5/9 Tanna/Squeaks 2026/05/10(Sun)23:38 No. 1126605 ID: c94bae
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...I do whatever it is that I do and silence him again. Dammit, why is he able to rattle me so badly? They’re just words. They should just be words. But he does know about me…

>that prison scenario where you want to, uh, get revenge on the Theotians... it REEKS of a manipulative setup, ripe for mistaken assumptions and a dramatic Gotcha!

I don’t know, can something that painful, something that evokes such anger and fear in me be manipulated?

...

Okay, don’t answer that. I guess what I more mean is, even if it is manipulated, the emotions are there, and they’re very visceral. This bitter hatred and my feelings towards this blinding prison… they aren’t fake.

>Also: you have a daily use of 'you or someone nearby does really well or really poorly at something once a day' from your Primordial magic. You can use that on your mental fortitude and safely navigating those torture-memories, but maybe try it at the end of the day, right before you rest?

I uh… I’m not sure what you’re talking about at all in regards to this. I trust your word that it’s real, but I’m not feeling any sort of effect that’s like that. If it’s still around though at the end of the day, do you think you could help me use it on… well… should I even try to navigate those memories?

Eh, I can think about that later. I’m still on the ground. Mina’s chatting with Evel’yee some distance from me, though they do pass a glance my way. I give them a quick wave. Seems that talking with Bakoth is a lot quicker than a normal conversation, but still not as quick parsing and responding to what you all have to say.

>So, do you sometimes perceive us as text, sometimes as sound? Or sometimes narrated text? How does that work on your end?

It’s usually just silent text, though I’m not sure how exactly I parse it all so efficiently. It’s formatted too, which sort of helps with recognizing some of you? And sometimes the text links to other bits of text through numbers, and if I try to I can remember exactly what was messaged. It’s a little hard to know the exact time of when it was sent though. There’s a sort of feeling I can sense in general from the most recent batch too. Like, before learning fully that something happened to Vax and Jacob, I was getting a sense of urgency from it. I didn’t immediately open those messages to learn what it was though, I had paced myself. Likewise, Fox, you sent a giant message that has a lot of questions. I’ve gotten a little lost looking within sometimes, but I’ve read it. I know you wanna test out the limitations of sending messages, I do too. I’ll try to get to everything, though there’s going on.

You know, it’s funny about all that. There have been times you’ve managed to catch me off guard. Remember when you blared an alarm in my head while I was getting all sad and shit? I hadn’t expected that at all. Same with you sending that sound message to Mina. I don’t really get how you work in that regard, you send messages in bursts but that felt very reactive.

>Oh, all this talk of names. You know what? We gave you tanna together. I gave you slinky. You can name me whatever you like and ill wear it. Possibly with pride.

So, I know it’s a bit of an interjection, but I don’t want to leave you hanging on this. You’re Trip, right? From >>/questarch/1084069? I remember someone giving you the pony name of ‘Rain Buzzer’ from >>/questarch/1101830. I can always tell it’s you, you have an extremely distinctive way of formatting the text you send me.

Get to name you anything, huh? Remember Fart? Hmm… no, no I’m joking, ‘lol’. Did I uh… did I use that phrase right? Nah, but honestly, I always appreciate whatever you have to say, I’d like to keep calling you Trip if that’s okay. (Maybe Rain Buzzer too if you’d prefer that.)

“Hey Tanna, you doing alright? C’mon, come over here! Eve wants to show us something!”

Ah, well there goes the moment. You all can see what I mean though. Our conversations are very quick. Even as I’m standing up, I can narrate like this. Mina and Evel’yee were likely only waiting for me for a few seconds there. Anyways, time to get social.

Private Conversation

>Heya squeaks. Lookin good pardner. Real spirit sherriff look youre rockin.

Hah, I’ve been trying to think of a name for myself besides ‘Aspect’. I’ll wear that for now pardner.

>Hey, im glad it worked out that you get to keep your personhood,
>I still think youd have made a cool familiar, but thats probably a big step.

That’d’ve been an odd one, familiarhood. I dunno if I’m ready to decide on a form yet…

>If im on to something sherriff squeaks, just tip yer hat as you mosey on by.

Oh I’ll do more than tip my hat towards you. I streamline a lot with Tanna understanding the messages you send, but she can focus on them individually to really visualize in her head the actual text. A third eye’s a good way to describe things, it’s a very quick process too. I push priority on certain things based on what she and you are feeling, but I do try to nudge it in a way that’s hopefully more interesting for you all to read. Messages towards others is a LOT slower though, so be careful about relying on that in more time sensitive scenarios.

>Aspect: Why is the stat sheet censored? Her second Talent is basically unreadable. Is the red tape getting in the way? Can you give us any hints on what it does? I suppose we'll figure it out eventually via it triggering without us meaning to, or maybe it'll gradually reveal itself.

Yeah, there’s some red tape behind it, but the first one was meant to be a test. Gauging things. You’re completely right about the Darkness bit, I’ll go ahead and uncover most of it since there’s no real point in hiding it anymore.

As for the second talent, I don’t have liberty to say much. It’s meant to be hidden and likely won’t be revealed in full for a while, but I was given permission to tell you all in the case that you did ask: It has happened twice already in Chapter 1. Good luck with that, sending you all back to Tanna.

Returning back to Tanna

6/9 Tanna 2026/05/10(Sun)23:39 No. 1126606 ID: 8894ef
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Standing up, I make my way over to the two of them. Mina gestures towards me while Evel’yee meets my gaze. I’m not attempting to hide it anymore, I meet her sharp glance back. It’s hard not to feel something coming from it. Suspicion, analyzation, competition… did she really take a look into my pack last night? As I’m wondering about that… “Yeah, you see what I mean?”

“Weren’t kidding. Those’re black as night.” Evel’yee says gruffly, still gauging me.

She wants to say something, I know she does. She’s holding her tongue though. “Yeah. Looks like you got something else you wanna say.”

“Nah, just thinking. Seeing in the dark’ll probably be useful.” Evel’yee says casually before nodding and facing away from me. With a side glance at the two of us, she places a hand on the string of her bow. “Should have a pow-wow on what we’re each capable of now, but check this shit out.”

Mina and I give each other a quick glance before observing Evel’yee. Satisfied with that, she takes a deep breath through her nose. Some seconds pass until she erupts with a sudden burst of violence, her bow is drawn instantly as she pulls back…

EVEL’YEE USES A POINT OF FOCUS AND ACTIVATES RAPID SHOT.

>EVEL’YEE’S ATTACK: 9(4[Dexterity] + 3[Roll] + 2[Combat Modifier] + 1[Size] + 1[Weapon Focus] - 2[Rapid Shot]) > 8(5[Base] + 3[Center]) = SUCCESS

>EVEL’YEE’S RAPID SHOT: 13(4[Dexterity] + 7[Roll] + 2[Combat Modifier] + 1[Size] + 1[Weapon Focus] - 2[Rapid Shot]) > 8(5[Base] + 3[Center]) = SUCCESS

The first shot flies unerringly through the air, but she doesn’t stop. Even as the arrow is mid-flight, her hand rushes to the quiver strapped on her back. In less than a second is the arrow snapped and drawn, zooming through the air just behind its sibling as two satisfying thunks can be heard one after the other. It’s hard to tell with all the arrows already stuck in it, but those looked like surefire shots.

“Twins 'prove.” Evel’yee laughs and grins at us with a snarl. There’s a bit of a shaky underlying pant to it though. “Fuck, that’s a good rush, but it sure as shit takes it out of me.”

“Wowza! I didn’t even see you draw a second arrow, that’s incredible Eve!” Mina says praisingly while giving some claps.

It was kiiiinnnnd of cool. “Can you do it again?”

“I think I could get another one going if I really needed to. Did it earlier this morning while you were off snoozin’ and Mina doing the meditation thing she does. Took a bit to recover from that, would’ve prolly be better to save it.” Evel’yee relaxes her stance and grip on her bow and faces us fully. With a wicked grin, she says, “Love showing off though. Gimme a little, love to see how it’d work on a live target.”

Sheesh, bloodythirsty thing. I shouldn’t really be the one judging that though. Mina, ignoring that, asks, “What’re you doing there exactly? That’s not just simple practice, right?”

This mousling simply gives a curt shrug. “No clue. Something with my Soul if I had to guess. I’m def’ feeling more accurate than before, that’s practice paying off with the eddie. Moving my hands like that though, firing two shots all quick like? Is something else, like I’m reaching for something that wasn’t there before, an intense sort of focus. Had been feeling it for a while, but when I woke up today it just felt… ‘different’.”

“On the topic of feeling different in general, Tanna was asking if I could explain edification some. Especially since her Winds are a bit unfamiliar with our world.”

“Eh? Whatcha mean by that?” Evel’yee asks.

7/9 Tanna 2026/05/10(Sun)23:40 No. 1126607 ID: 9e9873
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Oh, how to explain? Well, “I think most of them aren’t from around here. They don’t know a lot of concepts.”

“What, like Outsiders? Celestials ‘n shit?” That’s not a bad line to follow actually. Wonder why I didn’t initially think that myself.

“No, I don’t think so. They speak about things from where they’re from that I’ve got no clue about, but they don’t understand other really basic concepts like edification. They’re even asking about the definition of a what a Theotian.”

Mina excitedly waves her hands at us. “Ooh oh! That’s no good, maybe I can help explain some stuff! With how all of us edified throughout the night too, and what you’ve said about them ‘picking’ for you Tanna, perhaps some understanding might help everyone.”

Goodness what a dork, haha. “They certainly have some questions lined up. Start with edification though.”

“Can do! Okay, so to begin with, Edification.” Mina takes a deep breath and gesticulates with her hands at each of us. “We all just experienced it. It’s a process involving souls. Keep in mind everything I’m about to say is very theoretical since examining and researching souls is very difficult, they sort of exist outside of the natural Weave. To begin with, every living creature has a Soul! Bugs, grass, trees, animals, people! Souls are very important, and it’s all a part of this great big cycle of life, death, and rebirth everyone on Aldebaran goes through. Throughout the process of living, though there’s some debate on that, a Soul can grow stronger, become larger. How it becomes stronger isn’t one hundred percent understood, but there’s some correlatory evidence that overcoming harrowing experiences and dedicating oneself to training will allow a Soul to expand. Most creatures, and I mean beings like trees, plants, and small animals, will not experience edification during their lifetime. This is a process more often associated with more complex living beings such as people or animals.”

“What do you mean by expand?” I ask her.

“So imagine your Soul as a container. As a person lives and gains experience, their Soul is constantly growing and more energy is constantly filling it. This energy is often called Manah, and pretty much everything generated it. Lifting a hoe to till a field, swinging a sword, cooking a meal and then eating said meal? All of these actions embody your intrinsic self, who you are, and you become ever so slightly stronger for it. It’s minimal, but this accumulation will generally lead to a person experiencing edification once during their young adult years. All that energy pushes up against the boundaries of a person’s Soul and causes expansion, what we felt today.”

“This sudden expansion is dramatic, the Soul suddenly undergoing an explosive shift. It can be felt, you feel the vigor of life coursing through you. Oftentimes this changes is an adaption of your surroundings, and you gain abilities to unconsciously manipulate the Weave around you. Sometimes those ways are even unique solely to you. Evel’yee’s supernatural speed with drawing her bow earlier is likely due to her constant training, an evolution of herself. But there’s other general effects that everyone will also experience. You LITERALLY become harder to kill, your senses growing sharper than before, the manipulations of your body more natural and fluent. There have been incredible people who have edified multiple times that have survived terrible, TERRIBLE wounds. Having their hearts ripped out, flesh flensed from their body, all due to how powerful their Souls are. You likely won’t live long without your heart though, but the Soul will burn itself hard to keep you alive for as long as it possibly can.”

“Remember the tales of Neth and Hindronolkin.” Evel’yee quips in the middle of Mina’s explanation, not that she seems to mind. I dunno who they’re talking about but Mina does a little dance when Evel’yee mentions them.

“Oh, oh! Don’t I ever! I don’t know how, but the Valsharess having Hindronolkin’s heart in her hand and crushing it in front of him only for him to ignore it and still take her out! Then Vanaya, right as he’s about to close his eyes whispers to him…”

“It’s one-hundred percent bullshit Mina, there’s no chance all that actually happened.”

“Can we get back on track? Edification? Intrinsic part of who you are?”

Evel’yee chuckles at that, and Mina reigns herself in. “Right, yeah. Sorry. So, Tanna, you’re all shadowy and stuff. That’s a key part of who you are, either during this life or a previous one.”

Spiders, Death, Fate… Wind. All of those possibly. “A previous one, how’s that possible? Isn’t the Soul ‘erased’ during the Journey? …Oh, can you explain that for the Winds too?”

“Sure. So, generally. Yes. Living things die, and their Soul, having no body to inhabit, will enter something called the Journey. For you all Winds, this is our version of reincarnation, I’m sure you’ve got something like it. Our Theotians maintain the order and protection of the world by using our Souls. We talked about it last night, Tanna, but when we do ‘Good’, ‘Evil’, ‘Law’, or ‘Chaos’ actions, we accumulate these energies into our Souls. Keep in mind these karmic energies are different from Manah. While a normal flesh and blood being will find it difficult to actually utilize said energies, a lotta smart people believe these energies help a Soul more easily edify. A reward from the Theotians. Souls, even unedified ones, can hold a LOT of these energies.”

“Back to the original point, when a creature dies, their Soul enters the Journey. Excess energies are ‘wrung’ out from it, including ‘all’ of the experiences it went through during its life. Manah and karma. We don’t exactly know why, but we’re fairly certain beings called ‘Outsiders’ are created from these energies. Angels, Demons, Agathions, Devils, and more. They can be called upon with certain spells, but that’s another discussion. This process, cleaning the Soul of the energies and experiences of its life, sets it up to then be re-used. Every Soul, part of something new in their next life. But even through this process, it’s thought that some qualities of a Soul cannot be erased. The inner most core of their being. The true self. Sometimes this quality is greater than others.”

“W-What do you mean?” I ask. There’s… something calling to me. Like some sort of echo deep inside.

“Souls are unique. They can be made anew through copulation occasionally, but more often than not, a cleansed Soul that’s gone through the Journey will inhabit a concepted newborn. That means that some Souls are old. Very old. This is more… religious belief on my part, but there’s some evidence to it, old experiments suggesting people trying to track a Soul throughout the process. But part of Cassilda’s ideology is that there’s always a portion of a being, a Soul, that cannot be erased. That some small part of them is retained throughout their various lives, and those qualities make themselves apparent in one way or another.”

“Heh, that my quality? Always meant to be a fucking bitchy runt?”

Mina shakes her head at Evel’yee and says reaffirmly, “No, I think you’ve got a defiant Soul Eve. One that’ll stand up to any amount of adversity and come out on top.”

“And… me?”

“Well… I dunno! Spiders, Shadows, Death, Fate, Wind. It’s certainly a bit of a mish-mash of things that’d be core to who you are as a person, whether in this life or another. I’d have said you were related to the Theotian known as the Shadow Weaver in some way if it were just shadow alone, but those other qualities are strange, I don’t really know what they’d correlate to. They’re very specific things to embody too.”

“What’re you talking about?” Evel’yee asks with a tilt of her head. I realize we haven’t told her about this yet.

“The Winds chose my edification. They chose for me to be something called a ‘Shadow Minstrel’, but there were others.”

“Seriously? Spiders and death? Fate too? Bit of a freak, you some kinda eye cultist?” Evel’yee says…

Did this little scrat did just suggest I’m a worshipper of that false god? “No, Evel’yee. Don’t you ever fucking relate me to those pieces of shit again if you know what’s good for you.”

“Hey, where the fuck’s that coming from bi-” Evel’yee begins, but Mina puts a hand up and waves it at her.

“Hey, we each got our own things, no need to blow up over misunderstandings. Tanna, chill out.” The Cassildite lectures at me.

“Shov-...” I… ugh, what am I doing? Just did the same damn thing she did last night. Calming myself down, I start to apologize. “I didn’t mean that, sorry.”

Evel’yee sits there looking at me, I struggle to meet her gaze. She rolls her eyes and shrugs. “It’s whatever. No big deal.”

We sit there for a little before Mina breaks the silence. “Anyways, the fact that we all edified at once. Throughout my explanation, do you really think we all just ‘happened’ to edify together? The chances we were all equally close to breaking that barrier?”

“Does seem pretty fucking odd, but we did just go through some shit. How weird is it really?”

“Lemme reiterate. At the same time, with all this weird stuff happening, and this sudden introduction of these otherworldly Winds that decided Tanna’s edification? No, there’s something absolutely offputting about all this. It’s my job to read signs like this… we’ve GOT to let others know what’s going on.”

I… don’t like that. The idea of letting others know what’s going on, specifically who Mina considers ‘others’. Gotta think about that later. For now, a change in subject. “I get that, but there’s a way to go still. Evel’yee mentioned earlier about figuring out what we’re capable of. The Winds have got some things they wanna say, and they want to test what they’re capable of too. You mind if we experiment a little?”

“Um… sure?”

“Yeah, what’s this entail?”

“So, there’s a few things, but I’ll let ‘em explain.”

8/9 Tanna 2026/05/10(Sun)23:42 No. 1126609 ID: 83feff
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>Hi Tanna and others! This is the Wind, Fox. I'm going to be doing some tests to see if we can be useful for passing messages! I'm going to try different permutations of including and excluding others from chat, and testing how far from Tanna we can still talk to you all!

Evel’yee’s ears perk up, but Mina seems to have gotten used to you all doing that. “Well, alrighty. They really can send messages like this? No sound, just some kinda telepathy?”

“That they can. The potential’s fairly strong, don’t you think?”

“Sure is.”

“But yes, they want to run some tests. Mind spending a bit going back and forth while answering some questions they have?”

Mina gives me a thumbs up while Evel’yee nods and says, “Do it up.”

>if we can be a sort of budget telepathy with others sub-vocalizing

Taking some paces towards the target Evel’yee was shooting at, say about… 15 feet from the two of them, try it out Winds. Can you re-iterate my thoughts to them? Evel’yee, if you can read this, can you move behind Mina?

Sorry, I can’t rewrite Tanna’s thoughts to others like that. Only things you all have written.

Hmm… she’s not moving, just staring at me awkwardly. “Anything?” They shake their heads at me. I guess you’re not capable of that. That’s fair. Maybe you just can’t send messages this far away?

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>What is the most complex non-magical technology that anyone can think of.

“Oh hey, I got that!” Mina calls out.

“Yeah, me too!”

“So it’s gonna be these kinda questions?”

“Yeah, they wanna know about our world.”

“I’d go with these things called spectacles! They’ve been rolling them out recently, they’re these little pieces of super clear glass you stick next to your eyes. Apparently some people don’t have perfect eyesight, and they help!”

“There’s these special slings I’ve been wanting to try! I think they’re kinda magical though? You don’t gotta be able to cast spells to use ‘em though! There’s flintlocks, I know some fools that got some! They look complex as hell, haven’t gotten a chance to really look at one though!”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>How advanced are mechanical devices?

“Advanced?! What do you mean?! Compared to what I guess?!”

“We got clocks and stuff! They’re cool! They push a buncha little bits around to keep track of time!”

“Hey, are you gonna keep throwing more questions at us?! It’s kind of a pain to yell!”

“Yeah, they got a ton! Hold on though, lemme try some quick things really quick, I’ll be back over!”

I step towards the target, a good distance back…

30 feet.

Try it Winds, send one out.

>To Mina, in reference to “They’re pretty flirty, calling me kitty cat like that.”:
>Uh... Am I? ...Sure... I will take it!

There’s a little bit of a delay this time before she responds. “Yeah!! Though thinking about how you all might not be from here, calling an amurrun ‘Kitty Cat’ is very flirtatious!!”

I take a few more steps further back, still able to see them.

40 feet.

>To Mina:
>You seem like the kind of girl that doesn't need to be reminded of how beautiful you are but if you want to hear someone say it I'm your guy.

I’m waiting... “ANYTHING?!”

“NO!”

Alright, so there is some range. Lemme get closer and try something else. I step near the target and pick it up, I should be within range of when you were able to send messages earlier. Using the target, I hold it up in front of my face.

“What’re you doing, Tanna?!”

“Hold on!” Try again.

>To Mina:
>You seem like the kind of girl that doesn't need to be reminded of how beautiful you are but if you want to hear someone say it I'm your guy.

