For one thing, because you're not the kind of person who would just stand idly by and watch two people get murdered - unless you are that kinda guy, in which case their fears about you are warranted.

Second, you need info about this world - REAL info, not the cryptic crap that Bill told you.

And lastly, you need friends. How many other humans have played this "game" all the way to the end? None, apparently, and most likely because they tried to do it all on their own. You don't wanna take this place over, and you don't give a crap about becoming some powerful wizard, you just want to finish this and get home so you can become a patent lawyer and spend the rest of your days drinking champagne in the French Riviera. Maybe if you earn some goodwill points, and don't give away the fact that you're a human just yet, you can make them see that and they'll help you. Maybe if someone finally wins this dumb game, it'll put a stop a stop to the endless cavalcade of douchebags that keep coming here and slaughtering them.

You're gonna encounter some other felines eventually anyway, might as well do it on your terms.

Because you'll regret it for the rest of your life if you let somebody die right in front of you when you could have easily saved them.

(also as long as you're a girl for now you might as well meet your default love interest(s), it may be your only chance to try certain things)

>>331167

If you ever change back to your normal self, and you demonstrate a willingness to help and befriend them in your time as a catgirl, they may very well do the same, ignoring the fact that you're actually a human.

Further, if you have a conscience, you'll be unable to live with the guilt of knowing these innocent cat people have died, when you could've done something to help them. Their fate is in your hands, right now. You can help them. There's no one else who can. If they die, it's your fault for not helping them. And that's me speaking for your conscience. Your conscience will not allow this.

your going to need to talk to the natives sooner or later. saving there lives would be a good introduction.

>>331209

In show biz, first impressions are cheap auditions. If you make a good one, you're more likely to be trusted, and treated as an equal.

Helping them is a great way to introduce yourself as a friendly. This is a perfect opportunity to get more intel and figure out what the hell you're supposed to be doing, so seize it!

They seem to think that human = evil. If you act not-evil, then they will be more likely to think you are not-human.

>>331210
And being undercover is kind of similar to show business, except the paparazzi shoot to kill.

>>331167
I propose a third option. Watch them fight. See what they're capable of, so if you run into some you'll know if you need to run the hell away or not.

You need to help them because they need help. They aren't monsters, they're innocent people trying to protect their world. Yes, they have something against humans, but only because of what they've been told about them. If you save them, they'll trust you; then, you can find out about their culture and why they have this grudge, and maybe show them that not all humans are as bad as they think.

This is all assuming that they actually need help. Wait and see how they do against the monster first.

Ron 2011/07/25(Mon)19:24 No. 331349 ID: 897ff8
File 131164704509.png - (183.53KB , 820x681 , 74.png )

Okay okay, I get it! You guys do bring up a lot of good points. I guess I should help them since I am disguised right now. You guys better hope they don't think it's weird to see magic or anything!

Ron 2011/07/25(Mon)19:24 No. 331350 ID: 897ff8
File 131164705588.png - (105.18KB , 890x774 , 75.png )

The one named Fretz is nowhere to be seen, but I don't have time to dwell on that in the time being. I'll just blast it with the crystal like I did the last time. I wasn't really thinking of anything particular that time so maybe that's why it came out as just another plot of static crystal, but maybe if I focus with the intent to stop the monster it will do something different. Here goes.

Ron 2011/07/25(Mon)19:24 No. 331351 ID: 897ff8
File 131164707974.png - (133.38KB , 890x774 , 76.png )

The magical energy sinks down into the ground where it starts arching towards the monster like some form of ground lightning. Giant swaths of mud and dirt erupt from the ground underneath the monster. There is a crunching squish as the pillars crush the beast in its earthly inprisonment. The monster itself lets out a guttural yell before that too is cut short by its swift death.
"Wha- magic?"
Well that was different...

Go and say hi to your new friends, taking a peaceful posture.

i guess the reason it was a Crystal last time was because that was what the ground was made out of.

>"Wha- magic?"

Crap, that's what I was worried about. Don't be so hasty to approach just yet - hang back and see what she does. It may be that cat people can't normally use magic and you just gave yourself away.

