Brom 2010/06/19(Sat)18:53 No. 196030 ID: f98e0b
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Dio has Gryph stay home for now, with strict instruction to stay ready for a summons at any moment.

He finds Jai in the armory, examining the Qal weapons.
"Need anything before we go?" he asks.
"Is there any way you can hide some of these?" she asks. "I'd feel a lot better about the situation if I had some ways to take down a kithik that didn't involve an attention-grabbing fireworks display."
"I'm not sure," he says. "I guess I could try and camouflage a dagger as something, but it wouldn't stand up to much scrutiny if they do a patdown or something."
"Worth a try," says Jai. She sighs. "I think I'm ready. As I'll ever be."
"Nothing else you need?" asks Dio.
"Nope," she says.
"Not even some sudoku? For the road?"
She laughs. "Dammit, Dio. This was a serious moment."
"Drama queen."
"Jerkwad."
"Minimus, of hind'ring knotgrass made."
"Fucknuts."
"Ouch."
"We're going to make it," says Dio.
"Yep," says Jai. "'Course."
"We so are," says Dio.

Ten minutes.

>>196030
It's going to take a little while to get out there...

Better get moving.

>>196030
>Dio has Gryph stay home for now, with strict instruction to stay ready for a summons at any moment.
You can telepathically communicate with her at will, right? Then that's excessive. Just telepathically keep her appraised whenever you're going into a dangerous situation so that she can get tensed up; the rest of the time she can relax.

I know she has to obey, but keeping her on alert at all times is bound to cause unnecessary discomfort and stress.

Ask for enchantments to increase charisma. The folks on this plane enchant their weapon to death, so it must be here somewhere.

Get sudoku book, teach kithik the wonders, both for the sake of all that is good.... and to annoy Jai.

... yeah, I got nothing.

>>196038
You want annoying? Summon a vuvuzela.
In fact, summon as many as you can.

Brom 2010/06/19(Sat)21:34 No. 196101 ID: f98e0b
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>>196037
Dio is pretty sure charisma enhancing gear is mostly in the realm of tabletop RPGs.

He takes back the order to be on guard at all times, instead telling Gryphona he'll send ahead if he needs her. She cocks her head and grins at him, showing her impressive dentistry. "Kind of you, m'lord."

And then he and Jai make their trek to the agreed upon meeting spot. Horned and Belt Buckle are waiting for them. "Are you ready?" asks Horned. "We will take the tunnels direct through the mountains so that we may arrive before the assault begins. It will be a long climb, easy for kithik, but you may have to struggle through it. I am sorry."
"We'll be fine," says Dio.
"If you have any questions, Masked, you may wish to ask them on the journey," says Horned, starting to lope away and gesturing for him to follow. "As soon as you arrive in Kithik lands we may not have much more time to converse before you are imprisoned."

>>196101
"Who or what is your queen? What can you tell us about her?"

What exactly was it like for you, gaining the knowledge of illusions? How long have you been able to make a glamor, as I obviously never used one on you directly per se.

What is your queen like?

>>196101
How many Kithik died from the assault on the other, more populated fort?

You never asked what species the queen is. Or why everyone follows her with few questions.

>>195982
Never make a promise you might not be able to keep. Damnit.

>>196101
What will being imprisoned consist of? We going to be jailed with anyone else? How long will it be before the queen will want to see us?

How long has the queen been in power?

>>196140
Love is about making promises you can't assure. And then living up to them.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)00:03 No. 196165 ID: f98e0b
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>Who is the Queen? What is she like?
"The Queen is of the people, or rather the kithik, as I have discovered is our proper name. She was once the leader of our pack by virtue of being the largest and strongest among us. When we were changed, by what power I know not, she was perhaps most dramatically. She is a feared leader now, and great in the eyes of her people.
"Be warned. Knowledge of her station has emboldened her, and she is fiercely proud and quick to quell any challenges to her leadership. Somewhere within her she hears the pack still keening, feels their eyes upon her, judging her. She obeys the immortal law of the kithik, which is to enforce her position with power."

>Why do you obey her?
"She is the Queen. Isn't that what queens are for, obeying?"

