Kaktus 2016/05/07(Sat)11:42 No. 721601 ID: 65a774
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Nrgh… no…
Ugh… huh?
K-kronos…
…

...it seems that Bri is having some troublesome dreams, as she keeps trashing around in her sleep.

>So how was it?
…you don’t know where to even begin describing yesterday evening. It’s just a fog of bliss that lasted for hours; filled with her embrace… this might have been one of the best nights of your life.
>Does that really count as making love?
While you have to admit that she went a bit wild by the end of your throes of passion, you’re confident that you’ve given her a more affection filled evening they she’s ever experienced before.
After all, you spent what… six, seven hours in this bedroom with her and just her? That’s a lot of time for cuddling, kisses and telling her how you love her in every possible way. Especially in the end, as things slowed down more and more and became just so much tender then before.
>After cuddling for a while you'll be ready for another round with Bri.
You’re not sure how many rounds it became in the end? How do you even count it? Four? Or three, one was foreplay after all? Or just two, as two where on a row, so to speak? Hmm… the only thing you know for certain is the best part was the last, as while you might not have made her scream for the gods again, you did make her melt under you as you two embraced in a long, slow kiss.

>Is Xuv's "gift/blessing" doing what she said it would?
You’re pretty sure you’ve never felt this… this… virile before. Either it’s Xuv’s doing or Briannahs…
>...Y'know, you haven't told Bri you love her yet, have you?
You’re pretty sure you told her yesterday… over and over again… and she told you over and over again how she loved you and that she never wanted anyone else but you ever again.
>Make sure to give the charm a look and see if it inexplicably burnt out or otherwise broke during your intercourse.
The charm is still around her tight, just like it was yesterday. And going by the runes, it’s still working its magic.

Kaktus 2016/05/07(Sat)11:42 No. 721602 ID: 65a774
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K-kronos… c-come back…
Bri?
Don’t l-leave me…
Are you alright?
Kronos…
…should I even try to wake you up?

>Since you did succeed at the challenges of making her scream for the Five and scream your name over and over you think she owes you another favor or two.
Oh, she definitely owes you something after making her do that…
>...This is all rather... degrading to her, isn't it? You have a feeling that it's not just kinks and may have some connection to how she got love twisted around with sex.
She did keep insisting that you were in charge the whole time, that someone always had to be dominant. You did try to make her feel more like an equal and you think you might have succeeded in the end? She did start making her own decision instead of insisting on waiting for you to do them for her, so there’s that…

Urg… Bri… you’re holding me a bit tight here…
I’m just… I’m sorry…
Bri? Let me go?
I-I don’t want to let go… what if you leave me like the others?
…are you answering me in your sleep?
Please… don’t leave me…

>Ask Bri what she preferred to do in her previous sexual encounters.
>Ask Bri why she referred to herself as a "bitch" and wanted you to "breed" her, even screaming it in the throes of passion.
…these are good questions, but you might want to hold them off until later…

I d-don’t want t-to be alone anymore…

Is she Hurting you? Perhaps you could sligtly sting her with your beaa- Forget that I said that, that could only make it worse. Can you try to tickle her?

You could always Powerhug back. Just maximize Skincontact in general.

Seems, her biggest nigtmare is, to be left behind.

Maybe wake her with a shnog

>>721602
Kiss sleeping beauty awake.

Hug her and never let go.

Are you sure she's sleeping?

>…should I even try to wake you up?
Well she's obviously not having a good time, and I think it's better she not do that. If she tries to act like nothing's wrong tell her she talks in her sleep. Then tell her you aren't going anywhere.

Don't let her accidentally crush you in her sleep! Try tickling her awake! And when she wakes up, tell her that you're not going to go anywhere and that you love her!

Kaktus 2016/05/07(Sat)15:19 No. 721663 ID: 65a774
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>Seems her biggest nightmare is to be left behind.
A lot of people fear being alone… you better make sure her fears doesn’t come to pass!
>Are you sure she's sleeping?
As sure as you can be, yes.
>Is she Hurting you?
Not yet, but it’s getting uncomfortable.

>Perhaps you could slightly sting her with your beak?
Your beak is regularly dulled just so you can’t sting people!
>You could always Powerhug back. Just maximize Skincontact in general.
Oh no! Her hug power is overwhelming! Your measly hug doesn’t even make a dent in her hug power! All is lost! Run for the hills! Game over, man, game over!
>Kiss sleeping beauty awake.
Can’t… reach… snout…

>Try tickling her awake!
Pfff-HAHAHA-S-stop it! B-banana! BANANA! Hah… oh… w-what did yah do that for!?
You were hugging me a bit too hard, Bri…
Oh… *sniff* Oh, I didn’t mean to… do that, no…
And I love you and I’m not going to leave you!
…what?
You talk in your sleep.
Oh, that… it… *Sniff*…that dream wasn’t-
And I can still see the tear on your face…
…I… I did ‘ave a bad dream, yes. It’s nothing, really… because I ‘ave the best stuffed animal right ‘ere to cuddle the nightmares away with~ *Purrr*
Heh…

Oh, and about last night… I… I’ve never actually… it makes most other of my “conquests” seem rather shallow, yah ‘now…
So I take it you enjoyed last night?
Oh gods yes! I loved every minute of it… I can’t believe we kept it going for so long… though we did mostly cuddle, but still…
Wait, what do you usually do?
‘aven’t I already told yah? I usually just ride the cute boys until they are unconscious, which usually only take an ‘our or two. No, this was different… and I liked it…
So if I told you that we could do another round right now?
But I want to cuddle yah and ‘ug yah and love yah! Besides, if I wanted just a great bang I would just go out and wiggle my butt a bit and I’ll ‘ave a gangbang with me as a center piece going within the ‘our.
…wait, really?
I’m sure yah could do that same with that cute butt of ye. No, right now I just want to hug yah… and never let go… ever! Mmmm…
We have to get up at some point…
Mmmmmmaybe… but that means I just need to follow yah around! Hmm… actually, speaking of getting that cute butt of ye gangbanged, what are ye plans for today? My schedule is rather thin and… I want to spend some more time with yah.

…indeed, what are your plans for today? What is it that you needed to do? Find some kind of unknown rune deep within the grand temple and destroy to appease life itself, before someone creates a new god all the while a mad god is trying to use you to get back out in the world? Why couldn’t things be as simple as they were last year, when the only thing you needed to worry about was not get to bored?

Of course, first order of business is to just lay ‘ere for another ‘our and enjoy each other, eh? Maybe talk a bit? ...or just lay ‘ere, ‘nowing yah are right next to me…?

We should probably confide in Brianah that we need to confront her brother and your sister about some shady stuff, but when we do, it'll be out that we know too much. But we can't let things take the course they're on. Again.

We'll confront your sister first- For Belseth, we'll just wait for him to come to us with another suspiciously specific hypothetical and hit him with a "He's asked you to kill people, hasn't he?" or something in that vein.

well we need to see if the artificer is back yet so we can look into founding an improve false eye, need to replace the plants you dug up while drunk the other night, and speaking of that you need to through that gardner party thing as to say sorry for digging up the garden. Oh and we should make it a thing to see our father at least once a day from now on because he's going through a tough time. Might as well talk to your sister as well if we have the time. Other then that I think we're free and most of that stuff we can only get started today so it shouldn't take to long.

Get some nuts.

Find some seeds, fungus spores, and insect eggs, and plant them in various places around the archbishop's territory. See if anything grows sporadically, the energy from the soul essence will likely spill due to the juryrigged crystal battery chargers and magic the @#$% up.

... But yeah, get some roasted nuts with roasted spices and roasted sugar glazing for breakfast.

Well, after what happened last night, I'd say you both need to clean up before officially starting your day together. So, are either of you up for bathing together? You still owe Bri a back scrubbing after all!

You should take the hour or so you have with Bri before you have to get up and fill her in on most of what's been happening with you these last few days that's relevant to the future of your soul and the future of this nation and her's. As your wife, she deserves to know the threat hanging over you and all the particulars around it. Then you both can face it and figure out what to do and together. You feel that together with her, there's nothing that you can't overcome.

Tell Bri you have something you want to show her, but you need to get out of bed to get it. Then go get the prayer book from your chest and a little light crystal, climb into bed and pull a bunch of covers over you and Bri to muffle what your saying to any possible eavesdroppers. Tell her what this book is and show her the illustrations of the gods by the light of the crystal, settling on the one of Xuv. Ask her what she makes of this. Of the pantheon of old containing, what you assume is, one of the ancient Great Dragons her people revere as their ancestors.

Then tell Bri in full about your encounter with Old Man Life, the deal you struck for your soul and mortality, and what you learned from him about the fall of the last age. Tell her about your meeting with the Archbishop and the promises of mass miracles she made and how it's a cover for what she really wants: To create a new god, like hasn't been done since the last age. Tell her of your meetings with Chronicler and what it has told you, and it's mentioning that the Archbishop was thinking of world conquest. Tell her about Elete and that that's almost certainly not her real name and that she is likely some kind of agent of the Archbishop. Tell her what you found out from Tim about the magic surges from the Grand Temple and what he said about the Soul Cradle. Tell her about how Belseth is in some way involved with this, and of the wards on him, one of which hides him from the gaze of Old Man Life, but you don't know which. Ask her if she's ever gotten a good look at Bel's legs and... Um... His front below the belt. Does he have wards or symbols tattooed in either if those places as well?

Tell Bri about the last time Xuv appeared to you. What you and her said, and how you don't know who did the ritual to summon her. You don't think it was Tim, but you'll have to find some discreet way to ask his students what he was doing at the time to be sure of it. That leaves Cain or someone who copied his or Tim's notes as the culprit, and if it's the latter then that's a problem. It means you've lost control of what's in the book and who knows what will come of that.

Also tell Bri what Xuv said when she saw that wyvern Regicide piece. About how the wyverns are her children. What does Bri make of that?

Tell her about what Xuv said of Cain, saying that she was running her mouth and not that you asked for it. That according to her his loyalty to you is irreproachable, but he's been lying to you and keeping secrets. Tell her that you have a feeling that he may be working for your sister, as a minder for you, and if that's true then he'll have already told her of everything involving the prayer book and you irresponsibly performing the rituals from it.

And also tell Bri about your meeting with your sister Kira yesterday. Tell her that you know the attempted murder charges placed on Karas were trumped up as pretext to search his quarters. And that search would find fabricated evidence planted in the secret compartment of his chest. Fake evidence planted by one of Doxan's contemporaries, you figure. All to get the warrant needed to rip Karas' apartment apart to find the real evidence. You don't like that it took such measures to contain Karas, but you understand that it's what had to be done.

And thinking about the evidence planted in Karas' chest, the same kind as you have, the planter had to have had a key. Which means however they got it is a way it's possible to get one for your chest. Perhaps when the locks were made a copy of the keys were taken in secret by one of Kira's agents so that they could open the chests in secret and search them.

Find time at some point this morning to hit the firing range for a bit to figure out in what way losing your right eye has thrown your aim off so you can compensate. You don't want a situation to come along where it's vital you're a crack shot and then blow it 'cause of that, do you? And you should also get on the climbing wall during your morning exercises to figure out how much losing your depth perception has effected your reaching for hand holds and compensate for that as well.You really don't want to find out the hard way that your sense of what you're reaching for is off when you're climbing high up and reaching for handholds.

You and Bri are going to do your morning exercise routines, aren't you? Then how about you plan to go to the Big Bath afterwards. Even though it's too late to give her that back scrub and have it count as a favor, you still owe it to her. And you'll give it to her, along with scrubbing every other part of her, and then she can do likewise for you.

Find out what your father's schedule is today so you can arrange to meet up with him, perhaps over lunch. In fact, you should bring Bri along too. It'll be good to have a nice informal get together between your father and your fiancé. See how well they get along outside of formal and official meetings.

Kaktus 2016/05/08(Sun)12:15 No. 721879 ID: 65a774
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>We need to see if the artificer is back yet so we can look into founding an improved false eye.
The artificer isn’t coming back until next week, when the trading ships returns from the isles.
>Need to replace the plants you dug up while drunk the other night, and speaking of that you need to through that gardener party thing as to say sorry for digging up the garden.
Didn’t you tell Cain to get on that? You’re pretty sure you told Cain yesterday… probably…
>Find some seeds, fungus spores, and insect eggs, and plant them in various places around the archbishop's territory. See if anything grows sporadically, the energy from the soul essence will likely spill due to the juryrigged crystal battery chargers and magic the @#$% up.
Hmm, those seeds will probably take a while to grow, even with the magic but… actually; it’s not a bad idea. There is a lot of fauna around the Grand temple already so it’s not impossible that there are some weird growths in the garden somewhere. You bet the gardeners can tell you, which mean you can pinpoint where exactly all this magic is coming from.

>Oh and we should make it a thing to see our father at least once a day from now on because he's going through a tough time.
You definitely need to see your father today, yeah…
>In fact, you should bring Bri along too. It'll be good to have a nice informal get together between your father and your fiancé.
Hmm… you can probably have lunch with him? You’ll send a message to him as soon as possible to join you and Bri for lunch. Right after you ask Bri about it.

Lunch with ye father? I can’t see why not?

>You should take the hour or so you have with Bri before you have to get up and fill her in on most of what's been happening with you these last few days that's relevant to the future of your soul and the future of this nation and her's.
…yah ‘now, I’m not entirely sure ‘ow to react to all this. I mean… either the world ‘as gone crazy or yah’re just mad… or both. I do trust yah, Kronos, but I don’t ‘now what, exactly, I can do about it. Being hired by the concept of life itself to kill a god? That sounds like a very badly written fantasy novel.
>We should probably confide in Brianah that we need to confront her brother and your sister about some shady stuff.
Shady stuff? Reallly? Well, I can’t say how yah sister will react, but Belseth? ‘e’ll spill everything as soon as yah wiggle that tush for ‘im, eh?
>Ask her if she's ever gotten a good look at Bel's legs and... Um... His front below the belt. Does he have wards or symbols tattooed in either if those places as well?
: BriannahSB: Oh, why yes, ‘e does. ‘e ‘as this really weird tattoo around his crotch. When ‘e’s standing normally, it makes up a circle of odd symbols with ‘is dick in the center.
…okay, I’m going to regret asking this but… how do you know that?
I saw it when I sucked ‘is cock!
… … …right… aren’t he playing for the other team… and… um… you two are… at least officially, sibling?
When it comes to relationships, sure, but that dick-sucker is addicted to cock so ‘ard that ‘e doesn’t care who’s got it… and it was before we actually ‘now we were supposed to be “family”.
Right… I… I shouldn’t have asked that… now, for something completely different so I can cleanse my mind, breakfast?


>...But yeah, get some roasted nuts with roasted spices and roasted sugar glazing for breakfast.
…roasted nuts with sugar glazing? That sound more like some dessert than breakfast.
But they taste so good! I love nuts like that!
…really? Personally, I prefer sausage for breakfast. You know, some real meat to dig into…
Well, I love sausage too… hmm… I wonder if I can get some Sausage and nut- oh…
Pfff…
I just realized the innuendo…
>Well, after what happened last night, I'd say you both need to clean up before officially starting your day together. So, is either of you up for bathing together?
The only bath big enough for the both of us is in the basement… do yah want everyone to smell ye conquest as we walk down there together?
or we can take a quick shower here before heading down there.
Aw, and ‘ere I though yah’ve gotten kinky.
>You and Bri are going to do your morning exercise routines, aren't you?
Kronos, listen carefully…
… …. …what? What am I- wait, you mean the rain on the windows?
Don’t want to exercise in this kind of weather. That is, unless yah ‘ave somewhere dry to do so?
I’m… not sure, actually.
>Ask Bri why she referred to herself as a "bitch" and wanted you to "breed" her, even screaming it in the throes of passion.
Because yah were in charge and I was yah b-
Please don’t call yourself that, Bri. And I wasn’t in charge!
Bah! Of course yah were.

> Find time at some point this morning to hit the firing range for a bit to figure out in what way losing your right eye has thrown your aim off.
Not in this rain, you aren’t. Out there, Illasia herself is crying her heart out, trying to flood the world again.
>And you should also get on the climbing wall during your morning exercises to figure out how much losing your depth perception has effected your reaching for hand holds and compensate for that as well.
All the best walls are outside… and they are way too wet to climb safety right now.

>Since you did succeed at the challenges of making her scream for the Five and scream your name over and over you think she owes you another favor or two.
Aright, fine, another favor for yah… Hmm, which means there’s way too many favors in play. Time to have some fun, eh?
Oh, gods…
Actually, I’m going to use up my “big favor”.
Didn’t we agree that it wasn’t-
We agreed I would make it a bit different. How about… I’ll give you some alterative to choose from and if you succeed in completing one of the task given to yah, I’ll reward yah.
…a reward?
My arse will be ye’s to do what yah wishes with. I ‘now yah love it, so I’m sure it will be a temptation yah can’t refuse, eh?
…and the favor?

Oh, I got three in mind… first, yah keep asking about ‘ow someone with a beak can give a decent blowjob so I thought, why not teach yah personally? So tonight I’ll retrieve some of my toys and we can practice ye cock sucking abilities to the max! Oh, and to get the reward, yah’ll need to show me that ye tush can take cock as well.
…why do I have a feeling all these alternatives will involve my butt?
The second is visiting that dear “brother” of mine tonight. I want to ‘ear those cute moans of ‘is again as well as the sound of a butt being pounded. Extra points if it is ye butt.
Oh, gods… Bri…
The last alternative is a double doozy, actually. See, I owe Sisah a favor, don’t I?
…wait, Sisah?
And yah’ve seen ‘ow she is, eh? ‘ow distracted she is and agitated she is. That poor gal must so terrible pent up that ‘er egg-sack is so full that it’s painful.
…wait, she’s acting weird because she’s pent up!? Can’t she just take care of that herself? …or just hire someone to do it for her?
She’s from a society where yah can literally walk up to someone on the street and ask them if they “fancy a quick shag” and get it. Doing things that way you suggested is seen as a rather huge disgrace. Now, my favor to ‘er is that yah, personally, as in “in person”, take care of this little problem tonight.
…with my butt?
Well, if yah want to.
…Why do I get a feeling you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this favor?
These kind of favors are the best kind of favors!
Gods… I don’t even…

If you give Belseth a blowjob and let him ride your ass, you'll technically be completing both the first and second challenges, so you should get double the rewards.

>>721879
I think you should go help Sisah. If you get rid of her "distraction" then she'll be able to focus on her job of protecting you.

Also, don't forget about scrubbing Bri's back when you get in the shower! You still owe her one, even though she'll probably say it doesn't count unless you're in the big bath.

what's the time limit on these and do they need to be completed in order or not?

You could probably do the first 2 at once just to get it out of the way but at the same time... yeah. Only reason I'm actually think of going for it is because it would give us a better chance to see more of his ruins he has all over his body.

Sisah would probably be the easiest both because she's closer, she's female (so it's easier on you), and she'd probably actually go for it because she has been eyeing you for a while now. Probably still best to just head over to her room at some point and talk to her about it.

Also I have got to ask but WHY does Bri want us to sleep with our bodyguard and her brother? I mean I can understand the first one of her request because she's kinky like that but I'm still scratching my head a little on the next two. And I mean it as in why us?

>‘e’ll spill everything as soon as yah wiggle that tush for ‘im, eh?
I'm not gonna lead him on, especially not for information.
>I saw it when I sucked ‘is cock!
Illasia Wept.
>Oh, I got three in mind...-
Endless, bitter tears.

She's afraid to be left alone, then asks you to chase after other people? It's self defeating.

Well, between the incest and egg sacs, if this conversation hasn't turned you off to butt stuff for the near future I don't know what will. She mentioned completion/reward, so is graciously losing by forfeit an option? If so, take that. We're trying to move this relationship away from the precedent of emotionless sex acts.

Well, this is yet another part of the deserved price you pay for rushing into Karas' trap and acting impulsively rash then. You'll accept this price and choose one of the tasks Bri has laid out and fulfill your big favor to her. However, you'll still voice your dislike that two of her three choices put you having sex with other people. In the future you'd like the both of us to keep our choice of favors away from sex acts with others.

You like Belseth too much to just outright ask him to have sex. You feel that would just feed his addiction to cock more. And besides that, you don't know if you're ready to have sex with a guy. And you're still figuring out your feelings towards him. Heck, you've only kissed him once and it was a surprise from him. You want to at least have a actual date with him first.

Ask Bri if you do more than one of her tasks if you'd get another favor for it. Because you're thinking your first preference would be to help Sisah with her being pent up. That'd clear up that distraction and, according to Bri, show that you do still trust Sisah. You should be the one to tell her about this and not Bri, though. But you'd also like to do the first one and learn how to safely and properly perform fellatio and also find out if you enjoy getting anal from Bri. And you kinda feel that if you do lose your anal virginity, it should be Bri that gets to take it. Would there be enough time to do both? Doing the first option, then the third would give you the opportunity to try out your new fellatio skill on Sisah. Though, if you find you like anal then you may prefer taking her ovipositor just to experience what that feels like. And make sure to "relieve" Sisah in her tank-bed, since that's where she'd be comfortable.

You have to ask Bri why she chose the second the third option. And for that matter, ask her why is she so overly sexual. Why it is that she wants so much sex even though it's been so shallow for her. You want to know what made her this way, what drives her to this. You want to know her story so you'll know her. And you'll use a favor if you have to to hear her story from her. Doesn't have to be right now, but you want to hear it today.

You're also going to want to hear what the Slaver Incident was from her at some point today. You know it'll probably set your phobia off, but the only way you're going to get control of it is to face your fears.

Ask Bri how much does Doxan know about locks and the picking thereof. Because if he's skilled at picking locks you want to somehow get him down into the crypt to have a look at the door from there to under the Grand Temple. But if he's not skilled at that, then perhaps we could find out who would have the key, and then Doxan could relieve them of it just long enough to take a cast of it, then put it back. Then we could have a key made from the cast.

>There is a lot of fauna around the Grand temple already so it’s not impossible that there are some weird growths in the garden somewhere. You bet the gardeners can tell you, which mean you can pinpoint where exactly all this magic is coming from.
But Tim said the magic surges have only been happening for a few weeks, and only after midnight most nights. Would that even be enough raw magic exposure to start to noticeably effect plant life? You don't know, but it's worth checking on it just in case. Fortunately, since it's raining Whispers of Growth will be off-duty, or at least working indoors. Go find Whispers and ask it if there's been any strange plant growths in the garden these past months, and if so then where. Then you can also tell it that you're planning to arrange a party for the gardeners as part of saying you're sorry for not just digging up the garden this time, but all the previous times you've messed it up and made work for them. And you're also going to attend it so you can apologize in person. Now, you know it can't partake of the food, but it can still come to it and enjoy the company, and perhaps it can have some of the drink. You don't know if Uredo can absorb alcohol, and if they can if they need their own kind of drinks.

>I do trust yah, Kronos, but I don’t ‘now what, exactly, I can do about it.
Well, you wanted her to know less for what she could do and more so you could speak freely with her about. And also so you'd have someone you could share it with and not feel so burdened. And you wanted her to know so she'd know why you're doing some of the strange things you have done and will be doing.

>Being hired by the concept of life itself to kill a god? That sounds like a very badly written fantasy novel.
From some of what Chronicler has said, you're getting the very uncomfortable feeling that that is the kind of thing it's siblings weave into Fate and the world.

>Oh, why yes, ‘e does. ‘e ‘as this really weird tattoo around his crotch. When ‘e’s standing normally, it makes up a circle of odd symbols with ‘is dick in the center.
If she remembers it clearly enough to draw it, you'd like her to do that for you. Then you can either show it to Tim for him to identify or borrow a copy of E.S. Zabat's Guide to Curious Wards and Runes and ID it yourself.

>I want to ‘ear those cute moans of ‘is again as well as the sound of a butt being pounded. Extra points if it is ye butt.
...Is she saying she's going to be listening in if you have sex with Belseth? 'Cause if so, then that's an additional "nope" on this option. And how would she know if you're the one getting pounded in the bum...? Wait... Is she implying she'd be watching as well? 'Cause if that's the case, you'd give an emphatic double "nope" on top of the previous one.

>See, I owe Sisah a favor, don’t I?
She does? What for?

>>721897
Belseth wouldn't let Kronos' inexperienced beak anywhere near his dick, and even if he did, giving him fellatio wouldn't complete the first task option Bri gave. The first one is completed if Kronos both shows Bri that he can take a cock up his rear as well as learning to perform fellatio from her.

>>721898
>Also, don't forget about scrubbing Bri's back when you get in the shower!
They're going to go down to the big bath after showering enough of the reek of sex off of each other so passersby don't smell it, so he should save scrubbing her back for when they get down there.

>>721899
Er... Do you think that Bri wants Kronos to do all three of those things? Because your post reads that way. She actually gave Kronos three options to pick one of to fulfill his big favor to her, with the additional reward of doing whatever he wishes with her arse for completing whichever task he chooses.

>Sisah would probably be the easiest both because she's closer, she's female (so it's easier on you)
Uh, she isn't female, she's ovale. She has a ovipositor that lays unfertilized eggs.

>>721905
Do you also believe that Bri wants Kronos to perform all three tasks to fulfill his big favor to her? Because he actually only has to choose one of them to fulfill it.

>>721971
>Slaver Incident
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Face your fears, Kronos! And remember, Bri loves you and will NEVER do anything to hurt you!

> Bri wants you to stick something in one of your holes
You have an eye socket. Use it.

>Bri, Belseth, or Sisah
Sisah. You need your bodyguards at peak condition. Also, eggs. Maybe you can use the unfertilized ones as crafting ingredients.

... Or see if you can get them fertilized via experimental Life magic.

Kaktus 2016/05/10(Tue)05:47 No. 722405 ID: 65a774
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>Well, this is yet another part of the deserved price you pay for rushing into Karas' trap and acting impulsively rash then.
Is it really? What you did was a bit stupid, yes, but this? This seems more like Bri’s fetish dreams then a punishment for impulsiveness.
>Between the incest and egg sacs…
Technically, they aren’t siblings… neither by blood or emotion... so not actually incest. As for egg sacs and ovipositors… you’re not sure how you’re supposed to react to those.

>I have got to ask but WHY does Bri want us to sleep with our bodyguard and her brother?
Well, Sisah really needs to get laid and ‘er culture want yah to sleep with ‘er as a sign of trust, so win win? As for Belseth? …well, ‘e really needs to get laid too, I think. And who better than the one ‘e ‘as a crush on?
>She's afraid to be left alone and then asks you to chase after other people? It's self-defeating.
‘ey, it’s just sex. It’s not like I asked yah to make a relationship with them, eh?
I don’t think anything can be “just sex”.
And I trust yah enough to not leave me just because of a good lay, right?
>In the future you'd like the both of us to keep our choice of favors away from sex acts with others.
Aw, yah’re no fun. What is a little bit of sex between friends, eh?
Sex really is rather shallow for you, isn’t it?
Only when I want it to.
>She mentioned completion/reward, so is graciously losing by forfeit an option?
Forfeit? If yah forfeit on a favor I’ll ‘ave to punish yah! The same goes for if I forfeit a favor from yah, eh?
Something tells me this punishment isn’t worth it…
>If you give Belseth a blowjob and let him ride your ass, you'll technically be completing both the first and second challenges, so you should get double the rewards.
Double the rewards? Hmm… I can’t give yah my arse twice, can I? Hmm… ‘ow about… if yah succeed it doing two of them, I’ll owe yah another favor… and if yah do all three… I’ll revoke all the favors I ‘ave. Deal? Oh, but only if yah do it before midnight tomorrow… err… actually, before tomorrow ends sounds better.

>You like Belseth too much to just outright ask him to have sex. Besides that, you don't know if you're ready to have sex with a guy. And you're still figuring out your feelings towards him.
Well, yah always ‘ave two other options, don’t yah?
>I'm not gonna lead him on, especially not for information.
Yah probably don’t need to lead ‘im on at all, Kronos. Yah ‘now ‘ow ‘e is… as soon as a gorgeous man like yah are around, ‘e simply can’t shut up can ‘e?
>...Is she saying she's going to be listening in if you have sex with Belseth? 'Cause if so, then that's an additional "nope" on this option.
Listening? I’ll like to watch!
That makes it even worse!
Then we’ll make it a threesome!
I… but… ugh…
>You want to at least have an actual date with him first.
…a d-date!?
…wait, you’re fine with me sleeping with him, but not dating him?
Sex like that is just for fun, love, but dating? That’s something couples are supposed to do, eh? Hmm… I guess I’ll simply ‘ave to trust yah enough that yah don’t leave me for ‘im.

>Ask her why she is so overly sexual. Why it is that she wants so much sex even though it's been so shallow for her.
Because it’s fun, feels nice and I love it? It’s a ‘obby, after all.
>You want to know what made her this way, what drives her to this. And you'll use a favor if you have to hear her story from her.
Why, can’t a healthy young woman ‘ave a ‘obby like sex?
Then how about… let’s start with when… and to who did you actually lose your virginity too?
‘aven’t I already told yah that?
You told me of your first “conquest”, and I’m not buying that it was your first time.
Well…
And no lying, Bri… I’m using a favor for this, remember?
… … …c-can we talk about this later? I need to collect my thoughts first.
Later today, yes.

