You are Osyki, newly promoted Totemist and first line of defense for your village against the rabid Behemoths wandering the land. Your master, the previous Totemist, fell in a battle against a terrible Behemoth, leaving the duty of defending your settlement to you. After some experimenting you made a batch of Totems to take to the village healer, and perhaps flirt with her apprentice on your way. Promising to take a hike with Elana has lead you to the issue of keeping her hidden while you leave the village, a problem you have tackled with gusto. Now there's just one challenge left before the two of you can enjoy your day.

>What will you do?

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[[Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=totem

The Cast Thus Far: http://pastebin.com/uwRsEHcX ]]

>>21109885
They've had time to discuss these matters among themselves. We should listen to their thoughts on the matters before adding anything.(I personally disagree with giving up one of our best assets until we have some more bindings under our belt but whatever.)

He ushers you inside, where the other two are sitting at the well-lacquered table. He pulls out a chair for you before settling into his own. You are alone on this side of the table as the elders take take their place on the far side. They look as friendly as they always do (friendly for Ilstya and Haine, gruff for Mayhew, respectively), but from this side of the table you can't help but feel that you're on tribunal. It's a little intimidating.

"Osyki, we have deliberated amongst ourselves at great length. Would you like to discuss the issue of the newcomers to our land or the village's future first?"

>>21110061
"The newcomers may very well have an effect on the village's future. I think we should discuss them first."

Goddamn it Diarca, you had to be running this during the IWD2 livestream!

...Wait, IWD2, nothing is going to happen for hours.

>>21110061
Newcomers first. I can't imagine that they won't have an impact on the village's future, so let's go with what feels most natural.

"I can't imagine the newcomers won't have any impact on the village's future." you say with a small smile. "Let's focus on that first."

Elder Haine nods, leaning forward to take point. "We've discussed these newcomers. Mayhew and I may be familiar with the direction these individuals have come from, though we are divided on how to approach them."

"Those from the southwest are savage and lawless." Mayhew interjects. "We'd be better off leaving them to their own devices."

Haine shrugs. "I disagree. I believe that fostering contact with these people could lead to growth and prosperity for our settlement. You've shared with me that you're on good terms with the spirits of the Forest and the Swamp. If you could bargain with them for a path through their domains to the southwest, I daresay we might be able to make human contact for the first time in... decades, I believe."

You look to Elder Ilstya, who has patiently held her tongue. "I agree with Haine." she says. "We survive, but we do not thrive here. With exports from the outside, and another settlement to sell our wares to, we may have the resources to well and truly expand."

"In the interest of that," Haine continues, "should these people appear again, I would like you to escort me to them, that we might make peaceful contact with them. Do you have any objection to that?"

Mayhew watches you carefully.

>>21110207
"I can do that, and I agree that trade with them would be good for us, but if they are as Mayhew says letting them know we're around could be very bad. Once things are a bit more secure here how about I go seek them out and watch them from the shadows, maybe even follow them back to their land, so that we have a better idea what kind of people we're dealing with? I'm loath to leave the village for that long just yet but it's an option."

>>21110207
"The first contact with them will probably be by spirits who hide their presence from them. Should certain information be learned from this the plans we make may change.

That being said I do not have any objections with leading you to meet them. Fair warning the journey to meet them will likely be rather unpleasant and when we are travelling in these places you have to listen to what I say without question for your own safety. There are many threats and their nature is not always clear."

>>21110207
None but those regarding your age and station. Even if I successfully bargained with the Mother and the Lady of the Forest they would not guarantee our safety, only ease our passage. The wild animals in their domain would still attack us out of hunger and for violating their territory, and those spirits who hate and fear our kind could still find ways to harm us. If you agree to follow my instructions on the journey to whatever negotiations I will take you, but I still desire to make first contact as getting there and back on my own will be a much simpler process than escorting you.

>>21109885
The Cast Thus Far link doesn't work.

>>21110318 >>21110312

"My first contact with them will probably be by spirits who hide their presence from them. Should certain information be learned from this the plans we make may change." you say. Mayhew seems to recline slightly in his chair at this.

