>>22248300
"So what is it you do, Tal?"

>>22248300
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Abel. This is Cass, Astora, Ariana and Kale."

"So what is it you do, Tal?"
"Well, it's hard to explain." He said, scratching at his chin, eyes half-lidded. "I suppose we... simply go out and help people who need it. Explore atlask looking for people who need our help."
"Yep, that's pretty much what we do." One of the other men said. "Though sometimes we ferry passengers between the cities."
"That too." Tal said.
"Or sometimes we help weed after the rainy season." A third person said.
"Or that." Tal said.
"What about that fight with the Stirge adherents?"
"We do get in the way, sometimes." Tal said, and chuckled. "So that's what we do. We meddle."
"Pleased to meet you." You say. "I'm abel. This is Cass, Astora, Ariana, and Kale."
"Pleased to meet all of you." He said. "My name is Talbot, and the rest of these guys don't matter."
"Hey, I totally matter." One of the guys said, but Talbot just chuckled and waved him off.

>>22248521
"Where's the next place you're travelling to and when? We might join you if that's alright."

>>22248521
"So you're adventurers? My old man did the same thing."

>hope you're feeling better Exa.

>>22248521

some information about the surrounding area would be great, where to go or stay away and such.

>>22248521
"How many of there are you?"

>Good Christmas, Exa?

>>22248616
>>22248586
>I actually feel worse, but fuck it, I have coffee.

>>22248616
>Not really- got a pretty bad cough/cold thing.

"So you're adventurers?" You ask. "My old man did the same thing."
Suddenly, the entire caravan started laughing.
"No, no, not adventurers. We have never saved a princess, slayed a dragon, raised a weapon, or entered abandoned temples. We just try to do good. Food for the hungry, work for the weak, dance and song for the sad."
"And ale for everyone!"
"Except those that don't want ale." Talbot said, with a chuckle. "In which case, we drink their ale for them."
"How many of there are you?"
"The number changes." One of the younger men say. "People show up to help and then leave a few months later. I think there's only a dozen of us right now."
"Where's the next place you're traveling to and when? We might join you, if that's alright.
"Well, we're going to Lys next." He said. "Plenty of people try to walk across the desert and get ill, or the heat gets to them, and I want to make sure nobody's in danger. We were just about to set out when a catgirl tackled me."
"I learned that calling maenads cats is like, really offensive." Tannis said, and gave him another hug. "But they also aren't supposed to like fish, either, so I don't care."
"Oh well." Talbot said, and ruffled her hair again.

>>22248673
"Would you mind if we traveled with you? We were going to head to Lys."

>>22248673
"Is there anything interesting to see in Vann'ikal?"

>>22248673
"Well, what makes you think my father did any of that? He ended his career due to a tree."

"Would you mind if we traveled with you? We were going to head to Lys."
"Of course." He said. "Come aboard, or whatever. You can never have too many guests."
"Is there anything interesting to see in Vann'ikal?"
"Well, the councilor's hall is something to see." He said. "All made of glass and crystal. They say it took an entire generation to build it. Go on and see it- the councilor's doors are always open, even to visitors from the north. We'll wait here, and I want to catch up with Tannis."
"How did you know we're from the north?" Cass asked.
"From the way you talk, the lack of tattoos or markings, your bearings, and the fact that you're asking so many questions." Talbot said, with a grin.

>>22248897
"That obvious huh?"

"Anyone want to stay here whilst we go to look at the hall?"

>>22248897

we wouldn't want to slow their plans down, but we could bring extra supplies if we head back in to town and they are willing to stay a little bit longer.

the fishing gear might not be very useful in the desert, unless they have some sort of sand-based equivalent of fish.

>>22248890
pls no, make it a bit more tasteful, at least. Like, "Well, what makes you think my father did any of that? He is career was actually quite boring, ending with an average married life."

Telling them about how our dad died after speaking five sentences to one another is a bit awkward.

"That obvious, huh?"
"When you've lived as long as I have, you might as well be wearing a sign." Talbot said, and chuckled. Strange- he looked younger than Eldin.
"Anyone want to stay here whilst we go to look at the hall?"
"I'll stay." Astora said. "No need for us all to go wandering through the city."
"Aw, are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Ariana asked, frowning at her sister.
".... Well, okay, I'll come." She said.
"Have fun!" Talbot said, and waved at you. "We'll wait here as long as we need to. If you get lost, you just need to ask someone where you're going- everyone in the city is quite kind."

You make your way into Vann'ikal again, and start looking for the councilor's hall. After asking a man on the street and continuing on, eventually you see a tall, enormous tower, glistening with light as it defracts the sunlight, sending rainbows across the sky.
>Field too long!

>>22249119
Ariana gasped, grinning up at it, and you went inside.
Inside, it was bright, light streaming in through the colored glass, and at the end of the 'hall', right after the spiral staircase bringing you up to the tower proper, was enormous stained glass, revealing three figures- one, a woman in white, with a paper swallow tied into her hair, and the second, a snake coiling around an ankh. The third was a heavily armored figure, a chain around one arm and a scimitar in the other.
As you stand there, you can see other people, all in the thick clothing of the Free Cities, looking this way and that, just as awed as Ariana was. Other visitors from the north, no doubt. Seeing the way they stood out amongst the thin-clothed, tattooed atlaskans, it was obvious how Talbot had so quickly placed you.

>>22249130

don't think we've ever heard of the snake&ankh and the armored figure before, maybe we can find some info on them here?

>>22249130
"Wow."
Examine the statue with the paper-swallow

>>22248954
>>22248954
He didn't die when a tree fell on him, he just stopped adventuring.

>>22249130
"Note to self: get a tattoo."

>>22249258
In-fact, do we know when he died?

"Wow." You say, making your way closer to the stained glass of the woman with the paper swallow. As you look at her more closely, you can see that she wasn't the woman in your dream at all- The woman in the stained glass had darker hair, and was much taller.
"Phell." Someone said, wrapped almost entirely in cloth. They seemed male, but their voice was too high to be certain, and it was impossible to see their figure here, and their carefully manicured hands were covered in tattooes, words and symbols covering them. "She's the one most believe freed our people. Her domains are freedom, travel, commerce, choice, chaos, lawlessness..."
The figure shrugged, and you had a feeling they were smiling at you through the veil.
"Not many realize that our pantheon of gods are based off of aspects of... love. Phell represents friendship. Loyalty, and love of family."
They brandished a tattooed hand to the ankh and snake. "Agaeros represents romantic love, of course, and love of kindness. Sacrificial love."
Finally, they nodded to the armored figure. "Then, of course, Stirge represents love of country, of patriotism, and protection. The love of law, and of strangers."

>>22249352
"Thank you. Is Stirge the reason why everyone here is so friendly?"

>>22249352
"Which one do you prefer the most?"

>>22249271
You know, I wouldn't be against this.

Permanent souvenir from an exotic land? Yes.

