Bats can hear much better than the rest of the company here. You might be able to whisper her a message without anyone but her hearing, while both being in your 'role' or not causing disruptions (or pain, for her).

But we also need to establish if we can trust her, with that device and the King controlling her. She could be lacking memories of her time before Cadvere, or prefers this... Role over her old life.

>>1131067
Might be a bad idea to do directly. The King / device might be actively forbidding that topic of discussion in favor of a fabricated royal backstory, or she might not know her past at all anymore.

A potential approach could be asking about her 'lineage/family' and then discreetly asking if she has/had any siblings, relatives, heirs - estranged or otherwise.

And maybe spin a tale of becoming the mouse you are today "after watching a bat cloak herself in grief and Sorrel-*cough*, sorrow after a tragedy."

You should also ask about the 'duels' topic. Surely not one to the death? That seems a brash way to settle arguments or end a lineage.

As for the 'health tonic', could ask if it is a bitter medicine as most are, or if it is one that burns the throat like a strong spirit.

Milf detected, time to imitate the captain and try to seduce her. Start by trying to make her smile.

i dont think we should pry too deeply, considering that most everyone here is being controlled to some degree, but being able to gleam some info would be good

Ask if she were in charge, what would she do with you?

Nalthar 2026/08/28(Fri)01:53 No. 1131397 ID: bb0461
File 178788200436.jpg - (655.15KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 18 romantic rival.jpg )

You want to come at this obliquely. "It must be quite a task keeping this lot in line." you slip into a lull in the conversation. "Do you have any help? As we say back home 'With children's help, barren dirt becomes fields of sorrel" You feel Lisel scoff at your ramshackle idiom.

"Sorrel" the duchess blinks at you, her face freezing "Fennel-" rapid clicking interrupts her. The contraption rattles to a definitive final click, and she twitches once, sharply. "No, I am unmarried sir. And I will thank you not to add yourself to my roll of suitors. I have plenty enough, fine gentlemen all."

"Wait..." Lisel remembers something that jerk said "Not the captain!"

"Yes the captain!" Allonza snaps. "He is a charming and accomplished man. He just needs a woman's touch to cool his blood." The bat sighs "I do hope he and Thomas don't come to blows again." She glances at you. "You'll have met Thomas. He is the general who brought you in. He seems a brute but, there's something..." She catches herself with a little start, a light blush suffusing her cheeks. "Ah, I just, I would not wish to see him end up like Pietro's last rival."

the bat waves a hand in the direction of a well-dressed and groomed rat across the table from you. It hangs from its wires quietly, expression vacant. The meal facsimile of painted wood sits before it untouched.

Ask her what would happen if something horrible happened to the captain. Would an opening be made to pursue her hand in marriage?

Seems like these duels are indeed to the death... And any puppet with blue eyes likely was tonic-infused and machine-controlled before somehow getting 'killed' and remade into a puppet.

The Duchess certainly seems to remember her past, but the machine reacts to correct any 'bad thoughts'. If only we knew how to free them of the devices without making them go mad/die. Or insert our own spools of paper as more benign instructions.

Thomas the general... Could that be the tonic-infused rat whos paper spool was cut during fighting? They might have fully free will now that a machine isn't binding their thoughts, but would still need that tonic to live...

Ask about the citizens of this Kingdom - do they have a caste system or species differentiation? There are plenty of rats, mice and bats in the court, but not many bugs or arachnids.

Also worth asking who the others seated at the table are in more detail - whether puppets, the King, the friar or the butterfly, she likely has to know them as part of her role/act.

Ask what happened.
Knowing how to properly disable a puppet could be very useful. It's possible that this is just roleplay and he's not actually disabled though.

>>1131412

I agree with this suggestion.

Nalthar 2026/09/06(Sun)02:54 No. 1131680 ID: bb0461
File 178866329029.jpg - (655.91KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 19 you don't have it.jpg )

You consider the foppish rat across from you "This man fought the guard captain?" you ask the duchess, unable to keep a hint of skepticism from your voice. You find it hard to look at the man, his empty glass eyes, but he doesn't appear to have been very strong.

