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File 143345351751.jpg - (387.17KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_1.jpg )
645426 No. 645426 ID: 3009b4

Sami slowly wakes up when the dawn comes -- while stiff and sore from sleeping on a hard floor with a pillow made from the lose belongings in her pack, her bumps and bruises from the night before have healed. Much like her resistance to alcohol and drugs, this is something she's always chalked up to her faerie heritage.

The Mayor is gone, and although Sami is still marked (as the connection to the administrators remains unrestored) perhaps even a curse has to sleep sometime. She hopes that the rest of the curse has to rest too, but the fact that she has been attacked by it during the day leads her to suspect that it is a light sleeper.

Sami looks at her one remaining ration -- a collection of dried fruit and nuts -- and is painfully aware from her parched throat that she will need water before she can eat. She has two choices -- she can either ask Father Nick for some water (which would have been the last time she got some) or go down to the river. Father Nick is closer, but she will HAVE to go to the river eventually as that's where the Piper's ghost is sure to be found -- Sami still very clearly remembers where she killed him. While she'd just as soon not go near the water, she'd also like to be rid of the mark as soon as possible.

::13 IP available.::
Expand all images
>>
No. 645429 ID: e114bc

>>645426
Go to the river. Can't go to the church without likely getting it demolished.
>>
No. 645440 ID: ab7529

'Morning, Sami. Such as it is.

>river or church
I'd rather not bring trouble on the church. And if it's protected or hallowed ground, it's possible your curse would keep you from it. Or that you'd weaken it being there. Not sure. It seems like borrowing trouble.

Does that axe have a strap so you can sling it over your shoulder? Inconvenient to have to carry it everywhere.

[Scan Guitar, I don't think we actually did, before]
>>
No. 645464 ID: d3be40

Hey. We've been busy and your connection was disabled, but we're back!

Good news is, those three hackers didn't come back. Bad news is, we're cut off from the admins; we can't get energy back the usual way, at least for now, and we're running low so our powers are VERY limited.

As tempting as it is to go back to base, you're on your last ration and without food. The sunlight should send most of the wraiths into hiding (disabling the golems), meaning that your only major concern is the vermin. You'll want to spend as much daylight as you can.

Scan the river, we'll help make sure there's no vermin nearby. See if you can kick down a few withered trees and divert the flow of the water with a weak dam, and then scavenge for fish and other stuff on the riverbed.

Afterwards, you might want to find golem tools: those golems will become a serious hazard during night-hours, so you'll want to deal with them as soon as possible. Hacking one might be exceptionally difficult, but if you destroyed all the golems the wraiths could change tactics and possess a vermin queen or something. We all noticed that the vermin didn't show their faces when a twenty-thousand pound steamroller of death was chasing you by demolishing buildings, so having just one on your side could even the odds tremendously.

Oh, and I suggest you tune the guitar since you have the time.

*Private*
Scan for anything that Sami can pick up.
*/Private*
>>
No. 645466 ID: ab7529

[private]
>Bad news is, we're cut off from the admins
...We never told her about the admins. She didn't know there were more people she doesn't know and trust watching and messing with her.
>>
No. 645469 ID: b9cef6

Talking with Father Nick is probably the best move. For water, and to make sure he's okay.
But be careful, of course! Peek out to make sure the coast is clear, don't just rush out.
>>
No. 646390 ID: 3009b4
File 143353836762.jpg - (350.65KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_2.jpg )
646390

Without access to the wiki, all you can do is gather information about the basic properties of the guitar.

It is definitely network active -- and powerful. The guitar shares many properties with the flute -- a secure hacking tool -- hacking tools like a Third Eye have a vulnerability of leaving one open by virtue of connection and can be detected through their use.

In this particular case, the Guitar seems to be limited to impacting the "Dead" world -- it has no impact on fae, pantheon or cat elements but it will impact artificial elements (golems), curse, and wayward spirits.

Unlike the pipe, the guitar doesn't appear to have any special security limitations on who can use it. If the town couldn't figure out how to use it, perhaps they lacked the right songs to play?
>>
No. 646414 ID: d3be40

>>646390
...JACKPOT.

Sami, the physical scan says that the guitar ACTS LIKE PIPER'S FLUTE, BUT FOR GOLEMS, CURSES, AND SPIRITS. Lucky break for once.

Looks like all the security on this thing has disintegrated or something. Play a variation of Piper's songs, see if you can get it to resonate.
>>
No. 646417 ID: ab7529

>[the guitar] will impact artificial elements (golems), curse, and wayward spirits
>Lucky break for once.
Except for the fact she doesn't know how to play a guitar.

Some of us probably we do, and we could probably teach her the basics with verbal instruction and using phantasm to demonstrate the fingerings. That would be painstaking and slow, though. We don't have the food or time or it.

Leaving town to find a mortal somewhere more civilized to teach you isn't an option while you're still cursed, either.

>the guitar doesn't appear to have any special security limitations on who can use it
Huh. I wonder if the priest knows how to play. Although that means trusting him with a powerful magic artifact, and we don't know what secret he was keeping behind that door.
>>
No. 646424 ID: b9cef6

>Sami can't play, and there's no time to teach!
Well, that depends on how complex the songs are. Did we ever see sheets for that? Or get a general idea of the complexity of the pieces?
Still saying we visit Father Nick. He might be able to teach, or we can recruit him to play for us.
>>
No. 646436 ID: ab7529

>Did we ever see sheets for that?
Here: >>/questarch/613941

The notes are out of focus for us, but yeah, the individual tunes don't look very long. Can't tell how difficult the chords / placement would be for a beginner.

Really, the limited factor is musical instruction over our connection would be pretty inefficient.

>controls spirits
...I would point out that we're spirits. And we're currently in slash connected to Sami's head. Putting that guitar and the music in the hands of anyone she does not have absolute trust in could be very dangerous.
>>
No. 646438 ID: 164c83

Uhhh... aren't we still holding on to cursed gold we're supposed to deliver to the ghost of the fae we killed? I remember vague speculation that could lessen our personal attachment to this curse business and that if so it also would at least make a significant dent in the general level of curse effects in the area. Is that not the single most important short-term agenda we could have? I vaguely recall we didn't try to do it before we slept because we were exhausted and needed a better plan for how to get there unmolested with only local help from the mayor's shade.
>>
No. 646477 ID: 3009b4
File 143355326348.jpg - (447.86KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_3.jpg )
646477

>Go to the river. Can't go to the church without likely getting it demolished.

Sami decides to agree with the majority and head towards the river, as much as she dreads doing so. Sami finds the Rook frozen at the top of the stairs -- she edges by it carefully but it doesn't move. Perhaps the Mayor did something to hold it? Regardless, despite being hungry and thirsty she quickly (and quietly) gets some distance between her and it. She examines the guitar and does find a retractable carry strap, so she slings it over her shoulder.

>...We never told her about the admins. She didn't know there were more people she doesn't know and trust watching and messing with her.

Fortunately Sami is now familiar with Kome and disregards what he says when it sounds like nonsense to her.

>>Sami can't play, and there's no time to teach!
>Well, that depends on how complex the songs are

:: You cannot teach Sami to play the guitar ::

>Uhhh... aren't we still holding on to cursed gold we're supposed to deliver to the ghost of the fae we killed?

Sami: I killed the Piper, this is my problem. But yes, I need to deliver it as soon as possible.

>Oh, and I suggest you tune the guitar since you have the time.

Sami: This guitar behaves strangely. It doesn't make a proper sound when I strum the strings -- there's something wrong with the design. It's very strange -- it's not heavy but the feel is really... solid. It's like it should be heavier than it is. The strings have a sort of 'bite' to them too. They don't break the skin or anything, but when my fingers brush against them it's like tiny little pricks.

Do you lot have a plan of some sort? I know those things are going to come after me -- every time I get close to anything significant, something comes after me.
>>
No. 646484 ID: ab7529

>Do you lot have a plan of some sort?
Well, the bad news is that we burned a lot of our own resources fighting the curse last night. We don't have a lot of juice to do stuff, even if we're still good for advice.

Speaking of which, sorry about the making you see (and feel and smell) things stuff. We kind of had to, since it was that or let the curse torture you, but it still kind of felt like it broke the spirit of the rules about not messing with your head we set up before.

The guitar is infuriating- on the one hand it seems like exactly the solution you need, but we lack the means to use it.

Which leaves us wits and words. And you might be able to use words against the Piper, but if we get hit by mindless in their rage spirits again... hrm.

I wonder if there's a way to sneak up on him without alerting them.
>>
No. 646488 ID: b9cef6

I could say that I have a great plan, but that would be a lie. We've exhausted our abilities for the most part, so if we get hit head-on by the curse again, we may not be able to hold out for very long.
Which means we'll need to rely on stealth and guile.
...which I don't really know how to do in a situation where the enemy we need to avoid seems to be omnipresent.
Just... Just try and be careful, I suppose. We'll do our best to help.
>>
No. 646507 ID: d3be40

I think I know what the problem is: that guitar seems similar to one from our world, one that doesn't produce sound.

Basically, you need to combine the guitar with its actual sound-producing half. The guitar itself doesn't produce sound but tells the sound producer what to blare out. Main reason for doing this is because sometimes there's a sound that can't be produced by anything less than a twenty-foot tall musical instrument, and you'd want to carry the input part.

*Private*
Sounds like an "Electric Guitar" - those needle-pricks sound like low-power electricity. Maybe the guitar needs to be played with "fae hands".
*/Private*
>>
No. 646508 ID: ab7529

...I wonder if you could slave on instrument to the other. Set the guitar to echo or repeat what is played on the flute.

It's not a natural object, though. I think. So you shouldn't be able to control it directly by the flute's nature.
>>
No. 647210 ID: 3009b4
File 143381146550.jpg - (532.93KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_4.jpg )
647210

Sami heads out of town, towards the farmland and the river. She very timidly refills her waterskin and then has a bite to eat.

As Sami approaches the place of the Piper's murder, she feels a breeze pick up and notices two harvester golems ahead of her.

Sami: I think we all know where this will go. Do you guys have any ideas? Harvesters can't pass through the woods -- their blades are sharp and quick, but even soldier's armour is enough to stop the blade (now getting caught up in the thresher is another situation regardless). Like most golems, Harvesters are no good in mud or deep water either. And yes, I'm aware I could swim across the river but I DON'T want to do that. That current is very swift and if -- you know -- doesn't happen I'm likely to drown. And if it does happen... I don't know what I'll do. There's no one around to get hurt but...
>>
No. 647211 ID: e114bc

Run along the river?
>>
No. 647222 ID: d3be40

You were able to lure Rook easily enough, what's stopping you now? Skirt along the river; even if the golem stops in time, if the pilots are stupid angry enough to chase you in a straight line then the mud along the riverbank should hinder them long enough for you to escape or knock them into the dunk.
>>
No. 647223 ID: ab7529

Huh. If the axe can be used to control objects like the golems... I wonder what happens if you use it to produce noise. Could just wailing on it cause them to stumble or wince? ...not the best gamble to lead with, though.

Hmm. I wonder if we could scan the golems and spoof your signal so you feel like another golem to them. We can't hide the curse aura, but all the golems possessed by curse spirits should give that off.

Failing that, your best bet might be too go around them. Double back to a rive crossing, or just go wide, and in the trees.
>>
No. 647320 ID: 164c83

We're really visible while we're holding this gold and I'm sure that this pair of harvesters are just the first two golems that are coming towards us of many in multiple directions. Now that we're outside the Mayor's area of influence he either has lost coherence and joined the mob or he's back at home being taunted by that curse most likely, leaving us with no obvious allies to draw on here. We're just gonna have to go along the riverbank and possibly gather up a small raft or boat at some point if the river-mud isn't enough of a hazard to prevent them from assaulting or blocking you.
Double checking that this half-plan isn't too dangerous to try: There aren't any golems that are water-worthy around town, right? Is there enough river-mud or is the river substantially a built-up, stone-banked channel in town?
>>
No. 647702 ID: 3009b4
File 143399320103.jpg - (514.52KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_5.jpg )
647702

>Hmm. I wonder if we could scan the golems and spoof your signal so you feel like another golem to them. We can't hide the curse aura, but all the golems possessed by curse spirits should give that off.

By scanning the golems you are able to successfully identify their ID signatures; through a combination of GLAMOUR (spoofing a golem ID), SPOOF (hiding Sami) you mask Sami for long enough that she can run by. The golems know she's there due to the curse, but they can't see her -- very much like a cat that can hear the mouse, know where it is, but can't see it yet so it doesn't act. The golems realize something is amiss -- but by the time their scans pinpoint Sami's location she's already sprinted well ahead of them.

The golems do not take chase. Sami breaths a sigh of relief... and then her stomach churns when she realizes exactly where the piper's death site is.

On the bridge. Perilously close to the swift-moving river. Worse, what if she has to go to the spot where the piper actually died -- IN the river itself?
>>
No. 647703 ID: e114bc

>>647702
Just try getting close for now.
>>
No. 647704 ID: b9cef6

Lets not assume the worst. We'll worry about the worst when the obvious doesn't work out.
So. We came here for a drink, you should probably get a drink as best you can and scarf down that ration.
Then, I suppose we take things to the bridge and and meet the Piper. Or, we try to.
>>
No. 647706 ID: ab7529

>Worse, what if she has to go to the spot where the piper actually died -- IN the river itself?
Well, you don't have to be there, the gold does. Maybe we could lower it in or something?

...what state is this bridge in? The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if the curse tried to make it collapse.
>>
No. 647710 ID: d3be40

Wait.

Sami, don't let the guitar touch the water. It... uh, can someone else help me explain-

*Private*
-why charged electric guitar plus water equals bug zapper? (Note that Sami felt a pinprick when she touched the strings, so it's probably on.)
*/Private*
>>
No. 647712 ID: e114bc

>>647710
It's not an electric guitar. It's magic.
>>
No. 647714 ID: 3009b4
File 143399728145.jpg - (477.14KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_6.jpg )
647714

As Sami begins to approach the bridge, a familiar tune begins to whisper in her ear, playful and mocking.

The Song of Birth.

Sami thinks back to the faithful day, when the illusion bound her senses and she followed the joyful tune towards paradise, before she was swept away with the other children.

Before she became a monster.

She grinds her teeth involuntarily and tries to squeeze the vision from her eyes, as if her horrible memory was something that could be burst like a cyst and the guilt forced out of her like so much infected pus.

And then she hears his voice. Rich, deep, resonating and heavy with disdain.

The Piper: If you've come back for a second helping, I'm afraid there worms haven't left you any. Nice axe, by the way. Should I even ask what you had to do to obtain it?
>>
No. 647718 ID: d3be40

>>647714
Begin shouting at person who took everything good from your life. DO NOT ATTACK, HE IS A GHOST NOW.

After you are done, negotiate the terms of resolving this curse once and for all.
>>
No. 647724 ID: e114bc

>>647714
Try to remain calm. Tell him you're here to deliver some of what he was owed. Perhaps it will be enough to pay for your life.

May as well tell him the axe was given willingly.

[scan the Piper's ghost]
>>
No. 647787 ID: 88960e

>Should I even ask what you had to do to obtain it?
Had to endure horrible psychological torture while things tried to kill me. You know, the same thing that happened last time I found a magic instrument.

*Hold bag aloft* Do you want your blood money, psycho?

>realizing the piper's spirit might be the only person nearby who could teach you to use the axe
Hahaha, oh man. That's a twisted thought. Let's hope we're not that desperate, cause he is in no way trustworthy.
>>
No. 647954 ID: 3009b4
File 143408971114.jpg - (449.00KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_7.jpg )
647954

Sami: Here. This is yours, isn't it?

She tosses the bag of coins at the Piper's stain. The coins clatter with an unnatural loudness. The Piper stares at them for some time. At last, he speaks.

The Piper: It's not even half.

His voice carries noticeable anger. Sami looks at him in disgust, but when he looks back at her with his empty, dark sockets his expression changes -- a flicker of regret, a brief twist of shame, and then neutral again.

The Piper: You, of all people. The lone survivor. Did you know this gold is cursed, girl?

Sami: I knew before I even took it.

Sami's voice is strong. The figure who gazed down upon her with cold indifference as she and her friends were tossed and rolled in the current, as they lost their breath and filled with water... was so much smaller now. She remembered how much taller he seemed when she leapt upon him ten years ago.

The Piper: Why? What do you hope to accomplish now? Everyone is dead here. The children are gone, their parents too. All that is left here are shades.

Sami: Do you have any idea of what my life's been like since that day? I don't sleep. Nothing makes me feel better. All I can think of is how useless I was as my friends drowned, of how I reminded their parents of their loss, and how much of a monster I really was. I'm so damn broken. My only hope is that I can ... fix things some how. Put it all to rest.

The Piper stares at her for several moments.

The Piper: Are you really offering an olive branch?

Sami nods.

:: THE CURSE IS LIFTED -- NETWORK FULLY RECONNECTED ::
:: WIKI, Store and other functions fully available ::

The Piper: You're still just a child Sami, and yet you're bigger than anyone else who lived here. Despite what you did to me, I no longer have interest in punishing you for the sins of the town.

:: PIPER SCAN ::
::He is a ghost like the Mayor, but considerably stronger. His area of coherence is larger and his mind is more lucid. Now that he has received a payment he seems more clear-headed. ::

:: ADMINS will be reconnecting shortly ::
>>
No. 647962 ID: d3be40

Alright, list of questions:

1) What was the reason for the purge?
2) Were you the avatar of the purge, or just a mockery of the disease that overtook the town?
3) Are there any mortals remaining in the town to save?
4) Is there anyone you left behind when Sami killed you?
5) Can you connect to the FAE networks?
>>
No. 647973 ID: ab7529

Well, that was anticlimactic. Good work, Sami.

[private]
>ADMINS will be reconnecting shortly
Hey, welcome back, guys.

And just in case you're thinking off being funny Yorik, that bet I offered to deny IP to the curse spirits isn't still on the table.

[check store, just for fun]
>>
No. 647975 ID: e114bc

I don't suppose he knows how to play guitar?
>>
No. 648010 ID: c39e56

Does he know if any Rotland Redeemers passed by here? We saw some messages in the town saying that they were planning to deal with the curse.
>>
No. 648030 ID: 164c83

"From what I've gathered looking into this around town, their view of the matter was that you were demanding more gold than they had, more than they could pay, and knew so. What really happened, in your view, and how do we lay this conflict to rest permanently?"
>>
No. 648151 ID: ea0ad9

>ADMINS will be reconnecting shortly
Ooh, we've found our library. Ah, our old friends, how we missed you.
[private]
Yes, that "Friends" comment was directed at the Admins, but let's let Sami think I'm referring to the "Library."
Puni, was that you who left a "Note" for us?
[public]
>>647975
That would involve some serious trust, mutually, between Sami and the Piper. I fear we aren't quite there yet.
>or just a mockery of the disease
Let's not taunt the Piper. "Did you mean to create the curse, or does it exist to mock your our actions?" is probably a better way to put it.
>3) Are there any mortals remaining in the town to save?
That's more of Father Nick's area. The Piper's a ghost, one with a great range of influence, but still a limited range. He might, however, know of some more spirits who possess the capacity for lucid consciousness. Those are the key to lifting the curse.
>4) Is there anyone you left behind when Sami killed you?
Do remember, Sami's the one who would have to ask for us. The ghosts cannot hear us. However, if he left any person be they Fae or not, behind, learning of their fate, and helping them if they're still alive, is likely important. I imagine that, dead or alive, they'd have contributed to the curse.
>5) Can you connect to the FAE networks?
...Why does that matter? We can already connect.
>Does he know if any Rotland Redeemers passed by here?
Now THAT is an important question!
>>648030
Be careful about bringing that up. Might be good to bring up the other questions first.
>>
No. 648199 ID: 3009b4
File 143422140265.jpg - (485.02KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_8b.jpg )
648199

>1) What was the reason for the purge?

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Why did you come to our town? You knew we couldn't pay your fee, didn't you?

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: You could have. The real guilty party escaped. Much of the council was part of the Merchant's Guild. The mayor was just the typical weak leader -- he could have stood up to them, but instead he caved in to their demands. The Mayor just became the scape goat afterwards. As to why I came to your town... your town was being corrupted by the Pantheon. The flock needed to be culled. I don't think I was being unreasonable giving your leaders a chance to avoid the cull with a tribute.

>2) Were you the avatar of the purge, or just a mockery of the disease that overtook the town?
>3) Are there any mortals remaining in the town to save?
>4) Is there anyone you left behind when Sami killed you?
>5) Can you connect to the FAE networks?

Sami parrots the request but the piper doesn't understand the question. He notes that until very recently he couldn't really identify individuals.

>Well, that was anticlimactic. Good work, Sami.
Author Note: It was anticlimatic because the group figured out how to use the existing tools to bypass the golems. When the Piper saw Sami slip by he didn't expend the energy to try anything else. It would have been a different story if you didn't or tried to approach the Piper without the gold.

>I don't suppose he knows how to play guitar?

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: I don't suppose you're familiar with this instrument?

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: I am. It's... rather advanced for your kind, although your people are probably the best adapted to try.

>Does he know if any Rotland Redeemers passed by here? We saw some messages in the town saying that they were planning to deal with the curse.

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Have you heard of the Rotland Redeemers? Did any show up here?

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper laughs bitterly: You know before I found myself in this unfortunate situation we thought the Redeemers were a bunch of self-righteous, dangerous but necessary anarchists. No, I've not seen any but it would be nice to have someone who understands the dead. Now that I think about it, I find myself glad to talk to you Sami. I used to hate you and it feels odd to be so glad to see you whole now.

>...how do we lay this conflict to rest permanently?"

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: I want to end this curse. How can we lay this place to rest?

:iconpipertalk:
Rage flashes in the The Piper's eyes: Bring the damned council back here. They need to EXPERIENCE what their selfishness and greed has done to their masters, their people, and their home. They need to see what they did to us, Sami. They need to FEEL what they did to us. They ESCAPED. They just left their guilt behind.

The air ripples with an unfelt heat and the light cowers briefly as shadows encroach on the area... the Piper notices and calms himself.

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: I am sorry, Sami. It's taken me a long time to realize that the rage just pulls me deeper into the pit.

He glances down at the gold and the shadows retreat further.

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: Perhaps there is another way. You can't undo what's happened but you can... maybe try to enact a different path? Feeling and intent means more than fact now, Sami.

>[check store, just for fun]

See the Wiki for store and IP breakdown: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Sami%27s_Quest

You now have 113 IP.
Sami's Trust is now 75. Not only is she trusting but she is now confident in your suggestions.

:: There is a general ADMIN request that you surrender the two illegal programs; they will not force it but will pay 30 IP each and will lock them down so the Curse will not be able to use them if you become infected again. ::
>>
No. 648213 ID: ab7529

>Bring the damned council back here.
That... might be difficult. The council might be dead, or they could be anywhere by now, years later. Tracking them down and dragging them all back would be a difficult and long term endeavor.

Plus, I'm really not sure if the best solution is to abduct people and let the curse torture them for their role in this.

>Perhaps there is another way. You can't undo what's happened but you can... maybe try to enact a different path? Feeling and intent means more than fact now, Sami.
We'll have to figure that out, but that seems a lot more reasonable and feasible.

[private]
>There is a general ADMIN request that you surrender the two illegal programs
Is this an automated general request, or are any of our admins in particular advocating for this? Speak up, guys.

I'm tempted to keep phantasm. There's all kinds of ways sensory illusions could be used in a beneficial manner. It's only harmful if abused.

Draw memory... I'd be much more willing to let go. It's a lot less easy to use for any benefit (unless we're helping someone relieve a positive memory, or remember clearly something they couldn't). And it's very easy to cause inadvertent emotional harm with. Plus the ability to read her surface thoughts seems like a violation.

That said, can you lock down the abilities so curse spirits can't use them if they aren't present? If you uninstall them, the curse is free to do a clean, non-locked installation if and when they show up again. If it were possible to blanket lock down illegal programs from being used in advance, I would think you'd have already done it! Security would demand we keep jail-broken / restricted local copies.

Could we establish a password permission for new program installation, now? That way, if and when we're joined by a new curse spirit, they won't know the password to install further illegal programs.

...who decides which programs are illegal, anyways? Whose authority is this on? We're not cats. Nor do I remember paying taxes to any spirit government, or electing, supporting, or otherwise acknowledging a governing authority.
>>
No. 648219 ID: e114bc

>>648199
I'm guessing the other way is to get enough gold to repay the debt completely. What do you think, Sami? Revenge, or repayment?

(private)
I agree with giving up Draw Memory. Phantasm does seem like it could be useful though, and I think if we avoid being cursed it won't be a liability.
(/private)

Hey Sami, we can put that illusion power on lockdown to prevent any cursed spirits from using it again, and we'll get some resources out of it too. It could be useful later though. For instance, we could use it to help you ignore injuries, or enhance your senses, or dampen other troublesome senses. Do you trust us enough to allow us that sort of control?
>>
No. 648226 ID: d3be40

Right. Classic Merchant's Guild; I'd bet they have over forty rules in their Corporate Liability Mitigation Scheme (Ask Piper if you don't know what that means).

Piper's the same way: he treats this whole fiasco like a job. A VERY personal job, now that he's DEAD because of the guild, but a job nonetheless. You should be able to interact with him on equal terms.

Ask Piper if he knows any songs appropriate for the flute or guitar; Facemelter in particular, just because it's awesome. Also ask for any golem control songs, no matter how complicated Piper thinks they are.

Good news for us is that with the curse lifted on that bag of gold, we regained access to our energy storage. It has been building up, so we're going to buy ourselves some really cool powers. Hopefully we can get command over a single golem by the end of the day, but that's probably a best-case scenario.

*Private*
Purchase Overflow and Charmnet. Scan nearest golem and begin hacking.

I suggest we use up 60%-80% of IP on apps so that the hackers can't burn our IP reserves. The remaining IP can be used to fight them off and actually use the apps.
*/Private*
>>
No. 648229 ID: ab7529

>>648226
[private]
Overflow plus charmet plus the 30 for keeping the programs is 110 IP. That leaves us only 3 to work with, which isn't a margin I'm comfortable with.

Maybe more if they halve the penalty to 15 for giving up draw memory, but that might be a flat fine for possessing illegal material at all.

I'd prefer to wait for the admins to answer my questions regarding security before we spend IP at all. (For instance, if we don't need draw memory to prevent it from being maliciously installed in the future, we can safely give it up. If not, we can't).

...also, I'm tempted by spoof. It's pretty cheap, and the option to go dark when we need to would be pretty useful.
>>
No. 648236 ID: 164c83

"I don't fully grasp why you, or anyone from the Fae, thought that, 'a cull was necessary,' and justified. Was there an agreement regarding the Pantheon or the land this town occupies that was broken? We might be too late to punish anyone guilty of breaking that agreement, but clearly that agreement was important enough to kill over so we have to settle it or renew it before this town can be at peace."
>>
No. 648249 ID: d3be40

>>648199
Wait, the Pantheon was corrupting the town? Would that have anything to do with Faustia?

Ask Piper if over 100 pounds of pure sacrilege would be enough to pay the debt: the Statue of Faustia.

In multiple installments.
>>
No. 648250 ID: ab7529

A simpler question might be why they object to the Pantheon at all. Don't people need their gods?
>>
No. 648279 ID: 164c83

>>648250
Remember, the Fay and the Pantheon are opposed factions of supernaturals. It's understandable that the Fay would have an issue with the Pantheon, but what we don't know is why they felt they had a right and/or duty to 'cull' people here. Normally that's called murder, human societies justifiably take a dim view of that, so there has to be some agreement or law involved to say otherwise. The alternative is that this is all the Fay's fault for being a bunch of greedy and homicidal jerks.
>>
No. 648280 ID: ab7529

>>648279
I understand they're rivals, but consider it to be more useful to ask him why than speculate on in.
>>
No. 648337 ID: 3009b4

>Could we establish a password permission for new program installation, now? That way, if and when we're joined by a new curse spirit, they won't know the password to install further illegal programs.

:iconyorick:
::Yorick: Passwords? How quaint. Look kiddies, passwords are for ancient systems that don't know who you are. When you picked up that cursed gold, you let those things in. If you let us block the program, it's blocked. If you manage to infect yourselves again you'll still find yourself isolated as a security measure but they just won't be able to do use them again. We know those programs are useful which is why we offer any sort of compensation at all. ::

>...who decides which programs are illegal, anyways? Whose authority is this on? We're not cats. Nor do I remember paying taxes to any spirit government, or electing, supporting, or otherwise acknowledging a governing authority.

:iconyorick:
::Yorick: You're on our network. You play by the house rules or you don't play at all. ::

>Hey Sami, we can put that illusion power on lockdown to prevent any cursed spirits from using it again, and we'll get some resources out of it too.

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: As usual I have no idea what you're talking about. Don't talk spirit nonsense to me, OK? I trust you enough to do your spirit stuff.

>Ask Piper if he knows any songs appropriate for the flute or guitar; Facemelter in particular, just because it's awesome. Also ask for any golem control songs, no matter how complicated Piper thinks they are.
>Ask Piper if over 100 pounds of pure sacrilege would be enough to pay the debt: the Statue of Faustia.

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Kome. For the love of fuck, I don't know how to play guitar, and the statue is NOT MADE OF REAL GOLD nor is it even PLATED WITH GOLD. We are not that stupid and we are not that extravagant. STOP TALKING ABOUT THE STATUE. And I don't want to mess with any songs the piper will just casually give me, I don't trust him.

>Was there an agreement regarding the Pantheon or the land this town occupies that was broken?

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Piper -- did we break a law? Is that why you came to us?

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: You have no idea what Pantheon influence will do. Have you seen the Mericudian cities, Sami? They are heavily influenced by the Pantheon and they corrupt the earth around them. I never thought I would have to suffer death, and it has given me perspective... but the Seelie Court considers the nomadic Rollen to be the second lowest of the creatures of the earth. So it was like a farmer having to put down a sick konvi or drowning the weakest of the herd. I know better now, but the Fae considered you little more than troublesome, clever animals.

Sami nods. Her people have never trusted the Fae, especially that of the Seelie court. It's why they considered the Gaelish and the Shinateneese to be foolish and untrustworthy; too eager to please the fae to gain the favour of the Seelie court.

She had heard that the Mericudian towns deep in their country were badly polluted, but the only people she had encountered from their society were the travellers and explorers who ventured out into their trading posts... and she assumed they were not an average representative of their homes. She never found adventurers to fit the standard mold of their people. She was not sure how much she should trust the Piper's summary of the Pantheon situation but she did not allow her face to hint at her doubts.
>>
No. 648344 ID: 05679f

>>648229
*Private*
It's not a fee for keeping the programs, they're offering 30 IP each if we get rid of them.
If we sell Draw Memory it puts us at 143 IP, which I'd like to use to purchase Overflow, Charmnet, Spoof Pro, and then maybe Crit, if having 53 IP left over again seems like too much.
>>
No. 648345 ID: 164c83

"So, the Fay unilaterally decided they had the right to enforce their desires on the town? There were no broken laws or agreements, or even a trade offered to stop doing X in exchange for Y that wasn't a threat? I'm not sure I know how to lay that to rest, because it sounds like a fundamental lack of respect and communication on both sides of this argument, to the level of intentionally murderous on the Fay side of it. I mean, consider how angry Fay people would be if other people were to start 'culling' them. Just about the only way I can think to lay that to rest is a formal peace treaty where both sides agree to respect the other's right to life and self-determination, but this town doesn't exist any more to be a negotiating partner for making such an agreement, to say nothing of the willingness and ability of the Fay to make and keep their side of such an agreement."
>>
No. 648346 ID: 164c83

*private*
Ask about additional packages to protect against malicious program installation, use, and hijacking of our systems like what happened with the curse effects. I suspect that we are barely started with unraveling all this mess since we've identified the Fay as having actively tried to harm the town.
*/private*
>>
No. 648386 ID: d3be40

>>648337
That explains so much. Environmental activism is something most mortals typically stereotype about Fae - save the trees and all that.

If the Pantheon is Pro-Industrial, that kind of complete environmental negligence would split enough hairs to induce a terrorist act in the Fae - that is, if culling mortals was illegal in Fae culture. Here it's just a purge.

The horrible irony is that the Piper played things out like a mortal would. It is literally like an exterminator clearing out an infestation of invading insects, only to start hunting animals to reinforce the ecosystem, thereby attempting to prevent long term damage due to the very noticeable lack of one important part.

Ask the Piper if clearing out the vermin AND restoring the old woods might be enough to clear the debt, at least in the eyes of the Fae.
>>
No. 648424 ID: ea0ad9

>I mean, consider how angry Fay people would be if other people were to start 'culling' them.

The Fae and the Cat see the others as just... Intelligent animals. Like the Piper said, if a couple of your livestock get sick, you cull them to keep the rest of the herd healthy. For the Fae to suddenly start being "Culled" would be more like a mass breakout of rabies--Reason to just purge the entire herd instead of a few.
*Private*
I'm for blocking Draw Memory, but undecided on Phantasm.
>>
No. 648428 ID: 3009b4

>...this town doesn't exist any more to be a negotiating partner for making such an agreement, to say nothing of the willingness and ability of the Fay to make and keep their side of such an agreement."

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: I think we're way beyond trying to fix things from the perspective of the living. But it does make me wonder about what the Fae will do with the *other* towns in this area. I'll ask the Piper if he knows.

>Ask the Piper if clearing out the vermin AND restoring the old woods might be enough to clear the debt, at least in the eyes of the Fae.

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Who cares about the damn Fae perspective? Most of the curse I've experienced comes from the pain of my own people.

>Ask about additional packages to protect against malicious program installation, use, and hijacking of our systems like what happened with the curse effects.

:iconyorick:
:: Yorick: It's called "don't pick up cursed items" dumbass. You are literally, manually installing malware when you do that. No security system in the world prevents stupid.

:iconaudrey:
Audrey: Show some class, Yorick. I'm afraid he's right though, kits. It's a bit complicated to explain but the HMES that allows you to pop in and out and help at your convenience also allows the Curse to do the very same. Basically we can lock down certain functions, but these functions don't allow us to pick and choose who can use them -- not without being present and we simply can't allow the curse to worm its way into our higher systems; it's a more powerful hive mind I'm afraid.
::
>>
No. 648432 ID: ab7529

You're doing remarkably well keeping control of yourself with some of the things he's saying (...and some of the careless things we've said). I'm impressed.

I'm not sure what's left to be said. Maybe ask him if he can sense anything else you should investigate? Places where the curse is strong, or that draws golems to defend it.

[private]
>You're on our network. You play by the house rules or you don't play at all.
Where's my EULA? :V

>You are literally, manually installing malware when you do that. No security system in the world prevents stupid.
Real-world systems have to handle and experiment with malware all the time. The smart way to do that would be to set up some kind of partition or virtual machine- contain the malware.

Considering our purpose here is very nearly to combat and counter malware, isn't it reasonable we should have tools specifically designed to work with malware? It's highly unlikely Sami can lift the curse here without interacting further with cursed objects.

>Basically we can lock down certain functions, but these functions don't allow us to pick and choose who can use them -- not without being present
The solution there would be for an administrator to appoint a local moderator. Whose powers and permissions superseded other users, but is still superseded by administrators.

This is like... hierarchical command 101. The whole reason you have a hierachy is so that when a group is cut off from leadership, someone local is still in charge.

>programs
If we can get rid of draw memory (which is a really sketchy ability I'm not comfortable using even the one time we did), get an IP bounty for it, and in doing so block it from being used against us in the future, that seems like a win-win.

...phantasm I like though. Could we request that permissions be set, say, such that it can only be run when we have an active connection to the cat network? That would neuter it when you cut us off.
>>
No. 648434 ID: 164c83

*private*
Look, we had to do what you're calling "stupid" in order to get this cursed gold to where it was supposed to be without advanced manipulation shenanigans that didn't seem practical to attempt or likely to succeed on a reasonable time-scale: What else were we gonna do, make a golem fetch it and carry it here? Please make with constructive criticism of how we could do better instead of calling us stupid, that's just a waste of everybody's time and attention.
We have now identified that the town was intentionally attacked by Fay for reasons of their prejudices, preferences and politics and that means we will plausibly need protection from just about anything--and everything--the Fay can do. On top of that, "It's not even half," is a pointer that while we have made substantive steps in the direction of settling the spirits and their problems we're not done dealing with cursed golems and stuff like that here yet either. Because of all this, saying, "Just don't pick up cursed items," is an unhelpful non-answer for situations where that natively is the least bad option or we are manipulated into it. So I ask again, what armour or other protection can there be against the effects of "stupid" (like handling cursed items) we're forced to do anyway for reasons of our actual, reasonable goals for involvement in this mess? Alternatively, what can we do/get for manipulating and evading cursed items and places (and other subversion/manipulation attacks) outside of direct contact?

In any case, I'm going to vote for removal of all the malware because I suspect that it remains a vulnerability to be exploited by future attackers, including ones that would not otherwise be able to achieve those effects. Even if this stuff is situationally useful, I'd say there's little point in carrying a weakness that will be exploited around when we can be paid to get rid of it, right?
*/private*

When I was considering that hypothetical of a negotiated agreement with the Fay, I was thinking of trying to fix things from the perspective of the 'town.' The people here may be dead but there seems to be a total of about two ways this can end with the curse gone: One is the town ceases to exist as it was and becomes something else. The other is that the town is rendered safe to return to and revives. Remember that this Piper here said, "Feeling and intent means more than fact now, Sami." If I understood that right, that means that we need to be working towards a future for this place other than "end the curse" in order to end the curse: Giving the town something else to be besides a dead place full of dead people lingering on in pain, anger and regret. I'm not certain of this, asking the Piper more questions about what he meant by that may correct or expand our understanding here, so let's do that.
>>
No. 648507 ID: 7668ec

[private]
Is there some way to handle cursed items that does not count as picking them up? When we get sent to deal with a curse, manipulating cursed items would seem to kind of come with the territory.
>>
No. 648558 ID: 3009b4

>This is like... hierarchical command 101. The whole reason you have a hierachy is so that when a group is cut off from leadership, someone local is still in charge.
>Look, we had to do what you're calling "stupid" in order to get this cursed gold to where it was supposed to be without advanced manipulation shenanigans

:iconaudrey:
:: Audrey: Kits, Yorick is just being troublesome -- ignore him. We know you did what you had to do. You have to understand that we can't improve your security because.... well... keep this to yourself, but Sami won't let us. She still believes she deserves to be cursed, deep down and she allows the curse to influence her out of guilt. Didn't you find it a little odd that your influence grew more powerful when the cursed spirits joined you? ::
>>
No. 648568 ID: ab7529

>>648558
[private]
Ah. That makes a distressing amount of sense.