>What was it like for you, learning the power of illusion?

"Like learning anything else. Like learning all we have been learning. Imagine that you have discovered how to whistle, after repeated attempts have been futile. For months you have been blowing through pursed lips, desperately attempting to get the slightest note. Suddenly your every breath is a clarion call. It is a euphoric sensation, having this knowledge you were incapable of before.
Now imagine instead of whistling, you have learned to think. The world is unfolding before you like a flower at dawn. For the first time I have a defined me. I can put names to the emotions I feel. I am aware of the planet and my place in it. Things are no longer murky and unclear and driven by hunger or fear or libido. Things make sense now. I can think. This is how it is to learn anything as kithik. It is simple. You demonstrated the specifics of the action, and I simply duplicated it. It is strange, but not many other kithik can benefit from my example of your powers to them. only those with horns, like me."

>How many kithik died in the attack on the other fort?
"I was not present. I would put the number around two hundred, however, against a fraction of that number of Qal. We were less knowing, then. We were... cannon fodder, the word is. We are changing now."

>What will imprisonment consist of? Are we going to be jailed with anyone else? How long will it be before the queen will want to see us?

"You and Scarlet will be placed in a cell until the Queen is ready for you. They are not particularly comfortable. I do not doubt you will end up sharing one cell. Our holding areas are small, and taken up in large part by prisoners of the first fort. I do not know when the Queen will see you. I shall petition her to see you quickly. As I am one of her mates perhaps my say will carry some weight."

>How long has she been in power.
"I do not know. Here is the cage-thing to take us up the mountain. Are you ready for a climb, I hope?"

>>196165
"We're ready.
What is her ultimate goal? A nation to rule? To conquer or kill the Qal?
You said she taunts the captive Qal; do you know why?"

>>196165
Yeah, sure. How long ago did you learn to think, then? What happened at the time, or beforehand?

It won't be long until DEMOCRACY and INDIVIDUALISM starts showing up in kithik society, which means they might not like some person in power forcing them to sacrifice their lives for the leader. They will start holding values and shit, grow a conscience and not wanting to kill things or hold back a bit at the sudden knowledge of "oh my god, these people can think like i do. feel like i do. i don't like dying. i'm sure they don't. oh noooooo i don't wanna hurt them anymore."

Warn Horned that soon, if kithiks start gaining more knowledge and the ability to think like he has well... welcome to the wonderful world of fucking philosophy where nothing really gets done.

>>196165
>When we were changed, by what power I know not, she was perhaps most dramatically.
See if we can get a more complete description of how she changed, so that we know what to be ready for. And get a handle on what else has changed for various Kithik. Is it just mental or are there mutations.

>She obeys the immortal law of the kithik, which is to enforce her position with power."
This is going to be an important point, this spells out the way they think. We can manipulate them better with this in mind... or get them to turn on the Queen by weakening her. Ideally, we find a way for Horned to assume leadership.

>We are changing now.
Get him to detail this more. Obviously they're getting smarter and skilled, but what about their nature? Is there more independence or variance to some of them? Are the horned kithik also more... thinky, than the others?

>>196165
Ask about the event that changed them.

>>196178
Oh, yeah, ask whether those who had horns can use magic, or those who learn magic gain horns.

Ask how long it has been since this new change.

>>196178
>This is going to be an important point, this spells out the way they think. We can manipulate them better with this in mind... or get them to turn on the Queen by weakening her.
One potentially effective argument might be to say that between the speaking races, as long as strength is known it does not always need to be exerted to get what one wants- merely pointed out. It's hardly ideal, but if we could convince the queen to stage down from slaughter to intimidation-based negotiation it could help.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)09:25 No. 196255 ID: f98e0b
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Horned leads them through a narrow, jagged tunnel into a cavernous space inside the lowermost mountain. Dio looks up into the looming dark, hearing the chittering of the kithik high above, seeing the sickly marshfire light of their eyes. He feels very small, very weak, and very exposed. The climb looks near-impossible. He considers bitterly that the might not even have to bother killing him. "Here we are." says Horned. "I'll help you along as best I can. Let's go."

As they climb Dio asks more questions.

