those are and there's a city map on the wall next to the inn's front door she can use to figure out a route.

Flex on 'em by moving the stuff in one trip, then go to the training hall.

if we can turn int a bird dude dos that mean we have a bird dick

>>861955
Probably, yeah, but if i understand correctly, we can be a bird and still be a female, but i am not sure if we would need to consume a female bird first, or we can just make some sort of hybrid.

Kaktus 2018/01/26(Fri)13:31 No. 862046 ID: 65a774
File 151700228465.png - (49.01KB , 700x550 , 30.png )

>ehehehe you get new shapes by fucking.
…that can’t be right… can it?
>Consider it a bonus to getting laid.
It would explain why your body is suddenly so… um… hungry for it… well, you guess you need to get laid then?
>Find some soul food or a quick fuck.
You’re not going to sleep with the first person you find available… you’re not that kind of gal…

>Don't be a creep.
Hey, a gal your age has the right to fantasize about being sandwiched between two handsome males that are… well, if you ignore that they are family and… hmm… maybe you should replace one of them with Karn or something?
>if we can turn into a bird dude does that mean we have a bird dick?
You believe so? All of you felt bird like…
>OK, the swords were at a temple, so are they associated to some religion or some local cult?
They were wielded by a saint once… though, how widespread that belief actually is you don’t know.
>Even if you can't get into a temple, a priest of the religion associated with the sword may know something.
Hmm… might be prudent to find someone who knows religion then…


>Help Danus and get a free breakfast to keep up appearances that you need food.
The kegs are down there. Now, they are rather heavy, so you’ll need to go down there more than once to get them all up here.
More than once, eh?
>Flex on 'em by moving the stuff in one trip.
Using your superior strength, you barely easily managed to bring up all the kegs in one go. While doing so, you make sure that your sleeves are rolled up completely to show off your muscles working to the Sakkilian duo waiting for you. It works wonders, as Danus is visible excited when you finally put down the kegs… and Drago is so hot and bothered that he refuses to make eye contact with you.
Why, lass, I didn’t think you had it in you!
Um… t-that was… err…
It’s w-was nothing… *huff*… n-nothing really… n-now… *huff*… about that breakfast.
Ah, I’ll go get it right away, lass.
>Maybe try to get to know the owner and his son a bit better, preferably the son fufufu…
So… Drago… your thoughts seem heavy, care to share?
Eh!? Oh… um… it’s nothing… I’m just… err… thinking about what I need to do today, that’s all.
At the inn, you mean?
Actually, no. Father and I only works the evenings so I got the whole day free.
Then what are you up to today? I might even have time to drop by.
Err… well… I w-was going to the library and… um… the park to try and extend my collection of… err… you see...?
And here is your breakfast lass. Hope you enjoy your meal. And son, can you go and unbar the door and put out the open sign?
Of course father, right away.
Thank you.

>Ask Danus if he knows if there's anyone around who has odd jobs or unskilled labor you could do for a bit of coin.
Well, lass, I’m sure you can find work down at the center plaza. They’ll probably need every strong lass like you they can get to set up and maintain the Festival area. Otherwise, if you’re sure of those blades of yours, then the mercenary post might have some requests you can fulfil.
>Also if there's a second-hand clothes shop around, since your duds are falling apart and you doubt you could afford brand new clothes.
There’s thumblers down on cloudberry street, she’s cheap. Though, don’t go there late, as it is on the edge of a bad neighborhood, lass.
>Don’t wait for Justina, since you’ve got no idea how long it’s going to take her to wake up.
Even as you eat your breakfast at a slow and steady pace, there is no sign of Justina at all. You’ll just have to say hi to her later.

Cheese Found! 5x point bonus!

Kaktus 2018/01/26(Fri)13:31 No. 862047 ID: 65a774
File 151700229341.png - (32.65KB , 700x550 , 31.png )

>Next, visit the training hall to spar with Karn.
After your breakfast and saying goodbye to the innkeepers, you follow the direction you got from the inn map to the training hall Karn is master off. It’s a bit of a walk, but it’s still early when you arrive there.

What you find there, on the other hand, was not what you expected. The hall itself is… or was an expensive looking building with many large windows dotting its wooden walls. Now, there is a large hole in one of the windows as well as some rather prominent writing saying “GET OUT”… and going by the noticeable different quality in window panes and paint on other parts of the building, this isn’t the first time something like this has happen.

>Then don't be the one to approach Karn, let him approach you if and when he's interested.
Then the question is; how do you get Karn interested in you?
>Oran also seemed kinda like he was interested in Justina, what with him being all flustered around her and what he said when you suggested Karn was barking up the wrong tree.
You’re pretty sure that was just because her ample… assets. You’d peg Oran as a guy who doesn’t… ah… see a lot of action.
>If you need some bitterweed, try asking Justina. She probably has an entire boxful to prevent unwanted "accidents" from her stereotypically promiscuous bardic lifestyle.
Hmm… you might need to ask her if you can borrow some later…

>So all it took was thinking of turning into Gev and you did so? You'll have to be careful you don't do that accidentally in public.
You didn’t just think, you… felt like Gev… you can’t really describe it, but you don’t think you’ll do it accidently… not anymore.
>And you remained unclothed when you shifted, right? Looks like you'll need to get outfits for your forms too.
Or one outfit that can fit most forms. Some kind of robe, maybe? Hmm…
>That corroded thing was the blade of the dagger Gev was wielding. The sword did say that everything organic that went down your gullet would be destroyed, which excludes minerals. Hope you disposed of them discreetly.
Unless someone goes through the inn’s trashpile piece by piece they won’t find them. Still, you better watch what you eat in the future… maybe try and get all the metal off your prey before eating them? …or just get them naked?