"That being said I do not have any objections with leading you to meet them, and I agree that trade with them would be good for us, but if they are as Mayhew says letting them know we're around could be very bad."

"Let us extend the olive branch before we set it alight, Osyki." Haien says with a chuckle. Mayhew just shakes his head.

" Fair warning," you say, "the journey to meet them will likely be rather unpleasant and when we are travelling in these places you have to listen to what I say without question for your own safety. There are many threats and their nature is not always clear. Even if I successfully bargained with the Mother and the Lady of the Forest they would not guarantee our safety, only ease our passage. The wild animals in their domain would still attack us out of hunger and for violating their territory, and those spirits who hate and fear our kind could still find ways to harm us. If you agree to follow my instructions on the journey to whatever negotiations I will take you, but I still desire to make first contact as getting there and back on my own will be a much simpler process than escorting you."

Haine nods. "That's sound reasoning. You won't need to worry about babysitting me, Totemist. I can take care of myself. You simply know the forests and swamps better than I do."

>>21110388
Right, so I suggest that Oyski go alone, play the mysterious swamp/forest master, get their number, and then bring Haine in as the representative of the village if they're okay. If they're hostile all they know is that someone of power is around, and they don't find out anything about the village.

>>21110388
"Mayhew, could you elaborate at all about these people?"

>>21110388
Supposedly they know something of these people, It would be beneficial to know more about them in case contact occurs earlier or not as it is planned.

>>21110388
"When I hear anything concerning them I will let you know and we can set out. Even while I bring you with I urge you to let me make first contact, at least for as long as it takes to ascertain if they are immediately hostile.

My presence doesn't necessarily indicate that a village is nearby and if they are hostile I'd rather them simply think there's just a young hermit who wears animal bits rather than an entire village.

I believe you also wanted to speak of the village's future and also to meet Cordia, is that right?"

>>21110453 >>21110479

"Elder Mayhew, you seem to be familiar with these people. Any information you can share with me is information that might ease this process of introduction."

Mayhew shakes his head. "I have encountered people from the southwest before, if you can call them that. No language, no sense of decorum or culture. Barbarians, the lot of them. I think you're wasting your time."

You sigh. "When I hear anything concerning them I will let you know and we can set out. Even while I bring you with I urge you to let me make first contact, at least for as long as it takes to ascertain if they are immediately hostile. My presence doesn't necessarily indicate that a village is nearby and if they are hostile I'd rather them simply think there's just a young hermit who wears animal bits rather than an entire village." you say to Haine.

He nods, looking pleased. "Excellent. Now, shall we proceed to the next item on the agenda? Your plans for a river."
(Cont)

>>21110514

Elder Ilstya leans forward now. This is her area of expertise.

"We have unanimously agreed that a river through the village would be marvelously beneficial, provided a few strict safety guidelines are observed. Once you dig the trench for the river, we'll have the workmen shore up the edges with beams, or perhaps even stone, to prevent further structural instability. The portions of the river that lead into and out of the village will need to be guarded, as the wall is, to prevent Ykree and the like from swimming into our village through a gap in our defenses. Furthermore, I'd like you to speak with the mountain and rain spirits to ensure that the first waterflow is carefully controlled; we wouldn't want our tributary river to burst its banks on the first snowmelt, so a test must be conducted."

She unrolls a map of the village.

"I believe a route here," she says, tracing a red line she has drawn along the inner wall of the village, "will be the most beneficial to us. It does not intersect the center of town, so traffic will not be impeded and children will have to go well out of their way to be in danger there without supervision. It will provide us with some modicum of defense against any assault that may breach our walls, and the village walls will shade the river in the afternoon when the sun is at its peak."

She leans back, looking at you expectantly.

"What are your thoughts, Totemist?"

>>21110600
"Seems good to me. May I try something though?"
Bind Cordia to the map. Knowledge will leave us better prepared.

>>21110600
"It looks like a good path for a river. I can dig it easily enough.