>Ask Bri how much does Doxan know about locks and the picking thereof.
Oh, ‘e can get practically any door open.
…you didn’t actually answer my question.
‘e’s good at picking locks, sure, and even if ‘e can’t pick it, ‘e ‘as other means to get it open. Though the lock might be a bit busted afterwards.
>If she remembers the tattoo clearly enough to draw it, you'd like her to do that for you.
No can do, love. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it and I was focusing on something else at the time, eh?
>You're also going to want to hear what the Slaver Incident was from her at some point today.
Well, if yah really want to ‘now… I guess now is as good time as any?
Now?
Yah’re lying in bed naked with me on the morning after a very passionate night. If there ever were a time that you trusted me, it would be now, eh?
Just… tell me what happen.
I’ll try to skip the details and make it short. See, I was ‘elping mopping up Risavian deserters after the war. This particular group ‘ad become slavers and were kidnapping and selling Sakkilians children to be used by Lorentia necromancers as fuel.
Didn’t you say you would skip the details?
I just wanted to make sure yah ‘new they were bad people. So, we attacked their main camp, a rather one sided battle if yah ask me, but apparently we’d missed a scouting party or something. So, the command post I was in was suddenly attacked by a group of Varkian deserters and I was caught without a weapon. One of them, a rather small woman, charged towards me with ‘er blade drawn, but I was able to deflect ‘er attack with my metal ‘and. Without a weapon, I went in trying to bite ‘er ‘ead instead, but she ‘ad a similar idea and tried to ‘eadbutt me just as I opened my jaw… so… um… all the sudden I ‘ad a Varkian ‘alfway down my throat and instincts kind of took over and… err… yeah…
…wait, so you actually… ate someone alive!?
Kind of? I mean, I ‘ad crush together lots of bones to get ‘er to fit and I don’t think there’s a lot of air down there and she did stop moving when I reached ‘er ‘ips and… err… right, I said no details, didn’t I?
I… a part of me still don’t want to believe that actually happen… another don’t want to believe it…
Well, believe me when I say I won’t do it again. I became a bedridden, bloated cow for a week after that. Cracked some of my ribs, fractured my stomach and it felt like I nearly starved to death. Yah guys are mostly feather, bones and other ‘ard to digest stuff that’s low on all kind of proteins and stuff.
I… I believe you when you say you won’t do it again…
Thank you.

>Sisah. You need your bodyguards at peak condition. That'd clear up that distraction and, according to Bri, show that you do still trust Sisah.
Ah, so yah’re going for Sisah, eh?
I’m not-
Good choice. Take it from me, there’s nothing quite like being fi-
Bri, please… I’m not even sure this is a good idea or not!
Well, whenever yah are ready, just talk to ‘er, eh? I’m sure she will be thrilled to ‘ear yah ask ‘er to bed.
Ugh…
>And make sure to "relieve" Sisah in her tank-bed, since that's where she'd be comfortable.
You’ll “relieve” her where she wants to do it… if it comes to that.
>Also, eggs. Maybe you can use the unfertilized ones as crafting ingredients. ...Or see if you can get them fertilized via experimental Life magic.
…let’s not play god with the unborn children of a sentient species… wait, do they really count as unborn children? It’s kind of saying that sperms are unborn children as well… err…
>But you'd also like to do the first one and learn how to safely and properly perform fellatio and also find out if you enjoy getting anal from Bri.
Really? Well, whenever yah are ready, I’ll be ‘appy to teach yah everything I ‘now, pupil.
That’s what I am afraid off…
>You kinda feel that if you do lose your anal virginity, it should be Bri that gets to take it.
Aw, I ‘new yah loved me.
I don’t think-
Not only are yah willing to give away something so special that it can ever only be given once, yah trust me enough to do so as well, eh? If that isn’t a statement of love, I don’t ‘now what is.
…of course it is.
>Would there be enough time to do both?
Yah ‘ave all day today and all day tomorrow as well, don’t yah? Plenty of ‘ours to spend. Just tell me when yah’re ready for ye training, eh?
I think I have more important things to do then this…
Really now?


>Don't forget about scrubbing Bri's back when you get in the shower! You still owe her one, even though she'll probably say it doesn't count unless you're in the big bath.
You’ll save your scrubbing for the bath… which you were planning on going to right after a quick shower, remember? While you can gladly say that Bri loves being scrubbed from head to tail tip, Sisah, having taken her usual spot to guard inside the bath hall, is visible uncomfortable with how naked you are right now, trying in vain to focus on a broken tile in the corner. She’s probably even more jittery and restless today compared yesterday.

So, what are your plans for today? Let’s see… you need to talk to Whisper about odd growth spurts in the garden… to Doxan about the lock in the crypt… and Belseth about his tattoo? That’s it? Oh, and lunch with your father… and confronting your sister… and Bri’s favor… and with your luck, Chronicler will probably pop up in the middle of something with a new name for his book… and life will come by and strangle you for not working faster or something… by the five, you have a lot to do today.

Yah ‘now… I just got a really evil idea. Just look ‘ow “distracted” sisah is already… why don’t we tease ‘er a bit more before yah “relive” ‘er, eh? She ‘as to follow us around all day anyway, so…?

This is an awful lotta sex stuff for an author who staunchly refuses to show such things. Regardless let's see what Bri has in mind as far as teasing, as long as it isn't too bad...

Jeeze Sisah really is just straight twitchy today aint she? I don't think you'd have to actually do much more to really tease her, though at this point she pretty much is correct, she won't be too useful as a guard if she's this...way.

>Ate a Varkian woman.
.....I know this is a morbid thought but.....maybe that's how Bri's butt and hips got so big? You know that old saying, "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips".
>Well, believe me when I say I won’t do it again. I became a bedridden, bloated cow for a week after that. Cracked some of my ribs, fractured my stomach and it felt like I nearly starved to death. Yah guys are mostly feather, bones and other ‘ard to digest stuff that’s low on all kind of proteins and stuff.
Well, that's good news. She hated doing that, which means she's NEVER going to do it again. So, that means Kronos doesn't have to worry about Bri eating him.

>Sisah's "distraction".
Geez, if this goes on any longer, she won't be able to focus on her job at all! Let's hear how Bri wants to tease Sisah, but if it's too mean we're not going to do it.

I'm far more okay with the idea of teasing Sisah than with the constant suggestion of shagging Briannah's brother. Go on, rattle the snake.

>Technically, they aren’t siblings… neither by blood or emotion...
Blood nothing, it's scandalous enough.
>As for egg sacs and ovipositors…
Nothing you want doing the booty infiltrate.

> And I trust yah enough to not leave me just because of a good lay, right?
It was less than an hour ago, Bri. There were tears. You've played with fire and been burned before, why won't you stop? You've got to understand this cannot be good for a relationship, Especially if dating is the line to cross and Belseth is still crushing on me. He's already misunderstood my intentions in that manner once.

When Bri is inevitably unswayed by logic, Whisper you'll distract Sisah while Bri gets out of the tub and tackles her in, but ONLY if this gets finished here. Sisah needs to be en pointe. Metaphorically speaking. She doesn't have toes. When the time comes, put your hand on Sisah's tail 'to get her attention' (see: distract her) and ramble on about some random crap needs doing or whatever.

If Bri, for some unspeakable act of railroading, turns down a three-way on those terms, we'll get Sisah & Belseth together, swearing them to secrecy. May involve the proactive removal of tongues, but still manages to be the more morally defensible and dignified option.

>to do list
We'll write whisper a note or delegate to Cain because chances are he's still pissy at us, delegate talking to Doxan to Bri, never ever speak of Belseth's tattoo ever again ever- but wait for him to approach us with another moral quandary for a confrontation over the archbishop's plans, find & confront your sister on our own time, have lunch, while putting rain checks on stuff for after lunch as things pop up and shit goes inevitably and irrecoverably out of out of your control over the course of the day and your life.

>why don’t we tease ‘er a bit more before yah “relive” ‘er, eh?
so what, ask her to come in and scrub my back once I'm done with you while you step out for a moment then come back in and start scrubbing her back sandwiching her between us?

You should only tease Sisah is you plan to "relieve" her immediately, dragging it out too long would be a bit mean. Ask her to help you bathe, then slowly escalate things from scrubbing to a full on threesome.

Whisper to Bri you'll hear what kind of tease she has in mind. Then once she tells you, tell her that you think it'd be cruel to tease Sisah in her state. It'd be like if you had a terrible case of blue balls and Bri kept teasing you, making it even worse. It'd drive you up the damn wall and you wouldn't be able to focus at all. And besides, making your bodyguard even more distracted by her pent up predicament sounds to you like a bad idea. You'd only consider teasing her if it's right before you "relieve" her... Which, frankly, you really should do before going anywhere. You can see how much Sisah's attention is being taken up by being pent up. In this state she's not going to be a adequate bodyguard. And if something bad happened to you today 'cause she was all pent up and distracted, she'd never forgive herself.

Suggest that you could tease Sisah by starting to swim laps in the pool, which would give her a nice view of your naked butt as you go. And you'd also get some exercise in, which is good since you couldn't get your morning exercise routine in 'cause of the rain.

Out of curiosity, ask Bri how much she thinks it would wind Sisah up if you took your tutelage in fellatio while she watched. And how much more it'd wind her up if she watched Bri taking your anal virginity. ...Maybe you could do that before relieving Sisah of her problem. If you did then you'd know how to perform fellatio and would be free to do anal, so you could choose from either one. Because as it is, your only option to give Sisah relief is giving her a handjob. Or maybe Sisah would agree to you performing fellatio without previous experience if Bri is guiding you through it.

When you're done teasing Sisah, pinch her tail tip and ask her what's got her agitated today even more than she was yesterday. When she inevitably gives you a non-answer, tell her you know why and that it's because she's all pent up. Then be direct and ask her if she wants to have sex with you, because you're fully willing to. She just needs to say in what way.

...Y'know, you might get a favor from Bri if you offered to wear a buttplug for a day. It's just an idea to keep in mind.

>Something tells me this punishment isn’t worth it…
You should still hear what her punishment would be so you get an idea of how serious the consequences for forfeiting a favor are. And also so you know what all the options on the table are, even the one that is probably worse than the others. It may turn out that Bri's idea of a serious punishment is one you'd consider less bad than the alternatives.

>Then we’ll make it a threesome!
Considering how the two of them get along, if you did get in a threesome with them they'd be snarking and throwing verbal barbs at each other throughout the whole thing.

>See, I was ‘elping mopping up Risavian deserters after the war.
Wait, why were there deserters when the war was already over...? Oh, you think you know. They couldn't stand that Risavia had lowered itself to allying with the Zadian Empire, their hated Sakkilian enemy. That'd explain why at least that group of deserters were enslaving Sakkilians.

>This particular group ‘ad become slavers and were kidnapping and selling Sakkilians children to be used by Lorentia necromancers as fuel.
What? "Fuel?" What the heck kind of necromancy takes people to fuel it? And why use children? Or is it specifically Sakkilian children they want? And is this kind of sick necromantic practice common in Lorentia?

>I… a part of me still don’t want to believe that actually happen… another don’t want to believe it…
Um... What are you saying here? That both parts of you don't want to believe it? Bit of an odd thing to say.

>I mean, I ‘ad crush together lots of bones to get ‘er to fit and I don’t think there’s a lot of air down there and she did stop moving when I reached ‘er ‘ips and…
"Crush?" Are Sakkilian throat and stomach muscles really so strong and tough they can crush bone? That would partially explain how they can squeeze the relatively large creatures they swallow in.

>I became a bedridden, bloated cow for a week after that.
You guess she couldn't have induced vomiting 'cause that would have made things much worse than being bedridden and riding out the pain. And based on what Belseth said, you really have to wonder why any of the more gluttonous of Sakkilians would ever swallow something half their size if they'd end up so terribly bloated they'd be bedridden afterwards, or at least feeling really lousy.

Yah guys are mostly feather, bones and other ‘ard to digest stuff that’s low on all kind of proteins and stuff.
Well, given how thoroughly unpleasant and nutritionally deficient the experience is, it's unlikely more than a few particularly depraved Sakkilians willingly devoured any Varks live and whole during the war. Now, captured Lorentian humans may be another matter. And this also doesn't rule out in any way them eating non-whole Varks. Given the Sakkilian's cultural stances, you can say it's close to a sure bet that after a battle they butchered the fallen Varks and ate them. Besides it being honorable in their beliefs to eat their fallen foes, it's also an effective way to simultaneously dispose of bodies so they don't rise from ambient magic and feed the troops in a relatively small way.

You also don't know where she got her taste for Vark blood and flesh from. She said she kept forgetting how delicious y'all are, all the way back when she was licking it off her fist after she pummeled that would-be assassin. That kinda indicates she's eaten Vark at least a few times. And you don't think it was from the battlefield 'cause she was only in one battle, the one where your brother Krotos betrayed and nearly killed her.

>Cracked some of my ribs, fractured my stomach and it felt like I nearly starved to death.
"Fractured" her stomach? How can a stomach fracture? Fracturing happens to bone or other hard materials, but a stomach is made of muscle and soft tissues. And it couldn't be "ruptured," 'cause if it'd ruptured she'd be dead.

You're also wondering just what the proper diet for Sakkilians is supposed to be if Bri felt nearly starved to death after a week of digesting that Vark. How long can they go without a solid source of protein before they have issues?

>So, what are your plans for today?
You also need to somehow find out from Tim's students if he was busy with them at the time Xuv was summoned yesterday, in order to rule him out as the one who did it. Oh, and you may want to summon Xuv today as well. Tell her you made love to Bri and ask Xuv what happens now that the Dragon has mated with a Highborn. You could also draw the wards you saw on Belseth and have them out when you summon Xuv so you can ask her what each does and maybe find out which one block's Life's vision.

>and Belseth about his tattoo?
Well, the most direct method to have a look at it would be to ask him to bed, but that's not happening... Yet. Another way would be to meet him and at some point mention that you drew a few of his tattoos for your friend Tim to identify 'cause you were curious about them. You then mentioned this to Bri, and her being her told you both that he had another one tattooed around his genitals and how she knew. Embarrassment will ensue, but after it clears say you're curious what that particular tattoo means and perhaps he could draw it for you.

>and confronting your sister…
Er... For what reason are you confronting your sister?

>and Bri’s favor…
Y'know, you should take care of this sooner rather than later today, and the sooner the better. You know how you get distracted and too many times forget your obligations, like how you forgot you owed Bri a back scrub favor. If things get hectic you're going to forget to do it or get caught up in events and fail to fulfill your favor to her.

>Er... For what reason are you confronting your sister?
We have it on good authority she's playing the subterfuge game, just like both of our less-than-esteemed brothers were. We're trying to convince her to stop before history repeats itself for a third time and Kronos ends up an only child.

Kaktus 2016/05/11(Wed)12:01 No. 722560 ID: 65a774
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>This is an awful lotta sex stuff for an author who staunchly refuses to show such things.
Dammit, you just forced me to try and make badly drawn porn, you bastard! Also, dammit Bri, stop digging deeper all the time! At this rate we’ll never escape this pit of awful sex references!

>.....I know this is a morbid thought but.....maybe that's how Bri's butt and hips got so big? You know that old saying, "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips".
… … …oh gods, why is your first thought to feed her more people to make her hips even firmer!? CLEANSE THESE THOUGHT WITH HOLY FLAME!
>Well, that's good news. She hated doing that, which means she's NEVER going to do it again. So, that means Kronos doesn't have to worry about Bri eating him.
…and her hips won’t be- dammit, brain! Bad!

>"Fractured" her stomach? How can a stomach fracture?
You’re pretty sure she’s exaggerating.
>Blood nothing, it's scandalous enough.
Maybe you should stay away from Belseth completely?
>What? "Fuel?" What the heck kind of necromancy takes people to fuel it? And why use children?
You’re pretty sure they just need dead bodies, bones and other disgusting things for their ritual. Children were probably just easier to transport or something. Or maybe she was exaggerating?
>Start swimming laps in the pool.
This pool isn’t really big enough to swim around in like that.


>It was less than an hour ago, Bri. There were tears. You've played with fire and been burned before, why won't you stop?
Because apparently I never learn!
Don’t say that like it’s a good thing, Bri…
I… might admit that I might be a bit self-destructive at times because I can’t believe I deserve good things to happen to me?
…wait, you do-
Or maybe I just a kinky daughter of a bitch that would like nothing more than to see someone I love enjoying themselves?
...
>You've got to understand this cannot be good for a relationship, Especially if dating is the line to cross and Belseth is still crushing on me. He's already misunderstood my intentions in that manner once.
Kronos, I’m not against yah being with Belseth. I’m against yah being with ‘im without me. So, double date?
…I don’t think that’s how it works, Bri…
>You should still hear what her punishment would be so you get an idea of how serious the consequences for forfeiting a favor are.
Hmm, I’m actually not exactly sure what my punishment would be for you. Definitely something you wouldn’t like happening to you… something that neither of us would like.

>Making your bodyguard even more distracted by her pent up predicament sounds to you like a bad idea.
Oh, don’t worry, we still got my bodyguard, don’t we?
>Let's see what Bri has in mind as far as teasing, as long as it isn't too bad...
Actually, I was ‘oping yah ‘ad an idea or two.
>So what, ask her to come in and scrub my back once I'm done with you while you step out for a moment then come back in and start scrubbing her back sandwiching her between us?
Heh… a bit convoluted, but I like it…
>Then slowly escalate things from scrubbing to a full on threesome.
…Really? Yah ‘now, I’ll only consider the favor done if yah’re the one who relive ‘er, but I’m up for some fun on the side. Still, yah might consider a change of scenery if that’s ye plan, eh? I rather ‘ave a proper bed than a tub… and I’m sure she does too.
But… don’t they usually…?
With other of ‘er kind, yes. But we can’t breathe under water, can we? Trust me, I ‘now from experience, a proper bed is better with them than a pool when it comes to interspecies relationships.
>Out of curiosity, ask Bri how much she thinks it would wind Sisah up if you took your tutelage in fellatio while she watched.
Oh! Now we are talking! It would drive ‘er mad, let me tell yah!
>And how much more it'd wind her up if she watched Bri taking your anal virginity.
… … …yah ‘now what? This is ‘ow we’re going to do it now. Yah’ve winded me up enough with just talking about so we ‘ave to do it. Just ask ‘er to follow us to the apartment and we’ll all set!

>Go on, rattle the snake. Pinch her tail tip and ask her what's got her agitated today even more than she was yesterday.
S-sir?
You’re definitely distracted by something, Sisah. What is on your mind?
Oh… it’s… nothing sir. Nothing I can’t see to myself.
…does this have anything to do with all the Serpents in the Palace being on the trade fleet by any chance?
Well… um… kind of? See, sir, I… I’ve been on the field for almost three months before arriving here and… my kind does not handle solitude very well.
Really? Well, I might just have a solution to that.
>Be direct and ask her if she wants to have sex with you, because you're fully willing to. She just needs to say in what way.
… … …why do I have a feeling this might be some kind of joke from your wife?
You’re half right that it’s my wife behind this… but… I have to admit, there is a part of me that actually wants to do this.
…Only a part? Sir, I… I can’t really accept this. I know that you’re not really-
Are you really going to decline a once in a life time deal with a Prince!? A handsome one at that?
…you know what, fine… I’ll do the things I’ve dreamt about doing to you ever since I got here if you really want me to but… do you really?
…I believe the safe word is Banana?
…I’ll take that as a yes.

Kaktus 2016/05/11(Wed)12:01 No. 722562 ID: 65a774
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Well… that just happened…

[Sisah has successfully been... err... has successfully... bred Kronos?]

>We'll write whisper a note or delegate to Cain because chances are it's still pissy at us.
You sent Cain off before heading back to your apartment. He could have talked to whisper by now, so you’ll just need to go talk to him about it.
>Delegate talking to Doxan to Bri.
Which was a waste, as she just turned around and told him to check out the crypt. You have no idea if he’s done with the recon or not.
>Find & confront your sister on our own time.
You definitely need to talk to her about what, exactly, she is up to. You got a feeling you’re out of the loop here.

>You also need to somehow find out from Tim's students if he was busy with them at the time Xuv was summoned yesterday, in order to rule him out as the one who did it.
You can probably just ask them about their schedule… if only you knew where to find them.
>Oh, and you may want to summon Xuv today as well.
Didn’t Tim say he would summon her with or without you today? You better be there when he tries too!
>Ask Belseth about Tattoo.
Note: find a non-awkward way to ask about tattoo.
>Have lunch.
Oh, and let’s not forget your father either… though there is a few hours until then.
>...Y'know, you might get a favor from Bri if you offered to wear a buttplug for a day. It's just an idea to keep in mind.
You’re pretty sure if you mentioned something like that, she would use a favor immediately to make you wear one… hmm… though two can play that game, can’t they?

Now, with this whole favor thing behind you for now at least, it’s time to do something a bit more important… but where to start?

Eh wasn't that bad, and oi Kronos how did ya like it? Also how content are you with your ability to act if you did like it because if you ever say you did to Bri you will never get to use anything else again 0_0

wasn't Sisah female (as in she was a carrier not an egg layer)?

Anyways of all the stuff you have to do today which one is the most time sensitive? If none really stand out just do which ever one is closest.

Let's start with the most important detail right now: Can You Walk?

As for the Tatoos: Tell Doxan that you have seen those symbols in churches and such, yet hardly ever seen tatoos such as those. Ask him to show you each while saying what they do, when he has the time of course, and if he wants (Being completely oblivious that he has one in his crotch). Unless you want to still do another of the request of Brianah for extra points! That's still an option, right?

As for what has priority, I would say that paying a visit to your dear sister may be on top of the list.

>Maybe you should stay away from Belseth completely?
Don't push away a friend, just CLEANSE THOSE THOUGHTS WITH HOLY FIRE.

I would have recommended something non penetrative while Bri used her tail, but I guess now we know where you want to be in these things.

I doubt you'll feel like you're on the moral ground high enough to confront your sister after that escapade, so let's wrap things up with Cain and Doxan, then drop by Tim's place.

If we run into Belseth it might be productive to discuss the matter directly, but yeah we should probably get moving on the business side of things today.

>[Sisah has successfully been... err... has successfully... bred Kronos?]
Wait, does this mean she laid eggs in your butt? Does this mean that you're pregnant now?

>… … …oh gods, why is your first thought to feed her more people to make her hips even firmer!?
>…and her hips won’t be- dammit, brain! Bad!
Well, at least we know you like her hips. But, uh, no feeding people to your wife to make her hips firmer. That's just wrong. And after what happened last time she ate someone, she's going to say no.
>CLEANSE THESE THOUGHTS WITH HOLY FLAME!
One Holy Flamethrower, coming right up!
*fwoosh*
Your thoughts are now being cleansed.
.....by the five, there's too many dirty thoughts! We're being overwhelmed! The Holy Flamethrower can't hold them back for much longer! AAAAUUGH!!!!! *dies* X_X

... Are you going to be okay? I don't think you're going to be okay.

Look, just make up some story about how you were trying to smash a watermelon and somehow something something ass. Then GET A DOCTOR.

EGGS GO INTO RITUAL or just draw a ritual circle on your butt and FIRE. LOTS OF FIRE.

Holy fire? More like we need a HOLY NAPALM STRIKE.

I'm sure he's fine and Varkian butts are really stretchy because eggs or something.

>>722671
also 'experimentation'.

... seriously, you look like you need another shower.

Well, after that you have to feel you kinda jumped into the deep end of butt stuff right off. Bri pegging you first with a small-ish strap-on was one thing, but it didn't really prepare you for what Sisah would be like. Especially after she was so riled up from Bri's fellatio instruction and her riding your ass. You didn't think her ovipositor would get as wide as it did once her eggs started coming. And coming. And then coming some more. Dang, just how many eggs was it in the end? Considering you're feeling rather bloated now, it's no wonder she was so distracted before. You can definitely say it was real intense and enjoyable overall, but your rear definitely feels rather bruised and sore for it.

Give Bri a kiss and ask her how she liked that, then share how you felt about it. Then tell her that you think this is the most firsts in bed you've ever had. First time getting pegged. First time getting anal. First time with a ovale Serpens. First time getting filled with Serpens eggs. Jokingly say you have a feeling there's going to be quite a few more "firsts" in your future since she's in your life. Then ask Sisah how she liked it and that you hope she feels much better now. Then comment that you were not prepared for how big she'd get and that your rear is feeling rather beat up. You think you might have to get some ointment or something for it so you'll be able to sit. Still, tell her that you liked it overall and anytime she feels a bit pent up again you'd be glad to help her take care of it if she wants. She just has to ask.

As for how to start the rest of the day... Well, first find out if you can still walk after all that, then if you can walk without it being apparent your rear is as sore as it is. Then it's a trip to the bathroom to get rid of the eggs in you, followed by a shower. Preferably a shower with all three of you so can all help each other wash up quicker. Then check if Cain or Doxan have gotten back and what they have to report. After that, check in with Tim and at least get when he'd prefer to do the ritual so you don't miss it.

You should also keep in mind that at some point you want to talk with Sisah in private about her past. About how no merc would do as much and sacrifice as much of herself for mere money. And you still have the question hanging over your head of what Cain is lying to you about and keeping secret from you. You don't know how you can approach that one. Xuv said if Cain felt you were responsible enough you could just ask him, but with all your irresponsible behavior you don't know if you could ever show you were responsible now. Maybe if you could catch him out in his lies?

>You can probably just ask them about their schedule… if only you knew where to find them.
Aren't they usually with Tim during the day? Well, you know from yesterday that they take their lunch in the early afternoon, so perhaps you could catch one of them leaving Tim's study then.

>You definitely need to talk to her about what, exactly, she is up to. You got a feeling you’re out of the loop here.
The problem is Kara's schedule is so packed every day you don't know if she'd be able to get any time with her. But she's most likely to be free at meal times, so maybe she could come to lunch with you, Bri and your father. It'd be nice to introduce Bri to her and show that you do care for Bri. Then you can take Kara aside afterwards to talk in private.

>You’re pretty sure if you mentioned something like that, she would use a favor immediately to make you wear one… hmm… though two can play that game, can’t they?
You probably wouldn't have to use a favor to get Bri to wear a buttplug all day if you asked her to after you were already wearing one. And after your experience with Sisah your rear is feeling a mite too tender to wear one for the rest of today. Better just keep this idea in your back pocket for another day.

>With other of ‘er kind, yes. But we can’t breathe under water, can we?
...You'll have to remember to ask Tim if there's ways to use air runes or other magical means to breathe underwater.

>Kronos, I’m not against yah being with Belseth. I’m against yah being with ‘im without me. So, double date?
Actually... Y'know, that might work. Ask Belseth to have a dinner date with you and Bri. Let him know that you and Bri are a package deal, so to speak. He'll have to take her along with you. Then perhaps you could use that to tamp down their rivalry with each other... Or perhaps egg it on when they're in bed with you. Get them to try and one up each other...

aah poor Belseth got left out:(
We need to fix this terrible over site as soon as possible.

wait didn't Bre say we only needed to do one of those options? We just did two of them 'badum tsh'
Does this mean Bre owes us a favor or are you gonna let this one slide.

>>722720
...Yeah, it is a shame Belseth couldn't have been in on this as well. ...And now Kronos is imagining all the possible combinations of him, Sisah Bri, Bel, their tails together, and Bri's "toy chest." ...Holy fuck, that's a whole lot of possibilities. He'd need a notebook to keep them straight.

And Bri did agree (back in >>722405) that if Kronos did two of her options she'd give him another favor, and if he did all three she'd wipe away all her favors. She currently has four favors. She also said she'd give "extra points" if it was Bel's dick pounding Kronos' butt, so that may be another favor from her. ...But I have a feeling if Kronos is closing in on doing all three options Bri may just use all her favors at once.

Hey, remember how when you asked Bri to dance before dinner a few nights ago and she dodged it with a lame excuse that her feet hurt? Ask her why she didn't want to dance. Is it that she'd inexperienced or bad at it and didn't want to embarrass herself, or she just doesn't like to. Say you're asking because you'd like to take dancing lessons with her. You'd like her to know how to dance so you can dance romantically with her, both in private and in public for all to see how close you are. And besides, eventually you two are going to have to attend a ball or such like where you're expected to dance together, your wedding being the primary event that'd fall into that category. So better to learn at her pace then have to take a crash course before the event, right?

Kaktus 2016/05/14(Sat)10:24 No. 723166 ID: 65a774
File 146324667490.png - (33.21KB , 686x526 , 10.png )

>Can You Walk?
You’re pretty sure these two ladies didn’t plow you hard enough to make you a cripple, so yes. Sitting on the other hand… hope they have pillowed chairs at lunch…
>...Are you going to be okay? I don't think you're going to be okay.
You’re fine, if a bit sore. She wasn’t that rough… and they weren’t that big either… and… err…
>GET A DOCTOR.
Now you’re just overreacting.

