>>27519292
<It's smaller than I expected.>

>>27519292
<Dare I ask, how does it work?>

<It's smaller than I expected.>
<That's what I said too, when I saw what raw materials I had.> She says.
<Dare I ask... how does it work?>
<This crystal is an anomaly. One of them.> She says. <All of the projects are based off of their own anomalies. I've enchanted it- and it carries plenty of power within it. When you use a rune, you call this spell for its power. You... make a request, so to speak.>
Then she shrugs. <It'd probably be smarter to disallow access to it, now that the wall is gone, but I may as well leave it running.>

>>27519292

<Did you create this? if so, how?>

I think we should warn her about Marcus, if he finds this thing no doubt he'll think the same thing we just did but will likely be a little more violent in getting it.

>>27519459
<I see.... If I might ask, what do you plan to do now?

<Also, what side effects will this new heart have on me?>

>>27519459

<There is a man running around, his name is Marcus and his mission is to retrieve information about Runes and take it back to his homeland, he can kill a Jackalope without breaking a sweat, if he finds you here he'll definitely want to take this.>

<I see... If I might ask, what do you plan to do now?>
<Continue my research. Meet that Cromwell fellow you mentioned. Go swimming in the ocean.> She says. <Find and torture the wizard who sent that minion who harmed you... And watch the sunrise. That's all I have planned.>
<Also, what side effects will this new heart have on me?>
<It'll probably give you a few remnant tendencies. You'll catch fire more easily, and you'll be more... 'one' with the darkness.> She says. Then shrugs. <I've never done something like this before, so it all depends on your lifeblood and what it does to your new heart.>

<... There's a man running around.> You say. <His name is Marcus, and his mission is to retrieve information about Runes and take it back to his homeland. He can kill a Jackolope without breaking a sweat; if he finds you here, he'll definitely want to take this.>
<He won't find it here.> She says. <Not unless you or someone else tells him. So, please don't. I wouldn't want to kill him.>

>>27519564
<Don't worry about it in that case.>

>>27519564
"Technically I'm supposed to want it too. My employer sent me here to figure out how to make artifacts and send them back - but I'm starting to think this sort of thing is too dangerous for any one person to properly hold. Especially one like him."

>>27519564
<Can I touch it? Will it shout at me like that dragon in the dome?>

>>27519564

<fun fact, technically he and I are on the same mission. but I'm pretty sure I don't want to take it anymore.>

>>27519564
<What research are you doing now, then? Anything I can help with?>

>>27519564
<Is it possible to learn True Magic?>

<Don't worry about it, in that case, though... technically I'm supposed to want it too.> You say. <My employer sent me here to figure out how to make artifacts and send them back- but I'm starting to think this sort of thing is too dangerous for any one person to properly hold. Especially someone like him.>
<It is, at that.> She says. <I'm honestly surprised it's gone on this long without getting corrupted. Especially when I wasn't maintaining it.>
You take a step forward.
<Can I touch it? Or will it shout at me like that dragon in the dome?>
<Dragon?> She asks. Then she starts giggling, no doubt imagining a tiny, useless one like Bruno. <No, you can't touch it. It's warded to kill anyone but me if they touch it.>

Your spine tingles as she steps forward and touches it with her palm. The runes glimmer, and you feel the runes in your own bag start to grow cold.
No doubt every other rune in the world is doing the same thing.

<What research are you doing now, then? Anything I can help with?>
<Right now I'm just maintaining this.> She says. Her voice has taken on a particular tone; one much less playful. <Cleaning up the dead pointers.>
Your eyebrows meet. You don't know that word. <Pointers?>
<Think of them as... directions. Toward runes, and their holders. Dead pointers are ones that are directing me to a place where the rune is destroyed, or the holder dead. Once I'm done with this, though, I'm going on vacation!>

<Is it possible to learn, well, true magic?>
She meets your eyes.
<For you, no.> She says, finally. <One needs a particular talent to become a wizard. A talent which you lack. But that talent isn't entirely rare- you can always find a few dozen with the ability in any given city. They just need to train up a bit before they can cast spells. But I have no interest in training anyone in the first place.>

>>27519691
Aww, damn.

>>27519691
<Do you mind if I ask how the runes are made? What links them to this core?>

>>27519691

we better tell Mal not to show Marcus the hidden passage in the temple.

<If you are planning to go out and meet Cromwell, I'd be more than happy to show you, but you'll probably need a bit more than just that bit of fabric you're wearing right now.>

>>27519691
Who's the golem fellow by the way. He looked friendly.

<Do you mind if I ask how the runes are made? What links them to this core?>
<That's precisely how they're made. You need to forge a connection to the core through the appropriate channels. Then carve the requisite symbol. The project is primarily a great thinking machine, similar to a golem core, and I've taught it language! Theoretically you could completely ignore the rune, and simply forge a connection to the artifact yourself... But only wizards have succeeded at that.>

<If you're planning to go out and meet Cromwell, I'd be more than happy to show you, but you'll probably need a bit more than just that bit of fabric you're wearing right now.>
She twitches, and looks down. Red blossoms on her cheeks.
<Y-yeah, probably.> She says. <It's not my fault I spent sixteen years in another dimension. My other clothes didn't make the transfer.>
<Who's this golem fellow, by the way?> You ask, patting the golem's head. <He looks friendly.>
"He is friendly!" She says, in heavily accented lelan. <He was my journeyman project. Finally got out of apprenticeship when I made him. I still keep him around, because he's useful.>

>>27519910
>Theoretically you could completely ignore the rune, and simply forge a connection to the artifact yourself
<I was actually able to do that to create a pillar of earth and lift a gate. I also know a little girl in town who can do it.>

>>27519910

<Runes that do not run out a probably impossible, right?>

>>27519910
<Hey, you don't suppose we could make new kinds of runes, do you?>

>>27519910
"Oh, you mean cast a rune without actually having the rune? There's a little girl in town who taught me how to do that. Heck of a lot harder and more tiring, but I've done it before."