I'll speak to the mountain and the rain spirits to ensure that we don't receive a sudden deluge. We should probably have some sort of gate along the river to prevent anything large from swimming through the village.

It would also be useful for making a mill of some kind."

>>21110703
Do you mean a grate? That's a good idea.

>>21110600
"I dare say it is ideal, Elder."
Look for empty spots on the map in which we can build overflow pools or ponds that can fill up or be drained off in case of heavy rain or snow, and that can serve as a stopping point for the water before it is drained away into the fields via canals. Trace any such areas out and ask the elders' opinions on how the water should be best dispersed through the village. Also mention that the spirit of the spring who aided you against the Magus may occasionally wish to stop in and visit via the new river.

>>21110600
I see no problem from a mechanical perspective. I believe that the spirits would react best to your request if it came from you personally. A letter from you would suffice, as well as small personal sacrifices. Waterborne threats are an issue I had not considered, but a modified version of the totem I have around the village walls should keep anything larger than a frog well away. Maybe another could be used to attract fish, though I'd have to balance the totems so they don't draw the type that bite back.

>>21110674 >>21110703

You nod. "It looks like a good path for the river. I can dig it easily enough. I see no problem from a mechanical perspective. I believe that the spirits would react best to your request if it came from you personally. A letter from you would suffice, as well as small personal sacrifices. Waterborne threats are an issue I had not considered, but a modified version of the totem I have around the village walls should keep anything larger than a frog well away. Maybe another could be used to attract fish, though I'd have to balance the totems so they don't draw the type that bite back. May I try something, though?"

She nods and you pull Cordia's focus from your pocket. Placing it on the map, you look at the Elders.

"Cover your eyes."

They comply, and after a brief burst of shimmering emerald, Cordia floats in miniature above the map. Deposits of ore begin to materialize on the map, some of them very near to the surface.

"Hello," Cordia says, bowing to the Elders. "I'm Cordia."

She look up to you, confused.

"What do you need, Osyki?"

>>21110761
"I know water isn't usually your thing, Cordia, but this line here? We're planning on building a new river, fro scratch, that will run through the village. I wanted to get your opinion on it. I also wanted to point out the ore deposits you're revealing to the Elders, and to introduce you to them. They've been very curious about the settlement you came fro originally."

>>21110761
"First, I wanted to introduce you to the elders. Second, I wanted to show them where some of these ore deposits are."

>>21110797
Not all in one breath, but this. Split the last sentence into a new conversation.

>>21110761
"Hey Cordia, I just wanted to check if there were any major ore deposits in the way of the planned river path."

>>21110797 >>21110834

You nod at your spirit. "Morning. I know water isn't usually your thing, Cordia, but this line here? We're planning on building a new river, fro scratch, that will run through the village. I wanted to get your opinion on it. I also wanted to point out the ore deposits you're revealing to the Elders, and to introduce you to them."

She looks down at the map below her feet, nodding.

"That'll work. Any tectonic movement might cause some warping in the shape of the river, but nothing so dramatic that the banks will burst or anything like that. I'd add an overflow eddy here, and here," she says, marking two shining green dots on the map, "Just for heavy rains."

Ilstya nods. "I hadn't considered that. We'll be sure to incorporate that into our new plans."

Cordia smiles, and you gesture to the three elders. "Cordia, this is Elder Ilstya, Elder Mayhew, and Elder Haine. They run the village, more or less."

She gives the three a deep bow. "Pleased to meet you all. My name is Cordia Arimentha."

Haine gives Cordia a small nod, and Ilstya beams.

"So, this is the spirit you were telling us about?" Haine asks.

>>21110943
"Indeed. She's the one I'd suggest."

did we actually discuss this with Cordia at all before hand?

>>21110943
"That she is.

This may not come for a long time after much research, should it be something I can do. But in the future I am considering placing this village under her protection, an extra layer of defense for when I am not here. She is by far the kindest and most personable of the spirits I have bound, having been one herself long ago she knows the needs of humans quite well, and being a spirit of earth and human she is well suited to the task.

