>>28857017
[x]find out where tabni-ninsun went. A lot of shit has been happening around her lately, and she's been acting different.

[x]demand the priests teach you magic, or give you a magic harpoon that can pierce through a magic shield, or give you a flying machine, or SOMEthing. We got humiliated out there!

Also, huzzah, I'm up early enough to be here from the start for once! also oh god my organs are on fire

>>28857017
>Demand some magic to improve your combat capabilities.
>Claim the recent fight proves it necessary to deal with the variety of monstergurls you'll be facing.

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>>28857049
>[x]demand the priests teach you magic, or give you a magic harpoon that can pierce through a magic shield, or give you a flying machine, or SOMEthing. We got humiliated out there!

Ask the armour guy to add pulleys to the shoulders, so we can hold a modified bow in one claw and draw it using the other claw. Our claws are much stronger than our arms so we should be able to use a much more powerful bow.

Crappy diagram, I know, but it was hard to find a top-down drawing.

>>28857134
This is a stupid idea. Why do something so complicated and failure prone, when we can just learn magic?

>>28857134
eh, I'd settle for an oversized harpoon.

It's hard to tie a rope to an arrow.

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>>28857017
you look around for the Great Priests first. They're in the workshop, arguing with each other. That blue crystal you found in the dig site sits on a table between them. They sound like they're arguing over whom they should transform next, and where the necessary blood is to come from, including whether they should bleed Iltani for it.

You approach the Blood Priest. "I think it's time for me to lea-"

He seems not to hear you. You try tugging on the Bronze Priest's robe. "You know magic that's useful in fights, right? I was totally powerless out th-"

He shoos you away. You haven't felt so invisible since before your transformation.

> Choose one priest in particular to continue pestering
> Tip over the table and deliver an impassioned speech
> These guys are useless. See if that armorer knows how to engineer a giant monster-powered ranged weapon.

>>28857164
alternatively, a flying ally would be useful.
Though it'd also make us grumpy because damnit blood priests who did you kill for this one

>>28857203
pester the bronze priests for some way to pierce the magic shield and catch the flyer.

>>28857203
>Pester blood priest in particular
>resort to table flipping if he continues to ignore

>>28857203
>These guys are useless. See if that armorer knows how to engineer a giant monster-powered ranged weapon.
I've yet to be convinced that magic isn't complicated or failure-prone in this setting, and I'm not too keen on carrying around a cart full of slaves to supply all the blood.

>>28857134
you're overthinking this. an atlatl attached underneath the tail stinger would allow for natural motion of the tail to achieve ranged attcks.

>>28857236
we need exactly enough magic to pierce the flying bull manface thing's shields. Or a priest informing us we can overpower it with a simply shootything.

aaaand we're split three ways.

>>28857233
support
blood priest is most powerful, and we're closest to him

>>28857318
eh, blood magic aint the best for combat, but a tiebreaker is a tiebreaker.

>>28857370
Nonsense, trace amounts of our own blood can be used to craft powerful spells.

Or so I hope.

>>28857398
it seems more for doing things like making creatures, creating life, and etcetera. Our mage friend, for instance, created and threw beetles.

Neat trick, but our problem is with a magical shield that deflects projectiles, and it doesn't really do anything to interact with that.

but, again, a tiebreaker is a tiebreaker and I'm cool with it.

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>>28857203
You keep pestering the Blood Priest, taking any chance you can to get a word in edgewise. "Hey! I couldn't win that fight! Teach me magic."

When the Bronze Priest Priest and the Rain Priest start arguing with each other about which girl to use, a subject that doesn't interest the Blood Priest Priest much, he finally acknowledges you. "We've been over this, Hunzuu dear. You're only 12, and the art..."
"But I'm almost 13! If I'm old enough to spill blood for you, I'm old enough to use it."
He shakes his head. "I'll be so busy with all the new relics coming in..."
"Pleeeeease?" You try being the sweet scorpion. Maybe he's just tired of listening to you, or maybe he sees in you something like the family he chose not to have, but he seems to acquiesce. "Find the other acolytes. They will teach you the mundane knowledge first. And if any refuse, tell me. Insubordination is the perfect excuse to bleed one of them."

Hooray for making progress!

> Stick around to see what the priests decide to do. Are you going to have a new little monster brother or sister?
> Go find the blood acolytes and convey the orders. Find yourself a pretty red dress. Black was never really your color anyway.

>>28857456
eh, fuck the red dress, I like our black one.

I say we hedge our bets and check in with the armorer now.
And I still want to visit Tabni-ninsun.

>>28857456
>RED DRESS AND ACOLYTE

>>28857456
Go find another acolyte
As we scuttle (?) away, remember to tell the priest "Remember, no more creating scorpions lest they too may be tempted to open the gates of hell and doom us all~"

do we have to get the red dress if we go do the acolyte thing?
I still dislike the idea of wearing the colors of any of the specific priests.

>>28857456
>Go find the blood acolytes and convey the orders.
"Careful about creating any more scorpions, by the way. I've been hearing voices ever since the ritual and they keep telling me to open the gates of hell and kill you all. Anyway I'll talk to you later"

>>28857673
>>28857557
this is hilarious to me.

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>>28857456
You nod and skitter away. "Remember, no more creating scorpions lest they too may be tempted to open the gates of hell and doom us all~"

It takes the Blood Priest a second to react. "Hey! What do you mean 'they, too?' Do not free the hungry dead, and that's a direct order!"

You forgo changing clothes. Your black dress first helped you feel pretty again after you changed, so you have a slight sentimental attachment to it. You look around for where the red acolytes usually stay. They share one bunk room, and when they're not in the workshop they're often to be found in a small library full of scrolls, clay tablets, and bronze plaques. That's where you find one, sitting on the floor, facing the wall, nose buried in a scroll. "Hey. Your master wants you to start teaching me. Just the basics."

The acolyte lets out a startled shriek and backs away from you. It turns out that it's a young woman. You didn't know he had any of those. "Eek I... I'd really prefer not to. With all due respect, miss Hunzuu, I just really don't feel safe around you. Two of my friends have already died because of you. One of them was... very important to me. Master Ubar-Sin may be powerful, but I have to respectfully disagree with all the risks he's taking with you."

> That sounds like insubordination! Put her on the list of people to bleed.
> Neither of those deaths were your fault! Defend yourself and put this girl in her place.
> Be the penitent scorpion. You wish you hadn't let those people die, too.

>>28857739
>penitent scorpion
I mean fuck, that first one was an accident sure, but we did it. And that second one we couldn't stop the mole lady.

We've a decent amount of guilt here.

>>28857739
>Be the penitent scorpion. You wish you hadn't let those people die, too. You couldn't save him at the ruins...and the other one you just walked into when you were reborn. *crying time*

>I want to be the strongest I can be to stop people from dying...I need to be because I don't want anyone else to die because of me.

>They made me to protect this city...and I can't. I'm either too clumsy or not strong enough...and I've hurt people who didn't deserve it.

Full adorable time.

You know, on the magic front, I'd be content to simply have a dude WITH us who knew magic.

As long as we can keep them from -dying- this time.

>>28857739
>penitent scorpigirl

>>28857782
We're 50/50 the way I see it. The first guy was all us but the second guy would have only died faster if we hadn't been there.

>>28857739
>Be the penitent scorpion. You wish you hadn't let those people die, too.