You know, this place seems to be locked up. Maybe you came by a bit early after all? You don’t see-

Kaktus 2018/01/26(Fri)13:31 No. 862048 ID: 65a774
File 151700230163.png - (50.58KB , 700x550 , 32.png )

Ah, Ema!?
Karn? …you sound surprised?

You notice that he deliberately tries to stand between you and the vandalized window, as if he’s trying to hide it from you.

I… um… didn’t actually expect you to come by… err… I mean, come by so early! …yes, this early…
I’m just an early riser, I guess?
Well, that makes two of us then, I guess. Haha… hah… um…
I’m not too early, I am?
Oh, no, not at all… well, for a proper spar, you kind of is. I usually want to get some warm up and training in before doing anything like that but… if you want to spar right now then… I guess I’m up for it?

>>862048
Sure.

During the spar, ask him who's been giving him trouble. Anything you can help with?

Look over his shoulder and ask if somebody's been giving him trouble.
>if you want to spar right now then… I guess I’m up for it?
Educate me, o wizened master.

ask if he wouldn't mind doing warm ups together since you did just get up, ask how things have been.

Since you're not actually getting anything essential out of it, you should really be eating as little as possible when someone gives you food for free.

>>862046
>Take the form of the innocent you lay with.
That’s dangerous for whoever you pretend to be. If you get in trouble or get an angry mob chasing you while you’re disguised as that person, then they’ll get in trouble instead of you!

And if you get a bunch of murderers chasing after that form, guess who’s going to get killed instead of you?

Putting the innocent in danger or tarnishing their reputation doesn’t seem like something the Spirit of Justice should do, right? So if you ever acquire a form like that, then you can’t use it!

But, the swords did say that you could take parts of forms to make entirely new forms. So maybe that can be used to solve your “too skinny to stay warm in the cold” problem?

>>862048
Yeah, do some warmups with him.

And if you remember any sword skills from your past lives, then take it easy on him. It’d hurt him if after telling him you don’t have much training and then you suddenly overwhelm him with a bunch of fancy moves! He’ll feel like you lied to him just to beat him up because he’s a male running a training hall. And from the looks of the window and that message, he gets a lot of that already.

>>862061
We could use innocent forms to simply evade detection. It's a bad idea for us to walk around as a blue Sakkilian all the time when interacting with the locals. Eventually the bad guys will catch on and start keeping watch for blue Sakkilian females, even if we only deal out justice while wearing the guise of the guilty.

>>862046
Oh yeah girl, you have them in the bag! Now, the only thing that might be a problem is fucking them both without them noticing. That might cause a catastrophe we would like to avoid, and i am pretty sure that that might be concidered an bad action. You have to do the oposite right?

Lets warm up, let see how much tired can you get. Politely ask who are the degenerates that are causing him problems, maybe you can help somehow.

Tell him that you could do the warm up and training routine alongside him before sparring. You could use the limbering up, and besides it wouldn't be fair to spar before he's as ready as he can be. (It'd also let you both discreetly check each other out while you're exercising.)

Nod towards the vandalized window and ask how often this shit happens. It the same assholes doing it every time? And the city watch aren't doing what they should about it, are they? Would he be okay with you helping him clean it off and cover the broken pane? It would go faster with a second person, after all. You also would rather not have a cold draft blowing on you two while sparring, adding that you really can't stand the cold.

Ask him how he and Oran met and became friends. And how'd they earn Danus' regard, to the point you could name drop 'em and that you helped move that crate and Danus let you sleep on a couch in exchange for doing chores. They friends with Danus as well?

>I… um… didn’t actually expect you to come by… err… I mean, come by so early! …yes, this early…
He didn't expect you to come around at all? Guess he felt you'd act like the ladies so often do and snub him for being a male in a nontraditional profession or for acting more like a gal than a guy. That or you'd lose interest once it was apparent he wouldn't be a easy lay.

>Err… well… I w-was going to the library and… um… the park to try and extend my collection of… err… you see...?
Looks like you've found a potential research buddy to help you out, and it'd be good for getting to know him better. You hope he'll be at the library when you go there. He said he has until evening free, so best go sooner rather than later. And what do you think Drago has a collection of that he'd visit the park to extend? Pressed flowers? No, they don't let you just pick flowers from the park, do they? How about insects, which he then pins? Perhaps butterflies or moths.

>They’ll probably need every strong lass like you they can get to set up and maintain the Festival area.
Isn't the Festival area near where the Vark nomads set up camp? You might be able to earn some coin before or after visiting them.