"Count Caravaggio was-is, is a passionate man. A painter you know. Such wonderful paintings, I do miss them." She trails off wistfully, until her controller clatters sharply. "Ah but his latest work is... fine... as well. Different, yes." She shakes her head once, a sharp jolt to clear her thoughts. "He was an ardent suitor. I believe he truly... But he allowed Pietro to bait him. And that was that."

Lisel pipes up "This Thomas though, if he is who we met downst- on the field, then he is a right mountain of a rat. Surely he would have no trouble in a duel."
Your back twinges. Oh yes, you have no doubt who she's talking about. The ratcatcher, who you still owe for your rattled spine. You wonder how he's dealing with the glass you left in his control device. "Yes the general, is he here? I should like to... meet him."

Allonza narrows her eyes at your tone "He is often in the field, bringing your ilk in line. But you'll see him tonight. He always returns for the evening meal." She sniffs "And I see in your eye, you are thinking you might take his place. Well" she grabs the vial and takes a swig of fizzling fluid. Facing you, one claw delicately pulling her eyelid down, her eyes flare with that cold and ghostly light. "It will take more than a duel to enter the king's service. Especially for a foreigner. Don't think you can just put one of us down so easily."

She turns from you and downs the last of her elixir, setting the vial neatly before her.
Lisel takes a bite of meat in the tense silence that follows. "Soooo, who is that then?" She indicates the butterfly down at the end of the table. The chained beauty sits as stiffly as any of the puppets. Only when the glow-eyed guard beside her pushes her arm does she take a bite of her food, and then goes defiantly still once more.

"Ah, the princess has caught your eye, of course." The bat sniffs "Issabella, of Espania. I wash my hands of that one. Too willful, unbecoming of a lady. The king, he will not let her go, for her beauty, but she will not come to heel. His majesty has offered her hand in marriage to any who can tame her." Allonza scoffs "But thus far it has been the doom of any who tried. Bewitched by her, they try to steal her away. As if the king's guard are not ever vigilant."

As the conversation continues you notice a change sweep through the room. The puppets that had hung so still, now pantomime as though conversing with their neighbors. You hear a squeaking and turn to see the platform descending from the ceiling, its cargo of plates now empty. After it passes bellow the castles walls it stops, and servants with carts enter to begin clearing plates and glasses.

Inquire about the chains that the princess has. Wouldn't they leave a mark on such a delicate creature? Also, ask the bat if she would be interested in getting a painting from us. We should try to get on her good side.

Seems her gesture is saying 'the kings service means you have to become a blue-eyed revenant'. That's absolutely a bad idea. Though helping Thomas against Pietro through courtly shenanigans could help both Thomas and the Duchess. But that's a plan for later.

Yes, asking her about the... Arts... In this place would be a good topic of conversation. You might have to learn or adapt a form or art that doesn't involve murder if you're forced to stick around.

Also could ask a bit about brother Juan. You are unfamiliar with the religion(s) or faith(s) practiced in Malevento, and how... Tolerant the kingdom is about such matters. Having to 'convert' to a faith or abandon your beliefs might be required or demanded.

The butterfly being 'bewitching' sounds iffy. Either there are bugfolk who keep trying to reclaim her (or force her into the act), or she coerces other folk into unsuccessfull rescue attempts.

And from the sounds of things, she's too 'delicate' to puppet or reanimate by force, but also too pretty to kill off.

Ask about 'Espania'. Is the 'kingdom' at war with that place and its people, to have its princess held against her will here?

>>1131680
looks like we gotta talk to the butterfly next. ask her what happens if someone never returns to the court. do they search for them? or presume them dead?

So that butterfly is clearly Lady Icktechi, who the moth priestess and the beetles are trying to rescue. The priestess foresaw us ending up in this situation, the princess is going to be our ticket out of it. We need to find out as much as we can about her, figure out how to get close to her, and decide what we're going to say to earn her trust. Getting her out of here will not be easy, but it's going to be our overarching objective now that we're here.