I wait for them again, I’m positive Mina would react to that as soon as she got it, but nothing again. I gotta assume the message didn’t arrive. I put the target back in the crook of the rocks and head back to the duo.

“Sorry, was testing if I could send within certain ranges, and whether I needed to be able to see you or not.” I say to them as I arrive.

“Ah, so there are some limitations. That’s handy to know though.”

Alright alright, go ahead and send it Winds. Bet Evel’yee would find the context funny too.

>To Mina (and Evel’yee):
>You seem like the kind of girl that doesn't need to be reminded of how beautiful you are but if you want to hear someone say it I'm your guy.
>>1123672

“Oh gosh those handsome eyes again, ahahahaha! Was that what they were trying to send the entire time?”

Evel’yee on the other hand recoils in confusion. “What the fuck was that?”

“It’s a projection of what one of the Winds looks like, though I’m pretty sure it’s a drawing. That’s how we appear to them too.”

“Eh? We’re being drawn for them?”

“Yup. They can send sounds too.” Spook her real quick for me Winds. I turn to Mina casually. “Funnily enough they weren’t sending the projection with it earlier.”

>To Evel’yee:
>(trombone noises)

While Evel’yee jumps in the air, Mina puts the back of her hand on her chin and bends forward. She notices Evel’yee and giggles. “Goodness, did you get her with a sound too Tanna?”

I give her a bit toothy smirk as an answer. Gets another laugh out of her. “Well to respond to you Winds, please do! I’ll never get tired of being told I’m pretty, ‘specially not from a well-drawn fella such as yourself. Doing good there Eve?”

“Assholes. They can definitely send noises.” The mouse, dusting herself off and trying not to look a little shaken, turns to Mina and says, “Also you’re a fucking dork.”

“I know! What can I say, attention is addictive.” Mina says, shifting sideways a little and giving Evel’yee a smirk. The mouse just grunts at Mina in response, not deigning to say anything back.

“So, was that Fox? One of them named themselves earlier, though the projection doesn’t look like a kitsune…” The amurrun asks inquisitively.

“No, they mix their messages a lot. Good luck keeping track of them. It’s hard even for me, and I’ve got them all organized and stuff.”

“They got any other questions? It’s a bit exciting getting to explain things like this!”

“Oh yeah, they’ve got a ton still, but there’s something else they wanna say. Apparently they like pads?”

“Pads? Like paw pads?”

“Yeah, they called them toe beans.”

Mina pulls back a bit and squints her eyes playfully at me. “Oh, now that’s a term.”

“What?”

“IIIiiit’s sorta loaded.”

“Yeah, there’s some real freaks out there.”

“I wouldn’t call them freaks, they’re more just… into something a little niche? Carofolk sometimes have a fascination with them.”

“Wait, really? I’m pretty sure they’re just saying they’re cute?”

“Well, let’s hear it!”

>To Mina:
>all flirty, all the time ma'am. But seriously, you encourage us too much and it will never end. Never. Every time you think youve got a quiet moment to reflect, bam. Poems about your toebeans, pick up lines, cute nicknames and promises to scritch behind your ears.

“See what I mean?”

“It’s a little ambiguous. Maybe just a cultural difference thing too? I wouldn’t wanna assume.”

“I’d… be careful with ‘em Mina. They’re warning you y’know?”

“Baaah, maybe not your thing Tanna but I looooove attention. Consider it an invitation Winds, feel free to make whatever poems you like! Just make sure to follow through on those scritches, I love ear scritches!” She knows not what she asks.

“Aye Mina, I dunno what they’re saying to ya but… you don’t even know what they are? Maybe Tanna’s right and you should be careful?”

“P’shaw, they can’t be that bad!”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
> And thats just me. Theres HUNDREDS of us in here.

“O-Oh, wait, really?” That gets her shaking a bit.

“Are there actually Tanna?”

“There’s definitely several unique individuals, I don’t know exactly how many though.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>Hundreds is an exaggeration. There is a handful active and only two or three of us ever talked to you. I hope this didn't give you scopophobia. But I like some of those suggestions. Expect toebeans poems in the future.

“Eeeh okay, that’s a little more manageable. Making me self-conscious about my pads now, haven’t met too many guys into that. Maybe Tanna could make ballads out of them?”

This is getting out of control, ahaha. “Please GODS do not encourage them to do that, I am BEGGING you.”

“Oh fuck that’d be funny.” Evel’yee giggles, cracking another rare smile. “Playing on yer ‘monica, break a verse out about pads.”

“Imbue the melody with your new shadowy power.”

“Shut the fuck up, shut the fuuuck uuuup.” I say, but I can’t help but laugh a bit. I’m sort of actually having fun talking to these two. I… just a little longer, don’t wanna ruin this yet. “Alright, alright. There’s a ton of questions coming your way. You two ready for them?”

“Do it up.”

“Yeah, fire away!”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>How advanced are looms, clocks, or machines that do math?

“Again with advanced...”

“I get the feeling they have access to technology we don’t. Remember last night with future-tech bows and stuff? They might be more advanced than us.”

“Well, I mean we got clocks? Pendulums, springs, gravity. They’re fairly rare, sell for a lot, often need tuning. Oh, and sextants! There’s standard ones people use all the time, but mine’s slightly enchanted to help with lining shit up, and comes with a mental map of times and tables to reference.”

“For people that can’t interact with the Weave, there’s abacuses. Fairly simple stuff, but you can Prestidigitate complex equations relatively reliably. It’s not exactly easy per say, but the mechanical aspects of the Weave are often dense with mathematical computations. Those that practice True Arcane spellcasting are geniuses.”

“As for Looms, they’re a fairly recent invention! I have to give it to Carofolk, their furless digits really do beat ours when it comes to precision, so clothes for us Beastkin were once a lot rarer. They’d manage with little needles and hand-sew their stuff, and while Rakunai could match them there was no way they alone could keep up with all the demand. It’s possible to do it with magic, fairly mechanical horizontal and vertical weaving, but you’d normally have to have two people work on that, and it didn’t produce a lot. A few decades ago, most Beastkin were fine with the no clothes style, it was a major sign of wealth to have some.”

“Now we got these foot operated machines that can mass produce stuff. Some wizard guy named Melificent popularized the machine. Now if you don’t got at least a shirt on, you’re looked at as a weirdo.”

“Leeeet’ssss go a little faster. Really, there’s a ton.”

“A’ight.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>What are some of the most advanced mechanisms that exist?

“Elastyr Grand Slings. Terrifying.” Evel’yee says, I’ve heard of those too actually.

“Oh yeah, those are advanced. Imagine a complex slingshot the size of a horse with a magically treated band of super rubber that absorbs and stores the ambient Weave around it within the band itself.”

“Pull those suckers back, load up an expanding metal ball, and nothing short of a black iron wall’s withstanding that. A person gets turned into a fine red mist.”

“There’s also these giant turning wheels called windmills! Purely mechanical, only Weave involved is the natural wind that pushes it! They’ve been around for a few decades at this point I think.”

>How advanced is the process of making lots of steel (or similarly useful, do-most-anything metals) at once in large quantities?

“So if they’re from somewhere else, why is it called steel? Is it really a coincidence that we have the same metal? How are you able to understand them in the first place?”

That’s a good question actually. “Uh, magic? I believe they’re translating themselves in some way, and maybe our steel is some kind of analogue to theirs? I don’t really know exactly though, but we do have steel Winds.”

“In terms of large quantities, you’d have to rely on Threadsmiths. Normal blacksmiths can make it through mundane means and with enough time and heat, but for outfitting an army? There’s special facilities from what I know that produce a LOT of heat, and the exact methods and spells used are kept secret. The process is extraordinarily expensive, both for paying for the service and the materials required.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>How advanced are things that use rotating power, what sorts of ‘mills’ exist?

“Wind mills, water wheels, and treadmills for the most part.”

“Not much to add there.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>What forms of ways to achieve useful simple work other than muscle and wind and water power exist?

“Well, I guess there’s always the Weave. There’s things ‘like’ windmills and water wheels that can kind of power things. It’s pretty small scale and it takes a lot of infrastructure, but a person capable of casting spells via Simplified Arcane or Divine methods, sorta like you Tanna, can supply the requisite weave necessary to make power stuff.”

“Take Cosiax for example. There’s a bunch of posts throughout the city that have these little crystals in them, and they’ve been connected through the Weave to turn on at night all in exchange for something equivalent to a 3rd tiered spell. From what I’ve heard, it was a logistical nightmare to setup.”

“Not gonna find anything that fancy anywhere out in the wilderness or random bumfuck village.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>Could you tell us how the wild, lowbrow sorts of parties go?

“Getting into the more social stuff now.”

“Wild parties? I don’t really have that much experience in that regard, everything I’ve gone to has always been a bit stuffy. I’d sneak out a ton though, things could get pretty raunchy in the closet~”

Evel’yee clasps the back of her head. “Well, I went out of my way not to get involved, but parties in Burnswallow were about as lowbrow as you could get. All sorts of bad shit; hard drugs, lots of violence, and… other things.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>What music do people make? With what sorts of musical instruments?

“Despite the major religious influence the pantheon has on our country, I’d like to think our choices in music are far more secular. ”

“Rough stuff depending on where you are on the continent. Shanty, free roam sort of styles were pretty common where I’m from. That harmonica of your is a pretty popular instrument, but you got makeshift percussive instruments people loved stomping their feet to.”

“In the more… prim parts of Sacriel you’ll find more flighty stuff. South and central. We like our woods and winds, and there’s a lot of vocal performances as well! There’s the Kethrum too that’s been getting fairly popular, though it requires some magical aptitude to play. They can make all sorts of percussive sounds.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>What do they drink? What styles of fighting do people bet on?

“Besides water? Alcohol. A classic in Burnswallow was something called Spidervein. Okagou need the strong shit to feel anything really. Should see ‘em square up drinks against a dwarf or a Rakunai, usually ends with someone vomiting blood.”

“That does sound familiar.”

“Bellshade wine is fairly popular too, but for most folk a simple ale will do.”

“Fancy shit.”

“Aye.”

“Feral bout’s are something folk host local tourneys for, get a crowd going for bets. Kin die sometimes, but you know what they say, always the next life or something.”

“Those’re supposed to be illegal…”

“Just how it is up north. If it means anything, most people don’t try to kill their opponent. Quick way to build up some resentment. There’s some sadistic fuckers out in Burnswallow.”

“There’s duels as well, and group bouts! Sanctified challenges people can enjoy watching. They’re given weapons imbued with non-lethal enchantments so people can display their skills. It’s quite fun in my opinion!”

I know you’ve got more you want to ask, but this nagging feeling that something happened to their friends… it’s sort of making me feel bad. One more.

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>And this next question is more for me to get an idea of how the world works -- what techniques do people use to prevent unwanted pregnancies when people seek out quiet places near the main party after dark for some sexual fun? And how can we use this knowledge to get Tanna to let loose and be social and not self-conscious?

What?! Let loose!? I’m being super loose right now, can’t you see how social I’m being?! Mina lets out a snort while Evel’yee leans back and laughs. “Don’t answer that last bit.”

“Hah, well. If I’m being honest, I don’t understand the question?”

“Just don’t get pregnant. You don’t want a kid, there you go. ”

“I guess. I mean, you still want to avoid sexual diseases, but you can usually get those cured.”

“Yeah, avoiding pregnancies isn’t really a problem if you’re actually being responsible and know that you can’t support a child Winds, there’s some kinda sense to it. If you really don’t want one, you can just not have one.” Evel’yee looks away when I say that, her expression darkening slightly. Eh?

“That sense ain’t always there…” She mumbles darkly.

Uh… eesh? Getting a bad vibe there, I try to sort of change topics to get off what I just said. Maybe something of interest? “U-uhm, there are some remedies you can make too to prevent them for sure, like making a tea out of soulslip weed and bittervine.”

Mina looked like she was going to say something to try and lighten the mood too, but my comment must’ve caught her off guard as she genuinely turns towards me with surprise. “Wait, really?”

“I… I think so? I’m pretty confident. It’s a really old recipe.”

“Well, that’s the first I’m hearing of it. Soulslip’s poisonous, isn’t it?” She looks back to Evel’yee, who’s still looking somewhat down. Deciding to change topics much to my own personal angst, she says, “Well, whether it does or not, as for getting Tanna to let loose~”

“Oh gods, nuh uh! Shh, shut up! We don’t need to be going into that last bit!” I say with a slight flair of dramatics. Evel’yee puffs a small exhale of a laugh out her nose. “Hey, sorry if I said something.”

“It’s fine, ain’t gonna last out at again. ‘Tis just old stupid shit.” The weski says softly, looking back up at me.

I give her a smile. She does so back, and it’s nice. This whole exchange was actually kinda alright, maybe… no, no… damn it. I can’t, I gotta let them know now. This has been delayed for far too long. Go… go ahead Winds.

9/9 Tanna 2026/05/10(Sun)23:43 No. 1126610 ID: a36ad0
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>To Mina:
>First I would like to request a favor from you. Tanna is embarrassed to ask but she need something to eat. While I'm confident she could find something for herself it's better not to because... well... the next topic.

Mina laughs at that. “Hungry are you? Course, we can get you something. Maybe go hunting… but ah, what’re they talking about?”

“I… oh, w-wait, hold on.” I say to them, pretending not to know exactly what’s going on. “The Winds are letting me know of something pretty urgent...”

“Eh? What’s up?” Evel’yee asks, an etch of concern crossing her features.

“There’s… shit.” I’m sorry, I’m sorry. “Don’t freak out right away.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>I don't wish to alarm you but something might have happened to the guys while you were sleeping, assuming what we saw was real.

There’s a lapse where the two of them process this. Evel’yee suddenly seems a lot more grim than before, while Mina…

“WHAT?!” She snarls viciously as she immediately begins to freak out. The amurrun takes an aggressive step forward towards me, eyes slitted and jittery as whatever’s going through her mind only seems to cause greater agitation. Suddenly, she looks towards the entrance of the temple. Her breaths are shaky as she gets ready to sprint, but Evel’yee grabs her hand and jerks her towards herself firmly. “Ev-”

“Remember what Roderick would say Mina. You can’t rush into these kinds of things.” She says. She’s using that rough, hardened voice, the same one from last night after Roderick died. “Let Tanna speak, she has to know more.”

“Y-Yeah, I do. It’s important, this could be really dangerous.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>I suggest that you all check together.

>TANNA PERSUASION CHECK ON MINA: 17(3[Moxie] + 10[Roll] + 2[Effective] + 2[Evel’yee Help]) > 8(8[Difficult DC] + 2[Friends Involved] - 2[Moxie]) = SUCCESS

Mina struggles, she’s glancing at the entrance to the temple but she shakes her head. She looks like she’s on the verge of tears. “G-Gods please, please Cassilda… Tanna. What happened?”

Firm breath, even explanation. “I don’t know for sure. The Winds have just told me that that rat we saw last night, the one you all kept seeing during your time there, was some kind of shapeshifter. They put Jacob to sleep, and they were reaching for Vax before their vision ends.”

“T-They really just saw this?” Mina asks shakily, her voice trembling with anxiety.

“Yes. Received it from them just now.”

>TANNA LYING CHECK ON MINA: 14(3[Moxie] + 9[Roll] + 2[Effective]) > 6(4[Easy DC] + 3[Mentality] - 1[Believable]) = SUCCESS

>TANNA LYING CHECK ON EVEL’YEE: 14(3[Moxie] + 9[Roll] + 2[Effective]) > 8(6[Medium DC] + 3[Mentality] - 1[Believable]) = SUCCESS

Please don’t tell them otherwise. You saw what she was like just now… it’s the right decision… “The person was some black scaled reptilian with…”

>Anyway it's not really important what a cell phone is, but a group able to accomplish all that is very powerful and smart, so beware of anyone talking into palm sized rectangles! Also there are no towers, so it's probably just a magic rectangle.

I was going to say ‘red’ eyes, but I don’t think they know about my own eye color being yellow for you all while it’s gray for them. I don’t want them asking questions about that. “...a weird object. The Winds are calling it a ‘cell phone’, but it’s some kinda rectangle she was talking into. She was able to put Jacob to sleep with a spell, maybe with a method similar to how I paralyzed Vax last night. She seems dangerous as all hells.”

“A-are they dead?”

Krai, that’d fucking put a damper on things. “I don’t know for sure. The connection I had to Vax through the Paralysis is gone.”

She puts a hand to her mouth and chokes out a sound. Mina’s shivering badly, but Evel’yee’s the one to speak. “Alright. We’ve got to go down. What’s each person capable of now?”

“I-I can… store spells on people for a few hours, and channel energy. H-Heal people around me. Touch people’s Fate and give them good luck with it too, and I can share my Fate with them.”

“Explain.” Evel’yee asks evenly. It’s kinda scary how calm she is now.

“A-anyone I can see, spells, injuries, healing. I share it all with them for 15-20 seconds I think. I don’t fully understand it.” And Mina is just… it’s like a role reversal in a way.

“Spells?”

Mina seems to actually calm down now, and she says in a script-like way, “Bless, Hideous Laughter, Protection from Evil, and Sanctuary. I’ve got a new cantrip called Grace, it sort of lets me see a little into the future? Always capable of Cure Light Wounds.”

“There’s also Convergence, a sort of disabling spell that I cast by touching someone. The person touched isn’t affected, but everyone around them is.”

“Tanna? What about you?”

You know what, this is a good opportunity actually. “Lemme just have the Winds send you two what I’m capable of now. Should be faster.”

>To Mina and Evel’yee:
>Anyway, new stuff you can do: you have Bardic Music, as a magical effect separate from casting proper Spells. You can use this to counter effects that are sound or language or song based, or to distract enemies, or to create darkness and ‘Buff’ (that’s jargon for magically enhance) people’s agility and strength in the darkness. Any of your songs can make things a little bit darker if you want, too. You can see better in darkness now. You can keep Bardic Music up for 42 seconds in a day, split into 7 different 6-second intervals.
>Your spell list is now, Spell Level 0: Detect Magic, Phantom Noise, Prestidigitation. Spell Level 1: Charm Creature, Grease, Silent Image, Suggestion, Umbral Step, Vanish. Your cantrips are at-will, and you can cast a first level spell 5 times a day, any from your known options.
>You definitely have something that allows you to see in absolute, utter darkness, including magical darkness

“You’re one hundred percent sure?”

“Yeah, I trust they’re right. I’ve already verified I can see things in shadow way more than I used to.”

“Are you with us here?”

Huh? “Eh, whatcha mean?”

“These aren’t your people, you’re still willing to come down and help us?”

I hadn’t even thought of that… I guess, I mean should I? Is she really offering me a choice here? She’s looking at me sharply, like it’s a test. I had assumed I was just going to go down and help in the first place, why had I done that?

I don’t know. I feel like… I should. After all that time talking to them this morning, I don’t really want to leave them to get into trouble on their own. I have a feeling Evel’yee isn’t going to let me walk away with the box either. I give Evel’yee a nod. “I ain’t leaving you, don’t you worry. Let’s go check on those two morons.”

“T-Thanks Tanna.” Mina says softly in our circle. She’s looking at the ground and trembling still.

Evel’yee gives me a nod and reaches into her pack. Pulling out something meaty and delicious smelling, she says, “Proper right there, skrit. Here, take a snack, don’t want you going down feeling empty.”

>Hm, how about a friendly competition with Evel'yee? Let's see who can go hunt down biggest meal for breakfast.

That’s kind of her… “Thanks… think we could go hunting after this? Bet I can bag something larger than you can.”

Evel’yee gives me a grim smirk. “Hah, as if, but sure. Sounds like a good time. Let’s get down there and drag ‘em out, I’m ready to put this fucking tomb behind me.”

“Likewise.”

“Eh, Tanna, for reference, we had blocked the two of them inside the jail room with some heavy furniture, and tied Jacob up really tight.”

“Oh, apparently he somehow had managed to wiggle out.” I say. So that answers that.

Evel’yee looks me dead on with surprise that breaks way quickly to annoyance. “Are you fuckin-oh my gods. That slippery fucking asswipe, I swear if he’s still alive. Whatever. The only other exit would be the trapdoor, but that’s locked and barred on our side, and there’s no ladder down there for it. Ropes are up here, so whoever’s down there should still be down there. Any last preparation steps before we head down?”

We all step up the ledge of the underground temple and look down. It’s way brighter than it was last night, but even the remnant darkness down below gives way to my new vision. I don’t see anything out of place really, even the table with the books and coins on top is all still there. I guess… this is a good time to call upon you all. I’m putting on a brave face, but I’m afraid of what we might find down there. Do you have any recommendations on how we should go about doing this, Winds?