>oi Kronos how did ya like it?
…you hate to admit it, but you’re actually looking forward to the next time…
>How confident are you with your ability to act if you did like it because if you ever say you did to Bri you will never get to experience anything else ever again.
She was there the whole time… in fact; you’re pretty sure she saw what you thought about it when she “introduced” the concept to with that tail of hers.
>I would have recommended something non penetrative while Bri used her tail…
It’s started with a tail and fingers… then a toy…
>Well, after that you have to feel you kinda jumped into the deep end of butt stuff right off.
And all the sudden there were eggs everywhere! You definitely accidently fell into the deep end of the pool here… luckily, you apparently like to swim.

>Wait, does this mean she laid eggs in your butt? Does this mean that you're pregnant now?
You’re pretty sure you’re not the proper place for those eggs to grow in… not to mention that they aren’t fertilized. Which is good, as you’re definitely not ready to be the “father” to the half dozen she laid in there…
>Then it's a trip to the bathroom.
According to the ladies, you’re supposed to let it take its course and not force it. You’re not sure if they are actually giving you advice or just want you to feel bloated for the rest of the day.
>Seriously, you look like you need another shower.
Oh, that you definitely need.


>Give Bri a kiss and ask her how she liked that.
Mmm… watching someone yah care about getting pounded while moaning for more? Oh, it was amazing… and going by the mess yah made yeself, yah loved it too, eh?
Ugh… I don’t think Naamah will be happy about what we did to the bed so soon after she finished here this morning…
…Who?
Oh, just… the servant that makes my bed, that’s all.
…you honestly remember the name of the servant who makes your bed!? Why?
…err… so I can give her a bonus when she makes it just the way I want it and makes sure I got just the amount of pillows and stuff that I like?
…really? I… I’ve never worked for a someone of your stature before that remember any servants names at all…
>Then ask Sisah how she liked it and that you hope she feels much better now.
Well, I do believe we have a really old saying for something like this sir, a saying I believe will help me put my current emotions to words… it goes “Holy Fuck, I needed that!”.
>Tell her that you liked it overall and anytime she feels a bit pent up again you'd be glad to help her take care of it if she wants. She just has to ask.
I… I shouldn’t really force you to commit yourself like that, sir.
Aw, but yah saw ‘ow much ‘e liked it~
But I guess if your wife agree too it in the future…
>Does this mean Bri owes us a favor or are you gonna let this one slide?
Fine, fine, another favor for yah… geez, yah got a ton of them now, don’t yah? Time to use them up, ‘ubby!
>Ask Bri why she didn't want to dance.
D-dance? Oh, err… I’m not a good dancer, Love. Two left feet, yah see… or… one left footed peg leg and one left leg made out of metal, eh?
:KrononsSB: But I want to dance with you… maybe we should get an instructor?
I… I don’t really… *Sigh* if yah want to, I will try. But just so yah ‘now, I’m a terrible dancer… I mean really terrible.
I’m sure you’ll do just fine, Bri.
If yah believe in my… maybe I will, my little dove.

Kaktus 2016/05/14(Sat)10:24 No. 723167 ID: 65a774
File 146324668519.png - (39.65KB , 686x526 , 11.png )

>No feeding people to your wife to make her hips firmer. That's just wrong.
Then why do your thoughts keep returning to it! MAKE IT GO AWAY!
>One Holy Flamethrower, coming right up!
It’s not working! WE NEED MORE POWER!
>Holy fire? More like we need a HOLY NAPALM STRIKE.
EVERYTHING MUST BE PURGED IN FLAMES!
>I have a feeling if Kronos is closing in on doing all three options Bri may just use all her favors at once.
…then you simply need to stop her, don’t you? You’re pretty sure if you call her out on it as soon as she tries, you’ll be able to stop her in her tracks. After all, the reward would be useless if she could just use all her favors at once like that.
>I doubt you'll feel like you're on the moral ground high enough to confront your sister after that escapade.
You’re pretty sure you’ve done more morally objectionable things than having your butt stuffed. Of course, if you have the moral high ground or not depend entirely on what exactly your sister has been up to.

>Don't push away a friend, just CLEANSE THOSE THOUGHTS WITH HOLY FIRE.
Yes, he’s still a friend… a cute friend that’s… a friend…
>As for the Tattoos: Tell Belseth that you have seen those symbols in churches and such, yet hardly ever seen tattoos such as those. Ask him to show you each while saying what they do, when he has the time of course, and if he wants.
You’re pretty sure he won’t show off the tattoo you’re interested in if you ask him like this.
>Ask Belseth to have a dinner date with you and Bri. Let him know that you and Bri are a package deal, so to speak.
A dinner with Belseth would be nice… but… you’re not entirely sure how you feel about all this… about Bri and Belseth together. They are… at least to public eye, siblings, no? But… they aren’t by neither blood nor emotions… you know what your loins want… but what does your heart tell you?
>Anyways of all the stuff you have to do today which one is the most time sensitive?
You’re going to guess that would be meeting your sister, as she will not have a lot of time to spare. Of course, you have no idea when, exactly, she has time to spare either. Other than that, there’s the lunch with Poppa… but that’s still a few hours away.


>Check if Cain or Doxan have gotten back and what they have to report.
Ah, good morning sir. I was just on my way to make some ten o’clock tea for you, sir.
oh, tea!
That would be delightful, Cain, but I have to ask about Whisper.
It was quite pleased that you will replace the plant, as well as looking forward to the promised dinner, sir. It also said that you were indeed correct, that there is an area where the fauna has been acting a bit strangely. As it told me, last year and before that there was this area where nearly nothing really grew good, the trees all became short and flower never really bloomed… but this year everything has been growing like crazy there.
Really? Hmm… does that mean… where exactly is this area?
A bit north of the pond your father usually visit, sir.
North of the… wait… isn’t that almost right across from the crypt?
…it’s possible, sir.
Which means… if you would draw a line between the palace, the crypt, the temple and that place… it would become a symmetrical diamond, wouldn’t it?
Symmetrical? Really? So yah mean it is constructed like this on purpose?
…I’m sure the diamond shape will explain everything sir… was there anything else?
Oh, and can you ask Doxan if he was able to check the door if you see him?
You can ask him yourself, sir, as soon as he decide to stop hanging from the ceiling.
Wait, ‘ow did yah-
It called looking up, my lord?
But I… never mind… why yes, my prince, I was able to check out the crypt for yah. The bad news is that they ‘ave increased the security around it. Three guard as well as an extra patrol passing by, not to mention the extra lock. The even worse news is that the door yah asked me to look at ‘as seen better days. Even with a key it would be impossible to unlock it… but the good news is that I don’t need to unlock it to open it. Of course, as soon as I open it up, yah won’t be able to lock it ever again.
Well, if no one was using the door anyway…
>The problem is Kara's schedule is so packed every day you don't know if she'd be able to get any time with her.
I do believe she might be available for a few minutes soon, sir. But if you want more time I guess I can try to find a window for you on the afternoon?
Lunch maybe?
I believe she will have a lunch meeting with a few nobles, sir.

Oh, and sir? I have two proclamations for you to hear. Do you want the abridged versions as usual?
Of course.
The first states that the King will now officially step down from the throne and let the new Queen be crowned; which is to say your sister, Kira.
…I knew he’s talked about it but… this soon?
After what ‘appen to ye brother, ‘e probably desire nothing else but to leave the stress as King.
I guess…
The other message states that your brother, the Former prince, will be held in court and judged tomorrow at noon. He will be brought before the new Queen herself and be sentenced by a council of 21, made out of both Varkians as well as Sakkilians. Both of your presences are mandatory.
Tomorrow?
They don’t want to waste any time, I’m guessing.
Still… I can’t believe my own brother…

Well, if you want Bri's hips to be firmer THAT badly, I'm sure there are quite a few desserts here that she's never heard of before and you can introduce them to her! Ice creams, pies, cakes, you get the idea.

>Brother's trial.
I think one of his punishments should be for his mustache to be removed.

>Then why do your thoughts keep returning to it!
Total lack of moral compass? Fraternizing with condemned gods, conspirators and pseudo-cannibals will do that.
>you know what your loins want… but what does your heart tell you?
How about your brain? It says 'don't listen to your loins you imbicile'.

>Former prince, will be held in court and judged tomorrow at noon... Both of your presences are mandatory.
Oh shit. You're the one who ordered Qelba locked up. Anybody who has it in for you can claim you were complacent in the conspiracy!
> Still… I can’t believe my own brother…
Save your disbelief for when you're out of the woods. You need to take the wind out of your sister's sails before she starts throwing her weight around at the sarcasm-quotes trial tomorrow.

well might as well let your cooks or whatever cooks will be making the gardner's diner tonight know about the diner so they can prepare.

Lunch with dad is still a bit of a way away so we don't really need to worry about that but at least now we have something to talk about and as for meeting our sister I say we should try to pencil something in later today as to get more time with her as I feel we're going to need more then 10 minutes to talk about how things are progressing.

>A bit north of the pond your father usually visit, sir.
>Which means… if you would draw a line between the palace, the crypt, the temple and that place… it would become a symmetrical diamond, wouldn’t it?
Does that diamond center on the pond? I wonder if there's something special about the pond but if the pond is actually outside of the diamond then it's probably not important.

>I think one of his punishments should be for his mustache to be removed.
Hahah yes.

>I think one of his punishments should be for his mustache to be removed.
YES! YES!

>you know what your loins want… but what does your heart tell you?
um your heart also tells you that you like Belsy and if you give him a chance something more may develop

And we should really look into the pond diamond thing, maybe see what the actual shape is and see what arcane/ancient symbols use it.

Yeah, it's still unbelievable that your brother did what he did. You just don't know how he could have been twisted so by the encounter that cost him his eye. You should find out just what happened then. Just how his compassion was rewarded by children that day. Also ask Cain what the exact charges leveled against Karas are, as written on the proclamation. You know the charge of attempting to murder you is trumped up, since the testimony of the guards should have indicated Karas very much didn't want you dead. And you know the evidence in his chest's secret compartment that he plotted to poison Briannah was planted there 'cause Bri was "poisoned" by Doxan, so if there's a charge of that it's bogus. But what other crimes is he being charged with?

Don't get ahead of yourself with spotting that diamond shape. Your mind may be making connections that aren't actually there. You should get a scale plan of the gardens to mark out and measure between the points to see if they actually are equidistant. And keep in mind the palace and the Grand Temple have been here for a long, long time, with parts added and torn down over their existances, so you don't know just where to place the point in them... Actually, if it's a symmetrical diamond, you can figure the positions out just from the distance between the crypt and the overgrown spot. Now you just need to figure what point in the crypt to use. It's like the seal you saw, but it could be the crypt entrance. But once you get the position and mark the lines, you should investigate the palace basement where those lines enter it. There may be a tunnel to either of those points you could use, though it's probably blocked up.

Ask Doxan what directions does he remember the tunnels in the crypt went relative to the entrance. Which way does the door he looked at go? You'd use your own memories, but you don't know how much they were messed up by hallucinations from the toxic spores. And once you get the garden plans you can get him to mark them down for you.

>As it told me, last year and before that there was this area where nearly nothing really grew good, the trees all became short and flower never really bloomed… but this year everything has been growing like crazy there.
Did Whispers say that things grew normally there before the year before last? Because if it did, then plants growing poorly there for two years may also be a clue. And the area has been abnormally fertile all year? But Tim said that the midnight magic pulses have only been going on for a few weeks. Maybe whatever they're doing was raising the ambient raw magic level there even before the pulses. ...Which may explain how the earth elemental was able to reproduce here, while there's been no sign of other elementals doing so elsewhere.

You get the feelinmg that Cain is thinking you're being impulsive and going off chasing imagined things again. Better take him aside and tell him why you think this overgrown patch is important. That Tim mentioned that there's been pulses of raw magic from the Grand Temple most nights these past few weeks and it's likely connected with what the Archbishop is up to. And so you thought that all the magic would make the plants grow strangely, giving away it's location. ...But Tim said it came from the direction of the Grand Temple, and if you draw a line from the palace to the patch in the garden doesn't point towards the Grand Temple. Maybe he was making a estimate of the location. You'll have to see if Tim has any discreet methods he could use to detect high magic levels, then send him out to the patch in the garden.

Tell Cain that you realize you've been neglecting to ask his council on these matters around the prayer book rituals and that you've been rather reckless and irresponsible and you're sorry for that. You want to hear what he thinks about this whole mess and what he thinks you should do.

Oh, and before you forget, tell Cain to arrange for dancing lessons for Bri and you. Novice lessons. With a very patient instructor. And with a medic nearby the first few sessions in case you get a crushed toe.

>The even worse news is that the door yah asked me to look at ‘as seen better days.
You don't suppose Doxan could give you an estimate on how old the lock is, or how old the door is.

>Of course, as soon as I open it up, yah won’t be able to lock it ever again.
Ask Doxan how noisy his door opening methods are, if he could discreetly fuse the hinges as well so it can't be opened, and which direction the door opens. If it opens into the crypt you can just hammer some wedges between it and its frame to jam it shut from the other side. And you better make sure that this door goes where you think it goes, to the Grand Temple, and not elsewhere. It's unlikely, but it may just lead down into Xuv's prison, and busting it open will let her out, or at least lead to the door of Xuv's prison.

Belseth mentioned that there's a Catacombs of the Godless under the Grand Temple, along with the Royal Crypts. You should get some more info on them. They may just be the final resting place for those who don't follow the Risavian faith, but it's also possible they're connected to something old. Something from the previous age that the Archbishop needs for her plan.

>Ugh… I don’t think Naamah will be happy about what we did to the bed so soon after she finished here this morning…
You should write her a short note saying you're sorry for making extra work for her and how much you appreciate the job she does. Then send the note along with a bonus for this time and another bonus for what must have been a major job cleaning up and making your bed after last night with Bri. ...And you have a feeling that you'll be making Naamah quite a bit more wealthy with all the bonuses you'll be giving her for cleaning your bed up after you and Bri.

>you know what your loins want… but what does your heart tell you?
...It tells you that you should keep your relationship with Belseth separate from Bri, both for scandal reasons and that they get along rather like oil and water. And that you'd really like to have dinner with him and see where your relationship with him goes from there. And that you should send him a note asking him if he could meet you some time this afternoon. Then you can talk with him face to face and tell him you'd like dinner with him. And it tells you you should talk to Bri about this at some point before you meet Belseth.

>Then why do your thoughts keep returning to it! MAKE IT GO AWAY!
...Because you have a unhealthy fascination with Bri's ample behind and fantasize of ways to make it even more glorious. Which, frankly, just won't happen with her eating people, especially not members of your bony-ass species. She got the way she is by eating livestock, not people. Likely with copious quantities of rump roast and pork butt. Hehehe. Anyway, with the rich food she's going to partake of on her own just living in the palace, you can figure her hips, butt, thighs and tail are going to put on extra padding even with her exercise routine. However, if you try to get her to eat extra it probably won't work out the way you like. Remember, it's the ratio between the size of her butt, hips and thighs and the rest of her that you find so alluring, and you don't know where the extra food would likely end up landing on her. Besides, it would be wrong to secretly try to fatten Bri's rump up for your own physical desires, and it feels bad when you think about deceiving Bri.

You should take Bri aside and tell her that your mother used to call you "my little dove." Tell her that you're fine with her calling you that and that you feel she's worthy to. You just want her to know that when she calls you that in front of your sister and especially your father that she may get a Look from them and that you two will have to explain it.

Also ask Bri if there's any food so big she has to unhinge her jaw to swallow that she enjoys enough to have to do that for. Because if there are some she likes to, you think you should see her swallow one so you can get over your fear of it so she can be free to eat that way in front of you without worry you'll freak out.

Ask Bri if she'd agree to you tying a pretty little bow near the tip of her tail for her to wear today, just 'cause you think it'd look cute on her.

You should put off meeting with your sister until this afternoon. You don't know how the heck you're going to broach the subject of her subterfuge with her, but you figure it's going to take more than the five minute hallway meeting you could get this morning.

Send a note to Tim asking him when he'd like you to come around for what you postponed from yesterday. And ask Cain to find out just where Tim was yesterday around the time that you and Belseth came here to play Regicide. But also plan to catch one of Tim's apprentices without Cain knowing and ask them if they were with Tim at that time. If Cain's report doesn't match, then you'll know he's lying to you and can use that if and when you confront him.

And since you have a couple hours until lunch, and a bit of time until you get replies from your notes, now would be a decent time for Bri to tell you what you used your favor to find out. That is, if she's gathered her thoughts well enough together. And since you can send Sisah away while you're here, you two will have privacy.

Kaktus 2016/05/16(Mon)12:20 No. 723758 ID: 65a774
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>Total lack of moral compass? Fraternizing with condemned gods, conspirators and pseudo-cannibals will do that.
You still have a moral compass! …it’s just… a bit crocked at the moment…
>If you want Bri's hips to be firmer THAT badly, I'm sure there are quite a few desserts here that she's never heard of before and you can introduce them to her!
Oh, that’s a dangerous game to play. You don’t want her to actually become overweight, now do you?
>How about your brain? It says 'don't listen to your loins you imbecile'.
You already know what your mind is telling you. That’s why you aren’t listening to your loins in the first place!
>...It tells you that you should keep your relationship with Belseth separate from Bri, both for scandal reasons and that they get along rather like oil and water.
They are getting along a bit better after they tried to stop being so hostile to each other… but still…
>Your heart also tells you that you like Belsy and if you give him a chance something more may develop.
You do like him… but… gods, why does everything have to be so complicated!?

>I think one of his punishments should be for his mustache to be removed.
You’re pretty sure whatever punishment he will receive will be far harsher than that. He might get a lifetime house-arrest in some remote mansion at best… or exile at worse…
>Oh shit. You're the one who ordered Qelba locked up. Anybody who has it in for you can claim you were complacent in the conspiracy!
You’re pretty sure if they believe you were working with your brother you would have already been arrested.
>Save your disbelief for when you're out of the woods. You need to take the wind out of your sister's sails before she starts throwing her weight around at the sarcasm-quotes trial tomorrow.
Hopefully, your sister hasn’t fallen into the madness that claimed both of your brothers. Hopefully…


>Ask Cain what the exact charges leveled against Karas are, as written on the proclamation.
It doesn’t go into details but… Murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder, embezzlement, slavery, treason, high-treason and… not to sound redundant but treason against the crown. Even without the details that does paint a rather interesting picture, no?
Oh… that’s… that’s definitely a bit above “Remove mustache as punishment”, isn’t it…
>I say we should try to pencil something in later today as to get more time with her as I feel we're going to need more than 10 minutes to talk about how things are progressing.
I’ll see if I can book a meeting with her, sir.
>might as well let your cooks or whatever cooks will be making the gardener’s diner tonight know about the diner so they can prepare.
I’ve already given them the task, sir.

>You get the feeling that Cain is thinking you're being impulsive and going off chasing imagined things again. Better take him aside and tell him why you think this overgrown patch is important.
Magic, sir?
Tim told me that he’s detected strange pulses of it for the last few weeks.
…and you’re looking for the source because…?
Because I think it might be connected to what the Arch-Bishop is up to.
…you didn’t actually answer my question, sir…
>Tell Cain that you realize you've been neglecting to ask his council on these matters around the prayer book rituals and that you've been rather reckless and irresponsible and you're sorry for that.
If you still want my council, sir, then I would advise that you just forget about all of this and went on with your duties as a Prince. You’re not supposed to go around and summon old gods or some such; you’re supposed to be a pillar piece of the nation, sir… or at least a small post and not a bottle of acid…
>Tell Cain to arrange for dancing lessons for Bri and you. Novice lessons. With a very patient instructor.
W-wait, we’re really g-going to-
At once, sir!
>Send a note to Tim asking him when he'd like you to come around for what you postponed from yesterday.
I’ll make sure it will be delivered, sir.
>And ask Cain to find out just where Tim was yesterday around the time that you and Belseth came here to play Regicide.
Hmm… I believe he had class at the time? He usually does on the day of the stars… but I’ll make sure to double check, sir.

>Ask Doxan what directions he remembers the tunnels in the crypt went relative to the entrance. Which way does the door he looked at go?
To the Grand Temple, of course.
>You don't suppose Doxan could give you an estimate on how old the lock is, or how old the door is.
I’m not a locksmith… or an artifact scholar, ye lordship.
>Ask Doxan how noisy his door opening methods are, if he could discreetly fuse the hinges as well so it can't be opened, and which direction the door opens.
I will be as soundless as the deepest darkness, my lord… and I’m sure I can make it look like the door was never touched. I’m not entirely sure which direction it goes, though… I wasn’t able to spot any ‘inges.

>You should take Bri aside and tell her that your mother used to call you "my little dove."
Really? I didn’t- sorry…
No, it’s fine… so long as you don’t use it in front of my family.
>Also ask Bri if there's any food so big she has to unhinge her jaw to swallow that she enjoys enough to have to do that for.
… … …wait, why do yah… do yah want to… Kronos, really? Now yah really starting to sound like Doxan, yah ‘now. But if yah want to see me eat, then I’ll eat!
>Ask Bri if she'd agree to you tying a pretty little bow near the tip of her tail for her to wear today, just 'cause you think it'd look cute on her.
A bow? Why, that will cost a favor!
But-
Yah ‘ave tons of them! Use them, dammit! So, do yah want the bow or not? Just one favor!
I… um…
>And since you have a couple hours until lunch, and a bit of time until you get replies from your notes, now would be a decent time for Bri to tell you what you used your favor to find out.
Huh? Wha- oh… Oh, right… I… I don’t really want to… not now, Kronos… Later, I promise.


>We should really look into the pond diamond thing, maybe see what the actual shape is.
You ask Cain to fetch a map of the palace grounds for you and he retrieves a rather simple one at a moment’s notice. While it lacks details, it will be enough to get the general shape of things. Drawing a line between the palaces, the crypt, the temple and the location Cain pointed out you get… a square? While it might not be a perfect square in real life it’s… this can’t be a coincidence, can it?
>Does that diamond center on the pond?
The pond is outside the square… the center of the garden on the other hand...
>Belseth mentioned that there's a Catacombs of the Godless under the Grand Temple, along with the Royal Crypts. You should get some more info on them.
You definitely want more information about that... but you’ll need to do research on your own for that. Finding the information you seek in the library will probably take more time than you have before lunch… but you can always take a break in the middle, can’t you? Hmm… or maybe you should find Belseth and ask him directly? …or Elete? Or perhaps someone else? There is bound to be people that know about it somewhere…

I think she really wants us to start using our favors.. Maybe it's time to start actually using them!

> Large ritual area
I think you need to find the pylons soon, or they'll start siphoning soul energy from everyone in the capital.

> Bow
Have her "stuff her bra" with a giant bow on her chest.

Talk to Tim about what he found, then look for Elete (and the catacombs in the Temple) as the distraction while you send Doxan and Cain inside as a tag-team to look for anything else inside.

>Oh, that’s a dangerous game to play. You don’t want her to actually become overweight, now do you?
Alright, fine. You don't have to. But in all seriousness, most of the food here is probably something she doesn't get back home, so if she wants it, then let her have it. Just put a limit on the desserts.
>… … …wait, why do yah… do yah want to… Kronos, really? Now yah really starting to sound like Doxan, yah ‘now. But if yah want to see me eat, then I’ll eat!
Good, that'll really help Kronos overcome his fear of Sakkilians! But it does bring up a few questions on Doxan. Why does he enjoy it when Bri is eating? And is it only when she eats or is it when she unhinges her jaw to eat that he enjoys?

>W-wait, we’re really g-going to-
"Yes, we're going to learn to dance together. Even though I'm vertically challenged."
I just thought of something! If Bri learned how to bellydance, then her hips would be hypnotic to watch! What do you think about that, Kronos? XD

>Bri wearing a bow on her tail.
Yes! Use that favor Kronos! And she's right, you do need to use them!

give Bri a nice puffy red bow to tie to her tail. and since we have so many damn favors think we should us one so she will actually show up to her dancing lessons no mater how slowly they might go?

>If you still want my council, sir, then I would advise that you just forget about all of this and went on with your duties as a Prince.
yeah it's a little late for that. I mean with the fact that Xuv actively seeks you out whenever she gets the chance, life breathing down our necks to find this new god, the arch bishop trying to pull something off and seems that (s)he wants to involve us in it... yeah just a little late to just walk away at this point. You don't need to tell him all of this of course just pointing it out.

Anyways thank both Cain and Doxan for there work and ask Cain to let you know when he's found a dance instructor for Bri. Then we could probably head out to the courtyard and try and take a closer look at things ourselves until it's time to have lunch with dad.

>…it’s just… a bit crocked at the moment…
More like 'croaked'.
> embezzlement, slavery
Whoa, what? That's new and disturbing.
> He might get a lifetime house-arrest in some remote mansion at best… or exile at worse…
Maybe if dear 'ol dad was handing down the judgement. Your sister on the other hand might have his 'stache removed at the neck.
>forget about all of this and went on with your duties as a Prince.
Duties? I was under the impression everyone was to keep responsibilities of all kinds as far from you as possible.
>Yah ‘ave tons of them! Use them, dammit!
The idea of strong-arming the people I care about over the littlest things isn't that attractive to me, Bri, and being obstinate isn't attractive on you.

>>723761
>>723762
>>723765
>>723774
No, don't use a favor for something as wholly frivolous as this! Don't you see why Bri is being so insistent about these favors being used? Why she set the price for tying a bow to her tail as high as one? She wants them to be spent in the way that she wants. In a controlled, safe, and comfortable way for her, such as used frivolously, like that piggyback ride was, or sexually, which for most things she'd likely do without a favor. But the reason she wants them used this way is because she considers these favors, consciously or subconsciously, a danger. Especially after one was used to get her to, at some point, tell the truth of how she actually lost her virginity. She fears them because they can be used to get her to reveal her past, her memories, her deep and dark thoughts. To bring forth painful, hard parts of her history she doesn't want to or can't bear to face that she's buried under her facade of control. Ones she wasn't strong enough to face alone before. But they're ones she'll have to face if she'll ever be free of them. And with a loving husband at her side to help her face and bear them, she can.

But at the least, use the favors for something more substantial than tying a cute bow to Bri's tail for a day. They're worth more than that. And don't fold before any of Bri's arm twisting to use them either.

>>723803
That's a good theory, but favors have already been explained back in Thread 1. Favors are part of Bri's culture and the favors are then used to either learn more about the partner or generally something sexual in nature. Kronos not using his favors is just a little culture clash that Bri still hasn't gotten used to. Asking her to wear a bow on her tail can probably be considered as "something sexual in nature", which is perfectly reasonable for her to ask us to use a favor. However, you're right, favors can get her to tell us about her past, but I think she doesn't want to tell Kronos because she wants to do it privately between just her and him. And because they're not alone, she's not telling. We'll have to ask about her past again when it's just her and Kronos.

>>723857
Yeah, I did read that description of how favors work, but I don't think it's a culture clash is the reason Bri is acting this way. If it's that Sakkilian couples are supposed to use up their favors relatively quickly, or just when they've built up too many, then why hasn't Bri used hers up sooner? Of the one big and five normal size favors she's gotten, she still has three normal size favors banked. Meanwhile Kronos has gotten five favors overall and still has three left. So while technically Kronos has used one less favor than Bri has, I wouldn't think that's enough if a difference to warrant getting on his ass for hoarding favors.

>Asking her to wear a bow on her tail can probably be considered as "something sexual in nature", which is perfectly reasonable for her to ask us to use a favor.
Er, what...? I just thought it'd be a cute juxtaposition that this big, strong, imposing Sakkilian woman would be wearing a pretty little bow on her tail. I can see now how one way to interpret it is as marking that her and Kronos have had sex, or marking her as his, but that wasn't my intention.

>...but I think she doesn't want to tell Kronos because she wants to do it privately between just her and him. And because they're not alone, she's not telling. We'll have to ask about her past again when it's just her and Kronos.
True, she won't talk about it in public, but they're still in Kronos' apartment so they could just go into his bedroom for privacy. In fact, that is pretty much the only place they can talk completely in private since it's the only place their bodyguards will leave them alone. And since Bri probably won't speak of it in less private conditions than that, it'll have to be there. But since Bri isn't ready to speak of it now, it'll just have to wait until later in the day, whenever they get back to their bedroom. Probably some time in the late afternoon, after dinner, or at bedtime at the latest.

>Hopefully, your sister hasn’t fallen into the madness that claimed both of your brothers. Hopefully…
She mentioned being envious of your friendlier lifestyle, so she's at least aware of what's going on and wants peace to exist. How far she's willing to go to ensure that peace lasts, though... At least currently to your knowledge, the only person who she would get rid of would be your brother.
>W-wait, we’re really g-going to-
Make it a favor, that way she has to come to the lessons.
>Yah ‘ave tons of them! Use them, dammit! So, do yah want the bow or not? Just one favor!
She's right, y'know? Whether to get her to make herself a little cuter in an innocent manner, though, or to "wrap herself up" tonight, that's the question.

>the center of the garden on the other hand...
...It's probably just Garden, then. Giving up its life energy to allow the babies to grow.

