>>22119704
"Pleased to meet you, Captain. We're actually looking to travel to Atlask. What would the price be for passage upon your fine vessel?"

>>22119704
"Customers? That would be us!"

"Pleased to meet you, Captain." You say. "We're actually looking to travel to Atlask. What would the price be for passage upon your fine vessel?"
"Well, let me think..." He said, eying the five of you, as if appraising you. Then he looked to Ariana, who was beaming up at the ship. "It's a week's travel." He said, finally. "Would'you and that green-haired fellow be willing to work that time?"
"We can work too." Tori said, affixing the captain with a steely glare.
"No need." He said. "Won't have women working on my ship. If you two are willing to help work off the cost, then the cost will be a silver per passenger. If not, then two silver per passenger. This is the cost."

>>22119804
Travelers, actually.

>>22119889
"What kind of work will it be?"

>>22119889
"I'd be willing to work, let me ask Kale though."

"Hey Kale, want to work with me so it costs less?"

"What kind of work will it be?" You ask.
"Whatever I need you to do. Clean, tie knots, push oars, cook..."
He shrugged.
"You're both novices, so I won't make you do anything you don't need to, but extra pairs of hands are useful."
"I'd be willing to work. Let me ask Kale, though."
You turn to Kale, and he grinned and nodded.
"Always a good time for new experiences." Kale responded. "I see no reason not to help."
"Well, that's good, then." The captain said, chuckling. "We leave when the tide starts to low- in a few hours, as it turns out. You don't need to pay me until we arrive, and if the trip is too slow or uncomfortable, then you don't even need to pay me."

>>22120014
"Surely that's not a good mode of business though, Captain? Some people would just refuse to save money."

"Will we need to bring any food?"

>>22120014
Probably going to need to buy Kale some fresh greens for the journey.

"Surely that's not a good mode of business though, Captain? Some people would just refuse to save money."
"Some would." He said, and grinned at you. "But I'm an honest man, and I choose to believe that others are. I'm still carryin' goods, so I won't be penniless if my passengers don't pay."
"Will we need to bring any food?"
"You'll eat what I and my crew eat. If you want to bring something better, I won't stop you- our rations aren't very good, and much too salty for most. Dried beans, salted meat, chicken and their eggs are a luxury..."
Kale tapped at his chin.
"Is it alright if I eat beans exclusively?" Kale asked.
"You don't eat meat?"
"I don't, no."
"Fair enough. You'd be an adherent of Agaeros, then?"
"... I don't know who that is, I'm afraid."
"Oh well." The captain responded, and shrugged.

>>22120146
"We've got a few hours, right? We'll pick up some food from the market, Kale."

>>22120146
Let's grab a few more spare rations from the market whilst we can.

Rolled 6

>>22120187
>>22120146
perhaps some fishing gear?

>>22120218
Not a bad idea to be honest.

"We've got a few hours, right?"
"You do, though I expect you to help row us out when it comes time." The captain said. "And you'll need to deal with your own luggage."
"We'll pick up some food from the market, Kale." You say.
"Alright then." He said, nodding.
"Um, sir, do you mind if I look around?" Ariana asked, still beaming up at the ship.
"Go ahead." The captain said, grinning and nodding. "Try not to get in the crew's way."
"Thank you!" Ariana said, and ran up the gangplank, Astora following her. Tannis, Cass, and Kale followed you as you walked back into the market.

>What look for?

>>22120301
-Fishing rod
-One week's worth of greens for Kale
-Any miscellaneous junk that seems cool.

"We might be catching and eating lots of fish on the journey, Tannis."

>>22120301
Fishing gear (Pole, extra lines, extra hooks, bait, a stout club, and a good skinning knife mostly), a few bits of good food that will keep for a week (Greens mostly), aand...just anything that catches the eye I guess.

>>22120338
Seconding this, can't think of anything else we'd need.

Rolled 68

>>22120338
what this guy said, but look for a small fishing rod or a folding one. maybe a harpoon or 2
>>22120301
bookstore, looking for books on alchemy, sailing and boat building.

"We might be catching and eating lots of fish on the journey, Tannis." You say.
"That's the best news ever!" She said, grinning, as the four of you walked into the fishmonger's shop from last night. You quickly ask for a fishing rod, and several extra lines, hooks, bait, and such, and the merchant explains the basics behind using it, setting the price at only 20 copper.

"... There's no need for you to purchase food for me." Kale said, finally. He shot you another grin. "I already owe you one boon, and I earned my own money so that I would not need to owe you another. I'll purchase my own food. But thank you for offering."

>>22120426
"Well, are you certain? It's no trouble. I wouldn't even want another boon."

>>22120426
Buy all the fishing stuff.

Rolled 50

>>22120426
just thought I'd watch out for a companion mine Kale, but as you will.

>(approximate size of pole? this could have other uses later)

and now maybe to a bookstore, we'll be busy working for some of it, but a book or two to read might be nice to alleviate what boredom we encounter, perhaps a book of gambling or alchemy

or even a musical instrument. a fiddle, flute, or harmonica

I kinda feel like looking for a saxe knife. It would really come in handy on the ocean and would complement our repertoire of Ranger skills.

Also, on the subject of gunpowder, one of the best method of making usable blackpowder is to make wet cakes of the stuff, drying them and using chips or ground dust of it.

"Well, are you certain?" You ask, paying the fishmonger and strapping the gear- as well as the shoddy collapsible fishing pole- to your pack. "I wouldn't even want another boon."
"I'm certain." He said. "It's only fair- it it weren't for my dietary needs, this wouldn't even be an issue."
He bowed, and stepped out of the store, leaving you with Tannis and Cass. The three of you step out, and continue walking. You notice that Cass looked a little downcast, while Tannis was still grinning and staring at the fishing pole, likely anticipating learning to catch fish herself.

As you walk, you notice another blacksmith shop, Veritas' shop, as well as a glassmaker, a breadmaker, and a woodcarver who had flutes on display.

>>22120582
"Hey, Cass, you alright?"

Head to Veritas' shop again.

>>22120582
We're going to be out at sea for a long time, learning an instrument could be good for us...
Also, drop back and ask Cass if she's okay.

>>22120582
Go looking for a book on alchemy. Pick up some Charcoal as well, I'm assuming that we won't be wanting to start a fire on a wooden ship after all.

Rolled 71

>>22120650
well not an unprotected one anyway.

You slow down, backing up to walk alongside Cass, and turn to her.
"Hey, Cass, you alright?"
"Ariana's dreams keep messing with my head." She said, finally, as you approached Veritas' shop. "I don't want to talk about it."

"A book on alchemy?" Veritas asked, and gave you a polite nod. "I'm afraid I can't think of one that I have... I do have a journal of an old Order alchemist, but I'm not going to let go of it." He said. "Not even for ten gold."

