Although Gion can't really tell what Daniella is thinking due to her mind being almost completely blank, the gem is more or less able to piece together the following things from ambient noise and a rough understanding of Daniella's musical train of thought.

After Daniella is sick in the bushes, she sits against a tree and naps for a bit. Rachel and Ella eventually go to bed at about 1 AM. The night is otherwise uneventful. Nina returns at about 2 AM with some dead rabbits. She goes straight to her tent, which is in the trees somewhere. Daniella eventually goes to sleep at about 5 AM and has some rather interesting dreams of fire and burnination.

Currently, everyone is packing things to go. Nina and Ella are not speaking to each other. Nadia refuses to touch the gem and Rachel is busy skinning rabbits.

Gion is currently still in the possession of Daniella, who is napping a little under one of the trees.

>>175353
Danielle, ask Nina what she asked Ella last night.

>>175358
*Three chords*

>"A moment of your time please, sister."
>"Of course, sister."

*THUNK.*

>(Muffled) "Hey!"

*Rustling*

>"Sister, you spoke to Madam Puzzle?"
>"Yes, I did."
>"If it isn't too intrusive, might I inquire as to what it was you spoke about?"
>"I offered her a position in our ranks. She may be older than most, but she is trainable."
>"And she refused?"
>"Indeed, she did."

[Speaking of which, can anyone direct me to a good (and hopefully free) MIDI writer program?]

tell her that at first we thought that as well but came to the conclusion that refusal that vehement makes little sense for such an offer. and then ask again, if she will tell us. keeping rape victims stable for the first few days is very important, it helps them sort everything out and keeps them out of depression and thoughts of suicide.

>>175503
oh, and that while we REALLY don't want to, we are willing to ask Ella what you said.

[Derp. I didn't put a chapter name on the title card. >_<]

>>175503
>"Was there anything else you spoke to her about, my sister? She seemed quite upset."
>"I offered her herbs to remove a child if one was growing inside her. She was adamant that no such thing could possibly occur. If she joined the sisterhood, her child, if any, would be well taken care of."
>"Madam Puzzle is in a delicate state. We must keep her stable."
>"I admit I was too hasty in my eagerness to see another sister join our ranks."

ack, yeah. that was poorly worded. sex doesn't lead to pregnancy within a day. we have a thing know as the 'morning after' pill which PREVENTS pregnancy if taken soon enough but will NOT remove one already in place. Ella obviously doesn't want to think about killing a child, even an unborn one. i think nina should tell Ella that she did not mean to upset her and ask if she could be forgiven.

>>175600
*Two chimes*
>"Indeed, but you made no mistake with me in making me your sister."
>"Yes."
>"Perhaps you should apologise to Madam Puzzle?"
>"If she would talk to me."

well, daniella, how about you go and inform her that nina wishes to apologize. let her know she doesn't have to actually talk to her, just listen.

>>175606
Hand us to Nina, please.

---

No. She is currently denying that it even occurred - a very common behavior in her case.

If those herbs can prevent a pregnancy from taking root, then see to it that she takes them as soon as possible. If they can't be administered via blowgun, then render her unconcious with a sudden blindside and administer the herbs while she is unaware.

I find this distasteful, but time is of the essence and she is in no state to decide on her own. Do not tell Rachel of this; she cannot bear blame for an action for which she had no awareness.

>>175614
oh man, i didn't think about that possibility. if you are going to do that then Ella can't know you did it ether. knock her out before she knows it's you, with luck we can say she tripped and conked her head.

>>175607
*More chiming* Very well.

>"Madam Puzzle...?"
>"Yes?"

>>175614
>>175622
*DISCHORD*
>"Your hair looks very nice, now that it's black."
>"Why, was it ugly before?"

*Stacatto, discordant music*

>"Er... no... It looked nice before... Oh, look, I have to go."

*Quick footsteps*
>"Sister, please accept this."