"Thank you." You say. "Is Stirge the reason why everyone here is so friendly?"
"Any of these gods are a reason to be friendly. Kindness makes the world go round, and most of us follow one or the other. But Stirge's adherents are actually quite cold. They see it as a duty to be done, to protect."
You eye one of the men with a scimitar- he didn't meet anyone's eyes, standing there. You'd seen them as guards, at first, but then you realized that all their equipment and armor was different, almost homemade.
"They say Stirge was a knight from another world, bound to protect us by an unnamed lord. Stirge is also the love of duty."
"Which one do you prefer the most?"
"I don't have a preference myself." The figure said, and craned their head up to the stained glass. "They're all three aspects of the same thing, and that one thing is what I prefer. Love. For everyone. Kindness, charity, romance, patriotism, love of both choice and duty..."
They shrugged. "The world is a cruel place. Everything has to eat others to survive, and time brings entropy, and entropy brings death. Despite that, though, the gods represent what we humans can be. Something more than animals, but something Real."
You look around, and find that Ariana, Astora, Cass, and Kale had split up, all looking through the hall.

>>22249466
"Yeah...that sounds familiar. Thank you."

>>22249466
"Are there any particular connotations associated with those tattoos?"

"Yeah... that sounds familiar." You say.
"Does it?" They asked, and you have the feeling they were smiling at you again. You nod.
"Thank you." You say.
"It's no problem. I sometimes come down here to look at these, to remind me why I do what I do."
"Are there any particular connotations associated with those tattooes?"
"Tattooes aren't related to the gods, not truly. Back when we were slaves, generations ago, we were all marked by the Empire. Eventually we saw those marks as pride. Something we'd overcome. Then it became practice, eventually, to mark ourselves with something important to us, to show to everyone. Every meaning is different. My hands carry a favorite story from my childhood. Another's could be his symbol of his love for another, and a third's could be a symbol of his devotion to his god."
"Councilor!" Someone called- a bookish man with spectacles with a bronze chain around his wrist, and tree root-like tattooes sprawling across his arm. "Is that you under there?"
"Yes, it is." The figure said, and turned back. The bookish man sighed.
"No offense, Councilor, but you need to stop running off every time I take an eye off of you."
"You're right, I do." The councilor responded, and started to pull off the veil covering their face- and behind was a dark, shorthaired woman, with piercing blue eyes and pale, almost translucent skin- she was younger than you, you were certain. She shot the bookish man a mischevious smile. "But then it would be no fun."

>>22249684
"Oh dear, ah, it sounds like you're terribly busy."

>>22249271
Seconded. But for good reason. We'll be in Atlask for a while, so there's no hurry.

>>22249684
I shall have to get a mark myself, when I figure out what is important.

It is a pleasure to meet you, Councilor.

What makes a man Real.?

>>22249684
"No fun running a country?"

>>22249684

our friends are important to us, we also tend to help anyone who needs it, and we're always friendly!

>except against Gabriel, Fuck that guy.

Suddenly, you realize that you'd been talking with the ruler of the city, and one of the six rulers of the *entire* atlask nation.
"Oh dear." You say, suddenly nervous. "Ah, it sounds like you're terribly busy."
"Oh, he would think I should be terribly busy." She told you. "But I think that one can't be duty all the time, or they'd go mad."
The bookish man closed his eyes, and you can see him clenching his fist, mildly frustrated.
"... It is a pleasure to meet you, councilor." You say.
"No need to call me councilor." She said. "My name is Isavla. And yours?"

>>22249832
"I'm Abel. As I'm sure you can guess, I'm not from Atlask."

>>22249832

"my name is Abel, my companions and I traveled here from the north."

>>22249832
I am Abel. A friend wanted to show me her home. The city is beautiful.

"I'm Abel." You say. "As I'm sure you can guess, I'm not from Atlask."
"You're not Skiitaran, either." She said, meeting your eyes, then looking to your hands. "You're a woodsman, aren't you? And if you lived near Amberway you'd know about our gods... So you must be from around Celesthem or Sardin."
She grinned, and steepled her fingers, like she'd solved a puzzle.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Abel."
"Er, Councilor, what about the meeting with with the councilor from Jord?" The bookish man asked.
"That can wait." She said, shooting him a grin. "The councilor knows of Phell, he'll understand."

>>22249971
"Ah, you've got it. I'm from a tiny town from the north called Waymoor."

"Are you from Vanni'kal or elsewhere in Atlask?"

>>22249971

"a very small and secluded vale actually, most of the things i have seen so far are somewhat of a new experience, your city has some amazing sights."

>>22249971
You're very good. I'm from Waymoor, a little town in a vale north of Sardin.

I only left a short while ago, to go got Sardin, but things got a bit derailed rather quickly, and here I am.

"You're very good." You say. "I'm from Waymoor, a little town near a vale north of Sardin. I only left a short while ago, to go to Sardin, but things got a bit derailed rather quickly, and here I am."
"So I *was* right." She said, grinning. "You're his *son*. You look just like him. You're the son of Ezekiel Byrne."
Your mouth gaped as she said your father's name.
"You don't have his eyes, though." She said, as an afterthought.

>>22250128
"How...?"

>>22250128
You met my father?!

>>22250138
this

>>22250128

>"what, how, who, when, where, why?"

>>22250138

i support this.

>then who was tree?

>>22250193
it's not _that_ unusual. Our father probably met some people in his extensive travels.

"How...? Who...? What...?" You say, frozen. "You met my father?!"
The steward spluttered as the girl suddenly pulled you into a hug.
"I didn't know I had a brother." She said, grinning at you as she dragged you up the spiral staircase.

... What.

You end up in a small, simple room with a bed, chair, and table, with Isalva grinning at you.
"My mother told me that she met a man named Zeke Byrne, traveling the world. Saved her from old scaleface years back, and they spent a few weeks together."

>>22250291
"Well, you learn something new everyday. I thought I only had one sister, now it seems I have two, possibly more."

>>22250291
"Scaleface?"

>>22250291
I have a sister, and she rules a country.

This will take some getting used to.

"Scaleface?"
"Dragon." She said. "He's still alive somewhere in the eastern forest, I think, but our father took out his eye."
"... Well, you learn something new everyday. I have a sister and she rules a country. This will take some getting used to."
"I have to get used to this too." She said. "And I don't rule a country, just one sixth of it."
"I thought I only had one sister, now it seems I have two, possibly more."
"... We have another sister?" She asked.

>>22250366
"Lyra Byrne. She ran off to join the Order after our mother died."

>>22250366

yes, her name is Lyra. she joined the order back home.

>i thought our father fought a tree and lost?
>reality dicking around again?

>>22250366
"After my mother passed...she joined the Order. But she's in good hands though."

>>22250366
"Yes, Lyra, she was why I was travelling to Sardin."