>>22120726
"Well, do you have any charcoal, then? What makes that book so valuable?"

>>22120726
"Ah, it must be quite valuable then. I was more looking for a crash course on some of the easier recipes more than anything."

"Well, do you have any charcoal, then?"
"I do." He said. "five copper for a satchel."
"And what makes the book so valuable?"
"Well, he was the man that invented Aqua Ignis, Aqua Sanctis, and the mythical tonic of Incarnate. I'm still puzzling that last part out- it's all written in the skiitaran tongue, for some reason." Veritas said, smiling pleasantly.
"Ah, it might be quite valuable then." You say. "I was more looking for a crash course on some of the easier recipes more than anything."
"I'm afraid I don't quite have much like that." He said. "I could write up a primer if you come back in a day or so."

>>22120844
"I'm afraid I won't be in town tomorrow, so I'll just take the charcoal.

>>22120844
"I'll take the charcoal, thank you."

"That's a shame, we're about to leave to Atlask in an hour or so. I guess I'll just have to learn on my feet."

Rolled 82

>>22120844
I unfortunately only have a couple of hours.

how bout I pay you 2 copper for every full recipe you can write down between now and when we come back before the ship leaves?

(or perhaps we can convince one of our literate party members to stay behind to take dictation)

>>22120844
"I'm afraid I'm leaving the continent in a few hours."

>>22120940
2 copper is literally chump change.
2 silver is more reasonable.

"I'll take the charcoal, thank you." You say, and he passed over the satchel as you pass over the coins. "I'm afraid I won't be in tomorrow. We're about to leave to Atlask in an hour or so. I guess I'll just have to learn on my feet."
"Ah, well, have a safe trip!" He said, nodding to you.
You put the charcoal with your other supplies, and then make your way out of the store, just to see Kale standing there with a bushel under one arm and a carrot in his mouth. He grinned, and crunched at it.
"Are we all prepared?" He asked.
"I think so." Cass said, quietly.
"Good to hear!"

Rolled 68

>>22120967
then we offer 1 silver per each unless we can leave someone with him to transcribe

maybe more if he can offer us some primer/introductory material.

then we can be off to search for other things...

perhaps the meanad knows some of the shops in town...

>>22120999
"I've got all the stuff I need. Unless there's any objections, let's head back to the ship and get underway!"

Rolled 34

>>22120999
lets go take a look at the woodworkers wares, seeing for a viol or one of the flutes there;

"hey Kale, did you ever learn to play any musical instruments?"

"I've got all the stuff I need." You say. "Unless there's any objections, let's head back to the ship and get underway!"

As you walk, you look over to the woodworker, and turn to Kale.
"Hey, Kale, Did you ever learn to play any musical instruments?"
"I have, once upon a time, yes." He said. "But that was a lifetime ago. I'm a different fey than back then."
Eventually, you reached the Silver Serpent again, as the sailors are just finishing loading up their goods. Briddon was standing on the deck, looking this way and that, and grinned when he saw you, as Ariana and Astora stood near the edge, staring out into the ocean.
"Good to see you've arrived in time." Captain briddon said. "We're due to set out in a few minutes. I trust you have nothing else you plan to bring?"

>>22121136
"Nope, I've got everything I need!"

>>22121136
"Let's set sail. Where do you need me, Captain?"

"Nope, I've got everything I need!" You say. The captain chuckled, and got to his feet. "Where do you need me, captain?"
"Well then, get belowdeck. Grubwort needs you to oar. We need to be faster if we're going to catch the wind in time."
You and Kale nod, drop off your belongings with Ariana, and make your way belowdeck.

Huffing, you lean forward, twist the haft of the oar, and pull back, putting your weight into it. Kale, on the other side of the aisle from you, did the same- though he wasn't sweating, or even huffing like you. For a moment, you were jealous- he was even still grinning pleasantly, not like he was exhausted at all.
"Hey, Abel." Ariana said, making her way over to your and Kale's area, where you'd been all day. "The captain said that you and Kale can stop now. We got carried into a current or something, I think." She said. Finally catching your breath, you let go of the oar and just rest there.. until Ari sidles up next to you, stealing half of your seat.
"... You smell." She said, before smiling and closing her eyes. "Isn't this exciting? Tannis told me that there's no Order in Atlask."

>>22121270
"It should be fun, at least. I guess you won't have to worry about hiding your Gifts as much. Heh, it might even be that way when we get back to Garamon if Eldin's plan works out."

>>22121270
"Sorry that I have to work so all of our tickets are cheaper."

>>22121270
"Where's your sister by the way?"

Let's show her how to gunpowder

"It should be fun, at least." you say. "I guess you won't have to worry about hiding your gifts as much."
"Yeah, it should be a relief." Ariana said.
"Heh, it might even be that way when we get back to Garamon, if Eldin's plan works out."
"Wouldn't that be great?" Ariana asked, grinning. Beside you, Kale got to his feet.
"I'm going to go bask in the sun." Kale said, and gave the two of you a smile, before making his way abovedeck.
"Where's your sister, by the way?"
"She said she didn't want to watch the sunset with me." Ariana said. "She's in one of the empty rooms the captain gave us."
"Sunset?" Kale asked. "You mean..."
"Yeah, it's already dark." Ariana said.
"... Well, that's not good." Kale said, his smile falling for a moment. "Oh well, the stars are still beautiful."
He shrugged, and continued on his way.

>>22121420
"That's a shame. Maybe in future we can rotate our shifts so you can get some sun, Kale."

Go hunting for Tori

>>22121442
I don't think we'll need to row now that we're out where the wind can hit the sails.

"That's a shame." You say, grabbing your tunic where you'd thrown it after starting to sweat. "Maybe in the future we can rotate our shifts so you can get some sun, Kale."
"That would be best." He said, after considering it. "I could speak to the captain about taking the night shifts. My eyes are just as keen in the dark as they are in daylight."
You and Ari make your way to the quarters, and start going through doors, but then Ari suddenly stops and shushes you.
"Listen." She whispered, and put her ear up to the door. You put your own up, and you can hear... singing. A soft, low song, one in a tongue you don't recognize, full of bass- one that fitted Astora's husky voice perfectly.
"... Will you quit that?" You hear Cass snap, and Astora stopped. "I'm trying to get some sleep."
"...They've been snapping at eachother all day." Ariana said. "I think they had another fight."

>>22121510
Burst in.

"Ladies, ladies please. We're going to be on this ship together for a week, let's not get off to a bad start."

"Now, gather round whilst Abel teaches you to do alchemy."

>>22121510
Sigh "What rooms are ours?"

