Alright, calm down before you hurt yourself.
Think. If he'd had wanted to kill you, you would have never woken up. You're in no position to try and fight or run now, so better just listen to him.
Now, where do you remember his voice from?

...And do not try to pull his pants down. Really, don't do it.

Oh my god his pants are right there in reach TIME TO BECOME A WOMAN

Suggestion 2012/01/09(Mon)22:43 No. 378871 ID: 742815
File 132617779008.jpg - (274.53KB , 800x600 , 31.jpg )

>>378622
Ik is not dumb enough to drop her weapon and take her eyes off of the potential threat.

>>378623
>>378632
There is no thong. Ik can not tell if the man is wearing undergarments, and she does not care.

STRANGE MAN explains in very broken Augernian (a southern dialect that Ik is only vaguely familiar with) that he is lost and he was left behind by his soldier friends. He uses mostly gestures and his own language. He says that the "big bird" beat him too much. Ik thinks that he means Lopsan the Miller. He ran away from the mill and hid in the ruins.

He insists that he DID NOT harm big sister peep. Ik knows that she heard his voice there, but she could not understand anything. Everyone was shouting and Wailahn was screaming.

STRANGE MAN continues. He says that he needs to get back to his friends. He can tell Ik where slaves are taken.

explode from frustration, then bring him to Irol because you can't deal with this shit right now.

>>378874
Leading this guy back is probably a good idea. The main group can take him and is probably better equipped to hear what he has to say anyway.

>>378896
Yep, definitely get him back to Irol. It's a long shot, but maybe he can write in your language better than he can speak it.
Keep your distance, get your stuff, and head outside. Then motion for the STRANGE MAN to exit and stay in front of you while you point out where you're both going to go. Always keep plenty of distance between you, and your shears at hand. If he makes any sudden moves, run.

Suggestion 2012/01/10(Tue)22:16 No. 379115 ID: 742815
File 132626259093.jpg - (234.06KB , 800x600 , 32.jpg )

>>378896
>>378900
Ik leads Cat Strangeman back to Irol and the others. She remembers her way back based on the direction of the distant Rainbow Jungle.

Strange Man keeps talking to Ik in his strange foreign language.

"Ona vesaya tel, yam peti contretjeta yam menash ves foni shesti."

"I don't understand you. Stop talking!" Ik says.

"Paketjeta ya bish ozajeta shiyeda..."

"STOP!" Ik says again, but Strange Man keeps on talking.

Suggestion 2012/01/10(Tue)22:21 No. 379116 ID: 742815
File 132626291961.jpg - (426.99KB , 800x600 , 33.jpg )

When Ik arrives at the camp, things have changed quite a bit. Irol, Toh, Kinpat, and Vimán have made two tents from jungle wood and some of the linen that Ik found yesterday.

Irol does not look happy. "Ik, get away from him! He's dangerous!"

Do as he says and back away from the bad man who is obviously trying to trick you.

"he's as dangerous as you are dumb"
BUUUURN

chill the fuck out, we gots a prisoner.

IS IT CAN BE INTERROGATION TIME NOW FOR REALZ

"He had a chance to easily kill me. Twice. He came willingly, and he's unarmed. That doesn't sound dangerous. And, as far as I can tell, he says he knows where the slaves were taken. We should hear him out."

Did you ever get the story from Lopsan how this guy came to be up a ladder, tied to a chair on the second floor of the mill? Why he was up there? In hindsight, that's suspicious.

Suggestion 2012/01/16(Mon)17:51 No. 380261 ID: 742815
File 132676510218.jpg - (265.85KB , 800x600 , 34.jpg )

>>379121
"HE'S AS DANGEROUS AS YOU ARE DUMB!"

Suggestion 2012/01/16(Mon)17:59 No. 380262 ID: 742815
File 132676558009.jpg - (160.33KB , 800x600 , 35.jpg )

Irol is shocked by the rebuttal, "What has gotten into you, Ik?"