"When our mother passed away a few weeks(months?) ago I was away from the house hunting. Lyra went south to join the Order, and I followed."

"She was in good hands, and I had nothing to return to, so I continued onwards with new friends."

>>22250366
"A Dragon eh? I'd been told on good authority they were all dead."

"Wait, so he was telling the truth with that tale? I just thought he was lying."

>Exa, is Abel a Virgin?

>>22250491
>Waymoor had only you and Lyra around that age, and despite how much you chased after girls in Berbrook, you never caught one. So yes.

>>22250414
>From what your father said, he was 'an adventurer, but never anything special'. But apparently, he's fought a dragon and came out on top. You always kind of had a feeling there were some things he wasn't telling you.

"Lyra Byrne." You say. "When our mother passed away a few weeks ago, I was away from the house hunting. Lyra went south to join the order, and I followed."
"I'm sorry to hear about your mother." She said.
"She was in good hands, and I had nothing to return to, so I continued onwards with new friends."
"I don't have any kind of story like that." She said. "I've always lived here. My mother was the last councilor, and she died several years back. Can you... can you tell me what happened to father? I've never heard anything about him after he sailed north."
"... He died in a rockslide. In waymoor, when I was twelve." You say, quietly. The girl- your half-sister, you now know- nodded, and closed her eyes.
"I thought it might be something like that." She responded.

>>22250528
"Yea...fought a dragon, helped out a country, then a bunch of rocks gets him."

>>22250528
He never told me anything about a dragon.

is the councillor position hereditry?

>>22250528
"So, Councilor, that sounds fun."

>>22250528
List of Objectives:

>Help Ariana on her Coming of Age
>Figure out the thing between Gabe and Us
>Solve girl problems
>Get a tattoo
>LOSE VIRGINITY

Also, I think Abel should start keeping a journal of events written in a dry sardonic tone.

"Yeah... fought a dragon, helped out a country, then a bunch of rocks get him."
"Yeah..." She said.
"He never told me anything about a dragon." You say.
"He didn't? That would be something I'd be proud of." She said, after a moment.
"Is the councilor position hereditary?"
She nodded. "It is. That's why I have it."
"So, Councilor, that sounds fun."
"It is, except that the steward never lets me out." She said, and sighed. "Twenty years old and I'm not allowed to leave the city. Doesn't help that he's a Stirge adherent."

>>22250658
you have those in the wrong order. From most to least important it should be:
>Get a sweet tat
>Solve girl problems
>Help Ariana
>Gabe and me
>Lose virginity to gabe

>>22250672
Your mother must have gotten out somehow, maybe you just need a dragon kidnap you.

>>22250672
"With all your power, you can't just appoint the position to someone else temporarily?"

>>22250695
which, I should mention, we can arrange.

>>22250682
Well, seeing as we're now in the desert, I think next time we sleep, we should try to bring a sweet pair of shades' into reality.

>>22250672
"So I guess you control Vanni'kal?"

>>22250658

>Day x1
>made some gunpowder

>Day x3
>Blew up Kraken

>day x7
>father had trouble keeping it in his pants, i have a new sister

>>22250672

i don't think us offering to sneak a councilor out of the city is a very smart thing to do.

>>22250672
I'm really confused, because you look younger then me, and I've lived my whole life in the vale, with my father.

>>22250682
I think you mean

> lose virginity to Cass

>>22250758
Oddly enough, I actually agree with you, even though I'd prefer to have Abel end up with Astora. You've given me much to think about, anon.

"... I'm really confused." You say, finally. "Because you look younger than me, and I've lived my whole life in the vale, with my father."
"My mother looked young, too." She said. "Until the day she died, at fifty years of age."
"With all your power, you can't just appoint the position to someone else temporarily?"
"I could, but I love being able to help people." She said. "I can't trust that anyone else can do as good a job as I will. I have a place here, until I find someone who can do it better than I."
"So I guess you control Vann'ikal?"
"I do, but only from a certain point of view." She said, and got to her feet again. "It controls itself, and runs itself. I just try to... steer it, like one would a ship."

>>22250797
that sounds like an artful job.

I had best tell my companions where I am, or they'll get worried. Come on, they're nice people.

>>22250797
I was just on a ship. It got attacked by a kraken. I hope that doesn't happen to your city, that would be terrible.

>>22250797
"That sounds rather tiresome."

"Would you like to meet the people I've been travelling with?"

"That sounds like an artful job." You say.
"It is." She said, and gave you another hug.
"I had best tell my companions where I am, or they'll get worried. Would you like to meet the people I've been travelling with?"
"... Okay." She said, and wrapped herself up in the cloth and veil again, making sure it fit right, and followed you back down the steps.
"Abel!" Ariana said, waving. "This place is so pretty."
"It is rather impressive." Astora said, Cass tagging along next to her. Kale was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, hello." Cass said, noticing the cloth-donned person behind you.
"Hello." Isalva said, waving. "This place is rather impressive, isn't it? You know, the gods..."
She continued to give the same whole story she'd given you, telling the group that the pantheon was all different aspects of love- it almost sounded rehearsed.
"That's so sweet." Ariana said. "Can you tell me more about Agaeros?"
"They say Agaeros was once two seperate beings." Isalva said, waving a hand. "One from the sun, a being of molten gold, and the other from the moon, made of molten silver. Together they met, and loved, and loved, and birthed the world's first living creature- the serpent. From then on, they've been creating life, embracing each couple as the couple embraces eachother. She- they- cherish life as the greatest of all things."

>>22250930
Pull Astora aside. "So apparently I have a sister, and she's somewhat important here."

>>22250930
Let's just drop it on them.
"This is my sister, Isalva."

>>22250958
I change my vote to this.

>>22250958
That'll be funny.
Do it.

"This is my sister, Isalva." You say, finally.
"... Wait. What?" Astora asked.
Isalva shrugged, and pulled back the veil.
"We had the same father." She said. "... I had to talk to him to make certain, but I'm sure now."
"... You two do resemble eachother." Kale said, grinning- he was suddenly standing there, as if he'd always been there.
"Councilor?" You hear the steward say, upstairs.
"... He's starting to get angry." Isalva said, looking upward. "I would love to learn about you more, Abel, but I have my duties."

>>22251028
"Oh dear. Take care, Isalva, I'm leaving for Lys now, but I do hope we meet again."

>>22251028
"Of course. It was nice meeting you, Isalva."

>>22251028
Well we had best let you leave then. I'm due to travel west with the sandborne, if you need me, just talk to a witch and i'm sure i'll get the message eventually.

Also, there's a warlock in garamon who is kicking out the order, not sure what that'll do to politics.

"Oh dear." You say. "Take care, Isalva. I'm leaving for Lys now, but I do hope we meet again."
"As do I." She said, meeting your eyes and giving you another hug and a kiss on the forehead. "I can't wait until you return, Auni'tchan."
"Wait!" Ariana said, but Isalva was already heading upstairs in a hurry. She sighed, and pouted, before turning to you. "... So you have a long lost sister? That's so cool! I wonder what Auni'tchan means, though."
"It means something like 'beloved younger brother'." Astora said. "At least, that's what it means to the barbarians below Sanctuary."