I figured I ought to introduce all of you to each other."

>>21110971
Nope. Though she was present at the last meeting and she can hear things now when she's bound. Or is that only when she equipped to us?

>>21110971
Nope.
>>21110943
"Yes." "Cordia, I had an idea about trying to find some binding that would let you take on a guardian role for the village when I'm going to be away for awhile. I'm sorry I didn't really discuss this much with you but I've been swamped lately and I never remembered to."

>>21111062
Don't mention the last part. Never let 'em see you sweat.

>>21111082
This, also whose idea was it to leave Cordia behind?

"That she is. This may not come for a long time after much research, should it be something I can do. But in the future I am considering placing this village under her protection, an extra layer of defense for when I am not here. She is by far the kindest and most personable of the spirits I have bound, having been one herself long ago she knows the needs of humans quite well, and being a spirit of earth and human she is well suited to the task. I figured I ought to introduce all of you to each other."

You turn to your spirit.

"Cordia, I had an idea about trying to find some binding that would let you take on a guardian role for the village when I'm going to be away for awhile."

Her malachite eyes widen slightly at this, but after stealing a glance at the elders assembled she swallows hard and nods.

"It'd be my pleasure and honor, Osyki. Would... would I be able to talk with the people here?"

>>21111104
I don't remember but they pushed hard for it. Until we actually start to leave for extended periods of time it's not worth giving her up but once we do it may be wise. I seem to remember way back someone wondering about creating an automaton. That might be an interesting route to go with this.

>>21111160
"I don't see why not. I'd try to extend your influence across the entire village, so you could walk its streets and speak with anyone you wished. I'd hardly expect you to defend faceless strangers you couldn't get to know."

>>21111160
"If you're talking about right now I would love for you to talk to them.

As for after the binding, I can not say with 100 percent certainty as I do not know the mechanisms behind it, but my intuition says that if you were this village's guardian spirit you could converse with the residents as you saw fit."

>>21111160
Perhaps, but maybe not. I can't say what such a binding would be like. You might become a spirit like Sylvia or the Mother, capable of moving about your area of influence and a ways beyond, or you might be suffused across the village, more of a presence than an existence. It's hard to say what might become of you.

>>21111251 >>21111213

"Perhaps, but maybe not. I can't say what such a binding would be like. You might become a spirit like Sylvia or the Mother, capable of moving about your area of influence and a ways beyond, or you might be suffused across the village, more of a presence than an existence. It's hard to say what might become of you. Still, my intuition says that if you were this village's guardian spirit you could converse with the residents as you saw fit."

She nods.

"Why don't you leave us to speak with this young lady for a time," Mayhew suggests. "Get to know our potential protector. I'm sure you've got work that needs doing."

>>21111209
seconding this.

>>21111404
Politely nod and leave. I guess we're good to go for our hike with Elana, so if we're all ready to go we should be on our way

>>21111404
"Up to her of course. Cordia?"

After the inevitable assent, go find Elana and get this date started. How late is Oyski?

>>21111404
"Of course. I hope you get along.

I'll be back later in the day."

>>21111404
"Elana and I are taking a walk to pick herbs, and when you're finished speaking with Cordia she'll be helping me start the river. If there's anything you need of me, please let me know."

>>21111461
seconding.

Crap, Diarca's lost. Someone who isn't me want to roll to find OP?

Rolled 42

>>21111806
I'll try:

Rolled 45

>>21111806
I summon thee!

Rolled 73

>>21111806
[from rgramah

[[Sorry, making myself some food. Back in a bit.]]

"Up to her, of course. Cordia?"

She nods, looking a little shy.

"Alright. I'll be off in the Ikrins with Elana, we're going herb hunting. When you're finished speaking with Cordia, I'll return and get to work on building that river."

The elders bid you farewell as you head out.

You're only.... four or five hours late for this hike.

>Is there ANYTHING else you need to do before gathering Elana and leaving the village?

>>21112216
I can't think of anything. Gather our standard supplies and bindings and find Elana to go hiking. Apologize for our tardiness.