>Though, don’t go there late, as it is on the edge of a bad neighborhood, lass.
Now this presents a opportunity to bag a guilty soul meal in the form of a mugger. Though, a tall, strong looking Sakkilian gal such as yourself they would most likely avoid. But a scrawny little Vark guy like Gev, that would look like a much easier target.

>Still, you better watch what you eat in the future… maybe try and get all the metal off your prey before eating them? …or just get them naked?
With your paralyzing touch only lasting a handful of seconds that isn't enough time to loot your prey. You'd need to knock 'em out somehow that wouldn't really risk killing 'em. Anesthetic fumes from holding a dosed cloth over their face, maybe? Or just choking them until they pass out then gagging, binding and stripping them.

...And you maybe could get lustful prey to strip themselves by chatting them up then offering to have sex. Though, it'll be tough to keep from mentally or literally puking from being so close to the guilty prey's scent and feigning interest in them. May not be worth risking.

>>862060
Well, it may be considered rude to not accept their hospitality or generosity when food is presented. It'll also seem strange that a tall, strong gal like you isn't eating as much as expected.

But if the food can be easily taken with you, like the breakfast items you had, you could pocket some of it to share with those unfortunates who are hungry, saying you'll eat it while out and about. Do a good deed and build goodwill with the downtrodden and listen to their troubles and what they catch with their ears to the ground. ...Which you could have done if all the beggars and homeless hadn't fled the city years ago. Nuts. ...Maybe instead the destitute in the poor areas of the city that technically have a roof over their heads?

>>862061
>It’d hurt him if after telling him you don’t have much training and then you suddenly overwhelm him with a bunch of fancy moves!
But Ema didn't say she doesn't have much training. She just said she knows how to use her swords. Karn just inferred Ema needs more training 'cause she said he should watch out 'cause she's very strong. As long as Ema doesn't bust out the moves of a lifetime master of the sword and clamps her skill to what a 22 year old could plausibly have then that won't raise questions. However, if Kern picks up that Ema is holding back, then he's likely going to be annoyed 'cause he'll think Ema feels she has to hold back because he's a guy.

>He’ll feel like you lied to him just to beat him up because he’s a male running a training hall.
I'd think he'd be more insulted that Ema is holding back and not giving him a proper challenge. He wants spar with Ema to learn and become more adept. He won't take kindly to being coddled and handled like he's a wimp. Also, Ema is also here to get a read on just how adept she is at swordsmanship for coming fights, so restraining herself too much will not allow her to figure that out.

Kaktus 2018/01/28(Sun)07:16 No. 862671 ID: 65a774
File 151715256580.png - (22.69KB , 700x550 , 33.png )

>Oh yeah girl, you have them in the bag!
Now you just need to go in for the kill and bang ‘em… hehe… err… wait…
>Now, the only thing that might be a problem is fucking them both without them noticing.
…then you’ll just have to choose one of them? Or maybe if you… with a new shape and… then you could… yeah… that might work or… no… hmm…

>Since you're not actually getting anything essential out of it, you should really be eating as little as possible when someone gives you food for free.
Aren’t they just going to throw the food away anyway? …and people might ask questions if you don’t eat properly. Besides, you love the taste of food…
>Isn't the Festival area near where the Vark nomads set up camp? You might be able to earn some coin before or after visiting them.
No, the nomads set their camp up outside the city proper. You’re pretty sure they are setting up a bunch of shops inside the festival area itself, though.

>With your paralyzing touch only lasting a handful of seconds that isn't enough time to loot your prey.
Your touch would last long enough for you to rip the clothes of someone, especially if you can keep contact with their head while doing so. Besides, you just need to rip of any metal they have on them, don’t you? Note to self: don’t eat knights and other armored people…
>And if you remember any sword skills from your past lives, then take it easy on him.
You can’t really remember anything but… instincts. You don’t know how to do it, but you just know what you’ll do if you for example see a sword coming for you from that direction.


>Look over his shoulder and ask if somebody's been giving him trouble.
Oh? That? Um… just ignore that, it’s old news.
I’m pretty sure the paint haven’t even dried properly yet.
Well… um… you know how it is… people complain when there is something they don’t like…
By throwing rocks through windows?
… … …yes?
>maybe you can help somehow.
No need, Ema. This is my problem, I’ll deal with it.
If you say so.
>Would he be okay with you helping him clean it off and cover the broken pane?
The broken pane is actually from a few days ago, so It’s already covered. As for the paint… I think we should let it dry first? Though, don’t worry about it, I’ll can clean it in a jiffy later.
Uh huh…
Now, let’s head in to the warmth before we freeze to death.
Yeah, let’s!

Karn unlocks the door to the training hall and beckons you to follow him inside…

>Ask him how he and Oran met and became friends.
We grew up together, actually. I never really fit in with the other men and… well… neither did he, so we always hung out together instead.
>And how'd they earn Danus' regard.
Well, we’ve frequented the Raptors Nest ever since we were of age to drink… in fact, the first time we met was when he caught us trying to get our hands on a drink while underage. Since then we’ve just… well… helped each other out at times, I guess?