>>22251051
This sounds good but change the last part to be "but I'm certain we'll see each other again soon. Finding out you have a new sibling just isn't something you can leave be for long now, is it?"

>>22251106
"Well, half-sister, I never figured my old man got around that much."

"Oh, Astora, she said there's still a dragon on this continent."

>>22251106
I'm beginnning to suspect that my father was not the man he said he was.

>>22251106
"Shall we head back to the convoy and get moving?"

>>22251152
"And my old man blinded it in one eye."

"Well, Half-sister." You say. "I never figured my old man got around that much, and I'm beginning to suspect he's not the man he said he was."
"We have to come back here someday." Ariana said. "And learn more about your father.
"Oh, and Astora, she said there's still a dragon on this continent."

There was a moment of silence, and then Astora's eyes lit up.
"Really?" She asked. "That's so interesting. I thought the Order killed all of them. Maybe because there isn't much Order here..."
"And my old man blinded it in one eye."
"Really? That seems like the sort of thing *you* would do." She said. "Maybe you take after him more than you think."
The group continues looking at the hall for awhile, and then you turn to them. "Shall we head back to the convoy and get moving?"
"Yes, let's." You say, and the group left the hall. As you walked away, you spared one last glance at the tower- and you can see Isalva staring back down at you, waving.

You reach the cavern again and Tannis was lying on the top of one of the canvased wagons, snoring, and Talbot was sitting on the back, smoking a pipe.
"Ah, You were in the city for a long time." He said, waving. "She's told me a lot."

>>22251284
Did she tell you about the giant fish we caught? It was THIS big!

Also we blew up a kraken, that was fun.

Kale, I take it you didn't like her?

>>22251284
"Turns out, the councilor's my half-sister, so we were talking for a while."

>>22251284
We saw more then one beauty in Vannikal

>>22251284
"Sorry! I got a bit caught up with the Councilor of the city."

"Turns out she's my sister."

"Sorry! I got a bit caught up with the councilor of the city."
"The councilor?" He asked. "You're a lucky man. They call her the jewel of the city, and all the women wish they looked like her."
"Turns out she's my sister."
"... Well then." He said, and started laughing. "You mean your father is the one that saved the princess, slayed a dragon... You *did* say your old man did the same thing, but I didn't think your father would be Ezekiel. I never got to see him, though I wanted to. They didn't let sandborn into the hall at the time. A single man fought off a dragon, saved the councilor, and got to spend more than one night in her bed... I'm sure even Agaeros was envious."
"Isn't that blasphemy?" One of the other men asked, and Talbot snorted.
"It's a joke. Even the gods don't get upset at a joke."

>>22250528
His DM got tired of him.

>>22251464
"Yeah, he did all that and I'm *just* finding out."

>>22251464
"Need help loading anything up before we set out?"

>>22251464
He never told me these stories.

I wonder how many other half-siblings this world hides?

"Yeah, he did all that and I'm *just* finding out. He never told me these stories."
"Huh, that seems fun." He said, and chuckled.
"Need help loading anything up before we set out?"
"Only your own stuff." He said. "And then we can go."
As you loaded your stuff up into the caravan, Talbot leaned up next to you, and with a sly grin, whispered.
"Tannis likes her hair being ruffled. Just so you know."

Some time later, you were sitting inside one of the canvas wagons, with Talbot, Tannis, Ariana, and you sitting in the back, as the front rumbles on through the desert. Talbot was leaning back, drinking from a bottle of something that smelled like alcohol, while Tannis and Ariana snored. The heat was somewhat stuffy, but wasn't *too* bad in the darkness.
"Want some?" Talbot asked, shaking the jug out at you and Ariana.
"... Um, aren't I too young?" Ariana asked.
"Your sister might kill me from what I've gathered, but I don't die so easy. Go ahead."

>>22251654
"Maybe just a sip, Ariana."

>>22251654
"Gladly. Only a fool would refuse a free drink."

Skritch Tannis' ears idly.

>>22251654
"As long as you don't drink too much, you should be fine, Ari."

>>22251725
>>22251728
>Inb4 people in this country lace their alcohol with rosemary for added flavor

>>22251727
bloody captcha...

"You've raised a fine daughter."

>>22251654
"Sure, nothing's stopping me."

>>22251740
Luckily, they don't hate witches, so even if they do we should be fine.

"Gladly." You say. "Only a fool would refuse a free drink."
"Rightly said!" Talbot said, and tossed you another jug.
Ariana looked from you to him, rubbing at her eyes.
"As long as you don't drink too much, you should be fine, Ari."
"Okay." She said, and took a small sip. Her nose wrinkled at the taste. "Um, no offense, but how can you like this?"
"It keeps better than water." He said. "Doesn't go stale as quickly. You get used to it, especially in the desert."

You scratch Tannis's ear, and take another long drought. From various contests against Kalveer, you knew how to drink.
"You've raised a fine daughter." You say.
"I like to think I did." Talbot said. "... I knew nothing about maenad, so I was worried I'd done something wrong when I raised her."

>>22251791
Well, she is different than other maenad. But in a good way.

>>22251791
"From what I've seen, this is a much better way of raising them."

"Can I ask about her mother? How did you... meet?"

>>22251791
"Well, given that the only other Maenad I've talked to nearly ordered my death, I'd say you've done a good job."

>>22251791
Did she mention she saved my life as well? She also won the leadership of a whole pride of meanad, but I don't expect that to last.

>Auni-tchan
>onii-chan
> Exabyte you motherfucker

>>22251842
Change to "hunt me."

>>22251882
>Muahahaha.

"From what I've seen, this is a much better way of raising them." You say. "Can I ask about her mother? How did you... meet?"
"She pounced me, as maenad do." He said, and then gave Ariana a panicked look, and changed the subject. "It was... quite a surprise, I admit, but afterward, her mother was rather attached to me. Together, we had Tannis, though that was the only in the litter that lived. Her mother... sent herself into the sea, eventually, when our second litter together was all stillborn."
"Did she mention she saved my life as well? She also won the leadership of a whole pride of meanad, but I don't expect that to last."
"She explained that she'd taken the pride from 'that mean jerk Anakata who wanted to hurt Abel and didn't care that he was my friend', but she never said she'd saved your life." He said. "That tells you quite a bit how she thinks, I believe."

>>22251948
I'm sorry to hear that, I shouldnt have asked.

You did her proud by tannis.

>>22251948
"Yeah, I really owe her."

>>22251948
I got her a fish by way of thanks, she's very fond of them. Must be tough to get them in the desert.

