HEY NEM HOLLA ATCHA WATCHA DOIN?

Smik 2014/08/16(Sat)15:37 No. 589727 ID: 3009b4
File 140822865371.jpg - (177.37KB , 800x600 , Nem Quest1.jpg )

:: Connection Established ::

Nemain: Hello?

:: Loading Statistics ::

Nemain: I'm sorry? Mother said that this would call for help if I needed it.

:: Current HP is 100. ::
:: Current Disposition is Naive ::
:: Attack Power is Normal (Very Weak). ::
:: Defensive Power is Normal (Very Weak). ::
:: Agility is Normal (Above Average). ::
:: Inventory consists of Comfortable Clothes, Red Cape, Basket - Basket contains one bottle red wine, one oat loaf, sundry collection of local fruit. ::
:: Chrono-Recall Set. ::

Nemain: I beg your pardon? What does all that mean?

:: You're completely useless as a fighter. Your HP indicates at what point your luck stops holding out and you die like a normal person. ::

Nemain: This really isn't what I expected.

Sorry about that.

Can you tell us about yourself, and your situation? Why is it you've called for help?

Smik 2014/08/16(Sat)15:52 No. 589730 ID: 3009b4
File 140822955971.jpg - (173.74KB , 800x600 , Nem Smile1.jpg )

Nem: Oh, that's all right. I really wasn't sure if the charm was real or not anyway and I'm glad for any help. My grandmother is sick, so I've been asked to take some goods to her and build her strength back up. My name is Nemain and I'm a blacksmith's daughter. The path is supposed to be enchanted so it's safe, but I've been told that the woods themselves are territory of the Unseelie Court. Mother just told me about my cape's charm today and she seemed a little anxious so I thought I'd use it just in case.

Smik 2014/08/16(Sat)15:55 No. 589731 ID: 3009b4
File 140822975146.jpg - (173.50KB , 800x600 , Nem Exposition1.jpg )

Nem Mr. Del Sade, I am currently on the path to my grandmother's place which is deep in these woods. And to be honest, I feel very apprehensive about this trip.[/b]

Well, you have a source of advice, at least.

Possibly limited ability to reverse mistakes as well, when we figure out how the chrono-recall works. Can we save now, or do you have find a save point first?

>I've been told that the woods themselves are territory of the Unseelie Court
For our first bit of advice? I'll quote a wiser sage than I. Don't leave the path.

Nem is confused.

Nem: A what and a who now? Forgive me, I know you're supposed to be powerful spirits but I really don't understand what you mean.

:: User Help (Hidden to avoid further host confusion and possible mistrust)::
In the event of an unsatisfactory or sudden ending to the experience, Chrono-Recall essentially allows the user to reconnect in a previous point in time. Chrono-Recall setting occurs automatically (Suggested context: "At Check Points"). Manual recall is possible but costs 20 Influence Points per use. Currently we have 100 Influence Points. Influence Points are gained when changes occur.

Smik 2014/08/16(Sat)16:31 No. 589734 ID: 3009b4
File 140823188431.jpg - (305.58KB , 800x600 , Nem Walking.jpg )

Feeling confident now that she has some sort of protection, Nem strides down the path towards her grandmother's house.

>>589733

For now, don't worry about it. Stay on the path. You may see things off the path or side-routes that did not exist before. Focus on walking and telling us more about what you have learned so far about blacksmithing.

And get going. You aren't going to get done faster by waiting, and I doubt you want to walk through the woods at night.

>>589734
You're being followed by a wolf, little Red.

>A what and a who now? Forgive me, I know you're supposed to be powerful spirits but I really don't understand what you mean.
Sorry, uh, spirit concepts. They don't really make sense out of context.

>>589735
Yes, this is the strategy to follow.

>>589736
And don't let this startle you off the path.

Smik 2014/08/16(Sat)17:30 No. 589742 ID: 3009b4
File 140823540247.jpg - (178.53KB , 800x600 , Nem Confused.jpg )

Nem: Well, my father tried to teach me a little about how to swing a sword ages ago but I was little and just wanted to play and mother said it was unbecoming of a lady. But what are you talking about the path changing?

magic, the Unseelie could try to play tricks.
and watch out

also be careful smik, and watch which post people are responding to, otherwise you will respond to a suggestion that didn't have all the info.

Just keep walking, and hopefully the path is magical enough.

Just stay on the path, and don't let anything off the path worry you over much. Unless it crosses onto the path.

Smik 2014/08/16(Sat)18:51 No. 589755 ID: 3009b4
File 140824029503.jpg - (278.33KB , 800x600 , Nem Behind You.jpg )

Nem whips around at the mention of a wolf but sees nothing.

behind you now.

If you don't see something odd the second time you spin around, just keep walking.
Dunno if there's a rule of three trick or something but I figure if you don't see it the second time it's probably not something you can catch that easily.

Smik 2014/08/16(Sat)21:49 No. 589778 ID: 3009b4
File 140825098205.jpg - (239.56KB , 800x600 , Nem Behind You 2.jpg )

Nem is a little nervous. Everyone seems convinced she should stay on the path... and many seem equally convinced that she is being stalked by something just out of sight.

Being a curious girl, she really wants to see what all the excitement is about. She attempts to whip around one last time and try to catch a glimpse of what is following her.

:: Nem has a 25% chance of turning around unexpectedly fast. We will roll a twenty-sided die; on a 15 or greater Nem is very quick. You may choose to expend influence to adjust her chances according to what you think would result in the best outcome (turn around very quickly or not) or give her alternative instructions. ::

spend influence to turn around extra fast

>>589778
Look straight ahead and keep walking, but be ready to run.
"I know you're there. Come, talk with me."

This way you're at least facing forward to run if something happens.
It's too bad you didn't think to bring an iron knife; far are deathly allergic to iron.

just start running, and loosing your cloak so it can be removed quickly.

>>589788
Ditching the cape may not be such a good idea. I'm pretty sure the charm she activated on it is us. Without it, she'll be bereft of advise, or anything else we can offer.

:: Clarification - every 1 pt. of influence grants extra 5% chance. 15 pts required for 100% chance. ::

[omfg i forgot to change my name from itq-ing] oh nem is adorable. listen, there's something behind you and turning around will just give it more time to do............whatever.
either talk to it without turning or just start running.

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)18:35 No. 589928 ID: 3009b4
File 140832571720.jpg - (163.53KB , 800x600 , Nem Frustrated.jpg )

Nem knows better and has heard everyone's warning, but curiosity is eating her up inside and she just HAS to see what everyone is fussing about.

She turns around as fast as she can.

:: She earns +5% chance to turn faster (1 suggestion for Influence Point use = +5% chance, -1 IP) ::

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)19:22 No. 589938 ID: 3009b4
File 140832854155.jpg - (49.88KB , 171x202 , Turn Roll 20140817.jpg )

Nem's Roll is 37.

I thought we were rolling a d20, not a d100?

Also, you can roll right in the board if you want.
http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/news.php?p=faq

Now that you've turned around, RUN NOW!

>25% chance of turning around unexpectedly fast. We will roll a twenty-sided die; on a 15 or greater
>Rolled 37 out of 100
So check failed then?

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)22:20 No. 589969 ID: 3009b4
File 140833923437.jpg - (330.43KB , 800x600 , Nem Annoyed.jpg )

(I tried to get the dice to work but couldn't figure it out; since I was substituting the D20 for percentile for style purposes only, I converted it to percentile in the transition to using random.org -- sorry. Same results more or less though since 5/20 rounds to 25%)

Nem whips around but sees nothing there! Frustrated and suspecting that her naivety is again being used against her, her disposition changes to suspicious for better or for worse for the time being. She trusts the group less now.

Nem: That's not funny. I won't fall for your tricks again.

:: Nem would totally fall for it again. ::

Nem: Shut up, you.

>>589969
We also asked you to stop looking for it.

Good thing you turned around twice, otherwise you would be oriented the wrong direction. Onwards!

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)22:25 No. 589971 ID: 3009b4
File 140833955674.jpg - (303.86KB , 800x600 , Nem Walking Along.jpg )

Nem continues her journey down the path. She's clearly agitated, muttering under her breath, and fumbles with her basket nervously. Nem is now on guard, giving her a +10% reaction time until she relaxes, and is straining her ears for any sort of rustling of a wolf or other danger around her.

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)22:58 No. 589977 ID: 3009b4
File 140834153014.jpg - (260.65KB , 800x600 , Nem Meets Someone New.jpg )

Nem: Oh that's not fair! "Don't turn around Nem", "Nothing is happening Nem", "Clearly there is something behind you but please ignore it" -- of course I'm going to turn around! How can I resist?

Nem does the rudest thing she's comfortable with as she walks and doesn't even see the new face as she turns 'round the next bend.

don't turn corners with your eyes closed, double check you are going the right way.

>>589977
Also don't talk to yourself outloud, people will think you're crazy. Like that guy over there.

>>589980
i'm purposefully not saying anything about a guy because she will just think we are messing with her again. and then she will NOT look just to spite us

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)23:26 No. 589982 ID: 3009b4
File 140834317908.jpg - (253.02KB , 800x600 , Nem Meets Someone New 2.jpg )

Nem suddenly feels his eyes on her, and she turns.

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)23:27 No. 589984 ID: 3009b4
File 140834322477.jpg - (245.20KB , 800x600 , Nem Meets Someone New 3.jpg )

... and realizes her tongue is still sticking out.

>>589986
Hey, how is an elf on the road? Not to mention the spooky black wolf. Shouldn't the road prevent them from stepping on it? Or is the enchantment more like a protective charm on whoever walks upon it, so they can't be harmed?

Well regardless, say hi.

>>589986
[-1 IP]

Stutter nervously while trying to explain what it is you were doing in a way that doesn't make you sound weird.

fail and sound cute and flustered instead

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)23:53 No. 589990 ID: 3009b4
File 140834480410.jpg - (178.74KB , 800x600 , Nem Blushes.jpg )

Nem: Hello sir. I was... umm...

:: IP accepted; Nem is flustered. IP total is now 98. ::

Nem doesn't say a very rude word but she thinks it loudly enough that it can be read on her face.

Nem: This wood is very strange and sometimes it makes me do strange things in response. I'm honestly normally very normal.

Smik 2014/08/17(Sun)23:58 No. 589991 ID: 3009b4
File 140834508618.jpg - (173.20KB , 800x600 , He Asks a Question.jpg )

Nem thinks that the man is very odd looking but she's been raised to be a well mannered young lady and so doesn't ask... but she's DYING to ask what he is. He is not a normal person by any rate -- she's never seen pointed ears or skin like that on anyone in her village, although she's heard of people like that over the ocean to the East.

He seems amused by the situation however, and after clearing his throat asks:

Man: Hello yourself, Miss Normal-Girl-Acting-Normally.

She looks at the ground and he sighs.

Man: All right, that wasn't called for and I apologize. Might I ask what you're doing out in these woods, miss? Not the normal place one finds a young woman like yourself and certainly not the safest.

>That's not funny
Hey, you didn't hear us laughing, did you?

>but she's DYING to ask what he is
You know, we never asked what you were, either.

As for what he is: a traveler? One of the Unseelie? There was a green glow on his headband before you turned around, does that mean anything to you?

>Might I ask what you're doing out in these woods, miss?
Just passing through, on the way to visit family. And you?

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)09:18 No. 590022 ID: 3009b4
File 140837871773.jpg - (174.76KB , 800x600 , Nem is Unsure.jpg )

>You know, we never asked what you were, either.

Nem finds your question confusing. She glances at the man and then back to you. She grasps her cloak tightly, mistakenly thinking it will make her charm work better (it works just fine regardless of how tightly she holds it).

:: Connection to Nem allows us to communicate non-vocally and query unprotected (anything she's willing or able to share) thoughts and memories; Nem does not have to speak out loud to us but that's the method of communication she's most comfortable with so that's what she does most of the time). ::

As far as Nem is concerned, her people are the only people in the world. She's never met an outsider or faerie to her knowledge. All normal people as far as she is concerned, have small horns, elongated somewhat fuzzy ears, and with legs that end in hoofs and have thick, course hair a short distance above said hooves. Yellow is a normal eye colour, pupils are somewhat horizontal oval and blue is a perfectly acceptable natural hair colour.

Nem didn't see any glow at all around the headband so she doesn't know what you're talking about.

As far as the strange man is concerned, Nem has no idea about what he is. She think he's handsome in an exotic way. She's heard of people in the far east looking similar, but wouldn't know what one is doing all the way here in her little village.

]Nem: I'm just passing through to visit family, sir. May I ask what you are doing in this dangerous place?

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)10:18 No. 590025 ID: 3009b4
File 140838231190.jpg - (217.72KB , 800x600 , He Rummages.jpg )

The man rummages through his back pack.

Man: I'm a scout; it's my job to explore dangerous places and then report my findings back to people who need the information. My name is Rekki, by the way. You are?

>>590025
Say you are Red. Fae can use names to exert power over people, so always use an alias when dealing with one.

>Nem finds your question confusing.
Oh, sorry about that! Spirits don't look like much of anything, and we've spoken to a lot of a lot of creatures in our time, not all of which look like you.

>scout
Furrow your brow. Who's interested in the forest, then?

>>590028
Not a bad idea. Maybe "you can call me Red" rather than "my name is Red" is you're not actually lying.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)10:53 No. 590035 ID: 3009b4
File 140838442119.jpg - (48.95KB , 167x194 , lie roll 20140818.jpg )

Nem is a terrible liar; she never got much practice.

:: This is a test vs. a hidden target number because Nem is trying to deceive Rekki and Rekki may not immediately reveal he was not deceived if she fails. You may spend Influence to adjust her roll, but you do not know the target number other than the fact that Nem is very unlikely to hit it on her own, and the roll must be equal or lower to her adjusted lying skill for Nem to at least appear not to be lying. If she fails within a 20% margin Rekki will suspect she's lying; if she fails greater than that it will be obvious to him.

