2/3 Deem 2023/02/14(Tue)02:21 No. 1056035 ID: 84d3cf
File 167637011237.png - (29.75KB , 800x600 , sporedabs.png )

I lie down amid the gathered sticks and vines as my golem applies the rarer seeds and the green thumb spores.

>Hin has a point you know, Deem. You're looking very on theme at the moment, it can't hurt to lean into it a sensible amount, surely?
My golem is my dungeon in miniature, so that clearly suggests that I should lean into it less than my dungeon does, don't you think?

>Well, you have been floundering a bit about your direction, and things being out of control, maybe the flowers would serve as a bit of a grounding element, like a reminder to reinforce your self-image?
Self image...

You don't properly appreciate the artificiality of it, I think.

I am something ruined and broken. My dungeon is something constructed about my wounded Heart, gathering up my fragmented power and patching over the gaps and lacks in myself to present a less damaged face to the world.

This time the aspect I have presented as my strongest face is my tie to the element of earth. Sturdy, versatile and something familiar and comforting to me. Perhaps too much so. To tread new ground I decided I wanted to layer in a fecund aspect, to help nurture my denizens and my dungeon's surroundings. Something to help prepare those who approach me to venture out into the world.

I hope to add shadow next, to let my denizens explore their own mysteries to add to their strength as I recuperate in the restful darkness. Maybe I am more tired than I know.

I think I'm getting sappy.

I don't have my normal distance from my denizens. Perhaps I'm too approachable. They've seen me at my weakest and in all sorts of compromising positions but... I don't hate it. I have enjoyed being more involved with them day to day.

How do I want to armour myself against the world?

Despite everything, despite all the long years and indignities, I am still strong. I will rise. I will always rise. I will grow as I watch my denizens grow. All these fruiting things I have: oreberries, slime fruit, chrysopears. All lures: treasure, monsters, self refinement. The Labyrinth Game to draw my champions in and uplift them.

I feel the plants shift as they seize on this image, starting to interweave with my golem body.

3/3 Deem 2023/02/14(Tue)02:23 No. 1056036 ID: 84d3cf
File 167637018697.png - (39.97KB , 600x800 , treem_still_a_bully.png )

I taste ritual in the air, perhaps I'm turning into an unruly weed myself.

----------------------------------------
Deem (Disperse Mode)
Level 2 Homunculus
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Power: B (C => B)
Vitality: B
Accuracy: D
Speed: D
Wits: E
Skill: C
Spirit: S
Luck: E

A mysterious golem girl from a lost era. A lush body fashioned of clay and stone that's embraced nature to house a frightful spirit, though she's not entirely comfortable in her skin. The engine of calamity that drives her goes where it will.

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Detected Abilities
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Woody Homunculus Body Deem's body is an amalgam of alchemically treated clay, stone and plants animated by her magic. This makes her difficult to injure and even her bare hands are effective weapons. She's refined an incomplete form of golemetry's Fourth Magic, the capacity to connect to the world, which makes her body more lifelike. She can eat and drink, and benefit from potions and healing magic. She gain small amounts of mana from respiring, sunbathing, eating and drinking. Living things grow and heal faster in her presence.

Distill and Disperse Modes: Deem has two forms. Distill Mode refines and process energy, while Disperse Mode spreads it. Disperse Mode loses access to Spell Revolution and instead gains Earth Surge.

Gigant Mode: Deem can heal and enlarge herself by absorbing additional earth, clay and loose rock into her body. The degree of physical improvement depends on size and the quality of materials used. Integrated plants grow to fit. A larger body is more mana intensive to move.

Hidden Reservoir: Deem's heart fragment allows her to replenish the mana reserves in her golem body by drawing upon the energy stored in her Dungeon Heart. This gives her a mana capacity that vastly exceeds that of an ordinary magic user. However, the majority of the spells she remembers are designed for use in dungeons or rituals and hence are quite expensive.

High-Speed Ritual: The extraordinary density of spell channels in Deem's body and her familiarity with multiple simultaneous activations of them allows her to cast high complexity rituals in a fraction of the time it would normally take. However, simpler spells can't take advantage of this parallel processing of spell elements as they are typically optimised to be cycled rapidly through a single channel.