>>331351
Note: You did that with the intent to 'stop' the monster. I suggest not attempting to use magic for any peaceful purposes.

Hang back and look at their reaction. If the swordsman looks like she wants to fight, just walk away.

badass. and yeah looks like you got geomancy. what it does is based on what you are standing on.

Yell at him "I'M A FUCKING WIZARD SO YOU BEST RESPECT"

>>331351
Wizzurrddd! Go give her a hand.

>>331351
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looked like he just pulverized the beast with an earth magic style Dune Worm effect.

>>331381
>geomancy
If that's true, I hope we find ourselves on an active volcano somewhere. Shit would be so cash.

Still, I think it's the lack of skill and mental discipline that's having her power show up as geomancy rather than a style of spell. It would make sense for uncontrolled magic to channel itself through the magically charged conductor of the earth, after all.

yeah, that was magic, and yeah, she's welcome.

Two things. First, your magic is intent based. Good to know. Second, you remember that last human you ran across? That's who they want to kill. They're stuck though because he's a giant immortal crystal zombie...thing. You don't want to be like him, right? You're gonna win this game. All the levels. Now with that in mind...

This is a game for you, and for that guy you heard vocalizing before he dumped you here, but not for these cat-people. They don't fold up and go back in the closet when you win or lose. Not only is this not a game for them, neither do they know it is a game for you. The last human to come around here (goddamn idiot grumble) just fucked them up and that's all they know about it. (Or, all that we know they know about it.) That means that you have some incredibly valuable information for them. You wake up in this blank void and hear a disembodied voice, and that's all you know, yet that's incredibly important. See, your predecessor may have been something of a bad cookie, but it was that voice who gave him the marble and all that magic shit. That voice "narrator" let's say is the one who decided you were going to play this game, and the one who decided that the last guy was going to play this game. Basically that voice being responsible for the practical destruction of these kitties's civilization is the true voice of their enemy.

So the question is not how do you endear yourself to some sort of beast man town. The question is how do you share this knowledge you have which exonerates both you and your ill mannered predecessor, and places the blame solidly in the one who's bringing these magic marble games into play. Once they know that you can work together to figure out what the fuck is going on, and how to avoid being trapped as a giant demon...creepy guy for all eternity. Or they might just be a bunch of inbred hicks who can't do a thing against omnipotent otherworldly disembodied narrator voices. But either way, the only way you can last long enough to make it to the end game is to convey to these people that killing you, defeating you, ending you, all those things you don't want to happen, won't get rid of their problem, which is being the dumping grounds for some overpowered hoo ha who thinks it's funny to ruin people's lives by playing a game.

Basically what I am saying is DO NOT KILL THE HAPPY TOWNSPEOPLE. You can kill those monster things though. Unless they decide to have a tea party with you instead of biting your head off. Probably good to figure out how to draw magic from their sodden corpses too. God I hope this game isn't like FF8.

>>331351
hmm so far you've only done geomancy but you didn't wish for magic that specific, so I guess now would be good time to see if you have healing magic to.

>>331628
DRAW system FTL~!

oh, and make sure you harvast the magic from the corpse.

>>331771
If you do harvest the magic, make sure you don't do it within sight of the others.

>>331628
what he said. you never really had a choice in this. you might be able to work with them instead of against them. but thats if they see though your disguise. you might be able to sell the whole apprentice who had a telport mishap thing though.

Also watch out for the guy with the bow. He's still out there somewhere and the jig may or may not be up.

Stay ready to set up a stone wall and to deliver some instant death if necessary. Just in case.

>>331815
Or just use the stone wall to block the arrows and protect yourself. We don't need enemies if it can be avoided.

Don't kill the kitties unless you run out of all other options.

Ron 2011/08/20(Sat)00:00 No. 341753 ID: 1cd566
File 131382363838.png - (426.86KB , 795x681 , 77.png )

The prone cat has some nasty cuts and gashes, but she doesn't seem to be mortally wounded or anything. She eventually manages to steadily get back up to her feet as I tentatively walk towards her to see if she needs any further help as you told me to do so.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I was just surprised. Just that mages aren't very common around here. Especially not ones strong enough to cast a spell such as that."