Nem is charming enough that despite her horrible lying skills she has a base 15% chance of success, but Rekki's ability to detect deception will modify this target.

Since you can't see Rekki's skill, you don't know your modified target number but you do know that you're a good 54% away from landing it -- it will cost at least 11 Influence of your remaining 98 to have Nem lie at least half-convincingly. ::

>>590028
>Not a bad idea. Maybe "you can call me Red" rather than "my name is Red" is you're not actually lying.

Noted; spending IP to get Nem to lie is merely an OPTION. Nem has not said anything yet.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)11:08 No. 590037 ID: 3009b4
File 140838531446.jpg - (164.77KB , 800x600 , HappyNem.jpg )

>>590028
>Not a bad idea. Maybe "you can call me Red" rather than "my name is Red" is you're not actually lying.

Nem thinks the wording is a very clever idea and she would have never thought of it. She trusts you more now, and immediately goes with your idea.

Nem: You may call me Red.

She says it with pride, as if having an alias has made her that much more important.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)11:15 No. 590039 ID: 3009b4
File 140838575586.jpg - (158.13KB , 800x600 , Rekki Closeup.jpg )

Rekki: I knew a mermaid named "Red" awhile back. She had short, bright red hair. I'm going to assume that in your case you wear that cape a lot.

Nem just smiles in response. Rekki studies her.

Rekki: You're itching to know what I am, aren't you?

Nem bites her lip. She clasps her basket tightly and she every-so-slightly crosses her legs.

She's either dying to know or she really has to pee.

>Author Note: I'm aware that some suggestions are being missed in the shuffle, but at times Nem's own personality will make her jump the gun. For example, Nem would have liked to have appeared aloof and ask who wants to know about the forest, but she got so excited about the concept of not-telling-the-truth-but-not-lying in this situation she forgot the rest. This is far less likely to happen in circumstances where Nem is feeling more tension, but so far she's not been aware of any real danger so her sheltered life is getting the better of her.

nem is fucking adorable oh my god. what a darling.
well, nemain, he rummaged through the bag but what did he take out?

His headband's glowing again. Why don't you ask him about that?

>>590039
"I'm more interested in why your headband is glowing."

>>590045
Yep.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)18:12 No. 590094 ID: 3009b4
File 140841075335.jpg - (178.98KB , 800x600 , Wanna Know a Secret.jpg )

Before Nem can respond, Rekki speaks.

Rekki: You wanna know a secret?

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)18:14 No. 590095 ID: 3009b4
File 140841084215.jpg - (160.96KB , 800x600 , Nems Self Control Snaps.jpg )

Nem is already extremely curious; a question like this snaps what's left of her self restraint in a way that's almost audible.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)18:16 No. 590096 ID: 3009b4
File 140841099619.jpg - (234.19KB , 800x600 , Nem Cant Stand It.jpg )

Nem: What kind of question is that?! You KNOW that's not fair! You know the moment anyone asks "You wanna know a secret" that OF COURSE I WANT TO KNOW THE SECRET! Don't ASK if I want to know the secret, JUST TELL ME THE SECRET! I LOVE SECRETS! NOBODY EVER TELLS ME SECRETS! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE BABIES COME FROM AND YOU'RE ASKING ME IF I WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF SECRETS STRANGE MEN I MEET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST MIGHT HAVE? YES! TELL ME THE SECRET!

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)18:24 No. 590098 ID: 3009b4
File 140841147554.jpg - (130.19KB , 800x600 , Rekki did not expect that.jpg )

Rekki clearly did not expect such an outburst. Even the woods go unusually silent for a few moments.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)18:36 No. 590100 ID: 3009b4
File 140841217981.jpg - (158.16KB , 800x600 , Rekki suggests Nem calms down.jpg )

Rekki recovers.

Rekki: Sorry Miss, I was just teasing a little. Didn't mean to get you so upset. All right. The first thing you should know is that today, everything will change -- or it won't.

>>590100
"The first thing you should know is that today, everything will change -- or it won't."
That would be us. We can make things change -- or make them not.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)18:47 No. 590103 ID: 3009b4
File 140841282472.jpg - (186.77KB , 800x600 , Nem thinks Rekki is a dick.jpg )

Nem might not know where babies come from, but she still knows which organ Rekki reminds her of.

Nem: That is hardly a secret. That's barely even a decisive statement! Of COURSE things will change or they won't! That's like saying today it will rain or it won't!

Rekki smiles slightly.

Rekki: It would be an odd thing to say on a bright sunny day like today that it will storm or it won't, wouldn't it? It's not like there's any sort of hint of rain, the fact that a storm was on one's mind despite the circumstances, that's a secret isn't it?

If I knew 16 years ago that everything might change or they wouldn't... well...

Rekki is suddenly quiet and reflective.

Rekki: Well, maybe it's better off that I didn't know. Your circumstances are probably different anyway.

Nem is not impressed however. So far her day has been a lot of expectations of excitement and absolutely no payoff. A secret charm revealed, danger hinted at, spirits whispering about wolves, a strange man, and absolutely NO adventure whatsoever so far.

Nem: Your headband was glowing. Why is your headband glowing? What are you? Who are you scouting for? Is there a wolf following me? THOSE are secrets. Vague predictions aren't.

>>590101
Well, weakly. It's not very easy to make a lot of changes. Maybe there are others making or preventing changes, too.

>everything will change -- or it won't.
That is more of a tautology than a secret. So which everything is he referring to?

Rekki 2014/08/18(Mon)18:55 No. 590106 ID: 3009b4
File 140841335003.jpg - (139.93KB , 800x600 , I can hear you.jpg )

>The reason why my headband glows is because I can hear you. That's all.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)19:12 No. 590112 ID: 3009b4
File 140841434538.jpg - (138.78KB , 800x600 , Rekki answers some stuff.jpg )

Rekki: OK, fair enough. First, your friends probably know more about the glowing thing and you should ask them. It's a way of getting information that I was... well, I hesitate to use the word 'inflicted' with but it wasn't my idea even if the experience has been mostly positive.

Second... well, where I'm from I was a regular person -- not what your people would consider regular -- until there was a girl, a crime in self-defence, and a couple of long-standing debts to very powerful individuals. My people come from across the ocean to the East. Your people aren't as involved with the sea as mine are, so that's probably why you've never seen my people before. If someone asks, you might as well say you met a "Trytie" because that's what your people call mine. It's not very polite but they'll know what you're talking about. I would say I met a "Clopper" and again it's not very nice but they'd know what I was talking about. If you want to be polite, then I am Rekki, a scout.

Third... I'm actually not on a scouting job, it's a messenger job. I need to deliver a message and small item to a "Nemain Morrigan".

And finally...

He takes a long look at Nem, like she reminds him of someone or some event from his past -- something personal.

Rekki: There probably is a wolf following you, yes. You wouldn't have happened to know a Nemain Morrigan, would you?

>>590112
Tell him that's you. I guess he's not an elf, then.

Nem, you don't know babies come from? It's from fucking. Sex. Intercourse. Penor goes into vagoo.

yes we know her.

Who is the message from?

She met a stranger in the woods, and gave him an alias.

Also, he said the glowing means he can hear us. He was eavesdropping, meaning he already knows who you are, since we told you not to tell him and he heard. Stinker.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)20:16 No. 590122 ID: 3009b4
File 140841821179.jpg - (219.41KB , 800x600 , conversation.jpg )

Nem: WHATing? Sex is man or woman. Intercorse is something like talking or other communication. I don't know what a Penor or a Vagoo is.

Rekki frowns.

Rekki: Do you happen to know a Nemain Morrigan?

Nem turns to him sharply.

Nem: In a moment! A message and package are fine but I've been trying to get someone to tell me where babies come from for YEARS. This is important! Mother says they come after marriage and father just tells me to ask my husband once I'm married and glares at all the boys who look my way. Pattie says the angels bring them, Rupert says they're found in the cabbage patch -- that's where Daddy says he found me and I think he's hiding something -- and Helena says that they grow in melons...

Rekki suddenly interrupts her.

Rekki: Actually I met a girl who did come from a melon.

Nem: REALLY?

Rekki: Yes, but she was unique. Most babies don't come from melons, and it gets rather complicated.

Nem: Would you tell me where they come from?

Rekki: ... put it this way, don't get naked with a man unless you want a baby, and if you have a baby without a husband people treat you poorly.

Nem eyes him curiously.

Nem: It sounds like you know more.

Rekki: I think we have more important things to discuss.

Nem: I think you've tried to put a baby in a lady's tummy without getting married first.

Rekki: It was her idea, and the situation was enormously complicated and let's just leave it at that.

Nem: I don't believe you. Why would she want a baby if...

Rekki: She was a member of the Unseelie Court.

Nem: Ooooooooohhh....


:: Nemain is now very curious and is more open to dangerous or questionable suggestions if she is convinced they will give her answers. It should be noted that this not only applies to your suggestions, but others she encounters. ::

Rekki 2014/08/18(Mon)20:26 No. 590123 ID: 3009b4
File 140841879649.jpg - (139.32KB , 800x600 , Rekki is annoyed.jpg )

Penor goes into vagoo? This girl is going to have enough problems come her first relationship without your 'help'.

I already knew who she was long before you started coaching her. Some of you are not wrong -- the alias is a good idea, especially when dealing with the Unseelie Court, but they get very angry if they find out they've been deceived and they're an unpleasant enough lot before they have reasons to get mean. I was just curious to see if she was going to lie to me or not, but I think she's going to have a rough enough time as is without my adding to it.

Some of you seem to actually care a little about her, so I'm going to tell you what I'm going to tell her and I want you to see she sticks to it -- don't let her lead anyone to her grandmother's house. At all. Make sure she isn't followed.

>>590115
>>590123
*Sigh*
Nem, you do not need to know how babies are made until you find a man you want to spend your life with, anyways. I can tell you bit by bit how it works, when it becomes relevant, but if you learn it all in one go, you won't actually understand. That's not an insult, it's just that complicated and confusing. Rekki is not lying, the first thing to know is that as long as a man and a woman do not get naked with each other, they cannot make a baby.

:: How do we whisper to one person so that another cannot hear us? ::

Actually, Nem, once you've finished talking with Rekki, may I ask a personal question? It's the sort that can seem rude, so consider it carefully; in fact, let me know if I have your permission or not after the conversation, just so you'll have had the time to consider it.

yes, it's a big checklist of things and we can't sit here explaining it to you all day, what about grandma? and you are gonna need to eat.

Smik 2014/08/18(Mon)21:22 No. 590137 ID: 3009b4
File 140842213238.jpg - (158.99KB , 800x600 , Rekki delivers.jpg )

:: It's not really possible to 'whisper' because Nem is using shall we say a 'no frills' charm. Nem sees a floating orb that indicates your activity and broadcasts your suggestions. The orb is not visible even to people who can use the network unless they scan for it. You can spend influence points to hide it from others but it's on an individual basis. ::

Rekki: So, are you Nemain Morrigan?

Nem really pays attention to your comments this time. Her eyes widen a bit in surprise to find out he knew the whole time.

She nods, looking a little guilty. Rekki shrugs and tries to give her a reassuring smile.

Rekki: Then here is your message, from one of those influential people I owe a debt to - "Do not let anyone follow you to grandmother's house". Also, I'm to give you this sweetbrede pau.

Nem smiles, but as she begins to ask the question "Is it sweet?" Rekki interrupts her.

Rekki: No, it's not actually sweet. Just like a poached egg isn't really stolen from the woods in the dead of night.

Nem looks at him strangely.

Nem: What are you doing with eggs now?

Rekki sighs.

Rekki: I forgot your people don't eat eggs. Or meat. I get reminded at almost every miserable meal, but I still forget. It's a snack that my people enjoy. I don't know why I've been asked to give you it considering how much I'd rather eat it myself, but to be perfectly honest sometimes the people I am indebted to can be inexplicable jerks. So that's that -- my job's done. I'm going to be heading out -- we probably won't meet again. Without offence to your people, I'm anxious to go closer to the sea and get some real food,"

How exactly are we supposed to prevent anyone from following us? A wolf that can move faster than we can look can surely keep up with us if we make a run for it, and Nemi isn't exactly the swashbuckling sort to just fight it off. Maybe the sweetbread is meant as a lure or bribe, but that relies on the wolf being less determined or clever than it has acted so far.

>I've been trying to get someone to tell me where babies come from for YEARS
>very curious and is more open to dangerous or questionable suggestions
If it's so important to you, we can explain, in as much detail as you want, later. What's going on in the here and now is kind of important, I think.

In fact, I will promise we'll explain if you leave it, for now. And talking with us instead of asking anyone, or anything, else to explain has the advantage that we're in no position to take advantage of you.

>At all. Make sure she isn't followed.
...how, exactly, are we supposed to prevent anyone else from following a path? Nem can't safely leave it, and neither can we force someone not to follow it. In the case of a determined follower, the only way to not lead it forward would be to stop, or go back.

>>590137
Alright, good luck on your journey.

You heard the man, Nem. We got a delivery to make, and careful-like.

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)09:35 No. 590180 ID: 3009b4
File 140846612576.jpg - (175.47KB , 800x600 , Nem wants a payoff.jpg )

Nem watches Rekki head into the woods.

Nem: Watch out! There's supposed to be a witch in the direction you're going!

Rekki: I know, that's the direction I came from. I'll be fine.

Nem continues to watch him until she can't see or hear him anymore. She looks at the bun she was given and tentatively nibbles at the edges. Not quite sure if she should eat it but certainly curious about what it tastes like, Nem puts it away in her basket for the time being.