Ancient Power: Deem has strong affinities for earth magic, reinforcement, enchantment and golemetry. However, she's accustomed to using these spells as a dungeon, not as a mage. Simple spells and spells similar to what she'd use as a dungeon, such as golem creation and advanced reinforcement shouldn't give her too much trouble, however other magic will require experimentation. Deem can only use Rote Spells via Spell Revolution

Damaged Spell Channels: The damage which removed a fragment from Deem's Heart has lingering consequences, as some of her channels cross the cleaved surface. These severed circuits are not entirely responsive to Deem's control and cannot open or close properly, causing slow mana leakage. If she's careless or unlucky when casting spells, she might activate a damaged channel and bleed mana or lose control of her spell casting.

Spell Revolution (Distill only): Nearly completed spells are circulated continuously in a closed loop of fully intact mana channels, allowing it to be cast very quickly when required. This is preset to a handful of rote spells and each spell takes a considerable amount of time to reconstruct following cast.

Rote Spells:
In My Image: Copies magical effects affecting Deem to the target. This can also be used to suppress magic currently affecting the target prior to casting the spell.
Sculpted Simulacrum: Conjures a effigy of the target constructed of materials based on its surroundings and animates it as a golem. It's able to mimic some of the target's abilities.

Earth Surge (Disperse only): Deem can momentarily amplify her physical abilities with a pulse of mana. It loses effectiveness if she's not in contact with the ground.

----------------------------------------
New Ability Unlocked!
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Ritual Spells:
False Idol - Verdant Image (Active): Deem accumulates power within her golem body, gradually magnifying the power of her Distill Mode. This happens by her spending time in a shrine and people bringing her offerings or seeking her out. Her healing aura is intensified and magic items, treasures and denizens that spend time in her presence have a chance of being enhanced. This ritual remains in effect until she disperses the power as a dungeon spell, spends a day outside her territory or fights as an aggressor. Deem must accept a large offering to activate this rite.

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New Structure Unlocked!
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Shrine: A place people can gather to place offerings for Deem's guidance and blessings. The Heart Chamber is automatically a shrine.

----------------------------------------

I am conflicted. Perhaps I am not being entirely honest with myself. I talked of being more involved with my denizens but this encourages me to step back.

>Hin has a very minor point. You have become a bit more mature in your appearance, why deny others the same if they seek it? That said, yes, there are limits and your dungeon should not risk getting too ludicrous a reputation. But sometimes those limits can be stretched a bit for cameraderie. Or comedy. Or both. Kallia would probably buy such a swimsuit for actual gold - for the laugh of it alone.
I suppose I would be a hypocrite at this point.

>As for the swimsuit, I wouldn't want people to be wearing something like that when the dungeon is invaded, since we don't want to get a reputation for being a salacious dungeon, but in downtime it doesn't seem harmful.
Fine, is there someone I should offer it to (if they want it)? Or should I see if Kallia might buy it.

>You're going to have to make a little golem to follow you around picking them up as they fall off your antlers.
I think I do need an attendant! At a minimum it might let me prove this rite. The ranks of my homunculi are becoming depleted but I have a number of golems to chose from all the same:

1)The homunculus with the shortest hair that tends to use knives. This one frequently leads the other golems.
2)The other female homunculus with spiky short hair, this one works well with the brutes.
3)The homunculus I had Merud model after Kallia but then we changed the face a little. I think it still somehow has a little of her attitude.
4)The homunculus modelled after my original golem body.
5)The male homunculus. Did we only make one of these?
6)The gardener golem with big hair and the big sword. Formerly a homunculus and already one of the more advanced golems.
7) The woody brute, already a highly advanced golem and I haven't tested the effects of the spores on it yet.
8) Big handed brute. One of the stronger golems, sleepy when not fighting.
9) Basic brute, the remaining brutre golem, a frequent flexer.
10) Puppet golem modelled after my first homunculus body.
11) The stick-in-the-mud golem. Technically two golems. Merud's already hard at work on upgrading it to show to Olan.
12) Belphejar Replica. A cauldron-like golem. Belphejar doesn't like it.
13) Golem horse - one of the two golems brought by Merud for use as beasts of burden.
14) Centaur.
15) Pancake. Pancake is currently sealing the chamber full of spores so I don't know why I'm even listing this.