>>21112216
I think we're good. Grab our spear on the way out. Bindings should be Cloudwalker's Stride, Nocturne's Embrace... I guess we can't have awesome Rip n' Tear gloves. Ykree in the bow.

>>21112216
Check in on Quinn again, get Elana a gift? I think we've got the bindings set...

>>21112248
This with raptor in pants.

>>21112273
Is that a raptor in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

>>21112266
Either giving Elana a gift, or going to her right away are the 2 things I'd do, since we made her wait too much in my taste

After a quick stop by your workshop to retrieve your spear, you head over to the Healer's. Elana is waiting on the porch when you arrive, kicking her feet as she hums to herself on the doorstep. You give her a wave, and she smiles.

"Hey!" She calls, rising from the step and jogging over to meet you. "Ready to go?"

You nod, chuckling. "Finally, yeah. Sorry for the delay!"

She shrugs. "It's a little hotter out than I'd like, but I guess if I get tired I'll just make you carry me!" she says with a little giggle.

The two of you wander out of the north gate of the village, heading toward the base of the Ikrins. The goat path looms before you.

>1d100

Rolled 42

>>21112412
Walking this path seems so odd. I'm so used to jumping over it now that I half forget I found Cordia up the mountain.

Rolled 80

>>21112412

Rolled 81

>>21112412
"Oh no, what a terrible thing. Having to carry a beautiful woman in my arms. I don't know what I would do with myself."

Rolled 27

>>21112412

>>21112433

The trip up the path is pleasant, unmarred by twitching, crushed goats or unholy abominations of bone and hatred. You half-expect one of the caverns you pass by to grow fangs and attempt to chew your legs off, but nothing leaps out to ruin what is otherwise a very pleasant walk with Elana. The two of your discuss your talk with the elders as you travel up the spiraling cliffs.

"I think it's exciting." Elana says with a shrug. "New people, after who knows how long? I'd say it's about time we saw some fresh faces. Hopefully they wont be trying to loot us for everything we're worth."

You nod. "If they do, I'll just have to introduce them to the business end of Magni." you say, tapping your spear. "But something tells me that this is going to be a positive development."

You flip over to your spirit sight. There is a slight haze around Elana, and a thin green cord trailing from her aura down the mountainside toward the village. The totem seems to be working so far.

"Do you think it'll change the village much, opening up trade with another settlement?"

>>21112512
Most assuredly, but change can be a good thing.

>>21112512
"In the long run, very much so, but I think we need to take small steps in the beginning.

>>21112512
"Yes and no. The core of the village will remain pretty much the same. Good people helping each other survive in a land that wants to kill us. But there will be large changes, we will probably expand, grow wealthier, learn more about the outside world. All sorts of wonderful strange things."

File: 1350171828520.jpg-(243 KB, 600x900, Diego dinosaur.jpg)

>>21112299
>>21112273
Speaking of raptors, I remember there way a way to bind spirits to food. I say Osy should try going out, getting a new raptor spirit and binding it to some food to eat and see what happens.

We could get a item permanatly bound, unable to be lost or stolen, increase the physical prowess, or even give him dinosaur-transforming powers.

Pic related.

>>21112512
"Certainly. New ideas, new people, new food. Just the knowledge that there are other places out there will make a change. Movement, too: people coming in, people leaving. Travelers, and storytellers. Prosperity, if we're lucky and clever. Things we can't make ourselves, or can't make easily, we can get from elsewhere. Medicines and treatments we could never imagine, for diseases we've never seen. And new totems and monsters that I've never heard of. Everything's going to be different for us, but the kids in the raising house won't remember it ever being different.

>>21112512
It'll make it grow but the people will still be themselves. Who knows what these new people will be like though, maybe they makes foods we've never made, play instruments we've never heard. There's a lot to gain beyond just resources.

Guys, we should wait a good time before setting up trade with this village. Get ourself TOP-NOTCH spiritually defenses for the village.

