>>172086
Four sets of ten... fourty?

>>172089

Good. This pattern goes on, with five tens being fifty, six tens sixty, seven tens seventy, eight tens eighty, and nine tens ninety.

After ninety nine comes a three digit number, one hundred.

One hundred is ten tens. The pattern then repeats itself, with a number like 112 being one hundred twelve. This goes on through nine hundred ninety nine. After 999 is one thousand, which again uses the same system of naming the large number first, then using the previous small numbers chained together to it.

>>172093
I think I understand. So can you tell me what this lich and immortal stuff is in more detail?

>>172098

Immortal means you do not die. I don't think it helps people already dead though. In our travels we have seen a black mage who became a "lich" for some reason. A lich is a kind of undead, someone who keeps living after death. I just called them immortal because it's easier to say than calling them "really really hard to kill." Liches have a special jewel called a phylactary so that even if they are killed, they can still come back to life with the jewel's power, among other things to keep them alive no matter what.

Liches look like skeletons and are often very ancient, so people are scared of them. Most people only become liches when they have something very important they need to do that will take longer than one lifetime, and that also scares people. I don't know how the black mage became a lich, but I was only using it to show the strange things black magic can do. White magic can turn people from dead to undead, but this was a black mage who turned from dead to undead.

>>172098
There are also other kinds of hard to kill immortals. Mummies are like litches... dry dead and dusty, but easier to kill because they don't have phylacteries (usually.) But they wrap themselves up in cloth and jewelery to hide their uglyness and keep out the rain. Oftentimes Mummies can return themselves to full life if certain conditions are met.

Vampires and ghouls are yet another kind of immortal undead, they often look like fresh corpses (or ill living people.) They usually come about from learning alchemy and dark magic, or simply by being killed by another vampire drinking your blood or a ghoul eating your flesh. Vampires however have to drink lots of blood and often have special weaknesses (losing power in sunlight, or even dying, sometimes even silver or garlic hurts them.)

>>172286
Liches actually go from alive to undead.

>>172041

Don't you guys have 8 fingers anyway? Why are you making 10 the tenth number?

>>172304
Kobolds have four fingers each hand and three toes on each foot.
>>172286
If it starts to take too long to find my sister, I'll become a lich. It's the only way. I need to find her. I have to.
>>172287
That's also some useful information. Uh, can you tell me exactly what a phylactery looks like?

it can look like anything the lich wants.

>>172372
Okay. Mary Shaw enters through the wood thing that leads to the stairs.
Mary Shaw:"I have arrived with the food."
She hands something to me. It smells good.
Mary Shaw:"You might want to eat at the desk."
She pulls a chair over to the desk.

>>172366

If you have 4 fingers on each hand, then wouldn't you count 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10? What fingers do you use for 8 and 9?

I think a phylactary has to be some kind of crystal. I don't know why. But it could be disguised as any number of things.

As for finding your sister, you have a long way to go before you'll need to worry about dying. Plenty of time to look for her. Don't worry about becoming a lich just yet. I'm sure you can find where she is, what happened, who attacked your tribe, why, and how to make things right, before you get to be 40 years old, or however long you expect to live naturally.

>>172388

Sounds like a good time to eat! Mary Shaw seems to be uncertain how to deal with you. You might have to help her understand what you need to save your sister and your tribe.

>>172409
I use both my hands and toes to count to 14. I'll keep in mind to become a lich later in my life. I grab the steak and bite a piece off.
Mary Shaw:"Um, Do you want to sit with me? Should I get a few books to boost you up?"
What is she talking about? I'm just eating.

>>172413

Humans don't eat off the floor. They think it is unsanitary and uncivilized. Mary is politely inviting you to behave in the way she is used to people around her behaving; she is inviting you to eat at the table.

Since there will be other times when you are expected to eat with humans and other races that use tables, you should humor her and try it. Look at the wooden thing Mary Shaw is sitting on: that's a chair. There should be some other chairs near-by. Climb up on one and sit on it. If you can't see over the top of the table, accept Mary Shaw's offer of some books.

She'll put the books on top of the chair, and then you'll be able to sit on the chair and see the top of the table.