>>22121553
Cass' trying to sleep.
That'd probably just get them both mad, especially Astora, who isn't our girlfriend (And therefore won't appreciate us bursting into her room)..

Rolled 17

>>22121510
could you pull her out of there Ari?
("which one?" "either one")

if it's cass give her a hug while she's recovering from the shadow-pull

You sigh. "What rooms are ours?"
"We have three rooms." Ariana said. "So each room gets two people."
You nod, and then burst in through the door. Tori, who was lying on her back, staring up at her claw, jumped, and pulled her blanket up around her. Cass's eyes were glittering green on her own bed, as her massive, spiked tail sprawled out behind her, twitching and whipping.
"Ladies, ladies, please." you say. "We're going to be on this ship together for a week, let's not get off to a bad start."
"... Fine, I'll just keep my distance then." Cass said coldly, getting to her feet and leaving the room. Astora, meanwhile, was still rather stunned, her face reddening.
"... I'd like if you didn't surprise me like that." She said, quietly. "Now please, let me put a shirt on."

Rolled 39

>>22121709
okay, I just wanted to get that said; I don't want Cass to get irritable and smash a bulkhead or a hull timber. are yall hungry? we can meet in the mess deck for a meal...

>>22121709
"I'm terribly sorry about that."

"Do you want to learn how to make that exploding stuff?"

>>22121709
good god /tg/ what are you doing

I think we should be shamed and head off to our room now.

"I'm terribly sorry about that." You say, and then turn around to leave, while Ariana stuck with you.
"Well, seems you have a choice before you." Ari said, grinning. "We have three rooms, and Cass is in one, Tannis in the other, and my sister in the last."
"And all of them will get jealous if you don't choose their room!" She giggled, then shrugged. "Or you could just ask Tannis and Cass to take the same room, but that's no fun."

>>22121794
I tried bro.

>>22121885
"I'll stay with Cass."

>>22121885
"Oh man, I just want them all to be happy."
"I guess it'll have to be you and Tori, Tannis and Cass and then me and Kale."

>>22121885
"Well that's quite the conundrum. Maybe the captain will let me work while everyone else is sleeping?

haha

If I sleep in Tannis' room then I'll get more to myself while she's small, so I might try that."

Rolled 73

>>22121885
well, I could declare one room to be mine and say nothing about who else sleeps in it with me.

let's let them fight, the crew might like the entertainment

>>22121947
>"Oh man, I just want them all to be happy."
I know you like this phrase anon, but could you reword it slightly each time? We sound a little like a broken record.

Rolled 58

>>22121885
>Cass
go with her
you and your sister

and tannis and kale sleep less than any one

"Oh man, I just want them all to be happy." You say. "I guess I'll go with Cass, and you and Tori can take the same room. Kale and Tannis sleep less than anyone."
"... Tori?" Ariana asked, and grinned. "You call her Tori? Does she actually let you? Because she yelled at Eldin whenever he did."

>>22122041
Yeah, she asked me to. Is there some significance behind it? I thought she was just being nice.

>>22122041
"Yea, after our rooftop chat. She said it was ok."

>>22122061
oh god, I'm not sure if anyone here was familiar with CommanderQuest run by Pax, but I think we are trying for the harem ending by being slightly oblivious till the all get frustrated and agree they wanna jump our bones....it was the opposite in CommanderQuest, we just fucked them all, given that it was Rome, multiple partners were pretty standard

Rolled 86

>>22122041
(grin) you recall throwing me through a shadow recently? she brought it up and everything.

I'll leave it to you to notify them, I'd hate to be clawed to death by either of them because I burst in again...

"Yeah, she asked me to, after our rooftop chat." You say. "Is there some significance behind it? I thought she was just being nice."
"There is." Ariana said, and grinned. "Now I'm going to go needle her about it. Sleep well, Abel!"
Smiling, Ariana made her way back into Tori's room, as you make your way to Cass's. She was sitting up on her bed, her eyes blazing green, her pupils shaped like X's, claws sprouting from her fingertips as her normally rat-like tail was enormous, sprawling, with thick scales covering the entire length. Four long, spiked tips sit on the end, gleaming as she twitched it.
"... Abel." She said, closing her eyes as you walked in, trying to calm herself down.

>>22122105
I'm only still contributing in this quest for the mystery. All this waifuing is nerve grating in my opinion. Just needed to get it out.

Now i go back into hibernation mode until the girl problems are solved.

>>22122165
"Hey hey hey, Cass. What's the occasion?"

waifu quest

>>22122165
"Cass."

>>22122165
"That tail doesn't look so appealing."

"Which bed do you want?"

"Hey hey hey, Cass. What's the occasion?"
"Thor is dead." She said, opening her eyes again. "Sven is dead. Jaeden is dead. Belle is dead. Efreeti is dead. Everyone I knew and loved is dead, and I'm here, doing nothing at all. I should be *avenging* them! And instead I'm here, just running away."

Rolled 37

>>22122267
do not say this

Rolled 30

>>22122165
hey cass, are you alright?

and I'm sorry for bursting in earlier, but we really don't need the two of you at eachothers throats on this trip.

arm over her shoulder and sit beside her

>>22122285
"If that's the way you feel, then you could get the boat back again, live in the swamps and do what you want."

Rolled 60

>>22122285
no cass you aren't; vengeance need not be an immediate thing.

and when we come back I'm reasonably sure there'll be some vestiges of the order left.

>>22122285
"I thought you said that you all knew that the Order might raid, that you had planned to run."

"Someone else might have survived, do you know where the others were when they attacked?"

"If Eldin is successful, you can have your vengence by proxy."

>>22122351
Don't say this, comes off as too dismissive.

"I thought you said that you all knew that the Order might raid, and that you planned to run."
"But- But-" She said, under her breath, and shook her head. "But if I fight, I'll lose, and I promised Thor I'd run if something happened. But I can't just- I can't just run, either. I want to keep my promise, but my blood- my blood just wants to... to..."
She shook her head, and then her tail suddenly slammed into the bed, and whipped just past your head. She spoke again, and her teeth were pointed. "My blood wants to burst out of the muck, lock my fangs on their throat, and pull them into the swamp as they scream."
She closed her eyes, and took another deep, rattling breath, and her claws abruptly vanished, the spikes in her tail shrinking. Next thing you knew, she was hugging her legs, crying softly.
"... How do you handle it, Abel?" She asked, quietly. "When you lose everything? When you're... when you're lost?"

>>22122475
"Don't think about it, keep working towards a goal, take solace in my friends." Cuddles seem to be in high demand at the moment.

>>22122475
"I'm here for you, Cass. Even if you can't fight them directly, just being alive spites them and everything they stand for."

>>22122475
That does sound like fun.