>>28857820
I still feel guilty about the second guy. It makes me think we should give the order to retreat more readily when monsters appear.

>>28857739
Be sad.
We do feel sad at the deaths we've caused. Which is why we want to learn. It's the only way to prevent more deaths.

Does it have to be blood or with other bodily fluids work? We should see what happens if we substitute venom in some of these spells.

>>28857895
Heck, i'd like to see what happens if we substitute scorpion blood even.

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>>28857739
You liked Pazur-Ea a lot. He died on your watch. And you never knew the acolyte you crushed in your throes of rebirth, but his death still haunts you. Of all the things you've done, that one makes you feel most like a monster.
You let the tears come. It's been a very emotional day. "I want to be the strongest I can be to stop people from dying...I need to be because I don't want anyone else to die because of me. They made me to protect this city...and I can't. I'm either too clumsy or not strong enough...and I've hurt people who didn't deserve it. I'm so sorry."

The acolyte stands up and clutches her scroll to her chest. "I... I suppose it's not all your fault. You're just another victim,in a way." She squints at you. "Great Enlil, are you even younger than me?"

"I'm 12." You sniffle. "Almost 13."

"You're just a girl! Forgive me, I never really got a close look at you until now. My eyes aren't the best. At first I hoped that they'd fix them for me. Now I'm trying to learn to do it myself."

"Well, anyway, I've had to grow up pretty fast. And I'll have to keep growing, if we're going to war soon. Can we just talk?"

She hesitates. "Just don't get too close."

> She still thinks you're a monster! Pull her in close to show you're in control of yourself now.
> Stay with her and just try to learn some of the basic theory of blood magic, then go see other people in the pyramid
> Stay with her for as much time as she has to spare. It took a lot of time to get to this point, so you want to focus on learning magic now that you're finally allowed.

>>28857970
>stay as long as you/she can

>>28857970

Stay as long as we can, try to be adorable. Work that pity, slowly claw our way into her heart.

>>28857970
>Stay with her and just try to learn some of the basic theory of blood magic, then go see other people in the pyramid

No need to learn magic to the detriment of everything else. We'll learn eventually as the war goes on.

>>28857970
>Stay with her for as much time as she has to spare.

>>28858026
with our claws
and maybe our teeth

Damn, I really want to check in on tabni-ninsun.
She's had it rough.

>>28858041

with being an adorable monster...and metaphorically.

>>28858065
A wise man once said 'the fastest way to a man's heart is through his sternum'.

>>28857739
>Do not free the hungry dead, that's a direct order!

I just want to point out that this is fucking great

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>>28857970
You agree to keep your distance as she explains a little about blood magic, the mechanics of it as well as her own theories on it. You learn that her name is Kullaa, and she's apparently of very high birth. According to her, every kind of magic has some inherent cost or weakness. Though people think blood magic is the safest because they can make others pay the blood price or them, Kullaa believes that the real weakness of blood magic is its moral hazard. Often she'll look for a clay tablet and ask you to read from it. When you admit that you basically can't read at all, she asks you to come over to her and let her guide you through it, but then she changes her mind and asks you to stay away again.

You take dinner with her and the rest of the blood acolytes, who seem less afraid of you and more intrigued by your power and inhuman body. You overhear a rumor that the king is asking for an alliance with the mysterious City of Exiles, deep in the marshes where most civilized men won't go. This means you'll have some time before anyone is expected to march on Turtak.

> You have 10 more points to put into study and training. Because you're recovering from wounds, you have to roll 4d6 versus a number of d6 equal to the points you spend on physical conditioning and weapons training. If you fail the check, you won't recover properly.

> Physical Conditioning
> Weapons Training
> Blood Magic
> Literacy
> Religion
> Strategy & History
> Etiquette and Elocution

>>28858293
> Physical Conditioning 2
> Weapons Training
> Blood Magic 3
> Literacy 2
> Religion
> Strategy & History 3
> Etiquette and Elocution

>>28858293
let's avoid the physical stuff for now, since we JUST had a building fall on us yesterday.

3 blood magic
3 literacy
1 religion
2 strategy&history
1 etiquette and elocution

>>28858293
>Blood Magic - 3
>Literacy - 4
>Strategy & History - 3

>>28858293
Blood Magic-4
Literacy-2
Religion-1
Strategy & History-2
Etiquette and Elocution-1

>>28858341
Seconding.

Rolled 5, 1, 4, 1 = 11

>>28858293
2 blood magic
2 literacy

all yall above me, lets not use all 10 points so we can heal correctly ok?

Rolled 5, 6, 4, 3 = 18

>>28858414
nvm I'm dumb and don't finish sentences.

Revised points:
Physical conditioning:3
Blood magic:3
Literacy:2
Strat and Hist:1
E&E:1

>>28858341
Thirding

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>>28858293
You decide to divide you attention as follows. Your wounds will all heal, since you're taking it easy.
>> Physical Conditioning
>> Weapons Training
>> Blood Magic 3
>> Literacy 3
>> Religion 1
>> Strategy & History 2
>> Etiquette and Elocution 1

You take it easy and avoid exercizing with Nakurtum, but you can still spend dime with her. She uses her time to help train the temple guards instead. She starts adopting your habit of making fun of Dadanum for being too feminine. Once she asks him, "Do you get mistaken for a woman a lot?" He replies, "No, do you?" Then she hits him so hard it bowls him over.

You spend a lot of time with Kullaa and the blood acolytes, and also with Tabni-Ninsun and her eunuchs. Tabni-Ninsun seems pleased that you're finally interested in learning etiquette and proper speech, and she agrees to help you with those subjects. She still seems gloomy, though. Ever since the sharp=dressed boy's mother gave up on wooing the Sand Priest, she's had hardly any friends left in the pyramid. Once she asks you, "Hunzuu? Do you think I'd make a good monster?"

> You make a better human. Seriously, let someone else bear the burden of losing their humanity.
> Yeah, I think you would. You could stop worrying about the war that's coming and start doing something to help.
> Not a scorpion. Maybe something else, though.

>>28858554
> You make a better human. Seriously, let someone else bear the burden of losing their humanity.
>But at least start up a conversation about what kind of monster she'd want to be, plus what we would've preferred.

>>28858554

>Why would you want to become a monster? It's not a happy life.

>>28858554
>No, I don't think you'd be able to deal with the voices very well right now.

>>28858613

This, first. Then ask her what kind of monster she thinks she would become or like to.

>>28858554
Don't presume that being a monster leaves you free of the horrors of mortal life.
It's pretty much the same except with voices in your head and insatiable bloodlust.
You're perfect the way you are. I don't want to see my friend suffer as I do.

>>28858613
seconding, following up with asking what kind of monster she'd like to be.

>>28858554
>The reason they chose me is because no one would miss me.
>Do you really want to be reduced to a weapon?

>>28858554
Give her a hug.
"I think you'd make a better friend."

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>>28858554
"Why would you want to become a monster? It's not a happy life."
Tabni-Ninsun sulks and picks at her food, something she'd just finished teaching you not to do. "Well, this isn't a happy life either! Father has arranged for me to be the next person they change. Ubar-Sin wants to use that ugly mason's daughter, but now the other priests are against him. The Gold Priest says they have a relic that will create something important. Something with authority. That doesn't sound too bad. But maybe that's not what I want. Maybe I should just marry the richest man I can find and just exploit him for all he's worth."