You find yourself in the main training area of the building, a large room whose floor and walls are covered with soft mats. It’s mostly empty, save for a few training dummies in one corner of the room and a bunch of… blue weapons on the walls? …what?
Here we go… are you ready to start?

>Ask if he wouldn't mind doing warm ups together since you did just get up.
Oh? You want to- great! Then I guess we can start out with a bit of stretching before we do anything else.
…stretching?
…oh, you have a lot of learn, young apprentice.
Educate me, o wizened master.
Master? I’ve never had anyone call me- wait, Wizened? Are you calling me old? I’m still a year away from thirty you know?
You’re almost thirty? Huh, you look way younger than that.
Constant training keeps you young, you know.
And attractive apparently. Now, about that warmup.
Well, if you want to keep staying attractive, you apparently need stretch a lot. Here, follow me lead…
Also, what’s up with the weirdly colored weapons?
No talking while warming up, Ema.
But-
Focus on the task at hand, nothing else.
Alright, alright, I get it…

Ema is currently training…
Please choose another piece of meat to follow:
JUSTICE! (Ema) is busy.
Emergency meat (Justina) is available.
Smelly meat (Oran) is available.
Muscular meat (Karn) is busy.
Old aromatic meat (Danus) is available.
Young aromatic meat (Drago) is available.

Choose your destiny!

Young aromatic meat!

Ema please stop calling peolple "meat", it's rude. Ok i will assume that this option is for after the training. AND i will also assume that you are hungry again? You want to eate someone?
If you just want to talk, go with Drago, let's see if you can open his shy shell.

Let’s go with Oran. I think we have the least insight into his character so far.

Emergency meat. She'd make a perfect disguise: a wandering bard, seemingly an easy target, plenty of room on those hips for eating more evildoers... you'd be doing her a favor really, spreading her name to towns she hasn't even visited. That's important for performers.

>>862671
>Stretching
Hey, Ema, if any of those stretches involve bending over, give Karn whistle, like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XhjyJO0DUhA , when you see his booty, just to mess with him.

>Be someone else.
Let’s be Oran. I’d like to learn more about him.

Smelly meat (Oran)

Oran.

volcano bakemeat

Fine lets go with the one armed snek.

Man, it's hard to choose. I want to know more about them all. But... I'll pick Danus. I want to know more about the past and life of this kind, handsome man who I can only assume had to work very hard and endure so much in his life.

>>862679
>give Karn whistle, like this
No, don't. Karn hates being treated like a sex object so a wolf whistle would likely lead to his regard for Ema to sink. Also, gals in our world mostly hate being whistled at like that.

>>862676
>Ok i will assume that this option is for after the training.
Nah, it's for us to switch to another character to suggest to while Ema is training. It's been awhile since Kaktus ran a quest where we could jump to another character. I think the last one he ran with this mechanic was Numb, so it's been quite some time.

>>862763
>volcano bakemeat
Wat?

>>862763
Now that's a term I haven't heard in years.

Justina

Kaktus 2018/01/29(Mon)05:42 No. 863003 ID: 65a774
File 151723337110.png - (34.08KB , 700x550 , 34.png )

>Emergency meat. She'd make a perfect disguise: a wandering bard, seemingly an easy target…
Justina would indeed make a good disguise… and it would solve your lack of a place to sleep as well… though, you did name her emergency food for a reason…
>Plenty of room on those hips for eating more evildoers...
…you suddenly have a big urge to consume her…
>You'd be doing her a favor really, spreading her name to towns she hasn't even visited. That's important for performers.
Yeah, she should be grateful to become part of your hips… err… her hips? Wait, what are you… ugh, you’re starting to think of them as meals instead of people again, aren’t you?

>Ema please stop calling peolple "meat", it's rude.
You’re only doing it in your mind, not to their face! Besides… it’s not rude if its fact… err…
>I will also assume that you are hungry again? You want to eat someone?
There is currently no one in you tummy… thus; you need to put someone there. Not just right now, but if you can’t find someone more deserving before tonight you’ll probably just put the emergency meat there.
>Hey, Ema, if any of those stretches involve bending over, give Karn whistle.
You’ve never actually learned how to whistle, but damn right you’re going to keep an eye on that tush…
>No, don't. Karn hates being treated like a sex object.
…you’re keeping an eye on it discreetly?

Ema! Focus!
Huh!? What!?
We haven’t even started and you’re already zooning out. Remember, Excellence is not an art, it’s pure habit.
…stretching is an art?
We are what we repeatedly do… so start stretching or you’ll never be agile enough to fight properly!
R-right!

Kaktus 2018/01/29(Mon)05:43 No. 863004 ID: 65a774
File 151723338844.png - (51.06KB , 700x550 , 35.png )

>Let’s go with Oran. I think we have the least insight into his character so far.
You always did love hearing the sound a liquid sizzling… the smell of boiling chemicals… the sight of bubbles traveling through those glass corridors, on their way to create something new, something great…

Ever since you were a child you dreamed of creating all kind of tonics and philters, to make with mundane herbs and liquids things that mages can only dream off. Potions that can heal, transform, change and please… potions that can even restore lost limbs…

You are Oran the Alchemist, and you just finished another batch of highly illegal… ah… “pleasure enhancement”, as they call it.