>>27519910
<I think I understand the theory now. I used a time rune, which would connect to the core, then used a shaping rune which I didn't have, it'd draw the energy from my body, right?>

<Runes that don't run out are probably impossible, right?>
<Not really.> She says. <They're pretty easy to make, but I have the project slowly decay runes every time they're used. It doesn't have infinite power, after all. That's why I made the ritual to create new runes require a sacrifice of a lot of power. That way, they keep it fueled. I could make undecaying runes rather easily, but it isn't good for the system's integrity.>
<You don't suppose we could make new kinds of runes, do you?>
<That should be pretty easy.> She says. <If it's a collection of words the system already knows, you won't have to do anything but carve the rune. If it doesn't, then I just need to teach it those new words.>

<Oh, you mean cast a rune without actually having the rune?> You ask. <There's a little girl in town who taught me how to do that. Heck of a lot harder and more tiring, but I've done it before.>
Her eyes widen. <Really? What did you do?>
<I used a time rune, which would connect to the core, then used a shaping rune that I didn't have.>
<That's pretty impressive.> She says. <But you're essentially piggybacking off of the Time rune's connection, not forging your own. For someone as talentless as you, it's promising, but not groundbreaking.>

>>27520036
Yeah it was pretty tiring though.

Do you, uh, have anything stored here to get dressed into?

>>27520036
Hey, OP, remind me, what kinds of runes are there?

>>27520036
<So, how exactly do we go about making new runes?>

>>27520036

>how tall is Tarda?

<I think it'll be a little suspicious if I just turn up with a young woman out of the blue, then again they've seen your Remnant carry me but I'm not sure how much you're willing to reveal.>

>>27520036
<Is it possible to make a rune that makes runes?>

>>27520144
Or what about a rune that makes rune runes?

>>27520036
<So what exactly is this anomaly/core and where did it come from?>

>>27520144
>>27520150

that is just silly.

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15 KB JPG

>>27520150
A rune that would make multiple runes including rune rune.

>>27520075
>There are essentially three kinds of runes, as you understand it; Shaping runes, which choose the shape of the effect- Lance, Blast, Surround, Self, etc. And then Element runes, which choose the element of the effect- Fire, Time, Light, Earth, etc. And finally, unique runes, which have their own effects. The only one of these you've seen is the Remnant Rune.

>>27520111
>Tarda is teensy. Around five foot nothing at the very tallest. Four and a half feet at the shortest.

<It was pretty tiring, though.> You say. <Do you, uh, have anything stored here to get dressed into?>
<Uh...> She says, looking around. <Not ... really...>
She suddenly gets on her hands and knees and crawls under one of the tables. A moment later, she stands up with a moth-eaten red tabard. She doesn't even use a rune- she barks out a few words, and the tabard twists- and it's suddenly a hooded cloak, new as day. <There! This works> She says, holding it around herself with her hands. She fiddles with some things on her table until she comes up with an ad-hoc clasp.

<So, how exactly do we go about making new runes?>
<Well, you need part of an old rune, even a chip or a destroyed one. Then cast the rutial. You end up with a rune. A blank one. You carve it later with whatever word or words you want.>
She gives you a grin. <Simple as that.>
<Unless you don't know the ritual.> You say.
<Or that.> She says. <Must suck, huh? I'll make you a blank, but only the one, alright?>

She opens a jar of ink, and grabs a brush, drawing a circle on the surface of her table. <So what exactly is this anomaly, and where did it come from?>
<We call it the Mind of Titan.> She says. <That isn't really what it is. It's just a naturally occurring crystal. It was huge, though, and when we pulled it out of the stone, it broke. A lot of it broke. This part of the anomaly is the very biggest part. The smaller shards were all made into golem cores.>

>>27520229
<Titan.>

<I am concerned.>

>>27520229
>Blank rune
<what do we carve for "teleportation"?>

>>27520271
The best rune is the "make me a wizard so I don't need runes any more" rune.

>>27520229

<Titan?>

<There is a religious cult who worships a being called Titan, I get the feeling this and that are related somehow.>

>>27520229
<What would I carve for Healing?>

>>27520229
<So you are technically saying that we could bind some runes to the golem cores?>

>>27520229
<Would it be possible to reprogram a golem core to cast spells like that then?>

>>27520229
<That's a rather specific name, you know. Where did it originate?>

<Titan.> You say. <I am concerned.>
<What, do you not like pagans?> She asks. <I know worshipping anyone but the Divine is illegal in the Republic, but it's a perfectly reasonable god here. We're in a temple to Kraken right now, you know. But I'm an atheist. I've seen no evidence of any gods.>
<There was a cult back in Lelan who worshipped titan.> You say. <I get the feeling this and that are related somehow.>
<That's just paranoid.> She says.
<It is a rather specific name, you know. Where did it originate?>
<The anomaly was found before I was born.> She says. <I assume someone made a comment like 'this stores information, and we found it underground, maybe it was once the mind of titan' and the name stuck.>