[b]Nem: Tokoshoran, you can ask me a question -- just don't get my hopes up about it being interesting and then have it be something like "Do you trim your hoof hair" or something like that. I don't, by the way -- only rich people bother with it. It's only a problem if you don't walk enough.

Well, I don't know if it's a "Dashed hopes" kind of question, I simply wanted to ask you how old you are. As well as how old your people are usually considered fully grown by.

Nem, nem, tell me about the witch! (Are there any stories of her poisoning food?)

>>590180
You've been referring to some of us by names. What names do you see for those of us who have not shown theirs?

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)12:19 No. 590193 ID: 3009b4
File 140847594550.jpg - (187.10KB , 800x600 , Nem just realized something.jpg )

Nem: Tokoshoran, I am almost 17. In a few weeks, actually. It's funny now that you mention it, but all the secrets started on my 16th birthday. Suddenly I can't get any of the adults to even discuss babies or even romance, Daddy's been very protective of me, and Mother seems a bit nervous. It's like they're waiting for the last apple to drop.

I'm not considered really grown up yet. Men aren't grown up until they're 24, and women not until they're 28. I'm a kid, which means I'm more than a child but nobody will really even start listen to me until I have a second child. Most girls my age are engaged by now, but the boys are intimidated by Daddy who is a very large man. He was good friends with the Forest Ranger who takes care of Grandma when she needs it.

I'm not worried about not being engaged yet -- my mother didn't even meet my father until she was 17 and a half! So I'm just a late bloomer.

Also the spirits without names just have this number. Mother said that you were all very big on numbers, so much so that everyone has multiple numbers. Some of you have multiple names. All those numbers are confusing for me though, at least when I don't know what they mean.

interesting.

let's get moving, and i'll try to guide you through babies.
have you seen a couple just before they get a baby? as in, 2-10 days before they have one. think about how they look, notice any differences in the mom before they have a baby and after?

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)12:38 No. 590196 ID: 3009b4
File 140847713181.jpg - (302.56KB , 800x600 , Nem Explains the Witch.jpg )

Nem whispers: The witch is this terrifying ogre -- her eyesight is supposed to be bad because she scattered her original eyes around the woods. She doesn't poison food, but she will take it at night. I've been told that sometimes she steals babies and eats children if we deny her share of our crops... but sometimes she does it anyway! It's been four years since a child vanished like that. When it's very cold she will steal our food -- if you leave a bottle of mulled wine out she will take that instead though and leave your stores alone. To be honest, mulled wine seems to work most of the time. When I was growing up, there was always a bottle in my room that I was told to never drink from because it was the witch's wine and it kept me safe.

Nem looks around for any eavesdroppers. Then she whispers: "I used to sip from it anyway. Just a tiny amount and she never caught me,"

Nem clears her throat but continues in a whisper.

Nem: So... it's not really a great idea to talk about her more than we need to because she's got good ears and eyes everywhere. She also hunts you down if you take too much from the forest.

Nem looks around again and finishes in a much louder voice.

Nem: But no robbers or bandits dare nest near our village, no enemy soldiers come near, and even the governor is careful about approaching us so we're glad of our fair protector..

>Secrets at 16
>Nearing 17
>Man at 24
>Woman at 28
>Late bloomers engage at 17-and-a-half
From the sound of it, you're an "Adult" at 16 years of age -- that is to say, your body is capable of everything and your mind is solid enough to think things through right. You just don't have experience to back it all up is the problem. It takes eight to twelve years for most people to get that experience, from the sound of it.

By the standards of species we are most familiar with, you are still a year (or four) too young, but by your species' standards, you are old enough to at least start learning. Actually, 16 is when most species start learning even if their body and mind are not ready until 18 or 21, so I am a bit surprised they do not teach you at 14.

>Numbers
Uh, it's very confusing and even I don't understand it fully, but it's supposed to be some sort of coordinates system, telling you where we are. There's no cypher to tell you how to track coordinates down, though, you basically just have to try random spots and see what works. But like I said, I don't really understand it fully, so maybe I'm getting it all wrong from the getgo?

>>590197
she's talking about our ID numbers

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)15:27 No. 590215 ID: 3009b4
File 140848727676.jpg - (229.22KB , 800x600 , Fork in the Road.jpg )

:: HMES Contextual Help ::
:: Nem's species profile is available upon request and will be hidden from her viewing (mostly for translation reasons; Nem's species is a human analog and this would roughly translate to the nonsensical "The differences between humans and humans"). Specifics need to be provided -- such as "Differences between Nem's species and Human Strength" or "What are available hair colours for Nem's species".::

Nem: Teach me what, exactly? I know how to cook, clean, dress wounds, make starchie, what to do in case of sickness... I don't know how to build things, or use a sword (it's very unladylike) and I'm not good with maths -- but only people like the Builders or Accountants are any good with maths anyway. I can read and write too -- that's something that my friends aren't good at, at all.

I've seen couples right before babies, too. That's how I know that the man is involved with putting the baby in the tummy somehow. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the navel. Pattie thinks the angels plant a cabbage inside the mother, Helena thinks it's from eating melon seeds (so she ALWAYS misses out on melon), but I know there's something else otherwise why would it happen so much when people get married? I've seen girls with large tummies and I don't believe the accidentally-swallowing-seeds story for a moment because I swallowed a bunch one time just to see what would happen. AND I know it has something to do with screaming. Lots of screaming. They try to keep girls away when babies arrive but I snuck out one time and I KNOW it has something to do with men because I sometimes hear the father being blamed during the screams. And it is NOT the baby crying. Some of my friends have had babies and they've never once said what I've heard yelled out. Then I got a real spanking for sneaking around.

Nem fumes -- apparently this has been bothering her for awhile.

A short walk later, Nem stops at a fork in the road.

Nem: The sign shows where I can go get the Ranger if I'm in trouble. He's supposed to look after my grandmother but we haven't heard from him in awhile and grandmother said he was looking old the last time she saw him. It's not my business to visit him, but he's a nice man. My dad says he used to be a big man, but when you get older you shrink a little and the Ranger is pretty old. For some reason, mother didn't think the ranger would be enough today.

Nem pauses in thought -- she doesn't like all these secrets being kept from her. Not only does her curiosity drive her crazy, but she doesn't understand why she would be kept in the dark like this and it frightens her a little.

we can double back to the ranger if we run into trouble.

and it's good you at least know that part, makes it easier. yes the screaming is from the mother, think about it, if there is a baby in there, how does it get out? painfully, well, the first one anyway, the second one is usually easier.

now comes the hard part... do you know what the difference between men and women is in the, ahem, crotch area?

>>590215
Man why haven't we gotten a checkpoint yet? Do we have to make those? This seems like a good spot to set a checkpoint.

Hey Nem I'll tell you one thing. It doesn't have anything to do with the bellybutton, that's related to the birthing process, not impregnation. I'll explain the bellybutton to you: When a mother is pregnant, the baby is inside a fluid-filled cavity called the womb. The baby survives in there because the mother shares her blood with it, through a fleshy cord connecting the baby to an organ attached to the side of the womb called the placenta. The placenta serves as a filter between the baby and the mother so that the baby doesn't catch any of the mother's diseases. So, anyway, when a baby is born, that umbilical cord is still attached to the baby and placenta. The midwife cuts off the cord, and so the spot where the cord was attached becomes the bellybutton.

Why don't we go see the Ranger?

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)16:51 No. 590222 ID: 3009b4
File 140849226759.jpg - (176.62KB , 800x600 , Nem doesnt believe you.jpg )

Nem: Babies drink their mother's blood while they live in her tummy? That's about as believable as coming from melon seeds. It's OK if you don't really know where babies come from. And if that's how it works where you're from... I'm glad I'm where I'm from. As to the crotch, boys have stems and girls have -- and I'm quoting my mother -- "Something ladies do not discuss". My girl friends and I call it "Our Secret". Sometimes we call it "The Wound". I know I've heard women get called a "Nagging Wound" by their husbands.

Should we visit the Ranger? We're supposed to be taking my grandma the basket of food, but if you want to act on a hunch I'm guess I'm with you.

where's the sun at? if it's not too far along the sky then i say we go see the ranger. if it IS though, then we should head straight to granny's place.

do you know what blood does? i mean entirely what it does, not just "vital fluid".

>>590202
I know. Our IP numbers represent our "Coordinates" within the TGChan userbase. They do not translate to our physical location, but every new entrant gets a number that points to them.
>Teach me what, exactly?
Sorry for the late answer, but I was talking about teaching you about babies... I suppose your village is more rural, though. Urban cities, where the buildings rise up tall and are built side-to-side, they have schools to teach you everything.
>AND I know it has something to do with screaming. Lots of screaming.
That's the danger and pain involved. That's why you want to see a doctor before you start.
>Babies drink their mother's blood while they live in her tummy?
No. The navel is where a cord known as the "Umbilical cord" attatches to the mommy. Blood travels through the body as the heart pumps it around, right? As the blood passes the stomach, it picks up nutrients from the food you're digesting. And, when a mommy has a baby in her tummy (Tummy is NOT stomach, don't worry), some of those nutrients get carried through the umbilical cord so that the mommy is feeding the baby without the baby having to be removed.
Actually, come to think of it, what we know is how monkey babies are made. Give us a moment to look over our knowledge and see if it works the same for your people.
:: What is the proper name for "Cloppers"? How different from primate reproduction and births are the Clopper's? ::
> As to the crotch, boys have stems and girls have -- and I'm quoting my mother -- "Something ladies do not discuss".
Nemian, do not repeat these words or people will accuse you of being a harlot. The "Stem" is known as a Penis. The "Hole" is known as a "Vagina," again, give me a bit to check our knowledge to make sure I'm getting this right.
:: Do "Cloppers" have different genitals compared to humans? ::
>>590223
I agree.
Say, wait, when you said we have numbers, are you seeing his as 53ba34 or 590223? Because if it is the latter, that is how many things we have said. The first thing anybody said got "1", then the second thing somebody else said got "2" and so on. It's an indicator for how long we've been helping people.

Nem has plenty of daylight available; she started out around 9 AM and her grandmother's house is only about an hour away on foot. It's currently 10:00 AM and she's about half an hour away. If she ran full tilt she could make it in 15 minutes.

Additional Notes: Nem only understands that blood is "Vital Fluid" and she lacks the scientific background required to understand much beyond "vital fluid"; her people are almost vegan so it's not as if she'd even have experience with even organ meat, let alone seen the organs of one of her own. Since her people don't eat meat, they also don't keep meat-eating animals and thus also don't drink milk or eat cheese as a general rule.

:: Additional Information called by Contextual Help System::

::"Primate" cannot be translated since Nem has never heard of the primate family.
"Cloppers" cannot be translated because contextually anything that means the same as her people gets translated the same way. So she understands that "Clopper" is a derogatory term for her people, and she understands that Rekki is a different kind of person entirely, but she's never heard the word before until today.

Using human history as a predictor, eventually someone like Nem would be known by her geographical home first -- Gaelend in this case -- and then her most obvious physical differentiate -- hooves. So a politically correct way of describing Nem would be a young North Gaelish woman, and a politically correct way of describing Rekki would be an East Shintao man. Nobody in Nem's village would have any idea of what you were talking about though, and Nem is not unusual in that this is the first time she's ever found out that a whole other people besides the faeries even exist.

It should be noted that the while superstitious, Nem's people are not stereotypical suspicious European villagers -- they're more small-town friendly towards visitors, especially when they're only transient. Nem's own village is especially friendly; those who make it past the witch either have good intentions or are very powerful (and thus one should stay on their good side).

On that note, it's also impossible to ask Nem if her genetalia is different from a regular human female's because it would translate to "Are your people's genitals different from people's genitals?". Both Nem and Rekki's people are human analogs; they have human genitals. Nem's people do not practice circumcision; they're a bit behind on surgical technology but ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding natural medicine; they already have a rough sort of aspirin and while its production method would certainly not be FDA approved it would definitely work the same. ::

Ah, I apologize, Nemian. The word I spoke of when mentioning what I know, it sounded completely alien to you, did it not? I shall refrain from using that word in the future.

Reviewing our knowledge, though, I found that the nicest way to refer to those from your village as opposed to those like Rekki, would be "A young hoof-legged woman" or perhaps "A young woman from the village near Unseelie Court's Forest." Do you know of the existance of other villages, or had you believed until now that yours was the only place people lived together at? Rekki mentioned others, so you should know now that yours is not the only one, but did it already have a name?
The people, be they from the Village of Hoof Legged Folk or from the Village of Pointy Eared Folk, do have the same methods of making babies. Like I said before, your blood is moved through your body, from the heart, and collects nutrients -- or, if that word is alien as well, "Health" -- from the stomach (Where food sits after you eat, and before you, uh, rid of it) to carry it throughout the rest of your body. When it delivers all of the "Health" it is carrying, it returns to the heart so that it can rest and be sent out again. This is why it is an important liquid.
Like I said before, the Cord that attaches from the mother to the baby's navel will deliver "Health" straight into the baby.
Have you noticed a mother -- a woman who had a larger tummy -- eats more than normal? This is because some of that food, once turned into Health is delivered to the baby, instead of the mother.

>>590222
Okay let me simplify it. The baby doesn't drink the blood, the mother's blood gives the baby's blood energy and air, so that the baby doesn't starve or suffocate.

How the baby gets inside the mother is a lot easier to explain... but we're not gonna tell you about that just yet. I think we should save that until you need motivation to do something.

Go visit the Ranger! You've got plenty of time to spare.

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)22:00 No. 590251 ID: 3009b4
File 140851080338.jpg - (271.94KB , 800x600 , Nem Regrets Asking about Babies.jpg )

Nem regrets asking about how babies are made. The explanations she's received have either avoid the subject or are in her mind, needlessly complicated. Nem's medical knowledge about her body is very limited -- she doesn't know what nutrients are, she didn't know that "Health" was a noun as well as an adjective, and she doesn't care about the cords.