>>1056036
This may sound weird coming from one of us, but you might want to put on more clothes...

I'm gonna say 9. Beefcake to go with the cheesecake.

3! Because Kallia is delightful.

Number 4 is definitely plotting to overthrow you, so pick them as your attendant. Keep your enemies closer, or something.

Also, do the curtains match the drapes?

Either the Doyle clone to brew the leaves into tea, or the puppet as a walking, non-talking marker of progress.

>>1056036
Can I just say you are totally rockin the Gaia/mother goddess look

Number 4. That golem is good with her hands…

>>1056034
>you don't need to keep insulting my weight.
Well, remember that a larger body is more mana intensive to move, and you're trying to recover mana. Plus there's the image factor: most people don't consider rotund bodies to be attractive, and people are more likely to do what an attractive person wants them to. Your weight is a detriment to you.

>>1056036
>3)The homunculus I had Merud model after Kallia but then we changed the face a little. I think it still somehow has a little of her attitude.
>4)The homunculus modelled after my original golem body.
These two are good options.

>15) Pancake. Pancake is currently sealing the chamber full of spores so I don't know why I'm even listing this.
Because Pancake is the best boy and deserves to be mentioned often.

The stick in the mud golem because it's not overly useful otherwise and has a humorous appearance

I vote for 10. As a visual representation of how you started out, keeping it around to contrast with the you that exists now could be a reminder of how far you've managed to come. It feels like you could use a little bit of uplifting sometimes, Deem.

Other notes/thoughts:

- Would it be possible to use Reisarf's Matter Virus in conjunction with Hin's Gelforging? In particular, fusing the new Refined Slime with stone or cloth to make it a little more sturdy or workable sounds like it could make something potentially useful.

- Would having Moriko drink some of the Locus Fluid help her see results from wearing the Covetuous Ring faster, or make them more pronounced? Or any other change she's hoping to gain from her Mana Vacancy, I suppose. I know rushing her would be bad, but part of me is worried it might be better to make sure a change happens with something positive than wait and leave it to chance.

Edit: just re-read the list, same reasoning applies to 4 as well. Consider this a vote for both, I guess.

3 for Kallia-golem. It may be one of the more homunculus-like homunculuses.

Go test out your new capabilities with Merud once he wakes and see if he has any additional insights to glean. He's probably the one who's going to be most clinically interested in your new assets - and abilities and any changes to your attendant.

And he'd be less likely to make fun.

(Hin is going to have such a field day here.)

It's certainly a change... but I think we've established those need not be so bad. Just remain yourself and take heart - no pun intended - in the lovely passive increase in your mana this form gives you.

>>1056036
1 seems to be the most practical. You can get extra hands more easily if more work needs doing, and a knife cuts down fruit easier.

About your new Shrine ability, you're still the boss around here. That's going to conflict with having a social life, no matter what. If you have to leave for any reason, any requests made during your absence will hopefully be still standing by the time you get back. (Like work email.)

>>1056062
>Well, remember that a larger body is more mana intensive to move, and you're trying to recover mana.
She may be unconsciously building up a mana buffer. Negging her about it won't help, only addressing her insecurities might. I'll add: there's nothing wrong with being a tank. Every adventuring party needs one.
>most people don't consider rotund bodies to be attractive,
Speak for yourself.
>people are more likely to do what an attractive person wants them to.
Yes, but attractiveness also correlates to culture. I'm sure Deem is observant enough to notice what kinds of bodies or fashion styles people will listen to, and model herself like that if she wanted to. Though, once an appearance of health is established, being exotic is it's own kind of attractiveness.

>>1056062
Don't body shame. Different people consider different things to be attractive, so your tastes are not the standard that everyone needs to follow.

>>1056093
Agreeing with all of this.

The gardener golem is busy tending to the other golem, have the Deem puppet stick around.
It’s becoming more apparent that curse breaking is high priority. You need to trim the fat from the Treem, especially if you plan to adopt a sedentary lifestyle of idolatry. Sitting there getting fat off your underlings’ worship and labor will tarnish your image with friend and financier alike.