You chuckle at that. "Well, if you had to pick, what kind of monster would you want to be?"

"I don't know. Something that can see through lies. Blight demons can see in the dark, they say. Maybe they can do it. Or something that can control people. They say Humbaba could convince you to kill yourself just by looking at you." She resumes eating. "No offense, though, but I don' wanna be a bug."

> "No more monster talk. I'll tell them not to use you. If they won't listen, I'll hide you!"
> "I'll keep an eye out for more relics. Once I know for sure that I've found one that will turn you into something you'd want to be, I'll give it to you."
> "That mason's daughter was kind of shifty. If they have to use someone, it may as well be you. It's all right; it'll just make us closer friends."
> The Rain Priest says scorpions aren't bugs. Get it straight, girl.

>>28858883
>"Don't worry, I'll tell them not to use you."

>>28858883

"Would you want to become one? I can probably help you to either be chosen or not. If you think you can give yourself up for the good of the city, and truly wants it, I won't stop you or them from doing it. But if not, then I will hide you if needed!"

>>28858883
> "That mason's daughter was kind of shifty. If they have to use someone, it may as well be you. It's all right; it'll just make us closer friends."
>How about us, would we have wanted something different? Like something with wings or whatever?

>>28858883
[x]I feel kind of biased- if you did get changed, we could hang out a lot, so it would be good for me. It would probably be bad for you, though. I can't make up my mind for you.

A-and scorpions aren't bugs, rain priest said so.
(this part is in a mumble)

>>28858883
> "That mason's daughter was kind of shifty. If they have to use someone, it may as well be you. It's all right; it'll just make us closer friends."

This is a chance to acquire another ally; one who will have more power than just invoking her daddy's name or money. It will be incredibly helpful once we turn against the priests (if it is ever necessary)

>>28858883
>"I still think it would be a mistake, but I won't interfere if that's what you really want"

>>28858883
If you don't want to become one, I'll defend you.
But if you do decide you want to give up your humanity... I'll try to help you. Because I won't abandon my friends.

>>28858982
the important part is we're with her regardless of which she choses.

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>>28858883
"I can't make that decision for you, Tabni-Ninsun. Nobody can. But whatever you decide, I'll help you make the most of it. Because we're friends."

She smiles in spite of herself. "Aww... now you've got me feeling all mushy. Don't give me one of those hugs of yours, though. Those look really gross. No offense."

"None taken," you say.

"You know, you're not a very good liar. That's part of why I trust you. But you'll have to learn. First thing, don't just tell the priests what you want directly. Only beggars do that. Pretend to be concerned, instead. Tell them you think I'm unstable. Ooh, tell them I insulted father! Tell them I told you that I'll make father scrub floors and clean privies once I'm a giant monster."

"So you don't want to be changed?"

She smiles up at you. "You know... I have one friend left. And I'm beautiful and smart and stinking rich. I'm thinking maybe I'll be all right the way I am. At least for now."

> Try taking her advice and lying about her to convince the priests not to transform her.
> Does it have to be lies all the time in Backstab City? Just tell them the truth.

>>28858883

> "The question is not what any of them want, but what you want. Tell me what that is and I will help you however I can. Whatever may come to pass, I will still be your friend. However, I don't want you to just rush into being a monster for anyone's sake but your own."

>>28859149
>take her advice
>maybe go for a clawhug anyway before you leave her

>>28859149
I think this city has had enough lies.
I'll just go with straight up threats.
I'll try not to actually hurt anyone though.

>>28859149
>"You seem like you have a lot to think about right now. Why don't you take a few days to decide what you do want?"

>>28859149
> Does it have to be lies all the time in Backstab City? Just tell them the truth.
Shit, we WERE a beggar, weren't we? Or at least a broke orphan. We need to get some honesty into this place if we have to beat it in.

>>28859149
>Does it have to be lies all the time in Backstab City?
"Are you -sure- I can't just, you know, tell them you don't want to do it?"

>>28859186
Yes. Everyone needs a clawhug. We were a bad liar, because of course that comment hurt. She gunna get hugs.

>>28859149

> Tell the priests that she doesn't want to be turned into a monster. Go on to say that she mentioned that if she were turned against her will that she would take full advantage of her new position to make her father's life a living hell, leading us to conclude she is not an optimal choice.

In this way, nothing is a lie.

>>28859210
yeah, we were a beggar. We've got a pesky case of MORALS, a disease common to the lower class.

It may be contageous.

>>28859238
Seconding.

>>28859238
...Would the other priests actually care if she made the Bronze Priest's life hell? Destabilizing a rival and everything. Might actually be a positive thing to some of them.

>>28859238
Sounds good enough.

>>28859331
Well think about it, if she turns on her OWN father, how bad do you think she's going to be to ones that DIDN'T dote on her for her entire life?

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>>28859149

You don't care if she thinks they're gross. Clawhugs help you feel close to people. You grab her and pull her in. She's disgusted, but she also laughs. "Hey, 'Zuu, cut it out! Eww, it's all weird up close! Hey, come on, that tickles!"

You part ways, and she seems to forgive you. "Well, anyway, remember what I told you. Good luck!"

If you're such a bad liar, maybe you're better off not trying to lie at all. During that day's lesson in blood magic, when the Blood Priest finally comes in to teach you and the acolytes in person, you mention to him, "Hey, Tabni-Ninsun really doesn't want to be turned into a monster tomorrow. She made up her mind. And if you force her, she might just make life really bad for all of you. You know how she is."

The Blood Priest rolls his eyes. "And worse, that girl is soft. Even if she's loyal, her wild emotions will betray us anyway. She's a spoiled brat. This is what I've been telling the others. So damn the consequences; I'm using some other girl. It's my ritual. And if they don't like it, all of you and I will do it ourselves! Oh, and speaking of putting the other priests in their places, Hunzuu, you should really be wearing your red robes by now. And I know this is a cramped space, but don't let those boys climb all over you. They're deviants; it will give them ideas."

> Trust the Blood Priest's ability to make sure someone else is transformed. Keep hanging out with the acolytes.
> You were just learning how having more assistants in a big ritual reduces the chance of failure. Talk to the Bronze Priest directly and make sure he will consent to transforming a different girl.
> Change clothes.
> "If I keep wearing black, it'll make it easier to manipulate the other priests. They can think they have the upper hand."

>>28859474
You think they're not shortsighted enough to get past "problems for rival"? They've had a lot of extraordinarily bad ideas in the past.

>>28859526
>"if I keep wearing black, easier to manipulate the other priests"
>be assistant in ritual, talk with bronze directly

>>28859526
> Trust the Blood Priest's ability to make sure someone else is transformed. Keep hanging out with the acolytes.
> You were just learning how having more assistants in a big ritual reduces the chance of failure. Talk to the Bronze Priest directly and make sure he will consent to transforming a different girl.
But check with Bronze Priest first.

>>28859526
Sorry blood priest, I like you, but I have to stay as neutral as I can in these things. The city is already at war and really messed up politically and none of you guys trust each other, and I'm not gonna make that worse.

>>28859526
>> "If I keep wearing black, it'll make it easier to manipulate the other priests. They can think they have the upper hand."

>>28859595
which is to say we're keeping the black dress.
If I wasn't clear.