...eve Gion from Daniella. Greet Gion. Hello Gion, Daniella was uncharacteristically talkative. Clean camp area of evidence of habitation. Five paces to closest tent. Filling in holes made by tent pegs during night. Rake sand over holes. Step to next tent. >>175614 Understood. Herbs are administrable orally only. Action will be taken at next camp or when next watching Madam Puzzle. >>175622 Understood.

good luck with that. also wish to tell you that Daniella may be nearly immune to mind reading, as unless she was thinking AT us all we heard was music.

anyway, when you are down with clearing the camp could you hand us to Rachel.

Resume cleaning of campsite. Miss Puzzle cleaning of rabbits complete. All holes in ground filled in. Seven paces to fire. Fire reached. Sand heaped on fire. >>175659 Condition of Daniella's mind already known. She is my junior in all things. Understood. Miss Puzzle's hands current stained with blood. 4 paces to Miss Puzzle. Gion successfully pinned to Miss Puzzle.

*Gion's rapport with Rachel is such that it can detect a strong undercurrent of worry*

... guts all over me. When we next stop, I definitely need a wash.

what's on your mind, dear? we can feel something is bothering you, and it's not the rabbit guts.

>>175683
What do you THINK is bothering me?!

...

Sorry... Sorry... I'm just worried about Mum, as usual. Just, seeing her like this is awful.

we are trying to help with that but it's a very delicate issue. try too much and it will make her think she is being a burden, try too little and she will think you don't want her around. we just need to assist her through all seven stages of grief and hope she will be relatively okay afterwords. first up is shock and denial, refusal to even think that something wrong has happened. next though is pain and guilt, she will start thinking that maybe it was her fault that she was the one who made it happen.when that kicks in you will need to reassure her that it wasn't and that even if it was you forgive her.

>>175688
Unn...

Yesterday, Mum and I talked... about how things are... about me and stuff. I really changed her life alot. I'll be there for her if she needs it... but I wonder if things wouldn't have been better if I was born a boy like I was supposed to.

Anyway, uhm... we'll be on the road in 30 minutes. The rabbits will keep for some time.

'supposed to'? ha, since a man was needed for your creation then the control over your gender was no greater then the natural way. which is to say you had exactly a 50/50 chance ether way, and getting caught up in 'what ifs' will just make you miserable, out of fear of making the wrong choice.

>>175697
"Supposed to". HA!
Never doubt that your mom loves you, is proud of you, and thinks the world of you.
I'm pretty certain her life would have been much worse without you; motherhood offers some protection against accusations of witchcraft, after all.

>>175702
>>175709
Thanks. Anyway, uhm... we've decided to get out of the country... for obvious reasons, of course.

I spoke to Nadia about the whole situation. Well, "spoke" to her, at least. Her fingers move really fast. We decided to go to Ulrich. It makes the most sense since it's close enough and High Prince Jonathan is going to declare war on it.

You guys okay with that?

>>175717
let's see... hmmmmm... nope, can't think of any problems. let's get this show on the road.

>>175717
Sure. I just hope you can get to their ruler and warn them before war is actually declared; it would strengthen your position a lot.

Rachel 2010/05/09(Sun)22:45 No. 175732 ID: 1f16e5
File 127347034149.jpg - (28.17KB , 640x480 , 12731461293.jpg )

>>175720
Well, according to Nina's estimations, it'll take us 4 days to get there. We're sending Daniella to get us supplies at places along the way.

By the way, what DID Nina talk to Mum about?

[In picture, the "path" is not actually there, it's just Rachel's projected idea of where they're going.]

not really sure, we have some ideas but have no solid evidence for any of them. and telling you all of them would just make you worry when they could be wrong.

>>175732
She offered Ella a spot in their order, and mentioned how the order would take care of her if she were 'with child'.
It was rather insensitive.

>>175737
DUDE!! don't tell her that, it's just going to make her worry!!

>>175734
Oh.

>>175737
OH.