>>1056113
>Don't body shame. Different people consider different things to be attractive, so your tastes are not the standard that everyone needs to follow.
I'm not body shaming, it's how it is. It's my own shape, too. I'm not saying nobody does, but most people don't. Pretending it's not like that is not being body positive, it's being delusional. I also wouldn't be saying this to someone whose body wasn't a golem that could literally shed clay at any time to change her shape.

>>1056124
Seriously? I know *several* people who would find how she looks in the last panel VERY appealing. Especially with the added height. Hell, I even sent the image to a few of them.

Conventionally attractive is not the only form of attractive. If she keeps looking like that, I'd say the biggest issue is going to be adventurers not accidentally calling her 'mommy' when she does boss-fight duty.

>>1056124
>whose body wasn't a golem that could literally shed clay at any time to change her shape.
I believe you're forgetting that Deem is currently unable to do that. She can't shed any clay to change shape, she's always gonna default to her current form.

>>1056132
She'll break the curse soon enough, we just haven't put any priority on it.

>>1056130
Just cause you know several people who do doesn't mean the majority of people won't. Look I'm not trying to kinkshame anyone, I just think that if we're being 100% practical, a slimmer body will be more advantageous for her than a rotund one.
And I think we're getting a sidetracked here and don't wanna flood the thread with this, so I'm dropping the subject

>>1056036
...are you religious, Deem? I'd imagine not, but who knows. Are there gods that you just don't follow? How tangible are they?

Becoming an earthbound false goddess could cause some overwhelming consequences depending on who catches wind of it. I am not sure you want a small army of paladins smashing your door down to smite the blasphemers and their heretical diety.

>>1056134
at risk of throwing more fuel on the fire, there is a valid point to be made that more weight is harder to move. I would agree that Deem should either lose weight, OR bulk up more to maintain combat effectiveness. Honestly, it really doesn't matter what Deem looks like as long as she can still have quick reflexes and and strong strikes. This is all assuming a homunculus's clay muscles are on par with a human's as far as strength to weight ratio goes. Tbh I am fine with how Deem looks atm, but her arms do look rather spindly.

4)The homunculus modelled after my original golem body.

>My golem is my dungeon in miniature, so that clearly suggests that I should lean into it less than my dungeon does, don't you think?
I'd suggest it means your golem should exemplify the themes, since it's the avatar of the dungeon. So it needs to be able to indicate what the dungeon is about when outside of it, and serve as a set-piece / focal point inside the dungeon, especially when you've got boss enhancements applied.

Granted- I don't think it's necessary for me to say this now, since your new form very much works with the themes. The curves sell the fecund theme, while the increased height and woody legs + horns balance that out, and the earth theme is always present. Overall it's a attractive (very much so depending on preferences) but also one that's strong and not to be trifled with. I like it!

For those talking about practicality: I'd like to point out that Deem's Power increased with this new form, and her Speed didn't decrease. Plus this form has access to a physical boost ability. Not liking the look is entirely fair (I'd only comment that she's hardly rotund, at most just thicc. Plus the changes elsewhere kinda balance out the thiccness.), I'm just not sure the practicality argument holds water.

>>1056036
As for an attendant- I'd suggest 3, or maybe 9. I have a suspicion the golems with more personality would work better with Verdant Image as opposed to more automaton-like, it basically gives you a boost for being worshipped? So those with a personality and inclination to pay attention to you would work well. The Kallia-golem would work well I think, the flexer might be too self-focused, and the other golems-with-attiude seem to have leadership roles within the golems, so taking them away to be an attendant might hurt golem coordination.

For the swimsuit, correct me if I'm wrong but I assume you don't want to wear it. So I'd let Hin offer it to Reisarf to see if they wanted it as originally intended, and if they don't- see if any other denizen wants it before seeing if Kallia would buy it.

If we are really going to argue it, yes, your weight is... just a bit too much. Enjoying this many sizes over standard humanoid is a fringe trait, not normal, and while you could give less a shit how a bunch of mortals feel about your appearance, I'm sure Deem has some level of idea what she's looking for in appearance, and somehow I doubt quadruple thick is her ideal self image.