Maybe something along the line of a proper illusion making sure only people who are wanted can see the village.

>>21112585
You are my new favorite person. Scary Monster for the win.

>>21112585
That's something to experiment with down the road but if it ends up making permanent stuff I'm not a fan of foregoing flexibility for some boon that by the nature of gaining it we could not know what it'd do.

"Yes and no. In the long run, the core of the village will remain pretty much the same. Good people helping each other survive in a land that wants to kill us. But there will be large changes, we will probably expand, grow wealthier, learn more about the outside world. New ideas, new people, new food. Just the knowledge that there are other places out there will make a change. Movement, too: people coming in, people leaving. Travelers, and storytellers. Prosperity, if we're lucky and clever. Things we can't make ourselves, or can't make easily, we can get from elsewhere. Medicines and treatments we could never imagine, for diseases we've never seen. And new totems and monsters that I've never heard of. Everything's going to be different for us, but the kids in the raising house won't remember it ever being different."

Elana seems to grow pensive at this. "I wonder what they'll say about this generation. Will we be the heroes who connected the village to the outside world, or the people who destroyed our culture?"

"I don't think we'll be either," you say, placing a hand on her back to help her up a steep incline. "We'll just be the people who were alive in the most exciting time the village has ever seen."

"Maybe. I just-- Oh, Osyki! Look!"

You clamber up the incline with her and follow her pointing finger. There, nestled between two towering cliff faces on a small mesa of land, is a shimmering blue pool. Plants grow along its edges in fantastic colors, and the water itself seems to have small shapes swimming within it.

"Come on!" she says, bolting toward it.

>>21112690
Follow at a slower pace. Maybe take a look through spirit sight?

>>21112690
Look at it with our spirit sight, follow slower, if there's anything hinky tell Elana to stop.

>>21112690
Follow but have a look around, can never be too cautious

>>21112690
Fascinating.
Some of these plants could be used in various potions and poultices, as well as in totems no doubt.
But who gives a fuck, since there's a chance she'll ask us to go swimming.

>>21112690
We've got a speed boost from our spear and our pants. Let's beat her to it, do a quick scan of the area with our spirit sight for danger then Turn to her and smirk like a magnificent bastard.

File: 1350172899465.jpg-(220 KB, 1024x768, stardust crusader bar.jpg)

In his spare time, I think Osy should look more into studying and harnessing elemantal powers, so far it seems relatively untapped and judging by the power boost granted to Cordia, very powerful.

Properly harnessed, it seems as though elemental power can be used as some kind of quasi-Magitek.

(I don't really know of any series that does elemental-based Magitek really well, the Avatar series, maybe?)

You follow, albeit at a slower pace, and scan the area with your second sight. There's a hum in the air that you can't quite place, a sort of resonant vibration of spiritual energy that seems to pervade the entire rocky mesa and a ways around it besides. You crouch down the examine the plants as you approach. They're familiar blooms and herbs, but the coloration is entirely unorthodox. This close you can see the slightly luminescent fish swimming in the pool, small arrow-shaped things that dart to and fro.

"I've never seen anything like it." Elana says, peering into the pool beside you. "What do you think they are, Osyki?"

>>21112804
At the moment the only way we know to make that stuff is to fuck up and then succeed like a boss. It seems dangerous. It is powerful and so it's definitely worth looking into but it's something to be cautious about. There seems to be plenty of totem based tech potential and those are safer so I don't think we should try mass producing the stuff.

>>21112872
"I don't know. This place is kinda magical, but I don't know what the source is.

Though those things, they look like fish. Glowing fish."

>>21112872
Summon Amal and ask?

>>21112872
"I'm not sure, interesting though."
Toss a small pebble into the pool. Keep an eye on the fish. If they don't seem aggressive we can relax a bit but should remain aware.

>>21112804
What spare time? At any given moment we have a minimum of one crisis, two major plot threads, three avenues of research, two apprentices, Elana, and village ambassadorship to the spirits, and that's before counting work we have to do to replace totems. We'd probably be doing the research first hand since Aryen only commented on its existence.