Ik has been angry at Irol since they left the village, "I told you to kill him when we were in the mill! I told you to cut his head off! You didn't, and now I could have been dead. Someone has to pay for what happened to Wailahn!"

"Ik, settle down. Vimán, tie up-" Irol begins, but Ik cuts into his order.

"Shut up! I am sick of you treating me like thresh! You don't know how I feel!"

Vimán ties up Strangeman, who offers no resistance but still calls him something foreign and nasty sounding.

You are now the will of Irol again. As usual, knowledge of Ik's which is unknown to Irol will be ignored.

How should Irol deal with Ik?

Reach back like a pimp... and sit down to discuss your feelings.

>>380265
Or like an Internal Affairs officer, and give her a promotion to actual responsibilities. Also, some counseling over her horrific nightmares might help.

Yell at Ik that how dare she imply she doesn't know how you feel. Your parents are gone too, you barely even have the gift of hope that they may be just slaves. So many of your friends, dead by these people. Does she think you haven't been hurt? Doesn't she think you just give no shits about the people you love? How dare Ik. How. Dare. Ik. The child card can only go so far and this is a moment you need to vent your concerns like a hurt adult to her, and don't hold back because she'll get hurt or cry. No more skipping around the bush because she's a child.

"Someone has to pay for what they did to Waihlin? Really Ik? IS that what Waihlin or your parents taught you, that when misjustice is done, someone, ANY one, has to pay? I am not some sadistic peepin' fuck, unlike you. I do not want that memory, slicing someone's head off, in my mind. I have no clue of this cat man's direct involvement. He can't tell his side with the language barrier. He might just be some dumbass teenager that was just following his scumbag father around with his tribe as they took people captive and got left behind, or he could really be a slave wrangler, who the peep knows. Whatever, I am not going to be ANYTHING like them and stick some stranger's head on a pike out of some pathetic desire for vengeance. That is NOT how us peeps are. Ik, do you even comprehend what that is? Life is to be RESPECTED, no matter what happens."

nigga best chill the fuck out before she get bitch slapped to oblivion.

oh yeah, also, thanks for the Strangeman. it is interrogation time.

>>380262
Ignore her for now. Discussions can be held at nightfall.

Right now, you need to strip a prisoner down this thong, tie him up and find out what he knows.

So Ik thinks you don't know how she feels? Well you're going to fix that.
Have a seat, and tell Ik that you want to hear how she feels. Right here, right now. Then share what you're thinking and feeling. Don't hold back. She's going to get everything that's running through your head.
'Cause if you two are going to be generally antagonistic to each other, she may as well head back to the village right now. That kind of behavior will be nothing but trouble for all of you.

Suggestion 2012/01/25(Wed)11:47 No. 382115 ID: 742815
File 132752086858.jpg - (185.11KB , 800x600 , 36.jpg )

>>380357
The group is already a day behind the invaders. Once Toh and Kimpat return from their hunt, it will be time for everyone to start moving again. Irol simply does not have time to have a heartfelt talk (or yell) with Ik at this moment.

Still, he does not like to see her this way, and he knows the worry that she feels. "Ik, I can't say that our loved ones will be ok, but I will trot though hell before I let them hurt anyone else. This is about protection, not revenge. Maybe you should get some rest. You look tired."

Ik does not say anything. Irol's experience with women is limited, but if she is silent then that is probably a good thing, right?

>>380266
Irol likes this idea. He regrets sending her out for greens (particularly since she did not really bring back any) and thinks that she would do better with a more involved duty. What should he assign to her?

He will have to deal with it later. There is a lot to do. Here is the checklist:

-Break camp
-Record supplies
-Interrogate Strangeman
-Eat supper (this can be done on the move)

What should Irol do first?

>>382115

>INTERROGATE INTERROGATE INTERROGATE

okay, sure. let's do that.