There will be tools on the table. One will look like the pitchfork for dealing with hay, that's a fork. Another will be a knife for cutting the meat. It is good manners to cut the steak into small chunks and eat the little chunks by stabbing them with the fork and then moving the fork to your mouth. Don't bite down hard on the fork, you'll chip a tooth. Bite lightly and pull the fork out of your mouth. You should have left the chunk of meat in your mouth. Chew with your mouth shut.

Don't talk when you have food in your mouth, humans find that gross and rude.

>>172444
That's a little stupid. Humans are stupid. I don't want to sit on the chair, but since you'll just yell at me, I have to. I get up on the chair. I can't see over the table.
Nirblilm:"I guess I'll have the books."
Mary Shaw gets up and gets a few books. She puts them under me. I can see the table now. I grab the knife and cut the steak into pieces. Doing that was hard. I put the knife down and pick up the fork. I put a piece of steak in my mouth and bite it. It's silent for a while.
Mary Shaw:"Um... So, nice weather, is it not?"

>>172448

Yes it is a little stupid, but it means she is treating you like she would treat a short human. She is treating you seriously, so you should respect her efforts to be polite.

Tell her whatever you think of the weather, and then change the subject. Mary is asking about the weather because she's not sure what subjects are polite for talking with you about. We should establish that you are ignorant of the wider world and of humans, so ask her a question about humans.

It can be something like, "You're 36 years old. That's nine times as old as me. I'm four. How long do humans live?"

Nirblilm:"I really don't care what the weather is. You're Thirty-six years old. That's nine times as old as me. I'm four. How long do humans live?"
Mary Shaw:"Oh, humans live to be about 70 years old. I have heard of few that live to be over 100, but that is mostly through magical aid. Uh, would you like to know the normal lifespan for other species of people?"

>>172453

Knowing the length of an average life for other species will help you learn what to expect of them. Mary is middle-aged. She became a mage when she was 16, which is almost a quarter of 70, which means that's about when humans trust their young people to behave more like adults.

Ask her about that for other races too.

"Yes. When do other races become adults too? For you it was when you were 16, was that normal or early? How many children do you have? How many do humans have? How many do other races have?"

Nirblilm:"Yes."
Mary Shaw:"I will tell you what I know. Faerid lice up to 60000 years old, Gnolls up to 55, Drow up to 200, Elves up to 300, Dwarves up to 100, Lizardfolk up to 60, Dragons up to 3000, and Naga up to 90. Constructs can live indefinitely."
Nirblilm:"When do other races become adults too?"
Mary Shaw:"Usually around 15 to 20 years old. For Faerid, it is 80 years old."
Nirblilm:"For you it was when you were 16, was that normal or early?"
Mary Shaw:"Humans become adults at 18 years old. I was just a little early."
Nirblilm:"How many children do you have?"
Mary Shaw:"Just one. His name is Tony."
Nirblilm:"How many do humans have?"
Mary Shaw:"Usually they have 2."
Nirblilm:"How many do other races have?"
Mary Shaw:"Faerid, due to their long lifespan, can have more than 20 children. Elves and Drow have around 4 children. Naga, Gnolls, and Lizardfolk have up to 6. Dwarves can have up to 4 children. Dragons usually have around 8 children."

>>172462
Ask her if there are any species she doesn't know about. Also where her son is now.

>>172413

>> I use both my hands and toes to count to 14.

Oh my, I should have known that. You are very wise Nirblim, even if you use human digits to count on a kobold's fingers and toes.

By the way, how long do kobolds live? I seem to have forgotten that as well.

>>172548
Thanks but I'm not really sure how long kobolds live. Uh, let's see... I guess... 40?
>>172490
Nirblilm:"Are there any species of people you don't know about?"
Mary Shaw:"I do not know that much of Nedynvor. I only know they are able to fly, and that they have very sharp bone sticking out of their legs, which they are able to use as weapons."

>>172633

Ask Mary Shaw how long kobolds live. She might have thought you knew already.

>>172826
Nirblilm:"How long do kobolds live?"
Mary Shaw:"I do not know for sure, but I would guess around 40 years."

>>172831
There's a short pause.
Mary Shaw:"Um, would you like to know more about my son?"