>>175739
I appreciate it when you tell me the truth.

okay, doesn't mean i won't lie to you when i think it would make you feel better then the truth. so preemptive sorry for futures lies.

Okay... sure... *Sigh*

Look, I'd rather not be lied to. I don't like it when people are lying it to me. It makes me feel like I can't trust them with anything. I think it's worse when said people are in your head.

Daniella will be sent to buy stuff at towns when we stop, and Nina will scout ahead. To be honest, though, I doubt that there are any towns anywhere nearby. WE might have to hunt our own food. Carta forest is pretty big. Good thing we have a compass.

>>175780
Lies of omission. If Nina or Danielle needs to kill somebody then do you really want to know about it? There are plenty of things you don't want to know, and thankfully few of these are things you need to know.

how about you outline a few things you think are important enough that while you don't want to know about them, you NEED to know about them, so i know when i have to tell the truth even when i normally think i shouldn't. and don't say 'everything' cause we both know you don't want to know some things.

Rachel 2010/05/10(Mon)15:02 No. 175891 ID: 79b9fa
File 127352894023.jpg - (20.88KB , 640x480 , bythestream.jpg )

*Sigh* I suppose you have a point. Just... Well, anyway... hm... we have a lot of travelling to do.

---HOURS and HOURS pass---

*Splash* Aaaaah... cool water... <3

Nina is cooking a rabbit stew. She insisted. The stream was pretty shallow, but I'm clean enough. We're all girls here, after all. You... you really can't see me, right Gion?

Everyone's calmer since nothing happened all day, I'm thinking I might practise my parries later. In any case, things seem pretty quiet out here. Daniella says that there aren't any towns nearby for miles.

we can only see what you are imagining. as in we have an interesting overhead map but you are all just names so you don't have to worry.

also, some of us may very well be girls, just no one wants to prove it.

>>175902
Right, okay... *Phew*

*Splashing sound*

>"Pretty... shiny..."
>"What the- Hey! Give that back!"
>"Mmmn..."

*Splashing*

HISSSSSSSSSS return us or suffer our curse!

??? 2010/05/10(Mon)19:07 No. 175955 ID: 1f16e5
File 127354362281.jpg - (29.72KB , 640x480 , 127352894023.jpg )

What a pretty brooch! Silly human thought she could bathe without paying... Humans are always so selfish.

retuuurn ussss..... or sufffer our currrrse...

>>175960
No! No! No! Not fair! Humans should pay a toll for making water all dirty and mucky! ;_;

No curse, please?

thhe humaans have otherrr thiings that can be givennn... shout to themm that you wissh to trade usss for goldddd....

??? 2010/05/10(Mon)19:47 No. 175969 ID: 1f16e5
File 127354607449.jpg - (32.54KB , 640x480 , Prettybrooch.jpg )

*Pouty sounding* But... I want the pretty brooch. It sparkles and goes with my pretty hair! ^_^

*Splish, splash*

>"Hey, you, give that back!"
>"No! Mine!"
>"It's not yours, it's mine!"
>"You made the water dirty!"
>"You get back here!"

*SPLASH*

>"Heeheehee~! I'm faster than you. Nyaaaaah~!"

thennn you leeaaave usss no choooice:

this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, we just started singing without knowing what it was and now we're stuck here singing just because

[repeat until she gives it back]

No fair! That's playing dirty! Waaaaaaaah~!

>"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah... Waaaaaaaaaaaah! Hnf... hnf... hnf... Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah~!"
>"Gotcha!"

*Splash*

>"What the-?"
>"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH~~~~!!!"

rachel, you got us? what was that that took us?

Rachel/??? 2010/05/10(Mon)20:44 No. 175989 ID: 1f16e5
File 127354949219.jpg - (36.43KB , 640x480 , doublevision.jpg )

*Crackling*

(Muffled) GEEZ. It's cold!

(Muffled) ...AA...AAAA...AAAH...

(Muffled) Yeah, I've got you...