Oh, and draw those four wards you saw on Belseth on both your arms, or if your feathers prevent that, on the palms of both your hands. That way you can show them to Xuv when she comes to you and can ask her what they do. Also draw them on a scrap of paper and keep that in your pocket. Unfortunately, taking the paper out may not work in the mind-space you meet Xuv in, but if it does then it'll work as a backup.

>>723910
Yeah, I have no idea what I was thinking when I said the bow would be "something sexual in nature". Let's just pretend I said, "it would look cute on her" and act like what I said before never happened.

Try and track down Belseth. You have other things you need to speak with him about as well, and it's a good idea to deal with them sooner rather than later, just in case you forget or for some reason you don't have time later. It may be tricky to work asking about the Catacombs into the conversation, though. ...But he'll probably think you're coming up with excuses to talk with him if you ask about it. But the real potential for awkwardness is going to be Bri's presence with you, but you can manage it. ...Probably.

As backup in case you can't find Belseth or you can't get info on the Catacombs out of him, write a short letter to the head of the history department at the university asking if they have anyone who's area of knowledge is of the Grand Temple and what lies beneath it. Then request a short meeting with whoever they are today, either there or here, and add that you'll make a donation to the university for their trouble. And also ask Cain if he knows of anyone in the university who'd know about the Catacombs of the Godless and other such things lying beneath the Grand Temple so you can target your request better.

>If you still want my council, sir, then I would advise that you just forget about all of this and went on with your duties as a Prince.
Does he mean forget about the stuff around the Archbishop as well, or just the performing of the rituals from the prayer book?

>You’re not supposed to go around and summon old gods or some such; you’re supposed to be a pillar piece of the nation, sir…
...Actually, you can agree to this. You know Xuv'll find you wherever you are when she's summoned, even if you aren't at the summoning ritual, and Cain would be none the wiser. So tell Cain you're going to take his council on this and won't involve yourself in any more of these summoning rituals. And also write a note to Tim informing him as to this and give it to Cain to deliver. Then Cain will think you're being somewhat more responsible, even though at this point it's rather like closing the barn door after the horses are long gone. And you do still have the prayer book, so if you want to perform a summon ritual for any of the other gods you can just do it in secret.

>or at least a small post and not a bottle of acid…
Okay, you know it was irresponsible of you to perform those rituals on palace grounds, but "bottle of acid?" Or is that for other things you've done as well?

>A bow? Why, that will cost a favor!
Ask her why it costs that much. Is there some Sakkilian cultural meaning to wearing a bow on your tail like that? 'Cause you just thought it'd be a cute juxtaposition that a big, strong, imposing gal like her was wearing a cute little bow around her tail.

>Yah ‘ave tons of them! Use them, dammit! So, do yah want the bow or not? Just one favor!
Tell her you don't like being pressured to use your favors and ask her why she's being this insistent that you use them. They don't expire, or at least they don't expire this quickly. And you and her both have three favors left, so it's not because you're hoarding them and have a bunch more than her.

>While it might not be a perfect square in real life it’s… this can’t be a coincidence, can it?
...And with the central square marking the center you get the feeling you've seen this shape before, but where? ...Ah, you may have got it. A diamond shape with a dot in the center is part of the symbol of Gaisia. You just have to draw the square with the edges touching the diamond points. It seems fitting that the garden would have the symbol of the goddess of earth integrated into it. Is there anything of note under the points of the square if you draw out the symbol of Gaisia on the map? But even if the garden's original designers did incorporate the symbol of Gaisia into it, that doesn't explain how that area of odd growth sprung up.

Another speculation as to the position of the elements in the garden is they represent the six elements of the six gods of old, but only if you think in three dimensions. The odd patch of growth is for life, opposite the crypt, which is death. Then a point above the center represents air, which a point below the center is earth. But then which of the Grand Temple and the Palace is fire and which one is water? It kinda breaks down there since neither is obvious.

Kaktus 2016/05/18(Wed)13:14 No. 724240 ID: 65a774
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>But in all seriousness, most of the food here is probably something she doesn't get back home, so if she wants it, then let her have it. Just put a limit on the desserts.
You’re not going to limit what she gets to eat… at least, not unless she starts to gorge herself on cake or something. You’ve seen where that leads first hand with some of the other nobles... *Shudder*
>But it does bring up a few questions on Doxan. Why does he enjoy it when Bri is eating?
…why do you have a feeling that is a question you don’t want the answer too but still need to hear?
>If Bri learned how to bellydance, then her hips would be hypnotic to watch!
… … …note to self: teach Bri how to belly-dance.
>I think you need to find the pylons soon, or they'll start siphoning soul energy from everyone in the capital.
Pylons? You mean the cradle thing? You’re not even sure if they are using it at all, actually… and if they did, wouldn’t it just take the souls of the dead and not siphoned from the living? Still, if it is being used, you need to find it and stop it!

>Maybe if dear 'ol dad was handing down the judgement. Your sister on the other hand might have his 'stache removed at the neck.
It’s not your sister who will decide what his punishment will be. She’s just there to make sure it’s a fair trial and the rules are being followed.
>She mentioned being envious of your friendlier lifestyle, so she's at least aware of what's going on and wants peace to exist. How far she's willing to go to ensure that peace lasts, though...
…the only thing you can do right now is to trust your sister… at least until you’ve met with her and have a nice, long chat.
>Oh, and draw those four wards you saw on Belseth on both your arms. That way you can show them to Xuv when she comes to you and can ask her what they do.
…wait, why can’t you use the paper you already have with the symbols on it? Wouldn’t that be simpler?
>No, don't use a favor for something as wholly frivolous as this! Don't you see why Bri is being so insistent about these favors being used? She wants them to be spent in the way that she wants.
…right, so let’s not fall into her trap and waste them then!


>Anyways thank both Cain and Doxan for their work and ask.
Just doing my job, sir… as always…
I’ve sworn to serve ‘er excellency. That includes serving ‘er most beloved ‘usband… ‘er words, not mine.
>Does he mean forget about the stuff around the Archbishop as well, or just the performing of the rituals from the prayer book?
Concerning the Archbishop, I would suggest that you seek counsel with your father or sister about the subject. Bestowing the approval of the crown, even if it is a bronze one instead of gold, is no small matter, sir, so you should talk to the others that wear the crown as well before doing something rash, yes?
>Send Doxan and Cain inside the temple as a tag-team to look for anything else inside.
I’m not a spy, sir… those duties is best left to the professionals.
I’ve already scouted through as much as I can both in the temple and the crypt, my lord.
>Tell Cain you're going to take his council on this and won't involve yourself in any more of these summoning rituals.
That’s good to hear, sir. Let me just say, I’m proud that you have found enough common sense to not feed your immortal soul to some false god, sir.
Of course you are…
>Also write a note to Tim informing him as to this and give it to Cain to deliver.
I’ll make sure it’s delivered at once, sir.

>Tell her you don't like being pressured to use your favors and ask her why she's being this insistent that you use them.
Because yah never use them for anything fun!
…and fun being sex?
At times, yes?
>Ask her why it costs that much. Is there some Sakkilian cultural meaning to wearing a bow on your tail like that?
What? Of course not.
So… why does it cost a full favor? That seems a bit steep in price.
I’m the one ‘aving to endure it, I set the price, eh?
Which means it’s as valuable as a favor to you, huh? Oh, I get it. You afraid that this little bow will make you look less intimidating and cool? Hurt your pride and all that?
…it’s a bow, not a frilly, pink tutu.
Yet here you are, desperate not to wear it. You know what I think? I think you just don’t have to courage to wear something like that, that you are afraid what people will think.
That’s not-
Aw, what’s the matter, Bri? Scared of the little bow?
… … …yah ‘now, I ‘now that yah are playing me… but I’ll fall for it anyway. Give me the damn bow and I’ll wear it without a favor!
>Yes, we're going to learn to dance together. Even though I'm vertically challenged.
And I’m horizontally challenged so… but still, I ‘ave to warn yah, I got the dance skills of a limp ankwark.
>Since we have so many damn favors think we should us one so she will actually show up to her dancing lessons no matter how slowly they might go?
No need to use a favor, Kronos, I’ll show up… and if things don’t work out, we’ll ‘ave a talk, eh?

Hmm, sir? I’ve notice something peculiar. Is it just me or are there suddenly a lot more soldiers patrolling the palace grounds?
There are more guards?
No, soldiers. They have soldier uniforms, not guard ones…
Really? Hmm… I don’t know what to make of that… anything else?
A lot more of the ladies giggle as we pass and several gentlemen have gone into deep talk as well… often about you being a man they would buy an ale or something?
Wait, really?
If I might add, it’s possible that it’s a consequence of you two not being very subtle yesterday? I’m sure gossip of someone as small as you “taming” a huge dragon like your wife here would generate some talk, sir.


>Try and track down Belseth. You have other things you need to speak with him about as well.
Ah, Greetings Kronos… and Briannah, in your armor as always?
Well, people is trying to kill me…
Of course they are… and… wait, is that a ribbon?
Cute, no?
I… err… it’s… is? Um… so… did you two want to see me for a reason or…?

had some questions about the nature of some of the runes I saw last I was visiting the temple and since I remember you seemed to have some knowledge of runes and wards I was hoping you'd be able to help me get a better idea of what they mean.

P.S. we should add another ribbon a further up her once every day until we reach the base of her tail. Partly because I think it would look neat, partly because I find it amusing how people are already reacting to one little ribbon and would like to see how'd they'd react to her whole tail being prettied up, and mostly to see how far we could get before Bri reaches her limit and just flat out tells us no.

>your immortal soul
...Wait what? Was that a joke?
>No, soldiers. They have soldier uniforms, not guard ones…
That's... Ominous. Well, with the soon-to-be-officially-ex-prince going on trial, I guess having officers who's job it is to go to the enemy's lair rather than stay at the ally's is important. We've still got the guards around, right?

>She’s just there to make sure it’s a fair trial and the rules are being followed.
Or a show trial where those present can demonstrate their loyalty to the new queen or be framed for attempted murder. Exactly that has happened before, with flimsier motives to boot.
>And I’m horizontally challenged so...
You're Gifted. and I won't hear anyone say otherwise.
>Is it just me or are there suddenly a lot more soldiers patrolling the palace grounds?
They're probably stepping in until the extent of Karas' influence in the guard is rooted out. Looks like we won't be able to do any sneaking in the meantime.
>wait, is that a ribbon?
There must be some connotation we're missing here.

Hello Belseth, any hypothetical moral quandaries today?
>did you two want to see me for a reason or…?
You're my friend, isn't that enough? In any case, I wanted to ask you about the trial tomorrow, do you know who's attending? Also, do you know anything about the sudden military presence? I thought the palace guard was all the infantry we had left.

Tell him your wife wants you to fuck him.

>You’re not going to limit what she gets to eat… at least, not unless she starts to gorge herself on cake or something.
You may not have control over that if she ever decides she wants to have a kid and she doesn't want to adopt. So because you love her, you'd agree to allow a male Sakkilian to give a "donation" to her. But that's not going to happen any time soon, so let's not worry about that subject for a few years.
>You’ve seen where that leads first hand with some of the other nobles... *Shudder*
How dare you talk about your father like that! Just because he let himself go a little, doesn't mean you have the right to say things like that about him!

>Um… so… did you two want to see me for a reason or…?
Yes, there's actually 2 reasons we're here. Reason 1.) Remember when I asked you to show me the runes in the temple? Well, I was looking through a book of runes to learn more about them, when I just happened to see some of the runes looked like your tattoos. So, I wanted to ask you why you got your tattoos, what runes they're supposed to be, what their meanings are, and if any of them actually do anything. Especially that one that's supposed to "bring luck in bed".

And Reason 2.) Bri wanted you and me to fuck. So take your pick. My butt or your butt? (Do this one last just to see him go "W-W-WHAT?!?! O_O")

Voting to not suddenly steer the conversation toward sex. Bri hasn't been rubbing off on Kronos that bad.

>>724308
Agreed

>>724304
>So take your pick. My butt or your butt?
I meant to say this sarcastically. Not actually going to do it, just joke to mess with him.

Kaktus 2016/05/19(Thu)08:27 No. 724432 ID: 65a774
File 146367162897.png - (18.89KB , 686x526 , 14.png )

>Or a show trial where those present can demonstrate their loyalty to the new queen or be framed for attempted murder.
Or that… that is also possible… hopefully, we won’t get a tyrant as queen.
>How dare you talk about your father like that!
You’re not? Your father might be a bit corpulent, but he’s thin as a stick compared those like lady Bafford. They were forced to break down the walls of her estate as her corpse wouldn’t fit any of the doors anymore!
>We've still got the guards around, right?
The normal guard routes seem to be unchanged as far as you can tell.
>They're probably stepping in until the extent of Karas' influence in the guard is rooted out.
That does sound plausible. He did seem to have a lot of influence over them, didn’t he?
>I thought the palace guard was all the infantry we had left.
…actually, thinking about it that does seem a bit off. What are they doing here? They should be at the out protecting villages from “bandits” and stuff.

>We should add another ribbon a further up her once every day until we reach the base of her tail.
She would look cute like that, wouldn’t it? You’ll try to remember telling her to add another tomorrow.
>Tell him your wife wants you to fuck him.
…you’ve not been corrupted by Bri that much… yet…
>So take your pick. My butt or your butt?
Let’s try to not imagen what exactly you want to do with any butts currently present.


>You're horizontally Gifted. And I won't hear anyone say otherwise.
Aw, why thank yah, ‘ubby.
>Hello Belseth, any hypothetical moral quandaries today?
Huh? Oh, right I’ve asked you a lot of those, haven’t I? No, I don’t have one right now but… if you want one I’ll give you one.
Really? Well, if you have one ready…
Well, not really but… hmm… how about… “Is it better to be good and do less for the world… or walk the path of evil and do more good that way?”
…why do I have a feeling no matter what I answer it will be the wrong answer?
Things like that is never about the answers, Kronos, they are about making yah think, eh?
>You're my friend, isn't that enough?
Oh, I… I must apologize if I sounded a bit… err… it’s just, any time Briannah here would seek me out was if she required something. Now, might I have the privilege of offering a cup of-
Tea, sirs and madam?
Wha- where did- but-
That would be lovely, Cain, thank you.
Um… well then? I guess?

>I wanted to ask you about the trial tomorrow, do you know who's attending?
Oh, I’m sure everyone who is of importance is invited to attend. Seeing as you both are victims, I’m going to guess you’re going to be attending as well?
That is correct.
And yah? Where will yah be, eh?
I’m actually been selected to be part of the council of 21, that is to say those that will judge his guilt and… um… his fate if he is guilty.
...you’re chosen?
Apparently, I’m an important enough Sakkilian to warrant my judgement.
Who else is on the council?
I’m not entirely sure… I do know that there will be another priest of my rank, a Varkian lady… as well as a Sakkilian Shaman representing the ancestral belief of my people. Other than that… I don’t know.
>Do you know anything about the sudden military presence?
Hmm? I can’t say I do, no. Sorry.

>Remember when I asked you to show me the runes in the temple? Well, I was looking through a book of runes to learn more about them, when I just happened to see some of the runes looked like your tattoos.
My tattoos? I guess can tell you about some of them? Where do you want to start?
How about the one on yah arse?
That’s- err… heh… um… it’s just a… good luck charm… for… bed? Briannah, please-
And the one on ye crotch?
Err… I d-don’t-
Oh, please, yah ‘now I’ve seen it. The big circle made out of runes with a dot in the middle?
… …wait, how do you- that’s not… where have you seen that symbol before?
…what are yah talking about? Yah got it on yah?
No, I… Bri, I don’t have a tattoo down there but… I’ve considered getting one… just like the one you described!
Wait, seriously? Yah don’t ‘ave one down there? I’m sure I’ve seen it…
But where did you see that symbol?
I’ve already told yah! It’s ye tattoo?
Wait, why do you want to know where she’s seen it?
Err… because I can’t remember where I’ve seen it myself? It’s just… I got this image of it burned into my mind for the last few days and I really want to know where I’ve seen it.
So… yah don’t ‘ave a tattoo?
No… but I am… was considering getting it as a tattoo… and seeing as a certain area is really the only place left on my body… err…
But… if yah don’t ‘ave a tattoo… then… what did I see?
Well, this is getting weird…

>Now, might I have the privilege of offering a cup of-
You'll be hard pressed to find yourself the chance to have that privilege, I'm afraid. Might be worth talking to Cain if you actually want the chance at some point, he seems to always know when I'll want some.
>But where did you see that symbol?
Back before you found out you were related, you were a bit more open around one another, right? Either somebody pretended to be you, or the Gods gave Bri a vision similar to the ones they gave you, only... Well, I guess that's how she would better perceive things. Hell, after one night I'm already starting to think of things that way.

>You’re not? Your father might be a bit corpulent, but he’s thin as a stick compared those like lady Bafford. They were forced to break down the walls of her estate as her corpse wouldn’t fit any of the doors anymore!
W-w-what?! I...didn't think it was physically possible for someone to be THAT lazy! Ugh...I feel sick...

>Cain's sudden appearance.
Funny how he's always doing that when someone mentions tea. But seriously, I don't care how much he denies it, he must have some kind of spy training in order to sneak around like that! He even managed to not only sneak up on Doxan, but he also managed to detect Doxan as well. And Doxan's a trained ninja for crying out loud! Eventually, we're going to have to ask Cain if he's gotten super special spy training. And keep asking until he tells us the truth!

>Mysterious tattoo that Bri has seen on Bel, but Bel doesn't have it yet.
Hmmm.....A big circle made out of runes with a dot in the middle. Maybe we should start with what it's supposed to mean? Hey, Kronos, do you also remember a rune like that but have no idea where you've seen it? If so, then maybe all 3 of you got a vision of that rune and you're supposed to find out where it is? If not, then let's help Bri and Bel try to remember where they've seen it.

>Is it better to be good and do less for the world… or walk the path of evil and do more good that way?
Depends on the situation. If you live in a reltive peaceful time or place then you don't really need to do much to make the world better when everything is doing fine as it is, but if everything is falling apart and it's going to take someone ruthless to put things back into order then it could be argued that it would be better to let yourself fall in place of whatever you trying to protect. That and if it isn't me it would just be someone else so it might as well be me and all that.

>the mystery tattoo.
Now you really are curious about this tattoo, ask them to draw it and ask them what it's supposed to do.

>“Is it better to be good and do less for the world… or walk the path of evil and do more good that way?”
... How is that even possible? You reap what you sow.
>Tea, sirs and madam?
Cain doesn't need to be a spy, he's already omniscient.

Alright, everyone seated here has had visions at some point, there's no reason not to be open about it and investigate rationally. What exactly does this symbol look like?

Briannah has visions; did she forget? That must have been a vision. What a weird time to have one.

Ask Belseth roughly where and when that image seared into his mind first appeared, and why he felt that he should tattoo it into himself. Also ask Bri to wrack her brain to try and remember if she's seen that circle of runes with a dot in the middle anywhere else. Tell Belseth that while you haven't seen a circle of runes around a dot, you have seen a symbol that's a circle around a dot on the Archbishop's mask and you'd like to know what that symbol represents. Also tell him that you saw that the Archbishop also had a symbol of a fan of five nails on the front of her robe. The same five nails symbol you saw tattooed on him. You'd like to know what that symbol represents, when and why he got it and why the Archbishop is wearing it as well.

Whisper to Bri that what she saw on Belseth is very likely related to her seeing the Old Man and all the other beings she's seen all her life. Perhaps a mark on him of something that would or could come to pass. But who or what could place that you don't know.

Ask Belseth when and under what circumstances did Bri see his naked crotch. You already basically know that, but you want to know how much he's willing to admit and not just tell him what Bri already told you since you don't know if she wasn't supposed to tell that or not. If he admits to doing what he did with Bri say you're curious why he'd seek her out for that when he's 100% gay. Or was it that Bri was the one seeking him out?

Tell Belseth that you'd like him to draw the symbol that's stuck in his mind for you, explaining that you have a friend who's a court mage who might be able to figure out what it is. But also tell him you want him to draw it without anybody else seeing it, then fold it up and leave it on the table. Tell him you had him do that so Bri couldn't see it so we'd be sure she wasn't subconsciously copying any part of it for the next part. Next you want him and Bri to go into a private room and... Um... Let Bri have a look at his crotch and see if she sees the circle of runes. It's nothing she hasn't seen before, so it's not a huge deal if she has a look, is it? And if she still sees the circle of runes she saw before, then she can draw it, fold it up and put it on the table with the other one for eventual comparison and see if they're the same or not. And... And then you'll... Er... You should have a look down there as well. You've had visions and such, so maybe you'll see it as well. And if you do then you'll draw it for comparison as well... Okay, you'll admit you have other, personal reasons to do it as well, but they don't make it a bad idea, right? And since Sisah won't leave your side, she can take a look as well to confirm nothing is actually tattooed down there.

Also tell Belseth that you also wanted to ask him to tell you more about the crypts and catacombs under the Grand Temple. Specifically you were curious about the Catacombs of the Godless. Say you were going to ask him yesterday, at the end of his tour, but you got distracted and forgot when he brought up how much Sakkilians can swallow. And also ask if he could recommend a good book on the subject so you can read up on it on your own. That way he doesn't feel like he has to tell you all the details.

Oh, and before you forget, ask Belseth if he found out anything about Elete yet or if he hasn't had time yet.

>“Is it better to be good and do less for the world… or walk the path of evil and do more good that way?”
You think that walking a path of evil, even if it's to do more good in the end, will still spread evil into the world. And that'll have consequences, known and unknown, that spread out and take root and become new evils. That's why you think the idea that doing evils can be justified if they result in enough good to offset them is foolish. And also, once you take the path of evil, you don't know in what ways and how much it'll change you. Whether it'll warp your view of the world and twist your sense of how much evil you're actually doing for how much good, or what "good" even is.

Ask Sisah and Bri if they noticed if the new soldiers on patrol were all Vark or if it was mostly Sakkilian soldiers and a few Vark, like the current composition of the army is. 'Cause if they're all Vark then that may be an indication that a anti-Sakkilian faction has somehow maneuvered their loyal troops into the palace for most likely nefarious reasons. And also tell Bri you'd like to visit Major Xarrin to ask what he's heard about why there's all these soldiers patrolling around the palace now.

>…actually, thinking about it that does seem a bit off. What are they doing here? They should be at the out protecting villages from “bandits” and stuff.
Yes, this is rather odd. Who could give the order to pull troops back here? Besides Kira, of course. A general? Anyone else? Hm... Wait... Double check this with Cain, if he's still around, but two days ago while you were recovering from your morning exercise he mentioned that Karas was meeting with General Thalia a lot. That might be an indication they were plotting together, though that's pretty much speculation on your part right now. You'd need to find out more about General Thalia and her history and actions first, especially how much she likes or dislikes Sakkilians. It might be she's in with the anti-Sakkilian faction in secret and maneuvered their loyal members of the army into the palace. ...Actually, you should just ask your father and sister about all the soldiers before you whip yourself into a frenzy of paranoia on so little. They'll know much more about what's going on regarding this than you do.

>Concerning the Archbishop, I would suggest that you seek counsel with your father or sister about the subject.
Y'know, Cain's right. You're rather out of your depth on this, whether you'll admit it to yourself or not, and they undoubtedly have much more experience and knowledge of how to deal with the Archbishop than you. And you've found out enough on the Archbishop that doesn't involve things only you can see and hear that you won't sound like a loon if you tell them. ...It would mean breaking your promise to Belseth to keep what he said secret, though... But maybe if you can convince him to turn on the Archbishop.

Remember to get the paper with the four wards you drew and keep it on you the rest of the day, along with with a copy of Belseth's runic circle as well. You don't know when Xuv'll be summoned today, so you want to be ready with those to show her when she is.

>She would look cute like that, wouldn’t it? You’ll try to remember telling her to add another tomorrow.
And move the ribbon closest to the tip back to however far Bri's tail has been in you. It'd be your and Bri's little secret. And you can make the adjustment today, you just need to whisper the idea to Bri.

>>724447
Telling Belseth this is somewhat risky. He kinda thinks the world is falling apart and I think he feels he can't do enough to stop it or even slow it down. That there's nobody that can do enough to slow it. At least, not without breaking his morals and doing evil to force the world towards good. And thinking that may push him more towards going along with the Archbishop's plans.

DO NOT GET THAT FUCKING TATTOO!!

We barely have any alone time to talk to about this between us (us, Bre, Seth, Sisah) so when would be a good time to talk to them about a ménage à quatre.
Because we all know that's how its going to turn out anyway, baring any unforeseen plot deaths/twists.

>>724661
Seconding telling Belseth to not get that tattoo. At least not until we figure out what it means or does and who or what has planted it in Belseth's mind and possibly Bri's mind too. Some entity could be manipulating him to unknown ends and those ends may be bad news for him or others. And I'm very suspicious of the motives of any entity that can plant anything into a person's mind like this.

Oh, you could tell Belseth about how you're thinking of either creating or backing an already existing philanthropic organization to fund research into making magic eye and other replacement sensory implants much safer to get, as well as improving and reducing the cost of them and as well as magic prosthetics so more people can get them. You hear he's done a lot of work organizing aid and such for the people during and after the war, so perhaps he could help you with this as well. You know it'll take years to bear fruit, but with your prince's purse and two such popular people as you two backing it, convincing others to as well, you're sure it'll get all the support it'll need to come to fruition. ...And it'll also mean you'll have a good reason to work closely with him as well.

Kaktus 2016/05/22(Sun)10:46 No. 725168 ID: 65a774
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>I don't care how much Cain denies it, he must have some kind of spy training in order to sneak around like that! Eventually, we're going to have to ask Cain if he's gotten super special spy training.
He’s always been good at going unnoticed before, but it’s starting to get ridicules! You have to find out how he does it.
>Y'know, Cain's right. You're rather out of your depth on this and your father and sister undoubtedly have much more experience and knowledge of how to deal with the Archbishop than you.
Then you better talk to them about it when you meet them later today.
>Yes, this is rather odd. Who could give the order to pull troops back here? Besides Kira, of course. A general?
…wait, didn’t Cain tell you your brother had been meeting a lot with General Thalia? She would have the power to order troops around, wouldn’t she?
>You'd need to find out more about General Thalia and her history and actions first, especially how much she likes or dislikes Sakkilians.
That might be hard to find, as the army likes to keep information about their higher ranks that still lives out of the hands of… well, everyone really… except for the King. …or is it Queen now?
>...Actually, you should just ask your father and sister about all the soldiers before you whip yourself into a frenzy of paranoia on so little.
Or you can just do that, yeah…
>Where new soldiers on patrol were all Vark or if it was mostly Sakkilian soldiers and a few Vark, like the current composition of the army is?
Sisah commented that they were all Varks as far as she saw.

>Hey, Kronos, do you also remember a rune like that but have no idea where you've seen it?
You can’t say that you do.
>Some entity could be manipulating Belseth to unknown ends by planting the rune in his mind, and those ends may be bad news for him or others.
Oh, great… so we might be dealing with another mad god or… whatever life is.
>We barely have any alone time to talk to about this between us (us, Bre, Seth, Sisah) so when would be a good time to talk to them about a ménage à quatre.
Okay, first off Sisah is, as with most of her species, not really into relationships, so she’s not going to be part of this circus. Second, if you’re going to talk about it, you might want to not just bring it up out of the blue.
>Move the ribbon closest to the tip back to however far Bri's tail has been in you. It'd be your and Bri's little secret.
…that’s… err… kinky. The only problem is that you have no idea how far in it actually… and… um… you don’t really want… not today, at least… you need rest after what happened.


> DO NOT GET THAT FUCKING TATTOO!! I mean… you might consider not getting the tattoo?
Oh… um… after this I’m not getting it, of course. No need to fret about it.
>You think that walking a path of evil, even if it's to do more good in the end, will still spread evil into the world.
You really think so?
There will always be consequences, know or unknown.
Hmm…
Not to speak of, once you take the path of evil you can’t say in what way it will change you. Will it warp your views or twist your mind?
“’e who fights with monsters should look to it that ‘e ‘imself does not become a monster. And if yah gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into yah.” and all that, eh?
Yes, I know the quotes, Bri… anything else you have to add?
“The road to ‘ell is pawned with good intentions”?
…*Sigh* I guess you two make a solid point… I’m going to need to meditate on that later.