You sigh, and just watch as she takes a stone. She places it into the center of the circle, holds her hands over it, and your spine tingles. A moment later, she pulls her hands off of it, and picks up the blank rune. Then she tosses it to you.
<Here you go.> She says.
<What would I carve for healing?> You ask.
<Uhm... Something like... 'Restore order of target and create lifeforce'.> She says. <Or something like that.>
<Or teleportation?>
<'Sudden Movement'?> She asks. <That one would be nasty if you mixed it with any other runes, though.>

You look down at the blank rune.
<Would it be possible to reprogram a golem core to cast spells?> You ask. <Or bind some runes to golem cores?>
<No way.> She says. <That spell is inaccessable because the continent shifted since I last cast it. The thing was super precise, and it'd be a waste to use it on anything except the larger crystals. The golem cores are just too stupid to do anything handy.>

>>27520389

let's carve healing in to it, maybe we'll get an extra charge on it because it helps people!

this would help Miriam quite a lot in dealing with us.

>>27520389
<Whenever you cast a spell, or when something magic is near-by, my spine tingles. Is that normal?>

>>27520389
<By the way, do you know of any other kystarans?>

The runes just give us a connection to the crystal, and we can sort of control what effect they give by communicating with it. Maybe we can carve the blank rune with something super-generic like 'change' and use it as a last resort that can do almost any simple effect we can think of.

>>27520389
<Is it possible to recharge runes?>

>>27520389
You know what would be cool? A multifunctional rune. Have a series of discs that rotate around the center, and on each rotating ring, different Kystaran symbols that can be aligned to produce different effects.

>>27520389
><That one would be nasty if you mixed it with any other runes, though.>
Bad for us or for our foes?

<Whenever you cast a spell, or when something magic is nearby, my spine tingles. Is that normal?>
<For really strong magics, yes.> She says. <The people who can sense weaker magics than that are rather rare.>
<And is it possible to recharge runes?> You ask. She pauses... And thinks.
<No, it isn't... But it *should* be!> She says. <That's a wonderful idea. I can work on that next. If you put energy into a rune, it'll reverse the decay...> She says.

<Would it be possible to make a multifunctional rune? Have a series of disks that rotate around the center, and on each rotating ring, different kystaran symbols that can be aligned...>
<Impossible.> She says, after puzzling out what you meant. <Or at least, I'm too lazy to make something like that work. I'd have to redo a lot of what I have.>

<And do you know of any other kystarans?>
She gives you a Look.
<I don't even know why everyone vanished.> She says. <You probably know more than I do about that.>

>>27520550
<Hooray! I helped with the runes!>

Let's walk and talk, see who's up and about at this time of night.

>>27520550

<fair enough.> we should probably sit down a bit, we're pretty low on blood after all.

maybe the next caravan will have some clothes we can get for Tarda.

>>27520550
<is it possible to make runes that combine Shape and Element?>

>>27520550
<Kaederi said it was your fault, so it was probably his fault.>

>>27520550
<What's the weird feeling you get when you combine two element runes by the way? Doesn't feel like normal magic.>

>>27520602
Saying this seems like a really bad idea.

olde aenglifh if ae bitch to reade.

>>27520550
<Do you know where I could get myself a shard big enough to bind a rune to but not big enough to actually make a lot of them?>

>>27520621
very good, but is this the thread you meant to post in?

>>27520619
Why? We decided to trust her and release her. Kaederi's not going to like that and will probably try and kill her. She should at least have some warning.

>>27520641
Nope.

<Fair enough.> You say, and take a seat. You relax, doing your best to rest. <Is it possible to make runes that combine shape and element?>
<You should be able to create any kind of rune with any arrangement of simple words.> She says. <The project is smart enough to learn new words through context.>

<What's the weird feeling you get when you combine two element runes, by the way? Doesn't feel like normal magic.>
<If you use two of the same, I suppose the project thinks of it as emphasis, and puts more power behind it.> She says, and shrugs.

<Do you know where I could get myself a shard big enough to bind a rune, but not big enough to actually make a lot of them?> You ask.
She blinks.
<Sorry, they don't work like that.> She sighs. <Without the project here, and the very specific spells I put into it, and the long weeks spent teaching it language, a rune is just a stone. If you bind it to another shard somewhere, it will do absolutely nothing.>

You sit down and rest... And close your eyes. A moment later, Tarda shakes you. And she's holding some food- some kind of bread, with meat sandwiched between.
<It's reheated, but it's still good. I only intended to stasis it for a few days, but then the whole domain thing happened. I'm surprised the stasis lasted this long.>

Then she shoots you a smile and tears it in half, taking a seat and giving you one of the halves. <It's been so long since I've last had some real, actual food.>

>>27520739
<Well if you want to I can order you some real clothes.>

>>27520739
Take a bite.
<Heh, maybe you should come by my place. I know someone who cooks actual food. Plus, we can get you something more comfortable to wear.>

>>27520739
<What sort of meat is this?>
Do not think about how the sandwich is probably older than us.

>>27520739
<Thank you, you're too kind.>

>>27520739

<You'll like Miriam and her cooking, we might be able to get you some comfortable clothes soon as the caravan arrives as well.>

test the food.