Well, we'll do what we can to help her. Let us know if and when her view of herself has changed enough to support additional protections.

>Didn't you find it a little odd that your influence grew more powerful when the cursed spirits joined you?
Not in the moment. I thought they had supplied their own.
>>
No. 648663 ID: c3a57c

*private*
"Feeling and intent means more than fact now," indeed. Well, we'll just have to keep this under our hat until we can nudge her self-perception to be less negative somehow, probably through accomplishing more feats of curse-handling that will be ridiculously more dangerous than they should be.
The part of that curse episode I found the most surprising was how little hesitation Sami had for picking up the cursed gold in the first place. I wouldn't have done it at all if I were her without knowing exactly where it was supposed to go and having a plan and backup plans for getting it there with minimum risk. But the devil drives: We're not exactly working with perfect knowledge of what's around us, and procrastination and spending time on preparation we can't afford can easily be more hazardous than imperfect action here.

Also, I just came up with a good, additional reason to support uninstalling the rest of the malware: If Sami has to deal with more cursed stuff later, I hypothesize it likely we'll get it installed again then. When that happens (and I'm not using the word if there) I'd rather have thirty more points of goodies and the malware rather than just the malware. Any disagreements?

Now, let's get back to talking with Sami, shall we? The only thing we've left her to go on is my possible brain-fart about reviving the town's future and getting the Fay to agree they can't pull this kind of shit in future to end the curse.
*/private*
>>
No. 648674 ID: 3009b4

>The part of that curse episode I found the most surprising was how little hesitation Sami had for picking up the cursed gold in the first place.

** Author Note: I actually rolled against Sami's Trust stat. It went against her better judgement, but so much had happened to her at this point she figured if the decision was to go bad at least it would be over with quicker than if she did nothing. The roll succeeded in your favour so she made a leap of faith. **
>>
No. 648686 ID: ea0ad9

>>648558
*Private*
Very well. Thank you for explaining that bit. Given Sami's personality, I rather doubt she'll ever believe she doesn't deserve some level of curse, even as she grows to accept that she'll have blessings as well.
>Where's my EULA?
Didn't we already cover this? We work by the will of our Host, in this case, Sami. If you don't like it, disconnect. Since Sami accepts the curse, we can't do anything about it other than disconnect or cope.
>>
No. 648690 ID: ab7529

>>648686
[private]
>butting into a half serious argument with an asshole bullshitter
>completely missing the point in the process
Thanks, the condescension is appreciated.
>>
No. 649276 ID: 005fa2

Ooh, ask him about the priest.
>>
No. 649631 ID: 3009b4
File 143482806417.jpg - (363.09KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_9.jpg )
649631

>You're doing remarkably well keeping control of yourself with some of the things he's saying (...and some of the careless things we've said). I'm impressed.

Sami: I've been attacked by cursed spirits, golems and have now met two ghosts from my past. In comparison, dealing with your nonsensical chatter is easy. Plus I'm pretty sure you're not the cunning, "trick you into via long game" spirits.

>I'm not sure what's left to be said. Maybe ask him if he can sense anything else you should investigate? Places where the curse is strong, or that draws golems to defend it.

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: Can't sense anything outside my little domain, Sami. It wasn't until you got close that I even realized there was someone else here to talk to. It's very dark right now Sami, it's like I'm in a black fog or deep under brackish water at night. You glow, but until you got close I could barely see you. Is it night time?

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: It's morning. Piper, what will the Fae do to the neighboring towns? What about Welser?

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: I'm tired, Sami. I'm always tired. I can't say what would have become of the other towns. You'll need to look yourself. Ask Phooka.

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Who?

The Piper's wispy form settles next to his blood money.

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: Bill Phooka. If he's still alive, he lives outside of town down river, closer to the marsh in a briar thicket. Keeps Greenteeth in line. The gold's like a little camp fire. Maybe I'll be able to tell you more if I get some rest.

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Might he share some supplies? Would it be safe to accept them?

Tired and clearly beginning to get irritated, the Piper glances up at her.

:iconpipertalk:
The Piper: His supplies should be safe, half-blood. He has appetites.

He then settles back down again. Sami shrugs. The piper's form fades but does not disappear.

Sami: OK, two things in this order. One, I need to get supplies. I have no more rations. Wait.

Sami digs out her flask of whiskey and downs it.

Sami: NOW I'm out of rations. I need to get some supplies and I need them soon. I can either try to raid the Merchant's Guild, try to forage, or head to Welser which is two days away on foot. If Phooka is the same kind of faerie I know of, then he's... well, relatively civil for a faerie. He'll want something for his help though. Secondly, I need to address this curse. Maybe if I get the Piper more gold he'll help more but he wants a ridiculous amount and I'm not sure how I can get my hands on it. There's got to be some other way to resolve this and that means I need to get in touch with people who aren't so dead they can't think straight. I know some of our people scientists moved to Welser, maybe they can help -- and Father Nick is a priest. I'm sure he'll help... but I'd like to get him more supplies before I ask. It's difficult to focus when you're having to deal with being hungry all the time. Although one would think he'd just travel to Welser instead...

Sami thinks a moment.

Sami: No, I'm sure of it. Churches take care of their own, and that means... Either something is wrong with him or Welser but either way he's hiding it and I can't trust him.

So, what do you think is my best bet for supplies?
>>
No. 649638 ID: d3be40

>>649631
...Okay, here's my opinion:

1) You're literally out of rations. If you attempt to scavenge or hunt, you'll have to do it out of desperation. Should be possible but I don't expect the turnout to be worth the energy and time you need to use.

2) You have power but you're weakened by everything that's happened. And angry. That means that you have the upper hand at intimidation, so you can pursue for food and apologize later.

3) From the get-go, it's obvious that Nick has his own secrets as well. If you go back to him, it will probably end badly. Scenario A: Nick is normal, and starving, so you'll just starve faster; even if he's a good scavenger, the fact that he's been here for five years and doesn't have enough food for the hungry means that his resources for harvest are low this time of year. Scenario B: Nick is working with the Fae or the Pantheon or some other faction. In that case, on the off-chance that he calls an envoy or invokes power and you barge in, you're screwed.

I guess you should head to Phooka, hunting animals and harvesting wild plants as you go. You can use the flute to give you a small edge, and then whack them to death with the guitar. Even if he sees you as an animal, he shouldn't be stupid enough to risk his life just to preserve his pantry. And if he does fight back, you can fight him using the flute and axe.
>>
No. 649709 ID: ab7529

>he's tired
>it's dark
It's almost sad. Although I don't have overmuch sympathy to spare for him.

Probably should let him be. I think that's as far as his goodwill and patience will hold, for now.

>plan
Getting enough gold to pay off the piper's debt in full... seems like brute forcing the curse. It might eventually work, but there has to be a simpler way to lift it.

Supplies... I wouldn't object to traveling away to town and back for more supplies and information. Sometimes backing off is a smart move, and now that you're not actively connected to the curse, you can travel safely.

Two days is a long time to go without food though, or to rely on fickle hunting and gathering. I think you might have to try the Phooka, first.

The church is a problem for another day. You are not ready to step into another mess, just yet.

[Search wiki: Phooka]
>>
No. 649713 ID: b9cef6

You're fairly competent at living on your own, right? Trying to hunt and forage for food is probably our best bet. Looting the merchant's guild is unlikely to return anything, any food in there has got to be old and rotted by now. And traveling two days to try and get supplies from some Fey we don't know is a bad idea; not only is two days without food a miserable hike, we'd be weakened when talking with some fey, which is not a good thing, even when the guy has a reccomendation.
As for the curse, finding more gold is the easy, but long, way. I don't know if there's an easy way to cheat it, maybe someone else can think of something.
>>649709
>It's almost sad
It is. Dude's dead.
>>
No. 649778 ID: 3009b4

>[Search wiki: Phooka]

"Phooka" refers to a specific kind of job within Faerie cultures. They are politically neutral (neither Seelie nor Unseelie) and their job is to observe and report on analog settlements at a safe distance to both courts. The closest equivalent social class in human cultures would be 'yeoman'. Bill Phooka is not found within the wiki, meaning he has no special significance in the area's history.

>And traveling two days to try and get supplies from some Fey we don't know

Bill Phooka is just a short distance out of town, close to a thicket near the marsh. Sami should be able to get there in time for lunch if not sooner.
>>
No. 649782 ID: 08f4b2

If Bill Phooka is close by we should go visit him. Even if we cannot convince him to help us we can probably get some information from talking to him.
>>
No. 649845 ID: 3009b4
File 143492075124.jpg - (504.37KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_10.jpg )
649845

Sami crosses the bridge and heads off towards the marsh, keeping a safe distance from the river. It only takes her an hour before the thicket is visible.

As she approaches, a quiet ping becomes visible as you are approaching an active network. Unlike the others you've encountered, this one is *active* active, as in there's someone using it.

According to the identification, it's Billy Phooka's network. It's secure but also allows anonymous log-in AND the network's owner is currently online.

Sami is of course completely unaware of your discovery, and unsheathes her hunter's knife in order to cut through some of the denser parts of the thorny thicket.
>>
No. 649851 ID: ab7529

>>649845
>Sami prepares to use hunter's knife on thicket
Sami, hold on. Phooka's here. We can sense his presence this time. He's got spirit stuff up, here.

I think it might go better if we announced your presence to him, than if you tried to hack your way through what might be his defenses.

Give us a minute, and that thicket might open up for you.

[private]
[connect to Billy Phooka's network]
[change default anonymous login identifier to "Sami's_Spirits"]
Greetings, Bill Phooka. We come in peace, with the intent of trade and communication. May our user approach?
>>
No. 649860 ID: c3a57c

Uh, Sami, we feel the presence of Bill here, you're coming up on his home and he seems to be home: Please make sure you're not trying to cut through his hedge. Also, do you know any particular ritual for contacting a Phooka? Our knowledge of fey seems to be... questionable, and I for one don't trust that what I believe I know about them is accurate.
>>
No. 649947 ID: 3009b4
File 143493859541.jpg - (452.02KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_11.jpg )
649947

Bill Phooka: Visitors? It's been long enough since I've had visitors that even wild spirits sound like nice company. Wait -- Sami? The little half-blood girl?

There is a brief pause.

Bill Phooka: It IS her! I'm afraid her little town is quite ruined, I hope she's not here for pleasure as she'll be quite disappointed. She looks.... rather ragged, doesn't she? Hasn't slept well. Got a hard look to her face.

The thicket retracts to Sami's surprise.

Bill Phooka: Just to make things perfectly clear, I'm not normally this 'inviting' but ... it's very unusual for a colo ** WIKI: Fae word for Sami's people ** to approach a fae's den. They're normally rather skittish and do a lot of damage when they get into places they ought not to be. Is she skittish? She was *very* skittish from what I saw when she was even littler than she is. She may approach, but I would appreciate you instructing her to not be such a... well, let's not mix words. Tell her not to be such a bit and this visit will go smoothly.
>>
No. 649950 ID: d3be40

"Charming" guy. He seems okay with letting you in as a guest. Just get the supplies on a loan and leave politely.
>>
No. 649953 ID: ab7529

Sami, Billy's responded to our metaphorical knock, and is offering you an invitation in. Politeness will probably work. He seems a little wary and curious.

[private]
>Is she skittish?
She was. She's getting better, though. Heck, she even had a sort-of amicable conversation with the ghost of the Piper! That's saying something. If she could tolerate him, I'm pretty sure she can talk to you without doing a lot of damage.

>I hope she's not here for pleasure as she'll be quite disappointed. She looks.... rather ragged, doesn't she? Hasn't slept well. Got a hard look to her face.
No, not pleasure. More... redemption. She's facing the ugliness in her own past. It's really no surprise she looks ragged, considering the circumstances.

>colo ** WIKI: Fae word for Sami's people **
Wiki, could we get an extended definition? From that I can't tell which of Sami's people it refers to (mortal rat-tailed folk, fae half-breeds, or her specific type of mer-thing). More importantly, it doesn't specify it that's a derogatory or racist term, or a more neutral one.
>>
No. 649956 ID: 3009b4

>She was. She's getting better, though. Heck, she even had a sort-of amicable conversation with the ghost of the Piper! That's saying something.

Bill Phooka: The Piper's ghost?

>From that I can't tell which of Sami's people it refers to (mortal rat-tailed folk, fae half-breeds, or her specific type of mer-thing). More importantly, it doesn't specify it that's a derogatory or racist term, or a more neutral one.

:: Wiki: "Colo" is a general term the Fae use to refer to Sami's people. "Half Blood" is specific to anyone with fae heritage. It is a mildly racist term but it's not one that's used in malice, more out-dated than insulting. There is no equivalent in Sami's own language because right now the cultural norm is to use the derogatory term. "Bit" is definitely derogatory however. ::
>>
No. 649957 ID: 3009b4

** I just realized I really wasn't any more clear. "Colo" means Rollen people, although Sami's people have actually spread all over the place -- they just live in secrecy away from the main populace. Rollien is an actual place and "Rollen" refers to people who originate from it, just like people from Italy are Italian.

When someone immigrates, they either still associate themselves with their homeland. **
>>
No. 649968 ID: c3a57c

*private*
You didn't think that town going as bad as it has was just a simple affair, did you? We only know bits of the story between us and we were hoping you could tell us other parts we don't know. We would gladly share what we do know, but for Sami's sake would you please try talking to her about it first and preparing a hearty lunch for that discussion?
As far as her having such a hard look to her, well, she's out of food supplies after spending days chasing the ghosts of the town back and forth to try and address the curse. She's made a little progress actually, but she needs rest and more supplies to keep going with it. We understand if you insist on fair trade for fair trade, and grasp it would be rude to ask for any more charity than you feel the desire to give. If you do not feel generous enough to help her to the limits of your ability without exchange, we would like to exchange what we've learned about it and the story of what we have come across and done with that curse mess so far for tips and tricks for keeping her fed, and any helpful information you could spare to make more progress. Really though, it is probably in your own best interests to help her out since that curse has been getting worse and spreading thanks to all those unrestful ghosts and the unresolved issues.
*/private*

Sami, apparently that really was Bill's fence you were about to cut into. We've asked him to invite you inside for a chat, and he's asked us 'to keep you well behaved.' He's worried about you being 'skittish.' I don't know if that is just what it sounds like or instead a Fay euphemism for disagreeing with the more selfish, greedy and hostile parts of their ways.
>>
No. 650006 ID: d3be40

We're going to try to convince Bill to invest in your cause, stand by...

*Private*
From an economic standpoint, your property has decreased in face value due to the curses in Ronnelin. Most people aren't willing to do trade or live near areas containing hordes of vermin and augmented golems capable of wielding forty tons of serrating death at speeds of up to fifteen miles per hour through stone buildings. Oh, and hacker ghosts too. Sami's goal is to clean up the city so that she can get on with her life, which lands you SIGNIFICANT opportunities for purchasing / claiming fresh land if the exorcism is a success.

Currently, Sami has incapacitated one of the golems wandering across town, paid off over 20% of the original debt, and fended off three hackers at once. In two days. And we're just getting started, what with learning how to use the apps.

The main deal is this: you help Sami exorcise the ghost town of Ronnelin? You get dibs on a LOT of land grabs. How much you receive depends on the assets and personal assistance you put in. Also, we're not giving you any vital choke points that are crucial to the economic or social structures of the town, but claiming up to two hundred acres to construct mana farms should be an acceptable asset.
*/Private*
>>
No. 650015 ID: ea0ad9

Sami, Bill is being your typical Faerie, so I'll avoid the babble, since I'm sure you won't like it, and get to the point: Bill wants to meet you. You're allowed in. No promises made for your entry, though he asks that you be... Stable. I think he'll look like somebody you knew as a child, so brace yourself after that.
>>
No. 650040 ID: 3009b4
File 143495586259.jpg - (506.63KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_12.jpg )
650040

>He's worried about you being 'skittish.' I don't know if that is just what it sounds like or instead a Fay euphemism for disagreeing with the more selfish, greedy and hostile parts of their ways.

Sami looks irritated and admits that it's a common trait, and she's a bit antsy in new areas but she'll try to keep her nervous habits to a minimum.

>You get dibs on a LOT of land grabs.
Bill Phooka: I'm not interested in land, spirit. You mistake me for mortal. I would like to see the town clean again, so we will see.

The thorns peel aside and Sami finds a simple door in a small indentation within the land. She knocks tentatively.

Bill Phooka is prompt, opening the door with a flourish and a friendly smile. Sami crinkles her nose before catching herself.

Sami thinks to herself: Of COURSE he's gonna look and smell like a damn clopper. Couldn't possible shift into something sensible, could you puc?

By "clopper", Sami means he has goat's legs, long ears and horns -- but otherwise looks human. Bill does have a strong musk -- and his den shares it. The smell is a cross between fresh hay, dandelions, wet earth and sweat. Sami does her best to hide her distaste. His clothes are odd -- they look like some... odd variation of Gaelish clothes. As to his home -- it looks like a long-time bachelor's house, as things seemed to be organized into piles.

After polite introductions, Bill collects an open decanter that smells of licorice, roses, wild berries and a hint of smoke and offers Sami a drink.

She's hesitant but remembers the 'skittish' comment and accepts a glass. The flavours make for an odd mix but the alcohol actually has a kick -- something she hasn't felt in years. That worries her somewhat -- both in the fact that this could get her into trouble and because she's not likely to be able to get more. She finds the aftertaste much to be desired; it's like it can't make up its mind to be a brandy or a whiskey or a wine.

Bill retrieves a platter with fruits, nuts, wild mushrooms, fatgrub (a delacy and wild forage treat with nutty, buttery flavour), dried fish and cold game meat. Sami thanks him politely for his gracious hospitality.

Bill Phooka: Please Sami, dig in. You look like a half-starved soldier on the losing side of the war.

Sami helps herself; much of it is forage tucker which is something she's discovered she quite enjoys. As they eat, Bill asks what happened to her since that faithful day.

Sami: How much do you know?

Bill Phooka: I know you devoured the Piper, Sami.

She shrinks, looking even tinier than before next to the towering man with golden eyes.

Sami: I watched the adults. Some weakened and died from grief, most left eventually -- my family included. They tried to get me to meet new friends but that didn't happen. I hit puberty early. Couldn't look anyone in the eye, always felt like everyone knew what I did. We stopped worshipping Faustia, tried talking to mental scientists but they just said that it was survivor's guilt and it'd just be something I'd have to work through. Never told anyone HOW I managed to kill the Piper. Tried to forget about everything with booze, dreamtime and sex and none of it worked. Felt a strong urge to come back and so I did. Wound up having every curse, golem and ghost come after me.

Bill Phooka nods politely.: And now what?

Sami: Sir, I am here to bury this curse or get buried with it. I cannot take this any longer.

Bill Phooka: If you don't mind me asking... but do you have a suitor? Husband? Children?

Sami shoots him a disgusted face.

Sami: Sir, that is not really your business... but no.

Bill Phooka: You have to realize that if you do have anyone who might come after you, they could become entangled in the curse as well.

Sami: No one. My parents won't follow.

Bill Phooka: Have you even a ... close female companion?

Sami shoots him a hostile, questioning look and he just smiles while shaking his head.

Bill Phooka: So you're alone... poor girl.

Sami is getting irritated but she hides it because free food. She's open to input.
>>
No. 650056 ID: d3be40

>>650040
phAHAHAHA AHHA AHAH HAH Phht *snort* WHERE DID YOU BUY THAT GETUP?!

Traditionally, Homo Sapien (human) skirts for men are designed with signature patterns, some of which are so unique that they are occasionally classified as colors. Solid blue is not one of these patterns. So you basically look like a guy dressed as a girl who dresses as a guy whose lower half is girly.

I LIKE IT! *Thumbs-Up*

Yeah but seriously, we need apps and Sami needs gadgets. Can we have a list of your wares and intel for sale?

DISCLAIMER: We are not obligated to fulfill any debt payment that you do not explicitly declare in mutually-accepted writing (triplicate, please) before all transactions are completed. Any fine print consisting of any combination of characters which use less than thirty millimeters in either length or width WILL BE IGNORED OR USED IN OUR FAVOR. This includes short or wide characters that use the same font as acceptable characters, so please write with big font. We'll use a reinforced simple verbal agreement to bind the pact to paper.
>>
No. 650086 ID: 88960e

>>650040
Huh. I'm not sure if he's the kind of relatively well meaning gossip who pries too closely into the affairs of others, or if this is a prelude to making a terrible pass at you.

I suppose we should give him the benefit of the doubt if he's been alone here all this time? That's enough to make anyone weird.

>Have you even a ... close female companion?
I don't know why he's even bothering to use circumspect language for such blunt questioning.

>so you're alone
Not entirely, you aren't. Admittedly we're lacking in the hugs department, but we're pretty good at being there.

>She's open to input
Try turning the conversation back around on him. For someone so concerned with loneliness, why's he still living here on the edge of a curse blighted town? It's certainly fortunate for you, but...

>>650056
The lack of a pattern on the kilt probably is notable (indicates he's not part of a larger group or clan). It might just be because cloppers group themselves that way, but the fae don't.

The second concern isn't valid. This has come up before- fae aren't demons or lawyers. Super detailed contract aren't their thing. They use spoken agreements, and care more about the spirit or intent than exact wording.
>>
No. 650101 ID: eac8be

SO (changing the subject), has he seen anyone else new around the town? We saw the network of a Redeemer camp nearby, though it was rather old and the curse is still there so something seems to have happened to them.
>>
No. 650114 ID: ea0ad9

*Private (Bill)*
>Traditionally, Homo Sapien (human) skirts for men are designed with signature patterns, some of which are so unique that they are occasionally classified as colors. Solid blue is not one of these patterns. So you basically look like a guy dressed as a girl who dresses as a guy whose lower half is girly.
Apologies, Bill, for Kome's "radical" comments. He is always like this, basing his comments on a very limited perspective. Even among the Ancient mortals, there were plenty of locations where men commonly wore what would appear to be skirts, regardless of coloration or pattern.
>I LIKE IT! *Thumbs-Up*
...At least he expressed good intentions.
*Private (Sami)*
>As to his home -- it looks like a long-time bachelor's house, as things seemed to be organized into piles.
>Bill Phooka: If you don't mind me asking... but do you have a suitor? Husband? Children?
Either the man is so into his bachelorhood that he doesn't realize how personal a question is, doesn't give a shit due to being Fae, or he's hitting on you.
*Public*
>It might just be because cloppers group themselves that way, but the fae don't.
Cloppers, having hoof-ended legs, probably don't like pants very much, and stick to the open bottomed skirts/kilts. Makes sense to me, at least.
>>
No. 650146 ID: c3a57c

I'm just going to put this out here: We have a list of things to learn about and sub-issues, keep track of and manage in this mess. Let's itemize it, and please add to it as necessary:
-The vermin (clearing);
-The church (investigating, potentially aiding or removing);
-The priest in that church (who or what is he really, who is he connected to?);
-What the fey objected to around town (solving the fey thinking they want to do 'culling');
-The old council (what are they guilty of, did they knowingly invite fey wrath?);
-Where the survivors went (what was left behind, who needs help moving on, who wants to come back?);
-The piper's family (if any), and;
-Who convinced or ordered the piper to do this whole extortion and genocide thing (connected to fey cull motivation issue).

To understand Bill's line of questioning, consider what you said immediately before it began: "Sir, I am here to bury this curse or get buried with it. I cannot take this any longer."
The town's curse is a problem that manifests in part as the many, violent ghosts with unfinished business tortured by anguish into indiscriminate acts against the living. Bill probably isn't hitting on you, he is more likely concerned about the possibility of you dying here. That would add to the ghost population and potentially give other people reasons to come searching, adding even more over time. If the number of ghosts stays stable then how much damage they can do is ultimately limited by their numbers so Bill has a vested interest in keeping that number from growing. You very obviously have unfinished business with this town and the events that lead to its current state, which would make you a particularly anguished and violent ghost adding to the mess if you die here with the curse unresolved. Therefore he's trying to get a handle on your death-wish, and who all may come after you should we take one risk too many here. We apologize for not preparing you better to face this issue and such a line of questioning, but... it's not something we're especially good at handling ourselves.
>>
No. 650245 ID: 3009b4
File 143503478243.jpg - (377.56KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_13.jpg )
650245

>phAHAHAHA AHHA AHAH HAH Phht *snort* WHERE DID YOU BUY THAT GETUP?!

Bill Phooka gazes at Sami indignantly: Welcome to the wonderful world of wild spirits, Sami. There is a reason why the Fae want no part of them.

Sami: You can hear them?

Bill Phooka: Yes, they're also guests in my domain.

Sami takes a deep breath and begins to say something that apparently begins with "F" but it trails off and she just downs her glass instead.

Bill Phooka smiles, amused: Fffffffffamiliar with them?

Sami: Let's go with that.

>Try turning the conversation back around on him. For someone so concerned with loneliness, why's he still living here on the edge of a curse blighted town?

Bill Phooka: I'm a Phooka -- an impartial observer. I report things as I see them to the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Our neutrality only applies to faerie politics as a general rule; we're not above letting our personal relationships in our territories colour our reports. I was the one who investigated the Piper's death. I hear... he is a ghost now?

Sami: Wait, you couldn't tell he was a ghost?

Bill Phooka: Fae don't become ghosts, Sami. Not as a general rule, and that means the curse is worse than we thought. It's bad enough your town is cursed but a curse strong enough to bind faerie folk? I'm not quite sure what to do but I need to let my King know.

Sami: Faeries don't become ghosts?

Bill Phooka: We're immortal. Our forms are borrowed; we're not even supposed to die, let alone leave a ghost bound to the physical world.

Sami's voice becomes curt: Well, the Piper did.

Bill Phooka nods.: I believe you, Sami -- it's just a bit disturbing.

>SO (changing the subject), has he seen anyone else new around the town? We saw the network of a Redeemer camp nearby, though it was rather old and the curse is still there so something seems to have happened to them.

Sami: So... do you watch who comes and goes from the town still? Have you seen any Redeemers?

Bill Phooka: Yes, and there have been several who have come to the town, but no one has ever left. No, I don't know why -- I've no reason to go into a cursed place. I wish the Redeemers would show up; they're dangerous, stubborn and unkillable but they're also the best way to remove a curse. They operate on their own terms and on their own time, so I assume they will arrive... eventually.

>Apologies, Bill, for Kome's "radical" comments. He is always like this, basing his comments on a very limited perspective. Even among the Ancient mortals, there were plenty of locations where men commonly wore what would appear to be skirts, regardless of coloration or pattern.

Bill Phooka: He's ALWAYS like that? Just... lovely.
>>
No. 650252 ID: 3009b4
File 143503808552.jpg - (390.65KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_14.jpg )
650252

>Either the man is so into his bachelorhood that he doesn't realize how personal a question is, doesn't give a shit due to being Fae, or he's hitting on you.

Sami: Or all of the above. It's hard to tell. You get used to it.

Sami downs a second glass and savours the heat it brings to her. It seems like ages since she's ever been really, really drunk and she misses it. It becomes pretty clear that she's going to continue to accept whatever drink Bill will pour. Sami also doesn't seem terribly interested in your questions anymore.

Bill Phooka: She's really putting away the spirits. I would expect someone her size to nurse it more... or pretty drunk by now.

Sami gestures for another glass. When he levels her with a questioning gaze, she smiles sweetly and politely asks for another drought.

Bill Phooka: Should I cut her off now or allow her one more?
>>
No. 650253 ID: d3be40

Do you have any root beer or any other sugar-flavored and/or carbonated drinks? Sami probably needs more drinks to ease the stress, but I'm worried about her liver. And any throat lacerations.

Can we get a look around your place while you chat? Thanks.
>>
No. 650280 ID: c3a57c

>Bill Phooka: Should I cut her off now or allow her one more?
*private, to Bill*
She seems to have had a... wide-ranging adulthood, and it wouldn't surprise me that much if she was handling that alcohol without getting drunk. Without knowing one way or the other, I think it's even more likely that she's decided she's safe enough here (or doesn't care about the risks) and is trying to drink herself to sleep because she's exhausted and alcohol was her customary aid for avoiding nightmares. She is drinking on a formerly-empty stomach here, so I'd want to double check that she's drinking enough water to avoid a hangover and hasn't already become unable to stand up.

So, uh, since Sami's discretion seems to have collapsed and you already seem to know a number of the highlights of what we've found out, do you want us to try and give a nutshell version of what we've seen and done so far? At this point we already have to trust in your benevolence, so the least we can do is share what we have in the way of news.
>>
No. 650288 ID: 88960e

>There is a reason why the Fae want no part of [wild spirits].
Sorry!

>Redeemers unkillable
Even more so than the other, usually immortal fae? That's interesting. I don't think we saw any of them in the cursed area, but if you saw them go in and they're indestructible, they should still be there.

[Bill's network only]
>Bill Phooka: Should I cut her off now or allow her one more?
...she's been struggling with grief and depression and self loathing for years, and that included attempts at self medication with alcohol and other recreational drugs. None of which she's proud of.

It doesn't help that her heritage made her pretty resistant to most of it- she's not used to drink actually working on her.

Given the emotions involving, I'm not sure if it's a really bad idea to let her get drunk, or if it would be a kindness to allow her the release.

...We're supposed to protect her. There's risk in letting her get drunk, and little direct risk in avoiding it. Cut her off, please.

Thank you for consulting us, and I apologize in advance if she gets upset at you over this. This is the most kindness or concern we've seen anyone else show her in a while.
>>
No. 650291 ID: eac8be

>I'm not quite sure what to do but I need to let my King know.
Who is that when your role is to be neutral between the Seelie and Unseelie?

>Yes, and there have been several who have come to the town, but no one has ever left.
Anyone noteworthy or just scavengers?

>Redeemers unkillable
Which kind of unkillable? Are they un-injurable, or do they regenerate from damage or come back in a new body or what? We saw an old redeemer camp and the job is unfinished, so we will probably have to deal with whatever got them it would be useful to know what would be capable of trapping or incapacitating a Redeemer.
>>
No. 650297 ID: 67189a

>Do you have any root beer or any other sugar-flavored and/or carbonated drinks? Sami probably needs more drinks to ease the stress, but I'm worried about her liver. And any throat lacerations.

Bill Phooka: Root beer? Carbonated drinks?

Sami: Fuck you, Kome.

>-The vermin (clearing);
>-The church (investigating, potentially aiding or removing);
>-The old council (what are they guilty of, did they knowingly invite fey wrath?);
>-Where the survivors went (what was left behind, who needs help moving on, who wants to come back?);
>-The piper's family (if any), and;

Bill Phooka: Can't help you on any of those items.


>-The priest in that church (who or what is he really, who is he connected to?);

Bill Phooka: I don't know of any priests that have been around if that helps any, but I'm not a good judge as to what passes for a priest around here either.

-What the fey objected to around town (solving the fey thinking they want to do 'culling');

Bill Phooka: The Pantheon influence. I observed the church's construction. The town was rather devoted to a Pantheon demigod. I've no idea how much she actually helped them prosper but that's probably why they were targeted.

-Who convinced or ordered the piper to do this whole extortion and genocide thing (connected to fey cull motivation issue).

Bill Phooka: This was Seelie territory and the Piper's responsibility. You'll have to ask him why he chose to cull the town. Although I can tell you now that the Unseelie Court was angered by the whole affair and it's in their hands now. Their representative is in Welser now. Just between you and I, she's more interested in mortal affairs than perhaps she should be. Word to the wise -- she is dragoning the town which means you will need a facade of a dragon-slayer if you want to talk to her.

Sami cocks her head to one side.

Bill Phooka: Pretending to threaten the town with death and destruction if they don't comply with her demands. It's the Unseelie way of keeping order, although don't mistake her posturing for empty threats as she is fully capable of following through, she just doesn't want to.

>...We're supposed to protect her. There's risk in letting her get drunk, and little direct risk in avoiding it. Cut her off, please.

Bill Phooka: That's enough wine for now, Sami.

Sami scowls and looks around.

Sami: You're NOT my father guys, just so you know. C'mon Bill, give me another... please.

Bill Phooka: Maybe after dessert.

Sami pouts.

>Even more so than the other, usually immortal fae? That's interesting. I don't think we saw any of them in the cursed area, but if you saw them go in and they're indestructible, they should still be there.

Bill Phooka: Not indestructible, just not killable. They die, but it doesn't stop them from returning. Thankfully they're also limited in number, but that's also probably why nothing has been done yet.

>Who is that when your role is to be neutral between the Seelie and Unseelie?

Bill Phooka: The King changes depending on who controls the area, so right now that would be the Unseelie King, Othos. He would be closer to Welser, but still quite the journey on mortal feet. Won't be of any help to you. It doesn't matter to me who the king or queen is though, my role is to just watch this area.
>>
No. 650315 ID: d3be40

>>650297
Fine, have more drinks, but please balance your binge drinking with two glasses of water per alcohol or some vegetables. If you want to get drunk, at least give your body some vitamins and water to counter the alcohol poisoning.

So what do you do to pass the time? It's been ten years and all there is to see is the slowly increasing hellhole of tormented spirits and vermin.

Speaking of which, what can you tell us about the structure of the vermin hives? They likely expanded their tunnels to outside the city by now...
>>
No. 650318 ID: 37adba

Bill, I am fairly certain that you are telling me the truth about how bad mortal-fey relations are because I wouldn't have imagined the fey would be so obliviously shortsighted and small-minded without being told so. The fey are seriously tempting fate by being so disrespectful and violent in their relations with mortals. Such abuse begs retaliation and eventually they will get it: Consider that the piper should not have a ghost... but he does. Over time mortals forget things, but they also learn others--often things formerly thought impossible. Eventually one of the things they learn will be how to kill the fey. The fey's only salvation when that day comes is to be their beloved friends instead of their hated enemies, and continuing as things are is teaching the mortals that they should either 'dragon' or 'cull' the fey when they get that chance.
However, in the absence of someone appropriate from the fey to talk to about the fey's collective responsibility for this town's curse, stopping current harms, preventing future abuses and making reparations for their theft, extortion, violence and other crimes... I guess that's merely me playing Cassandra. I can't honestly expect folks to take that warning seriously until it's too late, "They are only mortals," and all.

Please excuse me, I'm choking on disgust at the moment. Give a little while and I'll get back to being lucid and pragmatic.
>>
No. 650344 ID: eac8be

So Bill, where do you get food out here and it it something that Sami could make use of? Our current goals in working towards ending the curse are finding food, information, and the knowledge of how to use this magic guitar, and you seem to at least have a good lead on the first of those.

[private:]
>>650315
Way to not sound like a disapproving parent :/

>>650318
I am pretty sure they fey are aware of the possibility of mortals turning against them at some point, and I suspect their animosity to Pantheon influence is in part an attempt to stop mortals from getting a means to do so.
>>
No. 650349 ID: ab7529

Guys, it's not polite to lecture our very generous host. Less politics at the diner table, more focus on our charge.

>You're NOT my father guys
I see us as more as the designated drivers. :p

[private]
So, Bill, if your job is primarily as an observer, is there anything we might have seen you want to ask us about? You were kind to Sami, and if our observations of the cursed area would be useful, we're willing to share.
>>
No. 650404 ID: 3009b4
File 143512634690.jpg - (372.03KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_15.jpg )
650404

>So what do you do to pass the time? It's been ten years and all there is to see is the slowly increasing hellhole of tormented spirits and vermin.

Billy Phooka: I do a lot of reading and document the surrounding area.

>Fine, have more drinks, but please balance your binge drinking with two glasses of water per alcohol or some vegetables. If you want to get drunk, at least give your body some vitamins and water to counter the alcohol poisoning.

Sami: Oh yeah, it's not like I don't have experience doing this, Kome.

She looks over to Billy and pouts.

Sami: Pleeease may I have enough glass?

>Speaking of which, what can you tell us about the structure of the vermin hives? They likely expanded their tunnels to outside the city by now...

Billy Phooka: Normally vermin like that don't gather so tightly. I assume it has something to do with the curse. And they don't form hives.

>So Bill, where do you get food out here and it it something that Sami could make use of? Our current goals in working towards ending the curse are finding food, information, and the knowledge of how to use this magic guitar, and you seem to at least have a good lead on the first of those.

Billy Phooka: Plenty of food if you know where to look. As to the axe... can't help you there. I can you with supplies but you'll have to do something for me in return.

>So, Bill, if your job is primarily as an observer, is there anything we might have seen you want to ask us about? You were kind to Sami, and if our observations of the cursed area would be useful, we're willing to share.

Billy Phooka: Anything about the state of the Piper would be worth a meal.

Sami: Sweeten the deal with more wine?

Billy Phooka: No, maybe afterwards. I need you to be clear-headed.

Sami: Apparently both he and the mayor only began to get lucid after I arrived and got close. The mayor is nothing more than this... wisp with eyes. The Piper is hard to focus on; his form shimmers and shifts so I can never get a close look. His are just dark spots, and his legs keep melting into the air. He says it's... dark right now and he's tired. And on that note, I never even SAW the mayor this morning and he supposedly kept watch over me all night. That's all I can really say unless the spirits have something to add. And I would appreciate if they added that I should have another glass of wine.
>>
No. 650414 ID: 37adba

The state and mood of the piper *changed* recently too. That story was hairy, and is most of the reason why I say we've made some progress in addressing the curse.
>>
No. 650428 ID: ea0ad9

Though the Piper's been made into a ghost, he's still quite a powerful one. He's got a large radius of influence, though still not enough to see too far from the river. This may be connected to his being a Fae, or it may be connected to how directly his death was related to Sami.

As would be expected of Cursed spirits, his mood greatly lightened when the source of his curse was delivered to him--the Blood Gold promised but never given. Of course, it has always been short, so it's not a complete purification, but that's a fact even he was aware of. The ghosts of a mortal are based upon their memories, but his actions have left me wondering if it's different for the spirits of Fae; if it is the same, then your memories must be a LOT more powerful (Though, admittedly, given that you are immortal it makes sense).