I don't know Cass. I lost my mother just before I left town. I had nothing and just decided to wander. I suppose I might be running away, but there's nothing for me back home.

I guess I just look forwards. Arianna has her journey, and I decided to help her with that.

>>22122475
It isn't easy, thats for sure. When i started hunting, i sometimes got lost in the woods. Its hard to find out again, but if you don't you will starve. If you search for familiar surroundings and look to the nightsky you can make it back. Don't loose hope Cass. Live goes on."

I push everything that saddens me into the farthest reaches of my head. then I let the feelings I enjoy takes their place. being around you and the others...it helps me forget, at least for a little while

"... I'm here for you, Cass." You say, taking a seat next to her. Powerfully corded muscle, in the form of her full troll tail, coiled around you. "Even if you can't fight them directly, just being alive spites them and everything they stand for."
"But..."
"I don't know, Cass." You say. "I lost my mother just before I left town. I... had nothing, and just decided to wander. I suppose I might be running away, but there's nothing for me back home."
"I know what that feels like." She said bitterly.
"I just look forwards." You say. "Ariana has her journey, and I decided to help her with that."
"Just look forwards?" She asked, and you nodded. "I guess that nobody really knows where they're going. You and Astora are following Ari, Kale and Tannis are following you... and nobody here has a goal, do they? No big quest, or mission..."

>>22122711
I hope not. Wandering without a destination is much more fun.

Oh, Maybe Arianna is leading is somewhere. Maybe she's got a secret agenda and she's leading us somewhere secluded so she can sacrifice us to Dark Gods. Wouldn't that be terrible?

"I hope not. Wandering without a destination is much more fun."
"Maybe." She said.
"Oh, maybe Ariana is leading us somewhere." You say. "Maybe she's got a secret agenda and she's leading us somewhere secluded so she can sacrifice us to Dark Gods. Wouldn't that be terrible?"
Cass grinned. "It would. But don't you need pure-hearted virgins for that sort of thing? You're probably the only one who counts as pure-hearted, and I don't think most of us count as human."

>>22122711
"Does anyone need a ultimate quest though? Can't life be it's own objective?"

>>22122711
I have a goal. I want to get Gabriel to stop harassing me. And maybe find out who, what i am... Though lately i've been thinking that it would perhaps be better if i never found out. It's unsettling.

Rolled 63

>>22122815
that may not matter, and whats to say you and tannis aren't- well tannis probably isn't pure hearted, but I'm pretty sure you are...

>>22122815
"Non-humans can make great sacrifices! A hundred trollblooded and witches sacrificed on an altar is just as good if not better than a hundred humans."

>>22122815
"I'll have you know I'm a perfectly good virgin. Not so sure about the human though."

then, as we grab her tail. "Not particularly pure hearted though."

>>22122815
"I don't think any of us count as human really.
You're part troll, Kale's an elf, Tannis is a maenad, Ariana and Astora are witches, and I'm...Whatever I am."

>>22122815
No. I don't think anyone here really counts as human. Though i'm certainly the best of you at pretending to be human. You know, my sword told me that there are countless other realities out there... I really wonder if the dead go to one of those."

"Non-humans can make great sacrifices! A hundred trollblooded and witches sacrificed on an altar is just as good- if not better- than a hundred humans." You say. "I don't think any of us count as human, really. You're part troll, Kale's an elf, Tannis is a maenad, Ari and Astora are witches, and I'm... whatever I am."
"You seem very human, at times." She said. "And then other times, you do things like grab my tail..."
She frowned, after a moment, and her powerfully muscled troll tail uncoiled, shrinking, as the scales melt into the flesh. "Thank you for the talk, but... I think I should get to bed. Hopefully I fall asleep before Ariana does."

>>22122972
Grab at her tail before we go to bed ourselves.

Maybe I can catch the dream for you, then you don't have to worry.

Rolled 91

>>22122972
in an attempt to stop a mauling I have suggested that ariana and astora share a room.

I'm leaving it up to you kale and tannis to work out the other arrangements (wink at her)

>>22122972
"Well, last time I had a dream from her, it was about a bear mauling me across the stomach. So I think I'll try to sleep as well."

"Well, last time I had a dream from her, it was about a bear mauling me across the stomach. So I think I'll try to sleep as well."
"Okay." She said, and curled into the blankets. At the last moment, you run your finger along her tail, and she shot you a glare.
"You're only interested in me because of my tail, aren't you?" She asked, as you climbed into your own bed.

Rolled 15

>>22123094
not just the tail, the claws are interesting too; I might even admit you have an attractive personality.

>>22123094
"Of course not. It just gets the best reactions when I touch it. Night, Cass."

>>22123094
"Of course not! On the list of reasons I like you it's a strong third place."

>>22123094
SHE'S ON TO US, GUYS

"It always gets a reaction." and grin.

"You keep not telling me things. How about when we get to Atlask we go for a wander, just the two of us for a few hours."

>>22123094
"It's a factor, I'll admit, but I'd be a shallow person if that was the only one. It's YOU I like, and all the things that make you up. Your eyes, your hair, your face, your mind. You as a person is what attracts me, not just your tail."

Rolled 56

>>22123094
kiss her on the head
say nothing

"Of course not!" You say. "It just gets the best reactions when I touch it. Night, Cass."
"... Night." She responded, and you lay back.

High, high above you, through the glass and the mile of water, the sun peeked through, along with several broken, floating machines. Below you sat cold, hard steel, locked into tiles, and strange beeping machines were on the walls, churning out strange numbers, and a word- sonar- burns it's way into your mind.
<It seems we're here again.> Ares said.
<Would you like us to continue to teach you swordsmanship?> Rogue asked, and a black shadow with a blade appeared in front of you.

>>22123295
"Unless there's anything else you can teach me, like how to make a gun?"

>>22123295
"Yes, but what's with the machines?"

>>22123295
Can I just explore today? Does the dream extend very far?

>>22123295
"Hmm? What is Sonar?"

>>22123295
"I keep remembering things that shouldn't be. Guns, chemistry, and now Sonar. I don't suppose you could tell me why?"

>>22123295
"Why does this arcane knowledge bore itself into my mind. What is its meaning?"

"Yes, but what's with the machines?"
<... They're memories.> Ares said. <Your memories. Every dreamscape is.>
"... Can I just explore, today?" You ask. "Does the dream extend very far?"
<... Your mind will make up what you see on the spot. It goes as far as you need to.> Rogue said.

