...okay.

NOW start talking to it since you are completely defenseless and have no other choice.

Bah, I guess you're not nearly as lithe as the thing gave you credit for. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Yeriko 2011/08/17(Wed)13:10 No. 340937 ID: e1359e
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>"The intruder shakes with fear, I will not eat it. I and my entourage were well satiated by the last one."

I can not think of much beyond my right foot and ankle being numb, and my face feeling heavy with blush.

I become accustomed to hanging upside down after a few seconds.

>"I am Ranya, Queen of the Cenotes, Ruler of the Underworld. I see that the intruder carries the Capstone of the Forest Dolmen. If it wishes to leave this world, then it will see BOTH of its rulers."

Gosh,the Forest Hag has no dominion over the caves, it seems!

>"Why should I allow this furry pest to continue its meaningless quest?"

What do I say?

mew innocently. she will be rendered powerless whilst dawwing

>>340938
Cute kitty approach is best approach.

Protest that your quest isn't meaningless, then explain how terribly important it is.

Part of me thinks that tugging at the heartstrings of a hideous underworld monstrosity isn't going to work, though.

>>340937
Because you're doing it for your family. If this creature is truly a Queen then it understands the concept of family.

If you have to, sweeten the deal by accepting quest hooks.

>>340937
I don't see any reason not to tell it you're doing this to bring back your son.

Yeriko 2011/08/17(Wed)18:07 No. 341014 ID: e1359e
File 131362962744.jpg - (119.80KB , 800x600 , page62.jpg )

>>340938
>>340993

"Great Cave Queen, I am on a qu-quest to restore the life of my son which was unjustly taken! It is a quest for the love of my family. As a Queen, surely you must know well the ties of family!"

>"The intruder is neither Darfa nor Yurfa. It is not of this world. It has taken the totem of web and leaf."

I recognize the mention of spider's web and a leaf, "Yes! I did eat web wrapped in a leaf in order to come to this world!"

>"It barks carelessly in the face of royalty, but I forgive its ignorance one time only. I know the ties of family, as I rule this world with my sister, the Forest Queen. The leaf and web are symbols of our dominion and sisterhood."

"Great Queen of the Caves, I am trapped in the Underworld, and I must return the rock to the surface. I pray that you find my quest suitable to resume, and that you may help me return to where I once was."

>"Its quest is selfish, but not so much as the most that I have heard. There are a million shattered people with dead sons who would benefit from what you seek. I shall send word to The Forest Queen that you approach, but you shall depart with a task."

accept mewingly

Say that you would be honored to serve the Queen.

>>341014
"But of course, a task of favor is only fitting in a quest."

Yeriko 2011/08/19(Fri)20:40 No. 341693 ID: e1359e
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>"It is trapped here unless I carry it to a higher place. It is permitted to touch the Queen of the Cenotes welcomely, if only for now."

I am unsure of what Queen Ranya means until she turns her back to me and lowers her abdomen to the floor.

Gosh, I have never ridden a giant cave spider before! It is a dizzying venture!

Yeriko 2011/08/19(Fri)20:45 No. 341695 ID: e1359e
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I am deposited into a chamber high in the ceiling of the cave. The walls are completely covered with matted web. The Previous Adventurer is sitting here on the floor.

Gosh, the smell of this small chamber is rancid. There is the smell of rotting flesh as well as something unfamiliar, but still horrible. It is a much stronger iteration of an odor that permeated the larger cave. It helps slightly to breath through my mouth, but it is pungent enough as to taste it as well.

>>341695
Ask permission to LOOT EVERYTHING. It's only polite. Plus, she's bigger than you.

Uhh... take stone, see if that mace(?) is serviceable, read map/not, examine backpack... discard dildo.

acquire dildo and use skull in your ventriloquist act

(inspect loose paper and contents of pack)

>>341695
Examine club, map, bag and stone. They are the only items there that you should pay any mind to.

Hey, a backpack. Check out what's in it. Also we're gonna need it to carry stuff.

Yeriko 2011/08/21(Sun)19:12 No. 342177 ID: e1359e
File 131397913279.jpg - (304.48KB , 800x600 , map.jpg )

>examine map

Gosh, I can not make heads or tails of this map.

>club

This mace is bent, but otherwise in good condition. It weighs 3 KG.

>stone

This is the ANGRY LOOKING ROCK. It looks the same as before, still moist.

Yeriko 2011/08/21(Sun)19:30 No. 342180 ID: e1359e
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Typo corrected by magic

>backpack

With this, I can carry an additional 5 KG.

As I bend down to pick up the backpack, I notice the source of the familiar and pungent smell! I recognize the pink object is a STINK HORN MUSHROOM. It appears to be wrapped in leaves or vines.

The backpack's contents are as follows:

- A brick of yellow some yellow, chalky substance wrapped in clear paper
- Some old food rations wrapped in cloth
- A thick card stock with letters cut into it
- A set of small keys
- A napped stone shiv
- A bottle of murky liquid with its label torn off
- A necklace
- A pair of red goggles
- A pad of paper
- A shred of cloth

Some of the items in the backpack are stained with a bluish-purple substance. The backpack itself is not at all stained.

I understand the map, but it's not something that is applicable at the moment. And, well, Yeriko, it's hard for me to break this for you but...

...That ain't a Stink Horn Mushroom

>>342180
"Couldn't choke me." This person must've won all the stinkhorn eating contests. She didn't even have to chew!