Ron 2011/08/20(Sat)00:00 No. 341754 ID: 1cd566
File 131382365382.png - (42.94KB , 474x657 , 78.png )

"Anyways I am forgetting my manners. My name is Kali, a warrior feline of the nearby village. What might a mage of your proficiency be doing way out here on this particular island? I doubt the reason is magical pursuit, as this land does not have much in the ways of such endeavors."
"A-ah um..."

Ron 2011/08/20(Sat)00:01 No. 341755 ID: 1cd566
File 131382366449.png - (41.92KB , 507x645 , 79.png )

"We-well you see, my master was practicing teleportation magic when something went wrong, and the next thing I knew I teleported here! I've been wandering around ever since until I found you."
"Your master must be quite powerful if he even fathomed using something as advanced as teleportation."
"Y-yeah, that's it..."
"Anyways, now where did Fretz run off to? Probably dashed straight away to hide like a scared little kitten, damn him." Suddenly speaking a lot louder, "The council will definitely hear of this if you don't come out right now, Fretz! Come out now!"

Ron 2011/08/20(Sat)00:01 No. 341757 ID: 1cd566
File 131382368181.png - (217.30KB , 701x737 , 80.png )

The sounds of brushes being parted signal the arrival of the cowardly cat as he peaks his head out from behind the tree that until now he had been hiding behind.
"Is it gone?"
Kali replies angrily, "Yes, no thanks to you, my partner! If it wasn't for this mage I wouldn't even be standing here! Have you no shame, Fretz?"
"I'm sorry, Kali. I knew I wasn't cut out for this stuff..."
Kali sighs, obviously at her wit's end with Fretz's apparent cowardice. "It doesn't matter now, everyone is safe so let us just get to town and deal with matters there."
Fretz gets out of the brushes and proceeds to get back on the path. But as he glances towards the mage his eyes grow as they pass over a certain symbol. He quickly rushes to Kali as discreetly as he could, which isn't very, and whispers into her ear as softly as he can, which isn't soft enough for Ron to not hear.
"Kali, that diamond... it's the mark of a player!"

PLAY DUMB! "player?"

Surrender. Maybe they'll like you for being humble.

play the wiser. proclaim, "it's the mark of a player !"

>>341757
Tell them it's your masters symbol. Ask what a player is.

Tell them your master gave you the bag to hold your food in

>>341767
This is a good idea. We don't know for sure how widespread the 'player' knowledge is though, so claiming complete ignorance on the matter could be a bad idea. Claiming ignorance on the symbol's significance and saying it's your master's mark is a safe move though.

ah balls. they suspect you and are probably going to try and keep you in the dark about it. if they do even basic probing questions they will probably figure out who you are, and will probably try and keep us thinking we fooled them until they stab you to death. you could try the honesty approach. explain to them that yes you are the human, but all you want is to go home. some weird ass voice dropped you here with almost no explanation, all you know is roughly the path you have to take to get home, and that something bad will probably happen to you if you don't take it.

>>341757
Play it cool and oblivious, mention that it's just something you picked up near a gory mess and you had no idea what it was but it seemed valuable so you took it. If they don't buy it and insist on trying to take you in or something then it's squish time.

If bluffing fails and the jig is up then ask if they'd like to sit down and talk things through for a while rather than resorting to anything drastic. Also soak up the magic from that thing you killed.

Things to ask are:
- What do they know about the game?
- Why are they hunting humans/players?
- Can they tell you a bit about the surrounding area?

If they DO get hostile then use your earth magic to temporarily turn the soil under their feet into deep quicksand/mud and harden it again to trap them buried chest deep in the ground. (Beware of arrows and throwing weapons though) Then you can interrogate them from a stronger position an still appeal kindly.

>>341954
I think now would not be the best time to absorb energy from corpses. Otherwise I agree.

Just tell them the truth.

>>341757
Well I don't think pretending you don't know what the symbol means will work. I mean your wearing it, it's not like you can claim your not linked to it. You should come clean. You just saved the life of one of them, and you clearly aren't hostile. If they ignore this and still attack, you'll still have the upper hand, and you'll know that whatever reason they have for hunting humans is a real big one.