Alright, here's the strategy:

Mina stores convergence on Tanna.
Tanna slinks ahead, and if Tanna gets into a bad spot, she can cast phantom noise to tell Mina to trigger the convergence spell.
Once convergence is triggered, Mina & Evel'yee can come in and get a surprise attack on the now dazed target.

It's not entirely clear from what Mina said whether multiple spells can be saved on the same person, but if she can, it should be possible to trigger multiple spells in a single round. If this is the case, it might also be useful to give Tanna the bless spell, or sanctuary.

>>1126602
Alright, so "eyes are a window to the Soul" is not so literal. You don't have to hide them. More likely we need to keep people from looking directly at your soul. Or maybe it's that our Primordial power shields you, and if we expend it then you have to worry about direct eye contact...

Aspect, is this something you can confirm/deny?

>>1126604
Tanna, please do not talk directly to Bakoth. He's right, he could break your mind, but he can't do that kind of thing to us. The most he could do is mislead us, and so far it seems like he doesn't want to do that. He's withholding information, but not giving out false or misleading information, as far as I can tell. It's much safer for us to just talk in private and relay our own, thoughts to you.

To Bakoth: Did that "destruction" happen before or after the world was broken such that the King in Yellow was given the task to watch over it? "before" and "after" being from your perspective, of course, not that of mortals. Or was that the event that broke the world? Regardless, that's not quite what I was getting at. I more interested in knowing how successful Tanna has been in her previous life/lives.

>>1126606
Ah, neat. Rapid Shot. Costs 1 Focus. Here's how that probably works: she can have at most 3 Focus points, fully recharged at the start of the day. After using Focus, she can do something related to her class out of combat to "refocus" and gain 1 point. She can only refund the last Focus spent, so if she uses more than one focus in a single combat, then she can't refund more than one of them. Essentially, 2 of her Focus can only be used once a day, but she has one reusable point.

To Evel'yee: What do you think about death?

>>1126610
Uh what is that in the sky? You have a green shattered moon?

>prep?
Well, if they're both free we'll have to subdue them again. I doubt we'll run into the woman since if she wanted to fight us she could've done that much earlier. She may have already gotten out in some way only a rat can get through...
Anyway, since cantrips are free, we should cast Grace before entering rooms. If a fight is likely, then store a spell before going in.

If we DO run into the woman, then... I say try to hit her with a disabling effect then run away.

to Evelyee and Mina
If the person possesses a cell phone then it's not out of the question that they also possess a Firearm
What that basically is, Is a small metallic non-magical ranged weapon capable of shooting small pieces of jacketed lead at high speeds.
If they pull something like that out be warned. The shots go fast and ricochet if they hit a wall.


to Bakoth (alone)
Are you saying Tanna was once something that destroyed the world? I've been meaning to ask something like this before but had no real evidence for it. Is Tanna a fallen "god"?

Unrelated to that but HE has started feeling things again, Specifically disgust at us wanting to keep your other as he is.

>>1126627
They have flintlocks here. So more accurately you'd say she might have something better than a flintlock.

>>1126630
Right I forgot about that. Though I'd personally say they're the next step after Flintlocks. Able to hold several before needing to reload.

>It has happened twice already in Chapter 1
Hmm, well, Tanna got cursed twice, the first time we didn't get to roll a save. The second time we got a bonus of +2 to barely pass the check from what I think read as "Passenger". Except, that doesn't really fill in the blanks.

█████ ██████
Whenever ████████ is ████████ ████████ in the ███████ of a ████████ with a ████, ████ ████████’s ████ is ███████ from the ███████ of ████ and ████ to ███████.

Looking at this... I think the start of it is "Whenever someone is fatally wounded", maybe continuing with "in the course of a battle with a foe", but there were more than two Fatal Wound situations.
Another thing that happened twice is that Tanna killed two things- the spider, and Roderick.
...I wonder if this is something that allows Tanna to trigger True Death? Heck, that might be the blacked-out name. The blacked out sections seem to usually be one letter longer than their actual contents. The second half is probably talking about what happens to their soul. Could that last word be Nirvana? "The character's soul is released from the cycle of Fate and sent to Nirvana?" Except, fatal wounds don't always result in death, so one or two of the words must be wrong.

>evee looked in your bag.
Thats just bakoth using the truth to sow discord.
Annoy him by not biting tanna.
She didnt take anything after all.

>clothes and sewing for beastfolk
Ah hah!
I KNEW your nudism had a reason.

>mina likes attention.
Oh.
Oh no.
Shes going to regret that.

>>1126615
This is a solid plan.
We can call it operation, living flashbomb.

Tanna scouting makes sense.
Yesterday, evee would have been best, but now shes an eagle eyed sniper and our slinky is one with the shadows.

Light on your feet and eyes open slinky.
Lead em in.

>>1126607
Personally, I've always found the concept of full reincarnation terrifying.
You lose everything. Every precious moment, every hard-fought lesson... every scrap of love you had for anyone else, ever. And what's your reward? To do it all over 'again'? As if your life never happened? Even if there's a truth to your core identity, some part of you that is fundamental... what if that core is tortured by repeating its trials? And more importantly, how can you be sure that you aren't being used?
Imagine being a mother with a child you love with all your heart, and then dying and reincarnating as the crazy psycho bandit who murders that child. Imagine reincarnating as one of the tormented plague carriers you read about in a book who lived ten thousand years ago, space and time inverting around mere mortalkind just to ensure that the suffering was real, that it existed, and that it happens to some version of you! Imagine reincarnating as someone you'd never willingly choose to become in this life - because some angel demanded you become someone else and didn't want to deal with some pesky free will to get through it!
...
I wonder if the darkness and confusion we are born into is just the last embers of our past identities finally ceasing to be as we're born once more.

Really hope you can change things, Tanna. For all of us.

>>1126609
>Spectacles
Children's toys. I got some, myself.
I know a couple tricks you can use with 'glass':
* Micro-Ray of Fire: You can create a tiny ray of fire with convex spectacles and the rays of the sun. It's not really useful for much, since it can take hours to 'cast', but if you're desperate to spark a fire and you're out of combat, it can help with your cooking if you misplace your matches.

>Clocks
Uh-oh.
Yeah, about that. Spectacles and clocks being invented around the same age is very suspicious. Spectacles are typically easier to invent, because they can then be used to look at the miniature parts of clocks to develop more advanced gearwork for the clocks, and calculating the exact ratios between gear teeth needed for the precise timekeeping... well, that can take decades without the School of Calculus.
Which means, I think someone's been selling this stuff from a more advanced stock

>Flintlocks
*sigh* That's... good.
I mean, if you want to fire a single precise shot every twenty seconds, and not, say, thirty sound-piercing bits of metal in the span of five seconds.
See, that's the difference in technology between your world and the one invading - might be even worse than that, if they got the heavy stuff. A proper minigun, the kind of legendary weapon you'd give to a bodybuilding ogre - will fire around 30 to 100 bullets per second and can basically murder an entire charging cavalry army without any need for strategy. And then mix that with the comms units with cell phones, and you've got a tactical six-man army that can fell gods.

We are dealing with a tech gap the size of Hell. If we don't close it, we lose.

>>1126610
Strange. Mina, you seem to channel your winds whenever we get to talking about technical terms like spell lists. Guess we'll see if we meet one day.

To be honest, we've got all these wonderful little sheets of documentation about everything you'd ever need to know, at our 'fingertips'. The Internet is one of the most useful and dangerous artifices in our reality: every scrap of knowledge ever created... and filled to the brim with lies, propaganda, and malignant scrying. Think of it like the library of the gods, but almost every employee is a con artist. Yes, it's as idiotic as it sounds, but it's why we're so dang smart.

Evel'yee, I remember an old technique I once saw. (I suck with bows so take it with a grain of salt) You basically hold each arrow between your fingers and reload as you re-draw the bowstring. This saves you time and ensures you aren't disarmed if something happens to your quiver. You could also re-distribute the arrows in a light mesh of fluff so it's harder for them to fall out.
[treat this as a temporary bonus thanks to tactical advice, until she eventually gains a level and solidifies this skill with training]

Mina, give everyone Grace as a stored spell. Stay close to Tanna, be ready to heal Evel'yee on command.

Tanna, pick out a room and grease the hell out of it. If things get bad, lure the enemy to that room, lock them inside and throw a match as you shut the door.

First chance you get, charm the first creature you see. And call it Steve. (it's tradition)

My... aren't you guys an emotional roller coaster? I have a lot to say about this exchange but will save most of the silly topics for after the stress passes.

Out of curiosity: what are the related root words for steel in your language? It's interesting that Mina thought it was something strange to translate. I would guess that if your culture is older than ours, it might have something to do with meteorites.

Now you have to juggle the few inconsistencies of that lie without annoying us. Remember that it only takes one of us to reveal the truth to them, so be careful about blaming us.
It happened last night. I'm not sure when, but I presume closer to when you fell asleep than when you woke up. You need to come up with an excuse for why, according to you, we witnessed a past event in case it ever comes up.

(For everything bellow this) To Evel'yee:

Congratulations on your new supernatural archery trick. I'm sure it will come in handy for turning enemies into pincushions.
>>1126624
>Here's how that probably works...
Three uses per day is pretty good already, but try to find out how to recover that fourth daily use.

I don't know if it will be useful, but we have some information and speculation about what happened. This seems like a sensitive topic for Mina, so I think you will better judge if anything might not go well with her.

While we don't know what Shi'zen did at the end, I doubt she killed the guys. It's a possibility, but if that was her goal, I presume she had plenty of opportunities and wouldn't have wasted that sleep spell. She was even behind Jacob while he was escaping his bindings, so yeah... killing them should be relatively easy.
All that said, I'm pretty sure she did something. Based on nothing but a vague connection to a certain yellow being, my speculation is petrification. One year as a marble statue! Classic.

I doubt Shi'zen had any trouble leaving, since she can probably climb very well and go through the rubble in rat form.

Unless there is another giant spider or similar somewhere, I don't expect you will need to face anything too dangerous this time. Well... that is if the guys are not roaming free.

And... I'm sorry for being flirty with Mina behind your back. It kind of developed that way because of the way I talk to cats. If it makes you jealous, I will stop doing that. I'm sure the others will accept her invitation even if I refrain for your sake.

(Only to send during appropriate downtime, I don't send this during the urgent times, and I try to send this to relevant folk all simultaneously)

Fox here, wanting to show off something to everyone when things are calm, especially for our rapid shot archer and as a reason for my technology oriented questions.

Everyone together after that drama is over? Well I want to show this. I hope this works, don't know if it will... it is meant to be a recording of a person using a few combined technologies related to archery, formatted into a sort of visual illusion like thing. Note the advanced bow design that's mechanically just better than other sorts of bows, it is a sort that requires a machine to span (or a golem I guess), and the attachment device for holding the arrows and enabling the movement, and the rapid reloading mechanism for quickly placing another set of arrows in, and the device that shines a very very particular sort of light at the target for useful and fast short range aiming. Some of these things might be possible for you all and might actually complement the soul-improved archery stuff.

https://youtu.be/a91zx70AqUc

Fox here, I'll reply as I think of things. You need to figure out who here is least inconvenienced by your 'darkness, concealment, plus bonus to physical attributes' when you use your Shade's Song. Though it's possible that because they are your allies, these allies of you that hear you could possibly not be impeded by the effect?? Unsure.

Man rereading Mina's explanation on souls kinda points out an understated fucked-upness to the process.

So new souls ARE born but only occasionally? So what exactly are Older souls doing when they "reincarnate"?
Are newborns just born souless and develop one on their own?
And more horrifyingly are the new souls Supplanted/absorbed/destroyed by the older souls whenever they are finished their journeys?

Alot of uncomfortable questions are raised and it's not even a good time to get into them (and depending on how things go it might not be for awhile). How frustrating.

Fox again. Okay, Shade's Song can shroud allies and doesn't specifically require you to engage the Shadowed effect to darken the area within a 15' radius of you. Though you might want to try 6 seconds of Shade's Song with the optional Shadowed rider on the group and have them prep some test activity of strength and dexterity, maybe that includes but isn't limited to a melee test flourish (like a leaping lunge or something) to test how it affects strength, dexterity, and how/if it affects attacks at all. Have only those best able to see in the dark adjacent to you for this test drill. Engage your bardsong only for the smallest amount of time possible, about six seconds, and see if you can also do anything useful while/during/immediately after engaging the effect as part of the test. See if you can engage the effect without using your hands or while actively wielding your weapon.

(This bit is actually urgent.)

Fox here: Disagree on Grease as setup. Only some more exotic variants of the spell version of Grease are flammable, last a long time, cause a very hot flame that's worth it, burn while also retaining their useful slipperiness for a while, or are useful for clever setups. Generally, mundane grease is what one uses for weird trap options, not the spell ones. Trap spells exist, just not generally at the first circle of magic. Also spending time running away from an enemy requires a person to be in contact with them for a while and retreat, supposedly to lure the to waiting allies, which often places them at extreme risk of dying in the meantime. At the lethality levels of combat overall might only last 6-18 seconds, things like this don't make sense.

Also HARD disagree on the trick archery techniques!!! They only work with very very light, thin arrows and certain sorts of very light bows or at partial draw!!! The hand trick in particular requires you to put the arrows and your hand on the outside of the string and use a thumb draw or one of a few alternate draw techniques, NOT a finger draw, or to use an arrow rest device if you favor an unsuitable draw style, like it seemed like she was using. And she should generally use whatever draw method she is used to, yea? For actual rapid shot options that work with a heavy bow at full draw and also speed up aiming, without needing to learn (or use!) different draw styles, I have an...experience to show you when things aren't happening quickly or urgently any more.

(Please only send these parts when things have calmed down)

Fox here, a few things like I said, as I think of them. Nothing particularly urgent. Lessee... what do I want to talk about?

So the comment about the ponies having fun and implications in that conversation. Several of them were blushing. Blushing in mammals happens during times of shame or embarrassment, but also during sexual pleasure. And yes the artist totally did that on purpose.

Regarding the once every 24 hours use of the 'Path' type 'Primordial Edification' ability and how you didn't feel that ability as part of you as strongly: it's possible our action or interface or activity has something to do with when or how you can use the 'make yourself or someone near you do very well or very poorly at a single, short term thing' ability. Regardless of whatever extent our decisions are involved, knowing your wishes and preferences helps us be more confident in our actions, just like when we have to make decisions on your Class (Edification path) or whatever.

Along those lines, we DID also get choices of what to pick for your Primordial Edification stuff. And one of the options was to give us more control over the choices your friends get too. That one didn't win the vote, Path was more useful at stopping you from dying in an emergency, but the assumption (I'll get into why later) is that we will have more chances to go back to that list and choose other options. Which means we might actually get a chance to go back to that list, pick it up (if it's competitive, there were some JUICY options on that list...), then later pick edification options for others. And, according to the sources we are pattern matching, then retraining, rebuilding, and retroactively picking from choices that could've been made earlier, might be (in a bounded, limited way) on the table as well for folk stuck in a suboptimal 'build'. SO! Since we can't actually predict precisely what choices will be presented to us, it might be a good idea to get some guidance and preferences and rules of thumb from the others, especially on what sorts of supernatural abilities and themes, or adventuring roles, or even out of combat utility or skills, they want over others via this mechanism.

So some of the things said earlier implied it is an act of will akin to moving a limb, along with some related sense that is common, like sight, that can prevent unwanted pregnancies, and the category of drugs that cause one to lose awareness of events and control over one's body can inhibit the otherwise trivial capacities? Do I have that right? If so, it is unlikely that these capabilities are what I would think of as natural. What I know of biology says that those capacities only show up in people when some powerful individual or group changes how people are put together, in a core way, while attempting to specifically improve their actual lived quality of life. Otherwise the 'normal' acts would tend to cause pregnancy, regardless of any desires of either participant, as a consequence of the completion of the act itself. Same with trivial, low-side-effect contraceptive teas, as opposed to harder on the body, very-early-only, abortifacient teas and also much trickier, require regular and careful dosing, don't always work, contraceptive teas being the tools that work in 'tea' form.

On the reincarnation debate, I will say that a lot of afterlife models can be designed in a creepy and non-uplifting way, but most things, with just a category description like 'reincarnation', don't imply creepiness or unethically designed systems like people are saying it does. Besides, if the system doesn't have large amounts of continuity -- the 'one candle lighting another', a soul's incarnates are fundamentally different people, even if there are recycled bits. Also presumably, with regards to fetuses and infants and developing souls and the like, there's probably a complexity gradiant that probably has a lot to do with how developed the brain is, and if there are deities or whatever tweaking how the mortal self functions, it's unlikely they'd allow an inherently unethical system for something so core and likely in their direct control to stay around for long.

(Share the appropriate of these musings with everyone relevant)

Regarding the tech gap the size of Hell. The next step more advanced from the Flintlock Musket is the 'caplock rifle' or 'percussion rifle', or 'percussion rifled musket' or 'caplock rifled musket'; this means a muzzle loading musket with a rifled barrel (assuming some Flintlocks are rifled but most aren't, as an accuracy vs reload speed tradeoff; these advancements gets you best of both worlds and even moreso) and a percussion cap based lock. A paper cartridge that contains the powder and the minié ball (jargon, see below), and is carried in a box, tin, or pouch; the soldier takes one out, bites it, dumps the pre measured powder load into the muzzle, uses the paper as wadding, places the greased minié ball (a sort of bullet designed to engage with the rifling that is easier to load than a spherical bullet; descriptive names would be 'expanding base bullet' or 'cup base bullet' or 'self-sealing round' or 'compression bullet', or come up with the name of a local inventor rather than the other reality one), into the muzzle and rams it down with a rod, pulls back the hammer, places a percussion cap on the nipple, aims, and pulls the trigger, causing the hammer to hit the percussion cap, causing a spark, igniting the powder, launching the bullet. We can tell you the chemistry of the black powder and the percussion cap from a particular set of realities, but there's no specific requirement that your reality match the one we know the details of, but the requirements of function of those parts should be the same. Now the PF1 encyclopedia that resembles your world predicts something like this whole setup exists, but it also predicts something that is directly counterfactual to our lived experience and, uh, plain logic: that this system is fundamentally less reliable than the flintlock system it obsoletes. And, uh, the whole everything pre-measured, pre-sized, pre-prepared, should make it MORE reliable (as well as faster!) not less than the flintlock that preceeds it. Hope this works:

https://youtube.com/shorts/g-eC8qpovKg

Also, that ogre's minigun described earlier? Was invented about 105 years after the weapon in that recording was.

For comparison, the Minigun. This is against a fake torso (with fake/simulated time distortion/slowdown towards the end):

https://youtu.be/IJ9rZr5hRoY

Also the cell phone we saw your foe using was invented about 4 decades after that minigun. And it's called a minigun because it's a smaller version of a larger thing, meant to destroy extremely heavily armored, uh, 'carriage-based variants of adamantine golems armed with heavy ranged siege cannons'. Of course extrapolate how cannons would also advance from where you know them to when they exist in the world where the Minigun exists.

Anyway, the PF1 thing. Go back earlier to when I was talking about games, adventure simulations, dreams, simulated realities, and so on. Folk have already used the term... theatrical performance in relationship to your reality. And, honestly, that's not philosophically problematic or worth getting in an existential angst spiral over. No one, in any reality, can ever be truly sure that their reality is utterly, truly real; there are limits in what is knowable and knowledge itself that prevent this. And anything that helps you, or us, USEFULLY model (even partially!) your reality via pattern matching is ASTOUNDINGLY powerful and useful FOR YOUR BENEFIT and to help you actually achieve your goals! Also, you're a Bard, you should be a natural at this stuff.

Here's a prediction that I'd like to make based on pattern matching:

If these folks stick around you and you all don't die violently, then in weeks and months during this adventurer lifestyle you are going on, you and your companions will be Edified regularly, often simultaneously, often after resting after something big and dramatic happens. We don't have an intradiegetic explanation of the cause and mechanism, but we do have an extradiegetic pattern match and accounting jargon ('experience points' and 'character level advancement' and 'xp threshold required to level up') on the phenomena. And we do know edification as a category of thing that happens, just not the local version, specifically called Edification and what it means here. So lots of broad accuracy, low precision knowledge until you fill in the details.

>>1126819
>Grease not flammable?
It was when we used it in the first thread.
>Mina tosses her torch into the grease, and it immediately begins to light up.
That said, it *is* probably more useful unburnt.