It's spicy, very much so. <Thank you.> You say.
<Not a problem.>
<Maybe you should come to my place.> You say. <I know someone who cooks actual food. Plus, we can get you something more comfortable to wear.>
<This is comfortable enough.> She responds, pulling her cloak tighter around her. <And it's warm. I've never been one for dressing up.>
<What sort of meat is this?> You ask, and take another bite.
<... This and that?> Tarda says. Then she shrugs. <My assistant got it for me, I think.>
It sounds like she doesn't even know. But she wolfs it down regardless, so you continue to eat.

>>27520739
<Got any other cool experiments?>

>>27520908
<Wanna come adventuring with me and Mal one day?>

>>27520908

<How would you like me to introduce you to my friends in the village? I'm pretty sure they'll know that Remnant who carried me back was yours.>

>>27520908
<If you'd like to come with me to the village there would be a problem that is the guy I was telling you about - Marcus doesn't really like witches.>

>>27520908
<Do you have any old notes that aren't important? My employers get troublesome if I don't send things every week, so a few old notes on the project should tide them over.>

<Got any other cool experiments?>
<The Runic Project is my big one.> She says. <The rest are pretty boring.>
<Do you have any notes that aren't important?> You ask. <My employers get troublesome if I don't send them things every week, so a few old notes on the project should tide them over.>
<I'll find something.> She says, and then yawns.
<How would you like me to introduce you to my friends in the village? I'm pretty sure they'll know that Remnant who carried me back was yours.>
<If I'm going to go on vacation, I may as well get to know them.> She says, and gets to her feet. <Let's go.>

The two of you start to walk, and you leave the grand double doors. They swing closed, lock themselves, and then the remnants stand in front of them. The two of you walk through the catacombs. Tarda shivers.
<The one problem might be that guy I was telling you about - Marcus doesn't really like witches.>
<I'm not a witch. Wizards are different than witches.> She says, huddled in her tabard-turned-cloak. <Witches do it all for self profit, and don't ever advance in their magic. Wizards have an entirely different philosophy.>

The two of you make your way to the temple proper, and Tarda looks up at the ceiling.
<This place is so old.> She says, finally. <But at least I'm not melting like my doppelganger did the other day.>

>>27521063
<Yeah. That was pretty creepy.>

>>27521063
damn, we should have asked if we could make magical bolts for our steamsling. blast rune on target hit would be damn cool.

>>27521063
It's kind of odd too, because didn't the wall only fall like 20 years ago?

>>27521063

<I kinda freaked Ann out a little with that, she's the Blacksmith, Dalton's, daughter. Are you sure you don't need something more substantial that that cloak?>

>>27521063
<How old is this place anyway?>

<Who do you want to go meet first? Cromwell? Miriam? The little girl?>

>>27521156
I vish to be ze leetle girl.

<Yeah, that was pretty creepy.> You say. <I kinda freaked Ann out a little with that. She's the blacksmith's- Dalton's- daughter.>
<It was pretty painful, too.> She says.
<How old is this place, anyway?>
<Older than me.> She says. <In fact, older than most of the city. It's a temple to Kraken. It used to be next to the sea a few hundred years ago. Anyway, come on.>

<Are you sure you don't need something more substantial than that cloak?>
<I've been living for sixteen years without much clothes.> She says, her cheeks pink. <I have to get used to wearing things again.>

She leads you outside. It's still rather late at night, and it should be dawn in a little while. Even the lights in Cromwell's tower is off, and Mal snores fitfully on the wagon with all of the treasure he and you had collected.
<What!?> She asks. <It's nighttime? They're all asleep. I can't meet anyone like this. Damnit.>

You spare a look at Tarda- and she's actually *pouting*.

"Must've nodded off a bit longer than I thought. Well Miriam will no doubt still be awake, and the Nightstalker should just be waking up."

>>27521258
<Oh, yeah. Having your heart torn out and living in another universe kind of messes up sleep schedules doesn't it.>

<Cromwell will be awake though.>

>>27521258

<Miriam was asleep when I left so she might be up now, she has a real bed to get accustomed to, I'll even pay for your stay.>

>>27521282

his lights are off, I doubt he's awake or at least if he's home.

>>27521258
<Back to the lab? Or to the sea? You said you wanted to swim, right?>

>>27521258
<Maybe Miriam will be up. She has a bar to keep after all.>

>>27521411
Yes.
I want to get the wizard drunk.

<Oh yeah.> You say. <Having your heart torn out and living in another universe kind of messes up sleep schedules, doesn't it?>
<It does.> She says, and giggles. <Wow, this place wasn't here before. Last time, it was just the temple.
<Miriam was asleep when I left, so she might be up now.> You say. <She has a real bed to get accustomed to, and I'll even pay for your stay. She fell asleep when I left, though.>
<Will you?> She asks. <Awesome. I'm not sure if anyone would accepty my money anyway.>
<Do you want to go back to the lab? Or to the sea? You said you wanted to swim, right?>
<Not in the middle of the night.> She says. <It'll be *freezing*.>

You look around.. And see a figure walking down the road.
<Hey, there is someone you can meet.> You say.
<Who's up this late?> She asks, peering over your shoulder at them.

Leroy came walking up the road, and gave you a wave.
"Hello." He says. It seems he's blindfolded right now. "Who's this?"

>>27521431
"Hey! Leroy. This is a friend of mine."

