>>22451830
"Indeed. I hope she just decided to slip out and isn't actually in trouble. I suspect if it's the former, she'll come find me quickly."

>>22451830
"Yeah it is. I hope it's just her running off or something."

>>22451830
"Yeah, I wouldn't worry too much though, she likes to mingle in with the townsfolk, so she might have just gone for an extended break."

"Indeed." You say. "I hope she just decided to slip out and isn't actually in trouble. I suspect it's the former. She'll come find me quickly."
"But what if she was kidnapped?" Ariana asked, worried. "Or hurt? Let's go find the others."

After wandering first to the arena, where you'd left them, and then to the gates, where the sandborn were, you finally find them in Leez's tattoo shop, resting and eating.
"Hey, Ari. Abel." Astora said, a badly singed Leez pouting in the corner of the room.
"You two were gone for some time." Kale added. "How did the fight go?"
"I already told you." Cass said. "Abel won."
Tannis snored, and curled up on the floor even tighter.

>>22451944
"Cass is correct. I did win but only just."

>>22451944
"Hey, I got everyone gifts for letting me beat them up."

>>22451944
Scratchy/ruffly Tan, give presents around, inform sistercomplex

>>22451944
"Hey, Astora, my sister, she's gone missing. Do you think you could use your gift to see if she's alright?"

>>22451944
"Well, i actually wanted to wait for my sister Lyra here, i had a dream that she would visit the sister Buuuut my other sister got possibly kidnapped so i need to get back to Van'ikal as soon as possible. Everything clear?"

>>22452072
GENIUS! Do it!

"Cass is correct." You say. "I did win, but only just."
"Good to hear!" Kale said, and Cass gave him a glare. Kale grinned back at her.
"Shouldn't have fought fair." She said, grumbling and frowning.
Her frown froze when you held out the carving you'd done for her. She met your eyes.
"I got everyone gifts for letting me beat them up."
She grinned, and took the carving in hand. "This is me fighting the dragon, isn't it?"
"Well, since you can't get a tattoo, you needed some other keepsake." Ariana said, grinning.
"Thank you." She said, gently cradling it.
You scratch Tannis, trying to wake her up, but her paws simply wrapped around your wrist, holding your hand there for her to chew on.
"Hey, Astora, my sister, she's gone missing." You say, suddenly. "Do you think you could use your gift to see if she's alright?"
"I can try." She said, and took a deep breath. You suddenly see Ariana get a mischevious look, and reach into your bag.
Astora closed her eyes, and started to focus, while Ari quickly grabbed the ribbon out, and started tying Ariana's hair up.
"She's somewhere dark." Astora said, opening her eyes. She didn't seem to notice her hair tied up in a ponytail. "Very dark, wrapped up in cloth. I don't know what the walls were made of, but they looked like brick. Or planks. There's a second figure there, wrapped up as well. They're both lying down. Maybe asleep, maybe talking."

>>22452171
>Ari quickly grabbed the ribbon out, and started tying Tori's hair up.

>Yay, names.

>>22452171
"So she's either hiding out with someone or she's been kidnapped. Great."

>>22452171
"Damn, that doesn't sound too good. Not much we can do at the moment though, thanks for the help."

>>22452171
Does wrapped in cloth mean wearing clothes or something more sinister?

bedsheets, perhaps?

>>22452171
"I...oh, did you scry Lyra or Isalva? Lyra is on a ship right now, and that would make sense for her."

>>22452288
Fucking this, I'm an idiot.

"I... oh, did you scry Lyra or Isalva. Lyra is on a ship right now, and that would make sense for her."
"I scried Isalva." Astora said. "I don't know what Lyra looks like, and I can't do it like that. I have to focus on people I recognize, at first."
"So she's either hiding out with someone, or she's been kidnapped. Great."
"... I'll bring my familiar here." Astora said, getting to her feet. "I already sent the message to the crones, and then I can soar over the desert looking- wait."
She started twitching her head, and then reaching back to touch her hair. She instantly glanced at Ariana, and reached up to untie her hair.
"Abel got you that." Ariana said, beaming. Astore pulled out the long, red-and-yellow silken ribbon, and her lips quirked. She met your eyes, and there was something in her normally-stern brown eyes that you didn't recognize- something powerful. After a moment, she shrugged, and tied her hair up again.
"Anyway, we can use my familiar to look for her. It might take me a few days to fly here."

>>22452354
Wasn't he injured?

>>22452385
It'd be a she. Although considering it's one mind in two bodies, I'd guess that "it" is the appropriate word.

>>22452354
"Wasn't your familiar injured? Although, I guess I wouldn't be surprised if dragons healed quickly."

>>22452354
"Thanks for all the help, Tori."
Hug
"Is the ribbon the right colour?"

>>22452354
I hope you like it, I think i got swindled by the shopkeep.

>>22452354
We need to find a good place to get information about where she could have gone/been taken to, at this point we might need to head back to the capitol.

>>22452354
>I think she wants the dick.

>>22452458
Everyone here except Ariana wants the dick.
And she probably would if she was older.

>>22452458
They all want the D.

"Wasn't your familiar injured?" You ask. "Although, I guess I wouldn't be surprised if dragons healed quickly."
"One of the crones healed me." She said, and smiled. "I can fly again."
"Thanks for all the help, Tori." You say, and pull her into a hug. "Is the ribbon the right color?"
"It is." She said.
"I hope you like it. I think I got swindled by the shopkeep?"
"How much did you pay?" She asked, the corner of her mouth quirked up. You tell her. "... Yeah, you got swindled. I'm really happy with it, though."
Leez whispered something to Kale, who pretended he didn't hear her.
"I heard something about presents." Tannis said, suddenly becoming human right next to you, rubbing at her eyes. You hand her the brush, and her eyes widened.
"I like it!" She said, eyes shining. "It's so pretty."
Leez whispered something else to Kale, and Kale pretended he didn't hear her. Leez flicked his ear, and he twitched.

>>22452518
"So, anything else in town that anyone wants to see?"

>>22452518
Lean in close to Leez, as if we're goint to tell her a secret, and whisper in her ear.

Then lick it.

>>22452566
That's like sticking our hand down her pants.
Let's not do that in front of everyone.