>>382115
Record Supplies, then interrogate.

We gotta know what we are working with here ehh?

>>382148
This, pretty much.

In addition to speaking with the man, try communicating through writing. Use a charred stick from the fire on the tent canvas to write. Even if he doesn't understand, drawing visual aids would help.

Irol, if you do end up sending Ik out again for greens, go with her, or send one of the fighters along. Maybe put Ik in charge of tracking your supplies as well?

>>382115
Their army, or whatever it is, has to deal with wrangling slaves, which will slow them down. You'll be able to catch up sooner rather than later.

Suggestion 2012/01/26(Thu)13:14 No. 382361 ID: 742815
File 132761247168.jpg - (218.03KB , 800x600 , 37.jpg )

Irol quickly jots down the supplies that they have using some scrolls donated to him by some of his family's former clients back at the village. He also tells Ik to wait for Toh and Kimpat to return, and to help them with whatever they ask.


SUPERIOR SUPPLIES

FOOD - four day supply of perishables, +2 days of preserved items (to be adjusted when Kimpat and Toh return)
SHELTER - Two fields tents, fully transportable. Total of EIGHT tenant capacity.
WATER - Swang River within walking distance (ALL DRINKING AND COOKING WATER MUST BE BOILED PRIOR TO USE. SEE CHARCOAL.)
CHARCOAL - Ten lumps. About enough for four twenty-four hour burns with wood.

INFERIOR SUPPLIES

CASH - 253 pa (25 parang, 3 pa). Donated from the village, plus combined from Irol and the warriors' personal budgets.
CLOTHING - About three outfits each, with cloth leftover for emergency coverage. Irol and wear Kimpat's clothing and vice versa. Each warrior has his own set of armor.
WEAPONRY and TOOLS
- 1 Woodcutter's axe
- 1 Pair of textile sheers
- 2 Military spears
- 1 Battle axe
- 1 military short bow (twelve arrows)

LIQUID and POTENTIAL ASSETS: Cash, raw textiles, small animal furs, and pyunzin mushrooms


Irol finishes and signs the inventory sheet.

Now, onto the interrogation. How should this be done? Irol believes that it should be done tactfully in order to maximize useful information and avoid angering the already-snarky prisoner. Strangeman did not resist Vimán when he was tied up.


>communicating through writing

Irol orders Vimán to untie one of Strangeman's arms and then gives him a blackened stick from the fire ring. Irol would rather not write on the tents, but a nearby sandpit works well enough.

Strangeman seems to speak a few words of Irol's language, though it is in Empire Dialect. He can still understand it. What should he ask, and how should he draw or write?

any nearby settlements? we'll need to trade, and ask for help, even.

so, a group of strange men come over withoutt warning and slaughter or enslave everyone in the village. then, one of them shows himself to the remnants of said village and claims not to be hostile. why would he do such a thing?

>>382377
Any towns or villages in the way of the advancing cat-guy "army," or whatever it is, is going to end up like Irol's village. Any that are out of the way would be too far out of the way. Irol and company would fall too far behind the cat-men if they went to them. Best Irol could do is rally the survivors of the villages that have been attacked.

Ask what the strange man's name is. It'll be awkward if you keep having to dance around that missing bit of information.

You'd like to know how he came to be tied to a chair, up a ladder, on the second floor of the mill. It's doubtful that Lopsan carried him up there on his back. Did his "comrades" leave him behind to be killed by the angry villagers?

>>382361
It might be best to get to know him first. Ask his name and some information about himself, if all possible. Nothing that will lead him to believe you'll harm his friends and family, but enough to make it seem like idly conversation.

Diving right into the gist with heavy questions tends to invoke a dark response. You can learn more about a potential enemy through a ping pong game than through a heavy hand. We tend to forgot that.