In the meantime, I agree with asking Allonza about Malevento's history, arts, culture, and society. Dive into it, press her on little details. The more we push at the limits of whatever fabricated backstory Cadvere has come up with for them, the more it might strain his control over their minds.

We also might ask her a few questions about Cadvere himself. After all, it only stands to reason you would want to know about the illustrious monarch you will soon be working under, and all of his glorious deeds. You've heard rumors he's some kind of miracle worker, is that true? (Don't be afraid to lay it on thick here; if Cadvere is as much of a manchild as he seems, he's almost assuredly also a narcissist, and so obsequious flattery will be the best way to get him to lower his guard and possibly spill his secrets.)

Time to make friends with the butterfly then.

1/2 Nalthar 2026/09/15(Tue)04:04 No. 1132025 ID: bb0461
File 178944508421.jpg - (775.03KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 20 queries.jpg )

"Bewitched?" you ask "And are chains really necessary for a princess?"

Allonza gives a mirthless laugh "Ha, not a proper princess, no. Give her a moment and she's loose like an arrow from a bow, leaving the poor fool that fell for her charm behind to face the consequences. The king won't have her wings clipped, so as not to mar her beauty." As she says this she rubs her arm. You notice a thin scar along the side of her wrists, almost hidden by her lacy sleeves. "The last time she tried to run she was up among the clouds for three days before a knight managed to ambush her, and I suspect only because she was weakened by hunger."

You look up. The painted sky is obscured by a mess of pulleys, gantries, and wires. Several more of those spy glass apparatuses are stowed way up by the ceiling. You could see a fleeing butterfly would have plenty of places to hide.

You look back at the duchess with a frown "What makes her so important? Is Espania a mighty place?"

"It's well... a country to the west. One of many alliances and protectorates, with the princess as insurance of course. I really can not recall." the bat says, fingers pressing against one another. "There's so much drama in the court. I couldn't possibly..."

"Of course, of course." Lisel waves her off "But do tell us more about your artist. What sort of school does he fall under? The realists, or more classical? Perhaps Baroque? I'm a dabbling painter myself you know."

"Ah-h yes, well..."

The duchess is saved from having to answer by two claps and an immediate hush. The king has risen from his throne as the last plate is cleared. "My friends" he calls "Now it is time for the day's entertainment. We will have a croquet tournament!"

The crowd ripples with polite applause. As folks rise from the table, the duchess hurries to follow them. "A mm, pleasure meeting you." She gives a slight nod. As she makes a hasty retreat you catch her muttering "Told me they would be barbarians. Is he not doing scripts anymore? Really, I can't-" She cuts herself off as the control device on her back clicks. As she passes out of earshot she slows to a more sedate pace, taking on a cool and haughty bearing.

Lisel sighs and pushes to her feet. "I don't know about you, but I've never even heard of crow-kay"

You shake your head as you join her. "It better not be strenuous." you mutter, thinking of your back. As the two of you make to follow the crowd you spot Brother Juan moving against the current towards you.

"Brethren. Please, won't you accompany me for a walk. There is much to discuss, about your place in God's kingdom."

You and Lisel exchange glances, then follow him.

2/2 Nalthar 2026/09/15(Tue)04:05 No. 1132026 ID: bb0461
File 178944510833.jpg - (762.24KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 21 a stroll.jpg )

The robed mouse leads you at a leisurely pace along a fake-tree lined path, prattling on about sin and repentance until you are a dozen paces away from the palace front. Then Brother Juan's pace does not change but his tone becomes sharper.

"Right." the mouse glances through the trees. The sound of wood on wood, followed by clapping and heckling filters through from the other side of the room. "We can talk freely now, just keep to a nice conversational tone. Don't let him or his guards spot you whispering. Nice to meet you both, my name is Gerald. Never call me that. My aim is to keep you alive, so lets talk how to do that."

Ask them to explain how to play crow-kay while observing your surroundings. Look for any weaknesses in the security of this new area. Still, play along with this monstrous show until an opportunity appears for freedom.