>Ask Belseth roughly where and when that image seared into his mind first appeared, and why he felt that he should tattoo it into himself.
Um… a few days ago? I was kind of looking for a new tattoo and seeing as couldn’t get it out of my mind…
>Alright, everyone seated here has had visions at some point, there's no reason not to be open about it and investigate rationally.
W-wait, she does!?
H-hey, don’t just... ugh, Kronos…
See, now you two have something to bond over. Belseth have visions of the future while Bri can see spirits and the like. There, it’s out of the bag!
…Spirits? But… you know, never mind. Fine, I can buy it that she saw some kind of… vision of it, right.
>Now you really are curious about this tattoo, ask them to draw it and ask them what it's supposed to do.
Um… I can’t actually… I just remember bit and pieces of it. I remember it had a bunch of eights in it and… T’s?
Actually, I do have it already drawn there here somewhere… here…
That’s it! That’s what I remember!
But as for its meaning… I have no idea.
>You have seen a symbol that's a circle around a dot on the Archbishop's mask and you'd like to know what that symbol represents.
That’s the symbol of the five and the unity they make.
…and seeing as how closely they resemble each other, it might just be based of this rune! Which means it must have a connection with the five?
Not necessarily. It might just ‘ave been something they remembered as important when they created the symbol in the first place.
The symbol harkens back to the days after the old empire fell… so it’s possible it was important to it and it’s based on the memories of the old empire? Still… we don’t know what it means… this is just farfetched theories!
>Also tell him that you saw that the Archbishop also had a symbol of a fan of five nails on the front of her robe.
Oh, that… it’s a symbol of order… the order of the five, to be exact. Five nails, five gods, holding the world together.

>Ask Belseth when and under what circumstances did Bri see his naked crotch.
Oh… um…
The first time? A card game. ‘e lost.
But… I thought you… um… you know.
…she was… more man than woman at the time…
If I remember correctly, it was the first time I had gotten my ‘ands on some interesting potions that I was testing, eh?
>You want him and Bri to go into a private room and... Um... Let Bri have a look at his crotch and see if she sees the circle of runes.
W-what?
Eh, it’s not like I ‘aven’t seen it before, eh?
Still!
Hmm… actually, I should probably have a look as well… I’ve had a vision or two too…
K-Kronos!?
And as Sisah is already here, she would make an excellent test group to-
Enough! I’m not going to expose that part to anybody just like that! I still have some dignity, you know! So no, I won’t do that… that part of my body is only for lovers of mine.
Hehe, yah’re starting to sound a bit like me, Kronos.
I… err… s-sorry, Belseth… I got kind of caught up in the moment for a minute there.
…Apology accepted. Just… don’t start acting like Bri too, alright?

>Oh, you could tell Belseth about how you're thinking of either creating or backing an already existing philanthropic organization to fund research into making magic eye and other replacement sensory implants much safer to get.
Really? Why I understand you have your own reason to do so, it would greatly improve the chances of the common people getting aid, wouldn’t it? I would gladly help you in any way I can if you wish to fund an organization like that, thought I do not know if there is one. Oh, if there isn’t one, then it’s just the more reason to create our own, eh?
>Oh, and before you forget, ask Belseth if he found out anything about Elete yet or if he hasn't had time yet.
Elete? No, I wasn’t able to find anything about her… at all. Odd, that.
>Also tell Belseth that you also wanted to ask him to tell you more about the crypts and catacombs under the Grand Temple. Specifically you were curious about the Catacombs of the Godless.
Oh, those… I do wish they would rename them. The name is a bit misleading nowadays.
So, it isn’t for the godless?
It’s actually a really old Catacomb, I’m talking old empire old. But, it was first found under one of our more… bloodier epoch of the belief of the five so, as the name entails, it was used to imprison all those that did not believe in the five and those that was guilty of heresy. The place is like a grand labyrinth, and it was filled with the undead even before it was used as a mass grave.
Wait, they intentionally turned people undead?
They intentionally threw a lot of people into a place where most of them would turn undead, yes… so to punish them for all eternity. It wasn’t… the most prideful years of our religion… but we have changed and evolved since then, haven’t we?
So, it’s not being used anymore?
Not for that purpose, no. Nowadays it’s just a relic of the past… of course, sometimes we send people down there to try and find old artifacts or chambers and the like, though it is a dangerous pastime thanks to all the traps and undead down there. We’re not even sure how large those catacombs are yet, as they seem to be stretching into the earth for miles… well, not actually miles, but they are deep.
Hmm… so, there is a lot of places to hide something down there?
Oh, and there is another thing… I’m not supposed to tell people this but with you being the Prince… those that are guilty of grand treason against the crown, their bodies… well, they don’t get a proper grave, if you understand my meaning.

It’s starting to near lunch time. There is still plenty of time for talking, but you will probably not be able to do much else before the lunch with your father.

well since both bri and sisah are here and both have at least some knowledge of false limbs and whatnot why not ask them just how expensive those things are from cheapest to most expensive and some problems that have been know to arise from getting the replacements. I mean if we're going to try and start funding something for cheaper and less dangers prosthetic limbs it might help to know what can go wrong so when we finally ask the artificer to start on this we can tell him what he should focus on.

Other then that switch over to lighter topics so you can end this little get together on a high note. Also take a copy of that symbol and look it up when you have some free time. If we can find out what it actually means it would be really helpful in finding out what it's supposed to do.

> You have to find out how he does it.
No, he needs to teach us how.
>I mean… you might consider not getting the tattoo?
Whaaat happened to aggressive/impulsive? Not that it isn't an improvement, but it's still uncharacteristic.
> well, they don’t get a proper grave, if you understand my meaning.
We might find our late brother down there. I don't know about moving his body, but the idea of him as a shambling abomination is too much to-

I just had a thought, is that rusty gate keeping people out, or zombies in?

I changed my mind, leave the crypts well enough alone.

>>725168
Before you forget, ask Bel if he knows anything about the odd growth of plants near the pond. Tim seems to think the temple is causing it, because of some odd pulses of magic coming from the temple.

And the ask him if there might be a reason why the palace grounds look like a diamond with a dot in the middle when viewed on a map? It may just be paranoia, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

>No info on Elete at all.
Not even a little background info from before she joined the temple? That's odd, the temple should have something on her, no matter how new she is.

>All Vark soldiers under command of General Thalia.
This general has had lots of meetings with your brother and she pulls in a bunch of soldiers that are all Varks just days after your brother's arrest. There's a few possibilities here:

1.) She and her soldiers all share your brother's hatred for the Sakkilians and are surrounding the palace to rescue him and kill everyone that's a Sakkilian and anyone that agrees to the truce with them.

2.) She's been ordered by your sister to return to the palace to keep an eye on your brother. And, in case your brother wasn't acting alone, she surrounded the palace to keep your brother in and any of his allies out.

3.) Your sister ordered her to return so that she can receive command over some new Sakkilian soldiers, thanks to the truce. Then, probably after the trial, she'll be sent back to her post with our new allies to better protect our borders.

Personally, I'm hoping that 2 and/or 3 is why Thalia and her soldiers are here.

>Almost lunch.
Well, let's not keep dad waiting. Say goodbye to Bel and thank him for his time. Then you and Bri can go have lunch with dad.

...So your brother Krotos' body may not have been buried in some unmarked grave in the middle of nowhere like your father said, like you thought he was, but rather thrown into those catacombs to become a shambling undead. ...Part of you is disgusted that that could be the fate of your brother's body. ...And yet another part of you feels that for what he did to your father, to this nation and to everyone else he wronged, ruined, harmed or killed, and especially for what he did to Briannah, that if it's true it'd be a well deserved fate. But then you realize that exacting revenge on his body for what he did is foolish because his spirit is already gone.

Ask Belseth if the catacombs are still allowed by the Temple to be used for traitors' bodies in this day and age in the way he's implying, even though the Temple stopped that practice themselves. 'Cause you think that's disgraceful to do that to a person's remains, even for traitors. They're already dead, their spirit that made them them passed on whether their remains are burned or not. Leaving their bodies down there to become undead is foolishly trying to enact revenge on that which is no longer the traitorous person.

Tell Belseth that you hope that all the entrances to the catacombs have been discovered and sealed or blocked in one way or another, in the hopes that he'll tell you what entrances there are. And also ask him how deep the top of the catacombs are and how sprawling they are 'cause you have to wonder if there's a risk of breaking into them if there's some excavation for building or the gardens or such. You hope they have a map for the top level of it so it can be avoided by such workers.

>Nowadays it’s just a relic of the past… of course, sometimes we send people down there to try and find old artifacts or chambers and the like, though it is a dangerous pastime thanks to all the traps and undead down there.
Also ask Belseth what notable finds have been discovered in the catacombs, and why there hasn't been any real push to mount expeditions to clear out, search and map the catacombs. You'd think that with the solid possibility of big archaeological finds and artifacts and relics from the age of the Old Empire they would have been largely cleared and searched by now. Are the traps and undead really that insurmountable and dangerous? ...And you wonder why the traps haven't sorted out the undead down there yet. You'd think all the undead shambling all about would eventually trigger a trap and be destroyed. And are these traps from the age of the Old Empire as well? If so then you have to wonder what they were guarding down there.

Ask Belseth if he'd be okay with you drawing a couple copies of this symbol to send to a couple of your friends to see if they can figure out what it is, adding that they're the head librarian and a court mage. If he agrees you'll send the copies to each of them with a note asking them if they can identify what it is. But whatever Bel's response, draw a copy from memory once you leave to keep on yourself for when Xuv pops up again so you can ask her if she knows what it is. And also send a note to Tim telling him about the oddly fertile patch in the garden that appeared this year, that you think it might be from high magic exposure and ask him if he could find time to check it out at some point.

>Oh, if there isn’t one, then it’s just the more reason to create our own, eh?
Definitely. And tell Belseth you want to include research into not just magic implants and prosthesis but also other fields of medical magic such as biomancy in the hope that one day it'll mean actual flesh and blood replacements could be grown to replace that which was lost. And also add that you're going to tell your father about your idea as well and see if he'd get on board. He could use something good to work on now that he's retired from the crown, and it'd be nice to work with him together as father and son on this.

>H-hey, don’t just... ugh, Kronos…
That was terribly inconsiderate of Bri to out her secret like that and you should apologize to her. It was not your secret to reveal and you should feel very sorry for doing so 'cause you broke a part of her trust in you. And you should ask what you can do to make it up to her.

>The first time? A card game. ‘e lost.
You'll have to remember to play cards against Belseth instead of Regicide the next time you want to bet taking off articles of clothing. That way you might have a chance of winning.

>Hehe, yah’re starting to sound a bit like me, Kronos.
>…Apology accepted. Just… don’t start acting like Bri too, alright?
You really have been thinking more and more sexual and lewd these past few days and it's coming out in your words and actions, and you need to rein it in. Remember what Xuv said about not letting Bri take control of the relationship lest it become about mere sexual desires? Well, it'll turn out the same if you end up acting too much like her as well. That doesn't mean nothing lewd, but you gotta know the balance and when not to say or do such things.

...And the thought enters your head that it may not be just Bri rubbing off on you that's making you think more lewdly, but that it may be a small part of Xuv seeping into your mind, intentionally or not. It's a uncomfortable possibility that explains at least a few things about your thoughts and behavior since meeting Xuv.

And you should apologize to Belseth again for being so crass as to ask him to reveal himself to multiple people like that. You really should have more sense than that, given you're a both prince and supposedly skilled at speechcraft too. Though, you admit the latter seems to have largely left you these past few days and you don't know why.

>…she was… more man than woman at the time…
>If I remember correctly, it was the first time I had gotten my ‘ands on some interesting potions that I was testing, eh?
...Okay, you admit you don't know all that much about alchemy, but you have to ask if it really can do what this is implying it can do. She's saying there's a potion that can transmogrify you into the opposite sex, or at least your genitals? Is that what it did? And what did the other "interesting potions" do too? ...And you have to wonder just what else Bri has in her alchemical box 'o tricks besides this. Oh, and make sure to wait until you've left Belseth to ask Bri about all this so he doesn't have to hear her talking about sex stuff again.

May as well tell him you suspect Elete was actually the archbishop.

>>725459
He's going to scoff at that idea, so tell him that you at least think that Elete gave you a false name. As explanation, tell him that she was reluctant to give you her name when you asked, and that you later found out that the author of the book she was reading when you met her was Eletasia S. Zabat. You think she had to come up with a name in a hurry and came up with "Elete" from "Eletasia." And since he couldn't find a trace of her by that name in the Temple records pretty much confirms she used a false name.

Tell him that you find it troubling that a member of the Temple felt the need to hide their identity from you. It may be for personal reasons, but you can't just ignore that it may be for more serious reasons. Heck, for all we know she may be a impostor posing as a priestess as means to get close to you. It's a small possibility, but it's there. Anyway, this should be looked into more, just to be safe. She said she arrived with the Archbishop's group, so maybe someone else in that group remembers seeing her. Ask Belseth if he could talk with them and ask if they've seen a Vark by her description. And she also mentioned that the Archbishop knew that she'd met with you when the Archbishop grabbed her in the hall to deliver the Archbishop's message two days ago... Which is odd because you'd think the Archbishop would send one of her own assistants to deliver it.

Kaktus 2016/05/23(Mon)12:45 No. 725505 ID: 65a774
File 146403273059.png - (40.38KB , 686x526 , 16.png )

>You really have been thinking more and more sexual and lewd these past few days and it's coming out in your words and actions, and you need to rein it in.
…you’re right. Bri has really affected you, hasn’t she? …or is it Xuv’s work? By the five, you do hope that the mad god hasn’t done something indecent to you!
>Take a copy of that symbol and look it up when you have some free time.
You ask Belseth if you can borrow a pen, then quickly jolt it down on the piece of paper with the other runes.
>No, Cain needs to teach us how.
Even if he’s an excellent sneak, you don’t think he’ll be an excellent teacher…
>You'll have to remember to play cards against Belseth instead of Regicide the next time you want to bet taking off articles of clothing. That way you might have a chance of winning.
...indeed, you have to remember that.
>We might find our late brother down there...
You don’t even want to imagen that that might be the case!
>I just had a thought, is that rusty gate keeping people out, or zombies in?
That’s the crypt, not those catacombs Belseth talked about. They are probably not even connected.


>You should apologize to Belseth again for being so crass as to ask him to reveal himself to multiple people like that.
Hmpf, as I said, just don’t turn into another Briannah, please?
>Ask Belseth if the catacombs are still allowed by the Temple to be used for traitors' bodies in this day and age in the way he's implying, even though the Temple stopped that practice themselves.
Oh, I can’t really comment one way or another, Kronos. But is it not our duty to make sure justice prevails, even after death?
>'Cause you think that's disgraceful to do that to a person's remains, even for traitors. They're already dead, their spirit that made them passed on whether their remains are burned or not.
Actually… um… in a place like that the soul might not find a way out. They linger there, going mad from the solitude before trying in vain to return to life by possessing whatever carcass they can find. It’s… um… quite gruesome, actually.
>Tell Belseth that you hope that all the entrances to the catacombs have been discovered and sealed or blocked in one way or another, in the hopes that he'll tell you what entrances there are.
Ah, of course, no need to worry. Most of the entrances are designed to be one way… but even then, they are all warded against the undead. Why, the one exit we’ve found is guarded day and night by ever vigilant golems of solid steel.
>And also ask him how deep the top of the catacombs are and how sprawling they are 'cause you have to wonder if there's a risk of breaking into them if there's some excavation for building or the gardens or such.
They start about a floor under the crypt, so they are rather deep underground. Besides, we’re pretty sure they only run under the palace and temple grounds to start with. We probably built this whole complex on the original ruins of whatever was located here in the past to begin with.
>Ask Belseth what notable finds have been discovered in the catacombs, and why there hasn't been any real push to mount expeditions to clear out, search and map the catacombs.
Ah, mostly religious artifacts. Symbols, tomes and the like. We are actually trying to push for more expeditions to be sent down there… but with the war and all… well…

>Since both bri and sisah are here why not ask them just how expensive false limbs are and some problems that have been known to arise from getting the replacements.
Anything that is connected directly into the brains is really dangerous. That includes eyes and things that are supposed to increase cognitive speed. Limbs on the other hand… they aren’t much worse than being without them to start with.
As for prices, simple things like peg legs are dirt cheap while limbs like mine are worth more than what most make in a month. There are some models for the middle class that functions, but they aren’t that great.
>Tell Belseth you want to include research into not just magic implants and prosthesis but also other fields of medical magic such as biomancy in the hope that one day it'll mean actual flesh and blood replacements could be grown to replace that which was lost.
Ah, of course, of course. Seeing someone you love whole again would be preferable, wouldn’t it?
>And also add that you're going to tell your father about your idea as well and see if he'd get on board.
And excellent idea! With you and your fathers riches and influence combined with my… well, everything, we cannot fail!

>May as well tell him you suspect Elete might not be Elete.
Really?
She was reading a book written by Eletasia S. Zabat when I met her… and she was rather reluctant to give me her name at all.
That might explain why I can’t find any information about her. But I don’t think she is an imposter, though… but why give you a false name? Hmm…
>Before you forget, ask Bel if he knows anything about the odd growth of plants near the pond.
Odd growth? Isn’t that the gardeners’ job to handle?
>Switch over to lighter topics so you can end this little get together on a high note.
-so I told him I was a new art installation even as the jam started to run down the walls!
By the five… don’t tell me he believed you!
Of course he did. Have you seen some of the things people call art nowadays?
>Well, let's not keep dad waiting. Say goodbye to Bel and thank him for his time.
Ah, of course, the time is nearing lunch, isn’t it? I had a lovely time, you two, so don’t be a stranger now… oh, and if you two ever need anything, don’t be afraid to ask, you hear?
We will, Belseth.
Goodbye for now.

Kaktus 2016/05/23(Mon)12:45 No. 725506 ID: 65a774
File 146403274196.png - (50.65KB , 686x526 , 17.png )

>Send a note to Tim telling him about the oddly fertile patch in the garden that appeared this year.
You have Cain deliver the note to him, telling him that you believe it might have something to do with the odd magical surges he’s been noticing and that you wish for him to investigate it.

>That was terribly inconsiderate of Bri to out her secret like that and you should apologize to her. It was not your secret to reveal and you should feel very sorry for doing so 'cause you broke a part of her trust in you.
Damn right yah broke a bit of my trust, ‘un. Now I just need to find a way to punish yah so ye won’t do it again.
>...Okay, you admit you don't know all that much about alchemy, but you have to ask if it really can do what this is implying it can do. She's saying there's a potion that can transmogrify you into the opposite sex, or at least your genitals? Is that what it did?
Oh? ‘ow did I ‘now that would peek ye interest, eh? Why are yah so interested in the effects of a few potions?
Just tell me what they do, Bri…
Ah, but there are so many magical things alchemy can do, no? So many things indeed… why, it would be inefficient to tell yah all my secrets when we can simply try them out for ourselves, eh?
…you’re planning on drinking some tonight, aren’t you?
Well… yah are itching for a… taste, aren’t yah?
Bri, please… just… not today, alright?
Not today, got it.

>Then you and Bri can go have lunch with dad.
As soon as you enter your father chambers, you’re met the smell of alcohol. You can smell your fathers fetid breath from across the room, as well see his lack of balance as he stands up to greet you. The large stain of wine on his chest is the final proof… your father has been drinking again.

…Poppa?
Ye lordship?
Ah, my son! …and his delightful wife! Come in, come in!
…have y-
Now, you’re a bit early, aren’t you? The food has yet to be delivered, but it should be arriving soon.
Father, I-
Still, this is a perfect opportunity for some small talk, is it not? Oh, lady Briannah, might you be a dear and get some rose wine from the liquor cabinet? My back has been acting up lately and I don’t want to exert it further, you see.
Rose wine, eh? I’ll see what I find, ye lordship.
Just Helios will do…

You’ve seen your father drunk before… but never this early… or when he was expecting company like this! What has gotten into him? …and is he ogling Bri’s behind?

Oh, and I heard about yesterday, son, and I’ll have you know I’m proud of you. Getting past your fears for the nation and all that… of course, we both know that what you did wasn’t for the peace but for some other assets, eh? Hoho… why, pleasing someone like her… you truly did take after the family line, didn’t you?
…I did?
I’ll have you know, when I was young… oh, when I was young… and before the war too… hmmhmmm… you wouldn’t know that you would miss it when it all went away… *Sigh* nothing was quite like those tails of theirs…
…F-father!?
I can’t seem to find the wine, ye lor- err… Helios?
Oh, it’s on the bottom shelf, at the back… you need to bend down a bit to reach- yes, just like that… heh… now where was I? Oh yes, when I was young… why, the ladies would talk…

…okay, he is definitely ogling your wife… your own father is… his… you’re not sure if it’s the alcohol or if the years has changed him but you’re pretty sure he hasn’t acted like this before. …you’re not sure how you’re supposed to react either…

>>725505
>They linger there, going mad from the solitude before trying in vain to return to life by possessing whatever carcass they can find.
Uh oh. If Illasia was turned mortal, she could have been buried in the crypt along with Xuv. There could be two mad gods down there!

>>725506
Tell him to please stop ogling your wife. Even if she likes it.

Don't dwell on the topic though. Tell him about your plans for advancing the development of prosthetics.

Tell him that while you don't care one bit how he likes his women that is your wife and you don't want him ogling her

>You’ve seen your father drunk before… but never this early
well you've never had to see your father after one of his sons is about to be tried for a whole lot of things and seems that the best he could ever hope for is that he'll never get to see him again as he rots in some small cabin in the woods. I mean at least with Kratos he died on the battlefield and didn't get drag through the mud with political bullshit and at least got to pretend to die a hero... plus I'm not really sure how often you saw your father when your brother died.

But yeah, Tell bri to come back and get a servant to grab some coffee and water to sober your father up. Try and get him to tell you what's got him in a such a mood. Pretty sure it's your brother but it might help if we can get him to vent a little.

I'm pretty sure the wine isn't there at all, he just said that so that she could bend over. And while the view is enjoyable, you've...uh...you've got...more...uhhh...wait what were we talking about? I got distracted by that wonderful sight of Bri's butt.

Wait! Now remember! Dad, this isn't the time to be staring at Bri's butt! You're going to be part of the Council of 21 that's judging brother's trial, aren't you? You can't show up drunk like this!

Man, and I thought Kronos had problems maintaining regal dignity.

Dad. No more wine.
Make your subtext clear.

How come You've stepped down so suddenly? What's with the military buildup?

Kaktus 2016/05/24(Tue)09:37 No. 725668 ID: 65a774
File 146410787118.png - (42.31KB , 686x526 , 18.png )

>Uh oh. If Illasia was turned mortal, she could have been buried in the crypt along with Xuv. There could be two mad gods down there!
Wait, but Xuv isn’t… um… Xuv is imprisoned in something she called an inverted tower… and these catacombs reach extremely deep into the earth… by the five, what if the catacombs of the godless is Xuv’s prison!? That’s why there are so many undead and traps down there!
>Man, and I thought Kronos had problems maintaining regal dignity.
At least your father has the excuse of stress and age…
>You've never had to see your father after one of his sons is about to be tried for a whole lot of things.
…that is probably it. He is bound to have taken your brothers action harder than most… especially after what happened last time…
>You're going to be part of the Council of 21 that's judging brother's trial, aren't you? You can't show up drunk like this!
There’s no way his fit to be on the council even if he’s sober!


>Tell him that while you don't care one bit how he likes his women that is your wife and you don't want him ogling her.
Oh, was I… my apologize, son.
Father, please, straighten yourself up and show some damn dignity!
Now, now, now, it’s just us three here, isn’t it? Now I do apologize, but no need to be so formal… now, do you find the wine, lady Briannah? I have a real thirst that needs attending here.
>Dad. No more wine.
Huh? But I just found the bottle of Rose wine!
No, no more. I’m putting my foot down! That liquor cabinet will be emptied and you will have no more alcohol… at all!
But, Kro-
No buts! Look at yourself! All this drinking is destroying you and I won’t allow it to happen! No, this ends here.
My son, please! Can’t you show some mercy for and old man like myself? I need it to keep the weight away from my mind and-
Damn to what you want, father! Think about us for a change! How do you think we will feel when you slowly throw your life away, huh?
All this drinking can’t be good for ye body, eh?
Now listen here-
So, you will be like my brothers, huh? Throw away your own life for petty reasons? Hurting yourself like this is just as much of a betrayal as they did to our family, poppa! I will not let you drink yourself to death because you feel sorry for yourself!
I… but…*sigh* you’re right son… but… I’m still a weak old man… I don’t think I can do this alone…
Then I’ll be here for you, poppa… I’ll be here…
>Get a servant to grab some coffee and water to sober your father up.
Of course, your majesty.
*Grumble*…
>Try and get him to tell you what's got him in such a mood.
*Sigh* Do you even need to ask? My own son… two of my own sons… those that I’ve loved and raised, those that I’ve taught and seen grow up… both of them betrayed me for their own gain. Do you know how it feel when your own blood, your own family turns against you? I… guess you do, but still… it hit me hard, you understand?

The food arrives, a simple pasta dish served with the coffee and water you ordered. Your fathers mood seems to turn a bit now when he’s been presented with something to eat, though he still seem a bit more gloomy than usual.

>How come You've stepped down so suddenly?
I… so much has happened lately and… I’m not fit to rule anymore, am I? I simply can’t carry the weight of the nation on my shoulders anymore… it is simply too heavy for my poor back. No, your sister is ready to rule... and I hope her rule will be a just one.
>What's with the military buildup?
…the what? I don’t know anything about that… Soldiers, you say? Hmm… the only one I know who have any soldiers stationed nearby would be General Thalia, but what would she want to do here?
A coup?
Oh, please… she got about a dozen men at most that’s close enough to be of any use. If she’s up to something it would be on far smaller scale. Not that I would believe Thalia would betray us. She’s been a loyal commander for far too long… though, I thought the same of my sons, didn’t I?
>Tell him about your plans for advancing the development of prosthetics.
Why, that is an excellent idea, Kronos. I’ve actually discussed this very topic with your br- …former brother when he lost his eye, but he thought it would take too much time and resources before there would be financial gain.
Personally, I would say that yah don’t go into this for personal gain, eh?
Indeed. This is a subject that is still in its adolescence, so it will need a lot of nourishment before it becomes something worthwhile. Now, I have to agree that it is a worthy cause to stand behind, so I will do everything in my power to support your charity, my son.
Thank you, poppa.

Oh… and… might I ask for a favor, Kronos? I… I don’t think I will be able to visit him… I don’t think I can visit him… so… can you do it for me? Visit your brother? I... I rather not see him right now… I rather remember him for what he was and not… not this. So… can you visit him for me? See how he is holding up?

>Visit your brother?
sure, I can do that.

What was our next planned meeting? if we have some time we could knock that out right after we're done talking to your dad. Anyways your dad is in a foul mood so I saw try and us this time to cheer him up a little so he doesn't just grab another bottle as soon as you leave.

Also ask him what he knows about the temple and the arch bishop. If he ask why tell him that she asked you publicly support the church and left you to think about it.

>>725668
Sure, but he's not gonna like it.

>At least your father has the excuse of stress and age…
The former is universal in this time and family, and the latter should give him experience, not an excuse.
> If she’s up to something it would be on far smaller scale.
Jailbreak. She's planning a jailbreak.

No. Father, we will visit him together. This could be the last time you see him, right? Don't let it go to a waste, not for your own pity, You will probably regret it more if you don't go than if you do.

>>725689
This. And let's bring Bri with us, if she wants to go. After all, it's a family matter and she's part of the family now.

Kaktus 2016/05/24(Tue)17:17 No. 725739 ID: 65a774
File 146413542562.png - (42.32KB , 686x526 , 19.png )

>What was our next planned meeting? if we have some time we could knock that out right after we're done talking to your dad.
The only thing you really have planned is the meeting with your sister… which Cain hasn’t returned yet to inform you about a time.
>Jailbreak. She's planning a jailbreak.
…oh crap, if that’s true… you really should warn someone about this!

>No. Father, we will visit him together. This could be the last time you see him, right? Don't let it go to a waste, not for your own pity, You will probably regret it more if you don't go than if you do.
I… I’m sorry son, but… I simply don’t have the strength to see him like this. Not now.
But this might be the-
I’ve made my decision and I’m keeping to it. I’ve seen what he planned to do… and the son I loved is already dead. No, I will not see this mockery of what used to be my son… no… I… I want to remember him for what he was before… and not what he proved to be now.
But…
Kronos, sometimes yah just need to let things go…
…alright, fine… I’ll go see him in your stead.
Thank you.

Sirs and madam? We’re here about retrieving some bottles?
Oh, right, we need to actually empty out the liquor cabinet.
H-hey, you’re not actually-
I’m standing by my decision, poppa, you’re not drinking yourself to death.
But… don’t take all the bottles! Some of those are for decoration and have sentimental value, thus not meant for drinking!
…
…I won’t have them in my room anymore, if that’s what you wish, but I’m not going to have them collect dust in the cellars! Here, let me show which ones I mean… Excuse me for a moment, will you?

>Anyways your dad is in a foul mood so I saw try and us this time to cheer him up a little so he doesn't just grab another bottle as soon as you leave.
He definitely needs a lot of cheering up… and you shouldn’t leave him alone until he’s in a better mood, definitely. Oh, and they need to remove all the liquor before you leave him too. Now the question is how… you’re not entirely sure how to properly cheer him up when he’s this… this depressed? Maybe Bri has an idea?