"I'm sorry to hear that." You say. "I shouldn't have asked."
"It's fine." He said. "It's been ten years since."
"You did her proud by Tannis."
"I did." He said, and gave the sleeping Tannis a smile. You continue giving Tannis scritches, and she started purring. "I sent her north to learn about her heritage. I'm glad she came back with friends."
"I got her a fish by way of thanks, she's very fond of them. Must be tough to get them in the desert."
"It is, though we lived near the sea just outside of Lys at the time. I used to take her fishing."

>>22252137
Make sure Tannis is asleep. "the guard at the gate gave us an odd look when tannis mentioned her name was Sandborne, is that something we should be worried about?"

"The customs officer at port gave us an odd look when Tannis mentioned her name was Sandborn. Is that something we should be worried about?"
"Some- Stirge adherents, usually, think of us sandborn as those who shun hard work, who laze about and make others do our work for us. They see us as beggars and urchins, who steal from others." He said. "It's wrong, of course, but that's how they see things."
"Those people should look at other people's points of view." Ariana said, frowning. "You can't just judge people like that."
"Nobody's perfect." Talbot told her. "You're judging those people right now, aren't you? That's hypocritical."
"You're right, but..."
"You just need to be kind to everyone. That's how you make things better." Talbot said.

>>22252359
Can't be kind to everybody, not when they try to hurt your friends, or steal a mermaid's skin.

Or tear a hole in the universe to get strange weapons.

>>22252359
"That's not a bad way to live your life, to be honest."

>>22252359
Huh. That's a nice worldview you have there. You know, i'm really starting to like this country.

"That's not a bad way to live your life, to be honest."
"That's part of the code we live our life behind." Talbot said. "Every one of us, with the ankh, we live to help people. To bring joy, and to revel in it ourselves."
"... You know, I'm really starting to like this country."
"Oh, it's probably not as perfect as you think it is." He said. "We have our problems too, our judgements, our racism... But personally, I and the people who follow me don't have those, by choice. We've worked past them. Not entirely, but... we try."
"You can't be kind to everybody." You say. "Not when they try to hurt your friends, or steal a mermaid's skin."
"You may not be able to, but..." He said, and shrugged. "I would rather be harmed myself, to take an enemy's blade across my throat, than to raise one against my own most bitter enemy. And even then, I wouldn't hate them. Pity them, but I would still give them kindness. That's what following Agaeros, following the love of life, that's what it means."
There was a moment of silence, and then he clambered over some boxes and crates, and made his way to the front of the wagon, bellowing out that they were stopping for lunch. Soon enough, the buffalo started to slow, and everyone clambered out of their own wagons. You can see five other young men, in various ramshackle dress of black leather, sticking close to Astora, almost fawning over her, while Cass and Kale napped in their own wagons.

>>22252359
How much have we/Ariana drunk now?

>>22252529
Better check what we've got for lunch then.

"Having fun there, Tori?"

>>22252529
Ho, Astora, I see you took my suggestion from the ship to heart!

>>22252529
Grab Astora, ask her what's going on back north.

"Having fun there, Tori?"
"... No, no I'm not." She said, shooting glares at the people surrounding her. Some of them started to pout, and others just shrugged, put their hands in their pockets, and left to go to the food wagon, where they were handing out strange wheat wafers, bread, and beans.
"No meat." Kale said, sitting up. "Interesting."
You grab astora's hand, and pull her aside.
"What's happening up north?"
"The fighting's started." She said. "I haven't seen Crios, but the knights are having a real problem getting in. Some enterprising maenad went out in the dark and stole all of their silver arrows and bolts, so they can't do any lasting wounds until the full moon, when the maenad regeneration is at their weakest."

>>22252624
Crios was on a boat last I heard, he might be on his way.

How is your familiar? Gotten to eat any knights whole?

>>22252624
"Sounds like it's mostly under control then."

"How is your familiar?" You ask. "Gotten to eat any knights whole?"
"I think my jaws could tear through steel if they had to..." She said, and then there was a dawning realization in her eyes, and her cheeks went very slightly pink. "B-but no, Eldin's keeping my familiar under wraps. The lord of the city is trying to negotiate to send the Order away, and my familiar would just make it harder."
She glanced at your hand which was held tight around her claw, and then yanked it out. "A-anyway, let's get some food. It's much too hot out here."
You make your way to the food wagon, and grab some of your own wafers, staring out into the desert itself...

And for a second, far in the distance, you see a woman in pure black clothing, long white hair streaming out behind her.
It took you several moments for her to step closer, when you realize that she isn't a mirage- she's the real thing, her skin porcelain white, as was her hair.
"... Who's that, do you think?" Talbot asked, and shrugged. "Douglass, get out some more food and water for her."
"Right away." The young man said.

>>22252732
You heard the man, Abel. Go get her before she collapses from heat exhaustion walking alone in the desert in all black!

>>22252732
Sword, should I be worried? That looks unnatural.

>>22252732
"Should we go and greet her, see if she needs help walking maybe?"

You make your way out there with some of your food and water. The closer you got, the stranger everything felt. As if the desert behind her was fake, as was the caravan behind you.
"... Ah, it's you again." She said, softly, meeting your eyes. Her voice was soft, unworried, and she didn't seem tired or hot at all, completely immune to the desert. Her voice seemed to echo. You got the strong, strong feeling that her eyes should be blue, but they weren't- they were as black as her pupils, and that struck you as... Wrong. as wrong as the gun on your hip.
"What is your name this time, Nobody?" She asked.

That word.
That word!
When she said that word, your entire world screeched, and you felt pain wrack through your entire body. You fell to your knees.
"... I'm sorry." She said, listlessly. "I had forgotten. What is your name this time?"

>>22252848
Abel. Abel Byrne.

Did Gabriel set you up for this?

>>22252848
"Ugh...Abel."

"Can you explain what's going on with all this?"

"Abel. Abel Byrne." You say, getting to your feet. You affixed her with a glare, which she didn't seem to care about. "Did Gabriel set you up for this?"
"Gabriel? Your opponent this time, I suppose." They said, emotionlessly, softly. "No, he did not. It's so sad- He's cursed with knowledge of what he was, and no power- and you have always been cursed with power you can't use, and no knowledge."
She blinked, and swayed to the side.
"I was given a name this time around. I'm pleased with it. Call me Stirge."
"... Can you explain what's going on with all this?"
"You and your opponent have fought many times." She said. "I watched you, each time. And each time, your opponent- who has no name here- has failed, and failed, and failed. He's cheated, and kept cheating, until he cheated so much that you started to. And then you slay him, once and for all, with whatever... Avatar you carry... and then we play again. That is what has been happening. Over and over and over again. I'm pleased with this game, moreso because I don't have to participate.

>>22252994
"Pleased? You're pretty fucked in the head if you think this is entertainment. I want to know how I can stop all this."

>>22252994
You are pleased with this? That's just sadistic. Isn't there a way to end this horrible game?