>>22452518
did we forget to get something for kale?

lets take him for ice creeam

>>22452584
we can do it while nobodys paying attention.

>>22452566
lets not

>>22452566
Let's not. We'll probably get raped.

"So, anything else in town that anyone wants to see?"
"I want to see Tannis's house." Ariana said.
"So do I, come to think of it." Cass said.
"Well..." Tannis said. "I... guess we could go there. It's not really my house, but dad hasn't gone there since... since he joined the sandborn. So I suppose it's mine now."
"We don't have to pay for an inn if we go there." Astora said, and shot Leez a look. "And I'm not staying *here*."
Leez pouted.

>>22452675
"Yeah, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. It'd give you time to get to work with the bow as well, Leez."

>>22452640
>>22452654
You guys are no fun. At this rate we'll have gotten through the whole quest and never nibbled an elf ear.

>>22452675
"Something happen while I was out with Ariana?"

>>22452675
"Hey, Cass, want to learn archery?"

>>22452724
Excuse my poor memory, but what else happened besides gifts and missing sisters?

>>22452768
Ice cream!~

And talking.

>Finally manage to catch up

>Hey Exabyte, Vale is farewell in Latin. That might help withyour name thing.

>Also, Kale is definitely an ENFP.

"Anything happen while I was out with Ariana?"
"Not much." Cass said. "We realized that Ari was a sneaking gremlin-" Ariana grinned "-and then wandered around for a bit, looking for you two, and returned here."
"... Tannis's cabin doesn't sound like a bad idea. It'd give you time to get to work with the bow as well, Leez."
"I know." She said, and crossed her arms, still pouting.
"Then let's do that." Cass said, stretching.
"Hey, Cass, want to learn archery?" You ask. She grinned at you.
"Yeah, I might." She said. "The little I know about it, strength matters a lot for what type of bow you use. I could get a really big one, with my trollish blood..."
"Alright, let's go." Cass said, and everyone else got up to leave, save Leez.
You lean over to whisper in her ear, while nobody else was looking.
"What?" She whispered.
You responded by licking her ear. Her entire body shivered, and her back arched.
Then you get up and follow everyone else out of the building.

The road out of Lys was quiet, as the sun slowly went over the sky.
"I'm above Sardin right now." Astora said, quietly. "It's a relief to stretch my wings, finally. All that waiting in Garamon, The broken wing near the barbarian lands... And now I just get to fly."

>>22452980
"It must be liberating to be able to fly like that."

"Can you see anything interesting going on?"

>>22452980
I'm so envious of you right now. I can only imagine what it's like to see the world from all the way up there, the wind whistling past your head."

>>22452980

did Leez try something? she looked a bit burned.

>gift of vermin has a dragon variant?

>>22453103
there is a gift of vermin dragon variant, that's what the wizard had.

and she's probably sad because she wasnted to make lewd comments and make troi/us uncomfortable all night long

"It must be liberating to be able to fly like that." You say. "Can you see anything interesting going on?"
"I'm too high." She said. "It's all too far away. I can see the forest, and a bit of the swamp, but I just soared over the mountains."
"I'm so envious of you right now." You say. "I can only imagine what it's like to see the world from all the way up there, wind whistling past your head."
"Actually, I think my horns make it whistle less. Easier to hear, that way." Astora said, and closed her eyes, slowing down and raising both arms. "It is, though. It's beautiful. Flying off into the sunset, my membranes catching the wind and pushing me faster, ever faster. I'm on fire, it feels."

As she spoke, the wind suddenly blew, sending her hair back... and the moment was over, and she continued walking.
"Did Leez try something? She looked a bit burned."
"She propositioned me." Astora said. "I told her no in a way she wouldn't misunderstand. She'll be fine."

>>22452980
we are a whore

>>22452980
Why did we do that? It was completely out of character

>>22453138
"Hah, good to know, I like Kale, but she seems a bit...pushy."

>>22453176
>Hey guys, let's try to pick all of them, and keep bringing it up even when it's a stupid idea and we know that, and when we've been told specifically that trying to get the harem end is a bad idea
>Licking the elf ears is out of character

Really?

>>22453138
Kale really has strange taste.

>>22453138

she does seem a little aggressive in her advances.

>>22453176

i agree.

>>22453211
I was under the impression we weren't trying to pick all of them, we were just trying to not make a decision yet.

"Hah, good to know." You say. "I like Kale, but she seems a bit... pushy."
"That would be the wolves." Kale said. "That she was raised by. She thinks of herself as the alpha, all the time."
"Why did you end up with her, if you don't mind me asking?" Ariana asked.
"... Well, I was captured by something's wings at the time- a bird, I think it was, and ran across her,hunting with half a dozen wolves. We were both young at the time... and so I ran. She gave chase, outrunning her pack, and tackled me. then, instead of eating me, she said I was her husband now." Kale said, and shrugged. "That was that."

>>22453211
Yes it is out of character, thats easily the most forward thing Abel has ever done with a women with no provocation without even knowing Leez basically at all. It is out of character, if we take the wolf familiar as a metaphor real fast here then we should be looking for a mate within our pack which is what we are doing. We have known Leez for maybe a day, she is not in the pack yet so again, why the fuck did we do that?

>>22453305
"How romantic! She treats you well though, I'm glad."

"You're not going to stay the night with her?"

>>22453305

if you are fine with that then i wish you two the best.

>>22453334
>>22453245
>>22453176
>You all bring up a rather good point here. I'd counted three votes for, and two against, but since it was a simple aside, I can retcon the event out of existence and we can all pretend it never happened.

"How romantic!" You say. "She treats you well, though, I'm glad. You're not going to stay the night with her?"
"Neither of us sleep." He said. "So... I probably would be too exhausted and wounded to help you find your sister in the morning."

>>22453305
"Well, best of luck to you and her, Kale."

Let's teach Cass archery now.

>>22453388
>retconning
boo

>>22453334
Leez is really forward, and very casual. It's a way to experiment with no lingering problems.

>>22453388
It was three against and one for. Myself being the one. I wasn't even trying to samefag or anything, I think you need to be more careful while counting.

>>22453388

thank you Kale.

>i for one vote for a retcon, would have voted against it in the first place if i had taken it seriously.