Sami, please be a bit more patient here. Mercantile is best handled with some sense of sobriety; there's plenty of time to drift away from lucidity once we're done with the information-goods trade.
*Private*
Shall we bring out a phantasm to decieve her? It may result in some lost trust, but it could also help her to stay more patient. Bit of a gamble here.
>>
No. 650437 ID: d3be40

You should have another glass of wine.

Bill, can you give us a list of stuff in the pantry that you don't feel like eating anymore? We'd like to see how crazy we can spice up wine. Let's just start with one glass of wine containing some salt and strawberries, and see where this goes.

On a more serious note, death changed Piper's outlook on a lot of things. Maybe this is the beginning of a turning point, something so powerful that it could rewrite the natural laws of the Fae. Or maybe not. But the town has been ignored by the major factions for too long. You said it yourself, Fae don't become ghosts. Whatever coalesced in that town over the past ten years? It's a power grab just waiting to happen, hidden behind the grime and dirt of the local vermin.

Nick said that the spirits get to go inside the church on Faustday, to collectively share their grief. There might be a way to resolve most of them in one go or something, but we don't have enough intel to form any coherent plan. Bill, you got any relevant intel from the Fae networks?
>>
No. 650443 ID: 88960e

>That's all I can really say unless the spirits have something to add
I don't know if it's what he wore in life, but he's predominantly colored yellow (guilt, fear?), with an oversized coat and brimmed hat.

The wounds he died of are not evident.

The ghosts hold some influence over the cursed spirits- the mayor held the possessed golems at bay, and the piper chose not to interfere when we spoofed our way past some others.

The piper wants the guilty parties from the town to suffer, but is self aware enough to realize this would be a difficult or long term thing, and expressed a desire Sami might find some shortcut to end the curse. Which means he wants this to end more than he wants vengeance- that's significant.

Neither could, or perhaps was interested in, communicating with us spirits directly.

The piper's world is dark, but the cursed gold was like a warm glow to him, a little campfire.

He was oddly comforted by Sami's presence. Perhaps even concerned for her welfare- it was the piper who recommended you to us.

That's everything I can think of.

>let me have another drink
If we did, we would just catch the other end of it when you have a hangover tomorrow.
>>
No. 651159 ID: 3009b4
File 143543353903.jpg - (432.89KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_16.jpg )
651159

Bill politely but firmly declines Sami's request for more wine. Sami is unimpressed.

>Bill, can you give us a list of stuff in the pantry that you don't feel like eating anymore?

Bill Phooka: As much as I appreciate the company, I'm not about to just give away my supplies.

Sami: I understand -- I'm going to assume you want a trade?

Bill Phooka: Yes, and you'll need something other than coin; it's not as if it does me any good right now.

Sami checks her backpack and sighs.

Sami: I have... some Gaelish dreamtime tobacco. That's the only thing of value that I can offer.

Bill Phooka raises an eyebrow in interest. It's clear that Sami doesn't want to part with it, but she doesn't have many options right now.

Bill Phooka: Well, there's more than just physical things I'd be willing to trade for if the dreamtime is that important to you.

Sami narrows her eyes.

Sami: Such as?

Bill Phooka: That'd be too easy Sami! You'll have to guess.

Sami blinks slowly so she can roll her eyes at Bill without him seeing; enough of a rude gesture to make herself feel better without worrying about its impact on her possible negotiations.

Sami: Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?

Bill grins mischieviously and waggles his eyebrows. Sami wants to glare at him but for the sake of negotiations she just turns away and crosses her arms.

Bill Phooka: You'll never know unless you ask!

>But the town has been ignored by the major factions for too long. You said it yourself, Fae don't become ghosts. Whatever coalesced in that town over the past ten years? It's a power grab just waiting to happen, hidden behind the grime and dirt of the local vermin.

Bill Phooka: The town's cursed -- no one wants any part of it. After its collapse, attention shifted to Welser. The Unseelie Court was rather upset about what happened so demanded control shift to them, and it did. I believe the job was passed to Skyia the Serpent, and there have been *rumours* that she now has a grown half-blood child herself.

>I don't know if it's what he wore in life, but he's predominantly colored yellow (guilt, fear?), with an oversized coat and brimmed hat.

Sami: No, that's what he actually wore.

:: ** Confirmation Requested ** ::
:: Exchange "Draw Memory" for 30 IP? Once removed, "Draw Memory" cannot be re-obtained. ::
>>
No. 651183 ID: ab7529

>you're really gonna have to guess
It really sounds like he's proposing the exchange of goods for services.

Bill, I am really going to have to disappoint you if you're thinking I might be at all willing to entertain the notion of sex after the day I've had.

(That's the most diplomatic refusal I can come up with, short of refusing to acknowledge it further. Certainly more so than "I'm not fucking you" or "I'm not a whore").

I don't suppose you have any natural objects that could use flute magic applied to them? (And no, we're not talking about playing that object like a flute).

[private]
I'm comfortable giving it up. Skimming surface thoughts is skeevy, and and I have real doubts about how effectively it could be used to dredge up pleasant or useful memories. It's a tool well suited to violating or tormenting someone. Potentially it could have therapeutic uses, but it seems like it would be a lot harder to achieve.
>>
No. 651184 ID: d3be40

>>651159
MUST. HUG. MINI-SKYIA.
Bill, you want to do the hugging?

Wait, actual yellow clothes? Did he have an animal companion that joined in his vermin-catching song?

Sami, just ask what Bill wants, he's likely pulling your chain for a laugh. Maybe you're supposed to just play him a few songs?

*Private*
Yeah, that app might do more harm than good. I vote for purchasing Charmnet with the profits so that we can finally get on the offensive.
*/Private*
>>
No. 651208 ID: 37adba

*private*
Cannot be re-obtained? That's even better than worrying another cursed object will install it again later. Yes please! Would like to re-propose removal of the other malware program as well.
*/private*
Perhaps Bill would like us to visit particular points in town and report, or retrieve specific objects for him, or carry a letter to the 'priest' or the ghost of the piper for him. Also we could offer to help with chores, hunting, fishing or gathering nearby. These are safe things to guess that would imply we are not interested in *ahem* joining the oldest profession.
Seriously, Bill's been a little helpful but I can't shake the feeling he's trolling us because he's bored. Is he really as unwilling to take any risk or spend any resources or effort in helping us with this mess as he seems, or is he being a jerk trying to get us to pay for it? Fey would try to get paid for something they were gonna do for free anyway.

If nobody else has any better ideas how about bringing some more food to the priest and talking to him again when we've restocked either through trade or spending a couple days huntin' an' fishin'? I wanna ask that priest why he's in a church in a dead community, and how much he knows about the conflict of Pantheon versus Fey, potentially leading up to asking who and what he really is.
>>
No. 651210 ID: ab7529

[private]
>>651184
Not the worst idea. I'll support that purchase.

>>651208
I'll object to that, though. Phantasm as personal illusions can serve an actual purpose. We can give Sami the illusion of light in the dark (without giving away her position as an actual light source would), the illusion of silence when exposed to loud or painful noise, provide visual cues and guidance when our words aren't enough, etc. Heck, it would even allow a hug, even a phantam hug from no-where wouldn't freak her out. It's a way to actually interact with Sami I'm loath to discard.

Granted, it can be misused if we're invaded again, but I think it's a fair assumption that even if we cleared out all the programs, the next batch of curse spirits would bring some new toy with them anyways. We might as well maintain the tools we actually like.
>>
No. 651214 ID: 3009b4

>Sami, just ask what Bill wants, he's likely pulling your chain for a laugh.

Sami: Stop fooling around Bill, what do you want?

Bill Phooka: No! You must guess or offer and I will tell you if it's acceptable or if you're close!

>Perhaps Bill would like us to visit particular points in town and report, or retrieve specific objects for him, or carry a letter to the 'priest' or the ghost of the piper for him. Also we could offer to help with chores, hunting, fishing or gathering nearby. These are safe things to guess that would imply we are not interested in *ahem* joining the oldest profession.

Sami: I can play delivery girl.

Bill Phooka: I really doubt there's anything left in the village that I'd have an interest in. If there is, you'd have to look in the Merchant's Guild Hall, I'm always interested in new stories. Uncommon ones. And you'll not starve while you're here; you're welcome to come back for meal times -- company is payment enough right now. I never realized how much I missed company until the town was abandoned. Jenny Greenteeth is the only other local Fae and she's both Unseelie and unpleasant -- she'll try to kill you if you enter her swamp.

He thinks for a moment.

Bill Phooka: Actually I wouldn't mind having someone to chat with on a more regular basis. Wait here please -- and don't disturb my carefully organized chaos -- while I go dig it up. It's a little trinket so you can let me know if you're planning to drop in for tea.

Bill goes through the shadows in the back and vanishes. Sami's heard of the Fae world and has no intentions of following him if that's where he's gone. She COULD look around some of his 'organized chaos' if she can do so without disturbing anything, or she could sneak some more wine, or she could just behave herself and wait patiently.

:: Draw Memory has been exchanged for 30 IP, for new total of 143 ::
:: Confirm purchase of Charmnet and Final Spoof upgrade for 45 IP? ::

:: Note that Charmnet requires an appropriate instrument to charm a given network. While there are no 'natural' networks (to use with the flute), it can also be used on natural items and triggered later -- the Charmnet allows the instrument to go beyond its normal range of sound. Range is not unlimited and is based on the number of networks that will allow it to 'bounce' off of and resonate to its target. The Siren's Axe for example only works with Golems and the Redeemer network. ::
>>
No. 651219 ID: ab7529

>stories and company for meals
He's really not such a bad dude. Just lonely, and a little weird. Can't really expect the fae not to be a little weird.

>Jenny Greenteeth is the only other local Fae and she's both Unseelie and unpleasant -- she'll try to kill you if you enter her swamp.
Well, good to know. Avoid the swamp.

>I never realized how much I missed company until the town was abandoned
Raises the obvious question of who he hung out with when the town was inhabited. Did he just disguise himself and mingle, or were there people who new who he was?

>She COULD look around some of his 'organized chaos' if she can do so without disturbing anything
If you're curious we could indulge in some look with your eyes and not your hands. If you really wanted to be sneaky about it, we could phantasm up an illusionary magnifying lens to get a good look at things without even getting close.

>she could sneak some more wine
Well I can't advocate that when we asked him to turn off the tap before! If you come back here for any future meals you might get more anyways.

[private]
>Confirm purchase of Charmnet and Final Spoof upgrade for 45 IP?
Yeah, sure.
>>
No. 651226 ID: d3be40

Bill has a safehouse. Don't waste his hospitality by stealing wine.

Hm, I wonder if using a physical scan will disturb some security protocols. What do you guys think?

*Private*
Confirm Purchase.
*/Private*
>>
No. 651264 ID: 37adba

>>651226
Wow, just wow Kome. Even if Sami were a hopeless addict she's only suicidal at most: Stealing from fey is liable to get you turned into a teapot or something else weird that is worse than death.

Since Bill likes stories, well, you tell me if you're interested in trading him the story of killing the Piper, Sami. My vicious streak suggests this as a way of making him patronize less in future, and maybe dissuading him from making unwanted advances as well.
>>
No. 651270 ID: d3be40

>>651264
Huh? I thought I said "don't steal wine".
>>
No. 651361 ID: ea0ad9

>Sami: Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?
You know, my instinct was he wanted information. Somebody willing to locate news, actual news, for him.
>I'm always interested in new stories. Uncommon ones.
And his statement on this kind of solidifies it.

>>651270
...Which is exactly what's so stupid. Sami wouldn't even think of doing something like that to start with. That's like telling a grown person who knows what fire is, "Don't grab that piece of coal out of the furnace." Would you enjoy being given such a condescending suggestion that you already intended to follow out of instinct?
Hey Kome, don't spend IP on literal garbage that serves no purpose whatsoever except for cluttering up our own senses to prevent us from seeing what's going on.
>>
No. 651418 ID: e607cd

Holy shit you guys, lay off of Kome. >>651219 also approved the IP spends, and the recommendation not to steal wine is there exactly because Sami DID think of it.
>She COULD look around some of his 'organized chaos' if she can do so without disturbing anything, or she could sneak some more wine, or she could just behave herself and wait patiently
>>
No. 651424 ID: 3009b4

>Sami wouldn't even think of doing something like that to start with

** Oh yes she did. It wouldn't have been listed as an option otherwise. **

>Hey Kome, don't spend IP on literal garbage that serves no purpose

** Scans don't require IP to use. **

>Holy shit you guys, lay off of Kome

** I have to agree. When Kome annoys Sami, she'll tell him -- but the fact that she doesn't ignore everything he says should tell you something. You're being a bit hard on ol' Kome **
>>
No. 651843 ID: 3009b4
File 143564257637.jpg - (400.38KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_17.jpg )
651843

As you argue amongst yourselves, Sami mopes and stares at the wine, but doesn't touch.

It doesn't take long for Bob Phooka to return. He has a small mirror in his hand.

Bill Phooka: It's a magic mirror. I've set it up for general access -- it will respond to anyone saying the passphrase "Yuri Yuri". You can just talk into it afterwards - your spirits might be able to communicate with me directly too. Just let me know if you'd like to come down for tea and I can get a little something set up.

Sami nods and thanks him, then pockets the mirror.

It seems lunch is over, so now's the time to ask questions and make some plans.
>>
No. 651852 ID: 1cebc8

>>651843
...Okay Bill, who did you hear that phrase from. (If they told you not to tell anyone, then don't.) Sami, you... don't want to know.

We need a general plan, this whole fiasco has been Sami constantly surviving a string of trials and nightmares. To create a plan, we need to feed it with various bits of information and assets.

Start by lining up a compendium of everything you both know and have. Bill, upload any stored data you have to Ten <Discussion> so that we can read it. Don't worry about sending too much, we can pipe the data and processes it REALLY fast.
>>
No. 651853 ID: ab7529

>Yuri Yuri
From the Russian or Japanese?
>>
No. 651875 ID: ea0ad9

>>651853
*Private*
What's the Russian version?
*Public*
I'll ask you now, Bill: Do you want us to contact you just to let you know if Sami's got information, or also to give it over the link if it's major, but she also won't be able to take a break to head back here?
>>
No. 651900 ID: eac8be

So I think the best lead we have now is investigating what is up with the Redeemers. Does Bill have any advice on approaching them (if they are still there in some form)?

>Yuri
Depending on the language that can refer to a flower, a fairly normal name or a weird genre of fiction.
>>
No. 651905 ID: 3009b4

>Start by lining up a compendium of everything you both know and have. Bill, upload any stored data you have to Ten <Discussion> so that we can read it.

Bill politely reminds you that he is not your personal library, nor is he a friend. He has an interest in seeing the curse removed and it's been awhile since he's had company but that's all. If you have specific questions, you can ask him via the mirror.

As to 'Yuri': it's not a native word to anyone in the area and ensures that nobody but Sami will know it's the mirror's trigger phrase. He stresses that the mirror will work for ANYONE who uses the phrase and synchronizing it isn't easy so he's trusting you and Sami to take good care of it and to return it when you're done.
>>
No. 651907 ID: 6b0329

>>651852
I'm sure that Bill knows lots of things that we could find interesting, profitable, mission-useful or otherwise worth knowing. I suspect he knows trivia type details about the town which we could find potentially useful at least, and a great deal more on many other topics. But I'm unsure how we're expected to pay him for all that information, what did you have in mind?

Following up on the Redeemers would be interesting and useful, if we had anything in the shape of a lead. If I had to guess what's up with them though, they're waiting for us to settle or weaken the worst of the curse's mess--and the deadlier infestation parts--before arriving to clean up in comparative safety: They have too much work to do to waste time being chased around by golems and risking death.
I would like to propose that we spend a day or more hunting, fishing and otherwise gathering food where it's safe-ish; I want to have a gift to bring with us before we start interrogating that priest. We also need a plan for dealing with the pest-critters, unless we think we could somehow use one of the two instruments we've got to take care of the infestation.
>>
No. 651914 ID: eac8be

>before arriving to clean up in comparative safety
Setting up a network then leaving due to danger doesn't sound like the Redeemers that Bill described as stubborn and immune to being permanently killed, though I guess the only way to find out for sure is to go check.
>>
No. 654357 ID: 3009b4
File 143648091117.jpg - (514.60KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_18.jpg )
654357

>Following up on the Redeemers would be interesting and useful, if we had anything in the shape of a lead.

Lacking any other ideas, Sami decides to go with that. After all, Bill's offered meals so she needn't worry about starving to death and she can take her time to do some hunting later.

** I'm going to assume you'd not hesitate to tell Sami she can find the network in the church Graveyard. **

While she's apprehensive about going to the graveyard, she hopes that the place of the dead will be as helpful as her recent encounters with the true dead. Thanking Bill for his hospitality and bidding him farewell, Sami has a short and uneventful walk to the graveyard behind the church.

The graveyard is in good shape; Father Nick must take good care of it. The DETECT NETWORK program politely blips as you come within range and identifies the source to be an "Angel of Death" statue. Using PORT ACCESS you can connect to the Redeemer network. Sami feels a tingling sensation from her guitar.

:: ROT.NET ::
:: ANONYMOUS ACCESS ALLOWED ::
:: WELCOME TO THE REDEEMER NETWORK ::

:: Local Network was last updated 8.9 years ago ::
:: Please note: The Redeemers are aware of the curse in this area. As the curse is relatively contained, it is considered a "low priority" site. We apologize for the delay. ::

:: ADDITIONAL VISITOR NOTICE ::
:: This is a low-priority area with a bounty of 100 gold crowns for its restoration. ::
:: The Curse within this town was caused when the town's 99 children were drowned by a Fae controller. The resulting overwhelming loss destroyed the town. The primary guilty parties were the controller (killed by the 100th half-blood child), the mayor (suicide) and town council. The remaining guilty parties have been dealt with so the curse won't spread as long as people are kept out of the town and don't die here.::
:: Clearing the curse (without Redeemer tools) will require bringing peace to three individuals, one living and two ghosts. ::

:: The Fae controller known as The Piper was killed brutally while extracting revenge involving a 100 gold crown debt. He is an angry ghost; first calm his rage and then get him to release his hold on his life. As a former immortal this may prove very difficult, so primarily focus on calming him. ::

:: The Rollen Mayor was overcome with guilt for his part in the children's death and committed suicide. He longs to redeem himself and will do whatever he can to help although his powers will be likely limited. ::

:: Finally, locate the 100th child and sole-survivor, Sami Jones. She is a *blue-eyed* Rollen with brown skin and red hair; her family left town with her 9 years ago. Survivor's guilt has worn her down, and she must feel peace to clear the curse. Please be warned that Sami is both death-touched and unseelie half-blood and so under extreme duress she may become both violent and deadly, especially to other fae. ::


There are some notes left for public viewing:
- General Assessment
- Estimated Impact on Mortals
- Request re: Sami Jones
>>
No. 654372 ID: ab7529

Last message here is almost 9 years old, Sami. Redeemers haven't been up to anything recently.

Hold on, we're reading everything.

[private]
Read the notes, obviously.
>>
No. 654437 ID: 6b0329

If what we're reading is accurate the Redeemers came and went after doing some work because they were busy with worse problems. "The remaining guilty parties have been dealt with so the curse won't spread as long as people are kept out of the town and don't die here." If the Redeemers know you've come here they may be sending someone now, just being here might be undoing their earlier work. Would you like us to try to send them a message telling them that one of the danger conditions has occurred? We don't know if we can, but it may be worth trying.
Other parts of the note specifically name two key ghosts to deal with, the piper and the mayor. They recommend calming the piper and helping the mayor with his guilt. The good news is there could be a bounty for it if we do clear the curse somehow. There is more to check and we are still investigating.
However, if the messages don't have anything more of use there are reasons I wanted us to spend time gathering food: One is so we would have something to give to that priest who's on the edge of starving. Another reason is that fey food might have unexpected effects, so I'd really rather not rely on that considering your particular issue with fey influence. Also, we'd probably better not tell Bill all of what we're learning here because if he learns that the Redeemers specifically warn about people disturbing the curse by coming here he may decide to prevent you from going back into town. So that's multiple reasons not to rely on Bill now, or tell him more than we have to, even if he is trustworthy.
>>
No. 654439 ID: 1cebc8

>>654357
If the Rotland Redeemers set up a message board (the statue), you can expect a safehouse or armory nearby. Most guild members don't want to receive missions from enemy-infested territory, and are no visible hostiles in the middle of a cursed graveyard. So, there might be something dissuading the local vermin and wraiths from just wandering freely in the area for kicks.

Sami, try strumming the guitar. See if using an instrument near the statue has any effect.

*Private*
Scan the statue for any physical mechanisms. Also do a light scan of the grass in the area.
*/Private*
>>
No. 654984 ID: 3009b4
File 143662991723.jpg - (377.23KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_19.jpg )
654984

>Would you like us to try to send them a message telling them that one of the danger conditions has occurred?

Sami: You might as well.

>However, if the messages don't have anything more of use there are reasons I wanted us to spend time gathering food: One is so we would have something to give to that priest who's on the edge of starving. Another reason is that fey food might have unexpected effects, so I'd really rather not rely on that considering your particular issue with fey influence.

Sami: It's not like I don't know a little of how faeries work, my great-grandfather was fae and he did make sure we knew enough to keep ourselves safe. Fae food only affects the consumer within the faerie realms. Bill served common food, except for the wine -- which you kept from me, and I'm still mad about that.

>Sami, try strumming the guitar. See if using an instrument near the statue has any effect.

Sami tries strumming the guitar, and while she feels a tingling it's pretty clear that she needs to play a specific melody to get any result -- and she doesn't know enough about guitar to do so.

>Scan the statue for any physical mechanisms. Also do a light scan of the grass in the area.

The statue is set up as a Redeemer network node. Encased within the statue is a murky... substance of some sort. It's best compared to a vicious liquid, almost like tar. WIKI reports that this is one of the "Dark waters" that the Redeemers use for transportation, and likely is how they would deliver the bounty upon clearing the curse from the town.

REDEEMER NOTES have been added to the WIKI: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Sami%27s_Quest and QUEST DISCUSSION: http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/87907.html
>>
No. 654996 ID: 6b0329

*private*
-Look up Redeemer Cache
-Look up Redeemer Authentication
-Look up Redeemer Message Transfer
-Look up Redeemer Organization
-Look up Grace the Seamstress
-mailto: Grace the Seamstress subject: Sami Returned to Ronnalin text: Help, she's here in town because she's at least half mad with guilt and grief, and is determined to address the curse or die trying. I'm no specialist in this kind of thing and I'm not sure how to handle it.
*/private*
Attempting to send that message then. If this attempt doesn't work there may be another way to try, but no promises.
Hmmm, we have no idea how Redeemers store or protect things like supplies. It does make sense for them to leave a cache here but we don't know what we're looking for, or whether it was already looted by that starving priest or something. Unless you notice something you think is worth checking, or think there's a way to go underneath the statue, then maybe it's time to give up without more information.
Uh, there's a note here about an undelivered message from someone named Rosemary for someone named Sami. Would you like that?
>>
No. 655010 ID: ebcefd

According to the Redeemers the two main spirits involved are the Mayor and the Piper, the former who blames himself and the latter who had the debt thing and some other issue he would not admit to the Redeemers. I am not really sure how to progress with either of those though.

The Redeemer notes also say the curse has some sort of negative effect on full mortals nearby, so we should check of Father Nick to make sure he is doing alright.
>>
No. 655064 ID: 1cebc8

>>654984
... Yeesh.

Alright, bad news: the longer a mortal stays in the city, the more agitated and insane the enemies become. I don't think Nick is mortal...

These Rotland Redeemers seem professional, so that's good. Looks like half of Piper's anger stems from something other than the curse; you'll need to find the right person. Nick, maybe?

Looks like there's a transport device hidden inside the statue. I think I've seen this before; don't expose the liquid core to light, it might disintegrate violently.

Nothing else to do here? Look around residential for a weapon and some intel. Then head to the church in the evening.
>>
No. 655069 ID: ab7529

>which you kept from me, and I'm still mad about that
Sorry about that. Honestly though, I'd rather have you mad at us we were too cautious than mad at us if we let our guard down and something happened.

>reading notes
Okay, Sami. The redeemers seem to think short of brute forcing things, finding you would probably be the best way to lift the curse. So you have that an an advantage, I suppose.

There's a warning the curse will have a negative impact on mortals within it's influence, and that anyone working to help people here should first try to get them OUT. That raises questions about the priest, and what he's doing here. Unless his faith or goddess protects him, he should not be doing well, here.

They make note of your blue eyes as a distinguishing feature for anyone trying to locate you. I take it blue eyed Rollen are rare? ...actually, is it usual for a Rollen's iris and sclera to be the same color like that? (Or is that a blue sclera, black iris, blue pupil?). No whites, your eyes are almost entirety blue.

There's, uh, a personal message for you. Would you like to hear it?
>>
No. 656711 ID: 3009b4
File 143724397137.jpg - (388.97KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_20.jpg )
656711

Message to Grace sent. You will be notified when she replies.

>They make note of your blue eyes as a distinguishing feature for anyone trying to locate you. I take it blue eyed Rollen are rare? ...actually, is it usual for a Rollen's iris and sclera to be the same color like that? (Or is that a blue sclera, black iris, blue pupil?). No whites, your eyes are almost entirety blue.

Sami: Yeah... the blue eyes are a dead give-away that I'm a half-blood. But our iris and sclera are usually very similar colours. My faerie herritage isn't something a community is really comfortable with, but basically we feel that if you can actually get a fae to bind itself in marriage then they're trustworthy and as long as we behave ourselves, we're all friends. But when a half-blood tells you she can't play by the river, you don't push her to play by the river because she's got a REAL GOOD REASON not to. One of the reasons why family left town is because we all sort of knew I was the one who killed the piper, but nobody had real proof. Some people asked what happened, and I sort of told the truth. I told them that I thought I drowned with all the others but when I came to, the piper was dead and I was still alive. Since I've got fae blood and my family never goes near the river, we're pretty sure some people put two-and-two together and while they were glad I killed the Piper, I could always sort of feel the question of "Why couldn't you save anyone while you were at it?". Plus, I was the only child left... I got more attention than I was comfortable with and my parents almost felt guilty that they were the only ones with a whole family.

>Uh, there's a note here about an undelivered message from someone named Rosemary for someone named Sami. Would you like that?
>There's, uh, a personal message for you. Would you like to hear it?

Sami becomes very uncomfortable.

Sami: Rosemary... left me a message?

Her grip on the guitar tightens and her brow furrows.

As you relay the message, Sami closes her eyes and she shakes her head sadly.

Sami: It doesn't matter how often anyone tells me it wasn't my fault, or that I'm not a monster, or I didn't fail, or that nobody blames me. It doesn't matter because I could have done something different. Could have gone in front. Could have transformed earlier. Could have tried to pull someone out of the water. No matter what anyone tells me, I'm the only one who survived and I'm going to wonder if I could have done anything differently to have at least saved someone, especially Rosemary.

The HUD crackles slightly, and for a moment it makes an irritating, high-pitched ringing but it passes and Sami takes no notice.

** Requested WIKI now on http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/87907.html and http://tgchan.org/wiki/Sami%27s_Quest **
>>
No. 656731 ID: ab7529

Tough love time, I think.

>>656711
Do you think you have any right to tell her how to feel? Especially after what happened?

Your grief is your own. But her forgiveness isn't yours to reject.

[private]
>The HUD crackles slightly, and for a moment it makes an irritating, high-pitched ringing but it passes and Sami takes no notice.
Well, that's not good. Knowing the curse is tied to grief and hurt, I'd say we flickered because she took a step in the wrong direction. That pushed her deeper instead of giving her any kind of release.
>>
No. 656760 ID: aef8a4

*private*
Answer the call, if that HUD blink is what I think it is.

Also, did our generous Cat observers suspect that Sami may be in the process of joining the Redeemers? Of course you did, why else would we be interesting enough to rate watching, conversation, gifts, guidance and a few direct interventions? I am curious how much and what else you are watching for though.
*/private*
I wasn't sure if that would work but it seems like I have managed to send a message to that particular Redeemer case worker who addressed the area in the past. Her name is Grace the Weaver, earning that 'the Weaver' part because of unspecified 'spider powers' apparently. If we ever meet her she may hit on you Sami, fair warning.

>>656731
You're not exactly wrong fellow voice, but keep in mind that the Piper was enraged and demanded vengeance because his own act of mass-murder resulted in his death through ignorance of who he was even trying to murder. If there is anything that anecdote and the rest of our journey here has proved it is that emotions are often not rational. Please accept that we aren't going to argue Sami out of feeling guilty, she just does. What we can do is help her pay down her guilt and grief through words and deeds that support Sami believing that her life was worth saving and is worth living. The opportunities available right now are tied up in settling the curse upon this area and, to a lesser extent, the infestation as well.
So, help me figure out our next move. If that isn't waiting here for a few moments in case Grace is busy making a reply to our message or about to pop out of that statue... is it instead talking to the priest since we're nearby anyway? Is it looking up the other council members' identities and investigating their former property looking for (potentially) more cursed gold to pay to the Piper? We have things to try and things to do, and I'd really like to make a better inspection of who and what that priest is. I'd try to make sure he doesn't starve to death if he's vulnerable to that; the curse is bad enough without another ghost around.
>>
No. 657036 ID: 1cebc8

>>656711
Do a quick look-around, our abilities detected something.

*Private*
Scan graveyard for enemies.
*/Private*
>>
No. 657229 ID: 3009b4
File 143744258161.jpg - (479.03KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_21.jpg )
657229

>Do you think you have any right to tell her how to feel? Especially after what happened?
>Your grief is your own. But her forgiveness isn't yours to reject.

Sami scowls.

Sami: I can tell her whatever I want, she's dead and I'm the one who has to live with this.

>Answer the call, if that HUD blink is what I think it is.

** It was not a call **

>We have things to try and things to do, and I'd really like to make a better inspection of who and what that priest is. I'd try to make sure he doesn't starve to death if he's vulnerable to that; the curse is bad enough without another ghost around.

Sami thinks that's a good idea.

>Scan graveyard for enemies.

** No enemies detected. **

As the graveyard is just behind the church, it's a short enough trip to the front doors. As the door creaks open, Sami sees Father Nick at the back of the church by the statue, bowed down in reverence.

Sami: Father Nick?

** As previously requested, Physical Scan re-runs on Father Nick and detects something wrong. Father Nick had a glamour running; while Sami sees the same Father Nick she met just the other day, the degree of corruption becomes very apparent to you. **

Father Nick turns as Sami enters.


Father Nick: Come in, my child. How are you doing today?
>>
No. 657258 ID: ab7529

>Father Nick had a glamour running; while Sami sees the same Father Nick she met just the other day, the degree of corruption becomes very apparent to you.
...we can see it now, Sami. There's something wrong with him. He's been corrupted by the curse's influence.

If we're going to help him, we need to get him outside of the town borders, at the very least.

Poker face, if you can. Don't let him know anything is wrong.

>Come in, my child. How are you doing today?
Better than I was yesterday. Less desperate.

How are you, father?

Would you care to walk with me? The village is less dangerous in daylight, and now that I know the hazards.
>>
No. 657270 ID: ea0ad9

>Father Nick, corrupted
Oh dear. Living in this cursed town has not been easy on him. I believe he's managed to blend himself in, but at the cost of a part of himself. It will be worth looking into curing his wounds after we managed to fix the town--If we try to "Cure" them now, then he'd probably get eaten up by the curse. I'm willing to bet it was his faith that allowed him to survive it the first time.

>How are you doing today?
Surprisingly, it's been fairly calm so far. The neutrality, I would say is pleasant, but your opinion is yours, Sami. If I had to personally do what you've done, I would hate it if things were all sunshine and lollipops (Rock-candy on a stick, if you don't have lollipops) just as much as if something was literally gnawing at my limbs.
>>
No. 657280 ID: 1cebc8

>>657229
... This is going to suck.

Our abilities say, and I quote:
Physical Scan Updated:
Glamour Removed
Father Nick is Corrupted

Looks like he's been like this for a while. Try to talk him into letting down his guard, so you can arrest the poor chump. Or whack him sideways NOW. Try not to kill him, he seems to be a victim of this place.

Either way, get that locked door open.

I wonder why he's also dressed in yellow... Hold on, I'm going to try something.

*Private*
Scan Nick's clothes. Compare materials used to materials in the Statue of Faustia.
*/Private*
>>
No. 657381 ID: aef8a4

*private*
-look up corruption
-look up faith, Faustia
-look up priesthood, Faustia
-look up glamour
Any chance we can gain information on the glamour itself?
*/private*
Well shoot, if we give any indication that we've seen through the glamour we have no idea how this person will react. We also don't know who put up that glamour, or why.

"Hello, you look like you could use a break. Hanging around in a town that's worse than empty can be very hard on a person, how have you managed so far? I've been chased by golems while here myself, it's a little hazardous."
>>
No. 657875 ID: 3009b4
File 143778668697.jpg - (426.46KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_22.jpg )
657875

>If we're going to help him, we need to get him outside of the town borders, at the very least.

Sami agrees.

>Would you care to walk with me? The village is less dangerous in daylight, and now that I know the hazards.

Sami: Father Nick, could you walk with me a bit? I would like some company while I look for supplies.

Father Nick stares at Sami for a few moments and then nods.

Father Nick: Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Wait a moment, let me get my things.

Father Nick disappears for a short moment and is back before long. He doesn't appear to have anything but his robes conceal his hands.

>Scan Nick's clothes. Compare materials used to materials in the Statue of Faustia.

** They're ordinary clothes. **

Father Nick: All right my child, please lead the way.

Something doesn't sit right with Sami; she's had enough highway experience to know that it's a bad idea to have any potential threat -- pawn or no -- behind you. She grips the Siren's Axe like a weapon and feels its energy tingle up her arms; if Father Nick notices the change in the way she walks he does not let on.

Sami would really like to alter the situation so she's less vulnerable -- get Father Nick next to her at least. Something about this situation seems familiar but she can't recall the details.

** OPTION: As you've locked out Draw Memory, you could try to influence Sami to remember anyway, but it will cost 20 IP to have her recall for sure. Individual players can only spend up to 5 IP for a 25% chance to recall, or you can pool your resources but it will cost the same IP each time. For those who want to know the meta-game, Sami failed her passive check rather badly. This is purely optional as the information is of no guarantee to help you). The requested look-ups will be added to the Wiki/Discussion thread shortly. **
>>
No. 657885 ID: 1cebc8

Open up dialogue and breach every topic that you recall. If you can get him into a heated lecture you can stop for a few seconds while he moves to your side and it won't look suspicious.

Bonus points if you can get him to start walking towards various landmarks while pointing at stuff out of academic pride.
>>
No. 657947 ID: b9cef6

>>657885
This... is actually a decent plan. Just get him talking, get him distracted enough that you can move next to or behikd him without him really noticing.

I mean it might not work because I'm banking on him having a knife hidden in those robes so he may reject conversation, but we should try it.
>>
No. 657965 ID: ab7529

Kome's suggestion is sort of reasonable. If you're holding a conversation, constantly looking back becomes awkward, and adjusting so you're walking next to him would seem more natural.

So long as you're still standing between him and the supposed threats, that works. (Actually, that means you'd end up walking with the village on the inside of your path, and him on the outside. Serves our purpose if you're trying to gradually work him nearer to the edge).

[private]
>can't use draw memory now
I'm not so sure using draw memory in this case would have been a good idea. When you're tense and concerned about an ambush from behind is not a good time to get lost inside your head.
>>
No. 657981 ID: aef8a4

If we can get him to talk about innocent subjects--stuff like how he gets supplies around here, and what he knows about the town--we might be able to get him to say things that open up more uncertain conversation we'd like to have. (I.E. what are you, who are you really, why are you really here, how have you survived for so long in a dead town?)
>>
No. 658088 ID: 3009b4
File 143788788879.jpg - (451.04KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_23.jpg )
658088

Sami attempts to chat with Father Nick across a variety of subjects in order to keep him distracted and perhaps get him to move in front, but even discussing theology doesn't seem to pique his interest; he remains aloof and somewhat distracted. Feeling uneasy to turn her back to him, Sami continues to try to draw him into conversation while walking backwards and facing him.

Sami: ...Father Nick, do you think the town's curse may be from Faustia herself? That she sent the Piper as a test?

Father Nick seems distracted; his answer is a little slow and without energy: I do not know my child, the p-Piper was before my time.

Sami: Well, what of Faustia now? Surely there are better options to honour her than to try to cling to the remains of the church hall. Why not move it to Welser?

Father Nick's answer is slow once again, and when he does speak the irritation is clear: That's not my place to decide, child. I do the will of the Church of Faustia and no more. Where are we going?

Sami thinks for a moment.

Sami: I found a place where we can get food.

Father Nick nods and continues to follow Sami as she makes her way towards the bridge (to Phooka's domain), but as she is making small-talk on the subject of Faustia and why as a community the Rollien people don't show more friendship to outsiders as the teachings indicate, he cuts her off.

Father Nick: Child, why do you walk backwards in front of me?

There is a moment where their dark-rimmed eyes meet, worn from lack of sleep and a guilty conscience. Sami remembers where she's seen that look -- the Mericudian hunter taught her how to recognize it. Father Nick is staring at Sami with the still, cold gaze of a highway man and his expression flickers with her familiarity.

Nick throws open his robe, revealing a pistol clutched in his bony hands. He is fast, but Sami is faster and by the time he's drawn the pistol she had closed the gap. Sami swings the guitar towards his hand as he levels his weapon and With an echoing, clear note the Siren's Axe sends the pistol tumbling into the long grass by the river. Nick quickly backpeddals, going for a sabre on his belt. Sami notes Nick has one more pistol on his belt and that blood drips from his wounded hand, but she appaarently didn't do significant injury.

In the back of Sami's head, she can hear the note the Siren's Axe growing into music. It's low, deep and resonating and somehow reminds Sami of fine red wine.

Sami's eyes narrow.: Bit of a quick draw for a priest, "Father" Nick.

Father Nick's eyes fall upon Sami heavily and his jaw tightens into a determined clench.: We do what we have to, child. Nobody good comes here, nobody innocent rests here.
>>
No. 658097 ID: 1cebc8

Whack him a few more times, then grab the pistol.