>>21112872
Could be water spirits? Sort of like Quinn's Cloud Swallow, except water based. See if anything comes out when we introduce ourselves.

"They look like... fish?" you say. You hear a snort from beside you, and you turn to see Elana barely holding in a fit of laughter. "What?"

"Very scientific, Mr. Totemist." she says with a sly grin. "They look like fish!"

"W-well, they do!" you stammer. "They might be some kind of minor water spirit or something, jeez."

"Will they bite?"

You pick up a pebble from the nearby mesa and toss it into the pool. The spirit-fish-things within scatter, darting into darkened alcoves within the water.

"Probably not." you say, reasonably certain.

Elana nods once and kicks her boots off, dipping her feet into the water.

"Aaaaah."

>>21113172
Why not turn on our spirit vision and take some time to study these things?

>>21113224
Oyski's on a date and you want to study? NERD!

Feed the fish, play with the girl.

>>21113261
Do this.

File: 1350175215016.jpg-(132 KB, 640x480, diamond is not crash bar.jpg)

>>21112956
Well the apprentice issue should be resolved in about a month at the rate they're progressing.

Think about it, in a few days Terra managed to make that light charm and Quinn managed to bind a raptor spirit (Which Amal reccomnended to us when we first started this quest.)

Osyki is like a super totemist/teacher or something.

>>21113364
Maybe after we've slain the Magus, I can see how some study of them might help with that but we shouldn't go so deep as to make elemental themed tech.

>>21113364
what the fuck is wrong with the guy wearing yellow's arms?
elbows do not bend that far back

You pull a small piece of bread from your pack, throwing tiny crumbs of it into the water. The fish bob to the surface slowly, nipping at the floating morsels with careful enjoyment. Elana gives you a small smile. She sweeps the hair from her face as she bends down to smell a nearby cerulean bloom.

"It's peaceful here," she says as she sits up again. "The outside world doesn't even seem real from way up here."

You look out into the air. There are small flocks of bird wheeling below the clouds, and your village looks like a chalk drawing from this height. The only sounds are the gentle splashes of Elana's feet in the pool and the slight stirrings of the breeze.

"We should come here more often."

>>21113487
"Maybe if we get more time, which I feel is the most valuable currency in the world. But I'm sure we could find some reasons to come ehre more often"

>>21113364
They've been learning the rote stuff. Making totems is the easy part, since it's all about formula+spirit power. If that was all being a Totemist was about everyone in the village would have some training in it as part of their apprenticeship. Take Quinn, he's good at the practical working Totemist stuff, but he doesn't have the knowledge base that Oyski was trained to have. He knows weapons, poisons, medicine and monsters, but not spirits and negotiation, plants, planets, symbolism and symbology, numerology and he doesn't have an inherent sense of binding. Since he's keeping up his Slayer training, he's never going to be as good a totemist, but fine for the quick and dirty stuff.

>>21113487
"It is nice. Wonder if there are more places like it around? There's so much we don't know about the place we live, since we're always working to keep the village alive."

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>>21113479
Rohan's bending his arm forwards, besides it's JoJo, characters preform mind boggling contortions every volume.

>>21113457
I'm not saying we make power armour or anything, but stuff like infusing the walls with earth to make them stronger, or infusing crops with earth/water to help them grow, infusing the blacksmith's forge with fire, to allow it to burn hotter, stuff like that.

If the neighbours prove to be hostile, you could try constructing a moat infused with water to keep them out, or whatever.

>>21113487
"We should. The Totemist in me is wondering how this place came about, what spirits and magic came to make it this way, the rest of me just wants to enjoy his time here with the prettiest girl he's ever seen."

>>21113570
Seconding this because making Elana blush is fun.

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>>21113549
Maybe we could find a way of holding classes for basic totem creation for the Slayers, then.

They should be able to kill lower level things like raptors by themselves, and having their weapons and armour infused with low level bindings could increase their combat effectiveness, especially with a possible conflict on the horizon.