>>22453388
I wouldn't worry about retconning it too much, maybe just overlook it in future character interactions or something

>>22453424
Except for where it would make problems with everyone else in the group, except for Kale and maybe Tannis (like 40% chance she wouldnt have a problem with it I think)

>>22453482
But nobody ever has to know, except Kale maybe.

I vote agains retconning, obviously, and stand by my reasoning. Even though you'll outvote me.

"Well, best of luck to you and her, Kale."
"Our hearts are set in stone." Kale said, and chuckled.

Soon enough, the two of you arrived at Tannis's cabin- on second look, in the light of the sunset, you could see it much better- and it was much larger than you'd initially thought- enough room for everyone to sleep there comfortably, albeit sharing rooms. As soon as they arrived, Ariana, Astora, and Kale rushed in to check things out.
"This is really dusty!" Ariana called.
"I know." Tannis said.
"I'm going to clean up, if that's okay!"
"That's okay." She responded again.

While Ariana, Astora, Kale, and Tannis started cleaning up, you met Cass's eyes.
"You ready to learn?" You ask, and she nodded. You quickly arrange a target out of some rags and a few sticks, and then give her your bow.

"You need to draw back," You said, wrapping some cloth around her wrist so that she didn't get burned by the arrow. "And then take a deep breath. An arrow isn't straight- you need to shoot it upward, and arc it over..." You were saying...

You pick up the arrows again, and decide it's too dark to continue training. Cass wasn't going to be as good an archer as you anytime soon, but she wouldn't be entirely lost if she ever needed to.
When you make your way into the cabin, you can see Ariana, hair disheveled, scrubbing a table. She grinned at you, half covered in dirt and dust.
"Tannis fell asleep, Astora's outside, and Kale's cooking dinner." She said. "So it's just me cleaning."

>>22453388
I vote for retconning

Rolled 21

>>22453557
"Here, let me help you out."
rolling for cleaning.

Rolled 20

>>22453557
As long as we clean where were' going to sleep and eat, we can do the rest tomorrow.

rolling to help out.

Rolled 97

>>22453585
>>22453605
Let's hope we're skilled at cleaning.

>>22453661
After a roll like that? So do I.

>>22453661
Yes! Now they'll see our GRIM DETERMINATION powering something other then evicerating someone, and we might be able to convince them we're not a warrior.

"I'll help." You say, and grab the broom, starting to hum. You recall all the times that Lyra skimped out on her chores, preferring to find *any* excuse possible to get a way out of it, forcing you to do the rest. You walk by, swiping off tables, arranging beds, dusting window shutters, and scrubbing on windows, while Ariana and Cass just kind of stared at you as you swiped clean a window Ari had been scrubbing, spotlessly, almost effortlessly.

Some time later, Kale called you all into the kitchen, where he had strange, meals arranged- eggs, cooked into bread, the entire ensamble wrapped in some sort of leaf.
"Don't worry." He said, and crunched on the spare leaves. "Learned this from a few human rangers. It's perfectly edible."
"Astora's still outside." Cass said. "Should we call her in?"
"And we should wake up Tannis." Ariana said.

>>22453763
"I'll go get Astora."

>>22453763
I'll grab Tori, you guys try to figure out how to wake Tannis without getting clawed. Here, this might help.

Hand them the broom.

>>22453763
"Hey, Tori! Food's ready."

"I'll grab Tori." You say. "You guys try to figure out how to wake Tannis without getting clawed. Here, this might help."
You hand them the broom, and make your way outside. You see a small path descending down the cliff behind the cabin, and at the very bottom, you find a pile of clothes and a charred breastplate, including the ribbon you'd bought her- the ribbon was on top, and folded carefully, as opposed to the rest of the clothing, which was thrown into a pile without ceremony.
"Hey, Abel!" Tori said, in the water. She splashed a hand up, and grinned at you. "The water's nice."

>>22453834
"Oh? Is it warm? Maybe I should join you."

>>22453834
"I don't doubt it, but dinner's ready if you're up for it."

>>22453834
Evening Tori! Dinner's cooked. Some eggy bread thing that Kale made, it smells good.

>>22453834

dinner is nice too, incidentally Kale finished making it.
if we hurry, there might still be some left when we get back.

>if she asks for something to wear we could present her the ribbon
>James Bond up in this beach

>>22453834
"Maybe we can go for a dip after supper, but right now Kale has got it all ready and it looks good, care to come up and join us?"

"Oh? Is it warm? Maybe I should join you."
"I wouldn't know if it's warm." She said. "My sense of temperature is messed up, remember? But you should."
"Dinner's cooked." You say. "Some eggy bread thing that Kale made. It smells good."
"Okay, I'll be out in a bit." She called. "Go on without me."

The five of you end up sitting at a table, munching on the egg/leaf ensambles, when Astora comes in, her hair dry, tied up with the ribbon.
"Sorry, I saw the ocean and couldn't resist going for a swim."
"... You do that to freezing lakes, too." Ariana said, and frowned.
"So I like water. What of it?" Astora said, taking a seat.

"These are good, Kale." Cass said.
"I took a great interest in making food, once upon a time." Kale said, and shrugged.

>>22453891
this this so much
:)

>>22453973
"Hmm? How long ago was that?"

>>22453973

long life is pretty nifty, maybe you can teach us sometime.

>>22453973
Even though you don't eat cooked food? They must have been a rather special someone.

>>22453973
"You must know some great recipes that've been long forgotten in that case, Kale."

>>22454043
He doesnt eat meat. But he still can eat cooked food.

"Even though you don't eat meat? They must have been a rather special someone."
"It was." He said, and didn't elaborate. His smile faltered. "Very special."
"How long ago was that?"
"Before I met Leez." He said.
"You must know some great recipes that've been long forgotten in that case, Kale."
"I don't have all my memories with me." He said. "We elves get like that, when we get older."
Without saying anything, Ariana suddenly set down her plate and pulled Kale into a tight hug.
He chuckled, grinned, and patted her on the head.
"Thank you." He said, grinning.

>>22454117
GROUP HUG!

>>22454117
Continue eating.

"I forgot to tell you all, but, my sister, the one who joined the order, is coming to find me."

>>22454117

i'm not sure how to respond, maybe walk up to him, pat him on the shoulder and tell him that we would love to hear his stories, it may help him remember things he has forgotten.

the things he could teach us would also have a chance to not be lost in time.