"What is her ultimate goal, the Queen?"
"The destruction of the qal and their replacement by the kithik as the dominant race of the world."

"What exactly changed you? How long has it been?"
"I do not know what it was that changed us," says Horned. "Only the Queen was present for the event itself, and she remains tight-lipped. It has been three weeks since our conversion."

"Those with horns. Do they develop them after they learn magic, or before? Is there something different about them?"
"I do not wish to demean my comrades or Belt Buckle, but it seems that those kithik with horns learn more readily than their comrades," says Horned. "They are also the only ones who have been successfully taught magic. Some of us are horned, most of us are not."

"You know," says Dio, grunting as he climbs up another ledge, "if this transformation is as total as it seems, eventually there are going to be even more changes among the kithik. It won't be long until individualism starts showing up in kithik society, which means they might not like some Queen in power making all the decisions for them and forcing them to sacrifice their lives. Maybe eventually they'll realize that they are thinking creatures that do not want to die, and so are the people they are killing."

"Maybe they will," says Horned, quietly, as he climbs above. "Maybe some already have."

Maybe they should act on it. Defect, etc.

>>196255
Say that if there are people like that... you would help them. You would support a rebellion.

Also, is this a good time to try out that Summon Item Launch + Tether flying trick?

Oooh, or you could Summon Item something you can stand on, the launch it BACKWARDS so that it pushes you up.

>>196255
"Gotcha, but I meant en-masse.

Anyway, your queen needs to know that genocide is a very bad goal; the Qal have allies that wouldn't care much about a simple land war, but genocide?
Well... last time something like that happened it ended with a third of an entire plane turned to sand and ash and millions of dead on all sides. There aren't millions of Kithik."

>>196261
Or just Summon Item and hold it aloft. With you on it.

>>196255
Don't pursue that line of question right now. Horned seems a bit receptive to it. But he might not be ready to follow that line of thought to its conclusion yet, and we have no idea on what belt buckle thinks.

Just keep going and memorize the path as well as look for additional paths that might be used and try to note all the guard posts around the path. Make plans for how you would use this and any other paths you discover if you have to escape with hostile forces in pursuit.

Note: They obey the queen based on her strength. This does not make sense. Strength does not make one an effective leader. The ability to make good decisions makes one an effective leader.

Don't push too hard on the whole rebellion thing. While Horned may be having second thoughts, he still seems loyal, at the moment; directly urging him to rebel could easily backfire and lose us what cred we have with him.

>>196271
This is true. They also seem to obey the queen because she was present/responsible for whatever gave them their newfound intellect, though, which may be a somewhat better criteria.

Seeing that ounce of remorse is like a ray of hope.

These creatures use a very ape style of pecking order (which I supposed is appropriate). The strongest is the leader and maintains that position through shows of force. It makes sense they haven't gotten past that type of tribal structure in just 3 weeks.

So I suppose we should be thinking of three things to try to give us an advantage. Sow rebellion among the horned kithik. It'd need to be subtle, you'd need to convince them without bludgeoning them over the head with the suggestion. Having this fellow already thinking that way helps.

The second is diplomatic efforts. The more I hear, the less it seems diplomacy will work.

Third is a bit of a last ditch push. It's directly embarrassing the queen in a physical altercation. Again, their tribal structure seems to be the most powerful leads, like a family of actual monkeys. Beat their leader and you are their leader, in a way (don't expect them to be singing your praises if it comes to this and you win though). If it does come to a physical altercation, I want you to use illusion to seem more physically intimidating.

Ask him how and why their tradition of being led by the strongest fighter started. That should get him to question his traditions without directly challenging them.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)12:59 No. 196350 ID: f98e0b
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Dio is not going to try any weird method of flight until he is assured he will not hurtle off a rock face to his death.