You look around, and three doors sat on three seperate walls, each with a keypad and a red light on two of them. On the third, the light was green.
"... I keep remembering things that shouldn't be." You say. "Guns, chemistry, and now sonar. I don't suppose you could tell me why? Why does this arcane knowledge bore itself into my mind. What is it's meaning?"
<Your past... once spanned other worlds.> Ares said.
<We're not allowed to tell you much more.> Rogue added. <For continuity. This is something you have to learn for yourself. Something you have to...>
<Remember.> Ares said. <Something you have to remember. From Before. We could say your name now... but it would do nothing but shatter continuity, and all would be lost.>

>>22123437
GREEN LIGHT.
Touch the third door.

>>22123437
"Is it going to be one of those screechy names like Gabe yelled at me the other night? I hope not, that doesn't sound like fun and nobody would be able to pronounce it."

Go to the green door, fiddle with the keypad, see if we can get through.

>>22123437
"Where do you two fit into all of this? Why are you helping me?"

Rolled 10

>>22123295
certainly, do you know any way to get more of those flashes of insight I like the whole gunpowder thing...it was interesting and incredibly useful.

perhaps some training in how to fight unconventional opponents, things with claws and stings, spear wielders?

>>22123437
"Give me firearm training, please."

>>22123606
Not that helpful until we actually get a firearm.

>>22123437
Try the door with the green light. Maybe we'll instinctively know the code?

Exabyte might be having issues with his computer/connection.

>>22123437
wouldn't know a way to regain memories some sorta mediation?

>>22123871
...you appear to have misplaced some vital words there.

>I LOST POWER GODDAMNIT. Post incoming! Unless I lose it again!

>Also, because I vanished for an hour and a half, today might be extra long and such.

"Where do you two fit in?" You ask, looking around. "Why are you helping me?"
<... This is Ares' place to answer.> Rogue said.
<... It's a very complex matter.> Ares said. <But... Some very bad things happened to you. Because... because of me. I'm here to remedy that. Rogue tagged along, well...>
<Because that's me. I'm a meddler.> Rogue responded.

Carefully, you look this way and that, approaching the door. As you raise your hand to the keypad, it buzzes, and the door whooshes open, revealing the next chamber. It was a long, dark hallway, and at the very end, you could see a fluorescent bulb, and a woman with spectacles and a peculiar thin white coat, speaking into a strange object that she held up to her head, speaking in a careful, scared tone. When you listened to the words, they were in an alien, twisted tongue. She didn't seem to notice you.

>>22125118
Creep down the coridoor.
"Well, I can't remember what you did, but if you're helping me out, it can't be all bad, right?"

>>22125118
Walk up to her, see if there's anything behind or on the walls.

"Well, I can't remember what you did, but if you're helping me out, it can't be all bad, right?"
You creep down the corridor, in silence, and approach the woman. She was standing in front of a large, beeping machine, and in the machine, you could feel... something. Something powerful, like a current of electricity and information flowing into you, through you. You look through the window behind her, up into the ocean, and you can see a small machine- a mechanized eye, staring down at you.

<... It was the worst thing I have ever done.> Ares said, after a moment. <You can't remember it for a reason.>
The eye started beeping and clicking, and the woman didn't seem to notice it. Behind you, in the hallway, there was a bang, and water started flowing out toward you. The door slammed shut, and you were stuck in the room with the woman and the machine, the eye just outside.

You hear a loud bang, and Scylla stood outside the window, her legs instead a fishtail, her palm on the glass. She was whispering something to you, but it was too muffled to hear.

>>22125118
Approach the woman, see if we can remember anything about her or about what she's saying.

>>22125241
"Hey, Ares, Rogue, if I die in the dream, I'll be fine, right?"

Start looking for a way out

>>22125241
Um...crap. Do Scylla and the woman look at all similar?

Look at the machine, try to figure out what it is.

>>22125241
wait, we're in the NFC underwater base?

Put our hand on the window, against Scylla's.

Abel is Prometheus

"Hey, Ares, Rogue, if I die in the dream, I'll be fine, right?" You ask, looking around.
<... It matters what you mean by fine.> Rogue said.

You put your hand on Scylla's, and then she brought her ear up to the glass. You do the same, and then she whispered.

"It comes, Abel." She whispered. "The Kraken comes. Run."

You pull your ear away from the glass and look out the window again, and in scylla's place was an enormous squid, seven limbs clinging to the glass, an endless maw of teeth starting to gnaw into the glass.
The woman to the side of you screamed, and then twitched, her eyes bleeding. She tool a long, lumbering step toward you, eyes locked on you. Shattered on the ground was the strange device she'd been talking to you through.
"I... I know you..." She said, her teeth pointed cruelly. "I know your naaaaame~"

>>22125373
Oh, what the FUCK. Um...is there another way out? Maybe at the woman's end of the hallway?

>>22125373
That's nice crazy lady, but how do we get out of here?

>>22125373
"Yea, yea. Sure. What are you going to do about it?"

Rolled 46

>>22125373
CLEAVE HER IN TWO, FROM NAVEL TO HEAD.

"Yeah, yeah, sure." You say, trying to keep calm. Your eyes dart around the room, but find the door that had once been there was gone. "What are you going to do about it?"
"aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAA." She said, completely calmly, as her three arms suddenly turned into large claws.
Your response was to draw your blade, and in a single blow, cleave her in half vertically. She split apart like butter, but still she stood, her claws twitching, and her eyes empty of anything- complete vaccuums.

"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA." She said again, two voices from the two halves of her mouth, and lunged toward you.
That's when the glass shattered, and water crushed in toward you, knocking you out.
Damp, coughing up water, you open your eyes- and you were in a pure white room, a workbench behind you with a simple unica 6 revolver, disassembled. An enormous brass spider stood there, talking in an alien tongue with a warbling, tinny voice.
"A." The spider said. "Aardvark. Abacus. Abandon. Abase. Abash. Abate. Abattoir."

Rolled 93

>>22125542
"A for god damn Abel, mother fucker."
Grab all the revolver parts

>>22125542
"Hello? Where am I?"

See if we know how to assemble the gun.

>>22125542
Assemble the revolver quickly. It might not be a good idea to let the spider reach "Abel".

>>22125572
Agreeing with this, assemble that quickly. Shoot the spider then we HAVE to use >>22125563
as our oneliner.

>>22125572
>>22125612
Don't shoot the spider just yet, see if it can interact first.

"A for goddamn Abel, motherfucker." You say.
The spider twitched, and you turned to the workbench, quickly grabbing and assembling the revolver parts.
"Abbess. Abbey. Abbreviate."
The revolver assembled, you slid out the cylinder, and spun it once- it was identical to what Gabriel had used. You slid it back in, then back out.
And when it came out, it had six rounds in there, ready to fire.
"Abdicate. Abduct. Abeeeeeeelllll."
The spider stopped talking suddenly, his voice slowing.
It tilted it's head at you, and then started buzzing loudly, a constant 'zzzzz' noise coming from it. It twitched, clanked, and then lunged, the sharp legs piercing through your chest.