Pertinent questions:
- Who you are expected to be, since you know nothing of these kingdoms or your own 'barbaric' nation.
- What's the deal with the blue-eyes and their... Elixirs.
- What kind of 'script' or 'play' this whole thing is supposed to be? Does it repeat?Improvise constantly?
- How long has this been going on?
- The King's (or Masters) moods, sanity, mannerisms.
- Before your capture you witnessed a 'very round Vole'. Who are they?
- Any other creatures besides rodents, bugfolk, spiderfolk and bats in House Cadvere?
- How'd they figure all of this out or assume their role?
- Is there any signs of this play, or the Kings sanity, deteriorating or getting worse (i.e. time pressure)?

A debrief from Lisel on what happened after you blacked out would be a good start, we've already seen Dis, but any clues of what happened to Cedric or Kh'khechil?

Some things to ask Juan:
-General layout of the kingdom, any known entrances, number of guards and location of guard posts etc.
-Any chance of recovering our gear and weapons, or how to go about acquiring new stuff?
-How quickly and severely is disruption responded to? For example if we were caught in a restricted area, would we be cautioned, detained or executed?

Also, while we have no reason to distrust Juan, we also have no reason to trust him either. Be very cautions about sharing information with him, especially anything regarding the woodshed settlement.

As if you may walk the princess around. Gust to get to know her a little bit.

Slip in some discussion about croquet in-between other things.

1/3 Nalthar 2026/09/27(Sun)07:42 No. 1132398 ID: bb0461
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"So..." you begin "How do you play croquay?"

Brother Juan misses a step "I- dh- its just a game! You hit a ball with a stick! It will never ever be important!" He has the two of you stop under a wood and felt tree. "I said my aim is to help you, not my devotion. If you two are going to try to get killed I won't lift a finger to stop you."

He looks between the two of you with a hard little stare, the mouse seeming a lot less meek than he had. You share another glance with Lisel, she seems as bemused as you. "Alright" you say "You're just a guide then?"

"Let's keep moving." He says, already walking out of the shade. "And yes. I'm useful me, useful and quiet. Get folks onboard. Don't start drama, don't look like I would ever be in drama. Like one of the lamps, he doesn't even really think of me as long as I work right."

You follow along. "Questions then, about this woeful place." Lisel lifts her goggles to scratch at her brow ridge "So the princess"

"Yes" you add "the princess"

"No,no. no. Stop." Juan chops his arm stiffly to his side, as though to block your path. "Not the princess. You two thinking you're brave knights? Rescue the princess and get a kiss? That's what he wants."

He pulls a long sigh "Might as well start there. So you get this is all a story right? We're his puppets, dead or alive. But the most important thing to remember is, the man's a fool." Lisel snorts "What? No, I've seen the things he's made. He's an inventor, a scientist."

"Maybe on those matters" Juan shakes his head "But on all else, a fool. I mean you've a foreign name, you've been around. So surely you see already, the 'king' doesn't know a damn thing about the world. He just pulls anything that sounds good out of his books. And I may be just a simple house mouse, may not have read many human stories, but this is the worst one I've ever heard. Its all petty drama, and it changes day to day without any reason. "

"Which is why he keeps the princess. I don't know how he got his hands on her, but he keeps her for the heroic rescue stories. Oh and people pining for her from afar and jealous wives and whatnot." Juan says "She'll use you too, if you get too close. She's determined to get out. She's been here longer than me, and I've been here a... long time. No one gets out. No one."

2/3 Nalthar 2026/09/27(Sun)07:43 No. 1132399 ID: bb0461
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"I thought a house mouse could always find a way out." you say "It's a big house sure but, wait we are on the second floor, right? And its only been... a day?"

Lisel pats you on the back, careful to avoid your spine. You still get a throb of pain though. "Just about a day yes. You passed out after the ratcatcher got us. Dis tried to hold them off but, there were too many in the end."

"Did something happen to Dis? is she hurt?" you ask "I saw her in the cages, she looks..." Lisel sadly shakes her head "She wasn't stabbed, not that I saw. Once they got her down, its like she's not there anymore. Completely unresponsive. I- I don't know how to help her."