Lick the bluish purple substance.

I would suggest you poke the mushroom to see if it is in fact a mushroom and not some sort of plastic imitation.

Well, now that we looted this dude, weren't we supposed to be meeting some kinda somebody or something?

>>342180
Read label on yellow chalky substance.

Yeriko 2011/08/24(Wed)10:44 No. 342684 ID: e1359e
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>>342215
Gosh, I need to dismiss these bizarre licking thoughts! Licking unknown substances is dangerous.

>>342217
I poke the pink phallic object, revealing that it is indeed spongy and fungus-like. Gosh, that smell!

Yeriko 2011/08/24(Wed)10:47 No. 342685 ID: e1359e
File 131420804580.jpg - (243.15KB , 800x600 , page67.jpg )

>>342296
Well, this is a bit odd.

>"The messenger of the forest has been alerted of the furry creature's presence at the dolmen. It may leave the cave now before I grow hungry again."

How much of this should I take? I figure that the backpack was full, so it all weighs about 5 KG.

take goggles yellow thing necklace and potion. and i guess the notebook. then hurry to the exit.

Take/Wear Goggles and necklace, take paper pad and food for later perusal/use, ignore scraps of things, the 'potion', and the catalyst. Seems useless and/or dangerous.

>>342695
I disagree, potions and chemicals, while dangerous, are often harder to find and of greater value than substandard and mostly degraded weapons or food. The goggles can of course be worn about the neck, and I suppose the flint shiv could he useful for cutting ropes and the like, as well as being easily concealed.

Oh and if you can eat any of the food, now would be a good time to find out, easier to carry in one's belly than outside.

Take the backpack, food, goggles, and the potion. Shouldn't be too heavy for someone with your weak frame.

>>342180

Take the shred of cloth and wrap it around the shiv. Stick covered shiv into one of your sock.

Wear goggles on head. Take the set of keys and attach them to the necklace, then wear it around your neck, under your shirt to minimize jingling.

Go ahead and just take everything else in the pack and deal with it later. It all can't be that heavy, can it?

Yeriko 2011/08/28(Sun)10:58 No. 343389 ID: e1359e
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Ranya leads me further through the webbed chamber and reveals a slope that I would probably have never seen on my own.

>"It will be a hero if it survives its task. The previous intruder failed, but succeeded in providing a meal for myself and my kin."

She feels around, taking in her surroundings with her wispy feelers.

>"Prey was once plentiful in the cenotes, but has dwindled since the hot sludge began to obstruct the tunnels. It filled the water and plastered the cave walls, killing the fish and bats that once fed my court. This slope will lead the furry intruder back to the surface, where the sun stings my sightless eyes, and it will see the Messenger of the Forest."

Is there anything that I should say before I go? Anything that I should take? Gosh, I do not think that I want to come back down here after I leave.

Ask where the hot sludge came from. Wouldn't it be cool if we could get rid of it?

>>343389
Yes. Dealing with sludge sounds like a thing you should do.

>>343389
Thanks, of course. Remember your manners, young cat-thing.

Inquire about the hot sludge. Maybe we can get some brownie points with the GCS's. And don't forget to say thanks; we don't want to look rude, now.

I think it'd be proper to attempt to 'help' this evil villainous monstrosity. Ask about the sludge and from whence it came, etc etc.

Yeriko 2011/09/04(Sun)15:07 No. 345498 ID: e1359e
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"Where did the sludge come from?"

>"It began as thing residue in the most outward reach of the cenotes, but began to come in further and faster with time. It is hot and noxious."

"What can I do about it?"

>"I do not care how it completes its task, but it must be done if it wants the approval of my sister, the Forest Witch. It left without more questions. I tired of its yowling."

Yeriko 2011/09/04(Sun)15:09 No. 345500 ID: e1359e
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That was all that I needed to hear to get right out of there fast! This webbed tunnel is very easy to climb. The web begins to grow more sparse toward the top, and I smell something new.

Yeriko 2011/09/04(Sun)15:11 No. 345501 ID: e1359e
File 131517431694.jpg - (216.24KB , 800x600 , page71.jpg )

Gosh, I must be a lot further in the forest now! There is a strange smell in the air. It is not strong, but it has a sickly odor. I am not quite sure how to describe it. Perhaps like a tanner's workshop?

Well, at least it is fresher than in the cave, and does not smell like stinkhorn anymore.

Gosh, who is this messenger of the forest supposed to be?

>"SQUAWK!"

It began as 'thing residue'? Well the Queen below wasn't exactly much help considering we were basically asking how we could help with removing the sludge that's been causing her so much ill. Well whatever. Time to see what Toucan Sam wants.

move squawkways.

>>345501
I imagine it's probably our old friend noisy bird. Probably going to tell us what to do after we've anointed the dolmen.

Yeriko 2011/09/07(Wed)20:19 No. 346465 ID: e1359e
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I can not see the bird anywhere. Gosh, I would think that it would be easier since it

OW GOSH

>"YOU SHALL NOT LEAVE YOUR LITTER IN THE FOREST."

Oh, the book! Check it out. What is that yellow stuff?

Also say that you weren't leaving it! You just couldn't bring it down with you.

read it.

Shout out a question to the Guardian of the Forests. "But what about Forest Fires? Who can possibly prevent them?!"

And then most definitely examine the book and see if there's any new info in it.