>>27521431

"Leroy meet Tarda, I helped her a while ago, she isn't very fluent in Lelan."
<Tarda this is Leroy, he's a mushroom farmer.>

>>27521431
"This is Tarda. Tarda, this is Leroy. He has a mushroom farm."

>>27521431
Hello. How's the eyes? This is Tarda.

"Leroy, meet Tarda. I helped her a while ago. She isn't very fluent in lelan. Tarda, this is Leroy. He owns a mushroom farm."
"He also helped me a while ago too." Leroy says.
She leans toward you. <He isn't human.> She says, worried. <Don't things like him go feral eventually?>
<Only if the mutation takes their brain, or if they're raised by ferals.> You respond. You can't help but disapprove of Tarda's first reaction to him. <Leroy is good people.>
She nods, and gives him a smile. "Pleased to meet you." Tarda says, in just as thick an accent as always.
"How's the eyes?" You ask him.
"They're still covered. Miriam said to wait a week." He says. "What are the two of you up so late for? Or too early, I suppose I should ask.

>>27521564
"Ah, you know, late night strolls are when the most interesting things happen."

>>27521564
"My circadian rhythm is in the crapper."

>>27521564
"I, uh, slept in this morning."

>>27521564
"I almost died. Again. Miriam told me to rest so naturally I went out."

>>27521564
"Can't a young couple go for a moonlit stroll?"

>>27521564
Blush
"Eh you know we were talking...and stuff"

"Ah, you know, late night strolls are when the most interesting things happen." You say. "Also, I, uh, almost died again. Miriam told me to rest, so naturally I went out."
"She told you to rest?" Tarda asks. You nod. "... That might be a good idea, then. You should listen to her."
Then she lapses into Kystaran again. <You didn't *need* to come down and respond to my call, you know.>
She yawns again.
Leroy studies the both of you. And then, finally, he gives the two of you a grin. His lower teeth are all pointed savagely, giving him the largest underbite you've ever seen, but you get a strange sense of cheerfulness from it.
"You two kids have fun, then." He says, finally.
"Hey!" Tarda says. "I'm older than both of you combined, I'll have you know. I'm not a kid."

>>27521671
"Haha, kids these days."

<Yeah, but it would have been boring just waiting in bed.>

>>27521671
<Do you really want him to ask questions?>

>>27521671
<Living in a timeless fantasy doesn't count.>

>>27521842
Just saw this in another thread.
Urge to try it growing.

"Haha, kids these days." You say.
You get an elbow in your gut, and try not to wheeze. Tarda is much stronger than she looks.
<Living in a timeless fantasy doesn't count.> You say, when your breath returns.
<I'm talking about before the whole Domain thing.> She says. <Practicing magic tends to mean you learn to age slower.>
<Do you really want him to ask questions?>
<I don't mind, really.> She says. <I'm good with questions.>
<Anyway, it would have been boring just waiting in bed.> You say.
<Good point.> She says, now that she's thinking about it.

Leroy pulls up his blindfold, and looks at each of you in turn for a moment. Then he grins again and lowers the blindfold.
"Well, I'll let you two continue your stroll." He says, and waves. He limps forward, and turns back at you. "Don't wake anyone up on accident, now."
Just as soon as he'd arrived, Leroy was gone again.
"He was nice." Tarda says, in lelan.
You look at the horizon. The sun hasn't even started to rise yet.

>>27521950
"Yeah, I helped save his shrooms from a flock of Wyverns. Got a cool lantern as a reward!"

"So, what do Wizards do for fun?"

>>27521950
<So, how old are you then?>

>>27521984
That's rude!

>>27521984
Preface with <I know you're not supposed to ask a woman this but indulge me, would you?>

"Yeah, I helped save his shrooms from a flock of wyverns." You say. "Got a cool lantern as a reward!"
You pull out the small black wand, and flick it on and off a few times. Tarda starts looking it over.
"So, what to wizards to for fun?"
"Wreck the fabric of reality." She says. "For fun and profit. Usually the former."
<I know you're not supposed to ask a woman this, but indulge me, would you?> You ask, sliding into Kystaran. <How old are you?>
<Half a hundred years or so.> She says. <Before I fell into the domain. Now that I'm out, I suppose I'm around... seventy years old? Or somewhere around there.>
She shrugs. <I don't put much thought into my age.>

>>27522103
<Did you, by any chance, know a woman named [our mother's name] before the whole Domain thing?>

>>27522103
<Huh. Well. That's slightly awkward.>

>>27522103
<The ripe old age of seventy. Amazing.>

>>27522174
I think we asked that already.

>>27522103

<Huh. That's slightly unexpected. You're awfully pretty for a woman old enough to be my grandmother.>

"Would you like to go inside?"

>>27522174
I think we already asked her that.

>>27522103
<Well you look pretty damn good. Every woman your age would envy you.>

>>27522103
<Hah, maybe you're my grandma or something.>

<Huh.> You say. <The ripe old age of seventy. Amazing.>
<I've aged well, haven't I?> She asks, putting a hand on her cheek. You'd assumed she was around twenty years old or so. <Then again, my body did spend sixteen years out of time.>
<You're awfully pretty for a woman old enough to be my grandmother.> You say.
<I'd better be.> She says. <I spent five years and tens of thousands of coin on the spell to make me live longer.>
<Hah, maybe you're->
<No. I'm not.> She says. <I don't have any children.>
The two of you walk through the village, and eventually, you reach the tavern. You're getting dizzy again, so you rest on the porch's bannister.
"Would you like to go inside?" You ask.
"This is an inn, isn't it?" She asks. "Certainly. It's freezing out here, anyway."