She also doesn't care about what Rekki thinks her people are. Her people are people. Rekki is... a Rekki, an odd man with feet that sort of look like hands and triangle ears.

Her village is Yasville, her country is Gaelend, and none of it is very important because there's a wolf following her and nobody tells her anything.

Exasperated, she arrives at the Ranger's door and knocks.

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)22:05 No. 590253 ID: 3009b4
File 140851112424.jpg - (225.21KB , 800x600 , The Door Opens.jpg )

Heavy footsteps respond to Nem's knocking.

The door opens and instead of the Ranger, possibly the largest woman Nem has ever seen emerges from the doorway. She wields an impressive axe.

She waits for Nem to speak.

>>590253
Dang.
I almost want to expend points to make dick jokes about her axe, buuuuuut... nah.
Say hi, ask her name, etc etc.

just explain you think a wolf is stalking you.

Say hi, and ask if the ranger is available right now.

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)22:25 No. 590259 ID: 3009b4
File 140851231732.jpg - (208.04KB , 800x600 , game saved.jpg )

:: Chrono-Recall Point SET ::

Be polite.

Smik 2014/08/19(Tue)22:41 No. 590262 ID: 3009b4
File 140851331739.jpg - (184.22KB , 800x600 , The New Ranger.jpg )

Nem: Good day, Ma'am! Umm... is the Ranger in? Mr. Cutter?

The woman observes Nem carefully. She moves slowly and deliberately and Nem can actually FEEL her eyes study her. They're an unusual colour -- for context, Nem's yellow eyes are common -- hers are close to magenta, and the human equivalent would probably be green.

Woman: That would be my pappa. He's gone. I'm his daughter.

Nem waits for her to introduce herself, but she doesn't. After a few moments of silence, Nem clears her throat and says:

Nem: I beg your pardon, uh.. Ma'am, but ... I think a wolf is following me. I think I am in danger.

The woman smirks and leans in close.

Woman: If that were the case, Little Red Cape, then you would be dead by now. Wolves don't hesitate to attack young, poorly prepared creatures like yourself. Not unless they're rabid at least -- then they'll go after anyone. You're still unmolested, so I doubt it was a wolf. What are you doing out here, anyway?

Go on and let her know you're heading to your grandmother's house, but you thought you'd check up on the ranger, since you hadn't seen him... And apologize for her loss.

>>590262
Well, tell her that you have been warned that someone would try to follow you to your grandmother and that your charm detected a wolf. Apperently, you are not the target.

Also ask for her name and whether her pa is alright.

If it wasn't a wolf it was a wolf-shaped fae or something, but we are quire certain we were being followed.

Smik 2014/08/20(Wed)09:46 No. 590285 ID: 3009b4
File 140855321729.jpg - (203.37KB , 800x600 , Nem and Macha.jpg )

Nem: Ma'am, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm just in these woods to deliver a basket of goods for my grandma. I hadn't seen Mr. Cutter in a long time so I thought I would stop by. May I ask your name?
Macha: Macha.
Nem: Excuse me, Ms. Macha but I am certain that there is a wolf after me. Or something disguised as a wolf.

Macha straightens and stretches, and Nem feels like it's really just an excuse to make her feel small in comparison -- the massive woman had to duck slightly to get through the doorway.

Macha: You're too scared to make this trip alone and you wanted the ranger for protection. That's fine, I'll come with you.

>don't let her lead anyone to her grandmother's house. At all.
...huh. You know, we might have a problem if an armed escort counts against that injunction.

"Not so much, I was warned by a Trytie about this supposed wolf. He found me in the middle of the forest and addressed me by name, which is more than a little suspicious because I have never seen one before at all. Because of that I was hoping we could set an ambush to see if he, or his supposed wolf, is still following me."

Smik 2014/08/20(Wed)10:23 No. 590292 ID: 3009b4
File 140855542328.jpg - (203.34KB , 800x600 , Nem mentions meeting Rekki to Macha .jpg )

Nem: Well, I met a trytie on the road, and he knew my name and told me I was being followed by a wolf. I've never seen a trytie before, but that's what he told me... he... was...

Nem's voice trails off as she watches Macha's expression change. It's hard to read her feeling but her interest has spiked sharply.

Nem notices that there's something different about Macha's eyes -- she just can't put her finger on it.

Macha: What was this tryte's name?

Smik 2014/08/20(Wed)10:38 No. 590294 ID: 3009b4
File 140855632741.jpg - (49.51KB , 167x202 , Nem Observation Roll.jpg )

:: A roll was made for Nem's automatic observation. Her chance was 35%, and she needed to roll 35 or lower. She has made her roll with 22 and additional information is now available. ::

Nem is suddenly aware what is so different about Macha's eyes -- it's not just the colour, but the shape of her pupils are different. They're rounder, more like Rekki's. Nem didn't notice it immediately before because Rekki was SO different looking overall.

Also, Macha smells a bit different. Nem can't quite explain how or why. Perhaps the best way to explain it is that Macha smells different in the same way that oneself looks different in a photograph than compared to a mirror reflection.

Maybe it's her breath. Macha's breath is sour. Given the wild way her hair is maybe she just woke up? It's a contributing factor but maybe not the only one.

Uh-oh.
This woman...Probably is an imposter a 'fake'...Which is highly concerning given the whole 'watch out for unseelie' thing, and there's the fact that unseelie, depending on the mythos, can change their appearance...

Tell her he said his name was Rekki.
(I am not too concerned about her going after him; his job is to go dangerous places so he can presumably look after himself.)

Smik 2014/08/20(Wed)11:26 No. 590302 ID: 3009b4
File 140855917480.jpg - (217.74KB , 800x600 , Nem is scared of Macha.jpg )

Nem: He said his name was Rekki...

Macha closes her eyes briefly as if remembering something, and as she does so she begins to smile.

Macha: Rekki... oh Rekki, you silly boy.

Macha opens her eyes again, still smiling. While there's nothing really wrong with how she's smiling, Nem can feel herself growing edgy and uncomfortable with Macha's intrusion into her personal space. (Until this moment Nem wasn't even aware she had a personal space zone). Macha frightens her, just a little.

Macha: That boy... he's got problems telling the truth. Sometimes he even lies to himself. Next time you see him, ask him if he's a thief. Ask him if he knows how to use a sword. Ask him if he's ever slit someone's throat from behind. He'll deny it, and he'll tell you he doesn't do those things because he's a scout. He's a nice boy actually, he's just not very honest.

Macha leans back -- much to Nem's relief -- and then twirls her axe with one hand with polished ease. The blade whistles slightly when she does so and she stops its momentum effortlessly.

Macha: You're clearly a nervous little girl who needs protection. I wouldn't worry about Rekki harming you -- he's the never-hits-a-girl type. Now let's get going. If I see a wolf, I'll take care of it.

>>590302
Alright, go back out and go the direction opposite your grandmother's house.

Smik 2014/08/20(Wed)14:38 No. 590309 ID: 3009b4
File 140857071685.jpg - (238.29KB , 800x600 , rough map.jpg )

:: Here is a rough map. It wasn't needed before (since Nem originally didn't plan on exploring) but now that free roaming is required this is the world as far as Nem understands it.

The circles indicate approximate safe areas around buildings and watch towers. The watch towers are normally used by the Ranger and have supply caches in case of emergency. Nem's village is the white area, path is yellow. The dark green areas indicate Unseelie territory. The witch's territory is clearly marked -- note that a former watch tower is now considered hers.

Watch Towers not only have supplies (firewood, flint and steel, torches, sometimes tools) but are also strategically placed due to their proximity to medical herbs -- it allows people to safely gather them near a safe zone.

The Lake Tower has an offering site for the Seelie lake faerie who supposedly placed the blessing on the path in the first place, but since offerings haven't been taken in years it's fallen out of use.

The grey patch in the Northwest corner is an Unseelie cave. It's rumoured they can't cross the running water of the river. That could also be the bias of Nem's people since being poor swimmers they're not fond of crossing water themselves.

Please note this is Nem's own personal idea of her local area and it may not be an accurate representation of actual area.
::

Well, it should be okay to take her to the fork just before your grandmother's house.

Okay, specifically, I want you to take her back to where we saw the wolf.

...that's weird, why were we told nobody should follow you when your grandmother's house is like, at the end of the road? I mean it doesn't take a leap of logic to just go there ahead of you.

Rekki 2014/08/20(Wed)18:02 No. 590356 ID: 3009b4
File 140858292937.jpg - (236.01KB , 800x600 , Rekki Exposition.jpg )

>What? Well, yeah it's a good question I just don't see why I'm the one who has to answer it! I just got breakfast! Kiss one faerie princess and it doesn't matter if you're only four, it just all goes to hell...


All right, so a good question was asked and I've been told... ordered... to answer it in a way that's sort of helpful but still pretty vague because apparently I'm good at that.

Yes, you should wonder why it's so important that Nem doesn't lead someone to grandma's house despite the fact that any mortal soul with working legs and eyes could just follow the path to the house.

You should wonder. You should consider why. You should think of possible reasons why Nem should not let anyone follow her when the route is so seemingly obvious. I could find it without problem -- but I never had any intention of following Nem so I don't count. The Ranger could find it without problem, but he's dead now. Nem's own parents could find it without problem. You're going to have to figure out this picture by looking at what's missing.

That's all I can say.

I'd honestly like to help more but I have enough problems without pushing my luck with those I'm in already deep in debt to. Speaking of which... if you stumble across some gold, let me know OK? I don't think Nem needs it as badly as I do.

>>590325
Either this or head to the fork before gradma's house, say goodbye and take the other path. Cut through the woods a bit to get to her house for real. It doesn't seem too too far.

>>590356
Will do on the gold bit.

It sounds like access to her house is protected in some way, so that only family and those with permission can reach it. So we basically need to ditch the "Ranger" after we make sure that the wolf is dealt with.

Ok, so the path is enchanted so that whatever Macha is (probably Unseelie) can't follow it.

Hey Rekki, while you are here, you seem to know Macha. Could you give us an estimate of how likely she is to flip out and try and kill Nem if she finds out Nem is trying to trick her?

Nem, how sick exactly is your grandmother. Is she well enough that visiting her can wait until later today or tomorrow? I think what you should do is look in your basket to "make sure" you have some useful item you don't actually have with you, "discover" that you don't have it, then say that you need to return home to pick it up.

Smik 2014/08/20(Wed)19:29 No. 590397 ID: 3009b4
File 140858817495.jpg - (267.83KB , 800x600 , Nem and Macha on the Path.jpg )

Nem walks down the path and Macha the Ranger follows her. Nem asks where her bow and arrow are, and Macha replies she doesn't need one.

Macha makes no effort at conversation, and much of the walk is spent in eerie silence. After a few minutes, Nem becomes very aware that the ONLY sounds she hears are the hoof-falls of their feet -- all other forest sounds are quiet. She becomes more and more aware of how alone and vulnerable she is, and all Macha does is watch her wordlessly.

Nem: I need some help. I don't know what I should be looking for or saying, but I think I need to be doing SOMETHING to help figure out what's going on here. Why did no one mention Mr. Cutter's passing at the village, or even that he had a daughter to replace him? If she is his daughter... why isn't she noticing we're moving AWAY from Gram's house? Surely he would have instructed her to take care of my grandma! I can feel her eyes on me, watching my every move. Maybe I can get some answers with the right questions, or by watching what she does?

All I do know is that the only other place I can lead her to besides the village is into the witch's domain! What should I do?

:: Note that Nem is currently NERVOUS which means that while she'll have better reflexes in a panic situation she will have problems doing things without arousing suspicion unless she does something else that redirects attention. ::

:: Additional Info ::

Yes, Nem is leading Macah to the fork in the road before her gram's house. That's past where she met the wolf as well. You'll be kept up on notable landmarks as they're passed.

Rekki 2014/08/20(Wed)19:38 No. 590400 ID: 3009b4
File 140858873731.jpg - (237.27KB , 800x600 , Rekki Exposition 2.jpg )

>Awww c'mon folks I'm never gonna have a hot meal at this rate.

>To be honest, I don't know Macha -- she must be the huge girl -- but my name is pretty well known in both the Unseelie and Seelie courts, and probably a few lower ones too. When I was a child, I kissed a faerie princess. I never heard the end of it and so I'm the subject of a lot of rumours.

:: More Mission Paramter Details::

Nem must complete the day's delivery. It can't be put off until tomorrow, she's expected before lunch before Grandma will start to worry and needs to get there before sun down. It's currently around 10:30AM.

>>590397
Just stop at the spot where we saw the wolf, and tell her that's where you think you saw it.

Ask her why it's so quiet. Also ask her why her eyes look like trytie eyes.

Smik 2014/08/21(Thu)08:17 No. 590451 ID: 3009b4
File 140863424535.jpg - (173.39KB , 800x600 , All the Better to See You With.jpg )

>Also ask her why her eyes look like trytie eyes.

Macha: ALL THE BETTER TO SEE YOU WITH, MY DEAR

Smik 2014/08/21(Thu)08:20 No. 590452 ID: 3009b4
File 140863441736.jpg - (271.37KB , 800x600 , Nem Hates Machas Jokes.jpg )

Macha thinks she is hilarious.

Nem does not appreciate her sense of humour.

Macha: What's wrong, Nem? Scared of some old faerie tales?

Macha's laughter echoes through the woods -- it's big, booming and carefree sounding. Not the kind of laugh Nem was expected considering the rather mean prank she just pulled. Nem was honestly expecting more of a witch's cackle.