>elf on old age? Kale is much much older than i thought.
>he is also great!

>>22454117
"That's a shame, you must have seen so much in your life."

"That's a shame." You say. "You must have seen so much in your life."
"I've never seen enough." He said. "I'm here to learn and tell stories. One day... one of these days, I'll have learned all of them."

"I forgot to tell you all, but, my sister, the one who joined the order, is coming to find me."
"To find you?" Astora asked. You nod. "How do you know?"
"A dream." Ariana said.
"Dream of truth?"
You think about it, and nod- it had that sort of feeling.
"Then we don't know when it is." Astora said. "Could be in months, could be in a few days, or even years. Your dream could have even taken place in the past."

>>22454316
"It would have to be the very recent past."

>>22454316
"Damn, that makes it a bit problematic. Any way we can check incoming ships? It was coming from Angvard, I'd say."

>>22454316
Lyra was getting on a boat for Lys, and leaving Crios on the mainland.

Let's finish our food quickly so we can go dive in the ocean.

>>22454316
Lean in close to Tori.

"Still feel like swimming?"

>>22454316

"i saw Crios send her off, she seemed a little doubtful."

"if you're correct, she could potentially knock on the door any second now." stare at the door for a minute "maybe not" a little bit disappointed.

We should at least invite Cass to go swimming.

>>22454470
If we take our shirt off to go swimming I'm sure she'll be there.

>>22454516
skinny dip it is see who comes just announce it

I am going for a swim take off shirt and run to the water keep tossing off cloths

perhaps wait 20 minutes first so we don't cramp and need saving or maybe thats what you want

>>22454558
You know, I eat and swim all the time and I've never cramped. I think that's a myth.

and then the water turns out to be freezing cold and no one besides Astora gets in.

>>22454599
It is.

"Lyra was getting on a boat for Atlask, and leaving Crios on the mainland. It was coming from Angvard, I'd say."
"Do you know where it was going to?" Tannis asked, fastening the silver bands around her arms and legs.
"Don't know." You say. "If you're correct, she could potentially knock on the door any second now." You say, and stare at the door for a minute. You could just see her kicking open the thing, bustling in as if this was her own house, and bellowing out 'I'm here!'...
And then you shrug, and look away. "Maybe not." You say.
Ariana suddenly gave you a hug, too, staring up at you.
"Don't worry." She said. "Soon we'll have a dragon familiar helping us, and we'll find her. I can't wait to meet her properly."
"Neither can I." Cass said. "She might be an order lackey, but if you trust her, I will."
You nod, and then finish your meal, as Kale lays back.
"Actually, on second thought..." He said. "I'll return to Leez for a bit, while you all sleep."
"Okay." Tannis said. "Have fun."
"I will." He said, and sprung to his feet, making his way out of the cabin.
"... Still feel like swimming?" You ask, and Ariana grinned.
"Yeah, I do."
"I'll come." Cass said. "I feel like swimming."
"... I'll stay here." Tannis said, quietly, hugging her knees- she was completely human, with the silver bands around her arms and legs, but if she had ears they'd be drooping.
"You can't swim?" Ariana asked.
"I don't like the water." She said.

>>22454604
>Jump in
>Flail around because we got the breath knocked out of us.
>Abel the wizard slayer dies due to cold water.

>>22454627
Isn't that standard for this time period anyway?

>>22454626
lock eyes with ariana and grin. then grab Tannis and run for the water.

>>22454626
"Why not?"

>>22454626
"Aw, why don't you come and just sit by the shore with us then?"

"I'd better be careful, Leez is meant to be bringing that boon by tonight."

>>22454671
she mentioned this on the boat, i believe. something about her mother drowning herself.

But we're here to give her good memories.

>>22454626

we could start a fire on the beach, we can have one person keep Tannis company and switch out so that everyone can enjoy a swim, if the water is comfortable enough.

>>22454654
>lock eyes with ariana and grin. then grab Tannis and run for the water.
oh fuck you no

>>22454626
"We might be back soon, the water might be freezing like Ariana mentioned."

>>22454710
That could work.

>>22454710
as long as we'll take the first shift

>>22454654
Nein! Nein! NEEEIN LADIES DANCING!

When you're a kid, they tell you it's all grow up, get a job, get married, get a house, have a kid and that's it. But the truth is the world's so much stranger than that, and so much darker, and so much madder, and so much better.

"Aw, why don't you come and just sit by the shore with us, then?"
"I can do that." She said, and teetered to her feet.
"Right." Astora said, and made her way out of the cabin.
"The water might be freezing like Ariana mentioned." You say.
"I can warm it up!" Tori replied, and grinned.

You find some spare wood, and take it down to the beach itself, where Cass, Tannis, Ariana, and a mostly-undressed Astora was, the latter leaping into the water, splashing everyone. Tannis twitched, and scrambled away, her hair poofing up. She scratched at her tattered ear. "That wasn't nice!" She said.
"I'm going to go too." Cass said, and stuck her foot in. "It isn't actually as cold as I thought." She said, and stepped into the water.
You start working on the tinderbox, trying to light it, when Astora's hand burst from the water, steam flying from it. You leapt back just as the fire burst into flame.

You, Ariana, and Tannis ended up sitting near the fire, Tannis still hugging her legs. Ariana was lying on her back, staring up at the sky, hand up toward it, as if she was trying to grab ahold of a star. She was humming something to herself- something that made your heart pound, and made the sound of the ocean somehow... louder.
"Go on, have fun." Tannis said, nodding to the ocean."

>>22454855
Strip down, jump in before they can see tattoo.

>>22454855
Ruffle her hair. "I will. You try to cheer up a bit."

Try and bomb on top of Astora.

>>22454855

Ariana is doing it again, keep this in mind.

"i'll be back before you know it!"

Rolled 86

>>22454855
Rolling for jump-height for cannon-ball

>>22454855
join in with the rhyme Ariana is humming

>>22454855
Shrug, "I'll go with Ari, I guess."
Glance at the sky.
"The sky looks... nice. Though... sad, in a way. Planets come and go. Stars perish. Matter disperses, coalesces and forms into other patterns, other worlds... Nothing can be truly eternal. Everything we do is just... sigh."