>>28859526
>Talk to the Bronze Priest about it
No point dicking around. We can threaten to go on a double-monster killing spree if they insist on changing her. We need to lie less and be more forceful for best leadership.

>>28859526
>be assistant in ritual
>corrupt it, make new monster your mind slave

>>28859638
well, good thing that's not in character and also beyond the scope of our abilities, we won't have to deal with it.

>>28859526

> "If I keep wearing black, it'll make it easier to manipulate the other priests. They can think they have the upper hand. Speaking of which, I should go and have a talk with the Bronze Priest. If he backs out of the ritual, their might be problems, and we can't afford anything to go wrong as we prepare for war."

>>28859633
>double-monster killing spree
No.

That's like throwing a temper tantrum.

Instead, note that we could put down our friend, but at the cost of half the city leveled.

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>>28859561
You shake off the two acolytes who were reading while sitting on your back, and you excuse yourself. "Sounds like you and the other priests are already fighting. You don't want them to also fight over how to dress me."

The Blood Priest smirks. "They can keep thinking that you love all five of us the same amount!"

You find the Bronze Priest in the solar, drinking alone and contemplating a black stone arrowhead in his hand. "Oh, hello, Hunzuu. THe first contingent of guards and archers brought this back from the dig site. It was deep inside the dead mole-monster. Fascinating, isn't it? Centuries of warfare, all connected, never ending."

"Sir? I was talking to Tabni-Ninsun. She doesn't want to be transformed tomorrow. She wants you to find someone else to do it."

He sets the arrowhead down. "She's just getting cold feet. Think of all the good you've done for the city. Now she'll be able to do that, too!"

"No, I'm serious!"

"And so am I. You were reluctant at first, as well. But you can't deny the results. She will accept her role, just like you did."

> Threaten that Tabni-Ninsun will torment her father if given the power
> Threaten him directly
> Try some other strategy to make him understand

>>28859657
>2013
>hating jokes

Should I post joke in all caps above these posts?

>>28859697
>having to explain you were joking
Be more humorous.

>>28859695
>Try some other strategy
"Give her a bit more time to come around then."

>>28859526
> You were just learning how having more assistants in a big ritual reduces the chance of failure. Talk to the Bronze Priest directly and make sure he will consent to transforming a different girl.
>Keep wearing black

Should have pushed for making her a monster, allies are always goo.

>>28859706
>not having a sense of humor
>not being able to tell I was joking given the ridiculous suggestions

anon plzzzz

>>28859695
> Threaten that Tabni-Ninsun will torment her father if given the power
And by threaten, repeat that she told us, and we will back her decisions because she's our friend.

>>28859695
"look, I'm some orphan girl who's friends lot in life could be improved significantly by taking this job. She's a wealthy daughter of a priest set to have whatever fancy life she wants.

The situation is different."

>>28859695
>She's going to throw a tantrum and wreck half the city, along with you. I don't want to put her down, and I don't want to be partially responsible for destruction of property.

>>28859710
this, also
"We have several relics now, you can let her prepare herself for the next ritual, and see if she still has 'cold feet' then.
Now isn't a good time to transform her anyway, she's a bit unstable from losing all her friends."

>>28859745

"And, if she become a monster, I imagine she'll be more...ambitious...than I am"

>>28859726
sorry anon, until you make me chuckle I am going to be SRS

>>28859695
>tell him she might not be stable enough for the job
>also, the blood priest will use someone else anyway

>>28859695
She told me that she'd torment her own father if she was forcibly changed.
I shudder to think about what she'd do to those she disliked. And you wouldn't be able to stop her.

>>28859695

> "Thing is Tabni-Ninsun isn't me. For me, your kindness has been enough. You've been really good to me. Compared to living on the streets, the extra bug parts are a small price to pay. However, Tabni-Ninsun has had you all this time. You can't pacify her anywhere near as easily. You have seen her tantrums thus far, what happens when she has an extremely powerful body that I might not even be able to stop and she finds herself unhappy. Your life could very well be in danger, and I don't want that. I love you and all the priests, and I want nothing more than for you and your entire family to be safe and happy."

>>28859805

"So please, don't force her on this. Love her for who she is, rather than what she could be."

>>28859695
>Try some other strategy to make him understand
"Well, if she is having cold feet, it would help not making her go next?"
"After all, there is no rush for HER to go first and the more people experienced the blood priest gets at making monsters, the less chance there is of something going wrong when she'd have to do it."

>>28859695
>"I spoke to her, she's unstable right now. I'm afraid she might do something bad after the ritual, and I'll be the only one who can stop her."
>"I like Tabni-Ninsun. I don't want to kill her."

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>>28859695
"Tabni-Ninsun told me to tell you that she'd get back at you if you forced her to change. She'd make you do humiliating labor in front of everyone. And that's just the beginning, I'm sure."

"Oh, Hunzuu. Dear innocent Hunzuu. Tabni-Ninsun always makes idle threats like that when she gets fussy. She's so much like the goddess Ishtar, always making threats to try to get her way with Anu, father of them all. That's just the way she talks."

"And is that just the way I talk?"

"No, why?" He doesn't catch your meaning.

"Because I will make sure it happens. If you force that girl to go through with this, I will make you pay. Trust me. I'm a bad liar."

He gives you a serious glare and scoots his chair back away from you. "She... she just needs some time to come to her senses. There will be other relics. Better relics, from deeper down! And those crooked archers no doubt hoarded all the best relics for themselves. We'll get those back, too!"

It seems he got the point, reluctantly.

> Personally search for a different girl to use in the ritual planned for tomorrow night
> The Blood Priest already has someone in mind. Spend this time to bond with Nakurtum, Mr. Clicks, the armorer, or the voices in your dreams of the dead scorpion-folk.

>>28859895
I vote for crazy loli to become the new monster.
Just saying.

>>28859895

> Repair the damage we just did to the Bronze Priest. We need his support, not his fear.

>>28859895
>tell him she said she would like something that can see into things or have manipulative powers.
> Personally search for a different girl to use in the ritual planned for tomorrow night

>>28859917
...but then we'll become a footstool for her.

Granted, that sounds hot, until you remember we're both lolis. No thanks.

>>28859895
We should bond with dead scorpion people.
Learn how to acquire new venoms.

>>28859895
>The Blood Priest already has someone in mind
>talk to Narkutum and the armorer
I still think we need a backup ranged weapon in case the blood magic doesn't work as well as we hope.

>>28859922
Good point.

I don't like him, but he's useful.

>>28859895
Smile and laugh with the bronze priest. Yeah, there will be better ones later.

As for a new girl, well, I really don't know. We could ask for volunteers for the monster thing, now that people know about it. Let's just leave it to the blood priest for now and see how he handles it this time around.

Smooth things out with bronze priest, then maybe visit that chef. Or show nakurtum how Mr. Clicks doesn't run off to hide any more when we take him out to hold.

>>28859922
Seconding.

>>28859943
But then we have to pinky-swear to open the gates of hell.

>>28859940
Naw man, she wants the stinger.
She'd be our footstool.

>>28859922
yeah, include this somewhere in it.

>>28859895
Point out that she's not ready for it /now/, but the more familiar she gets with you, the better the odds are she'll accept it...

>>28859978
Cowgirl position has her on top.