Important question: how many shots can that gun hold? Because if you only have the one, I suggest you put a cap in his neck or knee.
>>
No. 658126 ID: ebcefd

Stay close enough to bludgeon him if he goes for his other gun and don't bother going for the one on the ground; that would take too long, the curse means deterring him with it is unlikely, and actually shooting him is something we should avoid anyway (both because his attack is probably caused by the curse and because if he bleeds out from it that will probably feed the curse more.)

Tell him to just go; it won't help Faustia or anyone if he stays here soaking up curses.
>>
No. 658129 ID: ab7529

Surrender. Drop your weapons, and I'll let you leave this place.

Um. If this does come to an all out fight, I'm not sure we can afford to kill him. Wouldn't that just make the curse worse? Add fuel to the negativity already here, one more angry spirit in the mix?

>We do what we have to, child. Nobody good comes here, nobody innocent rests here.
Is that why he's here? Reassurance anyone he preys on will deserve it?

[private]
Would it be too late to apply botch to his quick-draw or ambush or bluff failures? For the price of a little IP, we might be able to trip him up badly enough to end the fight before it starts.
>>
No. 658193 ID: aef8a4

We are not outside the town yet, killing this "priest" here would be very bad.

I have a line you could try to use here Sami, as follows.
"Innocent? No. Good? Remains to be seen. But I was serious about lunch, now quit playing a bandit and recall your table manners."
>>
No. 658668 ID: 3009b4
File 143804787790.jpg - (437.10KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_24.jpg )
658668

>Whack him a few more times, then grab the pistol. Kill him.
>Stay close enough to bludgeon him Bring it down on him, break his skull.

Sami feels the music getting louder with every beat of her heart. Her breath becomes heavy and she can taste salt and copper in her mouth.

>Um. If this does come to an all out fight, I'm not sure we can afford to kill him. Wouldn't that just make the curse worse? You monster. Add fuel to the negativity already here, one more angry spirit in the mix?
>We are not outside the town yet, killing this "priest" here would be very bad. Monster.

Sami winces. While keep her eyes on Nick, she takes deep, steady breaths and focuses. Her pulse slows, the dark rhythm calming to a buzzing in her ears until it's indistinguishable from the noise of surrounding insects.

>"Innocent? No. Good? Remains to be seen. But I was serious about lunch, now quit playing a bandit and recall your table manners."

Sami glares at him: No, no I'm not innocent. I'm not good. But I didn't come here to add to the blood. Now how 'bout you drop those weapons and we can discuss things over something to eat?

"Father" Nick pulls back his hood.

Nick's voice is dark and shaking, but still calm: Nobody wanted to add any more blood, Sami.

He draws his sabre.

Nick is cold: You don't have a choice, remember? You did what you had to do. I am only doing what I have to do.

He takes a step towards her.

Nick: You monster.
>>
No. 658674 ID: 1cebc8

Careful, the guitar is seasoning our words with his death! Just aim low, whack him a few times, steal his pistol, and shoot him in the leg. NO DEATHS.
>>
No. 658696 ID: ebcefd

How far are you from the edge of town by this point? If we are close enough to the edge we might be able to just get him to chase us across the border.
>>
No. 658704 ID: 3009b4

>Careful, the guitar is seasoning our words with his death! Just...

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: Don't you tell me how to fight, Kome. I know something is messing with me now.

>How far are you from the edge of town by this point? If we are close enough to the edge we might be able to just get him to chase us across the border.

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: I don't know how fast he can run, but he's still got a pistol. If I can get twenty paces ahead he probably won't be able to hit me though. If you can protect me somehow, I'll run if you want. I trust you.
>>
No. 658716 ID: 1cebc8

>>658704
Got it. This will cost some power but we should be able to decrease his chances of shooting you. Do what you will.

*Private*
What's the dodge chance? Screw it, spend 5 IP to increase Sami's chances of dodging Nick's next ranged attack. Please tell me if this is too much.
*/Private*
>>
No. 658724 ID: aef8a4

*private*
Ugh, dumbasses! We should have gotten rid of the hallucination curse when we had the chance to get IP for it. Right now we'd either be getting it installed a second time or there wouldn't be voices calling Sami "monster" messing with her head. Can we get rid of it now please?
*/private*
I think I figured out what's going on here, the curse is active, and it has seeped into this person so much that he's hearing the ghosts. Why else would he call you a monster when all he has seen of you is a young woman that gave him food? Something is feeding him that idea, and it comes from your feelings and the curse.
We actually could protect a little against pistol fire I think, but it's not something I'd really want to rely on unless there is no choice. You have a nice blunt instrument though, which may give us some options. Can you whack him on the side of the hand/arm with the flat of it and get him to drop the sabre, or does he look like he knows what he's doing with that sabre?
>>
No. 658725 ID: ebcefd

A straight fight would be too risky with the curse involved and it looks like we won't be able to talk him down so I think shielding your from his shot than luring him out of town is the best bet. Taunt him with something like "Then you'll have to catch me first" to encourage him to follow us out of town instead of slinking back in to cause trouble later.

**Private**
>>658716
That IP expenditure sounds good to me.
>>
No. 658736 ID: ab7529

>I know something is messing with me now.
Sorry, didn't mean to be patronizing. We can't always tell how clear stuff like that is on your end.

>If you can protect me somehow
We'll do what we can to send his shot. A bullet's aim should be even easier to foul than the roll of a die.

I might recommend getting a quick whack in, first. If he has to reel or recover for a moment before he can fire, that makes it easier. And I'm not really sure that sabre can block / absorb the impact of the axe very well. Um, if you trust it. It does seem to be a tad bloodthirsty.

>>658724
[private]
There was no change in our IP total. That means those voices Sami is hearing aren't a phantasm cast from our system. They're something else. Getting rid of the program wouldn't have prevented this.

I vote we spend IP to cast Botch on him the next time he screws something up. Him tripping himself up and leaving himself open is probably our best bet at subduing him non-lethally.

>spend IP to foul shot / dodge
If he has a good shot, I'm not sure 5 will be enough of a margin of safety.

If there are relatively early firearms, I wonder if it might be easier to influence a jam or misfire than a miss.
>>
No. 658739 ID: aef8a4

>>658725
You know what? You're right. Once we've made twenty yards range, if we can keep moving then the only thing he could try to hit us with is the sabre; nobody can make a running shot with a gun, it's just not stable enough to do anything but wild pot-shots that pose more danger to the scenery and himself than us.
>>
No. 658922 ID: 3009b4

>If there are relatively early firearms, I wonder if it might be easier to influence a jam or misfire than a miss.

Sami: They're commoner's pistols -- single shot meant for intimidation more than self-defence, although still dangerous enough to keep most people from second-guessing anyone holding one. Only a fool carries just one in case of misfire or jam.

>I vote we spend IP to cast Botch on him the next time he screws something up. Him tripping himself up and leaving himself open is probably our best bet at subduing him non-lethally.

** Due to the single-shot nature of the weapon, jam/misfire and just missing all have the same cost as the result is the same. Reminder that BOTCH costs 10 IP to use, which means two players must vote to use it (it's expensive as turning a fail into a critical failure could easily be abused)
>>
No. 658957 ID: aef8a4

Even if we disarm him of the one pistol he's still got the sabre and potentially more weapons. No, we have to lead him outside of town and make sure he stays there until he calms down or whatever.
>>
No. 658966 ID: ab7529

>>658922
[private]
How does botch IP spend work? We spend when he makes a failure, or do we spend in advance, whether he fails or not?
>>
No. 658984 ID: 3009b4

>How does botch IP spend work? We spend when he makes a failure, or do we spend in advance, whether he fails or not?

You spend on fail, or you can spend in advance -- but until the fail happens your IP is just held and can be returned without penalty, provided you do so before the fail occurs.
>>
No. 659021 ID: 1cebc8

>>658984
Botch would be really useful right now. I'll spend 5 IP.
>>
No. 659040 ID: ebcefd

[private]
I don't think Botch is worth it. What we want is for him to miss then to try and chase us with his sword; a crit fail would be redundant and might leave him injured or disabled and therefore less likely to be capable of taking the bait and following us out of town.
>>
No. 659043 ID: 1cebc8

>>659040
*Private*
If Nick shoots Sami, she could die. It's that simple. But yeah, you make a good point. I'll retract botch IP until Nick is left with a sword. 5IP for increased dodge against ranged attacks still stands.
*/Private*
>>
No. 659946 ID: 3009b4
File 143857318981.jpg - (459.37KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_25.jpg )
659946

Sami agrees -- she must get Nick away from this place. He may just be a highway man but he's clearly addled.

She sprints away from Nick, running in a zig-zag pattern to throw off his aim.

As she runs, she waits to hear a shot but it never comes. When she turns, she sees that Nick has not followed her - he's turned his back on her and is heading back into town.

Sami: Shit. He must know I want him away from town. Or the curse does.
>>
No. 659948 ID: 1cebc8

Grab the gun on the ground and shoot him already!
>>
No. 659952 ID: ebcefd

Try taunting him. Ask what happened to what he "had to do".

>>659948
I think the gun is on the other side of him, and I am not sure if he is still in the curse area.

[pricate:]
Would a Scan tell us where we are relative to the edge of the cursed area?
>>
No. 659968 ID: ab7529

>>659948
I don't see the gun on the ground between Sami and him. Also, we're trying not to kill him, and shooting him is pretty counterproductive to that.

>>659946
Well, you could try to taunt or enrage him into engaging or pursuing anyways. Although we don't really know him well enough to know what buttons to push.
>>
No. 659988 ID: cf6c80

How does a highwayman get a glamour? Unless it's somehow a product of the curse or something that's evidence of the fay. So either this thief is fay, or they are in contact with fay; possibly the piper is responsible or knows?
>>
No. 659989 ID: 3009b4

>Unless it's somehow a product of the curse or something

** Any supernatural creature can use a glamour, so yes it could be a curse byproduct. **
>>
No. 660324 ID: 3009b4
File 143873359048.jpg - (444.59KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_26.jpg )
660324

Sami tries to goad Nick into following her but he ignores her and retreats back to town.

Sami swears; she knows that the next time she returns she's going to have to watch her back... and Nick's still got one pistol.

She knows that the pistol has to be used at fairly close range, but isn't likely to miss if he's able to get the drop on her and even if he just wounds her it will be pretty serious out here.

Sami figures she's either going to need to make a plan or chase after Nick while she's still got an idea of where he is.
>>
No. 660344 ID: 1cebc8

Wow, you are just fuming; we can actively see your aura.

Grab that pistol. Most of us have basic firearms training, and we have a few recipes that you can use to make it into an outright dealer of death. First and foremost, there's a basic upgrade that makes the ammunition smaller yet deadly enough to penetrate armor. If you know most of this anyway, we're competent enough to tell you where some of the less conspicuous weak spots are.

Head back to Bill, see if he stockpiled some ammo from various mortal traders.
>>
No. 660353 ID: cf6c80

>>660344
Great idea! If we have a pistol that's both accurate and good at penetration we can use it to shoot out that sweet spot at the back of the skull where the brain stem is. One shot, boom, dead. Then the curse gets worse by one angry, crazy ghost who died through violence. Let's do this!

Being serious for a moment, this guy is either too crazy and suspicious of us to even follow us (because he fears an ambush) or he's getting directions from the ghosts to do exactly what we don't want him to do. That means we need to either cure his cursed condition here or come up with a way of getting him out of town against his wishes. I'm inclined to ask the Mayor for help figuring out exactly who he is and what's going on in his head, and trying to set up one or both of those options. There's a slim chance he might know who this is, and a better chance he either understands what other ghosts can do to this guy or has dealt with highwaymen before and can give us topical advice on what's going on in this robber's mind.
>>
No. 660354 ID: ab7529

>>660324
Sami, he's still in earshot, right?

...this idea might not exactly make you happy, but have you considered using the piper's flute? We know it can be used to make people follow the player. I mean, I know it's creepy unethical mind control magic, but it's probably the most reliable means available to get him out of the curse area without hurting him, or putting yourself at risk or ambush or attack.

"Childhood" is the verse that will draw him after you. Although I'm not sure if you would need to play "birth" first to get his attention / snap him free from the curse's influence, first.
>>
No. 660448 ID: 0f4536

>>660354
Ooh, I had noticed the irony before of us leading a danger out of town when dealing with the Piper's legacy, but I had not considered being able to actually use the flute from it. I think that should work.

>>660344
Kome, how many times do we have to say that we don't want to go around killing people in the curse area?
>>
No. 660452 ID: 1cebc8

*Private*
Hm. Botch his attempt to resist the flute? It might make him excessively susceptible to the sound coming from the flute, drowning out the enemy's voices.

Also, I was talking about shooting him in the shoulder or pelvis, not killing the guy.
*/Private*
>>
No. 660454 ID: 88960e

>>660452
[private]
I don't think these firearms are accurate enough, or Sami skilled enough with one, for that kind of precision. That, and even a not immediately fatal gunshot injury is pretty serious.

Voting against the botch. It shouldn't be necessary.
>>
No. 660455 ID: cf6c80

We need a next step if we're going to lead him outside of town while hostile. Even if we can get the flute to work, and he doesn't attack us while we're playing it, are we good enough to play and walk at the same time? We have no guarantees on what happens when we stop besides that this guy is armed and seems to be a violent criminal. It would be nice if his cursed craziness disappeared when he hit the town border but even if that happens this guy was likely a violent bandit even before he came here. We'd need to lead him to someone that will disarm him and stop him from running back to town.
Huh... we could ask Bill what he recommends for that. Might even do it himself.

*private*
Excuse me Bill, we have an interesting problem to talk about. Did we mention finding someone apparently serving as a priest in the church in town? After meeting him again to try and talk with him it's become apparent that he's been driven crazy by the curse, is definitely an armed bandit now, and the fact that he's armed suggests he was some kind of capably violent person before he got here. With the piper's flute we might be able to lead him out of town successfully, but we'd need a next step to that plan before seriously attempting it. I was thinking something like leading him to one or more people that disarms him and ties him up to stop him from running back into town. Do you think this is feasible, and if so can you recommend who to ask for help with this?

Also, Kome, arteries exist: The notion of a wounding/crippling shot that doesn't risk killing the target is merely fiction. Even if we hit 'the right area' that still has too high a risk he'll bleed to death from it either quickly or slowly (or die of infection even slower). I know that sometimes you can shoot someone a dozen times with bullets that do penetrate and they survive just fine--with no permanent ill effects even--but it's too risky in this situation to even consider. It's not like we have emergency helicopter medevac standing by.
*/private*
>>
No. 663955 ID: 3009b4
File 144002338040.jpg - (510.88KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_27.jpg )
663955

Resolutely, Sami puts the guitar on her back and it squeals in protest but is soon quiet. Then she takes out the flute and plays the same charming melodies that the Piper used on her.

Nick reacts to the music like an addict finally getting that long, sought-after hit. He does not resist, he NEEDS to be taken away. Sami feels pressure behind her ears and in the back of her skull -- it sounds like a quiet thunder and feels like trembling, helpless rage.

Sami effortlessly leads him over the bridge and across the water. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches the spirit of the Piper watching her with a wry smile. As they cross, Sami feels the pressure being unwillingly pulled from her, as if it was digging long fingers into her mind and screaming all the way.

Then it is gone. Sami stops playing and watches as Nick staggers about as he comes to. Thinking quickly, she steadies him while relieving him of his pistol and sabre.

Nick looks about confused and trembling.

Nick: What did you do?

Sami waits until he seems steady and takes a few safe steps back.

Sami: I think I just got you out of a very bad place.

Nick licks his lips and nods.

Nick: I'm sorry.

For the first time in a long while, Sami smiles warmly and sincerely.

Sami: It's OK, no harm done, right?

Nick shakes his head.

Nick: I... all I wanted was redemption.

Sami raises and eyebrow thoughtfully.

Sami: That's why you posed as a priest and took care of the churhc?

Nick nods.

Nick: I'm actually...

Sami: A highwayman. I could tell by watching you.

Nick stares at Sami fearfully.

Sami: I'm not interested in turning you in. I have my own sins.

Hearing this, Nick sighs in relief and visibly relaxes. Sami notes that he's still trembling and figures he must have been under a deal of stress for quite some time.

:iconyorick:
:: ADMIN YORICK: You saved him? Psh. That's lame. You guys suck, right Puni? ::

:iconpuni:
:: ADMIN PUNI: I admit I would have liked to see if Sami could have taken him down but I think y'all did a good 'nuff job. ::

:iconaudrey:
:: ADMIN AUDREY: You two be quiet. ::
>>
No. 663957 ID: ab7529

>Sami notes that he's still trembling and figures he must have been under a deal of stress for quite some time.
I think you should stay and rest with him for a bit. I don't think he's in any shape to be left alone, right now.

Maybe you'll learn something, or maybe you'll just give a weary soul some relief.
>>
No. 663993 ID: 7a6915

We should explain to him a little bit about what we saved him from, to help firm up in his mind that he shouldn't go back. Then we should talk about where to go next. Mention that the lunch you were trying to offer him was with a local fairy and that you hadn't asked ahead yet, but figured he'd be on board since you were collaborating on undoing the curse.
>>
No. 664014 ID: 1cebc8

>>663955
Nicely done!

Get him back to Bill before you ask him questions. He's had a long year.

*Private*
The admins are being abusive today...

Yorick, having a brain means recognizing opportunities and finding reasons to exploit them. Sami already survived fighting a gunman with finesse and bravery, you think any of us wanted her to bum rush an armed hitman and get herself killed?

Puni, I think Sami did well enough deflecting the backstab and following up on the defensive. That's like 23% of an epic duel right there, so a small fraction of points, like 10, would be appropriate.

Audrey, thank you for reeling in your two co-workers, but your passive stance on everything makes me feel that you don't have any real intention to influence this mission. Just wanted to let you know.
*/Private*
>>
No. 664925 ID: 3009b4
File 144046969085.jpg - (479.86KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_28.jpg )
664925

With some convincing, Sami is able to get Nick to come with her and visit Billy Phooka for a meal.

Sami's TRUST is now 85. Trust will only be rolled against when a suggest goes very much against what she thinks is best.

AUDREY has awarded 20 IP.
PUNI has awarded 5 IP.
NORTON has awarded 20 IP.

IP is now 143.

Nick is clearly nervous about going near a Fae's domain, but Sami takes his hand gently and he keeps his fears to himself.

Billy is quite interested in trading lunch for news. He quickly prepares enough food for a large meal and enough for Sami and Nick to each have one additional meal.

As he brings out the meal, Billy whispers to Sami: Sami, he wouldn't happen to be special to you, would he?

Sami shoots him a suspicious look.

Sami: You're awfully curious about my love life.

Instead of replying, Billy just gives her a sheepish smile and shrugs.

Nick explains that his memory is really foggy but he used the village as a hideout initially. It was a good location since most people avoided it, but after awhile his dreams got worse and worse, as did his guilt over being a highwayman. He's not sure when, but at one point he decided he would find salvation by becoming a priest and instead of using the church as a hideout, he began to maintain it.

:iconnick:
Nick: I found a spare priest's robe and started looking after the church. I used to go back and forth collecting supplies but after awhile I started to spend less and less time away from the church. Began to hear constant voices and whispers. By the time you came along I had almost convinced I was a priest and ... I could have sworn I knew who you were, Sami. It felt like the only safe place. The only exception was Faustday, when ... mass was held, I think. That was the day I'd scavenge the town since it'd be safer out than in.

Billy clears his throat: That's not uncommon for a mind continually under the influence of spirits.

He sends a communication across the TEN: I don't wish to alarm you Sami, but there's a good chance he's omitting a LOT of information in his own interest. He was a predator and could still be.

Sami: I can't judge anyone, I have my own sins.

Nick fishes around his cloak.

Nick: Sami, take this. This is the key to one of the storage rooms within the church. It's where I stored the donations to the church. I obsessively would hoard whatever money I could find and 'donate it'. I actually thought I was doing something good and the church used to whisper its satisfaction when I did so. I'm never going back there again, so you might as well take it. Maybe you can get some supplies in Welser.

Billy: I'd be careful taking anything from the church. From the sounds of things, it's an important place to the curse.

Nick is clearly very nervous and would like to leave the home of a faerie as soon as possible. Sami doesn't blame him; the general consensus of her childhood was that faeries were to be avoided and not to be trusted... and even her own half blood family agreed!

Sami decides to see Nick off. Billy asks her to return to talk afterwards.

** If there's anything you want to ask Nick, now's the time. He's eager to put everything behind him. **
>>
No. 664927 ID: ea0ad9

>Billy: I'd be careful taking anything from the church. From the sounds of things, it's an important place to the curse.
Perhaps a reward for after we finish cleaning up more of it, then. Or, if the Curse is calmed by recieving "Donations," perhaps that can be taken advantage of when it comes time to delve into some more dangerous portions.
The donations that aren't to be taken away would be Pearls, as those are what Faustia herself seeks.
>>
No. 664931 ID: 57dfcc

>Sami, he wouldn't happen to be special to you, would he?
Geeze, she's known him like a day, and he wasn't even himself for most of that.

>If there's anything you want to ask Nick, now's the time.
What will you do now?

He said it felt like he knew her- did he feel that way about anyone or anything else? (Maybe that information could help us).

Did anything else happen while he was here? Conflicts, acts of violence, outsiders?
>>
No. 664955 ID: 1cebc8

I don't think you can trust him, but you can trust his greed. More specifically, you can trust his need to hoard assets and then spend them; it's a special kind of greed, one that represents the desire to be a part of the world. Fortunes have been won with unreasonably gluttonous risk and willingly wasted over pride.

Good thing there's a game for that or we'd be swarming in highwaymen.

Sami, the first thing to ask Nick is for a map of the entire area. You need sub-maps of places that he has explored, and detailed information on the enemies that live inside them.

Bill, ask Nick what he knows about the Statue of Faustia. Probably caught his attention the first time he saw it. He was hearing voices, did they say anything strange about the statue or Faustia?

Offer to upgrade Nick's gun if he stays where you can track him. Otherwise you're taking both.
>>
No. 664994 ID: 88960e

>>664955
I'm pretty sure we don't have the capability to upgrade guns.

You raise a point through- not sure if we should be returning his weapons or not. Arguably, he might need to defend himself. But then again, it really doesn't help anyone to make it easy for him to fall back into what he was. Arming him might make him a danger to others, and possibly himself.
>>
No. 664996 ID: 19e658

What happens in the church on Faustday? That seems like a potential lead for curse cores.

What golems in the town does he know of?

Is there any food left in the places he was scavenging?

Does he by any chance know how to play guitar?

>Offer to upgrade Nick's gun if he stays where you can track him. Otherwise you're taking both.
Stop going on about the guns. Sami isn't a mechanic and does not have the tools a mechanic would need. (Besides, if we did manage to somehow get him a better gun that would be an unnecessary temptation for him to return to crime.)
>>
No. 664998 ID: 3009b4

>Or, if the Curse is calmed by recieving "Donations," perhaps that can be taken advantage of when it comes time to delve into some more dangerous portions.

Sami: Well the Piper hasn't been paid in full yet.

>The donations that aren't to be taken away would be Pearls, as those are what Faustia herself seeks.

** There are no Pearls; they're not commonly carried and Nick wouldn't even be able to identify them **

>Geeze, she's known him like a day, and he wasn't even himself for most of that.

Sami: I was thinking the same thing. It's like he doesn't understand anything about courtship. Or fleeting moments that I regret in the morning.

>Did anything else happen while he was here? Conflicts, acts of violence, outsiders?
Nick: ... I sort of remember outsiders passing by. I don't know what became of them.

Sami's face remains neutral but her thoughts are 'loud' enough for you to receive them: Nick is lying. He's lying but it'll be easier not to know the truth.

> He was hearing voices, did they say anything strange about the statue or Faustia?
> What happens in the church on Faustday? That seems like a potential lead for curse cores.
Nick: Mass. The spirits in town attend mass on Faustday. They... sort of worship Faustia. I don't think they actually know what she is or what she stands for, but I felt the compulsion to just pray to her and beg for mercy and forgiveness. That if I prayed harder, something would happen. The mass is overwhelming, which is why I'd hide outside. It's hard to describe, but imagine remembering every bad thing that ever happened to you and every bad thing you ever did and then make a stew out of it and then sit in it for the rest of your life. That's what it felt like. They leave in the morning. You can't escape it once it starts, so soon as I learned what day they'd come I'd leave ahead of time. What kinda goddess is Faustia anyway?

Sami: She's supposed to be the goddess of community and friendship. She's the one that sees in the good in most everyone -- if there's any left, she can bring it out. When the disaster happened, a lot of people turned to her and thought she could make things better. There was a scandal when the last priest -- pressed against an angry town who demanded to know why Faustia was silent -- pointed out the fact that maybe she didn't do anything because we never extended our friendship or community to outsiders. When he died, my family lost their faith and we left.

>You need sub-maps of places that he has explored, and detailed information on the enemies that live inside them.

Sami knows the area pretty well since she grew up here, but information about what Nick's already explored and what he's faced would be useful.

Nick: My head's pretty foggy on what I done, but the worst of the vermin are the Leapers. If you see a place with no other vermin, watch the ceiling and dark places. They sometimes piggyback on lone Pollies. Grites are the most common. If you can kill a few quickly the rest will run; it's all on how you handle yourself. You attack first and they treat you like a predator. Don't notice them or avoid them and they assume you could be food.

>You raise a point through- not sure if we should be returning his weapons or not.

Nick willingly surrenders his weapons to Sami. He wants nothing to do with them anymore.

>What golems in the town does he know of?

Nick: There's a few tillers and harvesters in the fields and common areas. They don't seem to do anything...

Sami interrupts him: One came after me.

Nick is surprised and from the look on his face, it's clear he never thought they were a threat and the knowledge of how much he put himself in danger is unsettling.

Nick: Then there's the Grinder -- it's in the formerly rich parts of town. And there's the giant saw for lumber work -- it tends to stick around the Guild Hall, which is one of the reasons why I never scavenged it. There's the Forge by the Black Smith but it's only ever on at night, and finally there's The Rook which goes 'round the Town Hall and old Mayor's place. They all get mad if you take things from the upper class areas but none go near the church. Whatever controls them holds Faustia in the same high regard as the other spirits. I scavenged all I could from all over town, the only place I didn't get into was the Guild Hall. There's no food or nothing in the ol' labs. Now the schoolhouse -- I found out that's a safe place. Golems don't go near it and it seems like the last place they look. Bit o' advice -- not worth going into ol' wealthy homes. Things... happen there and sometimes it makes a golem mad. Common homes don't have nothing either 'cause of the vermin.

>He said it felt like he knew her- did he feel that way about anyone or anything else? (Maybe that information could help us).

Nick: I just knew you were a good girl. Then... something happened after the last time you visited. Voices got real dark, and they told me you were some sort of witch or something and I had to put you down. Gotta be honest, Sami -- your eyes fit the bill. 'specially now, they real blue. I'd never woulda attacked you in my own mind, but back then the voices told me it that if I didn't put you down they'd find me and I'd go straight to hell.

Sami brushes her fingertips over her eyes and winces.

Nick: If you don't mind me ask'n Sami, what are you?

Sami takes a deep breath and sighs.

Sami: I'm a half-blood, and addled as they come. This was my home, and something drew me back here. I guess if I can't fix myself, I can at least fix this place.

Nick nods.

Nick: Well, spirits be right 'bout one thing. You are a good girl. Don't think anyone else would have let me live. You doing the best you can given what you've got, and that's better than what I done.

Sami notices Nick's manner of speech is changing, but says nothing. His voice far less steady than when she first met him and his words less eloquent. It's pretty clear that whoever Nick was before entering the town and whoever he was as "Father" Nick, both those men are dead now.

>Does he by any chance know how to play guitar?

No.

****

Sami has obtained a PISTOL and two rounds. It's a single-shot variety with a lengthy reload time. Sami doesn't like guns because they're loud and slow; bows are quick, fast to reload and silent. Still, she's got an idea of how to use them but she thinks they'd be better to sell than to use. The pistol is worn but still safe to use, although in need of proper maintenance.

Sami has also obtained a SABRE. It's poorly maintained but usable. Someone dying by this weapon would die slow however -- the blade is chipped and dull in areas. It could still have some small value since it's a better weapon than a peasant would carry.

Sami has obtained a KEY.
>>
No. 665003 ID: 1cebc8

Well, today was fruitful. I suggest you spend the rest of the day helping Bill in exchange for supplies and stuff.

*Private*
I'd like to take a closer look at the gun and ammo.
[[Scan:Pistol]]
[[Scan:Bullet]]
*/Private*
>>
No. 665004 ID: 3009b4

>I'd like to take a closer look at the gun and ammo.

** Completely mundane **
>>
No. 665008 ID: ea0ad9

>Nick is lying. He's lying but it'll be easier not to know the truth.
Yeah, anything he's lying about relates to him moreso than the curse, and as such isn't so important to us.
>I just knew you were a good girl. Then... something happened after the last time you visited. Voices got real dark, and they told me you were some sort of witch or something and I had to put you down.
Sounds like Nick was right about the spirits getting upset if something happens in those locations, that was after you had taken the gold from the Mayor's vault. It's a good thing you didn't go sooner, as it would have been even worse before delivering it to the Piper.
>Still, she's got an idea of how to use them but she thinks they'd be better to sell than to use.
Well, while a bow is quicker to reload, you can't just leave the arrow drawn on it, while a gun will remain loaded once you load it. Best saved for emergencies, for now, though.
>the blade is chipped and dull in areas.
Sounds like it needs some tempering...
>it's a better weapon than a peasant would carry.
But I'm guessing that it wouldn't be very cost effective. Unless you managed to "Tame" the spirit of the Blacksmith, but that's not an idea to rely on.
>>
No. 665063 ID: 57dfcc

>Nick is lying. He's lying but it'll be easier not to know the truth
...yeah. I kind of expected that. Not worth it now. Not worth it at all.

>It's like he doesn't understand anything about courtship
I suppose that's possible, actually. Alien culture, different norms. If it's this weird mortal thing he doesn't get or is trying to figure out, that might explain the repeated questions on that bent.

>Sami has obtained a KEY.
Kind of unnecessary since we can open any natural lock with the flute, but I suppose the key has the advantage that it lets us do so quietly.

>guns better to sell than use
Well, you'd have to take a trip back to town for that. Question is really if you want to back off and resupply or press on.

>leads
The schoolhouse might be something to follow up on- there's probably a reason it's safe. Something keeping things out.

There's the church, obviously, but that seems like it will be a big deal this time around. I don't want to rush into that, I'm expecting confronting the curse (or a twisted demigoddess) there will be as bad as when you grabbed the cursed gold.

The Rook came after you when you took the cursed gold from the town hall. If other golems guard the guild hall and blacksmiths, it's possible there are similarly important pieces of the curse hidden at those locations. Again, not to be rushed into.
>>
No. 665127 ID: 7a6915

If worst comes to worst we pick one of those key areas closest to the Mayor and go digging for more cursed gold to hand to the piper I suggest. That's our plan B, or C--what's the better plan we're making for A?
If nothing else we could ask that Mayor what he knows about the golems, there may be something we can do about at least one of them he knows about. The piper may want to talk to us after noticing us using his flute like that as well, but I'd rather talk to the mayor first since he's more likely to know something useful about the golems or the key areas that Nick told us about.
Do remember to talk to Bill before going back to town, maybe he wants to apologize or give us something.
>>
No. 665375 ID: 3009b4
File 144074503851.jpg - (463.52KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_29.jpg )
665375

Sami sees Nick off.

** If you have any last questions for Nick, you can ask now and they will be included. **

Sami: So where will you go? What will you do?

Nick sighs. He tries to give Sami a smile but the weight of what he's been through keeps his expression down.

Nick: I don't know. Away from here, away from the highway. Never felt like I ever had a soul 'till I came so close to losing it in that place, guess I better take better care o' it. You don't worry 'bout me, I survived this long, I 'spect I've got more time in me. Even if I die tomorrow, you saved me today, Sami. What will you do though?

Sami hugs herself: I... have GOT to finish this, Nick. This was my home, and I can't see myself getting any peace until it has peace.

Nick starts to leave, but then turns to look back at Sami.

Nick: Sami, ken I ask you 'bout them eyes of yours?

Sami nods.

Nick: What kinda fae's in your blood? They Seelie or Unseelie?

Sami sighs.

Sami: Unseelie, as far as I know. From what I've been told, my great-gran was so kind and so gentle that she made an water spirit see her as a person and not just some sorta nuisance like the other fae did. Enough that he left his own kind for her. He never told us too much 'bout his people for our own good. Why?

Nick gestures to the North: I had to skirt 'round Welser when I first came here. Heard rumours of an Unseelie who claimed the village for herself and she didn't take kindly to my old profession. If you're stuck for answers, maybe worth your while to take the trip. Unseelie don't turn on their own, do they?

Sami: Don't know, never met a living faerie until Bill. He just seems kinda lonely. Don't know why he wants to look like one of those dumb cloppers though.

Nick shrugs. He asks Sami to be careful and thanks her again. Sami watches him leave before returning to talk to Bill.

She walks into the room and takes a seat across from him.

Sami: You wanted to speak with me, sir?

Bill: Yes. Nothing serious mind. But I thought I might be able to help you solve this situation, and something dawned on me that would be to both our benefit. After the Piper was killed, there was a lot of arguing of what went wrong and to make a long story short, an Unseelie 'dragon' was appointed to manage it. Someone who might not over-react even when threatened -- not that dragons are any better tempered, but they're *used* your people trying to kill them.

Sami is shocked: You mean Welser has an ACTUAL *DRAGON*?

Billy Phooka stares at Sami for a few moments and then bursts out laughing.

Bill: Oh... oh no, not what you're thinking. "Dragon" is a term, basically just means being big and scary -- enough to keep your people from nosing about where they ought not to but not so terrifying that an army gets sent out. Keeps away vermin -- and in this case, I'm talking about raiders and bandits. Anyhow, this particular 'dragon' is named Skyia and since she is the Piper's successor she MIGHT know more about could be done about the town and at the very least may be a little more interested in helping you clear the curse since it's around her territory. Now that's for you. For me... I've heard rumours about her. Rumours she'd be sensitive about mind you, but... fascinating rumours all the same. I've heard... that Skyia has a mortal daughter. Now if this is true, she may have broken one of the rules of the Unseelie Court. Now I have no court, it's my job to be impartial... and these sort of things fascinate me. I'm sure we could come to some sort of agreement as to a suitable reward if you can find this information for me.

Oh! And if you can get your hands on some nice cheese while you're in Welser I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement. I haven't had any dairy since the town died and all the livestock went feral. If you plan on making the trip, I'll make sure you have enough supplies.


:iconsamitalk:
Sami: OK, so you guys have some ideas that I'd like to try. The only question is order.

1. We could check with the Piper's spirit to see what that look was all about.
2. We could check the school to see why it's a safe spot.
3. We could check the cache Nick left us in the church.
4. We could go to Welser and resupply there. I could see if there's any buyers for Nick's weapons, and Bill would like us to get some information for him. I'm not sure about delivering sensitive info to Bill despite how helpful he's been, but at the very least we could get him some cheese. And this Skyia might be able to help too. It's a two-day trip on foot though.

And finally, we could also explore any place we haven't been to yet -- the (5.) Merchant's Guild and the (6.) Labs both some to mind. Nick couldn't get into the former and didn't see use of the latter, but I have a feeling Nick's lacking the education to really understand what might be left in a lab.
>>
No. 665380 ID: 1cebc8

You need more stuff to trade, otherwise all the fine cheeses will be too expensive. Time your trip to Wesler so that you'll miss Faustday.

5 6 3 4 2 1

(As for cheeses, I suggest you get Gorgonzola.)
>>
No. 665390 ID: ea0ad9

The Piper's look was probably just bemusement at the fact that you used his trick after all the complaints you had about it. I don't see the use of asking him about it.
Nick's cache might be dangerous to mess with... Unless I spaced out and missed something? Wasn't his cache just the donations?

I don't want to delay the trip to see Skyia (Or even just to visit some other, living mortals), so I say check the school and the labs, then head out.
>>
No. 665394 ID: d6549f

2 In case we need somewhere to retreat to before leaving
6 To see if anything there is useful
3 To see if there is anything particularly noteworthy in the stash (though we should avoid taking or touching anything for now)
5 To check what is blocking the entrance; we might be able to buy something in town to help us get in
4 Once we have an idea of what sort of supplies we need

1 Can wait until the next time we talk to the piper; I think we will be heading back there sooner or later regardless.
>>
No. 665395 ID: 7a6915

>I have a feeling Nick's lacking the education to really understand what might be left in a lab.
So might we, since we don't know what developmental level your research and manufacturing was at exactly. If there's supplies for chemistry we could suggest recipes for explosives and other fun stuff--most of us are better with non-magical devices and techniques. If the lab's magical like your golems (or are they magical?) we may need a primer on how your magic works to give good advice. There is a surprising amount of overlap between our knowledge of machinery that works on natural principles and stuff that seems like magic though.
I generally agree with the suggestions made >>665394 as an order of operations from the possibilities you suggested. Depending on what we find in the church cache we may consider dropping off some more cursed gold for the piper before traveling to weaken the curse more, but that's risky. Further, we don't know how smoothly our attempt to investigate the cache will go, without 'Father Nick' there to absorb the attentions of the spirits. The church may no longer be safe to visit, so be prepared to give up on the cache and further attempts to do anything in the church.
Another thing to do is check that Redeemer shrine to see if we have a return message from the message we sent earlier. We don't know who we were sending a message to, how busy they are or interested in helping, but the most practical advice we can get with managing the curse probably comes from the experts, yeah?
>>
No. 665417 ID: 57dfcc

He explained dragons before, although I guess you were rather more tired and focused on something else at the time. >>650291

Would we still need to pose as a 'dragon slayer' to approach her, or if she's got mortal connections, could we approach that way?

Also, while we're on the subject, the spirit-records we've been able to dig up say your great-grandfather was once Wesler's dragon. It was his job to be scary to keep people in line, which puts your great-grandmother's winning him over in an even more impressive light.

>fascinating
Ugh. Is he ever fixated on this topic. Starting towards creepy.

>>665394
This seems mostly reasonable, though we should be very cautious in the church, and the areas Nick noted had golem guardians. We don't want to start a big confrontation, yet. (We might need to use glamour and/or spoof).