Suggestion 2012/02/07(Tue)20:01 No. 385184 ID: 742815
File 132867366606.jpg - (203.04KB , 800x600 , 38.jpg )

>>382377
Irol knows of two villages nearby, and one larger city, Dipti, which is in the direction from whence the invaders came. Irol remembers that Saochung the Hermit lives somewhere around here. Other than that, Irol's village and those nearby lie on a trade road which begins at Dipti and runs EAST through the Colored Jungle and into the steppes.

Irol and Vimán begin to interrogate the prisoner. Vimán does not talk much, and Irol thinks that he is a bit slow in the head.

>What is your name?

Irol asks Strangeman what is name is. "Name. Your name!" he repeats.

After a few clarifications, the foreigner sits up and proudly says in his heavily accented voice, "Zavatje ya Pavolo Paninkosvi."

>How did you get in the windmill?

Pavolo begins to draw in the sand...

Suggestion 2012/02/07(Tue)20:04 No. 385186 ID: 742815
File 132867384852.jpg - (106.39KB , 800x600 , 39.jpg )

Pavolo seems to be quite the artist.

It looks like Irol's suspicions were correct.

Irol is still unsure of whether to trust the foreigner. He needs more information, and maybe a way to assure that this guy is legit. What should he ask, and how should he test Pavolo?

Pavolo seems to understand simple words and phrases of Augernian if Irol speaks in the Empire Dialect. He does not understand Irol's peasant accent.

ah. makes sense. I don't think these people would have anything to gain from tricking you, so he's probably telling the truth.

he may not want to help you- after all, that might mean fighting against his own kind, possibly even having to kill one of them- so you should let him leave.

the big city might have more survivors to unite with.

Well, maybe Ik will stop wanting Pavolo to die outright if she knows this.

Pavolo's story makes the most sense. His army would have no reason to leave him behind as a trick. It looks like he just fell afoul of two horrible "comrades" when he objected to their assaulting Wailahn.

Try asking where he and his army came from.
Also ask if the army attacked Dipti.
Maybe ask why they're attacking villages and capturing slaves.

Irol, do you have any idea what's down the trade road to the east?

Suggestion 2012/02/13(Mon)14:12 No. 386321 ID: 742815
File 132917117693.jpg - (210.92KB , 800x600 , 40.jpg )

Irol continued to interrogate the prisoner, though it seems more like an interview now.

>Did you attack Dipti

Pavolo says "Dipti has attacking. I am not with attack in Dipti."

>Where did you come from?

"Serat."

>Why are you attacking villages are taking slaves?

Pavolo says, "Seratsvi come out from endless Desert. Take east home for Seratsvi people."

Irol will tell Ik about this - anything that will make her less hostile toward the prisoner is helpful. Irol only knows that the Colored Jungle is to the east, followed by the steppes, which extend someways east and then form a crescent to the south as well. Irol can attempt to draw a map, but he is not the most familiar with the surrounding area beyond the village and its jungle home.

Irol wants to acquire a MAP.

What should they do with Pavolo?

>>386321
Free him.

Tell him he's welcomed to travel with you or leave of his own accord, though you will be watching him regardless of either action.

>>386528
It's either this, keeping him prisoner, or killing him. You don't have the resources to haul a prisoner around, or really any good reason to. Killing him... Do you really have it in you to order an unarmed, bound, prisoner to be killed? No; Free him, with the provision that if he wants to travel with your group he has to help out. And that if he tries anything hostile, he gets a sword in the gut.

So this army is the tip of the proverbial spear of an invasion force. Probably followed by groups of colonists. It sounds like Dipti was attacked by another Seratsvi army, and may have fallen. Damn, this means your village isn't going to be safe for long.

Irol, since this is a trade road, there should be a village, or at least an inn, approximately a days walk from each other along its length. There's a good chance there'll be a map there, if it hasn't been burned down.

Pavolo is a pretty cool guy. tell him he can do whatever he wants.

>>386321

Set Pavolo free.