Is she half Trytie and half Clopper? Uh, if you ask that try and apologize before hand, as it might come across as a rude question and we're wondering more out of curiosity.
Anyways, shame on you Nemain! Just because she's maybe half Trytie doesn't mean she's not a person! The Fae are playing games on you, but they're not mean spirited, they're just pranksters. Sometimes go overboard with their pranks... Oh. Has she met the Fae?

Smik 2014/08/21(Thu)10:58 No. 590467 ID: 3009b4
File 140864388120.jpg - (236.53KB , 800x600 , Nem is not impressed with your theories.jpg )

Nem thinks you're out of your mind: she's never even heard of a "Tryte" today until meeting one and that look Macha gave her still has her trembling. She has her doubts that anyone would even dare try to kiss Macha.

The Seelie Court likes practical jokes, but the Unseelie can be fatally mean-spirited. She reminds you that the witch is fae and she has a track record of eating children and is so scary that they don't even have to worry much about outsiders causing trouble.

Nem also reminds you that people can still kill other people using very large axes. She's much more interested in plans for what to do when she reaches the area where she met the wolf or beyond. Macha hasn't seemed to notice that Nem is going in the opposite direction of her grandmother's house yet. If the wolf doesn't show she will come to the fork in the road and will either have to turn in the direction of the village or the witch.

>>590467
You called the witch your "fair protector" some time ago. Is there some form of formal protection going on? As in, if you were to enter the witch's territory because you are followed by a mean outsider unseelie, is there a good chance the witch will help you? Even if it is generally a bad idea to go there, it might be a better choice than leading an enemy to your family or friends.

I do hope someone has a better idea, though. Maybe your companion can be convinced to go looking for the wolf (to keep up the charade) and you can use that opportunity to sneak away?

Is the rangers name possibly Ermas? Anyway, ask her if the wolves can cross the path and if we can trap it?
And uh. Have you felt any different after you ate some sweetbread?
maybe in the end thank her for her services and as there is CLEARLY no wolf you were being silly, ha ha, sorry to bother you macha, you must be VERY busy as a ranger, sorry again, well take it from here, youre free to be on your way, macha!

>>590467
Nemain, what I meant by half-and-half is that, well, have you ever tried growing different types of flowers near each other? As the bees come and spread the pollen, the flowers can sometimes sprout hybrid seeds. Seeds that contain part of that flower and another flower, thanks to the mixed together pollen.
Men have a liquid inside their body which is metaphorically called "Seed," although it is NOT a seed of any plant sort. The "Seed" of a man only holds half of the information for creating a baby. The other half is contained inside a "Pod" that is inside a woman. About once a month, the woman's Pod will release one soft, tiny capsule (Think a pomegranate, it's a large pod with lots of tiny capsules inside it), which can accept the information from one seed from the man. If the man and woman happen to be Clopper and Trytie, well, you'll end up with a "Hybrid."
Buuut yeah that's probably a mean thing to ask a person if they are, okay.
Oh, and Men have their own pods, too, but their pods aren't as far inside the body as a woman's are, they instead hang loose just beneath the "Stem."
Stems and Pods, Nemain, these are the safe words to use.

Would it maybe be considered nicer to ask who her mother was, since you know her father was the ranger? I mean, you didn't mention the ranger being married, so I don't think it was common knowledge, was it.

Smik 2014/08/21(Thu)12:53 No. 590479 ID: 3009b4
File 140865081991.jpg - (238.33KB , 800x600 , Nem Ixnay on the Itchway.jpg )

Nem -- using very loud surface thoughts since she's afraid to draw attention to her conversation in any way -- explains that she calls the witch a "Fair protector" out loud because to quote some of the older boys, "That old wound be crazy!"

The witch has a preference for children but when she first arrived she also made an example of several huntsmen who went after her. The families of the affected often just move away in grief because they're unable to get justice. While it is true that the witch has helped the village -- one time a group of bandits made trouble and the witch put on a puppet show with their remains in the middle of town -- for the most part she's extremely dangerous and your life hangs by the thread of whatever mood she's in at the time.

If Macha and the witch meet, Nem plans on running away as fast as possible and find out who wins later.

Nem doesn't know who "Ermas" is. She's also never had a 'sweetbread' before. She's only had sweet buns -- bread covered in honey and fruit. (They're vegan).

:: Contextual Help ::
:: Under normal circumstances Nem's people would never eat meat and may vomit or get bad gas/diarrhea after eating some since their systems aren't used to it. They don't like the smell of raw/cooked meat as a general rule. There's no record in Nem's village of anyone eating meat since they're too far from trade routes to encounter it, they don't hunt, and the witch scares the bejeezies out of them so encounters with bones freaks them right out. It is possible for Nem's people to adapt to an omnivore diet but it takes time and the effects would be similar to one who is lactose intolerant. For those who live near trade routes, Cloppers who enjoy meat are considered bad omens by everyone -- regardless of race. At best, meat-eating cloppers are said to have Unseelie blood in them and at worst, they are servants of the Devil. At this point in time there's not enough information to separate superstition from fact -- in their recorded history, those of Nem's people who enjoy meat are either extremely aberrant or have had a faerie parent somewhere in their family past (or both). Faerie traits can lie dormant for an unknown period of time before manifesting.

Unlike our history, "burning the witch" is never attempted by a village because just like the witch in the woods provoking such a powerful individual is a good (or terrible, depending on how you read it) way to get killed (the mayor's surviving family line will attest to this). Such 'witches' usually find themselves alone regardless -- either they leave town due to being feared or the town leave them.

Nem: Macha... if we see the wolf, can it harm us while we're on the path? Could we trap it?

Macha: Wolves can't even see the path, or anyone on it. The smart ones know you're there, they can smell you, hear you... but they can't really find you until you step off it. Same goes for that old witch in the East. Just because they can't find you on the path doesn't mean you're safe on it. They just have to be patient. That's why the charm doesn't work to protect the village -- too much noise, too much light, even if the whole village was on charmed ground people just make too much racket to hide properly. If you think you're in trouble on the path, be still and be silent. Funny thing, yes?

Do you want to know a secret, Nem?

Nem trembles involuntarily. Yes she wants to know the secret. Macha scares her, and the secret could be terrible but she wants to know!

I meant the thing rekkki gave you!
.....youre curious, arent you? Well, when someone says WANNA KNOW A SECRET, they're gonna tell you the secret, so say yes and brace yourself, i guess. ,

Smik 2014/08/21(Thu)13:17 No. 590481 ID: 3009b4
File 140865224238.jpg - (163.22KB , 800x600 , Nem Curiosity Level.jpg )

For context, this is Nem's curiosity level compared to say, Pandora.

Also -- Nem knew you were referring to the bun Rekki gave her. Google "sweetbread" for a reason why Nem would have never had the experience.

Ask whether anybody says that and then doesn't tell the secret.
(I feel that we should avoid actually saying yes because of faerie reasons, though if we outright refuse that might not turn out well.)

>>590479
...I don't like this. I think she's the wolf.

Nem, if you say no, I will tell you where babies come from.

Ooh, do this! >>590482

Smik 2014/08/21(Thu)15:49 No. 590495 ID: 3009b4
File 140866137230.jpg - (192.85KB , 800x600 , Macha Tells a sSecret.jpg )

>Nem, if you say no, I will tell you where babies come from.
Nem is so tired of hearing the group's explanations of where babies come from that this has the opposite effect.
However, one of the suggestions has earned the group +10 IP. The group now has 108 IP.

Nem heads one of the suggestions and simply nods her head in response, hoping that it's a happy medium. She's too intimidated by Macha to say anything smart.

Macha leans in close. Nem can feel her hot, sour breath in her ear as she whispers.

Macha: That's how creatures hide from Death. You know how we make noise in celebration, how it scares away evil spirits? That's because they're afraid that if they're near the sound, Death will finally take notice and come for them. We mortals are so noisey, Death doesn't have to look very hard for us. Death does NOT take kindly to being fooled like that either, so when Death finally finds one of those sneaking, smug creatures who have hid for so long, Death makes sure ends are violent and horrifying. Your witch never comes around during noisy celebrations, does she?

Nem shakes her head. Macha simply chuckles in response.

>>590495
Pointed teeth? I can't tell if those canines are of an unusual size, actually. Could be normal? Don't mention them, either way. You remember how Red got eaten in the faerie tale, don't you...?

I say lead her to the Witch, and offer the sweetbread roll as tribute when the Witch comes around, in exchange for her getting Rachel away from you. Then you can probably go back to the trail and head to your grandmother's house again.

Smik 2014/08/21(Thu)20:54 No. 590549 ID: 3009b4
File 140867965471.jpg - (231.67KB , 800x600 , Nem and the Winemaker.jpg )

For the record -- Nem has no idea what "canines" are because the closest thing to a dog she's ever seen is a wolf -- and she's never taken a real good look at one's mouth for obvious reasons. Nem also never got a really good look at Macha's teeth since she wasn't facing her, but to make up for artistic restriction it's not so much that Macha has enlarged canines as that she has canines at all.

Nem continues along the path -- no sign of the wolf. Eventually she reaches the branch where the path ventures off towards the witch's place -- not that they built the path to it, that's just where she moved in.

As Nem approaches it, she sees Teddy, the winemaker approaching with a wave. Nem whips around and finds Macha has vanished. This makes her feel more nervous.

Teddy is a pretty popular man at the village for obvious reasons, and also fairly important since he tends to keep everyone supplied with extra jugs of wine in case the witch is feeling bad tempered.

Witch Wine his speciality; it's a wine with 20% alcohol content. Typically Nem's people enjoy wine with 4% alcohol (They're 3-5x more sensitive to alcohol than humans). He gives this wine out to new mothers -- not to drink of course, but to keep corked up by the child's window so the witch will take it instead if she's feeling cruel. When the jugs vanish at night, the whole village gets uneasy unless there's some kids laid out with hangovers afterwards. Punishments for drinking Witch Wine vary depending on who's doing it -- they don't have a jail but they do have stocks. For most kids, the hangover is enough to learn their lesson.

Teddy: Hello Nemmie! You back from your grandma's already, or ya not gone yet? He thinks a moment and then adds: If you've got a moment, you could come help me pick berries. Shouldn't take more than a quarter or half hour.

>>590549
Reaaaaally? Do some work for him, try to get some witch wine. That will surely be enough to get the Witch to get rid of Macha.

A fifteen minute respite doing something safe and normal sounds like a good idea.

...uh, assuming it's safe to leave the path for that. I suppose his fields aren't enchanted, but we're invited, and if one can't leave and enter paths at destinations, or for hospitality, they don't really work as paths at all.

Oh, right, the excuse for going the wrong way.

You got flustered when you thought there was a wolf following you and got turned around. Don't lie and say that you were already at her place, as if Macha is part of the Unseelie Court she will not appreciate a lie. The truth of the matter is that your thoughts were everywhere (That was because of us, but don't tell them that), and you wound up walking in one direction.
Furthering truth (This part should be ommited, left out), your thoughts kept wandering until now because of Macha's sense of humor. Truth that you can say is that your thoughts didn't exactly come together until you saw Teddy.

If Macha can impersonate specific people she would have probably just taken the form of the ranger*, but just to be sure I think you should get a closer look at Teddy's eyes before heading off with him. Assuming it is him, as a reputable adult his knowledge of magic-path-safety is probably decent.

*Unless she was reading memories for better impersonation during the walk...

Smik 2014/08/22(Fri)12:46 No. 590643 ID: 3009b4
File 140873681948.jpg - (283.96KB , 800x600 , Nem and Winemaker Teddy Looking for Berries.jpg )

Nem: Do you have fields around here?

Teddy: For Witch's Wine, we need to get some wild berries and herbs that just don't grow near the village. I think it has something to do with the faerie influence on the forest.

Nem and Teddy back down the path towards her grandmother's house. Along the way, Teddy asks if Nem is engaged yet and she replies that she isn't, nor does she have any prospects at the time.

Teddy: Your father's pretty protective of ya, isn't he?

Nem: Yes sir. None of the boys have gotten the nerve to court me yet. I'm not worried, mother wasn't engaged until she was 17 and a half or so.

Teddy raises an eyebrow.

Teddy: You're still a good girl, right? Would hate to think there's a the reason why you're such a late bloomer.

Nem is taken aback.

Nem: Why would you even suggest otherwise?

Teddy chuckles.

Teddy: Oh, that red cape n' all. It's peculiar.

Nem scowls.

Nem: It's a gift from my grandmother, and it's enchanted. I've had it since I was 8 and I've worn it all the time.

Teddy: Hey now, I didn't mean anything by it. At a certain age though, it starts to look odd. Usually girls waiting to be married wear white.

Nem: I am wearing white.

Nem walks the rest of the way in silence, clearly feeling insulted.

Once the path crosses over the river, they veer off of it towards the woods. Teddy explains the kinds of berries and herbs they're to look for. As instructed, Nem begins to gather the red, multi-segmented berries Teddy has requested -- but she can't help but feel that she is being watched.

>>590643
I think he's scoping out your butt.

rolled 100 = 100

---

Nem is making a perception check on her own. The target number is hidden. IP may be spent to modify this roll, increasing by 5 (%) per point spent. 108 points are available.

>>590662
Hahaha so much for that.

Smik 2014/08/22(Fri)15:46 No. 590666 ID: 3009b4
File 140874759982.jpg - (278.14KB , 800x600 , Nem Knows Something is Wrong.jpg )

** NEM ROLLS MAXIMUM SUCCESS **

(100/100 is auto-win regardless of her target number)

Nem realizes that Teddy is approaching her while her guard is down and she suspects his intentions are not honourable: she's a lone young woman, in the woods, and well outside of the hearing range of anyone who could help her.

On top of that, he made inappropriate remarks about her cape.

She's not quite sure what she should actually DO in this sort of situation however and could really use some ideas. As far as Nem knows, Teddy isn't especially proficient as a fighter but he is bigger than she is.