(Muffled) Aaaaaa...aaaaah...aaaaaaaahhh...

(Muffled) ...ks like some sorta... Nymph...

(Muffled) WAaaa...aaaaa....

(Muffled) ...hand... through its torso... but... frozen...

try to get us to shore. it should weaken if it's out of the water or something. maybe get one of the maids to help pull you to shore.

Rachel/??? 2010/05/10(Mon)22:30 No. 176026 ID: 1f16e5
File 12735558189.jpg - (40.17KB , 640x480 , doublevision.jpg )

(Muffled) ...okay...

>"DANIELLA! HELP!"
>"Sure thing."

(Muffled) ...ba... aaah...

(Muffled) Nnngh~! I... freez... arm off!

(Muffled) n.... frie...~!

freezing arm make water dirty forever!

Rachel/??? 2010/05/11(Tue)01:32 No. 176073 ID: 79b9fa
File 127356677694.jpg - (15.57KB , 640x480 , 127354362281.jpg )

>"I have you, Miss Puzzle!"
>"Augh! She's freezing my arm!"
>"Yaaaah!"

*SPLASH*

(Muffled) HURTS! ;_;

*Gasping*

[From here on out, reception for Gion is somewhat fuzzy.]
>"Are you ...right, ...s Puz..e?"
>"Yeah... Wait... I ... my arm!"
>"Fro... ... arm ...se ....... pay for washing!"

*Gion's reception is a bit fuzzy at the moment*

(Muffled) Gion... hear ...e? Th... ice... on my...

>>176073
She did something to us. Capture her!

Rachel? 2010/05/11(Tue)03:25 No. 176078 ID: 79b9fa
File 127357354987.jpg - (15.47KB , 640x480 , 127354362281.jpg )

[Reception still very fuzzy.]

>>176075
>"...ella... et... her!"
>"...aah~!"

*SPLASH!*

>"No! N...!"
>"Co... ...ere!"
>"No~!"

Catch... er... how? Da...lla... throwing...

we dunno, never seen one before. switch hand you holding us with and get near a fire.

i think nadia knows some healing magic, not sure. call her over and see what she got

it doesnt want the water to get dirty, maybe you can threaten it with 'unfreeze my arm or i'll... PEE IN THE WATER!' don't have to actually do it, just act like you are.

Rachel 2010/05/11(Tue)17:05 No. 176264 ID: 1f16e5
File 127362271945.jpg - (43.44KB , 640x480 , 127352894023.jpg )

[Fuzzy reception]
..an't... cha... ...ands...

Fire...

>"Nadia! Com... I... help...~!"
>"*I... help...*"
>"He... hol... y...and ...er... fire..."

[Sudden spike in sound sharpness]

The fire's melting the ice a little, but it keeps reforming. I've melted some of the ice between my hand and you, I think, but it's still pretty thick.

Nadia's doing something with the Nymph. I don't know what. I can't unclench my fist and I can't really fell my arm either...

just stay near the fire to keep your arm from freezing off and wait and see what Nadia is doing. perhaps she is paying it with something?

Rachel 2010/05/11(Tue)22:31 No. 176378 ID: 1f16e5
File 127364231731.jpg - (42.90KB , 640x480 , 127352894023.jpg )

The ice reforms as soon as it melts... At least the Nymph's wailing seems to have stopped. Oh, the princess is waving me over...

[Reception is monentarily fuzzy.]

*Splash*

>"*...w...do...to...do?*"
>"So...y... zle..."

*Splash!*

[Reception strong again.]

>"*And what else do you want to say?*"
>"'nk you for th' earring, Princess Nadia..."
>"Good girl."

I still can't feel my arm, but the ice is off. You're... really cold still, though.

okay then, let's both get warmed up. and next time we stop by a brook, check to see if anything is in it first.