Seduce Fretz.

All right, time for some faster talk... I think the important point here is to show that we're not a player and thereby deflect danger, and to avoid admitting to lying to them or being caught in significant lies, because then everything that we've said would become suspect. If they know how the spheres work, the fact that you have one should "prove" that you're not actually a player; after all, if you were a human, you couldn't maintain this form while having your orb outside your body, now could you?

Related to that, I think our story now becomes that our master sent us here, but perhaps not quite as accidentally as we claimed; we were sent intentionally and specifically to retrieve an item from some human, who we found without trouble and as it turned out was pretty much incompetent and didn't even notice us snagging it as far as we could tell.

Maintain the theoretical existence of a "master" figure, since obviously players are independents don't work for anyone else. But don't give any details aside from that he's powerful and wouldn't appreciate us talking about him much.


If bluffing screws up, there's always the truth backed up by the fact that you obviously aren't hostile or you'd have let the monster get them. That might work maybe.

If things do turn ugly, remember that magic is apparently based upon focusing your will. For example, if you will them to be trapped but uninjured, the magic should respond to that... I hope.

Hmm... New idea of what to do:
Say "Do I look like a rampaging monster to you? I've heard of these 'players', but aren't they supposed to be murderous and bizarre looking?"
Bonus points for being technically true (humans would look strange to cat people).

Ron 2011/08/21(Sun)00:17 No. 342032 ID: 1cd566
File 131391106697.png - (227.71KB , 728x738 , 81.png )

"P-player? What do you mean by that? This bag? I got this bag from my master. Long time ago, too!"

Ron 2011/08/21(Sun)00:21 No. 342035 ID: 1cd566
File 131391127764.png - (378.53KB , 728x738 , 82.png )

>The blood from the kill has now settled, the beast completely slain. An influx of magical energy is released, which swiftly gravitates to player:Ron! Ron has recovered a bit of his reserves! Magic energy UP+ !
"..."
Says the male one, "Only players can absorb magic like that..."
The female responds, "I'm sorry to treat the one who saved me with such aggression, but we are going to need to see what's in that bag of yours before we can create a conclusion."
Shit, that got shot down fast. Should I just tell them the truth and hope they don't attack me or something else?

>>342035
Just tell them the goddamn truth. Make sure they understand that you don't want to hurt them, you're confuzed as heck, and really, you'd love to help them with anything they... might need help with?

Just appear harmless and helpful.

>>342035
Well fuck. Confess everything except being a human. Say you used the sphere do get magic powers and you heard people hate players and you don't even know what that MEANS and blah blah panicky babbling.

I say cheese it while yelling that some players aren't bad, just confused humans thrown into a game they don't understand without their complete consent and have no desire for conflict. And that your just running because you know that cats hate players but just don't know why, and that you info got that from an old failed player.

Finish with that before today you didn't even think other worlds and magic was a thing. You're just a college boy turned cat-girl by mistake.

may as well come clean.

Probably best to come clean, seeing as deceit does not seem to be working for you. Also, not sure if hiding the fact that you are human will be helpful considering that further lying will make them less likely to not kill you.
You should also explain why you lied in the first place as well. You know, the very ominous conversation you overheard those two having near the lake.

Might want to also get ready to run think of some magicky way to leg it with out killing or harming them.

you don't know nearly enough to come up with a convincing lie. you might as well try the truth. yes you are a human, yes the weird ass voice that kidnapped you and dumped you in the woods called you a player, but that's almost everything you know about what is going on. you just want to get home, back to you friends and family (even if you a loner keep the friends and family line its important they see you as a person) you know broadly what direction you have to go to get home and your fairly sure something bad will happen to you if you stay here. if they press on how you know that say you found what happened to the last guy that didn't make it out, and you do not want to think about what happened to that poor bastard more than you have to.

they seem like decent people, they just happen to think that your a monstrous threat to the world. if you can convince them that your not they will probably help you.

>>342035
Use your freaky powers to restrain them, tell them you're sorry and then run away.