:: Contextual Help ::
:: Overall there's no practical difference in strength between genders for Nem's people and women can and do serve in the military. Nem can almost certainly out-run Teddy if she can get around him -- she's younger and on top of that she's naturally faster than average. However, her biggest problem is right now Teddy is blocking her most open escape routes. She could try to fight, but due to her size and lack of experience she'd be at a disadvantage -- not hopeless, but it would be difficult. She can't jump the bush she's in front of and likely not able to push through it before she could get out of arm's reach. If you have other ideas feel free to state them. ::

>>590666
I thought low rolls were better. Well, that's fortunate!

Also, ugh, really?

Nem, you have the element of surprise right now. Punch him right in the nose then run for it while he's stunned.

Hrrm.
if you can, aim and kick his knees as hard as you can, or do a quick elbow jab to the gut. hopefully he'll be reeling from the blow and you'll have your chance to run off and away from him.
If he's tough enough to keep holding after the initial on a hit to the fork of his legs SHOULD keep him from taking any further action, but once that's done get away.
Only do what you need to escape.

>Normally lower is better but it seems wrong to make 100 suck.

>>590671
Smart! And on the other scale, I am really hoping a 1 makes it so that we fail SPECTACULARLY.

>>590670
This. Hoofs are good for kicking, and I don't think he is looking at your feet right now.

hooves are good for kicking. can you deliver a STRONG blow to his groin or would it be too far up to kick? if you cannot, kick his knees out. Then reel around and sock him in the nose - tht will assure he falls, if the kick didnt get him. then RUN

rolled 53 = 53

---

>Actually '4' is the spectacular failure number because I think I'm clever.

Nem's never even thought of using her elbow to strike so that's not going to happen, and she doesn't have the room for a groin kick. However, the shins should be a pretty reasonable target so she'll try that.

Nem does not gain a bonus to attack as while the surprise gives her the advantage, it won't help her perform a good kick any better. If everyone is comfortable with low rolls being better even in combat situations -- except for an unmodified lucky '100' (and an unlucky '4') -- then we'll continue on that theme.

Nem's Unarmed Combat skill is sitting at 25 because she's never been in a real fight in her life even if she is quick. If she rolls 25 or lower, she'll land her attack on target. If she rolls 50 or lower she'll still hit, but it will miss its mark -- likely striking against muscle and being largely ineffective.

Teddy will have a penalty to defend against Nem's kick due to her having the element of surprise. His skill is hidden, but he is not a trained combatant and simply is more experienced in life than Nem is. If Teddy makes his defence roll he will stop the attack from landing on target or avoid it completely. Missing within an acceptable margin (similar to Nem's 25/50) will mean he is hit but will be able to act, and blowing it completely will prevent him countering, even if Nem wiffs. You'll get the idea from the resulting illustration. First roll is Nem's.

rolled 25 + 25 = 50

---

Nem spins around too early and her attack misses completely.

rolled 91 = 91

---

Teddy is surprised, but realizing Nem knows what he's up to he lunges at her!

rolled 85 = 85

---

He's far too slow!

Smik 2014/08/22(Fri)18:02 No. 590700 ID: 3009b4
File 140875573145.jpg - (170.16KB , 800x600 , Yay we are both idiots.jpg )

However, Nem did something equally stupid. Since I want to keep combat moving swiftly I'm going to post this illustration in black and white.

Nem blew her own defence roll pretty badly and while Teddy went face-first into the bush, she jumped to the side ALSO into the bush.

Both Nem and Teddy are on equal footing -- bad -- at the moment. Aren't fights between non-combatants fun? Side note, nobody has lost HP either. HP is lost avoiding injuries that would end a fight, not for looking stupid.

>A handy reminder is that at any point before a roll is made (or very soon after if I catch it in time) you may spend IP to sweeten Nem's rolls OR screw with her opponent's rolls. Every 1 pt gives you an extra 5 in whatever direction you want, and for the time being every suggestion with an IP use note uses 1 pt. (I'll let any single person use up to a maximum of 5 pts for one suggestion).

Additional side note:

I just realized how confusing that looks. Nem rolled 53 to attack -- a complete wiff. Teddy rolled 50 to defend including his penalty, which was enough for him to not just stand there like an idiot. His lunge however was a complete fail at 91, which means Nem automatically gets out of the way of his grab. Nem's roll of 85 was to defend -- now since Teddy wiffed she doesn't have to roll to dodge but it was an attempt to jockey into a better position or even counter-attack, but instead she failed and over-stepped into the bush.

So as illustrated, they both look like idiots.

>>590700
He's not blocking your retreat anymore! Get out of there!

Nem WILL get out of the bush before Teddy since she didn't fail as badly as he did and she's faster.

She knows that tactically she should run but she really wants to try kicking the old lech one last time. Nem doesn't just want to tell Daddy and have him thump Teddy, she wants to be a real woman. However she trusts you lot enough to go with the majority's suggestion instead.

Well, I wouldn't be opposed to kicking him in the ass if he's still facing away by the time Nem is capable of it. I would even toss 10 IP her way to try it.

I am in favor of getting out while the getting's good, though if you do want one last kick go for the legs so he can't grab you.

rolled 12 = 12

---

Even though Nem is off-balance, Teddy is more so and so this is her result table:
1-25: A kick that hurts enough to slow Teddy down. Unless she rolls a 4, which would be disastrous for her.
26-50: A kick that will land and hurt, but only slow Teddy down enough for Nem to get a head start and make him furious. Of course, any adrenaline he might experience will be useless against the same rush Nem will have. Also Nem will feel better.
51-75: The kick will land but be pretty much well ineffective. Nem will blow her head start, allowing Teddy to potentially retaliate.
76+: Nem wiffs it, and by the time she recovers her balance Teddy will be able to retaliate.
100: Nem nails him in the worst place imaginable on his spine and takes him out of the fight.

Smik 2014/08/22(Fri)19:58 No. 590719 ID: 3009b4
File 140876273447.jpg - (328.82KB , 800x600 , Nem discovers 12 is a hidden crit.jpg )

Nem discovers that when a success, rolling a '12' is a critical strike.

Perhaps later we will find out about other special rolls.

For now, this is probably the second most painful thing Teddy will experience in this story. He's not defeated but it gives Nem a very good head start for running.

In fact, Nem does have time to steal his sack (pardon the expression) if she so chooses. It would go against Nem's character (and might have repercussions), but so does kicking people in the groin as hard as she can.

Today has been quite different.

Success! Don't take his stuff on your way out; if you did he would probably accuse you of being a thief when he slinks back to the village.

Yeah, don't take his stuff.

Let's just try to get to Grandma's now.

Back to the path and to Grandmother's house you go!

Oh, but if you're close enough, put him on the path, too. No reason to let the wolves find him.

Smik 2014/08/22(Fri)20:47 No. 590725 ID: 3009b4
File 140876565405.jpg - (198.70KB , 800x600 , Nem Feels So Alive.jpg )

>Oh, but if you're close enough, put him on the path, too. No reason to let the wolves find him.

Teddy isn't unconscious. He's just been kicked hard enough in a sensitive area that Nem has a very large head start if he tries to chase her. If Nem stuck around to try to wait for him to get up she'd have a real fight on her hands.

Nem sprints away as fast as her legs will carry her -- which is actually pretty fast, even by her own people's swift standards. She can hear Teddy cursing and swearing and calling her a "vicious ungrateful crazy little wound", but his voice isn't catching up to her.

Nem has never felt so alive before. She's been stalked by a wolf, a huge scary lady, she kicked the... stuff... of Teddy who she's pretty sure just tried to rape her. She's faced down so many woodland terrors and lived to tell the tale.

Nem feels invincible. She's never felt that way before -- she's felt protected, loved, comfortable, full, happy, and even drunk -- but never like she couldn't be hurt or killed. That fear of death has been drilled into her by her (well-meaning) parents and she faced it down today!

>Nem feels invincible.
BAD WORDS NEM. BAD WORDS.
Unseelie Court likes to play mean pranks? And you're near their territory when things start going "wrong" only to fail to harm you whatsoever? They're probably tricking you into thinking you're invincible, Nemain, so that you can suffer a grand fall once you let your guard down.
Keep your guard up. Nobody is invincible. Nobody. Even if they won't attack until your guard is down, why give them the chance? Keep it up and be ready for something seriously dangerous.

Also, from our side of things, you got extremely lucky when it came to Teddy. With everybody else, maybe you did pull it off on your own, but with him? You were lucky, girl, and don't you forget it. He deserved it, and that's good Karma, yes, but karma doesn't always sit on your side.

Smik 2014/08/22(Fri)21:05 No. 590731 ID: 3009b4
File 140876674004.jpg - (152.07KB , 800x600 , Nem Hears Something.jpg )

rolled 76 = 76

---

Just as Teddy's angry shouts indicate Nem is at a good, safe distance... they change.

Teddy: Nem? NEMMIE? HELP!! NEMMIE GET THE RANGER!

For a moment, Nem wonders if he's just trying to trick her, but the fear in his voice seems very real. Nem has no idea where Macha is. She could easily sprint to the Ranger's place in minutes. Or she could try to call for Macha.

Teddy: NEMMIE GET THE GOD-DAMN RANGER YOU LITTLE SHIT! STAY BACK! BACK! I'M WARNING YOU! NEM! SOMEONE! HELP!

Whatever she does, she must do quickly.

Nem has no idea what to do.

Call out for Macha. If Teddy is lying, she'll punish him for it.

>>590731
I'm pretty sure Macha is the wolf, who is attacking Teddy.

There's noone we can turn to, since the "ranger" is the attacker. I say just run for your grandmother's house. Since the "ranger" is busy with Teddy, you may be able to reach your destination without being followed this time.

>>590731
Tell him you're going to get help, then run for whatever populated area is closest. On the way there, be sure to fill whoever you can get in on the horrible shit he tried to pull.

Oh wait! You may be able to save him by giving him that advice about staying quiet when on the road.

Our sources say that the actual ranger is probably dead, and Macha is the main suspect. With that in mind, calling her would likely serve only to draw the attacker away from him towards yourself, which would be worth considering were it not for what he just tried to do.

I am under the impression that town is too far to go back to run to for help, so I am agreeing with >>590738

Why are we helping a would-be rapist again?

>>590749
Because this guy provides wine to ward off the witch. He's a shitty dude and we'll probably be making sure he sees comeuppance, but if we let him just die the repercussions have a good chance of being HORRIFYING.

>>590756
oh fuck RIGHT the only winemaker
well, if we call for macha, we'll...be right back where we started. it's safe to assume she's up to no good, otherwise she would have noticed we're walking right past the road to grandma's house.
best bet is to run to the nearest populated area, yeah.

Smik 2014/08/23(Sat)08:54 No. 590760 ID: 3009b4
File 140880927741.jpg - (202.27KB , 800x600 , Nem Thinks You are Right.jpg )

Nem thinks you're right. The only person she could get to in time would be the Ranger, and she doesn't know if Macha went home or is somewhere around here.

She hears Teddy scream as he experiences the most painful thing that will befall him in this story, and knows there's nothing she can do. She hurries to her grandmother's house.

Smik 2014/08/23(Sat)09:52 No. 590777 ID: 3009b4
File 140881273349.jpg - (196.81KB , 800x600 , Nem makes it Gram on Day One.jpg )

Nothing follows Nem the entire time on her way to her grandmother's house.

Safe inside, the familiar and comforting scents of spices, perfume and simmering stonemeal (a kind of porridge that lasts a long time as long as it's kept warm, takes forever to cook).

Nem explains all that's happened to her -- the charm, the spirits warning her of a wolf, Rekki, Macha, Teddy and his apparent death.

Gram's old, weak eyes flitter at Nem's mention of a wolf.

Grandma: We haven't seen wolves here in years -- witch scares them off. The Wolf is one form the faerie folk really don't like taking. Did you see the wolf with your own eyes, Nem?

Nem: No. The spirits just warned me one was following me and Rekki said it was true.

Grandma: That's good, probably means the wolf wasn't here for you. You know, it's been a long, long time since I've seen a trite. They don't come this far inland -- mostly because they hate our food, and really the feeling is mutual. Trite food stinks. They're not bad people -- they're very odd, but they're a better lot than the Seelie. I'm not saying that Seelie can't be really very good hearted souls, but at least most of the trites think we're people.

Nem initially thinks Grandma meant to say "Unseelie" but while her gram's senses might be dull her mind's still sharp.

Grandma: As far as ol' Teddy is concerned, you play dumb. His own cockiness is what got him killed, thinking he was untouchable just because he makes witch's wine. He's not the only one in the village who knows how, he's just got the most practice. Your mother knows how to make the stuff, she's just bad for taking a nip of it when she's surrounded by it. You know she used to come to me crying, thinking you were going to be taken away because she used to steal a sip or two from the bottle in your room? That's when I gave her the cape. I think it was originally used as part of your bedding. I'm rambling now, but you listen to me: don't say anything. Teddy was popular, so letting anyone know you were mixed up with this might get you into trouble and he's not worth it.

Nem nods her head obediently.

Is there anything you'd like her to ask grandma while she's here? Nem will be returning to her village shortly.

>>590777
Yeah, what was up with Macha? She had Trite eyes and smelled strange, along with the bad vibes we got from her. What's the difference between a Seelie and an Unseelie? Or is Unseelie only used to describe the Court, which consists of Seelies?

Say hello to grams for us, there.

>Is there anything you'd like her to ask grandma while she's here?
Do all Trites have a third eye?

Does she know if the Ranger actually had a daughter or a wife? It's kind of strange to have run into Macha without having even heard mention of her before.

>>590779
yeah ask her about macha!
ALSO ASK HER ABOUT WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT YOU ARENT FOLLOWED
theres a glamour here, isnt it?