>>176378
Say this:
"There are rules to this.
First, never take anything that can talk or glow. It never ends well.
Second, you're supposed to chase people out of the water or take their clothes, then demand payment before they can finish or dress.
Third, if you take something that people value as a memento, you're supposed to barter for its return.
Forth, people who have lots of shinies can give you more of them than people who don't have many of them.
There are a few more, but I don't remember them right now.

The rules are important, because if you make somebody mad enough they might come back and dump wagonloads of dung in the water, or dam up the tributaries so it dries up, or other horrible things.

Now, would you kindly unfreeze my arm, please?

>>176387
I've never seen a water nymph before, actually. It looks kind of cute, in a transparent-made-of-water kind of way. Nadia is patting it on the head.

Yeah, I'll go warm my arm over the fire.

>>176381
I'm not sure it'll understand all that, but I guess I can talk to it later when my arm is warm.

*Fire crackling*

Mmmmn...

hmmm. we may have seen things like her before, not in real life but in drawings some people have made. does she just look like a kid made of liquid?

>>176390
No, you need to see if the Nymph can unfreeze your arm. If it was normal ice then thawing your arm like this would lead to gangrene and amputation, but this is magic ice so we can't be sure what will happen.

You need to be quick about this; go now.

>>176409
did you not read? nadia gave it an earring so it removed the ice, it's just numb from being cold now.

>>176400
Yeah, she looks about maybe 4 years old and sorta transparent. If you squint, you can see her. She's got one earring in her right ear, but it really kinda looks like it's floating in midair/water...

(is midwater even a word?!)

>>176409
>>176431
Yeah, the ice is off. My arm's just numb from the cold. Mum's rubbing it right now. It kinda hurts.

it will for a while. if after it warms up you can feel your fingers then you are going to be okay. if not then you are going to need healing magic or something cause something important got frozen.

A treatise on the various magical creatures in the kingdoms (Section IV) Rachel 2010/05/12(Wed)20:33 No. 176627 ID: 1f16e5
File 127372160760.jpg - (149.84KB , 680x486 , sparrow.jpg )

Water Nymphs are a curious type of water-based creature. There are several types of these creatures - most of which can be found in the Kingdom of Kai due to the Writer's close relationship with the sea... As expected of a country with such a strong tie to the water elements, there are very few fire-based creatures to be found in Kai.

Water Nymphs are not so much fey creatures as they are elemental creatures, though they are quite a bit more intelligent than water elementals. Unlike their elementalic cousins, Water Nymphs tend to be sentient.

There are several types of these creatures, in types spanning over five groupings, depending on the body of water they inhabit.

Nixies (aka Water Nymphs) are commonly found in ponds and stagnant swamps. They resemble attractive men and women with a slight bluish tinge to their skin. Nixies vary in temperament, and have close ties with another rather dangerous creature, the Rulsulkia, which drowns men and women in ponds. An identification guide on these can be found on page 223.

Riverswells (aka River Nymphs) are humanoid creatures that grow out of well-loved rivers. They are the second most common liquid creature throughout the Kingdoms (the first being mermaids). They resemble men and women of varying ages made entirely out of water. The majority of Riverswells are female, although there are very few male riverswells. Female Riverswells tend to grow out of calmer waters, while heavy rapids tend to spawn the more masculine riverswells, though there are very few exceptions (The very rapid Lorraine River, for example, is inhabited by a female riverswell). In sub-chapter 3 of this book, I have identified various riverswell origins and discussed their habits and "culture".

Fallbrides (aka waterfall women) are similar creatures grown from waterfalls...

[Dissertation continues to discuss other creatures like Ice Queens and Latchswells. Feel free to ask questions and Rachel will "turn" to the corresponding page.]

>>176627
More information on Fallbrides, Ice Queens, Fay creatures, and anything you might encounter along your route.

yes, things of the woodland would be good.