Soon enough, the fire is hot and the two of you are sitting at one of the tables, drinking some spare ale that you hope Miriam won't mind parting with.
<-and that's when I finally got out of the thousand towers.> You say, retelling one of your stories. <None of the flying hunters have attacked me since.>
<Good thing, too, since they sound dangerous.> Tarda responds, giggling. Her cheeks are brilliantly red by this point, and her robe's clasp has come undone.
The stairs creak, and a tired Miriam comes downstairs.
"Good morning, you two." She says. "Who's this?"
"My name is Tarda." Tarda says. "I'm the Third Wizard, and head of the Runic Project. Pleased to meet you!"
"Runic project?" Miriam asks... And then looks to you. "Ah. pleased to meet you. My name is Miriam. I own this building."

>>27522228
>>27522237
Did we? I forgot.

>>27522382
"Miriam! This is the one who saved me. Could I rent her a room?"

>>27522382
"I'm sorry, doc, I couldn't sleep."

"Miriam!" You say. "I'm sorry, doc, I couldn't sleep."
"You should be at least laying down if not sleeping." She says, and sighs.
"This is the one that saved me." You say. "Could I rent her a room?"
"I don't see why not." She says.
"Splendid." Tarda responds. <Finally, somewhere to sleep that isn't an illusion.>
"You'll get food as well." Miriam says. She nods to the mug in your hands. "Grab some for me, as well."
You slide her a mug, and Miriam takes a seat at the table with the other two of you.

"So, he should be fine?" Miriam asks, warily. Tarda explained that she'd healed you with magic and the heart of one of her minions, and... Miriam's expression has been rather strange since.
Dimly you recall that healing someone with magic is precisely why she's here- because she'd lost her title as a doctor because she had done the same thing.
"He should be." Tarda says, nodding. "I guess. He has hardly any blood, so he should eat and drink a lot. There might be some side effects too."
"What kind of side effects?"
Tarda just shrugs. "We'll get to find out."

>>27522608
"Should I be worried?"

>>27522608
"Well, if I start growing wings or tentacles, I'll be sure to let you know."

"Should I be worried?" You ask.
"Nope." Tarda says, her cheeks still red. She's rather inebrated, which doesn't quite surprise you; she is rather slim and short, after all. "Lifeblood's powerful shit. You'll be fine. Well, you'll live, at least. No promise you won't suddenly start growing things, though."
"Well, if I start growing wings or tentacles, I'll be sure to let you know." You say.
"Oooh, that should be interesting." Tarda says. "It might be possible to force those kinds of side-effects deliberately."
"Wait, that's not a good idea." Miriam says. "I think. I'll go get you some water."
Tarda just pouts.

As time passes, eventually Miriam gets up to start cooking, and dawn slowly starts to peek over the horizon. Marcus comes down the stairs, and bows to Tarda.
"Hello." He says, politely. "I'm Marcus, of the Third Hand Talon."
Tarda meets his eyes, and then turns to you. <He the one you told me about?>

>>27522840
<Yeah, this is him. Just act normal.>

>>27522840
Just nod.

>>27522840
<Yep.>

"Hey Marcus, this is Tarda. She's a friend."

>>27522840
<Yeah that's the one. Pretend that you don't know how to use magic and you will be fine.>
"Hi Marcus! This is Tarda. Tarda, Marcus"

>>27522840
<That'd be the one. Try not to seem suspicious.>

>>27522840
Doesn't he know Kystaran as well?

<Yeah, this is him.> You say. <Try not to seem suspicious.>
"Hey Marcus, this is Tarda." You say. "She's a friend. Tarda, Marcus."
"Pleased to meet you." Tarda says.
"Y-you as well." He stutters. You notice that he isn't meeting her eyes- but that's normal, as far as you can tell. He hasn't met Miriam's eyes either.
"Here you go." Miriam says, sliding some food to the three of you.

The door to the tavern opens, and Mal steps through. He looks... well, miserable, to say the least. Large bags lie under his eyes, like he'd slept restlessly.
<Bro!> He calls, eyes wide. <You're alive!>
Next thing you know, the assassin has you in a hug, hands clapped on your shoulders. He gives you a grin. <When you came in, you were bleeding seriously badly, and the redhead couldn't say anything in Galdian.>

He doesn't even notice Tarda, too focused on you to do so.
Meanwhile, the wizard looks between you and him... and gears start turning in her head.

Then, finally, Mal notices her and his eyes widen.
<Hey, comrade, why is a possibly evil wizard sitting in front of us? Or is this another doppelganger?> He asks. A moment later, he shrugs. <Then again, she's wearing nothing but a cloak and underclothes, so this can't be entirely bad.>

>>27523040
<Yeah, bro, she's alright. She replaced my heart and everything, so I'm still alive.>

>>27523040
<She's the real one, no magical tricks this time. I opened her portal thing last night.>

>>27523040
<I decided someone who literally replaced my missing heart couldn't be all that evil.>

>>27523040
<She's not evil. And please don't shout at the whole pub about 'witches' okay? I'll explain later.>

>>27523040
<Bro she's controlling me, go, run, save yourself.>

<Yeah, bro, she's alright.> You say. <I decided that someone who literally replaced my missing heart couldn't be all that evil.>
<Wait, she replaced your heart? Is that possible?>
<Apparently.> You say.
"Ah!" Tarda says. "It's you! Nice to see you again."
Mal frowns. <Now, if only I could speak lelan.> He says. <I'll need to talk Ann into teaching me more. But that can wait. Tell her I said hello.>
"He says hello." You say.
Tarda gives him another smile.
<Anyway, I opened her portal thing last night.>
<Did you, now? So you pretty much bounced directly from 'dying' to 'walking around'? No wonder Miriam nags you all the time. You seem like you deserve it.>

You look away from him, and continue to eat.
<You're good with languages.> Tarda says in kystaran. <When I first got out of the portal, you were talking like a child. Or like a wyvern. But now you're a lot more respectable.>
<I learn by doing.> You respond.