Good advice there.

>What's the difference between a Seelie and an Unseelie?
Traditionally the difference is that Seelie are alien and unpredictable while Unseelie are actively malicious.

Macha seemed to be part Tryte and part Clopper. Is it possible for the two to make a baby together?
Does the Fairy Queen always mark those who kiss her with a glowing green circle? Rekki said that's where he got it from.

Oh, intermission time: Wolves eat animals, yeah? That's what's so scary about them. Animals are meat. People are meat. But do you know why wolves eat meat? It makes them strong. So why can't they find you? Because, you need to eat plants to make your senses strong. Only your muscles get strong if you eat meat, and there are plants that do that anyways.
Why does the Tryte food stink? Well, they certainly do eat plants, but some of their food is meat. They're not going to eat people, though, don't worry, that's a crime called "Cannibalism," which basically means "To eat another person." It is said that if you eat another person, you lose your soul.
Yes, I think the Witch lost her soul long ago.

Questions! Does the witch have her soul? Our (the guides) knowledge says that she should have lost it since she eats children.

>Say hello to grams for us, there.

Grandma says "Hello" back, sort of looking around for a rough approximation of where you might be.

>Yeah, what was up with Macha? Does she know if the Ranger actually had a daughter or a wife?

Grandma gets rather flustered when the Ranger's martial status is brought up.

Grandma: I know he had been a widower for some time, just like I lost my husband years ago. He never spoke of children but that wouldn't mean he might not have had any. All that outdoor living makes a man virile. Now as far as what you've told me of Macha, I don't know enough to say. She could have faerie blood in her -- it's not unusual for Rangers to get mixed up with the Seelie Court due to all the time outdoors and their respect of nature. That could change her eyes. Never thought of the smell of the breath though.

She sighs as she recalls the two courts of the faerie folk.

Grandma: The two courts are the Seelie and Unseelie, and the differences are primarily political. Neither court looks at us -- and that includes the trites -- as real people. "Seelie" means light. To them, at best we're children or primitives and at worst, very clever animals. They're extremely arrogant but they try to hide it since they're usually not trying to be malicious, it's just that they feel they're so much better than us. Sort of like how we women let the men think they're in charge -- it'd hurt their feelings to know the truth so we keep it to ourselves. The Seelie Court usually gives us fair warning if there will be real trouble, and most of them try to play with a gentle hand.

The Unseelie Court refers to "dark" faeries, and they view us as animals more like how the trites view animals. Trites keep animals for food, did you know that? Gives them foul breath sometimes. Now some trites are very respectful of their animals, and some Unseelie get rather fond of people, but we'll never be on par with a person in the eyes of their court. Since we're nothing more than dumb animals to them they may be very cruel without a second thought. I know it sounds a little alien to you. Our witch is most likely a member of the Unseelie Court. She protects us because we're her property. I'd compare us to honey bees, but you know that we treat our bees better than she treats us.


Finally, grandma addresses Rekki's third eye.

Grandma: No, trites don't have a third eye as a general rule. Was it a different colour than his other eyes? Yes? Ahhh, then that explains it. Someone gave or forced Rekki to take a third eye. From the sounds of things, the poor boy is bound as a servant to spirits of some power -- they use that third eye to give him orders.

>>590796
>Gives them foul breath sometimes
Macha had foul breath.

Why do fae not like to take on the form of the wolf? Could it be that Macha used it because it's the only alternate form she has?

>Macha seemed to be part Tryte and part Clopper. Is it possible for the two to make a baby together?

Grandma laughs at the idea.
Grandma: I... I have no idea! Our people and trites tend to just tolerate each other. Our differences keep us apart but they're also what keeps us from going to war since we just can't do what they do, and vice versa. We even speak the same language -- although their accents make them hard to understand. But as far as actually having a baby together... I've never heard of such a thing. Now, don't take my word as law -- last time I saw a trike was a long time ago and they don't come around here because of the mountains. Most of our women can't get past their breath and their odd smell, and their woman feel about the same from what I remember when I met some years and years ago. Heavens know what you'd even feed the baby!

>Does the Fairy Queen always mark those who kiss her with a glowing green circle? Rekki said that's where he got it from.

Grandma reflects on this.

Grandma: I don't know. What I do know that it would be scandalous for her to do so. Remember, we're not even real people to them. Rekki would be lower than the lowest commoner. Little wonder the boy has problems.

>Does the witch have her soul? Our (the guides) knowledge says that she should have lost it since she eats children.

Grandma: Depends on what you think a soul is. I know what they teach you at church, but you have to remember that the witch looks at us like property. If you think a soul is a person's goodness -- then I wouldn't say she lost it but if we compared it to a plant, it's just a withered old nut now that might not ever get planted.

>Why do fae not like to take on the form of the wolf?

Grandma's face and tone darken.

Grandma: The wolf is a sign of Death for faeries. Most of them are immortal, so the image of Death is not something to trifle with. From what I understand, a long, long time ago the wolf was one of the allies of a people the faeries were at war with. The faeries wiped them out, but not the allies of their enemy. So enraged were they at their loss that the wolves sided with Death itself so that they could make the faeries taste the fate of their defeated foes.

To this day, wolves are not our allies, but we're not their enemies either; as mortals we will all meet death eventually so the wolves do not hunt us. That's not to say we shouldn't keep a very respectful distance from them since they are still servants of Death and if we want to meet our ends sooner than later they may oblige us.

However, the wolf is a great enemy of the faerie both Seelie and Unseelie. Avoid mentioning them in their presence; its one of the few things they fear and fear makes any people, immortal or not, do foolish things.

Okay, hang on a minute. If Trite food is stinky, where did the sweetbread come from?

>>590804
"Sweetbread" is a term for pancreas or thymus. It is not, in fact, bread.

This seems like a good time to ask, since your grandmother already brought it up: What exactly does the cape do, and how reliably?
She said it was originally given as protection from the witch - would it protect you if you went into her territory? How so - by hiding you, repelling her, or something else? Does it work on other possible threats?

>"Sweetbread" is a term for pancreas or thymus. It is not, in fact, bread.

Correct. Nem would never know that term and what she has is a 'sweetbread bun', which means the outside is actually bread (and isn't normally how it's served but analogs and such).

Grandmother begins to explain to Nem how her cape works. While she does this...

:: Contextual Help ::
:: The protection the cape provides takes the form of both HP and IP as noted on initial readout. From your vantage point, Nem has a quantifiable amount of protection from danger in the form of "HP" -- but from her vantage point, she is just fortunate to not be wounded. For example, if someone came at Nem with a knife and she failed to dodge, instead of being stabbed in a way that would either kill her or wound her badly enough to be taken out of a fight, she would instead lose HP and just barely dodge anyways, perhaps taking a nick to her clothing. She would view it as being very lucky, while your view would see her lose HP. If Nem runs out of HP she does not die, but her next mistake will likely be her last. The protection applies further in the form of Influence Points, which allows you to adjust the odds in her favour as required. Again, as far as those around her would be concerned, Nem would just be very fortunate.

Different charms use different methods of regaining HP. In Nem's case, the cape recharges its HP reserves if its not needed for 4-6 hrs -- in a nutshell, her cape works on the "Rest to regain HP" methodology. ::

Rekki indicated to us that the ranger is dead now, and that it would be a bad idea to let anyone follow you to your grandmother's house.
Based on this ... ask her if she knows of anyone in particular who would have a reason to hurt her, and if she has any idea about what happened to the ranger.
There seem to be significant hostile forces around these parts, and I really feel like I don't understand them well enough. We know about the witch, but from what we've heard she doesn't seem like the type to go after an experienced woodsman. The wolves, similarly, have been stated to not hunt your kind in particular if you stay away from them. There's something else, and it would be good to get your grandmother to talk about it if she knows.

rolled 43 = 43

---

>ask her if she knows of anyone in particular who would have a reason to hurt her, and if she has any idea about what happened to the ranger.

Grandmother: There's no one around here with a grudge against me. I've been around a long time -- anyone from my past is probably too old for revenge. It's enough just to get up in the morning, never mind wasting all that energy on being angry.

Now don't underestimate the witch -- she's killed a lot of experienced hunters. The rangers survived by knowing to keep their distance and making sure we all knew where her territory was. A lot of surviving an encounter with her depends on her mood.

I wouldn't be too surprised if the ranger passed. He's a bit younger than I am, but you know how men are -- living hard takes it out on your lifeline, even if your body is strong.

As to Macha... I'm afraid I don't know anything about her. She could just be odd. If she has a tryte mother then I wouldn't be surprised if she's different to us, even if that is unlikely. A faerie mother would make her just as addled. Is there anything else, dear?

The only other question I have is if there's more Middle-people (Since fae are apparently "High" people) than just Trytes and Cloppers.

Grandmother shrugs.

Grandmother: It's hard to say; the faeries are so varied in appearance and nature that there may be more, but the trytes are the only ones I've encountered that are a people like our own in as far as having mortal cares are concerned. Take the witch -- she's been called an ogress, but to some people ogres are giant, menacing creatures whereas to others they're simply larger and uglier. Not too many people know this, but she's called "Blind Yaga" -- she has eyes all over the wood but up close (where few dare to do) it's very poor.

Grandmother is tired now. She's had her lunch and her tea, and she's ready for a nap.

Nem on the other hand has plenty of daylight (2PM), so if you'd like to do any more exploring speak now, otherwise she should be heading back home.

Thank you grandmother, say your goodbyes, hugs, cheek kisses, etc, and then set off for home.

I think we've had enough adventure for one day. No need for exploring.

Yep. If we get back when there is daylight we can inquire about the ranger and whether anyone knew if he had a daughter.

Smik 2014/08/23(Sat)19:58 No. 590883 ID: 3009b4
File 140884910322.jpg - (184.41KB , 800x600 , Nem Quest Chapter One Complete.jpg )

The walk home is uneventful. No shadows, no Macha, no Rekki, no Teddy.

Nem says not a word of the events of the day, and only reports grandmother's continued good health to her parents.

When Teddy does not return, a search party is sent out. His remains are found in the witch's territory. His body had no marks upon it, but Teddy's face is reported to be ashen and aged. He had always looked younger than his years in life, but the illusion was thoroughly dispersed in death.

The village sheriff does not think Teddy died by any mortal hand, and the most obvious suspect is the witch. His theory is that Teddy as the winemaker got careless in his confidence that the witch would never strike him down, got too close or maybe got too proud, and she did him in. The villagers are mostly convinced this is correct; Teddy would be 'too old and tough to eat' but maybe she didn't bind his body to a tree because he was the winemaker. Nem's mother proposes that the witch just appeared in front of him and Teddy died of fright; the other villages think this is a very plausible theory.

Nem is questioned -- not as a suspect but being the only other person in the woods that day -- and she avoids lying by saying she saw him on the path, going to gather wild berries and herbs for a batch of witch wine; a half-truth trick she learned from you.

The village and her parents attribute her shaken and suddenly quiet disposition to survivor's guilt or simply because "it could have been her". The truth of course is that Nem feels responsible for Teddy's death, having struck him in a way she felt was justified at the time, but now she wasn't so sure. What if he wasn't trying anything funny and she just made him mad by kicking at him?

Although she was sure at the time that trying to quietly approach a lone young woman from behind in the woods with nobody else around was suspect to say the least, now that Teddy was dead it was different. She was at least partially responsible for his not returning to the path in a timely manner, right? Maybe if she hadn't kicked him quite so hard or felt so wickedly gleeful afterwards none of this would have happened.

Nem does not sleep very well at all over the next few days.

Now Nem has a few secrets of her own.

Chapter One Complete

Chapter Completion - bonus IP, awarded new total of 133.
Nem did not take damage - she gains +5 max HP for a new max of 105.
Nem is now a less terrible liar.
Nem now has a guilty conscience; her abilities are penalized except in adrenaline situations due to lack of sleep.

>He had always looked younger than his years in life, but the illusion was thoroughly dispersed in death.
...okay, youth magics are almost never nice clean thing. He was doing, or party to, something ugly. The price for that isn't cheap, and someone was paying for him.

>What if he wasn't trying anything funny
We know he was. It's a spirit thing. We see numbers, and your number when you realized he was up to something was as big as it could be. You weren't wrong.

Whether he deserved what happened to him is a harder question. But you were in no position to help, and it was his own decisions that landed him there.

>Nem feels responsible for Teddy's death
Shh, there, there, it was not your fault.
>having struck him in a way she felt was justified at the time, but now she wasn't so sure. What if he wasn't trying anything funny and she just made him mad by kicking at him?
He lunged at you, and when you dodged, he took up a combatitive stance. He definitely had a malicious intention.
If you were wrong, then we were wrong. If we were wrong, he would not have been lunging at you. If he wasn't lunging at you, you would have jumped to the side for nothing, and he would have simply asked if you are okay, rather than continuing to aggress you.
>youth magics
...Actually, we never did cover that. The people of Gaelend seem to have a bit of magic at their disposal.

You were not responsible for HIS choice to try to rape you. HE choose to do this, and you had to defend yourself! You were not in the wrong.

Smik 2014/08/24(Sun)11:58 No. 590986 ID: 3009b4
File 140890670482.jpg - (175.75KB , 800x600 , Nem Chapter 2 Title.jpg )

>I wasn't sure if I should start Chapter Two in a separate thread, but I've been told some threads are 500-1,000 replies in length so I decided to carry on in this one.