>>173000
Nirblilm:"Fine."
Mary Shaw:"He is as old as you are. Perhaps you will be able to make friends with him. His name is Tyler. He is currently in the General Knowledge Building. Maybe you want to go there after we're done eating?"

>>173102

Uh-oh, cultural disconnect here. She's treating you like you're a human kid. There are times when that will be useful, but you need to be careful to not offend her.

The easiest way to show her that a four year old kobold is not the same as a four year old human boy is to be smart. So, let's be smart.

Tell her this: "It would be nice to meet him, and the rest of your family. I guess that you training me to be a mage is going to take awhile. It would be strange to have a completely compartmentalized relationship, right?"

Then tell her about how kobolds train their young for the jobs they will have as adults.

Give her a chance to comment, and then say, "I know we're going to have to talk about it sometime, and I think it should be now. I have no money at all. How are we going to track what I owe? What sorts of jobs can I work to help pay my way?"

It would be nice to meet him, and the rest of your family. I guess that you training me to be a mage is going to take awhile. It would be strange to have a completely compartmentalized relationship, right?"
Mary Shaw blinks.
Mary Shaw:"I did not know you were so smart. I guess it would be strange to have that."
Nirblilm:"You should already know that kobolds usually train their young for their future jobs. I was a farmer."
Mary Shaw:"I am sorry. I do not know much about kobolds. I am sorry that I offended you."
Nirblilm:"I know we're going to have to talk about it sometime, and I think it should be now. I have no money at all. How are we going to track what I owe?"
Mary Shaw:"You do not have to worry. When you are fully paid off, I will give you the option of leaving me if you want to."
Nirblilm:"What sorts of jobs can I work to help pay my way?"
Mary Shaw:"We do not usually give out jobs to children, but in this case, I think you could help with gardening, cleaning, and other such things."

Remember, you're going to be working with Mary for some time. The pay off is that once you're done training, you'll be very powerful, and capable of actually challenging the people who took your sister. Never forget that. This may all seem weird and like a waste of time, but it's a good way to get the power you'll need to save your sister and not end up dead or enslaved.


So, in the interests of keeping up a good relationship with your teacher, assure her that you're not offended, even if you were.

Tell her this: "Being able to work odd-jobs sounds good. I'm not offended that you're ignorant of kobolds. I could not be angry at you for that, since I am very ignorant of everything that's not part of being a kobold farmer. I can't even read. You don't need to know how to do that, to be a farmer."

"I wouldn't leave a debt to the school unpaid, but finding my sister is very important to me. I don't know who took her, or why, and my only clues aren't very good at all."

Then tell her about the inn keeper's weird behavior.

>>173147
Fine, I'll waste my time not looking for my sister by being annoyed by weird things. And I was offended.
Nirblilm:"Being able to work odd-jobs sounds good. I'm not offended that you're ignorant of kobolds. I could not be angry at you for that, since I am very ignorant of everything that's not part of being a kobold farmer. I can't even read. You don't need to know how to do that, to be a farmer."
Mary Shaw frowns.
Mary Shaw:"I an very sorry. I an trying to do the best I can."
Nirblilm:""I wouldn't leave a debt to the school unpaid, but finding my sister is very important to me. I don't know who took her, or why, and my only clues aren't very good at all. I met an innkeeper that said they wanted to kill me, and that they didn't send something somewhere."
Mary Shaw:"Egh... I will tell Magun about that. He will have some people look into the inn."
She pauses for a second.
Mary Shaw:"How does the food taste?"

>>173155

Friend, claiming that you're not offended when you actually are is the core of the art of diplomacy. It's a skill you will need to learn if you want to be able to get substantial things from people.

By being diplomatic you've gotten Mary to volunteer to have someone else check into the innkeeper's odd behavior for you. Magun, or the person Magun sends, will be taken seriously and will be able to follow up on the clue where you can not.

When you tell her what you think of the food, don't just flatly say "it's good" or "it's bad." Tell her what you liked or didn't like about it. Be specific, things like "I like steak more rare," or "I like it with extra pepper," or whatever the specifics of your palete are (palete is a word that literally means the roof of your mouth, but it also means the way you taste things).