<Anyway, I'm assuming we're not going anywhere today, right?> Mal asks. <Or did magic heal you all the way?>
Surprisingly, you feel rather fine- resting and drinking all morning has, surprisingly, done wonders. You don't feel so dizzy, and for some reason, you're feeling rather comfortable here. Then again, the idea of going out into the sun, where it's bright, is almost uncomfortable.

>>27523229
<I dunno. I feel... Kinda weird. Tarda said that the heart would have side effects. I don't really feel like going outside. It's like it's too bright.>

>>27523229
<Still feel a little low, but I'm well enough that we can go scout some ruins, if you want. Just, no fights, or anything like that.>

>>27523229
To Tarla: <"Give me a week or two of practice and I'll be speaking as well as you. I've got a talent for languages.">
To Mal: <"Well apparently I lost nearly all of my blood, so I'm still pretty anemic. I feel okay, but I'm betting I'd probably pass out if I exerted myself too hard right now.">

>>27523040
>Then again, she's wearing nothing but a cloak and underclothes
I don't think she's wearing underclothes.

You turn to Tarda. "Give me a week or two of practice, and I'll be speaking as well as you. I've got a talent for languages."
<Do you?> She asks. <Lucky you, then. I almost broke my brain learning Lelan.>

You turn to Mal, next. <I dunno, I feel... kind of weird. I lost nearly all my blood, so I'm still pretty anemic, and... well, Tarda said that my heart would have side effects. I don't feel like going outside. Like it's too bright.>
<Then it's probably not a good idea to go out today... Why don't you try using that remnant gauntlet on yourself?> Mal asks, suddenly. <To see what it says.>

>>27523357
Why did we not think of this before?

>>27523357
<But I'm scared.>

>>27523357
<"Huh. That's an idea.">

Do it.

<"Also I'm fairly certain she's just wearing the cloak right now. She's kinda cute when she blushes.">

>>27523357
Now there's a grand idea.

I was just going to kick back today, follow this one around and see what trouble she causes, haha.

Watching her and Cromwell will be quite a show, I think.

>>27523343
>Actually, she is. At least, she's wearing the cloak over what she was wearing before, which is mostly rotted, motheaten rags.

<... Huh. That's an idea.> You say. <Why didn't I think of this before?>
You take a deep breath.
<Though I'm a bit scared.>
<It'll be fine.> Mal says. <There's a wizard right here. She'll be able to help if something goes wrong.>
You consider things, and then bring up your gauntlet to your chest. The moment you do, it starts to hum.
>Human being
The voice says... And says no more. You take your hand off of your chest.
At the same time, someone opens the door- And Ann walks in, Bruno snuggled in her arms.
Tarda raises her eyebrows.
<No wonder you said a little girl taught you.> Tarda says. <She's the first non-kystaran I've seen who has the talent. Is that her?>
Ann looks back at her.
<What do you mean, Talent?> Ann asks.
<Wait, you know this language?> Tarda asks.
The two meet eyes.

That's when Bruno roars, very uncharacteristically... and a very similar rune gleams on his forehead.

Identical to the one you'd seen on the remnant, when Kaederi told you of Tarda's evil.
Next thing you know, a plume of flame bursts out at you. Your response is quick- and you push the table over, pulling Mal and Tarda behind it as a shield.

>End of session!
>My twitter is at @futureexabyte
>The IRC is #Exabyte on Rizon.
>Also, I'll answer questions you guys have. Except for spoilery answers, of course.

>>27523627
Steamsling magic bolts.

Is this a thing we can do with Tarda's help.

>>27523627
Are there any other people with Kystaran blood out there?

>>27523627
Bruno no! How could you betray us!

>>27523657
Not really. Tarda would need to enchant each bolt individually, and her magic isn't as simple as incanting a chant or slinging around some magic energy. She'd need to figure out leylines, make sure to find a Place of Power, wait for just the right season, date, and constellation, and possibly spend some of her own lifeforce to cross all the miniscule imperfections she'll inevitably have in the spell.

>>27523669
Very few that still have potent blood. Most with kystaran blood have only a kystaran grandparent or distant ancestor or something.

>>27523675
By roaring and then bellowing fire, which is *not* a thing a normal dragon does.

>>27523753
What can you tell us about the heart transplant?

>>27523627
Hmm. Can't imagine Bruno as much of a threat. And Tarda should be able to just counter the control rune thing.

Although if he manages to hurt Ann then her dad will kill us, so maybe that's the plan.

>>27523627
We should really have seen this coming after witnessing the dragon in the helldome of that guy's lab.