Rolled 59

>>22454920
Rolling to not hit rocks.

Unsure if skilled.

>>22454938
2deep4u

You ruffle her hair. "I will." You say. "Try to cheer up a bit."
"I'll try." She said, quietly. You take a step back, remove your shirt, and leap into the water, making the largest splash you could- and the water was cold. Swimming up to the surface, you see a very unhappy Cass, glaring at you.
"You didn't need to splash everyone." She said, frowning at you.
"We're in the water anyway." Astora said, with a grin. "If you don't want to be wet, then you don't get in the water."
She grinned, and carefully wrapped her scaled, clawed arm around your waist- just as Cass's tail subtly coiled around your leg.

>>22455030
"Careful now, if you both start pulling you'll snap me in half."

>>22455030
This is going to end badly

Rolled 77

>>22455030
Rolling for swim escape.

>>22455030
check if tan got splashd.
if yes, say sorry

>>22455030
"How about a race?"

We let them win, of course.

>>22455030
"I'm not sure whether to be scared or delighted at this development.

If you don't let me go I won't be able to get any swimming in, though I'm not sure if I mind that much."

Rolled 19

>>22455030
"Still feel like attempting that bet you three had?"

flectere si nequeo superos, achaeronta movebo

>>22455030

this is not the time for tug o war ladies.

>>22455106
Gabe, is that you?

>>22455171

a giant brass machine will rise from the water to fuck our shit up.

"... How about a race?" You ask.
"Yes, let's." Astora said, grinning.
"Trolls are made for the water." Cass said.
"How about... that rock to that rock?" Astora asked, pointing to the two of them.

While they were distracted, you darted away, swimming as fast as possible.

However, fast was not fast enough. Cass, who's entire body twisted from side to side, her tail larger and more muscled than before, and Astora, who glided through the water like she was born for it, both quickly outpaced you.
"Nope." Cass said, catching up to you, and wrapping her tail around your waist. From behind, she grabbed ahold of your shoulders, pulling your body tight against her. "You're a slow swimmer, Abel."
"Almost barely faster than Ari." Astora said, with a grin.
She and Cass met eyes... and for a moment you had a foreboding feeling. That moment passed, though, as their mischevious glances suddenly turned to glares.
"... I could beat you." Cass said, suddenly.
"Nobody's better in the water than I am." Astora said.
"Oh? Then let's do this." Cass said.
The two of them swam away, toward the previously mentioned rock.
Tannis shrugged at you, apparently still dry despite your leap.

Rolled 79

>>22455220
How do we beat a lizard and a steam propelled fireplace.

>>22455220
"Save me Tannis! They're fighting over me!"

>>22455220
"Looks like they're having fun, and if they're competing over swimming they aren't fighting over me, which is good since them playing tug of war with me would not be good for me.

So Tannis, why don't you like the water? Is that a Maenad thing? If you come to the shore I'll scritch your ears, you won't even have to come in."

>>22455220
Let's take this opportunity to run back to the cabin.

>>22455288
It was because her mother drowned.

>>22455271
There must be some way to use gunpowder in this situation, i know it.

>>22455288
We know that already, don't ask again.

>>22455290
Let's not leave already, if we want to stop swimming we can just hang out on the shore with everyone else.

>>22455301
we blow up the finish line rock, so no winner can be declared.

>>22455301
Fishing with dynamite!

>>22455220

eh... casually swim after them and finish last, unless we have some ancient water traversing ability, the chances of us beating them are pretty damn low.

>if one of them gets us in to her bed we will not survive the night.
>to be honest, i'm ok with that.

>gotta sleep.
>goodnight and good luck gentlemen.
>don't forget to archive!

You swim to the shore, and climb out of the water, sitting down next to the fire again. "Looks like they're having fun, and if they're competing over swimming they aren't fighting over me, which is good since them playing tug of war with me would not be good for me."
"It would be funny, though." Ariana said, and went back to humming. You meet Tannis's eyes, and her cheeks were bright red, and she was staring at you strangely, repeatedly knotting and unknotting her fingers together.
You hear a yelp, and look back to see Astora tugging on Cass's tail, pulling herself ahead, the two splashing quite a bit.
"You won't win this one, witch!"
"That's what *you* say, mutant!"

>>22455396
"I am not sure how I should feel about this."

>>22455396
Give Tannis a head pat/hair ruffling. "Penny for your thoughts?"

>>22455424
This without the pats, just to be safe. The sun's pretty much gone down now.

>>22455447
She's currently in human form, the most we'll get is some minor scratches, not evisceration.

>>22455396
>witch
>mutant
smells like heresy, anyone else smell heresy?

>Exa, I wanted to ask what the limits on our tenacity points are. Can we bend steel bars with our bare hands?

>>22455424
Let's not touch her. That's been shown to be a bad thing at night.

>>22455424
Duh, i bet you 10 pennies that she is so close to pouncing us, and you want to pet her?

Guys, i think the decision time may draw near. This is getting increasingly unbearable.

>>22455524
>Let's just say that you can hit hard enough to shatter your *own* bones. You can do anything within reason, but the more impossible something is, the more physical damage it'll do to your body.

"I'm not sure how I should feel about this." You say, as the race suddenly turned into some sort of wrestling match, as neither party even tried to reach the rock anymore.
You turn back to Tannis. "Penny for your thoughts?"
She shook her head, and continued fussing with her fingers.
"Tonight is really bad." She said, quietly. "Really really really bad. And that song is making it worse."
She glanced at Ariana, who was humming to herself again, her eyes softly glowing.

>>22455543
It might be coming to that point. We may all have different opinions on who we want to win, but we have to agree that no matter who wins there's no hard feelings either way.

Meliora capito ad noctem, Populus alba. Ab antiquitus aes machina surgere.

>>22455575
"There anything I can do to help Tannis? I could ask Ari to stop humming for a bit if it's bad."

>>22455601
>Meliora capito ad noctem, Populus alba. Ab antiquitus aes machina surgere
Better head to the night, The white. From ancient times, brass machine rise

>>22455575
A gift to celebrate life... And the making of, I guess.

We can interrupt her if you think we should, but I want to see what else this gift can do.

>>22455575
"Hmm, I might head to bed now actually."