Buuut since as we know intent seems to manifest itself physically around Deem I think Deem is going to need to take some direct steps to bring her size down a little and end the curse.

In other words Deem, you need to go on a diet. You really shouldn't have much trouble with that, since you don't generally need to eat and all this is the result of you trying to eat an earth locus into your control. Just stop snacking and stick to mildly alcoholic drinks at meals with your denizens until you are a shape you enjoy.

Btw, Deem, your new form is looking very imposing. The wood highlights to your body are functional and look good, and the vine hair with flower highlights very is very attractive.

You should bring the male homonculous around with you.

>>1056036
I think number 4 is a good option.

>arguing about Deem's appearance
Deem herself has expressed annoyance at everyone bringing up this topic and has stated that she doesn't care about it too much. I think that as long as she's comfortable in her own body, that's all that matters.

But if anyone wishes to continue pointlessly arguing about this, then please take it over to the Discussion Thread here: https://questden.org/kusaba/questdis/res/94347.html . That way you won't clutter the main quest thread.

I'd like to clarify what I meant by "addressing her insecurities", assuming the excessive eating and thiccness isn't just a curse. We should focus on resolving the causes, not just the symptoms. If it's a stress habit she picked up to cope after being traumatized by mana leaks and existential threats, then that means resolving the external threats, or internal fears, not changing the habit.

Still hope she keeps to the "Gaia/mother goddess look" (>>1056050) once the curse is lifted.

>>1056163
Why not double down instead and form an actual heretic counter-religion? Swallow Everything! Break the Church! Break the Sky! The Sky will Fall the Sky will Fall the Sky will F-

Yeah, that's a Bad Idea. Cathartic, but Bad.

>>1056168
Muscling up the upper body a bit would make people think twice about making fat jokes. Find the right balance of muscle and thicc to rock the asethetic of a "brawn and beauty" nature goddess.

>>1056187
Dieting is for chumps. If you want to burn off excess mana right, a proper exercise routine is where it's at. I bet it'll toughen her body up enough that her vitality will jump up a grade once the curse is lifted.

>>1056191
My dude we literally suggested curses for Deem a while back and it was one of them. See: >>1039407

>>1056163
Just to nip the potential counterargument that having more people (in this case, paladins full of righteous fury) storm your dungeon would be a good thing because of the Labyrinth Game; they would not be there for gold. They would breach the doors, kill or capture those inside, tear down the walls until they destroy the resurrection matrix, and then crucify the prisoners.

I kind of feel like that would sort of ruin the Labyrinth game.

Deem, your golem is getting very curvy. Your investor is likely to make sexual advances upon your person. While yes, you have seen everything before, the immediacy of this experience is likely to have a greater effect than you expect, so try to be prepared. It would also reduce the professionalism of their tour.

>>1056093
i like more mud it means more material to repair with or cut of to make into golems fast, can also store liquids in pockets or packets, other then that i really want to see a solid wellbuilt skeleton get as skinny as possible and make it as functional as possible then build onto that

1/3 Deem 2023/03/16(Thu)07:54 No. 1058710 ID: 675b2a
File 167897848987.png - (30.32KB , 800x600 , what_are_you_talking_about.png )

>Most people don't consider rotund bodies to be attractive, and people are more likely to do what an attractive person wants them to. Your weight is a detriment to you.
>Speak for yourself.
>Sitting there getting fat off your underlings’ worship and labor will tarnish your image with friend and financier alike.
>I'd say the biggest issue is going to be adventurers not accidentally calling her 'mommy' when she does boss-fight duty.
>Deem should either lose weight, OR bulk up more to maintain combat effectiveness.
>The curves sell the fecund theme, while the increased height and woody legs + horns balance that out, and the earth theme is always present.
>If we are really going to argue it, yes, your weight is... just a bit too much.
>Deem, your new form is looking very imposing. The wood highlights to your body are functional and look good, and the vine hair with flower highlights very is very attractive.
>Deem, your golem is getting very curvy. Your investor is likely to make sexual advances upon your person.
...

I don't want to hear it.