You awoke, lying in your bed. It was late, late at night, and someone was knocking at the door. Cass was asleep, and a comforting heavy weight sat in your hands. Both of them. In one was your sword, and in the other... was your revolver.
The knock came again.

>>22125672
Check whether there's any rounds in it, then see who's knocking.

>>22125672
wat.

Check stomach for puncture wounds.

Open the door a crack and see who it is. If it's one of our party, say "Hi, it's awfully early, isn't it?"

>>22125706
>>22125708
before opening, check Cass

>>22125672
Call out "Who is it?"

>>22125672
Wait, what the fuck? Sheathe the sword, check the revolver, and check on Cass. Then find out who's outside the door.

>>22125672
"Guess I know where that motherfucker Gabriel gets all his stuff now"

Rolled 60

>>22125672
"who goes there?!?"

unwrap the scaly tail and check for puncture scars.

You open the cylinder, and six rounds sat there, unfired. The revolver was all chrome and steel, new, almost so reflective that you could see yourself in it. You put the cylinder back, set it aside, and then check on cass, in the other bed. She was sleeping, mumbling something to herself, twitching. For a moment, you think you see a tear in the corner of her eye.
You crack open the door, and Tori stood out there, chewing on the inside of her cheek, wearing little but a thin blouse and leather breeches.
"Hi, it's awfully early, isn't it?" You ask in a low voice.
In response, she stuck her clawed hand through the crack in the door, poking at your bare chest right where your scar was.
"... What do you think of my hand?" She asked.

>>22125842
"What do I think of it? It's certainly memorable, and it would be pretty cool being able to tear through things with those claws."

>>22125842
"Huh? Why?"

Rolled 3

>>22125842
"is something different this morning? I've told you my thoughts on the matter..."

>>22125842
"Think of it? Is this one of those trick questions?"

"I think the power it gives you is amazing, but the pain seems quite terrible."

"But look at this," Take her hand and line it up with the scars, "It's the same size."

>>22125842
"It's a hand. It happens to be made of stone, is strong as can be, has some nice claws, and produces gasoline fumes, from nowhere, which burn. Don't ask me what gasoline is, I have no idea. It's pretty impressive.

But to be perfectly honest, and I want you to hear me out entirely when I say this, I don't like it. Not because I think it's weird, strange, scary, or anything like that. I don't like it because you told me it hurts, and I dislike the thought of my friends in pain."

>>22125842
"It's your hand. It's unusual and memorable, but in the end it's just...your hand."

>>22125931
...I rather like this one.

>>22125931
This seems... good.

"Think of it?" You ask. "Is this one of those trick questions?"
"Yes, it is." She said.
"It's a hand." You say. "It happens to be made of stone, is strong as can be, has some nice claws, and produces gasoline fumes from nowhere. Don't ask me what gasoline is, I have no idea. It's pretty impressive. But... to be perfectly honest, and I want you to hear me out entirely when I say this, I don't like it."
Her look was hard to see in the dimness, but it wasn't a good look.
"Not because I think it's weird, strange, scary, or anything like that. I don't like it because you told me it hurts, and I dislike the thought of my friends in pain."
She was entirely silent.
"But look at this." You say, and take her hand, lining it up with the scars. "It's the same size."
You see her grin, an expression that reminded you strongly of her little sister.
"That's what I thought, when I first saw it." She said, and took your hand with her own fleshly one. "Mind telling me how you got it? I remember you saying something about a bear..."

>>22126054
"I'll tell it to you over breakfast, sound fair?"

Rolled 1

>>22126054
"sure, in a bit, I'd like to put a shirt on. see you above decks in a bit."

put a shirt on, look closer and see if it IS a tear on cass's face; and regardless of other things kiss her forehead; I doubt she sweats acid too.

>>22126054
Can we spend a fate point to make the story awesome?

"Let's go for a walk, no need to wake anyone."

>>22126054
"As far as I can remember, which might be inaccurate, it was a bear. It was me or him and I won, I can tell you the whole story if you want, but it's really not that interesting."

>>22126140
And that's why you shouldn't leave your dice on, folks.

>>22126161
it's an awesome story, don't say that!

>>22126155
>Tenacity is similar to fate points, but work entirely differently. While Fate points work by making you do something so perfectly, so gracefully, that you succeed via flying colors, a point of tenacity involves clawing- or chewing- your way through walls, or breaking entire pillars with a headbutt, or even dislocating all of your fingers to slip out of shackles.

"Sure, in a bit." You say. "I'd like to put a shirt on, and we can go for a walk."
"Aw, do you have to?" She asked, teasingly. You go back to your bed, eye the revolver, and toss on a tunic, making your way back out of the quarters.
"... And then I punched it in the head." You say, walking abovedeck. Kale sat in the crow's nest, squawking for whatever reason, but everything else was without event, save the twinkling stars and the splashing ocean. "While it was recoiling, I got it with my knife."
"But weren't you still cold?" She asked.
"... Well, there was a warm body there..." You say, and shrug. "I cut it open and climbed inside for the night."
For the first time, Astora was entirely speechless.
"... I, um, in the tower, um, there was a guy who attracted bears." She said, trying to change the subject. "Gift of Vermin- well, bears aren't vermin, but we still call it that."

>>22126377
"oh?"

>>22126377
"Heh, I guess he'd be pretty horrified at that then?"

>>22126377
"That sounds utterly terrifying. Imagine a horde of a thousand bears coming out from the treeline.

Would you mind not telling him this story, he might be upset at me."

>>22126377
I shudder to think what sort of gifts a bear would bring you for breakfast.

File: 1355966777775.gif-(2.9 MB, 250x189, 1272166786599.gif)

>>22126439

"That sounds utterly terrifying." You say. "Imagine a horde of a thousand bears coming out from the treeline."
"... It was more like two or three, and they're less terrifying when they're waving from outside the window, waiting patiently." She said.
"I guess he'd be pretty horrified at that, then?"
"Oh, no, he'd be fine with it." She said. "Survival of the fittest and all that."
"I shudder to think what sort of gifts a bear would bring you for breakfast."
"They brought hugs, usually, and sweet berries. Hugged all of his friends, too." She said. "I wanted to be his friend so I could get bearhugs. I also wanted to ride one around, at the time. I was just a kid back then, though."
She shrugged. "It's funny. He tried to get in touch with me again, a few years ago. His parents wanted him to marry into our family, so they encouraged him."

>>22126462
Trout?

>>22126566
"Is that how it works in witchtown? You're all forced into political marriages?"

>>22126566
I don't really want to leave the gun alone. I think we should go grab it.

>>22126566
"Your family must be quite important back home."

"Arianna has not told me much."