>>1126820
Its also an excellent lube.
Right squeaks?
Heh. Feels like ages ago i asked that.

>>1126824

I feel like there's lots of different lubricants that one would want to use for different circumstances, and that someone should make a lubricate cantrip that gives you fine control over the features but can only apply to a small object or something, remember specialized lubricants that folk use for sex originated as being for medical use, then the sex specific ones diverged from the medical focused ones due to different needs. Heck there's a lot of room for lots of utility cantrips that can do things Prestidigitation can't, and a way to adjust one's daily available loadout of at will cantrips...

>>1126819
You could keep those in a notepad until they are relevant.

I think you are right about those effects not being natural. This complicate the plans to use primordial with a dispel scroll to free them from the mind effect. There might be several divine blessings acting upon a person that could be interrupted potentially permanently. Maybe inherent conscient control over impregnation could be a worth sacrifice in exchange for mental freedom, but it's also possible there are other effects necessary for survival that we are not aware. Concerning.

>>1126828
Dont think overly on it.
Just a throwback to one of the first things i said.
I managed to get a borderline divine entity to call me a pervert.
It was a proud moment

Oh,hey
Mina.
You seem nervous.
Dont worry.
You three have us lot watching out for you.
Thisll be over quicker than you think,then we are all gonna find the nearest tavern and drink to the end of this fustercluck.
Deal?

For what it's worth, any ability we have to tamper with your Soul is very limited. We couldn't edify you in just any way. You would have naturally edified to Shadows, Spiders, etc, and all we could do was maybe bump the process a little.

Like for instance if you just loved butterflies, and butterflies were totally your favorite thing, then we might have had Magical Sparkling Butterfly Princess, instead of Shadow Minstrel.

Don't know what more to do about Jacob and Vax and the temple, but good luck!

1/6 Tanna 2026/06/22(Mon)01:17 No. 1128358 ID: 70dd4f
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>Mina stores convergence on Tanna. Tanna slinks ahead, and if Tanna gets into a bad spot, she can cast phantom noise to tell Mina to trigger the convergence spell.
>Tanna scouting makes sense. Yesterday, evee would have been best, but now shes an eagle eyed sniper and our slinky is one with the shadows.

Going down alone first? I mean, eh, it sounds a bit risky? I know I said I’d help but… well, there is something kind of appealing to it. The sweet, seductive allure of… danger! Stepping back from the edge, I begin, “Hey, the Winds are giving me an idea.”

“What’s the idea?” Evel’yee says as she sits back on said edge. It’d be real easy to push her right now, no no… bad idea.

“I could go down and check things out. Mina, you said you can store spells on people, right?”

“O-Oh, um, yeah. I can. Are… are you sure about going down alone?”

Hah, “No, not entirely. I wanna test some stuff before heading down to make absolutely sure I’m capable of this.” I do really need to see how this music thing works first and foremost, you’re right Winds.

“I ain’t gonna turn down a scouting offer, but why’re you even offering in the first place?”

“Out of the goodness of my heart?” I say cheekily.

“Yeah yeah, and I’m the queen of Cordain. What’s the real reason?”

“Well, the Winds are suggesting it and… they’re making pretty good reasons why I should? Plus, I kind of want to… I don’t know why, but there’s something sort of exciting about it. Idea’s getting my blood pumping a bit.”

Trying not to appear too excited though, their friends are still down there after all, I say, “But also, seeing how this is messing with you two, I don’t think it’s a bad idea either. I’m less attached to all this, won’t take stupid emotional risks, and I can report back after checking things out so you aren’t like, surprised or something. Also, I’m supposedly sneakier according to the Winds.”

“Not that I’m… necessarily agreeing,” Mina mutters out quietly, “but she could Vanish or Umbral Step out if she really needed to as well.”

I could? “What’s uh… what’s that do? Umbral Step?”

She gives me a tilted look before sighing. “Kinda strange they didn’t explain that spell, but you can teleport and appear out of a person’s shadow. That’s probably the strongest spell you have.”

What in the frozen levels of HELL that sounds so FUCKING cool! “S-See, that’s… okay okay that’s so sick actually I wanna try that right now.”

She shakes her head at me. “You should really save your spells Tanna, never know when you’re gonna need them.”

“Okay, I guess those’re some positive points…”

I wanna use that spell so bad, ugh. Trying to ignore that feeling, I continue, “Exactly, and Mina could place Convergence on me as well. Maybe a Grace too, if you can?”

“I can’t do Grace. One of those ‘stickler’ spells. I could give you a healing spell though in case you get hurt?” She asks with a slight bit more enthusiasm.

>It's not entirely clear from what Mina said whether multiple spells can be saved on the same person, but if she can, it should be possible to trigger multiple spells in a single round. If this is the case, it might also be useful to give Tanna the bless spell, or sanctuary.

“How many spells can you set at a time on a person?”

“Two. And they’ll last dormant in your weave for around four hours.”

“Could you do Sanctuary instead?”

A smile breaches past her nervousness as she nods at me. “Sure.”

“Wait wait, before we do all this, why do you think you’re any stealthier than me? I know you think I’m ‘attached’ to this, but I assure you that ain’t gonna be a problem. Shouldn’t I do this instead?”

I motion for them to follow me. “Well, that’s what I wanted to test real quick. Here, step into the forest with me real quick, under some canopy. Too bright out here.”

As the two of them do, I take out my harmonica. Within the woods, we find a nice shaded spot. Still enough to see easily, but not so bright as it was in the grove. “Alright, so I’m going to play my song. Have to test this. What I want you to do is two things: try to keep track of where I go, and also see if you feel any different.”

They both give each other a mutual look, with Evel’yee shrugging. “Alright. You know we’re both looking right at you, right?”

“I do. I just wanna see how effective this actually is...” I say before bringing the harmonica to my lips. I’m trembling now, why is this so exciting?

2/6 Tanna 2026/06/22(Mon)01:17 No. 1128359 ID: 581dc9
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With an exhalation into the holes of the harmonica, I play my song. I place a certain… emphasis into it though, something that definitely wasn’t there before. Like my Soul is being entwined into the melody. It doesn’t take much, a quick and eerie sequence of ethereal notes, and the reaction is set. Even as I let my harmonica down, the melody continues on its own. Suddenly the forest around us dims dramatically.

Shadows rise and begin surround my form, blanketing me in a shifting shade and masking my true self. But even more strangely, they shift to my will, prompting me. They ask if they should do the same for Evel’yee and Mina. It’s like I’m speaking to another, dancing with them, and I give the entity permission. As the darkness envelopes their forms as well, I find their shifting forms somewhat difficult to keep track of myself.

“W-woah!? Tanna?! What is this?!” Evel’yee exclaims, looking about in astonished surprise.

Mina however is a bit more cool, reach her hand out and flexing her claws. “Is this what you were talking about earlier? What a… strange sensation.”

“A blanket of dark, new to we, I stalk in the brush, keep track of me~” I sing as I get on all fours. The darkness isn’t impeding me at all, I can see through it clear as night. That isn’t the case for them. Shadows and dark, slink in the shade. The two of them jolt at my reminder, remembering to try and keep track of where I am. I begin my move…

>TANNA SNEAKING CHECK ON MINA: 14(5[Roll] + 5[Dexterity] + 2[Effective] + 1[Dim Light] + 1[20% Concealment] > 9(4[Roll] + 3[Mentality] + 2[Proximity] = SUCCESS

>TANNA SNEAKING CHECK ON EVEL’YEE: 14(5[Roll] + 5[Dexterity] + 2[Effective] + 1[Dim Light] + 1[20% Concealment] > 13(4[Roll] + 3[Mentality] + 2[Effective] +2[Enhanced Hearing] + 2[Proximity] = SUCCESS

Like a dart, I shift within the dim, and Mina loses where I am instantly. Evel’yee however, her senses are sharp. She follows me for a little, her ears twitching at my soft paddings and following me for a little before I edge her out, the darkness emboldening my steps just enough. I go to tap her shoulder…

>TANNA’S ROLL VS. CONCEALMENT: 1d100(64) > 20 = SUCCESS

And she jolts in surprise. This is fun… and the shadows beckon me to continue, asking for more of my melody. This was always meant to be fleeting though, my friend. Don’t worry, I’ll return to you.

And thus, it all ends. The forest erupts back into a natural level of light, no longer entwined with my umbral beat. I whisper behind them with a snicker. “Hey.”

Mina turns around in shock as well before giggling, “Wow, I didn’t know what you were gonna be doing there but I certainly didn’t expect that. It was really hard to keep a track of you even when you were standing still.”

“Jeez alright, you’re probably sneakier than me.” Evel’yee frowns, before looking up at me. “I was close though.”

She does have some good senses, I’ll have to keep that in mind. “Yeah, you were. How did it feel though? The song?”

“It… I wish I could’ve shot within it, made sure. But even still, I felt something. Focused, faster. Stronger even.”

“I have to admit the same,” Mina says as well, looking at her claws once more. “It was quite a sharp feeling, and most definitely not a placebo. We really do need to test its capabilities later.”

It doesn’t seem like they got that ‘old friend’ feeling that I did. That same shadowy hug feeling from the dream… “Yeah, I liked it. Looking forward to using it more in the future.”

“Ah moons, I hope we don’t actually ‘have’ to use it if you get what I mean. Rather instead get a break from all this...” She says, her speech softening after the excitement. “C-Can we go check on Vax and Jacob now?”

“Shouldn’t waste anymore time. Anything else we should plan before you head down there Tanna?” She says before motioning for us to start walking back to the temple entrance.

Aw cute, she’s still trying to act the leader. Ah well, Mina and I start following behind her as I begin to say, “So yes, two things. Mina, if I play a sound with my spell, Phantom Noise, can you activate your Convergence?”

“Actually, you can end and alter that spell at will while you’re concentrating on it. Why don’t you play it ahead of time while you’re above ground, so you can deliver the activation quietly?”

“Oh, really? That’s- yeah, I can do that. I guess I’ll have it say something like ‘activate’ if I need it?” I ask hesitantly. When she gives me a nod confirming I’m not dumb, I continue, “Great. As for the second thing, the Winds have some more messages for you all.”

>to Evelyee and Mina
>If the person possesses a cell phone then it's not out of the question that they also possess a Firearm What that basically is, Is a small metallic non-magical ranged weapon capable of shooting small pieces of jacketed lead at high speeds. If they pull something like that out be warned. The shots go fast and ricochet if they hit a wall.

“Er… alright. Like a flintlock. Maybe that’s what a flintlock is. Firearm… that’s not a bad name for ‘em actually.” Evel’yee muses to herself.

“How dangerous are they really Eve?” Mina asks, pushing some brush aside.

“I haven’t seen one used on a person yet, but they’re loud as fuck and they can tear through metal. They’re dangerous.”

>They have flintlocks here. So more accurately you'd say she might have something better than a flintlock.
>Right I forgot about that. Though I'd personally say they're the next step after Flintlocks. Able to hold several before needing to reload.

“I think they mean something even more dangerous than what you’re thinking of Evel’yee. Capable of holding… several? Of the pieces of lead?”

She pauses in her steps when I say that. “That’s… hm. Okay. That’s fucked up.”

Well gosh, that reaction is making me hope that’s not the case. “Just a possibility, not confirmed.”

“We should treat all this as if she does.” Mina says cynically, counter-measuring my optimism. It’s probably not a bad idea to assume the worst.

>To Evel'yee:
>What do you think about death?

“Well, that’s a different topic.” The weski says. “What do I think about death?”

“They asked you about that?”

“That they did.”

“Uncomfortable question? You don’t have to answer it.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I’ve… feelings about it.” As we’re stepping over the last of the plants and bushes and pushing back into the clearing, she goes silent for a bit. I can see her hesitating, thinking about what to say.

“You really don’t have to answer it.”

“I said I’m fine.” She says a little too tersely, Mina shrinking back a bit. Evel’yee doesn’t seem to care as she continues. “I don’t know. All sorts of conflicting emotions about it. I’ve got a certain respect for it. I also think that it’s unfair. That people who’ve done awful, terrible shit can use it as an escape and suddenly boom, they’re someone different in their next life. People I’d want to make suffer. Murderers and pieces of shit that don’t deserve an easy death.”

“’Course, I’m hardly any better considering some of the shit I’ve done.” She says with a laugh, one that sounds surprisingly genuine. “Je’zik, wicked hard question to figure out a proper answer to. Everytime I do think it’s unfair, I also know that it isn’t. Death comes to all in one way or another, and it doesn’t discriminate. That whatever impotent rage I might feel, it doesn’t give a shit. We’ll all turn the cycle and have new things to worry about in our next. I have to respect it there.”

“I used to be angrier about it until Roderick introduced me to a colleague of his. One of the Gambler’s, priests of death. You’d be surprised at how peaceful the messages they tout are. There’s a whole sect of them in Burnswallow, but I never really bothered with visiting their temples. I know I should be satisfied knowing that the people I want dead will die one day, that we might even be friends in the next life, it’s just hard to accept that and move on, yeah? And I don’t want to be friends in the next life either, I’d preferably like to kill them there too.”

A bit going on there, but she’s got some similarities to me, though… probably far less confused about them than I am, hah. Our walk is silent from then on as we make our way towards the entrance of the temple, Evel’yee going to one of the coils of rope to toss it down. I go to grab the other one to help.

“Oh, hey...” I begin as I notice one of the pews are missing in the temple. “Is that one of the pieces of furniture you moved to block in the guys? A pew?”

“Ah, yeah. It is. Should’ve mentioned that.” Mina says quietly as she helps lift Evel’yee’s coil of rope. “Good eye though Tanna.”

>To Mina:
>Oh,hey Mina. You seem nervous. Dont worry. You three have us lot watching out for you. Thisll be over quicker than you think,then we are all gonna find the nearest tavern and drink to the end of this fustercluck. Deal?

The amurrun’s ears twitch a little as that one gets sent before she turns to face me. She definitely still nervous, but a smile does manage to break through as she says, “Aw, thanks. It means a lot that… well I’m not sure why you’re here or even helping us to begin with, but I appreciate it. I’ll take you up on that. There’s this place called the Habs, they’ve got some really nice selections there. I uh… are they capable of drinking Tanna?”

“In spirit I bet.” Would love to get a drink with you all in that way myself.

>To Evel’yee:
>Congratulations on your new supernatural archery trick. I'm sure it will come in handy for turning enemies into pincushions.

“Aye, thanks. I gotta be real, it’s fucking exciting. Wish it could’ve been more of a celebration rather than all this melodramatic skrit-shit, eh, what can be done though.”

>To Evel’yee:
>I remember an old technique I once saw. (I suck with bows so take it with a grain of salt) You basically hold each arrow between your fingers and reload as you re-draw the bowstring. This saves you time and ensures you aren't disarmed if something happens to your quiver. You could also re-distribute the arrows in a light mesh of fluff so it's harder for them to fall out.

“Hah, I think I’m a pretty finessing bitch, but you seen my fingers? Sometimes I wish I had them Caro digits, though I hear they gotta wear gloves or do shit to their strings to even shoot ‘em without cutting into their skin.”


“Fox seems to agree with that too.”

“Though, the fluff idea ain’t bad one… hadn’t really considered that.” Evel’yee says as she pats her quiver, “They’re always rattling and making a racket in there, maybe when we get to Felicol, I’ll give it a try.”

>To Mina:
>Strange. Mina, you seem to channel your winds whenever we get to talking about technical terms like spell lists. Guess we'll see if we meet one day.

“Oh if only I had something akin to you all, hah. Nope, it’s just me. Unless you’re meaning something more metaphorical, but you all talk and… I don’t really have anything like that? Maybe you’re talking about the Theotians?”

“They can be a bit vague sometimes.”

“Vague voices in your head, telling you things that may or may not be true…” Evel’yee grunts as she and Mina finally get their coil over. “Plenty of folk that’d think you’re insane.”

“Well, aren’t I lucky that they can actually speak to you then? Otherwise, I might’ve had to get a puppet to counterbalance my supposed insanity.”

“What?”

“Yeah seriously, what’s this puppet joke you keep bringing up?”

I suppress a giggle, but a crooked smile breaks through. I ain’t explaining this. Shit’s funny. Skirting past that without explanation, I say, “Alright, just about ready to head down. I’m gonna set up the Phantom Noise, it’ll be a quiet hum. I’ll have it say ‘Convergence’ if I need you to release your Convergence Mina, ‘Sanctuary’ if I need that. And ‘help’ should hopefully be obvious.”

“Sounds good.” She says before clasping her hands together around her stupid butterfly amulet. Divine Weave begins to circle around her as she incants, and then she taps me. A magic surge courses through me, making me feel slightly heavier, but it does settle rather quickly though. As that happens, Mina repeats the effect with anothe spells. Same feeling as before, and she’ll step back to observe her handiwork. “I can feel it on you, it wouldn’t take more than a thought to have either one activate. What an odd gift Cassilda’s bequeathed unto me. …Anything else?”

“Yeah, Evel’yee…”

>To Evel’yee:
>I don't know if it will be useful, but we have some information and speculation about what happened. This seems like a sensitive topic for Mina, so I think you will better judge if anything might not go well with her.

>While we don't know what Shi'zen did at the end, I doubt she killed the guys. It's a possibility, but if that was her goal, I presume she had plenty of opportunities and wouldn't have wasted that sleep spell. She was even behind Jacob while he was escaping his bindings, so yeah... killing them should be relatively easy.
>All that said, I'm pretty sure she did something. Based on nothing but a vague connection to a certain yellow being, my speculation is petrification. One year as a marble statue! Classic.

>I doubt Shi'zen had any trouble leaving, since she can probably climb very well and go through the rubble in rat form. Unless there is another giant spider or similar somewhere, I don't expect you will need to face anything too dangerous this time. Well... that is if the guys are not roaming free.

This one takes a bit to send compared to the others, hard to tell exactly how long, but our evident silence is odd enough for Mina to notice.

“What’s going on? Are they saying something to you Eve?” Mina asks, a bit of worry having crept into the tone.

“U-Uh, yeah. Sorry, it was a long one. At least one of them thinks Jacob and Vax are fine… and apparently our mystery reptile’s name is Shi’zen. Saying she might not even be down there still.” Evel’yee says, avoiding the more tenuous bits of that message smoothly.

“That name is news to me as well. But yes, they’re capable of changing their shape, so… I don’t know if a rope would be necessary for them to leave. And they didn’t do anything to us in our sleep.” I add as well. Where did you get that name from anyways Winds? “I’m not sure. But, Vax and Jacob, I’m sure they’ll be fine Mina, don’t worry. If this person really had wanted the guys dead… well, I dunno why the Winds wouldn’t have just seen that.”

“O-oh… well, okay.” She says, fiddling with her amulet before nervously laughing. “That’s good to hear.”

I can tell she doesn’t feel great about not getting that message. Damned if we do and damned if we don’t though.

>To Evel’yee:
>And... I'm sorry for being flirty with Mina behind your back. It kind of developed that way because of the way I talk to cats. If it makes you jealous, I will stop doing that. I'm sure the others will accept her invitation even if I refrain for your sake.

“Oh Krai, brother, fucking flirt with her if you want, I am GOOD.” Evel’yee says with an exasperated sigh, raising her arms in frustration and looking skyward. That’s a way to break the awkwardness.

“Eh?”

“They’re just… doing that thing again. I’m not jealous, okay? Where in the hells are you even getting that idea? Mina likes the attention, shower her with it, a’ight? I’m more… not about that, yeah?”

“Evel’yee, I am certain that by acknowledging it like this you are one hundred percent encouraging them.”

“I-I mean? What do I even say to that?” She makes a confused squeaky sound as she directs her gaze towards me looking for an answer. “Should I have just not said anything?”

“Don’t worry, I will be the shield upon which all flirting shall fall upon for you Eve.”

“Fucking horny ass.” Evel’yee groans, but I feel like she’s playing it up. Can’t tell for certain. Mina definitely seems a lot less nervous after all that.

“Alright, I’m heading down.” I say before playing a quick tune on my harmonica. A noise begins to hum in between Evel’yee and Mina, my… PHANTOM NOISE. “Shouldn’t take long. Make sure nothing bad’s down there, then we’ll find out what happened to the guys. Sound good?”

“Thank you again Tanna… it means so much.”

“Be careful skrit, we’ll be down there quick if you need us.”

With a determined nod, I grab hold of the rope.

>Uh what is that in the sky? You have a green shattered moon?