You hiss air through your teeth. "And Kh'khechil? That mouse?" she shrugs "I lost sight of them. When that wolf broke through the window to put out the fire it got very hectic."

"Jesus! That's what that noise was?" Juan has stopped to look at the two of you like one would a badly shored tunnel.

"Jessus?" you echo. He waves a hand "Oh, eh, its the human god. Its just part of my character, not important."

"Anyway, I never saw if they got off the cart." says Lisel "We were led, well you two were dragged, to this lift, and then put in the cages. I haven't seen Kh'khechil since." Brother Juan pipes up "Your friends must have escaped. If they were captured they would have been in the prison this morning. Dead or alive."

"Oh good" Lisel's face lifts "Well at least there's that. And that's it, we've been captured. Honestly I would have thought we would be dead, or at the least being cut up. But all they've done is demand we turn over our weapons. Which fell to me, as the only conscious member of the group. I would have tried to hide your matchhead, but it fell out of your cloak. Sorry. At least they let you keep yours, I feel naked without my coat."

The other mouse nods in commiseration "Aye it takes getting used to, the costuming. If you play along he might let you have it back. Or maybe design a new one. There's a whole costume and prop workshop behind the palace."

3/3 Nalthar 2026/09/27(Sun)07:43 No. 1132400 ID: bb0461
File 179049501107.jpg - (712.20KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 24 the kingdom.jpg )

You peer back the way you've come, behind the palace seems to be just painted sky. Brother Juan flutters his hands "Well okay no, behind and to the left." You see that to the side of the palace is a curtain from ceiling to floor, like the one that cut off the prison you woke in.

"I should give you the tour" says Juan "But there's really not much to it. He points to the squat palace structure "Lets call that north. The workshop is east of that, don't go in there. South from the palace are the gardens where we are now. East of that is a door you do not talk about, and west is a room with a door you do not talk about." You can see most of this floor of the house has been hollowed out, with scars of former walls running along the distant ceiling. One room remains, jutting out of the wall to the 'west'. You can't see a door, presumably ahead of you on its 'south' side, but you do see the other door he mentioned. To your east a landscape of hills and far mountains covers the wall, and also a great human scale door.

"Further south" Juan continues "We have the Duchess' manor. East of that is the prison. And that's it, everywhere you need to know. Now." He rubs his hands together, getting into the swing of it. "We can discuss playing your roles. Really there's not much to it, usually. Just, don't contradict the king. I mean if he orders something you can't do, just agree and move on. You'll probably be fine."

"It's all improvised, mostly. Sometimes he tries to play out specific storylines. When that happens you'll be given a script by the duchess. She meets upstairs every other day, probably planning stories."

"What's with her" you ask "and the other glowing eyed ones?" Juan shrugs "Just... revenants, I don't know. I try not to think about it. They don't eat, they don't talk, they don't remember you from before. They just follow orders. Except the special ones, like the duchess. The ones with the fancy brass thingamajigs, they seem almost normal. They don't remember you either but at least you can have a conversation with them. Better than having to pretend to talk to the puppets."

You've been eyeing the distant walls, hoping for holes or cracks. All you've spotted is a solid looking vent cover. "Some of the guards have glowing eyes, some are puppets. What's the difference?" you wonder.

"Oh well the puppets are just, well puppets. They only move for the king. But the others are real guards." He gives you a look "And yes, they follow a nice patrol route you can sneak around. Because there's nowhere to go. There aren't any holes in the wall. The windows are boarded over. They only have to actually guard the lift, not that jumping down the hole would do you any good."

"And they hardly have to spy on you, what with the king's eyes up there. Though they will raise a shout if they see you breaking something or starting a fight. And on top of that, the real guards are inside the walls. That's how they got me. Thought I could get to the top. Might be its best I didn't make it."

Lisel scoffs "Oh, how ominous. Well we'll take a fair warning. Really though, can we talk about the princess again? I mean the rest of the demographics make sense here. House raider mice and such come in search of loot. A rat or bat clan seeking shelter. Other forest folk just lost and unlucky. But a bug princess? Do they ever leave the kingdoms? Is she really a princess?"