Cheer ‘im up? Why, that’s easy. Yah just need to get him laid!
WHAT!? I’m not go-
Yah saw how ‘e looked at me… how ‘e longed~
So what, you’re suggesting that you’ll just fuck him!? For the fives sake, Bri, that’s my father!
Actually, I was going to suggest a Sakkilian consort, but if yah want me to fuck ‘is brains out…
Bri, please…
While ‘is body might not be the most attractive, ‘e does show quite splendidly where yah got ye looks, eh? Of course, people like ‘im usually are better fucks, as they tend to try and prove themselves.
Bri…
Oh, I’ll ‘ave ‘im on ‘is knees begging to even lick my arse!
BRIANNAH!
Oh, but powerful people like ‘im are kinky, aren’t they? I bet I can make ‘im beg to suck my big fat co-
OH, FOR THE FIVES SAKE, BRI! THAT. IS. MY. FATHER! I SWEAR ON ILLASIA, I WILL END YOU IF YOU… you… urgh!
Are you two alright in there? Are you arguing?
No… where just-
I’m just getting a bit of revenge for something your son here did earlier today.
…oh… well then, carry on.

But seriously, get ‘im laid by a scaly!
I’m not going to give him another vice to succumb too just to make him stop drinking! No, I’ll just cheer him up myself! …somehow.
Suit yeself, I’ve given my advice.

>I’m just getting a bit of revenge for something your son here did earlier today.
And that's what you get for telling Bel that Bri has had visions without Bri's permission to give that information!

The obvious solution here is to have a threesome with your wife and your father.

You're walking around with eggs up your ass from your last sexual experience, so this can't be any more strange.

>>725739
>another vice
Sex isn't bad for you though. I mean, sure, obsession is bad, and there's always the chance he could overindulge himself and die from exertion, but what a way to go, right?

But still, you're right, a consort alone would be like a bandaid on a sizable wound. How about you interact with him every day in some way? Like, regicide? The regicide club could get very big if we keep inviting people to it, haha.

Also yeah go talk to whoever's in charge of guarding your brother, and warn them about a possible prison break attempt. If they increase security enough to fend off the reinforcements or at least make it clear that they'd lose most of their men in the process, it should be fine.

>>725744
noooooooooo
No hooking up Briannah and Helios.

>I’m just getting a bit of revenge for something your son here did earlier today.
Don't you have a favor you need to quit stalling on first, Bri?

In addition to being morally indefensible, Dad's far too old for that crap and she knows it. How about a hunting trip? That'll give him something low-key to look forward to.

Ask her if she knows of any female of her group that could be willing to do this, and is trustworthy enough to not use this against us. If she does, then this plan could go, but, just to be sure, you have to remind her that it's about cheering your father, and that said, it has to be something casual, being completely sure that It's not going to escalate any further than that. Although I would think of it as a back up plan.

I support the idea of inviting him to the Regicide club... I hope He knows that you mean the game, and not the actual thing.

He was distracted by the toaster

JUST GET HIM A "JUNIOR ELECTRICIAN'S MY FIRST INNOVATION CRAFTING KIT"!

Whisper to Bri that getting laid isn't going to fix your father's problems. That hole is far too big to plaster over with sex. But... You admit it would probably be okay if he did get some, in moderation. And with a large variety of other things that raise his mood. You just don't want to trade him being a drunken old man with being a lecherous one, y'know. ...But what you think your father needs the most is companionship. And you don't mean of the sexual kind... Well, not just that. Someone to confide in. To talk with. To be romantic with... ...Hm. Actually, maybe... You could find someone for him... A Sakkilian. One around his age, who in a similar way lamented the war keeping her from the feathery guys. One who is a widow, divorced or never married. One who's personality and interests mesh with your father's. One you could arrange to visit the palace and meet your father and see if they hit it off... Ask Bri what she thinks of this idea. Of trying to set your father up with someone.

How about you suggest that your father and you some of the things he wished he had the time for when you were growing up now that he has the time. You'd like that as well, wouldn't you? And how about you share your hobbies with him too. Like playing Regicide. He can join the Regicide club. And you could take him to the firing range and teach him how to shoot and shoot targets. And you've read a lot of books so maybe if he reads them as well you could talk about them. And he has to have a mental list of books he wished he had time to read as well, right? And what about all the places he wished he could visit but couldn't 'cause of his royal duty? Well, now he's free to go. And maybe some time you and Bri could come along as well. In fact, Bri mentioned you and her visiting the Empire at some point, so it'd be nice if he came with you two as well.

Give your father a playful poke in the belly and tell him that maybe he can take up exercising in the morning with you too. Then those poor vest buttons wouldn't have to work so hard, eh? Of course you don't expect him to keep up with a young guy like you, but it'd still do him good to get up and about.

You know your father deeply regrets how his royal obligations took him away from you and your siblings and how you all turned out, so how about telling he could have something of a second chance, with the next generation. To do what he wished he could do with you and your siblings with Kira's children. Be a big part of their lives and make sure they're raised right. And you and Bri'll will help him as well. Or at least you, if Bri doesn't want to be that involved. You think you'd do well playing the part of the cool uncle, eh?

You think it'd kinda be setting your father up for failure if you cut him off cold turkey (no pun intended,) so tell him you'll let him have a ration of alcohol so he isn't totally hitting a wall here. You're thinking one glass of wine, or drink with equivalent alcohol content, a day, with a meal, and two small glasses of liquor per week, maximum one per day. And tell your father's servants your plan and ask them to execute it for you.

...Okay, you feel like you'll die of embarrassment doing this, but you should speak with your father about... getting some. Take him aside and in a whisper tell him that you feel like you're going to die from embarrassment asking him this, then ask him if he's thought about getting a... A Sakkilian courtesan. You ask 'cause... Well, he's obviously had unfulfilled desires building up for a long time, going by his drunken ogling of Bri, and you think he may feel better for relieving them. From time to time and not too often, of course.

When you leave, make sure to give your father a good, solid hug and tell him you love him.

>…oh crap, if that’s true… you really should warn someone about this!
Yes, starting with those who're going with you to see Karas; That's Bri, Sisah, Bri's bodyguard Agissa, and possibly Doxan if he's shadowing Bri right now. Find out how possible they think it is and ask them to be extra wary, just in case that is what it is and it goes down when y'all are there. You should also pick up a couple more of your personal guards on the way there, as extra protection. Oh, and double-check that your holstered pistols are properly loaded and ready to fire, in case shit does go down.

If Doxan is lurking about, ask him to go tail one of the suspicious soldiers. See if they meet with anyone odd or do anything unusual and if they do report back to you ASAP.

Write a signed and sealed note to Kira informing her about the extra soldiers patrolling the palace and grounds, that they're all Vark, and that Cain mentioned to you that General Thalia was seen with Karas multiple times after he got back from the trade expedition. Write that you suspect these might be connected, and that your first guess is they're going to attempt a jailbreak, but you admit that's just speculation. Add that you thought she should know right away so she can possibly look into if there's anything to it and take appropriate actions, and you ask she send you a reply soon. Have it rushed over and given to Kira as soon as she's out of her lunch meeting with those nobles.

>>725744
If you consider a threesome between a father, his son and his son's wife less strange than the son getting his butt stuffed by a ovale Serpens, then your sense of strange is out of whack.

>>725749
>Don't you have a favor you need to quit stalling on first, Bri?
That is a jackass thing to say to Bri in this situation and it should not be said. Seriously, that subject is a major sore spot with her. Poking it will just make her upset at Kronos. And why would you even think this would be an appropriate response? ...Oh, you're the one who suggested outing Bri's secret to Belseth earlier. No wonder you suggested something as inconsiderate as this.

Well, the vice of consorts is a lot healthier than that of alcohol. You'll just have to make sure a good bunch of his time is scheduled to prevent him from spending all his time with one.
>How about you interact with him every day in some way?
This should be a good idea, yes. You did promise to help him out when you said you'd get rid of the alcohol, so spending some time with him, talking about the Kingdom, the garden, songs or books; anything you can think of to get him focused on some random little thing should help, since you probably won't want to play games every time you meet up.
>JUST GET HIM A "JUNIOR ELECTRICIAN'S MY FIRST INNOVATION CRAFTING KIT"!
Actually, there probably are kits like that. A "Battery" that supplies a weak current of energy to the board (to prevent users from injuring themselves) for the junior/first versions, and as he gets into the more complex designs, you could get him better kits. Hell, building something with him should be fun.
Although, I think what he enjoyed most about the toaster was the toast. They're Birds Varkian, so they love toast.
>>…oh crap, if that’s true… you really should warn someone about this!
>Yes, starting with those who're going with you to see Karas; That's Bri, Sisah, Bri's bodyguard Agissa, and possibly Doxan if he's shadowing Bri right now.
When you go to see him, don't ask him if he's planning it, but tell him that if your hopes are true and he does get to continue living... "Please just don't come back. We may disagree and no longer like who the other has proven to be, but we were still brothers, and I don't want you getting into more trouble."

>>725775
ALWAYS invest points in Toaster Repair!

Kaktus 2016/05/26(Thu)10:54 No. 726081 ID: 65a774
File 146428525179.png - (52.52KB , 686x526 , 20.png )

>And that's what you get for telling Bel that Bri has had visions without Bri's permission to give that information!
Note to self, stop pissing of Bri… she can get very annoying very quickly.
>He was distracted by the toaster. JUST GET HIM A "JUNIOR ELECTRICIAN'S MY FIRST INNOVATION CRAFTING KIT"!
Hmm… you’re not sure if he’s actually interested in magical inventions or if he was just interested in the toast.
>Sex isn't bad for you though. I mean, sure, obsession is bad, and there's always the chance he could overindulge himself and die from exertion, but what a way to go, right?
Even if it might be better than the alternative, it’s still icky to think about.
>How about you interact with him every day in some way? Like, regicide?
You definitely should try to spend more time with him, be it playing games or something else. You probably can just come by and talk with him some everyday if anything.

>The obvious solution here is to have a threesome with your wife and your father.
What!? No, that’s… ew!
>You're walking around with eggs up your ass from your last sexual experience, so this can't be any more strange.
And those eggs weren’t from my own father! Geez, even if-
Heh, are yah thinking about ‘aving a threesome with ye father, eh?
W-what!? How did you- I mean, of course not! That would be-
Oh, don’t be such a prude! Yah’re not the first father and son I’ve fucked, I’ll ‘ave yah ‘now. In fact, I’m pretty sure I mended their relationship by being the “bridge” between them… hehe…
That’s… I didn’t need to know that…
Of course, even if yah don’t want to join in, I’ll still fuck ye dad, eh? I’ll ‘ave my tail so far up his-
I can’t tell if you’re still messing with me or you’re serious anymore… either way, you’re evil, you know that?
Hehe…


>Whisper to Bri that getting laid isn't going to fix your father's problems. That hole is far too big to plaster over with sex.
Well, then we’ll just need more sex until it does!
That’s not how it works! That’s not how anything works!
But it can’t ‘urt, can it?
>But what you think your father needs the most is companionship. And you don't mean of the sexual kind... Someone to confide in. To talk with. To be romantic with...
So, a partner, eh? Hmm…
>Ask her if she knows of any female of her group that could be willing to do this, and is trustworthy enough to not use this against us.
Well, I do ‘ave some old noble ladies and the like who might be interested… a king is always a rather tasty treat to get, so I’m sure I won’t ‘ave problems finding people that’s interested.
>One around his age, who in a similar way lamented the war keeping her from the feathery guys. One who is a widow, divorced or never married. One who's personality and interests mesh with your father's.
Okay, now yah’re just asking for the moon ‘ere! I might be able to do some of that, but not all!

>How about you suggest that your father and you some of the things he wished he had the time for when you were growing up now that he has the time.
Oh, you’ve grown past most of the things I wished to do with you, son… though there are a few things I’ve been thinking about… what was it again?
>How about a hunting trip? That'll give him something low-key to look forward to.
Hunting? Why, I haven’t hunted it… the five knows how many years. Heh, I remember my father taking me out hunting… why, it would be a splendid time, wouldn’t it? We must make time sometime next month to travel out to the old summer mansion, eh? There are some real nice hunting grounds and fishing waters- Fishing! There we have it! That’s one of the things I wanted to do with you…
Fishing? I’ve not really fished a lot, actually…
So, next month, just you, me and maybe your wife. Hunting, fishing and living the life out there at the lake… with servants and guards too, of course!
>What about all the places he wished he could visit but couldn't 'cause of his royal duty? Well, now he's free to go.
Places to visit? Oh, why, I would like to see the world… but, this old body isn’t up for it anymore, I’m afraid…
>And maybe some time you and Bri could come along as well. In fact, Bri mentioned you and her visiting the Empire at some point, so it'd be nice if he came with you two as well.
The Empire? Why, that is within traveling distance that this body can handle, isn’t it? Oh, I’ve always wanted to tour the imperial palace… never had the chance under the peace talks to do that… and I’ve heard of a famous forum there that holds the loveliest theatrical plays. I’ve always loved theater! Why, a vacation with you would be a splendid time indeed!
>Give your father a playful poke in the belly and tell him that maybe he can take up exercising in the morning with you too. Then those poor vest buttons wouldn't have to work so hard, eh?
Exercising? Bah, I get enough exercising getting up from the bed in the morning! But you’re right about the buttons… I might want to invest in larger clothes…
Are yah sure? We usually work out together and it would be nice to ‘ave more company on our runs.
You run, eh? …hmm… you know, maybe I should give it a try… though I don’t think I’ll be doing any running. A brisk walking pace will be enough for me.
>You think it'd kinda be setting your father up for failure if you cut him off cold turkey (no pun intended,) so tell him you'll let him have a ration of alcohol so he isn't totally hitting a wall here.
Rationalize? While I won’t say no to a drink, it feels a bit much if you ask me, son.

>Take him aside and in a whisper tell him that you feel like you're going to die from embarrassment asking him this, then ask him if he's thought about getting a... A Sakkilian courtesan.
Hoho, no need to be embarrassed son! Why, I have to admit the thought have passed me more than once in my lonelier moments, but… I am not a man, old as I may be, that want something so… superficial. No, if I was ever to replace your mother, bless her soul, it would be something a bit more... deep and important. I’d like to think your mother would have wanted me to move on to something a bit more emotional than just a courtesan. But alas, when I got over my grief from the loss of her I was already an old man…
Now, I don’t think that will be a problem. I ‘now myself a few ladies of age that are looking for significant others as well, a few I might be able to introduce to yah if yah so wishes.
…OH! You mean like… oh… I… I don’t think I’m ready for something like that but… a few introductions won’t hurt, will it? I do like meeting new people after all.
I’ll see which ones are eager to meet yah, so we can plan a little get together, eh?
I would like that, yes…


>Write a signed and sealed note to Kira informing her about the extra soldiers patrolling the palace and grounds, that they're all Vark, and that Cain mentioned to you that General Thalia was seen with Karas multiple times after he got back from the trade expedition
You write a note informing your sister about your suspicions and that she might want to act as soon as possible. Just as you’re done, Cain seemingly appears out of nowhere as usual, apparently bearing the time of your meeting with the Queen herself.

I’ll have it delivered at once sir. Now, your sister said that she will be able to see you in a little bit more than an hour, so don’t start anything time consuming, sir. Anything else I can be of service of before I take my leave?

…well, and suddenly you got a deadline. You should still be able to visit your brother if you wish… but, is that really a wise idea? If Thalia is planning something, you might accidently stumble into a dangerous situation… again. Of course, if you don’t, maybe she will succeed in springing your brother? Of course, the chance of it happening right now would be minimal, wouldn’t it? But with your luck… still, you do have other things to do. Finding more information about those catacombs… checking out the odd growth… talking to Tim about a lot of things… maybe just take a break with Bri? Hmm… what to do…

>>726081
If the jailbreak is attempted while you're there, then that will give you a chance to help stop it, right? Belseth hasn't warned you of another death, so I kinda doubt it'll be dangerous anyway.

Just in case, you can wear your armor, and bring protection.

>You run, eh? …hmm… you know, maybe I should give it a try…
...Shut up, thoughts. We'll just have to hope that if Bri does find somebody, they like to take walks or jogs too, and don't mind him being a little behind.
>While I won’t say no to a drink, it feels a bit much if you ask me, son.
A small glass of wine can get the body going, it's just too much and you put a strain on the liver is all. It's this, or a pitcher of non-fermented juice!
>Okay, now yah’re just asking for the moon ‘ere! I might be able to do some of that, but not all!
I think the main point is around his age--
>I ‘now myself a few ladies of age that are looking for significant others as well
Something she seems to be willing to handle just fine. We'll have to just trust her on this.

>Hmm… what to do…
Take a break with Bri, and stop worrying about everything for once. You're going to give yourself a heart attack before your father gets one at this rate!
Thing is, your own sister was the one who set the date for the trial so soon, so maybe she was expecting an attempted jailbreak, and already has the means to deal with it readied. She's had a lot of plans in place ahead of time, why not trust in that nature for once?

>W-what!? How did you-
You're blurting out like your brother. Your intelligence and silver tongue won't do you any god if you don't use 'em, you know.
>Hmm… what to do…
Keep your head down. You've done your due diligence informing your sister, and unless you're a southpaw, you won't be able to aim at anything as long as you're blind in your right eye. Go to the library to research the catacombs, or talk to Tim about it.

I think we've been running around too much lately. Let's just sit back and relax with Bri.

Kaktus 2016/05/27(Fri)09:27 No. 726317 ID: 65a774
File 146436646974.png - (39.04KB , 686x526 , 21.png )

>You're blurting out like your brother.
She ambushed you with her statement, leaving you open and confused for a second there, thus you’re blurting. How should she have known you were… of course, Bri probably just assumed you were thinking something dirty but still, her timing was inexplicable.
>You've done your due diligence informing your sister, and unless you're a southpaw, you won't be able to aim at anything as long as you're blind in your right eye.
You’re not sure, but you think you usually aim with your left eye, actually? Hmm… Speaking of aiming, you really need to get out to the target range and try shooting, as your aim must have changed even if it wasn’t the eye you use the most that was lost.

>If the jailbreak is attempted while you're there, then that will give you a chance to help stop it, right?
Or make things worse by becoming a hostage? You rather let the guards do the jobs they’ve trained for instead of trying to play hero… especially consider what happened last time…
>Belseth hasn't warned you of another death, so I kinda doubt it'll be dangerous anyway.
You’re pretty sure Belseth isn’t omniscient… and death might be one of the worse things that can happen, sure, but it isn’t the only bad thing that might happen either.
>Just in case, you can wear your armor, and bring protection.
You’re already wearing your mithril mail… as well as having Sisah in top shape following you around… and Bri’s bodyguard, Agissa or what her name was… and let’s not forget about Bri herself. You’re pretty protected, as long as you don’t run into an attempted jailbreak or something.
>Thing is, your own sister was the one who set the date for the trial so soon, so maybe she was expecting an attempted jailbreak, and already has the means to deal with it readied. She's had a lot of plans in place ahead of time, why not trust in that nature for once?
Yeah, you did warn her after all… and even if it is too late, she’s bound to have him well protected.
>Stop worrying about everything for once. You're going to give yourself a heart attack before your father gets one at this rate!
Yeah… you better calm down a bit… breathe a bit… of course, it isn’t easy when there are still mad gods and what might be real gods going around messing stuff up…


>I think we've been running around too much lately. Let's just sit back and relax with Bri.
After bidding farewell to your father and making sure the servants knows what he can or cannot drink, you two leave to find a private place to listen to the rain in.

So… ‘unting, huh? I’ve always liked ‘unting, so I’m sure it will be fun.
…really? I didn’t take you for someone who sneaks around with a rifle or bow.
Bow? Bah! I ‘unt with spear and traps!
…wait, what exactly do you usually hunt?
Oh, yah ‘now, things like boars, bears, wereboars, werebears, owlbears, owlboars, molebeasts, thornfiends, clawvipers, bearboars, boarbears, bearbears, werebearbearboars and sometimes even wyverns. Well… I’ve only successfully ‘unted a wyvern once…
Wait, didn’t you say you hunted down the wyvern who’s eye is in the matrimony bracelet you gave me?
Exactly! It ‘appened last winter.
That must be quite the tale… you know, we have time right now, don’t we?
Well, if yah want to ‘ear it then… let’s see… it started when I was in the northern parts of the Empire, near the heavenly pillars mountain chain…

Kaktus 2016/05/27(Fri)09:28 No. 726318 ID: 65a774
File 146436647971.png - (35.09KB , 686x526 , 22.png )

-and as tradition, as the one who dealt the killing blow I got to choose my reward first. I choose its eyes, as they have a rather significant value in our culture… and… um… a bit of personal value to myself as well. In fact, the main reason why I went on the ‘unt in the first place was to get a pair of flawless, crystalized ice wyvern eyes.
…there’s no way it happened like that…
I might ‘ave exaggerated a bit but… mostly, yes. I did indeed leap from the cliff side to plunge my spear into its ‘eart, that part is true.
Of course it is… wait, what happened to… what was his name? Kloun?
Oh, so far ‘e’s survived, but ‘is leg didn’t make it. Though, ‘e’s lucky that ‘e only lost a leg after the wyvern tore him up like that.

Why, that is quite the fascinating story, Briannah, thank you for sharing it with us.
S-sis!? Where did- but-
W-wait, ‘ow long ‘ave yah been standing there!?
For about five minutes, ma’am.
Forgive me but, I didn’t know I was in the presence of ye excellency, oh great Queen! I beg for your mercy for-
There’s no need for that, Lady Briannah… and call me Kira. Geez, does everyone have to do that?
B-but… y-you’re the-
Stop it, get up from the floor, sit down and breathe, lady Briannah… now, you wanted to see me, Kronos?

>You’re not sure, but you think you usually aim with your left eye, actually?
...What the hell does your shooting stance look like? are you cocking your head sixty degrees, or your wrist?

> now, you wanted to see me, Kronos?
Well hello to you too Kira. Did you get my note?

Can we speak in private for a minute?

When you're alone, say you're concerned she's acting extra-judicially when it's convenient, but that's not an excuse, even if whoever gets the short end of the stick is an asshole. If she references planting evidence in Karas' room that's good, if she brings up Qelba that's even better. (if she asks how you know about the latter, say 'I do now'. don't snitch on Bri whatever she says. ) In any case, say you doubt that's the end of what she's up to, and that you don't want her going the same way as your brothers. If she gets defensive or offensive or whatever because she thinks you're opposing her, say you don't need to- you hadn't the slightest idea what your late brother was up to, and barely had any idea what Karas was up to either. Her subterfuge will catch up to her on its own, and if you were opposing her you'd let it. You'd rather that not happen, though. Being an only child sounds lousy.

>There’s no need for that, Lady Briannah… and call me Kira. Geez, does everyone have to do that?

You do sound cold at times when you speak, it presents an image that you are not to be denied but it also keeps those in fear of you.

>>726331
I think it means she doesn't want the job, and her expression says the same thing. Hopefully it means she'll listen.

>Sister appears out of nowhere.
Something tells me that Cain might've given her some of his training, but she's not as good as him, cause Sisah saw her coming. Or maybe you actually were distracted this time? Either way, Cain does it so often, you should be used to one of your friends doing that to you at least once a day by now.

>Geez, does everyone have to do that?
>You wanted to see me, Kronos?
"Yes, I did, but first I have to do something." Now, Kronos, get on your knees and start doing all that stuff Bri was doing, just to mess with your sister. Then, when she tells you to stop, just stand up and say, "But seriously, congratulations on becoming Queen, sis." And then give her a nice warm hug!

One of the things we should talk about should be about General Thalia, and if we should be worried about that or not.

After having a talk with her, tell her to get some sleep or something, she looks like she's about to pass out! And if she says she can't cause of the trial, then tell her to sleep after the trial, because you're really worried that she's going to work herself to death before she's even been queen for a full day!

>>726318
Oh, that's a good sign. She isn't letting the power go to her head.

Well first, ask if she got your note. You suspect there might be an attempted jailbreak. Second, uh, ask her not to manipulate you from here on-- can't she just tell you what's going on if she wants you to do something for her? It's starting to become a pattern with people around you.

>B-but… y-you’re the-
And you're the Sakkilan princess, even if it's as removed as I originally was.
I'm glad you had time to see me, Kira, though the main reason for my request wasn't very informal. If you think it's important to keep them secret, I understand, but do you have reasons for the speedy trial?

I saw father earlier... this hit him pretty hard, he was drinking a bit much. I've removed his liquor so he doesn't kill himself of liver poisoning, and will be spending a lot more time with him; if there's anything you want me to talk to him about, I can, but he wanted me to speak with our former brother before the trial for him. Will that be okay?

Kaktus 2016/05/29(Sun)10:54 No. 726653 ID: 65a774
File 146454447734.png - (42.84KB , 686x526 , 23.png )

>Something tells me that Cain might've given her some of his training, but she's not as good as him, cause Sisah saw her coming. Or maybe you actually were distracted this time?
You’re pretty sure you were just completely distracted by the story Bri was telling you. It was quite engaging and interesting.

>Kronos, get on your knees and start doing all that stuff Bri was doing, just to mess with your sister.
Your excellency honors us with your presence, oh exalted Queen, and we wish of nothing else than to be of service to your greatn-
Kronos, please, I have neither the time or patience today to endure your tomfoolery.
Then let me just say Congratulations on becoming Queen, sis.

As soon as you go in for the hug, she takes a step forward and embraces you tightly, pressing herself against you.

Thank you, brother, it means a lot to hear you say that. Hmm… maybe I should congratulate you as well, as I’ve heard that your relationship is going quite flawlessly?
Well, there are still a few flaws here and there… but it’s going well, yes.
That is good to hear… and Briannah? Can you please calm down a bit? I’m just another person, after all.
But… y-yah’re the Queen of the whole nation?
And you’ll soon be the princess, Briannah, now stop acting so timid and enjoy the time with your soon to be sister in law.
…Princess? …I… I guess?
>Did you get my note?
Why yes, and you needn’t worry. I’m positive that I’ve taken the necessary precautions to keep our former brother safely locked away. But… you think general Thalia is behind it? I’ll need to look into that a bit deeper… as well as make sure your observations of the extra soldiers are correct. Either way, thank you for warning me, brother.
>You do sound cold at times when you speak, it presents an image that you are not to be denied but it also keeps those in fear of you.
I guess I do… but that will be the curse of someone that expect people to do what they are ordered to do…

>Ask her not to manipulate you from here on-- can't she just tell you what's going on if she wants you to do something for her?
Manipulate you?
Just tell me what your plans are with me.
No offence, Kronos, but I like to keep my plans as far away as possible from you. The only plan I currently have is that you’ll marry Briannah and be happy with her, maybe get a few kids on the way.
Is that really it? Is that the only thing you want?
What I want is to travel south, lay down on a nice, warm beach and just sunbathe the days away, but that will not happen, will it? No, this nation needs a strong and wise leader, a responsibility that has fallen on me. So what I want is irrelevant… what this nation need, on the other hand, is a symbol of cooperation between us and our allies, which you and your wife are becoming. Oh, one thing that I do want is your trust. I can understand your lack of trust for the moment, but please… it wounds me to see that you think of me like this.
>Tell her to get some sleep or something, she looks like she's about to pass out!
I sleep at night as everyone else, Kronos, don’t you worry. Though, I have to admit I am a bit overworked… sadly, the war did take a toll on this land by killing of most of us that were competent.

>If you think it's important to keep them secret, I understand, but do you have reasons for the speedy trial?
Personally, I wanted to have the trial at a later date, but… let just say we found a lot of solid proof that he committed a few murders of noble Sakkilian families, who are now demanding swift justice. So, to keep our new allies appeased…
…Proof?
If you want all the grisly details… he had constructed quite a secret chamber in his apartment, filled with all kind of things, including a journal and trophies of his deeds… eyes to be exact…
…w-wait, eyes? How many did he murder!?
By his own hands? We have proof of two… but he has also ordered the death of eight others, including a major Qelba who you knew. Not to mention that he had at least two dozen other murders planned, including my own, and plans of complete genocide of the whole empire.
Oh… that’s a… a lot…
>Say you're concerned she's acting extra-judicially when it's convenient, but that's not an excuse, even if whoever gets the short end of the stick is an asshole.
I’m just trying to remove a madman from power, nothing more. He won’t be tried for the things he didn’t do… not that he needs to, as what he did far outweighed it.
>I saw father earlier... this hit him pretty hard, he was drinking a bit much. I've removed his liquor so he doesn't kill himself of liver poisoning, and will be spending a lot more time with him.
Ah, good… you do remember I asked you to look after him, correct? I’ve heard he didn’t take it well, and I’ve made some time later today to visit him, but what he needs right now is not a replacement, but a loving son.
>If there's anything you want me to talk to him about, I can.
if there is anything I want to talk to him about I’ll just visit him myself, Kronos.

>He wanted me to speak with our former brother before the trial for him. Will that be okay?
I would recommend not to, but if father really wishes for it… I do want to keep the people who visit his location to a minimum. Besides, I don’t think he will be happy to see you at all.
So, the palace prison is off limits to everyone?
Indeed… though that is not where he is located. Well, officially he is…
…wait, then where is he?
He is in a location nearby that is only known to the royal family and the kings guard… or is it the Queens guard now? Royal guard?
…wait, a location that only we… um… you put him in the safe room father built under the war?
Our former brother doesn’t need a prison to hold him, do he? But yes, as I said, I rather not let anyone visit him, especially someone who would agitate him, but if you insist… Now, were there anything else on your heart?