>>22252994
"Why does this...'game' continue though? Is there some higher purpose beyond this? After iteration and iteration, even if fate destines me to win every time, surely with enough time and memory of previous games on his side, Gabriel'll eventually find a way to win, wouldn't he?"

>>22252994
"And what if I give him the sword now? What if he wins? That'll sure put a end to your 'fun'."

>>22252994
he calls himself forty two over one

That doesn't sounds like fun. How do I end the game? By killing you instead?

What does the sword do? Why does he want it?

"Pleased?" You ask. "You're pretty fucked in the head if you think this is entertainment. I want to know how I can stop all this."
"... It's not entertainment." She said, and met your eyes again. "It's only this way that I- and the man you call Gabriel- can exist. Otherwise we're... just memories. I prefer existing, even in this halfway, than to not exist. And there is no way to end it. Even if there was... we would all be trapped again."
"Why does this...'game' continue though? Is there some higher purpose beyond this?"
"It is a game." She said. "We do this because it is fun."
"And what if I give him the sword now? What if he wins? That'll sure put an end to your 'fun'."
"That will only be temporary, I believe." She said. "Gabriel will get bored, and we would start playing again. You would win again, eventually, and things will be back to now."
"... What does the sword do?" You ask. "Why does he want it?"
She eyed the sword. "The Avatar." She said. "That is what it is called. Last time, it was a starship. The time before, it was a pendant. The time before, it was a plasma caster. Your consciousness is whoever holds it."

<How does this square with your theory, rogue?>
<... I don't know. I guess that doesn't fit like I was thinking.> Rogue said.
"... That's new. the Avatar is whispering. Outsiders? Are there outsiders here?"
The woman tilted her head, and examined the sword more closely.

>>22253080
I thought he was 1/42

>>22253241
"Fuck you and all of this. I can see why he wants peace and quiet. I'm giving him the sword at the next opportunity."

>>22253241
Yep. Ares and Rogue. Kale called them outsiders.

>>22253311
Nope, don't. We know that Cass and Astora and Ariana and Tallis will stop to exist if we do that. We don't want that.

>>22253241
If i gave the sword to gabriel, would i not become him?

>>22253347
Acceptable collateral damage.

>>22253241
Wait, you said i had power, what power? i have no special abilities, i just attract those with them.

"If I gave the sword to Gabriel, would I not become him?"
"... No, he would become dominant. He would have power *and* knowledge, and you would be nothing." She said. "Tell me about the whispering."
"Yep." You say. "Ares and Rogue. Kale called them outsiders."
She froze, entirely, the albino woman ceasing to move for a full ten seconds.
And then, for the first time, emotion dawned in her eyes.
Hope.
She roughly grabbed your shoulders.
"Then we're free. We're free, we're free! Wake up! Wake up! Ares, Rogue, wake him up!"
She started shaking you.
"Wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up, NOBODY."
You fell to your knees again, as the world quaked, the feeling of sharp claws reaching into your heart, and then Stirge stood there, silently, and then closed her eyes.
"I'm happy." She said. "You can't wake up right now... but after this game is over, you will. I can be patient until then."
And with that, she decompiled, and vanished, and consciousness receded.

"... You okay?" Talbot asked, splashing water on your face. You open your eyes, and everyone was standing around you, worried. "That... woman just vanished. What were you talking about before she strangled you?"

1/42 is that his win lose ratio? so we lost one fight then?

>>22253501
About the Game... And what i am. What this sword is. It's a long story.

>>22253501
Another one like Gabriel... Though she's less outwardly malevolent.

More prophecys for the future, i suppose.

>>22253501
"Another one like Gabriel and I. She didn't strangle me though."

>>22253501
Ares, Rogue? What was that about? Please don't tell me its a forbidden topic, too.

>>22253501
"Would you believe me if I said it was Stirge?"

>>22253608
seconded.

"Another one like Gabriel and I. She didn't strangle me, though."
"That's what it looked like." Ariana said, worriedly, as Cass pulled you to your feet.
"Would you believe me if I said it was Stirge?"
"... She didn't have a chain or a scimitar, and she wasn't wearing armor." Talbot said. "So no, I'm afraid, I wouldn't believe you."

You look down to your sword.
"Ares, Rogue, what was that about? Please don't tell me it's a forbidden topic, too."
<... What would you say.> Ares said. <If everyone around you was... fake? Without souls, just automatons pretending to be real? Would you still think them people?>
"Don't worry, dad, he does that sometimes." Tannis said. "His sword is magic, and it talks."

>>22253660
"I wouldn't believe it. I refuse to."

>>22253660
They are real, don't be stupid.

>>22253660
"... I don't believe you. They are real. They must be."

>>22253660
"They're pretty convincing automatons..."

>>22253660
How dare you! They are real, as real as I. I don't care if the universe is otherwise, I will make them Real if I have to.

"I wouldn't believe it. I refuse to." You say.
<... What would you say if... if...>
<Ares. Think carefully.> Rogue said.
<... Let's just say, hypothetically, that what I'm saying was true.> Ares said. <Would you still consider them people, at some level? Even though they're... fictional? Would you? Yes or no, is what I'm asking.>

"... And since then, this Gabriel dude has been chasing us." Tannis was saying. "But Abel's going to tear off his tail like I did Anakata's. Except with whatever angels have instead of maenads."
"Wings, I think." Cass said.
"Wings? Nothing in the book I read said angels had wings." Ariana was saying.
"Just a dream I had. Nevermind."

>>22253794
"Yes I would. What are you getting at, Ares?"

>>22253794
"Let me guess, I need to realise everything isn't real before I 'wake up'."

Rolled 8

>>22253794
Yes perception IS reality

>>22253794
You can't be right, you simply can't be. I know these people are real.

"Yes I would." You say, decisively. "What are you getting at, Ares?"
<Nothing. It's something I needed to ask you. For myself.> Ares said. <I didn't mean to lead you into thinking that your friends weren't real. They are, in every sense of the word. It was a hypothetical.>
<Ares, stop that.>
<Rogue, this is my job here.> Ares said, hotly. for the first time, you heard one of the voices actually *angry*. <This was a question I *needed* to ask him.>
<... Okay, I'll leave it here.> Rogue said. <It's not so smart to push things, though.>

"Hmm, okay." Talbot said. "That makes sense. Shall we eat while he talks with his sword?"
"Yes, let's." Kale said.
"Sir, can I ask a question?" Ariana asked. "Why do none of you carry meat?"
"Oh, it's because Agaeros celebrates life. It would be wrong to celebrate it while consuming murder- even for animals or bugs. We don't demand anyone else eat anything- In fact, Tannis has never been able to eat much that wasn't meat without getting ill. It's just a personal choice."
"... That makes sense." Ariana said, and started eating her own bread.

>>22253969
"What does it matter if you force things? Surely that couldn't actually change things."

grab something to snack on, and absentmindedly skritch tannis' ears before wandering somewhere quieter.