General plan is a last quick check of things here before we retreat and try the out-of-town leads, then hopefully come back better prepared.
>>
No. 665502 ID: 3009b4
File 144082364899.jpg - (396.39KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_30.jpg )
665502

Sami quickly moves back to town towards the schoolhouse. It's a simple single-story affair except for a small attic with a bell tower. The red paint has long faded, revealing the wood grain beneath. The roof is in horrible repair with large gaps, and the bell has fallen from its tower.

As she pushes open the door, Sami immediately understands why this is a safe haven. Nothing inside the school house has changed. I'm sorry A thick layer of dust covers the desks and chairs, but the drawings and notes left the day before the disaster still remain. I'm so sorry There looks like there was some brief disturbance caused by Nick's exploration but even he left most things untouched. An overwhelming sense of loss and despair floods Sami's mind, and the sensation is similar to sinking. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry.

Sami runs her fingers across the board, caressing it as she remembers her life before the disaster before the failure. All those memories she kept trying to suppress force their way to the surface clawing for air and she finds it overwhelming.

This is why the cursed spirits won't come here. This is a sacred place, like the church.

The guitar sparks across her fingers rhythmically, the invisible strings vibrating gently.

Sami: I don't think there's anything we need here. Let's head to the lab.
>>
No. 665615 ID: 57dfcc

>>665502
...right. Let's move on.
>>
No. 665681 ID: 7a6915

*private*
Well, now... we've potentially found the locus of Sami's portion of the curse, where her shattered childhood remains entombed. Anyone have ideas about how to untangle that?
Also, double check if there's anything magical in the area, in case I'm on to something. Port scan, et cetera.
*/private*
A brief moment Sami, the guitar may have responded to either your emotions or something in the area. Possibly history of learning in this place--or something connected to it--may help you to learn to play it here?
>>
No. 665709 ID: 3009b4
File 144092030365.jpg - (402.24KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_30b.jpg )
665709

>Also, double check if there's anything magical in the area, in case I'm on to something. Port scan, et cetera.

** The School is quiet. There's no trace of a connection anywhere, and there's not even any signs of vermin. That seems to be its defining trait; from a spiritual connection sense the school is especially dark. **

>A brief moment Sami, the guitar may have responded to either your emotions or something in the area. Possibly history of learning in this place--or something connected to it--may help you to learn to play it here?

Sami can hear the guitar weeping Please forgive me. in frustration -- it is swollen with her grief but she simply doesn't know how to free it. The music she hears, and the voices... feel like overflow.

She feels an overwhelming urge to cut herself again, as if bleed could help relieve the pressure.

Sami, her voice trembling: Let's just go.
>>
No. 665744 ID: 57dfcc

>>665709
Yes, lets.
>>
No. 665745 ID: 7a6915

Alright, onward.
>>
No. 665750 ID: 1cebc8

Don't forget to write "SCREW YOU, MANAGEMENT" on the chalkboard!

But yeah seriously time to raid the labs.
>>
No. 665826 ID: 3009b4
File 144097391854.jpg - (371.34KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_31.jpg )
665826

Sami composes herself and makes her way to the lab. She notices that there are much fewer vermin as she approaches the lab area.

Inside, she immediately notices how different it smells. While the roof still has tell tale signs of rot and neglect, much of the rest of the building is in better condition and there's an absence of signs of droppings or urine. There's a sour smell hanging in the air however, and she noticed an overturned jug of something that's eaten through one corner of the floor.

There are still some desks sitting around, and several larger jugs of various chemicals remain untouched. The labs have been broken into and searched, but the scavengers seemed to give up early.

The lab equipment itself is gone, with the exception of a few broken pestles and other litter.

One of the desks has been conspicuously left in the centre of the room. It's got "READ ME" written on it. Sami opens the main drawer and finds a variety of papers left behind.

She skims through them and discovers that they're memos left by the scientists to anyone investigating the labs. Apparently the scientists were some of the last to leave town; many didn't have family here and thus weren't as directly impacted by the disaster. They state that they've relocated the labs to the next nearest town of Welser so they could continue investing Dig #223. They noticed the CURSE beginning to take over the town and evacuated, but they did begin research into the cause and possible resolution of the CURSE. The memo advises against long-term residence within town as the CURSE has a negative impact on one's psychological state, and they suspect it leads to suicide, irrational behaviour, or insanity. The memos provide an address within Welser and an invitation to share one's experiences within the town but urge the reader to leave as soon as possible.

Sami's pretty sure the reason why there's no vermin here isn't spiritual or supernatural but because there's no food and a variety of possibly dangerous chemicals laying about.
>>
No. 665838 ID: 1cebc8

Huh. Guess you should talk to these guys when you get to Wesler. Check around for anything that looks dangerous but portable.

*Private*
[[Scan: Labs]]
*/Private*
>>
No. 665858 ID: 57dfcc

>a variety of possibly dangerous chemicals laying about
Any that are useful to you, or that you know how to safely handle?
>>
No. 665863 ID: 3009b4

>[[Scan: Labs]]

** There are no active networks in the labs. **

>Any that are useful to you, or that you know how to safely handle?

Sami isn't a scientist and can't identify anything.
>>
No. 665865 ID: 57dfcc

>Sami isn't a scientist and can't identify anything.
Then if you don't know what stuff is, and it isn't clearly labeled, it's not safe to salvage any of this. Granted, the lab is probably less not safe than the vermin infested areas of town so long as you're careful not to mess with anything.
>>
No. 665875 ID: 7a6915

Thinking about it, if the former occupants had plenty of time to plan that would mean most (or all) of what's left will be more hazardous or difficult to move than it is valuable. We may be able to find a couple storage cans of moderate value bulk chemicals like sulphur and potassium nitrate around, but don't waste too long looking beyond a cautious once-over scan and a basic inventory of what you find in case there's something in that list we can make use of. Depending on what we disturb breathing the air and touching things here might be toxic or worse. That's worth some caution, but any open or broken containers have had years in open air to neutralize or dilute so it shouldn't be that bad as long as you know basic lab safety.
Double checking, do you know basic lab safety?
>>
No. 665879 ID: 3009b4

>Double checking, do you know basic lab safety?

Sami has no training in a lab at all. Her lab safety pretty much well amounts to "Don't touch stuff".

Sami recalls that when she was little, they did try poisons to get rid of the vermin, but the problem was that the vermin began to build a tolerance to it and effective toxins had a tendency to make the residents sick. There was some other bad effect on the Leapers, but she can't remember the details now.

While Sami is very resilient to toxins, poisons and disease she doesn't want to play with any chemicals until she understands more about them. Most of the canisters are marked with skulls and cross bones, confirming that these materials didn't have a high enough value to risk ratio to transport.
>>
No. 665881 ID: 57dfcc

>Her lab safety pretty much well amounts to "Don't touch stuff".
That's good lab safety.

Unless you feel like painstaking reading labels to us so we can tell you exactly what dangerous substances are in these jars, I think we're done here.
>>
No. 665944 ID: ea0ad9

>>665881
I'm pretty sure that in a world where people can harvest Faerie Circles for alchemical reagants, we no longer have any idea what the heck we're looking at.
>>
No. 667347 ID: 3009b4
File 144144083929.jpg - (425.27KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_32.jpg )
667347

As requested, Sami then heads to check Nick's cache in the church. While she braces herself for a psychic assault, nothing happens. After a few minutes she relaxes a little and then heads to the storage closet, unlocking it with Nick's key.

The closet actually leads to the basement. The only item of note is a chest as the shelves.

She opens it and finds a ledger as well as a variety of coins, jewelry, buttons, gloves, and... other items a traveller might carry. It's been neatly organized, and on top is a ledger. The most recent pages are in very rough printing. The previous pages -- much, much older -- are in neat hand writing but the dates in the more recent pages are the same.

Sami sighs sadly: Oh Nick... He... it looks like he 'donated' the things he took from people to the church. I don't think he understood the ledger so he copied anything he didn't get and sort of scrawled everything else. I'm hoping he just... held people up. But did you see how much he changed when he left? I don't want to know what his addled mind did.

There's about 28 crowns and change in the chest. Sami's not sure what the other trinkets are worth. She could take this to the Piper or she could use it to buy supplies; a few crowns would more than cover her needs.

** SCAN does not detect a curse **
>>
No. 667403 ID: 7a6915

The morality here sucks, because even if that stuff isn't cursed it's still blood money. You tell us Sami, are your needs desperate enough to pick up and spend blood money? All else being equal, I'd rather be paying the Piper with more cursed money because it's his curse as much as it is anyone's. I'd also rather not be carrying or using coin that may attract suspicion in a town, but I don't know nearly enough about the local minting and detection practices to know if this stuff is risky that way. Cherry on the cake, don't know if the spirits are capable of hiding a curse on this stuff from us, and doing so right now. We don't know if those spirits are capable of learning, or if they have been learning in their efforts to harm us Sami; I hope this is just paranoia and disgust instead of me intuiting an actual risk, but I'd rather not touch that stuff.
>>
No. 667446 ID: 57dfcc

As far as our senses can tell, nothing here is cursed. It's safe.

>She could take this to the Piper or she could use it to buy supplies; a few crowns would more than cover her needs.
I think it would do more good to make sure you're prepared and able to act than to try and make a down payment on what the piper is owed. It would take a quiet a lot more gold than this to satisfy the debt.

>>667403
>blood money
Using the money to try and oppose the curse that harmed (or drove Nic to harm) the people who provided this money seems appropriate to me. How better to honor sacrifice or loss, than to try and prevent it from happening again?
>>
No. 668269 ID: 3009b4
File 144169949434.jpg - (424.31KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_33.jpg )
668269

>I don't know nearly enough about the local minting and detection practices to know if this stuff is risky that way.

Sami: Well, coin is coin. The metal's what's valuable.

>Using the money to try and oppose the curse that harmed (or drove Nic to harm) the people who provided this money seems appropriate to me. How better to honor sacrifice or loss, than to try and prevent it from happening again?

Sami: Yeah, screw it. If it's cursed, we've done this before.

Sami takes the coins but leaves everything else.

Sami: OK, so from what I can tell, I can either start making the journey to Welser (with a quick stop to Billy for supplies), see the Piper's spirit, or... well, some of you thought checking out the merchant's guild. It's probably just barred by a sturdy door but I can get past that with the flute.
>>
No. 668294 ID: 1cebc8

>>668269
28 Crowns and some guns isn't much. Check the merchant's guild for intel, maybe they have information on markets that you can use to get better deals in Wesler.

Also, tear out the floorboards near minting presses, bring them to Bill's house, set them on fire, and melt the gold shavings that you find inside; I heard a story about a guy who bought a goldsmithing shack from newly-wealthy miners only to burn it all and make enough gold to retire.

In rat races, the smart mice win.
>>
No. 668316 ID: 486096

If the Merchant's guild is just barred with a door we should leave it for later, but we should check to make sure that is indeed the blockage and not something we would need other tools for.

We probably should not visit the piper while carrying any money we don't plan on giving to him, and since this money came from outside and is not cursed we should save it for supplies.
>>
No. 668454 ID: 57dfcc

>>668294
Uh, I don't think the coins were minted here.

>>668316
I'd agree it's probably better not to bother the Piper carrying gold we don't plan on giving him. I don't see any harm in checking the merchant's area, though.
>>
No. 668545 ID: 7a6915

A lot of this curse revolves around money: The mayor didn't have enough, the piper demanded more, the guild, council and the church were apparently part of the reason why the mayor didn't have enough. It's a fair bet that a substantial part of the curse hangs around the guild offices somewhere, having the right equipment to deal with it requires knowing what that is. If nothing else it would be nice if we could get protective gloves for handling cursed objects or something, but what else?
>>
No. 668875 ID: 3009b4
File 144192391474.jpg - (426.88KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_34.jpg )
668875

Sami checks the entrance to the guild.

It's sturdily barricaded; even though it's a little worn there's little wonder Nick couldn't get into it. The Merchant's Guild is built like a fortress... which makes sense considering it housed the most wealth and would be a premium target for anyone. She thinks her flute would open it easily however.

Unless anyone has other ideas, she's going to go visit Billy to pick up supplies and then begin the trek to Welser. Considering the travel, Sami would like to make sure you've investigated everything you want to here first. Those crowns she's gathered will pay for enough supplies to handle things from here on it but she's still not eager to do that much walking.
>>
No. 668879 ID: 1cebc8

Sturdy lock. I suggest you tear it out and have it looked at, there might be some tech or enchantments that can be reverse-engineered and sold to the right conspiracy theorists.

Alright, think about this: what were the merchants most afraid of? The front door is always the most barricaded, though not always the most heavily defended. There should be some underground deterrents to prevent vermin from burrowing underneath in search of wine / cheese / other artifact consumables. So now that the improbable has happened and all the mortals have left, what opportunities to infiltrate are there that any sane man would have found negligible?

My guess is, they would have access to most of the city's automated defenses. Your town, hell your entire civilization, doesn't have a firm grasp on the concepts of programming, and so hacking would be low on their priority list, as long as they were convinced they had strong anti-tool enchantments. Enchantments that could wear off over ten years. The golems, therefore, are your best bet of breaking in past the more dangerous traps and defenses. Just hack a golem later and let them take the brunt of the defenses.

*Private*
"Jail your tail in it" lol inappropriate
*/Private*
>>
No. 668886 ID: 7a6915

The walls may be sturdy, but you don't know if the floors are okay. Maybe open a door and peek inside?
>>
No. 668889 ID: 269c44

Lets not open it now, once we unlock it I don't think we can re-lock it, so we should not open it just before leaving for a while.
I think that is about it for stuff to do before heading out.
>>
No. 668924 ID: 3009b4

>Lets not open it now, once we unlock it I don't think we can re-lock it,

Sami: Not without a key, and if I had a key I wouldn't need the flute to open it.
>>
No. 668955 ID: 7a6915

What else can you see of the inside of the guild hall through windows or whatever? I don't want to count on the floors being solid and not needing climbing gear to get around without at least a good look.
>>
No. 668963 ID: 1cebc8

>>668955
These are paranoid oligarchs, the term "window" is a subset of "structural weakness". Expect every opening to have a filter, some barricades, and a turret/trap combo.

This place was built to outlast a guerilla siege, and with good reason. We need to think up any defense systems that would have been installed, and which ones would degrade without support over ten years. We can think it over while Sami goes to Welser (ack, found out I misspelt this).

Not the best turnout but you didn't get into any fights, so that's a win. You'd think that at least one vermin and golem would be curious of you.
>>
No. 669038 ID: 3009b4

:iconsamitalk:
Sami: The windows are small and barred on the first floor, with larger and more functional (but still barred) windows on the second. Thieves aren't deterred by anything less than bars and by putting the windows on the second floor it also means they stick out if they scale the walls.

** Contextual Notes **
Rollen have small, light frames which allows them to be excellent climbers. Consequently, breaking and entering tends to be easy for them. As a side note, in Rollen culture thieves rarely ever strike within their own community -- they almost always will target areas outside their towns. It is not unusual for thieves to be known within their own community and yet still treated like any other community member because they only strike outside town. The Merchant's Guild was built to keep out thieves from nearby Welser and other outside threats as at the time it was a border town.

>>
No. 669039 ID: 3009b4

>Not the best turnout but you didn't get into any fights, so that's a win. You'd think that at least one vermin and golem would be curious of you.

Sami: I'm pretty sure daylight has something to do with it. Vermin are most active at night or in dark places. I've noticed I've only ever been menaced in places of shadow.
>>
No. 669047 ID: 1cebc8

>>669039
You could burn daylight searching for some more stuff around the guild, or go straight to Welser and use the daylight for the road.

Also, have you considered hiring some mercenary specialists (tinkerers, thieves, scientists) from Welser? It was stupid before, but now you know enemy patrol schedules and found a place to crash at night. More hands in the daytime means you can get more done.
>>
No. 669097 ID: 7a6915

>>669047
At first thought this seems stupid because we just rescued a person from being affected the curse. Thinking on it longer the real question is if we can find something to do here worth bringing someone for and manage to pay and provide for them as well. For instnce, it would be nice to have a good handyman (or handywoman) to open doors, assess property and generally do triage on what the vermin and time have and have not ruined in the town, but I'm not sure we need that enough to pay hazard pay and spend our time protecting that person. So can anyone think of a specialty around town we could really, really use besides some kind of expert at pest-control or hunting to back us up against vermin and golems, and who'd probably want more than we can pay to do that?
>>
No. 669198 ID: 149da0

>>668875
>>669038
I think we should just go. We don't have the means to secure the building from vermin should we crack it open.

>>669097
I'd think specialized craft people would be better brought in after the curse is lifted. Any benefit they might bring will be more than offset by the curse getting into their heads.

Unless we're lucky enough to find help from someone able to resist the effects.
>>
No. 669968 ID: 3009b4
File 144243254785.jpg - (416.05KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_35.jpg )
669968

Sami decides to get a start to Welser; it's a two-day trip and she knows better than to travel at night.

She stops off briefly to visit Billy for supplies. He wishes her a safe journey, and makes sure Sami has enough provisions to last 4 days.

Billy: Come back safe, Sami. It's been awhile since I've talked to your people, and I have to admit I didn't think I'd miss it as much as I have.

Sami assures him she'll be fine and she'll see him before too long.

Billy: Don't forget about your magic mirror, just say "Yuri Yuri" and you and your wild spirits can contact me. Just don't show it to anyone else.

Sami nods.

Sami: Yeah, we're pretty paranoid about faerie elements. I'll keep it hidden.


With that, Sami begins her trek to Welser. The journey is uneventful and the weather stays pleasant so she moves swiftly. Early into the second day, Sami is aware she's being watched -- which means she's close to town and a scout is reporting back, normal for Rollen towns. The tell-tale sound of riding animal can be heard a distance away. Rollen take this as a sign of relief; there's more sign of trouble in towns without scouts.

As the sun reaches noon on the 2nd day, Sami reaches Welser's gates. A robed figure stands outside and watches Sami approach.

??? in a husky, female voice: What's your business here, stranger?

Sami examines her closely as she considers her response. Her skin is unusual -- more Shinato in tone -- and she's taller than average, and she's dressed more like a highway bandit than a guard. She clearly has something to hide.

Unless Welser's had some sort of cultural upheaval as well, it's very unusual that someone like her would meet Sami at the gates. Not that Rollen don't have gatekeepers, but they choose one to make a calculated first impression. A burly guardsman, a soldier, or even a comely lass depending on what the scout reports and your reputation.

Someone like this means that Sami needs to consider her response carefully.
>>
No. 669970 ID: e607cd

Is this because of the direction you came from? We don't know the geography too well, but if the only place in the direction you came from is an abandoned and cursed town, it would make people wary.
>>
No. 670004 ID: 3009b4

>Is this because of the direction you came from? We don't know the geography too well, but if the only place in the direction you came from is an abandoned and cursed town, it would make people wary.

Sami considers it but doesn't think it's the reason. The road leads to more than just her home town, after all.
>>
No. 670005 ID: 2ccbb3

>>669968
You riled up Ronnalin, I'd criticize them if they weren't keeping tabs and taking precautions.

Use a standard greeting and state your intent to trade and possibly recruit. Do not make any sudden moves unless you are certain that there is more than one pair of eyes watching.
>>
No. 670015 ID: 149da0

>>669968
Scan her

Could this be Grace the Redeemer? Tall, dark haired and dark skinned fits the description we had before. If so, her waiting for you would make more sense.
>>
No. 670045 ID: 3009b4
File 144245980308.jpg - (455.75KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_36.jpg )
670045

** Scanning... **

The woman in question has a WIKI entry:

Name: Amy the Seamstress
Type: Half-Blood Serpentine

** ALERT ** : Amy is aware you just scanned her. Think fast as she is a competent fighter and is now hostile.

The offspring of Skyia (a dragoner) and Sir George of Dawnsin, a Rollen Knight. When she's not mending and sewing garments she acts as a special defender. She's known for having a somewhat erratic temperament, being an excellent fighter, and amongst other things she tends to take the law into her own hands. Despite being a known half-blood, the Welser community has accepted her as one of their own.

While Amy lacks a TEN connection she has the ability to sense connection points -- in the lingo of the locals, she has a 'sixth sense' and the ability to detect 'magic and sorcery' but in practical terms she's aware when TEN applications are used. With this in mind, it's not a good idea to have her be the target of applications without informing her first -- even a simple scan.

Additional information is unavailable due to ongoing WIKI update.


Even while hidden by the cloak, Sami notices that Amy's posture has changed and she seems to glare at *you* briefly.

Sami hisses mentally: Did you guys do something? She looks like she's ready for a fight!
>>
No. 670049 ID: 211d83

Woops tell her your guardian spirits are scan happy and should have asked first.

Tell her we apologize for scanning her without asking.
>>
No. 670055 ID: 149da0

>Did you guys do something? She looks like she's ready for a fight!
Um. We scanned her. Like we scan almost everything.

Results are she's a fae half blood, erratic temperament, accepted by the town, an excellent fighter.

...who's now hostile. Apparently she has a sixth sense that picked up on us doing that, and she doesn't appreciate 'magic' being done on her without her permission.

Sorry Sami. We messed up.

>what do
...a fight here would be bad. She's almost certainly better than you in a fight, and a confrontation with her is going to earn you disfavor with the town.

I suggest backing up, hands raised in front of you, apologizing profusely for the damn nosy spirits you picked up and are still struggling to teach basic damn manners to (feel free to let anger / annoyance at us show) and trying to even the blow by sharing who and what you are. Put her back on equal footing so the scan hasn't just unfairly exposed her.

Be ready to move if she just attacks.
>>
No. 670066 ID: 2ccbb3

Proceed to hug mini-Skyia.
>>
No. 670082 ID: ea0ad9

>Did you guys do something? She looks like she's ready for a fight!
Er, we looked at her wrong. Like, if you were to take a magnifying glass to somebody. She felt "Being watched" and knew where we were. We'll keep our glass off people now!
>>
No. 670083 ID: ea0ad9

*Private*
>Mentions of Mini-Skyia
Let's not. She's currently angry with us, let's not make her angry with Sami for revealing information early.
>>
No. 670084 ID: 2ccbb3

>>670083
Fair enough. HUG HER ANYWAY.
>>
No. 670120 ID: 7a6915

This lady may have been put here for reasons other than to respond to us, if there's bandits or other problems in the area.

"Sorry, that was a brief examination. I was coming to town mostly for supplies, and I wasn't expecting a shrouded figure who looks nearly as suspicious as a bandit to be standing guard. Is there an emergency?"
>>
No. 670203 ID: 3009b4
File 144252353460.jpg - (454.69KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_37.jpg )
670203

Sami, taking a submissive stance: Whoah, whoah, calm down -- I've got wild spirits following me and they just wanted a closer look at you is all!

Amy snarls.

Amy: Prove it, stranger.

Sami stares at her incredulously : They're invisible and they speak to me through some cursed coin. How can I do that?

Amy: Describe them. What do they tell you to do?

Sami sighs.

Sami: Most of them are... numbers? But there's one named Kome and he mostly babbles nonsense. He told me to hug you.

Amy's expression remains stone: That's ridiculous.

Sami: I'm serious. They mostly just want to help me. They seem to be able to combat evil spirits but other than that they just try to offer advice.

Amy stares at Sami like an experienced gambler at a high-stakes poker game, trying to judge a bluff. Finally, she seems to relax somewhat.

Amy: All right. You best keep your spirits to yourself, you understand? It is my job, especially my job, to protect this town from people like you -- people with a musical weapon like THAT. If you want in, you leave it in my care and I will walk with you. If the rest of Welser accepts you, or you leave, you can have it back. Are we in agreement?

Amy wants to hang on to the Siren's Axe while Sami is in town. It is not uncommon for a guardsperson to hold weapons for strangers in Rollen communities and they are careful to return them (as they also don't wish to disrupt possible trade). Sami is a bit hesitant though -- Amy's a half blood. She could be addled, and Sami should know -- she considers herself pretty addled too.
>>
No. 670210 ID: 2f4b71

>>670203
Agree, on the condition that Amy not touch or otherwise come into contact with them. She can probably guess where you arrived from, so explaining that they are curse-affected should be sufficient explanation. The flute is intimately tied to the Piper, and the Axe has at the very least been sitting in a cursed town for years and is linked to a curse-affected golem.
>>
No. 670211 ID: 869c77

Agree, but ask for a hug in return.
>>
No. 670218 ID: 2ccbb3

>>670203
Ask her if there is an armory nearby, you would store it there if the locks are acceptable.
>>
No. 670220 ID: 212dec

She's accepted by the community- to the point they sent her as a gatekeeper to trust letting you in. If she's going to treat you dishonestly, you pretty much already have Wesler itself against you. I'd hand off the axe and try not to worry too much.
>>
No. 670229 ID: 149da0

>>670203
If you really want to score trust points with her you not only comply with her request, you pull out the flute and hand that over too. You're carrying two supernatural weapons, and the flute is the one that can actually be used against the townies. Honoring the spirit of the agreement rather than sticking to the letter.

Honestly, it's not an unreasonable request to ask someone to disarm their magic weapons in a civilian area.

>Sami is a bit hesitant though -- Amy's a half blood. She could be addled, and Sami should know -- she considers herself pretty addled too.
Unless she knows the right songs, it's not as if the instruments hold any power in her hands.

>>670203
If you can, tell Amy we're sorry. We won't aim anything else in her direction without permission, and we won't do anything to the townspeople.

You should also probably introduce yourself, since our rudeness kind of skipped that step.
>>
No. 670232 ID: d66a73

>>670220
This. While she might not be friendly, we can tell that she is at least reliable from how the community trusts her as a gate guard. Also warn her about avoiding touching the axe, as it reacts to emotions or tension when held.
>>
No. 670233 ID: 066a87

Can you please ask her if they serve pina coladas here?
>>
No. 670256 ID: 7a6915

Tell her that's not the worst one, and she shouldn't touch either because they're cursed. Counter-propose leaving them in an armoury with sufficient protection to make sure nobody touches them. Add that if you're going to deal with the dragon that you might need one or both for that specifically at that time, but you don't have firm plans for that yet.
>>
No. 670299 ID: ea0ad9

>Agree, on the condition that Amy not touch or otherwise come into contact with them.
Does Sami have the means to wrap them up in something? They are dangerous to touch, but that is a meaningless condition without the means to wrap them up.
>>
No. 670332 ID: b9cef6

Of course.
But she has to promise not to play them. Just wrap them up and put them away. Who knows what could happen if someone who actually knows what they're doing got their hands on these?
>>
No. 670349 ID: 88960e

...I don't know if there's confusion here, or if you inexplicably think deliberately lying to someone we're on thin ice with and who has a supernatural sense is a good idea. The axe isn't cursed. Not like the gold was, anyways.
>>
No. 670379 ID: 7a6915

>>670349
*private*
Don't be silly. Sami is cursed, and I'm pretty sure everything amongst her belongings is at least a little touched by that, even if the guitar wasn't already cursed when she picked it up.
*/private*
I'm pretty sure it is at least a little, although we could double check that if you're unsure. It would be good form to ask our warden first before we do that, of course. I'd say we should word it as something like, "Curses are involved, I'm not sure I can detect them all either. For the safety of the town I'd sincerely suggest locking up everything magical I've got and making sure nobody but me touches it, but I can try to sort out the stuff that is more and less cursed if you like."
>>
No. 670381 ID: 3009b4
File 144260935640.jpg - (432.05KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_38.jpg )
670381

Sami: Here. I should warn you, the Siren's Axe seems to amplify my emotions. I don't think it's cursed, but be careful how you handle it.

Amy nods. As Sami passes the instrument to her, a spark tingles through her and down her back. She keeps this to herself, and if Amy felt anything similar she also keeps it concealed.

Amy: Thank-you. You'll understand if I stick near you for awhile, considering you're carrying around an artifact that was last seen in a cursed village that nobody in their right mind goes near. My name's Amy, by the way. Amy the Seamstress.

Sami: I grew up there.

There's a pause as Amy looks Sami up and down.

Amy: You must be Sami Jones, then.

Sami looks at her suspiciously: ... I have a reputation?

Amy: You're the only survivor after the incident where Pied Piper drowned all the other children. The ONLY survivor as the Piper himself met a grisly end. Yes, you have a reputation -- especially here in Welser. What are you doing back? Also what's with your eyes?

Sami is taken aback.

Amy: Your weird blue eyes changed after handing the guitar over. I guess you've not looked in a mirror recently.

Sami shakes her head.

Sami: No, I've been busy trying to lift the town's curse after being almost killed by golems, collapsing floors, leapers, and some poor addled wayward soul who had the terrible idea of camping out there. So no, I've not had the chance to look in a mirror, I have been busy.

Amy shrugs.

Amy: What for?

Sami stares at her in disbelief.

Sami: Wh... are you mocking me?

Amy is nonchalant and matter-of-face: No. I believe you. I just want to know why you'd come back to try to lift a curse from the place that nearly killed you once already. Are you looking to die in a poetic way?

Sami puts her hands on her hips and glares at her, leans in and... doesn't know what to say. She's angry but she's not sure which she's angrier at -- Amy's casual disinterest in her adventures or the fact that she could be right.

Something seems to dawn on Amy that perhaps she's being rude and she offers a sheepish smile.

Amy: I'm sorry... I was brought up in unusual circumstances and I'm used to... things. It's just that it's entirely possible you're cursed yourself and that's why you've come back despite the danger. I don't know why it take ten years but curses are funny things, right?

Sami sighs and relaxes somewhat.

Sami: Maybe. Look, I've got a lot to do and you're not really helping. I'm pretty sure the Siren's Axe important somehow so unless you've got advice...

Amy: I do.

Sami: What?

Amy: Bathe.

Sami glares at her.

Amy: You've been travelling a lot, you've been knocked to the ground a lot, and you reek of the dried sweat of torment. One of the main signs of being cursed is letting one's appearance go. Also I'm still not 100% trusting you yet -- you seem nice mind -- so if I'm going to be standing around you a lot I want you to smell better. There's a bath house not far from here and I will treat you if you don't have the money to clean up.

Sami looks at her suspiciously.

Sami: Awfully generous thing to do for a complete stranger you were just about to pick a fight with. Being in a bath leaves me pretty vulnerable, sweetheart.

Amy: I'll go with you. You can keep an eye on me the entire time. Besides, your stuff's safer under my care. Everyone's still a little afraid of me so they won't cross me.

Sami: Yeah? Well I'm not afraid of you. I've dealt with a wall-smashing giant stone monster, two ghosts and several nightmares. A pretty little half-blood like you isn't exactly intimidating.

Amy rolls her eyes and smiles when Sami bristles.

Amy: Why don't you try hugging me like your spirits suggest, then? *her voice gets icy* See what happens.

Sami: I think I actually kind of like her. I've never met another half-blood before. I hear we're all kind of addled, I know I'm kind of addled... but it's not as bad as I thought. What do you lot think?
>>
No. 670384 ID: 2ccbb3

>>670381
Sami, weird people are still people. You just react to their antics based on personal experience and hope for the best. In this case, Amy's been doing almost everything right.

You may want to disconnect from us (leave the coin in a safe or something) while you take that bath. We don't want to be disrespectful in that regard if you mind.
>>
No. 670397 ID: 149da0

>Your weird blue eyes changed after handing the guitar over. I guess you've not looked in a mirror recently.
From like a bright cyan to a blue grey, if you were wondering.

>Bathe
Honestly, that's really not a bad idea now that you've reached civilization. It'll be nice and relaxing, and there's no point in going shopping and trying to barter with a massive charisma penalty.

...I am kind of laughing at the idea that getting naked in the bathhouse together has become a trust exercise, though. That sounds more like the silly kind of idea we would provide.

>Well I'm not afraid of you. I've dealt with a wall-smashing giant stone monster, two ghosts and several nightmares. A pretty little half-blood like you isn't exactly intimidating.
Dunno, wasn't it a pretty little half blood who got the best of that stone monster, the ghosts an nightmares?

>Sami: I think I actually kind of like her. I've never met another half-blood before. I hear we're all kind of addled, I know I'm kind of addled... but it's not as bad as I thought. What do you lot think?
Honestly, I half hoped you might have that reaction. She's a peer you've never really had the chance to have.

Personally, I like her too. Sure, she's a little off, but in a fun way. (Kind of like us)!
>>
No. 670398 ID: d66a73

I am tempted to ask about Grace the weaver, but I am pretty sure that would not go over well since a fae who's job is to threaten the populace is most likely the enemy of a village guardian.

> I've dealt with a wall-smashing giant stone monster, two ghosts and several nightmares. A pretty little half-blood like you isn't exactly intimidating.
Those threats could have said the same about you before you beat them.
>>
No. 670466 ID: 066a87

What about the pina coladas!? Come on, you're killing me here, just ask her!
>>
No. 670493 ID: ea0ad9

>What do you lot think?
I think you should compromise our suggestion and her invite with both of yours' reluctance: Shake hands. Why? Because she's a pretty little halfling lass, she is.
Also, go for the bath. It will hurt your reputation and negotiations if you look as "Adventurous" as she claims.
>>
No. 670633 ID: 3009b4
File 144270186115.jpg - (447.67KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_39.jpg )
670633

Sami and Amy head down the road near a tavern, from which the nutty, heavy smell of roasted grains and barley wafts out. Sami notices that the chatter of the bar quiets as they pass by. While being suspicious of strangers is not uncommon in Rollen culture, Sami knows that even more eyes are on her because of who she is travelling with.

The bath house is very close to the tavern -- which makes sense for dusty travellers. The old couple that run the bath house make little small talk and are quiet in a way that just amplifies how much of an outsider she is... perhaps Amy too.

Once inside, Amy puts the guitar out near Sami where she can see it.

Sami: Is that good for it?

Amy: It's an artifact. Normal musical instruments can't be used as weapons. It's called a Siren's Axe for a reason.

Sami undresses and is surprised to see Amy begin to do the same.

Amy: This way it's even. We'll both be equally vulnerable.

Sami nods appreciatively. As Amy slips out of her clothes, Sami can't help but notice how smooth her skin looks. She feels her cheeks flush as she notices that Amy does not seem to have any pubic hair.

Sami: Amy, if you don't mind me asking -- how old are you?

Amy: I'm 23. No, I don't have any body hair. It's from my mother, same with my curly hair and eyes. Just like your eyes are from your own heritage. I'm just more unfortunate that my traits are so obvious.

Sami turns away, embarrassed that Amy knew exactly what she glanced at. She leaves the coin quiet close by, afraid to let it out of her sight.

Amy: What's that?

Sami: A cursed coin. It's got the Death's Head on it. I was given it by some strange trite when I was little, before everything went to hell. Bad things happen to me when I try to get rid of it and it always comes back to me. It... could also be fatal to anyone who picks it up if the wild spirits know what they're talking about.

Amy: Here I thought my life was complicated. Thanks for the perspective.

Sami sinks into the hot water. It looks like it's either got a natural spring source, or it's piped from somewhere that does.

As she scrubs up, she comments on the water's quality and Amy replies that it was developed by some of her town's scientists.

Amy: Bordertowns like Welser get to play with more foreign technologies.

Sami: Yeah. It's why we had golems.

Amy: We do too. Some of the scientists from your old town brought a few with them but they went berserk and had to be put down. That's when people really stopped going near Ronnalin.

Amy stretches. She seems to be more interested in soaking up warmth than washing.

Amy: So Sami... tell me about yourself. Why do your eyes change colour? Did you even know they did? How old are you? What do you do, and what are you doing here?

Sami's voice is icy: You're getting rather personal, Amy.

Amy: I'm naked too. Nothing is hidden. I need to investigate you anyway, you come from a cursed town and we're wary of it spreading. Besides, you've already taken a good look at me. Fair's fair.

Sami's brow furrows but she's been caught dead to rights. Her embarrassment melts any frost she could have held in reserve for her tone.

Sami: I didn't know my eyes did that. I don't like to look in mirrors since I lost all my friends and I don't like the water.

Amy cocks her head to one side curiously.

Amy: You don't seem to have any issue stepping into the bath. I think you rather like the water.

Sami: I've always been told to stay away from natural running water, like in rivers, swamps, or oceans. All my friends drowned.

Amy: It sounds to me that the problem is you *like* the water but the same time you discovered it something terrible happened too.

Sami sighs and nods.

Amy: I have experience in that area. Not the water, but finding out that some things I like have a catch to them. First experiences take awhile to get over.

Amy reaches over -- she has a startlingly long reach and it takes Sami a moment to realize that she actually briefly stretched out farther than should have been possible -- and pulls the guitar near them.

Amy: Your eyes get brighter and more blue as this gets closer. Nothing happens to me, so I think the Siren's Axe has a special connection to you. It could be that your faerie blood gets stronger or it could be something to do with your soul.

Sami: I can't define what a soul is. I guess music is a part of me though.

Amy: Mmmm... I think it's part of your soul. Sometimes skills that are just expressions of who we are.

Sami folds her arms, unconvinced but inside she's analyzing everything Amy's said. She doesn't like being the center of an analysis; maybe she should investigate Amy and even the scales a little.
>>
No. 670641 ID: 2ccbb3

*Private*
Maybe we should stay quiet. Sami might hate us if she finds out about this.

I'd ask about where to find acceptable food and lodging... AFTER the bath.
*/Private*
>>
No. 670665 ID: 3009b4

>Maybe we should stay quiet. Sami might hate us if she finds out about this.

Sami: Amy, do you mind that I've brought my wild spirits in here with us? I'm pretty sure some of them are male.

Amy: Have they made any rude comments?

Sami: No, they've gone rather quiet.

Amy: Then they're a little prudish, in which case I don't mind. It's not as if they can do anything. Did you know they're completely reliant on you to impact the world at all?

Sami: What do you mean?

Amy: Without you, they can't touch this world at all. They're not really independent creatures. We can't harm them but they really can't harm us without a host. As far as I know, they rarely ever try to do serious harm to their host.

Sami: This... would have been better to know earlier. How do you know all these things?

Amy: Despite what you might hear otherwise, my parents *own* this town. My father is mortal and he taught my mother love, compassion and compromise. He is a great, brave man. My mother is the one that wields the power though. Together, they protect this place from outside threats and mismanagement from the town's council. Did you know how corrupt your councils really are?

Sami: Yes I do. The ghost of the mayor's chained by his mistakes. He's been very kind to me though.

Amy is a little surprised and perhaps a bit disappointed, as with that last statement Sami seems to have taken some of the wind out of her sails, or at least shown that she's not the only one with special knowledge.

Amy: Oh... well... my parents see to it that something like that will never happen here. I act as the liaison between the hard working people who live here and the authority that keeps those that think they have the right to rule in check. Your fae blood... it's a bit distant, yes?