>Children.
How are we supposed to have kids on the way? I thought that because we were different races, we couldn't naturally have kids with each other. I don't like the thought of being with some other Varkian woman just to have a child, and I certainly don't like the thought of Bri being with another Sakkilian male either! We would need to adopt to have any children, right?

>General Thalia.
We suspect her because she's had many private meetings with brother. And the fact that she and her soldiers show up on the day of brother's trial is very suspicious. It could be a coincidence, but you know the old saying, "Better safe than sorry."

>maybe get a few kids on the way.
Do you expect us to breed with cinsorts? ...or are there alchemical formulas that make that possible now?

>>726720
>We suspect her because she's had many private meetings with brother.
We don't know that. All Cain said was that she was seen around Karas a lot after he got back from leading the trade fleet, which implies they were seen in public by servants. (See >>/questarch/691080 for what Cain said.) And given it's third-hand hearsay from Cain, who heard it from who we don't know, whoever he heard it from will have to be questioned and how credible they are determined before it'll be worthwhile info.

>And the fact that she and her soldiers show up on the day of brother's trial is very suspicious.
General Thalia didn't just show up; She's been here the whole time. And we don't know the soldiers are from under her command here in the capital garrison. They could have come from elsewhere and just arrived today. If that's the case then they could be from under another general's command. For all we know they could be executing part of a plan arranged months ago, before Karas left on the trade fleet. Also, Karas' trial is tomorrow, not today.

>Manipulate you?
>I like to keep my plans as far away as possible from you.
>I’m just trying to remove a madman from power, nothing more.
...You know, for all my urging to call out Kira, it turns out Bri is the one who's looking guilty. There's been no evidence but Bri's word that the faux poisoning was ordered by your sister. In comparison to the maybe-planted evidence in karas' room and the forethought involved in keeping him locked up outside the prison, the frame job looks chancy as hell, not to mention pointless in the face of what your brother was actually under suspicion for. Definitely not Kira's MO. Has Bri been playing us?
>Well, officially he is…
It would have been awkward if we showed up to find an empty jail cell and started calling wolf. At least we were saved that embarrassment. Let's check up on him later, like when he's being moved for the trial.
>maybe get a few kids on the way.
Do you know something I don't?

Alright, Kronos, it's time to tell Kira about what the Archbishop told you in your meeting with her, what you've gleaned about what the Archbishop is up to and your misgivings as to her motives. Then she can turn her royal authority towards investigating the Archbishop's and the Temple's dealings. Of course you'll have to leave out anything you got from or related to Xuv and other paranormal sources, keeping it to what you've heard and observed that can be corroborated by other mere mortals and lying to make that fit together. This also means you'll have to spill that you have the prayer book and foolishly performed the rituals in it, sharing the truth of what happened with the non-Xuv ones, and only sharing what most others could see at the Xuv ones, since it'll come out in the investigation. And you'll also have to break your promise to Belseth to keep what he said to yourself and share what he's said and his misgivings that are likely related to the Archbishop's actions and plans. Stress that you don't break your promise to Belseth lightly but the situation is important enough to and you do not want him to find out you did. And also share what was on the papers he dropped. And also tell of Elete, you foolishly doing the ritual to Gaisia with her and Bri, and that you later figured out she gave you a false name and she was likely one of the Archbishop's trusted people. Kira can corroborate part of what you've said here with Sisah, Tim, Cain, and Briannah, but don't bring Belseth in. You don't want him knowing you broke your promise. Lay it all out for Kira and ask what she's going to do and what she wants you to do. She'll probably want you to write it all down for the reference of whoever she puts on investigating it.

>>726736
But why would Bri have reason to play Kronos? It makes so much more sense that Kira would collaborate with Bri and company on this 'cause Karas had a total blind spot for Sakkilians being clever. It makes sense to fake a poisoning attempt to embolden Karas and his co-conspirators so they'd get cocky and push out where they could be caught, then plant evidence in the secret compartment of Karas' chest that he gave the order for that poisoning. Finding that planted evidence then gives enough legal cause to rip Karas' apartment apart, down to the studs and joists, and find the real evidence of his serious crimes. And the trumped up charge that Karas was attempting to murder Kronos was enough to do a search of Karas' apartment to find the planted evidence.

>Let's check up on him later, like when he's being moved for the trial.
That's not going to be until tomorrow, and Kira probably doesn't want Karas to be agitated right before the trial by Kronos' visit. ...Actually, thinking about it, Kira may want Karas to be agitated going into the trial. If he's blowing up left, right and center during the proceedings that may reinforce he's a dangerous madman. We'll have to hear what Kira says about when it'd be best to see Karas.

Ok you know what? It doesn't even matter which of the two is responsible for using you as a pawn, just so long as they stop. You've said your peace and hopefully that's the end of it. If it happens again then we can look deeper and nail down some blame, at which point you can make it very clear they've betrayed your trust.

Ask her about Cain. He can't just be a normal butler. It's getting to the point that he's just showing off his skills.

You should tell Kira that you worry about her driving herself too hard and overworking herself. She said this nation needs a strong and wise queen, and a wise queen should know that caring for herself is as important as all her other obligations. That if she's stressed out all the time, not getting good sleep, and feeling tired continuously that leads to at least sub-optimal decisions and missing things. You don't expect her to shirk her duty and lead a carefree life like you, but there has to be some point closer to that then a beak-to-the-grindstone all day and too much of the night life like what she's at or close to. The both of you saw what that did to your father. You don't want her to feel she needs to martyr her life to the cause of Risavia's future. Nor do you think she should turn herself into a load-bearing monarch, upon which the whole nation rests. What happens then if she gets sick, or is otherwise incapacitated for awhile? What you're asking is, is can she delegate a bit of her duties to trusted others. Enough to get a solid nights' sleep every night, and perhaps have a few hours a week to visit or have a meal with you and your father. It's just... You don't want your sister Kira to end up getting lost under Queen Kira, nor her losing herself under the weight of the crown, y'know.

Beyond being a good husband to Bri, you think you can help Risavia even more by making it your duty to watch out for the physical and mental well being of its queen and former king. And that a having direction and purpose in your life now feels good.

And also share with Kira your idea of creating a philanthropic organization for the research and advancement of implant, prosthetic and biomedical magics, with the goal of not just making such things possible, but making it affordable for all. You've already told Belseth and your father about it and they're on board, so you ask if she would give her backing and endorsement as well. Of course, there's the matter of setting up the organization. Writing it's rules, setting up accountancy and governance and making sure it's in line with the law. Perhaps she could point you to someone who has experience that could help you in this.

And when you leave, make sure to give Kira a good parting hug. ...And also ask Bri and if she could bring herself to give her sister-in-law a hug as well.

Remember to ask Bri after you leave why she was so startled and nervous when Kira showed up, and yet she was much more relaxed around your father when he was king. You think it's more than she just comes from a matriarchal culture or that she was in the army. It was like she was afraid she'd be really punished for not showing immediate deference.

Also remember to ask Bri what the cultural significance of a pair of flawless, crystallized ice wyvern eyes is, as well as what the personal value they have to her is.

>>726746
Bri didn't like Qelba personally, and was conflicting with him professionally. She also has no problems- morally or in practice- getting Kronos to do what she wants. Why would Karas need to be additionally emboldened if he already ordered at least seven people killed prior to Qelba, personally committed two murders, and was planning more? Why would Kira depend on a relative newcomer and a perceived incompetent to pull a frame job in an uncontrolled environment when she could have delegated to anybody else to do a neater job like in Karas' room? Why is Briannah now acting in complete deference now, but spoke of her previous 'orders' like they were no big deal?

Kaktus 2016/05/30(Mon)13:06 No. 726808 ID: 65a774
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>Ok you know what? It doesn't even matter which of the two is responsible for using you as a pawn, just so long as they stop.
Did they even try to use you as a pawn or did you just blunder into things again? Urgh, you don’t even know anymore…
>...You know, for all my urging to call out Kira, it turns out Bri is the one who's looking guilty.
But why would Bri… or Kira for that matter… and… um… wait… something isn’t adding up here…
>It would have been awkward if we showed up to find an empty jail cell and started calling wolf. At least we were saved that embarrassment.
They would probably not have let you in no matter what you said… which probably mean you would have tried sneaking in… and with your luck, end up right in the middle of a botched attempt at a jailbreak.


>How are we supposed to have kids on the way?
…I’m pretty sure you already know about the flowers and the bees, Brother.
We are different species… you mean that we’ll have to adopt?
Or possible use a surrogate father and / or mother... both our bloodlines want our noble blood to be passed on, don’t we?
I… I don’t know about…
I would suggest that you talked to your wife about it, she has just as much say on this as you, don’t she?
…I always wanted to ‘ave a child of my own…
…maybe there are some potions or… something?
I would doubt it. As far as I know there isn’t a way to cross the species barrier… or the gender one at that. I know there are a few gender changing potions, but those aren’t made for something so complex as bearing children or even long term changes- wait, I’m getting off topic, aren’t I? But as I said, it is your duty as a child of our family… one of the few that are left I might add, to pass on the blood of the royal family to the next generation. Of course, there is no rush, is it? Just wait a few years and I’m sure both you and your wife have found a solution.
>Alright, Kronos, it's time to tell Kira about what the Archbishop told you in your meeting with her, what you've gleaned about what the Archbishop is up to and your misgivings as to her motives.
Promises of miracles, interested in your endorsement, strange burst of magic and these odd prayers you mentioned? Hmm… I don’t know what to make of it... and this…this cradle?
Cradle of souls, yes.
That does sound too dangerous to be kept in… anyone’s hands, really. I’ll see if I can find out more about all this. In the meantime, please keep yourself away from all this, brother, as I rather not see you get hurt.

>You should tell Kira that you worry about her driving herself too hard and overworking herself. Both of you saw what that did to your father. You don't want her to feel she needs to martyr her life to the cause of Risavia's future.
We need someone to lead us in these dark times.
We need someone that isn’t suffering from insomnia and make bad decisions thanks to exhausting themselves…
As much as I want to take a break, there is so much that-
And what if you get sick? Or otherwise incapacitated? Then what?
…I…
What I’m asking is for you to delegate a bit of your duties to trusted others.
But I don’t have enough trusted others that I-
Then find some more! Make some more! This nation needs a strong ruling body, not just one person!
I… you have a point, Kronos… I’ll see what I can do.
Thank you… I… I rather not that my sister Kira end up getting lost under the Queen Kira.
…I promise you I won’t lose who I am, brother… I promise.
B-by the five…

>Also share with Kira your idea of creating a philanthropic organization for the research and advancement of implant, prosthetic and biomedical magics, with the goal of not just making such things possible, but making it affordable for all.
Ah, that does sound like a great project for you to get behind. Sadly, I will not have the time to really help you with that… maybe you should talk to father about it?
I already did, and he’s willing to help.
I’m sure with his connections he’ll be far more help than I’d ever be. I’ll wish you luck with your project, brother.
>Let's check up on Karas later, like when he's being moved for the trial.
As I already said, I would ask that you don’t meet him at all… but if you insist in seeing him I will not stop you. I don’t know how he will react to your presence and I rather not have any surprises tomorrow… and even if his reaction is beneficial, I rather have a just trail than one manipulated like that.
>Ask her about Cain. He can't just be a normal butler.
Ah, Cain… why are you asking me? Isn’t he one of your best friends?
…I… I don’t think he would tell me the complete truth.
Well, neither will I. But, I can give you a question to ask yourself. Why would the King of a nation like ours let his most beloved son play with a poor orphan?
>And when you leave, make sure to give Kira a good parting hug. ...And also ask Bri and if she could bring herself to give her sister-in-law a hug as well.
M-me?
You’re family now too, Lady Briannah, so come here!
I… err… oh… um…
It’s been nice talking to you, brother, but I must take my leave. Now, do behave, you hear? I rather not lose my last brother to some stupid climbing accident or something… goodbye, Kronos, Briannah.
I’ll be seeing you, sister.

>Remember to ask Bri what the cultural significance of a pair of flawless, crystallized ice wyvern eyes is, as well as what the personal value they have to her is.
Hmm? Oh, it’s… well, it’s a really old gift based on an old legend of ours. It’s supposed to be the ultimate symbol of eternal matrimony between a couple, to show that one of them are willing to brave the ice cold death for the other, that their love will be forever until the death finally catches up to them. It’s quite cute, isn’t it?
>Also remember to ask Bri after you leave why she was so startled and nervous when Kira showed up, and yet she was much more relaxed around your father when he was king.
She is a powerful person and she ‘nows it. Ye father was, even when officially king, more of a symbol these last few years, as ye sister where the one who’s really been running the country for the last year or so, and I ‘ave great respect for ‘er. So, to be short, she is powerful and I’ve never been good around powerful people… and by my ancestors, I want to eat her so badly…
…wait, what was that last part!?
Hmm? Oh, I just… mumbled a bit…
She said she wanted to sleep with your sister, sir.
Hey! Don’t be a snitch!
…are you sure?
I’m positive, sir… to quote her exactly, “By my ancestors, I want to fuck her so badly.”
Urg, I admit, I ‘ave a thing for powerful people, alright? ‘appy? Of course, people that stand up to them are even ‘otter, so yah can’t believe ‘ow turned on I became when yah verbally challenged ‘er like that and won!
…you know, I should have expected that, but I didn’t…

…well, what now? You don’t have anything more time sensitive planned for today… in fact, what do you even have planned for today?

> gender changing potions
... Great, now you're going to be paranoid about other peoples' genders for the rest of your life. Is it possible that someone you met takes these on a regular basis? I guess you'll find out.

For now, hire an expedition from the local city to investigate the diamond.

>But why would Bri… or Kira for that matter… and… um… wait… something isn’t adding up here…
Tell Bri that you thought she was already in contact with your sister, and see how well she keeps her story straight.
>…maybe there are some potions or… something?
Hopefully Xuv will come through on this front. Tim's summoning her at some point today IIRC, we'll ask her about it then.
> to quote her exactly,
How 'exactly'? And I want to ask "who doesn't she", but I'm afraid of the answer we'll get.

Lets take a walk by the lake and stop by the strange growth.

Aaaaaand its a future foursome now.

Keep in mind if you DO have kids with Briannah, one of them will be Xuv's chosen. We don't know what will come to pass because of that. Xuv is quite mad and she plans to use the child to recreate her empire.

...I guess you could prevent her meddling in the kid's life by letting Life take her soul. Alternatively we could... threaten her with that, to get her to back off? Boy I doubt she'll react well to that though.

Now that I think about it, didn't Xuv say that because she was a god it didn't matter if you and Bri were different races, she could make it so that you and Bri could have children the natural way? That means no surrogates or adoptions. Bri will be able to have your biological child, through Xuv's godly intervention.

>and by my ancestors, I want to eat her so badly…
.....I really hope she doesn't mean "eat" like what happened during that Slaver Incident. And if she means "eat" like sexually, then that's not much better.

>Nothing on schedule.
.....is that right? That's.....wow, how long has it been since that happened?

>What to do.
Well, we could get Bri signed up to learn belly dancing! Just think about how hypnotic her hips will be!~

Then again, she did say she was turned on. I guess we could have sex again, but I don't think we should spend the whole day having sex, that takes all the fun out of it.

Wait, I know! We were going to go to the library to find out more about that symbol that both Bri and Bel saw in their visions! And we still need to find out about that rune that Life told us to find and destroy!

>to quote her exactly, “By my ancestors, I want to fuck her so badly.”
I thought it was "Eat her out so badly," but I guess it's the same either way.
Only thing I can think of for today is to test out your aim, if it's not raining now.

Wonder if the Cradle of Souls and the Catacombs of the Godless are related. The undead are corpses with souls trapped in them, right? It would be an easy bet that most of the catacombs fall within the Cradle's boundary.

Kaktus 2016/05/31(Tue)11:10 No. 726940 ID: 65a774
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>... Great, now you're going to be paranoid about other peoples' genders for the rest of your life. Is it possible that someone you met takes these on a regular basis?
You’re pretty sure taking potions like that regularly will lead to some really bad things… like death. Potions are made to be taken in small dosages, after all.
>For now, hire an expedition from the local city to investigate the diamond.
…wait, do you mean the catacombs? You’re not going to hire some random people to investigate those! Though, you really should get someone down there… even if it is yourself…
>We need find out more about that symbol that both Bri and Bel saw in their visions! And we still need to find out about that rune that Life told us to find and destroy!
…something tells you they might be the same symbol… now, where are you supposed to find information about a symbol that might have been completely lost to history?
>Only thing I can think of for today is to test out your aim, if it's not raining now.
It’s still raining, sadly… and the arcane powder powering the guns aren’t really keen on water.

>Aaaaaand its a future foursome now.
…okay, no… just… just ew! That’s your sister and your father! There’s no… No! Just ew!
>Well, we could get Bri signed up to learn belly dancing! Just think about how hypnotic her hips will be!~
You’ve already requested a dance tutor for both of you, hopefully he can teach her a few moves that might entice you a bit extra.
>Now that I think about it, didn't Xuv say that because she was a god it didn't matter if you and Bri were different races, she could make it so that you and Bri could have children the natural way?
She did say that… which is why you two had protection last night. You’re definitely not ready to be a father yet!
>Keep in mind if you DO have kids with Briannah, one of them will be Xuv's chosen.
Which you have no idea what it means, but it can’t be good! Just another reason not to get kids!
>...I guess you could prevent her meddling in the kid's life by letting Life take her soul. Alternatively we could... threaten her with that.
You have no idea how she would react to a threat like that… or even if she would react at all. And feeding her soul to life? That’s… it just feels wrong somehow…
>.....I really hope she doesn't mean "eat" like what happened during that Slaver Incident.
You really hope you misheard her… that it’s just your mind playing tricks on you.
>Then again, she did say she was turned on. I guess we could have sex again.
Let’s take it easy with the fun times, or you might turn into another Bri. You already had a bit of a tumble this morning, didn’t you? So going for a quickie in the middle of the day might be a bit to-

Oh, yah want to take a quickie, eh?
…okay, this is getting a bit scary. How do you know what I’m thinking all the time?
Because I can read minds! …or yah just ‘ave a blatant tell whenever yah think about something lewd. So… I’m up for a quickie in one of the bathrooms if yah want to?
…Actually, I was just thinking about how I didn’t want to do that… though, I might need to visit the bathroom soon anyway… probably before we do anything else.
Aw… I was really looking forwards to a quickie…
>How 'exactly'?
As exactly as it possible is, sir. You can ask her body guard as well.
My lady said she wanted to have intercourse with the queen, my lord.
Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side! But yes, I said that. Why do you keep asking?
Oh, I… I thought I heard something else, that’s all.
>Tell Bri that you thought she was already in contact with your sister, and see how well she keeps her story straight.
I’ve only met ‘er once before in person, otherwise it’s been through messages, dove. I ‘ave to admit, it might be because of that I’m a bit sheepish around ‘er… as I was equally sheepish around ye father when we first met to talk about our arranged marriage ‘alf a year ago.

>Let’s take a walk by the lake and stop by the strange growth.
After a quick… “pit stop”, you arrive at the strange growth near the lake. It seems that Tim has already gotten your message, as he is currently setting up some kind of machinery near the mass of fauna. You have to admit, you can’t remember the last time anything near this area has grown this… this big. Something definitely isn’t right here!

Hmm… it doesn’t seem like Tim notice you, even with your royal umbrella trotting almost right up to him. Is he really that consumed by his work?

>Need to visit bathroom soon.
>"Pit stop".
So, did you finally give birth to those eggs Sisah put in you earlier? Does this mean you're a father now? Or are you a mother because you laid the eggs?

>Used protection last night.
I don't think you understand. Xuv is a GOD and she can make you naturally have children, even though you and Bri are different races. I think she can easily get rid of your protection and then put it back so that you wouldn't notice it was gone!

>Tim working on odd growth.
Ok, after we accidentally scare him, because you know it's going to happen, we should ask what his machinery is supposed to do and if there's anything he needs right now.

>>726940
Yeah it sounds like you misheard her. It might even be that "god" that's been giving you those vivid hallucinations.

Say hello. Ask what's all this cool stuff doing.

Be careful though, they look like they might be holding a bloody spear. Might be possed by the thing you told them to check out.

>which is why you two had protection last night.
How'd you sell that?
>You’re definitely not ready to be a father yet!
Why not? It's not like you need to build a crib or knit booties or something. You're royalty. If you really want to, you can pull a your-dad and not get involved in child rearing at all. I'd recommend against that though.
>…or yah just ‘ave a blatant tell whenever yah think about something lewd.
You'll have to look into that later. More specifically, look in a mirror.

>Is he really that consumed by his work?
For that matter, what's up with his eye? What's he holding?

Wait a minute, you wore protection but Sisah didn't???

Well, Tim does get really engrossed in his work when he finds it particularly interesting, doesn't he? Also, the rain is likely masking the sound of your group's movements, and the grass is muffling your footsteps. Put them together and it's possible he wouldn't even notice Bri walking up behind him.

You should avoid surprising Tim in any way. It's generally a bad idea to startle a mage that's working and particularly focused on a magical task, since they may be mentally holding threads of a spell together, or doing other sensitive work. But even if that's not the case with Tim here, it'd still be courteous to avoid spooking him. Better step back a bit, circle around and approach him from where he can see you coming.

...Wait. It looks like Tim isn't wearing his robe. He's in his proper outfit, isn't he? And does his eye look strangely red to you, or is that just the glow of something he's working on reflecting off it?

Kaktus 2016/06/01(Wed)16:17 No. 727269 ID: 65a774
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>So, did you finally give birth to those eggs Sisah put in you earlier? Does this mean you're a father now?
Haven’t you already been over this? That’s not how it works. You’re pretty sure that’s not how it works anywhere! Those eggs actually needs a Serpent male and female to do… um… stuff with them and… you’re not entirely sure how Serpent biology works but you do know that it doesn’t involve your butt… or anyone else’s butt for that matter. But yes, they are gone now… and you feel kind of empty, actually… huh…
>A tell when you’re thinking lewd thought? You'll have to look into that later. More specifically, look in a mirror.
When you have the time… and are completely alone.

>I don't think you understand. Xuv is a GOD and she can make you naturally have children, even though you and Bri are different races.
… … …and you already done it with Bri… dammit, you’re not ready to be a father! Clearly, you have to resort to the oldest way of birth control from now on just to be sure, unless it’s already too late.
>Why not? It's not like you need to build a crib or knit booties or something. You're royalty. If you really want to, you can pull a your-dad and not get involved in child rearing at all.
Because you’re not your father… or your brothers! You’re not going to leave someone that needs you like that, especially if it is your own child! No, if you ever have a child, which you want to in maybe a few years, you’ll make sure it grows up right and proper, with lots of love and happiness!
>Wait a minute, you wore protection but Sisah didn't???
…no, Bri was the one with the protective runes, not you… and you don’t see what kind of protection Sisah should have worn, as last time you checked two dicks can’t really make a baby, can they?
>Yeah it sounds like you misheard her. It might even be that "god" that's been giving you those vivid hallucinations.
You’re not sure why any of the these mad “gods” would make you hear something like that… maybe it’s just because of that story she told you about the slaver… you’ve… you’ve had a hard time getting it out of your mind and… it’s possible it might cloud your perceptions.


>You should avoid surprising Tim in any way. It's generally a bad idea to startle a mage that's working and particularly focused on a magical task.
*Clears throat*
Hmm? I don’t have time for any interruptions right now! If it isn’t an emergency, come see me tomorrow for whatever- Oh! Kronos! I… I thought it was someone else. Well, as I said, a bit busy, so if it isn’t important… or do you want to know how my research is going?
>Ask what's all this cool stuff is.
Ah, yes, this… it’s a mechanical apparatus containing cifilitig crystalline hardl- it’s a machine that can measure odd magical occurrences. You did say there were some here, yes?
I did… have you found anything yet?
Well, not really. I’ve taken a sample from the fauna that shows a lot of magical radiation in them, but other than that… well, you can see for yourself, the crystal is supposed to illuminate when it detect magic, but it’s completely… err… black… um… it’s not… that’s kind of… fast?

Kaktus 2016/06/01(Wed)16:17 No. 727270 ID: 65a774
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*sssssSSSSSssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEK*
*Thud*

And… err…
…did it just… implode!?
I’ve never… um…
…wait, what does that mean? Is it bad? Should we run for cover or something?
No, I don’t… think… um…

>And if there's anything he needs right now.
Well, I am going to need a replacement for that apparatus in the future but… as for now? I need time to figure out what just happened… hmm…
Take as much time as you need, Tim.
Hmm… a large pulse of mana then… nothing? Some kind of feedback, maybe? I felt the power growing but then suddenly… gone. Hmmm… something is… reabsorbing it? Destroying it? Freeing it? Hmm… or was it just the awesome amount of mana that was released that is messing with my senses? No, then there would be more evidence… where is all the evidence? The trees absorb some of it but other than that… why isn’t there more residues? There should be… unless something is removing it somehow? Hmm… maybe if I… or I can… no… hmm… but… if I…
Um… do yah think we can be of any ‘elp to ‘im, Kronos? Or should we just leave ‘im to think?

>last time you checked two dicks can’t really make a baby, can they?
Sure, before the forgotten mad god cursed you in order to sire a champion for her. But surely she'll be considerate of your opinions on how reproduction should and should not go down, right?
>cifilitig crystalline hardl-
Gesundheit.
> do yah think we can be of any ‘elp to ‘im, Kronos?
It looks like it was destroyed on purpose, who could do that... Unless, what happens to people who touch the river of mana again?
Tell him about the subterranea , and the square formation the important sites form.

>>727270
Ask him how big a mana battery can be. Maybe something is drawing in sources of magic and storing it, and his device fell prey to it. The growth is from the battery leaking a little, maybe? Or it's from when the battery is used, but whatever's drawing mana into the battery isn't affecting living things. Or maybe the trees and fauna aren't strongly enchanted enough to be targeted.

>and you feel kind of empty, actually
That's because your gut became accustomed to the eggs and now they're gone so it will take a few minutes for the felling to pass.
But speaking about growing accustomed to things in your butt have you told Bri about your ribbon idea?

>When you have the time… and are completely alone.
Or ask Kain or Sisah

>protection two dicks, etc
What if Xuv magic negates the protection rune and makes you even more fertile?
What you could now breed with any race, what if Sisah pumped Briannah full of eggs and you fertilized the eggs and then Bri gave birth to like a tri-hybrid even though that's probably not how it works but can you imagine.

>it’s possible it might cloud your perceptions.
Maybe she did say eat and you just missed the 'out' part.

>implode
We didn't cause that right? That didn't happen because of weird 'god' magic with us or Briannah right?

>>727269
>The oldest way of birth control
Anal!

.....I think the best thing to do is take a few steps back. Like, WAAAY back. Juuust in case that could suddenly happen to one of you. Once we're at a safe distance, you can ask Tim some questions.

You should show Tim your map with the locations that form a diamond and ask if has any ideas about that.

Then you should show him that symbol that Bri and Bel saw in their visions. Just don't tell him about the visions, Bri and Bel wouldn't be happy about you telling everyone that they have visions. If Tim asks where you saw the symbol, then just lie and say YOU saw it in a vision that YOU had.

Kaktus 2016/06/02(Thu)08:16 No. 727409 ID: 65a774
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>The oldest way of birth control? Anal!
Or her backside… or mouth… or face… just anything but one place, really.
>Sure, before the forgotten mad god cursed you in order to sire a champion for her. But surely she'll be considerate of your opinions on how reproduction should and should not go down, right?
Seeing as she wanted a female wife for Belseth, there has to be some restrictions of what she can do. Otherwise she would just snap her fingers and make Bri pregnant without your intervention at all.
>What if you could now breed with any race? What if Sisah pumped Briannah full of eggs and you fertilized the eggs and then Bri gave birth to like a tri-hybrid?
Okay, that does seem to be outside her power, god or not. You have to remember that she is nearly powerless and stuck in some prison somewhere. Of course, disregarding the whole hybrid thing, that scenario does sound kind of… hot. Maybe you should talk to Sisah about getting revenge on Bri for earlier today and… and… Dammit, Bri really has gotten to you!
>Have you told Bri about your ribbon idea?
You did whisper it to her, but now she wants to see how deep she can go before moving the ribbon. Sufficient to say, that will have to wait a bit…
>Or ask Cain or Sisah about the tell.
Hmm… would they know about it? You’re sure Sisah would be willing to help you try to find it when you have the time if she hasn’t already seen it…


>.....I think the best thing to do is take a few steps back. Like, WAAAY back. Juuust in case that could suddenly happen to one of you.
You know… maybe we should just take a few steps back before that happens to one of us…
Bah! Poppycock! It was the cifilitig crystals that collapsed into themselves that is the cause of the implosion. Unless you’re hiding highly unstable magical crystals in your pocket you’ll be fine.
Still… it might still be dangerous!
The trees are fine, aren’t they? But alright, if it will make you two stop complaining… there, happy?
…you moved like five steps…
Well, I’m staying way over ‘ere if yah need me…
>We didn't cause that right? That didn't happen because of weird 'god' magic with us or Briannah right?
I don’t think you had anything to do with this. The magic clearly radiated from directly below us. Now, what is under us right now? None of the crypts or cellars goes under here, right?
>Tell him about the subterranean , and show him your map with the locations that form a diamond.
Hmmm? This is interesting. The palace is constructed on an old ruin, isn’t it? So it’s possible… and seeing the symmetry, quite likely that there is something below us. Hmm… the catacombs of the godless… I don’t think it was from there… they are too deep down. I think it came from something about the depth of the crypts… so there might be some kind of old crypt below here that is leaking magic? Interesting…

>It looks like it was destroyed on purpose, who could do that...
Err… if someone can control that much magic I wouldn’t want to meet them. No soiree.
>Unless, what happens to people who touch the river of mana again?
...things that touches the mana stream directly tends to explode violently even if it shouldn’t be able to. This, on the other hand, was some kind of overload followed by a massive energy drain. Not the same thing, you understand. Also, only living things explode, as they are what are trying to touch the stream. Never heard of a machine exploding, only the wizard four rooms away to switched it on.
>Ask him how big a mana battery can be. Maybe something is drawing in sources of magic and storing it, and his device fell prey to it.
I’ve never heard about a battery so powerful that it would contain so much magic. Even the tales from the old world doesn’t mention something like this.