>>176658
Fallbrides are Water Nymphs that live in waterfalls. They are an extremely rare exclusively female race, resembling semi-translucent young women wearing rainbow-coloured bridal outfits - the waterfall acts as the "veil" and "train" for the fall bride. Fall brides can be dangerous - many a young man has fallen to his death attempting to reach one. They tend to be jealous of other females, and it is recommended that women steer clear of these creatures. Further information can be found in...

Ice Queens and their male counterparts, Frost Kings, are an interesting breed of creature. They resemble ice-blue coloured regal men and women dressed in furry capes, although the stronger creatures can appear as regular men and women, though still dressed regally. They have a tendency to keep "collections" of frozen bodies and are not to be trifled with, although if one holds their respect, one can learn much from these powerful ice spirits. Ice Queens and their kin are not common in the warmer Southern climes and are more commonly found in Nothern Icy kingdoms such as Sarehain.

Latchswells are leech-like water creatures that grow from blood spilled on battlefields. They have short lifespans and are generally feral. However, they can be tamed and are considered the best teachers of the martial arts - if they are tamed at all. They tend to feed on hatred.

Fae creatures have their own chapter, but a rough summary states that they number exactly three thousand three hundred and thirty two. Fae cannot propogate normally and can only propogate through stealing children of other creatures - animals, humans or even spirits - though they prefer to kidnap humanoid creatures. The process of turning into a fae is almost certainly maddening and the child is then imbued with a fae soul, of which there are only 3332. There are only two fae who can propogate normally - the King and Queen, who produce Princes and Princesses. The commonfolk fae are ruled over by Lords and Ladies who are in turn ruled over by the Princesses and Princes.

[Rachel cannot predict the future and thus cannot tell who they might run into in the future.]

>>176683
There are several chapters on things of the woodland. Rachel particularly remembers Dryads being similar to Water Nymphs in terms of how they grow and propogate.

okay, dryads and perhaps an overview of forest creatures.

Dryads come in both male and female forms. They tend to be fairly peacable creatures, though they can be provoked to anger if any trees and plants within their imeediate vicinity are harmed. Dryads are slow to speak and often resemble very elderly gentlemen and women. They are holders of very powerful earth/water elemental spells and highly intelligent, though not always wise.

Unicorns are attracted to virginal women. As creatures of ultimate purity, the ground where they walk tends to be overabundant in growth. Unicorns can purify poisons. They are extremely difficult to catch, but can be bred with regular horses to produce Quick Greys, one of the fastest horse breeds around.

Blipmoles are adorable rodent-like creatures with basic magical abilities. They are blind, and use a very basic earth-moving spell to burrow through the ground. They can be trained and make excellent pets.

>>177054
okay then, sounds like as long as we don't chop any trees down we should be good.

SelphieCan'tDraw 2010/05/15(Sat)16:39 No. 177925 ID: ba49c9
File 127396679535.jpg - (21.57KB , 368x502 , untitled.jpg )

[From now on, Gion will be able to access Rachel's mental library to reference information on flora and fauna. Just type. "OPEN BOOK" when Rachel is using Gion.]

[cool]

>>176615
Yeah, I can move my fingers.

I'll go talk to the Water Nymph now.

>"Uhm, Princess Nadia, can I talk to the uh..."
>"*Her name is Breakfast.*"
>"Breakfast then."
>"*I will interpret for you. You lack the ??? ability for speaking with it. Your training in magic is lacking.*"

>>176387

>"Okay. Can you tell Breakfast that her tolls need to have rules?"
>"*Of course. Your rules..."
>"Erm. Yes.. Okay. Breakfast should never take anything that can talk or glow. She should let others who come near her stream know of her existence so that they can pay necessary tolls. If she takes something that people prize well, she should let others barter for it."
>"*I think that she will only understand the first, but I will relay the rest to her.*"

Princess Nadia is glowing slightly in the darkness.

Rachel 2010/05/16(Sun)16:15 No. 178435 ID: 1f16e5
File 12740517148.jpg - (42.78KB , 640x480 , 127364231731.jpg )

>"I'm sorry... Mama didn't tell me the rules. You... already paid so... you can drink water here and stuff."
>"I suppose that's good enough. What can you tell us about our surroundings?"