>Learn Bloodmagic
>Stage coup with disgruntled monster friends
>Turn other friends into monsters
>Rule city with benevolence.
Perfect plan.

>>28859895

> "Please don't be mad at me, I just don't want you to do something that you would regret. Tabni-Ninsun loves you and so do I. If you force her into this, she won't love you anymore. Her heart would hurt and she could become dangerous, really dangerous. You don't know how hard it can be after the change, how easily you can lose yourself. Be patient for now. There will be other artifacts, other chances, and if she ever truly wishes to be like me I will be with her every step of the way."

Claw Hugs

>>28860057
One day, we will find out nobody likes the claw hugs and they were just humoring us.

>>28860072
I'm not worried.

On that day, we will be a tyrant.

>>28860072
Blasphemy claw hugs are awesome
Also I support this
>>28860057

>>28859895

> Spend time with the Blood Priest and bond with Nakurtum while with the armorer. Dreams can come while we sleep and Mr. Clicks will always be there for us.

We have very few connections of our own, and anyone we just happened to meet when we were going out would likely end up being a bad choice. Hunzuu is a pretty poor judge of character, after all.

>>28860057
Definitely keep the possibility open in the future. We just don't want her to do anything before she's ready.

>>28859895
"Yep, once she's ready it'll be fine!"
>Now, we should at least check out Blood Priest's pick.
Oh, and clawhug EVERYONE. Bronze gets one and a pat on the head.

>>28860152
it would help if most of hunzuu's current friends weren't supervillains.

I wonder how those orphans are doing. Have the older ones returned from the 2spooky plains?

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>>28859895
You figure you don't need to threaten him further. "You're right! Later you might find a way to turn her into something that suits her. She's been thinking about what she'd be if she had a choice. You don't even know exactly what this relic will do! Waiting will be better for her." He assures you that he and his people will assist in the ritual tomorrow, then starts wondering what sort of ancient horror he'd like to turn his daughter into one day.

Now that you think of it, you know hardly anything about that mason's daughter. You stood in line with her when the priests selected you, and she didn't run away, so you suppose she's at least somewhat willing.

You spend the rest of the day playing with Mr. Clicks. You think you've found how to keep him from running away when he's in your hand, occasionally passing him from hand to hand. You take him to see Nakurtum, who's in her room polishing her armor. She's often alone.

"Oh, hello 'Zuu. Wait, wait, hold up. What is Mr. Clicks doing out of his cage?"
"Look, I can make him stay! He's not such a bad boy anymore."
"Please get Mr. Clicks out of my room. He makes me uncomfortable."
"You love a scorpion the size of an ox, but you're scared of a scorpion the size of a scorpion? Come on, let's try to teach him to do tricks."
"You I can reason with. Mr. Clicks is a wild animal, as much as you like to pretend otherwise. For all you know he just dreams of murder all day."

So you make no progress in your quest to make your two best friends get along. As you burrow into your pile of mattresses that night, you wonder if Mr. Clicks dreams at all.

You dream, of course. You see the underworld, the shores of a river. A scorpion-man stands in strange black clay and talks to a giant lizard. He boasts about how he got to commit so much murder in life, eat so much hard-won flesh, and still faces no more punishment than the innocents he's killed. A good deal, he lizard agrees.

> Scold him
> Ask him to teach you about murder

>>28859895

If nothing else, warn the Blood Priest to forestall using Itani as fuel for the ritual. She is powerful yes, but without understanding the source of that magic, we invite an incalculable risk factor. If the magic has something to do with her "delusions", then there is a risk of passing that on to whatever monsters are spawned from her.

>>28860285
hey Mr Clicks!
Stop being a bad boy!

>>28860285
Learn about murder.
Our murdering is horrifically inefficient and leads to unneeded casualties - causalities that we might otherwise have gotten to murder.
A little more murder skill goes a long way.

>>28860285
A
there has to be better thing then murder but listen to his reasons if he has them

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>>28860285
>> Ask him to teach you about murder
learning time!

>>28860334
This guy said he was killing innocents, which sort of implies not soldiers.

I trust nakurtum and her elite combat training over this guy.

> Ask him to teach you about murder

Level up time. We're gonna need this for the war.

>>28860285
>Learn about murder
After the defeat at the festival we could use some pointers

>>28860285

> "You're a horrible person, but I want to understand. What did eating flesh do for you? Why is it so delicious?"

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>>28858883
I wonder if a crocodile could smell if someone is lying? Supposedly they can smell food from over a mile away so she'd be a good tracker at least.

>>28860285
> Scold him.
Brag about killin'? That's a paddling.

Damnit, everyone.
Stop being so mean.
Yes, you, priests. And scorpion man. And giant mole lady. And guilds.

>>28860401
Considering that crocodile's best weapon is their bite, I doubt the efficiency of a crocodile girl.

>>28859895
"Look, if she at some point wants to become monster, then I will support her decision."
"I just want to make sure she isn't forced into it, that is all. I'd do the same thing for you as well."

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>>28860285
"W-will you teach me about murder?"

The scorpion-man looks at you. You seem to be partially here, though your body awareness is very cloudy and sluggish. you're not even sure whether you have two feet or eight. "Who's that?" A female. Cut down too young. You're so faded, little scorpling. You mustn't let yourself fade. Remember life. Remember the joy of the hunt. I will show you."

The giant lizard has bent down to eat some of the black clay, perhaps the only thing that the dead have to eat. The scorpion-man leaps onto the lizard, using all its twelve limbs and tail at once, pinning it down, holding its head up in its claws to expose its neck. Its whole body moves in harmony. "Try it, little scorpling. Here we cannot truly kill each other or taste sweet flesh, but we can practice. Practice as we wait for the new hunt."

> See what you can do against the lizard
> Try to fight the scorpion instead.
> "What did he ever do to deserve this? Get off of him."

>>28860285
>Scold him
"How was it hard-won flesh if they were innocents?"

>>28860285
> Ask him to teach you about murder

We're gonna use this knowledge, sooner or later.

>>28860520
> See what you can do against the lizard

Time for trainning.

>>28860520
>Try to fight the scorpion instead.
"What good is practice if he can't fight back?"

>>28860520
>> See what you can do against the lizard
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
CUTE FOR THE CUTE THRONE!

>>28860520
> "What did he ever do to deserve this? Get off of him."

>>28860285

Also, was looking back at the vote for threatening the Bronze Priest. I don't see a single vote for threatening him directly. Just curious if it was understood to be a part of the overall choice of telling him her threats.

Also, are third options (or at least alternate options) welcomed in this thread, or should we be sticking to just what is offered?

>>28860520
>Try to fight the scorpion instead.
"Wouldn't it be better to learn fighting a more fierce opponent?"

>>28860520
I still reside in the world of the living. Please, teach me what I need. Teach me that which my instincts couldn't.
Fight Killer Croc.

>>28860520
>> Try to fight the scorpion instead.
>> "What did he ever do to deserve this? Get off of him."
Take down the bully, Mr Lizard seemed nice-ish.

>>28860520
>Try to fight the scorpion instead.

My opponents won't be so easily handicapped in the future. I need to learn how to cripple them, or gain enough strength to make them insignificant.