Dio's been climbing for what seems like hours. He can hardly see a few feet in front of him by now, his breath is labored, his clothes are matted with sweat, his arms are on fire from the shoulder down, his legs are banged and bruised, he is thirsty, he is hungry, and it doesn't seem like they're getting any closer to their destination. Horned and Belt Buckle climb above them, chittering to each other in low tones. Jai's below him, stubbornly suffering alongside him.
"Just fly," pants Dio.
"Fuck that," says Jai, through teeth gritted in exertion. "I'm not just taking the easy way out and watching you suffer. Besides..." she swings herself up to another ledge. "This is great for my guns."
Dio struggles upward to a small plateau, and in the process loses a foothold. He flails for a moment when Horned grabs his hand and yanks him up. "We must hurry, Masked," he says. "The invasion begins soon and if you are to have any hope of speaking to the Queen we must be there by tonight. We are almost halfway there."
Ffffuck.
"Is there time for a rest? A small one?" he asks.
Horned chitters for a moment with Belt Buckle, then says, "Five minutes."
As they sit and catch their breath, Dio speaks more with Horned.

"Your queen needs to know that genocide is a bad goal," says Dio. "The Qal have allies that wouldn't care much about a simple land war, but genocide?
Well... last time something like that happened it ended with a third of an entire plane turned to sand and ash and millions of dead on all sides. There aren't millions of kithik."
Horned shrugs. "Perhaps you will be able to tell her this yourself."
"Why do you obey the queen, anyway? Where did this tradition come from?"
"It is how it has always been," says Horned. "She is our leader. She will not be questioned. So we do not. Are you suggesting we do something against her?" he asks, sharply, turning his eyes on Dio. "It seems almost as if you are attempting to foment some rebellion or civil war. Just because some kithik may disagree does not mean they would turn on her. She is our Queen. We are loyal and loving. It is our nature."

"... not a rebellion. Sorry. I'm trying to understand you guys. See what makes you tick. Socially. Need to. I gotta understand you, if I have any hope for the Queen to understand me."

>>196350
If you're not going to fly, then assist your climbing by using Summon Item to make some rock picks to dig into the cliff face and give you more purchase.

"It's hard to get used to the idea of an absolute ruler. My people usually choose to follow whoever's policies seem to make sense."

...or something like that.

>>196362
Does he know we're capable of summoning solid objects? That would be a useful secret to keep.

Say "I think what she's doing is a bad idea."

>>196350
I didn't mean to imply anything, it was more my question of what your nature is. And you answered that.

Is peace too in your nature, besides among yourselves? What do you feel can prevent your queen, or any kithik from making the decision of bloodshed?

>>196350
'Loving'? Exactly what is loving about wanting to wage a war of genocide, even if evidence could point to it leading to your own eventual destruction? Or how is using your newly gained sapience for the purposes of war loving? I ask not to cause dissent, but because I honestly do not grasp what you reference as being loving within the actions I have thus far seen.

Just stick with the 'wanting to know more' explanation.

We don't want to piss off the guy who's leading us there.

>>196384
Too blatant. People are more receptive to ideas when they think they came up with them on their own.

Also, the question wasn't supposed to be "Why do you obey the queen?" It was supposed to be "Why do you obey the strongest?" (subtext: as opposed to the smartest, or the kindest). The difference is important.

>>196350
Tell him that you weren't trying to make them rebell. You're just curious on their new and very rapidly developing society. To have come so far in just 3 weeks is extremly impressive. Ask him how they have managed to start up a weapons production industry in such a short amount of time.

Ask Horned what he hopes to be able to do with this gift of magic, beyond of course the queens will. Maybe mention a well known historical illusionist who did good things as an example.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)15:48 No. 196457 ID: f98e0b
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"I just think what she's doing is a bad idea," says Dio. "I'm sorry. I'm not fomenting anything, I'm just trying to understand you guys. See what makes you tick, socially. I gotta understand you, if I have any hope for the Queen to understand me."
"I see," says Horned, stiffly. "I apologize for snapping at you."
"It's truly impressive that you came this far. How did you already start up weapons production?"
"We didn't," says Horned. "Not yet. I know not where the crossbows came from. Perhaps a stray Slimey patrol or a nighttime raid on an armory."