Hmm? No? Even if there were, our moons are the three sisters. Lunayin, Io, and Charon. Blue, White, and Red respectively. Taking one last look at the sky above just to make sure… yeah, none of them are visible right now. And definitely no ‘green shattered’ one.

3/6 Tanna 2026/06/22(Mon)01:20 No. 1128361 ID: bdb016
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With that, I begin my descent back down. I’m still concentrating on my Phantom Noise, but it’s not so difficult. You were talking about moons last night too Winds. Are you seeing something I’m not? That’d be really strange. Eye color is one thing, but an entire celestial body? Will have to take another look later I guess?

>Alright, so "eyes are a window to the Soul" is not so literal. You don't have to hide them. More likely we need to keep people from looking directly at your soul. Or maybe it's that our Primordial power shields you, and if we expend it then you have to worry about direct eye contact…

>Aspect, is this something you can confirm/deny?

I can’t speak about the specifics of that, sorry.

Souls. That’s a saying in our world, ‘eyes being a window to the Soul’. It’s a very core part of our identity. When we die, our body returns to the planet, but the Soul remains. And that the color of our eyes often paints a picture of who we are in our past lives. Gray and other darker colored eyes like mine have a bit of a stigma… and now that my sclera’s black, I can’t imagine that’ll improve.

I was half expecting when Evel’yee was looking at me earlier to call me a darkeye or something. I’m glad she didn’t. Darkeye’s a slur by the way if it wasn’t clear. I think that might’ve been why… I guess I was so hesitant earlier. It’s kinda coming back to me now, I don’t remember specifics, but people have definitely treated me different because of my eye color.

Being a window though, seeing deeply into another being. Looking past the flesh in front of you and trying to understand them to their core? I don’t know, I think there’s something to it. Not sure why I think that. I felt this… alarm though. When Mina was looking into my eyes, I was getting really nervous. Meh.

>Personally, I've always found the concept of full reincarnation terrifying. You lose everything. Every precious moment, every hard-fought lesson... every scrap of love you had for anyone else, ever. And what's your reward? To do it all over 'again'? As if your life never happened? Even if there's a truth to your core identity, some part of you that is fundamental... what if that core is tortured by repeating its trials? And more importantly, how can you be sure that you aren't being used?

I… don’t like it either. What is the value of life then if you can just do it over after? What’s to stop someone from ending themselves when things get difficult? The lack of finality, the rot of the Soul? Things… need to end. They can’t just keep going on forever. Probably something my ‘sister’ would say.

Definitely not a popular idea. I wonder what a world where death was permanent would be like? Where you actually had to be genuinely terrified of becoming… nothing. Instead, we’re like… I guess cattle in a way? Whatever the Theotians do with our Souls… surely the energy we’ve accumulated during our lives isn’t used for nothing.

>Imagine being a mother with a child you love with all your heart, and then dying and reincarnating as the crazy psycho bandit who murders that child. Imagine reincarnating as one of the tormented plague carriers you read about in a book who lived ten thousand years ago, space and time inverting around mere mortalkind just to ensure that the suffering was real, that it existed, and that it happens to some version of you! Imagine reincarnating as someone you'd never willingly choose to become in this life - because some angel demanded you become someone else and didn't want to deal with some pesky free will to get through it!

With all the people who have lived throughout our time, I can’t imagine it hasn’t at least happened once. Though the whole plague carrier thing is… oddly specific. I don’t know how the Soul works, I suppose there’s some belief that it has ‘tendencies’ from Mina’s explanation, but… we can’t always choose who we’re born as. The lives we grow up in, affluent or wretched, make a mark on who we become as people despite these supposed tendencies.

Damn, this is a thoughtful climb down. Going down ropes is so much fucking easier than climbing up them. Not looking forward to the trip back up. Honestly, I will just Umbral Step back up if that’s the case. Screw that.

>I wonder if the darkness and confusion we are born into is just the last embers of our past identities finally ceasing to be as we're born once more.

It is sad in that way. People are quick to just… dismiss who a person was in their life. Accept their death and satisfy themselves with the fact they’ll be someone else in the next. It’s not that simple, of course there’s still grieving, but it’s…

...I don’t know. It’s something. Sad. Infuriating. Disrespectful. How I feel…

>Really hope you can change things, Tanna. For all of us.

Ahah, I’m just a dumb nudist tachi my friend. I uh… I don’t think I’ll be changing anything this fundamental about our existence anytime soon.

>clothes and sewing for beastfolk
>Ah hah! I KNEW your nudism had a reason.

I am not a nudist. I am not, I am not. I am not. It was a JOKE. But yes, we have a hard time sewing. Fat fingers, pads, and claws make it pretty difficult.

>mina likes attention.
>Oh. Oh no. Shes going to regret that.

Give her hell please. Thinks she’s so damn ‘seductive’ and ‘experienced’. Embarrassing me like that. Take that dork down a peg.

I’m only sorta joking. She really did send me on a tizzy earlier though. I’m curious if she can actually handle the full brunt of your eccentricities.

>My... aren't you guys an emotional roller coaster?

Yeah yeah, I know. Everything that’s been happening is so extraordinary though! That entire ‘venture from last night, this amnesia, these new experiences with these two strangers, edifying, and it still hasn’t stopped? Do you actually think we’ll get to Felicol and just be able to have a drink? That sounds amazing! The mundanity of it! Maybe I’ll even be able to lock my room for the night and just be alone?!

Except wait, that won’t be the case because the strangest thing of all is these ‘not from our world’ voices in my head! Not that I’m blaming you or wishing you were gone, it’s just… how can’t I be an emotional ‘roller coaster’? Whatever the third layer of hell that is. I’m emotional! Blah!!!!!!

I’ll keep trying to work on it though. I hope I’m not annoying you with it.

>Out of curiosity: what are the related root words for steel in your language? It's interesting that Mina thought it was something strange to translate. I would guess that if your culture is older than ours, it might have something to do with meteorites.

I’m sorry, this is not something I’m knowledgeable about. I think it’s something related to bone? I can ask Mina later? Maybe she’d know.

>Now you have to juggle the few inconsistencies of that lie without annoying us. Remember that it only takes one of us to reveal the truth to them, so be careful about blaming us.

I don’t intend to often, that situation was so messed up though. I was really enjoying conversing with them too. Please don’t tattle on me?

>It happened last night. I'm not sure when, but I presume closer to when you fell asleep than when you woke up. You need to come up with an excuse for why, according to you, we witnessed a past event in case it ever comes up.

I mean, you’re magical talking voices from another world. I’m sure they’d believe whatever shit we came up with. Is the idea that it just came to you now for whatever reason not good enough?

>Man rereading Mina's explanation on souls kinda points out an understated fucked-upness to the process. So new souls ARE born but only occasionally? So what exactly are Older souls doing when they "reincarnate"?
>Are newborns just born souless and develop one on their own?
>And more horrifyingly are the new souls Supplanted/absorbed/destroyed by the older souls whenever they are finished their journeys?

No, I don’t think that’s exactly how it works. My understanding of the mythos is way weaker, but I think the… the Gambler, it was him. He sort of puts them into a purgatory to become a viable creature when ready. Newborns aren’t ‘made’ without a Soul, the moment they exist they have one.

As for new Souls, I… I don’t know. I vaguely remember something about Hyakuuwuu being responsible for new Souls. I don’t think an old Soul would ‘supplant’ a new one though. I’m not one hundred percent certain though…

>Alot of uncomfortable questions are raised and it's not even a good time to get into them (and depending on how things go it might not be for awhile). How frustrating.

We’ll get there. I have questions on that too now, wish I’d brought it up in our earlier conversation. I hope after whatever’s up with Jacob and Vax, we can just have some calm.

>Grease not flammable?
>It was when we used it in the first thread.
>Mina tosses her torch into the grease, and it immediately begins to light up.
>That said, it *is* probably more useful unburnt.

Yeah, it burned pretty nicely last night. Doesn’t seem to last nearly as long in that case. I’m going to try to stay stealthy at first, and not Grease the first thing I see.

>Its also an excellent lube.
>Right squeaks?

Minute per level my friend.

Uhhhhh, maybe? I’d have to… analyze its… qualities…

>I feel like there's lots of different lubricants that one would want to use for different circumstances, and that someone should make a lubricate cantrip that gives you fine control over the features but can only apply to a small object or something, remember specialized lubricants that folk use for sex originated as being for medical use, then the sex specific ones diverged from the medical focused ones due to different needs. Heck there's a lot of room for lots of utility cantrips that can do things Prestidigitation can't, and a way to adjust one's daily available loadout of at will cantrips...

Wow, we’re really getting into this, huh. I mean, yeah, the Grease spell like… it SPLATTERS everywhere. There’s a LOT, at least from what I saw when we used it last night. I’m pretty sure you could grease up an entire person if you really wanted to. Prestidigitate might be better for more precise applications. But this is getting me thinking about how magic can be used for… like… other things. You can make people larger with it, or smaller? Give them more stamina, speed them up, slow them down… illusions, enchantments…

Dirty ass thoughts, you all are rubbing off on me. I-I mean that metaphorically. Man, fuck. Take that out of context if you want, you know what I meant.

>For what it's worth, any ability we have to tamper with your Soul is very limited. We couldn't edify you in just any way. You would have naturally edified to Shadows, Spiders, etc, and all we could do was maybe bump the process a little.

I’m happy that you chose shadow though, maybe I’m just saying that because that’s how it ended up, but it feels fitting. And hey, even if you could, as long as you didn’t make me a nudist I don’t think I’d mind that much.

>Like for instance if you just loved butterflies, and butterflies were totally your favorite thing, then we might have had Magical Sparkling Butterfly Princess, instead of Shadow Minstrel.

Or that. Ew!

>​​evee looked in your bag.
>Thats just bakoth using the truth to sow discord. Annoy him by not biting tanna. She didnt take anything after all.

Screw Bakoth. I won’t let it… eh.

She didn’t take anything, you’re right. But if he isn’t lying about that… what’s to stop her next time? I feel like I need to talk to her about that. Something for the future, to think about. I don’t know how to approach it now, but the idea that she may’ve even tried is making me a little mad.

>Tanna, please do not talk directly to Bakoth.

Hey okay, I don’t plan on making it a habit really, but he does know things. And his threats don’t scare me, I’m not some spoon-swaddled milk-drinker.

>he could break your mind, but he can't do that kind of thing to us. The most he could do is mislead us, and so far it seems like he doesn't want to do that.

Come on, I know he says things that leave me a little shaken, but he can’t ‘break’ my mind. Maybe if I didn’t know he was there, but the worst he’s going to get out of me is a rise. I don’t really see the problem.

>He's withholding information, but not giving out false or misleading information, as far as I can tell. It's much safer for us to just talk in private and relay our own, thoughts to you.

Okay, okay. What you’re saying is probably safer, but I still have questions for him too. I’ll… avoid talking to him for now, and if I plan to I’ll let you know ahead of time. Does that work?

Speaking of which, feels like we’ve been talking for a while. Gonna hit the bottom here soon. Maybe talking to him now isn’t a bad idea? I’ll… stay out of it this time. Just lemme know when you get a chance.

4/6 Bakoth 2026/06/22(Mon)01:20 No. 1128362 ID: 4ce094
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Private Conversation

Hello again.

>Did that "destruction" happen before or after the world was broken such that the King in Yellow was given the task to watch over it? "before" and "after" being from your perspective, of course, not that of mortals. Or was that the event that broke the world? Regardless, that's not quite what I was getting at. I more interested in knowing how successful Tanna has been in her previous life/lives.

Ah, how very straight to business. Let me ask, did you know that The King is oft times described as akin to that of a cervidae? His crown is often that of antlers. The destruction you reference is neither before nor after when regarding the King in this way. He surveys all within his graze. He is the reason why this land exists, and why it experienced its devastation all that time ago. And quite like how the antlers of a deer, no matter how warped they might be, one of his domains be of life and death, that which follows in the cycle of all things. And he has a habit of making a mockery of it.

As for Tanna, her past life was nothing but an abject failure, made to be a tool that ended up becoming obsolete and repurposed into something far more degrading. Until one day I managed to convince her that she was no tool, that she need not be subject to such treatment! Words that made her my plaything instead. Ended up not working out however, and we… found ourselves going separate ways.

I must admit now, I’m rather surprised to see her out and about. I remember… after I came to again, I learned that she had found herself in a rather tight situation at the end of our last escapade together. Somehow more tight than what I’ve found myself in, and I’m stuck in an infernal box. At least I’m not claustrophobic, haha.

I’ve been stuck for quite some time though, and I could only learn so much of the goings on of the world from Roderick and company’s lives. And this… inscription on her Soul. I’m talking about that odd curse you all see on her. I’ve no idea who inscribed it like that; but it’s quite advanced, and I can’t really analyze it too well within this damned prison of mine. It’s preventing me from reading into her Biography. When she was carrying me off last night, I valued our shared history far less than that most curious inscription. If she hadn’t had it last night, I… maybe might’ve just had my minions kill her anyways. Fifty fifty toss up, I’m unsure. But now you’re all involved too, and she’s… ah, nevermind. It really is a twisted joke that she’s ‘important’ now.

>Are you saying Tanna was once something that destroyed the world? I've been meaning to ask something like this before but had no real evidence for it. Is Tanna a fallen "god"?

Don’t think I didn’t notice how you’ve reserved that inquiry just for me. Hesitant to have Tanna hearing you ask that? I can’t fault you, they are rather dangerous. Ones that are far too early to provide solid answers for.

But of course, if I were to say nothing, what would that imply? You might get the wrong idea about things, and I know myself, I can’t simply say nothing. I just adore the sound of my own voice. So, I’ll frame the first as a suggestion you might follow, rather than give a direct answer.

There are people within this world that have trained themselves into being able to date a Soul. It’s a paltry trick really, but so many get curious as to how ‘old’ they might actually be. Quite akin to what a palm reader from your realm might be. Do that, and I’ll give you a more definitive answer.

As for your second, whether Tanna is a fallen “god” or not. Such a question goes back to how definitions may alter the state of what might be truth and what might be lie. Surrounding it in quotes like that as well, haha, don’t even get me started.

There’s ways I could answer this, but I’m afraid I may have to disappoint you though. I think it best if I don’t answer this, I wouldn’t want to taint your perception of things. Find your own evidence and come to your own conclusions, and please try to not take my reluctance to answer as anything more than wanting the ‘best’ for you.

Anyways, best of luck going back down in that wretched place.

Returning back to Tanna

5/6 Tanna 2026/06/22(Mon)01:20 No. 1128363 ID: b4e23a
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You’ll have to regale me with the conversation later, Winds. I’m near the bottom.

My foot touches base with the stone floor and symbol of the eye below as I start to stand evenly, drawing my scimitar and surveying the scene. …Do I look cool? I bet I look cool.

Still… this place is fucking creepy. It’s as quiet as a grave down here, the occasional shifting of… whatever, rumbling throughout the ancient structure. Once I’m fully on the floor I crouch a little lower, trying to keep as small and hidden as possible.

>TANNA’S PERCEPTION CHECK: 6(3[Roll] + 3[Mentality])

>TANNA’S SNEAKING CHECK: 14(8[Roll] + 4[Dexterity] + 2[Effective])

Other than the missing pew, everything looks relatively the same… except that the door leading to the jail room is slightly ajar. Maybe Mina and Evel’yee left it like that from last night?

Hmm, now that I’m looking about… there’s others doors that are slightly open too.

6/6 Tanna 2026/06/22(Mon)02:07 No. 1128368 ID: 3bf48b
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I could yell up to ask Evel’yee and Mina if they opened these other doors as well… but maybe I should look around first? I’m not sure, I’ve never really… scouted before. I’m down here and in the thick of it now, what do you think I should do Winds?

>>1128361
>I’ll... avoid talking to him for now, and if I plan to I’ll let you know ahead of time. Does that work?
That works for now. I would still prefer it if you simply told us your questions so we can ask them for you. Keep in mind that he has shaken you by barely hinting at the thing you should not know. Like catching a glimpse out of the corner of your eye of the shadow of something horrible.
Honestly, if you're dead set on talking to him when we talk to him, then... how about a compromise? Promise to be respectful. Do not provoke him, because the danger is real. If you can't do that, then I might just have to stop talking to him except in emergencies.

>>1128368
Looks like obfuscation to me. For some reason, one of these doors needs to be ajar, but leaving only that one door ajar would arise suspicion so all the doors were opened. Like, for instance, someone could be listening or watching behind one of the open doors.
...also, there were two ropes before. Now there's only one. If that was on purpose then that limits access without removing it. The perfect time to start a sneak attack is when someone is partway down the rope and thus can't retreat easily. Someone could also try cutting the rope at an inopportune moment, trapping you all down here or even dropping someone from a height. You weren't ambushed, but maybe that's just because you were quiet enough. Honestly, this looks incredibly sus.
Check the three doors near the rope. Try not to get too close to them when peeking in, because if someone's behind one of the doors then you don't want to be within attack range. Hmm, is it even possible to safely peek into the door nearest the corner?

>>1128371
I'm sorry, I forgot to draw the other rope. There should be two.

>>1128368
When you get to the door be mindful of the sides of it. Jacob seemed like the type of slippery bastard to hide at the sides of it to try to ambush you. And that's if he hasn't gotten out of the room by now. He's almost certainly still alive cause the lizard lady put him to sleep. Wouldn't need to do that if you planned on killing him.

>I wonder what a world where death was permanent would be like?
Oh! oh! we can answer that!

It fucking sucks. You live with a person you love for some years only for them to die, And your left wondering "are they permanently gone or did they go to some form of afterlife?" and the question has no genuine answer since nobody has for SURE come back from the dead.

Sure we have stories, claims and prophecies of some deified people coming back. But nothing concrete. Our world is a world of uncertainty when it comes to death. Lots of people fear it and some accept it. So it goes.

Some people don't even believe in the concept of a soul, Believing us to be just processes running in the brain. When that goes so does us.

Hmm... Why is that bone there?
Most predators wouldn't drag it around for fun. Maybe a dog would, but spiders would just leave the bone pile alone.
Would the guys have a reason to play with bones after spending weeks there not doing that? Probably not.
There may be spooky scary skeletons roaming.

So... Do undead have magical darkvision by default?

How about going straight to the prison to minimize the chances of coming across enemies? Stay away from the ritual chamber with that pile of bones where Bakoth did something with Roderick's body.
Hopefully your skeleton friend from the prison won't have decided to go for a walk.

>>1128380
If it's a necromatically revived skeleton then there's one of two ways I can see it working.
Either it is easily scattered but magically reassembles itself. Or it is magically hardened and can take a good couple of hits. Either way bashing and smashing is the way to go. Doubt the magic can reanimate dust.

>>1128382
Actually if it is a undead then the doors would be open cause it's patrolling a route. Who knows why. Maybe the box being removed triggered it? Don't like the implications of that.

>>1128368
Start with listening.
Any movement however slight
Then check each of the open doors but dont open them further.
Lean something against it on our side of the door. The kind of thing that'll make a clatter

Then weve got an alarm of sorts on each door we can secure temporarily
and
we can feel a little safer as we inspect the door we cant.
The big broken open one.

>>1128380
What bone? I don't see one. All I see are the things on the table which iirc we inspected already, the various rubble around...
And something on the floor next to Tanna. Is that a switch?

>>1128393
Right next to Tanna. On her left by the door.

>>1128383
Wait I'm a dumbass. The chick had a skullmask. She's a necromancer. you ARE dealing with undead.

...Might still be worth scouting ahead. If she decided to do the deed to Jax and Jacob... And reanimated them...

Fox here. That bone might have a spell I heard of in the PF1 Encyclopedia (well, a third party add-on to it, so who knows if it actually exists) called Bone Trap, that could discharge negative energy in a ten foot or three meter radius from the bone itself.

First things first. Uses your non-visual. Listen and take a few sniffs. Hear or smell anything out of place?

1/4 Tanna 2026/07/04(Sat)00:48 No. 1128923 ID: 69f385
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>I would still prefer it if you simply told us your questions so we can ask them for you. Keep in mind that he has shaken you by barely hinting at the thing you should not know.

Really, shaken? Eh… I guess, but I need to get better at being able to handle that sort of thing, wouldn’t you think? It feels cowardly, I don’t know… having you ask my questions?

I suppose he is some terrifying monster that made a group of close friends nearly turn on each other with his words alone…

>Honestly, if you're dead set on talking to him when we talk to him, then... how about a compromise? Promise to be respectful. Do not provoke him, because the danger is real. If you can't do that, then I might just have to stop talking to him except in emergencies.