You’d rather make something a bit more interesting… something with a bit more pizazz. In fact, you rather do anything else, but after they forced that debt on you… well, if you don’t you might just suffer another… “accident”. But soon enough you’ll be free of debt and then you can focus on your real goal. To create that legendary potion… you know you can do it… you just need some hard to find materials.

You are now Oran the Alchemist.
Current goals:
Get out of debt.
Run potion shop.
Find pretty girl.
Find and kill a powerful undead creature, drain it on its blood and use it for your legendary potion! Easy…

so how bad in debt are you, how much money do you have, and who are you in debt with? Depending on how bad you're fucked you may or may not want to sick that blue justice girl on them assuming your loan sharks aren't that tough or she's just that good. Plus if you word it right you might be able to get her to sleep with you... or at least maybe put in a good word with her feathered friend... or hell maybe you get real lucky and get both at once.

Also for the blood of the undead? do you need all of it or just some? Because it may be better to capture and bleed it... or maybe just ask assuming you can find one that won't kill you on sight. That way you wouldn't have to fight it or go into debt (again) to hire someone who could take the thing down. Also also what do you know of undead?

>>863004
>potions that can even restore lost limbs…
>you might just suffer another…”accident”
Is that what happened to your arm?

Why would an undead creature still have blood? Your quest is hopeless.

That last one seems pretty specific, and very imposible.
What is this dept about, care to elaborate?

>>863004
>Find pretty girl.
What about Justina?
>Find and kill a powerful undead creature
How powerful? Can you get enough blood without killing it? What does the potion do?

>>863004
>Find pretty girl.
What about that Ema girl you met yesterday or her friend Justina they seem to be at least somewhat approachable and one even went out of their way to help you yesterday.
>Find and kill a powerful undead creature
Ema looks to be an adventurer maybe she would have a clue on where one may be, and/or could help you with it. How powerful does the undead have to be for this to work and will you be able to get enough blood without killing it if it is peaceful, isn't Evil or doesn't wish to fight?
Either way we need to get our work done first before we do anything else. Business before pleasure otherwise that debt isn't going away any time soon.

>Get out of debt.
What are the circumstances around this debt you owe? Who do you owe it to, how much is it, and how did it come to be foisted upon you? How risky is it for you to be making these potions of "pleasure enhancement," either legally or to your physical well being? You have taken precautions so the law does not bust down your door, right? And when, where and to whom will you be delivering this latest batch of illicit alchemy for your debt payment?

As for those you owe your debt to, how much do you trust they will honor your it paid and not drag it out indefinitely? Or that they wouldn't "tie up loose ends" by offing you so you can't possibly rat them out? Who can you possibly turn to if things go sour? Karn? Danus? How close are you to either of them? And what's keeping you from running to the law to deal with your debtees?

They also seem to have been rather lacking in foresight in taking your arm off, since a one-armed alchemist's efficiency in working to repay their debt would be significantly hindered. They could have just broken your arm to send the message. Anyway, how long has it been since you got the debt, how long has it been since they took your arm and what's your cover story for losing it?

>Run potion shop.
What do you need to do for your legit work? What do you offer, either pre-made or made to order? You make sex related stuff like endurance or transformation? And what's your shop's reputation? You ever thought of putting your alchemical knowledge to use creating new beverages to sell? Either alcoholic or not? Like triple distilled coffee or exotic and strange flavored liquors?

...You do wait until you've done your illicit alchemical work before opening for business, right? Don't want getting pulled away to serve customers lead to a batch of debt payment to go bad because you weren't there to mind it. You also really should wear eye protection while doing alchemy. That's basic safety teachings. Don't want to lose any eyes in addition to your arm, now do you?

>Find pretty girl.
Oh, that's easy. They're plenty in this city. You even met and actually talked to two yesterday, Ema and Justina, without making a fool of yourself. It's actually sparking a relationship with one that's the problem, isn't it? What's your track record with the ladies? Any previous relationships? What would you like in a gal? Any gals you fancy, now or past? How much of a relationship would be enough for you right now? You leaning more towards lasting or are you lookin' more for a no-strings-attached fuck? And you don't swing for the gents, do you?

Also, you could go a long way towards attracting a gal by brewing up a big potion of "remove alchemical stank" and dumping it all over yourself 'cause you reek of your workshop. Has your sense of smell been ground into the dirt from all your years doing alchemy?

>Find and kill a powerful undead creature, drain it on its blood and use it for your legendary potion! Easy…
What does this "legendary" potion do? How do you know you need a powerful undead creature to complete it? What research have you done on undead that'd fit the bill? Have you written up a list of acceptably powerful ones and where they usually show up? How about where they shouldn't be able to roam? And have you considered that a powerful undead creature might be what has been disappearing people for the last decade?