>>22253969
"What importance does the question have though?"

"What importance does the question have, though?"
<Nothing I can discuss, I'm afraid.> Ares said, and then he, too, went silent.
You absentmindedly scratch Tannis's ears and grab something to snack on, and wander into one of the wagons, where Astora was sitting- apparently she'd wandered in here while everyone else was talking.
"Hey, Abel." She said, sitting crosslegged, staring down at her claw. "... I'm just now realizing how similar this is to my familiar's paw. An extra talon, and stone instead of scales... but it's really similar, isn't it? When I think about it like that, it isn't as ugly."

>>22254217
"Why would you think it ugly in the first place?"

"Why would you think it ugly in the first place?"
"Eh, well..." She raised it up. "It's not smooth- it's all roughly hewn, and it looks like a... weapon or something. Like I was made to hurt people, you know? It looks like something that belongs on a monster that hides in the dark, that comes out to snatch people away. And then it's... clumsy. I can only pick up big things with it, and it's gotten worse as I get older. But I should really stop complaining about it. I'm starting to sound like a broken record."
A broken... what?
"... Wait, what did I say? I meant I'm just repeating myself." She said, shaking her head. "Sorry, I'm tired. I didn't get enough sleep back on the ship."

>>22254217
Nothing in nature is ugly Tori, only different, with one exception, bald bears.

>>22254319
Could you practice with it until you got less clumsy?

Have you ever tried carving it? You could etch a pattern into it, sort of like a tattoo.

>>22254319
>Assuming we recognized the phrase
"No, really, I know where the phrase "like a broken record" originated. Where did you pick that up?"

>>22254319
"No, it's fine. I said I'd listen if you wanted to talk about anything and I will."

"No, it's fine. I said I'd listen if you wanted to talk about anything, and I will." You say, and she shot you a smile.
"But I still don't want to bore you." She said.
"Could you practice with it until you got less clumsy?"
"It's not that I'm clumsy, it's that the joints are all.. weirdly shaped." She said, and wiggled her fingers. "And it takes a second or so after I *intend* to move it that it moves. A delay."
"Have you tried carving it? You could etch a pattern into it, sort of like a tattoo."
"Remember, even though it's stone, I still feel it. That'd be painful, but maybe I could do it. Can't be worse than an actual tattoo." She said. "Except I can't carve at all, so I'd need someone else to do it."

>>22254460
"The movement delay is strange, I haven't a clue why it would do that."

"Are there any other witches and warlocks that have similar modifications caused by their gifts?"

>>22254460
Cass had that carved stick, did she carve it herself? Maybe she can help.

I'd be willing to give it a go.

"The movement delay is strange. I haven't a clue why it would do that." You say. "Are there any other witches and warlocks that have similar modifications caused by their gifts?"
"The Gift of Tapping should make the user's veins turn black when they use it to heal someone." She said. "But Eldin's unnatural, because he also has the Gift of Life, so that fixes him." She said. "... I wonder what would happen if I kept my Gift sealed, and then... whittled it all away, until it was bleeding, and had Eldin heal me. Do you think I'd be normal again?"
She sighed, and shook her head.
"Nevermind, that's not the way to go about things."
She sighed again, and met your eyes, combing her hair behind her ear.
"Hey, Abel. Do you think I'm p- Erm, do you think you could try carving my hand?" I can't do it, and you might need a chisel or something... but I promise I won't burn you even if you do it too hard and it hurts."

>>22254695
Of course. But you'll have to tell me what pattern you want.

>>22254695
"Yes, I do, and yes, I will."

We might have chisel in our alchemy kit.

>>22254695
"Yes to the first question that you didn't finish asking.

And I'll do my best to carve it to a pattern you like. Before I start carving we should probably draw out a pattern in ink or something like that, make sure it looks right first."

"Yes to the first question that you didn't finish asking." You say, and she shot you a glare.
"And I'll do my best to carve it to a pattern you like." You say. "Before I start carving we should probably draw out a pattern in ink or something like that, make sure it looks right, first."
"I was thinking something... I want to say organic." She said, sidling up closer to you, pulling out a pen and some ink from her belt. "Like tree roots, or branches or something. And if that doesn't work... we could always do scales. Make it look even more like a dragon. And then enamel it, maybe, or something. Grind away the rough edges? I don't know. What do you think?"

>>22254806
"That could work. Grinding down the edges would probably be more painful than just chipping patterns in though."

>>22254806
"I like the idea of something organic. Do you like flowers? Or should I do somewhat curved organic lines reminiscent of a tree's branches or roots?"

>>22254806
"Yeah, I like the idea of scales though, that would be pretty in-tune."

>>22254806
I wonder, if we carved the lines right, could it be encouraged to crack in certain ways? To get the light to shine up through the pattern?

I like the idea of tree roots. Maybe something twisting out from the palm?

If it reforms, we can always carve a new pattern each time!

"That could work. Grinding down the edges would probably be more painful than just chipping patterns in, though."
"Probably, but it's just pain." She said. "I'll be fine, I promise. Though if we do, that's what we should do first."
I like the idea of something organic. Do you like flowers?"
"... Not really." She said. "I'm not a flower sort of person." She said.
"I like the idea of tree roots." You say. "Should I do somewhat curved organic lines?"
"Yes, I like that idea too." She said. "Though... the more I think about it, the more I think the scales are a good idea. and if you ruin it, I could just restart my gift and seal it again."
"Yeah, I like the idea of scales. That would be pretty in-tune."
"Okay..." She said, taking the ink to her hand... and then pausing. "... Yeah, doing the grinding first would be better than the scales. Are you okay with doing that?"

>>22254985
"That's fine with me. I'll go look through my alchemy kit for something."

>>22254985
Alright, let's do scales first. They should be easier anyway, and we can consider it practice!

Could we use the sword as a chisel?

>>22254985
"I'm okay with it, I'll do my best to be gentle but this will probably hurt.

If you want me to stop just say so, and you can squeeze my leg or something to help with the pain. I'd suggest my hand, but I'll be using both of those making art."

Then get some tools from our kit, sit down next to her, give her stone hand as much a massage as we can to relax it, put it in our lap to work with, grind it smooth and give it dragon scales.

>>22255047
That's a bad idea. To get the accuracy needed to carve, we'd have to hold the blade right near the tip and the weight of the rest of the sword behind the hand would make it really hard to do.

>>22255057
>and you can squeeze my leg or something to help with the pain
skip this bit. she lives with pain already, i'm sure she knows how to deal with it, and this is just poorly suggestive.

"That's fine with me." You say, and pull open your alchemy kit. "I'll look through my alchemy kit for something."
Eventually, you find something like a square-ish spade, used for carving bark off of trees or something similar, and examine it.
"This might work." You say. "I'll do my best to be gentle, but... this will probably hurt." You say.
"It'll be fine." She said, shooting you a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It's just pain."
"If you want me to stop, just say so."
"Okay." She said. "If it gets that bad, I will."