They keep climbing, until Dio's muscles are threatening to seize up and his vision swims. He can see nothing, and he has to rely on the kithik to guide him along, following the sounds of their voices calling encouragement to find the next handhold. "It is not far, masked," says Belt Buckle. "See. There is the opening off in the distance." Dio strains his eyes. There's a dim light filtering in from above. Looks like they're climbing toward a new tunnel, one that leads to the surface.
"Yesss," pants Jai. "Horizontal land,"
And an army of kithik ready to throw us in a cell, thinks Dio. He says nothing, partially due to his his lungs feeling like they're lined with razor blades.

>>196457
Make that final climb then. And think of how awesome training this climb has been. Climbing is just an all around awesome way to train and you should totally keep doing it in the future.

do you have any advice for me? and do you find it an honor to be one of the queens mates? are all females larger than males?

also, mentally remember to thank the hell out of Pyramus for putting you through training, else you would be dead instead of dead tired.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)17:04 No. 196497 ID: f98e0b
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"We are almost there, Masked," says Horned. "Keep going."
Dio grunts in exertion. "Just a few more things," he says, his breath labored.
"Still you ask questions?" says Horned. "We must move."
"Wait," says Dio. "Is it an honor, to be mate of the Queen?"
"Extremely," says Horned, pulling him up.
"Are females larger than males?"
"Not usually. The Queen is," says Horned.
"Do you have any advice?" asks Dio.
"Yes," says Horned. "Hush now and climb."
Dio scrambles toward the light. He finally inhales cool surface air. One more push...

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)17:05 No. 196498 ID: f98e0b
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Dio clambers out onto the summit of the mountain, panting heavily, pulling off his mask, his face and body coated in sweat.
He made it. Spirits. Thank you, Pyramus.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)17:06 No. 196499 ID: f98e0b
File 127707877056.png - (134.12KB , 800x600 , 63.png )

And for the first time in his life, he is staring at the end of a blade, stuck into his face.

"Do not move, meat."

Fuck them. Step out of the way, aside, and sit on the floor, back agains the wall. What are they gonna do, kill you even deader?

If you wanna Jai to stay behind, you can say something like "Okay! Okay! Surrender!" in an audible tone.

>>196499
I suggest you stay very still.

Remember, just because they're being less than polite doesn't mean you have to stoop to their level. Greet them amiably.

Try to appear to be weak, and no threat to them.

You're doing great so far.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)18:59 No. 196563 ID: f98e0b
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"Uh..." says Dio, freezing in place. "I..."

"Wait," says Horned, emerging from the cave. He hurries up to the leading kithik, a great hulking creature with a pair of boxers perched on its head. "Underwear Hat. He is my prisoner. Let me care for him."
"He is the prisoner of all the people. And I do not want to be called Underwear Hat anymore," says Underwear Hat. "I greatly regret my decision to remove this underwear from the Slimey outpost. I wish to be called Fastest Spear, as I am the fastest with a spear."
"You were eager enough to be called Underwear Hat before," says Horned.
"That is before we found out what underwear was," says Underwear Hat, testily. "I had assumed it was headgear for those with large ears. Now I am stuck with this underwear on my head, as that is my name."
"I sympathize," says Horned. "Allow me to move my prisoner unmolested to the HQ. He is a powerful mage and I wish to bring him before the Queen."
"I do not see what interest the Queen would have with a stringy piece of meat brought before her by her paramour," sneers Underwear Hat. Horned hisses at him, and digs his claw into his arm. He winces and pulls back. "Very well. We shall take him to the HQ. But the Queen is very busy preparing to invade. I make no promises he will receive any audience with her."

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)19:10 No. 196568 ID: f98e0b
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They yank Dio up off his protesting feet and march him and Jai to the chain bridge to the next higher mountain, and the fortress of the kithik.

"I apologize for my comrade's behavior," says Horned, as the cage takes them high above the cloud layer. The air is crisp, cold, and sharp here. It's a welcome respite from the interior of the mountain. "Underwear Hat is an understandably angry man."
"I think I can see why," says Jai, glancing up at the sullen kithik loping along the chain above them.
"I doubt I will be able to see you again after you are brought to the cell, so if you have any more of your many questions, now would be a prudent time," says Horned. "I will go to the Queen and beg for an audience for you. Most likely my words will convince her. If they do not..." he falls silent. "I do not know what will happen to you."
"We could jump," mutters Jai. "I couldn't carry you but I could slow your fall just fine. We could just go."