Nem's Quest, Chapter Two

:: Current HP is 105. ::
:: Current Disposition is Tired/Depressed ::
:: Attack Power is Below Normal (Very Weak). ::
:: Defensive Power is Below Normal (Very Weak). ::
:: Agility is Below Normal (Somewhat above Average). ::
:: Inventory consists of Comfortable Clothes, Red Cape. ::
:: Chrono-Recall Set. ::
:: 133 IP Available. ::

It's been a week since Teddy's death. Nem has slept poorly, and has been staying in her room alone lately. Nem's mother as well as some of the other villagers have taken on the witch wine responsibilities until the village is confident they've got it right. Teddy's son has taken over for his father.

Nem has had the opportunity to do research about what happened to her using the village library. She isn't the only one hitting the books, as quite often other villagers also catch up on their history when an unusual death such as Teddy's occurs.

Nem can research ONE of the following subjects:
- The Enchanted Path
- Blind Yaga and Other Witches
- Local Herbalism of North Gaelend
- Unseelie Territory around her village in North Gaelend
- The Seelie Lake Faerie
- Folklore available on wolves

>I wasn't sure if I should start Chapter Two in a separate thread, but I've been told some threads are 500-1,000 replies in length so I decided to carry on in this one.
It's entirely up to you. Some people do about five chapters for one thread before going to another, some do just one, and some people do an entire quest in one thread, which is known as a "one-shot" quest
Oh, Good morning, Nemain. It appears we have fallen asleep for a week. I do hope we weren't talking in our sleep?
I, personally, am curious on a few different subjects, but I suspect it would be best to just go with herbalism. Learn what goes into making what, be it medicinal, or alcohol.

Herbalism sounds pretty good to me, yeah. It seems like the most generally useful thing to know about.

Hello, Nem. 'Morning. *psychic hugs*

>:: Chrono-Recall Set. ::
Now, or we still have one set where it was before? And do we have more than one save slot or did we overwrite?

>what research
Local herbalism, sure. [spoiler]I figure if Teddy was doing something untowards to stay young, that's the mostly likely way he would approach it, since he was the winemaker and all. And if Nem gets confirmation he was a bad person, she won't feel as guilty.[spoiler]

Smik 2014/08/24(Sun)15:44 No. 591038 ID: 3009b4
File 140892024671.jpg - (180.57KB , 800x600 , Nem Read Up on Herbalism.jpg )

Nem Studies Herbalism

Nem's people use a great deal of a hemp analog in a variety of ways, including clothing, rope, paper, and in a variety of food dishes. Being sensitive to narcotics, they naturally have selected a variant that is extremely low in THC -- not that Nem's books would call it that, but this can be derived from the descriptions.

According to the books Nem has read, certain faerie presences change the way the plants grow. Nem is pretty sure Teddy was gathering wild hemp, altered in some way by the area in the wood he gathered it from. Her information indicates that the effect isn't water soluble so the plant's chemicals shouldn't have an impact on the wine.

Nem recognizes the berries she was gathering -- an analog to the deadly nightshade family.

From what she's read, Teddy's ingredients wouldn't translate to wine at all or would make it poisonous under normal circumstances. From what she's read however, hemp with blue spots or flecks are touched by faeries and something similar applies to the belladonna.

Further study reveals that Nem's people are quite accomplished chemists for their time and have access to equivalents to various over-the-counter drugs like aspirin. They even have Buckley's Mixture, which tastes absolutely awful but it does work.

Nem now has a vague idea of where different herbs can be gathered in the wild that are outside her village. The local herbalist will have mundane sources of many such chemicals like aspirin, but now Nem also has an idea about impacts of faerie-touched sources. You'll have to inquire about a specific effect, and Nem will need to test her memory to know if and where there is an ingredient to achieve it. Since she's only had a week to study, she may not necessarily remember what treatment is required to make said ingredient safe to use.

>A final note regarding Teddy's youthful appearance -- sometimes this occurs naturally where people look 10 years younger than their actual age, only to suddenly gain a lot of time after dealing with stress.

[/b]

>I just re-read that last passage and the notes regarding hemp and belladonna not working in wine are meant to be in normal circumstances; she does not know what impact faerie-touched variations would have.

Smik 2014/08/24(Sun)21:58 No. 591075 ID: 3009b4
File 140894269608.jpg - (141.42KB , 800x600 , What did Nem do with the bun.jpg )

One more thing -- what did Nem do with the bun that Rekki gave her? Nem has her own ideas, but she'd have acted on your suggestions instead.

>>591075
Give it a nibble, unless someone has a better use for it.

Only thing I can think of is to try eating it. Rekki said it's supposed to be good, didn't he?
Then again, grandmother said that Trite food was horrible, so I dunno.

Try to get someone else to eat it, as a prank.

i say try it.

Well, I mean, she can either eat it or not.

What were her own ideas?

Eat it after a WEEK? noooooooo it probably grew bad!

> Clarification: This is the same sort of pre-time-jump question as "What did Nem study?". Just a few questions now to set up what she did during her time after coming home and now.

Realistically I needed to give the village time to find Teddy, and psychologically Nem needs some time to come to grips with what happened. A week's not much, but it's that much closer to her birthday -- that'd just complicate things, right?


For those who would like to know Nem's ideas, she's curious about what it tastes like and has already nibbled the outside -- which tastes like bread -- but she could also try to dissect it and experiment on it. Which in Nem's limited knowledge of science means "put bits and pieces in different common liquids and see what happens". And this is only because Nem's not allowed to play with fire so trying to mix a potion out of it is out of the question. Or she could try to experiment on one half, consume another... the list goes on, hence going with the suggestions.

>>591112
DO SCIENCE TO IT!

...I'm tempted to say experiment with it, given that the guy who handed it to us is working for fey, if not fey himself...
Alternatively, we could just eat the thing, but given the whole 'not good with eating meat' thing that ties into Nem's not being familiar with it, and 'great chemists' alongside the 'eating meat makes you creepy', I'm inclined to think that there might in fact be a good reason NOT to eat it...Ah, right, and that guy was ordered to do so by the fey...Yeah good case for not eating it. Or at least no more than you have.

You know what? Do science! Eat half of it as an experiment to see how it tastes, and see how the bits of the other half react to liquids.
Man, not allowed to play with fire? I thought we could make her an alchemist by having her study herbalism.

Split it in half to examine the insides before eating it; there might be something weird (like meat :V) in the middle.

Smik 2014/08/25(Mon)11:11 No. 591124 ID: 3009b4
File 140899029964.jpg - (122.74KB , 800x600 , Nem Nom 1.jpg )

Nem decides to eat half of it and then use the other half for experiments. She's too curious for anything else.

Smik 2014/08/25(Mon)11:12 No. 591125 ID: 3009b4
File 140899032799.jpg - (123.61KB , 800x600 , Nem Nom 2.jpg )

As she bites down, her teeth his something hard.

Smik 2014/08/25(Mon)11:21 No. 591127 ID: 3009b4
File 140899087030.jpg - (138.13KB , 800x600 , Nem Nom Coin.jpg )

Nem finds a gold coin! It must have been baked right into the bun. Nem's never even seen a gold coin in her life, but she knows that normally there's a crown on them -- not a skull. She's pretty sure it's real gold.

As to the bun... the center it has a very unusual texture and taste. Nem isn't very sure about the flavour initially but she decides she kind of likes it.

She's only half interested in the other half of the bun in comparison to having a gold coin. She cuts it up into smaller pieces, leaving it in vials of vinegar, water, soapy water, water with mashed up bits of mushroom, water with mashed up insects, and in witch wine.

The only thing she learns is that the bread around the filling is water-soluble and the filling itself is not. That, and the bun gives her bad gas.

More importantly, she has a gold coin. It's very valuable and she instinctively she wants to hide it from everyone (both because of its value and because she'd have to explain where she got it). For the time being, Nem is keeping it under her mattress but she has a feeling she'll need to hide it better.

A lot of people refer to gold coins as "Crowns," which may explain why they would usually have a crown on them. If this one has a skull upon it, it must have been minted (Created) somewhere different than normal. I suspect this coin may be from the Faeries. Specifically, I believe Rekki was a servant to the Seelie Court, so maybe, just maybe, they're testing you somehow. Trying to see how smart of an animal, or how capable of a "Lesser Person" you are. Of course, that still comes down to keeping it for yourself, which means keeping it a secret.
Do you know enough about sewing to patch it behind a square of red cloth to the cape?

Smik 2014/08/25(Mon)11:43 No. 591129 ID: 3009b4
File 140899218427.jpg - (161.23KB , 800x600 , Nem Chapter New Day.jpg )

Anyhow, all that takes place in the week previous. It's a new day, and Nem is depressed. She's already finished her morning chores, and is currently sitting in her room, on the floor, feeling guilty.

Part of the reason for that feeling is that she's been nipping at the witch's wine again. She likes it, so she nips at it to feel better, but she knows who made it and then that makes her feel guilty again.

Her mother has requested she stay around the house for an hour because she'll have another chore for her to do then. Her father is working, but will be meeting with the mayor soon -- it's been hinted that the mayor will be commissioning some rifles*.

Her mother is currently out in the kitchen, doing some baking and also probably fiddling with a batch of wine (she still doesn't have it right yet).

In the meantime, Nem has an hour to herself and she's feeling uneasy. She would like suggestions on what to do.

*The rifles Nem's people use are more like blunderbusses -- loud, single shot and inaccurate. The major advantage of the rifles isn't power or range -- it's the noise. A perfect combination of defence and town warning, should they ever need to be used.

>Do you know enough about sewing to patch it behind a square of red cloth to the cape?

Nem is afraid to mess with her cape because it's magical. She can sew of course, every girl her age knows how to bake, cook, and sew.

You should probably stop drinking the wine. There's only half a bottle left.

Why don't you go help your mother in the kitchen?

>You should probably stop drinking the wine. There's only half a bottle left.

Just to clarify -- and I see where you're coming from -- but that's an opaque moonshine jug with two colour tones, not a clear bottle. If Nem drank that much during the week at some point she'd have a hangover.

Nem doesn't really feel seeing if her mother needs help -- she feels guilty and is more aware of her secret in her mother's presence. Unless someone has an idea that's more appealing to her however, that's what she'll do.

Do a coin trick! Or well, learn a coin trick.
What do you usually do in your free time, nem?

>>591129
Rifling a blunderbuss is pointless, since the muzzle (and often entire bore) is flared. If they're calling them rifles then they're either ripping your town off by lying about the nature of their product, ripping your town off by charging you for something which is useless, or ripping you off by dint of being too incompetent at their job to understand what they are making.

A rifle must be rifled - which is to say that there must be grooves spiraling down the length of the bore so as to impart a spin on the projectile. That spin is important, as a spinning projectile travels far straighter.

Also, your town should invest in a stock of iron bullets. If fae have decided to pay attention to your town then it might behoove you to at least be able to dispose of any that take an unkind interest.

>>591143
Or maybe it's just called a rifle because it looks vaguely like one.

>>591135
Well what else can we do without leaving the house?

Smik 2014/08/25(Mon)14:26 No. 591145 ID: 3009b4
File 140900198945.jpg - (161.20KB , 800x600 , Nem Likes Chemistry.jpg )

>Rifling a blunderbuss is pointless, since the muzzle (and often entire bore) is flared. If they're calling them rifles then they're either ripping your town off by lying about the nature of their product, ripping your town off by charging you for something which is useless, or ripping you off by dint of being too incompetent at their job to understand what they are making.

It was meant to indicate that yes, they have guns but at a stage where a bow and arrow would still be a viable weapon. I should have used the term "long gun" but I'm not a gun enthusiast.

>What do you usually do in your free time, nem?

When Nem is feeling like herself, she likes to hang out with her friends like most normal girls.

But when it comes to hobbies, Nem likes nature, chemistry, and science! She doesn't call it chemistry of course, but she's not an alchemist because she's not looking for the philosopher's stone, she just likes mixing things together and seeing what happens.

She's not allowed to really practice her hobby since she did the whole 'vinegar and baking soda' experiment in the kitchen when she was 7.

I second that you should try to stay away from the witch wine. You needn't feel guilty about it, but you're taking an unnecessary risk; it's there for your protection, and more useful for that than in your stomach.
Sewing the coin into your clothing somewhere is a good idea. Not wanting to risk damage to the enchanted cape is also reasonable, of course. What about the rest of your clothing? I expect most if not all of that is mundane, and would make a good target for enhancements to hide a coin in. I suggest working on that, assuming you have the supplies on hand.

You know what's a better treatment for depression than low-level alcoholism alternated with mourning? Fresh air and exercise!

How far along the enchanted paths could Nem reasonably travel in half an hour of jogging?

Try locating some pants or a longer skirt. You have a habit of showing off your underpants.

Nem will sew a small coin pouch into her underwear. She figures it's the safest place to keep it, as nobody will have easy access to that particular garment.

Her mother would rather she not leave the house for at least an hour first as she's got one more chore.

>>591145
Wow, you like mixing things and seeing what happens to them? Not being allowed to play with/use fire or chemical-y type of stuff must bug you huh. You realize that fire can react in cool ways to stuff right? Like turning dough into bread or that making good tea/medicine means you have have to cook it first!

So long as you can keep yourself from drinking it, try to get a flask/waterskin of the wine to keep with you too; that stuff is useful for all sorts of things.

How bout you sneak some vinegar and sugar for a test later? We can probably teach you some cool harmless things you can make with normal kitchen stuff.

>>591145
Ah, ok. So you would rather we not try to advance weapons technology by three hundred years.
Understandable; it would kinda break the quest if we gave a town of sheep tools which would allow them to conquer the fae realms with brutal efficiency.

I was wondering if anyone was going to mention the shall we say 'totem' of Nem's people, and you're close but it's not sheep. There's a thematic reason for my selection too. Aside from that, rest assured that even if we did advance the Gaelendians' technology to include high-calibre armour-piercing rounds and advanced military training it wouldn't break the quest because they'd still have the problems with the witch.

>>591182
Goats.

Correct, and there's a thematic reason for it as well.