>I think Deem is going to need to take some direct steps to bring her size down a little and end the curse.
>Deem, you need to go on a diet. You really shouldn't have much trouble with that, since you don't generally need to eat and all this is the result of you trying to eat an earth locus into your control.
No, I am going to attend a feast in a few hours because preventing further loss of consciousness from a lack of mana is more important than vanity over my golem body's exact shape. I am about to contribute a lot of mana to crafting an item, my denizens have gone to some lengths to gather some mana rich ingredients and consuming more mana rich food was identified as the most reliable short term method to provide some reserves.

Curse breaking has been lower priority than everything else going on in my dungeon at the moment and I'll have another chance to break it before Olan's arrival if it's that important.

>This may sound weird coming from one of us, but you might want to put on more clothes...
I've worn less. This is fine.

>Would having Moriko drink some of the Locus Fluid help her see results from wearing the Covetous Ring faster, or make them more pronounced? Or any other change she's hoping to gain from her Mana Vacancy, I suppose.
I will let her know it is an option when I next have a chance to speak to her.

>Go test out your new capabilities with Merud once he wakes and see if he has any additional insights to glean.
I'll find him when he wakes up.

>...are you religious, Deem? I'd imagine not, but who knows. Are there gods that you just don't follow? How tangible are they?
What do you think?

>Becoming an earthbound false goddess could cause some overwhelming consequences depending on who catches wind of it. I am not sure you want a small army of paladins smashing your door down to smite the blasphemers and their heretical deity.
Aren't you leaping to some conclusions here?

>They would breach the doors, kill or capture those inside, tear down the walls until they destroy the resurrection matrix, and then crucify the prisoners.
No they couldn't, surely I'm still strong enough to... even if they did...

...

Whose benefit do you think the Labyrinth Game is for?

My denizens would die and then I would glut myself on vengeful atrocity. Yet another little calamity in a long, long, lo...

2/3 Deem 2023/03/16(Thu)07:55 No. 1058711 ID: 675b2a
File 167897851445.png - (36.56KB , 600x720 , its_mr_blue_sky.png )

Sleep.

Forget your name and still your sorrow.

Drown your spite in your bloody games.

3/3 Deem 2023/03/16(Thu)07:56 No. 1058712 ID: 675b2a
File 167897858379.png - (30.90KB , 550x750 , late_night_alienist_chats.png )

"Oh Deem you got bigger again." Reisarf says. "Did you get really hungry in the middle of the night?"

I shake my head. I'm outside Reisarf's little sleeping hut in the hidden valley.

"No?" I say.

"Oh it's a biggening thing again?" Reisarf says. "Those seem really popular right now! Who do you think is going to be the biggest?"

"Reisarf it's not a competition..." I squint at my alienist. Now something's bothering me. "Have you gotten smaller?"

"I'll try harder!"

"No! I -" I sigh. "Why have you changed?"

"Oh! I've been saving up mana in case you needed it, but right now we're testing if eating extra mana will make Stargazer fruit faster!" Stargazer looks at me from inside the hut, seemingly less happy at late night visitors.

"Did it work? Do you know if her fruit attract monsters too?"

"No it didn't. We think they might attract starspawn like her, that's the vibe we're getting off them. I'll tell you if we see any of those jellyfish! And I think being cursed has improved her mana absorption but her compression efficiency has taken a hit."

I inspect Stargazer properly. She is looking a bit chunkier.

"Do you mind if I take some of the surplus then?" I say. I guess I'll have the option of eating a bit less in the morning then.

Reisarf says yes on Stargazer's behalf and after some coaxing Stargazer puts her tail in my hand. We haven't tried out her Mana Battery with anyone but I get a smooth flow of slightly jellied feeling mana from her, which is a soothing balm that eases the numbed, leaky emptiness of my own stores of mana.

"Thank you Stargazer." I say, declining to pat her tail as she whips it out of my grasp. The slimmed down noodle wiggles at me aggressively. I wonder if she might be angry at me.

"Tomorrow please take as much of the raw mana as you like." I say to her. We're not using it for much else. She wiggles again.

>Would it be possible to use Reisarf's Matter Virus in conjunction with Hin's Gelforging? In particular, fusing the new Refined Slime with stone or cloth to make it a little more sturdy or workable sounds like it could make something potentially useful.