Suggestion 2012/02/20(Mon)10:44 No. 387927 ID: 742815
File 132976349967.jpg - (246.13KB , 800x600 , 41.jpg )

>Set Pavolo free

Irol tells Vimán to untie Pavolo. Irol tells him that he is free to go.

Pavolo stretches after he is untied. Vimán tied the ropes excessively tightly, leaving ruts in the strange man's fur. He seems to hesitate.

Irol says again that he can go.

"They handle me badly like you are," Pavolo says. Irol wonders where he learned to speak Augernian. He uses the imperial formal 'you'.

Pavolo says that he wishes to desert his army. He will can stay with birds if the do not beat him anymore. Pavolo also struggles to say that he has "warrior dancing" and "dark sight" and that he eats "small foods".

Irol considers the alternative cost of having Pavolo as part of their party. It would be useful to have an interpreter, but he is not sure if Pavolo is trustworthy. There is also the matter of Ik.

We'll keep him on a trial basis. One offense and he's either gone or dead in a ditch somewhere. Ik can just deal with it.

>>387927
Ik can go screw herself for her blood thirstiness for all I care. I get she's a kid in a really bad situation but seriously fuck her attitude. She can't think like an adult if she wants to unreasonably murder everyone of a race.

last time I checked, we were accepting any and all war refugees?

Suggestion 2012/02/20(Mon)16:03 No. 388011 ID: 742815
File 132978258678.jpg - (113.98KB , 800x600 , 42.jpg )

>>387938
Ik has become quiet the handful. Irol figures that Ik likely was not the best kid even before the town was attacked. He thinks that it is time to finally have a talk with her.

>>387952
"Any and all" is a stretch to Irol. So far he has only accepted people of his own kind. He had planned to help avian Augernians. Pavolo seems to be of sound mind, but his people are still the enemy.

Irol tells Pavolo that he has only one strike before he will be killed, but otherwise he may accompany his party as long as he does work.

Before he goes to Ik, Irol would like to assign a task to Pavolo. What should it be?

Typo corrected. At least I think that that was the only one.

Well, he could go gather plants like Ik was doing, if you could describe which ones to cut. Don't send a guard with him. If he comes back, that's good. If he doesn't, then no loss. Come to think of it, did Ik leave some things in that temple? Ask him to get them, if she did leave them behind. Oh, and ask if he's any good at hunting or has any other skills.

"Dark sight" sounds like he can see well in low- or possibly no-light environments. "Warrior dancing" and "small foods" you're not so sure about.

It's looking like Pavolo wasn't in that army willingly. He might be a conscript, or a slave who joined up to earn his freedom.

man, I dunno. ask Pavolo how he could be helpful.

>>388011

Ask Pavolo to climb into a tree to gather pet eggs.

>>388040
This would be a good test for now.

Suggestion 2012/02/25(Sat)21:29 No. 388980 ID: 742815
File 133023418676.jpg - (358.39KB , 800x600 , 43.jpg )

>>388040
Irol sends Pavolo to gather greens as Ik was supposed to before presumably becoming distracted. Irol spends some time carefully describing and pointing out which ones are dangerous to eat and which ones are safe or especially desirable. Pavolo strangely seems quite willing - even eager - to help, and promptly embarks.

Before effectively putting everyone's lives into the strange man's hands, Irol wants to find out more about Pavolo. Something seems fishy about him to Irol.

For now, Irol wants to go tell Ik about what he has learned about Pavolo, and that he will be joining them in their further travels.

"Ik, I need to talk to you. I know that you are scared and worried, but we all are..."

Ik? ...Ik?

Suggestion 2012/02/25(Sat)21:30 No. 388981 ID: 742815
File 133023425036.jpg - (149.36KB , 800x600 , 44.jpg )

Oh God, where's Ik?

End Chapter 2

OH NOOOOO IK IS GONE LE GASP

...but who cares about her?