If the queen won't talk to you, ask if he could get you both transferred across one of these bridges again. Preferably with minimum guard.

Look down and say "Go... where?"

Then, to Horned: "Nah, I think I pretty much know the score. Unstoppable army of genocidal shadow monsters. No offense."

Pause, then say. "I think I can make a pretty good case for taking the Qal as slaves instead of killing them all. You guys like slaves, right?"

If the queen wont talk to us we are going to do our damnedest to kill her I hope.

"I don't think I have anymore questions, just something to say as one illusionist to another... no... on some level as mentor and apprentice as weird as that may sound. If I could pass something onto you."

I apologize for such harsh awake
To the path of magic you undertake.
I'm sorry to not train you, as is right
As an illusionist, in dream your might.
At least do what you believe to be good
Do not abuse, do no unneeded harm
Give none reason to hate those with the gift.
In cases of power, do as one should.
Do not abuse your power, just to charm.
Let magic be for its sake, not to rift.

>>196568
Is there any sort of behavior the Queen REALLY does not like? Even if its something obvious to you. Like, eye contact?

>>196603
I do like the "give general advice" bit. In particular, the view that magic is its own purpose is one that should be shared; even if this goes south, that view is likely to bring the magic-users of the kithik into a more amenable mindset if it becomes widespread. And it's not a bad concept in general. We have a lot of combat abilities, but not because we necessarily like fighting- we do this to push our limits.

>>196568
Should probably give Gryph an update on what's been happening soon.

Ask Horned what is best in life.

>>196603

This is awesome enough that we must do this.

"Does the Queen know magic?"

>>196568
If the queen won't talk to you then you're just gonna bust out of jail.

Talking about prisoners as meat is a bit worrying. Ask him what they do to the enemy dead and if he thinks it's possible that they have started eating prisoners that they find useless. Other than that ask about the queen, if she knows magic, what she's like, if there is anything you should never under any circumstances do, those sort of things.

Ask how they're supposed to get their army TO the base when the easiest way to get there is apparently past a cliff and a chain-grabber ride.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)11:41 No. 196786 ID: f98e0b
File 127714569393.png - (191.17KB , 800x600 , 66.png )

"How are you going to get an army to the ground if there's only one chain?" asks Dio.
"No talking," hisses Underwear Hat from above.
"I am not entirely sure, but I believe much of the first invasion force are filtering down or are on the ground already."
"Does the Queen know any magic?" asks Dio.
"Yes," says Horned.
"No talking," calls Underwear Hat.

They reach the second mountain and hike toward the fort. It's getting late and the sky has begun to darken. The dark shadow of the fortress, dug into a foothill, looms before them. Dio can hear kithik scrambling about all around them, buzzing and chittering to each other. They dot the mountain, and their purple eyes stare at the two magi and their escort from all directions like stars in a forbidding sky. Jai's hand is on his shoulder, and as they near the fortress her fingers dig nervously into his arm.
"I see you took Cruel Horned's advice for decoration," mutters Horned, looking up at the parapets, and at the bodies of Qal hanging there, stuck on spears and left on display.
"It is a symbol of our might," crows Underwear Hat. "It shall serve as a warning to invaders,"
"The kithik are the invaders, Underwear Hat," says Horned.
"You fill me with unreasonable anger, Horned," says Underwear Hat.

>>196786
Wouldn't it make more sense to place those bodies further down? I mean how is any Qal going to reach this place alive to see the bodies?

Tell Jai to not worry. Things will turn out just fine. Thank Horned for what he's done so far and ask him if he would kindly accompany you to your cell.

>>196788
This, but without the talking. Just put a glamor on the inside of her mask saying it.
Also? Make sure your cell phone is hidden.

>>196786
Stay quiet. Talk to Jai (via magic). Assure her you'll get through this. Ask if she's noticed anything that might be important. Update Gryphona of everything you've learned.

I guess just follow along. Not really much else you can do right now.

>>196786
Tell Underwear he should take a chill pill, goddamn son of a bitch is never gonna get a lady kithik if he doesn't stop with this angry bullshit.