>You should show him that symbol that Bri and Bel saw in their visions.
A symbol? Hmm… I don’t recognize it. Where did you see it?
In a vision.
…really? You know, if you were anyone else I would have told you that you just made this thing up but… well, actually, I would still tell you that even if it were you… um… where was I? Oh, right, the symbol. Yes, it’s definitely some kind of magic behind it but… I can’t feel what. Not surprising as runes tend to be hard to decipher just like this. No, I think you need to find someone who knows what kind of runes this actually is if you want to know what it does, Kronos.

Can we leave? I rather not see anything else start imploding for no reason at all… and it’s starting to get cold and wet out ‘ere…

>>727409
Gonna have to show the rune to Xuv. Ask Tim when he's doing the ritual.

>>727464
I really don't think we should show Xuv. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to try and summon her because Life might show up and kill us for trying to get in contact with what he calls a "false god". I think the only thing we can do is just relax with Bri for the rest of the day. We're going to need all the rest we can get in order to be ready for brother's trial tomorrow.

>>727586
...dude, we've talked to Xuv like twice since Life met Kronos. It's fine. There's really no reason not to show Xuv the rune.

>Dammit, Bri really has gotten to you!
Slippery slopes, man. Can't give an inch or you'll be taken for a mile, like the pirate incident. It'd help if you didn't hem and haw over every opportunity to capitulate, though.
> Err… if someone can control that much magic I wouldn’t want to meet them. No soiree.
Well, you've already summoned one supposed deity...
>Can we leave?
Sure, let's go back to the palace. That's another corner on the square, I bet stuff will be imploding there too.

Tell Bri you have a few more things to speak with Tim about, so it'll be a minute or two, but perhaps Tim could be convinced to step away from the overgrown area while you talk. After all, he can't focus on it while talking to you, and this way we can all keep a distance Bri feels safe at and stand out of the rain under the "umbrella" the servants are carrying. (It's really more like a tent or awning, isn't it?) And also then Bri can hold you close to keep you both warm against the cold and wet. That'd be nice.

Tell Tim that since the points in the garden layout appear to be symmetrical, if there's some chamber or something under this spot then perhaps it had a entrance like the royal crypt has, except this one was blocked up or just filled in. So find the point the same distance from the center of the garden to the royal crypt entrance, just on the exact opposite side, and dig there. Unfortunately, getting the approval and assistance of Whispers and the other gardeners might be tricky. Maybe if Tim just told Whispers there's something that may be dangerous down there he could get its help. Or Time could lie and say he thinks he found a cluster of those new earth elementals he'd like to get dug up. You know Whispers doesn't want them messing the garden up when they wake up, so it would probably agree to digging then.

Also tell Tim about the door with the mark of Illasia you saw in the crypt, and that the tunnel it blocks points towards the Grand Temple. Since the locations in the garden are symmetrical, then, assuming there's some kind of chamber under here, perhaps there is a matching tunnel like that one leading away from this overgrown spot. But depending on which axis it's mirrored on, the tunnel could go towards the Grand Temple, or it could go towards the palace. Maybe you should check out the palace basement where you think the tunnel would have connected. See if there's any obviously bricked up entrances there. Or it could be there used to be four tunnels in total, and over the centuries the ones other than the crypt to Grand Temple one collapsed in and you won't be able to get in to whatever is under here that way.

Inform Tim that you told your sister about the Archbishop's offer and the prayer book, so he shouldn't be surprised if one of her people comes to ask about what happened. You want him to be forthcoming if that happens and don't hide anything. Hopefully having her looking into this'll will get to the bottom of things.

Also ask Tim if it'd be bad for an Uredo if it regularly took root to sleep in this spot, since the magic radiation did this to the plants. Maybe he should warn Whispers to avoid sleeping in or near this place, just to be safe.

Also offer to provide Tim with funds to procure a replacement for the detector he just lost, if he doesn't already have a spare. And if he has any other equipment or detectors he can think of he'd like to purchase for this situation, you'd be happy to pay for them as well... As long as they aren't ridiculously expensive. Then maybe you can convince someone to lend theirs to him.

>Also, only living things explode, as they are what are trying to touch the stream. Never heard of a machine exploding, only the wizard four rooms away to switched it on.
So a mage who built a machine to try and access the River of Mana would end up exploding when they turned it on, even if they themselves weren't personally trying to touch the River? That sounds rather like Old Man Life being aggressively proactive in stopping anyone tapping the River of Mana again. Ask Tim if anyone tried to detect and study what happens when a mage attempts to touch the River of Mana, either directly or indirectly, such as via a machine or other construct.

>Unless you’re hiding highly unstable magical crystals in your pocket you’ll be fine.
Er. What about the arcane powder in your pistols and the spare power you're carrying? It's not unstable magical crystals, but the sudden thaumic vacuum from the crystals imploding might have pulled some or all of the powder's charge off. Better remember to change the powder out for fresh powder when you head inside, just to be safe.

>You’re sure Sisah would be willing to help you try to find it when you have the time if she hasn’t already seen it…
She probably already has, given she's likely been continually keeping tabs on your vital signs and such using that eyepiece of hers. Any physiological change, such as a blush, she'd have picked up using that, and her keen sense of observation would catch anything like you glancing away or shifting your weight. You should ask her in private if she picked up on that tell Bri said you have when you think about lewd things.

>You did whisper it to her, but now she wants to see how deep she can go before moving the ribbon. Sufficient to say, that will have to wait a bit…
...You told Bri when you should be trying to not make your relationship overly sexual. Ah, fine, whatever. It's kinky but not particularly bad. Though keep in mind Bri might get a little too enthusiastic about setting new depth records with her tail from now on, meaning your bum isn't going to stop feeling stretched and sore for awhile.

>Maybe you should talk to Sisah about getting revenge on Bri for earlier today and… and… Dammit, Bri really has gotten to you!
Revenge for what? Her rightfully getting back at you for spilling her secret? 'Cause that you deserved. Or is it something else you want to get revenge for? And you're right about Bri getting to you. You were warned by Xuv that if you let Bri take too much control your relationship would devolve into being just about sexual desires. But Bri doesn't have to take control if you end up thinking and acting lewdly like she does. This doesn't mean you can't try new things and expand your sexual horizons, but space it out somewhat.

>Seeing as she wanted a female wife for Belseth, there has to be some restrictions of what she can do. Otherwise she would just snap her fingers and make Bri pregnant without your intervention at all.
Xuv was following a prophecy or destiny or ancient magic bullshit, which said the Dragon had to take a Highborn mate, that is, a Vark, to conceive her precious Phoenix King. So even if Xuv did have the power to magically impregnate Bri, it wouldn't get Xuv what she wants.

>You’re not sure why any of the these mad “gods” would make you hear something like that… maybe it’s just because of that story she told you about the slaver… you’ve… you’ve had a hard time getting it out of your mind and… it’s possible it might cloud your perceptions.
Why can't you get it out of your mind? Is it because you found out Sakkilians could actually eat a Vark alive and whole? Or is it because Bri ate and killed a Vark in such a manner? Or is it something else? Perhaps you're remembering what Belseth warned you about Bri, back in your first get together, about how she refers to new people she meets as food at times. Or how she called Elete "cute, tasty little girl" when she met her, while also licking her lips. And you never did find out how Bri tasted enough Vark blood that she would call it "delicious." You have to worry that perhaps not only is sex and love conflated in Bri's mind, but food and sexual desire as well.

>No, if you ever have a child, which you want to in maybe a few years, you’ll make sure it grows up right and proper, with lots of love and happiness!
You should also consider that if you have the heir to the royal bloodline sooner rather than later, it'll take the burden off Kira to find a husband and have a child. She has enough on her plate now without having that looming over her as well.

>… … …and you already done it with Bri… dammit, you’re not ready to be a father! Clearly, you have to resort to the oldest way of birth control from now on just to be sure, unless it’s already too late.
Nobody is ready to be a father, even the ones that think they are. With everybody you have around you to help, you'll do far better as a first time dad then most everyone. But that aside, you should find out if it's too late. Is there a way to detect if a female is pregnant this soon after the potential time of conception? Does Bri know how soon it's possible to detect a pregnancy by magical means?

>But yes, they are gone now… and you feel kind of empty, actually… huh…
Oh, in what way did you feel kind of empty? In more than a physical way? In a emotional way? Like you enjoyed the feeling of being stuffed like that? Of walking about in public when only you, Bri and Sisah knew it?

>Let’s take it easy with the fun times, or you might turn into another Bri. You already had a bit of a tumble this morning, didn’t you?
Eh, that wasn't really a tumble but more of small slide back, if even that. If it was Belseth you'd gone after, that would definitely have been a full tumble into Bri-dom. But you went with Sisah, both for pragmatic and personal sexual curiosity reasons, but mostly because sex doesn't have the lasting emotional and social weight for her that it generally does for you and other non-Serpens. It was very enjoyable, and you found out some new things you like, but you're not going to do something like that again for quite awhile.

>It’s still raining, sadly… and the arcane powder powering the guns aren’t really keen on water.
Y'know, you could have the targets moved to where you could fire at them while standing in a dry doorway, archway or window. Or even just stand out there under the royal umbrella while firing. You just should find out how badly your aim is off and figure out how to compensate sooner rather than later. You don't know if and when a situation will suddenly come up where you'll need to shoot something and it's vital your aim is true.

>You’re pretty sure taking potions like that regularly will lead to some really bad things… like death. Potions are made to be taken in small dosages, after all.
Or if there are other detrimental side effects besides death from taking sex change potions too often. Perhaps something like the genitals not going back quite the same as before? ...And you have to wonder what would happen if someone took a sex change potion which changed to their current sex. Probably nothing. But you wonder what would happen if they took a half dose of the one that changed to male and the one that changed to female.

>Why would the King of a nation like ours let his most beloved son play with a poor orphan?
Now, why would your father do that? Can you think back and remember the situation around when you first met Cain, all those years ago? Was it before or after your mother's death? Hm... Can you remember from your history lessons what was going on in Lorentia around that time, or between Risavia and Lorentia? Perhaps Cain wasn't just any ordinary poor orphan, but the son of someone who helped your nation against Lorentia and paid the ultimate price for it. But you should remember to ask your father about this next you see him. And also remember to ask Cain first too.

>As I already said, I would ask that you don’t meet him at all… but if you insist in seeing him I will not stop you.
...Y'know, if you see Karas you know it's not going to go well. At best in his verbal tirade he might blurt out some piece of intel you could use, but you can't count on that. Perhaps you should see your father instead and tell him what happened yesterday at Karas' former apartment and that any meeting between you and Karas will not be in any way pleasant. Then your father might change his mind about you seeing Karas on his behalf.

>…I always wanted to ‘ave a child of my own…
Hm... Remember what Bri said Xuv said to her, back when you summoned Xuv with Bri present? That she sniffed Bri, then said "this is perfect" and that one of Bri's deepest wishes would come true soon. This is very likely the wish that Xuv was referencing. You should ask Bri if this is one of her deepest wishes when you're in private, and say that you think it's the one Xuv was referencing.

>Or possible use a surrogate father and / or mother... both our bloodlines want our noble blood to be passed on, don’t we?
Bri may feel a extra desire to carry on her father's bloodline, given that she's the last member of it and she feels so highly of her late father. You ought to ask her about that sometime soon. That and talk about surrogates and donors and how you both feel about the idea of that.

>I know there are a few gender changing potions, but those aren’t made for something so complex as bearing children or even long term changes-
You have to wonder how your sister knows a much about these kinds of potions as she does. ...And now you have this feeling that she's partaken of them herself, maybe multiple times. Well, that's just bloody great...

>If you want all the grisly details… he had constructed quite a secret chamber in his apartment, filled with all kind of things, including a journal and trophies of his deeds… eyes to be exact…
But why eyes...? Oh. For the eye that was taken from him. Dammit, just what the hell happened when Karas lost his eye that so broke him? You need to find out. Maybe Bri knows the whole story, or knows who does. You should ask her at some point.

>>727464
Prolly shouldn't be using Xuv's name out in the open like that. Just ask Tim if Cain got your note to him and he'll know what you're talking about. Ask him what time he's going to be doing it so you know so you don't come around then. And also say that he try some of the other rituals from the book, including the one done before to see if he gets the same results as when you were there.

>>727586
>I really don't think we should show Xuv.
And who else do you suggest Kronos could show it to who might have a clue what it does? 'Cause I'm at a loss for anybody else knowing anything about it.

>Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to try and summon her because Life might show up and kill us for trying to get in contact with what he calls a "false god".
Xuv has made contact with Kronos two times since he first noticed Old Man Life was watching him, back when he saw Qelba was assassinated, and Life hasn't smote him for it. And the first time Xuv made contact, Kronos was at the actual ritual, so if Life was going to kill Kronos for that, he would have done it there. But to be safe, Kronos should avoid being present at the ritual to summon Xuv from now on. She'll seek him out when she's summoned anyway, so he doesn't have to be present. Plus, he'll look more responsible in Cain's eyes for not taking part in the ritual.

>I think the only thing we can do is just relax with Bri for the rest of the day. We're going to need all the rest we can get in order to be ready for brother's trial tomorrow.
Really? It's only mid-afternoon for gods' sake! You think Kronos can just sit back like he has all the time in the world? When Old Man Life could come a'knockin' at any time, expecting results. Or you think the Archbishop'll hold her plans off while Kronos takes the rest of the day off? No, and so Kronos shouldn't just stop trying to find out more that could help him. ...But right now, I can only think of going to the library and looking up info on the Catacombs of the Godless. Specifically to look for illustrations of symbols and runes the previous expeditions found down there, on either the catacomb itself or on the items taken from it. See if the rune he got from Bel, or any of the four runes he has tattooed on himself, shows up. But basically Kronos can't just kick back and take the rest of the day off with Bri. Not without first doing something to help his predicament.

Oh, and also ask Tim if he knows of a non-invasive way to detect what lies beneath the surface using magic. Doesn't have to go very deep or be detailed in its results, just enough to tell if there is a chamber down there or some other kind of empty space, or if there is a solid object of some kind.

Kaktus 2016/06/04(Sat)16:06 No. 727821 ID: 65a774
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>Oh, in what way did you feel kind of empty? In more than a physical way? In an emotional way? Like you enjoyed the feeling of being stuffed like that? Of walking about in public when only you, Bri and Sisah knew it?
…dammit, now you’re starting to get turned on by just thinking about being stuffed like that!
>Slippery slopes, man. Can't give an inch or you'll be taken for a mile, like the pirate incident.
*Sigh* And here you are, wearing shoes without any traction. You really do need to get your footing back, or this whole marriage will just turn into a gesture of debauchery. While not the worse fate, you really want it to be something more than that.
>Er. What about the arcane powder in your pistols and the spare power you're carrying? The sudden thaumic vacuum from the crystals imploding might have pulled all of the powder's charge off.
You quickly check your arms and luckily they still seem charged. The powder as well seems to have held it charge, as it is glowing a faint blue and is not like the ashen color it gets when it goes inert.
>Now, why would your father do that? Can you think back and remember the situation around when you first met Cain, all those years ago?
…you met Cain right after the war started… after the death of your mother. You’re having a hard time remember all the details, as you were rather young back then. What were you? Five? Six? Hmm…

>She probably already has spotted your tell, given she's likely been continually keeping tabs on your vital signs and such using that eyepiece of hers.
Then you definitely need to ask Sisah about it… when you’re alone, of course.
>Xuv was following a prophecy or destiny or ancient magic bullshit, which said the Dragon had to take a Highborn mate, that is, a Vark, to conceive her precious Phoenix King.
Which mean you at least don’t have to worry about Sisah… but Bri being pregnant on the other hand…
>You should also consider that if you have the heir to the royal bloodline sooner rather than later, it'll take the burden off Kira to find a husband and have a child.
She already has a husband… though you have a feeling they don’t like each other very much… and you are pretty sure he’s into meat, so to speak. So… yeah… they are probably not going to get children out of love, which mean maybe you really could try to get one first?
>Remember what Bri said Xuv said to her, back when you summoned Xuv with Bri present? That she sniffed Bri, then said "this is perfect" and that one of Bri's deepest wishes would come true soon.
…which might be her wish of a child… dammit…
>Is there a way to detect if a female is pregnant this soon after the potential time of conception?
As far as you know, it requires a few weeks before you use proper tools to detect the pregnancy.


>Tell Bri you have a few more things to speak with Tim about, so it'll be a minute or two, but perhaps Tim could be convinced to step away from the overgrown area while you talk.
Fine, fine, if you really insist…
>Tell Tim that since the points in the garden layout appear to be symmetrical, if there's some chamber or something under this spot then perhaps it had an entrance like the royal crypt has.
Hmm… it’s possible that there is an hidden chamber down there…
Well, get a shovel and start digging then, eh?
It’s not that easy. First we have to verify that there is something there, than we need to make a proper excavation so we don’t just collapse whatever chamber is down there, etc… let’s just say it will take moths if not years to dig up something like this properly.
>Also tell Tim about the door with the mark of Illasia you saw in the crypt, and that the tunnel it blocks points towards the Grand Temple.
Ah, yes, the old priest way. It’s not being used anymore, is it? Hmm… now, if they are symmetrical… maybe there is a similar entrance in the temple to the chamber below us? That would be a lot easier to uncover than digging through the roof.
>Maybe you should check out the palace basement where you think the tunnel would have connected.
Hmm… that’s also a possible location, isn’t it? I will take a look later.

>Inform Tim that you told your sister about the Archbishop's offer and the prayer book, so he shouldn't be surprised if one of her people comes to ask about what happened.
You told the Queen? …well, if you trust her, I’ll do the same.
>Also ask Tim if it'd be bad for an Uredo if it regularly took root to sleep in this spot, since the magic radiation did this to the plants.
I have no idea! Luckily, the few Uredo’s living in the palace sleeps in their pots located in their rooms and not out in the garden. I’m pretty sure the gardeners wouldn’t be happy finding sleeping Uredo’s everywhere. They already have enough work removing their spawns every season.
>Also offer to provide Tim with funds to procure a replacement for the detector he just lost, if he doesn't already have a spare. And if he has any other equipment or detectors he can think of he'd like to purchase for this situation…
Don’t worry about the money, Kronos, I’m already being sponsored by the crown. Being the royal magician does come with its perks, eh?

>Ask Tim if anyone tried to detect and study what happens when a mage attempts to touch the River of Mana, either directly or indirectly, such as via a machine or other construct.
Well, I do remember that accident a few years back… where was it? It was in some southern country that uses a lot of slaves… or used too, before they were overthrown… it’s not important, what is important is that they tried to have a slave open the way to the well so that could study what happened to it.
What did they find out?
Nobody knows, as their whole collage went up in flames. Killed pretty much all the magicians there, as well setting free all the slaves that would be used as guanine pigs. Let’s just say that was the beginning of the collapse of that country.
>Ask Tim if Cain got your note to him and he'll know what you're talking about. Ask him what time he's going to be doing it so you know so you don't come around then.
Hmm? Oh that! I don’t know... later tonight? Maybe after dinner?
>Ask Tim if he knows of a non-invasive way to detect what lies beneath the surface using magic.
…Hmm… I do have a few ways I can try… but no promises.
Either way, thank you for your time, Tim.
Always happy to help, Kronos.

Kaktus 2016/06/04(Sat)16:06 No. 727822 ID: 65a774
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>Sure, let's go back to the palace. That's another corner on the square, I bet stuff will be imploding there too.
Oh, ‘ar ‘ar.
I’m just kidding. I’m sure it will be completely safe, as there are just cellars filled with old wine and stuff under the palace.
I ‘ope so.
>I think the only thing we can do is just relax with Bri for the rest of the day.
…yah ‘now what I always liked to do on a rainy day? Just find a nice spot to read a book while listening to the rain. ‘earing the rain hitting a window while being engrossed in a great story is quite a delight, eh?
Well… I guess if you-
And I want yah there too. I really like spending time near yah, even if we’re doing different things… or reading different books, eh? So join me in some reading while listening to mother nature’s song of fertility!
…of fertility?
Water is the keystone for plants to grow, no?
I guess… but I don’t have a book to read right now…
Aw… but I wanted to read with yah… well, I do ‘ave something else I wanted us to do. Let’s become butt-buddies!
…okay, I’m really afraid to ask…
Well, I ‘ave this two-sided toy… one end in my butt, the other in ye and then we just smooch our butts together until-
Yeah, no… your idea about reading in the rain was way better…
But butt-buddies?

>I can only think of going to the library and looking up info on the Catacombs of the Godless. Specifically to look for illustrations of symbols and runes the previous expeditions found down there, on either the catacomb itself or on the items taken from it.
…actually, I think the library has some nice reading areas with windows looking out on the garden in it. As I was planning on researching some things anyway…
Then it’s settled! Yah do ye research, I’ll read my book all the while we enjoy each other’s company, eh?
Right…

…

There doesn’t seem to be much information about the catacombs themselves… at least not among these dusty tomes. It’s possible that most of the information is in the hands of the temple itself. You did manage to find an old map of the place, even though it isn’t very helpful, and some records of early journeys into it. The records states that the twisting halls down there seems to be impossible, that they move you distances far longer than they should, occupies the same spaces and even change over time. There are also a lot of notes about crazed undead creatures and fiendish traps behind every corner. So far, they don’t really paint a pretty picture of the place. The place is also filled with the symbols of the five gods… or should you say the six? They do specifically mention that the symbol of death appears just as much as the other symbols of the gods… and the symbol of death is Xuv’s symbol.

As for the map… it’s not really well done or finished for that matter… but the legend states:
1st – Palace / Temple cellars – Black.
2st – Crypts – Blue.
3st – Catacombs – Red.
4st – Catacombs – Green.
5st – Catacombs – None.
6st – Catacombs – None.
7st – Not confirmed yet.

*Hum*Hum~

You wasted your time- you could have just looked up 'clusterfuck' in the dictionary.

It looks to my cartographically-challenged self like the spot under the growths is in the Green catacombs, and the entire mess can be traversed more easily by keeping to the perimeter of the Red catacombs. Are those ice-cream-cone looking things death symbols, entrances, traps, or what?

It looks like the palace cellars overlap with the catacombs, hopefully there will be an undocumented entrance and we won't need to sneak through anywhere else. I hope it isn't the safe room your brother is stashed in.

>>727822
>early journeys
Okay, next step is to find info from more recent journeys. Get as complete a map as you can get, and find the safest route to under the strange growth. Also, obviously, get permission to go into the crypts again. With an armed escort of course. Don't bother with the temple door, at most that will lead to their ritual site and you aren't prepared to go sabotaging it yet. It'll blow your cover anyway. We need to investigate the other points in the diamond first. Even if the temple catches wind of what you're doing you have an easy excuse- some weird magic shit is happening and you want to know why. There should be no solid reason for the Church to think you're trying to muck up their ritual, so you can stay out of direct conflict for a while longer while obtaining valuable information.

Also, FUCK. I just realized something really fucking awful. The Six didn't just create an afterlife for good people. There was a Heaven in the sky... and a Hell down below. These catacombs are set up so that souls cannot escape, right? The worst criminals are put down there, to rot? That's Hell! Just like the gods' afterlife, this place must be destroyed before the captured souls dry up the rivers of life and the world cracks once more. Though, it seems that there are not quite enough souls down there to cause problems yet.

We might need to talk to Life and find out exactly how much the Hell-Catacombs are interfering with the world's health.

As a last resort we can make another deal with him, to get his help destroying whatever mechanism keeps the souls down there, and in exchange we can help him find Xuv. We'll probably have to get rid of Xuv at some point in order to ensure the Phoenix King does not become her pawn. It's either that or never have children with Briannah... Optimally we'd sell out Xuv after confirming Briannah's pregnant.

Kaktus 2016/06/07(Tue)11:38 No. 728302 ID: 65a774
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Sir? Lady Briannah? I bring you the cake you ordered.
Cake? I didn’t order-
But I did! I thought a little snack would sit just perfect right between lunch and dinner.
Little? These cake pieces are huge!
But oh so tasty! MMm… ghis ghing is delicious…
Might I be so bold as to ask Lady Bri to refrain from acting like a animal and not talk with your mouth full?
‘ey! Gake ghag back!
My apologies, I admit it was a bit of an unjust comparison for the animals, my lady.
So good…

>You wasted your time- you could have just looked up 'clusterfuck' in the dictionary.
You definitely were expecting an actual map instead of… this thing. You are almost getting a headache just trying to decipher this mess…
>Are those ice-cream-cone looking things death symbols, entrances, traps, or what?
They seem to be Varkian skulls… and you think it’s location that a lot of the explorers has perished or thought to be perished. Which is to say, they are “Warning: Danger” signs.
>It looks to my cartographically-challenged self like the spot under the growths is in the Green catacombs, and the entire mess can be traversed more easily by keeping to the perimeter of the Red catacombs.
…if you go by the symmetry, yes… the only question is how do you get down to the green level of the catacomb? It should be below the red level, if you’re reading this thing correctly, but there aren’t any stairs or ladders marked on this thing at all. Ugh, finding and going though all these old tomes is really draining… you might need a nap later to just stay awake…
>It looks like the palace cellars overlap with the catacombs, hopefully there will be an undocumented entrance and we won't need to sneak through anywhere else.
There might be… but the catacombs should be at least two floors below the cellar, which makes it a bit more unlikely. It’s worth to check it out, though. Mmmm… also, off topic, this cake really is delicious! …a bit hefty, but good.

>Okay, next step is to find info from more recent journeys. Get as complete a map as you can get, and find the safest route to under the strange growth.
If you’re going to find more information about that, you’ll need access to wherever the temple is keeping that information.
>Also, obviously, get permission to go into the crypts again. With an armed escort of course.
You’re not even sure who you need to talk to for that kind of permission. Your sister? Or is it the temple? Hmm… either way, it might take some sweet talking to do.
>I just realized something really fucking awful. The Six didn't just create an afterlife for good people. There was a Heaven in the sky... and a Hell down below. These catacombs are set up so that souls cannot escape, right?
…it might indeed have been the old empire’s version of hell, yes… but it can’t be any longer… can it?
>We might need to talk to Life and find out exactly how much the Hell-Catacombs are interfering with the world's health.
You’re sure if they were dangerous, he would have destroyed it a long time ago. Of course, bringing it up wouldn’t hurt, just in case. Now, finding and talking to him on the other hand…

Ugh… I don’t think I can take a single more bite of this thing…
Then yah won’t mind if I eat yah, eh?
…wait, wh-
Be advised, my lady, any more cake and you’ll soon have a gravity well big enough to put things in orbit.
‘ey! It’s just ‘alf a cake, boney. Yah ‘now… yah’re the one who needs to eat a bit of cake, to get some flesh on those bones of ye.
I would sadly need to refuse your offer of cake and insults, my lady.
Hmm… can I order ‘im to eat cake, Kronos?
…can you two please stop fighting?
I was just giving my advice, sir.
And I wasn’t asking yah for it, boney! Well, as I said before being so rudely interrupted, yah won’t mind if I eat ye cake, eh?

Ugh I don't know how the hell we are going to deal with this catacomb... At this point we might have to ask your sister. As for the cake say no, we can't have her thinking she can eat half a cake whenever she feels like it, as much as we do like her hips

>Bri staring at the last of the cake.
*insert Jaws theme here*

But seriously, go ahead and let her have the last of your cake.

>Finding Life.
I have a hard time believing you can just randomly find him, but considering your luck, he'll find you instead. Hopefully you can ask him a few questions without getting your soul ripped out.

Wait, what's with that weird looking statue on the top shelf back there? It looks like there's a glowing cross right where the face should be.