Sami: Yeah, a few generations back.

Amy: I bet your grandparents knew a lot more lore than they told you. Ignorance makes for good camouflage, especially if you're not in a position of power.

Sami gets the sneaking suspicion that Amy is both very proud of her place in this town, but also making sure Sami knows that any nonsense will not be tolerated. Still, judging by the townspeople's reactions to her... Sami suspects that Amy is also probably lonely. It's hard to make real friends when you're also the town terror. She knows what that's like after her family left Ronnalin.
>>
No. 670673 ID: 0ee153

We technically are independent creatures, got our own lives and all, but yes, the only way we can interact with your world is through speaking to you and looking at your immediate vicinity.

Might as well ask her where a decent place to get food, drink, and lodging is.
>>
No. 670694 ID: 149da0

>Then they're a little prudish, in which case I don't mind
Pff. Nah. Kome just suggested we be quiet and respectful and give you guys some space and it literally shocked us into speechlessness.

>She doesn't like being the center of an analysis; maybe she should investigate Amy and even the scales a little.
Honestly, a little introspection and/or a fresh perspective on your problems could hardly hurt. Although there's nothing wrong with trying to learn about her if you're interested.

>Without you, they can't touch this world at all. They're not really independent creatures. We can't harm them but they really can't harm us without a host.
Yeah, even the spirit stuff we go for you, where you don't even have to lift a finger? We couldn't even do that if we were truly alone. We need a partner / champion / host to be able to interact with the world.

>Sami gets the sneaking suspicion that [...]
I'd say that assessment is dead on. You're not half bad at reading people!

Wouldn't be the worst thing if you made a friend. Or someone besides us who might give a damn if you come back the next time you decide to tangle with the curse.
>>
No. 670700 ID: 0f1c4d

(Oh, I got the names confused. Skylia is the dragon we were here to see, Grace is a redeemer or something.)
It sounds like she is on good terms with Skylia. We should eventually ask whether we can talk to her parents about the curse, and how to continue in resolving it.

>Sami suspects that Amy is also probably lonely. It's hard to make real friends when you're also the town terror.
You know, that brings up the question of what your plans are for after the whole curse thing.
>>
No. 670769 ID: ea0ad9

Sami, do you know what her Fae blood is? I'm wondering if she was raised to ignore the stigma of her bloodline, or if her bloodline is a proud one.
>>
No. 670772 ID: 7a6915

>>670700
Grace the Redeemer is not yet in evidence besides messages left long ago at the Redeemer shrine. Amy the weaver seems to be of no relation. Her mother seems to be the local dragon.
That makes Amy someone to talk to about if, and how, we should talk to the dragon--her mother. We could also do worse than asking her what she's figured out about how to be at peace with living as a partial-outsider in Rollen culture.
Also, careful... I'm not certain whether or not Amy is trying to seduce you, Sami.
>>
No. 670788 ID: 3009b4
File 144273544158.jpg - (399.45KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_40.jpg )
670788

>You know, that brings up the question of what your plans are for after the whole curse thing.

Sami has no idea, actually. One thing at a time.

>Sami, do you know what her Fae blood is? I'm wondering if she was raised to ignore the stigma of her bloodline, or if her bloodline is a proud one.

Sami: Amy, what is your bloodline? You're unlike anyone I've ever met before.

Amy smiles.

Amy: Well, my mother is this half snake, half fae woman. She can shape-shift as required like most fae. That's why my ears are so tiny and my eyes are reptilian. Also why I can taste the air. You smell a lot better now, by the way.

>Also, careful... I'm not certain whether or not Amy is trying to seduce you, Sami.

Sami feels Amy drape her arm across her shoulders. Sami's had men do the same thing, but the way Amy does so lacks the heaviness theirs did. Either Amy isn't as confident or she's not sure of her social skills.

Still, her skin is soft and smoother than Sami's used to. She's been told her own skin is soft but she might actually notice the lack of hair on Amy's body. The sensation is ... curious and it gives Sami goosebumps even while soaking in the hot water.

Sami: M-My family was always taught to conceal our fae blood. Is that why you wear that cloak?

Amy nods.

Sami: Was it difficult for the community to accept you?

Amy closes her eyes and grins wickedly.

Amy: They started out afraid. Some of them are still afraid. Mother was always feared and I think she always will be. Father changed her though. Did you know he was hired to kill her? But he was a very different man. He serenaded her and asked her why she menaced the town, and she told him about the crimes the mayor had ordered -- shaking down travellers under false accusations using the guard. They felt they were on the same side, so they worked together to force out the old council... and they liked it. Pretty soon I came into the picture. Father wanted everyone to know who I was so they'd know not to trifle with me.

Amy's eyes are still closed but her smile fades.

In some ways that was good because I was safe, but... I didn't get to play with anyone my age except maybe the rougher ones whose parents didn't seem to care. That's how I learned to fight. I liked some of them even though they could be cruel, because at least they were brave enough to be around me. But I didn't like how they'd pick on the weakest kids... they were usually like me, outcast and alone. That isolated me from my friends though, and the weak kids were afraid... so I only had a handful of friends who were either brave, rough but good or desperate and neglected.


Amy turns and looks at Sami with cautious hope in her eyes. Sami knows the next move is on her.

She'd *love* a new friend but the fact that Amy's got her arm draped over her in the bath makes her think she might want something a little different. She's... heard of women who are intimate with other women. She's always been taught to avoid them and that it was wrong, that it was something only ignorant people like the cloppers and trites would tolerate. That the only people who did that sort of thing were unable to attract anyone and were so desperate they turned to their own gender.

Amy is odd looking. She has strange, tiny ears and reptilian eyes and her skin's like a trite. But Sami's been with a trite man and she liked his funny pointed ears, his soft beard and odd skin. She's been with a Mericudian and she liked the way he would kiss her in private places and how heavy he was against her body. She would never, ever tell anyone this but these memories have flooded back to her so strong she's broadcasting to you.

And Sami knows what it's like to be lonely, and not have anyone to play with.

Her heart goes out to Amy, but if she's reading Amy right, she wants something more intimate than friendship. And that strikes her odd -- why would she think Sami would reciprocate? Is she just desperate and hoping or...

Sami: Do... do I look like woman who would be intimate with another woman? Guys? I... I don't think I...

Sami's suddenly not so sure. The idea... is forbidden and it makes her stomach flip in the same way that swings used to make it flip when she was going fast and high with her eyes closed.

Sami: Spirits, do you have any idea of what I should do? I... I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt Amy, I've BEEN there... been lonely and lost, I mean. Hell, I'm still there right now. I barely even know her but I just KNOW she's telling me the truth. I think she knows 'cause I'm half-blood too. What if I'm reading her wrong though? She seems socially awkward and she's probably addled too. I don't want to hurt her and I don't want to jump to the wrong conclusion...
>>
No. 670789 ID: 2ccbb3

...wow.

Okay, my advice? According to what I've read, building relationships based on your trauma and self-hatred seems to be destructive. But sometimes, it's the only thing you've got.

As for the girl thing... that's your decision, YOUR preference. Not someone else's. If you don't want to have a girlfriend because you don't feel good when you think about it, fine. If you want to hold her and need us to back the @#$% off, we're good. But don't let words command your instincts; words must shape the instincts themselves, otherwise you'll have a raging beast doped on painkillers and ready to burst out of that flimsy tin cage you call self-restraint.

Again.

As for Amy, it's obvious that she's spinning a tale of the lonely little rich girl who was so powerful that anything genuine blew away at the sheer force of her will, leaving behind training gear that only made her stronger as she tried to earn the power to make a real friend, only to earn the respect and fear of everyone around her instead. How much of that story is real? I get the feeling that she isn't telling you something.

If you want to try out a relationship, do something flirty but do not go too far, not yet. If you want to back away, then just back away and make friends, chat about stuff, be professional.
>>
No. 670810 ID: 1d55f0

There is nothing wrong about being with the same gender. Sure, that's what you were taught, but they weren't right about everything, were they?
Smile at her maybe, lean into her arm??
>>
No. 670838 ID: ea0ad9

The reason people looked down upon same-sex relationships is that they produce no offspring. However, you should not start one just because a person's the first in a long while to show you some attention. If you feel like it might grow into something, let her know, but regardless, tell her first that you don't think you should just jump into things so quickly. To ensure a relationship is a working one, two people should first try just being friends.
>>
No. 670859 ID: e607cd

Just be honest with her. Gentle, but honest. I mean maybe you could try the just looking visibly uncomfortable card and see how she responds, but direct communication can be good. Presumably that means telling her how nice it is to meet and talk to someone with similar experiences, but you are not sure you're comfortable with being this close to her. If you're willing to be convinced, then by all means mention that, but man or woman, if advances are not reciprocated, then that should be the end of the story.

Of course, it is also possible she has some snake-based instincts to wrap around things and we are all reading too much into this. That's one reason to phrase it as "being close to her."
>>
No. 670864 ID: 0f1c4d

>She's always been taught to avoid them and that it was wrong, that it was something only ignorant people like the cloppers and trites would tolerate.
People say that because of the same instinct that assumes anything unusual is automatically evil, whether foreigners, fae, halfbloods or whatever. By now you have plenty of firsthand experience with the flaws of that mentality. (And don't get me started about people who say its not natural, when 'natural' is such a nebulous term that basically anything can be spun as either natural or unnatural.)
In the end whether or not you are interested in her is up to you, and you should not feel pressured either way.

>That the only people who did that sort of thing were unable to attract anyone and were so desperate they turned to their own gender.
Actually some of them have the opposite problem, where they are only attracted to the same gender and then people of the opposite gender being attracted to them can get really awkward.
>>
No. 670866 ID: 149da0

>Do... do I look like woman who would be intimate with another woman? Guys?
I'm afraid that's not the kind of thing that comes up on a scan.

Kidding aside, that's a question I'm not sure we can answer. Appearances are an unreliable measure for that kind of thing at best; what matters is what you feel, and we shouldn't be telling you what your feelings should be.

>The idea... is forbidden
That shouldn't bother you, despite what you may have been taught. There's nothing wrong with it.

>What if I'm reading her wrong though? She seems socially awkward and she's probably addled too. I don't want to hurt her and I don't want to jump to the wrong conclusion...
Well, it's not generally the most suave or romantic option, but if you're really unsure as to her intentions there's nothing stopping you from asking. (Are you coming on to me, are you saying what I think you're saying, etc).

Asking the embarrassing question might be better than jumping to conclusions, if that's really your biggest concern. And not well, self doubt, or uncertainty that you want what you think she's offering.
>>
No. 670868 ID: 0ee153

There's nothing wrong with it, but if you aren't attracted to her or comfortable with the idea of having sex at the moment, it's not compulsory either.
>>
No. 671487 ID: 3009b4
File 144289161202.jpg - (456.44KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_41.jpg )
671487

Sami leans closer to Amy, whose face flushes and she looks at Sami hopefully.

Sami: Amy... um... how should I put this... are... are you romantically attracted to me?

Amy nods slowly.

Amy: I'm translated:a lesbian. Does this bother you?

Sami smiles reassuringly, but then turns away while biting her lip as her heart begins to race. She's appreciated the female form for some time but her upbringing made her repress these thoughts. Suddenly, far from home and away from anyone's judgement, she has the opportunity to explore and the idea makes her tremble.

Sami: No, no.

She turns back and smiles.

Amy: Are you?

Sami: I don't know, Amy. I was raised to...

Amy: Everyone was raised that way. Father was raised that way, but Mother reminded him that she was taught to never associate too closely with mortals, so they understand I'm different. I know it bothers Father (I think he blames himself, which is stupid) but I can't change who I am. I'm already a monster's daughter to this town, a friendly monster but I'm still so alien to them. I've... I've had little trists with a few unhappy girls in secret, under cover of darkness. But I can't ever have a real relationship because they have reputations to keep up. They've gotten married and had children and put up a good face, and then sometimes they see me when they can't bear it anymore. But they never acknowledge me in public. Worse is I think people suspect so I can never seem to have any female friends anymore. I know some of the braver men are interested in me but I'm not interested in them.

Amy's keeping her voice quiet and restrained but the tension increases as she talks.

Sami: So... so did you just take a chance with me?

Amy: Well... you seemed different, and not just because you're half-blood... although I kind of hoped that being half-blood might mean it was a possibility. When you saw me, you didn't show fear, not like others have. And then when we were getting into the bath, I saw the way you looked at me. You looked at my secret place and... you seemed to like what you saw.

Sami blushes. So apparently Amy DID catch her observation of her lack of body hair. She smiles to herself and then takes Amy's hand. She's seen ghosts, she's fought golems, she's been attacked by her own past and tormented by a curse. In comparison, a little exploration of a forbidden relationship should be child's play and Sami would love to have a friend that might understand what she's been through. But Amy's seems like she's been hurt, so Sami decides that she's going to have to be very honest at the same time: This is an experiment.

Sami: Amy. You need to know I don't normally do this and I do like men, and I have had several affairs with them. But if you are still interested... I'm more than willing to give it a go and I will be your friend regardless. I don't have a good reputation, and it's just something I've learned to deal with. Are you OK with that.

Amy smiles in relief and nods.

Amy: I'm just glad you... didn't react like some other women have.

Sami smiles confidently now: You are beautiful, Amy. Your hair is gorgeous, your eyes are like nothing I've ever seen and your skin is so soft that I would love to explore every inch of it.

Amy blushes profusely a turns away, embarrassed.

Sami: Let's not cheapen the moment by doing anything here though. I've heard things about how certain men do things in bath houses and I'd like my first intimacy with a woman to be a little less crass or rushed.

** Suggestions can be made at this spot and will be illustrated, but this follows regardless...**

Amy nods. They finish bathing, but the relationship is different and when their bath is done, Amy gives Sami her guitar back. Clearly there are no further trust issues, and she invites Sami to have dinner with her family.

Amy: If you're anything like me, a regular person's diet is a bit lacking for you and you might like what we have better.
>>
No. 671524 ID: 2ccbb3

Politely decline the dinner part. Amy's parents run the town, if they have a heart attack or feel paranoid it might cause damage to the civilians. They need to know about this, but if you use that knowledge as a weapon you risk Welser's safety.

But yeah, try a sleep-over. With pillow fights. Also, you're going to need cheese and Amy's buying, why not order pasta at the local restaurant?
>>
No. 671547 ID: 149da0

You asked her what she wanted, and you were honest. That's about as well as that could have been handled, I think. Proud of you.

>she invites Sami to have dinner with her family
Well, it will probably be a better meal than you'd get otherwise, and more social contact has to be a good thing.

Plus, it gives you an excuse to meet the town's dragon. How can you turn down a dinner invitation to a dragon's den? It's bound to be enlightening.

I, uh, don't think we're gonna end up passing on much of that gossip Billie would like to hear, though. Getting involved with one of the subjects of said gossip rather compromises one's willingness to do so.
>>
No. 671680 ID: 7a6915

This is a question of romance, and most of us know that a person's emotions dominate in this sort of thing. Frankly, I was worried that she might be trying to seduce us in order to give others a chance to go through our stuff, but if there's truth in the story she's telling that wouldn't be much of a risk. Hold on.
*private*
Should we look up Amy the Seamstress?
*/private*
Amy has additional... information we can access which isn't connected to her. I don't know if she--or her mother--has a way of checking whether we look that up or not. We're considering investigating this. Your thoughts before we go waltzing into a dragon's den for dinner?
>>
No. 671686 ID: 149da0

>>671680
Detecting an scan directed at you is very different from passively monitoring search terms on independent networks. I'd be skeptical that individual fae would devote resources to make sure they knew whenever anyone accessed an article about them on the CAT's network.

It's a moot point till the wiki update is complete.
>>
No. 671689 ID: 6ea81d

Actually, I think dinner is a great idea... not so sure about meeting the folks, but MEAT.

You should probably take the time at some point to ask about the scientists who came to Wesler about ten years ago now?
>>
No. 671697 ID: f4b76f

Free food is nice and meeting with her mother was one of our main goals in coming here, so dinner sounds great.

>I, uh, don't think we're gonna end up passing on much of that gossip Billie would like to hear, though.
To be fair, the chances of us reporting a fae for caring too much about mortals were rather low to begin with.
>>
No. 671751 ID: 3009b4

>It's a moot point till the wiki update is complete.

** The CAT WIKI is being updated right now based on Sami's interactions with Amy, if that helps clarify things. **

>Frankly, I was worried that she might be trying to seduce us in order to give others a chance to go through our stuff, but if there's truth in the story she's telling that wouldn't be much of a risk.

Sami: If she were a handsome man that might be more likely but she's a half-blood and thieves generally don't like to stick out like that.

>Actually, I think dinner is a great idea... not so sure about meeting the folks, but MEAT.

Sami: You read my mind. Wait -- did you actually read my mind? Nevermind, don't answer. But I'm honestly hoping she's as carnivorous as she looks. I don't like to tell people this but I really like trite cooking.

>You should probably take the time at some point to ask about the scientists who came to Wesler about ten years ago now?

Sami: I will.
>>
No. 671768 ID: 149da0

>>671751
Sami, it don't take magic to read things written as plain as day.
>>
No. 671860 ID: 7a6915

Sami, ask us later for recipes if you're bored or need some. In the meanwhile we've got folks to prepare to visit I guess. Any word on when that would be and if we should go shopping in the meanwhile? I mean, I'm just guessing here that Amy is not gonna make on you in the bathhouse.
*private*
-Look up Amy the Seamstress
\-Look up the mother of Amy the Seamstress
*/private*
>>
No. 671905 ID: 066a87

I wonder if you'll be the first girl she's brought to meet mother and father like this? It sounds like every other dalliance she's had would have wanted the utmost secrecy.
>>
No. 671961 ID: 3009b4
File 144303599044.jpg - (477.84KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_42.jpg )
671961

Sami and Amy get dressed and leave the bath house. As they travel towards Amy's home, Sami is aware of the number of eyes on them. There are no whispers or gossip, but the silence says everything that needs to be said.

She's used to the silence of being a stranger, but this is more than common.

Amy lives outside of town -- they walk to the border where the terrain gets rocky and rough. The path becomes overgrown in places, although it's clear someone maintains it so it's not treacherous at night. They go up a rocky hillside, past several caves on their right, until they reach a hemmed in area where the earth and stone juts out of the ground in unnatural ways.

A short distance in, the ground levels off. They past a small, surprisingly healthy garden and then they interrupt Amy's parents, Skyia and George.

Skyia chimes in a light voice as she ruffles her husband's hair: Hi sweetie! Who's your new friend?

George is less nonchalant. He spends a moment trying to look a little more presentable before giving up and locking Sami with what can be described as "The Girlfriend's Dad Staredown". Sami likes him immediately and gives him a disarming smile in return, which catches him off-guard.

Amy: Mother, Father, this is Sami Jones of Ronnalin.

It takes a moment and then both parents give Sami a startled look of recognition, although Skyia leads her husband by a good minute.

Skyia, in a less bright tone: Ohh, you're...

Sami nods grimly: The lone child survivor, yes.

Skyia doesn't miss a beat, her voice much darker and serious: And the Piper's executioner.

This time Sami is taken aback, but seeing that she is not unknown decides there's no point in sidestepping around anything and nods.

Sami: Yes. When I drowned, I changed and I killed him.

Skyia holds up her hand and smiles politely.

Skyia: Well, no need to go into details -- let's just say I know the story and it's my responsibility to ensure something like that never happens again. Sami my dear, you look absolutely haggard. I suppose these last ten years have been rough on you.

Sami nods.

George suddenly speaks.

George: And how is it you've come to know my daughter?

Amy steps forward.

Amy: We met outside of town. Scouts told me that a half-blood carrying something unusual was approaching so I felt it best to meet the stranger. She gave me the Siren's Axe without resistance, and we had a chat and then I sent her to the bath house because she had been travelling for two days and you could smell it. Afterwards I gave it back to her because she's clearly not going to cause any trouble.

George: And why are you here, Sami?

Sami: I've come to resupply, honestly. I'm trying to lift the curse on my home town. I've been pulled here and I can't rest until this is finally taken care of. After running from golems, parlaying with ghosts, and being assaulted by raging cursed spirits my own resources have just about run out. I'm hoping that maybe some of the scientists that moved here could help, and it's been really good to talk to another half-blood.

George studies her and then nods approvingly. He then cocks his head to one side.

George: You're a musician?

Sami nods.

George: Can you play the axe?

Sami shakes her head.

Sami: Looking to learn, honestly. I was more or less given it by the ghost of the old mayor of Ronnalin. I think it's important to lifting the curse but I've no idea how and I can't seem to use it.

George nods but says nothing else.

Sami sees Amy and Skyia exchange a glance -- Amy nods and Skyia smiles with approval. Then Amy turns to Sami and just smiles sweetly, but she's blushing and it spreads over to Sami as well. George looks up to his wife and she playfully swats him on his head.

Amy: Mother, Father, I've invited Sami to dinner if that's OK.

Skyia nods and speaks with the tone of someone who clearly wears the pants in the household, despite obvious physical impossibilities: Of COURSE! We'll get ready on dinner for four tonight then.

Sami regards Skyia curious and whispers to Amy: "Umm.... how did... I can't see how..."

Amy whispers back: "She can shape-shift like most fae, silly girl. Tsk, what you lose in a few generations."

Sami shrugs.

Sami: I'm... sort of surprised you're an only child. If you don't mind me saying so, you come from very pleasing stock.

Amy: Well it's not for lack of trying. There must be something that makes conception difficult. Mother isn't very modest so I just try to... avoid thinking about.

** WIKI ENTRY on SKYIA will be available in DISCUSSION **
>>
No. 672045 ID: 149da0

Snake! And a fun one too.

Haha, wow, it sure looks like we walked into the middle of something.

Sami, these people are adorable. All three of them. I say keep them.
>>
No. 672122 ID: 7a6915

Snake lady... if dinner is badger and mushrooms I will laugh.

Oh, and do explain that you were taught to hide your heritage and from it. Add that your first significant experience with its details (not counting being told to always stay away from the river) was being called along with all the other children in town to drown, somehow not drowning, and then... things you don't really want to think of, let alone talk about. It's pretty obvious that Skyia has at best an uncertain grasp of the fact that your killing of the Piper was self-defense against your would-be murderer after he had already murdered all your friends.
>>
No. 672128 ID: 2ccbb3

>>671961
And THAT ladies and gentlemen is why DENTISTRY is a RICH and FULFILLING MEDICAL PRACTICE

Sami I'm talking about the teeth. Did Skyia get her fangs removed or blunted? Because it looks like George is suffering from advanced venom poisoning.

Alright, first few topics:

1) Rules of Welser
2) Rules of Fae (in regards to what you are capable of doing)
3) How do we bend these rules to our whim?

You may want to alert Skyia that we'll poke her with scan attempts unless she specifically says no. No sugarcoating it, the correct keywords are "The jesters following me are using the TEN to scan EVERYTHING".

Then ask if you can sleep over.
>>
No. 672535 ID: 3009b4
File 144316456246.jpg - (461.50KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_43.jpg )
672535

>Oh, and do explain that you were taught to hide your heritage and from it. Add that your first significant experience with its details (not counting being told to always stay away from the river) was being called along with all the other children in town to drown, somehow not drowning, and then... things you don't really want to think of, let alone talk about. It's pretty obvious that Skyia has at best an uncertain grasp of the fact that your killing of the Piper was self-defense against your would-be murderer after he had already murdered all your friends.

Skyia and George are busy getting dinner ready and it seems that Sami and Amy have purposely been given some private time to chat. Still, Skyia sticks her head in from time to time to listen or add to the conversation and Sami is aware that George is also listening carefully, even as he wrestles with something in the kitchen.

Sami: I think I should explain a little about myself. I don't want you thinking what I did was my normal self, ma'm.

Skyia smiles in a motherly way.

Skyia: You were a child, dear. Now that I know a little about children I have no pity for the Piper at all. Still, I wouldn't mind hearing how the lone survivor turned out.

Sami lowers her head.

Sami: Not very well, ma'm. I got into drink, dreamtime, and I made myself available to boys and even outsider men.

Amy: Why? You're stronger than all of them.

Sami: Anything to forget what happened. And nothing worked. I barely feel the hardest alcohol and I need clopper-strength dreamtime to really relax. Nothing works. I don't even get sick from any of it.

A thought seems to strike Skyia.

Skyia: Resistances like that don't sound like they're from your fae blood, or at least not from it alone.

Sami: Well, I have this.

Sami pulls a leather pouch out from underneath her shirt and shows them her token of Death, the gold coin. Skyia eyes go like saucers and she slides back quickly before looking into Sami's eyes -- sad and tired -- before relaxing a little.

Skyia: Token of Death. Sami... you're marked. How long have you had that?

Sami: Since I was eight.

Skyia nods grimly.

Skyia: Tokens of Death do strange things, and yours seems to have made you resist compromising your mind or body. Someone has a plan for you.

Her voice becomes very soft.

Skyia: You've... not come for me, have you?

Sami: What? No... NO! No, I'm NOT a monster! I don't want to hurt anyone!

Sami's panicked outburst actually calms Skyia down and she puts a gentle hand on Sami's shoulder in an effort to spread the tranquility.

Skyia: No, you're not a monster. Take it from an expert. Most mortals that carry a Death Token are usually a serious threat, but I didn't think it'd be an issue for me now that my life is bound to George. Mortal life isn't as fragile or threatening as I thought. Keep that a secret, mind.

Skyia goes back to the kitchen, but she tells Sami to continue.

Sami continues on about her childhood -- how as the lone survivor everyone paid attention to her, and it eventually got too much and her family moved like many others. She talks about how since a small child she was warned to never go near rivers, streams, swamps or oceans because it was poison to her faerie blood.

She explains how drowning triggered an uncontrollable transformation. She went from being terrified, helpless in the river's grip, swirling around with the other drowning or drowned children, to having incredible power. It was like she could fly, and as she flew she saw her friends carried down stream behind her. She saw her best friend in the whole world, Rosemary, eyes wide open and jaw slack. At that moment, it was like she was just a passenger in her body, like she was dreaming of being someone else, someone angry, raw and about to do something horrible. She flew upstream and saw her would-be killer. She remembers how he tried to defend himself but she was so fast and before she knew it, he was trying to push her off him. She remembers that has he tried to push her head away she simply bit down through his fingers and swallowed their flesh and bone. She remembers biting down upon the stump, tearing away at him and laughing madly at his fear. She felt intense pleasure at being able to punish this horrid man who drowned her friends and her BEST FRIEND in the whole world so casually. He struggled in vain and she saw the terror in his eyes when he realized that he, the immortal faerie piper, was about to die.

Sami takes a deep breath and looks around the table as everyone has stopped to listen. Amy's face is one of shock and pity. George's expression is grim. Skyia however looks bemused.

George: I heard of him and what he did. Don't waste a moment's pity, Sami.

Skyia smirks: Oh Sami, I wouldn't worry about that. You sound a lot like me when I was much younger. Unseelie blood doesn't take kindly to an insult like that. You're several generations in, so your nature isn't obvious. I bet that Token hid it even more.

Sami: ... but I LIKED it, ma'm. I... I enjoyed it. I knew it was wrong, and I knew it was sin. I was a monster, I have a monster inside me just waiting to do that again. I've been doing my best to stop it but...

Sami lowers her head in shame.

Sami: ... I want to feel that again.

Amy: You need to go down to the river and let is happen. Gently, this time.

Sami: NO!

Amy: It'll be OK Sami, I'll be with you.

Sami leans back, her hands bound into tight little fists.

Sami: NO! Amy you don't understand, I'll kill you! I can't go back, I'll turn into a monster!

Amy places her hand gently on Sami's shoulder while still holding her other hand. Sami can't pull away from her.

Amy: It will be OK Sami. I think you need to stop believing that there's a monster instead you. You need to accept that part of yourself for what it is. It will be OK.

Sami doesn't know what to say or do.

George speaks up.

George: Your folks did what was right by them, and maybe if nobody murdered your town that way it would have still been right. What are they doing now?

Sami looks down again.

Sami: Oh... probably worrying about me. They're always waiting for me to come home, to see how I'm doing, but I think they've given up trying to 'fix' me. They just tell me that as soon as I'm ready to go home, they'll welcome me back. I don't deserve them. I haven't done anything worthy or meaningful to deserve to be the one to live.

George: But you're trying to now. You're just barely a woman Sami and you are trying to make things right. You must understand -- making things right is HARD, it takes a lot of sacrifice, and it takes time. Just because things don't seem to be going your way doesn't mean that won't change.

Amy: I think it's time we go down to the river, Sami.

Sami tries to pull away but Amy won't let her.

Skyia: If you feel any better, I could go with the two of you. We could go after dinner. Or we could all go together.


Sami doesn't know what to do.

If you have your own plan please speak up, but in a nutshell the immediate options are:

1. Sami would like to just NOT go to the river. Perhaps she can convince them it's a bad idea.
2. Amy would like to go to the river before dinner. She's confident they'll be fine, Sami's sure she'll kill her if they're alone together... or be repulsed by her transformation.
3. Sami could wait until after dinner and go with the whole household.
>>
No. 672549 ID: e607cd

Sami, it tears everyone who cares about you up to see the way you blame yourself for what happened. We want you to find a way to come to terms with the part of you that did it, and this could be your best chance ever to try.

What happened before was born of rage, terror, and grief. What you became amplified emotions that were already there, and in the rush you lost control. If you can let the change happen in a controlled way, gently, ideally in a situation where you feel safe, there is every reason to believe it will be different. These nice people know a thing or two about fey blood, and the women at least are sturdier than their kindness would suggest. They have the knowledge, the strength, and the will to help you through a change smoothly and protect themselves if necessary. Trust them.
>>
No. 672564 ID: 2ccbb3

Facing who you are means either accepting some concessions and weaknesses to come to terms yourself and what you intend to become, or to risk it all by unraveling your entire identity across a set of truths and consequences.

I don't blame you for refusing to face the monster via literal methods, but something has to be done or you'll slowly kill yourself. Right now, you have the assets, the defenses, the technology, so be smart about this.

Find some way to create a simulation of a natural river, rather than risk Amy's life over the real thing. Or get some chains and a giant hamster ball.
>>
No. 672597 ID: ea0ad9

It will help to have the whole family there, so wait until after dinner. Two fae and a man who can calm fae down ought to be enough to help you out if things do go bad.
>>
No. 672608 ID: 9be6f5

Sami, from your story you didn't kill the piper simply because he was nearby, you killed him out of a desire for revenge. You have no grudge with Amy so there is no reason why you would go after her. (Besides, even if you did Amy is a trained fighter with half-blood powers of her own, so she would be able to hold her own).
>>
No. 672612 ID: 3009b4

** From the sounds of the conversation, it seems agreed that Sami needs to visit the river. The main question then is should she go now with Amy, or wait until after dinner with the whole family. **
>>
No. 672614 ID: 7a6915

Frankly Sami, the emphasis on suppressing your fay heritage was to help you fit in. It was about trying, "To be normal," in pretty much exactly those words; it was deliberate denial and hiding of what wasn't 'normal' about you. It's time to let go of that a little because it really doesn't seem like you're going you're going to be a boring housewife until you've come to terms with your heritage and the disaster of your hometown. Please forgive us for pushing this but it's time to stop pretending you aren't different, that you aren't special, and to take control of who and what you really are instead of hiding from it.

Don't get drunk first, don't use other mind-altering or mood-altering chemicals first. Do accept the invitation to explore your repressed heritage with the guidance of people who understand the risks better than you or your parents did. It's time to separate out the fantastical from the monstrous in who you are and what happened to you, so that you can address each properly instead of grinding and crushing yourself with both like a millstone.
>>
No. 672616 ID: 7a6915

>>672612
Ask them what they recommend: They know about fay and issues with mixed heritage more than you do.
>>
No. 672617 ID: 3009b4

>Ask them what they recommend: They know about fay and issues with mixed heritage more than you do.

** If Skyia or George thought there would have been serious issues with Sami going with just Amy they would have voiced them; this is just about what will make Sami the most comfortable. Sami herself doesn't want to do this at all but she knows it needs to be done, so at this point the decision does fall in the group's hands: Now with Amy or later with everyone? **
>>
No. 672625 ID: 2ccbb3

You've got time, so take a whole day to prepare.
>>
No. 672628 ID: 7a6915

All else being equal, go on an empty stomach Sami. Wouldn't be right to upchuck dinner just because you're nervous.
I guess that means you'll just have to endure time alone with a pretty girl that's been hitting on you. Be warned: She probably won't stop hitting on you once she's seen you transform Sami. This was her idea and she probably has some idea of what she's gonna end up seeing.
>>
No. 672719 ID: 149da0

>Sami doesn't know what to do.
Okay. Let's address concerns:

>NO! Amy you don't understand, I'll kill you!
Getting a surprise attack in on a bard is very different that dealing with a fighter (or two fighters) who are expecting it if you try something. You won't catch Amy or Skyia undefended as easy as the Piper.

Plus, we're here this time. I promise if you do try to kill anyone, we'll stop you. We'll trick the monster with illusions, or cheat the dice of fate so you miss your marks. If it comes to a fight, we'll make sure the monster doesn't win it.

>[Amy] repulsed by her transformation
You were attracted to her, despite the oddities of her appearance. Or maybe because of them. If that comes from fae heritage, it stands to reason she might be similar.

>>672612
I'd say she should go now. Get it over with, instead of spending the whole meal fretting and panicking and not really tasting the food.
>>
No. 672902 ID: 3009b4
File 144330324654.jpg - (431.33KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_44.jpg )
672902

Deciding to get it over with, Sami lets Amy lead her down from her home to the Welser river, which flows down past Ronnalin -- the same one that the Piper tried to drown her in and when her life went to hell.

Sami: I don't want to do this.

Amy: I know, but you NEED to do this. You need this.

Sami: Let me strip down then. When I transformed as a child it ruined my clothes and I don't have spares.

Amy smirks and tells her to go right ahead.

Sami scowls: It's NOT sexy.

Sami tentatively puts her foot in the water. It's cold, she begins to tremble to the point where she can barely stand. Amy puts her hand on Sami's shoulder. She removes her skirt to keep it from getting wet, and then begins to guide Sami into the water. Sami grips her arm tightly, clearly afraid -- but Amy stands firm.
>>
No. 672905 ID: 3009b4
File 144330338893.jpg - (443.90KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_45.jpg )
672905

As they get waist-deep in the water, Sami can feel her heart pound and a tingling sensation spark through her body, strongest in her extremities but slowly moving inwards.

She looks at her hand as claws begin to form.

Sami: Oh no.. no no no... NO NO NO...

Amy holds her firmly.

Amy: I want you to close your eyes and listen to my voice. Let the change happen. Don't fight it. I'm here, and I won't let you hurt anyone.

Sami is shaking so hard she can barely keep her footing as the tingling reaches her heart.
>>
No. 672907 ID: 3009b4
File 144330344609.gif - (759.51KB , 640x720 , Sami_Amy_RiverForm.gif )
672907

Sami: I swear... I swear I was a scary fucking monster last time.
>>
No. 672911 ID: 3009b4

Amy's kiss is incredibly warming and exhilarating.

Sami doesn't understand what happened to her body or what is happening as her lips press against Amy's. The rush of trying something forbidden that feels so natural and safe fills her with butterflies and her head with lights.

When Amy finally pulls back for a breath Sami is speechless. She smiles.

Amy: Those are very full breasts you have now.

Sami looks confused, but rather than explaining Amy simply moves in for another kiss, and another. Sami feels her hot breath on her neck and continues to shake as she kisses it and nibbles her gently.

Even though her body feels healthier and stronger than it's ever been, she can barely keep herself steady as Amy moves to her ear, gently brushing her teeth against it and causing Sami to moan.

She kisses Sami again, and then begins to move down her body. As she kneels in the water, her long, agile tongue dancing down Sami's chest, she pauses and looks up.

Amy: All for me, huh? You're very generous, Sami.
>>
No. 672917 ID: 2ccbb3

*Private*
Huh. This might be one of the earlier stages of metamorphosis.

...Let's leave these two alone, shall we?
*/Private*
>>
No. 672918 ID: 3009b4

**********************

:iconyorick:

ADMIN YORICK: Are you happy Audrey? They did it.

:iconaudrey.png:
ADMIN Audrey: Awww, it's so beautiful it's like catnip! I love you all!


**********************

Sami and Amy lie in each other's arms with their feet dangling in the riverside. Sami's not quite sure what happened, but she's glowing from what she's pretty sure was her first ever real orgasm.

Sami: Amy? What happened?

Amy grins.

Amy: Well, we both had a VERY good time. Sounds like the first time for you.

Sami: I'm no virgin.

Amy stretches.

Amy: I mean your first orgasm.

Sami blushes, and something strikes her. It was the first time she ever felt such an incredible rush since her very first transformation. Nothing since -- not drugs, not alcohol and not men -- have matched it. Although she will admit that the hunter trite and stout men she had been with came close. But they just couldn't compare to Amy... there was a patience and a tenderness that she hadn't experienced before with anyone else.

Sami: What happened to me, I mean? My body? It's different, and nothing like the first time I transformed. What did you mean 'all for me'?

Amy gives Sami a sweet, loving smile: There is a huge difference between a transformation for hate and a transformation for love. Fae -- especially water fae -- take on forms to be appealing to their lovers. I think it's because water is flexible and adaptable. Didn't anyone mention that? Surely in lore or warnings -- when a water fae isn't looking for love they are incredibly dangerous.

Sami: No, we really didn't talk about that.

Amy: Well, Mother made sure I knew. Lonely girls like me would be very vulnerable to them.

Sami stares at Amy wide-eyed.

Sami: Wait -- so I WAS a threat? My fae water form could have...

Amy wraps her arms around Sami's neck: No, I knew you were safe. I don't have my mother's vision but I do have a sense of what's a threat. I could smell your desire and you're definitely a good person.

Sami stares at Amy. Something inside overwhelms her and her eyes well up with tears. Amy is surprised and concerned.

Amy: Sami! What's wrong?

Sami's voice quivers: I don't know.

Amy: You... regret?

Sami breaks into sobs: No! I'm not sad! I'm... happy... and confused... and I don't know why I'm crying.

Amy holds her.

Amy: It's been an ordeal, hasn't it? It's probably just a release, although I THOUGHT I took care of that.