>>22455633
Don't head to bed yet, we're in the middle of a conversation and there's a lot more we can do tonight.

>>22455633
No.

Ariana has the Gift of Sex.

>>22455588
It might? Well, the way i see it we have at most a month. The next new moon Tannis will almost certainly make a move, if she doesn't in the next days already. And Astora and Cass... Lets say that the amount of competition they are getting into is unhealthy for continued party harmony. If we want to keep adventuring in the same party we may need to choos fast, for some of those we let down might be too hurt to continue travelling with us. The more attached they get to us the worse it will be.

Better a end with terror than a terror without end. Or something.

>>22455575
We should probably go break up the fight.

>>22455694
I'm voting Cass, simply because we've already gotten pretty involved with her.
Also because scaley tale and she's the best fighter in the group bar us.

>>22455709
Nah, they're having fun. We might actually be able to solve our relationship problems. We hook Cass up with Astora and go out with Tannis.

"Is there anything I could do to help, Tannis?" You ask. "I could ask Ari to stop humming for a bit if it's bad."
She started to nod, but then suddenly launched forward, pushing you back, grabbing your wrists and pinning them by your sides, breathing heavily, eyes half-lidded, and snapped at your shoulder, biting you badly. She froze, before getting up and clenching her jaw.
"... Sorry." She said, her tone and expression angry, and got away from the fire, curling up some distance up the beach.

>>22455720
Tori best
>>22455746
"Don't worry about it"

>>22455746
Check if it drew blood. Either way. "It's okay Tannis, I'm going to be fine after all."

>>22455746
What did i tell you? IT BEGINS, THE GREAT SHITSTORM OF OUR TIME!

>>22455746
If we're not bleeding everywhere, let's get back into the water, we're slightly safer there.

>>22455720
Tannis is best kitty.

>>22455789
She's angry at her loss of control, saying we're going to be fine won't help.

>>22455746
I like Tannis, I personally think we should go for her.

"It's okay Tannis, it's just a little bite. I'm going to hug you if that's alright with you. If I'm that close and I'm hugging you from behind you won't be able to bite me."

A lot of Abel's actions so far have been laid back and more go with the flow. The only times it hasn't is when things are serious. For now, I say we continue that trend and let things run their course
Mainly cause choosing now would cause a lot of problems. And I hate waifuing.

>>22455694
I'm voting Astora because she becomes the most alive around us, she opens up to us and seems to pair with us the best, I can't see any way that this choice won't drive away at the very least Cass, and I really wish there was some way to fit Tannis into the vote, but I think Abel will be happiest with Astora

Maybe we should get Tannins a dildo.

You check your shoulder- her bite had been done with human teeth, and it wasn't even bleeding. Nobody else seemed to have noticed what was going on- Ariana's eyes were half-lidded, her lips moving wordlessly, while Cass and Astora were laughing, splashing at one naother.
"It's okay, Tannis, I'm going to be fine after all." You say.
"It's not the biting. It's me." She *snarled*, almost hissed. Even through the silver bands on her arms and legs, you could see her face slowly changing more feline, as the structure of her skull changed, her teeth going pointed, small patterns of stripes darkening on her arms. "I can't stop myself. If you get closer... I won't have any choice."

>>22455894
Time to dive in the water.

>>22455824
DON'T TOUCH HER! SHE'S IN HEAT YOU IDIOTS! DO YOU KNOW WHAT A CAT IN HEAT IS LIKE?!

>>22455894
"I don't know what to do, Tannis."

go and bump Ariana out of it.

>>22455894
"I want to help Tannis, but I don't know how, and I would prefer to avoid getting seriously hurt while doing so.

What do you want me to do Tannis?"

Nihil sine numine, Poplus alba. Ne noli oblivisceris id.

>>22455915
THIS. Cat's in heat are bad business.

>>22455834
How about we set ourselves a time limit? Say: When we meet Lyra we should say, "Hey sis, meet my girl(boy)friend X"

>>22455915
seconded.

>>22455955
Nothing without the divine will, the people show white. Do not forget that.
Yeah! White power!

"I ... don't know what to do, Tannis."
"Leave me alone." She said, quietly. "... That's how I belong."

You turn, and dive into the water, and swimming around Astora and Cass, you carefully touch one rock, then the other.
Cass notices your glance, and frowned.
"Hey!"
"... I won." You say, and she laughed.

Water. Dive in it. Now. She clearly wants us to stay away.

>>22455894
Interrupt ariana, if she's making tannis worse than maybe she can turn it around and make it have the opposite effect.

>>22456000
"Please, ladies, you're going to have to try harder. First the arena and now this?"

File: 1357598390019.jpg-(23 KB, 170x236, heroesnegative.jpg)

>>22456000
>"Leave me alone." She said, quietly. "... That's how I belong."
>You turn, and dive into the water...
>mfw

>>22456000
noooooooooooooooo, no one in the pack is alone thats not hat the pack is about damn it

Rolled 8

Rolling to convince Astora and Cass polygamy is A-Okay.

>>22456000
"Tannis is miserable and there's nothing I can do."

>>22456051
Ohshitniggerwhatareyoudoing?
Seriously, fuck no. Harem ending is overrated.

>>22456055
That's bullshit.
Go to her.

>>22456000
Poor Tannis, we should tell her that she doesn't have to be alone, at least when she's a bit calmer.

"Did you two have fun?

I need help from both of you, Tannis is sad and is blaming herself for it and I don't know how to help her."

>>22456076
This.

>>22456070
I really rather would not. She'll pounce us. On a beach. In front of everyone.

Maybe we can get her into a bear hug and hold her still for a while.

Or maybe we should just dump her into the water?

>>22456089
And?
She's sad and thinks she's supposed to be alone in the world.
Who the fuck gives seven hells if she pounces.
She's not alone.

>>22456109
>Or maybe we should just dump her into the water?
Bam, all traumas from when her mother drowned come and smack you into face and you go into triple negatives.
That's so many negatives you go back to positives and then back to negatives again.

>>22456109
Bear hug yes, water no.

>>22456076
I vote this

>>22456139
>>22456109
If we hug her, lets have Cass and Astora as back up.