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You go for the scorpion instead. You can't entirely see or feel yourself, but you see that you're rushing toward him, grabbing him with your hands? Claws? Both? He hisses. You see how he tries to throw you off using both halves of his spine as one. You see that his tail can't curl forward far enough to reach a certain spot on his lower abdomen. You grab his tail and pull hard. He's forced to flip onto his back to crush you, and you fade away as he falls right through you. "Oof! This little scorpling has spirit in her yet! This one will grow strong again for the new hunt. Where did you go, little sister? Come back..."

You wake up with mattresses on top of you where the man-scorpion used to be. You also see that you've torn some of the mattresses open and gotten straw all over your room. You tidy up and give Mr. Clicks his morning locust. There is no magic lesson planned for today because everyone is preparing for the big ritual.

> Find Kullaa or the Blood Priest and ask if you know enough yet to help in the ritual
> Find the armorer instead and talk about the ideas you've had.
> See if you can find where they're keeping the "lucky" girl.

>>28860563
>Alternate options are welcomed, as is writing your own dialog. Maybe I went a little overboard with threatening the Bronze Priest. Was trying to go with the choice of telling him about Tabni-Ninsun's threats.

>>28860591

He is probably just like the scorpion. He did agree with him, after all. He jus didn't have a chance to show off his deeds.

>>28860753
>Find the armorer instead and talk about the ideas you've had.

>>28860753
> See if you can find where they're keeping the "lucky" girl.

Let's befriend her. It's probably that crazy chick.

>>28860753
damn, we got trounced by scorpiman.

[x]talk to the armorer. I don't know about the bow, but I would like some kind of roped projectile to pull enemies down. Bolos. Harpoon. Net.

then
[x]find the "lucky" girl

>>28860753
Find the girl
See if we approve.
Tell the Blood Priest "If you think about using the crazy magic-tainted prisoner to create the monster, you're the dumbest person in the city."
"The new monster might catch the crazies from her blood."

>>28860753
>See if you can help with the ritual

>>28860753
> See if you can find where they're keeping the "lucky" girl.
>Try to find out about helping

>>28860754
If they've been there long enough, lizard might just be agreeing to try and shut him up.

>>28860753
Let's wait outside when the ritual happens.
Ease the poor girl into the life.

>>28860829
yes. After the ritual, make sure to help her get used to this shit regardless.

>>28860753

Wait, we had ideas for armor?

> Find the Blood Priest and ask if you know enough yet to help in the ritual. Ask him if he knows where the "lucky" girl is. We can offer council to her before the change, cementing our friendship or at least minimizing hostilities in the future.

As for the Bronze Priest, I think we have been fairly explicit in trying to play an even hand between the priests, with some obvious favoritism to the Blood Priest, the equivalent of a father figure. Threatening someone has the unfortunate complication of making future options in dialogue with those individuals necessarily guarded. The violent threats also came across as uncharacteristically cold and calculating for a little girl.

>>28860905
I think it was mostly ranged weapons, since we didn't do so well throwing bricks at the last guy. So far I think we have harpoons, a claw-bow, and a tail-atlatl on the drawing board.

>>28860966
the tail-atlatl could probably be combined with harpoons, if we ever got it to work.

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>>28860753
You don't trust yourself to not mess up the ritual if you were there to help. You're the newest acolyte after all, if you even count as an acolyte.

You look around the guest rooms, then that feast chamber. Sure enough, Nergal-Edir is preparing another large array of foods suitable for both man and beast. He says that maybe monsters like him because they associate him with their first meal. If a monster goes bad and kills everyone, he says, maybe it'll save him for last.

Next you try the cells under the surface. In the closest cell to the entrance sits the mason's daughter, dressed all in fancy red silk, eating an array of splendid-looking foods. She has short, shaggy hair and a wiry, muscular frame. Though she's about your age, she seems older somehow. "Oh... It's you! I saw you at the festival. My family are probably rebuilding that place now. It was weird telling them goodbye. But we have to make sure that nothing else gets knocked down..."

You check the bars. "Why did they lock you in here?"

She blushes. "'Cause I tried to sneak out once. I'll be good now, though. I'll help the city. Just tell that other lady who's down here to stop that yelling!" You hear the faint echoes of Iltani's voice echoing through the halls.

> Help this girl sneak out again. Just to make absolutely sure she's not being forced.
> Leave her in the cell, but tell her about your own experiences here.
> Go to Iltani and tell her to shut up or you won't love her anymore

>>28861040
>leave her but tell about own experiences

>>28861040
>> Go to Iltani and tell her to shut up or you won't love her anymore

>>28861040
> Help this girl sneak out again. Just to make absolutely sure she's not being forced.
>If she runs away, all the better. That means Iltani will have to replace her instead.

>>28861040
>Leave her in the cell, but tell her about your own experiences here.
>Go to Iltani and tell her to shut up or you'll rip her arms out of their sockets
I wasn't aware we loved her in the first place.

>>28861040
Ask her if she's really OK with it. Go talk to Iltani after.

>>28861040
[x]why did you try to sneak out?

>>28861040
>Crazy person who sees visions is yelling
ruh roh.

>>28861040

> Speak with her about our own experiences. Tell her everything, the good and the bad, but try to sound hopeful about it.
> Ask her what she wants and try to comfort her if she doesn't actually want to be here. Freeing her just isn't an option at this point, as the priests will have already bled the sacrifices for the ritual and would be very angry if we put it all to waste.
> Afterward, talk to Iltani. See why she is making such a fuss. Pray to the Great Abubu that they haven't used her blood in the ritual.

>>28861179
this

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>>28861040
You check on Iltani. She's still chained up in the same spot. Her eyes are completely black, and her hair is getting stringy and dirty. "I heard another prisoner," she says. "I was telling her to be grateful to be fed to you! You're growing, after all. Growing stronger, more beautiful."

"I do not have time for this right now. You keep quiet or I'll stop visiting you."

You go back to the mason's daughter and start telling her about your own scary post-transformation moments, what life is like in the pyramid, who's nice and who's not. She says she snuck out because she felt guilty that she didn't say goodbye to all of her brothers, that it didn't feel like a real goodbye the first time, but she would have come back to the pyramid, honest! You tell her not to worry - she'll be able to see her family again.

> Be present for her transformation, even if you aren't helping.
> Too many painful memories. Sample some of the feast and wait for her to emerge afterward.

>>28861227
>> Be present for her transformation, even if you aren't helping.

Also, we should probably visit Iltani more often. Just to make sure she isn't getting more dangerous.

>>28861227
>be present

>>28861227
>>28861227
let's be present.

SOMEONE has to be there to catch her when she trips. No repeating that mistake.

on the topic of growth, how much ARE we growing?

>>28861227
Be present

>>28861259
I second this.

>>28861227

> Be there for her. Wait for the guard to let her out of her cell, and then give her a big hug and a "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
> Hold her hand all the way to the ritual and promise that Zuu will be there for her. Be the older sister that Zuu never had.

>>28861227
>Be present for her transformation, even if you aren't helping.
It'll be nice to have someone around who isn't mental in some way.

>>28861040
> Leave her in the cell, but tell her about your own experiences here.
> Go to Iltani and tell her to shut up or you won't love her anymore
Jokingly remind her that we ran too.

>>28861227
> Be present for her transformation, even if you aren't helping.

We need to be nicer to Iltani

>>28861227
>Her eyes are completely black, and her hair is getting stringy and dirty.
Oh, goddamnit, every bit of mistreatment she gets is a another hour towards her death and rebirth.