Avoid using your powers, as you still don't know if you can use them in non-lethal ways. Point out that fact to them.

>>342035
...

Well, honestly, that mechanic makes this whole deception kind of impossible to maintain. It's enough to make one suspect that every time you are just getting comfortable, this "game" is going to somehow screw you.

I'd say sure and toss the bag to the female. She'll catch it, which means that she won't have her hands on her sword for at least a moment or two. The male is too much of a cowardly wuss to shoot you quickly anyway. Then you'll have a few seconds to talk without being worried about them killing you before you can react.

And then you can come clean... but be ready to blast them if they're not willing to accept that you're friendly. Now that they know you're disguised as a cat person, if hostile they cannot be allowed to escape alive with that information.

Admit that you're a player, but still play dumb about the whole human thing. Claim that you've always been a cat and be adamant about it.

It may throw them for a loop and buy you some time.

Oh man, apologize as sincerely as possible and tell them that you're just trying to protect yourself. Say that you were told that everyone would be after you for reasons beyond your control and were scared they would attack. Ask if they are, because you don't want to fight them.

Ugh, Ron, if your not going to cheese it, remember to use adorable kitty eyes. Yes, maybe they're immune to it because they are cat people too but I think the magic shapeshifting power gave you an an adorable +3

because jesus christ every single time this quest comes on the first page I can't resist clicking on it to see how goddamn adorable this magic made you, I'm sorry dude if that's emasculating but if this was someone else and you could see it holy shit you could see my point.

Wow, that was really bad timing. Uh, confess truthfully that you never saw your master just heard his voice and he forced you to telport here and you don't want to blow up anybody and oh god why can't anything go right

>>342152

Inorite. I mean jeez it's like
>>341754
female, cat, person, but not cute
>>341755
female, cat, person, oh my goooodddddd

Ok, get the bag out to give to them, and say
"So, is there some way I can prove I am not out to murder everyone? Something like, say, helping people out rather than ambushing them?"

Seduce the male cat using your feminine wiles.

Immediately start pleading for your life. Just say that someone told you that everyone hates players and wants to kill them around here and that you really don't want to die.

Crying, falling to your knees, and grabbing onto one of their legs are all optional.

>>342224
Hmm, being cute and pitiful after saving their lives just might work. I think I support this plan.

Do not forget that they themselves did not seem too friendly towards players when you overheard them near the lake, so be prepared to run for it, even if you go with the aforementioned plan.

Since you all seem intent on having Ron tell them he's a player, can we at least have him give them the bag and wait a bit to see what happens first?
You could try to explain away the ability to absorb monsters magic as something your master did to you, after all, we know magic in this world is very versatile and if players are so powerful, there's a very good chance a powerful mage would make spells to mimic their abilities

Don't go spontaneously blurting anything out, but don't lie. These two don't exactly come across as hardened killers. Just say you're lost and confused and found the bag sitting here just a little while ago.

You might want to express the gravity of the situation on these two as well. I mean with all the "players" and "game" terms they go on about it's like they think you're doing this for fun. For all you know you've been unexpectedly taken from your home and thrust into an incredibly lethal situation with no real idea of why or what's going on. If this has happened to other people then you can kind of understand why they've freaked out.

Bluffing your way into some information also didn't work out, but there's no reason you can't be allies for the greater good.

Suggestion 2011/08/24(Wed)07:43 No. 342668 ID: b6ca92
File 131419699544.png - (611.49KB , 1500x1600 , catdwarf.png )

Since there is no questdis, I'll just leave this here.

>>342668

Oh god the end times are upon us.

Tell them you don't know what a player is, and you could do that practically since you were born.

>>342668
The multiplication of a cat combined with the DORFness of a dwarf... No sock is safe!