...I can try. No, I mean, I will. You’ve got me even questioning now whether I should in the first place now, but… gods, he’s such a piece of trash. It’ll be hard, but I’ll try holding my tongue.

>That works for now.

Okay, great, good to hear. I don’t mean to make this a big ‘ol deal or whatever, it’s just… I gotta be able to do some things myself. I can’t rely on you all for everything.

>Hmm... Why is that bone there?

Oh? A bone? What bone?

>Right next to Tanna. On her left by the door.

Turning to my left… huh, yeah, you’re right. There is a bone there. I’m fairly certain… no, I’m definitively positive that that was not here last night.

>Fox here. That bone might have a spell I heard of in the PF1 Encyclopedia (well, a third party add-on to it, so who knows if it actually exists) called Bone Trap

Wha- okay… damn, can’t even trust the bones anymore.

>could discharge negative energy in a ten foot or three meter radius from the bone itself.

Well, hmm… I don’t really know how to deal with this foul bone exactly. I’d cast Detect Magic and check, but I’d rather be quiet right now. Same with throwing something at it… wretched foul bone…

Bah, I fear no osseous material. Moving over to examine it, low to the ground still and sword in teeth, (I really gotta get a bite guard for this thing), I pull the handle of my scimitar away from my jaws and sort of just… VERY carefully, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice, poke it.

...It wobbles a little bit before coming to a stop. Getting a little closer with another poke, the stupid thing still doesn’t react. Pretty sure it’s just a normal ol’ bone. The fuck is it doing here though? And what is it exactly, some kinda femur? I pick it up at this point and give it a sniff, but even that’s frustratingly normal. Just a boney ass bone.

Well, I’m glad it didn’t hurt me at least. I guess you can trust the bones.

>And something on the floor next to Tanna. Is that a switch?

Oh that? Yeah, it’s some kind of lever in the center. I’m not sure if it’s off or on, but I remember talk about an elevator? There’s some sort of carved perimeter with a smooth metal surrounding the eye that’s separate from the floor, maybe the elevator’s railing? I wonder how old this place actually is, and what kind of elevator it is, there must be some serious machinery if it once lifted this whole stone platform.

2/4 Tanna 2026/07/04(Sat)00:49 No. 1128924 ID: 69f385
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>Start with listening. Any movement however slight
>First things first. Uses your non-visual. Listen and take a few sniffs. Hear or smell anything out of place?

Sure, I was a little distracted before with how cool I looked, but lemme see if I can smell or hear anything else now.

>TANNA’S PERCEPTION CHECK: 9(5[Roll] + 3[Mentality] + 1[Suggested Focus])

I still don’t hear anything suspicious, it’s really quiet down here. No odd smells either besides that musty crypt stench. Eesh… this has gotten really creepy. Who put this bone here? Why?

>Most predators wouldn't drag it around for fun. Maybe a dog would, but spiders would just leave the bone pile alone. Would the guys have a reason to play with bones after spending weeks there not doing that? Probably not. There may be spooky scary skeletons roaming.
>Hopefully your skeleton friend from the prison won't have decided to go for a walk.

Skeletons? Of which are spooky and potentially even scary? Maybe the one I stole the harmonica from’s come back for revenge? Hah, it’s my harmonica now bitch, you shan’t be getting it back. No, really though, why would skeletons suddenly be walking about now? That doesn’t make any sense. Roderick’s crew had been here for around a week…

Maybe Mina or Evel’yee placed it here… one sec. Focusing on my Phantom Noise, I have it play the message, “Hey, there’s a bone down here by this door I’m at. Did either of you place it? Nod your heads yes, shake for no.”

I look up at them while that plays, after a few seconds, they shake their heads at me.

Damn, I reaaaally don’t like that answer.

>Looks like obfuscation to me. For some reason, one of these doors needs to be ajar, but leaving only that one door ajar would arise suspicion so all the doors were opened. Like, for instance, someone could be listening or watching behind one of the open doors.

The doors too, I ask them through the same means if they left them all up. Same answer, they didn’t.

>You weren't ambushed, but maybe that's just because you were quiet enough. Honestly, this looks incredibly sus.

I wasn’t trying to be particularly quiet climbing down it, but going down a rope isn’t that hard to begin with. I’d be huffing and puffing going back up. But yes, this is all very ‘sus’. Suspicious I’m guessing?

>Lean something against it on our side of the door. The kind of thing that'll make a clatter
>Then weve got an alarm of sorts on each door we can secure temporarily
>Stay away from the ritual chamber with that pile of bones where Bakoth did something with Roderick's body.

Good idea, I just need something that… well, I guess this bone’ll work. Act as my alarm and ward me from evil sir femur. And… there we go. If this thing falls over, it’ll make a decent clatter. I remember that big pile of bones from that room we fought Roderick in, good point. I’ll stay away for now.

>Check the three doors near the rope. Try not to get too close to them when peeking in, because if someone's behind one of the doors then you don't want to be within attack range. Hmm, is it even possible to safely peek into the door nearest the corner?

Yeah, it should be. It’s definitely the most open out of the three of them. Turning away from my makeshift door bell, I start to make my way towards the door closest to the corner. I should be able to peek in fairly easily.

>So... Do undead have magical darkvision by default?

>TANNA’S UNDEAD KNOWLEDGE: 5(3[Mentality] + 2[Effective Profession])

Uhm… I think most undead are able to see in the dark? They generally don’t actually have functioning eyes, so as a part of their creation, they need to be made with ‘fake’ sight. Something sort of like Detect Magic, where things are outlined by their Weave. It’s why mindless undead won’t bother attacking other undead or dead things.

Also, that’s more esoteric knowledge I just know for some reason. No idea why. Yup. If it means anything, the idea of undead is agitating me. Same kind of dislike I have towards Cassilda and them, though not as strong. Hopefully that means I wasn’t some sort of necromancer pre-amensia.

>I wonder what a world where death was permanent would be like?
>Oh! oh! we can answer that!

Ah?

>It fucking sucks.

Ah.

>You live with a person you love for some years only for them to die, And your left wondering "are they permanently gone or did they go to some form of afterlife?" and the question has no genuine answer since nobody has for SURE come back from the dead.

Wait, so… so you don’t know what happens to them? No guarantee of whether they’ll become someone else or if their Soul is just… gone? Why hasn’t anybody been revived? And aren’t there wizards in your world that could… do something to check or… I don’t know? Surely something?

>Sure we have stories, claims and prophecies of some deified people coming back. But nothing concrete. Our world is a world of uncertainty when it comes to death. Lots of people fear it and some accept it. So it goes.
>Some people don't even believe in the concept of a soul, Believing us to be just processes running in the brain. When that goes so does us.

How incredibly strange. If you didn’t have a Soul, how would you even be alive? Talking to me? I guess… I mean, our worlds could be different, but isn’t that something that should be, I dunno, like, fundamental? Je’zik, that’s got me all cu-

>??? CHECK: 6(4[Proximity] + 2[Slightly Muffled])

Wait, hold on. I’m… hearing something. I’m moving to check beyond the portal, but as I get closer, there’s this sort of… soft tapping coming from inside. I look back at Evel’yee and Mina, and let them know I’m hearing a noise.

I listen for a few more seconds, hesitant to move forward. It continues softly and without pause. W-What is it? It’s not trying to be quiet at all… well, I’ll never find out if I don’t take a look. As I approach the door, I peek my head around the corner. This room is really dark, light not really able to reach in here that well. Fortunately, that ain’t a problem for me anymore. There’s a staircase leading up, same as last night, but at the top…

3/4 Tanna 2026/07/04(Sat)01:33 No. 1128928 ID: 36beab
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Oh. Oh fuck. That’s a skeleton.

4/4 Tanna 2026/07/04(Sat)01:33 No. 1128929 ID: 36beab
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>_

Stealthily, stealthily, don't get its attention, that's something to kill with the full party, withdraw, you are doing recon right now, check the other doors....

>>1128929
Alright, that explains everything. Back away from the door hoping it didn't see you. Communicate to your friends that there's animated skeletons down here, but no outright ambush, so they should come down before you're spotted.

Wait next to this one door, if the skeleton comes out then do a sneak attack.

Grease trap this area, its bones don't have the friction and surface area needed to step carefully around here. It'll trip, and you can finish it off with a neck-snap.

>>1128934

Fox here: Except no, it might not trip, it might just walk out of the grease, and it might act perfectly fine with its neck snapped because UNDEAD DO NOT NECESSARILY CARE ABOUT CRITICAL ANATOMY DAMAGE IT ISN'T BREATHING ANYWAY.

This one is trying to reach the trapdoor. Why is that? Is its goal to reach the outside, or is the outside just a path it's seeking to reach something else, like your group? Assuming there are more, I wonder if all of them will be attempting different ways of exiting the temple. Maybe they would abandon those attempts to go after you when they realize their true objective is in the temple with them.
This could be potentially useful: If they want to leave, the ropes will become very popular when the skeletons realize that path is open.

Since you are an undead expert, a few questions on the subject.
First: How tough are animated skeletons? Can we expect Skyrim's "sneeze and they fall apart" or Dark Souls' "fuck you" skeletons?
Related to the previous question: Can their joints be detached and reattached by themselves, or does their magic connection fall apart when the bones separate?
Lastly: Do the bones physically touch things, or is there a levitation effect imitating what would be their flesh for interactions?

I agree with the other suggestion about maintaining stealth and retreating, but I'm not sure it's time to call for backup yet.
It's unfortunate that you won't have a visual advantage from seeing in the dark, but you still have options to hide and move with Umbral Step.

Now that we know what we are dealing with, Evel'yee's position could allow for some cheap shots if the skeletons are attracted to the main room. If arrows are too weak against skeletons, Evel'yee and Mina can throw stones instead. That should be effective from this height. Just remind them to not hit you.
We might as well ask them to hit wandering skeletons while you explore. It would make noise, but if you are not in the room when it happens, it might work to your advantage by attracting the attention of the skeletons far away from you.

While you are communicating with the girls, maybe make a plan for what they should do if you lose your concentration and the Phantom Noise spell breaks. I'm not sure what though. You could ask Mina to activate Sanctuary when the noise stops, but it might be a waste since it's only three turns. It might be necessary though. Up to you.

And once again I suggest that you prioritize checking the place you intend to go. There might be important things to find out in the side rooms, but it would be a pity to have to end your scouting with no information about what to expect at your planned destination.

>>1128938

Fox here: She doesn't have context for Skyrim or Dark Souls! Anyway, the encyclopedias which ACTUALLY map closer to her reality rather than ones that DON'T basically say, 'it varies'; there are a LOT of things a competent necromancer can do to make their basic skeletons significantly more capable than they otherwise would be, and the difference is the capability and options the different sorts of necromancers bring to the table and the amount of resources they are willing to spend on one lowly skeleton.

Oh man. Is that Vax? I hope that's not Vax.
Also this is KINDA the exact sort of stuff we were just talking about. I can already imagine Mina going "Why the fuck is my best friend a Skeleton Tanna? You said this JUST happened!"
Like we can still explain it by saying we didn't know WHEN that vision occurred but... Bleh. I'd rather you just be honest from the get go with this stuff. Not like they would blame you for not wanting to ruin the mood after last night.

Anyway we are down here because we are scouting not engaging. Last thing we want is to engage with this thing only for 5 more of the things to come crawling out during combat. Retreat and further sus things out. Maybe check out the door where the bone was in-front of.

Poor guy can't get the hatch open!

Skeleton is a threat, but more of a threat is who animated it. Neither of Mina's companions was a necromancer. Probably that skull mask lizard lady.

It's a beastkin, hips look male from that angle, with a decent snout, some fat digitigrade talons, and a really long tail. Definitely looks lizardy, but it can't be Vax. Vax is still paralyzed, so he'd be a paralyzed skeleton, right?

1/1 Tanna 2026/07/04(Sat)22:58 No. 1128959 ID: ff980e
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>Back away from the door hoping it didn't see you

A-Ah? Oh, sorry… still kind of getting over the… shock. Of seeing this thing. It’s still just jumping up and down, trying to reach the hatch. I don’t think it's seen me.

>Oh man. Is that Vax? I hope that's not Vax.

I-I don’t think so. Whoever this was is pretty large, but Vax was… huge. I could be wrong though.

>Since you are an undead expert, a few questions on the subject.

Well, I wouldn’t say I’m exactly an expert...

>First: How tough are animated skeletons? Can we expect Skyrim's "sneeze and they fall apart" or Dark Souls' "fuck you" skeletons?

Skyrim? Dark Souls?

>She doesn't have context for Skyrim or Dark Souls!

Yeah, I don’t know what those are. Are they other worlds or something? Do you all do this often? Hah, maybe I’m not unique after all…

Anyways, skeletons… they’re made of bone. Bone’s very hard, hard to cut and pierce. I wouldn’t say that they’re… well, there’s a reason why they’re the most common form of undead besides basic zombies. Residual Souls unwilling to move on towards the Journey, or latent ones owned by the Theotian… the Theotian… gah, I can’t remember… but they can form malevolent beings called undead. They’re about as dangerous as another person would be, except they have no regard for self-preservation.

While they can find bones intact and close enough together to form like this, natural cases are super freak occurrences. They’re usually called upon as part of some ritual. The Soul will form magical ‘tendons’ that will keep the bones together, but if they’re broken apart with enough force, they usually won’t be able to reattach them easily.

>'it varies'; there are a LOT of things a competent necromancer can do to make their basic skeletons significantly more capable than they otherwise would be, and the difference is the capability and options the different sorts of necromancers bring to the table and the amount of resources they are willing to spend on one lowly skeleton.

Yes, I… don’t know the full capabilities of this skeleton, other than it looks to be fully formed, large, and… holding onto some kind of memory. Undead that aren’t given a clear purpose and are left to idle often act very single mindedly to an aspect of the will of the person they once were. Of course, all that goes out the window once they find something to act out their aggression on.

While the Weave projected by a Soul often simulates the regular anatomy of the creature they were meant to resemble, skilled necromancers can often shape it in different ways. This can mask their weaknesses or give them new functionalities entirely. Generally though…

>UNDEAD DO NOT NECESSARILY CARE ABOUT CRITICAL ANATOMY DAMAGE

They sort of do. They definitely don’t feel pain, and will fight to their absolute breaking point. But the spine of most undead is their core functionality. If you disrupt the physical structure, the rest of the simulated anatomy will fall apart quickly. Likewise, if you destroy their head, they won’t be able to see or hear, though they can still survive that.

>Lastly: Do the bones physically touch things, or is there a levitation effect imitating what would be their flesh for interactions?

They touch things, but they don’t have a sense of feeling like you’d expect. Mindless undead either singularly follow orders, or kill wantonly. They can even recognize weapons that will help them with that latter goal.

>>1128959
Huh. I suppose "know thine enemy" wasn't just a saying with you.
Looking closer this skeleton doesn't look like it's missing a bone either so that means there's atleast two of them.

I wonder if it would help or hinder to tell the girls this skeleton is not large enough to be Vax...
Probably will freak out Mina even more with the idea that they might be reanimated. Better to not even mention and hope the thought didn't occur to her.

Have we tried using that lever yet? Probably shouldn't while there's skeletons around though.

>>1128959
Hmm, we saw many skeletons in the ritual room. We might have an infestation on our hands. Most likely the snake lady summoned them all while the captives were disabled, and then... well, it makes the most sense for her to play a sort of game with them to force us to come down and deal with it. The captives have been chased around by the skeletons and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them is up that trap door the skeleton is jumping at.

Anyway, my general plan hasn't changed. Message your party and tell them there's skeletons down here of an unknown quantity and you're not gonna be able to handle them alone. Since they're mostly-mindless constructs your party members should be able to descend safely.
You could try scouting out the other doors I suppose, to see if you can get an idea of how many there are and what they're currently doing?

Sneak up on it, use the sickle to hook it's spine and YOINK IT OUT.

>>1128961
Actually... I think when you get near the rope you should be within range for telepathic messages.
Pass along as your spell talk at an opportune time and don't call attention to it.

To Evel’yee:
Try act natural so Mina doesn't notice.
The skeleton is an iruxi but it's not tall enough to be Vax. Probably too clean too.
I don't want the idea that it might be what was done to them in Mina's head but if she realizes the possibility by herself you can at least reassure her that this one was someone else.

Just... be careful. Some necromancers found a way to turn bonemeal into animated skeletons.

Fun fact: Bones aren't just for stability or armor. Living bones produce blood. If you crack one open you might see a bunch of holes; that's not a disease, it's because the inside of your bones is spongy to produce the blood. After rigor mortis, the inside slowly dries out until it becomes almost as stiff as the rest of the bone, but a freshly harvested bone can be cracked open to collect the stuff.
And you can make a tasty butter from the part of the bone that produces blood if you harvest it before it dries out, but I'm sure you already know that... mmm.

So: testing. Once the party's done bashing this thing to pieces, saw open a large piece and see what's inside. If the bones are still 'fresh', we might have something to work with...

Ok wait. I HAVE to ask since we've made this assumption before. Can you see the red glowy light in the Skeletons eye sockets Tanna?

>>1128995
I can, that's the skeleton's 'sight'. It's also their hearing technically. The Soul inhabiting this thing has to project that outwards to have those senses.

>>1128968

Are you sure that's an Iruxi? Could be a kobold. How many bipedal lizardlike species are there of that rough shape or size?

>>1128999
That thing is taller than Tanna.

>>1129000

So? And how many bipedal lizardlike species of roughly that bone structure ARE there, especially when considering possible individual outliers in size?

>>1128959
That feller is spooky and scary.
Hey.
I recognise him
Is he the guy who loaned you the harmonica?
Slinky.
He wants it back.

Ok, ok.
Putting my whimsy away.
Its possible theyre one of the original denizens remains.
Definitely a heavy set creature in life by the wide feet, long balancing tail and spread of the foot talons when it jumps.
Its caught in a loop of trying something that isnt working.
Suggests a command given and it having minimal autonomy.

All the same, we have info for the team
Get to the foot of the rope and we'll carry a message to come down quietly as theres one hostile skelamajig.

>>1128924
An unnecessary but interesting foray into the lore of our world: History has led us to broadly reject the idea of magic, but that has not stopped magical thinking. While we had once thought the world was magical, we were able to create detailed theories describing nearly every single mechanism and predict how systems would develop further and further forward. Anything that can be theorized about and predicted, we call science. We call everything else magic. The ways of science have become so advanced, in fact, that it is widely believed that everything can be explained by it in one way or another, though we may not know it yet.

Thus, the existence of magic is more of a philosophical question than a physical one. This leads to a big complication when it comes to the idea of a "soul", though. The word "consciousness" has come to replace the word "soul" in scientific discussions, but it hasn't replaced the idea. Fundamentally, the issue is that consciousness is pretty much impossible for us to define. We can describe aspects of our own conscious experience, but we can't actually observe consciousness in other people. A crucial step in the scientific method (The set of rules we follow to 'make' science) is observation, and since we can't make observations, we can't really apply science to consciousness. (There is debate about this, but the fact that there is debate at all is an indication of the issue)

The belief in an afterlife comes from a time before modern science, but it nonetheless stays relevant because of the questions science can't currently answer.

Also, it should be noted that the information you receive about our world comes from a tiny self-selected slice of the population, so you aren't getting the full picture. It seems like your world functions somewhat similarly to what the buddhists/hinduists of our world believe: Souls are infinitely reincarnated into different bodies in a cycle called "Saṃsāra." You, however, seem to lead towards the buddhist belief that Saṃsāra is painful, and that you seek "nirvāṇa," which is the escape from such a cycle. Beyond this surface level comparison the analogy falls apart. (I don't think extinguishing your desires would really help you achieve nirvāṇa in your world) But it's an interesting similarity nonetheless.

>>1129060

Fox here. This one isn't urgent. So... Souls. In some parts of existence, as far as the locals are concerned, there is no empirically observable gods, no empirically observable souls, no empirically observable magic, no empirically observable afterlife, no observable aspects of reality with an inherent moral agenda at all. In those places, sometimes the word 'soul' even gets used to describe the body parts made of matter! In that part of things, there is a deterministic, matter-based reality, based on reductionist principles with bottom-up causation processes causing emergent phenomena. And this can actually make, over sufficiently large timescales, based on the concrete, unchangeable mathematical laws of physics, the following things: life, life with a basic level of awareness, and life with full intelligence and self awareness and the capacity to grow.