"By the way Reisarf." I say to my alienist. "Hin's started experimenting with her Gelforging, so if you have the time could you trying merging some of her products with other material?"

"Oh that sounds perfect! A lot of potential!" Reisarf says, nodding at Stargazer who nods back for reasons that escape me.

>For the swimsuit, correct me if I'm wrong but I assume you don't want to wear it.
I don't float, I don't exercise, and I don't particularly need more boob. So no.

>So I'd let Hin offer it to Reisarf to see if they wanted it as originally intended, and if they don't- see if any other denizen wants it before seeing if Kallia would buy it.
"Also there's a swimsuit for you that Hin made. It'll give you a little more stamina but it might have, ah, figure enhancing properties so if you don't want it..."

"I don't mind." Reisarf says. "I won't let you down!" She gives a jaw cracking yawn. "But sorry I'd better get back to bed. We have to start cooking early." She blinks. "Oh but why were you standing outside my house in the middle of the night?"

I blink.

>Number 4. That golem is good with her hands...
>As a visual representation of how you started out, keeping it around to contrast with the you that exists now could be a reminder of how far you've managed to come. It feels like you could use a little bit of uplifting sometimes, Deem.
"I was trying to work out which golem to keep with me, I think?" I grab a hold of the golem modelled after my original golem body. "This one I think."

Reisarf bids me a good night and Stargazer firmly closes the door.

I think that's everything I wanted to do before tomorrow.

I hear a rustle. Doyle is sneaking along the dirt path that services the little valley hidden behind my dungeon. I remain still, as he creeps along halfway hidden in the vegetation in the side of the path. What's he up to? Should I check this out or do I have enough on my plate?

Clearly, you have far too much on your plate.
Metaphors aside, however, is he still hungry for a little piece of Stargazer? I am quite curious how this tamed monster has been adapting to servitude.

Yes follow your denizen to whatever clandestine task he's about.

Also, did you lose time Deem? We catch glimpses of something here and there, secrets even you aren't allowed to know, but you losing track of yourself isn't something I've noticed in the past.

>>1058712
Of course we should watch what hes doing, it might be something funny

>Stargazer mad?
Stargazer might indeed have been a bit tetchy at the late-night intrusion and imposing. She's not some bonded mana container of yours, after all, even if Reisarf is happy to offer.

>Doyle
Let's leave Doyle be, your plate is indeed pretty topped at the moment and it seems he wants to be left alone if he's sneaking off like that. Perhaps he has some manner of secret hobby or something? We can always ask him about his late-night jaunt later. On that note, you could probably stand with giving him some one-on-one attention at some point, I'm just not sure now's the time.

>wat do
You could spend the rest of the night meditating, exercising your breathing to gather mana, and get a feel for your new abilities. You could try switching to Distill mode and loading a rote spell so that you can test it later in front of Merud, pending how long that takes.

Speaking of, absolutely chat with Merud in the morning regarding the, er, functionalities of your latest experiment in your form and function. Even the shrine and idol parts, though you may want to raise that topic delicately. Are there factions or people who might take offense to you inhabiting such a role, even if by chance or temporarily?

And yeah, give everyone a rundown of what occurred at breakfast.

>>1058712
>What's he up to? Should I check this out or do I have enough on my plate?
You must be really, really tired if you're considering letting a tamed monster of yours do stuff without your knowledge.

>Should I check this out or do I have enough on my plate?
Do you have plans for the rest of the night? Like, yes, you have a lot of stuff to do, but unless I'm mistaken all of it need to wait until the morning anyway, right?

On the subject of losing time... I don't think she is, so far at least. But just in case: Deem, hypothetically speaking, if something *was* altering your memories, what would be the easiest way to find out it was happening? There must be some signs you could look out for, right?

+1 to follow Belphejar

Checking up on him yourself won't be very stealthy. Send the stick golem.

1/1 Deem 2023/03/17(Fri)01:31 No. 1058813 ID: ee44de
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>Stargazer might indeed have been a bit tetchy at the late-night intrusion and imposing. She's not some bonded mana container of yours, after all, even if Reisarf is happy to offer.
I didn't burst into their house, Reisarf came out to talk to me. Perhaps I did accidentally interrupt something though, hopefully she doesn't hold a grudge.