Do you for sure need to kill the creature to get the blood you need? Do you need to drain all its blood? Would it be possible to capture and bind it to bleed it without killing so you'd have a steady supply of blood to make this legendary potion of yours?

But it's all rather moot unless you have someone who can take down a powerful undead creature. Maybe Karn, but would you really put your good friend at such risk? Otherwise, you don't have money to hire anyone. Think you could get anyone on the promise of a legendary potion? Perhaps you could find someone who has a burning hatred of the undead? Or someone who is already hunting a powerful undead creature. ...That gal, Ema, looked the mercenary or adventuring type. Maybe she knows someone or is that someone you need.

Kaktus 2018/01/31(Wed)09:01 No. 863540 ID: 65a774
File 151741806948.png - (46.01KB , 700x550 , 36.png )

>What is this debt about, care to elaborate?
Setting up an alchemy shop isn’t cheap, you know. So when the bank refused to give a loan you might have… ah… sought out the wrong people. Really, you thought you would be able to pay them back by normal means, but they had other plans.
>Is that what happened to your arm?
When you refused to make these things the first time, they sabotaged your tools to make… an “accident”. Though you can’t help but blame yourself… if you hadn’t gone in and tried to save it you would still have all your limbs. Of course, if you’d been able to save the gear you wouldn’t be in such a debt right now…

>What do you need to do for your legit work? What do you offer, either pre-made or made to order?
Most of what you sell is pre-made stuff, but you do special orders all the time… for a bit extra, of course.
>What's your shop's reputation?
As the only other shop in the city won’t let you enter unless you’re wearing something more expensive than your whole shop, you kind of have a monopoly on the average consumers. So sure, they might make a ton of gold from each customer but you’re still making more than ends meet here.
>You make sex related stuff like endurance or transformation?
Well… let just say that business is… lucrative. So yes, you do that kind of things… often.
>You also really should wear eye protection while doing alchemy. That's basic safety teachings.
Bah, your eyes already have protection. You’re a Serpens! You’re meant to be submerged under liquids at all times! If you’re actually working with something that might damage your eyes or scales, you’ll wear a full protection mask.

>What's your track record with the ladies? Any previous relationships?
…well… um… you still haven’t passed the starting line?
>What would you like in a gal?
That they are a gal… and pretty… and… um… fun to be with?
>What about that Ema girl you met yesterday?
The blue one? Hmm… those scales of her must have some alchemical properties, no? Maybe you can buy a few off her… or you can ask Danus if any got caught in her bedsheets. She sleeps at the inn, doesn’t she? She was kind of pretty too…
>What about Justina?
The bard? She’s way out of your league, so there’s no reason to even try. Besides, she’s more interested in Karn anyway… they always are…
>Also, you could go a long way towards attracting a gal by brewing up a big potion of "remove alchemical stank".
You usually do try to get the stench of you on the weekends, but as soon as you slither into your shop, it’s back.

>Ema looks to be an adventurer maybe she would have a clue on where one may be, and/or could help you with it.
She was also rather new in the area, wasn’t she? Hmm… though, with those swords of hers, she did look like a person who find trouble… and the undead are trouble, aren’t they?
>You may or may not want to sick that blue justice girl on them assuming your loan sharks aren't that tough or she's just that good.
While you’d like to just have someone remove them from your life, you don’t think sending someone you’ve barely met to kill them is the right way to go. After all, you have no way to take care of the after work, so to speak… so unless she can just erase them from existence somehow…
>Plus if you word it right you might be able to get her to sleep with you... or at least maybe put in a good word with her feathered friend.
Yeah, right… like that would happen… especially that curvy lady that came with her. You can only dream of her… which you did, last night... her white, large form was quite a delight… and hmm…

Now that you think about it… the wide brimmed hat she was wearing… how she came here after sunset… her white scales… err… white feathers and red eyes (They were red, right?)… why didn’t you see this before! It’s so obvious! She’s clearly a vampire! She would be perfect to get blood from… though you better make sure she’s a vampire first, of course. Don’t want to repeat the same mistake twice, now do we?

>Why would an undead creature still have blood? Your quest is hopeless.
While skeletons and zombies don’t have blood, many other creatures do. Vampires for example… or even some litches... and ghouls! …and maybe even wraiths, but you’re not so sure about that one.
>Also for the blood of the undead? Do you need all of it or just some?
You’ll need enough to experiment on. You’re not going to create this potion on the first try.
>Also what do you know of undead?
They are the dead that walk again, for one reason or another. The more common ones are just life energy possessing a dead organism of some kind. Then there are ghosts and spirits, which are memories of past lives that have left something unfinished and thus walk… err… float again. Lastly, we have the created undead, like litches… or vampires. Justina doesn’t look like a mage herself, so she was probably bitten and then fed the blood of another vampire to be turned into one. Now she’s come here to re-establish herself and is looking for thralls to use, clearly. Maybe you should warn Karn about her… it looked like she was trying to seduce him last night… *sigh* you wish she tried to seduce you instead… you’d like to be her thrall any day… and then I’ll… hehe…

You’re suddenly dragged kicking and screaming away from your day dream about Justina the Vampire as you can hear someone moving around nearby. You’re currently hidden in your secret cellar lab, so no one would know where you are! Oh sod, what if it’s the guard!? Have they finally figured out where you’re hiding your things and are coming to drag you away!? Or is it some rival gang that wants you dead!? OH SOD!