>>1129060
I feel like a gave a pretty generalist overview of things. Death is an unknown and people have various ideas about it.
I also share the whole "mind and soul are the same thing" perspective.
It's mostly why I was so horrified by Mina's explanation of your afterlife. A ton of uncomfortable implications with the ways the gods are mucking about with people there.

>>1129060
Unlike Magic, Science is not a search for quintessential truth. Science is about determining what is impossible and calculating the improbability of what is improbable.

Truth to one person may mean something entirely different to another, thereby preventing the transmission of understanding from one school of magical thought to another. But with science? We find what is impossible for everyone, and then it is up to them to decide what they wish to do with the remainder; what may be possible for anyone.

The results speak for themselves. With a sandbox of unexplored possibility combined with a set of fundamental constraints restricting us from the contradictory, tools designed from such scientific inquiry are engineered to be usable by anyone.

But these days, we find ourselves adrift in ignorance. Starved of magic, we fall into delusions and tribes. And the worlds are getting... stupider. When one cannot scientifically disprove that a tool of science is bereft of any magic whatsoever... well. It's not looking good.

1/5 Tanna 2026/08/31(Mon)01:40 No. 1131480 ID: 690ff7
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>Definitely looks lizardy, but it can't be Vax. Vax is still paralyzed, so he'd be a paralyzed skeleton, right?

Well… maybe? I don’t know how that’d work, if being made into a skeleton would get rid of the paralyzation I put on him. I would assume so, since like… you’d presumably die if being made into a skeleton, but maybe that doesn’t even get rid of it?

>Huh. I suppose "know thine enemy" wasn't just a saying with you.

Skeletons, zombies, ghouls, ghosts, vampires, shadows, mohrgs, wraiths. It’s like a memory of a memory, coming to me in a way now that I’m thinking a bit more deeply about them. How they’re made and what they’re like; weaknesses and the composition of their vaelthread, the technical term for a creature’s make up within the Weave. It’s sort of making me a little…

Ehrg… a little sick. It’s too much to think about at the moment, I’m gonna close this off for now before I lose myself in it.

>Looking closer this skeleton doesn't look like it's missing a bone either so that means there's atleast two of them.

Ah! Good point, that’s definitely possible, assuming that the bone from earlier is another skelly’s. Not really looking forward to the idea of more skeletons.

>Poor guy can't get the hatch open!
>This one is trying to reach the trapdoor.

He really can’t. It’s another exit for this place supposedly. Though Mina and Evel’yee seemed to be sure that it’s locked and barred from the surface for whatever reason. It’s a bit worrying that it knows that this is an exit though.

>Why is that? Is its goal to reach the outside, or is the outside just a path it's seeking to reach something else, like your group? Assuming there are more, I wonder if all of them will be attempting different ways of exiting the temple. Maybe they would abandon those attempts to go after you when they realize their true objective is in the temple with them.

Well… besides the elevator and this hatch, the only other exit I can think of would be that room with that raging torrent. Sounds like a good way to get all smashed up though. Could only be so convenient if these other possible skellies went that way and died. Again.

>That feller is spooky and scary. Hey. I recognise him

Aye? Who is he?

>Is he the guy who loaned you the harmonica? Slinky. He wants it back.

WHAT?! NO! It is MY harmonica now. MINE! ALL MINE!! I shall bury my fangs in the spines of him and kin alike and shatter ALL in TWAIN should they covet my most sacred treasure!!!

Actually though, I wonder how that skelly is. That one was trapped in a cell, I wonder if it’s animated? All those bones in that room we fought Roderick in last night too, what was that even about? Some kind of ritual? Bakoth was leading them on for something… I should’ve asked Evel’yee what they’d been doing.

>Ok, ok. Putting my whimsy away. Its possible theyre one of the original denizens remains. Definitely a heavy set creature in life by the wide feet, long balancing tail and spread of the foot talons when it jumps. Its caught in a loop of trying something that isnt working. Suggests a command given and it having minimal autonomy.

It could be a command, but… I wonder just how long he’s been doing this? Why wouldn’t the person who gave it the command have come and told it to do something else by now?

Maybe it just wants to escape. That that had been his goal before he died.

Je’zik, that’d be kinda sad.

>Wait I'm a dumbass. The chick had a skullmask. She's a necromancer.
>Probably that skull mask lizard lady.

You think so? I guess she would be the most likely candidate. But still, why?

>​​Most likely the snake lady summoned them all while the captives were disabled, and then... well, it makes the most sense for her to play a sort of game with them to force us to come down and deal with it. The captives have been chased around by the skeletons and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them is up that trap door the skeleton is jumping at.

That would be a strange thing to do. Vax would be dead in this case since he’d be paralyzed (still assuming it works that way), and Jacob would have… been awoken just to run around and hide? The hatch is an exit too, Mina and Evel’yee said it was locked on their side.

I’m not saying it’s not possible, I just… am not sure I guess. This is really strange.

>This could be potentially useful: If they want to leave, the ropes will become very popular when the skeletons realize that path is open.

Could maybe make a trap with that in mind? Could lure them possibly…

>It's a beastkin, hips look male from that angle, with a decent snout, some fat digitigrade talons, and a really long tail.
>Are you sure that's an Iruxi? Could be a kobold. How many bipedal lizardlike species are there of that rough shape or size?

Ah… hmm, I doubt it. I think kobolds are pretty small, around Evel’yee’s height. This would be a freakishly huge kobold.

>That thing is taller than Tanna.
>So? And how many bipedal lizardlike species of roughly that bone structure ARE there, especially when considering possible individual outliers in size?

They don’t really have claws or talons like this one’s got either, at least not as large. Definitely no Sathaxrin, wouldn’t have legs in that case. Jaws too small for a Kurovak either… it could maybe be a Wyvaran? I’m not too sure what they look like, other than that they’re draconic-esque and have wings too.

>Back away from the door
>Communicate to your friends that there's animated skeletons down here, but no outright ambush
>Message your party and tell them there's skeletons down here of an unknown quantity and you're not gonna be able to handle them alone.

Got it. Stepping back, I’ll relay to them that there’s danger down here in the form of a skeleton/skeletons...

>I wonder if it would help or hinder to tell the girls this skeleton is not large enough to be Vax… Probably will freak out Mina even more with the idea that they might be reanimated. Better to not even mention and hope the thought didn't occur to her.
>Also this is KINDA the exact sort of stuff we were just talking about. I can already imagine Mina going "Why the fuck is my best friend a Skeleton Tanna? You said this JUST happened!"

Definitely want to avoid all that drama too, don’t need them doing anything rash while I’m being a super cool scout. I wave at them as they look down at me, trying to look as reassured as possible. It’s a little hard to make out their expressions, though I can see Mina’s ears drop even lower. It’s not ideal news. Evel’yee gives me a nod and thumbs up before saying something to Mina, I can’t exactly hear.

>While you are communicating with the girls, maybe make a plan for what they should do if you lose your concentration and the Phantom Noise spell breaks. I'm not sure what though. You could ask Mina to activate Sanctuary when the noise stops, but it might be a waste since it's only three turns. It might be necessary though. Up to you.

Ooh, that’s a good point. What if something was capable of stopping me from relaying back to them? I’ll give them some additional instructions in this case to activate the Sanctuary in case my Phantom Noise dies out.

>Actually... I think when you get near the rope you should be within range for telepathic messages. Pass along as your spell talk at an opportune time and don't call attention to it.

I… I think this is better as something to tell them once we’re reunited. Not looking to complicate things here right now. Apologies.

Speaking of not complicating things… what to do now. Hah, gosh, it’s sort of like last night. Skulking about this damn place while there’s things around that will try to kill me if they find me. Maybe I should call Evel’yee and Mina down… but I haven’t really done that much yet. Hm…

>Stealthily, stealthily, don't get its attention, that's something to kill with the full party, withdraw, you are doing recon right now, check the other doors....

Recon… yeah. I should keep doing that…

>they should come down before you're spotted.

Though, that’s not a bad idea either… there’s safety in numbers.

>Grease trap this area, its bones don't have the friction and surface area needed to step carefully around here. It'll trip, and you can finish it off with a neck-snap.
>Sneak up on it, use the sickle to hook it's spine and YOINK IT OUT.

I… er… well, I did avoid telling them I wouldn’t handle it alone. I think… well…

Ah, Winds, if I’m being honest, I really think I could do it. Not exactly with my sickle, but like… this thing is distracted. I could rush up, bite down on its spine with my fangs, I’m fairly certain I’d tear it out all easy and quiet-like if not outright crush it. I know I’ve got the fangs for it… I’m walking around with this sword in my mouth like it’s a paperweight (the rust taste kinda sucks though, again, biteguard). I kinda wanna try…

>So: testing. saw open a large piece and see what's inside. If the bones are still 'fresh', we might have something to work with...

Eheh, I could tell you if I taste anything like that once I snap one in my jaws, yeah?

>Get to the foot of the rope and we'll carry a message to come down quietly as theres one hostile skelamajig.
>Since they're mostly-mindless constructs your party members should be able to descend safely. You could try scouting out the other doors I suppose, to see if you can get an idea of how many there are and what they're currently doing?
>I agree with the other suggestion about maintaining stealth and retreating, but I'm not sure it's time to call for backup yet.

Hmmmmmmm, oh, I guess I’ll hold off on that idea for now, but I don’t think I should get the others to come down just yet. I told Evel’yee and Mina I’d check things out, and I really just haven’t followed through with that. I’ll explore a couple of hallways first, then propose the idea again after I get some more information. Speaking of which…

I make my way past the elevator and the broken remains of whatever shitty statue was inside this wall niche. To the right of that is an open door, slightly ajar towards me. Taking a look inside, I see…

2/5 Tanna 2026/08/31(Mon)01:40 No. 1131481 ID: ed40e0
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A damn mess. Slashed up ratty rug, old rusty coat hangers, and debris everywhere. No bones or skeletons though. This must be some kind of sanctuary, there’s a carved out section in the wall where they probably put some gaudy looking offering to their worthless Theotian.

This room’s relatively dark, not much light is coming in. Would be a problem for anyone else but me. There’s another door hanging open on the otherside. No strange smells either, and I’m not hearing much… at least there’s nothing in here.

Alright. Stepping away and moving towards the room where I placed the bone on the door, I see the hallway lined with a bunch of doors, one of which is the room where we fought Roderick. I smell Roderick and death in here, and lo and behold, his corpse is to my immediate right in the corner. It’s covered with a linen of some sort, it seems like they dragged him out of the room he was in judging by the blood trail.

There’s… more bones scattered about, some I remember, but there’s one that’s new. Seems like pieces of a foot? Probably belongs to our wayward skeleton, they’re losing pieces of themselves, haha. There’s definitely another one, ominous.

Even more ominous though is that there’s some kind of chain on the door to that cultish room. It’s being loosely held together with some kind of… crescent? One could easily remove it, though if you were on the other side you’d probably have a hard time getting out? Hell, you might be able to wiggle it off, that’s not at all secure. What’s going on there, who sealed that door? There’s no way Mina or Evel’yee did that. And why?

What in the hells is going on? It has to be Shi’zen, who else could’ve done it? Gods, I wanna investigate more, but… no, I got more to explore. I’m gonna head down to check out the room with the busted down door.

>Have we tried using that lever yet? Probably shouldn't while there's skeletons around though.

The lever? No, I don’t think so. Or at least I haven’t. I can’t imagine their group hasn’t tried at least once. With all the potential skeletons around though, I'm a little hesitant to try right now.

>An unnecessary but interesting foray into the lore of our world: History has led us to broadly reject the idea of magic, but that has not stopped magical thinking. While we had once thought the world was magical, we were able to create detailed theories describing nearly every single mechanism and predict how systems would develop further and further forward. Anything that can be theorized about and predicted, we call science. We call everything else magic. The ways of science have become so advanced, in fact, that it is widely believed that everything can be explained by it in one way or another, though we may not know it yet.
>Unlike Magic, Science is not a search for quintessential truth. Science is about determining what is impossible and calculating the improbability of what is improbable.
>with science? We find what is impossible for everyone, and then it is up to them to decide what they wish to do with the remainder; what may be possible for anyone.

Huh? What’re you talking about? Aren’t those… hold on, lemme re-read that.

Wait, so you differentiate science and magic? Those aren’t the same thing to you? Science is a bit of a loose term around here, I think it has something to do with the more mechanical aspects of the Weave… but it’s still magic. It’s very real and… wow. I mean, how do you even explain how you’re all talking to me? Aren’t you practicing some form of magic, or is that ‘science’?

I mean, from my perspective, plenty of things can be explained with the Weave, with magic, you know? The reason we need to breathe is because our bodies are sustained by the ambient threads around us. We all have these organs called lungs that help with the process, they do something with whatever we suck in and distribute it to our blood which in turn reinvigorates our vaelthread. You can call that science, but isn’t that basically just the same thing as magic as a broader concept? Can it really only be called magic when it’s ‘unexplained’?

Like, thinking about a little more, let’s say there was a person holding a pebble, and someone floating a pebble using a spell or something. In your world example, the person floating the pebble would be ‘magic’, and the person holding it would be ‘science’. But here, right, they’re both magic? I know that sounds stupid but I’m sort of taking it to a logical extreme, Weave would be acting on the pebble in both circumstances. The methods might be different, I don’t exactly know how it’d work with the pebble using a spell, but I’m sure it could be explained very easily. Probably something to do with creating a physical force to simply hold the thing. There’s a science to that, but that is magic?

And… well I guess you’d have to explain how that’s even possible in the first place, but that’s what we’re all made of! Our fur and flesh is made of these threads, the act of holding the pebble and floating it with an incantation can’t be that different… I don’t know. Maybe I’m just dumb. There’s so little that’s truly impossible though. Many of our greatest fables are based on some truth no matter how absurd they might sound.

That story about whatever his name getting his heart ripped out and still surviving to deliver a finishing blow? I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that isn’t a complete exaggeration. Hells, we got recorded instances of a tower that teleports around the world and our moons, sometimes in the middle of towns. It supposedly creates an extradimensional space around itself so it doesn’t wreck everything instantly. It sounds stupid and impossible, believe me, I think it is too, but it is real! Or people making trips to the plane of the Theotians, Indelcaun. They say no one’s ever returned… but like, it’s theoretically possible?

>Thus, the existence of magic is more of a philosophical question than a physical one. This leads to a big complication when it comes to the idea of a "soul", though. The word "consciousness" has come to replace the word "soul" in scientific discussions, but it hasn't replaced the idea. Fundamentally, the issue is that consciousness is pretty much impossible for us to define. We can describe aspects of our own conscious experience, but we can't actually observe consciousness in other people. A crucial step in the scientific method (The set of rules we follow to 'make' science) is observation, and since we can't make observations, we can't really apply science to consciousness. (There is debate about this, but the fact that there is debate at all is an indication of the issue)

Well… consciousness. The idea of self. That comes from the Soul, but it isn’t exactly our Soul. A person’s consciousness can be different from one life to the next even though the Soul is the same between them. I don’t know where consciousness comes from exactly, but if I had to guess, the Soul probably has something to do with it.

>Fox here. This one isn't urgent. So... Souls. In some parts of existence, as far as the locals are concerned, there is no empirically observable gods, no empirically observable souls, no empirically observable magic, no empirically observable afterlife, no observable aspects of reality with an inherent moral agenda at all. In those places, sometimes the word 'soul' even gets used to describe the body parts made of matter! In that part of things, there is a deterministic, matter-based reality, based on reductionist principles with bottom-up causation processes causing emergent phenomena. And this can actually make, over sufficiently large timescales, based on the concrete, unchangeable mathematical laws of physics, the following things: life, life with a basic level of awareness, and life with full intelligence and self awareness and the capacity to grow.
>The belief in an afterlife comes from a time before modern science, but it nonetheless stays relevant because of the questions science can't currently answer.

And that’s something that’s crazy to me. Souls themselves, they ARE real. At least in my world… and this is common knowledge. People way smarter than me have observed them, every living creature most definitively has one. It’s our most important tool, they let us walk within the world and act and have purpose. All of our capabilities stem from it, it is the root of our being. Breathing, touching, thinking. The idea of not having a Soul is akin to just being an object, a thing made of Weave but lacking the thing that makes it ‘it’.

So, I don’t know. It just sounds insane to me that you can claim that you all aren’t sure. That you have religions that believe in different theological ideas and…

>The belief in an afterlife comes from a time before modern science, but it nonetheless stays relevant because of the questions science can't currently answer.

That core topic of not knowing. There’s an allure to that… a kind of terror that rings deep inside, but also a kind of peace too. That wherever our Souls end up, we don’t really have a say and we just… have to go with it.

That’s making me feel things, surfacing thoughts… the idea that the Theotians so directly meddle with OUR Souls… and Mina was talking about how weird it was that you all touched mine, but how is that any different from them?! That’s a good talking point… I gotta use that against her later.

>I feel like a gave a pretty generalist overview of things. Death is an unknown and people have various ideas about it.

We’re quite different in this regard then. While you don’t know, we know that when we die we’ll return. That’s… Je’zik, I bet a bunch of our analogies haven’t really been making sense, huh? I’ll try to remember that and explain if they come up.

>Also, it should be noted that the information you receive about our world comes from a tiny self-selected slice of the population, so you aren't getting the full picture. It seems like your world functions somewhat similarly to what the buddhists/hinduists of our world believe: Souls are infinitely reincarnated into different bodies in a cycle called "Saṃsāra." You, however, seem to lead towards the buddhist belief that Saṃsāra is painful, and that you seek "nirvāṇa," which is the escape from such a cycle. Beyond this surface level comparison the analogy falls apart. (I don't think extinguishing your desires would really help you achieve nirvāṇa in your world) But it's an interesting similarity nonetheless.

Painful…? Hm, yeah, I suppose… that’s not a bad way to describe how I feel about it. This whole process of the Journey is… gross. That’s how I feel. Unnatural, wrong. I’m fairly certain this is an opinion that I don’t share with many others. It’s nice that I’m not entirely alone with this feeling? Saṃsāra and Nirvāṇa, seems people from your realm have similar ideas.

>It's mostly why I was so horrified by Mina's explanation of your afterlife. A ton of uncomfortable implications with the ways the gods are mucking about with people there.

Exactly! Our Theotians aren’t these perfect beings, who knows what they’re doing with our Souls once we die?! It’s… nngh…

Feeling those things, you all are good at getting that out of me. These existential thoughts, it makes me SO angry even thinking about this, head’s pounding again… I… for another time… for another time. Sorry.

>Truth to one person may mean something entirely different to another

Wonder what Bakoth would think about that one.

>The results speak for themselves. With a sandbox of unexplored possibility combined with a set of fundamental constraints restricting us from the contradictory, tools designed from such scientific inquiry are engineered to be usable by anyone. But these days, we find ourselves adrift in ignorance. Starved of magic, we fall into delusions and tribes. And the worlds are getting... stupider. When one cannot scientifically disprove that a tool of science is bereft of any magic whatsoever... well. It's not looking good.

Ah… I think I’m kinda entering that “I’m too dumb to know what you’re talking about” territory again. Hope that… all works out for you?

It’s crazy how much I can discuss with you all while I’m making my way. I’m moving down the stairs, but…

3/5 Tanna 2026/08/31(Mon)01:41 No. 1131482 ID: 45cf10
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>TANNA’S SIGHT-BASED PERCEPTION CHECK: 12(9[Roll] + 3[Mentality])

>??? CHECK: 3(1[Proximity] + 2[Prone])

H-Hold on… what is that? In the corner, behind the pillar? It’s sort of hard to make out at this angle… but I’m seeing something strange. Some sort of white thing, it might be another skeleton.

Slipping behind the pillar quietly, ugh, the damn door is in my way. I’m not gonna risk getting seen, lemme find a better angle. I’m gonna ignore looking inside the room with the busted down door for now and wrap around to see better.

Reaching the end of the atrium, there’s a convenient piece of rubble there. Positioning behind it, I look and… oh yeah. That’s another skeleton. It’s… I think whoever this was was a Weski, they’re small. They’re curled up too in the corner, idly scratching at the wall and facing away from everything.

Wow… this thing is pathetic. In a sad way I mean. Maybe annoying too. It doesn’t seem to really be patrolling or looking for anything, but it’d definitely turn into a monster if it caught a whiff of me. Well, there’s your other skeleton, though this one seems to have both legs still. There is an infestation. Ugh, what a pain.