[Bear] Hug of the North Star

>>22456114
Did you miss the bit where the silver-bands were failing to suppress her cat-side? I am quite certain we wouldn't be in a healthy state afterwards.

After a moment, you go silent... and then Cass suddenly gets pulled underwater, and the two of them start wrestling again... and you think.

>[] Leave Tannis
>[] Water Tannis (I'll require a roll)
>[] Bearhug Tannis (Another roll)

>>22456114
This hits me hard, anon. If we do this we should say to Cass/Tori: "Forgive me, but I can't let her be alone like this, dispite what might happen."

Rolled 78

>>22456166
[X] Bearhug Tannis (Another roll)

She's going to get a hug whether she likes it or not.

Rolled 44

>>22456166
Bearhug Tannis.
Also, pull those two up by the scruff of their necks and tell them to cut it the fuck out, serious time.

Rolled 75

>>22456166
>>[] Bearhug Tannis (Another roll)

>>22456166
[x] Leave

>>22456171
I'll second this, make sure that at least one of them hears it though, no sense in not letting them have warning

Rolled 63

>>22456166
Can we bearhug Tannis with assistance from Tori/Cass? because I'd vote for that.

Watering Tannis has the least personal risk, but the highest chance of damage to Tannis's psychie.

I can't do nothing.

So I vote bearhug.

>>22456188
They're not fighting, I think they might be flirting. I'm cool with Cass and Astora hooking up and us having the best kitty.

Choosing Tannis is just going to be sad end, since her natural lifespan is less than half of Abel's

File: 1357598976403.png-(17 KB, 108x101, Jokester.png)

>>22456220

>>22456252
Doesn't matter, she wont be alone for her lifetime

>>22456252
or the good end, because we can have kale after.

If we are concerned about keeping the party together Cass is best and only choice. Her only tie to the group is Abel while Astora has her sister. Tannis seems better suited as a friend, her attraction seems to be mostly due to pure instinct which she seems to not be thrilled about, the instincts that is. Plus, she has a good chance of killing us in the process.

Cass seems like the closest to Abel in personality and just seems more in his "category" i guess.

Also, scaly tail and fit girls are hot

>>22456293
Finally someone else gets it! Cass is best for party stability.

>>22456166
The smart thing would be to ask Cass and Tori to help Tannis out and keep her company. They are not in risk of getting pounced.

>>22456293
I disagree, Tori can only remain around because of us, she is too closed to Ariana. Cas could leave and the party dynamic would be mostly unchanged. Tannis is an issue once a month no matter what we do.

>>22456293
Tannis is also fit as all hell, and fluffy tail and ears is great.

Cass also seems pretty close to Astora and the rest of the party by this point and Tannis is the one with less of a connection to the rest of the group.

Also it's easier to FemBro it up with Astora and Cass.

>>22456359
To add to that: We don't have to do everything ourselves.

"Forgive me, but I can't let her be alone like this." You say. "Despite what might happen."
"Hm?" Astora said.
You look over to Tannis, curled up on the beach.
"... Oh." She said.

You make your way to the beach again, and then approach Tannis.
"Abel!" She said, getting up. "What if I-"
You pull her close, tightly, pinning her own arms to her sides. For a few moments, she struggles, her eyes turning into slits.
"Who in all thirteen hells give a fuck if you pounce?" You ask, as she struggles. "You're not alone. You shouldn't be."
She digs her fingernails into her own legs, and you feel her entire body tense up... but eventually she closed them, and went limp. She sniffled, and simply sat there, crying in your arms.

>>22456166
>[] leave her

Its tough but we can talk to her as soon as her episode ends. We could sit on the beach, but at a distance until she feels better.

>>22456386
"It's okay, Tannis. We're going to help you get through this."

>>22456386
It's ok, Tannis. It'll all be ok.

>>22456386
"You're never going to be alone Tannis, you have me and you have the rest of the party. It'll all be okay. You're the best Maenad in the world."

Keep on hugging her, since she's gone limp we can give her scritches with one hand.

>>22456473
as much as i want to, don't even risk it.

"It's okay, Tannis. We're going to help you get through this."
"But-" She sniffled. "Next month will be the same. And the month after that. And the month after that. I can't be human, no matter how I try."
"You're never going to be alone." You say, hugging her tightly. "You have me, and you have the rest of the party. It'll all be okay."
For a moment, she struggled, and gave up again, trying to relax.
"... I don't want to feel like this anymore." She said. "Like I don't belong anywhere. Do I... do I belong here? With you, and the sisters, and Kale and Cassandra?"

>>22456380
I guess my issue with Tannis is that she seems pretty thin as a character. it seems like more of the time she is "fish good!, sleep all the time!, give me attention all the time Abel!, oh im so conflicted!"

Cass is much more able to stand on her own as a person and is a better choice because of it. she has her own issues but she doesnt make it solely Abel's job to deal with them.

Exabyte, please castrate Abel if the waifufags get any worse.

THEN WE CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY YOU ASSFAGS!

>>22456562
Please, this.

>>22456557
"Of course you do. None of us are fully human anyway, you know."

>>22456557
"Of course you do, you shouldn't even have to ask that.

We're all strange, weird, and wonderful people and it wouldn't be the same without you."

what makes you think an angel is fertile

>>22456562
this is also perfectly acceptable.

Im just saying if we HAVE to choose, pick one who isnt in need of constant emotional validation. Read as "not catgirl"

Ironically, a good way of calming animals in heat is to give them lots of attention. Unfortunately, Tannis can mate with us so that screws that plan. My proposal is to have the other three women and Kale occupy her with games and mock hunts. Also, buy catnip and put it inside a toy fish.

Abel has never popped a boner despite the situations he's been in.

>>22456562
>Castrate Abel
We can go full monk, and strive to achieve nirvana without the burden of our sexual appetites.

>>22456558
If that's your argument then Tori is better then cass in every way. Cass has the same issues of self that Tannis has.

>>22456562
We can just spend tenacity points to get around that.

>>22456557
Yes. We're your pride and you're our kitty.

>>22456557
"Tannis, none of us are completely human. None of us feel like we quite belong with the wider world. That's what brings us together, and makes all of us belong with one another."

>>22456634
Hah! Tenacity points, FIND A WAY!

>>22456562
I too, support this course of action.

>>22456562
Please do this. The past two threads have been filled with people arguing over who we pick.