>>22126582
Whoa, no.
This sounds insulting as fuck and we just got on her better side.

>>22126628
Actually, they've told us that their family is hot shit in witchland.

"Is that how it works in witchtown? You're all forced into political marriages?"
"It's not forced, and it's usually not political." She said. "Parents between various families do usually organize meetings between their kids, though, and the minor families usually had to pay quite a bit in order to get their daughter a meeting with the son of a powerful family."
She shrugged, and sighed.
"Your family must be quite important, back home."
"They used to be. But eventually it was just my grandfather, then my father, then me and Ari." She said. "We're still afforded everything as if we were a major family, and because of my familiar and the title that comes with it, we're probably much more important than we were."
She sighed again. "I'm expecting a bunch of messages from the sons of other families when I get back. They all want to meet the nobilis and her dragon. Or the dragon and her witch."

>>22126697
"It must get tiring, all that. Surely you can just escape by riding your dragon away though."

>>22126697
"I'd suggest you hide your identity and find some nice normal guy or girl that doesn't know who you are, but I don't know how much you worry about diluting the bloodline."

>>22126697
"How special is a dragon familiar? Surely there must be some other large creatures that people have."

But you do get your pick, you know. Surely there's one or two of them that tickle your fancy.

>>22126697
"You sound a bit annoyed by that. There's a lot more to you than just a dragon and a flaming hand."

"It must get tiring, all that." You say. "Surely you can just escape by riding your dragon away, though."
"I can, and I have, before." She said. "They ended up bothering my sister while I was gone."
"How special is a dragon familiar? Surely there must be some other large creature that people have."
"Not usually. One of the crones have an owl as large as a tree, but it isn't just being large that's important. It's being a magical creature. And dragons are the greatest magical creatures of them all. Or, well, were, before the Order killed the last ones."
"But you do get your pick, you know. Surely there's one or two of them that tickle your fancy."
"You'd be surprised." She said. "Most of them don't really care about me. Just the dragon, or the title, or the family. Hell, I've gotten insulted before for only having two gifts."
She closed her eyes and shrugged. "But there was someone who tickled my fancy, as you put it. But then he ran away when he saw my true Gift of Flame. Scared of it, for some reason. Maybe because it reminded him of his bears."

>>22126833
"Do you want to talk about it?"

>>22126833
Your true gift of flame? It does more then set things on fire?

>>22126833
"Huh, what do you mean by true? Is there more to it?"

>>22126833
"I'm sorry to hear that. You're a pretty amazing person, I'm sure you'll find someone good in time, it just might take a while.

True gift of flame? Have you only shown the rest of us the false gift of flame?"

"Huh, what do you mean by true?"
She raised her clawed hand, and wiggled it. "I'm talking about the hand that lies behind the flames. The core of my Gift must carry some sort of magma or something that hardened into stone."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"What's to say?" She asked. "The only warlock I was ever very interested in was scared of me." She said, and sighed. "And the only warlock who's interested in me has a pack of maenads on his tail, and I don't like him because he left me to die when we were kids. Then there's you, who fucks everything up."

>>22126931
"More than you know. Just a few minutes ago, reality broke again."

>>22126931
"Ooh, you wound me, good lady. I'm just trying to look after Arianna."

"Do you have to pick a warlock?"

"Does your gift of sight have any super secret special powers as well?"

>>22126976
this too.

>>22126931
"I'm sorry? I didn't mean to fuck everything up, it just kind of happens around me. How did I do it this time?

Also I dreamt a gun into existence tonight, sadly I not sure I can dream more ammo into existence."

>>22126931
"Yeah, I messed things up so bad I woke up with a gun in my hand."

>>22126931
We were just tryin' to be friendly...

"I'm sorry? I didn't mean to fuck everything up, it just kind of happens around me. How did I do it this time?" You say.
"I meant that in a good way, you doof." She said. "I meant... well, nevermind."
"Do you have to pick a warlock?"
"It's encouraged, but I could pick anyone." She said. "The crones know witches- well, they know teenage girls- too well to ban non-warlocks, or else we'd all end up with non-warlocks."

>>22127083
"That's actually pretty smart of them. They're smart ladies.

Sorry to hear about your love life problems, you need someone to talk to I'm here, even if I might not be that much help because I'm a doof."

>>22127083
"Makes sense. I know I'd always try to do what my parents told me not too when I was a teenager."

>>22127083
How old is Astora? Or Abel for that matter.

"So Tori, where do you want to go after Atlask? I'm sure you've seen much of the world since you can fly everywhere."

>You're eighteen autumns old, and you've no idea how old Tori is. It's polite to ask a lady their age, after all.

"That's actually pretty smart of them. They're smart ladies."
"They are, at times." She said.
"Sorry to hear about your love life problems." You say. "You need someone to talk to, I'm here. Even if I might not be that much help because I'm a doof."
"Thanks for offering." She said.
"So, Tori, where do you want to go after Atlask? I'm sure you've seen much of the world since you can fly everywhere."
"... Well, um." She said. "I've only ever been in the far northwest, and then Celesthem. Until now. I... never really got around much. I heard a lot about the Skiitaran empire being pretty, so maybe we could go there. The Free Cities and Atlaskans seem to hate them, though, so I'm not sure."

>>22127239
"I s'pose we'll just have to see what happens in Atlask."

>>22127239
"Well it looks like we all have a chance to see the world. I don't really know much so we'll probably end up playing it by ear."

>>22127239
Do you know anything about Atlask? I'm even more sheltered then you really, I barely left the vale.

"Well, it looks like we all have a chance to see the world." You say. "I don't really know much, so we'll probably end up playing it by ear. Do you know anything about Atlask? I'm even more sheltered than you, really. I barely left the Vale."
"I'll have you know that I used to be really good at history." She said. "And a bit of geography, but not really. Anyway, Atlask used to be a colony, mostly populated by slaves. They demanded freedom, fought a war of independence against Skiitari, and then created the council cities. I think they have three gods. One of order and patriotism, another about freedom and commerce, and the last about romance and charity, I think."
She shrugged.
"Hey, you did say you'd help with my love life problems, right?" She asked, suddenly.

Above your head, in the crow's nest, Kale squawked.
"Why are you doing that, Kale?!" Astora snapped.
"It's a crow's nest!" He responded. "So I'm being a crow!"

>>22127239
Are there any male crones, or is it just witches in charge?

>>22127365
"Depends what you mean by help, but yes."

>>22127365
"It's not literal, Kale!"

"That is indeed what I said."

>>22127365
"It's just a name, Kale! It doesn't mean you have to be a crow. You're meant to look at things and tell us if anything interesting is happening."

"Sure, I can try. Just say the word and we can hire you half a dozen callgirls, no sweat. I won't pass judgement."