She holds Sami until she begins to calm down.

Sami: I think it was because you said I was a good person.

Amy gives her a quizzical look.

Sami: I don't think I believed it until now.
>>
No. 672928 ID: 149da0

>>672907
...oh hey. Prehensile hair? Neat.

>There is a huge difference between a transformation for hate and a transformation for love. Fae -- especially water fae -- take on forms to be appealing to their lovers. I think it's because water is flexible and adaptable.
>I don't think I believed it until now.
We could have pushed more on the monster inside issue earlier, but I'm not sure you would have believed before.

>sexytimes
>her parents are probably waiting for you to show up to dinner
>they're totally gonna know what happened
Ahahaheheh. Hopefully this won't get awkward.
>>
No. 672929 ID: 7a6915

>>672928
They'd be fools not to expect pretty much exactly what did happen, I wouldn't worry about more than gentle teasing.
>>
No. 672955 ID: 869c77

It seems to me that now would be the best time to hug her. As an added plus, you could make a comment about wanting to finally "see what happens" when you do.

Admittedly, you already experienced the best possible outcome, but maybe..?
>>
No. 672956 ID: 6e8e45

so, amy is into pink hair?
>>
No. 673099 ID: ea0ad9

Huh, and here I thought it was just that anger would bring out the Fright of the form. Guess it's more that you can just customize it based on your desires! ...I didn't even know that that would be possible for anything not defined as a "Shape shifter."
Her sudden grip upon you was necessary to hinder the hatred this "First time," but I wonder if now that you've experienced the transformation in a more benevolent way, can you keep calm during a change?
>>
No. 673364 ID: 6ea81d

I think you two make a cute couple. Now then, About that food...

Just so you know, I haven't been able to check in in a while, but I think the coin we're in is probably meant to deal with the Piper, even though he's already kind of mostly dead.

//private: I think meeting the parents went better than expected xD also MEAT
>>
No. 673505 ID: 3009b4
File 144348386435.jpg - (546.81KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_47.jpg )
673505

*************

AWARDS:
+10 For Learning Amy's Story
+25 For Obtaining Friend
+25 for Love Scene (Audrey's special award)

Upgrades:
* Sami's Trust is now Maximum.
* Sami has overcome her fear of water and fae blood -- she is still aprehensive around it due to her history but it's no longer a fear.
* Sami feels less guilty and will be able to sleep better.


***********

After a little more cuddling, Sami and Amy get dressed and head back to her home. Skyia and George have prepared a large meal with some sort of roast beast. Sami doesn't recognize it, so it must be something her people won't hunt but Skyia will. Judging by the size of the roast, it's dangerous.

When George gives Sami a stern look that makes her shrink a bit, Skyia flicks his ear.

Skyia: Our daughter is a grown woman and very capable of taking care of herself. You'll always be daddy, don't worry.

Sami and Amy both flush while her father sighs.

George starts to say something but Skyia brushes her fingertips across his lips and he's quiet. It's not magic beyond what the right woman can do to a man.

Skyia: Anyhow, this is a Mericudian recipe I really like. I don't suppose you've ever had brined meat before, Sami?

Sami is delighted: Actually yes I have -- it's really good! I was taught to hunt by a man from Mericudia.

Skyia is happily surprised.

Skyia: You're a hunter too? You're a *very* unusual Rollen, even considering your bloodline. I imagine you would have to be a lot braver than normal all things considered. You're a lot like George when he was your age.

She glances over at George who offers a sheepish grin and a warmer glance at Sami.

George: I suppose so. I'm just glad there's lots of chestnuts; too much valram gives me gout.

Sami is shocked (*Valrams are basically a cross between a rhino and a moose with powerful bodies, hides like a honey badger, savage bites, and a nasty temperament. Typically it's only eaten by Mericudians who set up clever traps or use their specialized weapons*) but Amy smiles.

Amy: Mother and I took it down about a month ago; it was rutting too close to the town's fields. Gets gamey at this time of year but the brine will take care of that. Too bad we were only able to salvage half the carcass.

Sami cocks her head to one side.

Amy: You probably don't want to know how we killed it.

Sami: I ate someone alive when I was 8.

Skyia: A combination of luring, disorienting poison and crushing until one of its bones pierced something vital. Their hides do pretty well against blades, spears, and bolts but it doesn't help against being coiling pressure. The problem with this technique is that there's issues with the stomach juices and such and the head's no good either due to the poison. A bit of luck with how the pressure goes. Normally I would try to just strangle it but this one was feisty and I'm not as strong as I used to be.

Sami nods as she's familiar with field dressing. They talk a little shop but Sami notices George's expression and she's reminded what's normal for her culture.

They settle down for the meal. The brine did its job beautifully and the salty, flavourful meat is a joy to Sami's palate. They have casual conversation about Welser and Sami learns that over time a lot of the corruption in its ruling class has died out. There is concern that the next generation of leaders might not be so eager to honor the agreements between Skyia and the current mayor, so Amy is working to establish some more positive relationships between their and the people.

Eventually things turn to Sami's transformation in the water. Skyia is eager to know how it turns out and the younger women exchange the bashful glances of new lovers.

Skyia: There's no need to be shy about it. I didn't think I'd ever have grandchildren... unless... you maybe got a little something extra, Sami?

Sami stares at her.

Skyia: Ah, that's a no then. You have to understand I know more about unseelie water fae than your lineage would be comfortable talking about. Of my people, the most flexible are that of water. Shape-shifting is common, but more potent within the depths, and that includes gender.

Sami's jaw loosens as she continues to stare at her.

Skyia: And this is why it probably wasn't talked about. If you don't know about it, you can't reveal it.

Amy: I'm sorry Mother, but Sami's breasts got larger. I'm afraid I'm a *dedicated lesbian*.

George looks at Sami with a raised eyebrow.

Sami: It's not like I had control over it! I'm just glad I didn't turn into a monster!

Skyia laughs.

Skyia: Don't be silly, Sami -- you think I'd let my only child go down and trigger a change if I didn't think it was safe? There's many factors -- you're an adult now, you're not under threat of death, nobody is hurting people you care about, and you clearly have special feelings for Amy.

Sami looks at her food: ... speaking of which... are you gonna make us get married?

Amy goes bright red while George and Skyia burst into peals of laughter.

George: Well I doubt we'd find any church that would conscend. But what we've heard about faeries taking mortal lovers is pretty far off.

Skyia: You don't need to get married, you're mortal. Marriage is only something fae do if we find ourselves in love. Dying bound to your love is better than dying slowly from grief. Also intimacy does not equate to true love. George and I experimented quite a bit with sex before...

Both George and Amy give Skyia a look of horror.

Skyia: It's not as if we were blessed with Amy by magic! Although I have to admit, her conception was...

This time George brushes his fingtertips against Skyia's mouth. Her eyes shine while she grins mischievously.

Amy whispers to Sami: ... and this is why half-bloods have a reputation for being addled. It's from growing up with a fae parent. Or having to hide who you are all the time. Mostly the fae parent. I know far too much about about Mother's sex life despite Father's best efforts.

Amy now more audible: So tomorrow we'll visit the labs? Or did you want to pick up supplies first?

Sami: I'm not sure yet.

Amy: Out of curiosity, is there any place to bathe in Ronnalin other than the river?

Sami: It's pretty bad with all the vermin, I wouldn't want to try. Wait... you're coming with me?

George: Amy?! You're not thinking of...

Amy's tone is one of closed discussion: I'm going to Ronnalin with Sami, yes.

Skyia nods at Amy, beaming with proud approval. Amy smiles back, glowing with her mother's confidence and turns to her father and Sami to see if they will dare challenge them and they do not.

AMY has joined the adventure!

** AMY cannot hear suggestions directly but her mother Skyia will provide her with a similar mirror to the one that Billy gave Sami when they go to Ronnalin, and this mirror can be accessed by the party. On that note, it should be mentioned that the party may give Amy suggestions via Sami's mirror -- but avoid doing this in public as Sami has to use the voice phrase to activate it, and Billy wants her to keep it a secret for a reason! While in Ronnalin the mirrors can be used freely as there are no witnesses. Sami will explain the spirits to Amy during their pillow talk tonight as it's a given that she will be sleeping with Amy in her room (George is the only person with reservations about this but he's her father and it's expected).**

Over coffee and brandy, Sami will explain to her hosts about the wild spirits following her. Skyia makes a comment that normally wild spirits are considered a major threat but since she's more or less abandoned the faerie courts she long stopped quite caring about what 'the established truths and laws are'. You may ask questions to Skyia, George or Amy, and then need to decide either to get supplies or visit the labs first tomorrow.
>>
No. 673514 ID: 7a6915

"Well, Bill will be amused, and probably relieved, when we go to visit him. Are you by chance familiar?"
>>
No. 673519 ID: 149da0

>hunting shop talk
Wow, you are scoring points left and right here. I said it before: keep em.

>Skyia makes a comment that normally wild spirits are considered a major threat
I'm not sure why. We don't have much power in and of ourselves. Our greatest strengths are really information gathering and advising / planning. I would have thought a sufficiently prepared fae could have countermeasures for our tricks, and could put a host in a situation where they could wear them down, and cleverness would not win out.

I suppose the biggest reason we're dangerous is most beings don't expect us. We catch them off guard. They just see the person we're helping, and underestimate them.

>questions
Traveling someone else raises a question about your instruments. Can you be selective with targeting, or does it affect everyone in range? Amy is potentially at risk from friendly fire from the Piper's flute. (Although I don't think opening locks would do anything to her, and we'd want to use the axe on golems, which are the bigger threat).

Not sure if plugging ears works against magical music. (Amy's animate hair would sure be handy there).

There is also the question of the axe. It would be nice if you could find someone who might be willing to give an out of towner a few lessons, so you could use it. (I would advise practicing on a mundane instrument).

>decide either to get supplies or visit the labs first tomorrow
Labs first. What we learn might affect our shopping list.
>>
No. 673521 ID: 2ccbb3

This could go badly, we need more allies. Ask around if the scientists have developed a curse-resistant golem after ten years of research and development. Nothing serious, a flowerpot-sized scout bot would do; Skyia will likely dote on your adventure and having a stable connection beyond your normal capabilities might help her get to Ronnalin on time if something goes wrong.

Also, cheese. You need to buy cheese.
>>
No. 673532 ID: 3009b4
File 144349421073.jpg - (502.48KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_48.jpg )
673532

>"Well, Bill will be amused, and probably relieved, when we go to visit him. Are you by chance familiar?"

Skyia: Billy Phooka? I haven't heard that name in years, not since... well...

She glances at George and they exchange warm smiles.

Skyia: Since George and I were married. I purposely dropped contact except for a report once a year. The less the courts know about how I do things now, the better.

Sami asks if the reason why he's so interested in romance is because of her. She relates how Billy was almost creepily interested in Sami's dating life as well as what had happened between her and George. As Sami talks Skyia raises an eyebrow which then melts into a bemused expression.

Skyia: Sounds like George is in a place I was oh... maybe thirty years ago. Curious about love. It's not considered 'normal' for fae to feel love like mortals do. Fae -- Unseelie especially -- consider it a mystery that mortals should leave themselves so vulnerable to emotions like love considering it only worsens their survival chances. I'll leave it to your discretion if you tell him or not about what I'm doing now. I highly doubt the Seelie Court will try to take my position back, but I guess it is time he know about the fact that sooner or later, I will die with George. I'm not about to just have Amy to take my place, she doesn't need to get mixed up in politics. So I will need to be replaced. Someone's got to keep the powerful in line so they don't forget that no matter how untouchable they are to their own people... there's always someone to answer to.

>I'm not sure why. We don't have much power in and of ourselves.

Skyia: That's easy -- nobody can kill wild spirits. We can't erase what they know, and since nothing in this world affects them their motivations are their own. They can use what they know to cause a lot of trouble and there's nothing anyone can do to stop them. They're even more dangerous than Cats, who at least are still tied to this world. The fact that the Cats associate with them is odd and not understood.

>Can you be selective with targeting, or does it affect everyone in range? Amy is potentially at risk from friendly fire from the Piper's flute.
>There is also the question of the axe.

George speaks up.

George: I'm familiar with artifact instruments, and I can tell you that knowing what's coming makes a huge difference. The charming songs can be resisted if you know what they are. It takes a concentrated effort though.

Skyia: AND you have to WANT to resist it. When George charmed me, I found it... thrilling. I didn't want to resist, I wanted to be carried away. *she shivers*. It was so dangerous and he...

George goes beet red as Skyia sways and her hair flows like in a summer breeze.

Skyia: It was worth being put in a vulnerable position. And in other positions.

George clears this throat. Skyia flicks her long tongue in his direction.

George: Heh... like I said. It can be resisted. I'm... guessing Amy could be affected by the Piper's flute but if she knows the purpose of the song you play she should be able to shake it off. The thing about using music is that it's a powerful suggestion. It invokes emotions, speaks to the dream, but it really only lets you manipulate people when they're not suspecting it or when they want to. Sometimes the illusion is sweeter than life.

Sami nods grimly, knowing by experience.

A thought strikes her.

Sami: Wait, Amy said she's 23. The disaster happened ten years ago -- but you've been in Welser for how long? Ma'm, I thought Billy said you replaced the Piper?

Skyia: The territory was a shared control between the courts. When the Piper was slain instead of being replaced by another Seelie, they lost political control over the entire area as a punishment. He allowed the corruption of Welser to colour his decisions and he paid the price. The old me would have brought the matter to the courts as a point of concern. But the person I am now?

Her normally cheerful face darkens considerably and her tone disdainful and hateful.

Skyia: I would have never let him leave here alive.

She sighs and regains her composure.

Skyia: Motherhood changes people.
>>
No. 673536 ID: 2ccbb3

Skyia: What's your general long-term strategy for Welser? We'd like your opinion on how this town works and what can be done to ensure that it grows in that general direction.

Sami, anything you want to do before bed? You know, aside from the "bed integrity test".
>>
No. 673543 ID: 149da0

>The fact that the Cats associate with them is odd and not understood.
Can't help you there, we don't understand that ourselves!

>Sounds like George is in a place I was oh... maybe thirty years ago. Curious about love
So... he'll stop being creepy and start being normal in a few decades?

>I'm familiar with artifact instruments
Does that mean he knows how to play a guitar? (Lessons lessons lessons).

>Motherhood changes people.
Not for the worse.
>>
No. 673553 ID: 7a6915

>Motherhood changes people.
>Not for the worse.
Now, if you had any familiarity whatsoever with the atrocity known as Honey Boo Boo you couldn't say that with a straight face, but let's not inflict horrific trivia from another world on these poor people.

So, yeah, if the piper bringing the vermin has something to do with the mayor of Welser, he may be implicated in the curse. That could also be a significant piece of the puzzle of how to resolve the Piper's place in the curse. We really should ask more about the local mayor and what these folks may know or suggest about that.
>>
No. 673557 ID: 149da0

>>673553
...do I really have to specify not for the worse in this case? Are we being that pedantic?
>>
No. 673564 ID: 0f1c4d

>I highly doubt the Seelie Court will try to take my position back, but I guess it is time he know about the fact that sooner or later, I will die with George.
Would it help to get her in contact with Bill to discuss that? I don't know how dragons are chosen but making arrangements now might help weigh things towards a successor with some regard for mortal life.

>The fact that the Cats associate with them is odd and not understood.
I get the impression that the Cats are so supremely confident in their power (justifiably so from what we have seen so far) that they don't really feel a need to worry much about what spirits might do.

*Private*
Does Amy have a plot armor amount we can measure?

>Sounds like George is in a place I was
Typo

>>
No. 673643 ID: 066a87

>>673532
Has anyone here, anyone at all, ever even heard of a pina colada!?
>>
No. 673653 ID: ea0ad9

>The fact that the Cats associate with them is odd and not understood.
While it is difficult to harm us, rewarding us is possible, and they can influence our actions to a small degree by doing so. We may be disconnected from the world, but we greed is not wholey of the world.
Oh, and yes, difficult to harm us. We've been hurt before. It is slight, but it effects our mentality, one of our few possessions. Haven been charmed into possessing morality relating to mortals, I'm sure you understand the fright?
>>
No. 673786 ID: 3009b4
File 144356559108.jpg - (507.78KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_48b.jpg )
673786

>We really should ask more about the local mayor and what these folks may know or suggest about that.

Skyia: Oh Mayor Harris likes to pretend to be this friendly old gentleman that only has the best interests of Welser in mind, but he's more like a leaper that's learned to protect its host so it's got an unlimited supply of blood. I don't know too much about how curses work and while I'm sure it'd be *interesting* to bring him to Ronnalin, since we've got him under our thumb I think we're overall better off with the devil we know than one we don't. Anyone filling the power vacuum needs to understand that there are repercussions for corruption. Harris is a skilled politician though so we allow him a few freedoms -- we just don't let him get his fingers into any muscle.

** Amy will allow herself to be scanned, additional information to follow **
>>
No. 673844 ID: 7a6915

Maybe we could make some progress by just asking this mayor, politely, to explain why it seemed like a good idea to make the piper do that. We could also ask if he has any words for the piper before we return to Ronnalin and ask the piper if he has any words for him. Really, everything to do with the curse we've discovered so far has been about people acting selfishly, greedily, or hiding in delusions one way or another: I'd expect this mayor has at least one illusion about what he did and why he did it to resolve.
>>
No. 673861 ID: 3009b4
File 144358754667.jpg - (83.12KB , 640x720 , Amy v1000.jpg )
673861

/* Author Note: Amy's new VN style doll is still being sketched; she's not talking naked */

Amy has allowed you to scan her.

Attributes

Intelligence – High; Amy's ability to learn, observe, detect patterns and remember them are on par with Sami.
Strength – Exceptional. Amy strength focuses on striking and constricting power. She can't carry heavy loads but she can snap an arm. She's much stronger than Sami overall.
Agility – Supernatural. She's flexible to the point of not only being quadruple-joined normally but she can temporarily shift her form that makes it impossible to bind her.
Speed – Above Average. She's on par with Sami.
Stamina – Excellent. Amy's metabolism is beyond normal analog constraints and heals well from wounds.
Resistances – Nearly immune to poison and she is subconsciously aware of hacks/TEN compatible networks, although she lacks a connection herself.

Special Abilities

Detection: She is instinctively aware of TEN compatible networks and devices, hacks, and fae.
Spit Venom: she needs to absorb poison to create her own.
Plot Armour: 50 PA.

NOTE: It is possible to apply Influence to protect Amy just as you do Sami.


OPTIONS

You may choose to dress Amy differently for the adventure (as in, draw on clothing; hence the paper doll). She will wear her cloak outside your selected wardrobe. Amy prefers soft, silken clothing or fabrics that stretch well so she can utilize her agility. If she does not like your selection she will reject it and stick with her default outfit.
>>
No. 673866 ID: 2ccbb3
File 144358864417.jpg - (85.46KB , 640x720 , Ami Lite Armor.jpg )
673866

Obviously this is a sucky drawing, but the point is to have Ami wear leather armor with some metal around the parts of her that aren't flexible. What do you think, can someone flesh it out?

Also I'm not going for a superhero look it's just that I suck at drawing.
>>
No. 673867 ID: 1f8505
File 144358869007.png - (59.29KB , 476x704 , amy_outfit.png )
673867

>>673861

From the Hanchett collection.
>>
No. 673882 ID: 3009b4

>wear leather armor

Amy doesn't like armour; it constricts her abilities. They're not going to find it on short notice either. Not only is armour only worn by military and guard, but Amy's taller than Rollen men but with wide hips so most armour wouldn't fit her well.

Sami could probably find armour that would fit her but since she's not used to wearing it, it would negatively impact her abilities including transformation.
>>
No. 673886 ID: 3663d3

sew a square of leather into the chest so it would be over your heart. wont help a lot of the time but it could do something.
>>
No. 673896 ID: 3009b4
File 144359442131.jpg - (86.16KB , 640x720 , Sami_VNv1000.jpg )
673896

Sami can also get new clothing while in town. Normally Amy would make her some new clothes but they don't want to dally on her quest. Amy can make adjustments so they fit well.
>>
No. 673897 ID: 2ccbb3

>>673896
Bandages around the chest and a heavy coat and shorts. Put some metal plate inserts (or metal boxes with gadgets inside) inside the pockets as armor.
>>
No. 674668 ID: 3009b4
File 144391029349.jpg - (347.26KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_49.jpg )
674668

The evening passes uneventfully with simple chit-chat between guest and hosts. The wine served is unusual and has a slight effect on Sami but she doesn't feel any need to get drunk. Apparently Skyia doesn't have any steadfast plan for Welser. She figures that they can't plan anything until they see who eventually replaces the mayor. George shows Sami a little with the Siren's Axe but it's clear from Sami's attempts that she's a long way from playing anything useful with it.

Later, they retire for the night. Amy's room is simple, and only one thing catches Sami's eye -- Amy has a bow longer than any Rollen would use. Sami asks her about it and Amy explains that she uses a weapon best suited for her height. They make love quietly and as discreetly as possible. Amy reveals that Sami is the first person she's made love to in her room as usually she has to be secretive and few villagers go near Skyia's lair. Sami sleeps soundly and peacefully for once.

The next morning, they make breakfast of the previous evening's leftovers along with fresh porridge before heading to the labs to see if anyone from Ronnalin is still working there.

Again, they are watched by the rest of the village, even more closely than before it seems. Amy whispers to Sami that this is one of the reasons why her affairs have always had to be so uncomfortably secretive. Sami is unhappy with the number of prying eyes but she's used to playing The Stranger in her travels.

When they reach the labs, a surprised assistant requests they wait outside while he fetches someone. A representative arrives and Sami asks him about scientists who originally worked in the Ronnalin labs. He's even more surprised at the request, but it's not long before an older man is standing before them.

Dr. Korez: Sami? Little Sami Jones?

Sami nods.

Sami: It's been ten years, Dr. Korez. How has your research gone?

Dr. Korez: Well enough I suppose, but I should ask how you've been. If you don't mind me saying my dear, you look rough.

Sami: Better than I have a few days earlier when I was visiting Ronnalin.

Dr. Korez: ... Ronnalin!? Why would you go back to that cursed place?

Sami: Drawn there. I've been haunted, and lifting the curse of my home town seems my best bet at finding some peace. I was hoping you could help.

Dr. Korez: Well, I'm not quite sure what I can do but if there's any questions I can answer I'd be happy to do so.
>>
No. 674671 ID: 2ccbb3

I guess the first question you should ask is about the state of the technology in Ronnalin, the Golems in particular. You need to deal with the fact that the wraiths in the area can "Jack-In" to the golems, turning broken-down farming equipment into nigh-unstoppable killing machines with the speed of a bird and the force of a rhino. If Dr. Korez has figured out ANYTHING about the corrupted golems, now's the time.

Second question to ask is how the research on the corruption has gone. If they haven't touched it due to security measures that's understandable, but given that you riled up the whole town you might need something to pacify or revert the tide.
>>
No. 674683 ID: 0f1c4d

We heard they did some research into the curse, and we also wanted to ask if they know anything about how to deal with the berserk golems that are still in Ronnalin.
>>
No. 674697 ID: 7a6915

Any advice about the current state and contents of the labs? Any information or guesses about particular greedy people whose hoarded wealth resulted in more cursed gold? Any guides or help for dealing with the vermin and the decay of the town other than finishing paying off the dead piper and getting him to pipe away the horde? Any information about what was left behind of value elsewhere in town?
Anything useful about the golems would be good, partciularly controlling them/using them/redirecting them, salvaging them or from them, disabling them, and fixing what's wrong with them.
>>
No. 674718 ID: 3009b4

>If Dr. Korez has figured out ANYTHING about the corrupted golems, now's the time.

Dr. Korez: Without going into technical details, we've discovered that under normal circumstances golems require two elements -- memories that act as instructions, and a source of power in the form of fae or pantheon pearls. It turns out that the memories the golems use are very specific -- golems get 'lost' if taken outside of the area they were trained in. We have a disturbing suspicion that these memories might come from our own citizens, which would explain why our farming golems worked so perfectly. We discovered that even inactive golems -- like a little toy golem we found in one of the digs -- became corrupted by the curse. We discovered that the curse has limited range, and apparently the superstition of spirits being unable to cross running water has some truth in it. Past the bridge, the toy golem became inactive again. For some reason the golem also only becomes active a night. We haven't researched this too thoroughly due to the risk involved -- too much experimentation seemed to attract multiple golems at once, but they never followed us past their boundaries.

Something we did notice is that merely bringing the golem into the boundaries of the curse did not activate it, even at night. The more we experimented however, the more quickly the golem would activate and eventually we noticed that the golems would begin to gather at our normal entry points and eventually they'd be active before the sun had set. Whatever the curse is, it has some sort of limited intelligence. We also discovered that the activation of the golem was accompanied by disturbances to light sources. Weak sources like candles would go out, stronger ones like lamps would flicker. Seems the superstition about candles also has some element of truth as well.

So far the only thing that controls the golems is that they are limited by boundaries.


>Any advice about the current state and contents of the labs?

Dr. Korez: We packed up most things of value. We left the dangerous or unstable chemicals such as the acids we were using in our battery experiments. We did finally get those electric lights to work, speaking of which. The other thing we were working on was a poison that would only work on vermin, but the polies are really resistant. Since we weren't very fond of carrying around poisons in case of a spill we left them behind.

>Any guides or help for dealing with the vermin and the decay of the town other than finishing paying off the dead piper and getting him to pipe away the horde?

Dr. Korez: Ghosts? That's outside our area of expertise.

>Any information about what was left behind of value elsewhere in town?

Dr. Korez: I know that the Merchant's Guild was evacuated rather quickly. They're the most likely to have left things behind.

>Anything useful about the golems would be good, partciularly controlling them/using them/redirecting them,

Dr. Korez: You've got the tool we were looking into right there -- the Siren's Axe. We had musicians play it but never could seem to get a reaction. Does it respond to you?

Sami: It seems to intensify emotional states.

Dr. Korez: Hmmm... perhaps that's why it never worked in the lab. Might have been too sterile an environment. Have you discovered anything else about it?

Sami: It's a surprisingly good weapon. I had to disarm someone who was living in town with it.

Dr. Korez raises and eyebrow and Sami explains -- in brief -- how she was able to get Nick away from town.

Dr. Korez: Yes, we noticed the same thing. People were hearing voices and whispers, even among the staff. Now that I think about it, that probably also explains why our electric light project was having so many difficulties. Hmmm...

Dr. Korez seems to have an idea.

Dr. Korez: Sami, are you going back to Ronnalin?

Sami nods. The doctor tells her if she's willing, they'd like her to test some equipment designed to detect the curse. He warns her that the same equipment might also *attract* the curse.
>>
No. 674723 ID: 2ccbb3

>>674718
Thank the professor for his time.

So, should we lend him the flute and/or axe? They might learn something, or they might get killed. Your call.
>>
No. 674724 ID: 149da0

>golems need memories
>We have a disturbing suspicion that these memories might come from our own citizens
How do golems get the memories they need to function in the first place? When you make one, you're not sure where they come from?

>The doctor tells her if she's willing, they'd like her to test some equipment designed to detect the curse. He warns her that the same equipment might also *attract* the curse.
We're interested, at least. What can he tell us about this equipment?

Worst case, if we can't operate the equipment in town due to too much curse attention, we might be forced to retreat and cache it outside.
>>
No. 674725 ID: 3009b4

>How do golems get the memories they need to function in the first place? When you make one, you're not sure where they come from?

Golems are not Rollen technology. The golems themselves are excavated artifacts that traders -- usually associated with the Pantheon -- get running.

>We're interested, at least. What can he tell us about this equipment?

The equipment appears to be some batter-powered lamps they've devised. They're not large or powerful, but they'll flicker and short out if spirits are near. They'll just need a day to get them prepared.
>>
No. 674726 ID: 149da0

>>674725
Just curse spirits? Other spirits don't effect them?

I wonder what data they're trying to gather- just that the detectors work? I'd previously though the curse suffused the effected area, but it would be an interesting discovery if they're only in certain places at a time.
>>
No. 674727 ID: 2ccbb3

>>674725
... What the hell do you mean by "Batter-powered"?

You probably mean battery. So, has anyone here discovered solar panels? It's like how plants grow by using the sun, but with chemical processes transferring power from sunlight into an electrical current.

How about modified lenses that project a wavelength that dissuades vermin or wraiths?
>>
No. 674728 ID: 7a6915

We could use the ability to draw the spirits to one place while going somewhere else if it turns out these lamps draw spirits. Are we really sure it's the lamps that were drawing the spirits instead of the people though? Light should metaphysically banish the dark fears and darker emotions that are tied up in the curse though, I'd normally expect. Also, experience to date of exploring the town suggests that Sami herself has drawn the attention of cursed spirits. (This may be more or less true now that she is coming to terms with her lack of constructive responsibility in the crisis and disaster.) We don't know if that's true, how true, why true, or how to disprove it. This means we need a test protocol to isolate and measure any attractive or repulsive effects of the lamps themselves distinct from the people running the test, possibly involving remote or timer switches and spyglass observation. Do these technicians have anything in mind or will we have to improvise?
Also, is there anyone else in town these folks particularly recommend speaking to either for help or because of their connection to town?
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No. 674795 ID: 3009b4
File 144398749812.jpg - (438.93KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_50.jpg )
674795

>I wonder what data they're trying to gather- just that the detectors work? I'd previously though the curse suffused the effected area, but it would be an interesting discovery if they're only in certain places at a time.

They're pretty sure the detectors work, but one thing they don't know is if the curse really is only in certain places at a time. It could be that the curse is simply made up of malignant spirits that have a limited range, or it could be that the curse is everywhere but has to concentrate itself to act.

>Just curse spirits? Other spirits don't effect them?

They don't know. If other spirits affect the golems they're nowhere near as easily detected because they're not as obviously malicious.

>You probably mean battery. So, has anyone here discovered solar panels? It's like how plants grow by using the sun, but with chemical processes transferring power from sunlight into an electrical current.

*It was a typo*

They're just figuring out reliable batteries right now. The only reason why they even began research is that they're hoping to discover alternative power sources for the golems rather than relying on fae and pantheon traders. They don't quite know that the batteries work by stripping electrons from one metal to another, but they do understand that the chemicals mix in a way that it transfers energy from one element to another. Their light bulbs are apparently filled with salt water and there's no wire involved -- two unknown types of metal are fitted into the bulb and apparently an electric current leaps between them. The main hazard with these bulbs is that they can burst sending extremely hot water everywhere, so the current safety method is to encase the bulb within another bulb.

The batteries are expensive but if Sami can deliver some reliable data as to how curse impacts them, it could be possible to eventually modify the elements to create a spirit detection system. Such early-warning would be invaluable to Rollen as it means they'd finally be able to tell when spirits are approaching.

>This means we need a test protocol to isolate and measure any attractive or repulsive effects of the lamps themselves distinct from the people running the test, possibly involving remote or timer switches and spyglass observation. Do these technicians have anything in mind or will we have to improvise?
Also, is there anyone else in town these folks particularly recommend speaking to either for help or because of their connection to town?

If Sami is willing to undergo some scientific training she can help them run a more controlled experiment. They'll send scientists with her to the outskirts of town and observe, but they don't have any reliable means of really getting a good look of what's going on without putting themselves in danger. If Sami intends to place herself in such danger anyway, then she can record her observations and they'll be able to form more complete data. They're willing to pay for this research, but their budget is still pretty limited (as always for Scientific research).

If Sami isn't willing to put herself into too much danger, then she can still take samples for them. They have various suspicions about how various materials will react to the presence of Curse, spirits and such and all she'd have to do is take said materials into town and record her observations. If she's willing to do a lot of research for them, they'll send a small team to set up camp in a safe zone outside of Ronnalin so she can just go back and forth between town and camp until all the data is collected.

They can budget up to 50 Sterling for this project (this is 5 Crowns or about $5,000 modern value), but they might be able to get a better budget if the initial results are promising.

As to who you could talk to in terms of getting help, Doctor Korez suggests speaking to the mayor -- he might be very interested in technology that could help detect spirits and the therefore the town from their influence.

Dr. Korze: No offence to your family, Amy.

Amy: No, I understand Doctor. And I think you're right, I think we should speak with the mayor about this situation. He should be very interested in increasing your funding for this project, especially consider how fortunate he is to have Sami and I available as researchers.

Amy and Sami bid the doctor good-day and then she turns to Sami.

Amy: Sami, I think we should have a nice, "quiet" chat with the mayor. Considering his involvement in this mess to begin with I think I should be able to convince him that he should pony up the funds required to pay for some research. I'm sure his real interest will be discovering some sort of weakness in my family so he can take control back, but he's too ignorant to realize that we're not all cut from the same cloth, and besides if it ever comes to that Mother will just kill him.

Sami gets a feeling that 'quiet chat' means polite conversation laden with veiled threats.

Amy: Did you want to do some shopping first? Don't take this the wrong way love, but I think we might want to get you out of those dirty traveller's clothes before meeting anyone with political weight -- even if he is scum. If you're dead set against changing that's OK, it's not as if anyone appreciates my sense of style either. It's up to you my love.
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No. 674829 ID: 149da0

>Sami gets a feeling that 'quiet chat' means polite conversation laden with veiled threats.
Considering his past involvement in the mess that basically ruined your life, I don't think that should bother you overmuch.

>If Sami is willing to undergo some scientific training she can help them run a more controlled experiment.
I think the obvious question from Sami's perspective is how long that would take, though more broadly I'd say learning is a good thing.

I do know some of us spirits are scientifically trained, although we're really only in a position to make recommendations on methodology. Not in a good position for recording data. (Though I suppose we could dictate notes / observations to be transcribed later).

>They don't know. If other spirits affect the golems they're nowhere near as easily detected because they're not as obviously malicious.
If they have any of this equipment set up, the obvious first test is to see if we ping it at all. If we're 'loud' enough we might render the equipment useless, or we might need to recalibrate it to account for us, or simply establish a baseline reading for operating in the presence of wild spirits.

>They'll send scientists with her to the outskirts of town and observe, but they don't have any reliable means of really getting a good look of what's going on without putting themselves in danger. If Sami intends to place herself in such danger anyway, then she can record her observations and they'll be able to form more complete data
Is using a phantasm to covert spirit data into something observable to mortal eyes an option? Not so sure we can use it for ranged communication (or if we can even effect anyone other than Sami), but we can display spiritual stuff she wouldn't otherwise see.

>Such early-warning would be invaluable to Rollen as it means they'd finally be able to tell when spirits are approaching.
I'd say this is a worth cause worthy of our trying to help, although there is the consideration we're ultimately trying to break the curse. We don't have an indefinite amount of time to experiment, and there's a limit to how much we can get done.

>Did you want to do some shopping first?
Another reason to get your shopping done first is you might find it harder to do after threatening the mayor (if he has friends, allies, or subordinates among the merchants who might react poorly) or after it becomes known you have expedition funding behind you (they'll try harder to gouge you if they know you have the money for it).
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No. 674840 ID: 2ccbb3

These guys are smart. I recommend they get to work on designing a plastic or rubber bulb (or ANY substance that is both transparent and flexible) that only illuminates a fraction of their regular lightbulbs but is less likely to crack and explode into scalding salt water and glass fragments.

The detectors don't sound reliable but they'll be better than nothing. Do the scientists have a general plan for using any samples they get to increase the effectiveness of the ghost detector?

Wait. Maybe you could try it on the coin, see what happens? You know, while you're in a secure lab and all.

Scientific analysis would best be done in a stationary lab. I suggest that you collect samples in Ronnalin, and hire a research outfit when you find a safe place for the scientists to live and work in, probably the Merchant's Guild Fortress. The church is a no-go for obvious reasons, but you and Amy should be able to use it as a safehouse for 6 out of 7 days.

Negotiating with the mayor sounds effective. He'll probably have more money than intel and will invest in your operations, possibly with the intent to screw you over. Skyia said she had him under control, so who cares.

And as for the shopping, I suggest you get everything while the markets are awake, store it at Amy's house, and meet the Mayor right before dinner.

Also, ask Skyia what the Mayor's home defense systems are like. If he doesn't have any real political connections like she said then that means that his bite is worse than his bark.
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No. 674896 ID: 7a6915

>...possibly with the intent to screw you over. Skyia said she had him under control, so who cares.

They spoke for some time and Sir George learned about the council corruption -- that the corrupt city guard would blackmail or press false charges on strangers or new merchants. She also told him that the Mayor had met the Piper, who offered to rid them of their vermin problem. When he was successful, not only was he paid but the Mayor asked if he might charm the vermin to the wealthier town of Ronnalin, to which the Piper complied and his fee was paid twice.
You're thinking too short-term, and overestimating Skyia's grasp of all the administrative, legalistic, social, political and financial things the mayor could do. At the end of the curse-curing and vermin-clearing process, what will we have on our hands? We will almost certainly have a settled town on our hands. When dealing with one of those questions of loan terms, investment agreements, trade terms, quotas, taxation, protection agreements, development and maintenance deals, and other such political-economic or political-military positions, deals and guarantees can all make or break the future town. Right now there's nobody at all there and a slick and sly crook can offer us an innocuous--even advantageous--looking deal that ends up sabotaging the town and/or enriching him disproportionately. We really don't want to let this guy have much say in the future of Ronnalin because the last time he had anything to say on the matter it was, "Die!" and then precisely that happened.

I would like to look into suing him for the damages to the town but I'm not confident that's even possible, let alone a good idea. We also have to be realistic about the fact that Ronnalin is currently a haunted, infested and abandoned ruin. Worse, we don't know if this guy is so much of a horrible shithead that he would try to kill us because the rebirth of Ronnalin might threaten his wealth, reputation, and other interests. I think the main reason we have to deal with this guy is not trying to shake money out of him so much as the fact that his direct and contributory responsibility in the death of Ronnalin is significant. My guess is that he is a part of the curse.
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No. 674955 ID: ea0ad9

>plastic or rubber bulb
Considering that their make overheats the water to the point of it exploding... It's not a danger of electrocution, but of overheating. Plastic and rubber can melt. Let's let them to their research as it is right now.
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No. 675051 ID: 2f4b71

>>674795
> If she's willing to do a lot of research for them, they'll send a small team to set up camp in a safe zone outside of Ronnalin so she can just go back and forth between town and camp until all the data is collected.
This seems like a very good idea. Sami's limitation in Ronnalin was food and safe shelter. Having a camp set up outside where she can sleep and retrieve food would be perfect.
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No. 675616 ID: 3009b4
File 144441823229.jpg - (428.06KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_51.jpg )
675616

>And as for the shopping, I suggest you get everything while the markets are awake, store it at Amy's house, and meet the Mayor right before dinner.