And even if you didn't really like it thank her for it. Sharing food is one of the ways humans bond.

>>173163
I don't even know how other steak tastes. This is my first time, and I only know it tastes a bit good.
Nirblilm:"It tastes a bit good."
Mary Shaw:"Is it too well done?"
Ugh... She's so annoying.

>>173165

She's trying to make sure you're comfortable.

Tell her the truth, you've never had steak before because meat is very expensive. Kobolds generally don't have it.

Tell her you're feeling a little overwhelmed. That will give her the cue she needs to realize she should give you some breathing room.

>>173166
Nirblilm:"I've never had steak before."
Mary Shaw:"Oh, I am very sorry."
Nirblilm:"I'm feeling overwhelmed."
She flinches a bit and sighs.
Mary Shaw:"I am very sorry. I am trying very hard."
She puts her hand on her forehead.
Mary Shaw:"Perhaps I am not cut out for private lessons after all."

>>173169

"I have lost my entire tribe, and my sister. That's what's wrong with me, and it is not your fault. I still want to learn how to be a mage so that I can save my sister, and make the people who destroyed my tribe not able to do that ever again to anyone."

Nirblilm:"I have lost my entire tribe, and my sister. That's what's wrong with me, and it is not your fault. I still want to learn how to be a mage so that I can save my sister, and make the people who destroyed my tribe not able to do that ever again to anyone."
Mary Shaw:"It is not that. It is difficult to try and form a connection with you, and your words sound forced."

So tell her the truth. Tell her what you want to do, tell her how you feel right now.

If you want to tell her about your guidance spirits, do so and use your own words.

If you don't want to tell her about your guidance spirits, tell her that your words sound forced because you've been trying really hard to listen to the reasonable part of your heart. Tell her that you think the alternative to trying to be reasonable is to be angry and go out and do angry things. The reasonable part of your heart says that doing angry things won't help you find your sister, and you want to find her more than anything else.

>>173192

Alternatively, tell her "My words do not sound forced. I am completely cognizant of my own behavior. I'm not repeating what my tribe's guidance spirits say. What would ever give you that idea?"

>>173227
That's stupid.
>>173192
Nirblilm:"Fine. I'll tell you the truth. I think this is a waste of time. And stupid. I'd much rather find my sister. And the guidance spirits I have are telling me to say stupid things."
Mary Shaw looks like she's trying to form a sentence. She sighs.
Mary Shaw:"I do not know what to do."

you keep saying you just want to find your sister but HOW are you going to do that? if you have friends then more people can look at the same time. if you have magic then you can use that to help you look. we know you want to find her, but we look at the big picture while you don't.

You don't seem to like the advice we're giving you, so here's a suggestion: ask your teacher for advice. That's what teachers are for.

If she doesn't know what to do, ask her to ask her teacher.

>>173262

We are pretty stupid, it's true. But if you take any advice, ask yourself what you think would happen to you if you thought everyone was stupid about everything all the time. Could you ever be happy like that?

>>173305
I thought just looking for her would help me find my sister.
>>173333
>>173345
You want me to try and make friends? Fine. I will, but it's still annoying.
Nirblilm:"Want a noserub?"
Mary Shaw blinks and pauses for a second.
Mary Shaw:"E- excuse me?"

that's something you offer AFTER you like each other, not before.

>>173363
It's supposed to help cheer people up. You should've known that already.
Mary Shaw:"What do you mean by 'noserub'?"

>>173367

The only answer for this is "That's just how I roll, baby."

Just tell her it makes kobolds feel better, and you're trying to be nice.

>>173570
>>173561
Nirblilm:"It makes kobolds feel better. It's how we roll."
Mary Shaw:"Um... how about a hug? Hugs are good."

Alright that works too. Give her a little hug.

>>173575
I hug her. She hugs back.
Mary Shaw:"Thank you for the hug."

Nirblilm 2010/05/04(Tue)22:16 No. 173585 ID: 34470e
File 127303660369.png - (38.36KB , 500x363 , alternate 1 end.png )

>>173584
Mary Shaw:"I will try my best to make friends with you, Nirbl. Please understand I want to help you."