Also, comment on the fact that it really seems that the kithik has definently something against the Qal to make 'em decorations along with the genocide thing, mass murder of Qal might be something unsophisticated and powerful foes for land, but...

oh wait mongolians. Nevermind, they might not have anything at all against them. The Queen is just Attila the Hun for Kithik.

>>196786
Maybe Jai can crushsqueeze your hand for comfort.

>>196795
Asking Jai questions isn't going to work great since she can't really reply in secret like Dahlia can.

Those tunnels up there will be our escape route if diplomacy fails, I think.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)12:28 No. 196812 ID: f98e0b
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[We're fine,] Dio sends to Jai. She nods, nearly imperceptibly.

The kithik search Dio and Jai for weapons (they don't find the crossbow), then head off into the fortress, leaving Horned to bring the mages to the prison within the mountain.
He brings them into a small, grimy room, cramped and bare but for two cold stone benches on either wall.
"I'll go to the Queen and tell her you're here," says Horned. "It may be a long wait. The holding cells are... humble. If there's anything you need..." He pauses in the doorway and looks apologetically around the spartan conditions of the cell.

>>196812
To be quite honest, I'd say to thank Horned. Despite the situation, he really does seem to be trying.

>>196814
That, and everything you do to 'humanize' or otherwise encourage empathy for non-kithiks is a good idea.

>>196812
Thank Horned.

Stretch to make sure your climb doesn't leave you extremly stiff. Talk a bit with Jai and ensure her that everything will be just fine. Send some codewords to her to make sure that nobody will overhear them. Use your excellent memory to check back on the path here and plan on how to pull back on that path with hostile pursuit hot on your tail.

After that I think you should just get some rest and maybe meditate some to collect powers or something. Generally just chill and get ready.

Now is the time for iambic pentameter of Orpheo pleasing!

... since if the queen says no, you may never see your unexpected apprentice again. Besides, might as well give a message to horned for treating you so nicely as such.

>>196812
Hey uh... where are you two going to go to the bathroom? Ask Horned about that.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)13:09 No. 196844 ID: f98e0b
File 127715097921.png - (231.08KB , 800x600 , 68.png )

>>196840
Not yet. Dio sees that Horned looks fairly agitated and eager to leave. He doesn't want to hold him up, but he has to ask...

"Are there bathrooms?" asks Dio.
"Is there not a grate?" asks Horned. Dio stares. "It was a joke, Masked. If you need to use the facilities bang on the door and alert a guard. I will instruct them to cater to you there. Anything else?"
"I think we'll be fine," says Dio.
"Very well," says Horned, starting to slide the door closed.
"Oh, and Horned?" says Dio.
"Hm?" says Horned.
"Thank you," says Dio.
Horned pauses, gazing at Dio. His expression is, as with all kithik, entirely unreadable.
"You are welcome," he says, and closes the door. It shuts with a loud clank, and then a click sounds, echoing with finality.

Dio and Jai are alone in the cell. He sends part of his brain to sleep and starts resting in halves to prepare.
"I like him," says Jai. "He's cute."
"Cute?" says Dio. "What-"
"Not that kind of cute," says Jai. "If he was like three feet tall and didn't have claws the size of carrots he'd be so adorable." She looks over at Dio, who's wearily stretching to make sure his muscles don't cramp. "I don't think I've ever actually seen your eye in the light," she says. "'s nice."
"Thanks," says Dio, massaging his aching shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," says Jai. "I've had enough flipping out for one alienation. It's time to be big damn heroes." She scratches her neck. "Spirits, this helmet is sweaty as balls. Can I, uh... do you mind?"

>>196844
Why would we mind?

>>196844
"Not at all."

Turn around, then. Let her have her privacy.

>>196844
Go on, I dont mind.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)13:55 No. 196873 ID: f98e0b
File 127715374784.png - (297.42KB , 800x600 , 69.png )

"Not at all," says Dio. "Should I turn around or something?"
"Nah," says Jai. "You show me yours, I show you mine..." She takes off her helmet.
She looks as tired as Dio feels.
"Gah. Ooh, yeah. That's better," she says. "Fuckin' metal helmets."
He's seen her without a helmet before, of course, once or twice when she was eating and when they were off-and-on for a bit. That was a long time ago. She's changed.
She catches him looking at her. "Hey," she says.
"Hey," he says.
There's a silence Dio would call less than comfortable. The bench's hard edge digs painfully into his leg.