Brother Juan spreads his hands in an expansive shrug. "She was here before me even, and hasn't given them an inch in all that time. She has the spirit of a princess for certain. If you really want to meet her we can go to her chambers. That's, if you don't have anything else to discuss?"

Questions worth asking:
- What places have privacy from the eye/guards?
- Where/how exactly do the 'living' inhabitants... Well, live? Sleep, eat, maintain hygiene and so on, when not on script?
- Who are all the 'special' revenants?
- Does the King, or any of the revenants, ever sleep? Are there times when the King is distracted, inattentive or absent?
- What is the typical 'daily' schedule?
- Are there any places Lissel can get access to chemicals?
- Are there any places one could hide/smuggle items without the King or guards seeing?
- Why is the workshop a no-go zone? No point in being vague about it.

Actions wise the princess seems like a scripted trap indeed. Engaging with her outside of script might make the King think you're gonna rescue her and lure you into certain death. At most we can ask her about her hive/bugfolk past. No humoring rescue without a solid plan (and varyness of the King 'arranging' a perfect rescue to invite false hope).

A fire here would be likely lethal to everyone unless there's an exit planned.

More questions for Juan:
-What's a rough guess on the population ratios? How man regular folk compared to puppets, guards and revenants?
-Has there ever been any notable past escape attempts or mass resistance? (protests/riots/strikes)
-Anywhere a rat with a sore back can get a strong drink? Some pain relief would be good, but also, this is a prison and every prison has a black market...

I'm similarly hesitant on visiting the princess, she may be a good source of intel, but it might give her or the master ideas of what to do with you.

Go for a walk about town with Lisel and do some "people watching", information gathering is the best use of our time for now. Anything more adventurous will have to wait until our spine is healed. (Hopefully it isn't a permanent injury)

Also I think we should also check in on Dis at some point.

Let's go to the butterfly's room and see what her whole deal it. I am putting bets on the notion that she isn't a real butterfly but something that the puppet master created. The life span of insects isn't long.

Noticed one thing, Juan avoided the light when he wanted to tell you something. Does he know how they are all being observed? Ask him about it.

We might need to figure out how to get your spine injury treated, or at least stabilized.

Not only does it impede anything you do and risk worsening, it might get you killed by accident (going 'off script') or in any 'duel' you might be forced to perform.

And it would have to be done without the King, puppets or revenants noticing/involved, as they'd no doubt turn you into a revenant or puppet with their 'health tonics'. Is there a living healer or medic here? Can Lisel do anything (assuming we get her tools or ingredients)?

>>1132451
Going to second this one, that injury needs to get taken care.

1/2 Nalthar 2026/10/12(Mon)02:42 No. 1132892 ID: bb0461
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"Well, just to introduce us. It would be impolite to ignore a princess" you muse. A shouting match breaks out from the direction of the croquet field, but Brother Juan doesn't react so you keep going. "I'm surprised there's anyone alive up here. I mean, it seemed like he's been making puppets out of anyone he catches."

"He used to" Juan answers "When my group arrived there wasn't anyone else, just puppets. The plays didn't last all day then either. Some days he wouldn't even speak a word. Now though, now he doesn't leave except to eat and sleep."

"Oh so he does sleep?" Lisel looks thoughtful "And eats as well. He's not like his servitors?"

"A meal goes up thrice a day, and he goes away every night" the robed mouse shrugs "Stands to reason"

"How many servants are there?" you ask. The mouse shrugs yet again "I can't keep count. There's fifteen souls up here, plus you now. But the puppets, and the revenants, he keeps switching around their costumes. Thirty of them, maybe. Maybe more. Only the duchess and the captain talk though. Oh and the chef, but he's almost never up here."

"I saw there were servants on that lifting floor." you say "I don't suppose any of us every get to visit the kitchen." Juan frowns "No, and I wouldn't suggest you try anything. That's the most guarded spot in the whole kingdom." You shake your head "I was hoping more, a living servant might have access to the stores. I need a drink." you don't say it, but someone with access downstairs could get chemicals for Lisel too.