I sit there for about a minute to see if anything will change, but no, it’s simply sitting there and scratching the wall like a stupid sad little idiot. At least the other skeleton was trying to escape. I’m just gonna… ignore it too for now. I’m pretty close to where Jacob and Vax are, and I can sort of see into the room with the busted down door. It’s a mess in there. Bunch of old rotted broken wooden bits and shattered bones, was like that last night from the little I could see though. I think there’s a fireplace too? Kind of hard to tell a hundred percent from the distance and angle.

Don’t see anymore skellies in there at least. There is supposedly a library back there based on Mina’s map though… maybe for another time. Leaving the skeleton to his fetal based wall scratching, I turn to look at the double doors that lead down deeper. They too are open.

With careful steps past the pews, I take a look inside. Can I just say how much I love being able to see in the dark? It’s pitch black in there, but I can still tell where everything is. The furniture Mina and Evel’yee mentioned is… it’s in there, but they’ve been moved. That’s not a good sign. Some might say it’s even a bad sign. The door to the jailroom is open, so is the ‘alchemy’ room, the one with the running water. It’s not that loud, but with everything as quiet as it is, it would definitely mask things. That torrent is violent. The room where Jacob stuck a knife in me is closed though, same with the kitchen thankfully. Should make taking a sniff not so ba-

4/5 Tanna 2026/08/31(Mon)01:45 No. 1131485 ID: 636e90
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>TANNA’S SCENT-BASED PERCEPTION CHECK: 6(3[Roll] + 3[Mentality])

Hold on. That rat from before, I’m not forgetting that scent now that I know who it belongs to. She’s been through here! And recently! I look around, but I don’t see her anywhere at all. Where the fuck is she? My hand tenses around my blade and I ready myself to reach for my harmonica, waiting for the potential attack, but nothing happens…

I smell again, diverting my focus to see if there’s anything else. I can sort of smell a trail, I think it’s leading into the room with rushing-water and the jailroom… I don’t know what’s fresher, I’d have to move into the hallway to get a better sense.

I… fuck, okay. I step back. I need some advice here Winds. I’ve got a lot more intel now, maybe it’s worth bringing Evel’yee and Mina down here? But the jailroom is right there… it wouldn’t be hard to just take a quick peep inside. I could get a better read on that trail too. Maybe even use a spell if I need to? Agh, if I do that though… this god damn harmonica might give me away.

5/5 Tanna 2026/08/31(Mon)01:46 No. 1131486 ID: 231e44
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...I can take this slow. At least for now, nothing’s happened yet. Let me review real quick, I can go back to Mina and Evel’yee now. This is some decent scouting, but I still don’t know what happened to Vax or Jacob. I don’t even smell them in this corridor, I haven’t smelled them anywhere. I could go down and check inside that jailroom real quick… would be the fastest peek of my life, maybe even use a spell to help me with that… but there’s definitely some risk.

I guess I could keep exploring the other rooms too, there’s probably unseen skeletons. That door with the loose lock and chain is interesting… but hells, that earlier idea as well. That reptile up the stairs, or that weski in the corner, quick bite and snap. I know it’s a little risky, but I’m sure I could do it. Bringing the others down here would risk alerting them and I could miss that chance.

I’m not sure. What do you think Winds? If I’m being brutally real, I want to try attacking the skeletons on my own. There’s just something super exciting about it, though maybe I’m just being stupid. Likely my blood boiling at the thought. The second option I’d like to try is checking the prison, real quick-like. Maybe use a vanish if you think it’s necessary. I defer to you all though.

>>1131486
You've fully scouted the entry room and adjoining rooms. That's good enough for calling them down.

You've smelled part of the scent trail... try tracing it to see where it goes in the direction away from the jail. If she's still in the jail area then we'd expect the scent to get weaker. We won't have to peek in there in that case.

Guys, could you try to not violate the fourth wall so voraciously with real world concepts that don't fit the setting?


>...this thing is pathetic. In a sad way I mean
>...like a stupid sad little idiot.

Harsh judgement. Do you have expectations for animated skeletons? By nature they are already a sad existence, so I don't understand why you would think less of someone in this condition being depressed.

You got good information on the main room and adjacents. It should be enough for Eve and Mina to get down to set a defensible position. Doesn't even need to be the end of your scouting, they could stay somewhere you could run towards if something start chasing you.
That is assuming you don't want to lure skeletons for rock throwing from your friends. I still think doing this would be efficient but would also alert Shi'zen.

How I think this should go:
Inform the girls of what you found, in particular the animated skeleton in the corner. They also need to know about Roderick's body because if Mina freak out it's better that she does so up there than down here. Also inform them about Shi'zen smell (my earlier speculation about her leaving was wrong).
Once they understand the situation you can call them down here for backup in case you need. I think they could have a good sigh of the room and the trapdoor skeleton door if they stay near the left brazier. But of course this is a suggestion so maybe they will have a better plan or prefer the stone throwing idea.
With a fallback position stablished I thing you should take a look at the prison and maybe the room with the smoking reptilian lady.
Only after successfully scouting the location the boys were last time you can try to ambush one of the skeletons. Maybe try the weski first since the iruxi might notice you while you walk up the stairs.

>>1131486
Honestly the jail room has trap written all over it.
And given the types of fucked up magical traps in this place (let's not forget the SUPER curse you got) I'd say don't even risk LOOKING in there until you have other people with you.

Also since it's been brought up. The harmonica seems to have the symbol of Our Boss(I guess?) on it. I know it's his symbol cause that's the same symbol that appeared when you detected magic on Vax.

Not exactly sure what it implies that two of these eldritch gods seemed to have some form of influence over this area at some point in time but it should definitely be noted.

>>1131485
*gaaaaaasp*
How very dare you malign that skeletons precious harmonica.

>>1131486

Bring your friends down.
Leave it much longer and theyll get itchy paws and come down looking for you.
We'll prep them to be quiet and pass on the details.
Youre not alone any more.
And even though i think you could take the skelemajigs, its time to practice not taking the world on solo.

Also, looking bold and adventurous slinky.
Youre carrying yourself with more confidence.

>>1131503
I try to make my stuff as in context as possible and try to make my rants grounded in the needs of the person, it was another that went a bit crazy about science and crap, ugh. -Fox

Also agree with the others on bringing the friends down. And that they are friends!

Thinking it's a good idea to bring in the others now.

1/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)20:59 No. 1133361 ID: 437377
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>*gaaaaaasp*
>How very dare you malign that skeletons precious harmonica.

The weak should fear the strong.

>Also since it's been brought up. The harmonica seems to have the symbol of Our Boss(I guess?) on it. I know it's his symbol cause that's the same symbol that appeared when you detected magic on Vax.

Oh, this insignia on top of the harmonica? It’s etched into the thing, I thought it was some guild’s branding or something. I’m guessing you’re talking about that Solo from yesterday? If that symbol really belongs to them, does that mean this is their harmonica? And it’s the same symbol as what I cast on Vax last night?

...This harmonica was a pretty convenient find. It’s not even in that bad of a condition, and their group had been down here for a few days? Maybe I should take a better look at this thing later.

>Harsh judgement. Do you have expectations for animated skeletons? By nature they are already a sad existence, so I don't understand why you would think less of someone in this condition being depressed.

This isn’t a ‘someone’. It’s just a bunch of bones made into a weapon that’s pretending to have feelings. There’s nothing actually there, and even if there WAS, they shouldn’t jus-
Too familiar.
I-I mean, just giving up like… no, I don’t have to explain myself to you. That thing’s pathetic and it’s annoying to look at. There. That’s how I feel.

>You've smelled part of the scent trail... try tracing it to see where it goes in the direction away from the jail. If she's still in the jail area then we'd expect the scent to get weaker. We won't have to peek in there in that case.

I can’t, at least not from here. They’re too indistinct from each other at this distance. I can tell she hasn’t been in the kitchen, at least through the door. She HAS been through the doors to the jail and the room with the torrent. Though… the fact I can even smell a trail in the first place means she had to have… but I haven’t smelled her in the main atrium… so she hasn’t been through this door?

A quick peek back in, I close my eyes and let my nose direct me. It’s leading up and to the right. Those roots in the corner above me, where they’re breaking through the wall and the ceiling a bit. Could she have fit herself through there? …I think she must have, that’s where the trail seems to be coming from.

Is she still in there? Hmm… no, no. It’s only a trail. I’d smell something stronger if she was there. Nngh… still though, this isn’t great. She could be anywhere, there’s cracks and nooks all throughout this place. Could be watching me right now…

>You've fully scouted the entry room and adjoining rooms. That's good enough for calling them down.
>You got good information on the main room and adjacents. It should be enough for Eve and Mina to get down to set a defensible position.
>Honestly the jail room has trap written all over it.
>Thinking it's a good idea to bring in the others now.

Right, but there’s still more besides that, and I still don’t know about Jacob or Vax. Even if it’s a trap I’ve got spells and Mina’s defenses to get out of a bind…

>Bring your friends down.
>Also agree with the others on bringing the friends down. And that they are friends!

Bah, okay, fine. I’ll bring my ‘friends’ down. Psh, I suppose they are just friends at this point, how we’ve been referring to them this entire time. I dunno why I’m putting a weird emphasis on it. The only reason I’m down here is for them. I think I want to prove I can do this, I’m not sure where that’s coming from.

Am I getting sappy? I said some really melodramatic stuff last night. I keep thinking back on that and inwardly… not cringing per say. I’m just kinda surprised at myself. I didn’t think I was the type of person, y’know, do stuff like that?

...Not that I should care. It doesn’t feel wrong. Really, it’s sort of fun in a way, delving a dank crypt with danger and skellies.

>Youre not alone any more.
>And even though i think you could take the skelemajigs, its time to practice not taking the world on solo.

I still do wanna take out these skeletons, but you all are right. They can help me if something does go wrong. Hehe… yeah. Yeah, that’s a plan alright. Let’s do that…

2/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)21:00 No. 1133362 ID: 0ed463
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Making my way back to the ropes quietly, I communicate to them my findings.

>Inform the girls of what you found, in particular the animated skeleton in the corner. They also need to know about Roderick's body because if Mina freak out it's better that she does so up there than down here. Also inform them about Shi'zen smell (my earlier speculation about her leaving was wrong).

I tell them about the skeletons I found, the weski in the corner past the pillar and the one up the stairs, and how Shi’zen might still be here based on her scent. I tell them about all the opened doors, and about Roderick's body being dragged out, and the weird loose lock on the door to the ritual room. And when I’m finally down below, I ask them to come down.

They start descending as soon as I ask, each one taking a rope and coming down as carefully as they can.

>MINA’S SNEAKING CHECK: 5(4[Roll] + 3[Dexterity] - 1[Group Negative] - 1[Phobia])

>EVEL’YEE’S SNEAKING CHECK: 11(7[Roll] + 4[Dexterity] +1[Size] - 1[Group Negative])

I wince as it’s not the quietest process in the world, and I’m looking at the doors as they make their way down, hoping no one else is hearing all this. Mina’s not a fan of ropes either it seems. Shouldn’t she be better at this, she’s worse at going down than I was. Thankfully, it seems that nothing really comes out to check out the disruption, nor are there any reactions from that one in the corner or the one up the stairs.

“Aye, good shit Tanna.” I hear Evel’yee whisper as she taps the ground with grace and give me a smile. I wave to her. “Seem to be feeling chipper.”

“I am. This is honestly kinda fun, you do this often?” I ask her.

“Honestly? Nah, first real ‘tomb’ I’ve come across with this group. Mina might have more to say, but we can talk ‘bout that later. Roderick’s corpse is expected, we’d dragged it out last night, though we left his stuff inside the room. Was exhausted, didn’t fucking expect someone to lock it.” She says, motioning to the hallway with a roll of her eyes. She focuses back on me and then asks, “No sign of Vax or Jacob?”

I shake my head and say quietly before Mina is fully down. “No. I kept this part quiet but the one up the stairs is an iruxi. I don’t think it’s Vax but…”

Mina finally hits the ground with relative silence, and Evel’yee hurriedly says to me. “Even if it is, we can’t do anything with it in that state and it’s dangerous.”

“Gods I don’t like being down here… whatcha two whispering about?” Mina asks as she lets off a little shiver and starts brushing herself off.

“Plans.” I say, technically a lie but I was going to get into the idea of that. “So, I haven’t seen nor smelled Vax or Jacob anywhere, but the room to the jail is open. One of the Winds are saying we could lure ‘em all here and throw stones at ‘em till they break apart.”

“That’d probably work, though it’d take forever. Guarantee this Shi’zen would know what we’re doing too.” Evel’yee says as she takes a look around. “Are we on a crunch?”

“No, I don’t think so. But Shi’zen definitely would realize. There’s so many little places she could be hiding around with being able to become a rat.”

“T-They could need help. What if they’re in danger?” Mina says as she scratches her claws together.

“The doors been opened Mina…” Evel’yee says very softly, but the implication being very apparent.

“She’s still down here, what if she’s holding them hostage? She could decide to kill them if we make a scene like that, no longer worth the risk.” Mina says weakly, obviously not really believing in that.

“What about this?” I begin to say, not really wanting to drop rocks on skeletons for the next half hour. “There’s a skeleton all alone in the corridor up there, and one behind the pillar. We’ve still got the element of surprise, and we could cull ‘em pre-emptively. If it is a trap or whatever, she won’t have as many of them on her side as she expects.”

“It just doesn’t make sense why they’re disorganized like this.” Mina brings up, and I have to agree. “If she was controlling them, why wouldn’t she have them following orders or patrolling?”

“I’m… fairly confident they’re free-willed undead at the moment. Their behaviors don’t at all make any sense if they were under direct control. It’s like they’re operating on a previous desire.” I’d say to her. With the one hiding in the corner now and the other jumping mindlessly at the hatch, I feel confident in that theory now.

Mina seems a little taken aback when I say all though. “Previous desire? What do you mean?”

“Oh, um. The person this skeleton once was. The Soul of the skeleton inhabiting it now, free-willed undead will default to odd behaviors based on… deep desires, if they’re uncontrolled.”

“Huh, I didn’t know that...” Mina hums quietly.

Evel’yee waves it all off though. “Yeah, interesting, whatever. I don’t think it’s a detail we should be concerned about for now. People do stupid things when they think they’ve got resources they don’t actually have. It’s not a bad idea, can use it to catch her off guard potentially.”

“It’d make our retreat a lot safer too, if we needed.” I’d also say.

“Wouldn’t that be loud though? If we did attack that skeleton?” Mina says, looking between Evel’yee and I and her tail flicking back and forth behind her.

“No, I think… I think I can take it out quickly.” I’d say, and I truly believe that. “If you all close the door behind me, I’ll rush up and get my jaws around that thing’s spine and have it dead again in an instant.”

Evel’yee lets out a quiet snort. “Hah, I said you got a pair a’ chompers but you ain’t gotta go trying to prove it so quickly.”

“No, really. I’m confident I can do this. The thing’s super isolated as well.” I’d say, feeling that itch. I REALLY wanted to let loose, just a little.

“And if not?” Mina asks. UGH, I get the concern… “Not that I’m against destroying undead, just trying to tie up loose ends.”

“In that case, help me kill it as quickly as possible, and if we attract more attention, climb up the ropes. We can cut them if they start following, and I can jump to either one of you with Umbral Step if needed.”

“Aye, honestly it’s not a bad plan. How dark is it in there?” Evel’yee asks, looking back at the door hosting the skeleton.

“Very dark.” Not a problem for me though.

“I’m guessing that new dark sight ain’t an issue then, otherwise you’d have brought it up. Alright, let’s give it a shot then. Worst case, we end up falling back to do the stone idea. Mina, in case things go wrong when Tanna strikes, can you cast a spell to light things up?”

“...Yeah. Okay. I can do that.” Mina says. “So we’re doing this then?”

I know some of you might not approve, but sorry Winds, I really wanna try this. “Yup, we’re doing this. Post up by the door and let’s get it done.”

3/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)21:00 No. 1133363 ID: 2672fb
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With that plan in mind, they take up positions near the door. I get on all fours, scimitar tightly bound to my pack as I slip in through the door, Evel’yee to my right and Mina behind the door, ready to close it.

I can’t afford to sneak up on it quietly here, there’s nothing to hide behind and it can see in the dark. All it would take is a moment for something to register on its periphery, and then this would get a lot harder.

4/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)21:03 No. 1133365 ID: 57b6e2
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So with that in mind, it’s nothing but violence from here on out. The door lets out a quiet creak behind me as I pad forward, death in my mind. Like a rabid animal, my vision narrows as I focus on the creature’s spine. Rushing as swiftly as I can akin to a predator let loose at its prey. My vaelthread thrumming as my blood pulses, the shadows singing in concert with my deadly sprint. The skeleton’s bones clatter against the ground after another one of its jumps, still not having noticed me, but it stiffens. It knows something is off as it begins to turn.

5/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)21:04 No. 1133366 ID: 1e7055
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It’s far too late however. Fully seeing me now, its eye targeting me and all previous wants of escape becoming overcome with a violent murderous rage. Not quite unlike how I’m feeling, but there’s a smile on my face as I lunge, leaping from the stairs and paws gripping its shoulder and hooking under its ribs. My jaw opens wide, saliva trailing from fang to fang. I’m going to kill you.

6/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)21:05 No. 1133367 ID: fe88f1
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>TANNA’S BITE ATTACK: 12(4[Dexterity] + 1[Combat Modifier] + 4[Roll] + 1[Charge] + 1[Spinal Circumstance] + 1[Shadow Strength]) > 5(5[Base] + 0[Dexterity, Flat-Footed]) = CRITICAL THREAT
>TANNA’S CRITICAL CONFIRMATION: 13(8[Previous] + 5[Roll]) > 5(5[Previous]) = CRITICAL CONFIRMATION
>TANNA’S DAMAGE: 2*(2[1-2 Bite] + 1[Strength] + 1[Blunt Vulnerability]) = 8 PAIN

CRUNCH!

Iruxi Skeleton has been killed.

HAHAHA! DIE!

CRUNCH! SNAP!

7/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)21:06 No. 1133368 ID: 43213c
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SNAP!

Crk… CRUNCH!

“Grr…”

9/9 Tanna 2026/10/23(Fri)21:07 No. 1133370 ID: 842e85
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That was fun. Who’s next?

>_

Death weasel!
Let's take out the one in the main room next, and then check the jail to see if we can find evidence of the two rescue targets.

>I don’t have to explain myself to you.
Don't you want to explain yourself? It's not too important but some self reflection wouldn't hurt.
Either way, if our depressed friend is still feeling sorry for itself sneaking up on it next should be even easier than it was for jumping lizard.

For strategy the stair room could be a good fall back position if some skeletons chase you but not too many that being stuck in a dead end might get dangerous. A bit of high advantage could help an archer a lot, a thin corridor would bottleneck if there are too many of them and producing and sustaining light doesn't seem to be a problem for miss priest.

To Mina:
>>1133368
That was kind of hot, wasn't it? I don't know why Tanna got so obsessive in an animalistic way but it's an exciting side of her to behold. Maybe she is trying to out goth chick hotter Tanna.
Since I'm already distracting you with nonsense maybe you can help us resolve a previous disagreement: Do you think the term "edge lord" sound like something that aptly describe Tanna? What about Evel’yee?

That was awesome! :o

Now the mouse!

Skeleton!

Fuck yeah! That's how you do it.

Honestly I was a bit weary of you taking it on since I didn't really know whether it would've been difficult or not. Seeing how EASILY you did it gives me a LOT more confidence.

Still should be cautious. There's that one skeleton that's just losing bones. And given that there was a BIG pile of bones in that chamber makes me wonder how feasible reanimating it all as one big entity would be.

To Evel'yee:
So I'm curious. What types of things have you had to deal with whilst working with this group. I remember hearing some stuff about a "chupacabra"? Like is it just monster elimination and general merc stuff you dealt with? Or did Rodrick make dealing with this type of stuff a priority?

Well, since you've got your slobber all over it, might as well make a bone broth from the remains.

Find a way to sabotage the remaining weave in the bones. Someone will recycle them into greater undead abominations, but if you can poison the magic animating it, you might be able to do something conniving.

>>1133382

Marrow's probably all gone in these old bones.

Tanna, did you notice any yellow threads glowing on the skeleton while you were biting into it?

Examine the spine for a second and see if they're still there.

>>1133370
See slinky?
Friends.
They even appreciate you all fearsome.

And, oh boy oh boy, you were fearsome there.
Got a nice look at your teefs.
And got to see your 'got mah prey' face too.

Can you see what the bone head was trying to reach before you take the next target?