>>27523753
So she wouldn't even be able to just adapt the runes into a form we can shoot?

>>27523753
Do dragons grow as they age? Or do they remain small their entire lives?

>>27523794
The heart transplant will have side-effects, both negative, positive, or irrelevant. I'll tell you one of each right now,
>You recover from wounds more quickly.
>Your Affinity skill is no longer 'Skilled'. I will no longer take the highest roll when using Affinity. Instead, it will be considered 'mediocre', and I'll take the average of two highest rolls.
The rest may never become relevant, or may not develop until later.

>>27523869
Now that I think about it, it might be possible to carve something like 'Fire Target' into a bolt and connect it to the Project as a pseudo-rune.

>>27523907
They remain tiny, useless, and adorably stunted their entire lives.

>>27523976
>Your Affinity skill is no longer 'Skilled'. Instead, it will be considered 'mediocre'.
Well fuck. Is there any way to train it up again?

>>27523976
Will we eventually be able to manipulate our body parts like a tentacle remnant?

>>27524019
There's no way available to you... Yet.

>>27524053
Teeechnically they're not actually tentacle remnants. Tentacles imply that they don't have joints or specific points of articulation, which they do. Ball-of-arms is much more accurate.

>>27523976
>'Fire Target' into a bolt and connect it to the Project as a pseudo-rune.
That's originally what I meant. Have the bolts 'act' as rune, and the conditions on each rune is that activate X on contact. They wouldn't even have to be reusable like normal runes, which makes them a lot more energy efficient.

>>27524074
Will we eventually be able to grow wings and claws and stuff?

>>27523976
>Your Affinity skill is no longer 'Skilled'.
what was the point even picking Wanderer if we're going to lose it that easy lmao.

>>27524116
We're pretty good everywhere else, and have no real flaws.

Think of it as a change of specialization, from Affinity to Regeneration.
Which really fits us better, given how we've been playing/how much we've been getting cut up.

>>27524104
It's possible. But then again, it's also possible that you'll grow useless, mutated limbs that can do nothing but twitch. Or it's possible that your living, human body will eventually replace all the remnant tissue.

>>27524084
That sounds reasonable, but you'd have to talk Tarda into it.

>>27524116
The other characters don't have access to the Affinity ability at *all*. They literally would have been entirely unable to try sensing their way through magical traps, or modify a golem rune, or even have a golem or remnant see them as 'friendly'.

Then again, the character choices would have changed things a lot. If you'd have chosen anyone else, you'd never have met Tarda or Kaedri in the first place.

>>27524156
Can we waifu Kaedri

>>27524168
>not waifuing Tarda
Pleb tastes

>>27524156
How attracted is Tarda to us?

>>27524168
Kaedri is a dude. You have to husbando him instead.

>>27524168
Seeing that he's male, not into men, and is currently trying to kill you, you'll have your work cut out for you.

>>27524156
>golem rune
Whoops, I meant golem core, obviously.

>>27524179
That would be spoilers.

>>27524206
The Wanderer is good with a push-blade, right?

How much would it take to import one of those?

>>27524173
>waifuing grandma

disgusting

>>27524206
In what way would it be spoilers?

Weren't we pretty emotionally damaged over having to kill our old lover? I feel like we shouldn't really be too interested in relationships.

>>27524270
Think of the cookies. delicious cookies.

>>27524335
This is actually a valid point.

Can Tarda bake a mean plate of cookies, Exabyte?

>>27524345
Tarda has literally no cooking skill at all.

>>27524316
That's true, you were. But it *was* ten years ago that it happened.
Then again, something like that is entirely your guys' perogative. All I'll inform you of is what happened in the past, and you guys can decide how you feel about it. You're all the character, and your decisions are his.

>>27524424
Hey! Hey! Push-blade!

>>27524250

>>27524424
Loves are best forgotten through the power of new love!

But for serious, I'm going to keep romance to a minimum and waifuing to nil
Sexing to relieve stress is alright though.

>>27524461
I can back that.

>>27524451
Oh, right, pushblade.
They're pretty much a katar fused with an entire arm of gothic armor. The Wanderer knows how to use it, as he does all weapons except that exotic deluran knife-cable-weight thing Marcus uses But his spear is technically better for fighting one-on-one.

Pushblades are pretty common, though, and they're standard lelan guardsman equipment Alongside gunpowder pistols. They're not hard to come by.

>>27524491
And now I wonder why we aren't a walking arsenal.

>>27524424
Can Tarda magic a mean plate of cookies, Exabyte?

>>27524513
Because then we can't carry all the loot.
Spears are awesome because you can leave them behind and get a new one.

>>27524513
Because your employers normally supply you. E.E's not the smartest guy, though, so he's just 'oh you can use your personal weapons'. All the Wanderer had was the spear and the steamsling, though. He's picked up quite a bit since, like kystaran swords in the guardhouse.

Then again, weapons are primarily a fluff thing, apart from the ranged/melee difference. They don't do much with rolls, but the different weapons you choose does change how I write.

>>27524526
She does know a spell for them, but it needs thirteen evil souls, the alignment of the moons, and it needs to be on winter equinox. Such an arrangement only happens every three thousand years.
The spell also summons a single cup of cocoa.

>>27524576
When is the next lunar arrangement then? 2999 years away? Next month? Now?

>>27524650
Sadly, that would be spoilers as it's not something the Wanderer knows. Since he doesn't know the spell. Or astronomy all that well.