>>22456645
This, definitely this and I don't know why people want to castrate Abel, figuring out how to navigate relationships is another part of growing as a person it is something Abel would have to figure out eventually and even castration wouldn't solve that, in fact it would just be a barrier to overcome, besides That would only solve this if all of their feelings were just lust which is definitely not the angle they have

This isn't even that bad of a waifu war thing. Other quest have had it waaaay worse.

Gentlmen, I've been giving this a great deal of thought over the past few threads. This is the conclusion that I've come to.

I agree with Ariana that Abel should be choosing whoever will make him the most happy. But to properly do that, we need to decide what Abel's ultimate goal in this life is.

If it's simply to 'be happy', then the choice doesn't matter. He'll be happy regardless of what we choose, and it simply becomes a matter of individual opinion, preference, and bias between us fa/tg/uys.

Does Abel want a family? Does he want to save the world? Overthrow the Order? Found a nation? See the world? Bring peace and stability to all people? Does he want to simply find himself and who he is?

What does Abel want out of this life?

Because until we can answer that question, we will never be able to answer which girl he should be with satisfactorily.

I've noticed that it's always the people who are trying to end the waifuing who cause the biggest shitstorms.

"Tannis, none of us are completely human. None of us feel like we quite belong with the wider world. That's what brings us together, and makes us all belong with one another. Of course you do, Tannis. You shouldn't even have to ask that." She sniffled again, and then curled up, as you held her tightly. As time went on, she ended up leaning on you, before falling to sleep.

"Is she okay?" Astora asked, drying her hair with her claw, combing it through with her fingers. Ari stood next to her, and Cass climbed out of the water, her tail finned instead of spiked.

>>22456790
"She's having a hard time, but she's better, for now.

Did you two have fun swimming?"

>>22456790
"I hope so. The moon is playing up tonight."

>>22456790
"I'm not sure. She's okay for now, however."

>>22456734
In character maybe, but ooc it's a bunch of neckbeards arguing about which imaginary girl to bone. It's annoying.

And parse your posts. I'm sending from a phone And I'm better edited than you.

>>22456782
Well that goes for any minority attempting to end any status quo. They think that one big attention grabbing thing will end it.

If I just tell everyone to stop once and for all, surely it will never be brought up again.
Surely if we just make a big enough protest, all war will stop forever.
Of course if we can just manage to bring down the government, then everything will be better for everyone.

Spoilers: It never works. It just makes everyone else yell even louder to be heard over you.

>>22456790
"For tonight, she'll be fine. I can't solve the problem though, I can only make her feel like she belongs."

Oogle tail.

Nunc abs horae exierit tempo, Poplus alba.

>>22456858
>Nunc abs horae exierit tempo, Poplus alba.
Stos, that's enough. We get it, you like white people.

Once again, propose we simply hold off on the decision and the matter resolve itself. We're so laid back we're fucking existential.

>>22456858
look, unless you have any cryptic latin about waifuing, I don't really think it's relevent.

>>22456834
>>22456822
>>22456766
>>22456763
>>22456727

so assuming Exabyte isnt going change the situation with these three in any significant way in the near future, we could just settle it right now with a vote, or roll or something.

Have Exabyte roll d3 and we just go with it as our intention from now on.

"For tonight, she'll be fine." You say. "I can't solve the problem, though. I can only make her feel like she belongs."
"You mean 'we'." Ariana chimed in.
"What she said." Tori added.
"Let's get her to her bed." Cass said.

Some time later, the four of you were in the sitting room, and you were sitting right above the chest that you and Tannis had opened some time before, with Astora, Cass, and Ariana sitting there in silence, too.
"... I have a feeling something should be happening right now." Ariana said, looking around.
"I'm just halfway to Angvard. Nothing here." Astora said.
".. Maybe we should just get to bed." Cass said.

>>22456822
That's all anything we do ever is! A bunch of neckbeards arguing about which imaginary thing to do next. I don't see why it suddenly has to be a federal fucking issue just because now the decision involves a potential romantic relationship.
News flash, sex is part of a life experience, it's going to come up. Your parents had sex, and their parents had sex, and everyone ever has had sex and probably will again. Grow up and get over it.

>>22456915
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired."

"We should probably leave a window open like Leez wanted."

>>22456912
I don't care for this idea.

>>22456915
That was quite a song, Ariana. Could you sing us a lulaby?

I'll keep first watch.

>>22456912
Is this a real post.

NOX

>>22456915
"What's the sleeping situation like?"

"Am I going to have to...share beds?"

Gentlemen, I believe we have bigger things to worry about than waifus.

Abel as a person has been shown to be honest, well-meaning, genre-savvy, and very calm and collected. When the chips are down, he is ruthless and won't stand for anybody hurting his friends.

These traits do in fact reflect a wolf, not a lone wolf, but a pack member. Now that his personality has been structured we must decide on his goals. No character is complete without his goals. First, is his desire to find his real identity. Second, is his desire to travel and see the world. Is there anything else we can add to this?

>>22456858
This hasn't happened before. Anyone thinking its Exabyte trying out another narative technique?

>>22457019
Have a family.
Make a name for himself.
Get recorded in a history book somewhere.

>>22457019
Start a family. Not any time soon maybe, but one day.

>>22457019
Remove the malevolence sphere.

>>22457019
Ensure that supernatural folk can travel openly without fear of persecution.

"Yeah, I'm pretty tired." You say. "We should probably leave a window open like Leez wanted."
"Hell no." Astora said. "Kale already left to go meet her."
"So what's the sleeping situation like?" You ask. "Am I going to have to... share beds?"
"We have three beds." Astora said. "And five people. But we should leave Tannis in her own bed, just in case."
"Actually, I could probably use Tannis's bed." Ariana said. "She won't hurt me."
"... Okay, that will work." Astora said. "I'm going to head to bed too. Abel, you're probably going to get to sleep on the floor again."

>>22457060
"Fine by me. Goodnight!"

>>22457060
"To be perfectly honest, I'm really getting tired of my own indecisiveness on the relationship front. Sometime in the near future we need to have a sit down and get this all sorted out." Then go off to bed.

>>22457060
"I, and my back, object to that. You can share a bed with me or Cass, up to you."