>>22127365
"Thank you Kell for your somewhat overboard devotion to the literal meaning of things.

So, help with your love life problems, what did you need?"

"It's not literal, Kale!"
"... oh."

"Sure, I can try." You say. "Just say the word and we can hire you half a dozen callgirls, no sweat." You say. "I won't pass judgement."
She shot you a glare.
"Just going to a brothel doesn't have anything to do with love life problems." She said. "And I have money. I-I-if I even wanted to hire callgirls, which I don't."
She huffed, and crossed her arms.
"Nevermind, it's not important."

>>22127468
"No, go ahead. It was just a joke. There's nothing more to talk about at the moment as well"

>>22127468
"Well, what's your problem, Tori?"
She's going to hire a dozen callgirls once we reach port.

>>22127468
"It was a joke Tori, I was trying to lighten the mood.

And I have learned that when someone says that it isn't important in the way you just said it than it is important. You can tell me you don't want to talk about it right now, you can tell me what it is, you can tell me to jump in the ocean for being an insufferable ass, but don't say that this isn't important because it obviously is."

"No, go ahead." You say. "It was just a joke. There's nothing more to talk about at the moment as well."
"... Well, what would you say if you met someone you were mildly attracted to, and then Ariana's Gift of Truth showed you a... well, heated dream about them? What would that mean?"

>>22127468
Serious face. "I'm sorry Tori, that was a pretty terrible joke."

"Of course I'll help, I did just offer."

>>22127523
"...I don't really know much about the Gift of Truth to be honest. Maybe you should ask Ariana what it means if it shows you a vision of something that hasn't happened."

>>22127523
"I'd tell them, obviously."

>>22127523
"Well I'm not really sure how Arianna's dreams work. I don't really get them as they're meant to happen. Isn't it meant to show you things you already know?"

"Are you sure it was Arianna's gift? Sometimes you get dreams like that. I just take them as a fun aside: entertaining, but without any real meaning."

>>22127523
"I'm not sure I'd put much stock in the Gift of Truth. It ended with me being stabbed by a mechanical spider today."

>>22127523
"Let me preface this with the fact that I'm not an expert in magical dreams, and my dreams are weird as hell even without the Gift of Truth.

But, from what I know it doesn't show you the future, but it shows you something that you want, or it shows you the parts of yourself that you don't admit readily to. So it could mean that you like that person, or at the very least find them attractive.

That doesn't mean you should necessarily follow the dream, people are complex and the dream might only show one facet of you.

Also lots of people have 'heated' dreams about people, dreams that aren't necessarily influenced by the Gift of Truth."

>>22127523
Heated sexy or heated angry?

"... I don't really know much about the Gift of Truth to be honest." You say. "Maybe you should ask Ariana what it means."
"... I know more about it than she does." She responded. "After the first dream, I tore apart the tower trying to find out what Gift it was, and found an entire journal. After her coming of age is over, I'll show it to her."
"Well, I'm not really sure how Arianna's dreams work. I don't really get them as they're meant to happen. Isn't it meant to show you things you already know?"
"Sometimes it shows you something that previously happened, something you want to happen, something that's going to happen, something that might just plain make you happy, or even some strange intrinsic Truth about yourself. Maybe more. It's one of the least known gifts, and possibly just as powerful as the Gift of Fate."
"Are you sure it was Ariana's Gift?" You ask. "Sometimes you get dreams like that."
"Yes, I'm sure." She said. "You forget normal dreams after you wake up, but you always remember dreams of Truth."

>>22127647
"I'm not really sure Kale is into humans."

>>22127676
"Or women."

>>22127647
"It works really strangely on me. I keep seeing places and things that shouldn't exist."

>>22127647
"Well, I'm guessing that you haven't had any 'heated' moments with this person yet. So you have to ask yourself, is this something you want to happen. When you woke up were you happy that you had the dream, or sad that it ended? Because that might be what tells you if it's something you really want or not."

>>22127676
Let's not.

>>22127647
"Maybe the dream just wanted to cheer you up a bit then."

"Your life is what you make of it. I guess you could try to make it a Truth, or you could leave it as a dream, if you wanted."

If it seems like a good place to change topics:
"Arianna seems disappointed that she doesn't get any of the dreams."

"I'm not really sure Kale is into humans." You say. "Or women."
"On the contrary." Kale said, far above you. "I enjoy a night of lovemaking with anyone that wishes, regardless of species. Even to the point of weaving glamours to make things more enjoyable. There's quite a good chance that there are some feyblooded roaming the world because of me, come to think of it."
"Kale, we're talking." Astora said, sighing.
"It works really strangely on me." You say. "I keep seeing places and things that shouldn't exist."
"Well, you're not human." She said. "Or so I've heard, so maybe that has something to do with it?"
Astora shrugged.
"Maybe the dream just wanted to cheer you up a bit, then." You say. "Your life is what you make of it. I guess you could try to make it a truth, or you could leave it as a dream, if you wanted."
"... That's a very inspiring way to think of it, Abel." She said, and gave you a small smile. "But we should best get back to bed. Don't want to end up staying up all night, after all."
Then her smile turned into a wicked grin, and pressed one of her talons against your forehead. "And you said the same thing about my hand in the dream, too. Word for word. Goodnight."

>>22127724
>>22127724
This. Doesn't seem proper to push her in a particular direction.

>>22127802
"Goodnight, Tori."
Back to bed.

>>22127802
Hope Cass hasn't decided to play with the gun.

>>22127802
"Night Tori, sleep well. Make sure Ariana is sleeping alright for me."

>>22127802
God damn love triangles. This is not going to end well at all.

Rolled 9

>>22127802
gave out over the water for a moment.

"kale did she just imply that she made passionate love with me in a dream?"

wait for an answer, then walk back to our cabin slightly shell-shocked...

"Goodnight, Tori."
She gave you another grin, and you went back to your room, peeling off your tunic again.
You eye the gun, and it gleamed. In the back of your mind, you can still hear that robotic spider reciting words. Some alien, and others eerily familiar. Without thinking much of it, you slide open the cylinder, unload the rounds into a pouch- one of the watertight ones in your alchemy pack, of course- and then put it aside, tossing your tunic back on over it.
Closing your eyes, you go to sleep.

For what seems like the only time in days, you slept without dreaming.

>End of thread!
>I planned on doing character interviews today, but it's too late for that. Maybe next time!
>Again, sorry for losing power.

Rolled 49

>>22127961
gaze*

>>22127984
Thanks for the thread Exa!

Don't need to apologize for things out of your control!

Rolled 78

>>22127984
that isn't a thing to apologize over; especially when you proceed with a quality thread full of interesting things after that

>>22127984
Thank you, Exabyte! Hope the weather starts treating you a little better.