Not only that, but it could also strengthen ties to the villiage, and help remove some of the superstition regarding totemology.

Also maybe have Osyki come back later and study the water to see if it's special or something.

>>21113549
I wondered this.
Like Osyki knows a lot that doesn't really come up very often in the quest I guess?

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"Maybe if we get more time, which I feel is the most valuable currency in the world. But I'm sure we could find some reasons to come here more often."

You take a deep breath, relishing the cool mountain air. The shade of the cliffs ensures that this area is still relatively nice, even at the height of the day.

"It is nice. Wonder if there are more places like it around? There's so much we don't know about the place we live, since we're always working to keep the village alive."

Elana nods. "Maybe we can explore together, then."

You laugh at this, not cruelly, but genuinely. "Maybe. I doubt things will always be as peaceful as this, and you're not exactly suited to the kind of fights I get into on a regular basis."

She frowns. "Well, I guess you'll just have to keep me safe, won't you?"

You chuckle. "Haven't I done that enough lately?"

She shakes her head. "Nope! Apparently not."

You glance behind you, snapping your attention to a sudden noise. A small squirrel-like animal freezes as you see it and darts off, six legs propelling it quickly across the ground.

"Can't get rid of me that easily, Osy."

[[That's where I have to end the thread for this evening. I'm off to work. I'll see you all next week!]]

>>21113794
From what Diarca said most people don't have any spirit ability. Out of all the children of the raising house we only found three worthy candidates. And teaching them the basics could be worse than teaching them nothing except "It's dangerous". Confidence leads to overconfidence, and people with the small edge provided by the basic totems they posses might misunderstand how they work. A totem of misdirection does not render you invisible, and a charm to strengthen a blade doesn't make you any stronger.

And they already can kill raptors and similar beasts effectively, but raptors hunt in packs. Oyski could wipe out a pack by himself, but the Slayers could do the same with a series of pits, snares and a killing field. The totemist's real calling is to be the village's defense and sacrifice against Behemoths.

>>21113876
Aah, curses. See you Thursday.

>>21113794
Walther isn't likely to agree to that. Making basic knowledge available isn't a bad idea though. If the village has anything like a library we could have someone copy some of our books and donate the copies to it.

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>>21113905
Given that Quinn pretty much became our assistant, I doubt he has absolute control or anything. That said, I ment the courses be strictly voulentary.

>>21113895
I'm not saying make them fully fleged totemists or anything, just enough to allow them to bind raptor essences into their equipment, and stress during the training that they're only trained to handle that, and anything more complex is out of their league and *very* dangerous.

As to the raptors hunting in packs, that's true, but the slayers can also set traps and ambushes and the like. I'm not saying they should go out and try to bind every raptor they see, but if they're able to subdue one, then they could bind it to their weapon or something.

Raptor swords/bows and the like could really help them out, especially if the new villiage proves to be hostile.

>>21114329
Bindings are certainly beyond most people. There's the runes for one thing, and then there's the right. If you're not a totemist you don't have the right to bind feral spirits.

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>>21114464
I'm just worried about the neighbouring people, Osy's villiage has only 75 people, which means it can't afford to take any amount of losses.

Minimum population for genetic diversity follows the 50/500 rule, with 500 playing it safe, and 50 for the bare minimum, so there's no real wiggle room here.

Not to mention if the villiage gets any smaller, it might have trouble filled needed roles.

>>21114576
I absolutely agree. The village's population is hardly sustainable given the dangers of the surrounding environment and losses to disease/age/weather. The number and variety of specialists the village has, including papermakers(!!) makes be a bit suspicious as to the origins of our village. There's a much higher tech level in play for how small and cut off the village is.

>>21114885
That's somethingnwe need to broach with the elders: WHY is the village so far away from other settlements, and how/why was it founded? We need to know more of the village's early history.

>>21113876
Just thought of the perfect response to Elana's last words, and the best way to start the next thread: "So I'm going to be taking care of you all my life? That's a binding I'm happy to make." Then take her hand, look at her full in the eyes and smile.

Then kiss her.