Amy suggests that if they're going to meet with the mayor then Sami needs new clothes. Amy leads her to the market to where the tailors are.

Amy, holding up a man's shirt over Sami: I think you'd look good in this.

Sami: That's a man's shirt, Amy.

Amy blushes: I know. I kinda fancy you in men's clothing.

Sami raises a curious eyebrow at Amy, who shrinks away shyly in response. Sami offers a warm smile and puts a hand on Amy's shoulder to let her know it's OK, but Amy is still flushed and despite her silly grin she only stares at her feet.

Sami has more than enough cash to afford new clothes. She considers getting some men's clothing just for Amy's benefit and private viewing, but she needs to think about what might hold more tactical advantage for meeting the mayor.

****

The options, as Sami sees them:
A. Don't change.
B. Wear men's clothes (Amy's choice).
C. Wear lady's clothes (Sami will dress herself).
D. Wear lady's clothes (Amy's choice).

Sami plans on letting Amy pick out a set of men's clothing for her unless someone has a good argument against it. She's never been in a serious relationship, let alone one with another woman, and while Sami's fearful of using the l-word she would say she feels very strongly for Amy and wants to make her happy.

A bit of fear prickles at the back of Sami's skull as she realizes that this special person, capable of bringing life back into the dead bits in her, is going to be accompanying her to a cursed town that has already demonstrated a variety of ways it can destroy someone.
>>
No. 675617 ID: 89941a

Well~

Let's B cool with whatever she wants then.
>>
No. 675638 ID: 2ccbb3

>>675616
Your choice, Sami. But if you want opinions,

Inner: Feminine Underwear and Shirt/Dress
Outer: Masculine Jacket and Pants.
Let Amy decide if she wants to select the Inner or Outer clothing, you choose the other stuff.
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No. 675644 ID: 19540d

>That's a man's shirt
Pff. Nothing wrong with that.

>Dress A B C or D
...dressup montage?

>she needs to think about what might hold more tactical advantage for meeting the mayor
Well, the whole point is to be intimidating. Two big scary half-fae bringing not-very veiled threats to get what you want. Dressing in a manner that marks you as a little strange or other probably only helps.

>A bit of fear prickles at the back of Sami's skull as she realizes that this special person, capable of bringing life back into the dead bits in her, is going to be accompanying her to a cursed town that has already demonstrated a variety of ways it can destroy someone.
We'll do everything to protect her, as we would for you.

...this does raise a question I was meaning to ask you, though. How important is it that you go back? You made the choice the first time out of desperation, driven by grief and something of a self destructive impulse. How willing are you to face that now that you know you're not monster? That you found people who accept you for who you are? That you have someone to live for?

It's a worthy cause, yes, but you're allowed to stop and ask yourself if it's really worth it to you.
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No. 676316 ID: 3009b4
File 144478664636.jpg - (383.08KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_52.jpg )
676316

>Let's B cool with whatever she wants then.

Amy chooses a simple shirt and black pants for Sami.

She will wear this for her meeting with the mayor, but before they plan on the approach, some sort of plan needs to be hashed out first.

Sami recognizes that despite Skyia and Amy's claims of domination, there's a chance that the mayor may be aware that Skyia is not as strong as she used to be. Rollen is no country of fools and if the mayor's been allowed to live he's more than likely had time to learn, too.

The following things need to be decided upon as Sami sees them:

1. Should Sami bring the Siren's Axe?

The Siren's Axe offers both LEGITIMACY and LIABILITY. On one hand, it's a powerful artifact found within Ronnalin that could give credibility to Sami and provide incentive to clear the town. On the other hand, Sami is aware of how it seems to heighten her emotions and she also knows the mayor was involved with the disaster. It could hinder negotiations if she can't keep her feelings in check but it's also a powerful weapon if things do go sour.

2. Should they be DIRECT or DECEPTIVE? If they are DIRECT then they will be more honest -- letting him know what they know (and threatening as required) or they could play DECEPTION and exaggerate/leave out elements as required.

3. Should they be appeal to FEAR or to GREED? They can either persuade the mayor that assisting them is for his own good or that he could gain to benefit from his assistance.

4. Should AMY do more of the talking or should SAMI? AMY knows the mayor better, but Sami knows the situation in Ronnalin better and more importantly, she looks 'normal' except for her eyes.

If you have any information requests, please let Sami know now so she and Amy can look into them in advance. She is also willing to entertain the idea of just threatening the mayor outright, but there needs to be a good reason or some detective work done to justify this.
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No. 676317 ID: 2ccbb3

1. Have Skyia or George hold on to the axe and wait at the entrance. No need to leave it at the house but keep it away from your hands until you know what you're going to do with the mayor.
2. Deception works here. You don't have enough information to push the mayor, and he'll learn too much if you yap without knowing the consequences of sharing the intel.
3. Appeal to his greed. You can apply anger and intimidate him if he doesn't accept your offers, but show that you can be "reasonable".
4. Amy has a better feel of the politics here, you can't risk causing an incident over the wrong sentence.
>>
No. 676319 ID: d4cfd6

>>676316
Hoo boy, we're planning in detail, here.

>1
I say bring it. You've had a crash course in having to control and face the worst of your emotions already, I think you can control yourself, especially with us and Amy there. Just remember: you don't need to do anything extra to make him pay. We're going there pretty much explicitly to rip him off, and then make things worse for him later. We're setting his comeuppance in motion.

>2
Deception. It's much easier if we control what he knows. Honestly, we don't even need to exaggerate much- smart omissions and fear will do that for you.

>3
I... really don't see why you wouldn't appeal to both. Carrot and the stick. You're here to tempt him, and to be intimidating enough that crossing or angering you would be a bad idea. You're playing the fae here. You're the dangerous, unknown creature offering a tempting bargain with veiled threats.

>4
I feel like a big part of the answer here is you should do some planning and talking beforehand- discussing what points you intend to cover. If you each have some idea of what the other considers important, it'll be easier to work together / swap while with the mayor.
>>
No. 676329 ID: 5c0bfb

>>676319
That works.
On the Axe, would it work to bring it but then lean it against a wall or something rather than carrying it?
>>
No. 676339 ID: 7a6915

I'm lost on the question of what we can offer this guy that isn't a bad idea. Frankly, I see two possibilities regarding his feelings on his part in the disaster. One possibility is that he is justifiably fearful and even repentant over his due karma for causing a mass-murder and the destruction of Ronnalin. The other possibility is that he's only ever shed crocodile tears over that--if any at all--and he's a greedy parasite that cannot safely be tolerated. We need to know more about him to answer the questions given, I say.
>>
No. 676373 ID: ea0ad9

>1. Should Sami bring the Siren's Axe?
I trust you, Sami. I believe you are strong enough to control your emotions. Bring the axe.
>2. Should they be DIRECT or DECEPTIVE?
Deceptive sounds good.
>4. Should AMY do more of the talking or should SAMI?
Start out with Amy, but when it comes to confirmation of the condition of Ronnalin, Sami should talk.
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No. 679061 ID: 3009b4
File 144570091722.jpg - (470.05KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_53.jpg )
679061

Now that they've decided on an approach, Amy will arrange a meeting. The walk to the Mayor's office is short, but despite this the two feel the eyes of the town on them the entire time until they enter the building. The inside is tastefully decorated with rich wood grains and a thick, red carpet lines the reception area. Various paintings adorn the walls of figures whose importance has probably past. Sami notes that there doesn't seem to be much in the way of security here.

Amy: Don't expect a warm reception - I'm always bad news here as either I'm warning of a threat or I'm doing some threatening.

Amy whispers to the doorman and soon the mayor's assistant arrives to greet them. Just as any predicted, the mayor's assistant is not happy to see the duo, and the brief glance he gives Sami is one of thinly-veiled disgust.

Mayor's Assistant: Seamstress. Your business with the mayor is....?

Amy smiles icily: Opportunity. I would like to arrange a meeting with the mayor as soon as possible in regards to recovering the golems from Ronnalin.

The assistant winces; apparently Amy's 'opportunities' are normally not well received.

Mayor's Assistant: I'm going to assume that failing to recover these golems would create a security liability?

Amy looks to Sami.

Sami: You should see what the Rook did.

Mayor's Assistant glances at the Siren's Axe and then looks at Sami coldly: I understand that the only time the golems move is when someone steals from them.

Sami pauses for a moment as she realizes the implication and thinks of a response: Oh, you think I stole the Axe? No, it was given to me. By the mayor.

The assistant scoffs.

Sami pauses for a moment: Well, the spiritual remains of former mayor. Of Ronnalin. The one I knew growing up.

The assistant does not look impressed.

Sami brings the Axe forwards so he can take a good look at it. As she does so, her eyes become a more brilliant blue, although she is not consciously aware of it. She watches the assistant's face and times her speech for dramatic effect.

Sami: I am Sami Jones of Ronnalin. THAT Sami. The same child who saw all her friends drown ten years ago, the only survivor of the song of the Pied Piper. THAT Piper. The same Piper that both our mayors did business with.

She steps forward and the assistant tries to take a step back, but in a blink Sami has gripped him firmly by the shoulder and brought him back to her, forcing him to stare into her eyes.

Sami: You know that town is cursed. Everyone involved in the disaster was tainted by it.

The hand that grips the assistant's shoulder is trembling, but it's from restraint instead of weakness. A high-pitched ringing has become audible, and it seems to be coming from the Axe.

Sami's voice becomes very tense: I found out recently that someone... living here... shares that taint.

Amy gently places her hand on Sami's shoulder. The effect is instant: Sami releases the assistant, her demeanor soft and pleasant, and the Axe is quiet.

Sami: But this meeting isn't about that. It's about a beneficial opportunity.

The assistant rubs his shoulder while wincing. Sami's eyes dart between the spot of blood she seems her grip left and back to his face.

Mayor's Assistant: I... I see. I'm sure I can arrange a meeting tonight at our usual location. Good-day ladies.

Amy sighs.

Amy: Usually I make the subtle threats required to enforce compliance but I see you took care of that pretty

neatly.

Sami looks at her feet for a moment, then turns to Amy and pulls her in to embrace her, nuzzling her neck. Amy is flustered at such a bold, public display of affection by another woman. She shrinks at the eyes on them. Sami turns and glares at the observers, daring them to comment. The onlooks turn away and carry on their business in reply. She looks back at Amy's flush face and smiles warmly.

Sami: C'mon, they're not stupid, they know. But what are they gonna do? Fuck them.

Sami takes Amy's hand, and practically swoons as Sami leads her away from town and back to her home.
>>
No. 679063 ID: 2ccbb3

I think you should have saved the aggressive behavior for the mayor, not his assistant. But if that's you trying at half your normal anger, I think you'll have the real deal stuttering in his mind and easily preyed on by Amy's negotiations.

They're likely going to increase prices around you two after that stunt. No matter. You acted with courage in making choices that should be personal, that's something they will respect. I know I respect you showing affection to your girlfriend in public because you wanted to.

But in all seriousness, you should probably go back to the house. Too much attention at once and something is going to make the news.

Also, your eyes went glowy again.
>>
No. 679092 ID: 025c3c

>>679061
Well, that works. Although you're certainly going to have to be careful, if your emotions came that close to getting the best of you when interacting with a proxy. It'll be worse with the mayor. (If you have to: remind yourself that part of the point of this exercise is exploiting him, anyways. You'll see that he gets his).
>>
No. 679100 ID: 7a6915

>Amy is flustered at such a bold, public display of affection by another woman.
Uhm, breaking taboos is not usually the best way to make friends and convince people to do what you want. I don't disrespect the integrity of standing up for your beliefs and actions... but there surely are more productive ways to get help and resources in town.
>>
No. 679466 ID: a184c1

>>679100
Eh, the townspeople already saw us as weird and the mayor was never going to like us. Public opinion might be an issue if the mayor tries to raise a mob, but I think Dragons have methods for heading off or dealing with that sort of thing.
>>
No. 679981 ID: 6ea81d

>>679466

Kind of sort of, but also kind of sort of not. I mean... yeah, she's powerful, but if the WHOLE DAMN VILLAGE showed up with torches and pitchforks, would she be able to take them all out?

As I understand it, Dragons rely on intimidation and the threat that they could kill anyone -if they wanted to- to keep order in an area, and at the same time, scare away threats from other sources (like the pantheon).

That doesn't mean they could kill everyone. It means they have to toe the line and make sure they are seen as a scary thing that will leave them alone as long as the townspeople do (or don't do) x thing.
>>
No. 684020 ID: 3009b4
File 144755912155.jpg - (407.19KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_54.jpg )
684020

Sami takes Amy back to her home at a brisk pace, with her hand in hers.

Amy: Sami, what's the hurry?

In response, Sami lets go of Amy's hand, and runs it down to her bottom, giving it a squeeze.

Amy: SAMI!!

She looks around to see if anyone noticed, but if they did they don't let on. She looks at Sami flustered and Sami just smiles.

Amy: Someone will see!

Sami: I don't care. I really don't give a shit. I want you, and the only *restraint* I feel like applying is waiting until we get home.

Amy blushes profusely and looks at her feet, but she can't wipe the grin off her face. It's very clear she likes it.

Amy: I... I'm not used to it. I'm so used everyone trying to hide things.

Sami: But you like it.

Amy: I've always wanted to be this free.

As soon as they're outside the city, Sami gets bolder in her affections, kissing Amy's neck, whispering what she's going to do to her in her ear, and running her fingers down her back. By the time they get to the house, Amy's flushed and when Sami stops before they enter to give her a long, passionate kiss, she gets so hot and bothered that she touches Sami in a very intimate way.

They briefly and rather ineffectively glance around to see if her parents are within earshot before Sami pulls her into Amy's bedroom and ravishes her with fervor. They enjoy bouts of frenzied passion interspaced with tender lulls, and before long Amy is too tired for any more and passes out into a blissful sleep.

Sami lusts for one more time, but as she flicks Amy's nipple with her tail and gets no response she sighs and takes care of herself. It's not until she's finished with her fantasy that the desire clouding her mind clears, and she's sitting on the side of a rather damp bed with Amy still happily in her dreams just beside her.

It's not until she is still in the shadows that Sami realizes the ringing in her ears is gone and that the Siren's Axe is no longer in the room.

The oddest thing is she's still not tired.
>>
No. 684026 ID: 12b273

>the ringing in her ears is gone and that the Siren's Axe is no longer in the room.
Hmm. It amplified emotions before, could it have egged you on this time? Might explain why you were still raring to go when she was tired out. Although, that still doesn't explain where it went.

From that wording though- it was in the room when you started? It didn't get left behind (or taken) while you were in town?

Should probably figure out where it went. Not the kind of thing that should be left unaccounted for.

>The oddest thing is she's still not tired.
Yeah that's weird. Hmm. There's a connection between water fae and sex, isn't there? Is it possible this actually served to recharge you more than tire you out?
>>
No. 684030 ID: 3009b4
File 144756228447.jpg - (485.57KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_54b.jpg )
684030

>From that wording though- it was in the room when you started?

Sami's recollection of things before all the sex are a bit foggy, but she's pretty sure it was in the room when they started.

>Yeah that's weird. Hmm. There's a connection between water fae and sex, isn't there? Is it possible this actually served to recharge you more than tire you out?

Sami's never indulged her fae side for ten years, so she doesn't know.

She hears shuffling outside the door, and with whispers from George, Amy's father. Then Skyia speaks loudly from outside.

Skyia: Sami, are you awake and decent?

She hears George hiss at her how improper asking her that question is.

Sami: Ummm...

Skyia: I'm going to assume the former. Sweetie don't be ashamed...

George: Skyia!!

Skyia: Don't let your pot boil over Georgie, I think it's better we be up front with this. Besides, if I didn't smell it coming you might have heard it. More clearly. Besides...

George: Skyia, she doesn't need to know or think about it.

Skyia: ... besides, you had me retrieve the Siren's Axe. While...

Sami: Oh no.

Skyia: Sweetie, you're too young to worry about what your lover's faerie mother might have seen. Just know that you should freshen up and then you and George need to talk.

Sami: OH NO...

Skyia: Relax, it's not like that. It's related to that, but it's not like that. Just freshen up. Amy and I tend to leave our mark on people and while it's not an unpleasant odour it's very distracting. Well, to me at least -- I doubt Georgie will...

... oh he's giving me a look of horror, I guess he can. Just come into the kitchen when you're ready, dear.


Sami is mortified.
>>
No. 684037 ID: 12b273

>snake mama snuck in and took it
Oh good, that was one of the good likely explanations.

>Sami is mortified.
Hey, making you mortified is a parent's prerogative.

Might as well get decent and see what they've got for you.
>>
No. 684048 ID: 2ccbb3

Wait, did we screw anything up? Should we have stopped Skyia from holding the axe?

Well, breakfast sounds good. I recommend the breakfast sandwich - scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, fried meat strips and some ground meat all stuck between two pieces of bread. Good times.
>>
No. 684056 ID: 3009b4
File 144756601555.jpg - (340.36KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_55.jpg )
684056

Thankfully there's a wash basin in the room. Sami wipes herself down to the point where she figures she should at least be presentable enough to go down to the river and have a proper wash. She avoids all eye contact and she hears Skyia laugh merrily as she heads out.

The water does a remarkable job of clearing her head. It feels... more natural than any bath that she's been in.

She returns and meets George in the kitchen. He's got the Siren's Axe.

George: Have a good wash, Sami?

Sami just blushes in reply.

George: This isn't easy for me either, Sami. I... I'm still not quite comfortable with my daughter's choice in, umm... suitors.

Sami: If it's any consolation, I had no idea about it myself until I met her. Everything sort of clicked and now everything is different.

George looks her up and down, measuring her up. She sees Skyia pass by as he does so, and the faerie woman roll her eyes.

Skyia: If there was something wrong with her I would have made it clear by now. Imagine if you had someone judging YOU when you married me?

George rolls his eyes in return: Woman, we DID. We had the entire town, and my family all judging us. Some of my people still consider me fallen! Let me be a little protective of my only daughter!!

Skyia laughs.

Skyia: Oh yes, I forgot you're the scary, scary bride's father. Nevermind the half-serpent dragon-queen faerie who basically owns this town. YOU are the SCARY ONE. YES. Sami, you be CAREFUL.

Skyia continues on to tend to her chores with laughing all the way. George sighs, knowing full well that any moment of authority or intimidation he might have had is gone.

Sami: Does it make you feel any better to know that I understand and that your approval is important to me? Oh gods. I... I have to tell my parents. OH GODS.

George looks over at Sami, whose eyes are wide with the realization. He chuckles warmly.

George: All right, all right, ok, ok, this is not really the reason why I wanted to talk to you. It's about the Siren's Axe. It's binding to you, and you need to know how to handle it before it starts to dominate you.

He has Sami's full terrified attention.

Sami: Guys... remember when we first met and you pissed me off? It... it wasn't you. I've been scared of turning into a monster since I was little. When I killed the piper, I ate him. I BECAME a monster. I... I just got used to this fae side of me and the last thing I want to hear is that something else is gonna make me lose control.

George: When you're a Minstrel Knight, you learn that there's an instrument that just feels right. It touches your soul, you play through it and it plays through you. But when you discover it, it can influence you like an obsession and bring out one's intensity. You've found your instrument, and maybe it's your fae blood but your instrument is something different. Mine was the violin if you're curious. I still serenade Skyia with it but she prefers the CONCERTINA -- it calms Amy down too. Now, you don't know how to play this instrument so it's playing you. If you're going to get any sort of control over it I'm going to have to show you a few things.

The catch is, teaching takes time. You're going to have to stay here for awhile... become part of our family. Try to lower your profile a little too. Speaking of family, you might want to send a message to your parents at some point -- you said they're worried sick about you.


Sami looks nervous.

Sami: Town still calls to me. I have to fix it. I've seen the dead, and they need resolution. I...

George interrupts her.

George: And you've got my daughter involved now. Wait -- how have the dead spoken to you?

Sami: They're... sort of trapped there -- the mayor and the piper. The mayor said he couldn't think very clearly until I came to the place where he died. Seems to be the same for the Piper. I think it's the same for me, I'm just not dead yet.

George is silent for a few moments.

George: Is there anything else you haven't told me? Or Amy for that... oh, actually don't bother trying to talk with Amy. She's like her mother, VERY headstrong and once she'd made up her mind nothing we say will change it. But... you need to tell ME everything that's happened to you. You're going to be family, right?

Sami: I guess... I thought we weren't getting married?

George gives her a stern look.

George: Skyia's taught me family's more than a ceremony. If you're leading my daughter into danger you had better damn well be family.

Sami looks down.

Sami: I... I don't want her to endanger herself. I've had to question if what I'm doing is really worth it when I've got something to lose now.

George: And?

Sami looks at her feet: I don't have a choice. I can't abandon them. It's not RIGHT to condemn the dead like that. I've lived my life with crushing guilt, and even if they ARE guilty I can't just leave them for who knows how long -- maybe even eternity -- tied with the same burden.

George gently raises Sami's gaze to meet his.

George: But you're innocent. We know everything remember?

Sami: I don't believe I'm innocent though. I have to fix this. It's my fault. Even if it's not, I have to do this.

George sighs.

George: I understand Sami, but the only way I can help you is if you tell me everything. You're the grown-up lone survivor, you've got your home town's artifact which is binding itself to you, you've got a Token of Death, you've talked to ghosts, you're mixed up with a curse and you've mixed in with my daughter... is there anything else?

Sami: You're the only thing left guys. I... guess compared to everything else you're kinda sand to stone. But... look, I've been raised to keep secrets and this feels wrong. What should I do? Are you guys OK with it?
>>
No. 684072 ID: 12b273

>You're the only thing left guys. I... guess compared to everything else you're kinda sand to stone.
I thought you already told them about us? At least, you told Amy you had wild spirits along (after we pissed her off) and you talked with Skyia about us. Did he miss that?

>But... look, I've been raised to keep secrets and this feels wrong.
Uh, wrong to tell him, or wrong not to?

>What should I do? Are you guys OK with it?
I don't have a problem with him knowing we're here. Man has a right to know what his daughter's getting into.

If it's any comfort, we like Amy. So she'll have spooky spirit powers looking out for her, trying to nudge dangerous circumstances in her favor.

>is there anything else?
Uh, if we're gonna do full disclosure, we do sometimes talk to cats. So you've got one degree removed involvement there. I know Skyia's not found of them, but they are handy for information resources.
>>
No. 684082 ID: 3009b4

>I thought you already told them about us? At least, you told Amy you had wild spirits along (after we pissed her off) and you talked with Skyia about us. Did he miss that?

Sami: I guess he wants the gory details. And when I said it felt wrong... it's just... not customary for communities to just spill their guts. It's like a faux pas.

>I don't have a problem with him knowing we're here. Man has a right to know what his daughter's getting into.

Sami: You're right.

Sami explains -- at length -- what she knows about you. The fact that she thought you were trying to change her back at her first night, and then *something* happened... and she woke up at dawn. Sami herself pauses, like she's not sure how much really happened.

This is where George grills her -- apparently he is very interested in HOW your connection with Sami first came to be. He asks her many questions, all seemed to be about finding out when she began to trust you. He even re-asks questions, almost to try to catch her tripping up. What it does show is gaps in Sami's own understanding of you.

As she and George talk, Skyia sits in to just listen. Eventually Amy toddles out of bed, washes up, and sits in as well.

His main point of concern is the fact that your connection with Sami did not initiate until she had arrived back in her home town. If it was truly just a matter of the Death Token, why not trigger earlier? Why now?

Skyia voices her opinion.

Skyia: This is likely a critical point in your life Sami. Wild spirits -- no offence intended -- are horribly unreliable. I'm afraid whoever has set this up has probably done so more out of amusement than altruism.

George: You're meeting with the mayor tonight, right? I advise very strongly that you do not take the Siren's Axe with you. The mayor isn't trustworthy but he won't try anything stupid unless backed into a corner.
>>
No. 684129 ID: 2ccbb3

We're not the most reliable because most of us aren't specialists, and we're not the most serious because we have no objective stake in this. But sometimes, a large but specific source of help has a way of sorting itself.

Alright, time to plan the negotiations. George, can you find some tools to analyze the Siren's Axe? Skyia, check the Fae networks and see if you can research any information about the Axe that we might not know about. Amy, write down everything you know about the mayor's personality, and a list of recent events that spans up to six months, maybe more. Sami, find a replacement weapon and practice your ability to threaten opponents, choose a weapon that has a combination of a high stopping power and a high grapple.
>>
No. 684132 ID: 7a6915

Oh well now, how do we explain ourselves and all of what we see, say and do?
"You remember those 'wild spirits' I mentioned earlier? One of them is helping me with the words for this, these exact words. They say they are spirits from many different worlds, of many things. This one calls himself a 'human' and knows mathematics, logic, musical theory, and languages of control that tell things like golems what to do. They are connected to the coin. I was suspicious of them at first, but even their failures seem to be made in ignorance and good faith. Most of our interaction is discussing or arguing what to do as they try to give advice. Much of what they do speaking with cats, fairies and magic objects scares me, but they have adopted my welfare and goals as their own and it's unlikely I would have made it out of Ronnalin alive without their help."
>>
No. 684140 ID: 12b273

>His main point of concern is the fact that your connection with Sami did not initiate until she had arrived back in her home town. If it was truly just a matter of the Death Token, why not trigger earlier? Why now?
>This is likely a critical point in your life Sami.
They've answered their own question. By design or fate, we pretty much only appear in certain critical moments of people's lives. I'm sure you could have benefited from guidance from a younger age, or over the long term, but that's unfortunately not how it works. We don't get to hang around anywhere for the long haul. We don't get to choose when we appear.

>I'm afraid whoever has set this up has probably done so more out of amusement than altruism.
Well, getting meta, questing is technically a lot closer to a form of entertainment than a form of charity. Although you could make an interesting argument there, considering how many of us are motivated to genuinely help the fictional characters we interact with. And there is the fact that an author is usually putting in a good deal of effort to provide something for free to a group of anonymous strangers.

>Wild spirits -- no offence intended -- are horribly unreliable.
None taken, although how true that is depends on the context. There are hard limits on what we can do, and our long term involvement in any scenario is by definition, impermanent, but when we are on a task, we see things through.

We've done pretty impossible things to keep people safe, before. We don't intend to fall short here.

>Now, you don't know how to play this instrument so it's playing you.
>I advise very strongly that you do not take the Siren's Axe with you.
I'm tempted to side with his advise. He has some understanding as to how the artifact works and affects you. If he's right that it's going to disproportionately influence you until you've started learning how to master it, it's probably more of a liability in a tense social situation.
>>
No. 684255 ID: ea0ad9

> I'm afraid whoever has set this up has probably done so more out of amusement than altruism.
It's... Both. They're amusing themselves by being both altruistic and humorous, and leaving both ourselves (The spirits) and Sami confused as to what's good and what's not.
>>
No. 684547 ID: 6ea81d

>>684255

Some of the cats who set up our connection are trying to help, they're ALL looking to get their kicks, though.
>>
No. 686430 ID: 3009b4
File 144895060723.jpg - (376.25KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_56.jpg )
686430

The meeting with the mayor is tonight, so Sami sups with Amy's family. As instructed, Sami will leave the Siren's Axe in case she loses control of her better judgement again.

Amy's usual place is in a clearing within the woods a short distance from town -- it provides confidentiality for her and the mayor.

The night air is slightly sweet, fragrant with the smell of pine and damp earth. Sami and Amy arrive first, and watch patiently for the mayor. He is flanked by a couple of masked men, and all three wear wide-brimmed hats and dark clothing.

Amy whispers: It's not unusual for him to bring protection. I wouldn't be surprised if Mother is lurking by somewhere too. The guards are masked so we can't ... influence them in advance.

The mayor has the look of someone aged by stress. His hair is grey, and behind his spectacles his eyes have visible bags even in the dim light. His voice is the clue that he's younger than he appears -- Sami guesses he's about 50.

Mayor Harris : Well, what is it now, Amy? I'm here as rudely requested by your new... acquaintance.

As suggested, they will be deceptive over honest and apply more to greed than fear when there's a choice.

Sami: Didn't your assistant inform you of who I was?

Mayor Harris looks uncomfortable and doesn't meet Sami's gaze.

Mayor Harris: I know who you're claiming to be...

Amy looks irritated: Do we really need to do this little dance? I can vouch for her identity, and that should be sufficient.

Mayor Harris sighs: Very well then. If we're going to skip the dance I'd appreciate we could also skip the usual threats? You did mention an opportunity.

Sami: How about the ability to detect spirits, and maybe even retrieve some golems?

Mayor Harris is unable to restrain a flicker of keen interest.

Mayor Harris: So you're serious about running the experiments proposed by Dr. Korze? I won't pretend that being able to actually know when we're being spied on is uninteresting. It's better than relying on the nonsense from the North-East. I suppose you need funds?

Sami: Well, it's more like Dr. Korze's people will need them. They need someone to go in and run some experiments and considering I'm trying to clear the curse from my home town knowing where the curse is would help me too.

Mayor Harris's expression changes somewhat: If you don't mind Sami - why bother? You survived, the town is abandoned. Why not just move on?

Sami sighs: I've been trying to do that for ten years. It won't let me.

Sami feels a tickle at the back of her neck. She glances over at Amy, but she seems to be focused on watching the mayor and his men.

Do you have anything you'd like Sami to ask?
>>
No. 686483 ID: 2ccbb3

You're probably being watched. Don't take the mayor hostage yet, someone in the branches might not work on his behalf.

Your main issue is that there's a quick and easy way to beat this curse, but you need EXPENSIVE ingredients that are worth enough to build an over-city over Ronnalin. (Technically the ingredients are gold, gold, and more gold, but keep that from him.) Another option is to perform a specific ritual sacrifice on everyone who was responsible for the mess, which will likely go horribly and you aren't considering that as an option. Also, you can't ritually sacrifice a goddess, so there.

So the last option is to tear away at the curse using hit-and-run tactics to steal the power of the wraiths (hackers) until you can fix this with an exorcist or something.

Let the mayor think he can outsmart you. Your goal is to make him think that he's smart, smart enough to figure out your game and play to the best of his ability. Then screw him over with new rules, if necessary.
>>
No. 686513 ID: 86cfc3

>You're probably being watched.
By who? We've already met all the major local players, I think. Unless the Redeemer showed up.

>than relying on the nonsense from the North-East
Do we know about that already?

>Do you have anything you'd like Sami to ask?
Uh. I can think of plenty of confrontational "why did you do what you did" questions, but antagonizing him in that manner doesn't serve our current interests.

Look, you benefit if anything is done about the curse lurking on your borders, you benefit if the research bears fruit or if we recover any golems, you benefit not annoying the local fae-blooded, and for assurances, you've got a contractor who's tied to the place.

It's win-win, and you're not taking any of the risks.
>>
No. 687352 ID: 6ea81d

>>686513
To be fair, in financing our expedition, he IS taking something of a financial risk. The idea is to convince him we're worth the money.
>>
No. 687384 ID: 3009b4
File 144945162329.jpg - (379.37KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_57.jpg )
687384

>Don't take the mayor hostage yet, someone in the branches might not work on his behalf.

Sami: That thought never even occurred to me, amusing an idea as it is. I have no plans on taking anyone hostage.

>>than relying on the nonsense from the North-East
>Do we know about that already?

Sami: Maybe? He's referring to Gaelend and Shinato -- the cloppers & trites. They have this thing about honoring the spirits. We've tried borrowing techniques from time to time but with not much success.

Sami: Look, this is very simple. You just give Dr. Korze anything he needs, we do research for him and hopefully we figure out how to lift the curse in Ronnalin. At the very least we expect to fully test spirit-detecting equipment which you're clearly interested in... but we have the potential to lift the curse which removes a local hazard.

Mayor Harris thinks about it before sighing.

Mayor Harris: I'll be frank, Samantha. I don't think you're going to lift the curse, and while I am interested in spirit detection research and I do have some confidence in Dr. Korze's work you're more likely going to get yourself killed, and then I'll have to answer to Skyia for her daughter's death.

Amy: Going with Sami was my idea. You'll have more to answer to if you get in my way.

Mayor Harris: I'm getting too old and tired for this kind of nonsense. Fine, I'll tell Dr. Korze he has the financial support of our town -- but for your own sake, don't take any more foolish risks than you absolutely have to. The last thing anyone wants is an enraged, grieving mother on the rampage.

Sami: Good. Shake and close.
>>
No. 687386 ID: 2ccbb3

>>687384
WAIT LET ME SCAN HIS HAND FIRST

[[Scan: Mayor]]
[[Scan: Mayor's hand]]

Okay, we're good.

Yay, you have a budget! Sami and Amy, hug Skyia and then discuss the distribution of funds.
>>
No. 687452 ID: 86cfc3

I see no reason to not take his hand, nor any traps or tricks.

But he did hit the nail on the head- the biggest danger to him is actually if you allow anything to happen to Amy. Luckily for him we're already invested in preventing that, though not for his sake.
>>
No. 687483 ID: ea0ad9

>>687386
No reason to be suspicious about this, he would have to deal with an enraged mother, like he said, if he tried anything.
>>
No. 691724 ID: 3009b4
File 145196458083.gif - (495.55KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_58.gif )
691724

As her hand clasps the mayor's, Sami feels a sick sensation near the back of her head - pressure building in a pinpoint sized ball. Something pops, and it's like a thousand tiny legs crawling up her spine and on the inside of her skull.

It's over quickly; her face merely flinches and it's done. But she feels like something terrible just happened.
>>
No. 691728 ID: d0868f

Ummmmmmm.

Sami I'm pretty sure a curse just jumped from you to the mayor. That's probably bad.

I'm really not sure how it was able to hitch a ride without us, you, or anyone you encountered sensing it. Or how it was able to behave itself.
>>
No. 691731 ID: 2ccbb3

>>691724
Oh crap. TROJAN!

Sami, Trojan Viruses are a type of "curse" that are weak hitters but can camouflage themselves near-perfectly until they find the perfect opportunity to jump to a less defended host! Then they deal damage over time to the host's defenses / summon a horde of bigger, badder curses!

Damnit, one of the advisors might have been a wraith all along! It wouldn't be too hard to mimic some random annoying nerd!

Knock him unconscious, NOW! I know this will break apart your relations with the village, but if you let him back to his seat of power, the curse will likely break his mind and force-feed him wraiths until he's nothing more than a city-razing Overlord! You need to cure him while you have the chance!
>>
No. 691732 ID: 211d83

That or he is now marked for death. Cause of the whole death-touched thing. It might have taken the opportunity to latch on the Mayor if he is overdue for his fate.

This is going to make a mess of things.
>>
No. 691761 ID: d0868f

Ohwait, duh. [Scan mayor]

...

[Scan whatever that thing was if that doesn't work]
>>
No. 691776 ID: 6ea81d

So here's something I don't think we did before... Should we try to scan Sami?
>>
No. 693427 ID: 3009b4
File 145267163926.jpg - (95.07KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_58.jpg )
693427

* A security violation has been detected and this system has been suspended.

* CURSESWEEP running.
* 1 demon has been detected and quarantined.
* CURSESWEEP has finished.

* Connection to TEN has been reset.

* A system update is available!
* New version 10.0 BETA
* Features:
* New HANDLER - a more user friendly version of ADMIN, providing helpdesk and shopkeep support.
* Application DAEMON system - smarter programs.
* New ethereal HUD.
* New custom Avatar available.

* Update is currently optional at this time.

* Developer Notes:
"We're proud to offer participation in the 10.0 HMES BETA. We've listened to your feedback and have brought you a better way to connect to your Questor. The new HANDLER option means a single, fairly dedicated and usually-available CAT will be available and visible to assist with both questions about the system and act as a direct line to the store. No longer can hostile network users completely disrupt access as the CAT will have her/his own local inventory.

Additionally we're proud to present the new DAEMON application system. We've repackaged programs like PHYSICAL SCAN and DETECT NETWORK into adaptable DAEMONS who can act on your behalf and even act automatically based on your instructions.

The new Ethereal HUD will allow you to switch to 'Spirit Vision', causing the mundane to dim and focus only on the metaphysical.

Finally we're proud to present a new custom AVATAR system, visible only to the Questor and connected party. Not only does the AVATAR provide a more personable (and less traumatic for the questor) approach to questing, its position within the HUD allows for dynamic camera adjustment.

Participating in the new system is entirely optional however; we understand how irritating system updates can be and want to ensure you're under no pressure to update your system at this time. We also request your patience as this system is still in BETA"


>>
No. 693428 ID: 3009b4

** AUTHOR NOTE **
The "Update" is basically a Quest interface I had originally planned for Nem's Modern Quest, but I figured it might also address some of the issues people have had with Sami's Quest -- namely scrapping multiple Admins who only show up from time to time inconsistently and just having one guide that won't ever flip out on you. The concept of turning the programs (spells) into daemons I thought fit better within the ideas of technomagic, plus then you can give them some guides and there's less manual scanning (which gets tedious) and hopefully less disruptive for the narrative. But since it will be a somewhat jarring change I thought I'd wait until the break between 2nd and 3rd Chapter to ask if anyone was up for it.
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No. 693431 ID: 15720c

>>693428
I kind of liked having the separate admins, but I'm also curious about the new system you have planned, so unless there's a way to allow them into the new system, I'd like to stay as Undecided.
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No. 693433 ID: 2ccbb3

ARGH! And RIGHT before Sami needed to hear that she accidentally turned the mayor into an Overlord Butcher! If this takes too long and Welser goes to hell while we're out, she might be furious with us.

However, I think this update might work to our advantage. Keep a copy of the HMES 2.0 .zip installation file and all programs, we might need them later.
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No. 693555 ID: 007e78

>>693427
Uh. I'm not so sure changing the entire manner we function in the middle of things will be the best thing for trust. Sami's gotten used to us- making us suddenly different raises uncomfortable questions about how reliable and transitory we are. And how much influence / control outside forces have over us.

Especially if said change occurs right after we were yelling about curses and bad things.

I'd say no, for now.
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No. 698201 ID: 6ea81d

I trust you, unless it's too late for my vote to count, which I totally understand. I'll throw mine in there as a yes for the beta.
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