"I REJECT MY HUMANITY, HUNZUU."

Seriously, she's going to die and spout tentacles or monster bits. Better keep her a little more healthy.

>>28861227
> Be present for her transformation, even if you aren't helping.
Emotional support. Ready clawhug.

>>28861227
Uh, see the transformation
We REALLY need to spend some more time with Iltani. Try to get her healthy again so she can give us information.

>>28861227
> "I heard another prisoner," she says. "I was telling her to be grateful to be fed to you! You're growing, after all. Growing stronger, more beautiful."

SO the MC eats people?
I may need to start following this quest

>>28861370
yeah, I agree. She seems... worrying. To say the best.
>>28861375
nope.

>>28861375
The scorpion people are known as flesh eaters. I think we're trying to keep that behaviour low key however as our dreams point out the skorpion people were not nice in the least.

>>28861375
We try to avoid eating people.

>>28861227

> After making the new monster, come back and attend to Iltani. She may know something about the whole eating of sentients to gain power thing, or not. Either way, we should probably get someone to cut her hair and clean her, under close (if not our own) supervision. She may be nuts, but she is a human being and deserves to be kept in better condition than she is. Removing the hair will help with lice build up, and if we are there and ask her to be good, she's far less likely to do some crazy McGyver shit and escape.

>>28861375
She doesn't...this prisoner just wants us to. We could, but we don't.

Even when we ate the Mole Lady, we only ate the monster parts stuck to our claws...and were kind of embarrassed by it.

>>28861342
Or just kill her and be done with it.

>>28861412
>>28861398
>>28861409
Also, in the first thread, I am shocked you guys didn't choose the sand priest

>>28861040
>Go to Iltani and tell her to shut up or you won't love her anymore

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>>28861227
"It'll be scary at first. You might not be in control. But I'll be there to make sure nobody gets hurt."
"Okay... My name's Ninlil, by the way."
"I'm Hunzuu. I hope we can be friends."
"Yeah... me too..."

When the time comes, all the priests and acolytes make their appearance. Acolytes bring in another enormous tub of blood. You have no idea where it came from, but it didn't come from Iltani. You find yourself standing next to Kullaa, who chants and prays to Aruru while you just try to stay out of the way. This place brings back unpleasant memories, but you try to stay strong. Ninlil comes in carrying the blue crystal. The Blood Priest draws some patterns on her face in blood, then praises Aruru for making the human form so mutable.

When Ninlil is immersed in the blood, the crystal glows blue, then red, then gold. She starts crying. You see her bones glow gold through her skin. There's another huge explosion of blood and small shards of rock. You hear a roar. You see a large shape reeling and staggering around the room. It lurches toward where you, Kullaa, and the acolytes are standing.

> roll 4d6 to restrain that girl before she massacres anyone
> Try to tell her something?

>>28861270
As far as you can tell, you've hardly grown at all. Your scorpion half looks slightly thicker than before. Maybe it's all the goat you've been eating.

>>28861375
You could eat people if you wanted to, but you're trying to break your raw flesh habit.

>>28861431
You don't get it, do you?

"Strike me down and I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."

I don't want a boss encounter.

Rolled 5, 5, 3, 1 = 14

>>28861463
>"calm yo tits!"

Rolled 4, 4, 2, 6 = 16

>>28861463
Great dice gods, don't fail me.

Rolled 2, 3, 5, 4 = 14

>>28861463
> roll 4d6 to restrain that girl before she massacres anyone
> Try to tell her something?
Shhh, calm down. Its alright. Scary. but I got you.

Rolled 1, 2, 2, 1 = 6

>>28861463
>"Easy! Calm down!"
Clawhug.

Rolled 4, 4, 5, 2 = 15

>>28861463
"Calm down girl! Everything is okay! I hope!"

>>28861227
>Black eyes
>Our poison is black
>There was a little left in her even after we sucked most of it out.
>It tinted her lips a bit black
PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC

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>>28861494
Wow, I did terrible.

>>28861480
How about this?

>>28861463

> Shout "Ninlil, please calm down. Everything will be fine. Everyone else please just leave."

>>28861466
I don't see anything indicating that will actually happen.

Rolled 3, 3, 3, 4 = 13

>>28861519
hahaha yes

>>28861518
fuuuUUUUUUUUCL

>>28861463

Whatever happens, we need to call out to her with her name. It is important to establish that she is still a person and that someone knows her in this unfamiliar place.

Rolled 6, 2, 1, 6 = 15

>>28861463

We should eat more raw goat...even if it is habbit forming it gives our carapace a nice sheen.

RESTRAINT

We could eat Iltani...

I think she wouldn't mind that either.

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>>28861545
This should be a better version

>>28861562
Do pigs exist in this setting?

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>>28861463
She comes into view. Her lower body is like an enormous lioness. Her face has a slightly different shape, her hair is gold instead of her former dark brown, and her eyes are solid blue. She's full of pain, rage, and confusion. She's even taller than you. She's still wearing the tattered red robes on her human half. Her claws are out.

"Easy! Calm Down!" You charge forward to defend the humans in the room. You grab her in your claws, and soon you're locked in a contest of raw strength. You're very evenly matched, but you manage to keep a hold on her just barely long enough to let everyone evacuate.

She speaks in a deeper, gravelly voice. "Hunz... hurts... this isn't me..."

> Let her go. Speak comfort to her.
>Roll 4d6 to pin her. Just give her time to ride out the crazy.

>>28861544
Oho? >>28861518
Not to mention the worship of Pazuzu McMurderBoner.

>>28861571
We get a new roommate. Heck, she could the scorpion half, and we could be the human half. It's the odd couple!

Rolled 2, 5, 5, 6 = 18

>>28861613
>Roll 4d6 to pin her. Just give her time to ride out the crazy.

Rolled 6, 1, 4, 2 = 13

>>28861613
Pin her with scorpion claws.
hug and/or stroke her hair with normal hands while telling her it will be all right.

>>28861611
Most desert cultures don't eat pork, they can't cook the meat hot enough in those regions (ironically) to make it safe to eat.

Why pork is banned under Kosher and Halal.

Rolled 1, 4, 5, 3 = 13

>>28861613
Shout to the priests, check that they didn't bleed the crazy in the dungeon to create her.
Try and comfort her.

>>28861613
>Let her go. Speak comfort to her.
"Stay with me, Ninlil. You aren't the monster"

Rolled 1, 6, 5, 2 = 14

> Let her go. Speak comfort to her.
You are you. You always will be. Its the heart and that is all matters Ninlil. And yours is still the same. You to believe that.

Rolled 5, 3, 1, 5 = 14

>>28861613
Shhh shhh shhh, it'll be okay. shhhhh

>>28861627
Hug it out, talk her down.
Did our transformation hurt? I don't remember, just that we stumbled into an acolyte, killing him.

>>28861641
but we can eat raw meat no? or would eating pork make us a heathen

>>28861613

> Let go.
> "You are still you, Ninlil. Just like I'm still me. The pain will pass, but I'm not going anywhere. You have me and Nukurtum and the priests and Mr. Clicks. For now you just need to calm down. You're stronger now, and you might hurt someone if you keep running around. Remember what happened to me and learn from my mistakes."