"You'll get a bit of brandy with dinner" Juan says "If you can't wait, well someone might have something stashed away. You have to be careful though, stashing. You never know which spy glass he's looking through, or listening with. And the guards, anything out of place they'll bring the duchess to inspect."

You walk a few more paces before Lisel pipes up. "So what is this workshop you say is forbidden?"
"Oh, alright its not forbidden, but if you're caught in there its big trouble. Its where his puppets make and change costumes. Props and things. You might get brought there if he has a new costume for you. There's some showers too."

"Ah, speaking of that." Lisel says "Where will we be sleeping? Not back in the cage I hope."
"Not if you don't fuck up" Juan retorts "There's sleeping quarters tucked under the palace. Latrines as well. You can have a bath drawn but you'll need to get the duchess to direct the servants to fill it. If you're really special you get one of the bedrooms at the manor. Very fancy."

you've been mulling something over in your head while they talk "Wait, you said the princess has been here more'n a year. Don't bugs only live a year?"
"I think they used to" Juan says as Lisel just shrugs "Might have heard they've been growing more like us each generation. Like how the princess has eyelids and lips and teeth. And I mean, mice only used to live a few years way long ago, so I'd believe the bug folk are changing too."

Your back reminds you sharply that there's something else to address "I don't suppose you have a healer here."
Juan shakes his head "The duchess repairs the puppets sometimes, if you want to take your chances. I think you just need rest. Don't get in any duels, though even then you can just pretend. Nobody's going to try to actually hurt you, unless you actually piss them off. Or Pietro, don't fight Pietro."

2/2 Nalthar 2026/10/12(Mon)02:43 No. 1132893 ID: bb0461
File 179177298589.jpg - (644.27KB , 800x600 , cadvere3 26 here comes trouble.jpg )

The walk has taken you to the front of the manor, and then back as Brother Juan leads you to visit the princess.

As you get about halfway down the faux park path the three of you notice a spy glass descending directly ahead of you.

"mmm looks like we're up" Juan looks around. He spots movement behind the line of trees and lets out a sharp hiss. "Ah shhhhit. Trouble. Don't scorn her or she'll set Pietro on you."

The spy glass halt a foot above the floor, getting a good view of you as a dangling figure slinks out of the trees. With a tinkling of a hundred coins the stoat dancer twiddles her fingers at you. An embarrassing falsetto drifts down from above "mmmmhmmm, such a rugged wounded warrior. Won't you come away with me, that I may give you succor?"

seems legit

Welp, now we know that the master is a weird pervert or just what kind of books they're inspired by.

Clearly this Stoat is meant to be a femme fatale that 'seduces' you. So how do we deal with this?

1) We fully play along the 'seduction' act and suffer the indignity/horror of pretending to have romantic feelings for a cadaver, or otherwise having a 'romance subplot' with them. Which could lead into further trouble if Pietro or another one of her 'lovers' catches you flirting. Probably the worst play.

2) We continue being a chivalrous/non-adulterous gentleman towards their sultry advances. Maybe play at being utterly clueless on her flirting (seem utterly naive or dumb about it), being religious (marriage only), preferring mice, or be reluctant to her praises but ultimately/dramatically (ham up the act) insisting on your heart being already claimed by another. This risks pissing her off anyway of course if she is a plain bitch, or she might be 'inspired' by your faithfulness.

3) Lisel intervenes and claims you as her lover 'officially'. Ideally you two being romance partners (in act or otherwise) should be kept a secret (if it wasn't deduced already), otherwise Lisel gets a target painted on her back. But it might be the best way to fend off a 'sultry dame' if your actual beloved is here to help play at your chivalry, and Lisel plays up her feminine charm / femme fatale traits herself. Maybe even pretend she is the one who has you hopelessly smitten / on a leash.

Whatever you do, you can't call her out as a harlot or similar insults, or reject her bluntly/rudely. Well, maybe Lisel can (ladies tend to fight with words sharper than swords), but its risky. Maintain respect and appreciate her... Beauty.