Kaktus 2018/01/31(Wed)09:01 No. 863542 ID: 65a774
File 151741808153.png - (62.44KB , 700x550 , 37.png )

You breathe a sigh of relief as you see your “contact” enter through the secret sewer tunnel, but you quickly start to worry again when you realize the implication of this. She is several days early… and she doesn’t look happy at all.

Salutations, Oran… I do hope I’m not coming in an inopportune moment?
T-Tana!? What are you doing here?
Why, can’t I just visit a friend without reason, right Tunu?
…
But I do have some news. Good and bad.
…oh, great…
The good news are that your debt has been paid… and as the boss is a woman of her word…
Wait, I’m no longer in debt!?
But the bad news is… well, you see… Tutu here noticed that some of the “special” bottles were a bit… watered down.
…what?
…
And I’m sure the boss would be rather… ah… upset if she found out, wouldn’t she?
But I haven’t-
But as a friend I can’t just let that happen, no… but… you know… I’ll need some more bottles to... ah… replace the others with, hmm? Right, Tunu?
…
So… if you make a few bottles more… say, about 200 boxes, then… well, we’ll just forget about this little misunderstanding, hmm?
But… but…
…
Now, now, Oran… we don’t want another accident to happen, now will we?
200 boxes…

That will take over a year to do… but you haven’t been watering down any of the bottles! Sure, you’ve been selling the left overs on the side with Karn, but they don’t know that… why do she think the bottles have been watered down!?

…
What was that? The special mission? Heh… I don’t think he’ll be able to help but… fine. Even better news, Oran, as I got a deal for you. I’ll take off 100 boxes from our debt if you help us with a… special task concerning a special colored… friend… what do you say? Swear in blood?
…can’t you give me more information than that?
Oh no, of course not… see, I’m not giving you any more information before you swear in blood. That way, if you happen to be stupid enough to tell anyone about it, I’ll know… and there will be an accident, trust me.

Special colored friend? I don't like the sound of that. Not one bit. Ok First off, what happened to the debt, who paid it? Secondly, are they sure about you bottles watered down? Why would you self sabotage? It's stupid! The rest of your limbs are in the line here!

ask if their's a time limit. if they say yes tell them that their is no way you'd be able to finish an order like then in anything less then a year, and no you're not trying to be clever or any nonsense like that there is really no way you could make 200 boxes of good quality without help or unless they know some way to streamline the whole process to cut down on time.

Also personally unless they say you got a month or some bullshit like that probably best to just make 200 boxes as this favor sounds like it might lead to even more bullshit then just a shit ton of boxes.

>>863540
>red eyes (They were red, right?)
Nope, they were purple.

>>863542
>special task concerning a special colored…friend
She wouldn’t say that unless that person is an unusual color that you don’t see very often, like Ema, that blue Sakkilian lady from yesterday.

Also, don’t take the special offer, it’s gonna be more trouble than it’s worth. Just stick to making 200 boxes.

Given how things are progressing, they likely watered down the bottles themselves just so that could force this favor out of you. You didn't water a thing, but this is a new another way to force you into their debt for even longer potentially.

>>863542
okay at this point you have to realize they will NEVER let you out of debt. You have likely have to find less...savory methods of dealing with the problem.

WRAITHS ARE A KIND OF GHOST YOU TAXONOMIC DISASTER, OF COURSE THEY DON'T HAVE BLOOD.

Suggest maybe you talk to the higher ups about this situation; see if she's doing it with their blessing by her reaction. If she threatens you, she's hiding something and is probably acting alone.

If you want to get out of debt, here's your chance- you've got a perfect opportunity to sic big blue on them. For all she'll know you're looking out for her and letting her know she's a target, all you need to do is let her be proactive about dealing with them.

"... You know, I deserve the massive debt I incurred for being a gambling stooge. I deserve losing an arm to your sabotage because I couldn't pay attention until it was too late. But what I don't deserve, is being treated like a third-rate drug peddler who is constantly swindled into being an obedient yes-brain by a pair of thugs who can't do a simple tax pickup without threatening one of your employees with instant castration unless they follow a top-secret, should-not-be-given-out-like-you're-doing-right-now treasure map and give whatever million-gold secret they find to them!

Take me to your boss, I'll tell her what I know, help you capture the person that I know she's talking about, and we'll pretend you never gave away a classified bounty in a public marketplace."

>>863653
Kome, no! Don’t make me get the spray bottle!

>>863632
Almost forgot, tell her to come back when she's ready to disclose some information on what she needs.

>>863542
Tell them if they can't even bring themselves to be honest when trying to strongarm you, then you're not going to do business with them. Tell them to come up with a better excuse for you to make them more potions that isn't something bullshit about watered down product. They wouldn't want your help if you watered down your potions, would they?