>Deem, hypothetically speaking, if something *was* altering your memories, what would be the easiest way to find out it was happening? There must be some signs you could look out for, right?
...

>You must be really, really tired if you're considering letting a tamed monster of yours do stuff without your knowledge.
I don't demand my monsters spend every waking moment of their existence toiling for me.

>Checking up on him yourself won't be very stealthy. Send the stick golem.
It's still combined with the mud golem and Merud's been working on the two.

>Of course we should watch what he's doing, it might be something funny.
Hopefully it's something to give me some levity.

>Perhaps he has some manner of secret hobby or something?
As long as it's something healthier than spying on people in the bath.

>Yes follow your denizen to whatever clandestine task he's about.
I sneak after Doyle to the best of my ability. I freeze wheneve he pauses to look around, hoping to be mistaken for a rock or tree should part of me be exposed. I think I hear a rustle behind me early on, but I don't spot anyone following me. We reach a part near the valley wall, a tiny clearing dotted with flattish rocks that appear to have been dragged here and there's a small alcove filled with hollowed gourds and cracked and chipped containers. I get some strange smells when the breeze wafts to me from that directions.

One of Alkaline's hydra slimes is waiting here, along with one or two of the undeveloped slimes, all puffed up with liquid. The big slime pulls out the Waterbearer Wand. Doyle's potion contents are pulled out of him and stored. He sags from the loss of his vital fluids then the little slimes refill him.

Suddenly Moriko's imp is in amongst them, I didn't see her arrive. Doyle goes to run, but the imp kicks him and he subsides. She tosses a bunch of berries she was carrying into, then starts licking the juice from the squashed ones off her paws.

They wait a while longer, perhaps expecting someone else. Moriko's imp fidgets more and more.

Finally the imp snatches up one of the hydra slime's Bad Eggs and climbs on top of one of the rocks. Doyle quivers when she roughly tosses the volatile slime in. The slimes lounge around a very nervous cauldron gulper as the imp runs into the alcove to grab something else.

Are, are they bullying Doyle into making potions for them?

>Is he still hungry for a little piece of Stargazer? I am quite curious how this tamed monster has been adapting to servitude.
It looks like my other monsters are hungry for a piece of him.

What should I do about this? Should I surprise them, catch them in the act? I don't think I should let Doyle get walked over, and I should probably confiscate whatever ditchwater potions they've been brewing up. It looks like they've been doing this for a while though... and I think they were expecting someone else? There's been some planning put into this. Who's the ringleader here?

>>1058813
Hmm, I say you should hide to find out whos running things here first. And then ideally, you should find confront Doyle afterwards and help him settle things himself. Generally, the best way to deal with bullying is for the one bullied to no longer be a viable victim. Im sure we can help Doyle cook up something that will let him take any two of these. I mean, as long as the Ringleader isnt Alkaline or Hin or something.

Spot check: where are Alkaline and Chak?

I mean, I don't think we really want to discourage whatever this is just yet. As much as you can never trust an imp, this sort of self motivated ambition is something we've been seeking to encourage in Moriko in the first place, something she seemed to lose when her shadow separated. Or maybe something she was always suppressing, being honest.

Though really this isn't the definition of her learning to reign in that aspect of herself so she can be whole again, it's not something we should immediately interrupt.

I'd say continue watching. I want to see what it's trying to make. Or if it's just experimenting.

I wish there was an easy, clandestine way to get Moriko here so she could spy on it too, she might learn something this way.

>>1058813
Definitely wait and hide to see who's the leader here. It could be the imp though, don't discount that.

Apply more voyeurism!

If you're experiencing lost time, maybe you're the last guest they were waiting for! In which case, you're going to have to call it off. Doyle has rights too. In fact, he even has a doppelganger if they wish to continue this activity.

>>1058835
Back off for now, tell Moriko, have her take the lead in investigating further and figuring out appropriate disciplinary action for the imp.
Not the slimes, though - they're Alkaline's responsibility. Don't tell Alkaline about it until Moriko is reasonably sure she's not the ringleader.