Princess Nadia glows...

>"There is a lot of magic here. That's why I like sleeping here."
>"Is it safe?"
>"It's safe for me?"

hmmm, ask if she knows where the magic is coming from or is it just everywhere?

>"Where is the magic coming from?"
>"The universe? I'm not sure... *Yaaawn* If you're close to me, I can protect you, for a fee."

Princess Nadia stops glowing for a moment.

>"*It seems that she has taken your rule about bartering to heart.*"

'heh, little sneak.'

you have any more jewels around? if so then you may want to give her one, don't think sleeping around someplace with a lot of raw magic without protection is a good idea.

>>178548
>"I accept her agreement to protect us."
>"Then give a shiny!"
>"Uh..."

I'm not sure I have any more jewellery. I didn't manage to escape with it last time.

>"*I shall pay her, but first, I shall bargain.*"
>"What are you bargaining for?"
>"*??? of such magics that can be cast ??? speaking.*"
>"Oh, I see."

Nadia's given the Nymph another earring.

>"I'll protect you now! No nasty fae will take you 'cos you belong to me now!"
>"Say what?!"

i'm... not sure. it could of been a slip of the tongue or she thinks she actually does own you.

Hm. Well, I guess for this time, it's okay to be owned. Anyway, since we've paid Breakfast, I suppose we'll have to travel along her banks tonight.

Nina's serving the stew. She's given Mum a fairly big helping, but I think Mum needs it.

good to hear, hope she will stay stable long enough to get somewhere safe.

anyway, anything you want to do or ask us?

Yes, I do have a question. I have a lot of questions, but I think they can wait. I'm exhausted.

I've dyed Mum's hair, so that should help. Dyed my own while I was at it and offered some to the Princess, but she would have none of that. She said she liked herself just fine and that everything looked the same from her end anyway.

More seriously, though, what are your plans? What are you going to get out of this? I mean, once we get to any neighbouring kingdoms...

[Sorry for being away. I had a lot of RL stuff to deal with and also lost my net connexion.]

well. for now the plan is to negotiate. we have very little to work with so we need to bargain with promises and stuff.

>>304896

You mean us, personally? Well, first off we get a pretty entertaining adventure, and you get our advice and silly banter. Why, do you want more from us? I can teach you technical designs I guess, or we can talk philosophy or whatever you like.

If you can get somewhere safe, we can teach you how to build up the infrastructure you'll need to arm and armor an army the likes of which this world has never seen.

Or we could teach you to fly I suppose.

Well, I suppose that answers my questions. I guess... Well, you... take care. I'm out for the night.

Goodnight Gion.

We'll keep going tomorrow.

>>304964

I know I seemed flippant, talking about flying and all, but it's possible with the right machines.

good night rachel. sleep well.

>>304897
[Oh, welcome back! We were worried about you!]
The first thing we need to do is get you someplace secure. Being under the protection of a fae is something, but I'd be more comfortable if you had solid walls. And possibly armed guards.

Rachel Suggestion 2011/05/18(Wed)06:09 No. 305003 ID: f71df7
File 130572414698.jpg - (8.29KB , 640x480 , 127339129485.jpg )

Good night, Gion. Talk to you tomorrow...

Okay, that's a wrap for the latest chapter. I'm in a much better position to continue this quest than I was last year and now that I own a scanner, there might be some actual art. Though I wouldn't count on it - my art skills are... less than desirable.

Otherwise, thanks for sticking with me so long and I hope to present the rest of the story in a good way.

Achievements in this chapter:
>Received the blessing of a water sprite.
>Dyed almost everyone's hair.

Rapport achieved:
>Princess Nadia: 1+
>Rachel: 3
>Breakfast: 0
>Daniella: 2
>Nina: 2
>Ella: 0

[DERP!]

I meant... Ella: 1