In fact, tell them you suspect their boss would not be happy if you complained about this treatment.

>>863693
>>863717
You guys do realize Oran can’t say those things, right?

If he says those things to their faces, not only will that piss them off, they’ll also make Oran have another “accident” in order to kill him and prevent him from telling their boss!

>>863722
More likely that he'll just lose his tools again and possibly have evidence that he can hand over to the guards.

>>863724
I don’t think he’ll tell the guards about his secret room where he makes illegal potions and tell them about the bad people he’s been working with for a few years to make the illegal potions.

Also, there’s no telling if any of the guards secretly work for these two and their boss.

>>863722
Well then he'll have to do the smart thing and wait until they're dealt with before opening shop again.

>>863727
He makes other potions too you know. He can just abandon his illegal shit now that he's out of debt. If the mafia makes a move on his legitimate business then it'll be easy for Oran to come out clean.

Also if he signs the blood oath I'm pretty sure that's a magically binding contract. He will have no future but crime if he does that.

The choice here is: 1 bravery and negotiation, or 2 give up and become a criminal working for the mafia for free, likely forever.

>>863729
Again, we don’t know if any of the guards are secretly working for them. For example, this guard: >>859988 , which Ema described as, “smells delicious…corrupt and unforgiving…”

So, no, he won’t get out of this clean if the mafia send the corrupt guards after Oran because they won’t care if he is innocent or not, they’re getting paid to either beat him up or arrest him with some false evidence that they “found” in his shop.

Keep this to yourself, but their story doesn't make sense. Like, who the heck would pay off your outstanding debt for no reason? And why would you water down the "happy juice" if not to send more bottles of it to pay off your debt sooner? Oh, and isn't this stuff sold pretty much right away and not kept around? If so, then making up 200 more boxes to replace the allegedly watered down ones doesn't make sense since it's mostly been sold and consumed already. Also, why would the boss lady be all that upset about watered down product anyway? If the customers are still buying it and not complaining about the strength then so what? She made money all the same. If she found out she'd at worst most likely just make you make up the debt by making full strength product, this time checking it for quality. She wouldn't have you killed or crippled 'cause you wouldn't be able to do the work.

Also keep this to yourself, but it's most likely that Tana and Tunu are spinning a line of bullshit to keep you under their thumbs so you'd make illicit drugs for them to sell without the boss knowing. That or they were supposed to offer a deal from the boss for you to keep making this stuff for her organization and get paid for it, but Tana would go back saying you accepted and then pocket the money for herself. Or maybe they've been skimming from the bottles to sell on the side or to feed their own addiction and watered down the rest to cover it up, then got caught and pinned it on you. Or maybe this is all meant to con you into helping them with their "special task," though you can't figure why they need you for it or why it'd be worth knocking 100 boxes off your debt.

Whatever Tana and Tunu are pulling here, you don't have any leverage to call 'em out on it. So don't confront them, don't point out the parts of their story that don't make sense and don't ask too many questions. They expect you to be a good little easily cowed guy who'll go along without fuss. But if you show signs you object or that you may go over them, things'll get ugly.

Tell Tana that you'll swear in blood, but only so she can tell you what her deal entails you doing so you can decide whether to accept it or not. You won't accept a deal without knowing what it calls for you to do. If she balks at this, then no deal; You'll make the full 200 boxes of product.

And just to check, but does mind-melding between Serpens show a Serpens is telling the truth or lying the vast majority of the time? 'Cause if it does, then you could discreetly send a message to the big boss lady about this and offer to be mind-meld interrogated by a Serpens she trusts. And she'd very likely interrogate Tana and Tunu the same way. It'd blow their scam wide open to the boss and earn you some of the boss' trust. Maybe enough to write off part or all of the rest of your debt.

>She’s clearly a vampire!
Dude, you're jumping to conclusions yet again. Okay, first off, Justina has violet eyes, not red. Second, the only place you've seen all her feathers is in your dreams. She could easily have darker colored feathers under her clothes. And wouldn't all her skin be pale if she's a vampire? Because she had that orange-y skin thingie where her upper beak met her face. That would have been pale too if she was a vampire.

Third, wearing a wide brimmed hat doesn't mean jack shit. She may have worn it to keep the sun out of her eyes as she was traveling and didn't bother to take it off. She may have worn it 'cause it's cool out to keep her head warm. She may have worn it just 'cause she likes the hat's style. You don't know her reasons for wearing that hat so don't assume.

But even if Justina did have red eyes, all pale skin and feathers and covered herself totally from the sun, that may just mean she's a albino. Like the last person you thought was a vampire.

>Sure, you’ve been selling the left overs on the side with Karn, but they don’t know that…
You're selling the batch dregs of the same "happy juice" you balked at making at first? Man, you're such a hypocrite. Also risky and stupid to do that. Not only does it risk having the law come down on you two, you're infringing on the turf of the criminal organization you're in debt to. Now, they have reason to keep you around to keep doing illicit alchemy, but Karn... They could torch his training hall in the middle of the night and it'd be written off as some extra-bigoted gal stepping too far up from breaking windows and painting slurs.