Try playing oblivious for a bit and see how that goes. Then maybe try humility and flattery, saying how you're not worthy of the affections of such a beautiful maiden. Regardless it's quite clear you're not up to any physical action so she'll probably only want kisses anyway. That's worth doing for safety's sake if it comes to it.

This is so messed up on so many levels. Play dumb like you do not get that she is sending you signals—the whole plausible deniability tactic.

>>1132899
Kind of like second idea here a bit. Could even get Brother Juan to join our aid and play it up a little. Have him try to protect us from her temptations!

1/2 Nalthar 2026/10/23(Fri)01:19 No. 1133340 ID: bb0461
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Temerity of the Gravel Pit Nest is no stranger to death, but the way this thing moves. You don't want to look at it but it feels as though if you turned your back on it, it would go for your throat. With that and your continuing fatigue and pain, only one route through this confrontation becomes viable.

"Oh, are you a healer then?" A gruff flat voice like you imagine a weary warrior would use, to mask the tightness of your jaw as you are forced to spend another moment in this stoat's presence.

"Oh yes, a healer of men, that is I" The stoat's mouth doesn't move when "she" talks. Though she tilts her head this way and that, regarding you like a snake, her eyes are fixed forward and never blinking.

Brother Juan steps between the two of you, pitching his voice into a peevish tone "It is a sin to lie, Esmerelda. Theodoric is close to the path of righteousness, and I don't need you leading him astray."

"Oh ho, a worthy one is he?" Esmerelda weaves her fingers together "I would love to discuss scripture with you, warrior. Especially the passages on Jezebel. After dinner, in the shaded bower behind the manor, I'll be waiting."

The stoat slinks away with a jingling of chains, but you pointedly do not watch. Lisel ,however, does. "Did you notice how fluid she moves? And how these puppets have wires instead of string? I'm suspecting its electricity, applied directly to-" Lisel cuts herself off and looks up.

The spyglass is still pointed directly at you. There's a long hesitant moment, and then with a light squeal of brass on brass it begins ascending.

2/2 Nalthar 2026/10/23(Fri)01:20 No. 1133341 ID: bb0461
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After another long tense moment Brother Juan clears his throat. "Well, that's a stay of execution eh? Good on you, staying in character. Lets, uh, lets go see the princess."

The three of you make your way to the tower, and up the stairs that spiral around it, in silence.

There is a small landing outside the birdcage that tops the tower. A revenant guard stands watch, not seeming to react to your presence at all. For a princess' quarters, the space inside the cage is decidedly sparse. Other than the butterfly in question there's only a pile of bedding and a heavy dresser.

Princess Issabella regards you with a guarded expression. She strides to meet you at the cage door, then suddenly lunges close. She scoops up the brass weight chained to her wrists and lobs it straight for your face.

sidestep! no wait, lisel is probably behind you. catch it!

Dodge it. It's a heavy weight! If Lisel is behind you, get her out of the way too!

Catching it is a bad idea. It would seem like you're helping her escape (by holding her weight) and make the Revenants (or the King) immediately react to an escape attempt. It's entirely possible that's exactly what she's hoping for - getting you into trouble on purpose out of some slight/spote, or coercing/blackmailing you into helping her / being assigned a 'rescuer' role.

On the other hand, getting smacked in the face by a weight isn't going to be pleasant (unless you want an excuse to get medical assistance).

So probably yell 'look out!' and dodge, preferably pulling Lissel out of the way. Or try to block/misdirect the weight with your hands/cloaks without catching it, so it falls to the ground. Ideally you could turn your back to it so the damage is minimal, but your back is too injured for that.

Then ask what you did to piss her off / cause such a violent response.

Take the direct hit and show her that you are made of sturdier stuff.

There's not much you can do with your back the way it is. You might hope to fall backwards and topple Lisel out of the way like a bowling pin, and trying to land in the least painful way possible.

I pray you're already in the process of getting out of the way.

Your cloak is presumably stretchy and durable. Shield yourself with it, use it to absorb the majority of the weights impact or bounce/redirect/deflect it away like a slingshot (a blunt object is unlikely to tear a stretchy fabric). Watch your feet when it lands though!