>>28861675
>.
Not sure, actually. The issue is that desert cultures rarely make use of pigs as live stock. It's a matter of availability. Sure they're easy to keep and would keep Hunzu well fed...but its just a matter of getting some to start or being aware of their existence.

>>28861669

Is this a roll for a pin or for letting go and speaking comfort? This might be a swing vote.

>>28861710

A little bit of column a...a little bit of column b

>>28861705
Don't pigs and humans taste pretty much the same

>>28861613

> Don't pin her, but hug her tight enough to where she will have to drag our body weight around if she is going to keep thrashing. Continue giving comforting assurances.

>>28861621
That still doesn't prove anything, but fine, we don't kill her inside the pyramid.
What we do is we take her to that city we're at war with, put her on a catapult and let the impact kill her when she lands inside the city walls. That ways if anything does happen it's their problem.

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>>28861613
You try a move the scorpion in your dream taught you. You grab her in your strong claws and flip her onto the floor with your arms and claws at the same time. She claws at you but is too confused to do any significant damage. "Shhh... it'll be all right..."

Ninlil tries to speak. It's hard for her. The first few times she just makes some incoherent subvocal grumblings. "Shouldn't 've... let them... scared... make it didn't happen."

> Try to get her to look on the bright side
> Tell her you regret letting this happen to you, too.
> You've already probably hurt her by throwing her down. Just hold on tight until she stops resisting entirely.

>>28861648
The Blood Priest himself told you that he wasn't going to bleed Iltani until he'd studied her further, and you saw Iltani intact and unbled very soon before the ritual. So you're pretty sure crazyblood isn't an issue.

>>28861672
Your transformation just left you disoriented. Any hurt you may have felt was purely existential.

>>28861764
are you "joking" again?

>>28861780
Look on the bright side of life
you aren't dead

>>28861780
Hug her. Make her feel better. We need to calm her down, tell the others to escape.

>>28861780
>Tell her you regret letting this happen to you, too.

>>28861780
>> You've already probably hurt her by throwing her down. Just hold on tight until she stops resisting entirely.

>>28861780
hold her and just keep trying to be calm about it.

we can't tell her how great it is because that's incensere, and telling her we regret it would just make her feel worse. So just hold her.

>>28861791
No. She's a time bomb and you do not keep time bombs in the middle of a populated area.

>>28861780
> Try to get her to look on the bright side
"Now you are like me. Don't worry, I am here for you. Trust me, don't be afraid."

>>28861780
>> Tell her you regret letting this happen to you, too.

>>28861791
Wasn't me.

You really aren't good at this, huh?

>>28861780
> Tell her you regret letting this happen to you, too.
> You've already probably hurt her by throwing her down. Just hold on tight until she stops resisting entirely.
>but: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUhlRoBL8M&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSJUhlRoBL8M

>>28861831
well, then, I disagree with you on the issue of her treatment fervently and unilaterally.

>>28861780

> No more suplexes, just hug her, ask her to calm down and try to get enough priests to gather their wits so that they can stop her from hurting.

>>28861780
Hold her down until she's stable. Then initiate claw hugs to make her feel better.

>>28861835
that's what your jokes sound like, dude.

>>28861863
no, they don't
you're just bad at reading the tone

>>28861886
says the guy who tells jokes that only get ignored or told to stop being so dumb.

>>28861836
All the choices. Calming monstergirl hug piles errywhere.

>>28861780

> Something has clearly gone wrong with the transformation. We need to calm her down in as non-violent a way as possible. Pinning her is actually ideal for making sure she can't do herself anymore harm if we can immobilize her completely. In the meantime, shout for the assistance of the priests. Maybe they can do something.

>>28861917
yeah, get the priests in on this shit. HELP you guys!

>>28861936
I must ask, which priest is the bro priest

>>28861968
Good question, they're all basically their own flavor of asshole. Blood priest likes us.

They are all pretty manipulative. The nicest is probably the Rain priest however. We've been primarily talking with the blood priest since he is the one who can actually make new monsters however.

>>28861968
none of them. That's one of the primary problems.
they're very not-bros.

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>>28861780
You don't know what to tell her. You feel a little guilty for not talking her out of it or breaking her out of her cell, but at the same time you hope that this can turn out all right. You hold her until she stops thrashing, then you pull her into gentle clawhugs.

Ninlil catches her breath. "gh... hurts to... try to talk.... feel wrong, too. But... okay. Won't... hurt n'body..."

"That's the spirit. Let's get you some food."

Ninlil awkwardly gets used to walking on four legs as she follows you into the feast hall. Soul-of-Lightning is already there with some slaves and guards. They've eaten much of the bread and sweets and almost all of the cooked meat. He greets the two of you by raising a jug of beer and cheering. There's a good deal of raw goat in the corner that nobody has touched.

> Shoo! Bad centaur! Those are for company!
> You can stay if you stop eating all Ninlil's food right now. Give the girl some bread or something.
> Let's try an experiment, Ninlil. Try a little raw goat. Just a little. We have to see if it affects you like it does me.

> Let's try an experiment, Ninlil. Try a little raw goat. Just a little. We have to see if it affects you like it does me.

Better safe then sorry.

>>28861990
>>28861990
Even rain priest? and good, because from what I've seen in thread 1 I like blood priest

>>28861998
>stop eating all ninlil's food right now
>Seriously, she's supposed to get first dibs

>>28861998
>> Let's try an experiment, Ninlil. Try a little raw goat. Just a little. We have to see if it affects you like it does me.

Useful thing to know.

>>28862022
we've not actually talked to rain priest much.
He might not be an asshole.

>>28861998
>Let's try an experiment, Ninlil. Try a little raw goat. Just a little. We have to see if it affects you like it does me.

>>28862022
Blood Priest is an asshole who probably killed his wife, but he's also the least stupid of the lot. Rain Priest is teaching us to read, so he's all right. Sand Priest would be kind of a bro if he weren't secretly a sis.

>>28861998
"Guys, it's really mean to start eating before the guest arrives!"

>pouting_little_girl.jpg

>>28862022

Blood Priest is the one we interact with the most.

>>28861998
> You can stay if you stop eating all Ninlil's food right now. Give the girl some bread or something.
> Let's try an experiment, Ninlil. Try a little raw goat. Just a little. We have to see if it affects you like it does me.
Human food first, then raw meats.

>>28862053
I assume Bronze priest is the big asshole and sand priest is the creepy asshole

>>28861998
>You can stay if you stop eating all Ninlil's food right now. Give the girl some bread or something.
Whatever you do, don't give her raw meat.

>>28862065
yeah, something like this.

What kind of dick eats before the guest?

>>28861907
nothing to do with reading tone there
the jokes are for me, feel free to not enjoy them

>>28861998
>keep her away from the raw meat for now

>>28861998

> Pull the bad centaur aside.
> "Getting between a lioness and her first meal is probably a poor idea, don't you think? However, you being here right now is actually really helpful. Please go and bring the Blood Priest. Something has gone wrong and Ninlil is in pain. I can keep her here and eating for now, but she needs help sooner rather than later."

>>28862063
SAND PRIEST IS WOMAN....wait sand priest wanted to make a man a little girl in thread 1.....fuck

>>28862080
Yeah, we do need to call them on this.

>>28861998
No.

>Ask ponyboy what Ninlil should eat

Seriously. No raw meat for her either, she may go on a rampage.

>>28862075
I think he is just trying to live through his daughter or something.