You take her hand in yours, and then guide it into your lap, pressing your fingers into the joints and doing your best to massage it, before taking the flat spade and slowly, carefully, grinding off layers of the crude, rough-hewn claw. One of the times, you carve a bit too deep. She hissed, whimpered, and leaned on you, trying not to move her hand.
"... This isn't actually that bad." She said, in a meek voice. "Compared to how it normally is when I have problems. Go on."
You continued to hew it smooth, no doubt dulling the tool, and eventually, even after you took a potato peeler to the fingers, her arm was entirely smooth, and the same size, roughly, as her other hand, albeit with the talons. The more you'd carved, the lighter her hand got, as if the Gift of Flame inside was shining through, more shining through the thinner the stone was.
When Tori opened her eyes again, she had the biggest grin you'd ever seen.
"It's so nice!" she said.

>>22255219
"That does look nice.
Try moving it, maybe taking some of the weight off will make it easier to use."

>>22255219
"It does look nice, try moving it around, see how it bends, feels, and so on.

If you want I could do a bit more carving, now what it's this thin I could do some really delicate work so the light shines through in a pattern."

>>22255219
Do you still have full range of motion?

Maybe grab something to eat before we continue, yeah?

>>22255219
"Hmm, I'm glad you like it. Maybe you just need to smooth it down occasionally like you have to cut fingernails."

"It does look nice." You say. "Try moving it around, see how it feels, bends, and so on." You say.
She started wiggling her fingers, and grinned.
"I can actually move my fingers easier." She said. "They move how I want them to, now."
"If you want, I could do a bit more carving." You say. "Now that it's this thin, I could do some really delicate work so the light shines through in a pattern."
For a moment she looked exactly like an older Ariana, smiling brilliantly.
"I'd love that." She said. "But first, I have to thank you for doing this. But I'm not sure how. I could pay you, but... you're a friend, and it feels wrong to do that..."
She thought for a moment, but before you said anything, she leaned close and kissed you on the lips, somewhat awkwardly- you could tell she'd never done this before.
"There." She said, proudly. "Now you can brag to the world you kissed one of the world's most powerful witches."

>>22255401
why exa why....
We should... but no!
But yes.

Kiss her back. Properly.

Check that Cass isn't watching.

>>22255401
Grin at her.
"I don't know, Cass might get angry if I start bragging about that."

>>22255401
"That might upset the strange balance you and Cass seem to have reached.

>>22255440
Eh... I don't think we should.
Not that whynotboth.jpg isn't the best option, but we should maybe get them to like each other first.

>>22255401
"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell. And it's of much more interest to me that a beautiful, kind, and good woman kissed me."

>>22255401
It's no fun to kiss a crying girl, you'll have to try again later.

Next time we get to a town, you'll have to buy some artisan's tools. And a new one of these, to replace it.

"I don't know..." You say. "That might upset the strange balance you and Cass seem to have reached."
"Well, then, nevermind, you can't brag about it. Too bad." She said, closing her eyes, before looking down to her hand again. Her composure broke, and she smilled brilliantly again, wiggling her fingers.
"Okay, now do the scales." She said, and only then do you notice that her breath smelled like ale- and you look back, and next to where she'd been sitting was an open, empty jug.

>If you guys are carving, roll 1d100 for it. Skilled, due to Abel's old hobby of carving wood into figures.

Rolled 95

>>22255573
Carving!

Rolled 56

>>22255573
Be careful, take our time, don't rush it. We're in no sort of hurry. And be sure to draw the ink on the pattern first.

Rolled 59

>>22255573
This is going to end badly.

>>22255597
No, no, >>22255584 says it's going to end beautifully.

Quickly, almost easily, you carved into her hand, as she carefully painted the scales on with ink, telling you where you could carve, as you delicately played on the way the light shone through the thin parts, making the light shine through the cracks between the scales, almost brilliantly. For a moment, the phrase 'jack-o-lantern' comes to you from nowhere, and keeping that in mind, you carefully finish up, trying to make sure there was no thin edges, and taking more off around her joints. She seemed to be coping with the pain better, still leaning on you, a constant warm reminder of the woman leaning on you. Finally, you wiped her hand off with a damp cloth, and she pulled away reluctantly, examining her hand, her fingers twitching now and then.
"... Wow." She said. She focused, and the light suddenly brightened, shining brilliantly through the cracks, and then it calmed, dimming to a simmering glow. "This is amazing, Abel! How did you learn to do this! It's beautiful."

>>22255674
"Ah, it was just a small hobby of mine."

>>22255674
"I carved wood as a hobby. The trick is not to try to impose your own pattern on it, but to reveal the beauty that is already there. Though I've never worked on anything quite like this before, it was an honor."

>>22255674
I'm glad you like it. But I merely brought your design to life.

"Ah, it was just a small hobby of mine." You say. "I'm glad you like it. But I merely brought your design to life."
Carefully, she raised her clawed- now scaled- hand and she carefully brushed the back of it against your cheek.
"I do like it." She said, quietly. "More than you know."
She closed her eyes again, and took a deep breath.
"You know, after Ariana's coming of age, if you want to ride me- well- my dragon- I don't mean- er-."
She shook her head, and covered her face with her hands.
"... If you wanted to go anywhere in a hurry, I could take you with my familiar." She said, embarrassed.

>>22255802
"I know what you mean. Thank you, thank you very much, Astora."

>>22255802
"I am honored, Tori."

Kiss her newly carved hand.

"Now come on, we should go show you off to all the others!"

>>22255802
"I'd live to ride your dragon some day. It sounds like an experience I'd remember for the rest of my life.

Let's show everyone your hand, probably the best carving I've ever done on an absolutely magnificent canvas.

>>22255802
"It's not everyday you get to carve on someone's hand."

"I know what you mean."
"Good." She said, miserably.
"I'm honored, Tori." You say, after a second. "Now come on, we should go show you off to all the others!"
"And get some food." She said, grinning as you pulled her out of the wagon.
The two of you make your way back to where everyone was still eating and drinking, some men betting on how many backflips kale could do.
"Astora! Your hand!" Ariana said, grinning. "It's so pretty!"

And lunch began in earnest, with Astora showing off her hand to the entire caravan.

>End of thread!

>>22255919
Thanks for running, Exa! Hope you feel better!

>>22255919
Thank you for the thread, Exabyte.

>>22255962
>I hope I feel better too, damnit. Though based on what the IRC tells me, today ran awesomely because I was ill. Oh well.

>Also, forgot to mention, but I'll be sticking around a bit longer to answer any questions you guys have.
>I think I've actually developed enough of the setting to consider writing a novel on it- albeit with different perspective character, none of the actual characters, and none of the 'angels' metaplot.

>>22256196
Well, the IRC is correct, I really enjoyed today. Again, thanks for running.