Ron 2011/08/25(Thu)11:00 No. 342893 ID: 307ae5
File 131429521615.png - (56.57KB , 725x396 , 83.png )

I don't think running now would be the greatest of ideas. That basically gives them a reason to actively hunt me down again. They don't look completely ready to jump on me just yet, so that's always a plus, right?
"O-okay, I'll give you the bag, just don't hurt me."
>The bag is tossed over to the female feline who opens it up. Upon seeing what is inside, Fretz exclaims,
"Wait, the orb is right here! There's no way she could be a player, only humans can become players. But I don't understand, then how are you able to absorb magic like that?"
"Ah, that's also because of my m-master! You see, he always wanted to make something as powerful as a player and I was his test subject!"
>Ron holds his breath hoping they will bite on this lie better than they did the previous one. To his surprise, they seem to ease up a bit, evidently believing his tale. However, Kali interjects with another question.
"That may be so, but where did you get all of this?" She says referring to the pouch full of goodies.
"I-I found them. Just lying on the ground."
"That means the real player is still out there, albeit without an orb. We need to report that to headquarters. If what you are saying is true, then I believe it would be within your best interest to come with us. A mage of your special background could assist us in finding the real one. What do you say, ahh... I believe I never got your name?"

Gertrude!

Rawn
Closer to your actual name makes it easier to remember.

Ron...a?

>>342899
The perfect hidden-identity. Do it.

Rawn or Dawn or something.

Rhianna?

>>342899
hahahahah this

yeah. and while walking explain how you have heard all about how powerful and dangerous they could be, but never heard about what they did. so as it stands now you kinda want to meet one.

Oh I think I have an idea. The biggest hole in your story right now is your near total ignorance of the world. What if the master from your story wasn't just teaching you but using you as an experiment? You don't know much because this is the first time you've been out of the tower/complex/whatever. don't come out and say anything unless they ask, but if you can imply that you were being raised in confinement for use in magical research(keep in mind you in this story you don't know enough about the world for your masters treatment of you to seem strange) it would explain why you don't have allot of common knowledge.

>>342920
If you do this, you could pass of having the name Ron as not knowing you aren't male too, might even be able to get them to refer to you as male.

>>342937
If they bring it up, ask "What is a male?"
Hope they don't attempt to demonstrate.

Also, ask for the bag and orb back.

This >>342899 because clearly this cannot and will not backfire in any way, shape or form.

No sense in lying. Just because Ron is an inherently male name in, er... an empty white void, doesn't mean it is in made up experimenting mage land.

Really though, I say the thing to do is push the ignorance sympathy angle. Just shrug and blink and let them give you a name. People always feel more sympathetic to things they get to name.

>>343028
This might not be a bad idea.

You can just say that you were either pointed at or called apprentice when something was needed of you.

>>342893
Yeah after giving them a name of some sort, ask that while you know of players, you don't know what they've really done to the world to make them so reviled and hunted down like dogs. From what your master has told you about them, some are pulled out of their home without knowing consent to participate in some weird game. Explain that you've been raised pretty much in isolation with your hermit wizard master and don't understand much about people or the world and your master saw fit to let you go and grow.

If anyone asks for the name of your Master, just say you've always called him "Doc" since you were little. He's a doctor, you don't know much else. It's always been "Doc" and he's one of those weird mysterious hermit wizards.

>>342920
This is reasonable, but to make it work should not be stated explicitly. Just keep it in mind as a background to things you say and do.

>>342937
>>342975
That is totally ridiculous.

>>343247
If we're not going to give an actual name, then saying that we just call him "Master" is pretty much fine already.

And I really don't think that sharing our fake life story is the best move. The more we say, the more opportunities there will be to introduce holes into our story accidentally due to our own ignorance and thereby fuck up.

>>343248
>And I really don't think that sharing our fake life story is the best move. The more we say, the more opportunities there will be to introduce holes into our story accidentally due to our own ignorance and thereby fuck up.

Yup. We can play the part of the socially ignorant boy who is sorta shy and sorta suspicious of everyone, all due to having next to no 'human' contact.

Hey, Ron, when was the last time you've eaten?
Make a mention that you haven't eaten anything all day, it may help with the endearing process.

>>342897

Rowan. It's a type of tree, it's a surname, and it's an acceptable girl's name.

Oooh 'nother idea, how about "apprentice"? It'd fit in with the whole experiment thing?

>>343703
This works too. I'm still for the anxious mutter-fidget route though.

Nora!