"When do you think she'll be ready for us?" asks Jai, breaking the quiet.

"No idea"

Lay back on the bench, if there's enough space for that.

>>196873
I think it could be very soon. We are rather unique prisoners. On the other hand she's not stupid and will make us wait for a while and try to check around to make sure we don't have people waiting to attack or something while we're distracting her.

Hey Dio, time to try to go invisible. How about Blind+Lesser Glamour to create an area where the mind doesn't really want to look at?

Um. Actually half your brain's asleep so I guess you're going to have to wait.

>>196873
"Too soon, that's when. Let's take the chance to rest while we can."

>>196880
I don't think now is a good time to mess around with magic. Besides I would think he's tried that trick out at some point during all the training.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)15:18 No. 196917 ID: f98e0b
File 127715870388.png - (115.11KB , 800x600 , 70.png )

"Too soon, I think," says Dio, stretching on his bench and laying down. "Let's try and get some rest while we can." He switches his mind up and puts the other bit to sleep.
"Yup," says Jai.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her cell phone. "Good thing the kithik don't know what these do yet," she says. "I'm gonna tell Pyramus what's up." She starts writing something, then curses under her breath and puts it down.
She stares off into space, as does Dio.

>>196917
"Lemme guess. No signal?"

>>196917
"Can't bring yourself to let him know?"

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)16:57 No. 196955 ID: f98e0b
File 127716467290.png - (118.82KB , 800x600 , 71.png )

"No service?" asks Dio.
"Nah, I've got bars," says Jai.
"Can't bring yourself to tell him?"
"It's not that," says Jai. "It's just that... you told me Pyramus wants me, right?"
"Right."
"Then why has he never showed any indication at all? I pretty much gave him up for a lost cause. He's like- Well, he's like you. He's a really close friend. Sure, maybe you heard him talk about me, but that's just Pyramus for you. He talks about the hotness of half the girls on campus. And so I am sitting here with a text message saying 'Yo Pyramus blah blah blah latissimus dorsi blah blah blah kithik blah blah I want to take it further with you' and I do not know whether or not I can press send."
She sits back. "Fuck it. Now isn't the time anyway."

>>196955
Well you could tell her that he might have been to scared of her to move in directly, so he might have taken the friends route but now he figures he's stuck in the friends zone and unless she drags him out of it he won't be coming out, since he's convinced that would just ruin their friendship.

He was trying to play it cool probably. Keep from seeming desperate. You know how he was before his alienation, right?

>>196955
"Maybe he tried to get to be friends with you to get closer to you, then figured he was friendzoned. Um. Kinda like me, except in reverse. Anyway, he specifically mentioned you, above everyone else. Is he close friends with other girls? Hmm?"

Tell her to send it.
"We'll make it out of this. We'll finish this alienation, and when we do, he'll be waiting for you."

Admit that you did something similar with Dahlia. Rationalize that you did it so you have something important to do when you get back, to make it more likely that you'll get back alive.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)17:54 No. 196969 ID: f98e0b
File 127716804423.png - (136.60KB , 800x600 , 72.png )

"Maybe he was trying to play it cool, like befriend you, first, and then figured he was friendzoned. Like me, in reverse," says Dio.
"Maybe," says Jai, glancing at her phone. "It's weird. I feel all torn up about this guy and I haven't even sent one text to him. He doesn't know what's going on."
"Well, I know how you feel about the should-I-send-the-message thing. The same thing happened to me with Dahlia."
"Really? How did you handle it?" she asks.
"Pussied out," he says. "Partially so I'd have something really important to do when I got home. Extra incentive for making it out of here."
"Good excuse," says Jai. "Mind if I borrow it?"

There are two loud bangs on the door that make them jump, then the hatch in the door slides open. Underwear hat's beady eyes appear. "The Queen will see you now," he says. "One of you at a time. Who will go first?"